Category: Politics

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Iowa Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich Politics Republican Rick Santorum

Republican Debate – To Romney’s Delight, The Losers Attacked Each Other

With the Iowa primaries over and Mitt Romney crowned the winner by an apparent technicality, the expectation was that his fellow competitors would use whatever avenue they had available to show why they are more deserving of the Republican nomination. That perfect avenue presented itself last night in yet another Republican debate, but the other five Iowa primary losers on stage were more satisfied with fighting each other, instead of distinguishing themselves from Willard.

The former Massachusetts governor was subject to the first attack of the night but that early fire was quickly overshadowed by testy exchanges between Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich.

It’s been more than three weeks since the Republican presidential candidates have been on stage together. The last time they gathered,

Gingrich led in the polls and Michele Bachmann was still in the race.

It was a different scenario at Saturday night’s debate, sponsored by ABC News and Yahoo News.

Romney, who virtually tied Santorum in the Iowa caucuses and holds a double-digit lead in the New Hampshire polls, was expected to be a target.

He wasn’t.

There was one early attack.

Meanwhile, Romney stood idle by with a smile on his face.

How dumb was this strategy to attack each other instead of the leader? After the debate, one of ABC’s political analysis observed that Ron Paul was on the attack – going after Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich – but did not lay one finger on the leader Mitt Willard Romney. This insight led to the conclusion that Paul was like a puppet on a string. “I’m sure if you rip open Paul’s shirt,” he said, “you’ll see one of Mitt’s sons at the control.”

If you are trying to win your party’s nomination, but are too scared to use a debate to point out Romney’s non-existent record, then you have no business running for the most powerful office in the nation.

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Politics weekly address

President’s Weekly Address – Bring The Jobs Back Home

In his weekly address, President Obama had a message for the business committee – bring the jobs back home.

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Iowa Iowa caucuses Mitt Romney Politics Republican Rick Santorum

Did Mitt Romney Get 20 Extra Iowa Votes He Didn’t Earn?

One of the actual vote counters in Iowa’s Republican primary election last Tuesday has come forward, arguing that Mitt Romney got an extra 20 votes he wasn’t supposed to get.

Edward True, 28, of Moulton, said he helped count the votes and jotted the results down on a piece of paper to post to his Facebook page. He said when he checked to make sure the Republican Party of Iowa got the count right, he said he was shocked to find they hadn’t.

“When Mitt Romney won Iowa by eight votes and I’ve got a 20-vote discrepancy here, that right there says Rick Santorum won Iowa,” True said. “Not Mitt Romney.”

True said at his 53-person caucus at the Garrett Memorial Library, Romney received two votes. According to the Iowa Republican Party’s website, True’s precinct cast 22 votes for Romney.

“This is huge,” True said. “It essentially changes who won.”

Romney was called the winner of the Iowa primary by 8 votes. If Mr. True is correct, it means that Rick Santorum won by 12 votes.

And the circus continues!

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Newt Gingrich Politics

No More Mr. Niceguy. Gingrich Attacks Willard

Mitt Willard Romney and his secret PACS have used every dirty trick in the book to go after his fellow Republican Presidential challengers. His challengers, on the other hand, have mostly concentrated on attacking each other rather than going after Willard.

Oh, how times have changed. Yesterday, Newt Gingrich suggested teaming up with Rick Santorum to defeat Willard, saying, “I don’t think Romney can get much above 25 percent.”

“You take [Rick] Perry, [Michele] Bachmann, Santorum, Gingrich, you get a sense of what a small percentage Romney really represents,” Gingrich said, including himself in the “conservative” field in contrast to Romney and Ron Paul. Paul, according to Gingrich, is “a different kind of person and I don’t know how you would characterize his votes.”

And now this – an ad from the Gingrich campaign, calling Romney “timid.”

Its on folks! Romney has awakened the sleeping dog that is Newt Gingrich. Question now is, just how bad will his bite be?

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Politics

Pro-Life…Mine.

 

In a televised interview with Cybercast News Service about year ago, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum challenged President  Obama over the concept of personhood in regards to the abortion issue, which the conservative candidate feels is not even a debatable issue being that he  favors a constitutional (read:government sanctioned) ban on abortion and implied that President Barack Obama should be pro-life also. Why?

