Brown-Warren MA Senate 3rd Debate – Brown Wins Handily – Media bases Warren Win on Audience Participation!

The third debate between Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) and Democrat Candidate for Senate, Elizabeth Warren, Harvard Professor, was held last night in the City of Springfield in Western Massachusetts. The debate attracted an audience of 2600, the amount of seats available for the event and the fact that the debate was sold out, was hyped by the media, including traffic reporting about where to park! Not for nothing, but if Springfield is going to be the site of a casino, hold concerts at the Mass Mutual Center, and generally attract people to events in the downtown area, and make a dime, it is hoped they can attract more than 2600 individuals. One has to just love the hype over, just about anything.

It was a feisty debate as dubbed by most of the media, however, the clip below from WWLP local NBC affiliate, might be the best show of bias in local media. Although the audience was equally divided (See entire debate via C-Span, link provided below), watching the news clip from the affiliate, one sees a different debate: one clip of boos for Senator Brown, two clips of applause for challenger Warren and finally an analysis that the debate was won by Warren on crowd response. Of course, the local is counting on the fact that no-one has watched the debate earlier, most likely a safe bet – but, what is the audience share of the evening news in a small market, which has three network affiliates vying for a limited viewership, and finally, does the individual viewer actually trust the source? That’s debatable.

From policymic.com, Brown decidedly wins the debate with Warren (overview included with timeline). The reasoning given was simple – content and delivery of questions asked and answered. One thing is certain, Elizabeth Warren has her talking point of “Billionaires” down, in fact, she has it memorized, and that appears to be about the extent of her “experience”. That and the woman can outright lie, but that fact, of course, is considered an “attack” if pointed out by Scott Brown or anyone else. One cannot dispute the facts, however, and Warren, who is outside her depth when it comes to the economy and foreign policy, how Brown voted (apparently she hasn’t visited the Congressional Record), and her own resume.

It is difficult to support a candidate who is so flawed, period, and Warren takes the cake. Warren released an ad in the market depicting one sympathetic woman who had lost her husband due to asbestos exposure, the premise of the ad being Brown lied about Warren’s roll in the entire case, noting that Warren too the case to the Supreme court for the people! (Apparently the same firm that made the Obama-PAC video featuring the man who insisted Mitt Romney gave his wife cancer, somehow, six years after he lost his job.) Warren worked for the Asbestos firm, period. She was a lawyer for that firm, and well, that would give one the impression that if she went to the Supreme Court to fight, it would have been for her client – the asbestos firm.

But, apparently spouting endless quips about Billionaires – is brilliant.

Brown, in an attempt to point out Ms. Warren’s less than honest claims, is called out for attacking the poor woman.

What is, frankly amazing, are the polls showing the large percentage of undecided’s in this case, however, one can hazard to guess those undecided’s will go down along party lines. As much as the state has been polled in the last few weeks, compared to other months, and several of those polls have focused solely on the Presidential race, one might have the impression that the Brown-Warren matchup isn’t the only hotly contested race in the Bay State. The release of polling data to date shows the President leading Romney handily in the Bay State, with the majority of the polls either University or performed by Public Policy Polling, but one poll, in a congressional race, with a solid makeup of current voters, tells a different story, and that poll was taken in a county that went heavily for Obama in 2008, who is now, within one point of former Governor Mitt Romney – in Massachusetts. That poll, conducted in September, before the Presidential Debate, showed Brown with a double digit lead over Warren and Romney in a statistical tie with the President. Looking at the questions, they were not leading, the makeup of the electorate was spot on, and the district polled is a microcosm of the Commonwealth. On one hand, for Progressives and the Obama Campaign, it is critical that Warren appear to be winning, due to the huge amount of polling (non-Senate) being taken in Massachusetts. Point: Massachusetts offers up a few more electoral college votes than say, New Hampshire. Massachusetts is the last bastion of Progressive think, or so it’s portrayed, however, the 51% of registered unenrolleds, may have something to say about the matter. They did in the Presidential races in 1980 and 1984, an anomaly to be sure, they did so again in 2009 in a special election. It is the unenrolled who will decide who wins or loses the Massachusetts senate race and the electoral votes.

Of course, there’s always ballot stuffing and the usual bag of tricks, however, in the first Brown Special Election, all eyes were on Massachusetts, and the five point final lead (some suspect it may have been higher) Brown had over Coakley was decisive. Once again, all eyes will be on Massachusetts, as this is being billed nationwide as the one Senate race to watch, a fact apparently, lost on the Commonwealth’s Progressives, and local media. Not having a crystal ball, but being a tad pragmatic, one might see the race come down with similar results in 2012, with the Western part of the state giving the majority of votes to the Progressives, with a few exceptions (Brown lost heavily in Springfield, Northampton and points west throughout the hill towns, expect nothing more or less), and then cleaned house in the balance of the Bay State. Should those unenrolled vote a straight ticket, fueled by either Romney or Brown it will be an historic event for Massachusetts. Those are big if’s, considering the level of hi-jinks that is displayed in elections in the Commonwealth, but it would not be an anomaly for Brown and Romney to defy the polls and the pundits and pull out a win, a miracle by virtue of the media spin, but not an anomaly.

Clips below.

WWLP News at 11 segment on the debate, watch this first, then watch the actual debate

Sen. Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren’s 3rd Senate debate

The entire debate on C-Span is available at www.c-spanvideo-org/program/MassachusettsSenateDebat Not yet available for embedding, clips only.

A few of many resources available

Asbestos Victims Travelers Insurance Elizabeth Warren, “Asbestos legal work could taint Elizabeth Warren”(The Boston Globe)

Warren’s work for other firms, including Travelers (ABC News)

ElizabethWarren’s Law License Problem (Legal Insurrection) – Apparently Warren was not Licensed, however practiced law without.

AP Fact Check’s President Obama’s Speech – AP Defends Romney – Gallup Polling – Attempted Bullying by Obama Campaign’s Axelrod for Romney Lead!

The Obama-Biden Campaign Team Wraps Up the DNC Convention - image bayoubuzz.com


The Associated Presshas Fact Checked President Obama’s closing arguments speech for a second term and here is what they found:

President Barack Obama laid claim to a peace dividend that doesn't exist when he told the nation he wants to use money saved by ending wars to build highways, schools and bridges.
The wars were largely financed by borrowing, so there is no ready pile of cash to be diverted to anything else.
The claim was one of several by Obama in his acceptance speech Thursday at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., and by Vice President Joe Biden in earlier remarks that did not match the facts. A look at some of their assertions:

...THE FACTS: The idea of taking war savings to pay for other programs is budgetary sleight of hand, given that the wars were paid for with increased debt. Obama can essentially "pay down our debt," as he said, by borrowing less now that war is ending. But he still must borrow to do the "extra nation-building" he envisions.

...THE FACTS: Some of the proposals the Obama administration has floated in budget negotiations with Congress would ask Medicare beneficiaries to pay more. Among them: revamping co-payments and deductibles in ways that could raise costs for retirees and increasing premiums for certain beneficiaries.

...THE FACTS: Obama has claimed an increase of some 500,000 manufacturing jobs over the past 29 months. But this is cherry picking by the president. From the beginning of Obama's term 3 1/2 years ago, manufacturing jobs have declined by more than 500,000, according to the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Manufacturing jobs have been on a steady decline for nearly two decades.

...THE FACTS: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's proposal is actually aimed at encouraging investment in the U.S., not overseas.

...THE FACTS: Biden wasn't referring to any Medicare plan of Romney or running mate Paul Ryan, but to the consequences of fully repealing Obama's health care law, which is unpopular with seniors even though it has sweetened Medicare in certain ways. A Medicare plan put forward by Ryan in Congress would have no immediate effect because it would apply only to future retirees.

(The Associated Press)

Well, knock me over with a feather!

In another recent development – The Daily Caller is in possession of emails between Gallup Polling employees and David Axelrod, Sr. Campaign Adviser for the Obama Campaign. These emails apparently are an attempt to bully the polling firm into a more modified methodology – especially as Mitt Romney was leading the President at the time – Gallup declined and has been threatened with a DOJ lawsuit. The DC goes on to suggest that other polling firms may have caved into the Obama Campaign’s strong-arm tactics and the result is more favorable polling for the President in other firms analysis. Read the entire story here at http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/06/justice-dept-gallup-lawsuit-came-after-axelrod-criticized-pollsters.

