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 Saturday, July 7, 2007
I hope it's not official, because if it is, I would say they are pretty pathetic.
It's a Giuliani ad that is full of cursing, a disgusting metaphor, knocks on Mitt for being Mormon and brags about Giuliani killing immigrants. Actually after watching it, I can't help but wonder if this was actually done by someone who is trying to hurt Giuliani, because it only makes his image worse IMO.
Friday, July 6, 2007
For you single issue voters out there, I'm beginning to think there is a strong argument that Romney is more pro-life than Fred Thompson. Somebody has to be lying about this because both accounts can't be true.
The question I want to ask Fred Thompson: Are you aware if any listening devices were used by your lobbying firm? I sincerely hope no one who reads this leaks it to him before I ask it at an "Ask Fred Anything" event. National Journal Rankings
1. No One The New Smyrna Beach Times Endorsed Governor Romney today:
Although the Florida primary is more than six months away, we believe it is important to get behind the candidate we feel is best suited to be the next president of the United States: Mitt Romney. Rudy, has had a good haul on the fundraising. He was the first place fundraiser in the GOP and I believe has the most cash on hand. He has a likable demeanor and has shown McCain what "Straight Talk" can be.
But... It would be just nice to know... what...he...thinks...of... Roe V. Wade. I mean good or bad. Thumbs up or thumbs down. Yea or ney. We know he thinks abortion should be legal. We know he is OK with public funding depending on the circumstances. We also know he is OK with constructionist judges, and he is OK Roberts, Alito, Thompson, and Scalia. What we don't know is if this formal federal prosecutor is OK with the 1973 law the finds a right to abortion in the first term. We don't know if he thinks it is good law. We don't know if he thinks a landmark ruling that made a special privilege that didn't exist in the constitution was in fact good. Why don't we know? Because he won't tell us. Mr. Giuliani invoked Ronald Reagan's name repeatedly, and always as a model. There is an element of political calculation in that -- Mr. Giuliani is trying to reassure the so-called cultural conservatives that if they liked Reagan, they'll love Rudy. But can he overcome the perception that he's a culturally liberal, pro-choice New Yorker who's to the left of his own party on a number of issues? He says that his differences with the party on cultural issues are "sometimes exaggerated for political purposes." On Roe v. Wade, he says, astutely, "I don't answer that because I wouldn't want a judge to have to answer that. I don't consider it a litmus test." But he may give the pro-life crowd jitters when he adds, "I think a conservative strict constructionist judge could come to either conclusion." I think we used to know: LARRY KING: "Do you still favor 'Roe v. Wade?'" What gives Rudy? Fine, you're pro-choice. If you're the nominee we need to deal with that. But does it really matter to pro-lifers when you say you will appoint strict constructionist and somehow are not willing to open up on the validity of Roe V. Wade? Since you won't answer it now, and you favored it in February, I am left only to infer. Thursday, July 5, 2007
For some incomprehensible reason, Romney is catching press because pornography is available pay-per-view at Marriott hotels. Listen to this quote:
"'Marriott is a major pornographer. And even though he may have fought it, everyone on that board is a hypocrite for presenting themselves as family values when their hotels offer 70 different types of hardcore pornography,' said Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, an anti-pornography group based on Ohio." Does anyone actually believe that statement? Is this guy for real? So far, I have read very little to nothing about what Romney said or did on the Board that would have related to pornography. This article says it didn't ever come up that he knows of. But what this person is saying is that even if Romney opposed it on the board, he is a hypocrite for merely being on the board!!! That is ridiculous. First of all, there is little a single board member could probably do, but this person is saying even if he tried? Even if he hadn't tried though, as a board member, Romney had duties to the corporation. "'It certainly would have been wrong to impose his own personal beliefs if they were contrary to the financial interests of the company,' Marriott spokesman Roger Conner said of Romney." This episode should actually be a lesson to those of you out there who wonder whether Romney would be dictated to by someone or if he would do what is in the country's best interest as President. Romney understands that elected representatives have obligations to their electors. When he ran in MA, he ran on the basis that he would fix the financial situation there and he told the voters he would not change abortion laws. When they tried to liberalize laws related to emergency contraception, cloning and other areas, he stood in the way. He stuck to what he had told them he would do. Romney is on record as decrying pornography. He is on record as supporting the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We can expect him to do what he has said he will do. He will stand in the way of those who would liberalize these laws. If you elect him, you elect him on the basis that he wants to continue leading society in a direction that respects life, women, family and that he will set aside his personal beliefs and be President based on that contract with us. This is much the way Reagan was. Reagan laid out beforehand what he intended to do when he was running for President. Much of this was different than what he had done in CA, but it was done on the basis of this is what you are electing me to do. Romney is the best kind of elected representative that way. You know you have someone who is competent, who is laying out what they want to do, who will continue sharing as much information as possible to show you where we are headed, and who will act in the country's best interest and not their own. The Washington Post has an absolutely fascinating article about the work of Alex Gage to target specific political messages to particular voters based upon the same microtargeting theories that marketers use. Basically, a very large sample of consumer information is gathered and processed into target groups for specific political issues.
