• John McCain,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  Sarah Palin

    Is the National GOP Writing Off Sarah Palin?

    Senator John McCain on the Tonight show with Jay Leno where he fails to mention Sarah Palin as a future GOP leader

    There seems to be an orchestrated effort to sabotage her but Palin’s family problems are not helping matters much.

    Worse than Dan Quayle before her, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s bright star has fast faded in the eyes of Washington Republican officials and analysts, calling into question her efforts to become a national party figure ready to run for the White House. “She’s just not ready for prime time,” said a party strategist who has worked for former President Bush. “I mean, she’s starting to look like she’s having trouble being governor of Alaska.” At issue is her weak debut, hampered by the mishandling of her by Sen. John McCain’s campaign, and subsequent family issues such as the most recent tiff with Levi Johnston, the father of her first grandchild and ex-fiancé of her daughter Bristol.

    Since running for vice president with McCain, Palin has made efforts to be a national figure, starting a political action committee and speaking at national events in Washington. But she has also blown other chances, backed out of speech commitments, and allowed herself to be caught in a fight between state and national aides who have different roles for her in mind. While some Republican officials say that there is time for her to recover, many are already looking to others to carry the GOP flag, such as Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich, in the 2010 and 2012 elections.

    Flap is certain that Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee and even Bobby Jindahl would love to show her the door. She is definitely not through yet but the “apparent slights” from McCain and his daughter, Meghan are becoming obvious.

    But, wasn’t the ‘Cuda really preparing for 2016 and beyond anyway?


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  • Arlen Specter,  John Cornyn,  Michael Steele,  National Republican Senatorial Committee,  Pat Toomey

    National Republican Senatorial Committee WIMPS OUT and Endorses Arlen Specter for Re-Election

    cornyn-and-specterweb

    Republican Senators John Cornyn, R- Texas (Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee), Arlen Specter, R- Pennsylvania and Lyndsey Graham, R- South Carolina in 2006

    Even with the latest polls showing Pennsylvania United States Senator Arlen Specter in deep trouble for re-nomination in 2010, the National Republican Senatorial Committee endorsed him today.

    National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn released a letter today offering a full-throated endorsement of Sen. Arlen Specter in his coming primary against former congressman Pat Toomey, a decision driven by a concern that the challenger cannot win a general election in Pennsylvania.

    “My job as head of the NRSC is to guide the GOP back to a majority in the Senate,” wrote Cornyn in a letter to Pennsylvania Republicans. “I can’t do that without Arlen Specter. With him as our nominee, I can target our campaign resources toward beating Democrats and growing the Senate Republican Conference.”

    The implication of those lines is clear: if Toomey is the Republican nominee next November, “campaign resources” may not flow from Washington to Pennsylvania.

    This is BULL for Specter is a non-reliable vote for the Republican Party at best. Plus, he is 79 years old.

    The national GOP committees for years have done nothing but support incumbent Senators regardless of whether they vote with the party or have a chance to win a general election.

    Flap recommends that folks donate to their candidate of choice in these 2010 races and stay far away from the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

    And, in a further disappointment, looks like RNC Chairman Michael Steele changed his mind.


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  • Homeland Security

    Department of Homeland Security Sends Police 9 Page Report Warning of Rightwing Extremist Activity

    Homeland-security

    Believe it or not? The Obama Administration is warning local law enforcement officials of “rightwing extremist activity.”

    The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement officials about a rise in “rightwing extremist activity,” saying the economic recession, the election of America’s first black president and the return of a few disgruntled war veterans could swell the ranks of white-power militias.

    A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines “rightwing extremism in the United States” as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.

    “It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration,” the warning says.

    Here is the report (Pdf).

    Most notable is the report’s focus on the impact of returning war veterans.

    “Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to right-wing extremists,” it says. “DHS/I&A is concerned that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize veterans in order to boost their violent capacities.”

    And, last month, the chief of the Missouri highway patrol blasted a report issued by the Missouri Information Analysis Center that linked conservative groups to domestic terrorism, assuring that such reports no longer will be issued. The report had been compiled with the assistance of DHS.

    The report warned law enforcement agencies to watch for suspicious individuals who may have bumper stickers for third-party political candidates such as Ron Paul, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin.

    It further warned law enforcement to watch out for individuals with “radical” ideologies based on Christian views, such as opposing illegal immigration, abortion and federal taxes.

    Looks like the Department of Homeland Security has been politicised by the left-wing Obama Administration. Time for some Congressional hearings.

