Joni Ernst--Most have no idea how extremist she is!

[CoffeeCat]

The Des Moines Register just released the results of The Iowa Poll--the last poll released before the midterm election--which shows extremist Republican US Senate candidate Joni Ernst beating Progressive Dem candidate Bruce Braley by seven points.

I am incredibly upset. Watching this campaign was disheartening.

Ernst is a Koch-funded darling. Her fluffy ads say NOTHING. She touts her "Iowa values" against a backdrop of farms and rolling Iowa fields. She talks about "protecting Social Security" and "creating jobs."

Those things MEAN NOTHING!!

I have a friend who works for the state of Iowa, developing statewide policy for pregnant mothers and overseeing the implementation of those programs. She told me that part of her job is analyzing legislation that comes out of the Iowa House and Senate. Joni Ernst AUTHORED a bill in Iowa, that ultimately failed. The bill outlined that ALL forms of abortion--including ending an ectopic pregnancy--should be illegal!

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg fails to implant in the uterus, and is instead stuck in the fallopian tube, where it grows. If untreated, the mother dies. The fertilized egg NEVER survives a situation like this. This is so outrageously ignorant and extremist for Ernst to suggest that treating an ectopic pregnancy should be illegal--when such actions would kill the mother, and the baby wouldn't survive anyway!

Ernst wants the Department of Education and the EPA abolished. She's also on record as saying that "$7.25 is fine for the minimum wage and we shouldn't raise it." She's a tea-party extremist, religious nut job.

And she's winning in my state.

I'm just disgusted. I will not give up. I will urge my Dem friends to vote and fend off the naysayers on local-news message boards. However, I am so incredibly heartbroken that the Koch Brothers and their sell-out, robot, corrupt politician Ernst has even 5 percent of the vote!

[montanacowboy]

1. People are stupid

and they will reap what they sow

how many will scream when SS is privatized under these nutbaggers, or lose it altogether? will they love her then?or will they even be able to figure out what happened? will they blame Obama? you better believe it. Stupid fucking morans

[stillwaiting]

13. Too many Americans refuse to pay attention to politics.

This makes them easy marks for the campaigns that are run by the likes of Ernst, and these people really don't even know what goes on in Washington. They are proud of the fact that they don't pay attention to politics, and they refuse to talk about politics. However, they are certain they know who is responsible for the mess our country is in. It's truly amazing trying to rationally wrap my mind around that fact. Of course, I can't.

Too many of these people blame Obama (for everything), and they are truly pathetic citizens of America that FAIL to fulfill their citizenship responsibilities by paying attention to government and ensuring that politicians serve the needs of the American public (instead of multinational corporate interests).

[BlancheSplanchnik]

29. ^ sadly true.

[Chasstev365]

31. Agreed. But...

Maybe the Democratic Party should start loudly defending FDR's New Deal. They are always so timid at being a traditional Democratic and the Party's messaging is AWFUL! They're letting the GOP Crazies Beat them when if they clearly articulated what they stand for, they would be soundly beating these loons.

[Trajan]

54. +1,000,000

So fucking true ...

Where are the inspirational proponents of liberal democratic party principles? ... fucking crickets, for far too long now ...

Democrats? ... stand the fuck UP and be counted ...

We will follow you ..

[hifiguy]

59. it would bre a lot easier if the DLC/Turd Way crowd

hadn't sold the party to Wall $treet and the corporatists/MIC. A LOT easier.

[Fred Sanders]

2. I do not know why your anger is not more widely shared, are folks completely asleep?

There should be way more anger, way more fear of the extremists, because they mean what they say, they will have women die rather than give up their sincerely held beliefs and cave to the science.

Ernst does not believe in climate change, she will get elected and represent the folks of Iowa to the world, the exactly same things the Koch brothers believe and do not believe, is that the way it is going to go for Iowans?

Because TV ads work that well....I do not think so.

[pangaia]

18. asleep. THAT is thre key word. They are asleep.

In every sense of the word.
They are sleeping, unconscious beings.

