The Common Sense Politics Blog » State Issues

Gutless Republicans Dodge Another Bullet …

Michael Fiala — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:30:51 +0000

Is it time conservatives boycott businesses that unfairly punish paying customers in favor of liberal radicals?

Many conservatives are finally starting to think so.

Let me explain …

Monday, April 9, 2012, an apolitical, non-profit charity group — the Mason City Noon Rotary Club – - invited Congressman Steve King to speak on legislative issues to the club.

While Rotarians check their politics at the door to help others in need, they do invite elected representatives to speak to the club about issues relevant to Rotary. And Rotary always gives equal time to political candidates during election season (for more on Rotary and politics, click here: Rotary and Politics).

However, on Monday the 9th, a radical, extremist, Democrat, far-left, liberal group called CREDO – funded by George Soros and consisting of people from Ohio and other states irrelevant to Congressman King’s district (but also including a local femi-nazi Democrat, known to never have her facts straight) – planned and executed a protest on a charitable non-profit outside the meeting venue, trespassed on private property, and harassed Rotarian’s on their way into the meeting (again, on private property) for 20 minutes Monday morning.

TV coverage of their ridiculous display was very good.

TV coverage of Republicans standing up to the protestor’s — sucked!

Why? Because Republicans didn’t show up! Maybe Republicans are scared. Maybe Republicans are “beneath” that.

But the reality is, THEY had their people on camera BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE THERE!

KIMT news was as even-handed as they could be. But Conservatives did nothing to counterbalance the coverage.

How are Conservatives going to own the argument if they don’t compete?! Conservatives who think that way of communicating is beneath them need to pull their heads out. Go find some like-minded people with the guts to confront these idiots and get them involved!

George Bush 43 learned this lesson the hard way. After 6 years of BS, he learned that failing to defend yourself makes liberal-factually-challenged-pop-BS “fact” — even when it isn’t. It wasn’t until Tony Snow (God rest his soul) came on board that things started to turn around. But by then it was too late to do any good.

So, on a local level, Cerro Gordo County Republicans lost another PR battle again!

I think the larger issue is, why do we continue to buy things from people that openly “dis” our views, pull their advertising from conservative businesses/radio shows who “offend” their lame-assed, PC, liberal sensibilities, and generally use our money against us?

At the Monday Rotary meeting, one of the reasons TV coverage of the event was so good was because the liberal Owner of Prime & Wine/Papa’s waited 20 minutes to call the police to evict them from his property. He didn’t make a move until he was FORCED to call the police to evict the unlawful trespassing protesters by the secretary of the club!

But the liberal Owner of Prime & Wine/Papa’s and his staff have a history of radical liberal sympathies.

For instance, I personally heard them call Ms. Bachmann a “Crazy” when she was running for President, based on their ignorant and gross misunderstanding of her views. Based on that incident – and the liberal Owner of Prime & Wine/Papa’s failure to safe-guard his property and the people paying their hard-earned money to rent his property that day – I think that gives us a baseline to help us figure out how he and his staff REALLY thinks.

So I ask the question again: “Why do Republican/Libertarians who may not want to elect Steve/Michelle’s opponents (or any other liberal politician for that matter) continue giving their money to people that oppose their views?”

As conservatives, we can’t keep doing things the same way and expect a different result (without satisfying the definition of insanity) and win in November.

And failing to inflict economic pain on liberal businesses/people when they are more than happy to inflict economic pain on our apolitical non-profit charities and our legitimate, for-profit businesses as a political tactic is just … plain … stupid.

Michael Fiala
Direct Response Internet Copywriter & Marketing Consultant
April 11, 2012
Clear Lake, Iowa

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Promoting the Gay Agenda to Your Kids … At YOUR Expense!

Candi Karsjens — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:07:37 +0000

Apparently today at Mason City High School, the gay-straight alliance club (yes, we have one as of this year) gave out free t-shirts throughout the school with the phrase: “Gay? Fine by me!” printed on it. I was told that many teachers and students — including one of our administrators — were all sporting these shirts today during school.

