A lobotomy, depression and a mother’s revelation
My most vivid memories of my paternal grandmother date from my childhood, when my family and I visited Grandma and Grandpa Kirsch at their home in Fairmont, Minn. I remember [...]
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Posted September 11, 2013in Guest Commentary
Posted July 31, 2013in Guest Commentary
Iowa’s bumper crops: gospel, farce and folly
Yes, the Iowa precinct caucuses for the 2016 presidential election are still some 30 months away — January 2016. But the zaniness of the caucus process and zealotry of the [...]
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Posted July 24, 2013in Guest Commentary
Knapp praises foresight of Forsyth
Des Moines leaders have shown great foresight when it comes to downtown. One in particular is John Forsyth, the chief executive officer of Wellmark. It’s been great to watch the [...]
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Posted July 24, 2013in Guest Commentary
What’s it going to be?
The New York Times is at it again, just as it should be. David Leonhardt wrote a column entitled “Why abortion is not like other issues” (July 14). Seemingly, both [...]
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Posted July 10, 2013in Guest Commentary
Branstad, Iowa both need intervention
“Iowans don’t want a governor and Branstad is as close as they can get.” That characterization of Gov. Terry Branstad was offered decades ago by then Des Moines Register columnist [...]
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Posted July 03, 2013in Guest Commentary
Historic 5,000-meter run unsets the pace at ‘blue oval’
With all the great races enjoyed by the folks who journeyed to Drake Stadium for the USA Track and Field championships, maybe it’s to be expected that they should have [...]
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Posted June 19, 2013in Guest Commentary
Saving Floppy: a real dog fight
Since the scandal broke, the story has been on TV, radio and all over social media. The decision was apparently made by someone high in rank within the bureaucracy. Within [...]
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Posted June 05, 2013in Guest Commentary
From A to Z — Ag law to Zabel
Two Iowa perennials were in the news in late May for predictable, but regrettable, reasons: Jim Zabel because he died at 91; U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin because of right-wing members [...]
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Posted May 15, 2013in Guest Commentary
Ignoring reality: guns in America
Those liberals always seem to be spreading confusion and misinformation about guns. Wayne LaPierre isn’t the only one getting tired of it. All this business about changing laws is ridiculous when criminals [...]
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65 years ago, Iowa made a president
Jimmy Carter came out of Georgia in the political campaign season of 1975 to run for president. This unknown (to Iowans) Georgia governor could relate to Iowa farmers, being one [...]
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