Dear Friends,
(01:39) Establishment Democrats need to stop meddling;
(18:59) Iran’s evolving role in the Middle East, with Jeffrey Weiss;
(37:15) Local actions on Gaza, with Carolyn Uhlenhake-Walker;
(53:40) Growing your garden greener, with Kathy Byrnes Fallon.
Y’all know I gotta brag about Ireland whenever I get the chance.
Melissa Vine
Here’s the latest: an Irish kids’ rap video — The Spark. Money raised will support the kids’ recording studio and provide housing, food, and medical services for immigrant families and asylum seekers. Love it!
In news from this side of the pond, the national Democratic cabal seems intent on continuing its assault on local democracy. This year, they’re at it in Iowa’s Third Congressional District.
The corporate-funded DC establishment has thrown its collective might behind Lanon Baccam in the Democratic primary. I’ve got nothing against Baccam. Never met him, and I’ve only recently met his opponent, Melissa Vine. But I’ll give you four quick reasons why you should support Vine:
(1) It’s insulting, undemocratic, and morally wrong for DC insiders to try to handpick winners in local elections. Not surprisingly, the candidates chosen by DC Dems tend to be cozy with big business. A vote for Vine is a vote against this increasingly pervasive corruption of the democratic process.
(2) DNC-backed Democrats usually lose in the fall. See Patty Judge and Theresa Greenfield for details. Vine is hands down the best candidate to beat Republican Zach Nunn.
(3) Baccam’s light on key issues. Vine’s solid on the things I care most about and has a compelling personal story. Ten years ago, she bailed out of an abusive marriage, lost everything, and took a job checking groceries for $8.50 an hour. After earning her master’s degree in mental health counseling, Melissa became the Executive Director at The Beacon, a nonprofit for women coming out of trauma.
(4) Finally, a vote for Vine pushes back against the absurd attack against her, orchestrated by the DCCC, a local activist, and the mainstream media (MSM). Spurious ethics complaints and outright lies were thrown at me when I ran for Congress, and I can assure you the ethics complaint against Vine is so much BS. Yet that hasn’t stopped the MSM from giving it all kinds of coverage, basically parroting Melissa’s detractors’ talking points. I challenged two MSM outlets to give equal coverage to the real scandal of DC election meddling. They declined.
HERE’S A SHORT VIDEO OF MELISSA INTRODUCING HERSELF TO VOTERS.
My wife, Kathy, and I, along with Joe Henry, will host a meet-and-greet fundraiser for her next week. We’ve got limited space, so send me a personal message if you’re interested in attending.
Finally, here’s the statement of support I’ve published, and feel free to share it with others: “I’m endorsing Melissa Vine because she’s the candidate with the best grasp of important issues. I love her commitment to working with the most needy members of our community and her passion for protecting the environment. Melissa’s NOT backed by the Democratic establishment in Washington, DC. She’s grassroots to the core and has the best shot at turning Iowa’s 3rd District blue.” — Ed Fallon (former Iowa lawmaker and candidate for governor and Congress, current host of the Fallon Forum)
Thanks for reading, listening, and doing your part for a better world.
Ed Fallon
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Ed Fallon