Is Chuck Grassley one of the better repukes?

[msmcghee]

As they go? I'm having a discussion with someone who claims that he is. Is that true?

I know he sits on the Diebold board - or used to. Was there something associated with that that was illegal?

I thought he did something particularly odious (typically republican) but I can't remember what it was. Any help pro or con from the great storehouse of DU wisdom will be appreciated.

Thanks

[Chimpanzee]

1. I always thought he was one of the worse ones - I could be wrong

[DU9598]

2. No

Big fan of tort deform, keeping injured and harmed people from having justice against big insurance companies, etc. He knows who contributes to his campaign and his party.

[whistle]

3. Is there such a thing as a better rattle snake?

[JI7]

4. yes he is, although he is still very conservative

he is better in the sense that he doesn't have the vileness of tom delay, bush, cheney, rumsfeld,santorum etc.

[Pirate Smile]

5. He is currently sticking up for the whistle blower doctors. I would

agree that he is not one of the worst. He isn't one of the moderates but he isn't Santorum or Inhofe.

[bobbieinok]

6. he was first elected to the senate from IA on one main issue

bring down the DOD costs.......paying way too much money for things like screw-drivers, etc

my ex claimed he sounds like Will Rogers

[Itchinjim]

7. The man is my Senator,

I disagree with him on most every issue, but the man has integrity and stands on principle. I will give him that. There are a hell of a a lot worse Repukes out there than him.

[Pirate Smile]

10. Mine too. Did you enjoy his lawn mower commercials this year?

They were too funny.

Vote for me. I cut my own grass with my riding lawn mower. Vrrrm. Vrrrm.

[Itchinjim]

12. I was going to mention that,

I envisioned him riding that lawn mower to DC ala "The Straight Story"

[autorank]

8. I remember when he was one of the worst. Now he's one of the best Repukes

My God, Grassley a statesman, Nixon looking good compared to *, Rumsfield still has a job. We're fucked!

[Rowdyboy]

9. My impression is thats he's a real conservative (ala Alan Simpson)

unlike the religious right conservatives that run things today.

[msmcghee]

11. Thanks for the quick education . . .

DU is great because of you folks like you.

[Hippo_Tron]

13. If by better you mean not one of the worst

His voting record sucks but he doesn't appear as bad because he isn't always out there making disgusting speeches or preaching about family values.

[man4allcats]

14. He does have some noble efforts to his credit...

I don't know much about him, but I do know that he is active in efforts to reform the poorly regulated and badly managed U.S. nursing home/long term care industry. See; for example, his letter to Dr. Mark McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Senator Grassley's letter, posted on the website of the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform at < http://www.nccnhr.org/uploads/GrassleyLtr0704.pdf > (beware that this PDF file may take awhile to load), details the many problems in U.S. nursing home care today and calls for initiatives to address those problems. Grassley's July 9, 2004 letter requested a reply from McClellan by "no later than August 17, 2004." As far as I am aware, McClellan never answered.

I follow this type of story quite closely as my mom is a nursing home resident. I am all too well aware of the problems in the U.S. long term care industry, problems that will only worsen with Bushco at the helm. I am grateful for Grassley's efforts even though he is in the enemy camp. Erwin Rommel was a famous German WWII military commander, but I wouldn't call him a Nazi. Likewise, there appear to be at least a few Republicans that aren't arrogant, fascist misanthropes.

[Dr Ron]

15. Not as bad as some

I've seen his name come up from time to time to oppose some of Bush's ideas--which is becoming more and more rare in the GOP. For example, he did oppose Bush's idea of only allowing people who join Medicare HMO's to receive the prescription drug benefits.

(What a con that could have been. Join a HMO to get what might turn out to be a very limited benefit. Donut's anyone?)