Notes on the South Carolina GOP debate

I just got through watching the debate.  I think this debate was Fox News' attempt to kick start the nomination process early. From a political standpoint, there really isn't a good reason to start early.  Starting the process early increases the chance of a candidate tripping up and giving Obama and the left their much needed distraction issues.


I tuned in mostly to watch Herman Cain's performance to finally see Gary Johnson speak publicly (I know his record, but never seen him speak).  Below are some of the notes I jotted down while watching.


Pawlenty's opening greeting and thanks seems so typically politico and tiresome.  I liked how the other just answered the question put forth without all the fanfare.


Fox has decided to do "The Hand Show"?  I thought Fred Thompson killed The Hand Show back in 2008.  I hate The Hand Show, because it leaves you clueless as to why a candidate does or does not support an issue.  Case in point, I would have love to have heard why Herman Cain would not release the Osama Bin Ladin photo.


Ron Paul is getting wild applause for getting out of Afghanistan.  Is that truly Republicans coming around to his position or did Ron Paul pack the house with his supporters.  My money is on the latter, especially after Ron Paul's answer to close Gitmo.


Gary Johnson finally speaks, my first impression -"mousy" ,"pipsqueak", "geeky", not good.  Johnson whines (rightfully) about the distribution of questions.  Seems like Pawlenty is getting the lion's share.


Santorum not apologizing for "English Only" stance, instead gives a very strong explanation and example.  Kudos.


Gary Johnson on giving out work visas easily.  With jobs drying up in this country, do we really want to hand out work visas like Halloween candy?  That certainly seems at odd with his believe that we are headed for economic collapse. If the economy collapses, wouldn't Americans want every possible job available even the menial ones?


Pawlenty busted for his enthusiastic support for Cap and Trade! Pawlenty fesses up and admits a mistake. Seems like a smarter way to go than what Romney is trying to pull with RomneyCare.


Lightning Round on absent candidates - this is Fox News indulging itself. Very bad idea, this could lead to nasty sound bites that the left would surely use.  Thankfully, none of them stepped in it. Gary Johnson tries a little bit of a Palin dig.  Foolish, she could eat his lunch while making breakfast for her family.


Here is my overall impressions of the various candidates.


Tim Pawlenty - He was the perfect first tier candidate - if this was 2008.  His style seemed so typically scripted from the faux aggressive tone to the robotic hand gestures.  This may have been the standard back in the day, but for 2012 we need authenticity.


Rick Santorum - The perfect 2008 second tier candidate.  Aside from his refusal to back track on his English Only comments, I wasn't really impressed.


Herman Cain - In this field of candidates, I expected Cain to completely blow these guys out the water.  Maybe I have seen too many of his speeches, but I was expecting a tad more. Judging from the focus group after the debate, Cain ran way with the show, so maybe I am being too critical.  He is still on my short list.


Ron Paul - Ron Paul was Ron Paul. The only thing new here, is that I think Republicans have moved a little closer to where Ron Paul has always been.


Gary Johnson - This guy will never do.  I have repeatedly warned on this blog that the GOP nominee is going to get the full Palin Treatment.  Does anyone think for one hot second that Gary Johnson could stand up to 10 minutes of that?  Hopeless! Pack it in Gary.


Via: Memeorandum
Via: Fox News
Via: The Other McCain

Frustration! Republican's mixed messages on spending cuts

It looks like some Republicans are finding it hard to kick some of the old bad habits as they go about spending cuts.  On one hand they effectively voted to cut funds to the IRS for the implementation of the ObamaCare mandates. They also succeeded in voting to defunding Planned Parenthood.  On the other hand, Republicans voted to continue funding NASCAR and establishment Republicans totally caved on an additional $22 billion more in cuts.


I think these actions so conflicting.  First, the NASCAR funding.  Why not cut it?  The Army is spending millions to sponsor a car saying it helps in recruiting. Seriously? I am pretty sure the Army can set up booths at NASCAR events for a lot less money.  These are hard times and the NASCAR funds seems like a luxury we can no longer afford.  It is also the type of spending that we routinely blast Democrats for.  