While I believe STRONGLY in First Amendment Rights, I don’t think a public school system is the place to allow any club to promote their political platform, especially one that is as controversial as this issue.

Children should be protected from indoctrination by ANY group in this manner in a place of learning.

This is a controversial subject that should be discussed at home in families, and not pushed down the throats of our students when they are at school to learn, in a publicly funded learning institution. The disruption to learning at a school where we have not made our district learning goals in at least three years is really disturbing.

Regardless of how you feel on this issue, the public school learning environment should not be allowing such a hot political topic to overshadow learning, incite bad feelings, and promote a way of living to our children by endorsing this type of lifestyle, at school.

What is next? Pro-abortion or Anti-abortion groups? A Student led Communist Party Group? Student led Socialist Party Groups?

The Fellowship Christian Athletes group was told they could not meet anywhere on the school grounds, even before or after school because they were “religious” in nature. But the gay-straight alliance club can meet during the school day?

I was told by a school board member they knew nothing about this and it had not come by the school board. I feel strongly that this type of disruption should never happen DURING school hours at a public (taxpayer funded) school and I hope you will join me in voicing your discontent by e-mailing our school board members and your administrators.

Thanks.

Candi Karsjens

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You Can’t Polish a Turd …

Republicans Come Out Swinging

Michael Fiala — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:59:32 +0000

In response to a letter sent to John Boehner by Senator Reid’s office vowing to block repeal or amendment of the health care law, Republicans let it be known they won’t be pushed around by Democrats.

Speaker Boehner fired back with this response to the Socialist Senators this week:

Senators Reid, Durbin, Schumer, Murray and Stabenow:

Thank you for reminding us – and the American people – of the backroom deal that you struck behind closed doors with ‘Big Pharma,’ resulting in bigger profits for the drug companies, and higher prescription drug costs for 33 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D, at a cost to the taxpayers of $42.6 billion.

The House is going to pass legislation to repeal that now. You’re welcome.

- Speaker-Designate John Boehner’s Press Office

If Republicans keep this up, we just might let them come back for round two in 2012!

Michael Fiala
Mason City, Iowa

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Iowa’s AG AWOL on Health Care Lawsuit

fbadams — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:59:04 +0000

The other day I wondered about the twenty states that have filed suit against the federal government over Obamacare. Was Iowa a part of such a historic event?

So I called the AG’s office and spoke with a Ms White who had no time to listen to my questions, but did offer to send me his statement (which can be read on the AG’s official site).

After reading and re-reading the statement I responded back to the AG’s office with the following letter that I submit to our readers of the blog:

Ms. White:

Thank you for your prompt response to my inquiry as to why Iowa has not joined the suit against the federal government concerning the Health Insurance Act (HAI). And, yes, I had read Attorney General Miller’s statement earlier, but it was worth a re-read.

As an attorney with a background in constitutional law the reasons given by the AG are breathtaking in their lack of understanding of the United States Constitution and the case law over the years. A mis-reading and mis-characterization of the legal issues circumscribing the federally mandated purchase of healthcare insurance by individual citizens calls into question the competence of Iowa’s chief law administrator. His citations are not even on point!

It is incontrovertible fact that all commerce cases in American history to date have dealt with PROHIBITORY issues emanating from practices that purportedly affect interstate commerce. Thus, the case cited to by the AG forbade the farmer from growing wheat to feed his livestock holding that such practice would adversely impact the market and impede interstate commerce (a dubious conclusion in my estimation). The AG cited a case that was prohibitive in nature and not compulsory in scope. The present case is that the federal government’s legislative branch argues it has the authority to COMPEL citizens to purchase a product either in the marketplace, or from the government. This position was never contemplated by the framers of our Constitution and a fair reading of the Constitution reveals a decided opposition to any attempt to compel citizens to AFFIRMATIVELY act in any manner much less to compel a purchase in order to have a positive effect on interstate commerce.

