Chet Culver Jumps the Shark 5/14/08

[Hardrada]

He kills the Collective Bargaining Bill with no remorse.

[IA_Seth]

1. That is beyond bullshit....

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette article:

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/NEWS/402526782/1001/NEWS

"The Democratic governor said his decision — which is sure to draw the ire of his union backers — came after an exhaustive review process that included 30 meetings and more than 5,000 contacts, but produced no workable compromise among the stakeholders.

Before adjourning the 2008 session, the top leaders of the Democratic-controlled Legislature urged Culver to sign House File 2645, while minority GOP leaders called for a swift veto."

----

So what the hell, we couldnt get the rat bastards to give us a 'workable compromise' so he kills the legislation? That's complete bullshit. So what does he think the chances are that his Republican successor will kill Republican-sponsored and passed legislation if we hold out like stubborn asses and refuse a 'workable compromise'. AAAAhhhh!!

This legislation was one of the key pieces that led a LOT of his supporters to the polls, to their checkbooks, and to their neighbors for his election campaign. How much of that does he honestly think he'll see come re-election?

I am SO disappointed.

[Hardrada]

27. None of that support will come back. None of it should.

Call or email his office with your anger. I know I am going to once I can quell my urge to use profanity.

[Debi]

2. What the HELL is wrong with that man?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/NEWS/80514025

http://www.governor.iowa.gov/news/2008/05/14_2.php

<snip>

I was elected to be Governor for all of the people of Iowa. As Governor, I have a responsibility to weigh the pros and cons of each and every piece of legislation sent to me by the legislature for my signature.

When I decide whether or not to sign a bill, I have to ask a question – is it in the best interests of the people of Iowa? And I have listened very carefully to the thousands of Iowans who have written, emailed, and called me during this constitutionally mandated review period.

While I have always been a strong supporter of workers rights and collective bargaining, a close examination of House File 2645 shows that it is not in the best interests of the taxpayers of Iowa to let this legislation become law. It is vaguely written with the potential for far reaching, unintended consequences that could obligate the citizens of Iowa to substantial new public expenditures. Therefore, I will veto the bill.

<snip>

There will be those who will criticize my actions. That is to be expected. That is part of my job. As Harry Truman said, “the buck stops here.”

<snip>

++++++++++++++++

Didn't we just go through eight years of a Governor who pandered to the republicans?

I'm just sick about this.

I wonder if Culver will make it to the State Convention - I'm sure there are plenty of folks who would like to discuss his job with him at length.

x(

[IA_Seth]

3. I've had it..

It's one let down after another with our Party these days. From our Democratic Congress to our very own Governor. You bust your ass for someone and this is how they repay you - the same as 90% of the rest of the damn politicians, regardless of party, total spineless bullshit.

I hope he makes it to the convention too, and I hope they let him know he fucked up, but I'm not gonna be there.

What the hell do I even do this for, honestly?

[Debi]

4. Breath in and breath out honey -

Imagine Jim Nussle being our governor right now - that ought to remind you WHY you do this.

I'm as dissapointed in "The Six Pack" re: Fair Share (That Cuvler was FOR), and Culver for this latest fiasco!

Oh, to have the Chet Culver we ELECTED back! A little over a year ago he was kicking ass and taking names on Fair Share:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=152x14791

You can't be too unhappy w/your Congressional Rep (I know I :loveya: mine!) or Senator Harkin

And remember - your little girl and that U.S. Supreme Court - That's reason enough to stay active.

[Hardrada]

5. People are more used to hateful opponents than to traitors

and that is why they react so strongly. The GOP took care of Lee Clancy after she endorsed Al Gore!

[Debi]

13. True

very true.

[haroldgiowa]

6. There is a difference

Keep in mind that a working majority in both houses went along with Culver's governorship. Something the party has not seen since I don't know when. Culver needs to keep in mind that the tables can turn on his advantage every two years.You got to make hay while the sun is shining. Yes he is the Governor of every Iowan, but it isn't every Iowan hoping out for his successes or fighting to prevent his failures.

