McCainwinsNH

Obama's Waffle on $$

2008-02-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

From the Washington Post:

Saturday, February 16, 2008

'AS RECENTLY as November, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was unequivocal about whether he would agree to take public financing for the general election if his Republican opponent pledged to do the same. "If you are nominated for president in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?" the Midwest Democracy Network asked in a questionnaire. Mr. Obama's answer was clear. "Yes," he wrote. "If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." '

But now that Obama has found he can raise money--he is backing away from his promise to cap the money he can spend.

So long to 'Change you can believe in'

Status quo R.I.P.

2008-02-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

Veepstakes! - The ResultsPosted by TOM BEVAN E-Mail This Permalink

With more than three hundred e-mails yesterday, the top five vote getters are all non-white males. Yay!

VEEPSTAKES! TM SHORTLIST

Condoleezza Rice (32)
JC Watts (23)
Sarah Palin (20)
Michael Steele (18)
Colin Powell (17)

Conservative cabinet picks for McCain

2008-02-08T20:49:00.000-08:00

State--Newt Gingrich
Defense--Jack Warner
Treasury--Steve Forbes
Justice--(AG)--Tom Coburn
Health & HS--Mike Huckabee
Commerce--Mitt Romney
Homeland Security--Rudy Giuliani
Energy--Charlie Crist
Education--Carly Fiorina
Environment--Sarah Palin
Labour--JC Watts
Transportation--Elaine Chow
HUD--Michael Steele
Agriculture--Marilyn Musgrave (CO)
Interior--Linda Lingle
Veteran's Affairs--Marsha Blackburn (TN)

I am assuming Condi gets the VP slot.

Sarah Palin for McCain's VP

2008-02-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

Top ten reasons Sarah Palin (governor-Alaska) should be on the GOP ticket:

10. She is a woman. The other side has huge excitement, understandably, about sending the first woman or the first African American, or possibly both-to the Whitehouse. Nominating two old white men is deadly for the GOP. We'll lose the mid-terms too, until we prove that we too can change (i.e. by naming a non-white male to the ticket in 2012).

9. She is a woman. This will help with female voters, who comprise a majority of the electorate on both sides. In an election about change--we can't be seen as the party of the status quo--especially among women. Some may want to vote McCain, but they don't want to miss a chance (and who knows when it will come again?) to shatter a glass ceiling--we can't lose their vote.

8. She is a woman. And it is about time.

7. She is fiscally conservative and cut taxes as a two-term mayor in the largest borough of Anchorage. It is now one of Alaska's fastest growing cities.

6. She helps McCain with social conservatives. She is pro-life and a member of Feminists for Life. She's also very pro 2nd amendment--lifelong member of the NRA. She has a picture on her web-site bagging a deer!

5. She has a lot of experience with energy issues. At a time when oil is running near $100/ a barrel and everyone wants to get off foreign oil this will be an asset.

4. She is young. An attractive mother in her early forties balances the 'grumpy old man' McCain can sometimes be/be portrayed as.

3. Much of her political life has been centred on ethics issues/legislation. This fits well with McCain's rants about 'the bridge to nowhere' and the corruption of Abramoff and how we need to change etc. (see pt 9)

2. She is for drilling in ANWR. This plays with conservatives. She is against global warming. This plays with the rest of humanity.

1. For all her executive experience (another plus for a Senator) and all the boards she has sat on and chairs she has held (e.g. human rights--think Guantanamo Bay, think waterboarding)--she may be criticized because of her youth and inexperience. This negative can be turned into a positive, however, by throwing it right back into Barack Obama's face. If it is claimed she's not ready to take over the presidency, then by what standard does he claim to be experienced enough to be commander-in chief? And if he claims it's because he's a man and she's a woman--isn't he raising the same double standard Democrats have long fought against?

McCain's veep choice expanded

2008-02-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a list from Real Clear Politics which lists potential veep candidates. Daydreamerd-like myself-sent their picks in and voted. Some of the names on here I'm unfamiliar with and shall investigate soon.

I WANT A WOMAN!!!!!!! (And I am not referring to my hourly mantra)

