Good evening everyone! Tonight I would like to start out our evening news roundup with a special video to get us in the mood. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the music...
If I Can Dream
In honor of Elvis Presley who passed away thirty years ago on August 16, 1977. I can remember very well the day Elvis died...can you? I guess I'm aging myself telling that bit of info but really I was just a toddler ;D Ok, on the news roundup below the fold...
We start out with "Fighting for America" bus tour through Iowa. Here are the stops for today. Looks like he had another busy day and still going strong even as I write this.
8:15 AM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to attend Woodbury Democrats
Truman Club Breakfast
Residence of Tim and Kathy Bottaro
1915 Heights Avenue
Sioux City, Iowa
10:30 AM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a community meeting
BozWellz Pub and Eatery
Junction Routes 59 & 175
Ida Grove, Iowa
12:30 PM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a community meeting
Twin Lakes Steakhouse
2419 220th Street
Rockwell City, Iowa
2:00 PM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a community meeting
Sidelines Restaurant at Family Fun Zone
230 N. Main Street
Pocahontas, Iowa
5:45 PM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a community meeting
Gazebo Park
200 W. Central Avenue
Clarion, IA
7:45 PM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a town hall
Clear Lake High School
125 N. 20th Street
Clear Lake, Iowa
Here is tomorrow's schedule
BUILDING ONE AMERICA BY REWARDING WORK
8:45 AM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a community meeting
Ralph's Café
121 E. Elmore Street
Manly, Iowa
10:00 AM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a community meeting
Maple Inn Café
702 Main Street
Osage, Iowa
11:30 AM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to hold a community meeting
Floyd County Historical Museum
500 Gilbert St.
Charles City, Iowa
2:30 PM
Senator Edwards to address the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Convention Presidential Forum
Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
205 W. 4th Street
Waterloo, Iowa
6:45 PM
Senator and Mrs. Edwards to attend the Bremer County Democrats fundraiser
Waverly Civic Center
200 1st Street NE
Waverly, Iowa
Here is a day two recap...
Sioux City, Ida Grove, Rockwell City, Pocahontas, Clarion and Clear Lake, Iowa – As Senator John Edwards' "Fighting for One America" tour continues across Iowa, Edwards showed the strength of his campaign by announcing the support of more than 1,000 Iowans from rural communities in all 99 counties who have agreed to caucus for him. Edwards also outlined a comprehensive strategy to help young people in rural America find opportunity close to home so they aren't forced to leave their communities.
"Too many small towns in America are turning into ghost towns as young people move away to find opportunity elsewhere," Edwards said. "As president, I will lead an aggressive effort to reverse the loss of jobs and opportunity in rural towns like the one I grew up in. I believe we can revitalize and reenergize rural economies with new industries so that young people can find good jobs in their own community. At the same time, we need to stand up to big agribusiness conglomerates and their Washington lobbyists and make sure that family farmers can earn a decent living."
The announcement of the 1,000 rural supporters shows Edwards' growing support in rural Iowa. It also reflects his broad appeal to rural voters like those in Iowa and other swing states that will decide the general election – support based on Edwards' detailed and bold agenda to invest in rural communities and his long track record of standing up for rural towns like the one he grew up in. In April, the Edwards campaign became the first campaign in either party to announce a Rural Chair for all 99 counties in Iowa. These Rural Chairs are helping to organize support for Edwards among their friends and neighbors, and played a key role in recruiting the 1,000 rural supporters.
Bringing Opportunity and Hope Back to Rural Communities for Our Young People
In April, Edwards proposed a Rural Recovery Act to revitalize rural America. Today, Edwards expanded on this proposal, outlining an aggressive strategy to ensure that young people can find opportunities in rural America. Details of the new strategy include:
Investing Seed Money for Rural Recovery: Edwards will create the Rural Economic Advancement Challenge (REACH) Fund to bring management expertise and desperately needed investment capital to small town America, so that entrepreneurs can have a chance to succeed.
Preventing Brain Drain: Edwards will target part of his REACH fund for local entrepreneurs to young adults under 30, strengthen federal support for beginning farmer programs and rural youth development programs, and provide new training and education opportunities for young people to get jobs in the new energy economy – jobs that will be based primarily in rural areas.
Creating the New Energy Economy in Rural America: Edwards will establish the New Energy Economy Fund to jumpstart renewable energies – including ethanol, biodiesel, wind, and solar – which can create new industries and hundreds of thousands of jobs in Iowa and throughout rural America.
Standing up for Family Farmers: Edwards will protect the family farm so that young people have a chance to continue this important tradition while earning a decent living. To counter agribusiness' devastating effect on local farms, he will enact a national ban on packer ownership and a moratorium on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). He will also limit farm subsidies to $250,000 per person, close loopholes in payment limits, and expand conservation programs.
Investing in Rural Broadband: Edwards will identify service gaps to encourage investment, require telephone and cable companies not to discriminate against rural communities and set aside a portion of the broadcast spectrum for community providers to improve service in rural areas.
Prohibiting Banks from Discriminating Against Rural America: Rural communities have fewer bank branches and per-capita small business loans, and more high-cost mortgages. Edwards will prevent banks from discriminating against rural areas and increase investment in rural small businesses. He will also enact a strong national law against predatory mortgages common in rural areas.
Fighting for Economic Fairness: With one out of every 10 Iowans living in poverty, Edwards will raise the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2012 with automatic increases after that. He would cut taxes for low-wage workers, help workers save and invest, and expand affordable housing near good jobs and schools.
http://johnedwards.com/...
Here is a cute video of Elizabeth at a bus tour stop being not only the wife of a presidental candidate but more importantly.... a mom :D
John in Sioux City talking about opportunity & globalization
Well that's it for tonight. I will finish up with Edwards'parting words to Bush's turdblossom Karl Rove upon learning he would leaving the White House at the end of August... "Goodbye and good riddance". Short and to the point..enough said :D Have a good evening everyone!
