I almost always agree with Victor Davis Hanson, but this is exactly how I think it will go. People so underestimate Hillary:
"I still maintain that the Clintons (if she can squeak by in the next two primaries) will use every means to find a way to challenge, seat, or sway delegates to win the nomination, regardless of the aggregate popular vote or ongoing delegate count. While that may not work, I still think she will try if she wins Texas; and if she wins the last three states, it will work."
Hillary has planned far too long for this and I cannot see her going gently into the night. Oh no. It just won't happen.
Texas will be interesting to watch. Will Hispanics come out to save Hillary? Or will Obamamania win the day?
Today, on my way to Church I saw dozens and dozens of people along the streets holding "Huckabee" signs. McCain better be taking these evangelicals seriously. Huckabee honestly thinks he can win Texas, and with Texas full of evangelicals, it's not impossible. This group comes out in large numbers and party regulars may figure it's a done deal with McCain and not be motivated to get out and vote.
Huckabee figures that if he can win Texas and Ohio, he can take it to the convention where delegates would choose the more conservative candidate..... himself.
It's a long shot, but it's a long shot McCain should be taking seriously.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Don't count Hillary (or Huckabee) out yet....
Obama is Muslim to Muslims?
From Lee Smith at Michael J. Totten's Middle East Journal:
"Barack Obama's father was Muslim and therefore, according to Islamic law, so is the candidate. In spite of the Quranic verses explaining that there is no compulsion in religion, a Muslim child takes the religion of his or her father.
The point of course is not that Obama is really a Muslim, because in America he is whatever he says he is. American ideas about such things as choice, religion, freedom of expression - including the freedom to choose your own faith - are different from the rest of much of the world. For us, a man is whatever religion he wants to practice, or not practice. But for Muslims around the world, non-American Muslims at any rate, they can only ever see Barack Hussein Obama as a Muslim."
Obama, of course, professes to be a Christian. I am wondering if there are any practicing Muslims out there reading this that can speak to this point? Do you see him as Muslim? How would this affect his presidency, if he were to become President?
h/t BigDog
Friday, February 22, 2008
The Debate
I didn't get to watch the debate between Hillary and Obama last night because I was at a McCain event, but First Read has a pretty good review. It looks like Hillary did well, but didn't score the homerun she needed to.
Texas will be the test. She loses here, it's over imo.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"America At Risk"
Dramatic? Yes. But we need dramatic. All I can say is that the Democrats better hope that nothing happens to hurt Americans through terroristic acts while this act has expired. Fair or not, they will be blamed.
Let's not burst the Obama bubble yet....
The Captain has the video of Chris Matthews interviewing Texas state senator and Barack Obama supporter Kirk Watson and asking Watson to name any significant legislative accomplishment by Obama. He couldn't come up with anything.
As the Captain points out:
Obama simply doesn't have any record to show. He has been in the Senate a grand total of three years, one of which he's spent running for President. He has no record of even attempting to bring any of the themes on which he's running now to the Senate for consideration as actual legislative product. Why didn't he act when he had the chance?
That will be John McCain's argument. He has a long record of taking risks in the Senate and pushing bipartisan solutions to problems. He hasn't just sat around talking about change; he's actually accomplished it, sometimes in directions that angered Republicans then and now. McCain can cast himself as the real agent of change and bipartisanship, while Obama just poses as such for an election without once taking any real risks.
Then the WaPo has this:
The subtext of Obama's campaign is that his own life narrative -- to become the first African American president, a huge milestone in the nation's journey from slavery -- can serve as a metaphor for other political stalemates. Great impasses can be broken with sufficient goodwill, intelligence and energy. "It's not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white," he says. Along with millions of others, I find this a powerful appeal.
But on inspection, the metaphor is a mirage. Repudiating racism is not a magic cure-all for the nation's ills. The task requires independent ideas, and Obama has few. If you examine his agenda, it is completely ordinary, highly partisan, not candid and mostly unresponsive to many pressing national
problems.
All the above is true but.....Shhhhh.... Good grief! The HillaryMachine is not done yet!! I say we keep our sweet conservative mouths shut until Obama has the nomination in the bag. There will be plenty of time to point out the VAST differences of leadership and experience between Obama and McCain.
Enough for now, my friends. Enough.
via RedState
Update: Geeze. Even an Obama supporter over at the Boston Herald gets it.
The slime machine starts early this year
John at RightwingNews has all the details on the NYT smear story of McCain regarding a "relationship" with a former female lobbyist and reaction to it.
This story is old and was vetted in 2000 as well, and even in the NYT's article there is no evidence of any kind of romantic relationship. I'm wondering if the NYT covered the big rumor a few months back about John Edwards having an affair and that woman being pregnant? I didn't pay much attention to it. But there was a lot more "evidence" than anything in this story.
Frankly, I think the American people are sick of affair stories. Bill Clinton's long drawn out affair and lying just depleted us. We figure that anyone's indescretions could never be as bad as that whole thing was.
If reporters think that bringing up a sexual past for either candidate in the general election is going to do anything but disgust people, then they are fooling themselves. People are just sick of that kind of gossip.
Update: It looks like the NYT is doing no press to defend this story.
*note: I changed the time when the story came out. Not 20 yrs ago.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Hillary, do the dirty work for us
On a conference call, top strategist Mark Penn just told reporters that in the next two weeks Hillary Clinton will go after Barack Obama on the issue of who is better qualified to be commander-in-chief — and Penn suggested that Clinton would be a better commander of the nation's armed forces than both Obama and John McCain. "She is the only person in this race who is both ready to be commander-in-chief and would end the Iraq war and start to bring troops home within 60 days, compared to both Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain," Penn told reporters.Later, Penn made it clear that Clinton will push the commander-in-chief issue in coming days. "The Republican nominee has extensive credibility in this area, and the Democrat is going to need to be commander-in-chief," Penn said. Obama has "relatively no experience in national security," Penn continued, an issue that "is going to be reflected in the debates that we have over the next couple of weeks."
UPDATE: Later in the call, the Clinton team was asked whether the not-qualified-to-be-commander-in-chief criticism of Obama was going too far, given that it would be used by Republicans against Obama if Obama is the Democratic nominee against John McCain. "We don't believe that he is the one who will face John McCain," Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said. "This is a legitimate question that Sen. Obama would face if he were the nominee, and it is a question that he is facing as a result of criticism from Sen. McCain now, so I think it's perfectly appropriate."
It will be sweet if Hillary points out Obama's lack of experience in every area to be Commander In Chief and then pounds that home day after day. And then she loses, but the impression (and fact) that Obama is not ready to lead will have been made without a Republican or McCain opening his mouth to say so.
Related: "Well, that is a problem, isn't it?"
Awkward Moment
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
An Obama campaign source tells NBC News that after the two speeches, Clinton called Obama to congratulate him. The conversation was described as "brief."
It was duly noted by the Obama campaign that Clinton once again neither congratulated nor conceded in her speech.
I won't believe that Hillary can lose until the fat lady at the convention sings.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Illegal Immigration Wars
Here is a video of a protest that happens every Saturday in Spring Texas outside a small convience store at the entrance of a neighborhood where a friend of mine lives.
