In The Middle.

It's been a minute... and now I'm pissed.

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:48:30 -0400

I suppose that is what preparing for graduation and the finality of college brings - a lack of time to blog.

However, despite the two month dry spell - not much has changed. Mitt Romney is still the eventual nominee and, well, it seems as though no one could care less.

Certainly, this allows the race to get off the ground, and allows the two candidates (not including Buddy Roemer and Rocky Anderson who are trying to garner attention in their own right as independents) to lay out the battle ahead of them as they move forward.

However, as the campaign ramps up, it becomes clearer and clearer that — no one really cares. The fervor over this election among the American populous is low, mainly because the potential for real change is perceived to be miniscule at best.

It has taken me so long to write anything because, truthfully, there has been little to write about.

Mitt Romney does little but fill a room with hot air, and the President has yet to fully deliver on a host of campaign promises. Meanwhile, the House and the Senate have spent more time bolstering themselves up for November victories along party lines than actually working to fix the issues that matter most to the American families still struggling to survive.

Let me put this plainly - no one really gives a damn about November, because November really doesn’t mean a damn thing.

As I write this, congressional approval sits at 13%, and disapproval hovers around 80%.

So, eight in ten Americans believe that the Congress has been doing a poor job, roughly one in ten have lost their minds, and the remaining people just couldn’t be bothered to answer this survey because they realized how moronic the question “Do you approve or disapprove of the job Congress is doing?” truly was.

However, despite the - overwhelming is too simple a word - ASTOUNDING majority of Americans that think Congress flat out sucks, I will guarantee you that at least 85% of the current members will return for yet another 2 or 6 years of sitting on their asses and collecting paychecks from the American taxpayer, as well as payouts from their friends on K-Street. And, for those who do not return to their posts, please do not fret over their future prosperity. In a matter of a few short weeks on the unemployment line, they will receive a cushy new position at a lobbying firm in downtown Washington, with a seven-figure salary that will immediately lob them toward a coveted spot in the “One Percent.”

Welcome to the reality of America.

So, how do we change this?

We vote differently. We vote for people, mainly in Congress, who actually have a desire to get things done, make change, and (oh yes)compromise.

Over the next several weeks, I will be rolling out the names of these people. Of these candidates for office who actually believe in change, and actually wish to see this change come to fruition.

If we want to steer the course of this country forward, we cannot simply vote for the old incumbent millionaires that have been the face of Washington for far too long. We have the ability to change this right here, and right now. It starts with US.

We deserve better, and this election season - we are going to earn it.

Let’s make Washington remember the sixth of November.

Stars, Bars, and four old yanks.

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:01:00 -0400

Tonight Newt, Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum compete for an opportunity to “sweep the South” and claim a win in the Alabama and Mississippi primaries. Ever since the sun set on “Super Tuesday”, which, in all honesty, was rather boring, he media has been focusing on the Dixieland like Wile E. Coyote on the Roadrunner, constantly attempting to defy logic to make these primaries actually matter. Let’s just be blunt - the only person that is legitimately excited that the Presidential Candidates are trying to charm the voters of the Deep Fried South is Barack Obama himself. Why? Because the day that President Obama wins either one of the Southern states is the day that you can go ahead and cancel your plans for 2013, securing yourself in the knowledge that the Mayans are right.

Tonight we are going to see primaries in states where 52% of GOP voters believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim, where every single candidate has more or less been forced to give a speech on their favorite type of grits (the consensus among all three was “cheesy”), and where fighting for gun rights and against gay marriage is prioritized above fighting for quality education and equal opportunity for all citizens (disclaimer - I love my guns, just not more than educational equity).

So, in the interim, yes this does make a difference in the GOP race, because if Mitt wins both states, he is TRULY inevitable, Gingrich is out, and Santorum is left to regroup. However, in the long run, in the true grand scheme of things, tonight is pointless. If we have learned anything, it is that over 40% of voters this evening do not identify as strong conservatives, which means that either there are a lot of disenfranchised former Obama voters (who will likely go for Romney), or there are a ton of Democrats attempting to sabotage the results (a good thing for Newt and Santorum).

So, as the campaign heads south, and the polls close in 30 seconds, it is time to sit down, to buckle up, and to watch the three main contenders duke it out once again as the most contested GOP primary in recent history continues. Updats to come.

The polls are closed - Cue Wolf Blitzer’s Screaming.

Roll Tide my friends, Roll Tide.

**Santorum ahead by 5% in Alabama, Mitt ahead by the same in Mississippi** Cheese grits works.

Damn Few.

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:55:00 -0500

Most military movies I have seen have revolved around a few actors seeking to score award buzz while trying to accurately portray a role that they have no ability to fully understand.

In recent years, a few films have broken that barrier and actually done justice to the reality of war - Restrepo was the first, Act of Valor is the second.

