National Politics - 2016

Ted Cruz: Speaking Truth To Power In Iowa

STANDING UP FOR TAXPAYERS AGAINST “KING CORN” || By FITSNEWS ||  One of the very first litmus tests any “Republican” presidential candidate should be made to pass before pro-free market voters give him or her serious consideration is the issue of ethanol subsidies. It’s an ideological and a political issue ……

STANDING UP FOR TAXPAYERS AGAINST “KING CORN”

|| By FITSNEWS ||  One of the very first litmus tests any “Republican” presidential candidate should be made to pass before pro-free market voters give him or her serious consideration is the issue of ethanol subsidies.

It’s an ideological and a political issue … one which provides a clear indication of whether candidates are serious about their commitment to taxpayers and consumers (or more interested in pandering to political interests).

Let’s look first at the issue: As this website has repeatedly argued, ethanol subsidization is a failed government experiment which has led directly to higher food prices and rampant environmental damage.

But don’t take our word for it … even the liberal legacy media agrees.

“The ethanol era has proven far more damaging to the environment than politicians promised and much worse than the government admits today,” a 2013 Associated Press investigation determined. “As farmers rushed to find new places to plant corn, they wiped out millions of acres of conservation land, destroyed habitat and polluted water supplies.”

The report concluded “the consequences are so severe that environmentalists and many scientists have now rejected corn-based ethanol as bad environmental policy.”

Ironic … considering the mandated subsidies emanate from the eco-radicals over at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Ethanol subsidization is also terrible economic policy … yet another botched bureaucratic attempt to manipulate the market in pursuit of politically correct fuzzy science.  There is no compelling reason to support the policy … especially if you live in Iowa, which is where much of the aforementioned environmental damage is taking place.

TED CRUZ
TED CRUZ

But Iowa is owned by “King Corn,” and its “Republican” voters (bless their hearts) play a pivotal role in the selection of the GOP presidential nominee every four years.  And it’s generally acknowledged that opposing ethanol subsidies in Iowa is political suicide.

Which is why last week – despite unambiguous evidence of the failure of the policy – GOP presidential candidates Jeb Bush, Chris ChristieLindsey GrahamMike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum and Scott Walker all refused to call for the elimination of the subsidies at an Iowa candidate forum.

Walker even had the audacity to say he supported this failed policy because “right now we don’t have a free and open marketplace.”

He’s right.  But that’s because government keeps subsidizing ethanol and other energy sources – while waging war against others.

Seriously … in what universe does endorsing further government intervention (which has had demonstrably adverse effects) constitute support for a “free and open marketplace?”

We look forward to Walker explaining that logic when he visits early voting “Republicans” in New Hampshire and South Carolina … who are paying the price for ethanol subsidies at their grocery stores.

Anyway … the only GOP candidate who passed this litmus test?  U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

“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 (subsidies), darnit;’ that’d be the easy thing to do,” Cruz 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.”

Amen to that … and props to Cruz for being the only candidate to stand on principle (while standing in the belly of the beast).

For those of you keeping score at home, Cruz has introduced legislation which would repeal the subsidies over the next five years – arguing government “should pursue an all-of-the-above energy policy and that Washington shouldn’t be picking winners and losers.”

Again, Amen to that …

Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama were both wrong to champion this policy … and the current crop of “Republican” candidates are wrong to call for its perpetuation.  The “Republican-controlled” Congress should immediately pass Cruz’s bill … while “Republican” voters should support a candidate for the White House committed to signing it.

Otherwise, all that “free market” talk is just that … talk.

UPDATE: Looks like former New York governor George Pataki also got the ethanol question right.  

***

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30 comments

Rocky March 10, 2015 at 12:06 pm

Ethanol from corn is about as smart as getting oil from pine trees. Brazil and the rest of South America can produce ethanol substantially cheaper than we can. Buy it, ship it, mix it and use it.

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FastEddy23 March 10, 2015 at 6:10 pm

Mmmmm … That’s because Brazinian farmers can make the ethanol right on their farm, then burn it right there in their trucks and tractors, thus saving three extra trips to town. USA farmers deliver corn to a BATF approved Arthur Danials Midland distillery, then go back again to pickup mixed fuel … and then to visit the co-op to complain and pick up their checks.

Iowa farmers all know about this expensive EPA mandated circle-jerk … and many of them will vote the right way. (The candidates’ big city advisors need to stop drinking that spiked Kool-aid.)

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GrandTango March 10, 2015 at 12:34 pm

Careful FITS…the people who see you as credible, HATE Cruz. He has Beech Slapped Obama, and the Democrats…an unforgivable – blasphemous – offense in their eyes.

If you lose radical, nutjob Obama-liberals…you lose 80% of your readers. And most intolerant liberals will not stand for Truth…

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Rocky March 10, 2015 at 1:46 pm

And yet, Hillary still leads all potential GOP challangers at near or over double digits. Go figure!!!

