So State Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport, will get to take on U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack in a good old fashioned Democrat primary. Was it the frosty mug ‘o signatures collected at the Fibbin’ Fisherman Lounge in Corydon that put him over the top?

Perhaps, because Seng made it past a challenge to his nomination petitions “just Barely” according to Radio Iowa:

“It really sounded bad that I have a felon and people from Illinois and stuff like that, but that happens in every one,” Seng told reporters after the decision.

Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz is one of the three panel members who voted late this afternoon to confirm that Seng’s name is to be printed on the ballots in the second congressional district.

“In no way does our decision change the fact that, you know, Senator Seng probably should have been more organized,” Schulz told reporters after the decision was announced. “But in his case it was a close call.”

Oh yeah, happens all the time. That Seng, he’s just like me. Disorganized and full of excuses.

And it sure seemed like Shultz was more of a stickler for detail when he was forcing Linn County to draw that giant doughnut of a supervisors’ district. Huh.

The Register has more details here. I guess I can see erring on the side of letting a guy on the ballot, but what a mess.

In other news, apparently Pink Slime doesn’t need my help after all. Hy-Vee has reversed its original decision to stop selling hamburger that contains “lean finely textured beef,” also known by the less delicious label “pink slime.” U.S. Sec. of Ag Tom Vilsack and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad both defended its beefy goodness this week. The great Pink Slime Scare of 2012 may be over.

The grocery chain will now offer ground beef with and without LFTB. No word on whether beef with extra pink slime, or BeefWhip as I like to call it, will be available. Fingers crossed.

This is good. Now we get to watch the free market work. Informed consumers, making choices. Why, it’s as American as giant burgers, topped with onion rings, cheese, chili, guac, more cheese and a slice of ham. For breakfast.

And finally, the headline of the day, from AP via the DMR

“Woman uses high-heel shoe to clobber Iowa doorman”

Note the spelling. Not me. But certainly plausible.