This sounds obvious to someone with a business background. In fact, "[When microtargeting was first pitched] to the Harvard MBAs advising Romney in his gubernatorial campaign, they were stunned that the idea had never been used in politics. 'You guys don't do this already?' they asked". The article goes on to discuss Gage's apparent success using this approach in New Mexico and Ohio in 2004 for President Bush. In Ohio: "In Ohio, the key battleground of the 2004 campaign, Gage's microtargeting showed that black voters -- who had traditionally not been drawn to the GOP -- wanted to hear candidates talk about education and health care. As a result, they received a series of contacts -- direct mail and phone calls, primarily -- emphasizing Bush's accomplishments on just those two issues. It was a much different message from the president's broader attempt to cast the election as a choice between staying the course in Iraq and the anti-terrorism effort or switching teams in midstream." "It worked. Nationwide, Bush won 11 percent of the black vote, a two-point increase from 2000; in Ohio, he won 16 percent, an improvement of seven percentage points. Bush won Ohio by 118,601 votes, or approximately 2 percent of the more than 5.6 million votes cast for the two major-party nominees." Romney: The Romney team has enlisted Gage to help them win the Republican nomination. Several meetings were held to determine if microtargeting would also work in a primary election. The conclusion, "After hashing out the details on maps and graphs, Myers and the rest of the Romney team reached a decision. 'The question was whether you could differentiate between the eight kinds of chocolate,' she said. 'I became convinced that the power of microtargeting was enhanced by segregating a generally homogenous universe.'" As to the Current Effort... "[T]he Romney campaign is decidedly circumspect when it comes to divulging details of exactly what Gage and his team are doing, other than to say the process of interviewing individuals has begun in Iowa." "Developing that strategy has placed Gage in a central role in the campaign. Myers describes Gage as its 'strategic orchestra leader' -- he oversees polling, media and online operations and works to ensure that every part of the Romney operation is working in concert." "Gage is more humble about his role, calling himself a 'planner.' He said, 'I have always believed in Eisenhower's observation: 'In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.'' " Just one more indication, in case you needed it, that the Romney team is on the cutting edge. Barron's Online features "The Mitt and Bill Show" Parts One and Two.
I think it's a no-brainer that Romney is a natural choice for our economy. Bill Richardson scored worse than any GOP candidate, but was the best of the Dems (If I had to vote for a Dem for POTUS, I've long said that Richardson would get my vote) The actual report card is interesting as well. However, like a proud and defensive parent, I think that Romney should have got "straight A's". His only B came in "income tax reform" even though he was the first to sign Grover Norquist's/Americans for Tax Reforms no new taxes pledge and has consistently talked about his plans to drastically change or eliminate the Alt Min Tax and make Bush's Tax cuts permanent. He's also been on the record as wanting to decrease the marginal income tax rate for everyone in every bracket and to simplify the tax code. Meanwhile, "I-commit-to-raising-your-taxes-for-my-socialist-schemes John Edwards" gets only one grade lower at a C? That's just crazy. Maybe they want someone to commit to a flat tax or a "fair tax" to get an A in that one? Still, a great showing for Mitt summed up in their lead in: Romney would be the best Republican candidate for stocks, bonds and the economy Some other worthy quotes: [On Healthcare] Only Romney has bragging rights to having actually done something in this area, and he's quick to let you know it: "As governor of Massachusetts, I helped design and enact a plan to insure all of our uninsured citizens, which did not require new taxes nor a government takeover of health care."
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
 Found this button at the Nixon Presidential Library today in Yorba Linda, CA. As one walks through the displays one can't help but wonder what direction the country would have gone with a Romney at the helm.
