I'm aware of the credibilty of the poll, or lack there of. Never did I make the claim that it was something that bears any substantial weight. I merely pointed it out as something that shows Rossi can't necessarily be considered the front runner as of yet.

Frankly I'm growing a little bored of the game you and I play. We disagree,.......that much is obvious. What the casual reader of this board would probably never realize is you and I agree on a number of issues. Make no mistake about it, the GOP has a tough road ahead in November. As you already know I'm no fan of most GOP pols. The fracturing of the party will make it difficult for the base to rally behind any one candidate. No where have you seen me make any predictions or forecasts about the GOP gaining any seats this November.

That said I'll continue to throw my support behind any GOP or Independent candidate that supports issues I feel best represent my values. If you wish to continue hurling insults my way,....have at it,.....you only reveal what a true dip$hit you are.

As far as Didier's position on farm subsidies go,......I'll offer his response from his website:

PARTICIPATION IN THE USDA FARM SERVICE PROGRAMS


Since declaring my candidacy for the U. S. Senate considerable criticism has been made of my participation in the USDA Farm Service programs. Yes, as a farmer I have been a recipient of monies from FSA programs. However, my past participation does not preclude my belief it is time to end the government farm subsidy program; let farmers become self-sufficient and build their own internal insurance and cooperative relief programs. These government programs, make agriculture an industry held hostage for political purposes.

I’ve now been farming for 20 years after retiring from the NFL. Farming can be both trying and rewarding . In l944, several USDA predecessor agencies were merged into FSA and primarily tasked with implementation of farm conservation and regulation laws around the country.

To soften crop losses when a natural disaster occurs, FSA offers a crop insurance program entitled NAP. Every year, I have purchased this crop insurance , and twice I have been paid for crop losses. In order to qualify for NAP, your Governor must designate your area a disaster besides meeting other USDA mandated program requirements. To receive 50% of a 50% crop loss (25% of the crop value), an average two-year wait is usually required. Not the greatest insurance policy ever written.

I have also participated in Commodity Credit Corporation programs created in l933 to “stabilize, support, and protect farm income and prices” through acreage payments. Our nation has always supported a cheap food policy. Some years back, when the price of wheat became too high, our government conveniently dumped government stored wheat on the market to lower market price. When prices are too low, the farmer is “stabilized” through government acreage payments –a “help” to make up what the farmer’s income should, or could, have been.

Participants certify yearly with their local FSA office acres planted and to what crop. If your current acreage enrollment is out of whack, too many acres of one commodity based on your past production, you are ineligible for participation. This allows the government to exercise control over planted acres of certain commodities.

Although the public is continually told of huge farm payments through USDA programs, what is generally not known is 72% of these subsidies are earmarked for child nutrition, food stamp programs, and temporary assistance for needy families. Perhaps the USDA Farm Bill is mis-labeled and should be called the USDA Welfare Bill. In 2002, only ll% of appropriated monies went to farmers. The other 17% went to other categories; the biggest of those being titled miscellaneous.

The American farmer is the most efficient in the world – supplying the American public with the finest quality produce, grains, fruits and dairy products. Continued government micro-management, over-regulation, and restrictive practices places our abundant food supply in jeopardy. Currently, 50% of the produce available to the American consumer is brought in from foreign producers who do not have to meet the same standards required of the American farmer as it relates to the use of fertilizers, chemicals, and pesticide applications.

In 2001, Al Gore advised a young Future Farmer of America to look for a new occupation because ALL of our food would eventually be imported. Europe realized during World II, the incontestable value of their own reliable food supply and have since jealously guarded the well-being of their food producers. Any nation dependent on importation of their food is at the mercy of the supplier.

Clint Didier
Candidate for U.S. Senate