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Ted Cruz stands alone after the King Corn summit
Hot Air ^ | March 8, 2015 | Jazz Shaw

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.


TOPICS: Iowa; Campaign News; Issues; Parties
KEYWORDS: ethanol; iowa; scottwalker; tedcruz
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Discuss.
1 posted on 03/08/2015 9:18:56 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; Kale; Jarhead9297; COUNTrecount; notaliberal; DoughtyOne; RitaOK; MountainDad; ...
Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!


CRUZ or LOSE!


2 posted on 03/08/2015 9:21:46 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m for no subsidies at all, and stop using food as fuel.


3 posted on 03/08/2015 9:21:47 AM PDT by wastedyears (I may be stupid, but at least I'm not Darwin Awards stupid.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I have to admit that Cruz is the only one that is a true conservative and apparently the only one who is real.


4 posted on 03/08/2015 9:23:32 AM PDT by Revel
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

One of these guys is not like the others...


5 posted on 03/08/2015 9:24:31 AM PDT by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Ethanol bad, butanol good.


6 posted on 03/08/2015 9:24:36 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

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).


7 posted on 03/08/2015 9:25:57 AM PDT by Reagan Disciple (Peace through Strength)
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To: Reagan Disciple

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.


8 posted on 03/08/2015 9:32:40 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Walker for President 2016. The only candidate with actual real RESULTS!!!!! The rest...talkers!)
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To: wastedyears

Research Makes Switchgrass Ethanol Cheaper to Produce
http://growinggeorgia.com/features/2014/06/research-makes-switchgrass-ethanol-cheaper-produce/


9 posted on 03/08/2015 9:33:44 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: Reagan Disciple
The closest thing to Reagan we’ve seen in a very long time (close, I said).

Right you are. Reagan was close but he signed full blown amnesty into law.

10 posted on 03/08/2015 9:34:11 AM PDT by houeto (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Agree that Cruz is the top of the line candidate in all aspects.

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.

11 posted on 03/08/2015 9:37:30 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: SoConPubbie
“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.”
12 posted on 03/08/2015 9:37:45 AM PDT by houeto (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: houeto

btt


13 posted on 03/08/2015 9:38:45 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

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.


14 posted on 03/08/2015 9:39:40 AM PDT by Carl Vehse
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To: napscoordinator

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......


15 posted on 03/08/2015 9:40:34 AM PDT by Nextrush (OBAMACARE IS A BAILOUT FOR THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

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.


16 posted on 03/08/2015 9:41:43 AM PDT by Pining_4_TX (All those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48)
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To: napscoordinator

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!


17 posted on 03/08/2015 9:43:19 AM PDT by alstewartfan ("Just call me if you ever need repairs." Flying Sorcery by Al Stewart)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Cruz is a man of much distiction.
Distinction will be his beat asset and our best hope.
(next to God that is)9


18 posted on 03/08/2015 9:43:40 AM PDT by right way right
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To: trebb
Show me where I attempted to “destroy” Governor Scott Walker here? I merely posted an article by Jazz Shaw at Hot Air on the Iowa Agricultural Summit and the various attendees and said “discuss.” Where is the attack at? Or are you perhaps mentally comparing their stances on ethanol based on the article and making the assumption that Gov. Walker and the others seem to be pandering, whereas Senator Cruz stood like the Rock of Gibraltar? I can't help that. It is what it is. I didn't do it.
19 posted on 03/08/2015 9:44:14 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Isn’t it amazing how we’ve allowed environmentalist crackpots warp our economy?


20 posted on 03/08/2015 9:44:30 AM PDT by Mr. Peabody
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