Posted on 01/09/2016 3:03:08 PM PST by TBBT
OTTUMWA, Iowa — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump escalated his criticism of GOP rival Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) here in Iowa Saturday, painting him as a political follower beholden to pro-oil special interests and the donor class.
Trump’s strategy: to raise further questions about Cruz’s stance on ethanol— an important industry for voters in the Hawkeye State — in the final weeks before the Feb. 1 caucuses. Cruz has faced renewed scrutiny over his opposition to the 2005 Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires gasoline to be blended with amounts of corn ethanol and is set to expire in 2022.
“As you know, my primary opponent in Iowa — only in Iowa, because Ted actually isn’t do very well in New Hampshire, but in Iowa he’s doing well — was totally opposed to ethanol and the ethanol industry because he’s with the oil industry. He’s from Texas, I guess that makes sense,†Trump said.
The real estate mogul’s criticism comes amid an escalating battle between the two candidates for the top spot in polls of Iowa voters. A Fox News survey of Iowa voters had Cruz leading Trump among likely GOP caucusgoers, 27 percent to 23 percent.
[‘When Ethanol Attacks,’ starring Ted Cruz.]
While touting his own support for the industry, Trump said he believes Cruz’s position on ethanol has undergone “a very big change.†Cruz has faced scrutiny in recent days for his one-time opposition to the RFS; he has softened his position in recent years, instead calling for legislation that would gradually phase out the requirement.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Do you comprehend anything?
Phase out means end.
Look, you can just say that you are unable to answer my question with a yes.
Just as I expected, there was not a single Cruz supporter who even mentioned his 'phase out ethanol plan' prior to his flip flop.
Not even you
I really wish Rush would GET IT that he, Rush, towers over Donald Trump. Limbaugh towers over "The Donald." I wish Rush would understand that Trump is a fake in terms of celebrity, and he, Rush, is solidly one of history's best examples of fame through excellence.
Rush is famous because being the best at what he does put him in the public eye so much that he became famous. He couldn't escape fame if he tried. With that fame came wealth.
Trump purchased and peddled his fame every single step of the way. If he hadn't pushed himself forward with aggressive marketing, no one would ever have heard of Trump, any more than they have heard of the guys who are much better than Trump at the same game, the best of them four times wealthier and better at "the art of the deal" than Trump. These guys, however, presumably fly around in less showy airplanes and say "no" to more interview requests. Or perhaps they are paunchy and bland. Who knows. But no one would know their names and faces except Trump for sure, because they are definitely the Big Dogs in his world, and he the Chihuahua.
Trump had to lasso fame using flair for showmanship and a prime-time TV show for how many, seven or eight seasons? He had his best-selling books sharing his smarts with everybody else. A persona established in the media, the quirky billionaire self-spun "genius." "Read his books if you want to know how smart he is," I've seen his supporters sometimes say. Oh, really? Sure, establishing a brand that way is an accomplishment, but an indifferent one.
Trump's fame, every smidgen of it, was self-bestowed, whereas we bestow the fame on Rush Limbaugh by wanting to know who he is. Next to Rush, Trump is like the buff guy claiming to be on a par with Michael Phelps, he can swim so fast, and you believe him! Then you find out that Phelps can swim four times faster than him, and you realize that in terms of the best, the buff guy is a mere amateur. His credibility drops.
HOWEVER, I didn't see anything in the excerpt to validate the headline -- it looks like at most Trump says there has been "a very big change" in Cruz's position on ethanol, which is false.
It's all Trump's got.
Jo, I already voted for Schwarzenegger, twice, the first time with the same happy fervor and faith I see in Trump supporters.
I'm applying what I've learned. See my tagline.
.
You are a liar, a nut case, and a fool.
Cruz’ ethanol subsidy bill has been discussed here for over a year.
Just because you didn’t think it important does not mean everyone is that air-headed.
What are you talking about, 'not exactly' -- yes, exactly Cruz is the same as he has always been on ethonol: for getting rid of government subsidies that nourish the false market for the product required by government regulation -- and phase outs are the only way to do it. He's been for that from the start. You can look it up. I have.
I think you're exactly right.
Just wow. Something’s wrong with you, pal.
Oh well.
Obviously, it was good enough...
"Now Ted just switched his views on ethanol. He was totally against ethanol, now all the sudden he's for it, you know, it' s Iowa and he's for it."
An out and out lie.
It’s all they have. Besides. They don’t want conservatism. they want something else. No matter what.
Well, no, I was thinking maybe you’d have an actual example of Cruz ever saying anything other than that he plans to end all government-subsidized ethanol programs by phasing them out as required through Congress. Because Trump is sure making the charge. How about backing up Trump, instead of flinging “stop, you’re embarrassing yourself,” thereby changing the subject to me instead of to Trump and why folks are complaining about him.
Is that your general drift?
That's his stock in trade. Another day, another lie.
Well, I have an interest in ethanol threads, so I read most of them.
Never once have I read a thread on anyone but Governor Walker about phasing out ethanol.
There have been numerous threads of Cruz ending ethanol subsidies cold turkey, but that’s all.
I’m looking forward to you directing me to older Cruz threads of his phase out plans.
++
Is it true that Ted Cruz himself is as mean spirited in private as his supporters on FreeRepublic are?
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The bill started out to go cold turkey, but as always, compromise runs congress.
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>> “They don’t want conservatism. they want something else.” <<
That is the heart of Trumpophancy.
.
I have said it for years. And all the cute rationalizations in the world don’t change reality. People that want conservatism will vote for conservatives. People that don’t, wont. Simple logic. You will never get what you don’t vote for.
Go into a food joint and order Chocolate ice cream. See if you get lobster. I think it’s a safe bet you won’t. Go into a voting booth and elect a guy stat says “Sorry Conservatives in his first big speech. It’s a certainty you won’t get conservative governance if he wins.
This is 12 all over again. And when people don’t get what their fantasy built Trump up to be in their minds, they will be here making the same excuses and justifications. But this time they had a conservative on the ballot. A real one no one denied until Trump arrived. And this time they cannot claim that they had ‘no’ choice.
Well last time there was a few more conservative choices. They should have taken them since they lost anyway. But that would not have driven the party further from conservatism. Which is what many wanted in the first place.
No matter what.
Interesting.
Was that Cruz’s bill? He wanted cold turkey?
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