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.
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin this morning said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is like a “little rich kid” who doesn’t want to get his hands dirty with the sort of retail politics involved in presidential bids.
“Mr. Bloomberg, whom I don’t know real well — I’ve met him a few times — kind of reminds me of the little rich kid that if he can’t have it his way he’s going to take his little balls and go home,” Harkin said in a conference call with Iowa Independent and other media.
Earlier this week Bloomberg announced that he was leaving the Republican Party and becoming an independent, a move that has fueled speculation from political observers about a third-party candidacy with Hizzoner, and possibly U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., on the ticket.
Harkin said Bloomberg, if he is eyeing an independent presidential run, appears to be wanting to “take all his money and do his own thing like this little rich kid that doesn’t know how to get along with anyone else.”
Harkin said that if Bloomberg were a true leader he would have showcased his skills in the two-party structure.
“Why isn’t he a leader in the Republican Party?” said Harkin, a Democrat. “Why didn’t he take leadership positions in the Democratic Party when he was a Democrat?”
Harkin said American voters will be very interested to learn how Bloomberg is able to live with such extravagant wealth.
“How do you make $5 billion?” Harkin said. “I mean you’ve got to ask questions.”
He added, “It looks like a lot of luck to me probably. You know, he just lucked out and invested the right money and got on the right bandwagon and that was it.”
Harkin said he doesn’t mind when innovators like Bill Gates do well, but that he has questions about Bloomberg.
“Have we gotten to the point in politics where who has the most money wins?” Harkin said. “That’s what it seems like. If you’ve got the most money and you can buy the most media, then somehow you win. Well, I’m not certain about that.
Harkin said the American people will see through Bloomberg's switch.
“It sounds like he doesn’t want to go around Iowa,” Harkin said. “He doesn’t want to get his hands dirty. He doesn’t want to go out and go to town meetings and he doesn’t want to go in people’s homes and stuff like that. He kind of wants to ride above it.”
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