Tag: Tim Pawlenty

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Mitt Romney Politics Rick Santorum

Michele Bachmann Wins Ames Straw Poll

The Ames Straw poll is not really important as far as the big picture of running for President is concerened, but Conservatives put a lot of emphasis on the event. Republican presidential candidates spent millions trying to influence a majority of Iowans who attended the carnival-like event.

This year, Tim Pawlenty effectively said that if he didn’t get a decent position in the poll, he will have to reconsider his candidacy for president. Well, the straw poll went public a short while ago, and Pawlenty came in 3rd with 2,293 votes. Second was Ron Paul with 4671 votes and Michele Bachmann came in 1st with 4,823 votes.

Even Rick Perry, who announced his candidacy for the Presidency earlier today, received some votes in the straw poll. Perry, although his name was not on the ballot, came in 6th with 718 votes. Mitt Romney, whose name was on the ballot, was beaten by Perry. Romney came in 7th, with 567 votes.

Rick Santorum came in 4th behind Tim Pawlenty, and rounding out the top 5 was Herman Cain.

Conservatives look to the winner of the straw poll as a good indication of who they should donate to, so candidates placing in the first 2 or 3 spots are usually in a good position to get more contributions. All eyes now look towards Rick Santorum and Herman Cain, and the expectation is that one or both these campaigns would be coming to an end.

Although Mitt Romney came in 7th, his campaign is expected to continue. Romney is leading in the general polls among Republicans.

An afterthought: expect Newt Gingrich to fall by the wayside soon.

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Chris Wallace Newt Gingrich Politics Rick Santorum

Bachmann Slams Pawlenty In Iowa Debate

Unlike the last two Republican love fests, last night’s debate actually felt like a real competition. The Republican contestants tried separating themselves from each other and questioned the decision making or lack thereof of their rivals.

Ron Paul and Rick Santorum briefly engaged in their little match when foreign policies and America’s role in other nations were involved. Between these two, Iran’s attempt to acquire nuclear weapons was a hot topic, with Paul suggesting that a nuclear Iran poses no threat to America, therefore, they should be left alone to do what they believe is in their best interest. Santorum took opposition to this, and the heated battle was on.

Then Newt Gingrich took offense at Chris Wallace asking him questions about his campaign and statements he had made in the past. Apparently, Gingrich believes his decision to run for President means questions about his political history,  public statements or past actions that he should accountable for, should be off limits.

Chris Wallace: “How do you respond to people who say that your campaign has been a mess so far?”

Newt Gingrich: “I took seriously Bret’s injunction to put aside the talking points,” he said, referring to a request Wallace’s co-host Bret Baier had made at the start of the debate. Newt continued, “And I wish you would put aside the gotcha questions…I’d love to see the rest of tonight’s debate asking us about what we would do to lead America…instead of playing Mickey Mouse games.”

Chris Wallace:  “If you think questions about your record are Mickey Mouse, I’m sorry. I think those are questions that a lot of people want to hear answers to and you’re responsible for your record, sir.”

Newt Gingrich: “I think that there’s too much attention paid by the press corps to the campaign minutiae and not enough paid by the press corps to the basic ideas that distinguish us from Barack Obama.”

The audience cheered.

But the most interesting part of the debate in my view, happened between Tim Pawlenty and Michelle Bachmann. Being in next to last place in his presidential campaign, Mr. Pawlenty felt the need to make up some ground. He also didn’t want to miss another opportunity to separate himself from the bunch, as he did in the last debate when he was asked to explain a statement he previously made, in which he called Mitt Romney’s health care plan in Massachusetts, Obamny Care – combining both Obama and Romney’s name together to say their healthcare policies are the same.

So when he was asked to explain a statement he made about Michele Bachmann and her lack of accomplishments in Congress,  Mr. Pawlenty took the opportunity and went on attack mode. Unfortunately for him, Bachmann was already sitting in the bushes with her sniper gear on, staring down the scope of her rifle. In her view, the unsuspecting Pawlenty.

