Des Moines

Until I saw her on the stump these past few days, I’d never have believed that Hillary Clinton  read more »

Another Hillary update from Niall Stanage:

Hillary Clinton's campaign swing through Iowa brought her to a biotech company on the outskirts of Des Moines this morning - and brought Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez unexpectedly into her crosshairs.

The first question she received after a speech to employees of the Pioneer Hi-Bred International facility in Johnston raised the issue of the Chavez government. The former first lady assailed the Venezuelan president for fomenting "anti-Americanism across Latin America" and returned, in unusually personal terms, to one of the themes of her speech - how energy independence could prevent the transfer of American dollars to anti-American regimes.  read more »

"My late father was a child of the depression and he never left a room without turning out every light. Well, now I go around turning out the lights," she said.

"If we said, 'Turn off that light because we don't want to send any more money to Chavez in Venezuela,' that would make a difference."

Rudy Giuliani created a presidential exploratory committee.

One Rudy adviser said a decision about whether the former mayor will actually run will be made after the New Year.

A 60-second Draft Rudy radio ad is currently running in Des Moines, Iowa and Manchester N.H.

Hillary Clinton wants the 2008 Democratic convention in New York.

Charlie Rangel explains why he wants to reinstate the military draft.

Democrats in congress take over some Republican office space.

The leading contender to be the next MTA chairman is an executive at a company that currently has $198 million in contracts with the MTA.

George Pataki transferred money from his state campaign committee to the PAC he uses to pay for his his nationwide travel.

And City Comptroller Bill Thompson criticized the no-bid contracts awarded by the city's Education Department.

-- Azi Paybarah

The Politicker doesn't usually just reprint partisan press releases, but this one from the State Democrats is hard to resist: PATAKI DEVASTATES THE NATION: SILENCES THE DEAFENING CLAMOR FOR HIM TO ACCEPT NON-EXISTENT SUPREME COURT OFFER

The Gov told the Des Moines Register, "The judiciary hasn't been of any interest to me. So you can put a little X through my name."  read more »

The Dems' response:

TOP 5 OTHER OFFERS GEORGE PATAKI IS MULLING OVER 5. Lead tenor at the Met 4. Poet Laureate for the United States 3. Starting shortstop for the Yankees 2. Title role in the James Bond movies 1. President of the United States

By David Yepsen, the sage of Des Moines, no less:

"For now, Pataki is playing Iowa correctly. He is investing time here early. Starting early and spending lots of time here are two traits of caucus winners."  read more »

(via Political Wire)

One of the intriguing things about the most talented-and welcome-new playwright, Melissa James Gibso  read more »