With New Congress Ready to Take the Stage – Leadership is in question – 60% of Constituents want a new House Speaker. Hukabee enters the 2016 “crowded field”

With New Congress Ready to Take the Stage – Leadership is in question – 60% of Constituents want a new House Speaker. Hukabee enters the 2016 “crowded field”

A record number of Congressmen and women will be assuming their roles this week, the 55 new reps according to Bay News 9 made up of both Senators and Congressional Reps and one of the most historic in both numbers and diversity. Enter the Republicans, and the new Millennial.

While the conservative wing of the Republican Party has been fairly vocal, they have been stymied by that middle of the road politicians using diplomacy and appearing to get the short end of the stick. This is true of the current speaker, John Boehner, who now has multiple challengers to his position. CNN reviews one of those challengers here

It will be this week when we find whether he can hold his spot, or it will go to a newcomer.

Either way, it is far too early to tell how this Congress with a mudslide of new ideas, and cultures, will address the President as well as trend to the conservative roots.

As an aside, Mike Huckabee is clearly throwing his hat in the ring on the 2016 side. With a field crowed with moderates, and conservatives, Huckabee offers something to everyone – The reason that this blogger feels a crowded field is the best field as there are choices – and the opportunity for those on that national stage to either capitalize and reach the masses, or fizzle. The Washington Post offers an overview of Huckabee here and the troubles he may face.

Chick-Fil-A Day – Lines Out the Door Across the U.S. In Support of First Amendment

Chick-Fil-A - Lining up for Chicken and Constitutional Rights - photo: urbangrounds.com

The politically embattled fast food chain, Chick-Fil-A, saw a massive increase in customers yesterday – the day dubbed by Former Arkansas Governor and 2008 Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee called for a Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day via email and social media. Huckabee, according to the blog Gawker, saw 600,000 individuals sign-up for Huckabee’s event on Facebook alone. “A counter-protest called "National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A" was planned for this Friday, but the event's Facebook page appears to have been deleted.” (Gawker). Politicians across the nation, from Boston’s Mayor to the Mayor of Chicago and points in-between suggested that the firm be shunned (and denied access to build in these cities) because the CEO Dan Cathy expressed his view that he supported traditional marriage – to a Baptist press. The fact that the company operates on Christian principle, closing on Sundays, and treating customers as they would like to be treated, apparently did not factor into the CEO’s personal belief structure when it came to denouncing the chain as “anti-gay”. This set up both a religious backlash as well as a first amendment backlash – resulting in greater support for the food chain. The new mantra, which if one is “for traditional marriage” means that one is “anti-Gay” is generalizing to the extreme. One might even point out that Barney Frank, the retiring, openly gay Congressional Representative from the MA 4th District, got into a heated debate with MSBNC’s Chris Matthews, on the Democrat Party’s Platform inclusion of Gay Marriage as an issue:

The drafting committee has said that it will include same-sex marriage in the party platform. Matthews wondered if it would support leaving the issue up to the states or creating a federal law to allow same-sex marriage.
He asked Frank, a member of the committee, if the Democratic Party’s platform would support such a law.
"I literally don't understand what that means," Frank answered. "There is a fundamental confusion here. There has never been a practical law saying that's what marriage is."
He say that Democrats' stance on gay marriage was already clear, especially in the recent vote on the Defense of Marriage Act. Frank went on to argue that even after the Civil Rights Act, there was never a federal law passed to allow interracial marriage.
"There are other precedents," Matthews argued. He said that the Civil Rights Act was a federal law that mandated access to public accommodations.
"It says nothing about marriage, Christopher!" Frank shouted. "You are wrong, you are wrong, Christopher!"

(Huffington Post)

More on the subject from Mediate suggests “Frank made it clear he opposes such a federal law and wants to leave the issue to the states” (Video on site). Frank’s views on the subject are more centrist, which is how one would imagine that the majority of the public might be.

The extreme over-reaction to an individual (who also happens to be a large and growing employer with restaurants across the country – that might lose business, and as a result cut or not create needed jobs, apparently did not enter into the equation, specifically since there have been no charges on record for bias by this company – had there been, that would have at least lent credence to the Politician’s stance. (Making it less politically opportunistic).

The backlash by politicians and the press over the rights of Dan Cathy to hold his religious beliefs and be public about those beliefs in an interview with a religious (Baptist) press service, was seen by those standing in long-lines and in 100 degree heat, as an attack on religious freedom and perhaps more so, freedom of speech. Huckabee’s involvement can be seen from both perspectives, given the fact that he was a Baptist Minister at one point in his multi-faceted career history.
How “successful” was the day for Chick-Fil-A? – Photo’s on Huckabee’s Facebook Page, with comments, suggest it might have been more than the company could handle – just about. From Huckabee’s Fan page at www.facebook.com/mikehuckabee, one finds that the general public ate a lot of chicken in places such as: St. Augustine FL, Boone, NC, North Palm Beach, FL, Pataskala, OH, Hamilton, OH, Albuquerque, NM (where it was.100 degrees with individuals standing in a long line outside of the building), Indianapolis, IN, San Marcos, CA, State College, PA, points in-between – especially interesting were the locations in Washington, DC and The Chick-Fil-A at the University of Minnesota – all with lines out the door. (One can view the photos by visiting the link provided to Mike Huckabee’s Fan Page).

The politicizing of this event, by both major political party’s (on the Democrat Side re: Gay Marriage and on the GOP side – Individual Rights) somehow does not begin to actually do justice to any side of the argument. For starters, both those who support Gay Marriage as well as those, who for Religious or traditional reasons (that being tradition of marriage – secular), both have a right to say, in this nation, what they choose. If either group cares to protest, there is that right to assemble. The “group identity”, which academics and politician’s neatly place one, in a category (Black, White, Gay, Straight, Woman, Asian, ad nauseum) may make those individuals who strongly believe in the Progressive “class system” (that of elites and then the masses), a bit horrified when one “group” (i.e. “right-wing-religious-zealots” (or to the point, those who, for reasons either First Amendment or Religious (both protected by the Constitution), stands up and protests. The act of buying chicken is not anti-anyone - t – the point is Freedom from Politician’s and over-reach by the Government (and possibly freedom from fund-raising off the issue by any politician regardless of Party) It also doubtful those who are firmly hold the belief that to disagree is to “hate”, will ever understand that there are issues that are multi-faceted, and related to personal liberty – including the rights of those who believe in Traditional Marriage, as well as those who believe in Gay Marriage. Both sides of the debate should be able to stand for and support – by protest, in print, or by what-ever means their point of view.

2012 GOP Update – Bachmann Leads Romney in Latest Iowa Poll

Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) has taken the lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, in the latest Iowa polling data from American Research Group. Michelle Bachmann leads with 21%, followed by Romney at 18%, Ron Paul at 14% and unannounced, Sarah Palin at 11%, the balance of the candidates are in single digits with 10% undecided.

Romney, who ran for the GOP nomination in 2008, lost the Iowa Caucus in the 2008 Republican Primary to former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, went on to win New Hampshire, and lost in all important South Carolina.

Trump Expected To Announce Today – Under Pressure by NBC – Network Calling Trump on the Hour – Offers $60Million. Huckabee Endorses.

Trump to Announce Presidential Run Decision Today, According to the NY Post(Photo: impeachmentofobama.com

Donald Trump - Is he in, or is he out for 2012? That’s the question that the New York Post headlines will be answered soon: “Big Trump News Today”

Donald Trump plans to announce today whether he'll fire himself from "Celebrity Apprentice," a source told The Post last night.
The billionaire businessman, who has been mulling a run for the White House, has been trying to decide whether to trade his TV show for politics.
He is scheduled to meet with NBC's bosses early this morning to give them his final decision -- just hours before they are supposed to present their plans for the new fall season to advertisers.

Apparently, this is supposed to take place this morning, when NBC unveils its fall lineup – but, according to the UK’s “Daily Mail” the line-up has already been released, and it includes the “Celebrity Apprentice”, however, it is with or without Trump. NBCs, Greenblatt, apparently had no clear answer as to Trumps decision, however - “Asked if this meant NBC had a commitment from Mr. Trump that he wouldn't run for president, he said: 'We're putting a pin in that for the next 24 hours or so. Things will become clearer soon.” (Daily Mail)
However, The Mail went on to speculate about Trumps future plans, citing the announcement from Trump on Fox News’ “Huckabee”, immediately following the Governors decision not to enter the race, and Trumps response, that it was not “bad news’ for him that Huckabee had bowed out, rather, that although Huckabee would make a great president (paraphrased), other candidates are well pleased.

Governor Huckabee returned the Trump compliment by endorsing Trump’s candidacy.(State Column)

When Huckabee made his decision public, Trump apparently, must have been one of the few individuals who actually knew Huckabee’s decision, with the exception of family; Huckabee held his cards close until the final moments. With the immediate appearance of the Trump segment, which was obviously pre-recorded, it brings up the question as to just how close Trump has become to the former Governor, and Huckabee supporters, though Face book and other social network sites are now asking if there might not be a Trump-Huckabee ticket in the works – It all remains to be seen, however, for months Huckabee has spoken publicly and positively about a Trump candidacy.

As to NBC’s courtship of Trump “not to run”, Politico, on Friday reported that the network was calling Trump “hourly” and that the offer for Trump to stay on was $60 million.

One has to take into consideration several factors, one of which, although $60 Million may sound like a great deal to the average citizen and even some new members of Congress, it is a drop in the proverbial hat to Trump, who is estimated to be worth billions. Trump has noted several times that he would rather not run for the Presidency, but feels he has little choice as he feels he can right the nation economically - No matter how one slices it, that type of commitment comes from a moral perspective – which would appeal to Mike Huckabee, as well as the millions (twenty plus) of Evangelicals that would cast their vote for man. As well as moderate democrats who are disenfranchised from the current administration, republicans who, contrary to the popular media theory and certain polls by Public Policy Polling, suggesting that Trump is only relevant to the “birther issue”, independents, and surprising, the upcoming “youth vote”. That would be the new generation of voters eligible to go to the polls for the first time in 2012. With a certain segment of the electorate, they may not be able to pass a U.S. Citizenship test (which subject was brought up on Mike Huckabee’s show this weekend), but they do know celebrities, and to the average student voter, Trump, trumps Obama for name recognition – they also listen to him – not the birther issue, they give that a pass, it is the issue of securing our border, and bringing jobs back to the U.S.. The unemployment rate about teens and those new college graduates is higher than the national average by some estimates as much as 3 to 1.

Those that would hope Trump is finished (and not having a crystal ball, the announcement today, may include Trump’s bowing out of a race), and point to his big dollar contracts with NBC and ratings as the reason he would not run, apparently missed a recent interview where Trump opined on the attacks he’s suffered by just suggesting a run, let alone what will take place if he does run for the GOP nomination – his response was that he was “thick-skinned”. Trump, even if one only knows the man from a perspective of Reality Television, must understand that he is not to be taken lightly and insults, being what they are, even from those he knows in the media and entertainment business as “friends”, will only spur on Trump, and be one of the factors that contribute to a Trump run.

Therefore, should an announcement from Trump come today – (or rumors of a decision from the Post and or elsewhere) – it will either cement the GOP field a bit more firmly and or leave it wide open for those so called “lower-tiered” candidates to actually have a shot of winning the GOP nomination: the list includes: Newt Gingrich, Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Senator Rick Santorum, businessman Herman Cain and Ron Paul. Note: Massachusetts’ former Governor, Mitt Romney, has not formally announced, but has begun an “exploratory committee”, and continues to have difficulty with his version of Universal Health Care, which was used as the model for the national plan. In addition, when one looks at Public Policy Polling, or other pollsters, state by state polls, Romney is only competitive in certain states, which suggests a re-run of 2008. To view State by State polls and commentary by the Democrat leaning, but in the end stages of any political contest, accurate, pollster Public Policy Polling go to: www.publicpolicypolling.com/surveys.asp

The landscape, however, is subject to major change should Trump be a go today (or when he is ready to announce), as the media, blogs and pundits have indicated that Trump is only it for show ratings, leaving many who might choose Trump to back, hesitant to say the least. Should Trump announce in the affirmative to a run, that potential voter hesitation will no longer exist and the result will be more accurate polling vis a vis the entire “announced” field is subject to change. Additionally, one might find one Mitt Romney no longer sitting on the fence, but making an announcement to run (or he may also make an announcement similar to Huckabee’s).
One has to face the facts, the individuals who have put themselves forth, regardless of the media’s take on them, or their qualifications as defined by the media (all of them are qualified by virtue of the U.S. Constitution), will be the choices for those who would prefer to see a new President in the White House. With Gallup latest poll showing the Presidents’ approval rating down again; as of last Thursday, 48 approved, with 43 disapproving, down from a high during the Bin Laden announcement of 52. This leaves the President in a precarious position; when approval ratings do not break 50%, suggests, this “close” to a general election, that the position is up for grabs and any race would be close. Should the numbers move lower, into the 40’s, and then it would be, historically similar to the 1980’s Carter-Reagan scenario. Note: Gallup is one conservative pollster, and by conservative, one is not speaking of political ideology rather a very careful approach, therefore, these results should be used when making any “predictions”, which, as anyone is aware, at this point, over a year away from the actual election and without a firm GOP candidate or leader in the field, for that matter (with Huckabee out of the race, one should note), everything is subject to change.
What will be interesting is how Romney begins to poll, within the next 2 to 3 months as the field does become firm, specifically in the south and Midwest, which are critical to any GOP nomination. The last two major names from the 2008 Presidential race that have not confirmed: Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney (even though Romney has committed to exploring the possibility).

Many pundits have suggested that the field is weak, more due to a lack of interest in “perceived minor players” with so many “big names” still undecided, but one must recall the 2008 cycle, when one unknown Governor from Arkansas, upset the media’s predictions of a Romney Rule, and beat him soundly in the caucus state.
Not for nothing, both Trump and Ron Paul have been in Romney back yard in the past few weeks, Trump speaking back to back in New Hampshire (on the street, greeting people, and one to the chamber), and Paul in Massachusetts. One final note about Trump: In speaking with one who has a better insight into the Trump phenomena than this blogger, noted that if Trump was on the ground in New Hampshire shaking hands, then he is definitely serious about a run. The world, the media, and the rest of us regular voters, will find out soon enough, be it today, or in Trumps own time – one only wonders will Huckabee make a video appearance after Trumps decision?

GOP 2012 Update – “Top Tier Candidates” skip Fox South Carolina Debate, follow 1999 Examples

Out of the Pack of "Top Tier" candidates: Huckabee, Palin and Trump (not pictured) yet to commit to run - image: freedomslighthouse.net


Fox News held the first GOP debate last evening in South Carolina – the debate featured Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Tim Pawlenty – absent the field of “GOP Potential Candidates: Huckabee, Romney, Palin, Bachman, Trump and Gingrich. The prevailing theory is that the Fox hosted debate was more of a loss for Fox News, rather than the GOP field, as those Top Tier “Candidates” have not yet announced. The question remains, when will these much ballyhooed candidates decide? The answer obviously is when they are ready pending current obligations and strategy.

From Politico: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee told a group of freshman congressional representations this past week that he had not yet decided one way or the other and would make his decision this summer. The prevailing theory is that with Huckabee, Palin and Trump particularly, there are media contracts in place which would prevent them from announcing sooner, unless these contracts were dissolved.
What’s the rush? The debate process a mere decade ago began in the later end of 1999 - George Bush, who went on to win the GOP nomination, skipped the first two debates which begin in October 1999, and although he announced an exploratory committee in March of that year, did not firmly commit until the summer. Bush went on to win the nomination, after announcing later than McCain, and skipping two of the first debates – he had to work harder on the ground in the primary states, but was able to raise funds and observe the other candidates, plain strategy. The early debates and announcements began in 2007 with the emergence of Barack Obama as a candidate for the Presidency, prior to that, the announcement, exploratory and debate process got off to a later start.

Does it really matter when Huckabee, Palin or Trump decide to run and formally announce? Not in the grander scheme of things. A question asked at the Fox debate of the attending candidates was (Paraphrasing): There are certain (people, groups) who feel that Barack Obama is unbeatable, do you feel that he is vulnerable in any way? The answers, resoundingly from those present were – yes, and the main reason, the economy.

It will be the economy, the lack of transparency, the appearance of indecisiveness and the inability of the administration to get any story straight, regardless of the import, or lack thereof, that has both left and right thinking American’s thinking strongly about the alternatives. There are polls which show the President’s job approval rating at all time lows, polls that contradict whether or not he got a “bounce” from the Bin Laden incident, and polls that indicate the birth certificate issue is still alive. The fact that so many are now questioning whether or not the demise of the Al Queda leader, Bin Laden was “staged” is, in a word, stunning. Therefore, it does not really matter if one announces in March or in August, it really does not matter if they have the “billions” the President is hoping to have in his “war chest” for reelection – what will matter is that the individual who breaks from the “pack” by September or October of this year, is one who is decisive, has a clear understanding of the economy and who is less “Washington” - being able to convince the general public, not just the Republican’s and Republican leaning Independents, that they are capable and additionally willing (key word) to take on the task of running the nation as the top CEO. It will be someone who comes across as Decisive, and that is, if nothing else at this point, any one of the ten or so individuals announced and unannounced.

The fact that the news organizations,ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox included, are pushing so hard for the sake of ratings, has little to do with the final choices made by the candidates and those who support them – It may be Donald Trump who ends up leading the field (he appears, despite the naysayers to be a serious candidate), it may be Mike Huckabee, or Sarah Palin, or it may be a soft-spoken, decisive Governor from Minnesota, one Tim Pawlenty, or a perennial presidential candidate Ron Paul, who takes the lead. It will, in this opinion, however, be a candidate who is decidedly not connected to Washington – which has become synonymous with greed, indecision and a quest for power, not service. Therefore, when the field of contenders finally forms this summer (and that is when all will know for certain who is in and who is out), then the debates will draw ratings, the speculation and dirt will fly, and the 2012 election season will get underway. What is hoped is that should Trump, Palin, Romney and Huckabee all enter the race, that this debate season, equal time will be given to those who, although considered by the “pollsters” to be less likely to win a nomination, be heard.

The S&P, Vote of No-Confidence to US Ability To Rein in Spending – Obama: No Problem! Solution: Get Off the Campaign Trail and Go to Work!

On the Campaign Trail while Rome Burns - image itmakesseneseblog

Bloomberg:in a nutshell, President Obama’s talking points on the recently downgraded rating by the S&P, is that there is nothing to see here…move along folks. He is downplaying an entity that is, in a word, able to influence markets not only in the U.S., but globally as well. The crux of the matter is that we have no obvious ability to get our financial house in order. The U.S., heading towards a Presidential Contest in 2012, has the President on the Campaign Trail. In order to satisfy his base, and get the cash necessary to continue, at least part of his 2008 media spending frenzy, the President must insult the Republicans. That’s the way it works, although one might wonder why he would bother to come out so early, given that the chance of anyone challenging him from within his own party is nil. It is also questionable, depending on the poll, if he even stands a chance to be reelected, given his track record a la Jimmy Carter, do donors really want to part with hard earned cash to finance a losing campaign? It’s early in the election cycle, if this were 2004, or 2000, even, that long ago, announcements were not made until mid-summer of the prior year. George W. Bush went on to announce in late August of 1999, not February or March or April of that year, and debates were held in October, not May. Therefore, if any one “team” needs to get on the stick so to speak, it would be Republican’s who need to raise funds for an election this early, not the President.

So, he dismisses those who would cut taxes, and talk’s red meat on a variety of stops, and then the President wonders why the S&P believes that nothing will change within our government to work towards reducing the deficit! They’ve noted that this “rating” may hold until 2013 (or when the post election dust settles).
How this effects Joe and Jane taxpayer – if you work for a private sector employer, you may have a 401K, that 401K is most likely vested in the stock market (at least in part) and with a lower confidence level on wall street, one might see losses in one’s 401K (or retirement) – which with Social Security not so secure, it is irresponsible for those who want to dish out red meat to their base, to do so until they can reach some sort of compromise at the very least and move our economy forwards.

(Just a note: most pension plans, public and private, have investments in Wall Street, and if the market does poorly, so do those who have pension plans they hope to utilize someday.)

Time to scale back the rhetoric.

The Chinese (or China’s government) weighed in with agreement on the S&P’s decision, noting that it was mostly symbolic and that they did not believe the S&P would actually go further, (WSJ), however, there’s more to the way the U.S. Dollar is seen in terms of those involved in “China’s Wall street”:

"The fundamentals of the U.S. economy do not support an AAA rating... the U.S.'s actual debt repayment ability has already collapsed," Dagong Chairman Guan Jianzhong told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview.
Dagong cut its rating on the U.S. in November last year to A+ from AA, with a negative outlook.
"We will consider a further downgrade the U.S. rating, as the economy hasn't shown any sign of improvement in its fundamentals," Guan said.
Guan said the U.S has already infringed on the interest of creditors with its policy of quantitative easing launched last year, which has caused the U.S. dollar to depreciate.”

(Source: WSJ article

Therefore, the Chinese have already decided the U.S. was not credit worthy, and our dollar is worth less on the global scale, as well as your pensions or modest savings, while Obama is on the Camping Trail, proverbial Rome burns. Get the man a fiddle.

If their time between golf games, vacations and campaign stops for the current occupant of the White House to actually work (with Republican fiscal conservatives) and hammer out some type of beget that would address the deficit, not raise taxes on those left to pay them, and find untold billions in waste, already found?

Absolutely, It takes a big man, and/or woman, (It’s been 3 am and the phones been ringing since 2009), to walk across the aisle and seriously listen to the other side in order to accomplish jack. Ever hopeful and optimistic that , although not a fan, that those we, the people, elected to do a job, stop the insipid bickering and make a few deals to get the nation back on track before more trucks carrying meat are hijacked!. (WTVY) It is the explosion of Carter Era, meat out of a trunk of a car, sales, that indicate the level of working poverty in the US. – Without an EBT Card (welfare) those that can no longer afford food (with the inflation on food and fuel, the U.S. Government insists is not a problem), will be able to buy “stolen meat”. The risks are obvious.

Therefore, all of them, need to get off their lofty high horses, and make some real improvement in whichever version of a budget that the White House care to dream up next – and as to those in the Congress who want the cuts, well, they should be listened to: Women will not die, The world will not end, if cuts to certain social programs are cut – especially when those organizations (i.e. Planned Parenthood), have sufficient donors, as well as the ability to accept insurance to cover costs. It’s all about politics and that has to stop – scarring defenseless leftist who cling bitterly to their abortion and whatever medication gets them through the night, as well as the elderly – (which is perhaps, the most egregious of practices by those in a certain party who feel that they own the elderly vote, (as well as the African-American, Catholic, Hispanic, and the all important, especially in close races, dead and missing vote) - They need only to refer to History!!! For one or anyone, that had lived through the 1970’s to 1979 (pre-Reagan), it is in jaw dropping amazement that one sees an administration as well as counterparts in Congress and the Senate, with the help of some of those in the Republican Party, to ignore the outcomes that resulted from the same nonsensical programs, and yet, they go ahead and just play dumb – as if the nation hasn’t seen this before.

So, to all of those sitting in the hallowed news booths of MSNBC, or pick a network, or print piece, that wonders out loud, and with much insult, how any one of the present GOP crop of non-political “presidential contenders” – could possibly be taken seriously by the American People, they obviously understand history all too well, which explains the vitriol towards two of the “outsiders” in particular, and anyone who dares to get close to stepping outside the “beltway” and go over to the dark side of speaking one’s mind and calling it the way most of the people see it.
A spate of recent remarks by pundits, Karl Rove, who is as relevant as yesterday’s news, dismissed both Donald Trump and previously Sarah Palin as unelectable; it keeps Rove in the Spotlight. Club for Growth feels the Donald (or anyone but Mitt Romney – see attacks on Huckabee in 2008 and whence they came from), is at it again. Those two entities are what the left press and White House are now using as “absolute proof” that neither Trump nor Palin, and wait, they haven’t gone after Huckabee in truth yet, will never best “Obama”. Maybe not in the beltway, but in (if using Gallop and Obama’s stellar approval ratings from last year (before stolen meat and S&P), 40 of the 50 states should go the way of whoever steps up to the plate, and offers the public more than they’ve been given in the past 3 years, and it is not about Federal Aid.