The first military motion picture to featuring real Navy SEALs, real ammunition, and no CGI [i.e. when the SEALS parachuted from a plane and into the ocean while a submarine arose from the depths beneath them to carry them to their next mission - it was real.] not only filled the heart and soul of every man in the theater with a desire to punch a stranger in the face on the way out while chanting ‘U.S.A’, it filled you with a sense of pride, and even more importantly, profound respect for the men and women who give so freely of themselves for our benefit.

In America, we are often exposed to the glories of war - the soldier returning home from battle to be with his family, the flag flying triumphantly in the wind, the cheer from the battalion as the enemy surrenders… war is seen as an inherent good, with little personal repercussion, as we are allowed to watch from the sidelines.

“There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory,” said Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, “but, boys, it is all Hell.”

What Act of Valor offers is a look behind the facade of war, and into the lives of those who fight it.

When directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh were asked on ‘Huckabee’ why they chose to hire real SEALs instead of actors, they said simply, “because of the brotherhood.”

If there is one thing that this film shows, it is the incredible bond between these men who fight along side one another and entrust each other with their lives. These men train for a year, pushing themselves to the very limits of their mental, physical, and emotional capacity in order to be the best of the best. They give everything they have for their nation, and everything they have for each other.

You see, despite the fact that fewer than ten percent of entrants into the BUD/S will graduate, despite the fact that becoming a SEAL means accomplishing the most rigorous training course on the planet, and despite the fact that with the designation of ‘Navy Special Warfare (SEAL) Officer inexorably comes the title of ‘certified bad ass’, it is never about the one. The focus is never on glorifying the individual, either in training or practice… it is always about the men, always about the team, and always about serving every day with a level of valor and honor that precludes the fear of death.

The in the final minutes of the film, a poem by a Native American Chief is read aloud while the names of fallen SEALs scroll across the screen:

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and
Demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,
Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and
Its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
Even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and
Bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and
For the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks,
The fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing,
For abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts
Are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes
They weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again
In a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.

We owe these men more than a simple thank you or passing handshake, we owe them the desire to strive and live with the love, strength and fearlessness that they embody. These men live knowing that moment on this earth with the ones they love may be their last. They live in a world without the possibility of second chances, forcing them to appreciate what matters the most, without question or hesitation. This is how we should live, with the propensity to overshadow the inevitability of death through magnanimous power of service and love.

Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.

To the men and women who live a life to this caliber and give of themselves with the desire to protect, serve and honor those they have never met… to the brave members of our military - to the teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and citizens of valor across this nation - to the damn few:

Thank you.

Take a moment, and think. What do we, as a nation, gain from...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:06:00 -0500

Take a moment, and think. What do we, as a nation, gain from denying others equality? If we make the conscious decision to subvert the rights of a minority, simply because it is the will of the majority, what sort of legacy does that leave for our generation? Equality isn’t an option… it’s a necessity. It’s the very essence of who we are, and who we must continue to be.

Boston, we have a problem.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:11:00 -0500

Dawn this morning awakened Mitt Romney to a new reality in his race for the White House (that is, of course, assuming he actually slept).

Last night, in what just two days ago was perceived to be a steamroll for the former Massachusetts Governor and perceived front-runner, Rick Santorum pulled what is being called a “Stunning three-state sweep”, winning the state of Missouri with a 30 point margin, Minnesota by 18%, and an incredible upset in Colorado, ousting Romney by 5%.

Before last night, Romney was a man with momentum. He had won Florida and Nevada, both decisively, and truly seemed to be unstoppable.

However, what much of the media tended to overlook was the fact that Romney’s victories in these states were not a result of voter confidence, but rather something that has become far more important in this campaign: Money.

Mitt, and his ‘unaffiliated’ SuperPAC spent nearly $10,000,000 in those two states alone, outspending any competitors by enormous margins. As ads, both pro-Romney and anti-Everyone Else hit the airwaves, Romney saw his numbers rise. But a look behind the bare numbers would suggest that Romney’s support is eroding, rather than gaining strength, as his support in Nevada from 2008 weakened.

Last night though, money could not help the former Massachusetts Governor. As the people of Missouri, Minnesota, and Colorado headed to their caucuses or polls, they seemed to have something other than Mitt in mind - Rick Santorum.

Santorum’s come from behind victory was no less impressive last night than it was a month ago in Iowa. Having left Florida and Nevada early in order to hit the ground across the contest states, Santorum put in the leg work that Mitt’s money couldn’t buy.

One needs to look no further than 2008 to see just how disappointing tonight was for Mitt Romney. Then, he won Minnesota with 41% of the vote. Last night, he came in third with 17% of the vote. In 2008 Romney swept Colorado with nearly 65% of the vote, tonight he lost, with 35% of the vote.

