Back Into Republican Fun

Posted on October 29, 2011 by billmanzi

I take a couple of days off from this blog and come back to find the Republican Presidential field in disarray! Can someone please explain what the hell the Herman Cain ad is all about? This is now the leading Republican presidential candidate according to national polling? I realize that President Obama has some deep re-elect problems, but the Republican field may just be his ticket to ride. Of course the Cain parodies are now taking off, with Jon Huntsman’s daughters doing their own video mocking the Cain effort. Herman Cain has bumped into some real problems with the scrutiny of his 9-9-9- plan, but the fact that the Cain operation is a mirage simply does not seem to be registering (yet) with Republican voters. Maybe after they stop choking from the smoke being blown in their face they may change course. But for now light em up.

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Leaving Iraq

Posted on October 22, 2011 by billmanzi

The President announced that U.S. troops would be leaving Iraq by the end of the year, and immediately after the announcement we had neo-con hand wringing and expressions of indignation.

The ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, called the announcement “a harmful and sad setback for the United States in the world.”

“I share the desire for all of our troops to come home as quickly as possible. But all of our military commanders with whom I have spoken on my repeated visits to Iraq have told me that U.S. national security interests and the enduring needs of Iraq’s military required a continued presence of U.S. troops in Iraq beyond 2011 to safeguard the gains that we and our Iraqi partners have made,” McCain said in a statement. “I am confident that no U.S. commander of any stature who has served in Iraq recommended the course of action that has now been taken.”

The usual round of vapid statements came from Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachmann, and Rick Perry about the Obama Administration not doing enough to keep our troops in Iraq. Not a word from three of them on how to pay for their call for extended troop presence in Iraq, although Michelle Bachmann claimed she would try to assess Iraq for the full amount we have spent (about a trillion dollars). As unrealistic as Bachmann’s suggestion is at least she had the decency to offer some tip of the hat to the notion that we have to pay for these overseas adventures.

She said she would also have demanded that Iraq use its oil revenues to “repay the full cost of liberating them.”

No word from any Republican that I saw on the Iraqi government position that U.S. Servicemen would lose their “immunity” to Iraqi law after January 1???????? Are the Republicans suggesting that we would stay in Iraq, add to the trillion we have spent there already, and then face the possibility of U.S. military personnel being tried for violations of Iraqi law? What level of stupidity are these folks willing to go to to maintain a U.S. military presence that the Iraqi’s do not want?

We should not be surprised by any of this. The neo-cons have empowered Iran by this immense display of hubris and arrogance. The full scope of their error has not yet been realized, but the contours are clearly in sight. (see the Iraqi government support for the al-Assad regime in Damascus). But hubris knows no bounds, so we have the Morning Joe clip attached below that shows Sen. Lindsay Graham talking about helping rebuild the Libyan infrastructure. Can’t rebuild ours, but we have already rebuilt the Iraqi infrastructure, the Afghan infrastructure, and now apparently we are supposed to rebuild the Libyan infrastructure. Ole Lindsay talks about all the money that can be made over thar in Libya. U.S. Government money enabling huge private profit making. Now that is capitalism at its finest. Even Joe Scarborough can’t take it, and points out the vast hypocrisy of the neo-con position on rebuilding infrastructure abroad, but digging in against any spending to rebuild ours right here in the good old U.S. of A. Pretty indefensible position, but the neo-cons have never been afraid of the indefensible.

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

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Coburn on Telling the Truth

Posted on October 20, 2011 by billmanzi

Senator Tom Coburn has taken his share of lumps, from both left and right, including an ongoing dust-up with Grover Norquist. But when you listen to Coburn about the problems facing the U.S., and the lack of leadership emanating from Washington don’t you just have to say that he is telling the truth. Coburn, as a member of the Bowles-Simpson deficit panel, voted in favor of the final report, even though it included some revenue. Why did he do that? Because Coburn is actually concerned about the deficit. Now I understand that folks don’t agree with Coburn on a wide range of issues. But when it comes to deficit reduction Coburn is absolutely speaking the truth. When it comes to his assertions that politicians in Washington are treating their constituents like children he is telling the truth. When he claims that Washington pols feel that winning the next election is more important than doing the right thing for the country he is telling the truth. It is no wonder that Coburn is so unpopular with his colleagues.

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

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The Romney-Perry Battle

Posted on October 20, 2011 by billmanzi

I don’t know that this ongoing feud between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry can be called a fair fight, as Perry seems to have come to the debate battle of wits unarmed. But he does have $17 million or so to spend, and the bad blood between Rick and Mitt seems to guarantee that a goodly portion will be spent highlighting some of the Mitt Romney deficiencies (as Perry sees them). For now Romney is hitting back in the war of internet ads, calling into question the Perry jobs record. Today’s New York Times highlights the long history of uneasy relations between the two Governors. And the Morning Joe clip shows the Romney attack ad that was pulled by Romney.

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

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Balance the Budget?

Posted on October 17, 2011 by billmanzi

Politico reports today that Republican Ron Paul will announce a deficit reduction plan that cuts one trillion dollars, and purports to balance the budget. The report lists some specifics, which are not surprising coming from Paul:

Many of the ideas are familiar from Paul’s staunch libertarianism, as well as tea party favorites like eliminating the departments of education and energy. But Paul goes further: he’ll propose immediately freezing spending by numerous government agencies at 2006 levels, the last time Republicans had complete control of the federal budget, and drastically reducing spending elsewhere. The EPA would see a 30 percent cut, the Food and Drug Administration would see one of 40 percent and foreign aid would be zeroed out immediately. He’d also take an ax to Pentagon funding for wars.

Medicaid, the children’s health insurance program, food stamps, family support programs and the children’s nutrition program would all be block-granted to the states and removed from the mandatory spending column of the federal budget. Some functions of eliminated departments, such as Pell Grants, would be continued elsewhere in the federal bureaucracy.

Ron Paul has supported these types of cuts/changes for some time. So why post on them?

Ron Paul supports a balanced budget, and does not favor any increases in revenue. So in that respect he is very similar to the other Republican candidates for the Presidential nomination. Where he is different is that he is quite willing to show everybody what that vision means for the budget. And that is what is missing from standard Republican responses on the budget and debt. Honesty.

Most Republicans today say that they support a “balanced budget amendment” to the U.S. Constitution. Of course the version they are selling makes it difficult to raise revenues, so the balance would come from budget cuts alone. But that is as far as the Republicans will go. They have not produced a budget proposal that balances the federal budget. Even Paul Ryan’s plan left trillions in long term debt. Now why do you suppose the Republicans advocate for a balanced budget amendment, but will not file a proposal to actually balance the budget? Is it because it would, by necessity, have to look somewhat similar to the plan put out by Ron Paul? How would the defense hawks in the Republican Party react when you told them of the tremendous cuts in defense spending that will be required to balance the budget without revenues? Block grant Medicaid and Medicare? Lets see how folks respond to those proposals. The numbers do not lie. Without a balanced approach that includes some new revenues you cannot balance the federal budget without imposing something similar to the Ron Paul approach.

So what about the Democrats? Are they not guilty of fuzzy math on balancing the federal budget? Sure, they absolutely are. But the Democrats, rightly or wrongly, do not advocate for immediately balancing the federal budget. It is the Republicans who have made this the (undetailed) centerpiece of their political rhetoric. Why don’t the Republicans produce a balanced budget proposal? Why do they hesitate? Maybe the details of the Ron Paul plan offer us the answer to that question.

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Rush Limbaugh: Romney No Conservative

Posted on October 14, 2011 by billmanzi

A first for this small blog. Rush Limbaugh, in all his glory, makes his first appearance. Rush points out that Mitt Romney “is no conservative”. The Rush man makes the point that “he hasn’t decided” who to support in this race, and he knows “many” of his listeners haven’t either. He accuses the Republican “establishment” of wanting this thing to be “wrapped up early”.

Of course Rush likes Mitt personally, but just can’t accept Mitt’s explanation that Romney Care was right for Massachusetts, but wrong for the country. He rejects the Romney individual mandate as a government intrusion, and is shocked to find out that Romney believes that human activity has contributed to global warming. The horror of it all! Can Romney win a race in the Republican Party with Rush saying he is not a true conservative?

Of course Rush poo poos Romney’s debate performance, saying that he wins by simply not making any errors. Looks like Romney needs to get to Rush Limbaugh’s studio to do some assiduous bum kissing, which you can expect shortly.

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Lili Mayer is October Artist of the Month

Posted on October 14, 2011 by billmanzi

Mayor William M. Manzi has named Lili Mayer October’s Artist of the Month. Lili Mayer is an award winning artist with a diverse portfolio of floral, landscapes, still life, horses, pet and human portraiture. She works in oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor and gouache and enjoys each of these mediums equally. Lili is a member of several art associations including NH Plein Air, Methuen’s Arts Institute Group of Merrimack Valley, Sharon Arts Center, Pastel Society of NH and Manchester Artist Association. Her paintings and prints are exhibited throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts and are in private collections nationally and internationally.

Mayor Manzi stated, “I’d like to thank Lili for her participation in this program. She is one of the many talented artists working in our community. It is an honor to display her artwork. I encourage people to come to my office and view her paintings.”

The Methuen Artist of the Month Program was created by Mayor Manzi over five years ago in order to give members of the Methuen Arts Community a forum to display their work and to encourage participation in Methuen’s growing creative economy. Methuen artists interested in being considered for Artist of the Month should contact the Mayor’s Office.

Lili Mayer-October Artist of the Month

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Romney Steps Closer

Posted on October 12, 2011 by billmanzi

Mitt Romney picked up the endorsement of Chris Christie yesterday, continuing his slow, methodical march towards the Republican nomination. The Christie endorsement is obviously a prize, coming from a man that last week had many Republicans begging him to run himself. Romney is running a disciplined race, sticking to his message as well as his overall strategy without deviation.

I did not see the Republican debate last night, but a look at the news coverage tells me that Rick Perry, previously bloodied, thought better of directly engaging Romney. And Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan took up a large portion of that debate. Delightful stuff for Mitt, and Cain’s rise has to be considered another great piece of news for the Romney campaign. Cain will not be the nominee, but his elbowing aside Rick Perry and the others can do nothing but help Mitt.

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

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Massachusetts in the National Spotlight

Posted on October 11, 2011 by billmanzi

The Massachusetts Senate race is drawing some real scrutiny from the national media, something that is likely to intensify in the coming months. Much commentary about clothing, or the lack thereof, and about campaign tactics and money. I guess we will get to the real problems afflicting the country, like the terrible jobs situation, after we dispose of the vital issue of clothing that has the unemployed deeply on edge.

For those hoping that the candidates will run out of money so that the great clothing debate may come to a halt the newest finance figures cannot be a good omen. Elizabeth Warren raised a very impressive $3 million dollars in the latest reporting period, while Scott Brown raised over $1 million. Elizabeth Warren will be very well financed, and this report shows you why both Setti Warren and Bob Massie decided to call it a day. Alan Khazei may have a bit more staying power, but not much more. The Democratic race is over, and it will be quite a war in the final, with loads of out of state money from both sides allowing plenty of air power to be deployed. For those wondering about Elizabeth Warren’s staying power this financial report should put that issue to rest.

Frank Bruni over at the New York Times weighed in on the race today. Worth a look.

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Perry Launches

Posted on October 11, 2011 by billmanzi

Rick Perry launched a pretty hard attack on the Mittster yesterday, hitting him on the flip-flop issue, as well as on health care and the individual mandate. Should lead to an interesting Republican debate tonight at Dartmouth. Perry is sinking like a stone, and desperately needs a good debate performance. Looks like he will have Romney in his sights.

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