Herman Cain Suspends Campaign, throws support to Gingrich

Lame Stream Media and Rumors Affect Cain Camp

On Saturday Herman Cain announced a suspension to his campaign citing the growing burden on his family from the allegations of his past infidelities.

So is that all it takes to topple a candidate?

Bill Clinton must be laughing up a storm.  (See Backstory Here on Gennifer Flowers)


With his wife Gloria standing by his side in a rare public appearance, Cain decried the sustained accusations as false and declared he is "at peace" with his wife and with himself. But he said the claims have "sidetracked and distracted" from his ability to present a new vision for the country, as well as impacted his ability to raise money. Related Video Herman Cain Suspends 2012 Presidential Campaign Cain moves in new direction "I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distraction, the continued hurt caused on me and my family," Cain said, adding that he reached the decision "with a lot of prayer and soul-searching." - Fox News Story

After announcing the exit from the race for a nomination Hermain Cain decreed that  he will not be silenced when it comes to the solutions he proposed.  He pledged that his voice will be heard throughout the campaign in an effort to spur ideas such as tax reform.

Leaders of the Pack

With the clearing of the candidate field, so to speak, the rest of the pack should see a bump in poll numbers as Cain supporters begin to assess their choices in the field.

The clear leader today is Newt Gingrich with close to 30% of the polls and Mitt Romney in a close second place.  Interestingly enough, Newt has already claimed he is the nominee.  -- Daily Kos Story on Victory Proclaimation
 A bold move and prediction of the primary outcome.  He should remember, 30 days ago the clear choice was Cain.  Now Cain's done.

Who does Cain support going forward?

Well funny you should ask.  Rumors have surfaced that Herman Cain may be endorsing Newt Gingrich.  A spokesman for Herman Cain on Monday denied a report that an endorsement is imminent even as a source told MyFoxAtlanta that the former Republican presidential candidate will offer his backing to former House speaker and fellow Georgian Newt Gingrich. -- Fox News Story

A Cain endorsement would offer Gingrich a big boost after the former House speaker surged in significant polls over the weekend.

An NBC News-Marist College poll released Sunday found Gingrich had moved into second place in the key primary state of New Hampshire, with 23 percent support among likely Republican primary voters -- a significant jump from his 4 percent showing in a similar poll conducted in October.

Adding Cains  supporters would go a long way to solidifying Newts position as a front runner, but whether Herman Cains personal endorsement would hurt or help is difficult to predict.  After all, if the allegations of Cain's infidelity are true, then an endorsement would be the last thing Newt would want to have from Cain.  That would put a bit too much spotlight into his previous marriages.  But if Herman Cain is exonerated, then having that appeal in his court would certainly help.

Lesser of Two Evils

So with Herman Cain out, and the rest of the candidates trailing too far behind to make any dent in the pols, the race seems to be going in the direction of either Romney or Gingrich.  Neither of which has a perfect record to appeal to the base of the republican and conservative electorate.  Its going to be a hold your nose and vote kind of primary again.

Well at least McCain isn't running.

 Links

See Backstory Here on Gennifer Flowers and Clinton
Fox News Story on Cain Campain Suspension
Cain endorses Gingrich

C-SPan Videos About Campaign Advertising

Below are three videos related to campaign advertising.

The first up is discussing the effective use of Advertising by Herman Cains campaign to spread the 9-9-9 message.  As a result, most everyone who hears it can remember the benefits.

The second is a video or Rep Rick Hill discussing a bill considering prohibiting negative advertising campaign materials and video along with the use of soft money for these negative ads.

The third video is a discussion about campaign advertising strategy in key battleground states and the role advertising in these states plays.

Mitt Romney picks up Key Endorsement

Moving on Up

On the same steps that JFK announced his presidential candidacy in 1960, Mitt Romney stood in front of Nashua City Hall and secured a key endorsement by first term New Hampshire Senator, Kelly Ayotte. - Fox News Article

Ayotte was one of Palin's "Mama Grizzlies" in 2010, and is a former state attorney general.

"Mitt Romney has proven through his experience as a successful businessman, effective governor, and by his excellent presidential debate performances that he is best prepared to lead our country and ensure Barack Obama is a one-term president," Ayotte said. - Fox News Article

Evidently all that time spent in New Hampshire is paying off.  Political analysts have been wondering whether Romney's lack of presence in Iowa and his concentration on New Hampshire would hurt him.  However Iowa has been rather fickle during republican primary season.  Iowa, a conservative Christian leaning state typically favors solidly Christian Conservatives.  Romney has been painted by some in the Christian Conservative movement as a "bandwagon" Christian.  His Mormon faith has also been called into question.  So why not cut your loses and take your campaign out of Iowa and go someplace where religion is not at the first and foremost political talking point.  Makes sense to me.  Besides, with Florida immediately after Iowa, I believe that will be the new game changer in election cycles.  Florida is one of only a few states that can claim they represent the United States as a small "snapshot" of all the demographics.  If Romney can take New Hampshire and Florida, its pretty much locked up from there.  Add Newt to the ticket and you have your conservative "Street Credit" amongst republican voters.

Perpetual Runner Up

Romney has been a perpetual runner-up this election cycle, taking a second place showing virtually every week to a new candidate of the day.  It feels like polled republicans are looking for anyone but Romney.
What is everyone afraid of?  Oh yeah, Romneycare and the whole Massachusetts governor thing.