The issue here goes deeper than a simple Santorum surge, it shows the true and continued loss of support that Romney has within the Republican base and the growing desire among GOP voters to escape from the ‘inevitability’ of Mitt Romney.

Much like a vision of sugarplums, the words of Ann Coulter seem to be dancing in the heads of conservatives around the nation, “If you don’t run, Chris Christie, Romney will be the nominee and we’ll lose.” They want someone, anyone, else. And, as they have written off Ron Paul and burned through whatever sustenance Newt Gingrich had to offer, they find themselves gladly courting Santorum. A family man, a self-made man, a relate-able man with values, a man who emphatically states “I’m not here to represent just the 99% or the 1%, I care about the very rich AND the very poor. I am running to represent 100% of Americans!” (unless they are gay, of course. But it is still a solid slogan).

Essentially, the story is this: Romney has become the distant, cold, ‘old-money’, ‘status-quo’ politician. He has transformed from a smart, conservative businessman into the corrupt, callous politician without a core. He is fading, and fading fast. And, if Newt Gingrich makes the tough, but necessary decision to step aside, Romney has lost this race as the vast majority of Newt’s remaining support will coalesce around Santorum, making the once insignificant Former Senator from Pennsylvania the inevitable 2012 nominee of the GOP.

So, if this somehow is normal to you… congratulations, you have a far more brilliant political mind than I.

But, if you are thinking to yourself, “what in the Hell just happened?”, then I think we are on the same page.

This is 2012. Expect the unexpected.

Rick Rising: Money Loses, Work Wins

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:43:00 -0500

The moment you never thought you would see has come…. again.

Rick Santorum, once, then twice, then three times dead-in-the-water Senator of Pennsylvania is on the rise again.

After Mitt Romney’s less than stellar win in Nevada, and Newt Gingrich’s continual downward spiral, the time is ripe for another Romney challenger to arise.

While Mitt has been gaining some traction in the base, there is still hope within the majority of the party for an alternative, for someone without the burden of Romney-care, for someone who can relate to the average American worker and, well, actually cares about helping the ‘Very Poor’.

Some may say that Rick Santorum has had his time in the sun and already arose as a challenger to Romney, but in reality that simply is not the case. Yes, Rick Santorum had a bump in the polls shortly before the Iowa caucuses and was able to pull off one of the greatest Cinderella stories in the history of the state’s primary. However, unlike many of his predecessors (Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and who could forget the Hermanator?) Rick Santorum actually earned his time in the spotlight. He worked hard, with blood, sweat, and tears - and the germs of the thousands of tiny babies he kissed. He spoke candidly, openly and honestly about his views and, like them or not.

And tonight, his hard work may have paid off again.

Rick Santorum essentially skipped the pricey and Romney-Shoo-In states of Florida and Nevada, focusing his attention on tonight’s three primaries, Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado. And, guess what, it seems to be working. As Senator Santorum’s conservative but populist message spreads throughout these states, people are starting to take notice. At a recent event in Missouri, one that was called ‘impromptu’ and ‘not heavily advertised’, the long-removed Senator drew a crowd of over 500 people. While the national media was focused on Mitt Romney, and he on the lifeblood of his campaign… money, Santorum was focused on doing what he does best… talking to people, meeting voters, spreading his message, and building support.

Whether you agree with the good Senator’s policy views or not, it is difficult to argue against his willpower and drive. In all, his campaign has logged nearly 100,000 miles, traveling across the nation, from town to town, coffee shop to coffee shop, and earning votes. And, with three recent PPP polls showing him in the lead or tied for first in all three of tonight’s contests, his hard work truly seems to be paying off.

I think, and I hope, that Americans are beginning to wake up. That we, as a nation, are starting to see that we can no longer allow for money to dictate our vote. That we prefer the self-made man to the man with deep pockets who inherited daddy’s trust fund when he turned 18 (speaking metaphorically, of course).

So, tonight, it seems as though hard work may win out, and a message will resonate that, while a SuperPAC and a few disgustingly wealthy donors may be able to buy a candidate, they cannot buy the voice of the American people.

Tonight, the campaign changes.

Does Mitt's Win Matter?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:49:00 -0500

Mitt Romney had a decisive win in Nevada on Saturday night when he took the state with 50% of the vote. Other competitors, namely Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, didn’t come close to hitting that mark as they each garnered roughly 20% of the vote.

On the surface, this looks like a strong Romney win. This looks like Momentum. Better yet, this looks like Mitt-Mentum.

However, one only needs to look back four years to discover how deceptive this ‘victory’ truly is.

In 2008, Mitt Romney won the Nevada Caucus with a commanding 51%, garnering over 22,000 votes and putting a nearly 38% gap between himself and the second place winner Ron Paul.