The GOP establishment not wanting to go along with the additional $22 billion in cuts is unforgivable.  The Republicans promised the American people $100 billion in cuts, so give it to them.  It isn't like $100 billion out of a $3.5 trillion budget will even be noticed. Furthermore, once the House voted to defund ObamaCare and Planned Parenthood, they must realize that the Senate Democrats will have no choice but to block the bill.  So why be so damn timid? This is just old establishment Republicans being afraid of liberals demonizing them.  Memo to establishment Republicans: you will be demonized no matter what you do, so just do the right thing.


I find it very frustrating to see some Republicans still clinging to the old ways of doing business.  America sent Republicans a very clear mandate, cut the spending.  There is little need to tread softly on the issue.  It seems like conservatives and TEA Partiers are going to have to do a lot more pruning with the establishment Republicans in 2012.


Via: Memeorandum
Via: Politico
Via: USA Today
Via: MY Fox Atlanta
Via: The Hill

Obama threatens to veto Republican cuts

Someone is itching for a showdown.

The Hill: The Obama administration on Tuesday threatened to veto the House GOP's measure funding the federal government. In a statement of administration policy, the Office of Management and Budget said cuts included in the Republican continuing resolution would hamstring the U.S. economy and compromise national security.

"If the president is presented with a bill that undermines critical priorities or national security through funding levels or restrictions, contains earmarks or curtails the drivers of long-term economic growth and job creation while continuing to burden future generations with deficits, the president will veto the bill," the statement said. 

The White House said the cuts in the GOP plan "will undermine our ability to out-educate, out-build, and out-innovate the rest of the world."

The statement said the GOP proposal goes too far and "proposes cuts that would sharply undermine core government functions and investments key to economic growth and job creation, and would reduce funding for the Department of Defense to a level that would leave the department without the resources and flexibility needed to meet vital military requirements."

Are you kidding me? Does anyone in their right mind thinks that $61 billion in cuts from a $3 trillion + dollar budget would even be noticed?  The only people who will fall for this BS are Kool Aid guzzlers, the mathematically challenged and the mentally retarded.  There simply isn't anyway to take the administration's line of thinking seriously.

Now is the time for Republicans to skip the polite parlor talk.  If Obama is hell bent of spending money we don't have, then it is time for Republicans to channel their inner Alan Grayson and simply say: "Obama wants to bankrupt the nation".  There is little reason to be coy about it.  Something tells me that someone on Facebook will say it pretty soon.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill

Real Hope and Change: TEA Party wins $100 billion in spending cuts

After a slew of symbolic gestures from Republicans in the 112th Congress, the time has come for real action and they immediately went limp.


Thankfully America elected enough TEA Party Republicans to force the GOP to man up.

The Hill: House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) on Friday evening introduced a revised 2011 government spending bill that the GOP said will cut at least $100 billion in spending this fiscal year, bowing to demands by Tea Party-backed House freshmen. 

The continuing resolution funding the government after March 4 cuts deeply across all areas of domestic spending and singles out many programs for complete elimination.

In the CR $81 billion has been cut from non-security programs, and security-related programs have been reduced by $19 billion, compared to Obama’s 2011 budget request.

The legislation will increase funding for the Department of Defense by 2 percent over last year’s level. [MORE]

I am glad the TEA Party Republicans held the party's feet to the fire.  $100 billion in cuts is minuscule as it is when you realize we are spending over $3.5 trillion.  However, it is a much better start than the microscopic $32 -$58 billion the GOP had originally offered.

The way the Democrats are squawking over the $100 billion you would swear the GOP wanted to cut $1 trillion.  The Democrats had better get realistic.  Nobody believes that there is still money to burn.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill 

US Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman resigns. Preparing for 2012?

Politico: Jon M. Huntsman Jr., the U.S. ambassador to China, sent a resignation letter to President Barack Obama on Monday and now is likely to explore a Republican presidential bid, a close associate told POLITICO.

In a letter hand-delivered to the White House, the former Utah governor said that he wants to return to the United States by May, the associate said.

GOP allies of Huntsman have already begun laying plans for a quick-start campaign should the former Utah governor decide to enter the ill-defined Republican field.

While Huntsman has no direct involvement in it, a group of operatives that could eventually comprise his strategy team has set up an entity called “Horizon PAC” to serve as a placeholder for his political apparatus. [MORE]

Needless to say the administration is already sounding rather snarky about the whole thing.  They appointed Huntsman to take him out of the running in 2012.  Instead they ended up giving him massive foreign policy experience.  How does that old saying go; "one good screw deserves another"?

Jon Huntsman is the perfect Romney clone.  

• Moderate RINO - check.
• Mormon - check.
• Good Hair and presidential looks - check.
• Very wealthy - check.

I for one am glad Huntsman may run.  This is because so many conservatives are still looking for  "The One". The risk here is that conservatives could end up casting their votes all over the place, while the establishment and moderate Republicans quickly coalesce around Mitt Romney and give him the nomination. With Huntsman (and hopefully other RINOs) running, the establishment and moderates will face the same dilemma as conservatives.  This will make the chance of a true conservative winning the nomination more equal.


I think Huntsman stands a good chance of raining on Mitt's parade.  Surely, moderates and establishment Republicans must be worried that Mitt is going to struggle mightily at the hands of conservatives.  Perhaps, they will look at Huntsman as a less caustic option.


At any rate, I say, bring on the RINOs!


Via: Memeorandum
Via: Politico

Here comes the ABP (Anyone But Palin) crowd

Now that the dust has settled on the 2010 midterm elections, the 2012 presidential campaign is starting to come into focus.  This time around (provided Obama isn’t challenged or decides not to run) all the action will be on the picking of the Republican nominee.  As things stand right now there are a few names being tossed about, but only one name that towers above the rest …Sarah Palin.

For many rank and file conservatives, Sarah Palin is their dreams come true. Palin charismatically delivers the conservative message loud and clear without any fear of the left’s reaction.  Unfortunately, there is another part of the Republican Party that does not see Palin in the same light.  The Republican Bluebloods, the Country Club Crew, the Cocktail Set, the elite establishment or whatever names you wish to call them. These folks are desperate not to have Palin be the nominee and are now spouting all kinds of reasons why the nominee should be anyone but Palin. 

They are all sounding the alarm that Palin cannot win the general election. This is not their real reason, for if it was, why then are they not discouraging truly hopeless candidates like Tim Pawlenty?  No, the real reason why the Bluebloods do not want Palin is simply because of power.  Sarah Palin is an outsider who is capable of grabbing the nomination without help from the  establishment. Should that happen, Palin would not owe the establishment a damn thing and would be free to bring in all kinds of outsiders to control the Republican Party.  This would leave elites like Karl Rove, the Bushes, Peggy Noonan, et al out in the cold, trying to curry favor with the type of conservatives they have been sneering down at for decades.

So when you hear people like Barbara Bush saying “she hopes Palin stays in Alaska” or Mona Charen giving bogus reason why Palin should not run, realize that these people are singing now to save their supper later. 

Love her or hate her, Palin should be given the chance to run and prove herself.  To automatically dismiss Palin out of hand before the nomination process even begins only serves the desires of conservatism’s foes.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: FiveThirtyEight

Via: CNN

Via: Townhall

House fails to eliminate NPR funding

The Hill: The House on Thursday voted to move forward on legislation without voting on a proposal put forth by Republicans to defund NPR. 

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the next majority leader, said the vote demonstrates that Democrats "are still not ready to listen" following their sweeping midterm election losses. […]

The House voted 239-171 to move forward on a teleworking bill without taking up the stripping of NPR's funding. Republicans put the item on the floor through their YouCut program, an initiative that allows the public to vote online on spending cuts they want to see enacted by Congress. […]

Three Democrats, Reps. John Adler (N.J.), Gene Taylor (Miss.) and Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), voted with Republicans. Adler and Taylor lost their elections two weeks ago. 

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Republicans would not have to try again if they simply waited until next year.  Eric Cantor is clearly playing political games by trying to get Democrats on record for not wanting to cut spending.  That is cute, but at this stage of game it would be far better to actually cut the funding.

Political games like this is what I worry about most with the Republican leadership.  These are the games of yesterday; people are looking for real action from Republicans this time around.

Regarding funding for NPR, it should be terribly obvious that it is unnecessary at this point. Way back in the day before cable and the internet there was a need to fund NPR to provide an independent voice.  Not anymore.  If a ordinary black man from New Jersey can one day get up off his couch one day, start a blog for free and a year later is quoted by the New York Times, Washington Post, National Review and Associated Press, then it is a pretty safe bet that NPR can get their message out without taxpayer dollars. If they can’t, they can always bum a few bucks off the spooky dude.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill

Some folks just don’t get it. Jim Inhofe won’t swear off earmarks

Politico: Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe is going down swinging, insisting he’ll still send earmarks to his state even though his fellow Senate Republicans are poised to adopt a two-year ban on pet projects.

“I'm going to look out for my state of Oklahoma,” Inhofe told POLITICO. “Obviously, that's what the Constitution says I’m going to do, and I'm going to do it. Let's keep in mind this is over. I'll be the last conservative standing.” [MORE]

Could someone please explain to Mr. Inhofe that with a $3.8 trillion budget where $1.4 trillion must be borrowed, there simply isn’t any bacon to bring back to your state.  I have to blame Mitch McConnell for this one.  Simply put, McConnell just does not have the cajones to keep Republican senators in line.  How I wish Jim DeMint would have taken over.  DeMint would not be afraid of punishing wayward Republicans who refuse to get the message that there is no business as usual.

Perhaps Tea Partiers in Oklahoma can sent a clear message to Inhofe that they disapprove of his stance.  Kind of like how Ben Nelson got slammed for the same thinking when he cut the Cornhusker Kickback deal.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Palin writes an open letter to Republican Freshmen

Sarah Palin’s latest Facebook note is an open letter to Republican freshmen.  In her letter she gives these freshmen some very sound advice.  I really liked these two points:

The Hill: "Republicans campaigned on a promise to rein in out-of-control government spending and to repeal and replace the massive, burdensome, and unwanted health care law President Obama and the Democrat Congress passed earlier this year in defiance of the will of the majority of the American people," Palin wrote. "These are promises that you must keep."[…]

Remember that some in the media will love you when you stray from the time-tested truths that built America into the most exceptional nation on earth. When the Left in the media pat you on the back, quickly reassess where you are and readjust, for the liberals' praise is a warning bell you must heed. Trust me on that.

I think Republican freshmen would do well to heed this advice, especially the second one.  How many Republicans are susceptible to positive press? John McCain immediately comes to my mind! 

I don’t envy any of the Tea Party candidates.  They have an extremely narrow path to walk and for new kids in town the pressure from the old Washington crowd must be great.  Like you, I will no doubt be keeping my eyes open for who strays or who stays true.  We should all send letters of encouragement when these members stay true.  Let them know the people who sent them there has their backs.

You can read Palin’s entire letter here and follow the discussion at Memeorandum here.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill

Via: Sarah Palin’s Facebook page

Republicans try to woo Democrat Joe Manchin

Senate Republicans are already working on conservative Democrat Joe Manchin, trying to get him to cross the aisle to become a Republican.   Senate Republicans are offering all kinds of goodies including passing a very expensive piece of pork.

Fox News: Republicans are making some big promises to try to lure West Virginia Senator-elect Joe Manchin to cross the aisle.

Aside from his pick of committee assignments (likely the Energy and Natural Resources Committee), Manchin might get support for one of his pet projects – a plant to convert coal to diesel fuel that has stalled under Democratic leadership in Washington.

It’s one of Manchin’s pet projects and could mean big money for the state’s coal producers.

“Republicans believe in an ‘all of the above’ approach to energy,” one top Senate aide told Power Play. “And coal-to-diesel could certainly be part of that.”

Manchin’s switch could mean Republican support for not just $1 billion in seed money for the project but also a deal, much sought in coal country, to require the armed forces to use converted coal for fuel.

