• Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2010-05-17

    • There was one problem: Mr. Blumenthal, a Democrat now running for the United States Senate, never served in Vietnam. He obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war, according to records.

      The deferments allowed Mr. Blumenthal to complete his studies at Harvard; pursue a graduate fellowship in England; serve as a special assistant to The Washington Post’s publisher, Katharine Graham; and ultimately take a job in the Nixon White House.

    • Even though Jon Huntsman, Jr. stopped pretending not to run for president to become President Obama's ambassador to China, associates of the former Utah Governor say that he will return to the U.S. as a proud Republican and will probably try to position himself for a 2016 run. The thinking is that the GOP will have shaken off the willies by then and be ready to modernize. In any event, Sarah Palin has today called out Amb. Huntsman in a Tweet, which marks the first time, I believe, that Palin has referenced a fellow Republican and potential presidential aspirant in a provocative way.
      +++++++
      Who says Sarah is not going to run for President?
    • According to Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, it was Fiorina who courted the pro-life group for its support. They didn't need much convincing.

      "I have been at this for a while, and I have not come across anyone who has articulated the life issue better than she does," Dannenfelser told me. "As a woman, as someone who's unable to have children — no one has articulated it better."

      In its campaign material, the SBA List calls Fiorina the candidate whom anti-abortion activists have "been waiting for since the day Barbara Boxer was elected." The reason, Dannenfelser said, is that Fiorina would shatter a stereotype — that successful women, naturally, have to be in favor of abortion rights.

    • In California, Ryan said the group is spending about $2 million for ads in a three-way Republican U.S. Senate race, with most criticizing front-runner Tom Campbell for not signing a pledge to oppose tax increases. California's primary is June 8.

      "What we're doing is running an issue campaign around Tom Campbell," said Ryan. "We did that because of Tom Campbell's incredibly liberal record on taxes."

      The American Future Fund has grand ambitions. Ryan sees it as a conservative version of MoveOn.org, a prominent liberal advocacy group.
      ++++++++
      I have received at least three pieces of mail against Campbell

    • The following statement is being released from Lakers head coach Phil Jackson:

      “I’ve been involved in a number of progressive political issues over the years and I support those who stand up for their beliefs. It is what makes this country great. I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies. This was the message of my statement. I know others feel differently, even in the Lakers organization, but it was a personal statement. In this regard, it is my wish that this statement not be used by either side to rally activists.”

    • Campbell’s advisors are trying to spin this as a super-sneaky strategy to conserve funds, banking on the fact that California’s two billionaire Republican gubernatorial candidates, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, will crowd everyone out on television anyway. And maybe there’s a little truth to that. But far more likely is the fact that Campbell has run out of money. He’s never been a good fundraiser, having been chased out of the Governor’s race for just that reason. And while this may work in a primary when he’s pitted against two horrible candidates, Carly Failorina and far-right goon Chuck DeVore, the general election is another matter. And Campbell inspires no confidence that he’ll be able to run the kind of campaign that will truly challenge Boxer.

      Campbell being that he can’t mount the kind of capacity you need to run statewide in California.
      +++++++
      So much for his campaign – runs out of gas at the end.

      (tags: tom_campbell)
    • Activists outraged at comments made by Lakers Coach Phil Jackson that seem to back Arizona’s controversial new immigration law plan to rally outside Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles before Monday’s playoff opener against the Phoenix Suns.

      “The way we look at it, Phil Jackson is supporting the Arizona law,” said Mario Gonzalez, a longtime Lakers fan and rally organizer. “That’s surprising. It caught us off guard. We want to find out where the team stands on the law.”

    • Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina will be in Irvine this morning showing off some endorsements she’s received from local political elected officials and activists.

      The list put out by Fiorina’s campaign includes former state Sen. Marian Bergeson; Hispanic 100 Chairman Mario Rodriguez, a GOP activist; Brea Mayor Ron Garcia; Orange County Business Council Director of Communications Matt Prince; Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Pro Tempore Tony Beall; Dana Point City Councilwoman Lisa Bartlett; Westminster City Councilman Tyler Diep; Capistrano Unified School District Governing Board Member Ellen Addonizio, and Laguna Niguel City Councilman Paul Glaab.
      ============
      DeVore's home turf

    • I think liberals and those in the mainstream media fear her. Sure, they openly say she has no chance of beating President Obama – if she even runs, that is; but, inside, they must fear that she could very well beat President Obama in a one-on-one match-up. And unlike previous Republicans whose conservatism has been diluted once they got to Washington, Palin does not seem to care in the least what the establishment class – on both sides of the aisle – thinks of her. If she does come to Washington, her conservatism and convictions won't get watered down. She'll come to Washington to change it and not let Washington change her. In the end, this, more than anything, is what scares the left-leaning members of the establishment and chattering class. And also why conservatives gravitate towards and are willing to fight harder for her.
      ++++++
      Read it all
      (tags: sarah_palin)
    • Ex-Rep. Tom Campbell (R) is cutting back on TV advertising, switching strategies as some opponents wonder whether Campbell's surprisingly strong campaign is running low on funds.

      Campbell will not be on TV this coming week. And he has cut his ad buys for the final 2 weeks of the campaign significantly, according to sources who watch campaign ad spending; data shows Campbell has purchased $286K in ads over the last 2 weeks, less than the $393K he had previously reserved.

      Instead, Campbell's campaign will send an oversized mailer to 1.1M voters this week, according to his campaign.

      The decision to pull ads off TV means ex-HP CEO Carly Fiorina (R) will continue outspending Campbell on the air. Fiorina has spent $2.2M on TV ads, 4 times the amount Campbell has spent, according to data collected by several ad buyers with interests in the race.
      +++++++
      No money as predicted by many. Fiorina will bury him on TV now.

      (tags: tom_campbell)
    • Some politico pros argue that Fiorina has a better chance of beating Boxer. Fiorina's telegenic and gutsy. She can put money into the campaign. Jon Fleischman, publisher of Flashreport.org, notes that Fiorina excites the donors whom Campbell leaves cold.

      Running against a woman could throw Boxer off her game. And Fiorina has a great story – a woman who started as a secretary and rose to become CEO of a Fortune top 20 corporation.

      Fiorina has been a solid candidate, an aggressive campaigner and an able debater. Maybe her supporters are right.

      As for DeVore, he's a happy conservative warrior with a military resume. But when he voted against Republican Abel Maldonado, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pick to fill the vacated lieutenant governorship, that told me DeVore wants to go to Washington to talk to himself.
      ++++++
      Like lifelong politician Tom McClintock who endorses him

    • While I am always mindful of President Reagan's 11th Commandment, there are issues of judgment that voters should consider before they cast their ballots in the Republican primary. I admire the success that Steve Poizner has had in the private sector and believe his commitment to public service is sincere. But I have concerns about whether he truly adheres to the conservative principles of our party.
      ++++++
      Will carry alot of weight among CA conservatives
  • Chuck DeVore,  Tom McClintock

    CA-Sen: Tom McClintock’s Radio Ad Doesn’t Mention Chuck DeVore’s Support for Disastrous California Budget

    Representative Tom McClintock on Chuck DeVore for U.S. Senate

    But, Tom aren’t your comments a bit hypocritical in that Chuck DeVore voted for the disastrous California budget that you voted against?

    But, Chuck, this is not what you were saying in 2005 when you were supporting the California Governator and voting for his 2005-2006 state budget.

    So, the question is:

    Is Chuck DeVore a fiscal conservative? Well, not in 2005 when DeVore voted for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s disastrous budget. You remember the 2005-2006 budget that my then State Senator Tom McClintock opposed.

    I am sorry to interrupt the chorus of self-congratulations, but I feel compelled to state an obvious fact – that this budget is $6 billion out of balance; that the state’s chronic deficit spending is getting worse, not better; and that the growth of general fund spending is growing and not shrinking.Nor can I join applauding the “painstaking negotiations” that have produced this document. The fact is, in May the Governor proposed spending $88 billion (General Fund), the Democrats countered at $89 billion, and they have now compromised at $90 billion. I suppose it is a blessing that the negotiations didn’t go on any longer.

    Let me run through the vital statistics of this spending plan. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office in June, inflation and population will grow 5 percent and revenue will grow 6 percent. But according to the budget staff analysis, spending will grow by 10 percent. That makes it measurably worse than the plan the Senate rejected on June 15th.

    On June 15th, we rejected a $5 billion operating deficit. This budget spends $90 and takes in only $84 — for a SIX BILLION DOLLAR shortfall – THIS YEAR.

    On June 15th, we rejected a 9 percent increase in state spending. This budget is a 10 percent increase – averaging 7 ½ percent over the last two years. Spending increases under the Davis administration averaged 7 percent.

    Let me repeat: This budget spends $6 billion more than we take in. Last year we spent $2 billion more than we took in. That means that this year’s operating deficit is THREE TIMES bigger than last year’s.

    Now, I’m sorry to throw cold water on the celebration, but that is not progress. That is the opposite of progress.

    And yet, once again, we’re told that the budget is balanced. But the blunt truth is that it is only balanced with borrowed funds carried over from last year.

    And, a budget that the Howard Jarvis TaxPayers Association called overspending:

    “Overall, we’re pleased there’s not been any broad increase in taxes,” said Jon Coupal, executive director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and a frequent adviser to the governor. “We do wish the administration would cut spending more but we understand given the makeup of the Legislature, that’s a difficult thing to do.”

    Chuck DeVore is just like every other career politician, like CongressmanTom McClintock.

    Strongest voice for fiscal conservatism is NOT Chuck DeVore – no matter what you say, Tom.


  • Carly Fiorina,  Tom Campbell

    CA-Sen: Tom Campbell Out of Money?

    tomcampbell CA-Sen: Tom Campbell Has Raised $516K for Senate  Primary Race

    Former Congressman Tom Campbell and U.S. Senate candidate

    Well, Tom Campbell has cancelled all television and radio ad buys for this week.

    Ex-Rep. Tom Campbell (R) is cutting back on TV advertising, switching strategies as some opponents wonder whether Campbell’s surprisingly strong campaign is running low on funds.

    Campbell will not be on TV this coming week. And he has cut his ad buys for the final 2 weeks of the campaign significantly, according to sources who watch campaign ad spending; data shows Campbell has purchased $286K in ads over the last 2 weeks, less than the $393K he had previously reserved.

    Instead, Campbell’s campaign will send an oversized mailer to 1.1M voters this week, according to his campaign.

    From the Carly Fiorina campaign via e-mail:

    Over here at Team Carly, while we are watching our ads on the airwaves increase in frequency, reports over the last couple of days confirm that Tom Campbell has canceled his television AND his radio time – all of it – for this week.
     
    The Campbell camp is exhaling a lot of hot air as they struggle to come up with any good reason for why, but we sure have been amused by the excuses so far:

    1.     Campbell is going to move numbers with that larger-than-life photo of himself that he’s mailing Republicans. Newsflash, we too are sending mail to Republicans statewide…and it may or may not include a photo of Tom as well.

    2.     TV won’t break through because of the Steve-Meg slugfest. True, Tom’s less than $100,000 buy for this week really would not have been competition for Steve and Meg.

    3.     They are husbanding resources for an ad blitz in the final few weeks. Could be, but it seems if that were true, they would have reserved more than $200,000 in time over the final two weeks of the primary campaign.

    4.     They are ahead and are therefore holding resources for the general. Sounds like a bold move when more than one-third of voters are undecided in the primary.

    5.     Carly has bought $2.2 million in TV and has not moved in the polls. First, the majority of our ad buy has yet to air and more importantly, the polling out there on the primary race does not account for the time we have been on the air. But nice try on that one, Team Campbell.

    6.     And finally, my personal favorite: Tom is ahead in the polls so they don’t need to spend as much on TV. We really hope they believe their own spin there – because if they do, they certainly are not looking at the same polling we are!
     
    Let’s be honest here. Tom would be on TV and radio if he had the money.
     
    And, while Tom keeps inventing excuses, Carly keeps getting more endorsements. Today, she is in Orange County (in AD 70 to be precise) picking up the endorsements of a slew of local elected officials and prominent business organizations including Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell, the Orange County Business Council and the Hispanic 100. She has a full public schedule the remainder of the week. Meanwhile, our statewide network of volunteers made thousands of calls to Republican voters over the weekend and will be phone banking daily between now and June 8.

    Even the LEFT is able to put 2 and 2 together:

    Campbell’s advisors are trying to spin this as a super-sneaky strategy to conserve funds, banking on the fact that California’s two billionaire Republican gubernatorial candidates, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, will crowd everyone out on television anyway. And maybe there’s a little truth to that. But far more likely is the fact that Campbell has run out of money. He’s never been a good fundraiser, having been chased out of the Governor’s race for just that reason…

    I surmise that Tom Campbell is running on empty and is saving whatever resources he has left to guard against a negative barrage from Carly Fiorina.

    And, it will more than likely come and very soon.


  • Cap and Trade,  Day By Day

    Day By Day May 17, 2010 – Pogressives



    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    President Obama’s and Congressional Democrat’s Cap and Tax legislation WILL hurt American business as it attempts to recover from recession.

    The chances of this massive tax increase passing the Congress in an election year is remote and Obama is merely giving it lip service – like immigration reform and gay rights in the military.

    All symbolism and no substance.

    Previous:

    The Day by Day Archive