Des Moines Register

In June 2008, raging waters threatened dozens of homes in the Birdland area of Des Moines’ north side. Scores of volunteers flocked from all over the city to help in any way they could. Many of those same residents had turned out when floodwaters threatened in 1993.

Our 4th District U.S. representative was quick to send out criticism of the health-care reform bill that passed the House. The statement by Tom Latham is filled with distortions.

Regarding the Register’s Nov. 15 story " ’Gap’ Lets Abusers Possess Weapons": The real gap is epitomized by state Rep. Clel Baudler, who epitomizes the gap in sensitivity and caring for the plight of abused women. His answer to gun concerns always seems to be proliferation - put a gun in everyone’s hands, and we’ll all be safe.

I read with interest the Oct. 28 letter by Bruce Koeppl in which he made the case that senior citizens need help and should receive $250 in relief because there will be no cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients.

AFSCME brothers and sisters soon face tough decisions on whether we accept the "memoradum of understanding," and give some concessions to avoid layoffs through at least June 30, 2010.

In a Nov. 12 article about this week’s vote by state workers regarding concessions in return for a bar against layoffs, Lynne Pothast, a vice president of AFSCME’s statewide council, misled your reporter when she recalled a similar event in 2001. State employees agreed then to an early retirement plan and a four-month delay of their 3 percent cost-of-living raise in order to save jobs during a tight budget year. Pothast grossly misstated the facts when she said AFSCME members did not make that decision. Every union member had notice and an opportunity to vote. As the union’s president at that time, I can also attest to the fact that large numbers took that opportunity.

In response to the laying of blame on unions representing state workers: The Register as well as Gov. Chet Culver are putting a deceptive spin on the laying off of state workers. The state is in financial trouble because of mismanagement at the top. How many CIETC-type problems have gone unnoticed? How many taxpayer dollars have been wasted, such as the farce with the film industry? How many high-paying, non-essential jobs in our government are given as rewards?

If you thought the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court was contentious, fasten your seat belts: Senate Republicans have sent a signal that the Sotomayor confirmation was just a warm up, and the real battles are yet to come over President Barack Obama’s appointments to the federal courts.

In the months following the Postville raid, many criticized the government’s record of going after poor workers and seldom against managers. Officials justified the raid early on, saying it is standard in law enforcement to press at the bottom and "work your way up in investigations." A year later, it is clear that the feds crushed hundreds of workers and their families, at an unprecedented scale, to build an exemplary immigration case against Sholom Rubashkin. Dropping those charges now as unnecessary makes the raid, in the first place, all the more scandalous.

Polarizing. That’s the word that comes to mind in reading the Iowa Poll results about Sarah Palin, the bestselling author who may or may not run for president in 2012.

In a recent e-newsletter, Sen. Charles Grassley said he intends to investigate pharmaceutical companies’ money and trinkets being given to doctors to bribe them to prescribe the companies’ medications.

The lead story in the November 23 Register gives the results of the latest Iowa Poll.

There isn’t much demand for a 9-year-old dog that needs a home. Especially a three-legged 9-year-old dog like Duke.

Bob Krause of Fairfield is the best candidate running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Chuck Grassley. Lest we forget that there are others in the race for the Democratic nomination, Krause also has a great resume.

I was disappointed by the verdicts in two well-publicized trials where the insanity defense was used. Even though in both cases, the defendants had documented histories of mental illness, that defense was denied because they did not meet the strict legal standard of failing to know right from wrong.

It was so heartwarming to see Atlantis lift off, spewing out millions of wasted dollars that could go to the homeless and multitudes of other, more deserving, targets.

Regarding "Obama Needs to Act Soon, Grassley Says," Nov. 14:

Marni Steadham’s Nov. 14 Iowa View on America’s failed drug policy scored many good points. One of them is that criminal justice, like health care, is an area overdue for reform where Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is behind the times.

We send multiple missions to the moon and outer space, but claim we do not have enough money to send our children - or brother and sisters - to the doctor when they are ill.

Michael Morain’s review of "The Farnworth Invention," Nov. 11, begins on a positive note, and, indeed, he gives the current play at the Des Moines Playhouse high marks. But I gritted my teeth when I read, "Schminke and Davenport [the two lead male roles] deliver two of the best dramatic performances at the Playhouse in at least three years."