• Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for March 10th on 20:10

    These are my links for March 10th from 20:10 to 20:24:

    • Jim DeMint machine could rival NRSC – Manu Raju and John Bresnahan – POLITICO.com – Jim DeMint machine could rival NRSC
    • Jim DeMint machine could rival NRSC – Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is already building an aggressive campaign machine for the 2012 Senate elections, promising to push his party further to the right, despite angering many in the GOP establishment with his political activities last year.

      DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund wants to rake in a staggering $15 million, which is nearly $6 million more than in 2010 when his political action committee raised more money than any other politician’s PAC.

      =====

      Read it all.

      Interesting that DeMint is not going after RINO's Olympia Snowe and Richard Lugar.

      But, campaign cash is campaign cash and conservative challengers have a funding mechanism.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for March 10th on 18:49

    These are my links for March 10th from 18:49 to 18:53:

    • Mo-Sen Sen Claire McCaskill billed, repaid taxpayers for political flights – Senator Claire McCaskill's spokeswoman this evening confirmed that the Missouri Senator billed taxpayers for a purely political travel on a private plane co-owned by her family, a violation of Congressional ethics rules that deepens questions around her use of the plane.

      POLITICO's John Bresnahan and Scott Wong reported yesterday that McCaskill billed taxpayers for almost $76,000 for official travel on the twin-engine Piper aircraft, which she co-owns with her husband and other investors. Lawmakers routinely accept reimbursement from the government for their travel, but after the revelation that she used official public dollars to partially subsidize a private aircraft, McCaskill refunded taxpayers — citing appearances, not any violation of ethics rules.

      A cursory examination of the 89 flights for which McCaskill reimbursed the Treasury this week revealed the purely political round trip. On Saturday, March 3, 2007 she flew from St. Louis to Hannibal, MO, and back, for the local Democratic Party's annual Hannibal Days. Her speech at the event, a recollection of the dying former Senator Tom Eagleton, was reported in the local press. And she billed taxpayers $1,220.44 for the travel, according to the public records examined by POLITICO.

      McCaskill spokeswoman Maria Speiser conceded that the bill was inappropriate, and had no immediate explanation for how it had come to be submitted as an official expense.

      ======

      Even though she repaid the costs to the taxpayers, this will undoubtedly show up in 30 second TV spots during her 2012 re-election campaign.

    • Darrell Issa: White House influencing net neutrality – FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is denying a charge that White House officials improperly influenced the commission’s net neutrality rules. 

      In a November 2009 letter to Genachowski, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said media reports suggest “that Obama administration officials had knowledge of and potentially contributed to [the] crafting of” the controversial net neutrality rules.

      Specifically, Issa noted that a 2009 American Spectator article said a draft of the net neutrality rules had been circulated to Obama administration officials — and that Genachowski and President Barack Obama made suspiciously similar remarks about the rules on Sept. 21, 2009.

      Issa — then the ranking member, now the chairman of the House Oversight Committee — asked, among other things, whether then-White House economic adviser Larry Summers had had any contact with the FCC about net neutrality.

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      Read it all

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for March 10th on 14:55

    These are my links for March 10th from 14:55 to 15:21:

    • The Amazon Tax: Repeated attempts to boost sales tax collections hurt California’s economy, cost jobs – They’re at it again.
      Lawmakers in California, in a desperate attempt to generate revenues are again seeking to force out-of-state retailers to collect taxes for online purchases made by California shoppers. If they are successful in passing this legislation, not only will they fail to raise even one more nickel in tax revenue, they will cost the state thousands of jobs.
      It’s a bit complicated, but allow me to explain: California has a cutting edge industry of Internet entrepreneurs called “affiliates.” You’ve seen “affiliates” while surfing the web: blogs and Websites that provide “click through” ads to online retailers. If you click through and make a purchase, the affiliate gets a small percentage in payment from the retailer.
      According to the Performance Marketing Association, there are nearly 25,000 California-based affiliate businesses that provide information to California consumers and improve the ease and thrift of their shopping experience online or with remote retailers and their catalogs.
      One example of a successful California affiliate is Ebates, a company based in San Francisco. Without affiliate relationships, Internet entrepreneurs like Ebates will face a painful choice: Cut jobs to keep costs in line with reduced revenue or move out of California to more welcoming states. Either way, California will lose jobs and taxes.
      Affiliates like Ebates can conduct business from any state in the country, but they are choosing to make California home. Likewise, online retailers choose to market their products through affiliates like Ebates because they help make the shopping experience for their customers easier.