Making sense of the polling data showing a dead heat for an extended period of time has been a bit mind-boggling considering that Gallup, which is the most conservative polling institute (and by conservative, the meaning is a-political, suggesting careful in their analysis rather than to the right or left), has taken year by year, state by state Presidential approval polls – all of which show the President with approval ratings breaching 50% in only ten to a dozen or so (in the most recent) states. This would suggest that the polling methodology would match a nation that is far from split or evenly divided – See Analysis on electoral college here here at this blog.

To maintain a 39 state disadvantage in approval ratings for a three year period of time does not bode well for an incumbent President, therefore, polling should suggest that the incumbent would have a disadvantage out of the gate, with any challenger. The polling should suggest the same, and likely voters polled on any given day would give the challenger an advantage an advantage in those states. In using data that projects a model that is not in line with the most recent national elections, either in polling and/or predictions of election outcomes by pundits (i.e. using data from 2008 to project 2012, rather than 2010 or present available models to project 2012) is creating the allusion that one candidate has a lead or is even, when the opposite is more probable. The mood of the nation has not improved since the 2010 Congressional drubbing of the Democrats, rather it has declined. To use older models, instead of current models, as was done in 2010, makes for a shocked nation that consumes the national news outlets when the election results are tallied. National or State “mood” at the moment generally trumps candidate versus candidate polling – the best example of which was the 2009 special election for the Massachusetts Senate Seat won by Scott Brown. The Boston Globe ran a poll days before the election showing Brown’s competitor, Democrat Martha Coakley with a 15 point lead – this poll was produced by the University of New Hampshire – In fact, the Globe was so convinced that on the eve of the election a screen shot of the outcome suggested by the Globe showed Coakley with a sweeping win! That was removed once the “news” of the screenshot went viral. The outcome of that election, with the dead voting and the ballots overstuffed was a 5 point lead for Brown. With the current mood of the nation, and the tone of negativity and divisiveness coming from the Obama Campaign, one would suggest an electoral projection that gives the Republican Candidate, Mitt Romney, a solid advantage at the moment. The fact that the AP was compelled to “Fact Check” the President’s campaign speech and honestly report the facts as have been suggested by the Romney Campaign is also telling. Whether the national news organizations will report this particular gem from the AP is another story entirely – and a screen shot appears below to confirm its very existence.

Finally the fact that the race appears close is favoring the challenger rather than the incumbent, call this assertion crazy if one must, but consider that in fundraising appeals from both sides – the race is a tie! This induces the recipients who favor one candidate over another to send more than the usual donation. In the latest FEC filings, the candidate that brought in the most individual donations under $200 from all areas, including urban areas where they have been weak in previous reporting, is Mitt Romney. Therefore, it appears that those pollsters who intended or were coerced (see Daily Caller) into a more favorable poll for the President have unintentionally helped the Romney Campaign – oh the irony.



AP Fact Check Obama Speech 1


AP Fact Check Obama Speech 2


AP Fact Check Obama Speech 3

Christian Witch Hunt? Chick Fil A Original Interview, Taken out of Context – Fueled by Boston and Chicago’s Mayors and the Press – The First Amendment

Mr. Dan Cathy - Who Publicly Funded Muppet's Attacked - Unjustly - image from chick-fil-a-junkie.com

In the past few weeks, the “controversy” surrounding one of American’s finest fast food chains, has blown up into a national, anti-Christian, anti-business, rant by the American Press, the UK Press and the mayors of Boston and Chicago. According to the aforementioned, a fast food chain, owned and operated by a Baptist Family, is not welcome to open in either Boston or Chicago due to their “anti-gay marriage” stance, which has morphed into something near “hate crime” status. The fact that none of the aforementioned is true is beside the point; the Press and both mayors are running with it as fast as they can.

In an article from Reuters “Boston mayor to anti-gay-marriage Chick-fil-A: stay away” notes that the Menino has banned the food chain Chick-fil-A, whose president has publicly opposed same-sex marriage, urging the chicken sandwich sellers to stay out of Boston…the chain took heat from Menino, gay rights activists and even the Muppets. (The Muppets, one should be reminded are publicly funded puppets.)

The Daily Mail then follows with ” Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to block Chick-fil-A from building in Chicago after gay marriage scandal! One get’s the gist of the nature of the article from the headline.

What exactly did Mr. Cathy, of Chick-Fil-A say that was so anti-homosexual, so hateful, so scandalous? The original article, available on-line and easily accessible in the event any of the aforementioned, either politicians and/or the press, have a no handle on how to Google, one merely types in Baptist Press Service, does a quick search on their site and in a blink of an eye – the actual interview that is so controversial appears. No kidding that simple.

The gist of the interview is that the man in question, and family who run the business, do so from a Christian perspective, in the way they treat their staff and customers alike, apparently that works well. Moreover, in this interview, there is a segment on Christian Businesses, which is addressed, as such by the same “Anti-Gay” Mr. Cathy, as follows: “There is no such thing as a Christian Business” (BNP), rather the family that owns the chain operates the business on their Christian principals and faith. When asked about family and marriage, Mr. Cathy mad a remark that many a politician has made – including the President, past Presidents, and those who, for either personal faith reasons, or political reasons, not they are for traditional family marriage. In the case of the aforementioned politicians this is usually in response to a question on Gay Marriage, however, in Mr. Cathy’s case – it was not. One cannot find, either implied, or subliminally designed, a comment or question in the article below that specifically points one finger at anyone who is Gay/Lesbian/Transgender or purple – it just states that man believes in traditional marriage – which is in line with every single religion in the world, with a few exceptions – most of the practice of multiple wives, or even harems, is in the historical context as now, marriage is mainstreamed worldwide.

Therefore, what else is riding the wave of attack on this one man, who committed no crime, or slur or otherwise towards any “special interest group”, or indeed treated anyone differently from anyone else. One can imagine given the multiple of video’s on his site about how his employees are trained, that should a gay couple decide to hold their reception Chick Fil A- they would be greeted politely- served publicly and given the same treatment as anyone else – however, that has never been tested in Boston or Chicago, where the city leaders found it necessary to react first to some advantage.

Or perhaps there was a different reason. That being that the individual in question owns a Christian Business and is a Christian. Going back a few months, there was a bit of a dust up between the Catholic Church and the Obama administration over the church being forced to offer services contrary to their tenants of faith. It was, in a manner of speaking an assault on all Catholics, all Christian’s or any one of faith (including Christian denominations, as well as Muslims of faith) and played fast and loose with the Constitution – separation of church and state – works both ways.

Now, maybe the Obama administration and the press and the mayors of Chicago and Boston might think that the Baptists, maybe not the heavyweights that the Catholics are, so we can easily shut down the business, which will cost jobs, and revenue in both cities, as there is no need to have someone of faith, who insists that the business is run on Christian Principle but is not a Christian Business, open a restaurant due to being for traditional marriage.

In doing so they are not protecting any specific group, they are, however, attacking a rather large chuck of the American Public – those who practice religion – and happen to not be shy about it – therefore, that brings up a violation of the U.S. Constitution: Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech for starters. Even if Mr. Cathy has said, “and I especially oppose gay marriage” it would not have been unconstitutional and therefore, as he was not taking steps to further his faith in traditional marriage, only open a business in a city, employ people and pay taxes, one has to wonder. What else could it be?

Maybe someone in the family gave a donation to the Republican National Committee in this election year? Is that possible? (Open Secrets.org)

Would government officials and the press go after a company that had given monies to the Republicans? – One might want to ask those Guitar Making Guru’s in Tennessee, who were shut down, for not one violation, just suspicion of – losing 300 jobs, plus – Gibson Guitars. – They also gave to Republicans.

If this is the case, then poor Mr. Cathy is in serious trouble in today’s United States, as he has a double problem – First, he’s a Christian, and unabashed about how he runs his life and business, second he’s a Christian who owns a successful business, and three, he may be related to someone who gave money to people that neither Menino, Emanuel or the Press are particularly crazy about – Conservatives or Republican politicians or party.

