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Subscribe to RSSBETTENSDORF, Iowa -- Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) said that while he understands Mitt Romney’s strategy of largely avoiding Iowa, it wouldn’t help him retain his lead throughout the rest of the primary season.
While waiting for President Obama to arrive at the Alcoa plant in Iowa, Branstad told reporters, “I understand his strategy," adding that he's had assurances from some of Romney's "key people" that he will participate in the Iowa debates and caucuses.
But, he added, "I think he jeopardizes his frontrunner status if he does poorly in Iowa."
Branstad also weighed in on the debt-ceiling debate going on in Washington. He expressed mixed feelings about changes to the corporate tax code floated by Democrats. He praised the idea of lowering federal corporate income-tax rates, saying he was working to do the same thing with commercial and industrial property taxes in his state.
But Branstad was critical of the president when it came to eliminating what Democrats call an accounting loophole that is used in many industries -- the “last out, first in,” or LIFO, provision. It’s an accounting method in which businesses take inventory based on products’ earliest (usually also their lowest) value rather than their actual or current cost.
Using the Alcoa plant as an example of companies that would be hurt, Branstad said, “That would be a step in the wrong direction. It would be an impediment for investments in companies like this in creating jobs because if you can be able to write that equipment off earlier, it’s an advantage to making that investment.”
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Isn't Romney against ethanol subsidies? If he is then why would he want to go to Iowa?
Mittens reminds me of the coyote who was just run over by the crazy eyed road runner...lol
Doesn't matter though, both of them are about as intelligent as those Warner Brother cartoon characters! ;o)
Got a point Feisty? Or just pandering to your base?
You Americans should learn to embrace socialism! In this I agree with feisty...
In Argentina the first 15 years were very hard... and very little 'distribution of wealth', but eventually if you learned to 'work the system', you can succeed and acquire wealth.... the middle class will disappear of course... but that is how it works.
I assume Obama will keep Biden, but that's ok too! Vote democrat, vote big government. It is inevitable anyway!
Geeze kirby, you seem wound up tighter than usual this evening.
Everything okay?
We already know feisty redwig is a little wigged out, I definitely think now that EvaPeron is too!
I have learned that very little intelligent discussion goes on here, it seems feisty has turned the blog into what she thinks are clever insults against any candidate slightly right of her or Obama. Issues facing the country are left for others to debate.
Feisty's just another brain dead Obot looking for a tickle.
Aren't they all? It's a sad reflection on our nation. Free education and still some wallow in stupidity.
As far as Romney goes. He'll be the nominee, unfortunately, but it is the times we find ourselves in.
The nation's concern is removing the puppet and destroying his masters. If Romney is electable and will defeat Obama....good.
ABO....ABO...ABO...ABO...ABO....ABO
We'll remove Romney later
Obama reminds me of Stymie on the little rascals. He too is about as intelligent as the the character.
Obama is interesting to me only because of his blunders. In a recent Rasmussen poll he only gets a strong approval from 23% but a strong disapproval of his performance from 36%.... both of these numbers are steadily increasing..... the way it is going feisty's mention of wiliey coyote from the roadrunner cartoon may soon be able to beat him in 2012!
Little Rascals? Is that what they're watching at the rehab clinic?
Neither Romney or Huntsman are spending time in Iowa--they know the GOP here is mostly evangelical and Tea Partiers. Iowa republicans already know Romney from 2007 and 2008, his flip flops have done him no favors since then.
According to Roselle, Romney is not as smart as a cartoon character. How in the world could he figure out something as complex as a strategy for running for the position of POTUS?
Yes, the best we can do is call him a flip-flopper. Kinda like: Gitmo/no Gitmo - tax increase/ no tax increase - Transparent/ no transparent.....
I don't fault the president for changing his mind when circumstances dictate. I don't mind that Romney has done the same.
Is it that you only consider a change of stance unacceptable when it is a Republican. I thought Republicans are supposed to be the hypocrites.
That rasmussen poll mentioned here show's Obama with a strong 46% approval on national security, but that's based mostly on the killing of Osama bin Laden on his watch. A decision he made only after 6 months of pressure from most of his advisors including Leon Panetta!
I still like Romney as he has a better business sense than Obama who's only qualifications come from years in academia! Haven't we learned that the position requires more real life experience than a college professor?
I'm also concerned with Obama's ignoring the justice department over his decision to illegally involve us in Libya and his illegal use of using the White House setting for filming a political commercial for a raffle to raise campaign money!!
Bill,
You do know Romney inherited his millions from his Dad? His business experience consists of buying struggling companies cheaply, laying off workers, and flipping the companies for profit. He's not exactly Thomas Edison.
Amy, you're thinking of Huntsman, not Romney. Romney earned his own money, and his business experience is more extensive than you suggest.
Has anyone ever been to Iowa?are they in touch with the rest of the country.they can't see past the pages of King James.FN sheep
two mormoms,,,yeah that's playing in the south...bachman the world is flat, evolution is still to be decided, she has disqualified herself because and independ. aren't voting for who's anti science ....if republicans say their not satisfied by there choices imagine how funny it is from a normal persons view.....it doesn't matter who the candiate is it's what they stand for which is basically keeping the rich that way....
I live in Iowa and I don't want any of them here. The caucuses is a joke and always has been. Take your BS adds and go elsewhere.
Since that's not going to happen - I believe the best comedy in town will be a debate between Bachmann and Palin and a few of the others. The ticket sales could be used to pay down the national debt.
Especially if Bachmann and Palin start trying to out do each other with history or foreign affairs (no Michelle - foreign affairs isn't sleeping with mistress from another country - like the Governor from South Carolina)
Al - I have attended both R and D caucuses in Iowa, hardly a joke but they are pretty boring, especially when who you support gets blown out of the water before they can move on to the next level.
Iowa is a joke, all the state is good for is ruining the prices of food. Time to cut all special interest subsidies.
Governor Branstad is right to point out that a repeal of LIFO would be devastating to Iowa businesses. Would LIFO repeal create a short-term, one time shot of money for the government? Absolutely.
But what President Obama and his administration don’t understand is that any possible gains would have a long-term damaging effect to the economy, and would result in lost jobs, lost health care benefits, lost 401(k) contributions, and canceled planned hiring and investments.
Companies like Alcoa, who has the 10th largest LIFO reserve in the county, who be hit with a retroactive tax bill that would total in the hundreds of millions. But it isn’t just the Alcoa’s and oil companies that would be affected.
Mom and Pop grocery stores, drug stores, car dealerships, farm equipment dealerships, John Deere, Pioneer, Meredith Corporation, and local manufactures and wholesalers using LIFO would all suffer the same. This isn’t political conjecture, this is fact.
Governor Branstad is right to point out that a repeal of LIFO would be devastating to Iowa businesses. Would LIFO repeal create a short-term, one time shot of money for the government? Absolutely.
But what President Obama and his administration don’t understand is that any possible gains would have a long-term damaging effect to the economy, and would result in lost jobs, lost health care benefits, lost 401(k) contributions, and canceled planned hiring and investments.
Companies like Alcoa, who has the 10th largest LIFO reserve in the county, who be hit with a retroactive tax bill that would total in the hundreds of millions. But it isn’t just the Alcoa’s and oil companies that would be affected.
Mom and Pop grocery stores, drug stores, car dealerships, farm equipment dealerships, John Deere, Pioneer, Meredith Corporation, and local manufactures and wholesalers using LIFO would all suffer the same. This isn’t political conjecture, this is fact.