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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA friend of mine turns the heat on Republican corruption out there in "flyover country."
Iowa's governor has been playing fast and loose with funds from contributions as well as federal funds meant for Corona relief. Well, she forgot that the Iowa State Auditor is no longer her Republican crony, but now a corruption-fighting Democrat, my friend Rob Sand. Maybe it's his baby-faced smile, or his country-boy demeanor, but he takes his job very seriously. Oops. That doesn't bode well for corrupt crony state politics.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/audit-kim-reynolds-covid-relief-funds_n_621f8b1ae4b018aad3c1a8d6
Several years ago, Rob cracked one the country's biggest lottery scams. It was a case so complicated, the Iowa Attorney General's office dropped it in his lap as "unsolvable." To them, it was. To Rob, it wasn't, and he cracked it. I guess the Iowa Republicans figured it would be a one-shot wonder. Nope. Millions in diverted Corona money, and almost half a million in diverted campaign contributions need to be returned. Ouch. As usual, the Republicans think only in Republicanese instead of English, and can't distinguish the difference between Flyover Country and Pushover Country. We can.
we can do it
(12,118 posts)Lochloosa
(16,019 posts)TheDemsshouldhireme
(172 posts)that's a great term and should be used more, never heard that before.
DFW
(54,057 posts)It just seemed like an appropriate term for the occasion.
madaboutharry
(40,153 posts)I loathe her and her anti-government, libertarian, control the womb, book banning, anti-education politics. Her cronies in the state legislature now have a new anti-people cause; getting rid of zoning laws.
Reynolds is a corrupt dumbass hick. Sorry if that offends hicks out there, but it's true.
Response to DFW (Original post)
multigraincracker This message was self-deleted by its author.
JT45242
(2,173 posts)Grassley is corrupt.
Ernst is corrupt.
The former governor's son killed a couple drunk driving. He covered it up and got reelected. Then made ambassador. The son is still considered an up and coming political possibility.
Covid Kimmy is corrupt.
And dumbass rural folks will still vote rethug because they hate bipoc people.
Lonestarblue
(9,880 posts)When I look at how corruption at the top in Russia has so damaged that country, I cannot help but compare it to the corruption we now have here. We will probably never know how much of the pandemic relief funds went into the pockets of those well connected in state government and to politicians. While Im sure some Democrats took advantage, I believe that many Republicans did. If we fail to root out corruption at the top and fail to pass laws making gerrymandering and the voter nullification laws Republicans have passed illegal, we may soon be just like Russia.
Ive been impressed with the German governments changes on the Russian pipeline and aid to Ukraine. How are German citizens reacting to the harsher line toward Russia?
The Jungle 1
(4,552 posts)Their religion is money!
PatSeg
(46,804 posts)Republicans are always complaining about Democratic spending while they are stealing from the taxpayers. Meanwhile, their voters are usually clueless.
Bettie
(15,998 posts)I hope he eventually runs for governor.
DFW
(54,057 posts)He said he wouldnt have a chance. If he had known all that would transpire in the last couple of months, he might have reconsidered. But as of now, he is concentrating on getting himself re-elected as State Auditor. I guess I cant blame him. When is the last time a national media source ever praised a State Auditor for giving that states governor hell?
Bettie
(15,998 posts)he said he would lose to old Chuckles McBullshit, well, he's probably right.
I'd like to see that seat flip, but people vote for him out of habit. Plus, they seem to love his stupid ad where he ties three lawn mowers together.
DFW
(54,057 posts)For that matter, Ive never been to Iowa.
But I believe the part about people voting for Chuckles out of habit. I worked in the Senate at a time when Carl Hayden, or what was left of him, had to be helped up to the presidents chair by about three guys. It was a painful, embarrassing scene to see every morning.
Bettie
(15,998 posts)But there it is, in all its weirdness.
He is terrible, but people see him as folksy and they think he still holds town halls in all 99 counties. Not so much anymore, he mostly has closed events with friendly audiences these days.
DFW
(54,057 posts)And it probably connects with plenty of people who will never see Washington
Bettie
(15,998 posts)He's definitely become more openly unhinged in recent years though. His approval ratings are pretty low, but again, habit.
PatrickforB
(14,516 posts)treason.
There are only a few sane ones left after Trump, and their policies are wrong.
But the majority of these Trumpists are batshit crazy. Look at the twins - Batshit Boebert, who heaps shame on Colorado every time she opens her mouth, and Marjorie Traitor Greene, who is so base she followed a kid from Sandy Hook telling him she was packing. These are disgusting, deplorable human beings.
I'm glad for IA, because yet more corruption is being exposed.
mountain grammy
(26,571 posts)I'm seeing it here in my little town with the awarding of grants.. I've written letters and gathered some information. This article gives me hope and encouragement to take it to the next level.
Raster
(20,996 posts)...racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia and outright just crappy-ass people.
#RepublicansAreTheProblem
#GOPBetrayedAmerica
#RepublicansAreDestroyingAmerica
#DeleteTheGOP
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)Hekate
(90,202 posts)DFW
(54,057 posts)He was alone, looking for something to do for dinner. I had my wife and daughters and a few friends, so I asked him if hed like to join us. He gratefully took me up on my offer, making sure it was no intrusion. I said not at all, and said I hoped he liked Lebanese food. He confessed that he didnt know, because he had never had it.
Well, we had a great time. I found a new friend in Iowa, a place I have still never been, and he found he liked Lebanese food, a cuisine he had never tasted. I remarked that it was unusual for me to introduce Lebanese food to someone who had never tasted it, and he remarked that it was unusual for him to meet an American who had been to the thirty countries, but had never been to Iowa. We have been friends ever since.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,308 posts)He is a very smart and ethical Democrat!
I too hope he will run for higher office some day.
DFW
(54,057 posts)Just Kidding!!
And thanks for supporting Rob! Iowa needs him, and definitely for higher office down the road.
Bettie
(15,998 posts)just an overall good person vibe from him.