• Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for April 21st on 17:01

    April 21, 2011 /

    These are my links for April 21st from 17:01 to 18:01:

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for April 21st on 14:08

    April 21, 2011 /

    These are my links for April 21st from 14:08 to 16:37:

    • Brutal Mexican drug gang crosses into U.S. – The signature crimes of the most violent drug cartel in Mexico are its beheading and dismemberment of rival gang members, military personnel, law enforcement officers and public officials, and the random kidnappings and killings of civilians who get caught in its butchery and bloodletting.

      But this disparate band of criminals known as Los Zetas is no longer just a concern in Mexico. It has expanded its deadly operations across the southwestern border, establishing footholds and alliances in states from New York to California. Just last year, federal agents tied a cocaine operation in Baltimore to the Zetas.

      “Those of us who live and work along the border know they’re already here,” said Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., whose Texas county lies on the Rio Grande 50 miles southeast of the Zetas’ stronghold of Nuevo Laredo. “There’s already been killings and many residents here are living in fear.”

      ======

      Read it all

      Secure the border, Mr. President

    • California’s criminal alien population rises – Costs $34K a Year to Incarcerate – The number of criminal aliens incarcerated in California rose to 102,795 in 2009, a 17 percent increase since 2003, federal auditors reported Thursday.

      This isn't cheap. Nationwide, the Government Accountability Office reports, it costs well over $1.1 billion a year for states to imprison criminal aliens — those who committed a crime after entering the United States illegally. California, moreover, is more expensive than other states. GAO auditors estimated California spends $34,000 to incarcerate a criminal alien for one year; in Texas, it's only $12,000.

      The audit, requested by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, will provide ammunition for states' perennial effort to secure more federal reimbursement dollars.

      More than one in four of the illegal immigrants imprisoned in California are behind bars for drug offenses. Many are also repeat offenders. GAO auditors say that, based on a survey, criminal alien inmates have been arrested an average of seven different times.

      ========

      Secure the border and deport these criminals…..

      Come on now….

    • Wonkette Pulls Offensive Post About Sarah Palin’s Handicapped Son – As NewsBusters reported Wednesday, the liberal website Wonkette published a truly disgraceful piece earlier in the week about Sarah Palin's Down's syndrome son Trig.

      Under intense pressure from readers and advertisers, the site's editor took the post down Thursday:

      A post on this page satirizing Sarah Palin using her baby as a political prop was very badly done and sounded like the author was mocking the child and not just Sarah Palin/Sarah Palin’s followers.

      The writer, Jack Stuef, has apologized for it. And we have decided to remove the post as requested by some people who have nothing to do with Sarah Palin, but who do have an interest in the cause of special needs children. We apologize for the poor comedic judgment.

      ======

      Read it all…..

      Boom! Money speaks…..

  • Barack Obama,  Polling,  President 2012

    President 2012 Poll Watch: Obama Approval 42% Vs. 53% Disapproval

    April 21, 2011 /


    According to the latest ARG Poll

    A total of 42% of Americans say they approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president and 53% say they disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. In March, 48% of Americans approved of the job Obama was doing and 47% disapproved.

    When it comes to Obama’s handling of the economy, 41% of Americans approve and 54% disapprove. In March, 42% approved and 51% disapproved.

    Among Americans registered to vote, 42% approve of the way Obama is handling his job as president and 54% disapprove. On Obama’s handling of the economy, 40% of registered voters approve and 55% disapprove.

    A total of 47% of Americans say the national economy is getting worse, up from 42% in March. A total of 34% of Americans say the national economy will be better a year from now, down from 43% in March, and is the lowest recorded in the past year.

    The results presented here are based on 1,100 completed telephone interviews conducted among a nationwide random sample of adults 18 years and older. The interviews were completed April 17 through 20, 2011. The theoretical margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, 95% of the time, on questions where opinion is evenly split.

    Overall, 42% of Americans say that they approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president, 53% disapprove, and 5% are undecided.

    Obviously, President Obama’s approval ratings are falling. This is the second poll today documenting the downward trend – the Gallup Daily Poll had 43% Approval Vs. 49% disapproval.

    And, the President’s handling of the economy is certainly not helping him.

    As we enter the Easter holiday, the race for 2012 has President Obama declining in the polls and the GOP candidate doing best in the polls, Mike Huckabee considering throwing his hat into the arena.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for April 21st on 11:36

    April 21, 2011 /

    These are my links for April 21st from 11:36 to 11:51:

    • Owners of Chuy’s restaurants in AZ, CA, indicted for Hiring Illegal Aliens – Federal agents arrested owners of several Arizona and California restaurants Wednesday on an indictment charging them with hiring illegal immigrants and evading taxes.

