DES MOINES, Iowa – On the plane ride here, I read in National Review that state senator Joni Ernst was “running to the left” of her opponent, Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) on Social Security.
Later, flipping on my television at the hotel, I learned that she wants very badly to privatize the program, thanks to the wall-to-wall attack ads from environmental groups that have seized on the topic as a handy cudgel.
I was also told, by Mother Jones, that Ernst has uttered a series of “controversial,” “extreme” statements that put her to the right of Louie Gohmert.
You can imagine my surprise when her stump speech at a series of stops along I-80 was cheerful, largely non-ideological and above all, safe.
Ernst criticized her opponent’s record on the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group on the narrowest of grounds – that he hadn’t been more forthcoming in public about his position. Ernst, in contrast, said the U.S. must defeat ISIS and stand with the troops.
Hot damn, these Republican women get better lookin’ each day!
I like Palin. She needs to be in the Senate.
@Billy – Republican women know how to take care of themselves, they don’t expect the gov’t to do it for them.
Looks like her chickensh*t opponent’s chickens are coming home to roost.
Like what I’ve seen, so far … just hope she doesn’t “grow” in office.
Joni Ernst is the best thing to happen to Iowa since Meredith Wilson.