Via GOP 12, from St. Louis Today:
When asked after the speech about ethanol subsidies—which have come under fired from some fiscal conservatives, but are considered crucial in Iowa, where Pawlenty’s campaign could live or die—he hedged.
“We can’t just pull the rug out from under the industry,’’ he said.”There are going to have to be some changes, but we have to be fair-minded about it.’’
Why can't we pull the rug from under an industry that's profiting off the taxpayer and whose product doesn't serve the needs of America as claimed, doesn't supposedly save the environment as claimed, and will never be an alternative to oil?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDoes Timmy P. want to go down with the cornstalk?
Man, whoever is giving him political advise can't see past Iowa.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBuh-bye, T-Paw.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am sick of otherwise serious people pushing this idiot.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow about a little less "Let's not be hasty" and a little more "We have to do the right thing"?
Sigh. Not ready to write Pawlenty off based on this alone, of course, but that response shows a disappointing level of weaseliness, if that's a word. (Weaselhood? Weaseltude?)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCan we now please stop pretending that Pawlenty is a "conservative"??
He is not going to be the GOP nominee.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePawlenty may think of himself as a conservative, but he's not. And anyone who favors giving taxpayer dollars to subsidize ethanol production is certainly not presidential material in my book.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWith the worldwide shortage of food and the rapid increase in the cost of corn caused by the shortages created by the subsidy, the corn producers will not miss a beat in profits in the short term if the rug is pulled. For the long term they make less profit once prices stabilize but at least there will be a long term for this nation.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis once again shows how Pawlenty can win the nomination. Unlike the flakes and losers, Pawlenty recognizes Iowa is an important first step. So, he has to hedge a little to get an edge on the zealots.
We need a smart guy to go against Obama and Pawlenty is a very shrewd politician. Let the others whisper sweet nothings into the ears of the fanatics. They are a minority within a minority within a minority.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePaw will remain where he is, a question:
Who is Pawlenty?
And the next idiot will be asking for "fair-minded attitude" toward Romneycare.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes indeedy Mr Pawlenty. We must be fair to the subsidized. Being fair to those that do the subsidizing, ie the taxpayers, not so much.
Sounds like Timmy is Newt lite.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGuess Pawlenty assumes we're nostalgic for the Bush/Rove GOP coalition of rent-seekers.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWho takes this guy seriously anyway?
The last polls I saw, he was getting 1% in IA, 2% in NH and 2% in SC.
Within MOE of 0% in all states.
My dog gets within MOE of 0% in all states.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs Iowa really so important that being "serious" must take a back seat?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo discussing removing a subsidy that helps cause fuel prices AND food prices to go up requires us to be "fair minded" about the distortion? T-Paw, I like you; but this is disappointing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseZman- "Shrewd" without principles is Bob Dole, John Kerry, Dukakis after he regained the MAss. governorship. Shrewd without principles succeeded in 1992 and 1996 -- neither time with a majority of the popular vote -- and it is still too recent a memory to revisit. Pawlenty is toast.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Is Iowa really so important that being "serious" must take a back seat?"
I second this statement. No. Neither Iowa nor New Hampshire mean anything these days and sucking up to the corn lobby is for the chickens.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUnless some viable Republican comes out completely against ethanol, I'm sticking with Pawlenty. Romney and Huckabee were mediocre governors. Pawlenty's the only one with a solid record in executive government.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUnless some viable Republican comes out completely against ethanol, I'm sticking with Pawlenty. Romney and Huckabee were mediocre governors. Pawlenty's the only one with a solid record in executive government.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is not a trivial issue. Ethanol subsidies are driving up food prices globally and are especially harming millions of the world's poorest people. It is also well established that ethanol provides no environmental benefits. The "shrewdness" of pandering to a few Iowa ag interests at the expense of the poor and the environment shows a serious lack of character. Cross Pawlenty off the list.
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