In 2012, Romney’s 50% was comprised of only 16000 votes (a net gain of -6000 from 2008 for those keeping track), and he was ‘only’ able to garner a 29% margin (again, for the other political nerds keeping tally, -9%) between himself and Newt Gingrich. Coupled with a drop in national GOP nomination polls, in had to head polls against President Obama, and with the results of a new ABC/Washington post poll showing that 54% of likely voters think less of Mitt Romney the more that they learn about him, this subtle slip could well become a more pervasive issue.

So, yes, for the time being this decisive win in Nevada seems as though it will carry Romney forward for a time, but let us not forget that these wins are more than just skin deep.

It was on January 19, 2008 that Mitt Romney reigned victorious in his blowout performance in Nevada. Nineteen days later, on February 7th, he dropped out.

This race is not over. Not by a long shot.

Everything is better in context.

“This country can’t be knocked down by one punch....

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:11:55 -0500

“This country can’t be knocked down by one punch. We get right back up and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines.” - Clint Eastwood.

Why Gingrich will Lose. How Ron Paul can Rise.

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:01:00 -0500

The one major donor of the Gingrich Campaign, Sheldon Adelson, is a Las Vegas Billionaire. He is the man who built the Venetian and the Bellagio, and was thought to be the man that would have resurrected the Gingrich campaign with millions in lump-sum donations to his Super PAC. Now, ironically, it appears as though the same place where the Speaker’s bid for President saw new life is the place where the campaign will finally crumble.

Caucuses have yet to close, but it is already clear that the Nevada caucus tonight is, without a doubt, a win for Mitt Romney. How? Two words. Money and Mormons.

Mr. Romney not only has strong religious ties to the people in the state of Nevada because of his Mormon faith (26% of voters), he (and his Super PAC), have spent copious amounts of money to ensure that his lead is a solid one.

Some caucus results have already begun to trickle in and, according to Las Vegas’s own Jon Ralston, Governor Romney is winning with a staggering 60% of the vote.

However, a win for Romney IS expected. So how does this amount to the demise of Newt?

In December, he was behind Mitt Romney in Nevada by only 4%. Yesterday, he was polling behind by 20%. Today, early returns suggest that, not only is he behind Mitt by an enormous margin, he is likely to come in third, behind Ron Paul.

Now, some people may make the argument that Newt can regain momentum as we head closer to Super Tuesday. They will point out that John McCain, the 2008 winner of the South Carolina GOP Primary lost Nevada to Romney by 40 points. also losing to Ron Paul, but still became the GOP nominee. Unfortunately for Gingrich, the Nevada caucus of 2008 was held on the same day as the SC Primary. He has had time to build on that momentum, but has seen it slip, and slip rapidly.

Gingrich’s problem comes not only from polling out of Nevada, but from national polls as well, as more and more Americans state that they would choose to support President Obama over the former Speaker.

On the other hand, a second place win in Nevada would be an extreme positive for Paul who has stated that he is going to base the rest of his campaign on winning caucuses, rather than primaries, where he feels his strength is greatest. Likewise, in most national polls, Ron Paul is seconded only by Romney in a head to head match-up against Obama. In fact, entrance polls in Nevada have shown that most caucus goers agree most with what Congressman Paul has to say, but simply don’t find him to be electable. Should the congressman prove them otherwise in the coming caucuses, he may be able to turn that perspective around and see his numbers rise.

So, tonight WILL yield a Romney victory, but it is the 2nd and 3rd place winners that will truly make the mark on how the rest of this contest could play out. If Gingrich comes in 3rd, he is finished [realistically, if he doesnt come within 15 points of Romney he is done]. He won’t admit it, he will press on, but he will not win. If Paul comes in second, more importantly if Paul comes in second to Romney within a closer margin tonight than four years ago (38%), it could be the subtle, but real event that would allow the 76 year old Veteran to become this race’s game changer.

Polls close in in less than two hours, until then, all bets are off.

Grab some popcorn, settle down, and cue the cheesy CNN intro. Tonight the Presidential Election goes West.

A Battle for Unity

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:50:23 -0500

The following is an excerpt from the closing remarks in President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union. Whatever your thoughts may be on how he has performed as president, one fact remains… We are one nation, one people, who must come together in these times of trial to fight for a better future for all those who are unable to speak for themselves. This is pivotal moment in our history, and we must rise to the occasion. Our differences mean nothing, it is our mission that matters.

Which brings me back to where I began. Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn from the service of our troops. When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white; Asian or Latino; conservative or liberal; rich or poor; gay or straight. When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails. When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one Nation, leaving no one behind.

One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates - a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary; and Hillary Clinton, a woman who ran against me for president.

All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job - the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other - because you can’t charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there’s someone behind you, watching your back.

