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.
When former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin visited the Hawkeye State last month, most political observers took it as a sign the 2008 vice presidential nominee was ready to get serious about a 2012 run.
Not so, says a source close to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who in an interview with Politico’s Jonathan Martin complained about Palin snubbing Iowa’s senior senator. And the incident was apparently not isolated, as Palin also snubbed the Republican Party of Iowa.
From Politico:
After contributing money from her political action committee, Palin indicated that she would also be willing to campaign for [Grassley]. With the Alaskan coming to the state last month to raise money for the state GOP, a Palin aide offered Grassley’s camp a two-hour window earlier that same day for an event.
Recognizing the money Palin can raise, Grassley’s team said it wanted to have her do a luncheon fundraiser. Palin, however, indicated that she didn’t want to raise money and instead preferred a “message” event on a policy issue. So no event took place.
Grassley aides remain puzzled as to why she would offer her help and then refuse to do what the veteran senator thought was most beneficial to his bid for a sixth Senate term.
“It says to me she’s not serious about running for president,” said a source close to Grassley, suggesting that a real White House hopeful would not have snubbed a figure like the senior senator in the state that begins the nomination process.
Similarly, the Iowa GOP was in discussions with Palin’s camp leading up to her appearance at its fundraiser to have her do a rally in the state’s conservative northwest corner. Rep. Steve King, who represents the area, got involved, and Palin indicated she was open to it. But she never gave the party confirmation. Finally, on the Wednesday before what would have been a Friday event, she indicated that she wouldn’t do it.
The long story goes on to quote multiple anonymous sources slamming Palin, who they claim “wreaks havoc on campaign logistics and planning.”
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