Limited government, the hallmark of the founding of this country, cannot peacefully coexist with laws that force citizens to buy a product. It has been stated incorrectly by supporters of Obamacare that automobile insurance is analogous to the present healthcare legislation. That argument is not convincing in that insurance laws are within the purvey of that power reserved to the states – states may enact such laws, but not the federal government. The correct constitutional test is not that healthcare decisions affect interstate commerce, but whether the commerce clause may reach into the life of the individual citizen and force him to participate in that commerce. For AG Miller to miss that focus reveals a contrarian outlook by him that is not shared by his fellow citizens of Iowa.

The second reason given by the AG not to join the legal challenge is embarrassingly illogical. It is immaterial whether the state is “allowed” to set up an exchange or has it set up by the feds, the end result is the same: that the federal government is attempting to eviscerate constitutional reservations of the rights of the member sovereign states.

And the final reason given is a non-starter. Already, several states have opted out of this economic nightmare and many more have pending legislation to so do. The AG’s appeal to the principle that we fought a Civil War to preserve the political union of the federation of states soars beyond the absurd. Succession from the Union has no relevancy to the question of the economic proposition that citizens must purchase healthcare insurance. Whatever was Miller thinking when no state has even hinted at a withdrawal from the Union over Obamacare! Furthermore, one has to wonder why the feds have exempted several states, all labor unions, some mega-corporations and federal employees from compliance with the Health Insurance Reform Act – in themselves egregious examples of the corrupt political payoffs that plague this administration, and why citizens are so fed up with the current political machinations used to bludgeon taxpayers into compliance with yet more bad policy, bad law and bad governance.

In law school I too was taught, and subsequently rejected, two destructive legal precepts that have harmed the cause of liberty more than any other in the course of our history: that our Constitution is a living, breathing document so pliable that it can be made to say anything the politicos desire, and the move in our law colleges away from strict constitutional interpretation to the position that case law precedent rises to the force of law thus trumping the Constitution. The result is predictable as shown by two notorious examples: bad public policy stemming from poorly reasoned cases such as Roe v. Wade at the federal level, and Varnum v. Brien at the state level. These reasons are germane to the current healthcare discussion. Why would Iowa timidly stand by for yet another assault upon the rights of a free society by making a trifecta of anti-American laws such as those that emanated from the judicial branch and now this economic monstrosity from the legislative? The commonality of judge-made law and legislative over-reaching rests upon a move away from the historical appeal to the Constitution as a basis for our laws toward a politically expedient test to enact legislative mandates upon the citizenry. Is it any wonder that in this politically explosive climate the taxpayers are restive?

It is abundantly apparent from the weak arguments given by the AG for not joining twenty other states suing the administration that Miller’s reticence to act for the best interest of freedom-loving Iowans can only be understood in terms of his decidedly left-leaning political motivations. What is not understandable is why Miller continues to act when our elderly citizens are already suffering under the federal HIA by having their Medicare and Medicaid benefits reduced – if they can even find providers willing to accept those covered by these doomed programs. Additionally, Iowans who have privately purchased coverage have seen insurance companies drastically raise premiums in order to remain in business. And the cruelest irony of all is when those in Iowa who still have jobs with medical insurance benefits find that in 2011 those benefits will be deemed as individual income for tax purposes so that many will see significant sums of money withheld from their pay in order to cover higher taxes resulting from this ill-conceived legislation.

In a mid-term election year the position not to protect Iowa citizens by the state Attorney General is likely to make him and his party radioactive. But even if one agrees with HIA one could in good conscience join the suit based upon the premise that vigorous, judicial testing of such a far-reaching program in court best serves the public interest regardless of the outcome. The absence of Miller’s acting in such a watershed case simply serves to remind the voters that instead of pursuing impartial justice on behalf of Iowa citizens, Miller has chosen partisan politics that serve his ends and those of the Democrat machine currently entrenched in the statehouse.

Frank Adams
Mason City, Iowa

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Election 2010 and YOU …

Michael Fiala — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:02:51 +0000

It’s here. It’s time to put up or shut up. It’s time for YOU …

… the voter … the one that really counts … the one that ultimately suffers or benefits from the policies implemented by the politicians YOU allow to occupy local, state and national offices …

… to elect people who will fix what’s ailing us as a state and as a nation.

Or continue to allow progressive, big-government elitists to continue flushing your country down the toilet.