The organized workers work their butts off to deliver both two years ago. I just hope this isn't more of the vindictive nature he has demonstrated the purges early in his first term in office. In my area I have seen him leave others out in the cold because of the support in the primaries two years ago. If this is the case he needs to quit and quit it now. If it is not then he needs to prove it isn't.

[Hardrada]

7. Did AFSCME support Blouin?

[haroldgiowa]

8. Do you know?

I know there were some unions that did not support Culver in the primary. Do you have the answer. If I were them I wouldn't volunteer an endorsement next time around.

[haroldgiowa]

9. Yes they did

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=A1A93DAE-794F-403C-AF715A54FB23F051


Radio Iowa

AFSCME endorses Blouin; has picked Democrat winner since 1986
Tuesday, February 21, 2006, 3:51 PM

[Hardrada]

10. He might therefore be vindictive against AFSCME?

I don't think we need petty people as governor.

[haroldgiowa]

11. He will need to convince them otherwise

It does have the appearance.

[Debi]

16. That pettiness may be a two-way street

however only one of the parties has veto power.

[haroldgiowa]

17. The other side could over ride the veto

Even if they didn't have the votes to over ride the veto, if I was in the democratic leadership I would call a special session to vote on an over ride of the veto. If for no other reason to send a message to both the governor and his people and to the union.

[Hardrada]

22. As I said elsewhere but in the same context, no one likes

a slave revolt except the slaves. Workers who want rights are not merely petty.

[Debi]

23. I hope you don't take any of my comments as defending Culver

or slamming organized labor. Neither is happening in this thread.

AFSCME leadership and Culver behaving in a petty manner is one thing, let them all bicker and whisper and spread rumors and whatnot. When it comes to creating laws that HELP working Iowans they all need to hold hands and sing that damned kumbaya song!

[Hardrada]

26. This is most certainly true.

[pstans]

25. ISEA backed Culver and teachers would benefit greatly from this

[Debi]

14. I'm pissed at Culver about this

Just like I was pissed at the six-pack about Fair Share.

There was no good reason for him to veto this bill.

How many school board members and chamber of commerce members supported him? (In the primary or the general?)

[Hardrada]

12. When the State Con rolls around, he'd be better off taking

yet another vacation. My wife thinks he might not be so bright after all. Chet's dad disappointed me too when he supported the VN War way up almost to the end.

[Debi]

15. I do think Culver is smart and (before he became Governor) listened to his supporters

Now I don't know WHO he is listening to - who has his ear there in Des Moines? Who is whispering to him to trapse all over the US - going to professional football games, play-off games and the Kentucky Derby - while stabbing his Iowa supporters in the back? Who controls the Governor's office now? He is not the Chet Culver I knew as Secretary of State or the Culver I knew during the primary and run up to the general election. He has a new group of friends now. And I don't think any of us would recognize them.

[Hardrada]

18. As I mentioned sometime back, this is probably a class thing.

I don't think his staff or others close to him are from working class backgrounds. That makes a big diference in perspective and he clearly has the wrong perspective. We will have to look around for someone who does.

[DU9598]

28. Jerry Crawford

He and Tom Vilsack have the Governor's ear.

[Debi]

30. Oh God....well that explains it

Culver had the opportunity to be a different Governor than Vilsack. By surrounding himself with Vilsack's people (and probably their wallets and checkbooks) and ignoring the folks who knocked doors and made phone calls and VOTED for him (remember who Crawford supported in the primary, and what Vilack did AFTER the primary that ate into Culver's campaign funds)he'll end up just the same. Eight more years of 'if we work WITH the republicans they won't attack us.....:banghead: 2010 is going to suck.

[haroldgiowa]

32. Culver said it himself, "the buck stops here"

Only one man had the veto and that was Governor Culver. Throw in all the other names you want, Governor Culver issued the veto and he needs to be given the full credit for doing so.

[Debi]

39. I understand what you're saying

I just wonder who was advising Culver when he made the decision.

