If you still believe that the current 111th Congress is representative of the American people, then you exist in stubborn denial, likely as a victim of the most deliberately dumbed-down mainstream media in U.S. history. But you skate on that excuse only so far. After a while, when every instinct in your civic being tells you something is dreadfully wrong with what is passing for news each day -- makes no difference whether via the networks (ABC, NBC, or CBS) or cable news (CNN, MSNBC, or Fox) -- it's time to trust yourself and seek alternative news sources. All mainstream news is designed to keep you blaming the "other party," living in fear, and taking no personal responsibility.

If you are gullible enough to believe the yellow journalism that passes for news anymore, then you really have no one to blame but yourself, especially for ignoring what your instincts are correctly trying to tell you -- that the mainstream media is basically the public-relations agency for the govcorp (the unholy alliance of international mega-corporations composed of energy, food, finance, communications, insurance, and pharmaceuticals; elected officials; banksters; government bureaucrats; union bosses; large not-for-profit foundations; Democratic/Republican party leadership; and the cabal of lawyers loyal to the bar before the U.S. Constitution) that is seizing America's resources, and with it, our liberty.

A disclosure report filed Thursday with the IRS showed that the 527 organization called Iowans for Responsible Government, which ran attack ads against former Governor Terry Branstad before the primary election, was funded entirely by the Democratic Governors Association.

The DGA gave $782,500 to the group and is also Governor Chet Culver's largest contributor.

"We were right all along," said Branstad campaign manager Jeff Boeyink, who said the group crossed a serious line and needs to be held accountable for its actions. "We have reached a new low in Iowa politics."

In 2008, a family decided that they wanted to bring the drive-in-movie-theater experience back to the Quad Cities. In a time when recession-stricken individuals are looking for less-expensive outlets to bring them a bit of joy, the Reel to Reel Drive-in Theater was going to be able to provide that. As of today, that dream has been yet again put on hold.

You see, American Residential Communities, otherwise known as ARC, operates Lakeside Trailer Park on the outskirts of west Davenport. ARC feels that the land that Reel to Reel will operate on will cause so much disruption that they will lose tenants. At least, that's how they seem to be operating. They've gone from legal battle to legal battle against Scott County to appeal, and successfully put on hold, the construction of the drive-in. However, I'd like to take this opportunity to illustrate the logic, or lack thereof, behind their fight.

Iowa Republicans in the past month cut in half what was more than a 100,000-person deficit in voter registration.

As of this week, there are 699,972 active and inactive registered Democrats in Iowa and 644,838 registered Republicans, a difference of 55,134, according to the Iowa secretary of state's office. That compares with Republicans trailing Democrats by 102,450 on June 1, and by nearly 113,000 in January.

"In total, the Republicans reduced the deficit by 47,316 voters," said Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro. "Historically speaking, primaries are driven by parties. Nearly all the competitive races were found in the Republican Party this year, with the governor and three congressional districts, a secretary of state's race, a state treasurer's race."