From nationalized, unconstitutional health care to tax hikes only a liberal could love to immigration polices that DO NOT reflect the intent or the wording of the 14th Amendment, the consequences of the next two election cycles are more important to our survival as a country than any in recent memory.

Candidates with Tea Party movement support won handily in two important primaries in liberal-leaning northeastern states last night. Dems are claiming they think they can win those seats now because Tea Party people are “out of the mainstream”.

But – in typical arrogant elitist politician fashion – they’re only listening to their own echo chamber. So they don’t realize Tea Party people ARE the mainstream.

A recent report from The Tax Foundation – a nonpartisan think tank – found if Democrats in Congress allow the Bush Tax Cuts to expire, a middle income Iowa family (income of $61,663/year) will see their taxes increase by a whopping $1,616 beginning in 2011! That’s not going to happen only to “tea-drinking-out-of-the-mainstream-conservative-radical-wackos”. That’s going to happen to YOU! And your family.

For a revealing look at how your vote could affect your life and your family personally and financially, please check out this handy Tax Calculator – http://www.mytaxburden.org/. You might be surprised (and possibly horrified) at what you find out.

The power is in your hands to get out and actively support — with your time and money — common sense, Constitutionally-based, conservative politicians to replace those who would transform our country into a second-class banana republic.

Michael Fiala
Clear Lake, Iowa
September 15, 2010

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Lefty Faux Outrage

Michael Fiala — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:04:11 +0000

***WARNING: This article contains offensive language!

I must admit, it’s been kind of exciting the last few days.

The Mason City Tea Party billboard has everybody up-in-arms. And, having worked on the North Iowa Tea Party website, I’ve been getting my share of nasty emails and phone calls.

Never mind that I had nothing to do with the billboard. But what good leftist ever let a fact get in the way of a good self-righteous rant?

It wouldn’t be so bad if I had a staff to deal with lib hate mail and phone calls like Rush or Beck. But I’m a one-man shop, so I have to field the venomous hatred spewing forth from these people myself.

They remind me of my second ex-wife — there’s no limit to the lies they’ll tell … the mischaracterizations they indulge themselves in … the cherry-picked historical revisionisms they accept as fact … and no limit to the amount of fake indignation they serve up under the guise of moral outrage.

Oh, well. Maybe I should back up and explain how all this got started …

I help my local Tea Party movement with technical services like website services, video, social media posts — things that have to do with communications, which is how I earn my living.

But last week, a couple of people claiming to be acting on behalf of the North Iowa Tea Party put up an incendiary billboard that played right into the whacko-lefty’s hands.

The message they intended was to point out the similarities between Obama’s policies and the socialist policies of Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin … like nationalized health care, the collusion of government and business to interfere with free markets, and government collaboration with labor unions aimed at control to name a few.

When I first heard about this I told the people involved to quit drinking whiskey when they designed these billboards … that the message would be lost as outraged lefty’s screamed “RACIST” at the top of their lungs … that moderates and independents would be turned off … but my warnings fell on deaf ears.

So the billboard went up, my email address and phone number are readily available to anyone willing to look for them, and the S%^$ hit the fan!

What’s been entertaining — and very instructive about who liberals, leftists, and Democrats really are — are the “hate” emails I’ve received. They’re filled with “educated”, “intellectual”, “tolerant”, “inclusive”, “compassionate” things like:

“… you should educate yourselves on shay’s rebellion and Adams assertion that rebellion against the republic should be punished by EXECUTION …”

And this …

“Do you know anything about politics or history? Because if you did, you’d be ashamed of yourselves … congratulations, now the whole world knows that North Iowa harbours ignorant cunts.”

Or this little gem …

“You’re all a bunch of racist retards like Palin’s dumb kid. You guys are doing nothing for this country. I’ll give credit to Palin. At least she’s keeping the paper towel industry in tact. Her kid’s drooling needs tons of paper towels just like you guys when you think you saw a pussy shot of her. Iowa, corn and cornholing. No suprise they let fags marry since there’s so many of you hershey highway homos. Iowa, what a dissapointment to an otherwise civilized country.”

