It's Now Official - Culver's In

Gov. Chet Culver launched his re-election effort in Des Moines today. Rather than drive west, I'm waiting until he comes to Cedar Rapids Tuesday with Vice President Joe Biden.

Fencing is being unloaded as I type at Greene Square Park, where the event will take place at high noon. Trucks are parked in the park. Flowers are being ordered to bloom immediately. Sunshine has been arranged.

It sounds like Culver's first event this morning got off to a shaky start, but the governor made a save, according to The Register's Kathie Obradovich, who was on the scene at Hoover High School:

It wasn't until Gov. Chet Culver himself took the stage that the crowd started to shed its impersonation of an oil painting. He delivered a fist-pumping speech with plenty of barbs for the opposition. Especially Terry Branstad, whose four previous terms as governor have been under attack. “Our opponents want to go backward and end these investments (such as renewable energy and preschool). They want to take us back to the failed economic policies of the Bush and Branstad eras,” Culver said.

Bush and Branstad. Be prepared to hear that a lot. At least it's alliterative.

Culver's getting all feisty. You also saw flashes during his "Iowa Press" appearance, broadcast over the weekend.  The I-LUG threw down the gauntlet, and the apron, on I-JOBS.

“One of my frustrations in terms of those that have opposed I-JOBS is what their your solution? How do you help the folks in Oakville and Charles City and Elkader?” Culver asks. “How do you replace that fire station in Charles City if you don't help with state resources? What, do you have a bake sale? Do you have a $300 million bake sale to pay for flood recovery?”

Yeah, whatcha gonna do, Branstad, bring cookies to a disaster area?

Then Branstad could say, "I can't, because all that's left in the state's cookie jar are crumbs, thanks to you, Mr. Spendy."

This race could be fun after all.  

Also, can you imagine a $300 million infrastructure bake sale?

Storm Sewer Snicker-doodles -- $400,000 per doz.

Fudge Mitigations -- $10.5 million each (Please return pan)

Bridge Brittle -- $1.5 million per batch

Pecan Pavements -- 24.5 million

Potholeitfors -- $25 each

No scotcheroos? Forget it.

In his speech today, Culver called for "making Iowa the best connected, most modern state in America..."

And here I thought everything's up to date in Kansas City. Haven't they gone about as fur as they can go? (Sorry, kids, for the very dated cultural reference, but my high school did "Oklahoma.")

It's time once again, apparently, to renew my call for politicians to stop telling us they'll make us the "capital of" something or "the most" or the "Silicon Valley of" something. Are we still the energy capital of the world, or the nation or the Midwest? Or are we the Saudi Arabia of Wind now?

What would it be like to be the "most modern state in America." Blade Runner? Logan's Run? I'd like some clarification.

Radio Iowa;'s O. Kay Henderson picks up on a moment of gubernatorial humility in his announcement speech:

“You know, I've not always gotten it right, but I've always given it 100 percent effort. My love for the people of this state and my belief in a God that teaches us it's our struggles that make us stronger has never been more rooted,” Culver said this morning. “I've listened. I've learned and I've grown as a person.”

But Republicans contend not all growth is good:

“Governor Culver is traveling the state asking voters to choose a better Iowa. The first step in choosing a better Iowa is choosing a better governor. The reason we need a better Iowa than we have today is because of Culver's failures as a leader. Culver has taken Iowans $1.6 billion into generational debt without creating a single, long-term sustainable job. Meanwhile, in the year since his signature I-JOBS bill became law, an additional 18,000 Iowans are unemployed.

Yeah? You just try saying that with Joe B around. Maybe the beepin' veep will give Culver a rousing intro like he gave his own running mate in August 2008:

"A man I'm proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next president of the United States-Barack America!"

Please welcome, your governor,

Chester Iowa!