So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we’re joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

The Endorsement.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:17:38 -0500

For the past six months, I have focused my energy into working to elect Jon Huntsman as the next President of the United States. Jon is a hardworking, decent, honorable, and strong leader who has given so much of himself with the hope of bettering this nation. The thing that drew me most to Jon was simply the fact that he was different. He had lead the state of Utah with clear results, he had lead a global company with clear results, and he had represented America’s interests in China with clear results. Jon was reelected to the Governor’s office with over 80% of the vote and had transformed the state into the best managed state in the nation and the best state for business. He is a true leader and would have lead the United States into prosperity and growth. Unfortunately, however, money has so consumed this election that the most sensible conservative candidate was overlooked.

Which brings us to today.

I will be the first to say that there is no truly inclusive and overwhelmingly desirable Republican candidate that stood on the NBC Debate stage in Tampa last night. Truth be told, if this election cycle were fair, Buddy Roemer would have even a slight chance of becoming the next President… but, as it stands, this system is anything but.

And so, as a voter, I find it to be my duty to seek out a candidate whom I believe is honest, truthful, and steadfast. A candidate who, if elected, would lead this nation, not guided by special interest groups, but guided by their head and their heart. This decision was made more as a process of elimination than anything else, but it is a decision nonetheless.

Let me be clear, we cannot afford another failed Governor whose policies left his state in economic shambles. We cannot afford a Speaker who profited from the failure of American companies and lead the government into a shutdown through failure to compromise. And, we cannot afford a Senator who believes it is more important to marginalize Americans because of their differences than to celebrate the diversity of this nation. Simply put, we cannot afford a politician.

As such, I announce my personal endorsement of Ron Paul for the GOP Nomination for President of the United States.

Our country is suffering, our people are suffering, and the three establishment candidates on stage simply do not seem to care. It has become clear over the last several months that Romney and Gingrich, in particular, would simply represent more of the status quo, with a greater interest in simplifying the tax system for the wealthiest Americans than actually focusing on helping the most impoverished citizens in this country. When Mitt wasn’t running for elected office, he was making hundreds of millions of dollars by “restructuring” failing companies and laying off workers. Likewise, after Newt Gingrich was forced out of the speakership in disgrace following the shutdown of the US Government, he went on to ‘consult’ with Freddie Mac, making an estimated $1.6 Million off of a company that held a great share of responsibility in the housing market collapse and took over $71 Billion in taxpayer bailout money.

Neither of these men seem to truly understand the plight of this nation, nor the serious changes needed to get us back on track. Of the remaining Republican candidates, Ron Paul is the only man who, to put it plainly, says what he means and means what he says. Ron understands that we need drastic cuts in spending if this country is to survive, he understands that the middle class is in need of a voice in the American government, he understands, and has garnered the support of, our American troops as the only veteran in the race and the only one who grasps the reality that war can never lead to peace. Paul is anything but politics as usual and anything but a Washington insider. A man with a true and honest faith, Paul’s desire to wage this fight for the future of his country is not political, it is genuine.

If I were to tell you that I had no reservations about the idea of President Paul, I would be lying. There are plenty of issues wherein I and the Congressman disagree, but those are outweighed by the overall idea and desire for freedom in the United States. Paul is not the establishment, he is different. Many criticize the fact that he is outside of the mainstream, but I wonder how well they feel the ‘mainstream’ has done in the past two decades.

Certainly, the possibility of a President Paul is slim, at best. However, I have never been in the business of siding with the odds. I believe that, of the remaining GOP candidates, Ron Paul best represents what we need in this country and focuses squarely on the needs of the average American. Mr. Paul is not perfect, but he is the best the GOP currently has to offer.

And so for now, I side with Paul… I side with something different.

South Carolina: Who will the South help to rise again?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:02:26 -0500

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the greatest weekend in America.

On Sunday afternoon, it’s football time, as four teams battle it out for the AFC and NFC championships and a ticket to the Superbowl. Then, after the games, stay tuned for an all new CSI:Miami where Horatio Cane will deliver another stellar tagline.

However, before that moment comes, we have the Primary to End All Primaries.

Tonight, voters in South Carolina will take to the polls to effectively decide whether or not the the race for the GOP nomination will end tonight.

The race has, at least for now, been whittled down to two main focal points… Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. The fire-y, self described “changed man” with three wives versus the rich Mormon with one… or at least that is how South Carolina voters seem to be viewing it.

As you may recall, over two months ago I predicted that Newt Gingrich would win the Nomination. This is a prediction I stand by today. I believe, as many analysts do, that South Carolina has, somewhat suddenly but not entirely unexpectedly, become Gingrich’s race to lose.

Newt is on fertile ground, and he knew that going in.

He has pandered and postured and played to the tune of the voters of the state, and has done it successfully.

He has taken on the media in a fierce and tactful manner and has attacked the “establishment candidate” that is Mitt Romney incessantly about his flip-flopping, the manner in which he attained his immense wealth, and his out of touch approach in dealing with the normal, every day, blue collar American voter.