    By the way, if you see some guys/gals in suits, plus sunglasses tomorrow at the Tea Party Tax Protests, figure it is FBI or Homeland Security agents compiling their list for the police.

    Now, what did the LEFT say about dissent and patriotism? Big (Obama) Brother has arrived.

    rightwing-extremism

    Update:

    The American Legion responds to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)


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  • economics,  Inflation,  Jimmy Carter,  Polling,  Ronald Reagan

    Poll Watch: 85 Per Cent Worry About Inflation, 34 Per Cent Expect Interest Rates to Rise

    Effects Of Inflation

    Most Americans know inflation is right around the corner with the massive government spending plans of President Obama and the congressional Democrats.

    Eighty-five percent (85%) of Americans say they are concerned about the possibility of inflation in the current economy, with 55% Very Concerned, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

    Just 11% say they are not very or not at all concerned about the prospect of rising prices. These numbers are identical to findings last August, despite the high level of government spending President Obama has announced in recent months.

    Credit remains tight in the country, and the government plans to print more money. Both are generally considered key factors that lead to inflation. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a speech today, however, that he is confident the Fed can prevent inflation from happening.

    Eighty-four percent (84%) of Americans say they are paying more for groceries now than they were a year ago, and 66% expect to pay even more 12 months from now.

    The Federal Reserve has given no indication that it intends to raise interest rates to combat the possibility of inflation, but 34% of Americans think they will be paying higher interest rates a year from now. Twelve percent (12%) say interest rates will be lower, and 45% say there will be no change.

    Forty-three percent (43%) also say there has been no change from a year ago in the interest rates they now pay. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say they pay more now, while 25% say they are paying less.

    It is not a matter of IF but WHEN inflation hits. And, if the American economy is hit with a doubble wammy of low economic growth and inflation, then we have Jimmy Carter type stagflation.

    Remember what happened the last time, too?

    Republican candidate Ronald Reagan replaced one term President Carter.


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  • Jeff Gorell,  Ventura County Young Republicans

    Ventura County (California) Young Republicans April Mixer Tonight

    ventura county young republicans big logo

    The Ventura County Young Republicans

    Ok, here is the poop on tonight’s event:

    Date:  Tuesday April 14th, 2009
    Time:  7pm
    Location:

    The Crown and Anchor (View Website)
    2891 E Thousand Oaks Blvd
    Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
    (805) 497-0070

    Dress:  The Crown and Anchor is a British Pub.  No Coat and Tie Required.

    View a Google Map of the location.

    Please RSVP at the Facebook Event Page.

    Enjoy!

    By the way, GOP Assembly candidate Jeff Gorell will be the guest speaker.


    Technorati Tags:

  • Barack Obama,  North Korea,  United Nations

    Way to Go Moment: United Nations Security Council Condemns North Korea Missile Launch – North Korea Vows to Restart Bomb-Grade Plutonium Plant

    north korea rocket

    A Unha-2 rocket (Taepadong-2), supposedly carrying an experimental communication satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, as it is launched from Hwadae-gun in North Korea on April 5.

    The Obama Administration has fumbled its first foreign policy crisis. Yes, the United States was able to secure a unanimous United Nations Security Council condemnation of North Korea’s missile launch on April 5.

    Eight days after North Korea’s rocket launch, the U.N. Security Council on Monday unanimously condemned the action, demanded an end to missile tests and said it will expand sanctions against the reclusive communist nation.

    The council’s statement, agreed on by all 15 members and read at a formal meeting of the United Nations’ most powerful body, said the launch violated a council resolution adopted after the North conducted a nuclear test explosion in 2006 that banned any missile tests by the country.

    The statement was a weaker response than a U.N. resolution, which was sought by Japan and the United States but was opposed by China and Russia. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice insisted the statement is legally binding, just like a resolution — a view backed by Russia — but other diplomats and officials disagreed.

    But………

    North Korea then stated that it would boycott the international nuclear disarmament “six-party talks” and restart a plant that makes nuclear bomb-grade plutonium.

    Fuming at the U.N. Security Council for condemning its recent missile launch, North Korea said Tuesday it will restart its plutonium factory, junk all its disarmament agreements and “never participate” again in six-country nuclear negotiations.

    North Korea had warned before launching a long-range missile on April 5 that it would tolerate no U.N. criticism of what it insisted was a peaceful attempt to put a satellite into orbit.

    When the 15-member Security Council unanimously condemned that launch on Monday and demanded a halt to all future missile launches, the North’s reaction was swift, vitriolic and surprisingly substantive.