Condoleezza Rice (13)Colin Powell (10)Sarah Palin (9)JC Watts (9)Bobby Jindal (7)Michael Steele (6)John Kasich (5)Chris Cox (4)Charlie Crist (4)Kay Bailey Hutchison (4)Tom Ridge (4)Rick Santorum (4)Haley Barbour (3)Mel Martinez* (3)Mark Sanford (3)Ken Blackwell (2)Michael Bloomberg (2)Matt Blunt (2)Bill Frist (2)Rudy Giuliani (2)Mike Huckabee (2)Joe Lieberman (2)Linda Lingle (2)Tim Pawlenty (2)Rick Perry (2)Rob Portman (2)John Thune (2)Lamar Alexander (1)George Allen (1)Bill Bennett (1)Henry Bonilla (1)Richard Burr (1)Herman Cain (1)Saxby Chambliss (1)Elaine Chao** (1)Tom Coburn (1)Bob Corker (1)Carly Fiorina (1)Lindsey Graham (1)Phil Gramm (1)Chuck Hagel (1)Jon Huntsman (1)Frank Keating (1)Steve Largent (1)Bill Owens (1)Sonny Perdue (1)David Petraeus (1)Jodi Rell (1)Bob Riley (1)Paul Ryan (1)Fred Thompson (1)Christie Todd Whitman (1)
A couple of thoughts on the list: some names on list would obviously cause conservatives to commit hari kari: Graham, Martinez, Lieberman, Bloomberg, and Whitman, for example. (*UPDATE: Martinez was born in Cuba and thus ineligible). Others are probably too young and/or inexperienced to merit serious consideration: Jindal, Corker, Largent, and Ryan. Carly Fiorina (the former head of HP) and Herman Cain (former CEO of Godfather's Pizza) are two of the most out-of-the-box names on the list, but that also makes it hard to see them being a heart beat away from the Presidency.

Mitt Romney's concession speech was classy

2008-02-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

Romney's concession speech at CPAC was well done--focusing conservatives on uniting behind a Republican war leader.

For all the bad blood between the two campaigns in the past two months, I think this graceful departure goes a long way to repairing the breach.

In one move, Mitt Romney has unified his party as well as secured a bright future for himself in McCain's administration and beyond.

The end of McCain's speech which Obama cut off

2008-02-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

The following is the remainder of McCain's victory speech from Super Tuesday last night. It starts from the moment the networks cut away to focus on Obama's 'Hope is beautiful' speel and the rest of his 'shuck and jive' routine.

It really was a crass political move. I thought Obama was above this and transcendant and whatever....

Even Jesse Jackson wouldn't pull this kind of thing.

" ....I am as confident tonight as I have ever been that we can succeed in November by uniting our party in our determination to keep our country safe, proud, prosperous and free, and by again making a persuasive case to independents and to those enlightened members of the other party that the great Ronald Reagan claimed for our party.

We will do it by standing up forcefully for those principles that have made our party and our country so successful, and by rejecting appeals for retreat and timidity in the face of the challenges of our time, challenges which are our duty and privilege to overcome. If I am the nominee of our party, I will not let anyone take this country backward to the days when government felt empowered to take from us some of our freedom to decide for ourselves the course and quality of our lives, or when we turned away from threats to our security that were so plainly gathering strength abroad. I have lived my adult life with one purpose greater than all others: to keep America safe from all enemies foreign and domestic. And I will never tire of the honor.

I am a Republican because, like you, I want to relieve the American people of the heavy hand of a government that spends too much of your money on things you neither want nor need, while failing to do as well as we should the things none of us can do individually. I am a Republican because, like you, I believe government must defend our nation's security wisely and effectively, because the cost of our defense is measured in losses so hard to bear and in the heartbreak of so many families. I am a Republican because, like you, I believe government must respect our values because they are the true source of our strength; and enforce the rule of law, which is the first defense of freedom. I am a Republican because I believe the judges we appoint to the federal bench must understand that enforcing our laws, not making them, is their only responsibility. I am a Republican because I believe, like you, that government should tax us no more than necessary, spend no more than necessary, and keep out of the way of the most industrious, ingenious, and optimistic people in the history of the world . I am a Republican because I believe, like you, that it is the strength, courage, wisdom and patriotism of free people -- not the government -- who have made this country the extraordinarily successful place it is. My friends, my purpose is to preserve and strengthen our freedom, the freedom I have defended all my adult life, and I will not let anyone or anything deter me.

Nothing in America is inevitable. We are the captains of our fate. We can overcome any challenge as long as we keep our courage and stand by our principles. I intend to make my stand on those principles, and trust in the judgment of the American people I serve. So stand up with me, my friends, stand up, and together let us put America -- her strength, her ideals, her future -- before all else. It is an honor greater than all others to serve this country, the love of my life, and I thank you from the bottom of heart for helping me serve her a little while longer.

Thank you and God bless you.

Whither talk radio?

2008-01-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Rubin of the New York Observer wrote a piece about what talk radio is doing now. One possibility:

"Another would be that the conservative punditry actually “won.” Mr. McCain has been getting stronger, they would argue, by embracing conservative positions in order to gain the nomination. Mr. McCain confessed that he had learned the lesson about immigration reform, that border control is essential before pursuing any legalization plan for those already here. He promised to retain the Bush tax cuts. He embraced his support of gun rights and touted his pro-life voting record. This, the conservatariat could contend, and not Mr. McCain’s global-warming ruminations or his role in the Gang of 14, is what helped him win.
There is some truth to this. We saw that starting with his South Carolina victory speech; continuing with his Florida ads, Mr. McCain did stress conservative themes and reach out to the base on many of its favored issues. (This explanation does, however, leave open the question as to why the conservative pundits opposed Mr. McCain so vehemently in the first place.)"

