Opinion and Commentary on state, regional and national news articles from a conservative feminist point of view expressed and written by conservative moderate: Tina Hemond
Sharron Angle, an anti-tax, fiscal conservative, who has an impeccable political pedigree, has announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate against the decreasingly popular Harry Reid. Angle, a resident of Nevada for the past 50 years, is a traditional conservative– married to the same man for 35, wife and grandmother, who has an outstanding public service record, is throwing down the gauntlet against Harry Reid, whose experiencing a serious decline in popularity in the previously conservative Western State of Nevada.
Angle is not alone in a growing number of Republican members of the “oust Harry Reid” club. According to the Ely News
“ John G. Chachas, a managing director of Lazard Ltd., has been talking to Republican Party bigwigs in Nevada and Washington who are anxious to find a credible challenger to the Senate majority leader, sources said this week.
Chachas declined to comment Thursday on the speculation about his potential candidacy.
Chachas' interest in the race is said to be active but preliminary: He feels strongly that Reid could be felled by a strong opponent and would be willing to step into that role if no other satisfactory candidate does, but he might not make a decision for several months, according to people who have spoken to him and who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.” Article from 3/29/09.
It has also been rumored that former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, may also be considering a run against the lackluster Reid.
What is interesting in all this is that both men would have roots in Nevada, yet, may be perceived as “carpet baggers”. However, conservatives nationwide, (and those who may lean conservative) are currently inclined to vote (or financially support) against wasteful government spending and for any candidate that is “not” Harry Reid (or Barney Frank or possibly now, Nancy Pelosi).
Although early in the 2010 political season, the national interest in Nevada is high, due to the embattled Reid. The taxing problem is just the ticket that may prove to benefit Ms. Engle. Nevada hosted 10 official “tax day tea party’s”, from Carson City to Las Vegas to Reno. Ms. Engle’s record on taxes is strong, and in the current economy, this will stand her in good political steed, regardless of the voters’ political affiliation. For more information on Ms. Engle, visit Sharron Engle.com. H/T to this blogs favorite Chicago Democrats, Hillbuzz.org. - read their take here.
Nancy Pelosi - Damaging Women's Interests at Home and Abroad - photo: cinie's world wordpress (PUMA)
Nancy Pelosi, in pushing for criminal investigations of Bush Administration officials who approved certain “enhanced interrogation” techniques, appeared to be true to form – making good on promises to constituents and leftist groups to prosecute the Bush administration over the Iraq War and specifically, the alleged torture of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay’s Military prison. Pelosi, the First Female Speaker of the House, hails from California’s 8th District, which includes the infamous Mecca of American counter-culture, San Francisco. The City best known for its famed Haight Ashbury neighborhood, where the 1960’s Hippies anti-war and “tune-in and drop-out” culture has its roots, needed a Congressional representative that held solid left-of-center views, although historically and culturally, archaic, which were in sync with the City’s culture. Nancy Pelosi fit that profile, and has spent years perfecting anti-conservative, anti-war, pro-“choose a current cause” rhetoric in order to reach out to those Progressive groups both inside and outside the 8th District – a true Heroine of the Left.
Ms. Pelosi was at the top of the heap, Speaker of the House, representing California’s 8th in style, until this past week, when questions began to arise as to Ms. Pelosi’s knowledge of the use of “enhanced interrogation” techniques. Apparently, Ms. Pelosi was personally aware of and approved of the use of said techniques, and has spent the last week, back peddling in obvious panic – placing the blame for her support squarely on anyone but herself. This culminated in a total meltdown before journalists yesterday, (You Tube video below) where stringing two coherent words together became difficult for the otherwise lucid Pelosi.
True to form, what is left of the one strong San Fransisco Chronicle gave a slightly different version of events; applauding Ms. Pelosi for accusing the CIA of torture, while pointing out that she has sustained political damage nationwide, which she, will, of course overcome. One has to understand that Ms. Pelosi has become an overnight sensation as the butt of late night television jokes, and her credibility as an effective leader is fast vanishing.
Unfortunately for Ms. Pelosi, despite the fact that she has the full support of the Chronicle, she will face an opponent for her House Seat in 2010. Additionally, residents of the district have full access to news sources other than the Chronicle, and they may be fully aware that, at one point, Ms. Pelosi fully supported the use of the same “enhanced interrogation” techniques that she has so publicly denounced. Further, her inability to formulate a timeline, without the appearance of intentionally misleading her constituents, is where the damage lies. Therefore, despite all the money and the power behind Ms. Pelosi, 2010 may truly be the year in which Cindy Sheehan’s is successful in her quest for the 8th District Congressional seat.
Although one may not hold the same political viewpoints as Ms. Pelosi, the Speaker, did at first, make history for women, by virtue of her position as the first female Speaker of the House. That said, she has, in her inability to remain consistent, failed to represent women nationwide as they truly are, rather she sets an example of one consisted housewife, who’s rich husband financed her into a position two heartbeats away from the President of the United States, and is visibly incapable of maintain grace under pressure. Unlike Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a moderate, (who continues to appeal to those traditional Democrats, Independents and even, yes, Conservative Feminists), Pelosi lacks the centrist credentials that would allow her to save face. (Some may recall that Ms. Pelosi strongly pushed for Ms. Clinton’s removal from the 2008 primary in favor of Barack Obama’s candidacy, and it was Ms. Pelosi’s daughter, who cast the 5th Super Delegate vote, handing the nomination to Obama, regardless of the outcome of the popular primary vote. Unfortunately, for women who aspire to higher office, regardless of party or ideology, they will now be faced with greater scrutiny because of the antics of the Speaker of the House.
Her actions and subsequent meltdown are understandable on a humanistic level: Had she been honest and noted that she was fully aware of said “interrogation techniques” from the get-go, she would have alienated her base back in the Haight, and by doing so, endanger her position in the Congress (facing re-election 2010), however, had she been straightforward, she would have at the very least, done a great service for women by acting in a manner that would have been consistent with every other male politician alive - simply stating she had a change of heart would have gone miles towards saving face, the worst case, she would have been nationally known as a “flip-flopper”. She was caught between the proverbial “rock and a hard place” and could not manage to escape. It remains to be seen how the 8th District will truly react, given its history, however, Ms. Pelosi actions have set the wheels in motion for the elevation of a new Speaker, and, should there be a credible Democrat and woman who is capable of ascending to that seat, one can bet the House that she will be cast aside for the first male that puts forth his bid for such a lofty position.
Obama’s initial decision to approve the release of the photographs was a sticking point with Senate Republicans, and rightly so. The release of photographs from Abu Ghraib prison produced a backlash across the Middle East, and further placed an additional threat on U.S. forces in the field. Regardless f the fact, that by global standards of torture, the Abu Ghraib photographs were rather benign, they were a rallying point for the left, and those militant Islamic groups who would grasp at any straw as an excuse to attack the U.S. and its interests. Although, not armed with a crystal ball, one must imagine that any photographs of Guantanamo detainees being “tortured”, would be equally or less benign that those from the Iraqi Prison, given the fact that prisoners at Guantanamo are treated exceptionally well compared to those held in U.S. prisons (where, it can be argued, life behind bars in the U.S., although restraining offers amenities that would not be found outside the U.S.).
In reversing his decision, the President, regardless of any alleged motive, moves to protect American Troops and, as a bonus, serves to remove a possible Al Qaeda/Taliban recruiting tool as well as angering those on the fringe (Daily Kos) who see Presidents decision as “illegal” . However, in a recent Rasmussen Poll regarding the release of detainees from Guantanamo, 75% of those polled, objected to detainees being moved to the U.S. Homeland. It is not a stretch to imagine that a high percentage would also object to the release of said photographs. Therefore, Obama has moved to the center right on this particular issue, which is indicative of the majority of the American voting bloc, regardless of Party affiliation. Although one can well imagine that the New York Times editorial board will be somewhat disappointed, as its constant drumbeat of “horror” over Abu Ghraib, kept the “controversy” in the public arena for months on end the decision will set well with the majority of the American Public.