Bang!!!

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Politics Republican

Michele Bachmann – All Talk And No Action

Michele Bachmann told a crowd at a political rally in Iowa on Saturday, that she is not a talker, but a doer. This was apparently her response to Tim Pawlenty’s claim that she hasn’t done anything since being elected to congress.

Here are the two sides: Michele Bachmann

 ‘I pledge to you, I’m not a talker. I’m a doer,’ she said, in what seemed to be a response to rival GOP presidential contender Tim Pawlenty’s recent hints that Iowans shouldn’t let themselves be mesmerized by her soaring rhetoric.

Asked what he thought about Bachmann’s candidacy for President: Tim Pawlenty

 “I like Con­gress­woman Bach­mann, I’ve cam­paigned for her, I respect her,” said Paw­lenty on the pro­gram. “But her record of accom­plish­ment in Con­gress is nonex­is­tent. It’s nonex­is­tent. And so we’re not look­ing for folks who, you know, just have speech capa­bil­i­ties, we’re look­ing for peo­ple who can lead a large enter­prise in a pub­lic set­ting and drive it to con­clu­sion. I’ve done that, she hasn’t.”

Here’s the facts: Politico’s Research

Now in her third House term, Bachmann has never had a bill or resolution she’s sponsored signed into law, and she’s never wielded a committee gavel, either at the full or subcommittee level. Bachmann’s amendments and bills have rarely been considered by any committee, even with the House under GOP control. In a chamber that rewards substantive policy work and insider maneuvering, Bachmann has shunned the inside game, choosing to be more of a bomb thrower than a legislator.

My take: – the record is clear, the facts are indisputable. Michele Bachmann is all talk, no action.

 

Categories
Iowa Mitt Romney Politics Republican

Tim Pawlenty Beats Up On Michele Bachmann…Side-steps Question About Romeny

One of the characteristics that describe Republican 2012 Presidential contender Tim Pawlenty among his fellow Republicans is timid. Some would even call him soft, so it was no surprise when he was given the chance today on Meet The Press to criticize his fellow Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, Pawlenty again side-stepped the question. But when the question turned to Michele Bachmann, Pawlenty didn’t bite his tongue, stating that the female Republican contender don’t have a record to stand on.

When host, David Gregory asked Pawlenty about Mitt Romney’s health care policies, the question was a straight forward one. “Are you saying he [Romney] cannot be the nominee, unelectable as, as the nominee of the party, because of his position on health care?”

Question: Can Romney be the Republican nominee? Is Romney unelectable? The answer should have been simple – yes he can be the nominee, or no, he cannot!

Instead, the softness of Pawlenty went on full display.

GOV. PAWLENTY: I think if you’re going to prosecute the political case against President Obama and one of the top three or four issues is going to be the direction of the country in health care, it’s going to be very difficult for our nominee to be one of the co-conspirators or co- designers of that.

MR. GREGORY: I know that’s the argument. I’m asking you what your conclusion is.

GOV. PAWLENTY: It’s going to be very difficult for him to be successful with that on his record.

MR. GREGORY: In other words, he can’t be the nominee if he’s got this background?

GOV. PAWLENTY: I think as we — it’s going to be difficult for him to beat the president with that on his record. And, you know, his record is beyond just health care. It’s also a question of how did he do on judicial appointments? Where did we stand on bail outs? So all of us are going to have to account for our record. I’ve got a record. Governor Romney’s got a record. All the other candidates have record. I’ve got the best conservative record in the race.

The question was left unanswered.

Then the question turned to the only female in the race so far, Michele Bachmann. Pawlenty was asked what he thought about Bachmann’s candidacy and to distinguish himself from Mrs. Bachmann. Another simple question and amazingly, Pawlenty had a simple answer.