Can the President and Congress (Senate included), get their act together in a timely fashion in order to save all their jobs, and, which should be most important the nation and one’s 401K or pension? There is some time, but the clock is ticking. When those who have been fence sitting, (due to network contracts) finally decide to run or not to run, then all bets are off – should it appear that one of those who jumps off the fence resonates with American voters, despite gender, hair, or a penchant to preach on occasion, and should one of those show stellar poll numbers in 2012 from August forward, Wall Street and the World will react and that as well, is historical. When it looks as if someone is willing to do something to save the U.S. Economy, Wall Street reacts in the positive, when it appears someone who is clueless is about to take the reins , it reacts in the negative (just Google Wall Street Trends prior to the last 10 general elections, and a pattern emerges.). Can the public wait for recovery until such time? Of course, American’s are resilient and although the Dead May Vote, and the majority of Catholics, will cast their ballots for the Democrats, World Peace and yes, Planned Parenthood, it will not be enough to save the jobs, of those who failed to dare to be different, follow historical patters instead of pre-conceived ideology and difficult as it may be – reach across the aisle and do something positive.

U.S. Government - Raising the Debt Ceiling – Consequences Raising Taxes – Politicos as Usual not Fooling the Public.

Economy no place to play politics as usual - image milktheclock.com


The current administration is bent on raising the U.S. debt ceiling according to an article in Politico: Tim Geithner, Treasury Secretary “and administration’s point man”, spoke on several weekend talks shows noting: he was certain that lawmakers would avoid disaster by voting to raise the $14.3 trillion ceiling.
“Congress is going to have to raise the debt limit. They understand that. That’s absolutely essential to preserve the credit-worthiness of the United States of America.”

Further, several Republican lawmakers noted that they would be willing to raise the debt ceiling if there was a balanced budget amendment attached (Politico), however, the likelihood of the administration reining in spending, given the history of the current administrations eagerness to spend, is unlikely. The fact of the matter is that without deep cuts in spending, which would include entitlement programs, there appears no way to balance the budget. The President, already on the campaign trail for reelection in 2012, had made remarks regarding the House Republicans’ attempts to cut the Health Care Reform Act, by saying they would not touch “his” health care plan in taped remarks and further sarcastically denounced Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), as “America's accountant and trying to be responsible”.

Without a willingness to cut or redesign programs that are money eaters, the only other option is to raise taxes across the board – which was made clear by the Senate Republicans who, according to the Washington Post: have been willing to discuss a budget deal that would include raising more money through taxes, along with making deep spending cuts, to help reduce the deficit.

The question remains, what programs would these lawmakers, from both sides of the aisle, cut, in order to satisfy constituents or their “base” going into the 2012 elections? One would find it difficult to imagine that the largest entitlement programs: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would be revised under any circumstances, and pork is, for some members of Congress, untouchable. Until and unless somebody in the government is willing to take a political hit to save the solvency of the nation, the downward spiral will continue – and as long as the partisan finger pointing by the President and the Democrats in both house, as well as certain Republicans continues, (while in campaign mode), with the debt ceiling raised, and no control over spending continues, the value of the dollar declines, and inflation will increase – to Carter’s levels.

According to reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, if one does not factor in food and fuel, the inflation rate is actually quite low, however, when food and fuel are introduced, the rate of inflation (which is considered volatile and subject to change), the rate is approximately (according to the BED) 2%. Add this to the current unemployment rate of 8.8% , and the Obama Misery Index is currently at 11% - or three points behind former President Carter’s 13.8% high.(One who shops for groceries now, may find that inflation rate to be on the low side.)

The rise in fuel prices at the pump ($4.00) reduces households disposable income, add to that the rise in food prices (which are directly impacted by the rise in fuel), do not appear to be going down anytime soon. When consumers have less to spend, due to food and fuel costs, those industries that rely on expendable income are forced to close doors – causing additional layoffs and a resin the unemployment rate. The U.S. is now on an unsustainable course, unless someone steps in and takes the political gloves off, and put s the American Public first.

We do have solutions, unfortunately, they are not politically correct solutions, such as drilling offshore, and removing the ban on the Alaskan oil fields; even a hint of ending the ban on drilling and opening up our lands to drill, would send the prices of oil downward, as evidenced by the actions of the Congress in 2008, when a band of house Republicans stayed on the floor to force then House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, back into session in order to vote on offshore drilling. The price of gas at that point had risen dramatically; it worked, with the results that without a single drill touching the earth, the commodities traders backed off, and oil re-adjusted. In addition, President George Bush had authorized a rebate to the American public, a stimulus so to speak, in order to “jump start” the economy, after the rise in oil prices. Unfortunately, instead of spending that money on hard goods (electronics, etc.), most used the extra check to pay off credit cards which had been used to buy high priced fuel!. There appears, no matter the party in charge, a tendency to move too little too late.

Unless the government is willing to reign in wasteful spending: a Report released by the GAO, found that over one hundred billion to upwards to 200 billion in waste could be cut from the federal spending spree. The report, available < a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11318sp.pdf">here in PDF, addresses areas of waste and duplication that are, mind boggling. Perhaps someone should send a copy to Obama, Geithner, the Senate Republicans and anyone who’s currently attempting to save the economy, as a starting point in reductions. Of course, these are smart people, so they must have access to the report, preferring to politicize, rather than come up with any real solutions.


Trump and Huckabee, the two GOP Poll Leaders can they stop the madness? - image Politico

As the overburdened U.S. taxpayer (which is only half the populace, and mainly middle class, takes one hit after another going forward to into the 2012 elections, those in power should pay careful attention to the man behind the hair, who, although characterized as a “clown”, and “not serious” has been polling gangbusters in the last two weeks on the GOP side. Donald Trump, one might dismiss out of hand, however, in a non-scientific poll of 18 to 24 year olds, conducted “on the street”, by this blog (sample 100 in Massachusetts), all likely to vote in this election: were asked the following questions
1. What do you think of the President?
He’s got to go (expletives and strong language removed.)
2.Who would you vote for?
“You’re fired”! – Trump he’s “cool”
3.What does Trump stand for politically?
I don’t’ know and I don’t care.
4.Then why would you vote for him?
“Obama is old news, Trump is cool”.

Granted this is a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-religious group of high school seniors and colleges students who see no future under the current administration.
5. How likely are they to vote: Very.

Democrats or Republicans – neither, regardless of their Professors urgings, they are more to the point ready to vote for the Next American Idol.
This is how the economy impacts all voters. On the Press and its run of Donald Trump and the “Birther” issue – the response – “who cares”.

Granted not scientific, therefore, would love to see a real poll conducted across the nation, not just in blue state Massachusetts, not by some casual blogger, but by a real pollster with, as they say “street creds”.

It is, to sum it up, The Economy Stupid” and with the waste, the political machinations and the finger pointing, any candidate, Trump, Huckabee, Palin, who gets in front of the people and is blunt about prospects and how to fix them (a la Trump) will stand a better than even chance of taking on the 21st century’s Jimmy Carter.

2012 GOP Update: Donald Trump Tops National Poll – Leads Romney by 11 Points

Donald Trump has taken a commanding lead in the fourth national poll conducted by Public Policy Polling, a Democrat leaning pollster. The firm, regardless of political party, has shown to be extremely accurate in the end stages of political campaigns, having called Republican Senator Scott Brown’s win in the Massachusetts special election, January, 2010, spot on.

In the editorial which accompanies the polls release, the pollster focuses heavily on the issue of President Obama’s birth certificate, but does not focus on Trump’s (or any of the candidates) views regarding the economy, illegal immigration or any other “hot button” issue that might be considered of import to conservatives in general. This consistent focus from the left on this particular issue does not appear to be hurting Trump overall.

