NY Times Iowa 4th and Steve King love connection

[IADEMO2004]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/business/in-rural-iowa-ambivalence-about-the-shutdown.html?_r=0

Voters in his district told me in telephone interviews that they didn’t take all he says that seriously. “He’s kind of radical in the way he talks about things,” said Stan Feekes, assistant general manager of the Farmer’s Coop Society in Sioux Center. “We wish he’d be a little more gentle. People don’t agree with him on everything, but by and large I’d say he’s been in step with people here.” (Representative King carried Sioux County with 83 percent of the vote.)

..............................................................

When I reached Brent Geels, co-owner of Geels Glass Inc. in Sioux Center, he’d just finished sending an e-mail to Representative King urging him to, as Mr. Geels put it, “stand firm and not back down.” Like many people there I spoke to, Mr. Geels says he thinks the economic harm attributed to a government shutdown, and even that associated with a federal debt default, is overblown by the media, a tactic to get Republicans to cave in. “Look at the sequester,” he said, referring to the automatic spending cuts that took effect in March. “That was a lot of hype. They went into effect and two months later everyone forgot about them.” Moreover, he feels (as did several other people I interviewed) that there may be a silver lining to the shutdown. “If we can get along without all these nonessential services, then maybe we don’t need them,” he said. So far, he said, the shutdown has had no impact on his glass business, which he started in May.

...........................................................................

Iowa has been enjoying unusual prosperity in recent years, with low unemployment, high commodity prices and strong exports of agricultural products and machinery. “When your stomach is full and things are going well, it’s easy to say we have to get these guys under control,” said Stan Speer, president of American State Bank in Sioux Center. “If we had another agricultural crisis like we had in the 1980s, it would be a whole different story.” He said that loan demand had been strong at his bank, but a continued shutdown would begin to affect construction projects that depend on federal programs. “With winter coming, any delay could have a big impact,” he said. “Then, people may start feeling differently

[Cairycat]

1. For the love of God,

why can't we annex the 4th district onto Nebraska or South Dakota and rid ourselves of these clowns?!

[progressoid]

2. Interesting that they picked Sioux county. Probably the most repub county in IA.

Regardless, I think that “stand firm and not back down” attitude there is far too typical of a lot of IA repubs.

And I wish I could say I believe the poll saying that King is in jeopardy in the next election. Sadly, I don't think it's going to happen unless he does something seriously stupid to lose support from the "moderate" Rs. I'm afraid we're stuck with this asshole.