The real truth is there is no scandal, there is nothing but a persecution of a man for following his faith, making a statement of faith, and then becoming a success – it can be applied to so many, and yet, not in the United States apparently.
The full interview:


Original Interview from the Baptist Press News Service:

CARY, N.C. (BP) -- Dan Cathy oversees one of the country's most successful businesses. As president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, Cathy leads a business with 1,608 restaurants that had sales of more than $4 billion dollars last year. They sell chicken and train employees to focus on values rooted in the Bible.

His father, S. Truett Cathy started the business in 1946, when he and his brother, Ben, opened an Atlanta diner known as The Dwarf Grill (later renamed The Dwarf House). In 1967, his father opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta. Today, Chick-fil-A is the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States based on annual system-wide sales.

Dan Cathy's success has not erased the biblical values he learned as a child in a Baptist church. He is a warm, common man who is deeply committed to being a faithful Christian witness. And he is fully involved in New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ga. He drives Chick-fil-A's efforts to provide genuine hospitality, ensuring that customers have an exceptional dining experience in a Chick-fil-A restaurant. Based on Matthew 5:41, Cathy is on a mission to provide customers with "second-mile" service -- exceeding even the highest expectations of a typical fast-food restaurant.

"We don't claim to be a Christian business," Cathy told the Biblical Recorder in a recent visit to North Carolina. He attended a business leadership conference many years ago where he heard Christian businessman Fred Roach say, "There is no such thing as a Christian business."

"That got my attention," Cathy said. Roach went on to say, "Christ never died for a corporation. He died for you and me."

"In that spirit ... [Christianity] is about a personal relationship. Companies are not lost or saved, but certainly individuals are," Cathy added.

"But as an organization we can operate on biblical principles. So that is what we claim to be. [We are] based on biblical principles, asking God and pleading with God to give us wisdom on decisions we make about people and the programs and partnerships we have. And He has blessed us."

Rather than leading from his corporate office in Atlanta, Cathy chooses to spend the majority of his time traveling to the chain's growing family of restaurants and interacting with Chick-fil-A's committed team members. His actions stem from a belief that working in the field provides a clearer understanding of the needs of Chick-fil-A customers. Leading from the front line also enables him personally to convey his servant spirit to the chain's 61,000-plus employees.

Cathy believes strongly that Christians are missionaries in the workplace. "Jesus had a lot of things to say about people who work and live in the business community," he said. His goal in the workplace is "to take biblical truth and put skin on it. ... We're talking about how our performance in the workplace should be the focus of how we build respect, rapport and relationships with others that opens the gateway to interest people in knowing God.

"All throughout the New Testament there is an evangelism strategy related to our performance in the workplace. ... Our work should be an act of worship. Our work should be our mission field. As long as we are stateside, let's don't think we have to go on mission trips by getting a passport. ... If you're obedient to God you are going to be evangelistic in the quality of the work you do, using that as a portal to share [Christ]," he said.

When asked if Chick-fil-A's success is attributed to biblical values, Cathy quickly said, "I think they're inseparable. God wants to give us wisdom to make good decisions and choices." Quoting James 1:5, he spoke of how often he asks God for wisdom.

"Frequently Jesus challenged us to just ask ... we're simply not asking as often as we should. We need to be more faithful to depend on a God who does love us and wants to have a relationship with us, and wants to give us the desires of our hearts."

There is another success story attributed to Cathy's organization. They have a positive influence in the world of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) football.

There was a time when the Atlanta college football bowl game, which is now named after Chick-fil-A, was called the Peach Bowl. The annual bowl features teams from the ACC and the SEC. It struggled for a long time. Then 15 years ago the Chick-fil-A organization got involved. It was rebranded as the Chick-fil-A Bowl and has been incredibly successful with 15 consecutive sellouts.

"We are the only bowl that has an invocation. It's in our agreement that if Chick-fil-A is associated in this, there's going to be an invocation. Also, we don't have our bowl on Sunday, either," Cathy said.

In 2008 Chick-fil-A began sponsoring a Chick-fil-A Kickoff game matching two of the nation's top teams and hosted on the first weekend of the season in the same stadium (Georgia Dome) as the Chick-fil-A Bowl. This year Chick-fil-A will host two kickoff games, one on Friday and one on Saturday.

"That's never been done before," he said.

The pair of Chick-fil-A Kickoff games is expected to generate more than $60 million in economic impact. The bowl website describes the event as "a college football celebration of epic proportions."

When questioned about Chick-Fil-A's "Closed on Sunday" policy Cathy responded, "It was not an issue in 1946 when we opened up our first restaurant. But as living standards changed and lifestyles changed, people came to be more active on Sundays."

The policy has not changed over the years as malls began changing their policies by opening on Sundays.

"We've always put in our lease that we will be closed on Sundays," Cathy said. "We've had a track record that we were generating more business in six days than the other tenants were generating in seven [days]."

"While developers had no identity whatsoever with our corporate purpose to 'glorify God and be a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and have a positive influence on all that come in contact with Chick-fil-A,' they did identify with the rent checks that we wrote to the mall, that were based on our sales.

"So, they would make an exception for Chick-fil-A when they wouldn't make an exception for anybody else, simply because they knew we would pay them more in rent than any other tenant would that was open even seven days a week."

The company invests in Christian growth and ministry through its WinShape Foundation (WinShape.com). The name comes from the idea of shaping people to be winners.

It began as a college scholarship and expanded to a foster care program, an international ministry, and a conference and retreat center modeled after the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove.

"That morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries," Cathy added.

Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.

"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.

"We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.

"We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

(Baptist News Service Article)
>
Anyone sane can understand that man was talking on a personal level, and anyone is challenged to find the word “gay”, “homosexual”, or other in the above referenced article – it is simply not there, and neither is any “subliminal context”. Witch Hunt, one has to wonder who’s next?

2012 – Trashing Rick Perry – From Conspiracy Theorists Attacks on Personal Life to Education, the reality of a Strong States Rights Candidate

Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, Sticks to his Guns (image: sodaheadblog)

Rick Perry, the Governor of Texas, and, at the moment, at or near the top of polls for the 2012 GOP field, has taken a lot of flak from the press for his positions on everything from States Rights to Education. There are those who may try to tie Perry to former President Gorge W. Bush based on geography alone, when there is little basis - other than both men are from Texas and both are designated as Republicans. It is a fact of modern media, which has a vested interest it appears, in promoting candidates of choice, rather than merely reporting unbiased facts, that parsing of a phrase, or the unwillingness or inability to research thoroughly, allows for blatant falsehoods to appear, in print, the airwaves and digital media. It is not Perry alone, as it applies to any conservative that rising in the polls, and who appears able to unseat President Obama.

A recent Gallup poll shows the President with a 38% approval rating, the lowest, to date, of his career. In addition, generic ballots pitting the President against an unnamed Republican gives a 5 point advantage to the Republican. This makes any Republican or Conservative Candidate a target.


From off the wall to Mainstream:

Politicotakes a look at what Rick Perry may or may not have said regarding Social Security as a “Ponzi Scheme”, specifically in his book, “Fed Up”. Perry’s book, the article notes, has been gone over with a fine tooth comb by both opposition research and the media (is that one in the same?) for any hint of inaccuracy. Perry is sticking to his guns, Texas Style, and unlike other GOP candidates of the past, he is giving clear and direct answers, unapologetically standing up for what he believes and what he has said. The Gist, a Perry spokesman gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal, in which is downplayed what the Governor might have said about Social Security, and how he feels about the issue now (as a Ponzi Scheme). Not to be deterred, Perry addressed critics, telling them that he has not changed his mind, and if they want a reference to read the book. (He then goes on to correct them as to what is contained versus what is reported.) Politico closes the article:

“The whole episode underscores how difficult "Fed Up!," which strongly favors states' rights and is getting picked over by reporters and opposition researchers alike, will be for Perry to explain on the trail.
Discussions of major changes to Social Security are alarming to seniors, and while there hasn't yet been public polling data on how the "Ponzi scheme" point plays in Florida, there likely will be.
For Perry, saying a version of "that's not what I said" is unlikely to do the trick.” (Politico 8/28/11 (latest update)

One might not like it when a Politician tells the truth, in pure straight Texas Talk, however, Perry makes his point, and makes it well – he also does not just say “That’s not what I said”, he specifically points to what was written in the book, or smartly, tells those naysayers, to go and buy a copy.”