Because he’s black.

“The question is — and this is what Barack Obama didn’t want to answer — is that human life a person under the Constitution? And Barack Obama says ‘no’ ”,  Santorum said in a televised interview. “Well if that person — human life is not a person — then I find it almost remarkable for a black man to say, ‘we’re going to decide who are people and who are not people.”

What is frightening fact that Rick Santorum is practically tied for first place in the republican presidential contest after the Iowa caucus. In the interview, he actually attempts to bring up an intellectual and philosophical stance that compares the claim that a fetus should be called a person

to that of a black person’s right to be declared as such. As if a black person’s  rights as a human being should be – or should have ever been for that matter – questionable in this country.

And if I were to stick with his playing of the race card, then can it be said that a white person would be more likely to be pro-choice because there has never been an issue about his humanity in this country?

Yeah–sounds stupid, doesn’t it?

As a so called Christian-neoconservative whose general stance on most of the important issues of the day are anti-science, anti-revelation, anti-philosophical,  anti-progressive, etc., it would be a waste of time to get into any type of  constructive debate with the likes of a Mr. Santorum. I will, however, like to assure him and others who think like him, that they have as much right in determining what a women does with her uterus as they do determining what a man does with his penis.

 

And for your viewing pleasure: Check out Rachel Maddow’s  “vetting” of the  ‘Almighty Santorum’ on her show this  evening. Once Rachel’s findings make their way into the hands of his opponents, I think the “family values guy ” of the GOP will go the way of Trump, Sarah, Michele, Perry, Herman, and Newt. Mitt Romney will relieve the final endorsement and we can finally get this show on the road. Bring it on, indeed!

 

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Barack Obama Politics Republican Senate United States washington

President Overrides Republican Obstructionism – The Richard Cordray Appointment

President Obama today did what Republicans in Congress refused to do simply because of their political ideology. He bypassed the broken system in Washington and installed Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Protection Agency.

“When Congress refuses to act, and as a result, hurts our economy and puts our people at risk, then I have an obligation as President to do what I can without them,” the President stated  as he addressed his supporters in Shaker Heights, Ohio. “I’ve got an obligation to act on behalf of the American people. And I’m not going to stand by while a minority in the Senate puts party ideology ahead of the people that we were elected to serve.”

Congressional Republicans’ refusal to even schedule hearings on Mr. Cordray’s appointment falls in line with their obvious hypocrisy as the Consumer Protection Agency is all about protecting consumers and that is something Republicans will not do. The President said it best today, “The only reason Republicans in the Senate have blocked Richard is because they don’t agree with the law that set up a consumer watchdog in the first place.”

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Iowa Politics presidential Republican White House

The Crazy Bachmann Antics Are Now Suspended… Until Further Notice

If last night was any indication, we already knew Michele Bachmann was gonna quit. In her concession speech – after pulling in only 5% of the primary votes in Iowa – Bachmann, the senator from Minnesota who was actively pursuing the presidency, told her handful of supporters that she “was not a politician.”

“I am a very real person,” Bachmann said, “I am not a politician, nor do I ever hoped or aspire to be a politician.”

Okaaaaaaay.

Bachmann then went on to tell her audience that her campaign will continue, and that her hopes were to win the New Hampshire primaries next Tuesday.

But something happened after the microphones were turned off; after the camera crew packed up and left, wondering how they got stuck with the assignment of covering a loosing politician; after her supporters went home disappointed at squandering their precious votes. That ‘something’ was that  Bachmann checked her campaign purse and realized that all her campaign donations were spent. And the reality of the situation was a hard smack  to the face.

So, the camera crews gathered one last time, the microphone turned back on and today, sometime after 11am, Michele Bachmann stepped up to the podium;

“Last night the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice and so I have decided to stand aside…I will continue fighting to defeat the president’s agenda of socialism.”

We are saddened by Michele Bachmann’s departure from the Republican presidential race. She was crazy and her antics will be sorely missed.

For instance, like the time she reported that the swine flu epidemic in the 1970’s was caused by a Democratic president, Jimmy Carter, being in the White House, when in fact, a Republican named Gerald Ford was President.

