The Des Moines Register has a great soundbite from Iowa State Rep. Dan Rasmussen, a Republican:

"I'm sure I'm being nasty and mean, but that's my personality and you're going to have to take it."

Delightful, isn't it?

There aren't too many politicians who will readily admit to being, "nasty and mean." But in Rasmussen's case, at least that has the virtue of being true. Luckily for Iowa, the second part of his statement is 100 percent false. No one has to take an attitude like that from an elected official.

Particularly, when Democrats have a great candidate in Gene Ficken with a real chance at sending Rasmussen into retirement.