Posted on 03/08/2015 9:18:56 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Yesterday we covered the acid test of prospective candidates for 2016 in Iowa when it comes to ethanol subsidies and the Renewable Fuel Standard. At that time I promised that I would report back to you on how the 2016 hopefuls did in this admittedly daunting challenge to conservative politicians. I’m sorry to say that, as the WSJ reported for us, the results were less than impressive in most cases.
Let’s start with the bad news. First up… Rick Perry.
[T]he former governor of a petroleum-rich state [Governor Perry] suggested he didn’t think it would be fair to end the RFS while oil companies continued to benefit from tax breaks. “I don’t think you pull the RFS out and discriminate against the RFS and leave all these other subsidies,” he said.
Jeb Bush acted like the RFS is a bad toy, but had no plans to put it back in the cupboard.
“The markets are ultimately going to have to decide this,” said Mr. Bush, who declined to set a firm deadline for ending the fuel standard imposed a decade ago by his brother, former President George W. Bush. “Whether that’s 2022 or sometime in the future I don’t know,” he said.
Chris Christie left no room for doubt.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was clearer about his position, saying he “absolutely” supported the fuel standard.
Mike Huckabee is at least consistent.
Mike Huckabee argued that support for ethanol is good national security policy, helping to reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports. He then quipped his support for the corn-based fuel wasn’t about pandering to Iowans because of their important role in the presidential nominating process.
Rick Santorum also stuck to his unsatisfactory 2012 answer.
Former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who won the 2012 Iowa Republican caucuses, said ethanol “creates jobs in small-town and rural America, which is where people are hurting.”
From the same Bloomberg article, Lindsey Graham just played to the crowd.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham expressed strong support for ethanol in his appearance. “Every gallon of ethanol you can produce here in Iowa is one less gallon to have to buy from people who hate your guts,” he said.
Perhaps most disappointing, Scott Walker:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker backed the RFS, saying that while he tends to oppose government intervention, a marketplace issue exists for ethanol. He said consumers do not have the same access to corn-based fuel as gasoline, and because of that there’s a need for the standard.
“Right now we don’t have a free and open marketplace, and so that’s why I’m going to take that position,” he said.
I’ve been building up some early hopes for you, Governor Walker, but I must say this was a big let down.
And then there was this guy…
When asked if he would support the Renewable Fuel Standard he just said no. And then he put out some hard truths which seemed to earn him the respect a difficult answer deserved.
“I recognize that this is a gathering of a lot of folks where the answer you’d like me to give is ‘I’m for the RFS, darnit;’ that’d be the easy thing to do,” he said. “But I’ll tell you, people are pretty fed up, I think, with politicians who run around and tell one group one thing, tell another group another thing, and then they go to Washington and they don’t do anything that they said they would do. And I think that’s a big part of the reason we have the problems we have in Washington, is there have been career politicians in both parties that aren’t listening to the American people and aren’t doing what they said they would do.”
And the crowd applauded, giving Cruz the warmest welcome so far.
Hot air reached out to the Cruz campaign about how he managed such an answer.
“Ted Cruz is straightforward about what he believes, whether he is in Iowa, Texas, or Washington DC. We need more leaders who tell the truth about what they will do and the response to that kind of honesty is very positive.”
I have to say, this was a potential game changer for me. I know that I probably put off some of you with my seemingly endless fascination with energy issues in general and ethanol subsidies in particular. It’s a sort of wonky subject, but I feel it’s an important one. And this forum in Iowa was, in my view, a test of character for the nascent candidates on a matter of vital interest.
I’ve expressed doubts in the past about the long term viability of Ted Cruz on the national stage, particularly given the horribly effective way the media has sold the “crazy wingnut” stories to the public. But this guy has demonstrated the kind of intestinal fortitude that is far too often lacking in GOP leaders, and he certainly showed those qualities once again in Iowa. Take this as a benchmark for the coming campaign. There weren’t many clear standouts here, but the Best in Show was clearly a winner.
CRUZ or LOSE!I’m for no subsidies at all, and stop using food as fuel.
I have to admit that Cruz is the only one that is a true conservative and apparently the only one who is real.
One of these guys is not like the others...
Ethanol bad, butanol good.
I will give him as much $$ as I can.
He’s the most principled candidate out there. If John McCain hates him, then I love him.
Cruz it or lose it. The closest thing to Reagan we’ve seen in a very long time (close, I said).
The closest thing to Reagan we’ve seen in a very long time (close, I said).
Well change that to Walker and you are correct. Walker is 100 percent closer in experience that Cruz could even dream of being.
Research Makes Switchgrass Ethanol Cheaper to Produce
http://growinggeorgia.com/features/2014/06/research-makes-switchgrass-ethanol-cheaper-produce/
Right you are. Reagan was close but he signed full blown amnesty into law.
Still doesn't make sense to try to destroy the field yet (unless Jeb and Chris are the targets).
It seems that every time a new topic comes up, folks waste no time trying to destroy Walker with the new "litmus" when we have so much time and so many unknowns leading up to the actual primaries. It's like a vampire hunter throwing away 1000 rounds of ammo and only keeping the last silver bullet round in his arsenal. Then the opposition throws a vampire and a couple mortal minions his way and all those wasted rounds, which might have saved the day, have truly been wasted to his demise.
btt
If the 2016 Republican presidential nominee is a RINO, a demonicrat traitor will be elected and the demonicrats traitors will retake both political whorehouses of Congress.
When it comes to this issue of government intervention to help ag business (CRONY CAPITALISM) Ted Cruz hit it out of the park.
Walker supports business as usual in this case......
It doesn’t matter how cheaply it can be produced, ethanol is the devil’s spawn (how’s that for hyperbole?). It ruins engines, it’s less efficient than gasoline, and it causes MORE not less pollution than gas and oil. Ethanol can’t be transported via pipeline, which is the safest way to move combustibles. It is a bad idea anyway you look at it. Even the greenies are turning against it.
I don’t know how Cruz expects to get anywhere in politics by telling the truth. That isn’t what most people want to hear.
I want someone who can argue before SCOTUS, argue eloquently with no notes, and win. We need a fighter who is quick on his feet and unapologetic. That’s Ted!
Cruz is a man of much distiction.
Distinction will be his beat asset and our best hope.
(next to God that is)9
Isn’t it amazing how we’ve allowed environmentalist crackpots warp our economy?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.