On to VP Search for McCain

2008-01-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

McCain's VP needs to be conservative on fiscal and social issues. I would prefer a woman mainly to counter the excitement on the Democratic side. Nominating two white men to go against a Clinton/Obama ticket is deadly for us now and also in 2010. Here are some people to think about:

Women: Representatives Marsha Blackburn (TN), Marilyn Musgrave (CO), Theresa Drake (VA), Jo-Ann Emerson (MO) Kay Granger (TX); Senators Kay Bailey Hutchinson (TX) Lisa Murkowski (AK); Secretary Condi Rice

Men: Senators Tom Coburn (OK) John Thune (SD); Governors Hailey Barbour (MS), Marc Sanford (SC), Charlie Crist (FL); Former Senator Fred Thompson (TN)

Pragmatic repulicans will elect McCain

2008-01-26T10:17:00.000-08:00

We are, at the end of the day, a pragmatic party.

Republicans will vote for the most electable candidate--and that is John McCain.

The GOP knows that is in tough in November. Both houses of Congress are all but lost. The fight for the WH will likely be against the Clintons--the most devious and the most formidable couple the world has seen. Democrats are motivated and their fundraising coffers are full.

Who do we nominate to stand against them? It is clearly McCain. He pulls from the centre of the electorate. The same reasons he is being eviscerated by Fox News and Talk Radio are why he is popular around the country.

And it is not just the White House---hundreds upon hundreds of elections are held at the state and local level which are not covered nationally. Who do they want as their standard bearer? A experienced war-hero or a flip-flopper with good managerial skills?

Electability is why hundreds of Florida officials from the state and county level have endorsed McCain. It's why the two most influential GOP politicians in the state--Sen. Martinez and Gov. Crist--both endorsed him. It's why former Secretary of State Howard Baker came into the camp from the Fredheads. The establishment is embracing McCain because it senses a winner.

McCain will be good for the long term health of the party because he will help us defend against the coming storm.

That's why he will win. The GOP will do what's in its best interests.

McCain vs. Romney--commander-in-chief vs. chief of staff

2008-01-25T23:27:00.000-08:00

John McCain would be an inspiring leader. A commander-in-chief with actual experience in the field would galvanize the country at a time when America is at war on two fronts, both part of a larger struggle against radical Islam. His courage and determination have been exemplified throughout his conservative career. Those qualities were forged during his POW experience in Vietnam. Not since Eisenhower has the United States had a chance to be led by someone with life experiences so integral to his decision-making. His character and his forthrightness will lead all Americans to unite in a cause greater than themselves.

Mitt Romney would make an amazing chief of staff. He has a record of being a great manager. He is organized, learned, well-spoken and has great hair.

But he is NOT a leader.

Romney's economic record in Massachussetts

2008-01-24T23:01:00.000-08:00

Mitt can talk a good talk but seriously...he says: "look at my economic record"

* As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.

* Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.

* Between fall 2003 and autumn 2006, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly three times Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.

* While 8 million Americans over age 16 found work between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed Massachusetts residents actually declined by 8,500 during those years.

Mitt Romney on self-funding his campaign

2008-01-24T22:29:00.001-08:00

MR. RUSSERT: Another quick question. People observing this race in Florida have been somewhat amazed by the number of television ads you've been running. Can you tell the voters of Florida and Republicans across the country, how much of your own money have you spent on this race so far?

MR. ROMNEY: In Florida? We'll report that on the -- on the 31st of January as required by law, and probably not a minute earlier. You'll just have to wait, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT: But why not tell the voters of Florida and across the country how much of your own wealth you're spending so they can make a judgment and factor that into their -- their own decision?

MR. ROMNEY: Well, I'm not concerned about the voters. I'm much more concerned about the other guys on this stage. And we have some -- it's competitive information we make sure that we use for our own benefit.

Pre-debate jitters

2008-01-22T20:15:00.000-08:00

I expect Rudy and Mitt to try and ruthlessly hammer McCain Thursday on the economy.

Suggest McCain break solution on economy into ST/LT

ST-He needs to memorize and expand on his suggested stimulus package.

LT-Spending control 1st, tax cuts second. R&D and Manhattan project to get off foreign oil-brings gas price down and helps economy--winning Iraq and war on terror crucial to getting off foreign oil

That is enough to show McCain has positive ideas. The rest is defense.

On Bush tax cuts--defend no vote based on no spending cuts. If pressed on why he now supports them, he should be almost apologetic and almost admit a mistake "In retrospect, clear the tax cuts worked. But back then, we were at war..."

On admitting he didn't understand economics--clarify meaning he wasn't an A+ student at the naval academy. Phrasing was a bit inelegant, but he meant he still had more to learn. Would learn from advisers as he hopes they all would.

Why the NRLA needs to endorse McCain

2008-01-22T14:16:00.000-08:00

Now that Thompsson has dropped out, it is time for the NRLA to switch it's endorsement to McCain. Huckabee is obviously better on the life issue but he can't win non-evangelicals. Rudy would obviously be a disaster. Romney is objectionable based on his mormonism and his egregious flips on social issues.