      =======

      Read it all.

    • Untitled (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-turn/2011/03/presidential_candidates_staffi.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter) – President 2012: Presidential candidates staffing up in Iowa
    • So unfav: Palin’s poll plunge – Andy Barr – POLITICO.com – So unfav? Sarah Palin's poll plunge – Bloomberg Poll is Crap
    • YouTube
      – sara evans headliner 2
      – I liked a YouTube video — sara evans headliner 2
  • American Economy,  Polling

    Poll Watch: 72% of Americans Cite Economy as Most Important Problem Facting the Country – Obama Calls a News Conference



    According to the latest Gallup poll.

    Seventy-two percent of Americans cite some aspect of the U.S. economy as the “most important problem” facing the country today. This is the highest net mention of the economy since February 2010, although still below the 86% peak recorded in February 2009 as Washington was focused on passing an economic stimulus plan.

    Well, the stock market took a big hit today and gasoline prices are skyrocketing as Middle East events drive the oil markets wild. In the meantime, the Obama White House is ignoring the budget hawks in the GOP dominated House.

    What else could go wrong?

    Plenty.

    Economic concerns continue to weigh heavily on Americans’ minds, as evidenced by the issues Americans consider to be the nation’s most important problem. The economy in general and unemployment dominate their economically oriented responses, but mentions of the federal budget deficit and gas prices are up.

    Gallup’s “most important problem” trends suggest that Americans’ top-of-mind concern about gas prices will continue to mount as prices edge higher, but isn’t likely to surge above 20% until prices set a new record, which would be something over $4.11.

    Now, it has just been announced that President Obama will hold a news conference tomorrow afternoon to address rising fuel prices. I wonder if he will pull oil out of the strategic petroleum reserve?

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for March 10th on 14:35

    These are my links for March 10th from 14:35 to 14:47:

    • President 2012: Presidential candidates staffing up in Iowa – Eric Woolson, Mike Huckabee's key organizer in Iowa in 2008, has joined Tim Pawlenty's team. The Des Moines Register reports:

      The top Iowa adviser to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Wednesday he will support former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty should Pawlenty seek the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

      Eric Woolson, a 52-year-old veteran campaign press operative and media strategist, said he did not know whether Huckabee would run again. Woolson managed Huckabee's winning 2008 Iowa caucuses campaign.

      Woolson said he likes Pawlenty's record, style and profile as a governor. And Woolson worries that Huckabee's summer time frame for deciding whether to run again may be too long.

      This tells us a few things. First, either by intention or by tardiness, Huckabee is taking himself out of the race….

      ======

      Iowa is not that important in that it is a caucus and not a primary state.

      John McCain ignored Iowa twice and won the nomination the second time.

      Tim Pawlenty has no choice but to compete since his name recognition is very low.

      I am positive Haley Barbour will be in there soon but who knows aobut Mitch Daniels – if Daniels is even running.

      And, Huckabee – he ain't running.

    • So unfav? Sarah Palin’s poll plunge – Bloomberg Poll is Crap – Sarah Palin’s unfavorable rating is off the charts.
      Continue Reading

      The former Alaska governor’s numbers are astonishingly upside-down, according to a new Bloomberg poll showing a 32 percentage point spread between those who have an unfavorable rating of Palin and those who view her favorably.