 “I like Congresswoman Bachmann, I’ve campaigned for her, I respect her,” said Pawlenty on the program. “But her record of accomplishment in Congress is nonexistent. It’s nonexistent. And so we’re not looking for folks who, you know, just have speech capabilities, we’re looking for people who can lead a large enterprise in a public setting and drive it to conclusion. I’ve done that, she hasn’t.”

Although I agree with Pawlenty and the facts back up his statement that Michele Bachmann have no accomplishments in Congress, one can only wonder why when the question is asked about a male he chooses not to participate in pointing out that opponent’s deficiencies. But ask about his female opponent, and Pawlenty suddenly had a lot to say.

I actually looked up the meaning of “soft” in the dictionary, and no, Pawlenty’s picture was not there, but it’s still early. Give it some time…!

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Barack Obama Mitt Romney Politics Republican Sarah Palin United States

Warning! – A President Palin Is Just As Scary As This… Pic

It is definitely a scary thought, to have a President Sarah Palin. Come to think of it, a President Michele Bachmann or President Mitt Romney will not that appetizing either. We can only hope that the person depicted in the photo below stays far… very far… away from Washington DC.

Thanks to the ever so vigilant surfing methods of some of the members of EzKool, this photo was sent in by our own, April Diaz!

Thanks April!


 

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Newt Gingrich Politics

Obama Kicked Off Stage For Dissing Republicans – Video

LOL! – Okay, okay… It wasn’t really President Obama, but he was a very good impersonator. His name is Reggie Brown, and he appeared at a Republican organized event, where bashing the President was on the menu. Republicans in the audience laughed at the sight of the president look-alike criticizing Barack Obama, but when Reggie turned the tables on the 2012 Republican presidential contenders, organizers quickly kicked Brown off stage.

Video below. 🙂

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Barack Obama CNN Mitt Romney Politics Republican Party (United States)

Tim Pawlenty Is No Punk, Just Don’t Tell Romney!

Tim Pawlenty showed his punkass side again. Last Sunday, Pawlenty went on Fox News and criticized his fellow Republican Mitt Romney and the health care bill Romney approved in Massachusetts. Funny thing is, when Pawlenty was given the opportunity to confront Romney at the CNN debate one day later, he punked out and showed the nation that he has no backbone.

Well that was then and this is now. Realizing that he crumbled while Romney was on stage with him, Pawlenty is trying to regain the ‘tough-guy’ front he never really had. So today, in the comforting confine of his own living room, and in front of his big bad computer, little Timmy went online and became ballsy tweeting to all who cared to listen, that he is once again willing to take on Romney.

After looking around the room and making sure Romney wasn’t there, Pawlenty took to twitter and tweeted the following;

But on CNN, and with Mitt Romney standing just a few feet away from him, Little Timmy emerged and the tough-guy persona he exhibited on Fox was gone.
Video below;

Categories
Politics Tax

Tim Pawlenty’s Policies Makes Bush Tax Cuts Look Liberal

Tim Pawlenty came out with his economic proposal, a financial calamity that would make the Bush Tax cuts look as if it was proposed by former Representative and ultra liberal Alan Grayson. Some of the numbers in the Pawlenty plan are:

  • Reducing the top individual income tax rate from 35% to 25%
  • Reducing the top Corporate tax rate from 25% to 15%
  • Completely eliminate capital gains taxes, taxes on dividends and interest, and the estate tax
  • Having just two income tax brackets, 10 percent and 25 percent

These drastic steps by Pawlenty are supposed to reduce the federal deficit, but according to the Tax Policy Center, the Congressional Budget Office and the IRS, even if all Pawlenty’s figures add up, revenue generated would be just 13.6 percent of GDP from 2013-2021, and equals a tax cut of $11 trillion over the same time. In comparison, the Bush’s tax cuts were three times smaller than what Pawlenty is proposing.

To put things into perspective, the nice folks at The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities did their research and came up with the following chart.

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Barack Obama CNN Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich Politics Republican United States

Republican Mice Played In Debate While Democratic Cat Was Away

Remember the old saying, ‘when the cat’s away, the mouse will play?’ Well last night’s Republican presidential “debate” showed seven, count ’em… seven mice running around the stage in New Hampshire, having a grand ole time. And with the cat – President Obama – out of town on a fundraising event, all seven mice took turns at attacking the cat, instead of showing the differences among themselves. After all, was it not a debate?

The lead mouse, Mitt Romney answered just about every question asked with the same answer: that President Obama “has failed to lead.” Mr. Romney, what is your answer to the economic crises we’re in right now? “Mr. Obama has failed to lead.” Mr. Romney, what will you do about jobs? “Mr. Obama has failed to lead.” Mr. Romney, what color is your tie? “Mr. Obama has failed to lead.” To be more exact, Romney said;

“This president has failed, and he’s failed at a time when the American people counted on him to create jobs and get the economy growing.”  Any one of the people on this stage would be a better president than President Obama.”

And the people, or other mice that Romney referred to? Rick Don’t Google His Name Santorom, Michele Don’t know American History Bachmann, Ron Against The Civil Rights Act Paul, Herman Pizza-man Cain, Tim Super Dork Pawlenty and Newt Flipp Flopper Gingrich. So there they were, seven mice running around the stage, each trying to prove that while the cat was away doing his fundraiser, they are more than capable of carrying the biggest piece of cheese.

The blame game continued.

Herman Cain, when asked what his administration would do to create jobs?  “The thing we need to do is to get this economy boosted. This economy is stalled. It’s like a train on the tracks with no engine. And the administration has simply been putting all of this money in the caboose.”

Rick Santorom, picking up where Herman Cain left off, chimed in with, “Yeah, I think we need a president who’s optimistic, who has a pro-growth agenda.”

Question for Tim Pawlenty – talk about your economic plan. Pawlenty’s answer? ” This president is a declinist. He views America as one of equals around the world.” Then Mitt Romney continued the love-fest… sorry, debate. “This president has failed. And he’s failed at a time when the American people counted on him to create jobs and get the economy growing. And instead of doing that, he delegated the stimulus to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and then he did what he wanted to do: card-check, cap-and-trade, Obamacare, reregulation.” Not to be left out in the cold, Newt Gingrich added, “The Obama administration is an anti-jobs, anti-business, anti- American energy destructive force.”

Ron Paul, asked by the moderator if there was anything nice he can say about the president, replied, “No, no, I can’t think of anything.”

But the biggest cheese carrier of the night has to go to Michele Bachmann, who, among other things, claimed that the Teaparty “is really made up of disaffected Democrats, independents, people who’ve never been political a day in their life.” Funny as that statement was, Bachmann opened her mouth again and this claim fell out, “we need everybody to come together because we’re going to win. Just make no mistake about it. I want to announce tonight. President Obama is a one-term president.”

Yes, Michele, we will take your word on that… just like we believed you when you claimed that the Founding Fathers “worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States.”

We won’t tell anyone the little truth that the Founders were all dead by the time slavery was abolished. Just our little secret Michele.

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Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich Politics Republican Rick Santorum Sarah Palin United States

Romney’s Mormon Religion of Little Concern To Voters

When Romney announced his desire to run for President back in 2008, one of his major flaws among the American voter was his Mormon beliefs. But that was then and this is now, and according to a new Quinnipiac poll, Americans will vote for anyone of any belief, as long as that person is not a Muslim. The poll released on June 8th, found that of the different Religions, Americans are more comfortable with a Catholic president at 60%, than they are with a Muslim at 21%. Mormons are just below Christians, getting a 43% vote. The poll also finds, that among Republican voters, Romney is in the lead with 25 percent, followed by Sarah Palin at 15 percent.  The other so-called contenders?:

  • Howard Cain is at 9%
  • Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 8%
  • Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul at 8%
  • Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann at 6%
  • Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty at 5%
  • Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum at 4%
  • Jon Huntsman at 1%.

