Gore stirs up
support in Iowa
GORE from page 3
Senate Republican majority rejected
before its August recess. ”We have an
obligation to help good people through
tough times and these are tough times
for Iowa farmers,” Bradley said.
He also called on the Justice
Department to launch an antitrust
investigation of the meat-packing
industry.
’’Lack of competition has led to
Depression-era prices for hogs while
the meatpacking industry is making
record earnings,” Bradley said. ’That
is unacceptable.”
Gore joined with Gov. Tom Vilsack
to lead a discussion with farmers about
their troubles.
The vice president called for revi
sions to the nation’s basic farm legisla
tion, the Freedom to Farm Act, as well
as an emergency package of $10 bil
lion in aid to farmers on the financial
edge because of historic low commod
ity prices.
’’There are in 1999, two Iowas,”
Gore said. ’’There is an Iowa with
unemployment under 2.6 percent with
an economy that’s booming and a
future that’s bright, but there’s also a
farm economy that’s hurting badly.”
Gore was swinging through a
series of small Iowa towns making his
point, and was spending the night at a
private home.
Meeting with activists in a Newton
cafe, Gore departed from his farm
theme to launch an spirited assault on
Republicans and their ’’risky tax
scheme.
”1 think that is a reckless idea,” said
Gore, warning it would spark renewed
deficits ”at a time when we have just
dug our way out of the hole they put us
in.”
Gore’s motorcade was rolling
through a light rain, with the vice pres
ident sporting khaki slacks and cow
boy boots in keeping with his rural
theme.
Gore made it clear he wanted
changes in farm policy, ’’which is in
serious need of improvement and
change.
The Freedom to Farm legislation
was a sharp change in farm policy,
ending most traditional subsidy pay
ments while also ending most planting
restrictions.
With farm commodity prices well
below the cost of production, there’s
pressure for change. The issue is a del
icate one for Gore because President
Clinton signed the measure into law.
”1 pledge my support and all-out
help to Iowans in both of those
economies,” said Gore.
Gore is the early favorite for the
Democratic nomination, with much of
the party’s establishment quietly in his
camp. He demonstrated those ties in
opening his latest campaign swing,
collecting the endorsements of a string
of prominent Democrats like Des
Moines Mayor Preston Daniels and six
Democratic legislators along with
prominent central Iowa Democrats
like Polk County Attorney John
Sarcone.
Most of the attention this week has
been on Republican straw poll fight,
with has drawn up to 600 journalists to
the state. Both Gore and Bradley were
seeking a slice of that attention. Gore
was rolling through the central part of
the state in his campaign bus, while
Bradley was in western Iowa.
In his headline event of the day,
Gore headed to farm outside
Marshalltown to join with Vilsack and
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Patty
Judge to discuss farm woes.
The three perched on stools in the
yard outside a rural Marshalltown
farm to pledge aid to farmers, and hear
worries from farmers in a 90-minute
session.
Gore argued ihat farm legislation
was inadequate to deal with tough eco
nomic times.
He also said he would resist using
food as a weapon by slapping embar
goes on foreign rivals, arguing that
should be done only in ’’some excep
tional cases.
Vilsack, a Democrat, has said he
will stay neutral in the fight between
Bradley and Gore.
Gore used his farm forum to ham
mer his backing for ethanol-blended
fuels, noting that the administration is
moving to provide incentives for
ethanol use under Clean Air Act regu
lations. Ethanol production is an
important market for com farmers.
Ooitrtfsy Photo
THE CAST OF “MYSTERY MEN” includes Oscar nominee William H. Macy (far left) and
the artist formerly known as Pee-Wee Herman, Paul Ruebens (second from right).
‘Mystery Men’ a good superhero spoof
By Cliff Hicks
Film Critic
If you’ve ever seen or read “The
Tick,” you know almost exactly what
you’re in for when you sit down to see
“Mystery Men” - a parody about
everything not-so-super in super
heroes.
Films like “Batman,”
“Superman” and the such take them
selves somewhat seriously, but the
key to “Mystery Men” is that it does
n’t. And while the film does have a bit
of a slow start as well as an ending
that comes far too fast, “Mystery
Men” is a solid comedy that draws
from the great cast to make a good
film.
At the beginning or the him, three
semi-superheroes - Mr. Furious
(Stiller), Blue Rajah (Azaria) and The
Shoveller (Macy) - attempt to defend
an old folk’s home from a group of
criminals called The RedEyes. While
they don’t do very well, soon Captain
Amazing (Kinnear) appears to save
the day and our trio is relegated to sec
ond-fiddle.
But, alas, Captain Amazing has
cleaned up most of the crime of the
city, and, well, he’s just not so amaz
ing anymore. Endorsers are begin
ning to drop him. So he slips into the
local asylum and recommends releas
ing Cassanova Frankenstein (what a
great name for a character, although
Rush underplays it a bit), saying that
the man is rehabilitated. This is, of
course, just an excuse for Amazing to
have another public fight with a giant
supervillain in an attempt to boost his
ratings with the public.