So far Ayotte is the first of the Republican member of the congressional delegation in New Hampshire to back a candidate.  Is this the start of Romney's turn at first place?

Recently, Romney has taken a back seat to surging Newt Gingrich.  Polls show Gingrich as the front runner of the field with 23 percent and Romney with 22 percent.  Could we see a Gingrich/Romney ticket?  Or a Romney/Gingrich ticket?

What about Herman Cain?


HasBeen.  Ok thats a bit premature and harsh, but with all the controversy around Herman Cain's past history related to the sexual misconduct allegations, he appears to be a lame duck.  Don't get me wrong, any normal politician could easily spin the allegations and make it out to be nothing much and still win the nomination.  Just look at Bill Clinton and the Jennifer Flowers scandal during the 1992 election cycle.  However Herman Cain is no politician.  He was the golden boy media darling for a little bit, but now he just looks like a creepy business executive.  Not a creepy politician which could be forgiven by the electorate, evidently.

Well that might explain why Newt's previous marriage and all the controversy around that is being overlooked.  He's a politician.

Romney's Next Move


Taking a page out of Newt's playbook, Romney has started to attack Obama more and more and not other Republicans.  During his appearance with Ayotte on his visit to New Hampshire, he also took the opportunity to step up his criticism of President Obama, and what Romney characterizes as the President's "failed leadership" in trying to get the Super Committee to come to a consensus. - Fox News Article

"He has not taken personal responsibility to get the Super Committee to find ways to balance our budget and cut spending," he said.

Instead, Romney says, President Obama "set a trap" with $454 billion in cuts to military spending at stake should the Super Committee fail. "We cannot put the United States security in jeopardy by the failure of this committee and the failure of his leadership." Fox News Article

 Trigger, Trap, same thing.  On Wednesday the super committee needs to find 1.2 Trillion dollars to cut from the federal budget otherwise a trigger mechanism kicks in and and automatically starts to cut things like military budgets.  Oh who thought that was a good idea when crafting such a measure?  Oh yeah, the Liberal Progressives in Washington along with spineless republicans not willing to do what is right thing.

Oh well, time to hang my Gadsden Flag back up and rally the folks.  What do you think of a new slogan for the tea Party ... How about #Occupy_The_White_House?

Links

Fox News article on Endorsment
Romney Scores Endorsement
Supercommittee stalled on Wednesday Vote

Here come the attacks

Out Front

Over the past couple of weeks Newt Gingrich is surging in the polls and has become the front runner of the republican race.
As the front runner in a Republican primary you become the punching bag of the day for the all liberal media attacks. Its like feeding raw meat to lions.
Newt is an obviously accomplished politician.  With his experience in the house as Speaker, and his academic pedigree as well as well versed knowledge of world politics, its a wonder why it took this long to become front runner.  He has gone toe-to-toe with the best debaters as well as moderators and usually comes out on top.

What about controversies?


Well with the front runner status comes spotlight scrutiny.
This is the media's chance to dig up some dirt, to muckrack the past, and cast shadow on a poltical heavyweight.

In an effort to tackle and squelch the inevitable dirt that will be found in his past, his campaign has created a website called "Answering the Attacks".  In the website he discusses everything from his multiple marriages, to the comment about "right-wing social engineering" and even that corny PSA ad with Nancy Pelosi.  I have to say, that ad makes me cringe.  Newt what where you thinking?

Newt's new favorite target

If there is one really differentiating factor about Newt from the rest of the field it is his continued determination to not fight or throw barbs at the other republicans, but to insist that everyone concentrate on the bad policies of the Obama administration and Liberal progressives.  As a result Occupy Wall Street is the new favorite target.  Also known to you hipsters as "occupy" or to you nerds as #Occupy, or to the cool liberal media as OWS.  Funny, I grew up in the late 60's and early 70's and hipsters where not this violent.  At most they broke stuff when they stumbled into it from being too high. 

Newt lobbed harsh words at the movement Saturday in Iowa, describing them as representative of an entitlement culture.

"Now, that is a pretty good symptom of how much the left has collapsed as a moral system in this country and why you need to reassert something as simple as saying to them, go get a job right after you take a bath," Gingrich said.

Up in the polls

A recent Fox News poll showed Gingrich leading the GOP field by a hair. The poll showed him with 23 percent, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney right behind him with 22 percent. - Fox News article

The poll showed businessman Herman Cain, who for weeks was competitive with Romney, dropping back to third place with 15 percent. - Fox News article.

A new poll out of New Hampshire also showed Gingrich closing in on Romney, who is banking on a win in the Granite State primary. The Magellan Strategies poll showed Romney leading with 29 percent and Gingrich with 27 percent, inside the 3.6 percentage-point margin of error. - Fox News Article

Links

Newt out Front - Fox News
Newt in front of Romney in NH
Can Newt withstand the spotlight?
Newts answers to the Attacks

C-Span Videos regarding Presidential Debates

The first c-span video discussed the complaints about corporate donations and sponsorships of presidential debates.

The second discusses a lack of independent candidates within the debates, given the scope of independent voters ...

The third is a Presidential debate with just Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich dubbed a Lincoln-Douglas style debate
Note just how much information is gleemed from this style debate in a relatively small amount of time versus the larger format CBS CNN style debates that appear as all show and no substance

Media Shaping Politics causes Bachman to claim bias.