Aren’t lefty’s “civilized”? Just full of “tolerance”, “compassion”, and “love”? (Yeah — if they’re screwing the tax payers to pay for it.) And how about that superior intellect lefty’s are always bragging about?

Then there were the “I hate you teabaggers” emails. After that brilliant opening they rant on and on, calling Tea Party movement people “hate mongers”, mischaracterizing the Tea Party message as “hate speech”, and accusing Tea People of being racists (the default position of liberals that don’t have their facts straight).

Don’t the shrinks call that transference? As in accusing your enemy of doing what you’re doing to put them on the defensive, hide your own unethical conduct, and/or confuse the issue for the general public?

Judging from the emails and calls I’ve been getting it sounds like lefty’s know quite a lot about “hate”.

We know libs are experts on racism, given Robert Byrd’s Klan association. Strom Thurmond was a Democrat when he was a member of the Klan. Democrats filibustered Eisenhower’s civil rights legislation. If it weren’t for Republicans, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would not have passed. And our current President attended a church pastored by a racist-communist for somewhere around two decades.

And finally, where the hell were you “sensitive”, “offended” lefty’s when movies and books came out depicting and describing the methods for assassinating George Bush? Where was your self-righteous indignation when you and your lefty friends compared President Bush to Hitler?

I find the left’s faux outrage and hypocrisy immensely more disgusting, vile, and hypocritical than any billboard trying to make a valid comparison about policy no matter how stupidly, unprofessionally messaged, and ineptly it was executed.

So it’s been a pretty exciting couple days here in quiet little Mason City.

Oh! Another lib in Chicago just sent me some more hate mail! Gotta go get me some more of that lefty “tolerance”, “diversity”, and “love” …

Michael Fiala
Mason City, Iowa
July 14, 2010

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New Constitution Study Group Video

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:46:24 +0000

Please check out the new Constitution Study Group video here:

Constitution Study Group April 2010 »»»

and here:

Constitution Study Group June 2010 »»»

They’re also easily accessible from main navigation above. And please pass this on to your friends!

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Memorial Day

Representative Linda Upmeyer — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:00:35 +0000

[Transcript of Iowa State Representative Linda Upmeyer's 2010 Memorial Day address to the Veterans and citizens of Garner, Iowa.]

Good morning. Thank you for being here this morning and thank you for inviting me to say a few words.

It is both a thrill and a humbling experience to speak before your home town friends and family. But most importantly, I am honored to be here with you to remember our fallen soldiers … those who fought and who have died … but who preserved the rights and freedoms that we enjoy today.

As I reflected on what I would say this morning, I thought of my earliest memories of men and women in the military. I remember as a small girl seeing my Dad, his friends, and my Uncle in their uniforms.

I remember, as a young person here in Garner, seeing the National Guardsmen and Reserves gather at the Armory for weekend drills.

I remember graduating from High School and losing a good friend during the Viet Nam war. And classmates going off to training as they entered military service.

Then I thought about the Oath of Allegiance our soldiers swear before entering the Armed Forces: “I do solemnly swear … that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies foreign and domestic … so help me God.” With those simple words, a young American makes the greatest commitment of a lifetime.

I thought about history … in the beginning of these United States, soldiers fought the War of the Revolution which determined and settled our political status among all the people of the earth.

That Confederacy, which followed the Declaration of Independence, demonstrated the weakness of the foundation upon which we expected to build a nation, but the Constitution of 1789 welded the states together into an unbroken and unending chain of common interest.

Our soldiers’ victory in the War of 1812 strengthened our national bond, unified the people, and proved to the world our ability to maintain our rights.

The War of the Rebellion abolished slavery, made our soil free, and forever destroyed the idea of secession as a Constitutional right. The return of peace and the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic crystallized American loyalty.

In his speech at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln’s words focused on the loss of life during the Civil War and the higher cause for which their lives were given: “That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion … that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people … should not perish from this Earth.”

Step by step we have ascended the heights which no other nation has reached. A mighty republic has grown upon the foundation of unrestricted and universal right to vote, refuting the fallacy that men trusted with a free ballot could never govern wisely and well.

