I suspect that the TV appointment comes first as a favor to Tom
Harkin, who'll want a well-placed ally to help him put a more
midwestern ag* slant to the next Farm Bill, and second as another
mutation in the ongoing morphing of "Hope" into "Clinton III."

In 2002, TV did deserve Sierra Club's scorn for his behind the scenes
gaming of the Water Quality Initiative and then the CAFO bill, in both
cases to feather his political nest at the expense of independent
farmers and the environment.  Would Jim Nussle have done worse as
Governor?  Of course.  I suppose in that context, Vilsack's promise to
serve only two terms offered some justification.

Bill Witt


* CRP, Sod Buster, and maybe a bit more support for sustainable ag are  
things we can realistically hope/lobby for, but the Big Agro guys (FB,  
DuPont, Ciba, Monsanto, et al.) will cozy up, and TV will help get the  
goodies they want.  TV is going to the trading floor of the most  
enduring commodity of all--the Political Favors Board of Trade.




Quoting Thomas Mathews <[log in to unmask]>:

> I sent this, below, to the Sierra Club  national Genetic Engineering Action
> Team, of which I am a  corresponding member, having been a voting    
> member of the
> predecessor  to it, the Genetic Engineering Committee, for many years.
>
> Let it be noted that it is to the enduring shame of the Sierra Club Iowa
> Chapter that we endorsed Vilsack for Iowa governor, not once, but    
> twice, in 1998
> and 2002. (I opposed the 2002 endorsement.)
> Tom
> ==============================================================================
> =
>
> We need to watch what Vilsack says and does as Secretary of  Agriculture.
>
> If he lies about genetic engineering, we need to speak out at once and  state
> what the truth is.
>
> If he repeatedly lies about genetic engineering, we need to demand that the
> President replace him with someone who will tell the truth.
>
> If he proves to be a shill for agribusiness and an opponent of sustainable
> and organic farming, we need to demand that the President replace him with
> someone who cares about the environment and the future; someone who   
>  can give us
> hope; someone who supports a locally produced, sustainable food system.
>
> Maybe Vilsack will surprise us in a good way. But be prepared if he   
>  does  not.
>
> Tom
> **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and
> favorite sites in one place.  Try it now.
> (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)
>
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