[Skink]

3. What's the matter with Iowa?

[ReRe]

33. The same thing that's wrong with Kansas. :-( n/t

[CoffeeCat]

38. Here is "what is the matter with Iowa"...

The problem in Iowa is the extremists on the right-wing. They are older voters, and they vote in extremely high numbers. They are also religious nut jobs. This is the contingent that gave Mike Huckabee the win in the Iowa caucuses. And Pat Robertson (yes, that religious wacko!) came in second once in a Republican caucus. It's embarrassing!

Iowa is very progressive. We were the first state to legalize gay marriage. Barack Obama won the Iowa Dem Primary Caucus, when Hillary was supposedly the anointed one. Iowans are very Progressive, but we do have the crazy-right brigade.

The Northwest corner of the state is bats hit crazy. This is where Steve King lives. That part of the state is very rural, very conservative and very religious. These people vote in such HIGH numbers. Their extremism wins when other people stay home and do not vote, or when they refuse to pay attention!

That's the problem!!

Iowa has been blue in the last two Presidential elections and I'm so very proud of our Progressive Senator Tom Harkin, who is now retiring. His stepping down is the reason for the Senate vacancy-and why Ernst and Braley are duking it out.

Iowa is a perfect example of what happens when the masses don't care or don't pay attention--or stay home from voting. These extremist-Ernst-kooks do not represent the majority--but if we don't get up off of our asses and VOTE, they will have the majority of votes and Ernst will win. We can't have that!!!

[TwilightGardener]

4. Iowa has other lunatics in office (King), so it's hardly surprising that a lunatic

could win a Senate seat. If it's inevitable that nutjobs are going to win, sit back and enjoy watching the stoopid flow.

[spanone]

5. is america really going to reward republicans for being totally incompetent assholes?

i think not

[TwilightGardener]

6. They will, because Dems have been beaten over the head and morale is low.

The media has decided to help Repubs retake the Senate, because it's good for ratings to have them win and oppose the President even more. That's why, starting in 2013, there are no more problems for President and Congress to solve, there are only OMG CRISES THAT ARE ALL OBAMA'S FAULT!!! Constant negative churn, which is what the GOP wanted. Then the media will help Hillary win in 2016. It's all pre-programmed, and we regular people have nothing to do with it.

[safeinOhio]

7. I think it's The GMO corn

[SidDithers]

9. Welcome to DU...nt

Sid

[Half-Century Man]

10. It's not the food pantry

But I have a place you could travel to.

[TwilightGardener]

12. LOL. Why not "OBAMAPHONES"?

[TwilightGardener]

16. Are you a self-professed member of the FSA?

[Beaverhausen]

15. I've got a good pizza for you

[Cleita]

11. My only opinion is:

"What's the trouble with Iowa?"

We have a Tea Nutter running for Congress who has a fat chance in Hell of getting elected. He wants to privatize Social Security. Since this is a retirement area, I have people, whom I know are Republican voters, coming up and saying to me not to vote for him. Don't Iowans know any better? Maybe you guys have to knock and doors and make phone calls up to zero hour to inform the electorate of what she stands for.

[ReRe]

35. The saddest thing of all...

... isn't this the Senate seat of retiring Tom Harkin?

[CoffeeCat]

39. Ernst has run a very slick campaign...

Her ads are polished, slick and even entertaining. They say nothing and she talks about meaningless platitudes like, "I have Iowa values" and "I want to protect Social Security." Bullshit.

It's worth noting that she is bankrolled by the Koch Brothers. They've funneled so much money into her campaign and you can bet that she has handlers who are advising her about how to run this campaign. It's the most hollow, bullshit campaign you've ever seen. She's being marketed as a personality, while her extremism is being glossed over by her pastel cardigans and cutesy slogans.

It's really repulsive to watch. Did you hear that she refused to sit down with the Des Moines Register editorial board and discuss her ideas? This is the most widely read newspaper in Iowa, and the paper endorsed Romney last year. But she claimed that it was a "liberal media source" and she refused to even let them interview her!!

They keep her very guarded. NO interviews at all. She's a poster gal--a fake concoction of the Koch Brothers--running for office.

If Iowans knew how extremist and bizarre her ideas were, she would be behind 20 points. However, she is a managed prop of the Koch empire---bred and designed to vote in ways that enrich those corporate greed mongers and screw the rest of us. Watch out world…if this could happen in Iowa, it could happen anywhere.

[Cleita]

42. I thought maybe, in spite of all her negatives, Iowa farmers might vote

for her because she backs farm subsidies.

She doesn't!

I'm dumbstruck.

[CoffeeCat]

43. I didn't even know that she doesn't back farm subsidies!

I'm plugged into this Iowa campaign, and paying attention--and I didn't even realize
that Ernst doesn't back farm subsidies.

Her extreme and very unpopular views-are hidden!!

And one has to partially fault Bruce Braley and his campaign. I love his ideas and policies, but
his campaign has not clearly spelled out just how disastrous she is. All you have to do is
use her own words against her!

Being against farm subsidies in Iowa, would have been great to use against her--especially when Ernst is using Braley's one-time remark about farmers against him on a daily basis in ads. For those not familiar, during a speech, Braley remarked that keeping Senator Chuck Grassley in Iowa in office, was not a good idea, because he could become the head of the Senate Judiciary committee. Braley said that "a farmer from Iowa with no legal experience" would not be optimal.

Ernst is using his words to suggest that Braley was denigrating farmers. Really, Braley was stumping for a Dem candidate and highlighting the fact that Grassley had no legal background, which seems to not fit for the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[Cleita]

45. I'll give you some links when I at a computer I can do so. eom

[Cleita]

46. Wow. From the time I dug up some stuff on her until now, it seems a lot

of what I found has been scrubbed. However this does explain some of her positions.

http://www.iowademocrats.org/2014/02/koch-brothers-donations-fuel-joni-ernsts-opposition-to-minimum-wage-increase-farm-bill/

Farm Bill: The bipartisan Farm Bill, which was supported by every member of Iowa’s House of Representatives, provides certainty and economy security to Iowa’s farmers and middle class families.

AFP: Americans For Prosperity: Farm Bill Compromise “Seriously Disappoints.” In a January 2014 press release, Americans for Prosperity said: “Tonight after most people in Washington had left their offices to go home for the day, the Farm Bill conference committee delivered its long-awaited report. Crafted by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, this 950-page deal reconciles the differences in the versions of the Farm Bill that passed the House and the Senate this past summer. Here at Americans for Prosperity, we’re disappointed that full, 5-year deal on the Farm Bill excludes most of the reforms that we’ve been calling for over the past two years … Diving into the policy details, this conference report seriously disappoints.” [Americans For Prosperity, 1/28/14]
Ernst: Ernst Announced She Would Have Voted Against Farm Bill Compromise. During a February 2014 interview with WHO Radio’s Simon Conway, Conway asked Ernst, “All right. We just had the Farm Bill vote. Senator Grassley voted against it. If I was in there, I’ve got to tell you, I’d have voted against it as well. Which way would you have gone?” Ernst replied: “I think we need a Farm Bill, but I support Chuck Grassley on this one because he pointed out a lot of issues that we have, and there are loopholes that we need to close, and, again, we’re not addressing those problems. We’re not addressing them.” [WHO Radio, 2/5/14]

[Cleita]

47. More,

http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21602688-joni-ernst-shows-sometimes-balls-matter-more-money-farmer-v-lawyer

Mrs Ernst ticks the main conservative boxes. Another ad shows her pull a gun (a lieutenant-colonel in the Iowa National Guard, she served in Kuwait and Iraq) and “take aim at wasteful spending”. But that apparently does not include handouts to farmers. Earlier this month she said that although she was “philosophically” opposed to the subsidies in the farm bill, she supports the biggest one—subsidised crop insurance. Presumably her youthful pork-cutting experience was less theoretical.

[Frustratedlady]

51. You've nailed it on how they are protecting her from the media.

She will be another Michelle Bachmann, which we certainly don't need. I've watched several of her ads and they don't say anything of substance but are well done. She comes across as a compassionate Iowa gal from the farmland who is eager to protect its citizens.

Right!

[a kennedy]

17. Now she's got a 7 point lead.....

A new Iowa poll published on Saturday by the Des Moines Register gives Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst a 7-point lead over Democrat Bruce Braley, suggesting that Republicans may win a race deemed critical to the party's takeover of the U.S. Senate.

