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The Spectacle Blog
Sorry, but the Wall Street Journal is right and Newt Gingrich disgustingly wrong on every level of this debate. Even Al Gore is now against Big Ethanol, and the Washington Post acknowledges that it does more to harm the environment than help it. It’s bad for cars. It’s economically counter-productive. It’s corporate welfare at its worst. And the only reason Gingrich is for it is because he wants to pander to Iowa voters. Pathetic. Despicable. Profoundly unconservative.
View all comments (49) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/01/31/gingrich-on-ethanol-despicable
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Richard Baker| 1.31.11 @ 1:47PM
While Newt is unquestionably intelligent, his ego has overwhelmed any semblance of common sense. He will never be President.
W| 1.31.11 @ 3:56PM
He is not intelligent. He knows many facts. He really blew it when he was Majority Leader, instead of concentrating on his job, he was writing novels,
Grzmlyk| 1.31.11 @ 1:53PM
God save us from Newt Gingrich.
We don't need another whore as our standard bearer. And Newt Gingrich is first, last, and always a whore.
Ethanol is, pure and simple, indefensible. It is a classic boondoggle, it is a failure as an alternative energy source, it has distorted the agricultural market across the board, impovershed farmers, exploded the price of corn, it is difficult to transport, it gums up engines and it serves no purpose beyond being consumed as moonshine.
I'll tell you the moment Gingrich lost me: When he appeared with Nancy Pelosi on one of those demogogic public service announcements (I don't recall who sponsored them, but it was probably GE) exhorting us all to drop our partisan bickering and join hands to fight global warming.
Dear god, I'm begging you - do not foist this prostitute on us.
Willy| 1.31.11 @ 2:00PM
Anyone who argues that trading food for fuel is a smart strategy is either stupid(and Newt is not), or preparing for the Iowa caucuses. He should be ashamed of himself.
David W| 1.31.11 @ 2:26PM
Capital G please.....
David W| 1.31.11 @ 2:27PM
for God...
Grzmlyk| 1.31.11 @ 2:45PM
Sorry - a reflection on my hurried typing, not my feelings about God.
Tom Hieronymus`| 1.31.11 @ 10:13PM
I don't know where you got the idea that ethanol has empoverised farmers. I am a small corn-soybean farmer in Illinois and the rise in commodity prices has helped the entire rural community. While the "Blender's credit" was necessary in the 70's to get the ball rolling, (when the middle east was trying to shut us off) we can absolutely get rid of the subsedies and let it compete on it's own. Food v Fuel is a myth, there is 5-6 cents of corn in a $3.50 box of corn flakes and roughly 85 cents worth of corn in a $7 lb of steak. Producers have been catching it from the right and left and we really need to get the truth out.
Tom Hieronymus`| 1.31.11 @ 10:21PM
I forgot to say that we have used ethanol in everything from chain saws to large trucks and in between since 1978 and have had no engine problems whatsoever. For me it isn't about the whole environment crap rather would you rather use fuel produced by small businesspeople in this country or the middle east ? Of course drilling here would help as well !
Le Cracquere| 2.1.11 @ 8:40AM
The Middle East, if the latter's production is less reliant on the U.S. public teat. Show what you can do sans subsidization, and we'll talk.
MerlinV12| 2.1.11 @ 11:41AM
Any experienced motor mechanic would laugh himself sick at that statement. ( I am, but I just got mad.)
I can write a book on it. Boat owners whose fibreglass tanks were rotted by E10. Repair bills of $40,000 were not unknown. Two-stroke engines in motorcycles, boats and chainsaws all suffered accelerated crank seal failures. I just had to rebuild my Stihl chainsaw carb. Despite what Stihl says, the diaphragm had gone soft and failed. I've had plastic parts in fuel shutoffs fail. When these are used in a gravity-feed fuel system, dangerous leaks are the result.
E10 can't be stored for any length of time in humid climates. The alcohol absorbs moisture and settles to the bottom of the tank. Suck a slug of that into your carb and watch what happens. It takes dismantling the carb to fix it. Double-ditto fuel injection. Small gas stations with low turnover can have this happen in their storage tanks. Imagine gassing up your van and filling your tank with water/alcohol. My sister did. Cost her $800 to get it fixed. Separation is a constant worry for our local farm operators. Some farm engines only get used a few times a year. The tanks being steel, you have to leave them full, else they will rust. We used to simply add StaBil to the gas, but that won't help the separati0n problem. Where I am, it is still possible to get straight gas, and we go out of our way to buy it for the farm fuel tanks.
I could go on and on and on. . . .
Rogue Elephant| 1.31.11 @ 2:10PM
Thanks, Newt - for announcing loud and clear that you are an utter imbecile.
Blackwatch| 1.31.11 @ 2:17PM
It's Newt.
do you really need to say more?
Teflon93| 1.31.11 @ 2:17PM
We knew all this a year ago, when Newt sat on that park bench with Nancy Pelosi supporting cap n' trade and the whole global warming hoax nonsense.
Newt is a deeply unserious person. Like most RINOs.