    It called the Security Council’s statement a “brigandish,” “wanton” and “unjust” infringement of its sovereignty. It said that six-party nuclear talks with the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia and, even its closest ally, China, had “turned into a platform” for forcing the North to disarm itself and for bringing down its system of government.

    “We have no choice but to further strengthen our nuclear deterrent to cope with additional military threats by hostile forces,” North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement released by its state news agency.

    If it follows through on Tuesday’s bluster, North Korea will walk away from six years of slow, fitful but sometimes productive negotiations that have led to substantial disablement of the North’s main nuclear reactor and partial disclosure of the scale of its weapons program.

    The talks, in turn, have rewarded the government of Kim Jong Il with food, fuel and removal from a U.S. list of countries that sponsor terror. The Obama administration has repeatedly said that it wants to resume the talks, which stalled last year in a dispute about how to verify the North’s past nuclear activity.

    That nuclear activity, judging from the North’s statement on Tuesday, is soon to increase.

    “We will actively consider building our own light-water nuclear reactor, will revive nuclear facilities and reprocess used nuclear fuel rods,” the ministry said. Experts have said the North does not have the equipment or skills to make an advanced light-water reactor.

    So, what did the United States gain with its “WEAK” response to North Korea?

    Nothing!

    But, the North Koreans gained important technical missile information and an excuse to restart their rogue nuclear weapons program which they will happily export to Iran and to other nations who have the cash.

    Way to go – Obama Administration.

    Previous:

    Shocking: Russia Opposes United Nations Sanctions Against North Korea

    North Korea Warns United Nations Security Council – Will Take “Strong Steps”

    Video: Can’t Negotiate With North Korea


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  • Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2009-04-14

    • Lou Dobbs talks about Olbermann adjusting his medications……
    • Israel has lobbied Russia to pull away from selling a strategic air-defense system to Iran but has received only vague assurances, Israeli defense sources said on Monday.

      Last week Israel agreed to supply surveillance drones worth $50 million to Russia. The Israeli Haaretz newspaper said this followed a pledge by Moscow not to sell Iran the S-300, which could protect Iranian nuclear facilities against air strikes.

      An Israeli defense official said he had no knowledge of such an undertaking by Russia in its talks with Israel on the matter. Moscow has given mixed messages on the prospects of Iran buying S-300s, a deal one Russian newspaper valued at $800 million.

    • In America, there are always people to sue or contracts to negotiate, right? Apparently there aren't enough.

      The recession is taking a steep toll on the legal profession, an industry long seen as immune from the ups and downs of the economy. Trying to weather the financial crisis, the nation's largest law firms are laying off attorneys and delaying the hiring of others.

      More than 3,000 lawyers have been laid off in the first three months of 2009.

      (tags: Economy law)
    • Attorney General Jerry Brown, a likely 2010 Democratic candidate for governor, has backed Proposition 1A, the tax and spending limit measure on the May 19 special election ballot.
    • Pastor Rick Warren abruptly canceled an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” in which he would have had the opportunity to clarify his denial last week that he had ever endorsed California’s anti-gay-marriage ballot measure, when in fact he had done so on videotape.
    • The operation to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips involved dozens of Navy SEALs, who parachuted from an aircraft into the scene near dark Saturday, landing in the ocean. The SEALs were part of a group of Special Operations forces involved in the effort, according to military officials.
    • On Apr. 9, Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, announced that the Islamic Republic had installed 7,000 centrifuges in its Natanz uranium enrichment facility. The announcement came one day after the U.S. State Department announced it would engage Iran directly in multilateral nuclear talks.

      Proponents of engagement with Tehran say dialogue provides the only way forward. Iran's progress over the past eight years, they say, is a testament to the failure of Bush administration strategy. President Barack Obama, for example, in his Mar. 21 address to the Iranian government and people, declared that diplomacy "will not be advanced by threats. We seek engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect."

      (tags: Iran)
    • This week, I will be speaking at the Log Cabin Republicans' national convention in support of the gay community and its role in the future of the Republican Party. Of all the causes I believe in and speak publicly about, this is one of the ones closest to my heart.

      The Log Cabin Republicans’ mission "is to work within the Republican Party to advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians." The group is centered on core Republican values, such as limited government, individual liberty and responsibility, an economy based in free markets, and a strong national defense. And in the spirit of the GOP’s founding beliefs—personal freedom and liberty—they are dedicated to securing full equality for gays and lesbians in America to create a stronger, larger, and more-unified GOP.