From the Dallas Blog comes another angle of insanity when it comes to “opposition research”. ”Who's Behind 'Perry a la Clinton' Myth?” by Tom McGregor outlines, in detail, the ridiculous antics of someone who may or may not be playing with all 52 cards, and or, knows exactly what they are doing, vis a vis the “opposition”. a Texas based, member of the GOP, one Brandon Morrow, has been emailing whoever will listen (especially MSNBC), regarding Governor Perry and attendance at Strip Clubs, which, when confronted, with emails sent in the past by this particular person, regarding former President George Bush Sr., involved in a sex ring (seriously), the obvious crank, blocked Dallasblog’s email. However, Dollars to Donuts, MSNBC, and any nutty professor, will be spouting this as truth. After all, the person sending the emails is allegedly a Republican, so it must be true – however, as anyone with any sense understands political parties, like any other organization are made up of an entire body of people, some of which are well, less stable than others, and constantly seeking attention. Watch for this story to gain some legs, but given Perry’s obvious talent for standing up for himself, it will likely be very short-lived and confined to the Campus and MSNBC.

From My Sanantonio.com comes a different take on Perry being like former President Clinton, in a positive spin (no kidding), the article “Perry comparisons: Thompson, Clark or ... Clinton?” by Peggy Fikac reviews the comparison of late to Perry’s quick rise in the polls (see Thomas and Clark and Clinton), of the three, Clinton and Perry are compared by Ms. Fikac, comparing and contrasting campaign style and strategy, specifically when it comes to the all important south, where other GOP candidates cannot have a difficult time of it. Fickac’s article is supported by the 2008 election, and the fact that both Thompson and Huckabee played a part in knocking out one Mitt Romney, who did just fine in the northern tier states, but could not hold the south (and that is still open for debate – in a GOP contest, not a general election). It is that all important South and Midwest that brought Clinton the Presidency and it will be the same for the GOP candidate that can claim an affinity for the south and or its cousin the mid-west. '

Although, this blogger is Massachusetts born and bred, with a penchant for “Commonwealth Pride”, the reality of another “Kennedy-in GOP clothing” (or any nominee Republican coming from this particular state or points north) is limited. This due to the fact that on both fiscal and social issues, those politicians in the northeast, must, in order to gain election in the first place, compromise conservative issues to the point where, they no longer resemble conservatives – giving rise to the moniker: RHINO (Republican in name only). It is hardly fair, specifically when there are qualified candidate, however, it makes Romney’s road to the White House, a bit more difficult.

From Texas to Massachusetts, Education and Rick Perry.

So much has been written and touted about the press regarding Rick Perry as the destroyer of education (apparently shrinking the size of the State Government, cutbacks to teachers, and butting heads with the Teachers Union equals lower grades in Texas than elsewhere). Unfortunately, one can easily find that the facts are further than the “Truth” being spun by the usual oppositions (The Press and Pundits, and the Teachers Unions).
One particular source came from NBC, parent company of MSNBC, all owned by General Electric, which CEO has an “in” at the White House with the current administration (conspiracy theory – or Fact?)

NBC in connection with the national PTA (parent and teachers association), has a website that allows one to find out how their school district is faring on a national average. The project allows parent to see which schools are faring better than others, and gives a wealth of information on the nation’s public schools, as well as a scorecard. When one uses this database to find out how a school district is performing, one notes a huge difference between Massachusetts (which state allegedly has the best nations score card out of eleven states that competed for Federal Funding) and Texas? Texas schools Massachusetts in this particular “competition”.

Going from State Capital to State Capital:

Boston East Boston High School has a graduation rate of 55%, while Austin, Texas , Austin High School, has a graduation rate of 88%, or above average. Going through Massachusetts mid sized cities one finds the following: Springfield Central High School, graduation rate 78%, Holyoke High School, 64%, New Bedford: 58%, and Lowell, at 75%. Texas, on the other hand: Dallas High School is at 56%, Corpus Christie at 78%.

Therefore, one finds the same fluctuations in results from district to district and school to school, between Texas and the 10 States (9 and D.C.) that received extra Federal Funds in Race to the Top Program with similar results. Therefore, throwing money at the “problem” apparently does little to “fix it”. (Given the fact that these results are based on 2010 results, and Massachusetts latest scorecard is, in a word, dismal, in that the average student in 10th grade scores in the 50% percentile in reading: (See Article on Illinois Drops Standard Test Component, compared to Massachusetts 2010 released scores),

Therefore, one can kick that can down the proverbial spin road, as Texas Schools under Perry apparently are as good or better than those states receiving “extra funds” (i.e. stimulus!!) for education. Frankly, that plays in Perry’s favor.
Again, it is too early in the 2012 contest (although some might argue the opposite) and there are other candidates that may still enter the race (September), which would change the front runner, or give them at the very least fits (be it Romney or Perry), however, it is refreshing when candidates stand up for their records, are adult enough to admit when something that they proposed did not work, and stand firm in their beliefs when they are questioned by an obviously hostile and biased press.

Ron Paul Supporter Digs Deep on Ad Seeking Sexual “Misconduct” Dirt on Rick Perry, San Francisco Chronicle Takes the Bait!

Handful of Protesters in NH for Perry Event - Media Blows out of Proportion - image Pegasus News dot com

A Ron Paul Supporter (Ron Paul, being a Libertarian running as a Republican for President, having a following that is rather dedicated) had taken out an ad in a Texas paper asking for information from prostitutes and others of the same ilk, to come forward with information regarding any dalliances with the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry. The supporter is seen by the media (at large) as a “Republican” simply because he supports Ron Paul, who is labeled as a Republican (while truly not fitting the mold, with the exception of some economic theories), therefore, if this one so-called Republican, is seeking dirt on the Governor, then – “it must be true!” The Gate also refers to Karl Rove’s dislike of the 10 year Texas Governor, as additional “proof” that there’s problems with Rick Perry’s Character.
What is most amazing in all of this, is why certain print plus web publishers are surprised when the quarterly audits are out, and they show a loss of circulation and impressions – again. (Something like the monthly “surprise” in an increase in unemployment by the administration – there is a trend here.)

Call this blog crazy, however, given the fact that Rove is not happy with Perry is obvious – he’s part of the Texas Republican establishment, and supported Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s bid for the Governor’s office. Rove also is not enamored of Sarah Palin, who stuck her nose into Texas politics and supported Perry – who bested Kay Bailey – no one – surprisingly was shot. (Disclaimer: This is a joke based on the current state of the media ready to jump on anything as “proof”.)

How “dangerous” is Rick Perry as a candidate? (Dangerous to the DNC) – Apparently very: given the increasing number of ridiculous and negative articles, including this gem from the New York Times “For better or worse, Perry echoes Bush in many ways. Could that cost him swing voters?”
Therefore, on the one hand in San Francisco Gate Land – Perry is a possible sex fiend, began a Ron Paul Supporter is digging for dirt, and Karl Rove dislikes him, on the other hand, in New York Times Land, Perry’s a lot like Bush!

Give us all a break – and watch “The Undefeated!” – Stephen K Bannon’s gift to the nation on how the media can twist, turn and destroy a candidate, (or try to in the case of Palin), with malicious intent, not caring a whit if what they print is true, if what they broadcast is fact, as long as it is helping a “Progressive”. They apparently also do not care much about their stockholders or employees, who are disappointed financially and for the most part unemployed due to the “rising cost of printing the papers” and the decline in circulation.

Herein lays the deal. Although this blog has not committed to a candidate, as the preferred “horse” has not yet entered the race”, it is the absolute audacity of the press and their willingness to speculate the news, right or wrong, that is most annoying. Although Palin has not yet announced, at the rate the Press (both print and broadcast (blogs well, there are blogs, as is this one – for the most part opinion about facts sometimes with references sometimes without), Governor Rick Perry will make Sarah Palin appear to be the most electable Republican in the bunch – which may have been the plan all along – or not (Anyone jumping on that conspiracy theory?)

