Herman Cain Suspends the Campaign

Posted on December 3, 2011 by billmanzi

Herman Cain withdrew from the Republican race today. I have attached the video, and if you are wondering why he needed to withdraw just take a listen. The Herminator rolls off the tracks even while announcing that his campaign is already derailed. Great stuff. So sorry he will not be on hand for the Donald Trump moderated Republican Presidential debate.

http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/VideoPlayerMain.swf

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Gingrich Storms to Big FLA Lead

Posted on December 1, 2011 by billmanzi

I have, for some time, talked of the inevitability of a Romney nomination. I have not seen any plausible way he could be beaten with the huge advantage he holds in resources and organization. And quite frankly he is the only Republican with a chance to beat the President. I felt he held some real sway in the early primary states, and if he could steal Iowa, and then follow it with a big win in New Hampshire, the road would be paved for him. But for the first time Romney is showing some real cracks in his armor, with the antipathy of the Republican base possibly being fatal to him.

A new Florida poll from Public Policy has Romney trailing Newt Gingrich in Florida by 30 points. No that is not a typo. Gingrich is polling at 47% to 17% for Romney, with Herman Cain at 15%. Everyone else is in single digits. With Gingrich leading the pack in Iowa, and closing in on Romney in New Hampshire, an early knockout of Romney could be had by a Gingrich win in Iowa, followed by a close second in New Hampshire, with wins in South Carolina and Florida by Gingrich putting Romney down for the count. Romney just cannot seem to close the deal with Republican conservatives. And that failure now has him in some peril.

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Who is the Flip-Flop King?

Posted on December 1, 2011 by billmanzi

Ron Paul launched yesterday on Newt Gingrich, releasing an ad that highlights many of the foibles and flip-flops of the former Speaker. Great ad by Paul, and with the results from the Public Policy poll in FLA showing Gingrich with a huge lead over the rest of the pack he can expect a bit more attention. Dr. Paul is more than willing to show Gingrich for the “serial hypocrisy” he has been practicing for so many years. Who is the king of the flip-flop? Everyone thought it was Mitt Romney, but we do have a strong (new) contender!

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Tom Coburn on Washington Dysfunction

Posted on December 1, 2011 by billmanzi

Tom Coburn popped up yesterday in Morning Joe, and I have to post his clip. Coburn is a Republican deficit hawk who actually walks the walk. In this clip he talks about the need for fundamental change in Washington, highlighting his inability to even get an amendment up on the floor in the U.S. Senate. Coburn correctly identifies the reason: Senators want to avoid as many votes as they can, especially on anything that has a whiff of controversy. Coburn’s specific complaint, about the amount of money that is being charged per student on military bases, was most certainly entitled to be heard and debated on the floor as an amendment. If what Coburn is saying has any accuracy then the entire Senate should hang their heads in shame, including Harry Reid. Coburn’s larger point, that change may come only through a wholesale purging of existing personnel from both parties, unfortunately may be true. The more I see of Coburn the more I have to sing his praises, even though I do disagree on many policy issues. There is that disturbing habit he has that is so endearing: he tells the truth.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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If Not Gingrich? Palin?

Posted on November 29, 2011 by billmanzi

A new ad trying to convince Sarah Palin to run for President. Well the Republicans have burnt through just about everyone else, so why not Sarah? As a Democrat I know that the potential for a Gingrich nomination should be gift enough, but a Democrat can dream, can’t he? Run, Sarah, Run!

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Barney Frank Exits

Posted on November 29, 2011 by billmanzi

Long time liberal stalwart Barney Frank yesterday announced his decision not to seek another term in Congress. Without question Frank was not looking forward to a re-elect campaign in his new district, and would have had to raise substantial money and spend plenty of time back in the his new home district. He frankly admitted the role of redistricting on his decision.

Barney Frank is a unique individual who is at once polarizing, brilliant, arrogant, hard working, and legislatively somewhat of a throwback. Despite his reputation Frank was able to work the legislative process and produce results. A legislative technician? Yes, in many ways so, and those talents are not held in such high regard these days.

Frank of course had to leave with some quotes that are memorable, including the zinger that he would no longer have to pretend to like people who he disliked. Classic Frank, although I am not sure how much pretending he had been doing lately. Great post by Marjorie Arons-Barron about Frank over at her blog, aptly titled “Barney Frank: the rudest Congressman you’ll ever miss”. Barney may be leaving elective office, but I have a funny feeling we will be seeing and hearing plenty more from him in the years to come.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

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Herman Cain: The End

Posted on November 28, 2011 by billmanzi

Herman Cain continued his political spiral to oblivion, with another accusation, and another botched response. While Cain issued a denial his lawyer had earlier seemed to confirm a “consensual relationship”.

“This appears to be an accusation of private, alleged consensual conduct between adults – a subject matter which is not a proper subject of inquiry by the media or the public. No individual, whether a private citizen, a candidate for public office or a public official, should be questioned about his or her private sexual life,” Wood said.

So one more time Herman Cain cannot get his story right. After the Clinton episodes these stories are not disqualifying. (Just ask Newt). But Cain is now suffering death by a thousand cuts. He was finished before this. Why he would want to continue is a mystery to me. And what the hell is in the water over at the Republican Presidential warm up room? That is one strange group.

The President is not out of the woods by any means, but he has got to be feeling a little bit better about his re-elect chances today.

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Mitt v Mitt in the 19th Century

Posted on November 28, 2011 by billmanzi

Well it could not have been a great weekend for Mitt Romney, who finds himself under attack from both right and left. Up in New Hampshire the influential Union Leader endorsed the surging Newt Gingrich, making it quite clear that Romney just is not quite their cup of tea. How about editorial page editor Andrew Cline saying that Romney would be a better fit in the “19th century”. Ouch.

Obviously one endorsement will not allow Gingrich to whittle the Romney margin in New Hampshire, but a series of Union Leader attacks over time may begin to hurt the Romney brand in the Granite State. If Romney is the “corporate candidate” then the company logo just got sprayed with mud.

The Democratic National Committee, not wanting to leave the Mitt bashing to only Republicans, have piled on with a new ad and website. They continue to highlight some of the more notable of the Romney “flip-flops” on issues likely to disturb both left and right. I didn’t notice any DNC ads or websites taking on Newt Gingrich, which tells us all we need to know about who the President would prefer to run against. So Newt seems to be a candidate already building consensus. He is favored by the left and the right. Can Newt stand the prosperity? If history is a guide the answer will be no.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

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Newt Moves Left

Posted on November 26, 2011 by billmanzi

Newt Gingrich has caused a stir in the Republican Party by saying what anyone with any common sense already knows on immigration. Gingrich stated that you are not about to deport 11 million people that are here illegally. Gingrich stated that a Party that claims to be big on family values should not be forcing the separation of families through deportation.

“I don’t see how the party that says it’s the party of family is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families which have been here a quarter century and I’m prepared to take the heat for saying let’s be humane in enforcing the law,” he said.

Newt seemed to structure certain parameters, (here for 25 years, no citizenship) that would allow him to deny that his comments represented “amnesty” for these folks. But the immigration hawks in the Republican Party are having none of it. So that heat Newt talked about is coming. Michelle Bachmann hit him even before the debate was over, accusing him of promoting “amnesty”. William Gheen, an anti immigration activist, hit him pretty hard as well.

Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee Chairman William Gheen predicted that Gingrich’s campaign will “implode” as a result of his support for “DREAM Act Amnesty,” just as Perry’s campaign took a dive after the border-state governor described his support for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. “Newt Gingrich’s campaign will now take the ‘Perry Plunge’ due to his support for DREAM Act Amnesty,” Gheen said in a written statement. “Newt Gingrich is finished!”
Gheen said any form of amnesty for illegals will “harm American workers and students” and lead to derailing future border and immigration enforcement efforts. “We are waiting to hear one of these GOP candidates give the correct answer to the immigration question,” Gheen said. “The correct answer is a pledge to adequately enforce America’s existing border and immigration laws — period!”

So Newt takes the humane approach, and has heavy incoming, just as Rick Perry did when he said that those opposed to in state tuition for illegals did not have a heart. The Republicans in Iowa are not favorably inclined to liberal positions on immigration. It is hard for me to see how this emphasis helps Gingrich at this point in time. Is my thought on that wrong? Does Gingrich see something that we cannot see? With the Iowa caucuses right around the corner we will find out soon enough.

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Song of the Week- Rick Pisano "It Comes and It Goes"

Posted on November 26, 2011 by billmanzi

http://cache.reverbnation.com/widgets/swf/40/pro_widget.swf?id=artist_490422&skin_id=PWAS1002&border_color=000000&auto_play=false&shuffle=false&song_ids=8192259
ComScore

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