Pawlenty In Iowa: We Have To End Ethanol Subsidies
Update: Rush Calls "Politically Gutsy"

With some caveats but...this just got interesting.

America is facing a crushing debt crisis the likes of which we've never seen before. We need to cut spending, and we need to cut it big time. The hard truth is that there are no longer any sacred programs.

The truth about federal energy subsidies, including federal subsidies for ethanol, is that they have to be phased out. We need to do it gradually. We need to do it fairly. But we need to do it.

It's a marker. Other candidates either need to at least match this call or be seen as not serious on the budget and simply pandering to caucus voters.

This is the kind of stuff we say we want from candidates. Are we going to stay hung up on AGW stuff, poorly sourced hit quotes and his lack of charisma? Or will we at least give the guy a look now?

I honestly started as very skeptical on the guy. I was looking for a reason to get interested in him. This is a good start.

Narrative Change [ace]: First of all, it's the right thing to do.

Second of all, I mentioned that T-Paw's "El Guapo" is his perceived lack of fight and brass. This is a brass move. I don't think it will overcome the impression people have formed of him, but it's a step in that direction.

It does take brass to go to Iowa and say "ethanol subsidies must be ended." Not to knock Russ, but you can see that from his post. The dirty little secret is that any conservative getting some form of government subsidy/special break/check wants to keep that.

And T-Paw just told a hard truth.

Now, this might be strategic, because Michelle Bachmann is going to run, and will do well in Iowa, as she was born there. So T-Paw might have decided that he's going to lose Iowa anyway, so he might as well lose it for a good reason. And change the narrative on it.

If so, that's smart.

So he's either made a tough, gutsy call, or he's made a clever one. Either way.

The Truth

When nothing else is working-- Why not?

Rush: "Wait a Minute. You -- In Iowa -- Called for an End to Ethanol Subsidies?" Adds, "That's politically gutsy."

posted by DrewM. at 01:52 PM

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