Trump is not included in the first eight question of the poll, missing is the question of favorability, it is almost as if Trump is thrown in as an afterthought. However, when Trump is included in a field of eight potential candidates including Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, he takes a commanding lead: 26 percent of the total, with Huckabee at 17% and Mitt Romney at 15%. This is the first national poll which has seen any Republican potential candidate take more than a 6 point lead. Question 10 focuses on the question of supporting a candidate who believed President Obama was not born in the United States: 38% were willing, 39% were “not sure” and 23% answered no. The balance of the pollsters questions focus on political ideology, age and gender demographics.

The survey was conducted using a sample of 400. Trump is expected to announce his candidacy after the final airing of his NBC reality television series “Celebrity Apprentice”, May 15th.

2012 GOP Presidential Contenders – Trump, Palin, Romney, Pawlenty and Huckabee - Media Analysis and Update

Trump in Good Company - Ronald Reagan Depicted as a Clown - image: publicly funded PBS.org


A Boston Herald article by Rachelle Cohen, entitled “No Trump-ing Obama”, notes that there are so many candidates and potential candidates for the GOP nomination, none of them attracting more than 19% of the total, that Obama should be pleased indeed and easily reelected. The logic belies the fact that out of the myriad field of contenders, only one, to date has announced an exploratory committee, one Mitt Romney. Additionally, what is of more import perhaps is that regardless of how one feels about any one of the “candidates”, at the least, they are taking time out of their lives to run for public office (or think about it, more to the point). What it does leave the nation with are choices, and as far as the media whining about not having a front runner this “late” in the game, are perhaps not familiar with the history of 2000, where major contenders did not announce until August, and the field was full, both Democrat and Republican. Although Al Gore was a given, due to the fact that he was the Vice President under Clinton, he still had challengers, and the simple fact is, having challengers helps the public to winnow out the chaff from the wheat so to speak.

Just follow the polls, the general public is already talking through them, and the fact is, they are split as no one has officially declared (exploratory committee is not a campaign committee). The same was true in early 2007 when politicians began to line up to run or be expected to run:
In 2007 the field of Democrats included: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel. The Republican field included: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter. It was not until well after the first primaries in 2008 that front runners emerged on both sides and the race was off and running.

Understanding that Obama and Company (the Campaign, not the President per se), and the media, have intentional short memories, it is good to remind the lot of them that having 5 candidates a year before the first primary takes places results in numbers similar to those 19% leads currently held by 2012 GOP “potential candidates”.

That said, one cannot stress enough the fact that, those that run, do so out of conviction and love of country, they must, regardless of how many times someone calls an individual a myriad of insulting and most often misleading “names”, it remains reasonable that unless one wanted the job of overseeing the finances and well-being of this Great Nation, losing 10 years off one’s life in less than 2 years, and taking a ration of utter crap from the press, they would not be doing so for any “publicity stunt”, especially since, in viewing the field of GOP contenders, not one seems hard pressed for personal cash, fame and or the need to put up with the crazy people in the general media.

As it is the end of the week, it was important to point out the fact that the current crop of “potential candidates for the GOP” are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing, getting the attention of “likely GOP voters”, and the press can write and report on the lack of front runners all they like, until such time as one of those running, pulls out with a majority in a poll conducted by any reasonable pollster, at the right time, the polls running now, are akin to taking a pulse on a patient that is literally in a coma, until they wake up and announce their intent to run officially. At that point, one can bet the house, those 19% leads will be, if the announced candidate is the choice of those voting with the GOP, multiplied by, at the least 60 percent, to the 30’s, and as the next one appears, those numbers will go up and down, until the debates, which, incidentally a decade ago, were held in October of the year prior to the election. One’s stock would rise upon winning the Iowa Caucus and or the New Hampshire Primary, or perhaps not until one has been though the winnowing field of South Carolina.

Meanwhile, Obama has recycled his Campaign from 2008, the price of gas is about to go to $5.00 and beyond, unemployment has not moved, the dollar is declining and inflation is on the rise, never mind key topics like the Health Care Bill that the majority of the public continues to rail against. Who’s zooming who? (Taking a line from the great Aretha Franklin.)

What are those that have a toe in the GOP Presidential Water up to this coming week?

The Donald, who is serious as a heart attack, will be in Florida at a Tea Party Rally in Boca Raton, with Congressional Representative Allen West Judging from emails received by this blog in unprecedented amounts over the past week, The Donald is running the gamut of approval by the entire spectrum of political strange bedfellows. An expert from one enthusiastic Bay Stater enthusiastically noted: “ I also believe The Donald will be our next President. He is starting to get the " Reagan treatment" by the press. He has already been depicted as a clown.” (See Cartoon of Reagan above from PBS).

Trump was to attend a small rally in Boca, which, once news got out that he was going to attend, turned into a much larger crowd, the event had to be moved in order to accommodate the increased interest in Trump. He is also set to announce his bid (according to a variety of reports) after or immediately following the final NBC Apprentice show, which, with Neilson checking heads, might give an indication of interest vis a vis ratings for Trump. On the Trump – Obama Birth Certificate Issue – it’s being overplayed by the press – so much so that the obvious vitriol towards Trump is helping, not hurting him. It is also a matter of fact that Trump is merely expressing an opinion, shared by many, that there might be more to the issue of the Presidents Constitutional Eligibility to hold the office. Therein lays the crux and the confusion. Although this blog advocates leaving that issue lay, the fact remains that the Constitution is clear on one fact, No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.” Therefore, there is a litmus test, so to speak. One cannot merely be a citizen, one must meet certain credentials. Of course, a great deal depends on how one views the Constitution, either as written in stone, or interpretive. Regardless, the right to question, is guaranteed by the First Amendment (the one upon which the Press relies). Trump is merely expressing an interest in the subject as well as defending the Constitutional rights of others to do the same. Good for him.




Sarah Palin, who has lost some of the limelight given the entrance of the Donald will be at a Tea Party rally in Madison Wisconsin, home of the stand-up to unions Governor Scott Walker, and now home to many transplanted SEIU paid personnel who are there to stand up for the rights of the people who pay their salaries (i.e. Wisconsin Public Employees). It should be interesting; those on the left apparently are planning a counter rally to the Tea Party.

Mitt Romney is faced with trouble in his own back yard - Massachusetts Conservatives (i.e. Libertarians, the rank and file Republicans and those who identify themselves as conservatives, aren’t throwing their support behind Mitt. Romney is not, apparently attending any Tea Party Rally in the Bay State, but his competition is:

Former Minnesota Govenor, Tim Pawlentywill be in Boston for the Tea Party Rally on tax day (April 15th), with a trip to New Hampshire planned.

Finally, the man who runs strongest in national polls (Gallup) (until recently – see tied with Trump), former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee is takings some heat for his support of in-state tuition for those here in the nation not quite legally – his premise, children of illegal immigrants (which may mean these students are American Citizens, by the way), should be eligible for in-state tuition, as it would expand the tax base, as they would gain employment, rather than an EBT card. Although this logic drives the “right of right” insane, especially those in certain presidential candidate opposition camps, Huckabee has a point.

(Side Note: during a recent interview, Donald Trump noted that the border problems could be fixed, by putting our military on the border (agreed), and then deciding, on a case by case basis those illegally in the nation’s ability to stay or be deported – the criteria, productive, stay, criminal go. (Agreed!).

2012 GOP - Trump Surprises Wall Street Journal/NBC Latest Poll

The Wall Street Journal/NBC's latest GOP Poll shows Donald Trump within 4 points of former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 GOP Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney and tied with former Arkansas Govern er and 2008 GOP Presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee. The poll included likely GOP primary voters; with one interviewee suggesting Mr. Trump's competitiveness, despite the "jokes" about him personally, was his appeal to "regular" people.

An article posted earlier today from the International Business Times suggests that Trumps stance on business, as well as foreign policy, although appearing "risky", would make American "Respected" on the world stage, and improve the economy.

The question now is when Donald Trump will formally announce his candidacy. With both Congresswoman Michelle Bachman and former Governor Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney in the mix with Donald Trump, the network ratings for the GOP debates might reach historical proportions.

