Clean food and water matter; they really matter
The last time Iowa witnessed a political upset on the level of last week's Republican primary for governor was 1998 when Tom Vilsack embarrassed all pollsters by beating Jim Ross Lightfoot in the gubernatorial general election. The similarities between the two upsets are quite interesting and encouraging to people on my food beat.
Zach Lahn beat heavy favorite Randy Feenstra by running on health and cleaning up our shamefully toxic water. Feenstra, like most Iowa politicians, did not compete on the water issue. Our belief is that Farm Bureau is so powerful as a lobby that almost no Iowa pol dares to blame Des Moines carcinogenic water on toxic run-off of agricultural pesticides and herbicides — even now, when Dow, owner of the Round-up franchise, is testing new versions without the deadly glyphosate chemical, though only in Australia.
Similarly, Vilsack ran on a platform that pushed confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) into main issue status. Sadly, Vilsack failed on confining the confinements, saying they were an issue for local jurisdictions, not the state, after he won. Lightfoot ran with a strange ad campaign that emphasized he was an orphan, though a quite privileged one. Feenstra ran on President Trump's endorsement and little else, skipping debates.
In our opinion, they both lost due to laziness. Vilsack and Lahn just looked like they cared more about Iowa. It's also worth noting that both Vilsack and Lahn were outsiders, newcomers to Iowa. Neither knew that genuflecting to Big Ag’s powers-that-be was essential here.
If Lahn wins the general election, and he would be a 3-2 underdog if Kalshi started taking bets today (it won't open betting until Labor Day), he absolutely must succeed in getting glyphosate out of our water. It is killing Iowans with cancer and degrading our quality of life. That, in turn, kills the recruitment of new businesses and workers. That’s why it is the issue that matters most. Just ask Feenstra's campaign managers.
Deals today
• Food Truck Mall Mondays, 4-7 p.m., begin at 5299 East University Ave., Pleasant Hill.
• The Empire's (223 Fourth St., Des Moines) Monday special is spaghetti Alfredo with grilled chicken for $10.
• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers carnitas tacos for $2 Mondays.
• Cowboy (1234 E Euclid Ave., Des Moines) has a Monday special fajitas lunch for $11.99.
• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has British pies on sale Mondays for $10.
• District 36 (1375 S.W. Vintage Parkway, Ankeny) has a Monday special $60 dinner for two. Two entrees starring sea bass and NY strip de Burgo with soup or salads, a bottle of wine and a dessert to share.
• Some Hy-Vee Market Grilles offer pulled pork and baked potato specials on Mondays for $8.
• It's catfish night at Waterfront stores. Dinners cooked any way you like it for $19.99.
• It's Meat Loaf Monday at Mickey's in Yale.
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) Monday special is three for $25 on all appetizers.
• Bubba (200 10th St., Des Moines) has a Monday night sirloin dinner special for $20.
• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Monday grind" special grinder and fries basket for $9.50.
• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).
• Trostel's Greenbriar (Merle Hay Road, Johnston) has a Monday burger with a side and beer deal for $14.
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) has $8 omelets and $10 hot beef sandwiches or Mexican bowls on Mondays.
• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken de Burgo special on Mondays before 4 p.m., $14 including beverage.
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts Shelby Smokehouse Soul Food on Mondays, 5-9 p.m.
• G Mig's (126 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has $11 smashburgers today including a side.
• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) has a Monday special Graziano grinder with a side for $12.
• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers a Monday special double smash burger and shoestring fries, $12.
• Jethro's have a Monday chicken tenders and fries special $9.95 in Altoona and West Des Moines.
• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has specials on chicken Parmesan and lasagna today, $15 with garlic bread and salad.
• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Monday special is a burger with domestic beer, soft drink or well drink for $10.
• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.
• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today on hot beef sandwiches, $10.95 all day.
• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays.
• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.
• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle of wine.
• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9.
• Red Lobster's Monday special is lobster and shrimp scampi with a side for $20.
• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a Monday special loaded chicken on a croissant sandwich for $14.
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a Monday steak night special, sirloins and truffle fries for $18.
• Price Chopper delis offer two-piece, bone-in fried chicken dinners with two sides and a roll for $8 on Mondays.
• Fareways have specials through Saturday on chicken hindquarters at $.99/pound and asparagus for $1.99/pound.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