It is the fact that someone is standing up, a political newcomer to the press that does not leave their safety zone of Progressive think to actually ask questions, and report realistically, it is the fact that Perry actually stands up for his beliefs, which, apparently he is finding out does not play well with the Press. It appears that he may be undaunted. With one exception:

In a recent visit to New Hampshire Governor Perry, who, according to “The State”, was greeted by “protesters” even though he has so far, drawn the biggest crowds to the traditional Republican Primary events in that State. Those protesters, holding signs and dissatisfied with the Texan’s Reponses are one former State Democrat office holder and a few community organizers (see photos) (Note: New Hampshire is now a Red State, increasing its conservative base from fleeing Massachusetts conservatives (causing a loss of a Congressional Seat in the Bluest State.), and a “community organized group” - the state failed to mention the size of the group. However, WMUR, out of Manchester New Hampshire set a different tone on the “incident” – which is worth the read. (Due to the nature of the reporting - it is reporting!

Therefore, if Perry, in an authentic Texas manner (note to New York Times, Texas is a large state, and has many politician’s, both Democrats and Republicans, and not all Republican’s are like Bush! (playing the Bush Card in desperation), can stand up to the media (a la Palin) that will endear him to the rest of the nation (including Republican’s (who are not so moderate they might as well be Democrats, Democrats, who have not lost their minds and gone over to the “progressive” end of the party and most importantly independents who are looking for a straight shooter (from the hip, either by word or deed). The more the let looses it (and that is becoming glaringly apparent) the higher Perry’s polls will go.
The thought now that one of the Republican’s in the field cannot beat Obama in November should be a given, the nation has had it, and therefore, the job is to pick the right Republican, not necessarily the one the beltway would like to have as the nominee or the New York Times and co is comfortable with (watch for good press, it’s not a good sign), or Karl Rove Likes a lot, or the list goes on. The most authentic, non-groomed, under coached individual who has experience in government at the state level, is the most likely to be able to at least attempt to get us out of this mess – so to those voters who are on the fence this early, start digging and do your homework.

To every single one of the Republican Candidates – Visit Massachusetts!! Do not abandon us for the sake of the GOP – if you have Tea Party leanings, there are Tea Party’s across the state (See Scott Brown vs. Coakley) – it is not a “Winner Take All State”, and if anyone of you would like to stick it to another Republican candidate, this would be the place to campaign – it’s an hour and a half from New Hampshire to the Middle of Massachusetts and the Western Part of the state – Note to Guvnor Perry – Western Massachusetts residents have often wished to secede from the Commonwealth. You might find a stop in Worcester or for that matter the Springfield area, would contain supporters, in the form of Republicans, Tea Party, Green Party, Unenrolleds (which are the majority of vote share in the State) and yes, Democrats.

Rick Perry - Media Goes Into Overdrive – MSNBC Hosts Embarrass Themselves - Stewart – Jon Stewart – Skewers Media!

Maddow, Shultz and Matthews - One's Fictional "News" Source - image mediaite.com

From: Mediaite.com What’s happened to Jon Stewart? Stewart, a comedienne political pundit, apparently goes to the dark side, as MSNBC, in its usual ridiculous partisan style, makes claims regarding Conservatives that are simply over the top – In the video from Mediaite.com shown below, Stewart shows some commons sense with a bit of humor. Stewarts ratings, have taken late night’s 18-49 year demographic from NBC’s Jay Leno, and with this new twist, and the obvious angst against the media and current economic and political situation, is watched by more in that same Demographic than the target of the clip below – MSNBC.

Rick Perry, upon his entrance to the national stage, immediately shot past Michelle Bachmann and Mitt Romney in the polls, which led to:

”Klein: Is Perry Too European to Be U.S. President?”(Bloomberg)

”Perry can unify some parts of GOP, but all of it?”>(Kansas City Star)

Perry Draws Criticism for Noted Texas Talk(Your News Now Austin)

”Just Because Perry’s Undefeated Doesn’t Mean He’s a Good Campaigner”(From NPR)

”Perry Has Texas in Shambles(From Eastern Iowa Gazette)

The above from one Google News Alert! Considering Rick Perry is averaging 100 plus “Google News Alerts” per day (outpacing: Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich), and the majority is similar to the above – Perry must be thanking God that he’s not a Conservative Woman!! (Or for that matter, any woman who attempts to run for President be they Conservative or Democrat (See Hillary Clinton).

One person who is most likely grateful for the lack of Media angst (although it still exists) would be Sarah Palin, as her bus tour headed back to Alaska for the first day of school (her youngest daughter did accompany the family on this trip), the media was still wondering why?!! Why the “abrupt” decision to halt an Iowa Bus Tour?!!! Perhaps it was the fact that the road was being hogged by Greyhound One, and its caravan of SUV’s? Regardless, for now, Perry is taking the heat off of Palin, and the fact that the media has gone so overboard in such a short period of time, leaves one wondering if Perry’s candidacy was not without some design – When Palin makes her announcement in September, the media will, perhaps be worn out by the Texan, and have little left to skewer Palin (although that won’t happen in the real world).

In reality, the GOP field has a lot to offer the nation, which is why, with each entrant onto the national stage, the media seeks to find someone more suitable, knowing full well that no GOP candidate would suffice, unless Barack Obama quickly changed parties in a last ditch effort to gain reelection.

Moreover, this is not to say that each candidate should not be fully vetted by the public, however, this is made increasingly difficult, as the press is not grounded in reality, rather in ideology - to the point where there is a growing lack of trust in media in general. This obviously does no service to the nation, regardless of partisan politics, the public will vote, and it is increasingly probable that vote would be cast for a Republican. It would be hopped that, in some Utopian world, the media would take a fair and hard look at each candidate comparatively, including Candidate Obama, in order to give the country a fair shot at recovery. That is, if anyone is still listening.

Watch the video; it is both funny and to the point.

Why The GOP Presidential Field Is Insufficient and There Simply is No Candidate that Will Work for the American People.

Perry and Bachmann - Fear from the Left - Translates into "Ridiculous Press" - image Newsmax

With Texas Governor, Rick Perry’s entrance into the political arena of Presidential politics, the resounding theme from the media in general is one of anticipation, as in, what else you got? The problem is, that regardless of who runs for office on the GOP ticket, be they a moderate Republican, a staunch fiscal conservative or a candidate that supports both fiscal and social conservative issues, a candidate that supports both fiscal and social issues, and is also Christian, and lastly, a candidate that would combine all of the above, none of them, to the eye of the media, would be sufficient to run this nation.
The problem with the GOP or the Tea Party for that matter, is that no matter who is “leading” or a “leader” (a strong personality that has the ability to make sound statements that resonate with those that share the same ideology), is, simply, they are not Progressive Democrats or outright Socialists. Anyone expressing values, be they fiscal or moral, is anathema to those who would see the nation return to a Constitutional form of Government. Therefore, the media will never be honest, or positive about any one of the GOP candidates. In this specific cycle, the reason is clear, crystal clear.

During the two years leading up to the 2008 election (and previously) George Bush was abused by the press, regardless of whether the man was right or wrong, there as a no holds barred attack, and this attack went on day after day, in print and in airwaves, with the premise that “all Republicans” were George Bush. The result, in 2006 Congress, with Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA8), a Progressive Democrat, at the helm, Bush had little he would be able to do, and the nation was run, constitutional, with the power vested, not in the President, but in the Congress and Senate. With the election of 2008, it was a similar game plan, denounce every candidate as fringe, and promote only the most Progressive Candidate – and it worked. We now have Barack Obama at the helm – a man who’s obviously tried his best, however, there have been too many factors which have led to a downward spiral in his popularity, the economy and his handling of the same, being on the top of the list. He’s lost his mojo with the public, but he’s still the champion of the media, and anyone who might apply for his job, is the enemy.

The problem with the aforementioned is: no one is listening anymore, to the right or the left of the media discourse, the appearance of bias is so great, that Joe Citizen is no longer relying on the “news” to form an opinion. This is approximately what happened to Jimmy Carter, when one is an abject failure, and the media continues to be the cheerleader, eventually the people will get tired and hire someone else, no matter what may be said of the individual (clown, cowboy, dangerous, lacking intelligence.)