In the month of June, the DNC attacked Romney 14 times, McCain & Giuliani 11 times each and F. Thompson 7 times.  "For more than two centuries, the United States has stood for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our freedoms have not been easily won. Today, brave men and women are fighting to preserve those freedoms. As we gather with friends and family, let us resolve to keep America strong. We will always be the hope of the world and a beacon of light to liberty-loving people everywhere." -Mitt Romney Tuesday, July 3, 2007
As everyone knows at this point, Bush 43 decided to commute Scooter Libby's federal prison sentence. This has been hailed by some people who think the special prosecutor was seeking to get some kind of an conviction form an investigation that went largely nowhere. One of the Advisory Board members of the Libby Defense Fund, Fred Thomspon, had this to say:
"I am very happy for Scooter Libby. I know that this is a great relief to him, his wife and children. While for a long time I have urged a pardon for Scooter, I respect the President's decision. This will allow a good American, who has done a lot for his country, to resume his life." In the past, Thompson is also on record saying he would "absolutely" pardon Libby and that the case was a "gross injustice." Some of the most conservative news outlets (heavy sarcasm intended) have compared Thompson's position to his vote to impeach Clinton: "Thompson, in fact, voted as a senator to convict Clinton for obstruction of justice, though he voted to find Clinton not guilty of the perjury charge. In explaining his vote to convict, Thompson at the time underscored the seriousness of the obstruction charge. 'In the context of a federal court proceeding, that does violence to the rule of law,' he told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal shortly after casting his vote. 'It causes people to lose respect. That to me was the kind of thing the founding fathers would have said rises to the level of removable conduct.'" I have previously written here about Thompson's vulnerability in relation to his impeachment vote. I am not saying the vote wasn't appropriate or not, I actually think it was. I do think it can be effectively used against him though because Thompson can easily be painted as one of the Washington Republicans who banded with Gingrich to try to take down Clinton (something many people disliked). There is something pretty distasteful in talking about electability in many ways. You aren't propounding principles, you aren't advocating for the right path, you are doing a pragmatic assesment of what you have before you and what would be the most strategic (not to be confused with strategery) approach. Having said that, I also think Thompson's large and public role in the Libby defense will also be effectively used against him. Whatever some activists may think, this is not a winning issue. The Democrats have been describing Washington Republicans as corrupt cronies for a long time and this is just another item to be packaged in campaign fundraising mailers and to be railed against at rallies. As Hillary Clinton put it: "This particular action by the president is one more piece of evidence in their ongoing disregard for the rule of law that they think they don't have to answer to." As Barak Obama put it: "This decision to commute the sentence of a man who compromised our national security cements the legacy of an Administration characterized by a politics of cynicism and division, one that has consistently placed itself and its ideology above the law. This is exactly the kind of politics we must change so we can begin restoring the American people's faith in a government that puts the country's progress ahead of the bitter partisanship of recent years." Now, Romney for his part, called the commutation "reasonable." He has previously been criticized for not committing to a pardon. This is very consistent with his record as Governor though, where he has been criticized for not pardoning anyone during his tenure in MA. He prefers a restrained approach because he doesn't want to overturn a jury verdict. In the general election, to the extent this issue has traction, I think Romney fares much better than Thompson. Really this is about electability. Increasingly, I am convinced that Thompson's record as a lobbyist, as a Senator, as a lobbyist again, and as a member of Libby's defense fund make him very vulnerable in a general election. As a prosecutor, I must say that I am not a big fan of pardons or commutations of sentences as a whole. I take a jury verdict as fact generally, unless new evidence comes to light. There is no new information here as far as I know. Having said that, I appreciate that Bush has the right to do this. But leaving the debate aside as to whether Libby should have served time since everyone else convicted of this crime does or whether he should ultimately be pardoned, the commutation doesn't reflect kindly upon the White House or the Republican party. As a result, I am convinced the candidate who took a more measured approach to the issue is a better choice than the potential, may be if I get around to it, or you might suck me in if you try, candidate who was on the defense team. It just hit the wires:
FAST FACTS About Romney For President's $20.5 Million Second Quarter Total:
Monday, July 2, 2007
To get an in depth look at the state of McCain's campaign right now, read this from David Freddoso at NRO.
One more thought came to me as I read through Marc Ambinder's run-down of the McCain numbers: McCain's campaign finances are an indictment on his ability to run a fiscally sound government. According to Freddoso, McCain raised $11.2 million in the second quarter, but spent $14.4 million, leaving just $2 million in cash on hand. Ambinder has another amazing number: Though he wouldn't confirm it, a back of the envelope calculation suggests that McCain has spent $23M this year, more than any of his opponents. Admittedly, McCain spent much of that money on ground-game organization (which as Justin continually reminds us is vital). It's not that the objects of McCain's expenses are frivolous or unworthy, but such expenditures make McCain's professions of fiscal discipline ring notably hollow. It begs the question: How can he reign in spending for the nation if he can't even do it for his campaign? How will he make the tough choices on federal spending? Labels: fiscal discipline, fundraising, John McCain
The AP has some info on advertising today and here is the bit on Romney:
"Early on, Romney took advantage of his ability to raise money to push himself into the top tier of candidates. His TV advertising has introduced him to voters who don't know the former Massachusetts governor as well as Giuliani and McCain, campaign spokesman Kevin Madden said." "'Many of the other top-tier candidates have already enjoyed a good amount of free media attention on their candidacies,' he said. 'We, on the other hand, have had to turn to paid advertising to make ourselves better known.'" "The bulk of Romney's TV spots were concentrated in early decider states Iowa (2,036 ads) and New Hampshire (788 ads). But Romney has also run local ads in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota, Nielsen said." "His ads are likely to spread soon to states with primaries on Feb. 5, including New York, North Carolina and Missouri, Madden said." Notice that Romney was the only major candidate, by mid June, who had run any television ads. ...or should I say down. McCain raised 11.2 million for the second quarter. CNN reports:
Republican John McCain reorganized his campaign Monday, cutting staff in every department as he raised just $11.2 million in the last three months and reported an abysmal $2 million cash on hand for his presidential bid. I haven't heard Romney's number yet. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Labels: fundraising, John McCain I finally had a chance to sit down and read the Globes 7 piece story on Mitt Romney. It's worth a read if you have the time. Long, but full of details.
Before reading it what struck me, was the Boston Globe does a 7 article piece on Romney, and the most negative thing the public can take away from it is that Romney strapped a dog carrier to the top of his car. You would think with a paper owned by the NYTimes that has a penchant for negative stories on Romney, a little more could have been unearthed, but alas, that wasn't the case. Lets look at some of what they revealed on Romney. 1. College Days:
"He didn't mind if we were drinking coffee or having a beer, but that wasn't what he did," Serkin said. "We respected him for being true to what he believed in, and I found him to be completely open and tolerant to everybody else." On occasion, Mitt and Ann invited classmates to "family home evening," a Mormon tradition in which families set aside time each week to spend together. Visitors to their house at the time, on Winn Street near Belmont Hill, remember it as modest, without any obvious trappings of wealth. 2. Bain Capital Days: He approached his consultant job with the complementary skills that had been sharpened during his parallel lives at Harvard. His legal training taught him to ask challenging questions, to play the role of devil's advocate, and to use an adversarial process in an effort to get answers. Business school developed his ability to reconcile conflicting data and differing points of view. It also helped shape him as a leader and team-builder In 1997, he balked again, at the acquisition of a Los Angeles video distributor and movie producer that would be renamed Artisan Entertainment and become famous for producing the movie ''The Blair Witch Project.'' 3. Family Life: ''Think about it,'' Tagg says, ''a 12-hour drive and the only time we stop is to get gas. When we stop, you can buy your food and go to the bathroom, but that's the only time we're stopping, so you'd better get it all done at once.'' Yet there was one exception to Mitt's nonstop policy. ''As soon as my mom says, 'I think I need to go to the bathroom,' he pulls over instantly, and doesn't complain. 'Anything for you, Ann.'.'' After these stories, the Globe goes onto a series of articles on Romney's life in the Olympics and Governor. Granted, Romney does have critics their. What public figure who is successful doesn't? And granted, Mitt is not perfect, there are some fair criticisms that can be made. But I think what is most noteworthy, after reading the entire series, is that the Boston Globe has been following and digging up on Romney for years, and what do we get, a picture of an honorable man who has a strong inner core of values that revolve around his family and integrity. Countdown to the Ames Straw Poll: 40 days
This weekend, most of the candidates participating in the Straw poll were at a forum put on by Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Christian Alliance. The only info out there (that I can find) is what has been reported by the DesMoines Register. Most of it is fairly typical of what has been said at the debates so far. One thing stuck out to me, though. Duncan Hunter, the San Diego Congressman, said that he could not promise that he would not raise taxes as president: "I can't make that promise for a couple of reasons," he said. "One, we may have emergencies. We may have a war. ... I will say this, I've got a total record of voting for every major tax cut that has come in front of Congress for 26 years." Uh...,really? Can't promise to not raise taxes? For someone that repeatedly claims to be a true conservative, he seems to be a very uncourageous one when it comes to taxes. As for the other front-runners (Giuliani, McCain, Thompson)...oh yeah, none of them showed. Iowa can feel the love. Thanks to those that donated. As for myself, my wife let me donate a solid Lincoln to Mitt's cause (What did you expect? I'm a poor student). Don't spend it all in one place, Mitt. Labels: DesMoines Register, iowa Sunday, July 1, 2007
Great interview with Ann Romney:
"The Ann Romney we see staring in admiration at her husband during their public appearances is authentic, bold, and completely confident that the man she fell in love with during her teens is indeed doing the right thing for the country. When asked how she feels about taking on such an enormous endeavor as a presidential campaign, she calmly says, 'I have no fear, none at all. I know we are doing what we are supposed to, and no matter how things turn out, I know we will be okay. Everything will be fine.'" Check it out over at Women for Romney. |
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