Free Republic

The volume and extent of the Trump trashing today, the eve of Super Tuesday, has been beyond over the top. I perused the various networks, CNN, FOX and all the usual suspects including the print media, WaPO, NYT and web sites such as HuffPo. They are pulling out all the stops and saying as many negative things as they can about Trump. It hit me late in the afternoon that the day seemed like one big paid political ad from the MSM, including FOX. Some of the people actually looked like they were going to blow a gasket. Watched Megyn...

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz managed to snag Iowa’s heaviest corn-producing counties despite his opposition to federal mandates and subsidies for ethanol. Does this mean King Corn’s days are numbered in the Hawkeye State? Cruz snatched victory from challenger business mogul Donald Trump Monday night, but what’s most interesting is Iowa counties that grow the most corn supported the Texas senator despite his opposition to ethanol subsidies — ethanol is mostly made from corn.-snip-Trump also jumped on Cruz for his opposition to ethanol, warning Iowans Cruz would “destroy” the industry if he wins Monday night’s caucus.“He will destroy your ethanol business...

A search shows that nobody's opened up a live thread for tonight's caucuses. So here goes. Predictions? For both the GOP and Dem nominations? Eyewitness Accounts? See any funny business going on?

Video at link. Under-card debate starts at 7pm EST, 4pm PST. Main debate starts at 9pm EST, 6pm PST.

... Shapiro is absolutely right, and kudos to him for being willing to write it. The populist twinge to the original Tea Party was fine because it was promoting freedom and liberty, smaller government, and sound fiscal policy. But the populism running rampant today, which Sarah Palin is supporting, isn’t promoting what the original Tea Party stood for. It’s here where Palin is abandoning the values she claims to stand for, all in the name of populism and strong man syndrome. She should know better, and it’s disappointing she’s gone down this road. It isn’t surprising, but it’s still disappointing...

"...Corn has long been king in Iowa, the nation's top corn-producing state, implanting in Iowa voters a sentiment that every candidate must cheer Washington's backing for ethanol. Since 2011, though, that universal backing has been eroding. Congress decided at the end of 2011 not to renew a tax credit that cost the government $6 billion a year. Critics of the government’s ethanol policy then set their targets on the ethanol mandate, which requires refineries to blend an increasing amount of biofuels into the U.S. gasoline supply each year. At the ethanol summit Tuesday, Mr. Trump also read a prepared statement...

link to articleTrump was shocked that Cruz came out against ethanol subsidies because that's the only way you can win Iowa: But he's very happy to announce an endorsement from Sarah Palin, who called to end ALL energy subsidies in 2011: Asked Tuesday whether she supports the federal subsidy of ethanol, an always critical issue in the presidential nominating cycle, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin went one step further and called for the elimination of all energy subsidies. "I think that all of our energy subsidies need to be relooked at today and eliminated," Palin told RCP during a quick...

Donald Trump said Tuesday that federal regulators should increase the amount of ethanol blended into the nation’s gasoline supply. Speaking at an event hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Trump, a real estate mogul and the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ought to follow the ethanol volumes Congress set in 2007. “The EPA should ensure that biofuel ... blend levels match the statutory level set by Congress under the [renewable fuel standard],” Trump said. The mandate is popular in Iowa, which hosts the nation's first caucuses.

10th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona, IA on Jan 19, 2016 The Meadows Conference Center at Prairie Meadow 7:30 AM. Event registration begins 8:15 AM. Event Begins Mr. Trump is scheduled to speak after lunch This event is open to the public http://www.donaldjtrump.com/schedule http://iowarfa.org/10th-annual-iowa-renewable-fuels-summit-program/

Outspoken celebrity businessman Donald Trump likes to talk, and so far farmers appear to be listening. The nationwide frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination also topped the latest Farm Futures Magazine surveys among farmers in both the U.S. and Iowa. Farm Futures surveyed farmers from Dec. 7 to Jan. 4. That included more than 400 from Iowa, where 37% of those favoring a Republican said they would vote for Trump "if the election were held today." Trump‘s support among GOP farmers was even stronger at 39% from farmers outside Iowa, which holds its first-in-the-nation caucuses Feb. 1.

Actual Title shortened to fit: If Trump is Mentioning Cruz's Canadian Birth Again Then He Must Know He's Going to Lose Big in Iowa I am amused that Donald Trump is once again reminding voters that Ted Cruz was born in Canada. Before speaking at a rally on Monday night in Lowell, Massachusetts, Trump stated, "Republicans are going to have to ask themselves the question: 'Do we want a candidate who could be tied up in court for two years?' That'd be a big problem." Yet it was only four months ago just as the two were to appear together...

Donald Trump is taking aim at Republican presidential rival Sen. Ted Cruz, a tactical shift that could be risky on two fronts: It may have come too late, and the Texas senator might actually be benefiting from the attacks...... For Mr. Cruz, being under attack by other Republicans is a badge of honor, another backer said. "It's a quasi-endorsement of Cruz to the grass roots," said Saul Anuzis, former Michigan GOP chairman. Polls show a growing number of Trump backers see Mr. Cruz as their second choice. Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler said that when the campaign began, polls showed that...