[Hardrada]

35. We don't know who Jerry Crawford is in our village?

Please enlighten us.

[Debi]

37. Here's a couple links

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=1886

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Granite+Status%3A+Vilsack+words+do+not+match+actions&articleId=3463a054-69e5-4652-81e5-0fbbe8a9ccf8

On edit:

If you type in Jerry Crawford in the DU Google search you'll get many Iowa-DU threads about Crawford and Iowa's First in the Nation votes and his contributions to Vilsack's Heartland PAC. d

[Hardrada]

42. I googled "Jerry Crawford Des Moines" and got a picture

of his mug and a video where he is talking on IPT. I guess he's been a kingmaker all along though he seems to have not done well with the Hillary campaign which as we all know went into the dumper in Iowa. Is this guy some sort of litigational Daddy Warbucks or what? I don't know the DM scene that well.

[Debi]

43. I don't know him - don't know if I've ever met him - so all I know of him comes from

what I read about him. Maybe some Des Moines DUers can give us more information.

[rurallib]

19. Call for Ed Fallon. Is Ed Fallon in the house?

Oy Vey. Culver falls for the Republican lies. And they can't even field candidates in about a third of the races. C'mon Chet. Get your head in the game.
Let me add that what really pisses me off is the talking points he hands Pukes (even their governor couldn't agree to this). Dammit

[kernelfarmer]

20. culver is a douchebag

what a moron...nothing like biting the hand that feeds you.

[Hardrada]

21. I suspected he did not have all his wits about him when

he was pushing a bottle bill that require store employees to return pennies in change.

[haroldgiowa]

24. Bill to vague?

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/Cool-ICE/DisplayBills.htm

I am still reading through the bill.I don't see anything that stands out that I haven't seen in other collective bargaining bills. I posted the bill look up site for your conveniences. HF2645

I am looking at the window of opportunity that may or may not be closed this election cycle. As stated before in Iowa this opportunity of having both houses and the governor's office needs to be taken advantage of. The two happiest people seems to be the majority party leaders in the senate and house. I don't know how many times I have emailed these two on legislation that they blocked only because they could.

[4dsc]

29. Looking more like a one term governor to me

I'm hearing from more and more democrat's in the state that they are very unhappy with Culver's performance this year. I wonder if he'll be just a one term governor..

[Debi]

31. Right now he's in no different position than Vilsack was in 2002

after the furlough of state employees and that idiotic english only bill. Unless someone steps up to run a primary against Culver......the idea of Steve King or Doug Gross as Iowa's Governor is worse than a politically tone deaf Culver.

[4dsc]

36. But...

According to my research, Vilsack passed a republican based plan to furlough state employees and cut other services because of budget problems.. Too bad we are not facing any such problems today and republicans are not in the majority(which makes me wonder why after this republicans led legislation).. Democrat's are in the majority today and this was just another blunder by Culver..

Sure, no one is going to step up and challenge him on the Democratic side but many voters who voted for him before may not next time.. This is just one of many items that has made Culver look bad...

[Hardrada]

41. I know a few dozen people who won't vote for him again.

People who will vote for other Dems on the ticket. I have a book about one of his ancestors in the Civil War. I reacted so badly to Culver's treachery that this book which I once liked I now want to throw into the dumpster.

[haroldgiowa]

38. We are not talking 2002 nor Vilsack

That was then this is now.

We are talking 2008 and a collective bargaining bill that Culver vetoed. Union people work hard for the Democratic Party and expect to have legitimate reasons to have a bill vetoed. "The bill is to vague" is not a igitimate reason. If there is a reason spell it out in words we can understand, not "the buck stops here"

[Debi]

40. You're right

I just meant that the Democratic Party (and Labor) was none too happy with Vilsack in 2002 and yet we re-elected him rather than having Governor Gross in office.

Don't take my words as defending Culver, I'm not. I'd like a better explanation as well, unfortunately any call to his office by members of my family are not returned and haven't been for some time.

[Hardrada]

34. Let's hope so, folks!

[DU GrovelBot]

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