As I mentioned yesterday, John McCain’s visit to Iowa was going to be a good indication of the amount of work that lies ahead for the Maverick candidates campaign here in the Hawkeye state. Needless to say the McCain has a daunting task ahead of them in Iowa, and one might worry that the state might not be targeted if things don’t turn around soon.

Only 250 or so people showed up to McCain’s first visit back to the state since becoming the apparent nominee. To put that number in perspective Mitt Romney had that many in a snow storm in January of 2007, and Fred Thompson had that many when he announced late last summer. That’s when people had options, the only alternative people have now is to vote for the Democrat, an Independent candidate, or stay home.

Sure Des Moines is a difficult town to do an event in, but this it pathetic. It doesn’t help either when a guy asks McCain if he ever called his wife a c%#t. See the video below if you are interested.

Not only does this potentially take Iowa out of the top battleground states, but it leaves the door wide open for an independent candidate to mount a serious campaign which will only allow the Democrats to squeak out a win no matter how bad things are for them right now.

This is an embarrassment for McCain, his Campaign, the State Party, and Iowa.

Today John McCain returns to Iowa to discus health care at a Des Moines Rally this afternoon. His return is significant for a number of reasons.

1. It will be interesting to see the type of crowd he is able to draw and who makes up that crowd. Now I don’t expect an Obama sized concert but it’s important that he turn out an impressive number of people. Most people would think that’s easy in a town the size of Des Moines, but it’s actually the most difficult place in the state to build a crowd.

2. It will be important to see who’s actually there today. Is it the base of the party ready to accept John McCain or do they stay home? If they stay home it proves that the McCain campaign has a lot of work to do in Iowa

3. With the Hillary Clinton still not allowing the Democrats to have a presumptive nominee McCain is allowed the luxury of rallying the troops in some key battle ground states. If visit to Iowa is a clear indication that Iowa will be targeted.

While we are speaking of presidential politics…

Bruce Braley has pledged his support to Barack Obama. I believe Braley supported John Edwards in the caucuses. I wonder if ad like the one below, give people like Braley second thoughts?

No New Courthouse for Polk Co.

By Emily Geiger

A ballot measure that would have raised property taxes in Polk County to get the $132 million needed for a new Polk County Courthouse (and renovations to the old one) failed by a wide margin yesterday. In order to be approved, the measure needed to pass with 60% of the vote. Instead, it failed, with the “no” votes taking 57%.

I had mixed feelings about this. Tax increases suck, but I can see the need for more space, and the idea of keeping the criminal stuff separate also appeals to me. There’s nothing like going to pay a traffic ticket and having a guy in a striped jumpsuit and cuffs sit next to you while you wait to be helped.

I just think that, despite what proponents of the new courthouse said, they were asking for too much too soon. Ok, so you need more space. Do you really also need 70 new employees to go along with that? How are they going to get paid?

I think the legislature needs to learn from this. Look at how many tax increases were passed this past legislative session: huge increases vehicle registration fees, a 20% statewide sales tax increase… all while Buzz Lightyear gave himself and the other state-wide office-holders pay raises of between $10,000 and $20,000 each. All of this was approved by the legislature.

So, what the legislators need to learn from this is that, when the people were given the opportunity to decide whether tax increases and more government spending is a good idea right now, they overwhelmingly said no. It seems, with all their tax increases, the legislators are going against the will of the people.

I know, I know, if you talk to your local representative or senator about this, I’m sure he or she will tell you that he or she only voted for these taxes and expenditures because they were really needed. Well, apparently so is more space at the courthouse, but the voters didn’t care. They drew a line in the sand and said enough is enough.

Let’s just hope the voters feel the same way in November when they get to decide if all those people who helped raise their taxes (no matter what their party) deserve to go back to the Statehouse next year.

When will local and state government get the point that the people of Iowa are sick and tired of increased taxes? Yesterday voters in Des Moines voted down $132 million dollar plan to renovate the Polk County Court House and build a new administration building. A year ago, voters rejected Project Destiny, a property tax scheme that would have benefited companies like Principal Financial, and added a tax burden on homeowners.

The people opposing these tax increases are not just saying enough is enough when it comes to increased taxes, they are also sending a clear message that they don’t trust government.

The casual political observer might think that this growing trend may help Republicans in the fall elections. That very well may be the case, especially in the presidential race where the Democrats have been adamant about repealing the Bush tax cuts. However, closer to home, some of our Republican State Legislators supported a $32 million dollar tax increase when they voted for the statewide SILO tax. When I say some, I guess I mean 17 in the House, and 5 in the Senate.  As you can see, it’s not some rouge weak kneed Legislator.  It’s a much larger problem than that.

Which leads me to Todd Dorman’s little nugget yesterday that House Minority Leader Christopher Rants is considering a run for Governor. I agree with Dorman that Rants is smart and knows how to operate politically under the golden dome, but I think he lacks the leadership qualities that Iowa will need at this critical time.

Rants, as the minority leader, has seen his members flake on a number of issues, but none more obvious than the 17 who voted for the statewide SILO tax. Not only was it a $32 million tax increase, but it wrestled local control away from taxpayers and voters and gave it to bureaucrats in Des Moines, two things that every Republican should oppose. If he can’t lead the 47 in his caucus how does he expect to lead our state?

Braley Opens Leadership PAC

The PAC will be called “Bringing Leadership Back PAC.” What the Des Moines Register fails to mention in this story is these groups are noting more that a shadow organization that allows a politician like Braley to take even more special interest money to help him and his friends get reelected. Braley has already taken in nearly $300,000.00 in PAC contributions this year to his campaign and with this latest move even more is on the way.

Nevada Republican Convention Fails to Elect Delegates

Wow, what a disaster. The Nevada Republican Party was unable to elect delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention.

I’m sure some will blame “those darn Ron Paul people,” but they did things by the book if you read the article. It’s the Nevada GOP who has failed in this case. This isn’t just an embarrassing black eye to state party, but it could also hurt the state when it attempts to keep its First in the West status for 2012.

National Right to Work Organization Making Calls in Iowa

Apparently the National Right to Work group is making calls to Iowans urging them to call Governor Culver to veto the bill expanding the states collective bargaining agreement. Culver should show some real leadership and veto the bill, but he will probably just let it die in his drawer, next to his key to Bill Knapp’s condo.

Governor to tout Legislative Accomplishments on Statewide Tour

Seriously? I guess if he wants to tout about raising taxes and fees, and taking the authority away from local voters and giving those decisions to bureaucrats, and giving him self a pay increase he can. I hope Iowans show up and tell him out of touch he is with the people in his state.