Clinton is looking inevitable again. It is time to back a winner who can keep social conservatives in the winning coalition.

The truth about Romney's private sector experience

2008-01-20T09:36:00.000-08:00

This is from Romney's campaign site:

"In 1984, Romney founded Bain Capital, one of the nation's most successful venture capital and investment companies."

The truth is Bain Capital was a leveraged buyout company, and by definition it means Romney bought troubled companies, slashed jobs and resold the companies for a profit.

Doesn't quite fit with the politician "fighting for every job" does it?

Romney's job record in Massachusetts

2008-01-20T09:19:00.001-08:00

Well, how did Romney actually perform as governor?
-- As U.S. real output grew 13 percent between 2002 and 2006, Massachusetts trailed at 9 percent.
-- Manufacturing employment fell 7 percent nationwide those years, but sank 14 percent under Romney, placing Massachusetts 48th among the states.
-- Between fall 2003 and last autumn, U.S. job growth averaged 5.4 percent, nearly thrice Massachusetts' anemic 1.9 percent pace.

Source: "Mitt's mythical Massachusetts Miracle" - http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/26060

Details of Romney's "authentic moment"

2008-01-14T22:49:00.000-08:00

From Jonathan Martin's story in Politico--Jan 13 2008

...

"A middle class home in a middle class neighborhood of the town of Marshall is next. There, at the kitchen table of Elizabeth Sachs, an unemployed, single mother of two, Romney put a face and a name with Michigan's plight.

It's not easy for a multimillionaire private equity executive to identify with the struggles of a laid-off retail manager who is looking to sell her house and move to Florida, but Romney had dutifully done his homework before the press was invited into the Christmas decoration-bedecked home.

He rattled off precise details about Sachs’ employment and health care challenges... "

....

Too bad he didn't disclose that Ms. Sachs was the mother of a paid campaign staffer.

Romney's photo-op was faked

2008-01-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

I'm reading this piece in Politico by Mr. Vogel and I'm a bit incredulous.

"A well-publicized weekend photo-op for Mitt Romney turns out to have been missing a piece of information that might have undermined its credibility: the unemployed single mom at the center of the event was the mother of a Romney staffer.

Local and national media outlets, including Politico.com, reported that Romney was the picture of empathy as he sat at the Marshall, Mich. kitchen table of 51-year-old Elizabeth Sachs, a single mother of two who lost her job as a retail manager – as well as her health insurance – and is running out of money as she tries to sell her house to move to Florida.

What wasn’t reported – and what the Romney campaign did not reveal at the time – was that one of Sachs’ sons, Steve Sachs, is a paid employee of Romney’s campaign, organizing five counties in Michigan. "

McCain--the Green Candidate

2008-01-13T20:31:00.000-08:00

John McCain has said the environment is inextricably linked to the economy. His reputation for being straight with voters led to a hard truth: some of the jobs in Michigan are gone, and they are not coming back. But there's hope for Michigan to regain its economic powerhouse status! McCain believes focusing on re-training and R & D are key to bringing jobs back to Michigan's auto industry which has been beleaguered for so long. Specifically, alternative energy and green manufacturing are the answers to job growth in Michigan, which has traditionally been a driving force in America's economy.

The world has only begun to industrialize. The demand for cars will only increase for years to come. But with 100$ oil the only ones that will sell are cars that are environmentally friendly (aka fuel efficient). Mitt Romney has said Washington has ignored the auto industry and that's the problem. This is not really true. The big three have gotten their lunch eaten the past few years by the Japanese. Management made the mistake of ignoring hybrid engines and other environmentally friendly solutions. GM is now announcing the the Chevy Volt will eventually compete with Toyota's Prius.

Hopefully the future will have different entities contributing to a clean environment in ways that makes sense for them--hybrids, electric cars, fuel cells in Michigan; solar panels in sunny Arizona and California; clean coal in West Virginia; and carbon sequestration for oil and gas drillers. Every little bit helps too--Incremental changes that individuals make like energy efficient lite bulbs. Great work will hopefully continue by states like California and cities like Chicago. And technology is continually getting better. This past year has seen big improvements in solar efficiency for example.

America can get rich exporting green solutions to China and the rest of the planet. Everyone likes clean air and water. All Americans are certainly big on getting off foreign oil. And it can start in Michigan. .

And this does not even take into account the danger of climate change. "I believe that climate change is probably real," McCain said in the SC debate.

McCain represents the modern "green" leader in the best traditions of Teddy Roosevelt. Vote in the GOP primary. Make your vote count Michigan!

Iraqi De-Baathification Law completes vindication of 'The Surge'

2008-01-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

I think this story is absolutely huge:.

Iraq to Reinstate Saddam Party Followers
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Saturday, January 12, 2008

It is absolutely a vindication of the surge strategy. Bush announced the increase in troop levels to protect the Iraqi population and give the Maliki government some breathing room to broker a political settlement. This is the first tangible sign of political progress.