Ignoring history is one of the key elements of the mistake made on a daily basis – and the rank partisanship of the media is so apparent, that it is no wonder that there is no one Republican that is in the current field that appeals to “Republican voters”.
The reality is that the GOP contest is one that is not only interesting, it is becoming more so with the entry into the race of Governor Rick Perry of Texas, as well as the potential for Palin to enter in September. With Independents, Democrats disenfranchised with the Progressive road to Economic demise, and a general sense that Mickey Mouse could do a better job; the Republican Field looks mighty interesting.

Those reading the news regularly, (or more to the point, heading to the web, reading the news, doing their own fact checking, are distraught over the inability of the administration to see the forest through the trees when it comes to kick starting the economy – there is historical evidence in place that proves there are policies that work, and those that fail – yet, they continue to follow paths that are known to fail, and continue to come up with new ideas, that sound very much like the rhetoric of the 1960’s. With street gangs, and “flash mobs” robbing stores, and causing riots, from Philadelphia to Chicago, and into the Heartland, with inflation on food and essentials rising and the paychecks going now where fast, and with a leader at the helm, that appears to be either clueless or incapable of making a sound decision, they are looking carefully at the GOP field, and making choices – one can predict with a certainty, that the GOP primary process in 2012 will draw a great deal of attention, from all voters, including the Independents, the Democrats and the Republicans who make up the much maligned Tea Party, or not. This will follow into the general election.

What’s wrong with the GOP Candidates now? According to the media, everything:
From the Daily Beast (the online version of Newsweek which is print only) comes the article: “Dominionism Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry’s Dangerous Religious Bond. This piece insists that both candidates are connected to a cult that seeks Christian domination. The surreal idea that both candidates are connected by this type of common bond, smacks of the desperation of the media, and almost parrots MSNBC’s Rachel “conspiracy theory” Maddow.

In a nation that is disenfranchised with the economy, the fact that two candidates (or all candidates) are religious is not a deterrent, rather shows stability – to the average voter. From the left point of view, Christian’s are dangerous, because?

If that aspect doesn’t’ work, let’s look at dubious fundraising, no matter how deep one has to dig to get something dubious on a candidate: Rick Perry, Politico has uncovered may count on donors who have rather deep pockets, and he may have a donor who is also a lobbyist or may receive money from a PAC! Good Grief, that man is both a Christian and is raising funds to run for President!

On the flip side, the only mention of Barack Obama’s ability to challenge a candidate came from Yahoo news: Obama’s Bus Catches Buzz:a comparison of campaign buses, Obama’s (which looks like a hearse, and Palin’s (complete with American Themes). The opening statement (paraphrased) Obama’s bus is better than Palin’s bus. Palin has yet to announce her candidacy but the media is not taking any chances.

Palin’s Bus Tour, which one can read into that road trip, the road to the White House 2012, comes under the scrutiny of Politico Sarah Palin tour comes to abrupt halt, as if Palin is undecided as to what to do next – except head back to Alaska so her younger daughter who had accompanied the family on the bus tour of American Historical sites, (and yes political arena’s), could begin the school year. Abrupt end?

Herein lays the problem, in the face of one of the worst financial crisis, as well as growing social unrest and the potential for UK Type Mob riots (refer to Philadelphia, Chicago, etc. or just Google Philadelphia Youth Gangs, the Milwaukee State Fair attacks, etc.), individuals are looking for strong leaders, with fiscal conservatism as the primary key, and an ability to have some moral authority (i.e. a faith in the Constitution as well as a religion), and is not afraid to stand up and be – themselves. It is refreshing that what the field now contains (so far) one woman who has more chutzpah than twenty men, and is fearless in the face of scorn and criticism from the left or the right. (Bachmann), one gun toting, Texan of humble birth, who is, in reality, what the American Dream is about, telling the public, you too should have opportunities, your children should have opportunity, and (paraphrasing again) “I’m going to pray for that, and then deal with the fiscal crisis – There are jobs in Texas, private sector jobs! Perry, one can well imagine, won’t cozy up to the media either, or be well treated (that’s a given) by the media, but, both candidates are being looked at closely as potential replacements for the current “non-leader.

Should Palin enter the race – or when Palin enters the race, there will be three that have been maligned, tested and are standing firm in the face of the onslaught from blogs, to crazed Progressives, who cannot get past the “tax the rich”, dogma of Obama (who should take a hard look now, at London and see what that led to (he apparently has not been briefed on our own grab and stead from the “rich” flash mobs, who break into stores, attack innocent shoppers, and basically take what they want, because someone may be “richer” than they are.

Therefore, in reality, what is wrong with the current crop of GOP candidates, is that they are – right.

Not right-wing, but just plain right, about the state of the nations economics, the U.S. standing in the eyes of the world, and the fact that America is an exceptional nation, with boundless opportunity under a free market system with fair taxes.
This does not sit well with the 20% of the nation’s Progressives.

Tough

Therefore, as these individuals who have taken their time, their treasure, and their families on the road to the GOP nomination, be they Tea Party or GOP Regular (think Mitt), with the outcome being that one will challenge an already neutered incumbent, watch for the media to attack with a vengeance, regardless of fact, or fact checking that is correct. Pay strict attention to those men and women who are in competition for a job that clearly, no one should want, unless that person is so dedicated to this nation, and believes that the United States is worth fighting for, that they are willing to take abuse 24/7 for those of us who are not as courageous. It is that one of these people will be the next President.
Recommended: The Undefeated: which will be available in September on DVD – although focused on Palin’s political rise through Alaskan Politics to the National stage, one must understand that this film not only exonerates Palin, but more to the point, shows the press and it’s tenacious resolve to destroy anyone whom they see as the enemy – It was made for Palin, yes, but it applies to every candidate, from the Tea Party member who is running for Congressional office, or the Senate, to the Presidency – watch your media carefully, both from the right and from the left, and form one’s own opinion. It is “hard work” as one Democrat this blog holds dear once announced, when told how to research a candidate and their issues, to see where they stood, and how well their ideas match their own, and then decide whom to choose – that it was hard work. Yes, it is hard work, but it is well worth the time and the trouble.

One more thing: Run Sarah Run!

MSNBC’s Maddow, Matthews and O’Donnell - See Obama Easily Re-Elected – The Press and the Battle Against Conservatives – How it will Backfire

As the 2012 campaign is in the early stages, given the fact that the lazy days of summer have not yet ended, and the GOP field is considered to be fluid at this point, and the primary battles will not begin for another five months, there are no crystal balls available to predict any outcomes at this point, not for one of the GOP candidates who will go on to campaign against President Obama or the outcome of that contest. However, polls can be seen as an indicator of what might take place in the Presidential race of 2012, specifically those that point to a nations view of a sitting President’s job performance, that is unless one factors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Press.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been used by David Axelrod, campaign manager, mentor and political guru for both the State’s Govenor Deval Patrick, but especially, President Obama. To those who view President Obama as unelectable, consider that Massachusetts’s Deval Patrick won re-election with a 39% approval rating, besting the Republican opponent, Charlie Baker, by one point. Axelrod, on the eve of the Massachusetts elections noted that he would be watching the Massachusetts Governors Race, one would think due to his close relationship with Deval Patrick, however, he has been known to repeat strategy – borrowing from Patrick and lending to Obama, right down to the slogans.

The Massachusetts race appeared, on the surface, to be going in the direction of the challenger, however, there was a third party candidate, former Democrat turned Independent, turned Democrat, Tim Cahill, who also ran for the Governor’s race. Cahill, running as an independent, ended up siphoning off enough votes to pull out a “squeaker” for Patrick, this despite the fact that the Northeast in general is known to raid nursing homes, cemeteries and ballot boxes in order to ensure that an incumbent stays in office. Should the need arise, and should one of the Conservative Candidates start polling in double digits against Obama in 2012, watch carefully for an emergence of a third party candidate that suddenly found religion as a moderate conservative. Although the entire nation is not Massachusetts (or so those living here assumed, for years calling the Commonwealth the affectionate moniker “The People’s Republic”), the politics and specifically the strategy has been exported nationwide. Suggested reading running up to 2012: ”The Bluest State: How Democrats Created the Massachusetts Blueprint for American Political Disaster”, by Jon Keller. Although it may appear on the surface, to be partisan, one should understand the Keller provides an interesting perspective on Massachusetts politics which includes both major party and the players involved: in other words, this was written as a warning – one which the rest of the nation did not hear.