Media shaping your facts

Its no secret that in part, the media shapes and forms the political dialogue of the modern politics.  They have the ability to sway public opinion by putting story after story in from of millions of readers who eagerly digest the words as pure fact, and accept them as gospel.

Case in point, the recent attacks on Herman Cain for the alleged harassment from 20 years ago.  The media has ran no less than 87 stories in the first week.  That is more than all the stories combined over the past three years and during the campaign 208 discussing Barack Obama's ties with 60's terrorist Bill Ayers and other radical socialists.  (Yes Barry, I really don't believe you when you say he's just some guy next door who let me borrow his house to start your political career, wink wink.)   The Herman Cain story has been shoved down our throats so much lately that the media is suffering a backlash.

See video of Maria Bartoromo being boo'ed by the audience for asking about the allegations.  You know, she was nicknamed the "Money Honey" on CNBC.  I wonder if she'll sue someone for harassment?

What about Michelle Backman

I digress ... Back to Michelle Backman.  Today her campaign actively and openly complained that CBS conspired to not ask her many questions, and not any on substance.  Her camp has obtained email threads from CBS staffers that show that they discussed how Michelle was no longer real candidate with any chance and so should not get any questions during today's debate.
CBS News’s political director, John Dickerson, made the mistake of saying basically that in an e-mail and accidentally sending it to the campaign of Representative Michele Bachmann.  Mr. Dickerson e-mailed his colleagues that he would prefer to “get someone else” other than the Minnesota congresswoman for an online show after the CBS News/National Journal debate on Saturday night

Really? Last I checked, she didn't resign from running?  Who are you CBS to attempt to influence the outcome of the debate by skewing questions!

This is exactly why more and more people are turning to other outlets for their news.  Integrity is lacking in the main stream.

What about Newt?  Two weeks ago he was considered a long shot/last place candidate.  Now there are talks about a resurgence to the number two spot after Herman Cain.  (Poor Romney)  If CBS took these steps to sideline Newt we may not have even heard about his climb in the polls.

What to do for the general voter ...

The first thing everyone should do is educate themselves about the policies and positions of every candidate.  Use every available outlet to gather enough information to make you comfortable with a few candidates and follow them in the media, all media.  Then come election day, make an educated vote count.

What about the person who doesn't educate themselves about all the issues?  That's an interesting question.  What if one candidate has one stance on an issue that is dear to your heart?  Say abortion.  Do you vote for that person just for the one issue?  Well, no you shouldn't, and that's the game politicians and the media play with the electorate.  They focus on hot button topics and brush aside others that just don't fit their agenda and before you know it, your hope and change turns into "You hope the change in your pocket can buy you some food." "Ignore the man behind the curtain, raising taxes on everyone, but calling it a tax on the wealthy, ignore economics 101."  Learn the truth.  Then go act on it.

What if you don't like anyone.  Don't vote.  By not voting you send a clear message that they all suck as choices.  They better get it right next time.  Sure you might get stuck with someone you don't like, but lets face it, if you didn't like them enough to vote for them before, then whats the difference.

Links

NY Times on Email from CBS

Obama catches Foot in Mouth disease from Biden

And loosing the Jewish vote (and donor money)

Or another ally that hates us?  Fresh in the wake of insulting France's Prime Minister Sarkozy's looks (see my blog here ... Blog Post) ... an open mic during last week's G-20 summit caught President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy complaining about Israel's Prime Minister, according to a report by Reuters.
"I cannot bear Netanyahu. He's a liar" said Sarkozy. Obama, according to a French interpreter who was translating his remarks, replied: "You're fed up with him, but I have to deal with him even more often than you."

Even Joe Biden is saying "Whats up with that?"

Possible Cover Up

This happened at the G20 summit, but was reported on Nov 9th after the French Press decided the cattiness was already out of the bag, so they ran the story along with the Reuters reporter who was in the room.  But speculation was that the reporters in the room had an agreement to not publicly disclose these comments.

So much for trusting the press to give you unbiased news.  Hey I bet they fit the story right between Cain sex scandal stories.

Ramifications for Re-Election

Well, kiss the Jewish vote goodby Barry, just like in the election of NY 9 (See my blog about Weiner here). Below is a convenient list of the top 10 Obama Administration humiliations of Israel, tweaked to fit the blog and read easier, but credit goes to the British News Outlet The Telegraph
After reading below and seeing the timeline in one list, you can understand the frustration of our Israeli Allies with how we have treated them recently and why they feel so alone.
While the Jewish vote does not encompass a large percentage of the electorate, if it votes as one body for Obama's opponent that feels like twice the vote (1 less for Obama and 1 more for Republicans).  Plus many of the largest campaign donors are Jewish.  Will this change their mind and shut their wallets?  Or even worse for Obama, will they open their wallets for the Republicans?

My opinion, this is one of many groups that Democrats cannot solidly count on to be counted in thier corner, along with businessmen, the middle class, and the youth.  (The youth are protesting elections OWS style)

Link to Story ...

Link to Story on Foxnews
Obama loosing Jewish Vote

Top 10 Insults (Link)

 1. Obama’s humiliation of Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House - The Telegraph
In March, the Israeli Prime Minister was humiliated by Barack Obama when he visited Washington. As The Telegraph reported, “Benjamin Netanyahu was left to stew in a White House meeting room for over an hour after President Barack Obama abruptly walked out of tense talks to have supper with his family”, after being presented with a list of 13 demands.