Another 20 percent are undecided.

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Mitt Romney Politics Republican Rick Santorum South Carolina

Brownie Points

Apparently all a Republican presidential candidate has to do to win crucial polling points is — just show up! Pennsylvania’s Rick Santorum, being the the only potential GOP candidate at a dinner held by south Carolina’s Republican party last Friday night, won 150 out of 408 votes cast by the attendees for a straw poll taken during the dinner. A no-show, Republican darling Mitt Romney, got whipped with just 61 votes.

Guess Romney’s invite must’ve “… got lost in the mail”…

Read how the other “candidates” fared, as reported by Huffpost Politics.

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Mitt Romney Politics Republican Rick Santorum

Republican Presidential Debate / Circus Show Starts Tonight

The circus rolls into town tonight. On Fox News, the first presidential Republican debate begins, with five misfits. Will any of these performers get the eventual Republican nomination? We’ll have to wait and see.

Let’s meet the fab 5!

Tonight’s event could well be the first time in history that a nationally televised presidential debate lowers the stature of every participant. A total of five candidates are set to take the stage at 9 p.m., when Fox News — which customarily attracts several million viewers in that time slot — goes live. Only one of them, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, has a realistic chance of winning the GOP nomination — or even coming close. The other four are strident ideologues with niche appeal, nonexistent victory prospects — and absolutely nothing to lose.

* Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza. Cain has run for office before, finishing a distant second (with 27 percent of the vote) to Johnny Isakson in Georgia’s 2004 U.S. Senate primary. This means that, from an electoral standpoint, Cain has a weaker claim to being taken seriously as a candidate than even Alan Keyes; at least Keyes had won the GOP nomination in the two failed Senate bids that preceded his 1996 and 2000 White House forays. To the extent Cain has distinguished himself on the ’12 trail, it’s probably through his pledge to engage in hiring discrimination by barring Muslims from working in his administration.

* Rick Santorum: Santorum was drummed out of the Senate by Pennsylvania voters in 2006, losing his bid for a third term by 17 points to Democrat Bob Casey. Other modern era presidential candidates who lost Senate races before setting out to run for the White House include: Democrats Carol Moseley Braun (2004) and George McGovern (1984), and Republican Keyes. (You could also, I suppose, include Mike Gravel, who lost a Senate reelection campaign in 1980 and sought the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.) Between them, they won a total of zero primaries and caucuses. Santorum won’t do any better, but he is passionately opposed to abortion, gay rights and President Obama — and he’ll have plenty of time to prove it tonight.

* Gary Johnson: The former New Mexico governor is probably, as Salon noted last year, the most interesting Republican you’ve never heard of — an authentic libertarian who wants to dismantle government but who also supports legal abortion and pot. Obviously, he’ll barely make a dent once the primaries roll around (especially with Ron Paul in the race), but he’ll get an unusual amount of airtime tonight for his unorthodox platform — which will presumably prompt Cain and Santorum to use him as a foil to assert their conservative bona fides, potentially forcing Pawlenty to weigh in on subjects he’d rather sidestep.

* Ron Paul: His presence figures to foster this same dynamic, just as it did in 2007 and 2008 — when no GOP debate was complete without one candidate using Paul as a punching bag in order to look courageous and principled in the eyes of the party base.

And that’s it. No other candidates (or potential candidates) will participate. Mitt Romney is wisely staying away, as is Mike Huckabee. Even Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann are keeping their distance. No-shows were not supposed to be an issue when Fox and the South Carolina GOP originally scheduled the debate a few months ago. Back then, it was assumed — based on recent history — that the GOP field would be fully formed and the campaign in full swing. But that hasn’t happened.

 

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