Axelrod, being only human, must, therefore, rely on a Progressive Press. MSNBC, which parent company NBC is owned by GE, of Immelt fame, is one of the major “cheerleaders for the President”. Putting aside conspiracy theories regarding Immelt's close ties to the President, and the fact that GE paid no taxes, and exported jobs outside of the U.S. while working as an Advisor to President Obama, it is a stretch that those pundits on the third rated cable news network (MSNBC), are taking cues from anyone, other than their own deep rooted Progressive Ideology. At a recent panel discussion on politicsMSNBC Hosts, Rachael Maddow, Chris Matthews, and O’Donnell predicted that Obama would be reelected the AP story is of itself, not news to anyone who even stops to watch the network for more than 5 minutes, however, it is the fact that the Progressives within the Press, both on air and in print, are of the same mindset. The mindset where one can pick up any daily paper, or listen to any local or national broadcast and find that the “Republican” or “Conservatives” are derided for what-have-you, and the Democrats are held in highest esteem. Should there be a scandal associated with a politician, one finds the word “Republican” inserted before the name of the individual who has an ethics problem, however, if that politician is a Democrat, there is, for the most part, no identification of party. This is nothing new and it has been noticeable by those moderate and independents reading and watching broadcast for the past twenty years. The bias is towards conservatives as well as the State of Israel, read any article watch any political broadcast and that is what one will begin find, the use of subjective adjectives that, inserted carefully deride one party and promote another. The fact that half of the nation (approximately) supports one over the other is apparently lost on those who print and broadcast and they are also gloriously unaware of the fact that this has affected both their ratings as well as their circulation. Just ask the gloating New Corp (they are in trouble, granted, over the whole wire tapping, al la Nixon charge – another bias), who has gained where others have lost, for employing a “balance reporting style”.

Therefore, not one of the candidates in the 2012 GOP field will be given positive press, either in print or otherwise, even if they walked on water, made it rain in Texas, or basically had better, yet much different ideas on how to manage (govern) the nation. From Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin, the two most egregious Conservatives due to the fact that they are also women (and should by Progressive think, be supporting abortion rights against pro-life rights), are consistently derided – it is the adjectives, keep in mind, that tell the story to the greater public. With the aforementioned, and the recent attack from the left on “Tea Party” activism – (basically a movement, not an organization that believes we are Taxed Enough Already”), complete with the Vice President of the United States dubbing them as “Terrorists”, (the buffoons, personal opinion), one find each article or broadcast regarding the aforementioned GOP candidate and possible candidate prefaced by “Tea Party”.

Governor Rick Perry, who is on the verge of announcing his candidacy for the Presidency has given the anti-God, anti-fiscal, counter-culture, spread-the-wealth, live-in-a-commune and take me back to the sixties Progressives, a plethora of new articles and broadcasts from which to pontificate on the horrors of a Perry Presidency. He is religious, he is a Texan, a Conservative, a Republican and of course, “Tea Party” (now that they are all “Terrorists”). What of Rick Perry’s Presidential bid and the Media:
See CBS “Will Rick Perry answer the religious right's prayers?” The most feared words a Progressive believes exists in the U.S. is “Religious Right”, then read the article and look for the “key words”.

An excellent article on Perry appeared in the Texas Tribune, this follows his formative years: at Texas A&M, and is the best “biographical” piece one can find on a potential GOP 2012 candidate from the press.

The Monkey Wrench – The American Public.

The public will continue to watch the economy spiral downward, and every indicator from Moody’s to your local grocer, is indicative that it can and will get worse, regardless of Obama not having to deal with any debt ceilings after the debt ceiling has been raised by a dysfunctional Congress, until after the 2012 elections (While worry about the nations finances while on the campaign trail? – By the way – both political parties took part in this decision – never mind the fiscal ramifications.) In that instance Party is generally thrown aside while people cast their ballot for the person at the top of the ticket who would appear to be likely to solve the problem. The most recent example of this phenomenon was the election of 1980, the president: James Carter, the challenger: Ronald Reagan – who, by the way, won Massachusetts. Regan, at the time was cast as the religious, right, nutcase, conservative, not overly bright, he was, after all, only an “actor”, the in-concert press hammered day and night, until the election was over, then they went to work demeaning everything that Reagan did, was about to do, or might have done.
He was easily elected to a second term.

Rick Perry, more than any other possible candidate, is the most likely coming out of the gate, to defy the press and upset the Axelrod model. He is not Ronald Reagan, no one is, but Perry is now the one to watch. Other candidates announced worth watching, sleeper Tim Pawlenty, Michelle Bachmann, and Herman Cain. Darn that Tea Party.

Polling firm references to Consider:

Gallup Polling: Confidence In Institutions: Specifically see Newspapers, Broadcast Television and the Presidency – compare to:

Gallup Polling: Gallup Confidence in Institutions 2010

Gallup Polling Presidential Job Approval

Rasmussen Reports : Presidential Job Approval

Public Policy Polling National Miscellaneous Poll

2012 Update – Mass. Democrats Begin Campaign Against Scott Brown (R-MA) Use Cut, Cap, Balance “Vote” To “Vote” on the Budget Plan – No One Has a Plan!

Brown known to cross Party Lines: See Boston Globe:Kerry Brown image Boston.com

From the Attleboro Sun Chronicle: Massachusetts Democrats are digging deep and getting a little help from their “fact-checking” friends: (Reporting on the Democrats :)

Democrats are waging a two-front war against U.S. Sen. Scott Brown over the debt ceiling issue.

On one front, they are knocking Brown, R-Mass., for voting for a Republican plan called Cut, Cap and Balance that Democrats claim would devastate Medicare and Social Security.

The Problem is that Brown never voted for a “Plan” he voted to against Sen. Majority Leader, Harry Reid’s Plan to “table” the House Republican “Cut, Cap and Balance” plan See ABC News blog: www.blogsabcnews.com/thenote/2011/07/timing-is-everything-reid-forces-early-vote). Reid had decided on early the week the House voted to pass the bill, that it would not gain support in the Senate from Democrats.

The problem with the bill from the Democrat’s perspective was the fact that it a) allowed the President to raise the debt ceiling, b) called for budget cuts that to Congressional Discretionary Funding, one which would be spread over ten years, and c) included a Balanced Budget Amendment with riders in place to override a Balanced budget should a national security crisis arise.

Senate Democrats are against a balanced budget bill, a bill which, if passed in the Senate, would then go to all fifty of these United States for individual State Votes, there would need to be two-thirds (a majority) of the State’s voting to accent a federal balanced budget before it could become law and an actual amendment to the Constitution. This process can take decades.

Which when one understands that Democrats controlled both the House and Senate from 2006 to 2010, and maintained control of the Senate only in 2010 forward, cutting back on spending was not the rule, rather, spend with abandon is the Party mantra. It is not only the Democrats in Congress from that period forward that are to blame, Republican’s before them similarly spent the taxpayers’ dollars with abandon, however, the level of abandon was ramped up a bit (that’s sarcasm) once the Democrats took over both houses. When Obama was elected as our President, with a like minded Senate and Congress, it was debit “party time”.

Brown, who is known to take his time before making known is stand on a position, which anyone with an once of brains understands that Brown is studying the particular bill, looking at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts first and assessing the benefits for the people, not the Republican Party or the Democrat Party. He has voted for and with Democrat plans, and for Republican Plans since entering the Senate – which frankly drives everyone a bit batty (the media, the Tea Party, the Republican Party, and especially the Democrats!). Brown has an independent streak and thinks for himself.

Back to that “vote”: Reid forced the Senate to vote early on allowing the Cut, Cap and Balance to even go to the Senate floor and be “debated”, it was not an actual vote on the bill itself - it was a bill to allow debate on the plan. The Democrats, to date, have not put a budget together for the past years, (that’s right, years), rather continue to run our country on a procedure that pushes a budget down the “road” and then allows continued spending. They have no plan on the so called “Debt Ceiling’ other than to raise it and make a few billion dollars in cuts. In fact, Cut, Cap and Balance was criticized by hard-line conservatives for not going far enough!