I continued to ponder what I, a woman who has not served in the military, has not had a child go to war, could possibly say to Veterans who had sacrificed so much.

I thought about what I’ve seen and learned of the true service and sacrifice of a soldier since being elected to office. Let me tell you that after eight years, I remain in awe as I climb the stairs leading to the House Chamber under that magnificent golden dome. Over the years I have had the opportunity to honor Veterans with special resolutions, to vote on legislation to support our soldiers, to send off troops for deployment (including two fellow House members), and to tearfully welcome them home. I have gotten to know members of the Patriot Guard who provide escort for troops as they are deployed and provide blockade for military funerals to protect families from harassment. I have gotten to know the Blue Star and Gold Star Mom’s coordinators. And one of the highlights of each year is the Marine Corps Birthday Party. It is such an honor to be invited to be a part of that ceremony.

Last February I was invited to be part of a delegation to Iraq to oversee the elections. Our job was to observe the elections for fraud or abuse so we could testify to the United Nations if necessary. Unfortunately, we were in session so I had to decline that opportunity. In a few weeks I am going on an Honor Flight as part of the medical support or guardian to a soldier so they can visit the war memorials built in their honor.

Then I thought of every lawmaker’s first day. I took an oath too, swearing to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of Iowa. But I did that from a safe, secure building in Des Moines. I was not in fear of the Capitol being bombed or of personal harm because of opposition to the government. As we approach elections in a few weeks and again in the fall, no voter has to fear going to the polls to cast their vote for the person of their choice. As this country debates polarizing issues, citizens can voice their ideas, demonstrate for their cause, and lobby their elected officials without fear of losing their job, their property, or their life. That is not true in every country around the world. Yet nearly one third of Americans will stay home or be too busy to exercise this extraordinary freedom. We enjoy these freedoms because soldiers have been willing to lay down their lives to defend them. Today we say, “Thank you.”

Thinking about what to say to you today helped me more fully and personally understand and appreciate what those who served and sometimes died in service to this country have really given us. Our freedom can never be taken for granted or taken lightly when it has been won and defended at such a cost. These experiences serve as reminder that we are so blessed to live in a republic where freedom is so valued. It also reminds me that because of their sacrifice, every vote I take represents ” … government of the people, by the people and for the people”.

Because these soldiers were willing to give their last full measure to defend our Constitution and to protect our freedom, we must also expect those we elect to represent “We the People”, and to protect and defend our freedoms and our Constitution. And every citizen has a personal responsibility as well. Complacency, ignorance, and discontent that keep people from the polls are an affront to every soldier who has defended our Constitution and our right to vote. The greatest honor we can pay to a soldier is to fully exercise our rights and freedoms to show the true value of that for which they fought.

And as we remember our fallen soldiers, and we thank them for their sacrifice, we need to also make sure all future generations never forget the price of the freedoms they enjoy.

An old man once said that he wished to see the heroes of yesterday march forward side by side with the youth of today. He said, “That nation suffers a great calamity whose children and youth have separated themselves from yesterday’s battlefields and victories and have forgotten to honor the memories of their fathers – the sages and statesmen from whom they have received a priceless heritage.”

Every generation should store up blessings for the next. We bless the past for its lesson of experience, and we revere the memories of the men who made the past a glorious prediction for the future. So we come on this Memorial Day to record our indebtedness to the patriotic soldiers, pay our homage for their bravery, express our sympathy with their sufferings, and our admiration for their achievements, pledging ourselves to stand loyally by the institutions for which they nobly died.

We are here today, part of a grateful nation, to pay such a tribute as we can to the heroes who did so much for us. Our land has been truly blessed and honored with veterans who have given their lives to ensure that we have the freedom to enjoy the blessings given to us by god, and assured in liberty by the vision of our founding fathers. And today, as we should each day, we say “God Bless” to those who have given of their lives to make America strong and to those who remain prepared to fight for our country.

Linda Upmeyer
Iowa State Representative, House District 12
Memorial Day, May 31, 2010
Garner, Iowa

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