(He’s just lost his Pepsi endorse
ment, don’t you know?)
All of Amazing’s scheme goes
drastically wrong, however, when
Frankenstein actually captures
Amazing, thus leaving other super
heroes, namely the “Mystery Men”,
to pick up the pieces.
To swell up their ranks, they
search for other superheroes and add
Invisible Boy (played by Kel
Mitchell, whose character’s name is
also an in-joke that only those with a
good grasp on literature will get) and
The Spleen (played by Paul
Reubens). Then they hold auditions
and get one more, The Bowler
(Garofolo).
Alter going an having a small
frontal assault on Frankenstein’s limo
(which needs to be seen to be
believed), the group is attacked by
The Disco Boys and saved by The
Sphinx, the most mysterious super
hero, well, ever.
Sound bizarrely funny? Well, it is.
Part of the problem with
“Mystery Men” is that there’s so
much to it, so many characters, that a
few fall through the cracks. Azaria
and Garofolo don’t get enough screen
time, Reubens and Macy get a little
too much. Director Kinka Usher lets
the film sag a bit, when a few sharp
The Facts
Title: "Mystery Men" ::>|HppP
Stars: Hank Azaria, Janeanew „
Garofalo, William H. Macy, Ben Stiller,
Greg Kinnear, Geoffrey Rush
Director: Kinka Usher
Rating: PG-13
Grade: B (as “B” as a movie can get)
Five Words: Second-rate
superheroes save the day
one-liners could zip the speed needed
back into the film.
There are a lot of great moments,
from the confrontation between Mr.
Furious and The Sphinx to the “Six
Million Dollar Man” reference that a
lot of people missed. Still, the brand
of humor “Mystery Men” offers up
isn’t for everyone.
Like the “Six Million Dollar
Man” reference, a lot of people won’t
notice how the set is a combination of
“Blade Runner” meets “Batman,” nor
the score that seems almost Danny
Elfin an-ish.
Most of all, though, the humor is
very non-sequetir, which means peo
ple unwilling to roll with the jokes are
going to feel very disappointed.
This is a film for fans of the genre.
What “Mystery Men” isn’t is a film
for people who have no interest in
superhero films. Regardless, it’s still a
solid show, despite its shortcomings,
and worth a watch from anyone with a
funny bone.
200s fur sale
Acer PC laptop for sale. Windows98, Autocad14,
3DViz, 0ffice97, Netscape, all Installed, plus much
more! Worth $6,000; sell for $4,500. Call Kara at
438-1011.
Huge garage sale. Furniture, designer wear, antiques
and more. Saturday, August 14, 8:30-4:30. 8010
Lillibridge, off of 79th and Van Dorn. Follow the balloons.
Multi-family garage sale, remodeling, lots of furniture,
dishes, clothes, baby things. Friday and Saturday from
8am-4pm, 3731 Chadd Court.
‘86 Audi 5000s, gold, 4 door, automatic, loaded, leather,
113,000 miles, *2,200 OBO. Call 440-3667.
1975 VW Bus. Good condition, runs great, new tires,
$1600 OBO. 484-7637, ask for Bill.
92’ Corolla 4 door auto, air 88K $3250
91' Prism 4 door, auto, air, red $2850
86’ Accord 4 door, LX, auto, air 93K $2650
92’ 626 4 door, auto, air 75K $4250
Baer’s Auto Sales 1647 South 3rd 477-6442
300s Services
Adoption. Young professinal couple with a lot of love
and security to give look to adopt infant, confidential,
expenses paid. Call Phil and Barbe 1-800-815-9167.
Bang. Tutoring lessons in C. C++, COBOL FORTRAN
and any other computer science area. 477-6710.
Auto Accidents & DWI
Other criminal matters, call Sanford Pollack 476-7474.
Free
Pregnancy Test
Birthright is a confidential helping hand. Please call for
appointment or more information, 483-2609. Check
out our website www.birthright.org.
40% RMSMl
1 female roommate needed. Smokers welcome, $300+
1/2 phone and electricity. Call Trish, 325-8246.
1 or 2 responsible, fun male/female to share new duplex,
$225 plus 1/4 other, 488-4188.
2 bedroom, 2 bath, washer/dryer, pool, Ok) Cheney,
$300 plus 1/2 utilities, 450-2969 leave message.
3 girts need 1 roommate. We live close to campus with
a washer and dryer. Move in now and don't pay August
rent, $200/month. Call 4389113.
12 hours of childcare in exchange for private bedroom,
livina room, shared kitchen, bathroom. 420-7128.
What are your plans for the new school year?
Grab your friends, and check out
• Swimming pool Ol MDfr
• Workout room 8D OD SQ EffinOD <® DQ QS
• Walk to campus -
. Private entrances 9™ a c^REMONT
_I 474-7275 1