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How I’m doing

Last week I wrote about it being my 36-year anniversary for being clean and sober. And on that day, which was Monday, Nov. 3, I was also having a brain MRI and full-body CT scan at Iowa City. As you know, I’m recovering from cancer. Well, the response I received from well wishers, both known and unknown, was just overwhelming. I’m humbled, and so impressed by the number of people who are willing to reach out with prayers and well wishes. There’s nothing wrong with this world when we are willing to help, encourage and pray for each other. Here’s the results of that MRI and CT ...

Clockwork comrades

“There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Korova milkbar sold milk-plus, milk plus vellocet or synthemesc or drencrom, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence.” (Excerpted from the Anthony Burgess novel A Clockwork Orange.) The ultra-violence envisioned by Burgess in 1962 has leapt from yellowed pages to devastate city after American city. Throngs of left-wing subversives ...

Rural America has a plan. Congress needs to show up.

The House of Representatives took all of October off. In fact, the GOP-led chamber has only worked 14 days since July 25. As Congress sat idle, hardworking Americans faced rising health care costs, farmers battled dangerous market instability, and millions may lose necessary food assistance. It’s time for Congress to show up for the people it serves — to lower costs, raise wages, and protect the freedom to make choices about our own lives. As the Communications and Policy Director for the Rural Democracy Initiative, I worked with 40 local, state, and national organizations — ...

Political Violence is on the rise. It’s up to us to cool the rhetoric

Why can’t we all just get along? This country is subjected to enough political violence every year to make any sane nation reach a breaking point. We can’t stand idly by as killings and terror become normal in America. Each and every one of us should be doing something to bring Americans together as fellow Americans. It is so easy to become caught up in the us versus them, Republican versus Democrat, left versus right, liberal versus conservative mindset. Advertisements that fill our television screens and mailboxes all claim that candidates and parties are “fighting” for you ...

WWBRD? What would Bob Ray do?

Events last week in Chicago and Washington and at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport provide stark reminders that our nation’s leaders have seemingly forgotten a biblical command around for the ages. It is one Robert Ray followed during his tenure as Iowa governor, which ended some 42 years ago. Ray was front of mind as I digested the news last week. His service contrasted with the haunting picture the three easily missed events presented of who we are as Americans and who we are becoming. In Washington, the Trump administration went to the Supreme Court Friday night and asked ...

President Trump delivers important wins for Iowa farmers

It has now been a little over a year since more than 77 million Americans voted for President Trump in a landslide victory. From stopping the largest tax hike in U.S. history to completely shutting down our border, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have worked hard to deliver on this ...