Don,

You're right about these fools who can't interpret the words they write. Hershman is a fool and he's been caught in a lie and he knows it. That or he really is too dumb to understand the laws he's been elected to write, vote upon, and understand. Let's hope the folks up in the northern part of the state aren't so inept they keep electing an illiterate to the office.

But I have to take exception with your characterization of the events surrounding the hearing. I believe only Gary called for a boycott of the hearing, not "the blogs". Many of us have been around IE enough to know that the euphemism "the blogs" really refers to "those blogs which regularly criticize, contradict, or otherwise disagree with IE." IE doesn't talk about "the blogs" unless "the blogs" are not on their side.

The hearing on Thursday was one for the professionals only. I'm glad there were calls for the PUBLIC not to show up in the galleries. I think that sent the proper signal for this waste of time hearing. Regardless whether it was necessary legally, it was moot because the House Rules committee chairman Scott Pelath had already announced he was not giving SJR-7 a hearing and that for all intents and purposes it was dead this year. So a big public showing to a dead-end hearing wasn't what was needed. But the pros still needed to show up to give testimony because that's what we do. We make our case cogently every time we get a chance.

And while it's true that it's nearly impossible to please Gary, that's not true of "the blogs" in general. IE has gotten praise when it's done well. When they toot their own horn over something that most of us know is not of their own making, they're not going to get kudos here. I don't hold ill-will toward IE, but there are some elements within it that could use a little sunshine and holy water.

Don, I'm not sure that when you say things like "the blogs" and lump them together under a speculative dialogue, then chastise them for never being pleased, that you're "coping" so much as lamenting. You almost seem sorry to be a blogger. I hope not, because I generally enjoy your posts.

Regardless, be careful of quoting the company line when it comes to the blogs. The IE "illuminati" have been fearful and hateful toward the blogs since day 1. I wouldn't put a lot of stock in their opinions of anything new media. They don't get it.

The new guy seems to be doing wonders for them, but I can't imagine that the powers that be have really changed their minds too much about blogs. They've still not figured out how best to reach out to the blogs, but at least they've finally found someone who understands new media and they've at least given him some room to grow the brand online. He could use some pointers and some help, but he's doing better than I ever could simply by being able to get the others on board.

When a blog was tried in the past (and let me tell you it was like pulling teeth to get anyone there to see the need,) instead of putting top brass people on it, they shuffle it off to someone who lives in the nether regions of the state and who hasn't even been to IE meetings in 6 months. That poor soul was in over her head and quit right after the session. She had little support and was treated more like a pariah than a grassroots building tool.

I'm glad they got it figured out now, but they wouldn't have such a hostile relationship with so many local blogs if they hadn't had their heads up their asses for over two years. They still aren't doing what it takes to actually repair those relationships, but one guy alone as a volunteer can't do that for them anyway. It's a hard job he has and repairing years of screwups isn't really his job anyway. (But if history is an indicator, he'll get the blame for it.)

I would like to suggest that the confusion is not whether it is necessary for the senate to pass the resolution twice in one session. The problem is that Scott Pelath announced that he will not hold hearings on HJR08, so the only way to have time to try to bully him into changing his mind, is to have SJR7 come over from the senate again. If the senate really does not need to pass in again, perhaps that means that Pelath, or Bauer, should ignore it even when it does.

At the hearing, I especially enjoyed a lawyer, Chris Stovall, arguing that the meaning of words was self-evident and could admit no wrangling as to their import.

Also note that they are as worried, as we are hopeful, that Judge Hanson's wonderful ruling will stand up in the Iowa Supreme Court.

Good job, Don et al.

Don, you're a very diplomatic and intelligent fellow. I couldn't agree with you more. Our strength definitely lies in our openness and willingness to air or disagreements publicly. There is no shame in having an honest debate on the issues. I don't think IE shares your value system here, but kudos for stating the positive that comes out of full disclosure and discussion.

I appreciate the fine line you feel you have to walk. It wasn't clear that you were addressing the line so much as lamenting its existence. I apologize if I misunderstood your intent there.

I just caution you not to lump "the blogs" in together, particularly not when that lump includes the likes of Gary. Not too many of us hold to his way of doing things, so we get a little testy when we think we're getting lumped in with him. That's especially true for those of us who've been on both sides of the IE bandwagon.

Thanks for clearing things up for me.