Obama urges alternative energy subsidies
URBANDALE, Iowa, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama campaigned in Iowa Saturday, saying Mitt Romney's ideas to improve the economy are "retreads of the same old" Republican policies.
During his speech at Morningside College in Sioux City, ridiculed Republicans for coming up with an agenda at their national convention in Tampa, Fla., "that was probably a little better suited for the last century."
"They were going so far backwards you might as well have watched it on black-and-white TV," he said. 'Put some rabbit ears on the convention hall."
Obama covered his usual stump speech, including his desire to see alternative energies grow to help the United States become energy self-sufficient. He touted the efforts of renewable energy businessman Rob Hach and his wife, Tara.
He said Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan "would put those jobs at risk by ending tax credits for wind energy producers."
"Rob told you, he [Romney] said these new sources of energy are 'imaginary.' And Mr. Ryan called them a 'fad,'" Obama said. "You just saw Rob. He looks pretty real to me. I wasn't imagining him up here talking, was I? He has been in the wind energy business for nearly 20 years. He and his wife Tara now have 27 employees. Nearly 7,000 jobs in Iowa depend on the wind industry. These jobs aren't fads; they're our future.
"It's time to stop giving a $4 billion taxpayer subsidy to oil companies that are making money every time you go to the pump. And let's give some tax breaks to wind energy and homegrown energy and biofuels that are creating jobs right here in Iowa. That's the choice in this election. That's what we're fighting for."
Romney says America deserves prosperity
CINCINNATI, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, campaigning in Florida Saturday after a stop in Ohio, said America deserves "a brighter, prosperous future."
"We're going to encourage individuals to know that they can build it here in America, that there's a brighter, prosperous future here," Romney told his supporters in Jacksonville, Fla. "You deserve that. You deserve that after these four years of trouble that you've had."
GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan joined Romney in Jacksonville and urged Floridians to back Romney at the polls, Politico reported.
"Florida's going to elect Mitt Romney for the next president of the United States, aren't you? That's right," he said. "You have a big responsibility and a big opportunity. If Florida goes the right way, America goes the right way."
Earlier in the day, Romney stumped in Cincinnati, while Ryan campaigned in Columbus.
Ryan delivered a locker room pep talk to members of the football team at Miami of Ohio, his alma mater, before they played Ohio State. He also visited with tailgaters, flipped hamburgers and posed for photos.
In Cincinnati, Romney used football imagery when he said 23 million Americans are either out of work, underemployed or have stopped looking for jobs -- and said President Barack Obama should be replaced.
"If you have a coach that's zero and 23 million, you say it's time to get a new coach," Romney said. "It's time for America to see a winning season again, and we're going to bring it to 'em."
Isaac blamed for Ill. twisters
NEW ORLEANS, Afghanistan, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Much of New Orleans was still without power Saturday, the handiwork of Hurricane Isaac, the remnants of which triggered tornadoes in Illinois, officials said.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said cleanup of trees and debris was under way in the storm-stricken city, but the lack of power was frustrating.
"Like everyone else, my patience is wearing thin," he said. "This is more than an inconvenience; it continues to be dangerous for everybody."
The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported the electric utility Entergy Corp. said only about 40 percent of New Orleanians had power, while the lights were on for about 46 percent of the people in Jefferson Parish about four days after Isaac hit.
The U.S. Department of Energy said more than 15,000 electricity workers from more than 24 states were assessing the damage and working to restore power.
WJBC-AM, Bloomington, Ill., reported the Woodford County Emergency Management Agency confirmed a tornado touchdown northwest of Benson that damaged a structure and another twister was reported near Toluca and Hopewell in Marshall County. Funnel clouds also were sighted near Varna and Panola, the radio station said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it had more than 1,350 staff members working with storm victims in Louisiana and Mississippi. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate stressed Saturday that people who fled their homes ahead of the storm should wait until officials determine it is safe before returning.
Bombings kill 13 near U.S.-Afghan base
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- At least 13 people were killed and 78 injured in a two coordinated suicide bomb attacks near a joint U.S.-Afghan military base early Saturday, authorities said.
No coalition forces were killed, but two were wounded, CNN reported. Four Afghan police officers, as well as a child and two women, were among the dead, Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the Wardak province governor, said.
The first bomber walked up to the gate of the base in Saidabad and blew himself up, Shahid said. That opened the way for the second suicide bomber driving a truck.
Houses and a large portion of a local bazaar were destroyed in the blast, which was described as "massive," the BBC said.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
An attack on the same base last year on the eve of the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks killed five Afghans and injured more than 80 people, including about 50 U.S. soldiers.