      Of the 60 percent in the poll who have an unfavorable opinion of Palin, more than half of them – 38 percent among the whole survey – said they have a “very” unfavorable view of Palin.

      Her “very” unfavorable rating is higher than the total favorability ratings of Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump and Chris Christie.

      The new poll is a dip from a December Bloomberg poll showing Palin with a net favorable rating of 33 percent and a net unfavorable rating of 57 percent.

      The survey is just one more indicator that if Palin were to run, she'd face a very strong headwind whenever trying to reach out to voters beyond her hardcore supporters.

      More people surveyed had an opinion of Palin than any other politician surveyed except for Barack Obama, indicating that her numbers are not likely to swing wildly one way or the other.

      The poll of 1,001 adults was conducted March 4-7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

      =======

      There are other polls which are MORE alarming from this poll which is full of crap. Look at the Favorable of public employees and unions and Obama.

      Major sampling errors – so move on.

  • Mitch Daniels,  President 2012

    President 2012 Video: Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Responds to Social Issues “Truce” and Defense Cuts Critics

    An interview of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels by Peter Robinson of Uncommon Knowledge of the Hoover Istitution

    The entire interview will air next Monday and we have heard Daniel’s before explain his rationale.

    “If you don’t believe that the American republic is mortally threatened, as I do, by this one overriding problem we have built for ourselves [the debt], then of course I’m wrong.

    But if that is the case, then all I was really saying was: I don’t want to lose one person — you keep talking about how hard it’s going to be, and it is — to make the kind of changes that will restore America’s greatness, and all I was saying was [that] we’re going to need to unify all kinds of people, and freedom is going to need every friend it can get.”

    But, it appears that Mitch is going on the offense now and there really is only one reason to do so.

    Read the tea leaves.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for March 10th on 10:33

    These are my links for March 10th from 10:33 to 10:38:

    • President 2012: Utah threatens GOP primary calendar – Legislative inaction to move back Utah’s presidential primary date is just the latest threat to a calendar already in turmoil.

      State law establishes a primary date of Feb. 7 — one day after first-in-the-nation Iowa — and lawmakers are set to adjourn their session today without making a change. That date is in violation of rules set by both national parties stipulating that no states other than Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada can hold nominating contests before March. With Florida also threatening to hold a primary even earlier, chances are increasing that the Hawkeye State will have to push up its own timetable just to keep its first-in-line status.

      =======

      Looks like an earlier Presidential calendar for the GOP

    • Did Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker win? – 2) It appears the Democrats had not accepted the concessions outlined by Walker in an email to some Dem senators (an email his office released). These were discussed below. They allowed collective bargaining over a broader range of issues, but kept the provision ending mandatory union dues checkoff, which is arguably the change unions fear the most. I doubt there was ever a route to a mutually acceptable compromise unless the dues-checkoff provision could itself have somehow been compromised; 

      3) If Walker’s concessions had been accepted,  he still basically would have won (largely because of the dues provision). But the Dems could have returned to Madison claiming that their dramatic walkout had resulted in a non-trivial victory of sorts, and the press was poised to portray them as brave, victorious heroes. This outcome denies the Democrats that media triumph. No doubt the MSM will come up with another way to celebrate the Flight of the 14 as a Tunisia-like tide-turning. But it will take some creativity, and the public might not buy it;

      ========

      Read all of Mickey Kaus's analysis.

      Yes, Scott Walker has won.

