The Congressional implications of the Fibbin' Fisherman Lounge

I haven't been paying all that much attention to State Sen. Joe Seng's primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack in the newly drawn Second Congressional District. Seng's upstart run came as a surprise, and I don't think he's got much of a chance, so, meh.

Now Seng's candidacy petitions are being challenged. And with this graph in O.Kay Henderson's story at Radio Iowa, I became much more interested:

Part of this drama involves a handful of signatures collected at a bar called the Fibbin' Fisherman Lounge in Corydon. The Ottumwa veterinarian who was in the establishment to get those signatures for Seng has said he had to buy “many rounds of drinks” to get people to sign those petitions.

Priceless. Read the whole story for all the details.

I have never been to the Fibbin' Fisherman, but others have. It looks like my kind of place. I love the sign with the fisherman, arms widely extended, apparently describing the big one that got away. Not sure if I'll ever be in Corydon, but If I make it there, I will stop. No fibbin.'

And it's been more than a decade since "fibbin'" earned such a prominent role in Iowa's political lexicon. Too long, I say.

Back in 1998, Leonard Boswell won a seat in Congress by defeating State Sen. Larry McKibben. Boswell ran TV ads that featured a child who demanded "Stop your fibbin,' Larry McKibben." I guess Boswell learned all about a good political rhyme when he was Bonnie "Don't Gamble on" Campbell's Lt. Gov. running mate in 1994. Boswell is still in Congress, probably looking for just the right word that rhymes with "Latham." McKibben is running this year for a return to the Senate.

Speaking of the one that got away, Seng will likely find out today if he'll get to fish in the June primary or cut bait. Whatever happens, he'll always have the admiration of Fibbin' Fisherman patrons.