I think it illustrates the extreme on both sides of this debate. My friend tells me that the border watch guys bring their concealed weapons to the protest. Two of the pro-illegal immigrant protestors proudly admit to being Marxist.
I would like to ask both sides some questions. First to the pro-illegal immigrant side. Does it not concern you that companies exploit and take advantage of Illegal immigrants? You fight for the right of the illegal to stand there in the mornings for jobs, but you have no concern that they are practically slave labor? They work the hours the company says at the pay the company says, and if these people are abused even further, who do they turn to?
To the border watch people I would ask, why do you need guns? To intimidate? To show your power? Do you not think illegal immigrants feel powerless enough?
These people "representing" illegals, do not represent them at all. They have some sort of political agenda and they use the immigrants as much as the companies who employ them do.
Maybe the person who called illegals "cockroches" doesn't represent the border watch view, but you should throw out anyone who says such a horrible thing. Who are you angry with over this? The illegal? Who only comes here because he needs to make a living and he leaves poverty behind that we in the U.S. cannot even imagine.
Who you should be angry with is our government who cannot control our border, who cannot enforce our laws, and who entice illegal behavior with handouts and free services. Go protest the government where the only real change can happen.
To the pro-illegal protestors, especially the professor who was so indignant. I hope you are spending as much time helping those who stand there every morning get the paper work done to become citizens as you do yelling at police officers.
Who are these kinds of people? On both sides. Shouting like a 2 yr old on a temper trantrum. It makes me sick. All of you should be ashamed.
Do any of you think you are on the side of right? Right is how we treat each other. Angry protests in front of neighborhoods will only breed more anger and hate. Perhap I expect ugly behavior from Marxists, but are any of you Christians? If so, then maybe you should remember that we are taught to even love our enemies. We are taught to treat others as we would like to be treated.
Our government is at the root of this problem and this is where the problem should be attacked.
Stay home this Saturday. No one wins here.
Good News in Iraq
The surge worked and benchmarks are being met. Will the Democrats ever acknowlege it?
h/t BigDog
POW!
Cindy McCain slams Michelle Obama:
Video here.
Brookfield, WI — During her introduction of Sen. John McCain at a rally Tuesday, his wife Cindy interjected herself into the controversy surrounding comments another 2008 spouse made yesterday.
“I am proud of my country. I don’t know about you? If you heard those words earlier, I am very proud of my country,” Mrs. McCain said while revving up the crowd and introducing her husband.
When asked at a media availability afterward if they were responding to Michelle Obama’s comments that this election was the “first time” she was “really proud” of the U.S., Sen. McCain deferred to his wife–who reiterated her previous words.
“I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country,” McCain said.
Who knew Cindy had it in her? Go Cindy!
I suppose you have heard...
Fidel Castro resigns instead of dying. How rude.
The Babalu blog has all the news you could want about it, including cautioning against lifting any embargo.
The candidate's reactions here.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Strange Things
Here is clip from "Morning Joe" on MSNBC where they show video of Bill Clinton getting into a heated argument with an Obama supporter in the crowd. Later the guy says Clinton popped him in the mouth a bit.
Oh geeze.
God knows I feel no need to defend Bill Clinton, but I doubt seriously he would have even accidently popped someone in the mouth, although there is no doubt Clinton is angry in the video.
It's crazy how angry Clinton is getting out on the road. But one has to admit that the media is making a big deal out it too.
Also in the video is Obama repeating the words of Deval Patrick, the Massachusetts governor, used at a campaign rally when he was running for that office in 2006. Deval Patrick naturally defended Obama saying they were friends and shared many things about "politics, policy and language." Not a big deal really. Just embarassing for Obama.
But more than embarassing is Michelle Obama saying that for the FIRST time in her adult life "I am really proud of my country." Now, considering she would say that about the Bush years is understandable since she is a partisan Democrat, but the entire Clinton Presidency is included in there as well. Is this just a slam at Clinton or is Michelle not proud of the following things that a reader at NRO pointed out:
She's found nothing in all that time to make her proud of her country? Not the fact that it won the Cold War and liberated tens of millions from totalitarian rule? What about sending billions to ease the plight of millions of AIDS sufferers in Africa? What about the nation's selflessness in stopping genocide in the Balkans when it had no immediate security interest in the region? What about our ability to produce hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who will risk life and limb to liberate two countries from despotic regimes right out of the Dark Ages? Doesn't the Herculean Tsunami Relief effort generate a flicker of national pride?
The Texas Primary
It's convoluted and complicated and the Clinton's didn't expect to get here and still be in a fight for the nomintion:
Supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton are worried that convoluted delegate rules in Texas could water down the impact of strong support for her among Hispanic voters there, creating a new obstacle for her in the must-win presidential primary contest.
.........
What Clinton aides discovered is that in certain targeted districts, such as Democratic state Sen. Juan Hinojosa's heavily Hispanic Senate district in the Rio Grande Valley, Clinton could win an overwhelming majority of votes but gain only a small edge in delegates. At the same time, a win in the more urban districts in Dallas and Houston -- where Sen. Barack Obama expects to receive significant support -- could yield three or four times as many delegates.
"What it means is, she could win the popular vote and still lose the race for delegates," Hinojosa said yesterday. "This system does not necessarily represent the opinions of the population, and that is a serious problem."
via HotAir
Saturday, February 16, 2008
It's Hard Out Here For a White Superdelegate
I guess we all thought that maybe we had gotten away from the "Ole boys club" in politics. Women and minorities have come a heck of a long way since I was young. No doubt. But there is also no doubt who still runs the club.
From Politico.com:
In an ironic twist to the historic Democratic nominating contest between an African-American and a woman, the balance of power may be held by a more familiar face: the white male.
........
But superdelegates have never reflected the diversity of the Democratic party as a whole, nor were they designed to. They represent the party insiders, a group that white men still dominate.
Nancy Pelosi said recently that it would be a problem if the superdelegates chose someone who didn't win the popular vote. But will the superdelegates listen?
Susan Estrich is staunch Democrat, political analyst, and the 1988 campaign manager for Michael Dukais' run for the presidency. She was also a part of how the superdelegates came about. Here she describes how 26 years ago the big wigs of the Democratic party decided to take back control of the nominating process from the "crazies" who had dared to come out in the primaries and nominate people the "elders" didn't think could be elected in the general. These people were referred to as "Fringe types" and this was "code for feminists, gays, minorities and crazed environmentalists." (her words, not mine)
Also her words:
"What we needed, in many minds, were more white guys with cigars."
No people. This wasn't 1962, this was 1982.
Estrich was one of the few voices crying out against it:
"My principled argument was that the category of elected officials and party leaders would, contrary to the rules governing the Democratic Convention (which only two years earlier had voted to require itself to be equally divided between men and women, and to reflect the diversity of the party), be brimming with white guys. You're going to let white men decide who the nominee will be, I argued, loudly and full of conviction, to anyone who would listen. It's not democratic. It's closing up the system when we should be opening it up. Exactly, more than one person said to me. About time, others muttered."
