Who are you calling sensible, punk?

Hillary Clinton struggles to explain away her previous opposition to corn ethanol

Posted by David Roberts at 3:30 PM on 07 Nov 2007

Over the years, Hillary Clinton has voted against subsidies and mandates for corn ethanol in the Senate a number of times. If you know anything about corn ethanol, you know that's a good thing.

When Clinton released her (otherwise excellent) energy plan this week, it contained a whole boatload of ... subsidies and mandates for corn ethanol. That is, conversely, a bad thing.

Obama's campaign took the opportunity to bash Clinton for it -- not for switching from a sensible position to a more politically convenient but substantively wrong position, but for ... having the sensible position in the first place. How can we trust that she's truly committed to this awful position? they asked.

This prompted an explanation from Clinton that is nothing short of tortured:

This is what we've come to in the strange world of ethanol politics: a presidential candidate furiously trying to explain away her previous good sense. Sigh. I can't wait until the Iowa primary is over.

For story: Who are you calling sensible, punk?
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A similar thing is happening in Europe

except it is primarily over biodiesel instead of ethanol. Money talks.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 9:30 PM on 07 Nov 2007

Win at all costs

Sounds familiar

http://greyfalcon.net/iowa2
http://greyfalcon.net/iowa

-David Ahlport

by GreyFlcn at 12:04 AM on 08 Nov 2007

Body Language

Look at the body language! The cup on the napkin is her comfort blanket - she is as uncomfortable as hell.

And biofuels from animal fat! That'll be interesting when fuel pumps have to be labelled "suitable for vegetarians".

Keith Farnish www.theearthblog.org

by farnishk at 2:33 AM on 08 Nov 2007

Fatigue

Just watching fatigued Hillary gives me Hillary fatigue. Iowa ethanol bad, NY ethanol good. Good NY ethanol make Iowa ethanol good.

Hmmm... there is some slick willary.

When you want to become leader of a banana republic, feed people bananas! Everybody like bananas! Green bananas!

by justlou at 3:47 AM on 08 Nov 2007

Corn Ethanol

Corn Ethanol is a bad thing for the environment, a bad thing for the fight against Global warming, and a bad thing for America.

Ethanol may not be a bad thing, but the cost and lack of efficiencies using corn as a basis for ethanol production is akin to using coal as the primary energy source for the future ... we have brains, and need to use them to develope the best, most efficient energy infrastructure possible ... corn does not meet the criterion as a sensible alternative ... it is pushed solely by vested interest for profit, similiar to the vested interest of the coal industry to deceive the general public on the reality of their industry.

by DonnClark at 5:00 AM on 08 Nov 2007

Three-ring circus

"I happily support corn ethanol." Yup, that about sums it up.

The flip-flopping on this issue would make a good circus act. "And now, for your pleasure and amazement, I present a ring full of presidential candidates doing backward flips over ethanol! Watch it Hillary, don't crash into Fred!"

Other blogs are chastising John McCain for first being against ethanol subsidies, then for them, and now against them again. Fred Thompson has only gone through stages 1 and 2 so far.

Only the non-candidates (like Michael R. Bloomberg) and no-hopers (like Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich and ron Paul) seem to be willing to take a clear position against corn-ethanol subsidies.

These are only my personal opinions.

by Ron Steenblik at 6:41 AM on 08 Nov 2007

My hope is that whoever wins

will flip flop again as soon as they get into office. What a world.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 7:51 AM on 08 Nov 2007

Not Ron Paul

ron Paul) seem to be willing to take a clear position against corn-ethanol subsidies.

Yeah but Ron Paul keeps pushing Hemp as a biofuel.

RonPaul: "OMG It's better than corn ethanol!"
GreyFlcn: "Yeah but it's worse than soy biodiesel."

And yes, thats the report you wrote Steenblik :P

-David Ahlport

by GreyFlcn at 9:33 PM on 08 Nov 2007
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