Republicans believe Manchin is particularly susceptible to the overture because he is up for reelection in 2012 and will have to be on the ticket with President Obama, who is direly unpopular in West Virginia. Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Independent Joe Lieberman are the other two prime targets of Republican advances.                                                                

I think this is really unnecessary. Manchin is an interim Senator. He has to run again in 2012. This guy had to run like a Republican on steroids just to get elected this time, I don’t think he is about to become Harry Reids’s new pet any soon.  In most instances he will most likely be voting along with the Republicans just so he can stay in office.  So why go crazy just to add another RINO ranks?

Maneuvers like this by Senate Republicans leads me to believe that they may not have gotten the message that the old ways of doing business is really going out of vogue.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Fox News 

WTF? NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg to address House GOP

It seems that there are a few Republicans in the GOP who think Mike Bloomberg has something important to say.

The Hill [emphasis mine]: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is scheduled to meet with House Republicans on Thursday.

The GOP’s invitation to the Republican-turned-Independent is an unusual move. Bloomberg, who supports gun control, recently criticized Republicans for their handling of a bill for 9/11 responders and has endorsed several Democrats in the midterm elections.[...]

“Theme Team” organizer Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) explained that Bloomberg was asked to appear because he is a leader outside the Washington Beltway whom GOP lawmakers want to talk to. The point of the weekly Theme Team meetings is to give House GOP lawmakers and staffers a chance to have off-the-record conversations with key outsiders on important issues.

I would love to ask these GOP beltway insiders, why they find Mike Bloomberg a better "key outsider" than say; Sarah Palin or Jan Brewer.  Both of those women are outside the beltway, both women are key players outside the beltway and both women have a message that the GOP really needs to hear and understand for 2010 and forward.

The other thing I would love to know is who is paying for these meetings?  If it is us, the abused taxpayers, then I say this is one of the first things the GOP nixes to keep its pledge about shrinking government.  We cannot afford it financially nor can we afford it ideologically.  Read this part:

A Kingston aide explained that Bloomberg was booked months ago for Thursday’s meeting.

Kingston spokesman Chris Crawford said the point of the Theme Team is to “bring outside ideas in” to Capitol Hill. Crawford added that Democrats have addressed the conference before, though most of the guests are Republican.

CBS news anchor Bob Schieffer, MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski and former Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.), Dr. Patch Adams and former Secretary of State Colin Powell are among the recent guests, according to Crawford. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and John Podesta, who served as President Clinton’s chief of staff, have also met with the GOP group.

There isn’t a single Nanny-Stater idea that Mike Bloomberg supports that I would want the GOP to copy in any way, shape or form.  The GOP had better get all this foolishness out of its system before they take over next year.  Unlike the punched up hippies on the left, the right is in no mood for nonsense.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill

The GOP’s “A Pledge To America”

GOP Pledge to America  

This is the Republican's Pledge to America.  It will be officially released tomorrow at a hardware store in Virginia.  As you might have heard from the news the Pledge is broken up into 5 parts.

• (1) Job and economic growth
• (2)  Balance budgets and deficit spending
• (3) Health Care ( repeal and replace Obamacare)
• (4) National Security and Border Security
• (5) Congressional reforms 

While these are all good and admirable goals, they are hardly the Chris Christie tough reforms that America sorely needs. 

I have not read all 21 pages yet, but from the opening pages, I have to say that the GOP might want to kick off this event with an apology, for failing in the past to live up to the pledges and ideals set forth in the first two pages.

Just thinking about how some in the GOP wet the bed of Christine O’Donnell’s victory over Mike Castle, I have to wonder if all of the GOP is really ready to get behind this document. I would certainly say, that Lisa Murkowski, Charlie Crist and Mike Castle certainly aren’t living up to the spirit of “ an arrogant and out-of-touch government of self appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates and enacts laws without accepting  or requesting the input of the many”

From what I have gleaned thus far, I would have to say this document is a nice baby step,  that should have been released months ago. For January 2010 and forward, something much greater will be needed. i.e. what are we to do about the explosive growth of entitlements?

Read the whole pledge above and tell me what you think.