And although there are still plenty of loonies running for the Republican nomination, Bachmann was truly one of the best.

Bye-bye Michele!

>

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Politics Republican

Bachmann Schedules Press Conference To Make Announcement

Is it time to sing “Hit the road Jack…?”

News from the Associated Press

Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has cancelled her South Carolina trip and will hold a press conference at 11AM ET according to NBC News.

This is in addition to Rick Perry cancelling SC events and flying back to Texas to reassess his future.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the Iowa caucuses Tuesday night by eight votes. Romney narrowly edged out former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

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Election results Iowa Mitt Romney Politics Republican

Post-Caucus Cigarette: What The Results in Iowa Mean

Was Iowa good for you? All that talk about three-way ties must have made conservatives across the political spectrum very uncomfortable. So let’s tidy up a bit.

Here’s what I thought would happen, and what actually happened:

Romney     26%          24.6%

Santorum  24%         24.5%

Paul            21%          21.4%

Gingrich    15%        13.3%

Perry          8%        10.3%

Bachmann   5%         5.0%

Not bad, I think.

Obviously, it was a terrible night for Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann who now have to be considered the first casualties of the race. Perry has the money to carry on and could find some sympathy in South Carolina and Florida, but he’ll struggle to get any positive press out of Iowa. Better he should keep his money and spend it on a Senate race. Newt also underperformed and needs a great showing in the next three states to remain viable. Ron Paul did about as well as can be expected, but he’s just not going to be the nominee. Did he gain influence in the party? Yes. Let’s see what that actually gets him.

Rick Santorum is the big winner here and with debates this weekend he has the chance to capitalize on the momentum. He’d better make sure that he’s prepared to defend himself because Mitt, Newt and Ron Paul are going to throw everything at him. If he does well he could place, after Mitt, in New Hampshire and set himself up for a better showing in the southern states. If he falters under the pressure, he’s probably toast. Right now I would say that he’s the best hope for the Tea Party and religious conservatives. And sweater vest manufacturers (who I hope are in the USA).

And Mitt? If he had kept his mouth shut on Monday and Tuesday about his chances of winning, he could have feigned surprise at his good showing. Since he set expectations higher, though, his performance has to be seen as underwhelming. He’ll win New Hampshire next week, but now it has to be more than a solid win. Anything under 40% is a Pyrrhic victory. He also has to keep his composure during the debates and not come off as screechy or too aggressive. That would be seen as desperate.

So now it’s on to the Granite State where global warming is killing the skiing industry. Move along citizens; nothing to see here.

For more, go to www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives

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Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich Planned Parenthood Politics

Newt Gingrich To Mitt Romney – Liar Liar Pants On Fire

The only time in Newt Gingrich’s political career that he decided to go clean and not destroy his opponents with negative ads caused Gingrich to be demolished by negative ads against him. In the month of December, Gingrich went from leading the Republicans with 26% to barely polling ahead of Rick Perry with only 13% of the Republican voters.

After trying to walk the straight and narrow path, Gingrich today showed a glimpse of how he built his political career – through being down-right nasty, calling Willard Romney a liar!

Tired, frustrated and irritated, by his own account, Mr. Gingrich heartily agreed when a television interviewer asked him Tuesday if he was calling Mr. Romney a “liar” in claiming to be a conservative.

“Here’s a Massachusetts moderate,” Mr. Gingrich said, whose “Romneycare” health plan when Mr. Romney was governor of Massachusetts included taxpayer-paid abortions and put a Planned Parenthood official on a state health  board — red-cape issues for social conservatives.

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Iowa Politics Republican Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Advice To Michele Bachmann And Jon Huntsman – Quit

The quitter from Alaska has some strong advice for Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman – quit!

Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Mrs Palin said about Bachmann: “She has a lot to offer, also, but I don’t think it is her time this go-around.”

After those words of wisdom, Sarah Palin also had  this to say;

And I believe that unless she, too, wants to spend her own money or borrowing money and perhaps go into debt, which – heaven forbid – you do that to your family?’

When you’ve figured that one out, please explain it to me.

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Iowa Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich Politics Rick Santorum

Presidential Polling Report: Special Iowa Edition

And you thought the holidays were over. Having the Iowa caucuses so soon after the new year is a great gift for political junkies and opens what should be an expensive, long, important and uniquely-American national election season. That Iowa and New Hampshire take all of the attention so early is an unfortunate quirk of the system and will provide us with untimely candidate exits and lots of wasted money.

If you’re new to the process, or just can’t believe this is how we elect our president, here’s how the Iowa caucuses work.

And now onto the analysis and predictions.

The poll that everyone is talking about was released on Saturday: The Des Moines Register’s poll of likely caucus attendees.

The poll, conducted Tuesday through Friday, shows support at 24 percent for Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts; 22 percent for Paul, a Texas congressman; and 15 percent for the surging Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.

But the four-day results don’t reflect just how quickly momentum is shifting in a race that has remained highly fluid for months. If the final two days of polling are considered separately, Santorum rises to second place, with 21 percent, pushing Paul to third, at 18 percent. Romney remains the same, at 24 percent.

“Momentum’s name is Rick Santorum,” said the Register’s pollster, J. Ann Selzer.
Another sign of the race’s volatility: 41 percent of likely caucusgoers say they could still be persuaded to change their minds.

Rounding out the field, in results from the full, four-day poll: former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 12 percent, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, 11 percent, and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, 7 percent.  

Based on the results of this poll, one scenario stands out to me. If Romney wins, it gives him great momentum heading into New Hampshire one week from today. Assuming he wins that, we could see full carnage among the challengers. Bachmann will either drop out of the race or her supporters will go to another conservative candidate, probably Santorum if he comes in second in Iowa. A fifth place finish for Perry would also lead many of his supporters to Santorum. Jon Huntsman will also leave after losing in New Hampshire, with his supporters moving to Romney and perhaps Gingrich. In any event, a conservative will emerge as the main challenger to Romney. That will become the main story through South Carolina and Florida later in January. If it’s Santorum, it will represent one of the great come-from-behinds in a long while.

It’s hard to say that a Santorum win immediately sets him up as Romney’s most viable main challenger. He’ll need to quickly establish a presence in South Carolina and Florida, which takes money and ground game, and he doesn’t seem to have much of either. He can, as can Gingrich or Paul if they place highly in Iowa, bypass New Hampshire or at least pass it off as Romney’s backyard and focus on the states where there are more social conservatives. Gingrich could spend more time in New Hampshire and claim a moral victory. I’m not putting much faith in a Paul victory after Iowa.

The 41% of Iowans who could change their mind are the wild cards in this race. If they decide that Romney is most electable, he’ll win a resounding victory and the race will be all but over. If they stay with one or two of the conservatives, then the race gets more interesting and probably lasts a bit longer. A stronger Gingrich showing than fourth makes him the main competition, but I don’t see it. Mainly because the thought frightens me a bit. Nothing scientific about that.

A PPP poll released on Monday shows

Ron Paul at 20 percent, Mitt Romney at 19 percent and Rick Santorum at 18 percent on a survey for which PPP reports a margin of error for each candidate of +/- 2.7 percent. Running farther back are Newt Gingrich at 14 percent, Rick Perry at 10 percent, Michele Bachmann at 8 percent, Jon Huntsman at 4 percent and Buddy Roemer at 2 percent. PPP interviewed 1,340 likely Republican caucus goers on December 31 and January 1.

Santorum again seems to be the recipient of a late surge and is the second choice of 14% of respondents, the highest of any of the candidates. His personal approval rating of 60% is twice his disapproval rating. heady stuff for someone who lost their last election.

The rest of the polling can be seen at RealClearPolitics.com

Both NBC and the Rasmussen poll have Romney, Paul and Santorum in that order, which supports the Register poll from the weekend.

And here’s a nice chart from Polls and Votes

My pick for the results are as follows:

Romney 26%

Santorum 24%

Paul 21%

Gingrich 15%

Perry 8%

Bachmann 5%

It’s always more fun when you stick your neck out (like Louis XVI and his lovely wife Marie), so make your prediction in the comments section. Remember that in order to complain about the process, you have to commit to it.

As always, you can follow the action here and at www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives

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