      Agents raided 15 Chuy's Mesquite Broiler restaurants in both states and served 20 search warrants. They detained about 40 suspected illegal immigrants who were working at the restaurants when the raids took place, Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Vincent Picard said.

      The father and son independently own about 20 restaurants in the Chuy's chain. A company accountant also was arrested on a 19-count indictment.

      Mark Evenson, 58, of the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley, and his son, Christopher Evenson, 39, of Oro Valley, Ariz., were being held pending an initial appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Tucson.

      The Evensons and accountant Diane Strehlow, 47, of Tempe, Ariz., are accused of hiring illegal immigrants for the company's kitchen operations and paying them under the table. They did not collect state or federal income taxes for those employees, according to the indictment.

      Meanwhile, staff who worked with the public were legal workers and taxes were taken out of their checks.

      An attorney who has previously represented the Evensons in a civil case said he could not comment on the new indictment. Court records don't yet reflect an attorney in the criminal case. A message left at a telephone listing for Strehlow wasn't immediately returned.

      Eric W. Rose, a spokesman for the company that owns the franchising rights to the restaurant chain's name, said officials were "deeply concerned by the alleged actions" of the Evensons and Strehlow.

      Rose said the allegations of tax fraud and illegal hiring practices "do not represent the values and ideals of the Chuy's Mesquite Broiler Restaurants, the independent owners or our employees."

      He also pointed out that the Evensons have no ownership in several Chuy's locations in California and one in Tucson.

      ======

      E-Verify is desperately needed.

      How about passing a bill House GOP?

    • Capitol Weekly looks at 100 California political warriors – Well, here it is: Capitol Weekly’s list of 100 political players. But since we don’t want you to gag, we’re giving it to you piecemeal. This week, we’re providing 51 through 100. Next week, we’ll do 1 through 50.  After that, we’ll disconnect the phones and head to Puerto Penasco.

      The most interesting aspect of this year’s rundown is that it clearly reflects the impact of the new Brown administration. Jerry Brown owes his election, in large part, to organized labor. And labor’s clout is demonstrated throughout with a number of labor chiefs and their lobbyists. The list really is a snapshot in time and “Top 100” may be a misnomer here: The rankings change yearly, even quarterly or monthly, as new players arrive, veterans depart and the administration goes through growing pains.

      Lists like these are interesting not only for who’s on them, but for who isn’t. There’s no Maria Shriver, no Susan Kennedy, no Henry Gomez. There’s no Grover Norquist, despite a dozen demands that we put him on – if he wants to be on our list, he can move to California.

      ======

      Read it all.

      51-100 this week…..

      Hold on to your hats for 1-50.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for April 21st on 06:42

    April 21, 2011 /

    These are my links for April 21st from 06:42 to 10:38:

  • Mike Huckabee,  Mitt Romney,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin

    President 2012: Mike Huckabee a Go for Presidential Run?

    April 21, 2011 /

    Republican presidential candidates, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R) and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, spar over the issue of tax cuts while they were governors during the Fox News Presidential Forum at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire January 6, 2008

    Looks like Huck is with polling results showing some good news reconsidering the race for the Presidency.

    Can a man leading most GOP presidential polls turn a 2012 run down in favor of a weekend TV show, a mortgage, and motivational speeches?

    That’s the question confronting Mike Huckabee, the one-time minister turned three-term Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate turned Fox News host.

    While other prospective candidates have been hard at work building their campaign machine, Huckabee has been biding his time, a reluctant candidate who keeps surging in the polls.

    Despite his easygoing—some might say indifferent—approach to the campaign ahead, Gallup polls show that Huckabee enjoys the most intense support in all the GOP field.

    But, with Ed Rollins saying he is a likely go, I would say that all we need as a bat signal for his candidacy is for Chuck Norris to resurface.

    Just as a side note – HuckPAC has been sending me fundraiisng e-mails non-stop for the past few months, whereas Romney and the others have not. Remember I am in California which might be in play with its large number of GOP delegates, late in a GOP primary election contest.

    On to Iowa……

    Exit questions:

    • Who will Sarah Palin endorse?
    • Who will the Tea Party embrace?
  • Donald Trump,  Mike Huckabee,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  Polling,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin

    President 2012 Iowa Poll Watch: Obama 45% Huckabee 45% – Obama 45% Vs Romney 41%

    April 21, 2011 /

    According to the latest PPP Poll.

    Job Approval Vs. Disapproval:

    • President Barack Obama – 46% Vs. 48%

    Favorable Vs. Unfavorable:

    • Mitt Romney – 36% Vs. 44%
    • Mike Huckabee – 41% Vs. 43%
    • Newt Gingrich – 24% Vs. 56%
    • Sarah Palin – 29% Vs. 63%

    General Election Head to Head:

    • Obama – 45% Vs. Romney 41%
    • Obama – 45% Vs. Huckabee 45%
    • Obama – 53% Vs. Palin – 36%
    • Obama – 51% Vs. Trump – 35%
    • Obama – 50% Vs. Gingrich – 39%
    • Obama – 43% Vs. Romney – 27% Vs. Trump – 21% (as an independent)

    Iowa like Larry Sabato mentioned this morning may indeed be in play for race for 2012.

    The entire PPP Poll is here.

    When PPP last polled Iowa in early January, President Obama was enjoying a bit of a surge in popularity following the lame-duck session of Congress. He has since slipped, and his small leads over his main prospective challengers have accordingly closed. Half of Iowans approved of the president’s job performance three months ago, and 43% disapproved. But he is now slightly underwater, as nationwide, with only 46% approving and 48% disapproving. The slippage has come across the board. In January, 13% of Republicans approved and only 8% of Democrats disapproved, but those numbers are now reversed, while independents have moved from 49-40 to 41-50.

    The good news is that the Republicans have all gotten slightly less popular as well, and none is better liked than the president. But re-election bids are more a mandate on the incumbent than the challenger, and a slightly unpopular incumbent against a slightly unpopular challenger usually produces a tie.

    Looks to me that Iowa voters will be comfortable with either Mike Huckabee who won the 2008 Iowa GOP caucuses and leads in the polls there for 2012 or Mitt Romney who has been showing strength in New Hampshire and Florida. It also looks like Iowa may be a key battleground state which is surprising to me.

    Does the Iowa trend mean that other battleground fronts may open for President Obama? Maybe like Pennsylvania and New Mexico?

    Also, an exit question to ponder: Might Romney and Huckabee make an early deal and be the 2012 ticket? It has happened before, thinking Reagan – Bush.

    Stay tuned…..

  • Electoral College,  President 2012

    President 2012: The Electoral College Map

    April 21, 2011 /

    Electoral College vote map of Larry Sabato

    Larry Sabato, Director of the Univwersity of Virginia Center for Politics is out today with his map of the key battleground states for the Presidential race of 2012.

    With 18 months to go until November 2012, there is exactly one use for a current projection of the 2012 Electoral College results. This is merely a baseline from which we can judge more reliable projections made closer to the election. Where did we start–before we knew the identity of the Republican nominee for president, the state of the economy in fall 2012 and many other critical facts?

    Sabato’s map is pretty much the conventional wisdom which I wrote about previously. And, even previously here.

    I think we can say that from this poll that these states:

    • Ohio – 20 (electoral votes): -2 after reapportionment
    • Virginia – 13
    • Colorado – 9
    • Florida -27: +2 after reapportionment
    • Nevada – 5: +1 after reapportionment
    • Wisconsin -10
    • New Hampshire – 4
    • Indiana – 11
    • North Carolina – 15

    and add in Pennyslvania -20: -1 after reapportionment – will be in the competitive range, if the GOP nominates the RIGHT candidate.

    If all of the key battleground states listed above were to flip to the Republican candidate a total of 135 electoral votes would shift. The GOP candidate would win 305 Electoral votes Vs. 230 for Obama (provided Obama wins all of the states he won in 2008). 270 votes are needed to win.

    But, let’s look at Sabato’s numbers:

    If you INCLUDE the “Leans” states with the “Likely” and “Safe,” the numbers are as follows:

    •     247 Democratic EVs
    •     180 Republican EVs
    •     111 Undecided

    If you DO NOT INCLUDE the “Leans” states, i.e., just counting “Likely” and “Safe,” the numbers are as follows:

    •     196 Democratic EVs
    •     170 Republican EVs
    •     172 Undecided

    The only disagreements I have with Sabato are his assessments of Iowa, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Those states may be in play and if I had to pick one it would be Wisconsin.

    Which states do I think will be the hardest fought?

    • Colorado, Virginia, Florida and North Carolina

    Which state will most likely flip to the GOP?

    • Indiana

    So, there you have the Presidential race in a nutshell.

    The race will be concentrated in only a few states, where except for Florida the media buys will be fairly inexpensive. So, all of this talk about President Obama and his $1 Billion campaign is a lot of hot air. The GOP nominee will not need to raise as much to be competitive in the key battleground states.

    But, organization is key and if the GOP wants to win, they must select a nominee who will be competitive in these few states. Looks to me that Mitt Romney, Mitch Daniels, Mike Huckabee will fit the bill. The others – not so much.

    But, stay tuned……