Chuck Offenburger, the former Des Moines Register columnist, considers himself a good republican. Offenburger serves on the Greene County GOP Central Committee and has continued to be one of Iowa’s most prolific [...]]]> Chuck Offenburger of Greene County, Iowa endorsed Christie Vilsack for Congress. Offenbuger indicated he personally likes Rep. Steve King but “abhors” King’s politics.

Chuck Offenburger, the former Des Moines Register columnist, considers himself a good republican. Offenburger serves on the Greene County GOP Central Committee and has continued to be one of Iowa’s most prolific writers in books, magazines and his own Offenburger.com website since he retired for the Register in 1998. He considers himself a Bob Ray Republican.

In most cases, county, district and state central committee members for both parties are expected to fully support their candidates, but this is not the first time a key member endorsed the other party’s candidate.

Former Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater was known for speaking his mind too! Some of Goldwater’s statements in the 1990s aggravated many social conservatives. He endorsed Democrat Karan English in an Arizona congressional race, urged Republicans to lay off Bill Clinton over the Whitewater scandal, and criticized the military’s ban on homosexuals: “Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the time of Julius Caesar.” He also said, “You don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight.” A few years before his death he went so far as to address the unprincipled establishment “republicans”, “Do not associate my name with anything you do. You are extremists, and you’ve hurt the Republican Party much more than the Democrats have.”

In 1996, he told Bob Dole, whose own presidential campaign received lukewarm support from conservative Republicans: “We’re the new liberals of the Republican party. Can you imagine that?”

After his retirement in 1987, Goldwater described the Arizona Governor Evan Mecham as “hardheaded” and called on him to resign. As governor, Mecham was plagued by controversy and became the first U.S. governor to simultaneously face removal from office through impeachment, a scheduled recall election, and a felony indictment. He was the first Arizona governor to be impeached.

Two years later, Goldwater stated that the Republican Party had been taken over by a “bunch of kooks”.

In a 1994 interview with the Washington Post the retired senator said,

When you say “radical right” today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican Party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye.

While I agree, Party Central Committee Members should support their party’s candidate, I also feel it is the party’s responsibility to help recruit and elect “the best” candidates. Rep. Steve King left his party’s leadership long ago and is cited as “The Dirty Dozen” in a recent article in The Hill.

While King might consider himself a conservative, his politics and rhetoric tell a different story. Iowa does deserve better!

The expert suggested increases to all residential [...]]]> Onawa, IA – In this small town in west central Iowa, electricity is supplied by the City of Onawa with rates regulated by the city council. After determining a rate increase was needed, the City Council brought in an expert to make recommendations and evaluate the billing structure.

The expert suggested increases to all residential and low usage commercial customers eliminating the tier discount then modifying the high user commercial customers to a more complex billing based on kW demand considered to be an industry standard..

Currently, residential customers are charged $.065 per kWh up to 1,000 kW then dropping to $.045. Homeowners that elected to get high efficiency heat pumps could also have double meters installed on their homes and receive an additional discount of .023 for the usage on their heating during winter months. Those homeowners pay an additional $144.00 annually for the double meter option that allows for the heat to be turned off during high peak/demand periods. Of the 1,100 homes in Onawa, 300 customers have opted for the program.

Of the options presented to the City, council members selected the new residential rate be .072 and eliminate the tier rate. The additional discount of .023 being a pass through from the electric provider would remain in effect.

While the council members viewed this as a 15% increase, 300 homeowners that opted for high efficiency heating systems would see their heating bills increase 127% while large comercial users see a decrease.

At the council meeting Tuesday night, January 10th, homeowners flocked to the meeting to express their concerns.  After the council heard those concerns, a vote was called for. In a split vote of 3/3 the suggested rate increase failed.

While a rate increase is required to keep the city financially sound, the council suggested a citizen advisory panel be appointed to make recommendations for the council to consider.

The public is encouraged to attend a special council meeting Thursday, January 19, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., City Hall, to discuss the proposed electric utility rate increase.

One report mentioned a GOP campaign spent close to $350.00 per vote on Iowa’s caucus (and we want [...]]]> Miss the caucus? While the Iowa Democratic Caucuses went under the radar and the GOP candidates battle for their party’s nomination – the Obama campaign has been working across Iowa building the grassroots support for the 2012 elections.

One report mentioned a GOP campaign spent close to $350.00 per vote on Iowa’s caucus (and we want them to cut the budget?). Many of us had to settle for TV filled with GOP ads relentlessly attaching one another. The so called SuperPac ads are running under the radar of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) due to loopholes. Iowan’s won’t know who paid for those ads until way after the fact.

After the GOP counted the votes three candidates claimed close to 25% of the votes cast.  Only eight votes separated 1st and 2nd place.

If you missed the excitement at the Democratic caucuses – watch the video, then sign up to volunteer for 2012.

In a YouTube video that King’s office released, the Iowa congressman and social conservative disputed allegations that Arpaio has been engaged in racial profiling and carrying out strong-handed patrols along the Arizona border aimed at stopping illegal [...]]]> In Arizona, the Justice Department has charged Maricpoa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio with committing civil rights violations against Latinos.

In a YouTube video that King’s office released, the Iowa congressman and social conservative disputed allegations that Arpaio has been engaged in racial profiling and carrying out strong-handed patrols along the Arizona border aimed at stopping illegal immigrants.

Maricopa County does not border Mexico. Maricopa County includes the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler.

In King’s statement, the Iowa Congressman follows course blaming a political agenda for the charges never mentioning the the real issue of racial profiling.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and Season’s Greetings.