To get the story straight and recap:

Brown voted to allow debate on a bill, he did not get a chance to actually vote for or against the bill called Cut Cap and Balance.

The Bill did not take away anyone’s entitlements (Medicare or Social Security not in danger, never were), other that Congress, allowed the debt ceiling to rise for the President (that’s called a compromise), asked for cuts that would be spread over ten years (compared to the immediate rise in the debt ceiling), and to the shock and horror of the Democrats led by Harry Reid and the President, asked that a Balanced Budget Amendment with safeguards in place, be allowed to be voted on, voted on, not passed. The Balanced Budget Amendment would then, again, take possibly decades to become law because it would have to go to each state to be voted on, would require a two-thirds majority of states voting in favor of a Balanced Budget, before it could become law.

The sad part about today’s political rhetoric is that those members of political parties that are “entrenched” (meaning one cannot pry them out of their taxpayer funded jobs even with dynamite), use flat out “lies” to slam opponents. This appears to be particularly one-sided and one can take a stab at guessing which party is guilty most of the time. (Allowing for the fact that there may be a Republican out there that acts like a Democrat – or worse, Republicans and Democrats (most often those darn “Blue Dog” Democrats (not Progressives), who cross the aisle on occasion when one party or the other has a good idea. This is, of course, infrequent.

The Cut, Cap and Balance bill was a good idea, but was killed by a straight Party Line vote in the Senate by Democrats. The Cut Cap and Balance Bill was also very popular with the American People, one can take a look at a less than Republican friendly U.S. News report “opinion” blog, on a CNN (another non-conservative news outlet) poll:

A CNN poll released Thursday shows that nearly two thirds of the American people support the "Cut, Cap, Balance" plan that passed the House of Representatives Tuesday, throwing a monkey wrench into President Barack Obama’s plan for a deal of grand design.

Therefore, Brown looked at a House Bill, that was supported by a clear majority (this is a CNN poll mind you), and voted only to allow debate in the Senate on Cut Cap and Balance - which may be why Brown continues to be popular in the state with the state’s majority of voters – unenrolled, or independents! Democrats control the majority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, all ten Congressional Seats (which will soon be all nine due to redistricting and people fleeing the State to get away from the usual high taxes and uncontrolled spending that residents are over familiar with and that has been exported nationally), and the State House, Senate and Governorship. Massachusetts has a lot of deadwood on the voters rolls (literally dead and moved individuals) which the Democrat Secretary of State refuses to remove. One can imagine why these dead and moved voters might come in handy – see 2010 election and several districts that were won by Democrats, in the waning hours with an enormous “get out the vote” effort.

In other words, they’ve (The Massachusetts Democrats) got nothing on Brown and so, they have to manufacture something!! If they have to run against his actual record, the majority who already support the Senator would be increased. The simpatico press, is going to run articles without correcting factual errors, either because a) they are clueless of the actual procedures (which is entirely possible), or b) they all happen to be Progressive Democrats. Both may be possible, which is why the Gallup Trust in Institutions poll suggests that the majority of Americans (close to 75%) do not trust what is written or broadcast.

The old adage "The Inmates are Running the Asylum" is apropro in regards to the current Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Senate of the United States of America.

Trust in Institutions - See where Media stands with Americans from Gallup Polling: image Gallup.com

GOP Field Characterized as Unpopular in Home States – Politico Dubs “Unfavorite Son Primary - Lacking Grasp of English and Common Sense

Politico Notes Romney, Pawlenty & Bachmann not blazingly popular in blue states - seriously - image NY Daily news

A slew of GOP Candidates have come under the scrutiny of Politico in the latest article to downplay the field as “lackluster” - The article title: “The GOP's unfavorite son primary”. The Premise: GOP Candidates such as Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and Michelle Bachmann are not popular in their home states and may potentially lose those states in a primary and or general election. The aforementioned were elected officials from the states of Massachusetts and Minnesota, two states that would be best categorized as “blue states” having a majority of Democrats in the legislature, with the recent exception of Minnesota, where the house flipped to the GOP column.

Romney, is not extremely popular in Massachusetts for several reasons, one of which is the fact that he appeared to run for the Presidency in 2008 rather than stay and govern. It is not without some pride in the State itself that those “on the ground” would prefer to keep their one check and balance on the political scale, than lose it to the national stage. Secondly, Romney downsized his living space in Massachusetts and purchased property over the border in the more conservative State of New Hampshire – effectively doing what so many other conservatives in Massachusetts have done over the years, bailing out of a high tax, high entitlement environment.

Pawlenty, who served two terms as governor may not have been reelected by landslides (a la a Republican in Texas), however, two terms in Minnesota is, in any universe, amazing. They also cite Michelle Bachmann’s inability to garner more than 53% of the vote in her home district, which is also in Minnesota. Politico cites the fact that Bachman’s district is leans GOP, while one with a grasp on reality understands that a district leaning GOP in states such as Minnesota and or Massachusetts (yes they exist – so far as redistricting is not complete), means the GOP candidate must rely on a lot of cross over votes from both Independents and Democrats!

Given the aforementioned, instead of labeling these three candidates as “unfavorite” (is that actually a word?) sons (no reference there to daughters) perhaps a more fair analysis would have been, that these GOP Stars were able to get elected in states where their political party was basically a third party.

On being able to carry a state in the general, the article cites Dukakis and Mondale, as examples that state “sons” can and do win in their own states. However, comparing Dukakis and Mondale (MA and MN) to Romney, Pawlenty or Bachmann is an oxymoron. The two were carried in states, not because they were widely popular, but because those two states had a well grounded Democrat machine that was able to get out the vote. However, when the residents of the Bay State are so disgusted by the economic climate (see Carter), even Massachusetts will go red (see Reagan), therefore, all bets are off regarding the three candidates.

Incidentally, if the nominee were Romney, or Pawlenty or Bachmann, losing their home state (and again with the changes in Wisconsin, that might not even be a factor), it would fall into the blue state versus “red” candidate category, rather than a nationwide assessment. One left out of the article, was the former Vice President, turned Global Warming hustler, Al Gore, who lost the state of Tennessee in the 2000 Presidential general election, and this could be for much the same reason, Gore was not from a terribly “blue” state.

Therefore, if the GOP nominee loses a state to the incumbent, Obama, it would most likely be one of ten that are on the plus side for the President as of now, and that includes Massachusetts. Although the prevailing theory is that without a strong GOP candidate (and no candidate appears strong enough for the press), that Obama will easily win reelection – which is somewhat interesting when one looks at approval ratings on a state by state basis, and finds that he is not competitive in 40 states based on Gallup’s 2010 survey (see treatment here comparing to electoral college by this author.) If one does the math, at present, and there is zero change in job approval, either up or, with the economy at the present time, down, the name that is on the GOP ticket will hardly matter – the GOP nominee, if not particularly “American Idol” material, will be given the nod, not for the love of the GOP or the nominee, but rather as a vote against the incumbent – again, refer to Jimmy Carter, who, not for nothing, lost both Massachusetts and Georgia.

Although things may turn around in the short time, it appeasers that the President is somewhat resigned to the fact that one term may be his limit, or is beginning to make a case for losing the election: A recent AP Article: Obama: My family would be fine with just 1 term speaks to the family aspect, suggesting that the family would be fine if he decided against seeking a second term. It is doubtful that he will decide not to run a second campaign, as there is not one Democrat who would want to step in and throw millions into the win in an environment where Bush would be able to be reelected - However, recent Google searches from this blog suggest that the general Democrats might not mind if Obama didn’t run either - as there is an increasing number of individuals inquiring if Bill Clinton might not run again in 2012 (obvious it is imperative the civics be reintroduced as part of the curriculum in every school in the nation.)
To recap: winning or losing the home state has little to do with winning or losing a primary and or general election, historically it means little.

Last note: Politico used the usual “expert” professor from a local university to channel the thought processes of both Bachmann and Pawlenty, which allegedly lends credence to the article.