Via: Memorandum

Via: CBS News

Obama and GOP clash: “He needs to take a Valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans”

It looks like the current GOP might be testing out their backbones for 2011. Obama met with GOP senators today and according to Politico the sparks flew.

President Barack Obama battled with Senate Republicans in a tense closed-door meeting Tuesday, facing tough criticism from his GOP adversaries — including John McCain — on issues ranging from health care to border security.

Senators and other sources inside the meeting described the gathering as “testy” and “direct” — and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) accused Obama of acting two-faced by asking for GOP support on regulatory reform only to push forward with a bill supported mainly by Democrats. Others felt that the meeting may have made already tense relations between the two parties even worse.

“The more he talked, the more he got upset,” Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said. “He needs to take a valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans and just calm down, and don’t take anything so seriously. If you disagree with someone, it doesn’t mean you’re attacking their motives — and he takes it that way and tends then to lecture and then gets upset.”

The White House said that Obama made a plea for bipartisanship on some of the country’s most pressing issues — and he urged Republicans to stand up to their base and compromise with the Democratic Party.

Obama had better grow some thicker skin between now and 2011. If this crop of wishy washy Republicans are getting him upset, then he is in for one hell of a surprise when Republicans like Rubio, West and Phillips get to Washington.

Obama can call on Dr. K. for that prescription.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Via: Breitbart TV 

Tim Burn’s defeat, the PA-12 aftermath

Politico has a big article up that is getting a lot of attention on Memeorandum. It is basically warning Republicans that November landslides are not in the bag as evidenced by Mark Critz’s victory over Republican Tim Burns. 

Politico: All the evidence pointing to monster Republican House gains this fall—the Scott Brown upset win in Massachusetts, the scary polling numbers in once-safely Democratic districts, the ever-rising number of Democratic seats thought to be in jeopardy—was contradicted Tuesday.

In the only House race that really mattered to both parties—the special election to replace the late Democratic Rep. John Murtha in Pennsylvania’s 12th District—Republicans failed spectacularly, losing on a level playing field where, in this favorable environment, they should have run roughshod over the opposition.

Given the resources the GOP poured into the effort to capture the seat and the decisiveness of the defeat—as it turned out, it wasn’t really that close—the outcome casts serious doubt on the idea that the Democratic House majority is in jeopardy and offers comfort to a Democratic Party that is desperately in search of a glimmer of hope.

The district itself couldn’t have been more primed for a Republican victory. According to one recent poll, President Barack Obama’s approval rating in the 12th was a dismal 35 percent, compared to 55 percent who disapproved. His health care plan was equally unpopular—just 30 percent of those polled supported it, while 58 percent were in opposition.[…]

Still, Democrat Mark Critz managed to pull off an eight-point victory, 53 percent to 45 percent, over Republican Tim Burns in a district that John McCain narrowly won in 2008—the only one in the nation that voted for John Kerry in 2004 and McCain four years later.

Tim Burns need not feel bad about his loss.  In a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1, an 8-point loss to a Democrat is nothing to sneeze at.

What Republicans must take away from PA-12 is that you cannot just rely on people fleeing the Democrats; you must also give them something to run to. This means articulating a clear conservative message and firmly standing behind it. In other words, you are going to need a little more than the Obama, Pelosi and Reid boogiemen argument.

The next lesson Republicans need to learn is not to allow Democrats to disguise themselves as conservatives. Critz, a Democrat running in a heavily Democratic district, made himself sound like he was Sarah Palin’s little brother. He ran as pro-life, pro-gun, anti-Cap and Trade and anti-ObamaCare. Republicans need only remind voters of all those so-called “moderate” blue-dogs who happily voted for Cap and Trade, the stimulus and ObamaCare. Put the simple question before the voters “can you really trust Democrat ____ to stay a moderate when they get to Washington”? 

Final lesson for Republicans, deep blue districts are still deep blue districts. Yes, upsets do happen, but they are not the norm. Concentrate on winning back those red and purple districts unless there is strong signs that the Democrat cannot win. Otherwise expect the numbers to work against you.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico