Comments on: Why Obama Might Be Terrible http://whiskeyburn.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/why-obama-might-be-terrible/ Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:36:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: crabtree http://whiskeyburn.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/why-obama-might-be-terrible/#comment-48 crabtree Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:36:11 +0000 http://whiskeyburn.wordpress.com/?p=84#comment-48 Criticizing Tom Vilsack for not doing enough to stop the explosion of industrial hog confinements while Governor is fair, although reasonable people can and should debate that point. I'll say this, his Department of Natural Resources actually turned into a regulatory agency under Vilsack, and permits were actually refused. Moreover, Vonk, his DNR director was not universally embraced when Vilsack named him but by the time current Iowa Governor Chet Culver ousted him CAFO opponents were up in arms (probably because they knew that Culver and Lt Gov Patty Judge would install a conventional ag patsy). I guess my point is, on CAFO issues, Vilsack was far better than both the Repub that proceeded him (Branstad) and the Democrat that followed him (Culver)... I admit, however, those are not difficult beauty contests to win. Vilsack was crucial in winning the passage of livestock market reform legislation in Iowa that I worked on in 1999. In fact, I still have one of the pens that he used to sign the bill. Compared to the other folks on the short list, Vilsack is head and shoulders better than the field and past Secretaries of Ag. Vilsack has a mind, a voice and a pulse... might not always agree, but he'll have something to say. Glickman - lights on, no one home... talking, but no pulse Veneman - total corporate sell out Buis, Stenholm - how would these two be any different than Glickman, if not worse? Criticizing Tom Vilsack for not doing enough to stop the explosion of industrial hog confinements while Governor is fair, although reasonable people can and should debate that point. I’ll say this, his Department of Natural Resources actually turned into a regulatory agency under Vilsack, and permits were actually refused. Moreover, Vonk, his DNR director was not universally embraced when Vilsack named him but by the time current Iowa Governor Chet Culver ousted him CAFO opponents were up in arms (probably because they knew that Culver and Lt Gov Patty Judge would install a conventional ag patsy).

I guess my point is, on CAFO issues, Vilsack was far better than both the Repub that proceeded him (Branstad) and the Democrat that followed him (Culver)… I admit, however, those are not difficult beauty contests to win.

Vilsack was crucial in winning the passage of livestock market reform legislation in Iowa that I worked on in 1999. In fact, I still have one of the pens that he used to sign the bill.

Compared to the other folks on the short list, Vilsack is head and shoulders better than the field and past Secretaries of Ag. Vilsack has a mind, a voice and a pulse… might not always agree, but he’ll have something to say.

Glickman – lights on, no one home… talking, but no pulse
Veneman – total corporate sell out
Buis, Stenholm – how would these two be any different than Glickman, if not worse?

]]>