Talk Elections

http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/grassley-080812 (http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/grassley-080812)

Sen. Charles Grassley left little room for doubt about where he stands on extending wind energy tax credits, which await action in Congress.

Grassley took up the issue Tuesday during two town hall meetings in southeast Iowa with passion and the no-nonsense rhetoric he is known for after nearly 32 years in the U.S. Senate.

"I'm the author of the wind energy tax credit of 1992, and there were people from outside the state came into Iowa and issued a press release that the Republican candidate for president was opposed to wind energy, and I felt it was just like a knife in my back, as the author of the bill, without even being consulted about it," he said during a town hall meeting at the Greater Burlington Partnership offices in Burlington.

...

"And then, would you think at a time of 8.2 percent unemployment there would be any question that you wouldn't want to lay off 4,000 more people in the state of Iowa and probably 25,000 people nationwide," Grassley said in Donnellson after being thanked by a representative of Siemens for all of his work on the behalf of wind energy. "But that's kind of what's at stake here, and when people come into Iowa and say it shouldn't be renewed and without consulting me, I consider that an insult. It just bothers me something terrible."

Grassley said he suspects Senate Republicans opposing the wind energy tax credit leaked the information that Romney supports letting it expire.

"I don't know who's behind it and I'm going to find out who's behind it, and expose them and tell them how stupid their policy is," Grassley said to conclude his town hall in Donnellson.

THAT ROMNEY IS A SPY

But yeah, it does go to show that Republicans will even oppose tax cuts if it threatens the supremacy of the oil cartels.

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Romney is really nice to his boys, isn't he?

Looks like Romney just got a severe PantsBurnLegWound!

This is something I disagree with Mittens on.

Grassley has a couple of issues where he's not the standard horrible right-wing Republican. H-1Bs is probably the biggest one.

The federal government should get out of the business of subsidizing any sector of the energy market. These subsidies do more harm than good, and we have bigger fish to fry.

We agree. That should be any subsidy regardless if it is wind, solar, hydro, nuclear and oil & gas. They all get subsidies of some sort or another. That's why a lot of these people pay no taxes because they can just write it off.

Iowa generates a higher percentage of its energy from wind than any other state. Calling for cutting those subsidies might harm Mitt's chances there.

So be it. America's best interests come before elections.

I am sure Iowa can find a way to make wind energy profitable without relying on the government.

So you agree we should actually start taxing oil companies? :o

I'm beginning to see Mitt Romney as a flaming narcissist.  Here are nine traits that suggest narcissism if held to an inordinate degree:

Arrogance
Grandiosity
Lust for power and success
Lack of empathy
Sense of entitlement
Exploitativeness
Sense of uniqueness
Envy
Need for excessive admiration

Entrepreneurs and politicians typically have some of these as dominant traits of their character. Three or fewer might be necessary for one's success, and some of them might have other (and not always benign -- especially lack of empathy) associations. Four are trouble, and five or more suggest a menace to be avoided.  By no means should anyone be without some of these characteristics. The lack of a healthy ego means that one effectively sews "Kick Me" onto every piece of clothing that one wears.

His father was a high-profile executive (President of American Motors) and politician (Governor of Michigan). So how do you top that? Getting one's way without concern for the feelings and welfare of others.

Here is a documentary on the topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG4c97xXx84

Mitt Romney is not mentioned by name.

Yeah, China's leaps and bounds ahead of us when it comes to subsidizing renewable energy. Which is why we can't even compete now.

Pretty crazy how we subsidize the oil companies. Over 9000 people just had to go to the emergency room because of a refinery fire next to the San Francisco bay.

Unlike taxes (which as we all know, they do not pay), this is an issue close to their hearts.

Referring to the ptb, of course, not the votership or even the Congressional delegation rank-and-file.

I am opposed to any and all subsidies. Does that answer your question?

Obviously Romney disagrees with eliminating all subsidies, but he is far closer to my vision than the vision of Obama (AKA King Subsidy)

Bizarre.

The distinction between one kind of government-granted privilege ('profits') and another ('subsidies') is petty and misleading.  All income is derived from state-granted privilege.

Sometimes I get the feeling that Iowa is the most voracious welfare queen in the nation.