With Mac looking to have a clean sweep of the Potomac (or “beltway”) Primaries (DC, VA, MD), might as well exercise your brain a bit with the gems…
James Kirchick on the Obama Doctrine (Hat tip to Beth at MVRWC)
IBD Editorial which also endorses John McCain
Mark Helprin in the Wall Street Journal
NY Post Editorial on Obama and Lincoln
Oliver North Endorses McCain on Real Politics
You know, I sometimes wonder what these nimrods in County Legislatures are thinking when they come up with this stuff. I mean aren’t there matters far more important that they should be dealing with rather than wasting their time and the public’s time on crap like this? You know like property taxes, decrepit nursing homes, unkept roads, and such. It’s bad enough that places like Berkely CA, Cambridge MA, and others think they can dictate what the Federal government does by passing a local resolution, we don’t need this crap around here.
For those that don’t know of what I write, go here: http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=7851657
The problem I’m finding is that the actual text of the resolution is not to be found on the web. Not surprising really, given that Steck is running for the soon to be open Congressional seat held by Mike McNulty (D-Green Island), who is retiring.
From what I’m gathering from new reports and a few eye witnesses, is that the public commentary section was both good and bad, and it was Dan McCoy’s opposition (a veteran of Iraq) on the Legislature that ultimately lead to the defeat of the resolution. Public opinion appears to have been about even between the two sides. Opponents and supporters ran the usual gamut, with the to be expected nut jobs wonking out. From what I have been told, one moonbat even went so far as to heckle the teen age son of a soldier serving in Iraq. Of course it appears the KOS-acks are loving that part, lauding it, and condemning McCoy for his opposition.
The only thing I know for sure is that this resolution went down in flames, 15 for, 22 against, with several people who said they’d support it, turning around due to the wording and some things they had not been made aware of. Supporters and moonbats booed, opponents gratefully applauded.
If someone has links to the text of the resolution, or to video from this, I would love to put them here.
UPDATE
First off, apologies to Dan McCoy, who I originally called Dan McAvoy. That error has been corrected.
Here’s another story (with some video) from WNYT: http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S343804.shtml?cat=10114
The Times Union article is just a tad biased (support was not 2-1 in favor from what I’ve been told and other news outlets), but does illustrate some of the nutty reasons “why” this motion failed.
Nay Sayers be warned!
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/725cyzwb.asp?pg=1
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120251661161755395.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
While McFarlane’s Groucho analogy was humorous, I’m reminded more of Clevon Little in “Blazing Saddles.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_case_for_mccain.html
Hmmm…another Reagan guy backing McCain….
http://mikegallagher.townhall.com/blog/g/129023c5-bd63-4dd4-9b1d-c71e2443f127
http://mikegallagher.townhall.com/blog/g/a9cd992b-0c42-4c42-a0b3-f370361627c8
From Mike Gallagher of all people!
It’s far easier than most people think, and it doesn’t take a lot. In fact, it’s the easiest stuff that can make the most impression.
A group of moderators at Comic Collector Live wanted to find a way to blend our love of comics with supporting the troops. At first we thought to try and do it ourselves. But the way the US Military has restricted the sending of care packages, getting ourselves set up and running was going to be prohibitive. So off we went to do some research, and see if there was any organization we could send donations to. Sure enough, we found this one:
Chris Tarbassian has been running this site since 2003, and is continuing his efforts.
But why comics? Wouldn’t books be better?
Well…if you talk to anyone who has ever worn a full field pack, and carried a weapon at the same time, and they will tell you weight and space are at a premium. Anything more than a thin paper back is not easilly stashed and transported in full kit, or even in a combat lay out. But a comic can be rolled up, stuffed into a small space in a pack, or into a pocket. BTW, that shudder you heard was a million collectors cringing at the thought of damagin a comic so.
The other advantage is that a comic can be read quickly, during breaks, or in those precious off hours (not that there are any really in a combat zone). They are also easilly traded, and can also be used as “good will” gifts to children.
I will be sending my own package off this week.
http://www.peltthepundits.com/Default.aspx
From my friends at MidTen Media, who make Comic Collector Live.
Pick a side, grab some tomatoes, and have at it!
I awoke yesterday to the news that Mitt Romney was dropping out of the Presidential race for the GOP nomination. While some had certainly hoped for this to happen following Tuesday’s results, I for one did not. I fully expected Mitt and Huckabee to stay in until at least March 5th, the day after Texas and Ohio go to the polls. While Mitt didn’t have a realistic chance of catching McCain, I figured he’d stay in to show what he could bring to a ticket, or at least what his support would be worth. I guess I figured wrong.
Mitt gave what was in essence his concession speach at the CPAC convention in DC, mere hours before John McCain was to take the stage. Catching the rerun of the speach later on, this was perhaps Mitt’s best speach ever. He hit all the right notes, and made the right gestures. This was one heck of a swan song for this year. If he had made presentations like this through out his campaign, he might not have had to give this one at all.
This will make the coming few weeks rather interesting. Mike Huckabe says he will stay in. I expect him to draw better than he would normally in a few places, but I do expect McCain to runaway with things now. Huck, while a likeable guy, is not a guy who can run the table against McCain. Nor can he do well enough to force a brokered convention. For all intents and purposes, John McCain is now the GOP nominee.
What I found most intriguing was what Mitt stated as his reasons for dropping out. This was what caught my attention, when he said he didn’t want to have the sacrafices we’ve made in Iraq be for nothing, and to allow time for the party to unite behind McCain and to win in November. While he may still be playing for the VP slot, this was a class move on his part, not only in recognizing the damage that could be done had he stayed in to the end, but that somethings trascend the usual ideological back and forth. Now if we can just get the talk radio nimrods to listen to that message as well. I won’t hold my breath though.
So this left John McCain to follow up on that. It was going to be hard enough for John given his past history with some of the big wigs involved with CPAC, but after Mitt’s swan song, it was going to take a lot for Mac to get the full spot light. Well, he didn’t grab it all to himself, but I think he did enough to assure many in attendence. For a break down of Mac’s CPAC speach, with analysis form a Romney supporter, read Ed Morrissey’s entry here at the Captain’s Quarters.
Now Mac is not going to win over the talk radio “conservatives.” That’s pretty much a given as they aren’t even interested in uniting the party, or even conservatives. Instead they promulgating a purge of the “ideologically unsound,” or at least trying to. They are putting their ideology over the good of the nation. They have gone so far as to say better to let Hillary or Obama ruin the country to “punish” not only the GOP, but the American public in general.
I have to ask, what purpose does this serve? Do they honestly think that having Hillary or Obama in the White House for four years will cause a big enough back lash that the country will turn against them? That’s rather unrealistic at best, and down right fantasy at worst. Is dividing the GOP, and splitting the vote a worth while endeavor? All that will do is conistently hand the Democrats election victory after election victory, year after year. I know, I’ve seen it. It happened here in NY, and now talk radio wants it to happen nation wide. No thanks.
You see, back in 1990, the NY GOP split over the goubenatorial nomination. The party structure went with Pierre Rinfret, a Canadian that was imported for the race. This left out the popular, conservative candidate Herb London. Herb got so incensed at the party, that he took the nomination of the Conservative party and ran anyway. The sitting governor at the time was Mario Cuomo (remember him), and he was very vulnerable. So when it came to election day, the GOP vote was split, and Mario was returned to office. He should have gone down in defeat, as the totals for London and Rinfret easilly topped what Mario got by a wide margin.
The party recovered slightly four years later with George Pataki. Three terms later, we have next to nothing. Oh it began before that, the whole Rudy dropping out of the Senate race against Hillary, forcing Rick Lazio into the spotlight unprepared, the squabble over who would get the nod to run against Spitzer, the losses in the Assembly and Senate, not to mention the Congressional losses. We’ve been left with no real leadership, no charismatic public figures, and no sense of unity. And this is what talk radio and “real” conservtives want for the GOP nation wide.
We’re suffering under a sleezey governor, outrageous property taxes, a failing economy, all because the talking heads prevailed over the rank and file. And there is no hope in sight at the moment. My hope is that John McCain, who has real appeal here in NY, will energize some people to take a more active stance, not only in the party, but to seek out public office. There are several congressional districts that the GOP could take, if we can get someone with just a bit of drive, and is not the same old staid entrants.
Even if it’s some of the same old people, a McCain candidacy will bring out voters here in NY, and they will vote for the Republican candidates for Congress to help support Mac. This could be key in retaking on congressional seat, and taking away another. Even if Mac loses in November, we could still take several congressional seats away from the Democrats, preventing a “super majority” in either the House or the Senate. That alone will be worth the effort.
So I ask, no I plead, with the hard liners dead set against Mac to see some reason, and not sabotage his candidacy or his chances at winning in November. It’s not just about ideological purity. It’s not about punishing the GOP. It’s about doing what is best for the American nation. And if you really think that 4 years of either Hillary or Obama would be good, then switch parties and vote for them.
Trolling the net agin to see what’s out there…
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/mccain_or_the_wilderness.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_left_and_right_agree_mccai.html
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/niall_stanage/2008/02/tuning_out_ruch_limbaugh.html
And of course, anyone who is following the political arena should have www.realclearpolitics.com book marked. It is perhaps the best resource out there, including poll avergaes and their political “stock market.”
UPDATE:
Hat tip to Beth at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy for these gems:
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| Which Great US President Are You Most Like? created with QuizFarm.com |
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| You scored as Ronald Reagan40th President, in office from 1981-1989 Born: 1911 Died: 2004
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I sit here still awaiting the final tally from California, and what ever it was that was happening in Alaska. Oh wait, Mitt won in Alaska. I keep updating half a dozen web pages trying to get the latest result totals. It’s now 4:13am here in NY, and only about 2/3 of California has reported in. Even so, it’s shaping up to be a huge victory for John McCain.
Pouring over CNN’s county by county totals, it appears as if McCain will win 56 of 59 counties, if I counted right. As California doles out its delegates by congressional districts, it could be a clean sweep of the state by McCain, even in places like San Diego and Orange County. This may well be the knock out blow people were looking for, but didn’t happen prior to this.
I shall echo John McCain’s speach from Arizona here. Mike Huckabee deserves a lot of credit for his victories in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennesee. He certainly surprised me by winning both Alabama and Tennesee, where he lagged in the polls. He gave a good fight in Missouri as well, where he played well to the Bible Belt and rural populations. Romney also deserves some credit as well, even though he didn’t play out as well as he and his campaign had hoped.
While California was and is the big story on the GOP front, there were a few other suprises for me. Romney didn’t win by as big a margin as I thought he would, or should, in Massachusetts. Yes he got 51% of the vote, but McCain still garnered 41%, in a state where Huckabee was a non-factor. I didn’t know that former Governor Bill Weld was backing Romney, at least not until I saw him at Romney HQ in Boston. I like Bill Weld, supported him for Governor and in his failed bid to unseat John Kerry. McCain also didn’t do as well as expected in his home state of Arizona. He still won the state, but it wasn’t a rousing victory, unlike what Huckabee did in Arkansas.
So, it’s still a two man race on the GOP side. Only the race is for the VP slot, and not the actual nomination. Neither Romney nor Huckabee will be able to catch McCain for the nomination. So they’re now playing for who can best help the ticket. “The Deal” is coming folks. Probably not until after March 4th, when Ohio and Texas go to the polls. McCain holds the lead in both states, which should be the final straw in his getting the nomination. It’s all going to come down to who gets the offer first, and who accepts first.
This is not to rule out some other potential VP’s for McCain, but my money is still on Romney getting the offer first. Just like Reagan in 1980, I expect McCain to try and bring Romney onboard the ticket, as Reagan did George HW Bush. Huckabee’s strong showing in the South certainly puts him in the running. But expect Mark Sanford of SC, Sam Brownback of Kansas, and even Rudy Giuliani to get interviewed. Rudy is an extreme long shot though. Look for him to either run for senate against Chuck Schumer, or take on a cabinet post under McCain.
I saw one rumor, more like wishful thinking IMO, that had Romney dropping out today (Wednesday), to run against John Kerry for the Senate. I doubt this highly. If Romney wants to remain a serious player on the national stage, he will need to remain in the running for the VP slot for some time yet, just to show what he can bring to the ticket. As Huckabee won’t play well outside of the Bible Belt South, he may be better served by dropping out now, and throwing his support to McCain. This will guarantee him some sort of influence, if not the VP slot outright.
Only time will tell, but I fully expect the GOP battle to be over by March 5th, after Texas and Ohio vote.
Took a short drive over to my local polling station and cast my “Super Tuesday” vote. It should come as no surprise that I cast my ballot for John McCain. Mac should win New York handily, and by a fairly wide margin, even with Rudy still on the ballot. I even got to do some grocery shopping, as the polling station is in my local Hannaford Supermarket. Very convienient IMO.
Turn out seemed to be good, based on a short conversation with the election people. Not outstanding, or overly heavy, mainly because it’s only the Democrats and Republicans casting votes today, but a solid turn out. Then again, where I live, voting is considered a civic duty, almost sacred, so this is unsurprising.
I asked my daughter if she wanted to go with me to vote today before she left for school. She said yes, so I waited until after she got home to go over. A word to all the parents out there: Any time you go to vote, bring your child, or children with you. It’s a free civics lesson, and shows how easy and simple it is to be a part of the electoral process. Most polling stations will allow you to bring your child with you into the booth (at least here in NY), as long as they are not of voting age (ie under 18). This is a tremendous opportunity to not only show them how easy it is, but is a chance to explain how the ballots work, and to show that it does matter.
Armchair everything 