2. Engaging Iran when Tehran threatens a nuclear Holocaust against Israel
In contrast to its very public humiliation of close ally Israel, the Obama administration has gone out of its way to establish a better relationship with the genocidal regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which continues to threaten Israel's very existence. It has taken almost every opportunity to appease Tehran since it came to office, and has been extremely slow to respond to massive human rights violations by the Iranian regime, including the beating, rape and murder of pro-democracy protesters.

3. Drawing a parallel between Jewish suffering in the Holocaust with the current plight of the Palestinians - Speech in Cairo
In his Cairo speech to the Muslim world, President Obama condemned Holocaust denial in the Middle East, but compared the murder of six million Jews during World War Two to the “occupation” of the Palestinian territories, in a disturbing example of moral equivalence:
“On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.”

4. Obama’s attack on Israeli “occupation” in his speech to the United Nations - Speech to UN,

In his appalling speech to the UN General Assembly last September, President Obama dedicated five paragraphs to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, without once referring directly to Palestinian terrorism by name, but declaring to loud applause “America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.” He also lambasted the Israeli “occupation”, and drew a connection between rocket attacks on Israeli civilians with living conditions in Gaza. The speech served as a ghastly PR exercise aimed at appeasing anti-Israel sentiment in the Middle East, while bashing the Israelis over the head.

5. Obama’s accusation that Israel is the cause of instability in the Middle East - WSJ Article
As The Wall Street Journal noted, “the Obama Administration seems increasingly of the view that Israel is the primary cause of instability in the Middle East”, citing a recent press conference where he stated:
"It is a vital national security interest of the United States to reduce these conflicts because whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower, and when conflicts break out, one way or another we get pulled into them. And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure."

6. The Obama administration’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Syria
While actively appeasing Iran, the Obama administration has also sought to develop closer ties with the other main state sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East, Syria, establishing diplomatic relations with Damascus in February. Syria remains a major backer of Hamas and Hizbollah, both responsible for a large number of terrorist attacks against Israel.

7. Hillary Clinton’s 43-minute phone call berating Netanyahu
As The Telegraph reported, Hillary Clinton sought to dictate terms to Israel in the wake of Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Jerusalem:
"In a telephone call, Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, ordered Mr. Netanyahu to reverse a decision to build 1,600 homes for Israeli settlers in occupied East Jerusalem that sparked the diplomatic row. She also instructed him to issue a formal pledge that peace talks would focus on core issues such as the future of Jerusalem and the borders of a Palestinian state. In addition, the Israeli prime minister was urged to make a substantial confidence-building gesture to the Palestinians. Mrs. Clinton suggested this could take the form of prisoner releases, an easing of the blockade of Gaza and the transfer of greater territory in the West Bank to Palestinian control."
Last time I checked, Israel was still an independent country, and not a colonial dependency of the Obama White House. Yet that still hasn’t stopped the Secretary of State from acting like an imperial Viceroy.

8. David Axelrod’s attack on Israeli settlements on "Meet the Press"
It is extremely unusual for a White House official to launch an attack on a close US ally on live television, but this is exactly what the President’s Senior Adviser David Axelrod did in an interview in March with NBC’s Meet the Press, designed to cause maximum humiliation to Israel, where he stated in reference to new settlement construction in East Jerusalem:
"This was an affront, it was an insult but most importantly it undermined this very fragile effort to bring peace to that region. For this announcement to come at that time was very destructive."

9. Hillary Clinton’s call on Israel to show "respect"

As The Telegraph revealed, the Secretary of State lectured the Israelis at a dinner attended by the Israeli ambassador and the ambassadors of several Arab states in mid-April, urging Israel to “refrain from unilateral statements” that could “undermine trust or risk prejudicing the outcome of talks”. In Clinton’s words:
"Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu has embraced the vision of the two-state solution. But easing up on access and movement in the West Bank, in response to credible Palestinian security performance, is not sufficient to prove to the Palestinians that this embrace is sincere. We encourage Israel to continue building momentum toward a comprehensive peace by demonstrating respect for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, stopping settlement activity and addressing the humanitarian needs in Gaza."

10. Robert Gibbs’ disparaging remarks about Israel - Interview on Foxnews
Not one to shy away from criticizing America’s friends when the opportunity arises, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs entered the fray in an interview on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace in March where he attacked the Israeli government for weakening “the trust that’s needed for both sides to come together and have honest discussions about peace in the Middle East.” In condescending terms he stated that Benjamin Netanyahu should start “coming to the table with constructive ideas for constructive and trustful dialogue about moving the peace process forward.”

C-SPan Videos on New Social Media in Politics

Without a doubt, new media outlets have played a considerable role in politics since tier inception and this year the new media has played a big role in shaping the world.  Below are several videos from c-span discussing how the new media outlets affected the world.

The first is a discussion on how facebook affected the North African uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and how the dictators first moves where to shut them down.

The second is on recognizes the effect Twitter and Facebook plays on the 24/7 news cycle in New Hampshire.

The Last one is is a discussion on how some the new social medias are putting government business out of business, like the effect of Skype, facebook and Twitter on the U.S. Postal Service"

Giuliani blames Obama for Occupy Wall Street

NYC Mayor Making Waves Blames Obama

Not mixing words, former mayor of NYC Rudolph Giuliani puts blame for the Occupy Wall Street movement squarely on Obama's shoulders.

Not mixing words, Giuliani says ... "This is a very dangerous movement, and it's ironic it's happening under a president who promised to unify us," Giuliani said. "Barack Obama owns the Occupy Wall Street movement, it would not have happened but for his class warfare."

Giuliani further predicted the movement would spell the end of Obama's presidency.

Now before you go and dismiss this remark, think about this ...
Mayor Giuliani was known for his heavy handed yet lawful cleanup of the city of New York.  His policies, deemed, quality of life laws, where designed to clean up everything from pan handlers to squeegee men, to subway vagrants.
His take no $h!t attitude was both abrasive and effective at turning NYC around.  His command of the post 911 emergency response gave him the street credit of leader amongst men.  And now, his endorsement is one of the most sought after in the election season.

BTW I fully believe if he didn't bow out of the run for Senate due to his cancer, he would have run over Hillary in the polls.  Ahh I can dream right?

Violence Plagues Occupy Wall Street Movements

So now for the ex-Mayor of NYC to say this whole mess with Occupy Wall Street is Obamas fault, plays a big role and has some weight in the election cycle, especially since the protests have become nuisances at the least, and dangerous at the worst.

OK, before you jump on me for that last comment, just Google Occupy Wall Street Crimes.  You see everything from Rapes, to Gropping, to Fights, and Theft.  Oh and don't forget the mass destruction to property in Oakland and other cities.  Way top get your message across folks!  Note to protesters, people stopped caring once the violence was started.  Its now just a cool party and free food.  At least until the riot police shut everything down.  And isn't that what Van Jones really wants!!!  Top Down, Bottom Up and Inside Out. (Lets see if anyone gets that little tidbit of obscure reference)

Bloomberg's Response

So whats Bloomberg's response to the crime and violence at OWS?  Well not much.  A strong statement about not tolerating violance is all the Mayor can muster.
Michael Bloomberg, expressed his disapproval of Occupy Wall Street activists on Thursday.
There were sexual assaults and a possible rape at the protesters' gathering place in Zuccotti Park. Their behavior was "despicable and ... outrageous," which makes "all of us less safe," Bloomberg said.

Wow, that will stop it Mike!  For a second I thought things were out of control.  I'm glad you are on our side?
Wow, how pathetic.  With reports of violence and rape, do you think for one second OWS would be still in the streets with Mayor Giuliani at the helm?  Not a chance.  The place would have been swept clean and ready for Monday's rush hour and on Monday there would have been a sea of Blue Shirts (NYPD) just waiting for someone to show up.


Election time couldn't come fast enough.

Now where did I put my Obama Money ...

Links

Giuliani remarks on Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street Kitcken Worker Raped Girls
What Bloomerg is Doing

Obama remark offends France, is this an international incident?

Your Ugly! ... Who said that?

On November 3rd, President Obama insults French President Sarkozy to his face at the G20 summit sparking an international uproar among the news wires.

Taking a play out of the Joe Biden Gaff-A-Minute handbook, and without the aid of his teleprompters President Obama jokes about how ugly Mr. Sarkozy is.

Yep you heard that right, and it wasn't Biden, it was Obama.
Its enough to even make GW Bush say ... "What the ..."

President Obama thought he was making a gentle joke about Mr. Sarkozy, host of the summit, when he congratulated Mr. Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni on the birth of their baby daughter on Oct. 19. Instead, Obama caused a minor international incident.

Ha the jokes on you!

President Obama said ... “I want to make mention that this is our first meeting since the arrival of the newest Sarkozy, and so I want to congratulate Nicolas and Carla on the birth of Giulia,” President Obama told reporters shortly after his arrival at the G-20, with Mr. Sarkozy at his side. “And I informed Nicolas on the way in that I am confident that Giulia inherited her mother’s looks rather than her father’s, which I think is an excellent thing.”

Huh?

Well, the sad fact of the matter is this "joke" was intended to compliment his wife, as so many of us fathers use the same punch line when speaking with other fathers.  The problem is, the comment has a backhanded slap that suggests the father, Mr. Sarkozy, is ugly, and that is exactly how the French media and many Frenchmen took the comments.


You don't say those things in a public forum about diplomats.  It always goes wrong.

Really Smart People at the State Department

Didn't someone at the State Department, responsible for international protocols and etiquette, inform the President that Mr. Sarkozy is a bit sensitive about his looks, considering he definitely married out of his league?

Oh wait thats the same person that sent back the national gift from Great Britian, a bust of Winston Churchill back to the British.  Oh and at the first state meeting in his new capacity as President of the U.S. he forgot to get a gift for the Prime Minister, so his wife at the last minute went to the White House gift shop and bought some DVD's on American history for the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.  He can't play them on British DVD players, wrong format, plus DVD's as a gift???.  Meanwhile Mr. Brown gave Obama an ornamental pen holder constructed from the timbers of the anti-slavery ship HMS Gannet, once also named HMS President.

Wow this international diplomatic protocol stuff is hard !

Where's GW Bush when you need to blame him.

Links

Obama Story on the Ugly Remarks
DVDs for the British

CSPan Videos about Media and Politics

Below are several videos concerning Medias Role in Politics.

First up is Media's role in Iowa

Second video is from 1984 and discusses how the media can deflect as well as spotlight issues.

Last, a video showing how the media covers the three branches of congress and has gotten corrupt as well.

Rick Perry 2.0

The New Rick Perry

In an effort to stay relevant and relaunch his campaign Rick Perry plans to participate in at least five more presidential primary debates, his campaign said Saturday, dismissing speculation that the Texas governor's lackluster performances so far would lead him to skip future Republican debates.

Debates are a funny thing.  You could be the perfect candidate, but if you sound or act bad, or say something that is interpreted badly the media will excoriate you.  You begin to look poor and by association, unelectable.

A quick look back on a Rick Perry moment in a debate during which he had to defend his policy on giving in-state tuition to illegal aliens.  Trying to defend that stance Rick Perry said it would be heartless to deny young students, through no fault of their own, an education.

Unfortunately the focus was on the fact he was giving illegal aliens a break and calling his conservative base heartless if they disagree with him.  This did not go over very well.

Take Rick Perry's most recent debate where he went after Mitt Romney with so much vitriol in his voice interrupting and not letting Mitt Romney speak, it made him look unhinged like someone who is grasping for last breaths.

Rick Perry has always maintained that he is not a great debater, and has even suggested that he may skip some upcoming debates and avoid sparring with other GOP candidates.  This really didn't go over well either.  The idea that he would skip some debates to avoid verbal sparring matches brings up the thought about how well he would do against a skilled debater such as Barack Obama.

"Shoot, I may get to be a good debater before this is all over," Perry joked during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Friday.

Problem?

Perry's chief rival Romney has not agreed to any more debates yet.  Plus do we really want see these two keep throwing jambs at each other?  It certainly does not look good if the top two GOP candidates continue to air each others dirty laundry on public television versus tell the public how they will fix the economy.  The democrats certainly would like many more debates between these two.  The more they fight the more people get turned off to either one.

Solution

I have one.  How about we forget the one on one jabbing and stick to the issues at heart, namely the economy, jobs, the national debt.  Throw in national security like the border and our national interests abroad.  Tell me how you can fix regulations that choke our economic growth and how the government can be shrunk to manageable size.  For that matter how about making sure my civil rights are not trampled on. 

Links

Tempers Flare
Attending more debates

Obama tries to energize college students with free tuition

The Issue

Amid plummeting approval numbers and “Occupy” protesters’ growing outcry against onerous student debt, President Obama has announced a plan to circumvent Congress and modify the federal student loan program unilaterally.
It is a thinly veiled attempt to stir up his base of young voting adults.
The president wants to expedite provisions of a 2010 law that would lower the maximum required student loan payment from 15 percent of a graduate’s discretionary income to 10 percent, and forgive all remaining student loan debt after 20 years.

Hold it!

What?  Wait a minute.  Did I read that right?  Forgive a loan after 20 years?

Well then who pays the government back? Oh wait its not the government its the tax payers that need to get paid back.
Lets make a quick calculation here ...
Suppose a student takes a $200,000 loan to go to an ivy league school, pre and post grad of course.
Then the student needs to pay back that loan at 10% of his discretionary income.
Next, lets say the student graduates and gets a job in a sector that is non-profit and make $50,000 a year for the duration of 20 years. Assuming after taxes the person gets to keep $35,000.  So $3500 a year is required to be paid per year.  That would take 57+ years to retire $200,000.  The tax payers would only get back $70,000 of their investment in the student.
A loosing proposition in terms of investment.

Ok lets change some numbers here.  Lets assume $100,000 with being able to keep $75,000 after taxes.
After 20 years that still just $150,000 paid back to tax payers.
I haven't even added the interest on the loan which would create even more spread.

If you are a student reading this, it may sound like a good deal right?  Hey, borrow as much as you want, you only need to pay a portion back.  But that is really short sighted.  Everyone becomes a tax payer after your first job.  Thats the real graduation in life.  When you have to start paying for taxes, all of a sudden all thos income redistribution schemes don't look so good.

So whats the incentive for anyone to pay the loan back.  Even worse, whats stopping the colleges from raising the costs of college even higher than they already are.  Nothing.  As a matter of fact, this could be a conspiracy by colleges to get as much money as possible, knowing fully well students will get loans.

See my blog on college costs ...

Blame Colleges not the Banks for College Costs

So why the change? 

Its a political favor, meant to buy the votes of students now, because as they graduate and play and pay in the real world they would not go for this.
Maybe its a way to help enrich the colleges?  Those pension funds won't pay for themselves anymore.  Maybe Obama is trying to redistribute the wealth by creating these bad loans and forgiving debt owed to the tax payers.  Or it could be all of these.

Biting the students in the future

Have no doubt that this is unsustainable.  Just like the Social Security Ponzi Scheme.  This will come back to bite the student of today who benefit in the short term by creating overwhelming college costs for their kids, as well as contribute to the United States Debt Ceiling over time.
Plus this is being done without congress.  Ever since the whole student loan process has been moved to the government, politicians can manipulate the terms at will.  Obama used an executive order to make this change, which could prove illegal if challenged, or reversed when the next president gets into office.
The economy has changes political dynamics,  no longer are these hot button issues off the table as political suicide.  People want accountability, at all levels of government and this change shows the need for accountability.

So what is the solution?

Dont fogive any loans.  I can't get my bank to forgive my mortgage after 20 years, so why should a student loan be forgiven?
But that will put colleges out of reach for some people?  Maybe, but that is inevitable if the colleges continue to increase their prices higher than both the CPI index and inflation.  Eventually colleges will be forced to keep or lower the costs of tuition or make changes to their compensation plans or go out of business.  Worse yet, it will be a political funding problem for congress.
Colleges could also do something dramatic as well.  They could prepare our kids to be more productive when they graduate and compete for dollars by attracting kids to colleges that have proven track records of turning out successful students.