Oldefarte| 1.31.11 @ 2:28PM
Yes, yes, yes, yes, etc in total agreement to this editorial and most comments. Though partially ignorant of all of the elements of this ethonol issue, it addition to gasoline appears to be part of this greenhouse gas environmental crap being spread by its wacko apostles. Something I read recently re-stated the above comment of its detrimental aspect to automobile engines [so we're being forced to damage one of our major assets for the sake of the karabu?]!!!!!!!!!!
Take your own advice | 1.31.11 @ 2:49PM
What was it that Newt advised Palin to do after the Tucson shooting? oh yes, to be careful what to say or some crap like that.
Why don't you take your own advice Newt? At least Palin was definitely in the right at that time. You didn't even have the balls to defend us and now this?
Way to go bud...
R Sweeney| 1.31.11 @ 2:50PM
We NEED to stop purchasing energy from overseas while ignoring our own supplies.
Ethanol from corn is insanity, however, alcohol from non-food MAY someday make sense economically, Fischer-Tropsch fuel from coal is an option, oil from oil shale kerogen is a STRONG option, and of course, allowing full exploration and exploitation of domestic conventional petroleum is a good thing.
Our current energy policy is a mix of corruption and cronyism, and is not rational.
JimH| 1.31.11 @ 4:29PM
Amen brother. I would say let the market be the main determinant with a consideration for national security as well for which fuels and energy supplies make sense. My own thinking is that in an open fairly regulated arena, new smaller standard design nukes make the most sense for electricity. For vehicles, I suspect powering them with our virtually unlimited natural gas supplies works best, at least until such time as efficient batteries which don't rely on rare materials from foreign sources, fuel cells or hydrogen power become feasible.
I think Newt was lucky he was not married to a woman like Sarah Palin. She would likely have plugged him from the hospital bed.
Deborah D | 1.31.11 @ 2:55PM
Well, if he wants the Republican nomination, he's just shown how not to get it. He totally ticks me off. Stand for what's right, Newt! You should be ashamed.
Occam's Tool| 1.31.11 @ 2:58PM
I want JOHN BOLTON! I want a man who SCOWLS at SCUM!
LarryK| 1.31.11 @ 3:20PM
Newt's got my vote Duh! Huh!
NVA Patriot| 1.31.11 @ 4:32PM
So to all who support Newt, and those of us who don't here are the ADDITIONAL reasons why
1. DD (D) Scozzofava in NY-23
2. Let's do Cap & Trade on the Couch with Nancy
3. Glad you are now Catholic but let's not forget the path to get there through how many wives? One of whom previously worked for you?
A great legislator he WAS. A Successful MAJORITY Leader he is not - in fascination of his own brilliant policy ideas he loses his moral compass. And while many attributes are needed for a successful President, one of the most crucial is the Moral Compass - does it point unwaveringly for liberty and the American way of life and liberty or does it succumb to fads.
Newt follows fads and panders to what he thinks people want to get votes - that's a faulty compass
MyGirlFriday| 1.31.11 @ 4:44PM
"When politicians pander by creating artificial markets and then use financial incentives such as tax breaks to turn their exquisite wisdom into self-fulfilling prophecy-risk is buried under a pile of manure." Pittsburgh-Tribune Review
Bob the Engineer| 1.31.11 @ 4:52PM
Newt will never get my vote. He was talking about working with Hillary on health care which is disqualifying to me. Diverting food to fuel has caused food prices to rise and create civil unrest.
Steve-O| 1.31.11 @ 5:01PM
No reason to vote for him now. See ya, Newt
Mark James| 1.31.11 @ 5:12PM
He'd have a better chance at the Democratic nomination in 2016.
Warrior | 1.31.11 @ 5:29PM
Quin: It was allright for Joe Cao to pander to voters but not Newt? I agree with your assessment that Newt is disgusting, pathetic and clearly never was a Conservative, but you seem to selectively apply these standards.
Quin| 1.31.11 @ 10:15PM
Look up "pander" in the dictionary. Cao didn't pander.
Warrior | 2.1.11 @ 3:18PM
Look up context.
Clint| 1.31.11 @ 5:40PM
We Tea Party Rebels Want Better Than Mr. Newt.
Obama Is Beatable.
The Vetting And Drafting Of The Tea Party Obama Beater Cranks Up Now.
Pete| 1.31.11 @ 5:54PM
A big part of Newt's problem is that he thinks that 'futurist' kook Toffler is a genius.
Give me a break!
Russell| 1.31.11 @ 6:25PM
Quinn's performance on conservatism versus science policy is sooooo much better than Newt's ethanol spinout that I can hardly wait for either to encounter a bona fide scientist as Dellingpole of the Spectator did:
http://rabett.blogspot.com/201.....ching.html
bluecollarbytes| 1.31.11 @ 6:49PM
Newt is one of 'us', the little guys up against 'big city attacks by big city folk'.
This hardly lives up to
Newt's legend as an 'ideas man'. In fact it's embarrassing, but at least it's revealing.
Wayne | 1.31.11 @ 6:51PM
I am trying to wade through the potential GOP candidates, and I am having some problems. Newt doesn't get the environmental issue at all. Why bother with ethanol if we have coal, natural gas, oil shale and oil galore. We just had an Indian Tribe come out and say we are wasting 1 trillion dollars in energy production because of 49 restrictions. He needs to be talking about those 49 restriction.
Then I listen to Mitch Daniels getting smoked by Laura Ingraham about China and the guy is clueless. He wants to keep changing the subject to being competitive, but then when she nails him on how do we compete with child labor, slave labor, so on and so on, he says well we must fix our own problems. Well how much of our own problems is caused by our non-competitive deals with China? I am sorry but neither Newt nor Mitch are going to take us away of the globabalism that has infected the Republican party.
J.C.Eaton| 1.31.11 @ 7:11PM
Mr. Gingrich has several disqualifying flaws, not one of them is a self-effacing modesty. The lad's mouth might be the closest thing to perpetual motion I've ever heard of. Who has persuaded him to keep talking?? Hannity, someone else at FOX news, some former aide? Who? For the love of all that's holy sir, you're forgotten yet not gone. Arroint thee.
I Survived Arlen Specter| 1.31.11 @ 7:27PM
Gingrich is one of several RINOs who help put the stupid in The Stupid Party. Any conservative who still takes this man serious as Presidential timbre is fooling themself. Newt, Nancy called & said she has the chills & needs you to warm her up on the AGW "love seat". With Republicans like Newt Gingrich who needs Democrats?
Andy Texan | 1.31.11 @ 9:16PM
Newt is a smart articulate man but not a serious leader. Know the truth, articulate what you know and bring voters to your position. America First!
Wendy| 1.31.11 @ 9:54PM
Newt Gingrich is not merely pandering. All the evidence is that he really believes in collectivist action with "the environment" as the organizing principle. He just sent out an email calling for "replacing" the EPA with another bureaucracy, the "Environmental Solutions Agency." In other words, environmental statism done by the left = bad, environmental statism done by Newt and Republicans = good.
Kent Lyon| 1.31.11 @ 10:27PM
Any conservative ought to feel like Newt Gingrich's ex-and deceased wife on her deathbed, when Newt served her with divorce papers. The man is beyond evil. He is not to be trusted anywhere near political power. He hopefully just destroyed his own presidential aspirations, and will decide to forego his planned presidential bid, sparing us all his hypocrisy and mendaciousness and perfidy. The last thing we need is someone like Newt in the oval office. We're in bad enough shape with Obama the perfidious and incompetent. God help us if we get a perfidious individual with a modicum of competence in the office. The country will never survive such a presidency. We barely did with Nixon. Please, let's not repeat errors. We have been hoping that Jan 20, 2013, would be the end of an error. We should not propagate such an error.
poptoy| 2.1.11 @ 3:35AM
Mr. Hillyer, You HIT this right on the HEAD.
FREE tea| 2.1.11 @ 7:47AM
---With Gingrich's private record, coupled with his
presiding over the heyday of RED China sellout,
the 90's, AND his warm embrace of 'eugenics realism', to say nothing of his tacit acquiescence,
(i.e. promotion) of POST America and NAU franchise slum 'values' -----WHY does he continue
to receive a platform in conservative forums?
WHY???
AnyoneButNewt| 2.1.11 @ 8:50AM
Much as I despised the free ride from the media Queen Nancy recieved during her reign of terror,,,oh, never mind. I really am sick of Newt.
Michael L. Hauschild| 2.1.11 @ 9:46AM
The absolute most efficient way to fuel going from point A to point B is: shoot a caribou, eat it, and walk. Hum, where will we find someone who knows how to shoot a caribou?
Bob Miller| 2.1.11 @ 10:03AM
Bartender, keep Newt away from the ethanol!
MerlinV12| 2.1.11 @ 11:50AM
I used to like you, Newt, back in the heyday of the Contract. But you have proven to be just another liar and panderer like McCain. Never mind the truth, never mind principles, do whatever you think will get or keep power. You also embraced AGW, at a time when it was already staringly obvious that AGW was a monumental fraud. Sorry Newt, but I'll move Heaven and earth to keep you off the ballot in '12. You're another hypocritical Silky Pony to me now.
Dave Wooldridge| 2.1.11 @ 6:35PM
What was that quote? " I'd rather they think I was a fool, than open my mouth and prove it."
Like any other 'politician,' I just wait for them to prove their ignorance and vanity through their words. Cross one more off the list!
Danny Huckabee | 2.3.11 @ 12:39PM
I'm a great admirer of The Speaker but he's abandoning his claim to smaller government by supporting ethanol. Besides the awful waste of resources, environmental damage and corruption, ethanol damages all engines it's used in, which could be even more destructive.
jgo| 2.3.11 @ 8:18PM
Well, the government should NOT be subsidizing ethanol production.
OTOH, the conservative pundits don't seem to understand that the same kernel of corn can be used to produce BOTH ethanol and animal feed (DDGS).