Gingrich and his campaign have been tremendously successful in dragging Mitt through the mud and making him look like the “insider, Wall Street” candidate who simply cannot understand what it is like to struggle as a middle-class American. And, truly, nothing can sting more than that.

Now, in hindsight, this is not how things should have turned out. This should have, by all logical accounts, been Rick Santorum’s opportunity to solidify himself as the anti-Romney, conservative, evangelical candidate who actually WON Iowa… but he failed. It’s all about eye contact. However, even if he loses tonight, it would be in Santorum’s best interest to stick it out a few states longer. Lord knows that this race always needs an alternative.

That being said, Gingrich is now the ‘darling’ of the TEA-Party and the reluctant choice of the evangelicals. Yes, Newt Gingrich, who is currently married to his mistress of 8 years (his lead has actually expanded since his ex-wife spoke out in a controversial ABC interview), seems to be the choice of evangelicals in South Carolina because of one simple word: Forgiveness. No one knows the power of it better than an evangelical.

So, despite the ups and downs, the twists and turns, the loss of two candidates and the endorsement of Herman Cain by Stephen Colbert (whom I sincerely hope does well, if for no other reason than comedic value), this race appears to be for Gingrich. And, if he does win, it will be the first time in modern history the first three primary contests have each had a different winner:

Iowa: Santorum

New Hampshire: Romney

South Carolina: ???

This is it. This is what newspapers across South Carolina are calling the “GOP’s Day of Reckoning”

Truth be told, in a race as fluid and ever-changing as this, no one can truly tell who will win today.

But, rest assured, if Gingrich eeks this one out, it’s going to be a long, long road ahead.

Ladies and gentlemen, onward to Florida.

I think this race could use a little sunshine.

Stop SOPA, fight to protect American rights from Government...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:06:25 -0500

Stop SOPA, fight to protect American rights from Government Censorship.

Colbert on Newt's REVENGE (but not in a negative way)

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:53:21 -0500

From The Colbert Report

January 4, 2012

After playing a clip of Gingrich’s Iowa concession speech stating he will go after Romney’s record… Stephen Colbert looked straight into the camera as the lights dimmed to red and stated with theatrical and demonic sincerity:

“Oh Mitt, you have made a fatal mistake. You may have wounded Newt… but you left him ALIVE!… and alone with his first love… HATE!

Newt’s wound will now fester… oozing a pustulant rage which will render down into liquid vengeance and then pour into the tip of a single hollow-nosed bullet, and the FIRE INTO THE HEART OF MITT ROMNEY’S DREAMS AND DANCE AND CACKLE ON THE GRAVE OF YOUR AMBITION! … BUT, not in a negative way.”

Cue clip from the princess bride.

Ron Paul: A 76 year old child for President

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:51:00 -0500

It is not often that I find a Presidential Candidate to have done something so inherently immature that I find myself blogging about it.

In fact, I believe the last time it happened was in June with Herman Cain’s harmful comments about Islam.

However, tonight I want to congratulate Ron Paul for winning this ‘coveted’ prize.

Earlier, during the Iowa Caucuses his campaign tweeted:

@JonHuntsman we found your one Iowa voter, he’s in Linn precinct 5 you might want to call him and say thanks.

A few minutes after the tweet was sent, it was deleted, only to be re-posted roughly half an hour later.

If you, as a candidate for the office of President of the United States, as someone who is trying to lead the free world and govern the richest and most influential nation on the planet choose to resort to a twitter fight that resembles a jealous teenage girl far more than it does a 76 year old Congressman… we have a problem.

Ron Paul, this is not a joke, this is not high school, this is a PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN… this is about the future of our country.

You are not new to this sort of immature campaigning, as you stated on national television that Rick Santorum was a bigot and Michele Bachmann hated Muslims, and so this does not come as a surprise… but the taste it leaves is no less disgusting.

Ron Paul, if you receive no other advice in this campaign I hope this message makes its way to you… GROW UP.

America needs a President, not a damn child.

Bring it on Iowa.

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:57:35 -0500

This is it.

It’s been four years since the first contests put a win in the column of Obama and Huckabee and, in 20 minutes, the doors will close and the Caucuses in Iowa will begin once again.

This is the beginning of the 2012 Presidential Election, and while some Republicans are already cutting their losses and looking forward to 2016… I’m excited.

Tonight, Iowans MAY set the tone for how this race starts to unfold.

I say MAY… because tonight, in the grand scheme of things, may not matter.

Here are a few scenarios:

1) Romney wins… with over 27% of the vote. Done. He moves on to New Hampshire, gets a majority of the vote… and essentially sails to the nomination.

2) Paul wins and Romney comes in a close second. This gives Paul, currently second in New Hampshire, a boost. While many GOP insiders are preaching, and hoping, that he cannot become the nominee… he well may in this scenario. Romney has said he will win, that’s a big chip to play, so if Paul takes him down, Romney is damaged, and Paul can gain some ground next week in a state that is historically friendly to Libertarians.

3) Santorum wins. First of all, let’s just let that settle for a moment. Rick Santorum won something. If nothing else, he deserves it. He has cris-crossed that state in a pick up truck, essentially becoming a resident of Iowa, has shaken tens of thousands of hands, and has put the true blood sweat and tears into the campaign in Iowa that Romney has been able to avoid because, well, he has money. This puts Santorum in a position to move into fourth, maybe even third in New Hampshire, put a few more delegates and some more momentum in his pocket, and then move on to the Christian-rich state of South Carolina… where he could win. If he wins tonight, calling Santorum a potential nominee sounds that much less crazy.

Those are the three main scenarios.

But I, personally, could see Newt making a surprisingly good showing and anticipate the same for Bachmann. I know she has been floundering recently, but in two weeks she put in some incredible legwork and recent polls show her with strong youth support, as well as high levels of relate-ability among Iowans. So, if the people of Iowa choose someone they can trust over someone who has, what appears to be, the greatest chance of winning… she may do well, and if not her, then Perry.

My personal hope is that Santorum wins, with Romney coming in a distant second or third, putting a dent in his armor, allowing Huntsman (my guy) to move into a strong second place finish in New Hampshire. Hey, I can dream.

We shall see what happens. This race is so fluid that the best advice I can give is not to rely on polls or pundits, but on the people voting.

A caucus is hard to pin down… it is unpredictable… and, especially in Iowa, it likes to surprise.

Enjoy the results (I recommend watching CNN, best special effects around) and get ready to more fireworks as we move forward with the debate on Saturday and the New Hampshire Primary on Tuesday.

Buckle up… it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Two minutes until doors close.

Happy Election Night. It’s back. Here we go.

Bachmann Rising

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:14:10 -0500

A few weeks ago, she was insignificant.
She was done. She was yesterday’s news.

Michele Bachmann’s campaign was floundering, unable to recover from faltering enthusiasm and countless gaffes. She was the joke of the campaign… that is until she reminded us all at the final debate that she “is a serious candidate”.

Now, joke’s over.

Michele Bachmann certainly is not a candidate that, at least at this point, seems to have much viability in a general election (that title lays with the increasingly well-received Jon Huntsman), but in a primary election… she’s got game.

A native of Iowa, Michele has the benefit of roots. She is consistently conservative (excuse me, CONSERVATIVE) and, to her credit, does not let others force her into wavering on her views. She is a strong evangelical Christian, and an “All American” wife and mother. In person, she is kind and on the stage, she is fierce. She became the first woman in history to win the coveted Aimes Straw Poll, with the greatest number of votes any candidate has ever garnered. And now, despite months of poor polling and decreased visibility… I believe she’s got a real shot.

The first in the nation Iowa Caucuses take place fifteen days from now, and in the world of politics, that’s more than enough time to make it to the top.

In the past several polls, Bachmann continues to inch her way upward, now within only a few points of third place. The Minnesota Congresswoman has just embarked on a 99 County Tour across the state of Iowa, working with a grueling schedule that includes roughly 10 stops a day over a 10 or 11 hour period.

This is Michele’s bread and butter. This is where she shines. In these one-on-one town hall meetings, she is often regarded as kind, charming, ‘adorable’, genuine, and smart. She is able to electrify a room and bring individuals to her side.

Michele has staked nearly her entire campaign on Iowa and, in order to remain at all viable in this race, she must PERFORM. On January 3rd, if she does not win the Iowa caucus, she must come in a strong second, or, at the very least, a Hillary Clinton style third. Anything less, and she announces the suspension of her campaign on January 4th.

Now, the road to winning the nomination for Michele will not end in Iowa. She is widely expected, and rightly so, to perform poorly in the New Hampshire primaries, so her next real contest comes in South Carolina. The Palmetto State is home to the ‘first in the South’ primary, and is not only filled with Republicans, but filled with Southern Baptist and Evangelicals. It is a state always recognized as being key to the Republican nomination. It is a state where her poll numbers continue to steadily rise. If Bachmann can ride a wave of momentum generated from a strong Iowa showing to garner the support of Bible-belt conservatives in the state and win the third primary in the nation, she can continue on to win the Nomination.

But it all starts with Iowa. It all starts with winning the first contest, or at least beating Romney. If she can do that, if she can win the very first delegates, if she can outshine the golden boy, she can be on the fast track to becoming a truly significant candidate in this process.

However, this is all predicated on a large ‘IF’.

Michele, you have two weeks. You have two weeks to spread your message and truly convince the people of Iowa that you are the best candidate to take on Barack Obama in November.

