Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Brownback is ready to start, except his gigantic throng of sign-waving supporters is still filing in. This is by far the largest group of supporters a candidate has brought to the floor today. Way more than Mitt Romney. This is almost ridiculous. Seeing the size of this crowd, I’m ready to publish my prediction that Brownback will beat expectations here today. Top two — although I don’t speak for everyone blogging here on Iowa Independent today.
Brownback’s video is also the highest-budget — and longest — of all of them. The campaign must have calculated (rightly, I’d say) that Brownback on video is more appealing than Brownback on the stump.
3:27 Brownback finally takes the stage.
“The road to the White House goes through Iowa, and I’m not skipping it, I’m going right through Iowa.”
“This future is built on principles and not on personalities.”
“We win when we stand on principles and not abandon them.”
3:29 We must stand on principles to defeat global jihad, etc.
Every life is important.
His vision: “An America where the strong protect the weak.” “America is better than abortion.”
“You know that, of course, it doesn’t end there. Our concern for the dignity of every human life causes us to fight for children everywhere — for the child in the womb and the child in Darfur.”
“We are pro-life and whole life.”
“It’s an inclusive vision; it’s a foundational vision for America.”
“I AM PRO-GROWTH.”
“I have never voted for a tax increase and I’ll certainly never sign one.”
“I think we’re taxed to the max.”
3:32PM Brownback supports an “optional flat tax,” which he says is “pro-growth.”
“We need more and stronger families in this country.”
“The best place to raise a child is between a mom and a dad bonded together for life.”
“If you have weak families, more government will be created [to replace families]…but the government has stiff arms and a cold heart.”
3:34PM In Iraq, “A timetable is a timetable to defeat.”
But we must “push agressively a political solution in Iraq.”
He proposed a political solution that seems to involve partitioning Iraq into states.
“We need to be more dependent on the Midwest for our energy than the Middle East.”
“I will push and build a fence on or border. We need to do more enforcement at the worksite as well.”
“We should be able to say ‘one nation under god’ in the flag salute and not worry about somebody suing us.”
Brownback once met Mother Theresa, who looked him in the eyes and said three words, five times: “All for Jesus, All for Jesus, All for Jesus, All for Jesus, All for Jesus.”
“We need to have judges on the Supreme Court that will stand by the Constitution and not rewrite it.”
Wants to appoint the judge who will be “the fifth vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.”
3:38PM Closes with another call to be “that shining city on a hill.”
Somehow, he gets confeti again. His family comes out on stage. Cheering is loud, and everyone is standing. Again, though, many are just standing to leave.
Still, I’m going to hold to my prediction that Brownback is going to surprise people today. He has become a formidable candidate.
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