Harkin Institute

**Trice** · 02-05-2013, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by othercy

Yes he does. Always amazes me how these guys go into politics for "public service" and emerge as multimillionaires.

If memory serves, Harkin is worth about $10 million. That's not chump change obviously, but for his age and the salaries he and his wife have earned over their lifetimes, that's really not an insanely huge sum of money.

**everyyard** · 02-05-2013, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by norcalcy

In short, it means nothing. You should not care. Five years from now, no one will know who Tom Harkin is. Can't imagine what among his "papers" would be worth studying. A very inconsequential man.

hardly. I could care less about his papers but a 40 year senator is hardly inconsequential. You might not like the consequences but long standing senators are some of the most powerful people in our country...for right or wrong.

**CyDude16** · 02-05-2013, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by cloneluke80

hmmm...so a lifetime senator with a GIGANTIC ego? not surprised in the least... He wanted Leath to cave to his every need and kiss his *** and when Leath didnt, Harkin seemed to start throwing a little 2 year old tantrum... harkin is weak...

Proof or just making false claims?

**othercy** · 02-05-2013, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by kcdc4isu

This is politics and nothing more and anyone who says it is not is only siding with their party. The Gov could not stand having it named after a Democrat.

Yeah right - I know what your tribe is.

**alarson** · 02-05-2013, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by everyyard

Branstad has never convinced me he has given up on his anti-ISU stance

I've never been convinced that this actually exists beyond message board conspiracy theory, usually put forth by those who wouldnt vote for him anyways.

**Trice** · 02-05-2013, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

I've never been convinced that this actually exists beyond message board conspiracy theory, usually put forth by those who wouldnt vote for him anyways.

I can tell you from time I've spent on Cyclone Report that there are a lot of crusty old Republicans extremely bitter about the way ISU was treated around the time of the WOI sale. Whether they blame Branstad, the Board of Regents, or some combination of both I don't recall.

**CyFan61** · 02-05-2013, 09:51 PM

Can someone link me to a story about the proposal to change ISU and UNI into Iowa-Ames and Iowa-Cedar Falls?

**CyDude16** · 02-05-2013, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by CyFan61

Can someone link me to a story about the proposal to change ISU and UNI into Iowa-Ames and Iowa-Cedar Falls?

I mean its not like you have numerous search engines to do it yourself.

**DistrictCyclone** · 02-05-2013, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by othercy

He was not before he entered politics. Neither was Harry Reid, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, nor Barak Obama for that matter. Always amazed at how these folks that are supposedly for the little guy get so rich off their "public service". Kind of makes a person cyncical.

Obama was, from the book he wrote in the mid-90s. Al Gore is the son of a US Senator. Bill Clinton became Arkansas' Attorney General shortly after he turned 30, so he never even really got the chance. Harry Reid, though...it wouldn't surprise me one bit if there's something nefarious behind that guy's "really good investing" that got him rich. Also, those 4 guys are all lawyers (3 of them with Ivy League educations)...even if they weren't in public service, chances are they'd be making more money than 99% of us.

Besides, with the exception of Obama, these are all guys who first got elected over 30 years ago. It's a different ball-game today; being rich is a huge, huge advantage in an election.

**norcalcy** · 02-05-2013, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by everyyard

hardly. I could care less about his papers but a 40 year senator is hardly inconsequential. You might not like the consequences but long standing senators are some of the most powerful people in our country...for right or wrong.

Very true. He and his ilk have done plenty of damage. However, he as an individual, will fade from the public consciousness very quickly. I'm a political junkie and I can't name five other Senators from Iowa in the history of the Republic. Can you, without looking them up?

**ISUAgronomist** · 02-05-2013, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by CyFan61

Can someone link me to a story about the proposal to change ISU and UNI into Iowa-Ames and Iowa-Cedar Falls?

DesMoinesRegister.com - Archives

**kcdc4isu** · 02-05-2013, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by othercy

Yeah right - I know what your tribe is.

Then you know I am a no party person. I am also wise enough to know that this was politics plain and simple amd I bet if Grassley said he wanted to do something like this at UNI or Iowa the gov and bor would be right out front welcoming him. And I know your affiliation .

**Sigmapolis** · 02-05-2013, 10:09 PM

I've been watching this development for awhile. Iowa *desperately* needs a public policy center. The DOT and the DOR and some other state agencies are pretty advanced in terms of their in-house analysis, but there's nothing at UNI, UOI, or ISU that can even shade towards much of what similar centers do in states like Utah, Georgia, New Mexico, Michigan, or even small-fries like Mississippi. Yes, I would know, given that this is my space in the working world. There are things independent academics can do outside the political and bureaucratic constraints of the state government, too, so this would be a good way to go about it.

The macro/regional professor at ISU just retired, too, so getting something like this up and running between the agriculture, engineering, and vet med assets and the social sciences, economics, and history would definitely be a good thing for ISU (and, again, help keep the set us apart over Iowa). It kills me my home state doesn't really have a CEBR. This would be a huge step in the right direction, assuming this launches on the right foot with proper backing. Seeing it dragged into a silly fight like this one isn't a good sign, unfortunately.

**aauummm** · 02-05-2013, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by Sigmapolis

I've been watching this development for awhile. Iowa *desperately* needs a public policy center. The DOT and the DOR and some other state agencies are pretty advanced in terms of their in-house analysis, but there's nothing at UNI, UOI, or ISU that can even shade towards much of what similar centers do in states like Utah, Georgia, New Mexico, Michigan, or even small-fries like Mississippi. Yes, I would know, given that this is my space in the working world. There are things independent academics can do outside the political and bureaucratic constraints of the state government, too, so this would be a good way to go about it.

The macro/regional professor at ISU just retired, too, so getting something like this up and running between the agriculture, engineering, and vet med assets and the social sciences, economics, and history would definitely be a good thing for ISU (and, again, help keep the set us apart over Iowa). It kills me my home state doesn't really have a CEBR. This would be a huge step in the right direction, assuming this launches on the right foot with proper backing. Seeing it dragged into a silly fight like this one isn't a good sign, unfortunately.

The Harkin Institute is (or was) going to be a CEBR? I don't think so. http://www.ebullymatch.com/

**everyyard** · 02-05-2013, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by norcalcy

Very true. He and his ilk have done plenty of damage. However, he as an individual, will fade from the public consciousness very quickly. I'm a political junkie and I can't name five other Senators from Iowa in the history of the Republic. Can you, without looking them up?

senators come and go, but senators that have been around as long as grassley and harken don't.