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GrandTango March 10, 2015 at 1:50 pm

So you’re predicting Hillary as the next US president. I can hold you to that?

You are, in effect, saying she is A LOCK.

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Rocky March 10, 2015 at 3:02 pm

Lookin’ that way – pork chop!!!! Just think of that first PAC commercial against Jeb – 30 seconds. First ten show aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, then aftermath of Katrina. Next ten seconds, unemployment lines in 1991, and crashing markets 2008. Last ten seconds – failing S&Ls 1990/91, failing banks 2008. Picture of Jeb – big qustion mark.

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GrandTango March 10, 2015 at 4:29 pm

She just looked like the Biggest Dumb@$$ in the world at her presser…so I think you’re right..she’s a DEAD Ringer for the Democrat Nominee…LMAO….

Wonder if all those inner-city precincts will vote at 115% for her???…LMAO…in Ohio, Penn. and Fla? like they had to to get Obama elected the second time?

J Edgar Shoover March 10, 2015 at 4:32 pm

A Lie by the most notorious Liar on this site.

GrandTango March 10, 2015 at 5:28 pm

Which persona is that SR, PR or one of the others you’ve had to abandoned after I’ve made you look like the idiot you are???…

Saluda Rapids March 10, 2015 at 7:45 pm

You mean as you said for Perry, Cain, Bachman, Santorum, Newt, and Romney? And you were wrong every time. Hopefully you are sending your messages from Canada, b/c that is where you said you were going to move in 2012 if Obama won. Loser.

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GrandTango March 10, 2015 at 8:42 pm

So another GUARANTEE Hillary will be the president…Thanks for recording your prediction…

Purple Rain March 10, 2015 at 9:37 pm

Lolol

FastEddy23 March 10, 2015 at 6:23 pm

? … not in the last few weeks.

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Jurisdoc March 10, 2015 at 1:46 pm

Too bad Cruz is a wack job on so many other issues.

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southmauldin March 10, 2015 at 1:47 pm

The blind pig/acorn analogy is appropriate in this situation.

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idiotwind March 10, 2015 at 1:58 pm

it almost makes one wish Cruz wasn’t an all out nutjob on everything else.

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Crooner March 10, 2015 at 2:43 pm

Those unintended consequences are often a Bitch! Subsidies will continue as long as Iowa is first in presidential race. In the future, politicians will say “look what happened to Cruz.”

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FastEddy23 March 10, 2015 at 6:18 pm

The EPA intended consequences were and are to pay back ADM for all of the demo-rino contributions = way more than the Koch Bros.

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euwe max March 10, 2015 at 3:32 pm

McCarthy, reborn.

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GrandTango March 10, 2015 at 3:49 pm

I agree…but Holder or Obama?

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euwe max March 10, 2015 at 7:03 pm

I’d think you’d count it a compliment…. mAnn Coulter would.

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Purple Rain March 10, 2015 at 7:25 pm

Very witty reply! I also like the mAnn Coulter….

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Anita Mandepump March 10, 2015 at 3:50 pm

The only GOP candidate with bigger balls than Hillary.

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aikencounty March 10, 2015 at 3:53 pm

NICE !!

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FastEddy23 March 10, 2015 at 6:22 pm

CandidateS = any of ’em.

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aikencounty March 10, 2015 at 3:52 pm

Ethanol from corn return of just a little over one unit of energy for one unit to produce.
Ethanol from switch grass, return approximately 12 to 1.

Why not use switch grass you ask/
“Cause it ain’t traded on the commodities market. DUH!!!!!!
What is switch grass, you may ask: Answer—–PRARIE GRASS
That stuff that grew WILD before Deere invented the steel plow.
Small lite bulbs begin to twinkle!
YOU BETCHA!

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FastEddy23 March 10, 2015 at 6:20 pm

But burning alcohol from any source in cars, trucks and tractors is way less efficient than regular gas or diesel … and way more polluting.

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aikencounty March 10, 2015 at 11:12 pm

True, alcohol is 30-355 less efficient than gasoline.
I have to buy the expensive premium non-corn gas for small engines(mower,chain saws, edgers,etc) and boat motors to avoid the damage done to rubber and plastic components in the fuel systems.
Just try to buck the ag lobby. Biggest proponents of ehtanol and food stamps.

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FastEddy23 March 11, 2015 at 12:33 pm

Your average farmer is not as wired into g’ment at all.

I have heard Iowa farmers complain bitterly about all the forms filled, regulations needed to be observed, inspections and spying … The “progressive” Fascists are paying too much attention to the “plight” of the farmer. There have been lawsuits from both sides … Consider the difficulties of that cow puncher in Nevada who had his herd seized by the feds …

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt March 10, 2015 at 9:34 pm

The bellicose Canadian thinks the entire universe was created in 6 days by a magical sky wizard.

That tells you all you need to know.

Reply

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