Call me cynical but I should have more than a piece of paper and a "rounded" education.  I should have a skill when I graduate.  Something I can make a living on, something .  But hey, I'm old school, not new school.

Links

Government Repayment Terms
New college aid plan will increase tuition costs
Tuition jumps 8.3% Double Inflation
Obama changes tuition plan

Political Party Platforms

Below are three CSPAN videos on key republican platforms.

The first is on deficit reduction ...

The second is on abortion from Newt Gingrich's contract with America.

The last is on domestic energy ...

Backman near a finale in IOWA push.

Staff Exits, But Backman still fighting.

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann insists her candidacy is still afloat after two campaign aides resigned from her New Hampshire staff to protest what they said was too much focus on Iowa.

As many as five staffers formally left Bachmann’s campaign this week.

Campaign finance reports show that Bachmann, who has fallen in polls and struggled to raise money, had five paid staff in New Hampshire as recently as late September.

The Republican presidential contender has largely ignored New Hampshire in recent months. She has been focused on Iowa and South Carolina, where her social conservative message has more appeal.

Bachmann said she is hiring new staff and has spent a "great deal" of time in The Granite State. She added that she recognizes it has a special role as the first state to hold a primary, behind the Iowa caucuses.

Looking for that Iowa boost.

It is no suprize that everyone is vying to take Iowa.  Iowa being the first in the nation to have a "primary" (caucus) would give anyone a big boost in the nomination process.  The nation and the media focus's so much attention on Iowa and New Hampshire that to ignore or loose there would more than likely mean an exit to seeking the nomination.

Bachmann is focused on Iowa, which goes to vote on Jan. 3, and despite polling showing her on the decline there, she won the Ames, Iowa, straw poll back in August, which she insists gives her strong momentum.

In the latest University of Iowa poll, Bachmann grabs 4 percent of support in the state where she was born. That's behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and front-runner Herman Cain, who has 37 percent support. 

In Iowa religion plays a big role.

This is where Backman can show off her conservative religious roots.  Especially her stance on pro-life.

However evangelical activists, Iowa’s most potent conservative voting bloc, are divided 10 weeks away from the state’s leadoff presidential caucuses, and are weighing a number of GOP hopefuls competing hard to emerge as the more conservative alternative to early front-runner Mitt Romney.


Businessman Herman Cain sought to clarify his position on abortion to about 1,000 of Iowa’s most devout social conservatives, after suggesting this week the issue was a matter of choice.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry first took a veiled jab at Romney, who had supported abortion rights but declared his opposition during his term as Massachusetts governor as he was weighing a presidential bid.

Evangelical conservatives have yet to rally around any single candidate in Iowa.  Thats sort of how the rest of the conservatives feel around the nation.  Yep we all know Mitt Romney is going to get the nod for the nomination and but its a hold your nose and vote type of nod.  Not exactly what we where looking for but the best we can muster at the moment.

Oh well, lets see what happens.

Links

University of Iowa Polls

Obama Foreign Policy Being Challenged

Challenging Obama

 In a public forum Senator Lindsay Graham has warned all GOP candidates they need to challenge President Obama on his foreign policy.

Yep you read that right.

Even after Obama has seen some favorable opinions about killing Osama Bin Ladin, and supporting the overthrow of Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, Graham thinks the president has failed by allowing Tehran to get a leg up in Iraq and get that much closer to nuclear weapons.

In addition Graham thinks Obama has thrown Israel "under the bus,"; he has blown his policy on the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and has made a decision to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, pandering to his electorate before the 2012 elections.

Obama's decisions are being "run out of Chicago, not Washington," Graham said.

As a show of failure Graham points to the comments made recently by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.  Karzai has said if the United States and Pakistan ever went to war, his country would back Islamabad.

Wow, the country that owes their freedom and liberty to us now is suggesting we might go to war with Pakistan and by the way they wont back us?  Hum, makes you wonder why we just didn't leave any sooner.  I mean whats the difference.  Leave their country in a heap of rubble and they'll hate us the same as now after we spend more on their rebuilding then on our own poverty stricken areas here at home.

In any case, Afghanistan and Iraq may now be seen as failures, and in no small part to the way things are being handled since Bush left office.  I doubt Karzi would have had the guts to make those comments with W. in charge.  He would have been summoned to the Oval Office.

Graham also mentions that President Obama has been leading from behind allowing foreign forces to  take control of what is essentially a U.S. lead mission like Libya.  (NATO without the U.S. is nothing more than a few soldiers, some missiles, and a couple of planes without fuel.  Plus maybe a baguette and wine from France.)

So is President Obama vulnerable on foreign policy?

Possibly.  We saw a bump in the polls (approval rating) right after Osama Bin Ladens death.  That's understandable and I also applauded the move. (I wish I could see the pictures as evidence.  I could have picked a better burial ritual as well, something along the lines of vultures and rats picking at the body and maybe ending with a monster truck parade over his head, then dump him in the East River outside of NY, right under the sewer plant exit pipe.)  Nevertheless that bump in poll favorability was rather short lived.  Plus the accumulation of these other issues overshadows any good points (the few that there are).

