Thursday, December 28, 2006
Nick Ryan interview at Hotline
I think this is the most interesting question:
HOTLINE: How much danger is there that the Iowa GOP is becoming a regional party within the state?
Sunday, December 17, 2006
More...
Time's Joe Klein awards Jim Leach a Teddy award (in honor of president Roosevelt). Here's what he has to say:
I realize we've been spending a lot of time on the long goodbye here, but having a congressman like Jim Leach is a once in a lifetime experience, and that's if you're lucky.
Congressman Jim Leach, the Iowa Republican, was a terrific public servant for 30 years. He was always independent, always scrupulously honest. He lost this year, and the manner of his losing is instructive. He refused to allow the Republican National Committee to distribute a negative mailing about his opponent. He called Ken Mehlman, then the r.n.c. chair, and threatened to caucus with the Democrats if such negative mailings didn't stop. They stopped, but the Congressman lost narrowly to an academic named Dave Loebsack, who had similarly refused to attack him. A former foreign service officer, Leach would make a terrific U.S. ambassador to the U.N., but I doubt that Bush would appoint an anti–Iraq-war multilateralist.I don't think Leach actually threatened to switch parties. Does anyone have authoritative information on this?
I realize we've been spending a lot of time on the long goodbye here, but having a congressman like Jim Leach is a once in a lifetime experience, and that's if you're lucky.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Leach's Loss in Context
The Washington Post has an interesting piece that spends some good space dissecting Leach's loss and its broader implications for Congress -- particularly the loss of so many centrist Republicans.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Still More on Leach's Next Step
Just a few more quick links to stories on Leach's transition out of Congress.
Yesterday, the Press-Citizen reported on Friday's reception hosted by the University of Iowa. The story includes some comments from Dan Gable, who was brought into politics by Leach:
The Register also has a report out of DC on Leach's transition, with some sad pictures of Leach packing up.
Yesterday, the Press-Citizen reported on Friday's reception hosted by the University of Iowa. The story includes some comments from Dan Gable, who was brought into politics by Leach:
Could Gable be thinking about getting a little more active now?Dan Gable, who won 15 national wrestling titles when he coached the
Hawkeyes, said in his speech that Leach encouraged him to participate in
politics."Jim Leach, we do have wrestling in common," said Gable, who is now
an assistant to coach Tom Brands.Gable, who pondered a gubernatorial run several years ago, said Leach "actually turned my ear to politics."
"It kind of gave me the chance to broaden my horizon. And it actually helped me in a lot of areas of my life," he said.
The Register also has a report out of DC on Leach's transition, with some sad pictures of Leach packing up.
Friday, December 01, 2006
More on Leach's Next Step
Jim Leach will be on IPTV's Iowa Press, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. The AP has a story up including some quotes from today's taping.
Let's hope that the good Congressman does not continue the "brain drain" by taking one of the "many offers" he's received to teach out East and decides to remain here in Iowa. The University would be lucky to have him, in any capacity.
UPDATE: Here's full transcript of Leach's interview on Iowa Press.
Let's hope that the good Congressman does not continue the "brain drain" by taking one of the "many offers" he's received to teach out East and decides to remain here in Iowa. The University would be lucky to have him, in any capacity.
UPDATE: Here's full transcript of Leach's interview on Iowa Press.