The Democrats (and some Republicans) after backing a phased withdrawal (Romney), have been forced to admit the military success of the surge but defend their opposition by saying there has been no political progress. There are still more benchmarks to be met, but this legislation is a significant milestone on the way to success in Iraq and bringing our troops home. And it happened because of the surge, Petraeus and Sec'y Gates.

What a day for McCain!

I haven't been following the campaign today but if I worked there, I would be singing this from the rooftops.

McCain vs. Romney on jobs

2008-01-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

From newsweek.com--Jan 11 2008

"Mitt Romney has been campaigning in Michigan for two years; this shouldn't even be a competitive state for him," says Michigan pollster Ed Sarpolus. "He should be the assumed winner, but he's not."

What's holding the hometown boy back? There's a sense that the polished politician is pandering when he promised in the Republican debate last week to bring back those thousands of auto jobs Michigan has lost. The pollsters say McCain scored more points with his tough talk on the stump in Michigan, saying: "I know how difficult the economy is here in Michigan. I've got to look you in the eye and tell you some of those jobs aren't coming back." In a state that has had the highest unemployment in the nation for the last two years, McCain's message was viewed as refreshingly honest. "The automakers here have already said those jobs aren't coming back," says Sarpolus. "So he's being honest about something we've been discussing here in Michigan for years."

Huckabee on the surge

2008-01-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

"If it works, if [the surge] brings stability … then [Bush has] taken the right position. If it results in just more bloodshed without any real stabilization, then I think the consequences are going to be significant." USA Today, Jan 14 2007

Not a courageous statement. Like calling for a 50% chance of rain.

Iraq Passes De-Baathifacation Law

2008-01-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

I think this story is absolutely huge:.
Iraq to Reinstate Saddam Party FollowersBy QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Saturday, January 12, 2008
The Democrats (and some Rpublicans) have been forced to admit the military success of the surge but defend their opposition by saying there has been no political progress. There are still more bencmarks to be met, but this legislation is a significant milestone on the way to success in Iraq and bringing our trooops home. And it happened because of the surge, Petraeus and Sec'y Gates.
What a day for Mccain!

Why the fiscal conservative establishment should support McCain

2008-01-09T00:52:00.000-08:00

TeamPolitico: Jan. 8, 2008 - 11:03 PM EST
Folks like [American Conservative Union head] David Keene and Grover Norquist, I don't see them jumping to McCain," he said.

What is it with the ACU anyway? McCain's got a lifetime 82 rating from the ACU--Clinton is 9 and Obama is 8. No rankings I could get for Rudy, Huckabee and Romney. But Rudy is pro-choice and Huckabee is a populist. Romney was the governor of the most liberal state in the nation. Even if you accept that he is a true-blue red meat Republican (IA and NH didn't buy it) is he really that much above 82?
So is it a personal thing with David Keene?
What about the Club for Growth? Is it personal with Grover Norquist?
Let's patch up differences in the GOP and stand united against Hillary Clinton.
Mccain for pres Kemp-VP Phil Gramm-treasury

Why the social conservative establishment should support McCain

2008-01-09T00:45:00.000-08:00

TeamPolitico: Jan. 8, 2008 - 11:03 PM EST
social conservative interest groups and leaders wouldn't embrace a man they've never felt affection for.

There are lots of resons for social conservatives to support McCain
John McCain has been pro-life all his life.
He stands for the 2nd amendent
he is against gay mariage.
he has had differences with church leaders like Jerry Falwell but he made up with that great an before he tragically left us
he is a great believer in the power of redemption and reconciliation.
he stands behind the judges George W Bush appointed.
he inspires voters to beleive in a cause greate than themselves.
he was endorsed by Sam Brownback.
And I think the experience in the Vietnam prison speaks for itself

Why Romney should drop out

2008-01-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

Mitt Romney has a choice--he can keep going--he's got enough money to go to the convention--it might look tempting given Romney's home field advantage in MI--OR he can drop out. He should drop out because it's in his self-interest.

This guy has a future in the GOP and would make a good president in four or eight years Not this year though. Conservatives like winners

So why go on? I admit there is always a chance--say less than 10%. But the downside is that he will create enemies, collect bagage and hurt the unity of the party he belongs to.

Romney needs more foreign policy experience and time to immune himself from the flip-flopping charge on the social issues.

WHAT happened with Hillary?

2008-01-08T21:04:00.000-08:00

I'm obviously a die-hard conservative but I'm SO inteested in what happened with the Dems tonight.

I was all set for a 10+ pt Obama win. What happened? A lot of things probably but I think 3 are important. They all have to do with softening Hiary-reminding women that she is a. human and b. a woman. Te three things are:

1. Her eyes teared up when asked to describe how she does it
2. She said her feelings were hurt when the debate modeaor inferred she was not as likeable as Obama.
3. Her campaign released a two minute ad 1 day before Iowa which showed HRC really addressing the camera and not being a policy wonk. I wondered why they waited so long but now I'm thiking they weren't aiming at IA at all.

She won 57% of women

Not sure if she's the nominee though.

McCain wins NH!

2008-01-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

Prentis is thrilled with the results!- Especially that McCain carried republicans AND independents by roughly five pts.

Not thrilled with his acceptance speech though. He looked tired and should sleep in tomorrow.

McCain wins Dixieville Notch!

2008-01-07T23:47:00.000-08:00

In what could be a harbiger of things to come today, John McCain has carried the vote in Dixievile Notch, atiny hamlet in NH which caries ou its vote just after midnight on primary day. It has kept this tradition since 1960, and each time the outcome has predicted the winner of the GOP primary. Results (only have an idea of registrations)

15 voters (10-12 independent)

McCain 4
Romney 2
Rudy 1

For the Dems
Obama 7
Richardson 1
Clinton 0

McCain and immigration

2008-01-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

McCain has said the 2 million out of 14 million ilegals will be sent home. For the others it depends on their situation. How would you handle it? It is logistically impossible to round up and deport 14 million people--and the economy would collapse without them.

The only clear thing is we need to keep the problem from getting worse--by securing the borders. This is a national security issue.

As for Romney benefitting from this issue--his interview with the Globe in 2005 he described Mccain's plan in detail before concluding it was "quite different from amnesty" and a "reasonable proposal"

Words are stubborn things, Mitt

Massachussetts and NH

2008-01-05T21:23:00.000-08:00

The favorite son of Massachussetts does not normally lose the NH primary. John Kerry, Paul Tsongas, and Michael Dukakis all won NH and benefitted from proximity with the NH border and more liberal viewpoints in the NE. Mitt Romney, was on that path too-but he made the strategic error of trying to curry favor with the conservative base when he decided to run. NH knew the Romney who governed next to them and it bears no resemblance to the politician before them now. Familiarity, it seems, sometimes breeds contempt.

Why McCain beats Obama

2008-01-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

Among the many lessons that were learned in Iowa last night is that Americans want a break from politics as usual. The wins by Obama and Huckabee suggest that there is a populist upsurge in the country, and that people want to be liberated from the debates of the past and the formulas of Washington. Counterintuitively, the oldest candidate in either party with the longest record of service in Washington is the only one who can do this on the GOP side.

Why?-because he is the only 'career reformer'. His nickame is the "maverick" and his crusade against the esablishment of the GOP is almost legendary. McCain's efforts against the lobbyists and the special interests is well known. He has a proven track record as a change agent in Washington--even though it angers some elites. In fact, some of the iniatives that anger certain interest groups are indicative of how he feeds into this tidal surge of renewal.

Americans are tired of the tired old system of picking a position to appeal to a certain interest group in order to win votes. They're fed up with the positioning-and moving to the right or the centre or the left just to win the party's base. Enough with saying a Democrat needs this this and this, a Republican this this and this. Huckabee and Obama showed last night that authenticity counts, and identifing with the people counts. It was less about the label than whether the candidate connects with and represents the voter.

And yet labels still matter. And McCain knows that the republican nominee will have to stand for smaller government, lower taxes, debt paydown, strong moral values and a strong national defence. Despite McCain's huge edge as a potential commander-in-chief--it's in terms of fiscal policy that will really give McCain an advantage.

John McCain has been a staunch advocate of spending restraint for decades. His campaign against earmarks and pork-barrel spending are famous in the Senate. Every year tens of millions are wasted on pet projects such as the infamous bridge to nowhere and Hillary's Woodstock Museum. As well, McCain understands the necessity of cutting oufflows to match inflows. Only then will we be able to pay down the nearly 9 trillion dolar debt which account for over $450 billion a year in interest. The interest savings can go to tax relief and addressing some of the other problems Americans face. Although McCain supported Bush on many issues, he will not leave the country with deficits he way the President did

McCain knows this is the way to win in November and for the GOP to feel proud again. The '06 elections were lost in large part because of the issue of corruption in Washington and because politicians stopped being effective for the people . The middle class, or "Sam's Club Republicans" as Tim Pawlenty calls them--want to feel conservative again. Only the career reformer can change Washington and beat Obama in November.

Romney on immigration

2008-01-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

This is the transcript of Mitt Romney on Meet the Press on Dec 16.

MR. RUSSERT: Immigration, an issue that is very important in this country and to the Republican primary voters. The Boston Globe interviewed you two years ago, and there's a tape of that conversation where you expressed support for the policies of George Bush and John McCain on immigration. Let's watch and listen.
(Audiotape)
GOV. ROMNEY: I think an amnesty program is what, which is all the illegal immigrants who are here are now citizens,
Unidentified Man: Mm-hmm.
GOV. ROMNEY: ...and a walk up and get your citizenship. What the president has proposed,
Man: Mm-hmm.
GOV. ROMNEY: ...and, and what Senator McCain and Cornyn have proposed, are, are quite different than that.
Man: Mm-hmm.
GOV. ROMNEY: They require people signing up for a, a, well, registering and receiving, if you will, a number, a registration number, then working here for six years and paying taxes...
Man: Mm-hmm.
GOV. ROMNEY: ...not taking benefits--health, Medicaid, food stamps, and so forth--not taking benefits, and then at the end of that period, registering to become a citizen or applying to become a citizen and paying a fee. And, and those are things that are being, being considered, and I, I think that that's--that those are reasonable proposals.
(End audiotape)
MR. RUSSERT: Reasonable proposals.
GOV. ROMNEY: Hm.
MR. RUSSERT: The Lowell Sun, your home--one of your hometown, state home papers, said this.

"Governor Mitt Romney expressed support for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward citizenship.
"`I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country. With these 11 million people, let's have them registered, know who they are. Those who've been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn't be here; those that are paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country.'"

....

MR. RUSSERT: Your views have been complicated by your own situation. This was The Boston Globe back in December of '06.

"As Governor Mitt Romney explores a presidential bid, he has grown outspoken in his criticism of illegal immigration. But, for a decade, the governor has used a landscaping company that relies heavily on workers like these, illegal Guatemalan immigrants, to maintain the ground surrounding his pink Colonial house."

That was a year ago. A year later, The Boston Globe came back and the same company and illegal immigrants doing the same work. Did you report that company to authorities saying--a year ago--saying they're using illegal immigrants?

On this issue it's obvious that Mitt's views are similar to McCain's. He's hardly the rough "round 'em up and ship 'em out" dude he pretends to be. I recall Giuliani saying Massachusetts was home to six sanctuary cities. An on the final issue Mitt claims his son spoke to the landscaping company after the first story--but doesn't say it was before the second story broke a year later. Knowing how this guy consults dictionaries and lawyers before he spins, this story is still relevant until he makes that distinction.

Aaking for Thompson's support

2008-01-03T00:29:00.000-08:00

I feel for Thompson suppporters. They're doing everything right and he could survive for a while. I just hope his supporters will think of McCain if that time comes. There's a reason he and Fred are good friends. McCain has been pro-life his entire career, is pro-2nd amendment and is obviously solid on national defence. I know there have been differences on other issues--but if you look at the other candidates I think you'll find there's not a better person to suppport.

Romney's stiffness

2008-01-02T21:42:00.000-08:00

Watching Mike Huckabee on 'The Tonight Show' tonight I was struck with this thought--Mitt Romney would clean-up if he didn't have to meet voters in person.

Romney has the best hair since Reagan, a staure to compete with Superman and generally looks fit and healthy. He has an impressive business resume and experience as governor of the most liberal state in the nation. He has great intelligece, a lovely family, no personal bagage to speak of and can personally finance the entire GOP for the forseeable future. His positions, which have come under criticsm for being too flexible, nonetheless blow the right way at the right time.

But his problem is that he can't campaign forever as a cardboard cut-out, and you eventuallly need to meet people face-to-face. And I can tell just by looking at the crowds he meets that he just doesn't connect.

It all came to me when I was waching Jay Leno interview Huckabee on the night before the Iowa caucuses. This goofy, middle-aged guy who looks and sounds like Gomer with something approaching a combover had me smiling, chuckling, and nodding enthsiastically. It was clear he had a conection with Leo, the band, and the audience. He even played base with the band. He was just cool.

Its not just in comparison with Huckabee that Romney suffers. Reporters have called him: tense, coiled, rigid, and not coping well with the pressure. In a news report I saw someone asked to rate the various candidates--there was no sound but I saw her pantomiming a robot shaking hands--I knew immediately to whom she was referring. And you don't see him signing autographs the way McCain, Obama, and Clinton do. Americans deserve a president that relates to them and inspires them to greatness.

Romney supporters would say we're not electing someone to be your best friend. While that's true, I would say we're looking for the best person, not the best cardboard cut-out.

Romney loses national security advantage for GOP

2007-12-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

Democrats are poised for victor in November. The only chance the GOP has is if foreign policy is at the forefront of people's minds.

As we saw last week, national security concerns can come upon us with fierce and sudden urgency. The Repulican candidate should be able to play to the GOP's traditional edge as the "Daddy" party.

If Mitt Romney is elected however, the GOP will lose on its home turf. Should the state of the world be a top issue, voters will go to whoever has the most foreign affairs experience. If the Dems nominate Obama or Edwards, Mitt can possibly win on that issue. But if Clinton is the nominee--she will laud her experience over Romney's lack thereof.

The GOP won't be able to run as the "Daddy" party until 2012. How is it going to win congressional elections in 2008 and 2010 with one hand tied behind its back?

Every vote for Romney is a vote to designate the GOP as the "Mommy" party for four years.

