Free Republic

The organizers also state their desire to take control of the local Republican organization and the Republican State Central Committee (RSCC). When speaking about the RSCC, the organizer stated that they wanted a majority on the committee so that they could dictate how the party spends its money, emphasizing that money should only go to candidates that adhere to the platform.

Only twelve states have held primaries or caucuses, and shockingly, many of them have either been scandal ridden, had their dates manipulated in violation of proposed nomination calendar, or broke the delegate distribution rules set by the Republican National Committee. State GOP chairs in Iowa and Nevada have resigned in disgrace, and others have come under heavy scrutiny following the completion of their caucus or primary. The Iowa Caucuses became the butt of too many jokes when Iowa GOP Chairman refused to declare Rick Santorum the winner of the caucuses following the state GOP’s certification process, which clearly showed Santorum...

"It would eliminate all gun laws," McCarthy said. "This issue is very, very extreme. This proposal is not a mainstream proposal." ....... It's a mistrust of the courts, however, that fueled much of the support for the constitutional amendment. "For far too long we've seen judicial abuse of our Second Amendment rights," said Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley.

DES MOINES - Iowa's guns rights would be among the strongest in the nation, under a proposed state constitutional amendment that cleared the Iowa House this week. Democrats say the measure would eventually allow people to bring guns into Iowa's schools, the Capitol and other public buildings. That concerns county officials. "I think one of the concerns for counties is in our courthouses where there are emotional situations, what that could lead to, particularly domestic disputes," said Sioux County Supervisor Mark Sybesma. "In our treasurer's office, a lot of times people come in very disgruntled - emotions and that type...

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is holding a high-dollar fundraiser for Congressman Leonard Boswell later today. However, the event isn’t taking place in Washington D.C. or even Des Moines. Instead, Boswell and Pelosi will travel to Omaha for an event at the Field Club, the oldest country club west of the Mississippi. Boswell has fended off a number of impressive Republican challengers over the last decade, but due to redistricting he will face his toughest opponent yet when he squares off against Congressman Tom Latham this fall. Neither Latham nor Boswell have represented southwest Iowa before, and thus...

Wednesday was an eventful day in Des Moines for pro-gun advocates that began with the House Democratic caucus’ mass exodus from the state capitol in protest of the scheduled consideration of two NRA priority pro-gun bills. Despite the fact the Republican majority had a quorum and could have passed legislation without the Democratic caucus, action was delayed until the caucus returned late in the afternoon. Once normal order was restored, gun owners in the Hawkeye State saw the Right to Keep and Bear Arms state constitutional amendment amended to the original NRA-supported language and passed. Gun owners then saw the...

Vice President Joe Biden has been told by the White House to make a campaign stop Thursday at Howe Hall on the Iowa State campus. His speech comes shortly after President Barack Obama visited Cedar Rapids after the State of the Union address one month ago. But this campaign stop is not to liberal Iowa City, and Biden will receive a much different reception than four years ago. After three years in the White House, the Obama administration continues to make excuses for the problems facing our nation. Today, Biden will try to convince Iowans that the job is unfinished...

Gannett paper, link only: Obama’s new Iowa campaign HQ opens Sunday – in Romney’s old digs

Washington DC - -(Ammoland.com)- When news broke that Democrat legislators in Iowa had stormed out in protest over pro-Second Amendment bills which Republicans in the Republican-controlled legislature had brought up for a vote, I wasn’t too surprised. After all, since when do Democrats approve of guns or support gun rights? But as I read Iowa House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (D-Des Moines) try to justify avoiding a vote for two bills that would have given Iowans a state-constitutional right to keep and bear arms and broadened their grounds for using deadly force to protect life and property, the whole event...

DES MOINES – After Democrats ended a seven-hour walk-out to delay action on a proposed constitutional amendment sponsors said would ensure Iowans’ gun rights, the Iowa House approved the legislation 61-37. “We left in protest so there could be some openness and some transparency and some sunlight drawn on what this issue (that) is very, very extreme, very extreme,” McCarthy said when he brought his caucus back after 4 p.m. Although the vast majority of House Democrats support the United States constitutional right to bear arms, McCarthy said, “we also believe public safety is very important and there must be...

Iowa House Democrats left the Capitol in protest Wednesday, saying they were betrayed by the Republican majority that decided this morning to debate controversial gun rights legislation. “We’ve been doubled-crossed,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, just before he lead his 40-member caucus out of the Statehouse. Democrats had been led to believe a constitutional amendment spelling out Iowans’ right to bear arms and the so-called “Castle Doctrine” giving Iowans the right to defend themselves would not be debated Feb. 29, McCarthy said. However, he was told after both parties went into their routine closed-door meetings to discuss...

IOWA – -(Ammoland.com)- First off, I want to thank every one of you that has taken the time to utilize our Action Center (also on Facebook) to correspond with Representatives on our bills. Your hard work and willingness to be involved has helped Iowa Firearms Coalition, and the NRA, to move every one of our top priority bills through committee! At the start of the legislative session IFC announced our four top priorities: * Iowa Constitutional Amendment for a Right to Keep and Bear Arms – HJR2009 * Iowa Family Defense Act, Stand Your Ground – HF2215 * Iowa Firearm...

Funnel week has come and gone in Des Moines, and while some good bills made it out of committee, several other good bills were allowed to die a death of apathy. Here's a rundown of what's what under the gold dome. * HF 208 - This bill would modify the disposal requirements of firearms and ammunition seized by or forfeited to Iowa law enforcement agencies, including DPS. It essentially gives the agency that seized the firearms or ammunition greater control over how it is disposed of, including sale to the public. (Assigned to a subcommittee of Baudler, Kressig, and Tjepkes...

We are still waiting on the Senate to decide the fate of a National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill, one that would provide a national standard in accordance with which nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State. But in meantime, states are continuing to reach out to each other to forge state-to-state concealed carry reciprocity agreements (there’s no reason to wait on the Fed). The latest state to expand its reciprocal recognition program is Georgia, which added Iowa and Wisconsin to its list last month bringing its total to 26. Georgia currently reciprocates in recognizing firearms licenses with...

The Des Moines Register ran a story today that highlights the need for a strong “Stand Your Ground” law. Not just in Iowa, where it is being hotly debated right now, but anywhere in the country that the freedoms and liberties of citizens who are going about their day-to-day activities are expected to be more important than those of citizens who have little regard for the life and health of others in the community. In their story, the Register details the circumstances around a man, Jay Rodney Lewis, who was put in jail and stayed there for 112 days until...

WHAT'S THEIR PROBLEM WITH ROMNEY?February 22, 2012 As governor of one of the most liberal states in the union, Mitt Romney did something even Ronald Reagan didn't do as governor of California: He balanced the budget without raising taxes. Romney became deeply pro-life as governor of the aforementioned liberal state and vetoed an embryonic stem cell bill. (Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich lobbied President George W. Bush to allow embryonic stem cell research.) Romney's approach to illegal immigration in Massachusetts resembled what Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona is doing today, making her a right-wing heroine. Romney pushed the conservative alternative to...

It’s easy to get distracted when presidential politics take over the political scene in Iowa every four years. With 24-hour cable news channels and unlimited campaign coverage via the Internet, one’s attention can easily become dominated by presidential politics even after the caucuses are long over. While caucuses allow us Iowans a chance to play in the big leagues for a while, they also take attention away from other important primaries that are quickly approaching. In just over three months, or 109 days to be exact, voters will pick the Republican nominee in two eastern Iowa congressional districts. Both the...

Is Barack Obama electable? Further evidence of the erosion of President Obama’s electability comes from Iowa as the liberal Des Moines Register’s latest poll shows the president is behind 3 of the 4 remaining Republican presidential candidates by 2 to 7 points — in a state he won by 10 points in 2008. The numbers: Ron Paul 49% Barack Obama 42% Rick Santorum 48% Barack Obama 44% Mitt Romney 46% Barack Obama 44% The increasingly irrelevant Newt Gingrich is down 51%-37% to the president. Iowa is one of 11 states that are considered “toss-up” by Real Clear Politics.

Gannett Rag - Link Only http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120218/NEWS09/120218015/Obama-trails-three-four-Republican-candidates-latest-Iowa-Pol

Des Moines Register articles may only be linked: Denied jobs, blacks in Iowa test new bias legal theory