J. Ann Selzer, who conducted the poll, told the paper, "This race looks like it's decided." 51 percent of likely voters support Ernst, the poll found, the biggest lead the Iowa state senator and former military leader has received among the polls conducted this fall, the paper's report noted. Her opponent, Democrat Bruce Braley, received 44 percent. The previous DMR poll, released on Oct. 13, gave Ernst a 1-point lead. Another boost for Ernst was Independent voters choosing her over Braley, 51 percent to 39 percent.

Braley's standing among voters has been slipping in recent weeks. The latest DMR poll even showed him losing his home congressional district by three points, a region that tends to lean left. "None of this looks good for him," Selzer said. Politico reported that when the poll was released, Braley was at an event with former President Bill Clinton who was urging voters to support the congressman and trial lawyer. Some Democratic operatives attending the event in Braley's hometown appeared "crestfallen" after apparently receiving the news, Politico reported.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/politics

[Cleita]

56. I'm suspicious about that, since it seems to have happened pretty quickly

for such a big spike. Could it be the polling company called people with landlines since they are the only ones in a directory? Maybe there are all those younger voters who only have cell phones that they aren't reaching.

[Pakid]

19. People are more than stupid when it comes to voting

but how does anyone know if the poll is even real The GOP is more than capable of pulling a fast one like this to help there nut job win. As for the person taking the poll well it would not be the first time someone was paid off . No saying it happen but when it comes to the Republican they are dishonest at every turn. It not over until it over

[Iliyah]

20. She's crazier than Buchmann and Palin

Also for what its worth, in 2010 Reid in NV was a goner as well. Seems like every polls had him losing at least 3-5 points. Most current polls do not follow ground games which may be a factor here. Also, Cantor was a shoe in and lost big. At this time and with corporate media favoring "Rs" by 51-75%, with non-stop bullshit against anything Dem I think the Dems and Braley will survive.

[Cha]

40. Your post gives me heart, Illiyah.. mahalo!

[joeybee12]

21. Define your opponent before he/she defines him/herself...basic rule...

I don't know if Braley did a lousy job of this, but there certainly was enough to work with to show what a fringe lunatic she was.

[TwilightGardener]

22. She defined HERSELF as a fringe lunatic, it was apparent to a national audience.

But there's a segment out there that still loves over-the-top tea party/NRA idiocy.

[joeybee12]

23. I don't know enough about Iowa to know how deep the crazy is...

But all I know is her election does not bode well for this country...

[efilon]

24. Ernst, King and Grassley!

They all tea party crazy. Grassley's ad endorsing Ernst says "She'll be the first female combat veteran in Congress"...HELLO??? Has he never heard of Tammy Duckworth? Every time he opens his mouth I cringe. He sounds like such a hick, which I guess he is. Ernst standing around in hog lots talking about Iowa values...honey your values suck. And King??? OMG.. It's to a point where I don't know if I want to people to know I'm from Iowa, they might think it equates with stupid.

What's the matter with Iowa? We have a bunch of people who will vote against their own interests because they believe all the "scary" things Fox new tells them. There are several in-laws in our family who vote R. I won't even talk to any of them because they are so dumb!

[malokvale77]

32. Kind of like living in Texas

I am not Texas Proud. I feel for you.

[JustAnotherGen]

25. Here's what to tweet

#JoniErnst sponsored bill prevent women w/ectopic pregnancys from having life saving abortions. @progressivepush @UniteBlue @UniteBlueIA

[orpupilofnature57]

26. Marshal Mcluhan the ' Gutenberg Galaxy ' covers it all .

Megalomaniacs use tears & fears through idiot demagogues that look Right and don't even have to smell good .

[kansasobama]

27. I also knew my state was a mess, why did Iowa join us

My state,Kansas, was a disaster story always voting against our own interests. This time, extremists may have gone too far in my state but I still think we will end up voting Brownback.

Why Iowa? I don't understand. I think Dems should let her make a fool of herself for a while. She is a nutcase (Bachman Palin variety)

[historylovr]

28. God, I hope that's wrong.

If people here are falling for the "Iowa values" and biscuits schtick, we're done for.

[Dawson Leery]

36. Time to end the farm bill.

Red state pork. Let the market decide as it does in many parts of the world.

