18 Comments
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Sharon Lawrence's avatar

Was Ernst drunk when she did the followup video? And was all of her staff? I can't imagine any scenario under which a videoke that is done unless everyone involved is drunk or stoned.

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Sharon Lawrence's avatar

Oops "like that" ..

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Sharon Lawrence's avatar

I'm telling everyone about Nathan!

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Jim Tripp's avatar

Joni is a deer in the headlights staring at tariffs, Musk, Hegseth, Ukraine, USAID, Trump, and MAGA, Medicare, and Medicaid. "Squeeze 'em 'til they squeal like a piggie," is not good enough for a Senator of the US any more. People want Harkin back. Pivot Joni, pivot! Throw Trump under the bus like he would do to you in a heartbeat. And bring Chuck with you.

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Blue Thoughts From a Red State's avatar

It’s said cynics know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Also, they’re really just optimists with experience. The time for quibbling is over. Nathan Sage checks all the boxes folks. I’ve been working to elect Democrats before the age allows to cast a ballot. Even admitted being a member of no organized party (we’re able to laugh at ourselves, unlike the MAGA cult). My point is that we have a great candidate in Nathan Sage, who really cares and most importantly, can win. So, I encourage everyone to circulate the nomination papers for signatures, open wallets to contribute all you can afford, talk with your friends, colleagues, neighbors, family members and start letting them know we have our candidate. This will be perhaps the most important moment available for stopping the madness in our Senate, and proving that Iowans can do better.

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Jeff's avatar

Interesting to hear. Agree that we should also value JD and Josh Turek's service. I will say that Ernst is likely damaged goods that you can tar with DOGE wreckage, her likely vote on the largest upward transfer of wealth in US history, as well as her craven conduct on the Hegseth nomination. It'll also be interesting to see if she faces a primary.

One issue I'd like to hear from Nate is water quality, and environmental accountability. It's maybe more a state issue with the complacency toward CAFOs and industry capture, but it is an issue that resonates with many Iowans, and could help him break away from other, more cautious dems.

I'll keep my eye on Nate. While I respect experienced and capable politicians, some new blood can be a good thing. And if Nate can jostle some MAGA supporters to their senses with his story, so much the better.

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Robert Leonard's avatar

Thanks. He talks about water quality regularly, and the crowd in Iowa City liked it, I hear, so that is good. I think that it is important to talk about water quality, air quality primarily in terms of being important values. Specific policies should be created with stakeholders at the table. He’s in listening mode, now and forever.

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Phil Kreznor's avatar

I'm disappointed that State Rep. Josh Turek was NOT one of the bios included in this poll ... missed opportunity ... https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/04/12/why-josh-turek-is-iowa-democrats-best-candidate-for-u-s-senate/ ...

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Sam Carson's avatar

Condescension noted! "Have a Great Lunch!"

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Tory Brecht's avatar

Please 7 pound, 8 ounce baby Jesus let this be accurate!

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Sam Carson's avatar

Gonna stand up right now and defy your assertion that the CR Gazette is or ever was a "great paper". This makes eveything else you say doubrful.

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Robert Leonard's avatar

In a time when newspapers are going away, i will always celebrate the ones that are doing their best to inform us. Their political reporting is top-notch, and Todd Dorman’s commentary is courageous. If that makes you doubt everything I say, that’s OK by me. I said it and meant it. Thanks.

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Marcy Russell's avatar

I’m not able to trust polling anymore. Sorry but thanks for the column.

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Robert Leonard's avatar

I understand. Thanks for sharing.

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Ed (Iowa)'s avatar

Some nitpicking here: "...that Joni Ernst is a billionaire stooge." I think that should be "that Joni Ernst is a billionaire's stooge." (Or is Ernst now a billionaire, riding on the backs of Iowans?)

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Steve Hanken's avatar

Fresh faces of new and younger candidates are signs encouraging more people to actually pay attention to the Democratic stranglehold Trump with his billionaire buds and crooked lawyers are making happen as we speak. The crowds of people showing up to say "Hell NO!" are growing, and a new class of activists along with those, who like Bernie Sanders, have never wavered when it came to representing the people who actually do the voting are making a huge difference. Money is NOT the answer! certainly it has its place, but granting MONEY the right to free speech and control of our elections has put us into a tailspin! NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR!!! I did my time, one tour and two 6 month extensions in Vietnam and got the hell out! Sacrificing one's freedom and entrusting your life to political will of people I couldn't even elect at the time, changed my prospective! Not much time left for me anymore, but it would make my passing more comfortable knowing Democracy and the things it stands for would be invigorated before I'm gone!

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Jon Christy's avatar

Be very careful interpreting the results of this poll as "the margin of error associated with the sample size is +-4 percentage points," and of those considering running against Ernst only Nate, I believe, has officially entered the race.

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Kathi Zimpleman's avatar

Thanks, Dr. Bob. I am going to talk to Nate when we get back to the USA next month. Lord knows we need fresh eyes and ideas in our state and our country.

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