I believe that this MAY be Bachmann’s time to shine.

Not an endorsement, just a thought.

In 2012, Expect the Unexpected

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:19:45 -0500

If you were looking for an answer, for guidance, as to who WILL WIN the Iowa caucus… you have found it.

Readers, I present to you the 2012 GOP Iowa Caucus winner:

*Huntsman isn’t pictured because, well, he doesn’t care about winning Iowa.

Confused? So is just about every single person who follows American politics. However, we all should have seen this coming.

Iowa, much like the race as a whole, has been without a solid GOP front runner following a summer of Michele Mania, a hardly Texas-sized push by Christmas Warrior Rick Perry, and by a brief appearance by glorified pizza man Herman Cain, took the top spot in mid-October.

Now, as the primary draws nearer and nearer, the outcome of the race is muddled in uncertainty. With less than 20 days to go, it is literally anyone’s game… unless you are Joel Osteen’s less successful long-lost twin, namely Rick Santorum.

Ron Paul, you know, the 76 year old Re(3VOL)ution [that was my attempt to replicate his logo] guy loved by nearly every classic, white, middle class, college man in America, is making a last-minute surge in a race that he seemed to be all but excluded from just a few days ago. Recent polls show the Libertarian-Republican candidate polling second in the state, at times within a single point of first… a far cry from the distant fourth place he held at the beginning of December.

Romney, who has just recently begun to actually campaign in the state, has seen his support slip, with the latest Insider Advantage poll showing him falling from one-time front runner to a fourth place, second-tier candidate. Likewise, Gingrich, who for a time has enjoyed a rising and comfortable lead in the primary, is not seeing his support slip as questions about his leadership skills, his ties to Fannie-Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as his past infidelities begin to circulate around his candidacy.

As front runners fall and the Republican-Base voting block descends into disarray, candidates, like Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry, who were considered all but dead a week ago, now find themselves with a renewed opportunity to take advantage of the dissatisfaction among Iowa voters and make one last push before the January 3rd Primary.

Fighting for the Evangelical Christian voting bloc that makes up nearly 60% of all registered Iowa Republicans, Rick Perry has made headlines with his newest ad ‘Strong’, wherein he declares himself a champion against ‘Obama’s War on Religion’. Following the buzz generated from the ad, Rick began a 42 city bus tour around Iowa, visiting the same areas that carried Arkansas Governor Baptist Minister Mike Huckabee to a surprise victory in 2008.

Not to be outdone, Michele Bachmann has been capitalizing on national interviews nearly every night, seeking to distinguish herself as the only ‘true conservative’ with ‘nothing to hide and no surprises’. Last night, she fended off attacks from Former Senator Rick Santorum who said she was “not ready to be president of the United States”. She highlighted her electoral accomplishments and her sway within the TEA Party to CNN’s John King, arguing that the support she has garnered both in Minnesota and across the United States is proof that she is ‘the best positioned candidate to make Barack Obama a one-term president’.

Tonight at 9pm EST, as the top seven GOP candidates appear on Fox News and take the stage in Souix City for the final debate before the caucuses (don’t worry, you can catch Buddy Romer responding to every single question via Twitter), the stakes could not be higher.

The 2012 Presidential Election starts in 19 days, and it is anyone’s game.

While many pundits will regard 2008 as the year Iowa played no real role, they seem to forget that 2012 is not 2008. We don’t have a front runner. It’s not Newt, it’s not Mitt, it’s not Rick [Perry]. There is no one who has solidified themselves as the one, or even the two, to beat this time around. In Iowa, everything is at stake. In Iowa, everyone (no Mr. Santorum, still not you), has a chance. In Iowa, the race for the White House truly begins… tonight.

A Leader to Restore Trust

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:22:46 -0500

Jon Huntsman 2012

http://www.youtube.com/jon2012hq#p/a/u/0/OfHdg2O4rgw

the sinner's sonnet

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:26:20 -0500

“I’m leaving and there’s no coming back
got no room for places like this in my sack
I’ve fought all my battles
I’ve faced all my fears
I’m leaving after all of these years

I know that I’m welcome at home
they’ll take me back in, they won’t leave me alone
I’ll tell them my sorrows
they’ll share in my pain
it’s home again, home again, you’ll sing

now people been looking at me
I look through their eyes and I know what they see
they see me a sinner, condemn me to die
and I got no right to question them why

I live my life day after day
I try to do good and let light guide my way
there’s something that’s missing
there’s something out there
I search but that something’s nowhere

then a stranger walks right up to me
she tells me she loves me and sets my heart free
I’ve something to live for, for something I’ll die
cause love’s just something you can’t buy
I’ve something to live for, for something I’ll die
cause love’s just something you can’t buy”

Andrew Whitman