Media in Snit Over Slow Start of 2012 Debates – Democrats First To Roll Out Pre-Fall Presidential Debates in 2003 – Enter Last - Finish First

Obama and a field of "potential GOP Contenders", image: The State.com

The New York Timesis wondering why there may be few if any Republican Presidential Contenders at the first televised debate on May 2nd. They cite the standard “Republican Strategist” as saying GOP potential candidates may not want to face a hostile media (NBC and politico), the Times wonders if the GOP Candidates would dare not appear at a Fox News Debate scheduled 3 days later on May 5th. They also offer the dire warning of entering the race later than sooner, as being somewhat of a political disaster for a candidate, pointing out the brief candidacy of Republican Fred Thompson.

Meanwhile, the latest Gallup poll shows Huckabee with the lead over a field of seventeen potential, but yet to officially announce, candidates. In the Gallup Poll, Huckabee leads, followed by Romney and Palin, with Trump on the Gallup rolls, 2 points behind the candidate most likely to announce first, Tim Pawlenty. There are four candidates in this particular scenario that garner double digits: Huckabee, Romney, Palin and Gingrich. The Gallup articles states there are no clear frontrunners this late in the game, and notes that the 1000 people polled, apparently are not galvanized behind any one candidate.

Talk about stating the obvious. If, for example the field included ten officially announced candidates, one would bet that, in the reality of this extremely early stage in presidential contests, the results might be the same.

Going far back into the history of Presidential Debates and announcements to run, one finds that for the 2004 presidential contest, the earliest recorded debate took place on May 3rd, 1999 in California. This was the DNC debate noted as the earliest recorded and featured Howard Dean, John Edwards (considered the front runner), John Kerry (who eventually won the nomination and lost to President George W. Bush, and rounding out the field were Gephardt and Lieberman. Source WSWS.org (World Socialist Web Site) Prior to the Democrats starting the trend of the screamingly early debate, debates for both major political parties were held later in the year preceding the general election, and in some instances, candidates did not attend nor announce their intent to run, until after the first two debates were held.

On November, 29, 1999, George Bush entered the debate arena, skipping two prior debates. (McCook Daily Gazette). The first GOP debates of the 2000 General were held in the later half of October 1999, two weeks apart. (Washington Post) On the DNC side, Bradley did not announce his intent to run against Gore until December of 1999, even though Gore had announced earlier in the year. In that case, Gore, who was the sitting Vice President under Bill Clinton, did not anticipate a serious challenge. In this one scenario, with Bradley entering “late” in that year, Gore did go onto win the nomination. However, one might have anticipated it a given, as he was, again, the sitting Vice President and therefore “heir to the throne”.

In the case of the GOP nominees, and their late to the debate, Gorge W. Bush, all should know the outcome; G.W. Bush went on to two terms in the White House.
Therefore, the media and its close alliance with the DNC (or preference for), may stem from the fact that, although ideologically wedded to the Democratic Party, they also gain from early announcements and debates in “content”. Otherwise they may be forced, at this point, to cover other stories such as the fact that the Pentagon has announced that the U.S. will continue military operations in Libya. (AP) Additionally, the U.S. now has boots in the form of the Marines, on the ground in Libya(National Review), or that the military under Obama’s watch, was involved in murdering civilians and then posing for photos with the deceased”> (Guardian-UK)

Unfortunately, the general media cannot run these stories every day, on several pages within a printed piece, or on the network news, as it would, in all likelihood, make their case for a second Obama Presidential bid a bit more difficult. (Unlike the way any move made by George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan was put under the media microscope and beat to death by the press.)

The fact that Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, Mitt Romney and whoever else may end up jumping into the cesspool left behind by the current administration has yet to announce, is moot and in keeping with the traditional time to announce, rather than the earlier announcements and debates set by the DNC in the 2004 general. On the face of it, the later the date, the better for those weary of politicians from the on-set, additionally, from a Machiavellian point of view, the later the GOP nominees enter the fray, the more difficult for the competition (in this case the President), in terms of having the time to define themselves against a known enemy – with the help of a few friends, consistently beating the drums against the ineptitude of this Pastor, or that Mayor, or God Forbid, the man who wants to tell the President: “Your fired!”. (However, these barbs are available in media daily, just in case).

Should Huckabee skip the first 4 debates for that matter, or Palin or Romney or Gingrich or Trump, they have had the time to meet with constituents, world leaders, small and large businesses, and get a real sense of the magnitude of the task at hand. In addition, should an announcement come in say July of 2011 that gives the public 17 months of speculation to deal with, which might still be too much. Imagine announcement in July and debates in October! Less is more, and in this case, perhaps history will repeat itself (as it is want to do), with the last man in, taking the prize. As Gallup noted in the above reference article, once there are actual announcements of an intent to run, a front runner will appear, in due time, at the right time, just not at a time that is convenient for journalist, pundits and political junkies.

2012 GOP Update – Donald Trump Begins to Take Shape As Contender – Previously Ignored by Pollsters Tops the Charts

The Donald, If the Desk Fits.......image: youngmoney.com

From Fox News “Trump Torches Republic Field Knocks Boehner”, to Politico’s ”Donald Trump to President Obama: Go To Japan” the man who is the quintessential American success story, is making headlines left and right over the past two weeks – the new moniker assigned by news organizations to describe “The Donald”: billionaire developer. The Wall Street Journal sums up the seriousness of the man’s intent to run for President in financial terms: “Trump on 2012: ‘Part of Beauty of Me Is I’m Very Rich”.

The question arises would Trump fare well among the current crop of “GOP Potential Candidates”? To date, in 2011, one pollster has pitted Trump against Obama – and Trump does very well indeed: The poll, conducted by Newsweek and the Daily Beast (via CNN), has Trump within 2 points of Obama and on par with both Romney and Huckabee in a White House Bid. Although not officially announced, Trump has made more statements of intent than any of the current crop of “possible contenders”.

Seriously Trump? How would he fare with hard-line conservatives? Apparently quite well, as the conservative “Town Hall” has been beating the Trump drum since at least December: ”Donald Trump His Time is Now” to Trump Business Advisor Scopes Out Iowa Politics” is evidence that he is being taken seriously by those CPAC conservatives. (Fiscal Conservatives).


Ronald Reagan, TV Personality to Beloved President image: pdxretro.com

Would Donald Trump fit in the GOP field? Absolutely from this perspective, when the Twenty Mule Team Borax Man indicated he would run for President, America pooh-poohed the idea, at first, and then jumped aboard the Reagan Train with gusto. Donald Trump is not Reagan, by any means, but the times call for an individual who would be crazy enough to want the job of rebuilding the economy and have the smarts to do so.



With this in mind, it may be no wonder that Trump has not been included in the recent polls published by Public Policy Polling Institute. The Democrat leaning firm is apparent in their role as cheerleader for the President, while accurately polling, and taking lumps as they fall. The firm, www.publicpolicypolling.com began taking surveys on GOP potential candidates and matchups with those hypothetical contenders as of the 9th of November, 2010 (or immediately following the 2010 Mid-terms). Donald Trump has been saber rattling prior to the Mid-terms, yet, the pollster has not included Trump in any polling to date, rather, their latest release www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP-Release-US-0317513.pdf” Pits Obama against Charlie Sheen and includes the eccentric television actor in the field with Sarah Palin. The entire poll, in fact, has more to do with Fox News Personalities, and one wonders if this poll was in pure jest, rather than a serious attempt to derive answers. Unfortunately, what the poll, serious or not, appears to show, is that Sheen would, indeed, get the votes. But, missing from this respected firms frivolous and serious state and national polls – The Donald.

The Danger of the GOP not taking Trump seriously: Speaking as a Massachusetts Conservative who watched the 2010 Gubernatorial race as closely as David Axelrod, the triumph of Democrat Deval Patrick, (1 point win), over Republican Charlie Baker, was the “straw candidate” Tim Cahill. Cahill, who mysteriously ran as an independent, did siphon enough votes to push the most unpopular Governor in Massachusetts recent history to a second term. What we do know is that Axelrod, Obama’s campaign advisor, watches Massachusetts as the model for national campaigns. In this wise, those in the GOP should be paying attention to this article at the Wall Street Journal:

“In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, developer Donald Trump says he is looking seriously at jumping into the GOP primary battle, and may run as an independent in the general election if he fails to win the nomination. “Part of the beauty of me is that I am very rich,” he said, adding that he was prepared to toss in $600 million of his own cash to fund a campaign.”