Well, myDemocratic friends, the chickens are coming home to roost. And in a way they never expected. The superdelegates were created to keep the "crazies" from deciding the nominee. (uhh.. that would be you, if you are a feminist, environmentalist, gay rights activist, and let's just throw in anti-war activist, because you know you are in there too) What you need is smart white men to tell you who needs to be nominated. Which is exactly what you will get if Obama wins the popular vote, but loses with the superdelegates.
Ironic isn't it? The media and the left love to create the image of the Republican party as the white boys club, when in fact, they have nothing on the Democratic leadership.
But I digress.
Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania (Democrat!) recently said that the country was not ready to elect a black man.
Is he right? Or is the Democratic leadership not ready to nominate one?
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday Thoughts
I absolutely don't care that Jane Fonda said the "c" word on the Today show. It's the one show I am sure, without a doubt, that no kids are watching. Want to get offended? Check out the FX channel in prime time. "Nip and Tuck" is practically a porno and kids can easily flip to it before bedtime. But no one gets offended by that. Don't even get me started on MTV.
I care more about grass growing than I do about professional baseball, but I watched the Roger Clemens hearing. I don't know anything about him except he is some big baseball star and all I can say is he was lying. His mannerisms and his answers all said that to me. I don't care how good of a person he has been or how good of a baseball player he is. To say that you let your trainer inject your wife, but you didn't get injected, is just ridiculous. Plus, as much as I love to see Congress doing anything other than figuring out ways to spend our tax money, I don't see why the heck they are involved here.
People tell me that kids look up to baseball players and other athletes and this needs to be stopped. Please. Once again, if you care about how kids are influenced take a look at what they are exposed to daily on TV, the internet, music, and the movies and stop watching that crap so hollywood will stop making money off it and find some way to protect our kids on the internet.
Senate Democrats leave Surveillance Law to expire. Bush warns of risking intelligence gaps and Democrats accuse him of fear mongering. Heaven forbid we capture or thwart attacks by enemies such as these. Nothing fearful there at all.
And it's not like the law has actually saved American lives.
Oh wait. Yes it has:
Americans have been kept secure by laws and initiatives like the Patriot Act and the Terrorist Surveillance Program that have foiled schemes to kill us by the tens, hundreds and thousands. The fact that none has transpired reflects the diligence of U.S. and allied cops, spies, soldiers and concerned citizens who have said something when they have seen something.
And finally, my prayers go out to the victims of the NIU shootings.
Who knew?
One of the reasons I kept hesitating about blogging again at the Houston Chronicle was because of the rudeness of the lefties that read the Chronicle.
Have you checked out TexasSparkle?
OMG, it's like writing for the KosKids. They won't just disagree with me, they have to personal insult me. If you scroll down you can see where I even put up a post on commenting and how I wasn't going to publish comments that were rude, but that hasn't deterred them at all.
I decided when I came back to blogging that I wouldn't publish any overtly rude comments, so I have been deleting comments constantly over there. Who knew there were so many bitter lefties in Houston?
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The End Game
Hillary never imagined this. By this time she figured her nomination would be wrapped up in a pretty red valentine bow. But that didn't happen.
Hillary was so sure of her inevitability she hadn't even put a field organization in place for the states that were to come after SuperTuesday on Feb. 5. Now Texas and Ohio mean everything.
This my prediction, for what it's worth. I think Hillary will win with the superdelegates. She knows how to play that game. I think she will immediately ask Obama to be the VP and tell him that if he gives a speech to accept and fully support Hillary with all the charisma and enthusiasm he is known for, then she will fully support him for the Presidency in 2016. Having Obama as VP and supporting her will ease all the anger that is sure to follow.
If the Clintons are good at anything, they are good at backroom deals.
The American Dream
This is fascinating.
Adam Shepard decides on doing a little experiment. He had a college degree and supportive parents, but he left all that behind. Never mentioning either in his pursuit of success. He arrived on the wrong side of the tracks of Charleston, South Carolina with a gym bag and $25. He lived in a homeless shelter. Ten months later he had to return home because of an illness in the family. But by then he had an apartment, a truck, and had saved $5000.
In 10 months.
I understand that many people have responsibility that make it even more difficult, but there is no doubt in my mind that the American dream is about hard work and determination.
My Dad came from extreme poverty and so many disadvantages. But he became a success in every definition of the word. I believe the American Dream is there for everyone. You just have to make good decisions.
But this part I totally agree with:
There were simple luxuries that I didn't afford myself. I had to make sacrifices to achieve the goals that I set out. One of those was eating out. I didn't have a cellphone. Especially in this day and age, that was a dramatic change for me.... I was getting by on chicken and Rice-A-Roni dinner and was happy. That's what I learned ... we lived [simply], but still we were happy.
When I was first married my husband was still in school. I took a minimum wage job in a law firm. I remember thinking twice about stopping to get a coke on my home from work. We had no money and we wouldn't take any help from our parents.
Now, we are well off. But I can tell you this. I was just as happy then.
My Dad used to say that happiness is a decision you make every morning and I absolutely believe that.
God knew what he was doing when he gave us the 10 commandments. Even if you didn't believe in God, these are rules everyone should live by. They help give us success.
Poverty comes many times from bad decisions. Having sex before you are married. Having a baby before you are married. Cheating, lying, and jealousy. Dishonoring your parents. All these are addressed in the greatest guide book of all time....The Bible.
I believe if we live by that, we succeed.
The Democrats take a first swipe at McCain
Is this the best you can do?
He's for tax cuts!! OMG!!
And that's not all. When this group of evil goe after McCain, I know I'm the right side.
via NRO
Romney makes nice
I mean real nice:
Our Democratic opponents are good at striking heroic poses. With John McCain, we have the real thing. ..With John McCain, national security is not just another agenda item. It's a lifelong commitment.
via NRO
GOP walks off the House Floor
"House GOP have walked off the House Floor to protest the unwillingness of Democrats to pass, or even debate, legislation that is critical to our national security. The FISA bill, which passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote, provides critical tools for our nation's intelligence agencies to monitor the terrorists who plot against this country. This authorization expires this week - yet, House Democrats can't find the time to debate it. House GOP walked off the House Floor - this legislation is critical to our national security and must be passed immediately. Here is a link from Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor's blog on the walkoff."
Here is video of the walkoff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHf9gK1Tyyo
Here is a quote from Eric Cantor on the walkoff:
"Our intelligence agencies need the tools necessary to listen in on terrorists who threaten and plot to do harm to our country. The Senate worked together in a bipartisan fashion earlier this week to accomplish this goal, but the House Democrat Leadership refuses to do the same. It Al-Qaeda is talking, we should be able to listen. Today, House Republicans stood up and demanded that Washington work for the people again."
via e-mail
Not to depress you on Valentines Day....
..but I think this may be a love story (or nonlove story) of our modern times.
Maybe you should settle instead of looking for Mr./Ms. Right.
h/t BigDog
Romney to endorse McCain
CNN's Dana Bash reports that former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will endorse senator John McCain. The endorsement is expected to happen at a Boston event at 3:30 p.m. ET today.
Two sources familiar with the decision confirmed the news, and said Romney now wants the delegates he won during his campaign to back his former rival.
Ok, it's time for Huckabee to gracefully bow out. Maybe before his trip to the islands this weekend?
A look at the hard left
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Ouch!
Bill Clinton's ex campaign manager, David Wilhelm, endorses Obama. He is a super delegate a well.
Delegate Count
As of 9:30pm Feb. 12th:
"DEMOCRATS
Pledged Delegates:
Obama 1,017
Clinton 942
Edwards 26
Estimated Super Delegates:
Clinton 261
Obama 178
GRAND TOTAL:
Clinton 1,203
Obama 1,195
NOTE: 180 delegates are still unallocated, including all 15 from DC, 46 from Maryland and 21 from Virginia. There are also 41 from Washington, 27 from Colorado, 10 from Georgia, 8 from Louisiana, 5 from Illinois, 4 from Alabama and one each from New Mexico, New York and Tennessee.
Super delegate numbers reflect totals gathered by the NBC News Political Unit from the campaigns and public endorsements.
REPUBLICANS
McCain 785
Romney 282
Huckabee 240
Paul 14
Others 7
There are still 103 delegates unallocated on the GOP side, including 24 in Maryland, 20 in Louisiana, 18 in Washington state, 16 in DC, 9 in California, 6 in Georgia, 6 in Tennessee and 4 in Alabama."
As mentioned before, NBC News has confirmed that Clinton Deputy Campaign manager Mike Henry resigned yesterday from the campaign.
Hillary is fighting for her life here. All eyes will be on Ohio and Texas, which are primary states, not caucus states. Obama hasn't done as well in primary states. But there is no doubt the momentum is with him.
It will be something to see if super delegate Democrats put Hillary over the top, but Obama has the popular vote.
I'm thinking some Democrats might be a tiny bit angry and Hillaryites might be a tiny bit hypocritical considering how much the "popular vote" has mattered to them in the past.
via First Read
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
McCain and Obama win...
McCain wins Virginia, but just by the skin of his teeth. Obama also wins Virginia, a big prize.
I just won't believe in a Hillary defeat until I see it.
Texas and Ohio will be the test. We shall see how my fellow Texans go March 4th.
Update: Hillary Rodham Clinton's deputy campaign manager, Mike Henry, leaves the race.
Obama in the White House?
Hillary says there will be no Bill Clinton scandal
From the Media Blog:
The senator was asked a question from a Politico.com reader in Santa Monica, Calif., who was seeking assurance that "no new business or personal scandal involving Bill Clinton" could erupt if she were in the White House and give fodder to Republicans.
"You know, I can assure this reader that that is not going to happen," she said. "You know, none of us can predict the future, no matter who we are and what we are running for, but I am very confident that that will not happen."
You have to wonder how she can be so confident?
I'm back blogging at The Houston Chronicle
Here is my first post there: What Obama means to me.
Check it out.
Is Hillary ticking off Hispanics?
A prominent member of the National Democratic Party and a California superdelegate who heads the voting rights committee of the DNC Hispanic Caucus, Steven Ybarra sent an e-mail out saying that the removal of Hillary's campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle with Maggie Williams, who is black, was disloyal to Hispanics.
Ybarra told The Post yesterday that the loss of Solis Doyle, a child of Mexican immigrants, just weeks before the Texas primary, where 36 percent of the population is Hispanic, was "dumb as a stump."
I find it amazing that to some people like Ybarra everything must be judged on race or ethnicity. Should Hillary keep someone who is not doing a good job just because they are Hispanic? Ridiculous. But this is what you get with identity politics.
via Drudge.
What Romney did that Hillary or Obama will not
Neither will quit the race for the good of the party.
It's a showdown between Hillary and Obama. It's a neck and neck horserace. Everyone agrees. Everyone also agrees that the campaigns are exhausted. They both will continue to spend money and energy at an alarming rate, and it looks as if it will end up in the super delegate's (a select number of Democrat big wigs) hands anyway.
Democratic lawyers are polishing their briefcases getting ready for the fight, because of the distinct possibility that by convention time the candidate leading in the popular vote in the primaries will be trailing in the delegate count. Challenges and litigation are soon to follow. Hillary will insist that Michigan and Florida delegates be counted (she has already said as much). Hillary will never ever give up until they bodily throw her out of the convention hall. We all know that.
If she wins the delegate count and Obama wins the popular vote (does this sound familiar to anyone?), it will be a fight like we have never seen.
Meanwhile, John McCain rests up, organizes, fundraises, and does some face time on TV doing something that looks very presidential.
Democrats have told me that they are happy with either candidate (which I understand, since there isn't really a dime's worth of difference between them on the issues). So why won't one of them step aside and let the other use their energy to get ready for the general election?
Because both of them see themselves as historic and important. More important than the good of their party it would seem.
Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan abducted
Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan has been abducted in a troubled tribal border region just hours after a senior Taliban commander was arrested.
Tariq Azizuddin, the Pakistani envoy to Kabul, disappeared with his driver while travelling the Khyber Pass on the road between the Pakistani city of Peshawar and the Afghan border.
In addition, two employees of Pakistan's atomic energy agency have been abducted on the same day in the country's restive north-western region abutting the Afghan border.
They apparently want Mansoor Dadullah, a Taliban commander in southern Afghan traded. He was captured earlier by Pakistani troops earlier. Dadullah has been traded back before.
via Captain's Quarters
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Youngest Suicide Bomber
It's a night for surreal posts.
This boy of 12, whose father was a Taliban fighter killed by British soldiers in Afghanistan was recruited by terrorists shortly after his father's death. They told him he must become a martyr and avenge the death of his father. During intensive mountain training he was taught how to handle explosives and sophisticated detonators. He even went on dummy missions with bags taped to his body. He was instructed to wander towards British patrols pretending to be lost and then blow himself up as they try to help him.
One day the boy confesses to his horrified mother who puts together enough funds to smuggle him to Britain. The immigration officials learn of his horrifying story.
Guess where the boy is right now? In middle school in Britain. That is right. Without the parents of the his classmates knowing anything about his tortured past. The officials in Britian are saying that being in this school "will hopefully convince him how evil his Taliban masters had been.”
Hopefully?
Has the whole world gone mad?
h/t dave bones
Jeb Bush endorses McCain
Not a shocker really, but here it is:
ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has endorsed John McCain for president.
"John McCain is a patriot and devoted conservative leader," said Governor Bush. "Like no other candidate in the field, John McCain has made tremendous sacrifices for this nation. He is beholden to no interest other than that of the public good. He is determined and steadfast in his commitment to reducing the burden of high taxes, restoring the people's trust in their government, and winning the war against radical Islamic extremists. It is with pride that I announce my endorsement of John McCain for president."
Let's break it up with some music
What talent. I just love her music. A sad life, to be sure, but the music...awesome.
Extreme Patriotism
The ABC show "Exteme Makeover, The Home Edition" is always sure to make me cry. Deserving families get a new home. But last night's episode was an all out cry fest for anyone who saw it.
Daniel Gilyeat is a decorated U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq and lost a leg to an IED and came home to find his wife had left him with their four young children. He lived in a run down house that was not handicapped accessible, but he never complained. He even went out of his way to visit other wounded soldiers in the hopital and spoke with their families to help them understand that life does go on.
Watch a clip here. Watch the full episode here.
What made the show so touching in addition to the obvious, was that the day they show the new home to his family was also the birthday of the Marine Corp. His fellow Marines raised our flag on a new flag poll honoring not ony this Marine, but all those who have served our country so well. The patriot riders led the convoy coming in to see the house. They didn't say that is who they were, but I would recognize those freakin wonderful heros anywhere.
Someone in the crowd held a homemade sign that said "We built you a house, but you gave us freedom." That about sums up the whole show. It was a beautiful and touching tribute not only to this Marine, but to all those who give so much for our country.
It was especially nice to see this after all the idiots and undeserving people in this country who benefit from the freedom afforded us by our soldiers and Marines, but have no appreciation of them and insult them every chance they get.
Take some time today to view the episode. It will fill your heart with appreciation and gratitude for the kind of men (and women) who serve our country so honorably.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Diary of a Loser
"I am Abu Tariq, Emir of al-Layin and al-Mashadah Sector," it began.
Over 16 pages, the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader detailed the organization's demise in his sector. He once had 600 men, but now his force was down to 20 or fewer, he wrote. They had lost weapons and allies. Abu Tariq focused his anger in particular on the Sunni fighters and tribesmen who have turned against al-Qaeda in Iraq and joined the U.S.-backed Sunni Sahwa, or "Awakening," forces.
This diary was found in a safe house of al-Qaeda in Iraq near the northern city of Balad.
While al-Qaeda desperately seeks to repair itself, it is "in panic and fear," and only seems to be able to train children to kill now, and the "Anbar model" seems to be working elsewhere in Iraq, no worries, you still have Democrat American leaders declaring defeat for America.
Maybe Pelosi should catch up on her reading.
The Hillary Demise
OMG, isn't it sweet?
(AP/CBS) Illinois senator Barack Obama finished a series of weekend primary and caucus contests undefeated as he bested Hillary Clinton in Maine today, according to CBS News estimates.
Obama’s victory in the Maine caucuses follow on the heels of his Saturday sweep in which he won Louisiana’s primary contest as well as caucuses in the states of Washington and Nebraska.
His winning margins ranged from substantial to crushing.
Could this really happen?? This man may deserve all his media adulation just for standing between this horrid political machine and the American people.
But I will not celebrate yet. Watching the fangs come out on Hillary will be like watching a SAW II movie. We just won't be able to look away from the carnage.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Bolton AND Fred endorse McCain.
Come on! Who doesn't love Bolton or Fred????? We love them with a burning torch of love.
Here is Bolton:
"John McCain was very active and supportive during my confirmation hearings to be the U.S. Ambassador to the UN. His belief in me at that time was a testament to his courage to fight the liberals in the Senate and vigorously advance American interests at the UN.
"I whole-heartedly endorse John McCain for President because when he takes office in January 2009 he will be prepared immediately to lead us. John will not need on the job training.
"American conservatives will have a President they can be proud of in John McCain."
You might recall that that wasn't an easy fight. McCain stood up for Bolton. File that in the "conservative bonafides" folder, would cha?
Here is Fred:
This is no longer about past preferences or differences. It is about what is best for our country and for me that means that Republican should close ranks behind John McCain.
Fredheads may now file aboard the McCain train. There are homemade cookies and delightful drinks awaiting you. Don't be afraid. We love you.
Heh.
Oh, they will just kill Obama....
British Nobel literature laureate Doris Lessing predicted in a newspaper interview that If Barack Obama becomes the next US president he will surely be assassinated, British Nobel literature laureate Doris Lessing said
Obama, who is vying to become the first black president in US history, "would certainly not last long, a black man in the position of president. They would murder him," Lessing, 88, told the Dagens Nyheter daily.
I can't discount the many crazies out there. I can't say it wouldn't happen. But we have come far in securing our Presidents. No one as been more hated than Bush from the left and he has been safe.
Let's hope to God that we can prevent this and not allow evil to intertwine itself into our political life.
It just keeps getting more interesting...
Obama wins in Nebraska and Washington.
Kansas goes to Huckabee, who must be polishing his McCain/Huckabee button about now, hoping for the best.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Obama, The Musical
You knew it would come to this.
The title of this MTV article? 'Barackula': Young Obama Battles Vampires In (Fictional) Forthcoming Online Musical"
Battling Vampires is fictional??? No!
...the political horror film by first-time director Mike Lawson (Bootleg Bandy from "American Pie Presents Band Camp," among other credits) uses Obama's own inspiring words as its source material.
Oh, Obama is a political horror film alright. But let's get back to the musical.
Only "Barackula — The Musical" uses them to tell the fictional story of a young Barack Obama fighting off vampires at his alma mater, Harvard Law School. Currently in post-production and slated to debut online within the next few weeks
Is it just me, or is this kind of insulting? I mean they were called blaxploitation horror films for a reason, right? Let's look at the original classic (1972)"Blacular."
Prince Mamuwalde (Blacular), the ruler of an African nation, seeks the help of Count Dracula in suppressing the slave trade back in the 1700's. It turns out that Dracula was a racist and imprisions Blacular in a sealed coffin. A few centuries go by and in 1972, the coffin is found as a part of an estate by two gay interior decorators, one black and one white. (I KID YOU NOT). They open the coffin and become Blacular's first victims. Blacular starts biting and killing everyone he can, but soon discovers a beautiful girl who looks to be the reincarnation of his deceased wife from a few centuries before. She happens to be one of the gay's sisters too. In the end she is killed and rather than face an eternity without her, Blacular kills himself by walking into the sun.
The metaphors of Blacular and Obama's political life is just stunning, don't you think? I mean, he comes alive after being in a political coffin forever. The coffin is opened by 2 liberals who are immediately the victims of his policies. He then roams the earth creating more victims of the welfare state. In the end, he is not asked by Hillary to be the VP, so he kills himself politically by becoming Republican.
Ok, well, maybe not. Maybe the plot of "Lust of Blackula," the porn version, might be more appropriate. Except it would be a metaphor of Obama and the media.
I'm done now. Heh.
via HotAir
Update: In related news, Barackluamainia just makes one swoon! Toss me a water bottle please!
Hillary at war with MSNBC??
TMP has this:
This is really something. The Hillary campaign has just gone to war with MSNBC, dispatching a top Hillary adviser to launch a lacerating attack on the network on a conference call with reporters moments ago.
On the call, top Hillary adviser Howard Wolfson suggested that there's a "pattern" of reprehensible comments by MSNBC personalities, and said outright that the Hillary campaign could no longer "envision a scenario where we would debate on that network given the comments that were made and have been made."
Wolfson made the comments in response to a question about a now-notorious comment by MSNBC's David Shustser, in which he asked if Chelsea's campaigning on her mom's behalf meant she was being "pimped" by the Hillary campaign...
.......
he concluded: "I'll say this. We've done a number of debates on that network...I at this point can't envision a scenario where we would debate on that network given the comments that were made and have been made."
That he would effectively rule out future debate appearances for the time being strongly suggests that the Hillary campaign discussed this in some detail beforehand and decided to launch this broadside against the network. It also suggests that the Hillary camp sees the potential for political gain in drawing media attention to negative and sexist comments made on MSNBC about her and her daughter.
Hmmm...so does this mean she is "pimping" the idea of MSNBC being sexist and negative in order to gain some sympathy? Well, sure.
Let me say this. Shustser is dispicable. I can't stand to watch him. He says something offensive almost daily. Should he have said that? No. But it is clearly not the kind of thing to go nuclear over. Hillary is using this to her advantage just as she did her tears.
Anyone who believes that Shuster is trying to insult Hillary because she is Hillary, doesn't know Shuster. He is an equal opportunity insulter.
Just as a reminder of other lovely things Shuster has said, He accused Romney "insanity" and referred to Bill O’Reilly as a "buffoon and a jerk." He also once compared Ron Paul to Al Qaeda.
Remember when Shuster, referring to the "Betrayus ad," ask Rep. Blackburn "When was the last time a New York Times ad ever killed somebody?" He then asked her to name the last soldier killed from her district, which she of course did not know off the top of her head, he proceeded to smugly give her the name. Ends up he was wrong on that soldier and had to apologize the next day.
So this slime ball has reputation for saying things out of line. But for this, he gets suspended.
Wow
From Political Wire:
The Washington Post's Paul Kane: "We've done a bad job of explaining this, but it is now basically mathematically impossible for either Clinton or Obama to win the nomination through the regular voting process (meaning the super-delegates decide this one, baby!).
Must add this perfectly delicious piece on Hillary by Peggy Noonan. She has it nailed.
Accepting McCain
It will take awhile for many to get on board the McCain train, I understand that. The lingering concern is captured pretty well by CQPolitics:
When McCain has been on the conservative side, as he has been on the vast majority of issues, he gives it full-throated support. He is not afraid of giving offense to appropriators when he sticks up for cutting spending, and he has not been shy about deriding Democrats who oppose the war in Iraq, to cite two potent examples.
But when he is with the Democrats, he is really with them. McCain is not someone who simply reaches across the aisle to form coalitions with the other side. He walks across the aisle, puts on the other team’s uniform and sings the other team’s fight song.
I have to agree here, but this is the thing. The American people, in general want that. Obama's big appeal (and it is big) is his rhetoric of unity. In Obama's case, it's all talk though. I don't know of one incident where Obama reached across the aisle for anything.
McCain does more than reach across the aisle. He makes friends with those over there. And this is not a bad thing. This will be one of the most persuasive attributes of McCain going into the general election.
Those of us on the right don't like compromise too much, but the American people in general like it.
He will win in November whether it's against Hillary,Obama, or both. Our warriors will finish thejob in Iraq. We will be victors not victims. Our taxes won't be raised, tax cuts will be made permanent, there will be tighter border security, strict constructionist judges will be appointed, and pork barrel spending will be banished, and we will be kept safe on our shores.
And that is enough to be grateful for right there.
via NRO
Update: I wanted to add this. It seems the DNC are already getting amunition stored to attack McCain:
Carter Eskew, a former adviser to Vice President Al Gore, puts it this way: "Go right after his strengths. Take the Straight Talk Express and push it off the rails."
I have a feeling that when that happens many will feel like they did about their little brother growing up. You just couldn't stand him, but if someone else picked on him, you stood up to the bully. It's one thing to be angry with your own little brother for messing up your room or stealing your candy, but some punk isn't going to push around a member your family while you have something to say about it.
When the Koskids start writing about how McCain deserved his torture in a POW camp, or Whoopi Goldberg makes snide sexual remarks about McCain not being able to raise his arms above his shoulders, I think all our anger will directed at those who deserve it.
In this case, the little brother can certainly take care of himself, but you will be there. I think you will.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
"Things McCain Can Do Now That Obama And Clinton Can’t"
Halperin at Time:
1. Raise and save money for the spring, summer, and general election.
2. Formulate and implement a general election and Electoral College strategy.
3. Get rest for the candidate and campaign staff.
4. Plan a boffo national convention.
5. Take charge of the national campaign committee and fix broken state parties.
6. Think through staffing and spending decisions without constant distractions or minute-by-minute attacks.
7. Rebuild bridges (and try to win over the doubters in his party now that they no longer have a viable alternative).
8. Control where he travels — including the swing states.
9. Do non-political media.
10. (Gingerly) move beyond his party’s base on some issues.
11. Use the Senate to burnish his image and get good press.
12. Travel overseas to heighten his foreign policy credentials.
13. Look and act presidential.
14. Charm independents without offending his base.
15. Spend the next months looking like a winner.
15. Start talking about 2009 in earnest.
17. Focus on uniting the Republican Party on his behalf (while Obama and Clinton force the Democratic Party to take sides).
18. Allocate resources for opposition research on Clinton and Obama.
19. Game out his short list for a running mate.
20. Read Alan Greenspan’s book.
John McCain at CPAC
Well, I think many of the rightwing pundits who suggested being silent or booing didn't quite work out the way they wanted. Lots of cheers.
McCain started out by trying to joke a bit about missing CPAC last year. He then complimented Romney on his campaign.
And then a nod to Reagan of course.
McCain went on to list his conservative accomplishments, which are many.
Some booed him on his line about not agreeing on many issues and he said "you won't let me forget it."
"Secure our borders first." He said it twice.
He got a few jeers. He handled them well though.
He then went on about fighting pork barrel spending. He promised no earmarks. None.
He said he will make the Bush tax cuts permanent. Cut corporate tax rates. Free market solutions.
He addressed the war on terror. I don't think anyone doubts his commitment there.
He said he will meet with conservative leaders and if he is convinced that his positions are in error, he will change them. That is an interesting thing to say, isn't it?
He ended with his love for country, which I don't think anyone can doubt for a moment. After all, how many of us have given up 5 years of our life in torture for our country?
McCain will serve this country well.
Romney is out
I just heard on Fox News.
Did you ever think at the beginning of this, or even last week, that Romney would be out and Huckabee would still be in??
This election year is just too strange for words.
Update: I just watched Mitt's speech. It was a terrific speech. It even made me think that Mitt would be a good VP pick.
So, McCain is it. There is no denying that. We rally as conservatives or we don't. The choice is ours.
I can't wait to hear McCain's speech at CPAC.
Hillary is in the fight of her life....
Despite my frustration with fellow conservatives over their continued anger at McCain, I am enjoying Hillary not getting the Democratic nomination handed to her.
Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama's campaign is forecasting that the Democratic presidential race will remain deadlocked after the primaries end, and the outcome may depend on a fight over whether delegations from Florida and Michigan are counted.
By the time the last primary is held June 7, Obama's advisers project he will have 1,806 delegates to 1,789 for New York Senator Hillary Clinton....
......
The forecast doesn't include Florida and Michigan, which were stripped of delegates by the Democratic National Committee for holding primaries ahead of the schedule set out by the party. Clinton, who won uncontested primaries in both states, is vowing a fight to have those delegates -- slated to be 366 in total -- seated at the nominating convention.
......
Another issue is the so-called super delegates, 796 Democratic officials and officeholders who aren't bound by the results of primaries and caucuses. Obama's campaign projects about half will be pledged to either the Illinois senator or Clinton, and the rest could swing the nomination.
I wonder how Hillary can get the Michigan and Florida delegates counted? Anyone know?
What are Super Delegates?
Super delegates are party leaders, members of Congress and other VIPs who get an automatic vote on the convention floor — one that they alone decide. For the first time since the Democrats set up the system, super delegates could hold the balance of power.
And if you don't think they are sitting in the catbird seat, get this: (emphasis mine)
Consider Colorado Democratic Party Chairwoman Pat Waak. Chelsea Clinton called her cell phone and her home, wanting to talk about her mom. Bill Clinton personally asked her to support his wife.
Oh, this is going to be good.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Suicide Voters
Oh dear Lord. That is what they are calling the Republican voters who are so enraged at the idea of McCain as the Republican nominee that they will pull the lever for Hillary (or Obama I suppose) when the time comes.
It's a good name for them. Because doing that is like committing democracy suicide.
Hugh Hewitt, a unabashed Romney supporter, explains 7 reasons why we must rally around whomever (McCain) the nominee is. Read them carefully.
As Kim at Wizbang points out the DNC is sending out e-mails warning of the true "rightwing" nature of McCain. It is a most surreal thing to have the DNC accuse McCain of being too conservative and the far right of the Republican party accuse him of not being conservative in the least.
Meanwhile Hillary loans herself some money to compete with Obama. The gushing love of the media for Obama is just beginning. I am convinced that Hillary will ask Obama to be the V.P. and every news magazine in the country will have their shining historic faces on the cover. By the year's end you will ask yourself who is the Republican nominee anyway.
It's going to be a long year. A very long year.
Who are these people?
pic from GOC
More stuff from the Berkeley/Marine recruitment insanity. In addition to allowing Code Pinkers special parking to facilitate their protests and write the word "assasination" (sic) in the military office window and place a banner of bloody handprints across the window, the council has this to be proud of:
Video of the council meeting showed city officials trashing the Marines as "the president's own gangsters" and "trained killers" who are known for "death and destruction and maiming." One of the council members complained that our men and women in uniform were responsible for "horrible karma." Mayor Tom Bates offered to "help" the Marines evacuate.
But Americans are fighting back:
The San Francisco-based Move America Forward, led by talk show host/conservative activist Melanie Morgan, launched an online petition protesting the city council measures. Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina moved to strip Berkeley of pork barrel spending worth $2 million.
The American Legion mobilized as well. National Commander Marty Conatser lambasted the votes: "The American Legion not only strongly condemns this action by the City Council but also believes that a sincere apology is in order to all Marines, past and present. What these recruiters do is essential to our national security. Without recruiters we have no military. And I don't think we can count on the flower children from Berkeley to protect this nation when it comes under attack. They have to remember that Marines are not the enemy; the terrorists are."
I'm thinking these council members should be dropped in the middle of Iran for about 3 months. Let them return to kiss the feet of our Marines. They will thank all the Karma on earth that they live in this country that is protected by our finest.
How did it go?
Delegates needed to win for Republicans: 1,191
McCain 570
Romney 251
Huckabee 175
Paul 14
Delegates needed to win for Democrats: 2,025
Clinton 744
Obama 679
via Fox News
The Clinton/Obama race is turning out to be as exciting as we thought it might. Obama won more states, but Clinton won more delegates (winning the big prize of California).
The Democrats look to Saturday in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state, Sunday in Maine, and Tuesday in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
The Republicans look to Saturday in Kansas, Louisiana, and Washington.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Facebook stuff
I was looking at political stuff on Facebook and they asked "Regardless of whether you would vote for him/her, do you think (insert candidate's name) would be a good or bad President?"
Geeze. Look at the results.
43% think Obama would be very good.
43% think Romney would be very bad. (What is up with that??)
44% think that Hillary would be very bad.
36% think McCain would be good, with 13% saying very good.
54% think Huckabee would be very bad.
It's mostly young people I suppose, but still strange.
Rush endorses Romney
Too little, too late, I'm afraid.
Let's face it. The time to rally around one conservative for those who dislike McCain is long gone.
Ingraham, Hannity, Coulter, Rush, and Beck all had plenty of platform and plenty of time.
McCain is far from perfect. I understand why all the rightwing pundits are having temper tantrums, but to pretend that Romney doesn't have his host of faults is silly.
We political junkies always make the mistake of thinking that the voters know every detail that we know. When the fact is they get a general overview and that is usually presented by the mainstream media.
Republicans want a strong leader. Some are deeply worried about illegal immigration and hear McCain say he will seal the borders. That is enough for them. Most of them don't even know what McCain/Feingold is.
They see McCain and they see pro-life, anti-spending, pro-growth, pro-tax cut war hero.
And they are right on all counts.
And anyone who says that it would be better to have a President Hillary for four years to show the country how much they really need a conservative is just crazy on every level of crazy. We have liberal Supreme Court judges all in their 70's just waiting for Hillary. We have our soldiers in Iraq who really don't want any freakin' lesson taught to Republicans. They want to finish the job they went to do. That won't happen under President Hillary and it's an insult to those who gave their lives to play politics right now.
I don't care who endorses who. I don't care who Rush wants to win. If the nominee is Romney, then we all get behind him.
If the nominee is McCain. Then we need to do that too.
Surreal Day
Between watching Ann Coulter on Fox News a moment ago touting how she will campaign and vote for Hillary before voting for McCain and reading idiotic posts on otherwise enjoyable sites, I'm beginning to feel better about supporting McCain.
I mean, it bothers me when people I respect tell me why I shouldn't vote for McCain. But when people like Ann Coulter and Republicans who vote for Obama start to squeal like pigs and seem to have no rational thought left, then I figure I'm on the right side of where I need to be.
Come back later today and chat in my chat room!
Letter to Rush
Here is the letter that Bob Dole sent to Rush. In it he makes the case for McCain:
I was the Republican Leader from January 1985 until I left the Senate voluntarily in June 1996. I worked closely with Senator McCain when he came to the Senate in 1987 until I departed. I cannot recall a single instance when he did not support the Party on critical votes.
(At my age, I cannot be entirely certain but here are a few key conservative examples:)
1. Consistent pro-life record
2. Strong advocate for strict constructionist judges (We were misled on the Souter nomination)
3. Supported voluntary school prayer
4. Supported Constitutional Amendment for a Balanced Budget (needed two-thirds and lost by one vote - 66-34)
5. Strong advocate for reducing spending and opposing pork barrel “ear marks” which has, I might add, angered some of his colleagues
6. Consistent on defending Second Amendment rights
7. Opposed “Hillary Care” which would have been devastating
8. Probably the Senate’s strongest advocate for strong national defense.
He also lists the issues that he disagrees with McCain.
The time is almost upon Republicans where all who disagree with McCain will have to accept him or step out of the process. Today will be the day that either Romney makes enough gains to stop McCain or McCain becomes, for all intent and purposes, our nominee.
Monday, February 04, 2008
In case you were wondering if Huckabee is keeping Mitt from surging....
ummm...No.
All of the three major national polls taken in the last three days (Fox News, ABC/Washington Post and Gallup) show that even if every single voter who backs Huckabee, switched to Romney (an impossibility, of course), McCain still wins across the country. The numbers, if you’re interested, of McCain supporters vs. the combined total of Romney and Huckabee supporters --- 48 to 39% (Fox News), 48 to 40% (ABC News/Washington Post) and 43 to 42% (Gallup). Meanwhile, all indications are that for many of the Huck-a-nuts—perhaps even a majority – their second choice would be McCain, not Romney.
Get ready for a big McCain victory tomorrow. Can we then get on with defeating the Democrats?
Vote For......
Every day I receive e-mails trashing Mitt Romney. I also receive e-mails to sites that prove all sorts of sordid things about John McCain.
A few weeks ago I got the e-mail that many of you may have gotten about Obama's middle name being "Mohammad" and that he had been sworn in on a Koran. Neither is true, of course. Obama's middle name is Hussein and it was Keith Ellison, a Democrat Congressman who is a Muslim and was sworn in on a Koran.
I don't ever post the slams against Romney, although they are legitimate slams based on his record. I don't post about them because I feel it is more important to emphasize why you should vote for someone, instead of why you shouldn't. But it has been interesting to read all the issues that so many are angry with McCain about, seem to be ignored when it comes to Romney.
I also don't want to be a part of spreading stories that may not be true. I'm not perfect there, but I try. These are people's lives we are dealing with here. Even with Hillary, who I find so dangerous, I don't write about the rumors we have all heard. The truth is bad enough for me.
We are looking at Super Tuesday tomorrow. Things aren't looking too great for Mitt. Perhaps it's time for all the rightwing blogs to stop trashing McCain on a daily basis and start backing the one who can beat Hillary. At least it will be time after tomorrow.
I will have a chat room open here tomorrow for anyone who wants to come and go and chat and tell us how things are where you are.
Stop by!
I would also like to hear from you if something you read here may have changed your mind about McCain or at least made you re-consider him.
"A Conservative's Case For McCain"
I've made the case many times, but Jeff Jacoby of the Boston Globe reminds us of Reagan's not so conservative past (remember Reagan granted amnesty to millions of illegals for example) and that in the many things that are important and dear to us, McCain comes through for us:
On the surpassing national-security issues of the day - confronting the threat from radical Islam and winning the war in Iraq - no one is more stalwart. Even McCain's fiercest critics, such as conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, will say so. "The world's bad guys," Hewitt writes, "would never for a moment think he would blink in any showdown, or hesitate to strike back at any enemy with the audacity to try again to cripple the US through terror."
McCain was never an agenda-driven movement conservative, but he "entered public life as a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution," as he puts it, and on the whole his record has been that of a robust and committed conservative. He is a spending hawk and an enemy of pork and earmarks. He has never voted to increase taxes, and wants the Bush tax cuts made permanent for the best of reasons: "They worked." He is a staunch free-trader and a champion of school choice. He is unabashedly prolife and pro-Second Amendment. He opposes same-sex marriage. He wants entitlements reined in and personal retirement accounts expanded.
McCain's conservatism has usually been more a matter of gut instinct than of a rigorous intellectual worldview, and he has certainly deviated from Republican orthodoxy on some serious issues. For all that, his ratings from conservative watchdog groups have always been high. "Even with all the blemishes," notes National Review, a leading journal on the right (and a backer of Romney), "McCain has a more consistent conservative record than Giuliani or Romney. . . . This is an abiding strength of his candidacy."
This is what I have come to believe. Once the nominees are chosen, once we see clearly the difference in our candidate and the Democrats, I don't believe for one second that so many Republicans who are angry about McCain, will be able to sit home on election day.
Oh, it is easy to say that now. But once it becomes clear the horror that would be a Hillary or Obama presidency, when we understand our warrior's sacrifices will be for nothing if the Democrats capture the Presidency, when we understand how much our military strength matters and how it would be reduced under a Democrat, when we start to focus on what could be yet another bloated bureaucratic government program of health care that will drive down the quality of care for everyone (because when has the govt ever increased the quality and reduced the cost of anything?), when we see all that could be lost here, I don't believe for one second that Republicans will stay home. They will either vote for McCain or they will vote against Hillary/Obama.
Horror will overcome anger.
Obama mania
Maria Shriver endorses Obama.
I just get the feeling the Kennedys really don't like Hillary.
I keep hearing that the reporters covering Obama can't help but gush over him. I think I believe it:
Obama crowds of late are breathtakingly large, enthusiastic. The candidate is often speaking to a massive overflow crowd of people from a bullhorn. The standard crowd size now numbers in the several thousands. Covering him, it almost feels like that magically unreal time in the few days leading up to his Iowa win....
Hmm.... Every time I get my hopes up that Obama might beat Hillary, I look at the poll numbers.
I've always said that Obama should focus on not returning our country to the Clinton years. He got a good jab in last week:
This past week, he said voters should resist the temptation to build "a bridge back to the 20th century". It was a way of arguing against another Clinton presidency. (The phrase was a play on Bill Clinton's line about building a bridge to the 21st century.)
Good one.
Hillary has a problem. The usual gutter tactics that have worked for the Clintons in the past, are not working now. They tried the subtle race baiting in South Carolina and it backfired on them. They must tread lightly with Obama and they know it. But if they tread lightly then Obama doesn't take any serious hits.
I heard a reporter on Fox News yesterday say that that the Clintons are keeping reporters far from Bill Clinton at speaking events. They are not even letting them within shouting distance. An interesting shut down.
I think we all know how Super Tuesday will turn out for Republicans, but the Democratic race will be the one to watch. Will Obamamania stop the political machine of the Clintons?
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Sunday Thoughts
I'm having a Superbowl party so I have stuff to do (and no, I don't care who wins) but I saw some things on the morning shows I wanted to comment on.
I saw Obama say that there is a time when it is too late and the hour is upon them now. He is completely right there. Super Tuesday will determine it for Obama. It will also say a lot about the future of the Democratic party.
I thought before that Hillary would never ask Obama to be her running mate because she doesn't want someone who would outshine her, but now I think she absolutely will. Nothing means more to her than this Presidency. She charted this road long ago and no one is going to take it from her. If that means asking Obama, she will.
I saw George Clooney on Fox News this morning saying that this is an historic moment. He said "We have a black, a woman, a Mormon, and a senior citizen running for President." An obvious jab at McCain. I suppose one could also say we have a "former druggie, a former first Lady, a Mormon, and a war hero" running for President. It's all in your perspective, isn't it George?
Finally, if you have't been keeping up with the Berkely fiasco, Berkeley City Council’s is trying to get rid of Marine recruitment centers and even went so far as to grant Code Pink special parking privileges and free sound permits to protest the Marine recruiting center.
In other words, the Council has lost it's mind. Code Pinkers go beyond protesting. They are beyond radical. They are shameful and disgraceful and the idea that they can dictate such a thing proves how far off the deep end Berkeley is.
The American Legion and Sen. Jim DeMint put it well:
“This is a slap in the face to all brave service men and women and their families. The First Amendment gives the City of Berkeley the right to be idiotic, but from now on they should do it with their own money. If the city can’t show respect for the Marines that have fought, bled and died for their freedom, Berkeley should not be receiving special taxpayer funded handouts. I am currently drafting legislation to ensure that American taxpayers aren’t forced to pay for this insult by rescinding all of the earmarks for Berkeley in the Omnibus Appropriations bill, and to transfer the funds to the Marine Corps.”
Also, I think I may have a chat room open here all day on Tuesday. You can come and go as you like.