    • Why labor can’t compromise in Wisconsin = Mandatory Union Dues – Why the WI Dems Can’t Compromise: In the Wisconsin union fight, it looks as if Gov. Walker has taken Chuck Lane’s advice, which is to give ground on collective bargaining (allowing the right to bargain for raises, for example, without limiting them to the CPI) while sticking with the elimination of the mandatory dues checkoff.  The latter is what really terrifies unions, because it might dry up the political funds they use to elect candidates (who then give them raises, etc.). Arguably this political spending power is more important to the unions even than collective bargaining power–especially in states where unions don’t have the right to strike, they can get more by electing friendly pols than by traditional union negotiating tactics anyway.  But that’s also why the pro-union Dems are unlikely to be given permission to agree to Walker’s compromise.
  • Chris Christie,  John Huntsman,  Mitch Daniels,  Mitt Romney,  Polling,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin,  Tim Pawlenty

    President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Insiders Poll Hot on Mitch Daniels and Tim Pawlenty – NOT Hot on Sarah Palin

    According to the latest National Journal “Insiders” poll.

    In the view of Democratic and Republican political operatives, the potential 2012 GOP White House hopefuls whose fortunes are most on the rise are Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, while former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is a rapidly depreciating asset, according to this week’s National Journal Political Insiders Poll.

    While no Republican could-be candidate towered above the field, GOP Insiders focused on Daniels and Pawlenty as two whose stock has been rising in recent months, but for very different reasons. Daniels, who has taken few overt steps towards mounting a national campaign, is seen as someone who could champion the Republican themes of shrinking government and cutting spending and also has the record in Indiana to back up that message in a campaign. “The more it becomes about deficit reduction, the better he does,” said one GOP Insider. Even Daniels’ serious demeanor is considered a positive. “Increasingly seen as the anti-Obama — no flash and slogans, but real leadership and a plan,” swooned another Republican.

    Pawlenty was rated equally well by GOP Insiders who have been impressed by his disciplined courtship of the party faithful in the early caucus and primary states. Pawlenty is also viewed as a candidate who is acceptable to a broad range of Republicans and has relatively little political baggage. “[He] continues to methodically define himself as the mainstream conservative Republican who can appeal to traditional and new Republican activists,” said one GOP Insider. “Daniels may not run because of family, Barbour has proven surprisingly tone deaf, Gingrich has failed to turn around the marital issue, Palin excites her core group and is unacceptable to everyone else, Romney-care has become the mark of death for Romney,” noted another GOP Insider. “It looks more and more as though everyone has a fatal weakness, other than Pawlenty.”

    Democrats generally concurred and saw Daniels as an “adult” and Pawlenty as “organized.”

    Agreed.

    As the GOP primary season heats up, voters will be looking for someone new – not Mitt Romney and not Newt Gingrich. 

    Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (if he runs), former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman or New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (if he runs) would fit the bill.

    Note: The “Insiders” are NOT too high on Sarah Palin.

  • Chris Schauble,  Elita Loresca,  KNBC,  KTLA News

    Update: Chris Schauble Now a News Anchor at KTLA: WTF Happened to KNBC News Anchor Chris Schauble?

    Chris Schauble says WTF live on NBC, Los Angeles

    A good move for Chris since being demoted by KNBC News last year. Guess it took a while for his contract to run its course.

    Anchor Frank Buckley (right) is scaling back his hours on KTLAs morning newscast and Chris Schauble (far right), most recently an anchor-reporter with KNBC, is taking his place in the early half of the show.

    Starting next Monday, Ill no longer be anchoring the 5-7am hours of the KTLA Morning News and a new guy will be in the anchor chair, Buckley announced in a blog post today on KTLAs website. I was asked to fill in on the 5 and 6am broadcasts on a temporary basis after the departure of our friend Emmett Miller in October. We thought it would last a month or two. Its now March.

    Buckley will continue appearing on the newscast between 7 and 10 a.m.

    Schauble has been anchoring KNBCs weekend evening newscasts and working as a reporter throughout the week.

    I met Chris last year at the Los Angeles Marathon Expo at Dodger Stadium. The Expo will be coming up next week and will look out for him there. I do know he is running the marathon this year.

    Now, if we can ONLY get Elita Loresca to make the move.

    Meterologist Elita Loresca of KNBC News

    Update:

    I understand that Chris will not be running the Los Angeles Marathon this year due to an injury. But, here is video of Chris competing at the 2010 Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawai.