Dear Friends,
(00:50) Eminent domain could hurt Trump in Iowa
(06:00) Democrats use gerrymandering to fight back
(18:37) US Supreme Court to hear mifepristone case
(37:10) American media ignores the internal politics of Israel
(54:03) Don’t fall for fake honey
There’s no doubt Donald Trump will win the Iowa Caucuses. With Ron DeSantis in free fall, I’ll go out on a short limb and predict Nikki Haley finishes second.
It could be a strong second if Haley capitalizes on Trump’s support for eminent domain.
Sign along an Iowa highway.
Here’s what Trump said a few years back: “Eminent domain is something that has to be used, usually you would say for anything that’s long, like a road, like a pipeline, or like a wall, or a fence.” (Washington Post)
Here’s Trump’s more recent, completely nonsensical response to an Iowa voter concerned about the threat of eminent domain to build CO2 pipelines: “Well you know we’re working on that, and you know we had a plan to totally … uh … it’s such a ridiculous situation, isn’t it. But we had a plan and we would have instituted that plan, and it was all ready. But if we win, that’s going to be taken care of. That will be one of the easy things we do.” (Forbes Breaking News, July 7, 2023, 2-minute mark)
Huh?? If Haley doesn’t jump all over that and Trump’s previous pro-eminent domain comments she’s missing a huge opportunity.
For comparison, Haley said: “We have to always be respectful for the rights and freedoms of hardworking Americans and so I’m not a supporter of eminent domain.” (Radio Iowa, Sept 15, 2023)
Of the three leading Democratic presidential candidates (Joe Biden, Dean Phillips, and Marianne Williamson), only Williamson has spoken out against eminent domain:
“People should not have those pipelines in their land if they don’t want them. The government should not have the power of eminent domain in order to create those pipelines, [which] have to do much more with profit for oil companies than with anything else.” (Fallon Forum, June 5, 2023, 13-minute mark)
Among independent presidential candidates, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., spoke out strongly against CO2 pipelines during his visit to Iowa last August: “These pipelines are one of the biggest boondoggles I’ve ever seen. If they can get away with this, from now on any wealthy businessman who has a project that they want can now go to the government and get eminent domain to condemn your property in order to build a project that has a dubious, if any, public benefit.” (Radio Iowa, August 14, 2023)
Co-host, Charles Goldman, and I also talk about the continued inept non-response from Iowa Democrats on the issue. To quote a former prominent Iowa Democratic Party staffer and campaign worker who wrote to me earlier this year:
“The eminent domain issue was handed to Iowa Demos on a silver platter, and they s*** all over it. Dems are afraid of this issue because they want union money. To which I say, ‘how has that been workin out for ya?’ Demo legislative leaders should have been out in every House and Senate district throughout Iowa on the weekends during the session, drawing a contrast between Rs and Ds on this issue. GUARANTEE Dems would pick up seats.“
Ouch. Sad but true. If you’re unhappy with Iowa’s new red-state status, blame the state and national Democratic Party. More on that soon.
If you oppose eminent domain to build CO2 pipelines and you’re planning to participate in the Iowa Caucuses – Democratic or Republican – attend a candidate event in your area. Question the candidate about eminent domain. Record the exchange. Share your video with me and we’ll help promote it.
Voters across the political spectrum deserve straight answers on all issues, especially one like eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, where 78% of Iowans are opposed. (Des Moines Register)
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Ed Fallon
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