Senator Grahams Comments can be heard here ...

Links

Karzai Backs Pakistan over U.S.
CBS News Polls on Obama

How have Conventions Changed since 1968

Below are a several video on how conversions have changed since 1968.

The first is Senator George McGovern talking about the Democratic Convention of 1968 with all the violence and issues surrounding it.

The second is the day Sara Palin accepted the VP slot on McCains ticket and how she energized the GOP base.

The third is President Clinton talking about Candidate Obama at the 2008 Convention

Obama puts U.S. in another war. Was it Political?

More War

New war --- Uganda.
So much for that campaign promise of getting us out of wars.
Why would the administration put already tired troops to work fighting another war in which we have no national interest?

How many wars are we in right now?  Lets see, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and now Uganda.

National Interest

What could we possibly gain by going into Uganda.
The answer is nothing of value as a National Interest.  No oil, trade, or natural resources for us or anyone else for that matter.

The answer is humanitarian.  We have humanitarian interests to gain, or specifically to give.  President Obama is sending about 100 U.S. troops to central Africa to help local forces battle the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group that the administration says has waged a campaign of murder, rape and kidnapping for more than two decades. Obama said Friday the troops will act as advisers in efforts to hunt down rebel leader Joseph Kony but will not engage in combat except in self-defense, according to a letter to Congress.

And so here we are again acting as the worlds policeman.  Granted on the surface, this is a very noble cause.  But if this was that noble, why didn't any other country take up the baton, or the U.N for that matter.

The real reason

Political "browny" points with Obama's base.  For years, the cause celebrity was (still is) to stop the genocide of rogue regimes and waring factions within Africa.  To save lives.  This is another small way of pandering to the liberal base, and not the altruism that is should be.

Who should be helping Africans?

Why are we the worlds police anyway.  Africa has been a royal mess since the 1800's colonialist period land grab by European states.  Were are they today?  Why haven't they intervened to fix the mess created by the state lines they drew?  Oh yeah they have money issues.  Bigger fish to fry I guess as their EU experiment comes crashing down.

What about all those war protesters?

Where are all those war protesters these days.  You saw them everywhere protesting the Bush Administrations war efforts.  Now, not a peep from the same folks and we have two more wars we are in?

I sense a bit of hypocrisy, or maybe they are in the Occupy Wall Street rebellion.

Links

Fox News - Uganda

LA Times - Obama sends troops to Uganda

Candidates Boycott Nevada Caucus

Issue ...

States continue to trip over themselves to become relevant in the election cycle and not middle of the pack "thanks for your vote" states.  See my blog on how Florida moved their primary up to Jane 31st declaring they are more representative of the national electorate. --- Link

To be fair, early primaries and caucuses have the effect of giving potential nominees momentum to win other states primaries.  That in turn typically means an early win is the deciding factor for the nomination, but not always.

This week Nevada election officials chose January 14th as their primary day, which not only jumps over New Hampshire but also Florida's new date as well putting them first on the list.

Repercussions

In a show of unity, several GOP candidates boycott the Nevada primary. Nevada's current primary date is slated for Jan 14th, which is ahead of New Hampshire.

Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Backman and Jon Huntsman are pledging to boycott the Nevada caucuses because the state is daring New Hampshire to consider scheduling its first-in-the-nation primary in December. 

From Fox News -- "Nevada's move has potentially forced the other early states to have primary's near Christmas - and that destroys the primary process,” Santorum said. “I firmly believe that we must protect New Hampshire, the other early primary states and the proven presidential primary process.

New Hampshire's Secretary of State William Gardner wants Nevada to move its primary back from January 14, and is threatening to Hold the Granite State's primary as early as Dec. 6.

Someone is Missing

Notice Anyone Missing?  Yes the lead candidates ... Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and Mitt Romney.
In a statement made to the AP Rick Perry hopes the matter will be resolved before he needs to make a decision.  Romney also stated that he is a firm believer in upholding New Hampshires claim as first in the nation, but has remained neutral on the Nevada boycott and intends to go.  Quoting ... "It is up to each state to determine the date of their primary or caucus." -- Romney Spokesman Ryan Williams.

Also notice, not one candidate has spoken out against Florida taking the first spot when they announced Jan 31st.

Does it Matter?

Well in a nutshell, yes.  Establishing a clear leader earlier on would allow that person to then have much more time to concentrate on getting elected against President Obama, plus more fund raising events to comete against Obama.  The momentum could carry on into other primaries as well.  But is Neveda the state to do this in?  No not at all.
First, Nevada was a clear win for Obama during 2008, and in 2010 while democrats suffered many losses, they still held onto Harry Reid in Nevada.  Reid did this by concerted effort (political promises) on the part of the unions in Las Vegas.  So I believe the election atmosphere in Nevada is tainted and slanted against the GOP.  We could potentially have another McCain moment; having our candidate chosen for us even though it probably will not be the right pick.

Keep New Hampshire?

I don't like that either.  New Hampshire has also been tainted, but not by political favors, but by the media attention focusing on New Hampshire and therefore the voters have lost their "Un-Biased" claim to be independent thinkers.
I like Florida being first.  Their demographics have a bit of everything, from all walks of life, all ethnicities, all races and all religions.  What more can you ask for if you are looking for a representation of the nation. 

Links

Candidate Boycott Nevada - USA Today
Candidates Boycott Nevada - Foxnews
GOP Split on Boycott - CNN