[moondust]

30. She's from out in Steve King country.

I guess the rubes is stickin' together behind their girl! (Oblivious to what she is all about.)

[Hulk]

34. Hurry up November 4!!!

I can't handle the suspense. Bring it on. Either the polls are all wrong, or this country is headed for the shitter in the fast lane.

Hoping we hold on to the Senate. Hoping Scott Walker gets his packing orders, Ernst, McTurtlehead are soundly defeated by a wiser than anticipated electorate. Hoping that Nunn takes Georgia back into the progressive column in the South, and Iowa, Colorado and Arkansas hang on to help move this country forward.

It would probably be too much to ask to see Kansas and South Dakota go Independent (and possibly caucus with the Democrats), but my memories of elections past tell me I'm going to be sorely disappointed and depressed.

My wife and I did our voting by mail long ago, but there is nothing much hanging in the balance in Washington state. We can vote against our teabagger Representative, Jamie Herrera-Butler, but the Democratic choice didn't even make his name known. I voted for a person I didn't hear a peep from. How sad. What sort of chance does he have?

The Democratic Party needs to get their shit together and challenge EVERY Congressional seat - no matter how insignificant. H-Butler is a lock step empty headed bimbo. But she gets elected because there is nothing better that we know of. Just sad.

And the Democratic Party needs to start promoting what the Democratic Party has accomplished! We wasted more dollars slinging shit against the wall than broadcasting what we have struggled to undo from the previous administration and Wall Street, and despite the "kicking and screaming teabag-infected obstructionists"! Our country is ignorant and confused, and the national Democratic Committee did very little to set them straight. We only jumped in the gutter to run a campaign like repuKKKes want to run.

I have hopes, but I'm not at all optimistic. I hope to God I'm wrong!

[colsohlibgal]

37. Onward With The Dumbing Down Of America

Anyone who votes for this crackpot is a crackpot or dumb and she's pulling away. What is wrong with people?

[BlueStater]

41. On the bright side, the 2016 senate map doesn't favor the Pukes AT ALL.

I share everyone's frustration that such a laughably stupid woman is about to become a senator. What the fuck, Iowa?

However, I am still optimistic about the future. All those tea party assclowns who were elected in 2010 will be up for election, many of them in blue states and in a presidential year at that when democratic turnout will be high.

Ron Johnson and Pat Toomey are probably toast. Florida could also be up for grabs regardless of whether the Waterboy decides to retire to run for president or not. Johnny McBitter from Arizona, with his terrible approval ratings, will either retire or be defeated in a primary challenge from some tea party nut.

[progressoid]

44. I'm sick to my stomack CoffeeCat

I hope, hope, hope that this poll is wrong.

That's quite a shift from all the other polls. Even Fox and Rassmussen only have her up 1 point. Loras College and PPP have Braley up a point.

I wonder why there's such a big difference.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

48. The party made a number of mistakes this round

Among them was not convincing Tom Vilsack to step down from SecAg and run for this seat. Hopefully, he will run for Grassley's seat next time out, as I suspect Grassley will not run again.It's fair to say that the Midwest is, at least in this cycle, making a hard right turn with their Senatorial candidates.

[pampango]

49. From On The Issues: She is far right on ACA, immigration, the UN, minimum wage, climate change and

a host of other issues.

http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Joni_Ernst.htm

[davidpdx]

50. While I have only read a limited amount about her

I absolutely believe she is a Teahaddist. If she gets elected the Senate is going to be even more dis(fuck)tional than it already is.

[3catwoman3]

52. Senator Harkin chose the wrong time for the country...

...to retire. The right time for him, perhaps, but the wrong time for the nation. So did several other long-time Dems.

I'm not from Iowa, but I will miss him.

[UTUSN]

55. How can a state used to the QUALITY of Senator HARKIN install a whackjob instead?!1 n/t

[Orsino]

53. Not sure Ernst does, either.

But she panders hard.

[Le Taz Hot]

57. And this is one of the states that gets to choose

the Democratic candidate for the entire rest of the country. Good god!

[stevenleser]

58. She is so crazy they couldn't risk her meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board.

He campaign nixed that meeting.

If she wins, Iowans are going to be very surprised and upset to see what they elected.