“and may run as an independent in the general election if he fails to win the nomination”.

Is it no wonder that fiscal conservatives are looking at the Donald with a fresh set of eyes so to speak, also aware of the Machiavellian methods employed by certain Campaign Managers?

Perhaps fears of Trump actually polling well leaves him out of the field of most pollsters, or perhaps more strange, are they leery of including a less than serious made for TV candidate? That would certainly take the proverbial cake given who is now occupying the White House.

Trump: Start to take the man seriously.

The Prediction Limb: Should both Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and Donald Trump enter the primary (and June appears to be the month of choice for announcements, which is leaving the pollsters and the media somewhat unhinged, but unfettered in their potshots on Republicans in general), Huckabee, Trump, Palin, Romney – in that order as the top 4, as the Top three on the road to the White House: (given the makeup of the states) Huckabee and Trump – now that may be the ticket.

2012 GOP Potential Challengers – Reading Tea Leaves via Book Tours

Ohio, a swing state in 2008, where President Obama bested GOP Candidate, John McCain by a margin of 51 to 47%, is now, according to an article online at the Cincinnati Enquirer receiving visits from the President and Multiple Potential GOP Candidates. The Premise for the majority of the visits – book tours. Viewing a book tour as a stepping stone to a Presidential run, might on the outside appear a bit ridiculous, as bookstores are located in every state of the union – and of the three “front-runners” mentioned in the article, all have authored books and were “on tour” in the State. Included in this list are Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin, who have been leading in polling for the GOP nomination since the Mid-terms. Newt Gingrich, in this particular article, was in Ohio promoting a movie that he had directed, while others visiting the State had attended purely political events, including: Tim Pawlenty, John Tune and Michele Bachmann.

Bachmann, who has been actively promoting the Tea Party movement in both the national spotlight as well as in early primary states such as Iowa, is seen by some as a potential candidate, however, tea leaves aside, Bachmann, a stalwart, no apologies, Conservative – Tea Party leader is, like the balance of those names (with some exceptions, notably New Jersey Govenor Chris Christie) side-stepping the question of whether or not one will run for the Presidency.

Book tours have taken Mitt Romney, for instance, from New York, across the country and into Canada asking the question on the main tour dates page: “Is Your City Lucky Enough to Have the 45 President of the United States Visit After That?” This, from Mitt Romney Central dot com, leaves little left for Romney to do than formally announce his bid. The Title of Romney’s Book: ”No Apology, Believe in America” a New York Times Best Seller.

Mike Huckabee’s latest book, A Simple Government: Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion That We Don't!)” is set for release on February 22, 2011. His tour dates are based, for now, mainly across the south, beginning in Iowa. Huckabee has noted more than once, that he would be making a decision regarding a run, by summer 2011, however, if one were reading Book Tour Tea Leaves, it would appear that decision may come earlier, in Iowa, in late February.

Sarah Palin’s latest book tour took her to Iowa and South Carolina (as well as Little Rock, AR, Nebraska and Texas, to name a few). ”America by Heart : Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag” her latest, which, incidentally debuted at the number 2 slot on the New York Times Best Seller List.

Therefore, the three most mentioned potential candies, all have current books, and are either on tour, have finished touring and or are about to tour the nation, and stopping at States one traditionally associates with politics.

In 2007, Mike Huckabee went on tour with his book, “From Hope to Higher Ground” The Washington Post headlined on January 28th, 2007, “Mike Huckabee Launches Presidential Bid” however, he formally announced in February.
Obama, dubbed in June of 2008, as the “presumptive nominee”released a “flood” of books prior the election.

Tea Leaves aside, books outlining an individual’s view of American, which is timed for release immediately before or during the general election cycle, compete with book tour that places those individuals in States traditionally on the list of politico’s as a first step towards a Presidential run, have been released by all perceived top runners.

This book tour stage as a stepping stone to the Presidency (or not at the case may be), allows a “potential candidate” to get an idea of just how popular, or unpopular, they may be in key states, allows them to meet the people on the ground, with a fair amount of non-committal book signing, that will, in all likelihood generate both income and interest.

Of Note: Donald Trump, who has announced a possible intent to run for the GOP nomination, has not written a book – yet.

Soros Op-Ed for Washington Post – Egypt in Turmoil - Blames Israel and Religious Right – Counsels Obama – Offers Funds for Middle East “Democracy”

George Sorros, Professional Meddler in Word Affairs - image seeking alfpha.com


George Soros, a man whose background belies his rhetoric against Israel, is now taking aim at Israel and the “Religious Right” in an op-ed published by the Washington Post:

“The main stumbling block is Israel. In reality, Israel has as much to gain from the spread of democracy in the Middle East as the United States has. But Israel is unlikely to recognize its own best interests because the change is too sudden and carries too many risks. And some U.S. supporters of Israel are more rigid and ideological than Israelis themselves. Fortunately, Obama is not beholden to the religious right, which has carried on a veritable vendetta against him. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is no longer monolithic or the sole representative of the Jewish community. The main danger is that the Obama administration will not adjust its policies quickly enough to the suddenly changed reality.”

In the piece he praises the Muslim Brotherhood, a group that has a long history of imposing their brand of radical Muslim theology (Motto: “Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.”)on nations where it has gained a foothold, including Iran in the 1970’s. .

Soros, a Hungarian Jew, was protected by his family during the 1930-1940’s Nazi Holocaust, he was given to a “Christian” who had adopted young Soros, in order to protect him from “deportation” by the Nazi’s – Soros was taken along on trips to deport Jews while taking their property and handing it over to the Nazi’s. This tragic childhood background may explain the multibillionaires obsession with meddling in governments (including the U.S. where he became a naturalized citizen in 1961). Perhaps as a catharsis for taking an active role in the destruction of his own people in Hungary, Soros uses his money to fund revolutions worldwide, while, for no clear reason, opposes Israel. Perhaps it is his claim to be an atheist, while attempting to “do good deeds”, which may make up for his past crimes against humanity. Then again, perhaps he’s just an egotistical nut. Either way, he plans to offer the Egyptians and any other governments that may arise out of turmoil - funds (Washington Post).

What is most interesting in the op-ed is that, as a Democrat Party member, he is already campaigning for Obama in this piece - demeaning the “Religious Right” in the US. Which in Soros’s mind has carried on a “vendetta” against Obama. Perhaps it is those bible clutching, gun owning individuals of Pennsylvania whom Obama spoke so fondly of, on his last campaign trip in 2008?

It appears that the Obama administration and George Soros are on the same page: While the Muslim Brotherhood, whose virtues, Soros extols, is calling for the end of peace between Egypt and Israel, as the White House discuses Mubarak’s exit from Egypt leaving the country open for free elections, with George Soros ready to lend a hand, and insure that the Muslim Brotherhood has a voice.

Mr. Soros should find a new hobby in his old age, perhaps skiing in the Swiss Alps, rather than meddling in world’s affairs with his conflicted Jewish Heritage-Anti-Semitic mindset. It is when, men of his ilk are given credibility by the likes of the American Press (note the platitudes at the end of the op-ed), one must take it with a grain of salt, perhaps they are being kind to the doddering old fool.

What one can expect is that those on the “religious right”, will have “foreseen the future” (or read about the Carter-Iran boondoggle, less than 40 years ago), and have put two plus two together. They see a nation in chaos, with no clear leadership fall into the hands of radical jihadists, who will turn Egypt, like Iran, into a Theocracy. This is where, Mr. Soros, “human rights king”, can imagine there are no rapes, murders, beheadings and other atrocities are committed.

Should this come to pass, and revolutions of this nature do move quickly (use Iran as the model), anti-American sentiment will rise above the already brewing attacks on U.S. Journalists (granted pro-Mubarak Egyptians are reportedly beating up the U.S. Journalists, as well as others who are still on the ground in that country), the government will be under Sharia Law, and American’s, including Obama will be considered “the Infidel”. This will place Obama in the same situation as was his doppelganger, one James Carter(1979), just in time for the 2012 general elections.


Govenor Mike Huckabee, image: MikeHuckbee2012.com


One has to ask: which Republican will George Soros (should he not keel over shortly) target? As of the moment, one Mike Huckabee, former Govenor of Arkansas, 2008 GOP Presidential candidate and avid fan of Israel, is polling, for the most part, ahead of other GOP potential nominees, but most importantly, ahead of the current President, in double digits. This may be why, North Carolina, where Obama actually was ahead of Huckabee (a rare occurrence), was chosen as the site of the Democrat Convention for 2012. (Polling data referred to in this section from Public Policy Polling www.publicpolicypolling.com) Note: not one of those polled has made a public announcement that they are actually running for President as of this date. One has to imagine however, that should it be the gun-toting, Christian, Israel Supporting, former two and a half term Govenor from the State of Arkansas, one Mike Huckabee, Soros may be pushed over yet another ledge.

Note: This blog does, at the moment, favor a Huckabee run at the presidency, believing his managerial experience, track record while running the State of Arkansas, his knowledge of foreign policy (form a moderate perspective), and his commitment to excellence in education, including and especially music and the arts as it relates to science and math, makes him not on the most formidable candidate, but the most qualified candidate for the job.

Conservatives in GOP Push Indiana’s Pence To Run for 2012 Party Presidential Nomination

GOP's Pence for President? Answer due by end January - photo Think Progress.com

According to Politico GOP Conservatives are pushing Indiana Congressional Representative, Mike Pence, to run in 2012. Named in the article are Dick Armey, Chairman of Freedom Works’ Tea Party and the Chris Chocola , President and CEO of the Club for Growth. This puts Pence in the position of choosing between a run for the Indiana Governor’s seat or a run for the GOP Presidential Nomination.

In terms of “conservative red meat”, Pence fits the bill, as he is a fiscal and social conservative, who Armey believes could best the current pack of those speculated as possible contenders including Palin, Romney and Huckabee. Armey, bluntly called the pack, “old names” who he believes “don’t have much of a chance”. (Politico)

What is interesting in the choice of Pence is that the two organizations who back him differ slightly: although both grounded in fiscal conservatism, Club for Growth is more Washington Establishment, while Freedom Works is decidedly Tea Party.
Moreover, although the argument can be made that a Governor of a State or Commonwealth would make an excellent Presidential candidate due to having had executive experience, Congress is a stepping stone to the Presidency. The last, before Barack Obama, was President John F. Kennedy who went from the Senate to the White House in the election of 1960. (Barak Obama went from the Illinois State Senate to the Illinois Federal Senate Representative, to the White House in short order).

Pence is apparently gong to decide on which office he prefers to run for by the end of this month. Pence is, like a John Thune (R-CO), a virtual unknown to the Public, as the actual 2012 field begins to take shape in mid-2011, there may be other “unknowns” suddenly on the national radar – not unlike Arkansas Mike Huckabee, who was in that same position in 2007. He is now, along with Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney are currently the top three “polling” choices for those firms that deign to speculate – come February they may add Pence to the list, (along with Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum and possibly Rudy Giuliani, and yes, Donald Trump).

If the election of Obama was any sign of the attention span and voting habits of the American Public, the likely nominee will most likely be the individual who is the most media savvy and photogenic. Should a “straw man” be pushed into a run, in order to say, act as a block for another candidate, then the GOP will find themselves with another John McCain on their hands.

To learn more about Mike Pence and his stand on the issues visit: Mike Pence.house.gov

Newt Gingrich and Michael Moore - Grasping at Media Relevancy

Michael Moore,image videosearch and Newt Gingrich image Letsgetrealblog




Granted, one might wonder why one would choose Newt Gingrich and Michael Moore to highlight a growing problem in the public arena – two men with entirely different political ideologies – it is not the differences, per se, rather the similarities certain personalities display in order to remain on that national stage that forces the comparison.

In a spate of recent articles, former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, on the one hand takes the opportunity to criticize Sarah Palin for her “controversial” use of language, and lectures Governor Palin on thinking prior to speaking (Rawstory.com) Gingrich was referring to the video responses Sarah Palin made to those, including prominent Democrats and the media in general, over her use of the phrase “blood libel”, which has been parsed ad naseum. Palin, Gingrich concludes is controversial but continues to be a “phenomenon”. Palin, for all her perceived faults, chief amongst them is the beltway’s insistence that her lack of ivy league rhetoric, and her plain speaking, straight forward, “what you see is what you get” approach, is, when compared to Gingrich, far more relevant in the current political arena. The remarks make sense in the grander scheme of what plays in Washington, pretty much stays in Washington, not unlike the former Speaker and his constant aspirations to the Oval Office, which have yet to materialize. Stepping outside the Beltway, and away from the rank and file of the (this is becoming a tiresome moniker) “mainstream media”, one finds that Palin’s remarks were viewed in a different light by the general populace, or those who would put Newt in the White House. (Despite the poll commissioned by the Washington Post and ABC News that compares Obama’s, the News Media and Sara Palin’s response to the Tucson Shooting – which in and of itself, put’s Palin on a par with both, regardless of the results, leaving Gingrich left with nothing but comments.)

In the poll, one finds the general public grading the response as follows: President Obama: 78%, the News Media: 53% and Sarah Palin 30% approval. The poll and marginal’s are available here: at langerresearch.com. Gingrich goes a step further, in praising Obama’s speech in Tucson (which one can agree was an astounding speech, (including Sarah Palin: note to Newt) regardless of detractors who felt the atmosphere, audience etc., were not in keeping with a memorial service), Gingrich, again refers to the poll, noting he was amongst the majority of Republicans’ who felt the President did well with his speech. What this brought to Gingrich were several articles and blog posts which highlighted Gingrich casting aspersions on Palin in his lecture and his magnanimous gesture of giving praise to the President. In other words, Gingrich was on playing to the choir in both instances and received the reward of “national press”.

Over in cableland, Michael Moore (remember him?), appearing on MSNBC’s, Rachael Maddow, decided it was high time he weigh in on gun ownership (Goes to Martin Luther King Day.) – According to Mr. Moore, anyone who owns a gun is a racist. He draws this conclusion by noting that when someone is a crime victim, it is not “freckle faced Jimmy” committing the crime. Now, such a broad and ridiculous statement from Moore is nothing new, however, it is the fact that he uses such a truly unbelievable statement in order to gain “attention” while everyone else is “in the limelight” so to speak, even Newt Gingrich, that he had to say something, anything. A reasonable person, even one who is not familiar with a gun, will know that Hispanics own guns, African-American’s own guns, Asians own guns, and yes average white men and women own guns (and Bibles!), making Moore’s remark about as relevant as – Newt Gingrich’s remarks on Palin, her use of a term that has been “beaten to death” by the media. Moore’s statement, in itself is racist, suggesting that only those who are not “freckled faced Jimmy” may be committing crimes. Additionally, the Tucson shooter was one deranged “Freckled Faced Jimmy” – go figure.

It is time for the political discourse to move forward and for those in the quasi-public eye, to try another tactic. Perhaps NBC or ABC or any one of the networks that runs reality television shows, could produce a series similar to Survivor (but placed within the safe confines of Washington, New York or Los Angeles), pitting left against right in a series that would pit a Moore against a Gingrich in a race for airtime; along with a slew of other “quasi notable and or relevant blowhards” that have become part and parcel of America’s airwaves.

Michael Moore with Rachel Maddow


A note: Although more than a few posts have been made on the subject regarding Palin and the “beating”(for lack of another word) she has taken over a situation that she clearly had no part in whatsoever, the fact that two weeks later, those who so heavily vested in themselves (from the right) and ideologically challenged (from the left), feel the need to continue the drumbeat, only servers to highlight how relevant Ms. Palin has truly become in general, in this opinion, one is compelled, to write on last treatment on this particular subject, due to the inability of those who seek the limelight to, in plain words, “zip it”. Of note, those who have not been so ridiculous: (GOP 2012 assumed potential candidates) Huckabee defended Palin even though she is considered as a serious rival for the 2012 GOP nomination (CNN), while a statement from Mitt Romney on Palin, is, (in a granted, brief search), nowhere to be found . Both Huckabee and Romney stand with Palin as the “frontrunners” and are viewed as those most likely to run and gain the GOP 2012 Presidential nomination.