Huckabee on Meet the Press

2007-12-30T16:28:00.000-08:00

Mike Huckabee was amazing this morning on MTP. His answers to Tim Russert's questions this morning proved that ou can be tough, conservative and fair without losing your humanity. Even if you don't agree with him on everything (and I certaily don't), when Huckabee speaks thee is no doubt who is addressing you.

Compare that with Mitt Romney's last performance on MTP (I think it was Dec 16). Russert hammered Romney for over an hour with contradictions beween Romney's positions in the past and his current platform. In some cases these were absolutely blatant turnabouts and caught on VIDEO. At one point Russert exclaims "I mean, people SEE that!"

Lessons from '04

2007-12-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

Why did Iowa vote for John Kerry in '04, when he was trailing up till the final days? It was partly because Iowans knew Howard Dean would be a train wreck. But then why not someone like Dick Gephardt, the favorite son who would've almost certainly been more electable in the crucial mid-west states?

It was because, when it got down to voting time, Iowa knew that America could not elect a leader with no foreign policy experience in a post 9/11 world. Kerry's military service in Vietnam plus his international experience in the Senate would prepare him for a more dangerous and more global world.

I think that the same thing is happening this year on the Republican side. Voters might be able to live with Mitt Romney's fiscal record in Massachusetts, but they have been appalled at his lack of conviction with regard to social issues. But it is his utter lack of foreign policy experience which will finally sink Romney. Iowans know that a future commander-in-chief just cannot have ASOLUTELY NO foreign policy experience post-2001. The world is too dangerous a place, and as we have seen this week, events can overtake us with sudden fierceness.

The ONLY candidate who will be able to unite conservatives and serve as commander-in-chief is John McCain.

Why McCain will win

2007-12-29T11:41:00.000-08:00

Since 1980, the GOP has needed three groups to win--call it the conservative tripod or the Reagan coalition or whatever. Those groups are fiscal, social, and national security conservatives. I assign a rank from 1-10 for te four leading contenders for each of these groups.

Fiscal conservatives--Romney (8) Giuliani (6) McCain (6) Huckabee (4)
Social conservatives--Huckabee (9) McCain (7) Romney (4) Giuiani (2)
National security conservatives-McCain (10) Giuliani (4) Romney (3) Huckabee (2)

Averages: McCain (7.67) Romney (5) Huckabee (5) Giuliani (4)

As Bill O'Reilly says, "tell me where I'm wrong?"

Bhutto assassination means McCain vs. Clinton

2007-12-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

First, the events in Pakistan this morning are a tragedy. A moderate force in a country that needs a dose and half of it. One of the firs women elected in the world, in problably the country that needs women leaders the most. Terrible news.

The US needs to focus on who the best commander in chief is. The best picks from both parties are McCain vs. Clinton.

This is not time for dreamers, hopers, pretty boys, flip-floppers, 9/11 emotionalism or drastic changes. It is time for a steady hand a the wheel.

The US is voting for someone who will, for better or worse, have massive influence on the world and either its stability or its turmoil.

Please Iowa, pick someonne who knows what they're doing.

Not sure who would win between McCain and Clinton--but I think the world would be better off.

Romney's 'State of the Nation' speech

2007-12-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

My fellow Americans:

The State of our Nation is strong. And I mean "is" in the general sense. As in pertaining to a state of being. Notwithstanding other refererences I may have made or will make which contradict my use of the word "is". As any lawyer will tell you, the dictionary defines the use of the word "is" in several contexts...

Katie Couric and anger

2007-12-23T22:16:00.000-08:00

With McCain's recent surge in the polls he is starting to receive some old taunts regarding his anger from the Romney camp. It didn't stick in 2000, and I don't think it wil work now.

In 2000, a reporter was convinced the story was a plant from the McCain side--because it reminded voters of why McCain shold be angry--namely his heroic POW experience. It also gives McCain the chance to talk about his legitamate anger--at pork barrel spending and the mismanagement of the war.

This brings to mind a spot Katie Couric did on the CBS Evening News entitled 'Meet the Candidates' or something. In it, she asks candidates to describe the last time he or she got really angry. Most candidates came up with some minor annoyance which got them terriblly angry but which was quickly forgotten.

McCain described how he got angry at Rumsfeld a few years ago at a Senate Armed Services Committe hearing when the former SECDEF kept testifying the war was going fine.

Romney, however, could only remember really getting angry 27 years ago. Even with Katie Couric guffawing, Romney was unable to come up with anything.

Could this be true and Mitt Romney is truly unencumbered by human emotions? While it is certainly possible that Romney is, indeed, a robot (and God knows I could beleive it) but his recent crying bouts have led me to another conclusion. His tears were just as fake as his inability to recall anger in 27 years. The conclusion is inescapable.

Mitt Romney is a man who will say anything or do anything to be president.

2007-12-23T21:05:00.000-08:00

http://prentman.johnmccain.com/GetInvolved/Campaign.aspx?guid=e2ea60b1-eb0e-4e75-af21-fff0afc2c46d