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Day By Day by Chris Muir

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Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

Washington Post: For GOP, Discord In Dissent On Iraq

Republican misgivings over President Bush’s new war strategy are increasingly dividing the GOP as the Senate moves toward a showdown over the deployment of 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.

Republican strategy had envisioned a single resolution that would allow the party’s senators to express doubts about the plan without stating their outright opposition. Instead, Republicans appear to be balkanizing, with at least five GOP drafts now in play and more Republicans stating their reservations.

Why can’t these Senators pass a resolution supporting VICTORY in Iraq? These idiots except a few are looking WEAK – and what does that tell our enemies?

The Quotes:

“We’re all looking for a plan that will work,” said Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.). “The current plan is not working, and 21,500 additional troops — it’s a snowball in July. It’s not going to work.”

“This war has been mishandled. No one doubts that mistakes have been made in Iraq,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), long a supporter of Bush’s war policy, told Adm. William J. Fallon at Fallon’s confirmation hearing to become the top U.S. commander for the Middle East. “I have to tell you, this committee did not get candid assessments in the past, and I view that with deep regret.”

Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, pushed back against Bush’s claim he is the “decision maker,” saying the White House needs to accept Congress’s role in shaping war policy.

“I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider,” Specter said during a hearing on Congress’s war powers. “The decider is a shared and joint responsibility.”

“Resolutions are flying like snowflakes around here,” Specter said.

“This isn’t about party loyalty. This isn’t about presidential politics. It’s about policy,” said an exasperated Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), who has been urging Warner to negotiate an agreement to meld his language with the Democratic-driven resolution approved last week by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “What America is desperately thirsting for is for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives to come to terms with where we are in Iraq.”

One group of ruminating Republicans is made up of the 20 GOP senators who will face voters in 2008. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) said she plans to support at least one of the measures — but first “I’ve got to study them all.”

Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), another Republican whose term will expire in two years, said he was speaking for many of his GOP colleagues in asserting, “I’m not persuaded that sending 21,500 troops into a civil war in Baghdad is a good idea, but I haven’t found a resolution I can support.”

Pressed on what he is looking for, Alexander replied: “I’d like to express my unhappiness with the way this war is being conducted, but also my support for the troops. I think that’s what we all want.”

Sen. Trent Lott (Miss.), the GOP whip, said most Republican senators believe they must support some statement about the war, given the public’s growing concerns. But he noted: “I am actually reading all the different resolutions, and each one of them does have critical differences.” He added that he is leaning toward the Cornyn measure, which offers the fewest objections to Bush’s plan.

He said he will not try to rally Republicans around a single approach but, rather, will urge them to “vote their conscience.”

“The worst thing would be for the Senate by 60 votes to express disapproval of a mission we are sending people to lay down their lives for,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.), a member of the Republican leadership.

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The Republican Senators need to grow a backbone. Flap supposes he won’t have to worry about a GOP Senate Majority any time soon.

Frankly, I wouldn’t give any of my money to any of these FOOLS except maybe John Kyl. There are 30,000 plus other GOP activists that feel the same.

Flap saved the best quote for last:

Democrats, who are united in their desire to stop the escalation, are regarding the Republican divisions with some glee. “You cannot have a resolution that is both meaningless and undercuts the troops. That’s impossible. Their position is totally inconsistent,” said Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), a member of the House Democratic leadership.

The House is expected to embark on a similar debate in the coming weeks.

The plan should be simple: FILIBUSTER the Biden resolution and drop Warner et. al..

Stay tuned…….

Previous:

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part V

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part IV

John McCain Watch: DNC Criticizes McCain Contradictions on Iraq War

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part III

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge Part II

Iraq War Senate Resolution Watch: Take the Pledge

The Michael Ramirez files

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Technorati Tags: MichaelRamirez, IraqWar, JohnWarner, MitchMcConnell

Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

KLO @ NRO: Rudy’s Star Power

A friend of mine was at a fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani in Los Angeles last night. His walkaway thought: “[Rudy] might have a tough time in the primary but he will crush in the general.”

Said friend says of last night: “I have to tell you the man is very impressive. When he talks about the war on terror he does so more clearly than anyone I have heard including the President. He doesn’t bash the President ever and this was LA where he could really get away with it.”

Could it be that Rudy Giuliani is a LEADER and knows NO American gains (except for cheap political points) by bashing the President.

After watching Giuliani’s video interview here and his speech in New Hampshire this past weekend, Flap is assured that Rudy is RIGHT on the global War on Terror. Concomitantly he wold RIP Hillary and the Democrats on their political expedient Bush-hating NON-PLAN.

And a clip from Rudy’s speech before the New Hampshire GOP:

More from K-Lo:

Rudy did an immigration bit that was “to the right of everyone else except maybe Tancredo. He talked about immigration in terms of national security. He said we needed to revamp our entire system so that we can get good people. He also said that if the twelve million already here expected to get any type of citizenship they would have to prove that they could read, write, and speak English.”

The fundraiser was sponsored by Bill Simon (who worked with Rudy in the U.S. Attorney’s office). My friend, who is the rare pro-life, Hollywood hawk, left wondering if he could support Rudy if it came to that. “We all know where Rudy is on abortion but my question is what does he think of Judges Roberts and Alito? If he says that he would appoint judges of like mind then I think he can skate on the abortion issue because it does come down to the judges.” It was Hollywood though so no one asked about any social issues.

Here is Giluiani on the Judges:

While in Ohio, Rudy called into the Bill Cunningham radio show. Speaking about the Supreme Court, Rudy said: “Justices Roberts and Alito were both colleagues of mine [in the Reagan Justice Department] – people I worked with and I admire tremendously. I thought that they were inspired choices that the President made – inspired in many ways, because they also were people who had a strong conservative background and strict constructionists.” He added, “Justice Scalia was also a colleague of mine…and he probably would have been my choice for Chief Justice.”

Here is Giuliani on illegal immigration:

Last night, in an interview with Fox‘s Bill O’Reilly, Rudy Giuliani again put himself squarely in the president’s camp on immigration reform. The mayor is for tough border security, but he has also made the case in recent speeches that real reform must include a guest worker program and a “path to citizenship.” On Fox, Giuliani argued that comprehensive reform is not only practical but also aides in fighting crime and thwarting terrorists.

Flap knows the reader will appreciate the “common sense ” approach of the Mayor.  An approach that cannot be pigeon holed as either Amnesty or Minuteman – but practical.

Sounds like a Star performance to Flap.

If Flap gets any audio or video he will post an update.

Others Blogging:

Race42008

Patrick Ruffini

Previous:

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani LEADS in Latest Rasmussen GOP Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest New Hampshire Survey USA Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Los Angeles Times Hits Rudy’s “Prickly Style”

Giuliani Notes: Dollars for Rudy

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Who Has the Vision and Who Can Perform?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Scouting New Hampshire at Littleton Chamber of Commerce

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Bush Iraq Plan Should Be Given A Chance

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Paul Cellucci, Former Massachusetts Governor Endorses Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani Watch:Giuliani 30% Leads McCain 22% and Romney 10%

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest Time Magazine Poll Has McCain Leading Giuliani by 4 Points

Rudy Giuliani Watch: What Does a Mayor Know About Iraq?

The Rudy Giuliani Files

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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani

Los Angeles Times: McAuliffe seeks Clinton believers

Listen up! Terry McAuliffe wants a hand count.

“Who’s with Hillary?” he asks a small gathering of ultra-power brokers assembled for a dinner party at media mogul Haim Saban‘s palatial Beverly Hills estate Sunday evening. “Come on!” he says.

“Pulp Fiction” producer Lawrence Bender, brave soul, is the only one to keep his hand down: “I’m with Obama.”

“Ah,” says McAuliffe, chairman of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton‘s (D-N.Y.) presidential campaign. He’s on a roll, funny and charming and deadly serious.

“This isn’t the John Kerry campaign,” he quips. “You are either with us or you’re against us.”

Call it a hard sell and humor mixed with a heavy dose of better-watch-out. McAuliffe is in town this week, promoting his book, “What a Party!” His message is clear: Get off the fence, you Hollywood doubters.

Supporting multiple candidates? “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.”

Former Democrat National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe is out trolling for Hollywood presidential campaign cash for Hillary.

He is taking names trying to FREEZE OUT Obama who has a Hollywood fundraising event on February 10.

And do you think he is kidding about being with them?

NOPE

But, this election should Mayor Rudy Giuliani win the GOP nod Hillary and/or Obama may have competition for Hollywood campaign cash.

“Bill Clinton might forgive you if you give to other candidates,” McAuliffe teases guest Nicole Avant, the daughter of the mega-political Clarence Avant, music industry guru. “But not Hillary. No way. She’s tough.”

Avant smiles coyly. She won’t say whom she supports.

“How are you ever going to get the Paris ambassadorship?” McAuliffe continues. “Get on board.”

Sounds like McAuliffe is selling PARDONS again for the Clintons.

Stay tuned…….

Previous:

John McCain Watch: McCain Hearts Hillary?

Hillary Clinton Watch: Jokes on Bubba Bill

Hillary Clinton Watch: “Evil and Bad Men”

Michael Ramirez on Hillary Clinton’s Quest for the White House

Hillary Clinton Watch: Hillary Blog Ads on Center-Right Blogs

Hillary Clinton Watch: Out of Africa – Or Not Ready for Prime Time?

Hillary Clinton Watch: Saturday Night Live – Trouble with the Hollywood Media Left?

Hillary Clinton Watch: Clinton – I’m “IN TO WIN”

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Technorati Tags: HillaryClinton

Why John McCain is FADING in the Polls and will NOT be the 2008 GOP Presidential Nominee.

Straight Talk from Flap

Previous:

John McCain Watch: McCain Hearts Hillary?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest New Hampshire Survey USA Poll

John McCain Watch: DNC Criticizes McCain Contradictions on Iraq War

President 2008 Watch: Most and Least Desired GOP Presidential Nominees

John McCain Watch:Will McCain’s Presidential Campaign Implode Due to Iraq War?

John McCain Watch: McCain TANKING in New Hampshire?

John McCain Watch: McCain Wants to Patch Things Up with Focus on the Family’s James Dobson

John McCain Watch: James Dobson – Cannot Support John McCain Under ANY Circumstances

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Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

New York Press: Poll: Rudy, Hillary Destroy The Field In Their Home State

A new Siena Poll released today gives both Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton a not-so-surprising big lead amongst their respective party opposition if the 2008 presidential primaries were held today.

Giuliani has a 47-20 lead over Arizona Senator John McCain, while Clinton has a whopping 58-11 lead over her next closest contender, Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

Siena New York Poll: Hillary & Rudy Dominate Their Primary Fields in NY

“On the Republican side, Rudy has opened a substantial 47-20 percent lead over Sen. John McCain. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich has the support of nine percent, while former Governor George Pataki ties for fourth place with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at five percent,” Greenberg said. “It may not be his strongest message in Iowa and New Hampshire, but after 12 years as Governor, only one in 20 New York Republicans think that Pataki should be President.”

More GOP primary delegates for the Mayor.

With a Giuliani vs Clinton general election race, New York will definitely be in play.

When will the Politics of Personal Destruction from the Clinton Cabal start attacking Mayor Giuliani?

Probably when Hillary disposes of Obama.

Stay tuned……

Previous:
The Rudy Giuliani Files

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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani

Readers: Please Vote in Flap’s January 2008 GOP Presidential Poll

Rasmussen Reports: National Poll: Giuliani 29% McCain 19% Gingrich 16%

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) has opened a double digit lead over over Senator John McCain (R) in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. Giuliani now earns 29% of the vote, little changed from 30% a week ago and 28% two weeks ago. McCain (R) is now supported by 19% of Likely GOP Primary voters, down from 22% a week ago.

While McCain has slipped a bit, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has gained a few points and is now within three percentage points of McCain. Among Very Conservative voters, Gingrich is currently the top choice.

Former Massachusetts Mitt Romney earns support from 8%. Senator Sam Brownback attracts 3%. Former Governor Mike Huckabee and Senator Chuck Hagel are supported by 1%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate while 19% are not sure.

This poll supports the trend that Flap sees as a two person race between Mitt Romney and Rudy. McCain is FADING.

Will McCain fade before the RACE really begins?

Perhaps…..

As McCain fades in the GOP race, Giuliani continues to lead possible Democrat Opponents.

Giuliani, in addition to consistently leading in polls for the GOP nomination, also leads in general election match-ups against every Democrat including Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards, and former Vice President Al Gore.

While McCain continues to hold a solid second place in this polling, a separate survey shows he has lost ground in general election match-ups. In fact, for the first time in any Rasmussen Reports polling, McCain has fallen behind a Democratic competitor, trailing both Illinois Senator Barack Obama and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards. A Clinton-McCain match-up is a toss-up at this point.

Trouble in River City for McCain and a respectable showing for Hizzoner.

Stay tuned…..

Previous:

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest New Hampshire Survey USA Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Los Angeles Times Hits Rudy’s “Prickly Style”

Giuliani Notes: Dollars for Rudy

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Who Has the Vision and Who Can Perform?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Scouting New Hampshire at Littleton Chamber of Commerce

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Bush Iraq Plan Should Be Given A Chance

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Paul Cellucci, Former Massachusetts Governor Endorses Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani Watch:Giuliani 30% Leads McCain 22% and Romney 10%

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest Time Magazine Poll Has McCain Leading Giuliani by 4 Points

Rudy Giuliani Watch: What Does a Mayor Know About Iraq?

The Rudy Giuliani Files

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Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani