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.
As Previously Posted I campaigned for him. Worked the phones for him. Donated Money.
Voted for him, needless to say.
AND
I Am Not Disappointed!After what Bonehead & Turtlehead have done, Cruz is one of the few republicans I trust these days!
Obama wasn’t an executive
That one sentence proves my point. Thank you. I NEVER thought you would come to my defense on this primary. But you brought it to me with a silver bow. I appreciate it so much. Now if only I can get you on the Walker side. I still have a year.....
I just don’t think those things are experience that equal Governor. Sorry I just don’t.
Read #40.
Right. And even Reagan — he had been a governor but as a president was it his role as an executive or as a visionary that we appreciate him for?
I am aware of Abe Lincoln who tried to destroy states rights. I don’t know why we are using the wrong politicians to compare Senator Cruz.
No, it proves my point, not yours. Obama has shown, once again, that an effective ideologue without executive experience can move the nation in the direction of his ideas. Isn’t that what we want to do? Isn’t that what Reagan did?
Isn’t that what Reagan did?
Oh yes. The two term governor that got a ton done in California before become President......yes that politician who is President Walker through and through.
“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.”
His answers don’t change according to who he is talking to. Have we had another presidential contender like this since Reagan? Both he and Cruz give honest answers and explain why and try to show the other side the error of their ways. As Cruz said, it’s not the easiest route - but it is the only honest and trustworthy one.
But there is a change in the market resulting from ethanol that drives up the price of corn.
Good point.
The politician who says his goal is to reduce government meddling in free markets, is the guy I will vote for because THAT is what I want to win. I believe that the goal to reduce government tyranny is the only hope for restoring prosperity and Christian morality to America, let alone freedom.
The politician, Republican or Democrat, who remains on-board fundamentally with the concept of "necessary" government meddling "for society's good," represents what I want to lose. So my vote will either go to what I want to win, or it will stay home.
Cruz is looking better by the day.
Any old farmer in the 1800s could have ran for President. Different times then.
“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!”
The debates between him and Mr. Teleprompter should prove entertaining.
I like Walker but Walker is nothing like Reagan in the vision department. Or at least he doesn’t seem to be.
I’m not talking about whether or not you AGREE with his actions then, I’m talking about his effectiveness. Did he, or didn’t he win a civil war against a very wily foe, with much better generals and more motivated soldiers, with many allies and natural strengths. He had no “executive” experience that I’m aware of, but his towering mind allowed him to learn, grow and see his mistakes and do better the next time. He was arguably the great legal mind of his age, just as Ted Cruz is now.
Don’t beclown yourself.
Ted Cruz may not tell you what you want to hear but he will tell you what he really thinks. He will tell you the truth.
The truth is that corn is the least efficient way to make ethanol of any natural resource. It is way more efficient to make ethanol from sorghum, sugar beets and many many other sources. Corn should be grown for food for us and for the livestock that produces our meat. Oh wait I forgot they are doing away with meat so never mind.
Agreed. The President can repeal previous executive orders and greatly reduce the number of leftists in control of agencies by eliminating their staffing and power, and in some cases their existence.
To do this, the President needs a small number of thick-skinned people with a spine. In this respect, the biggest attraction of Walker is not his position on the issues. Walker appears to have a spine...and maybe cajones. That is something most Senators and Congressmen lack.
Ted Cruz seems unlike others in Congress because he seems to have a spine. He is disliked by the spineless mostly for that reason.
Today's candidates have nothing on the Founders and the men who served in the early 1800s. Those men still had a wealth of experience and knowledge prior to getting elected to public office.
The worst thing about Obama, more than his filthy, totalitarian presidency, is how he ruined the traditional precedent of how candidates run for President. Now you got people like Carson, and Herman Cain before him, and Donald Trump making these vanity runs for President. The Presidency has been reduced to an American Idol contest, rather than the prestigious position it was previously before Obama. And Cruz is simply validating this fact.
You’re saying Ted Cruz is making a vanity run at the White House?
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