• Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for May 14th on 14:01

    These are my links for May 14th from 14:01 to 19:02:

  • Chris Christie,  John Kasich,  Michele Bachmann,  Mike Huckabee,  Mitch Daniels,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin,  Scott Walker

    President 2012: Huckabee is Out – Michele, Newt and Mitch In?

    Yeah, particularly in Iowa.

    The presidential nominating process is a lot like the US Open tennis tournament. There is a final (the Republican v. Obama), a semifinal (the top conservative against the top moderate for the GOP nomination) and a quarter final (the conservatives against each other and the moderates competing together for the right to enter the semis).

    Mitt Romney and Donald Trump are centrists. Businessmen, economic growth free market types who will vie with each other for the moderate nomination. In 2008, Romney fought and lost to Huckabee for the conservative nod to oppose McCain. But, because of his health care position, he now has to fight it out on the moderate court.

    Mike Huckabee’s withdrawal opens the way on the right court for Gingrich, Bachmann, and Daniels. Had Mike run, he would have easily carried the day and faced Romney/Trump for the nomination. But, with Mike out, it’s an open field.

    Bachmann has the most to gain from Huckabee’s withdrawal. Polling shows that the Tea Party types and the evangelicals are more or less the same people. With Mike out, Michele has a clear shot at their support (once they get over Herman Cain and Ron Paul, neither of whom can win — and Paul shouldn’t win). As the odd-woman-out dissenting from the Boehner deals with Obama, holding out for fiscal conservatism and tough Republican bargaining, she can pick up a lot of ground in a hurry.

    Gingrich’s announcement puts the onus on him to dispel the negatives that dog his campaign. All agree that he would be the best opponent to Obama in a debate and that he is the brightest, best candidate would have. But many are scared off because of the negatives. He has six months to show them that they are wrong.

    And then there is Mitch Daniels, potentially, the conservative establishment’s answer to Romney. Despite an absence of charisma, his extraordinary record as governor puts him right in the thick of the hunt for the nomination. He, along with his supporters (Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Chris Christie of New Jersey, and John Kasich of Ohio), have walked the walk not just talked the talk. His candidacy is a most attractive one.

    And, if Sarah Palin decides to come in now, I would say the battle for the social conservatives will really heat up.

    Newt Gingrich with his personal baggage should be used as a foil against Obama but he is unelectable – too old and too damaged.

    Mitt Romney will have to compete in Iowa and will probably take a loss there even with Huckabee not in the race. Romney will be vulnerable in South Carolina too –then on to Florida.

    Exit question: Will Mitch Daniels with Scott Walker, John Kasich and Chris Christie endorsing him be able to beat Michele Bachmann in Iowa?

  • Mike Huckabee,  Mitch Daniels,  Mitt Romney,  President 2012,  RomneyCare

    Update: President 2012: Mike Huckabee Better in or Better Out of the Race?; Huck Won’t Run

    +++++Update+++++

    Mike Huckabee announced tonight on his Fox News Show that he will not be a candidate for President

    Better in for the Republican Party.

    And this from Democratic Pollster PPP.

    Rumor has it Huckabee may announce that he is not running on his Fox News show tomorrow. That would be good news, at least for the time being, for the president. Huckabee gives him more trouble than the others in the South, in Appalachia, and up and down the Mississippi–including in states where the president remains strong (like North Carolina and Virginia) and states where he has declined since 2008 (like Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Missouri). The GOP almost certainly needs to return to Southern dominance and dip into either the West or Midwest–or both–to win the White House next year, and it remains to be seen whether another candidate can establish the rapport with these voters that Huckabee has. 

    Romney is not a much weaker alternative in these states, and he does put Obama more on the defensive in the Northeast and Southwest, particularly Nevada and New Hampshire, than does Huckabee. But Huckabee would certainly be leaving both a good shot at the nomination and a decent shot at Obama on the table by keeping his hat out of the ring.

    Mike Huckabee is a stronger candidate than Mitt Romney and will provide an alternative to Mitch Daniels, should he falter. Moreover, should Huck not run, Sarah Palin may decide to go. Her polling against President Obama has been appalling.

    All in all having the affable, Baptist minister in the race is better for the GOP, than Donald Trump, Newt Ginrich or Tim Pawlenty.

  • Mike Huckabee,  Mitch Daniels,  Mitt Romney,  President 2012,  RomneyCare

    President 2012: Mike Huckabee Better in or Better Out of the Race?

    Better in for the Republican Party.

    And this from Democratic Pollster PPP.

    Rumor has it Huckabee may announce that he is not running on his Fox News show tomorrow. That would be good news, at least for the time being, for the president. Huckabee gives him more trouble than the others in the South, in Appalachia, and up and down the Mississippi–including in states where the president remains strong (like North Carolina and Virginia) and states where he has declined since 2008 (like Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Missouri). The GOP almost certainly needs to return to Southern dominance and dip into either the West or Midwest–or both–to win the White House next year, and it remains to be seen whether another candidate can establish the rapport with these voters that Huckabee has. 

    Romney is not a much weaker alternative in these states, and he does put Obama more on the defensive in the Northeast and Southwest, particularly Nevada and New Hampshire, than does Huckabee. But Huckabee would certainly be leaving both a good shot at the nomination and a decent shot at Obama on the table by keeping his hat out of the ring.

    Mike Huckabee is a stronger candidate than Mitt Romney and will provide an alternative to Mitch Daniels, should he falter. Moreover, should Huck not run, Sarah Palin may decide to go. Her polling against President Obama has been appalling.

    All in all having the affable, Baptist minister in the race is better for the GOP, than Donald Trump, Newt Ginrich or Tim Pawlenty.

  • Herb Kohl,  Paul Ryan,  U.S. Senate 2012

    WI-Sen: Herb Kohl is Out and a GOP Senate Majority is More Likely

    U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) speaks at a news conference Friday, May 13, 2011, in Milwaukee. Kohl said he has decided not to run for re-election after serving in the U.S. Senate since 1989

    The conventional wisdom was the GOP had a more than a likely chance they would replace Harry Reid as majority leader and take control of the U.S. Senate after the 2012 elections. This is reinforced by the announced retirement of incumbent democratic Senator Herb Kohl.

    Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will be on everyone’s mind to replace Kohl, but many think he won’t run. After all, he passed up a chance in 2010 to run against Russ Feingold. Republicans also like the state attorney general, J.B. Van Hollen, one of the few Republicans to win statewide in 2006. In 2010 he was reelected with 58 percent of the vote. Unlike other contenders, he could run without risking his current job. Duffy also mentions former congressman Mark Neumann but notes that he “made an unsuccessful bid against Feingold in 1998 and ran for the GOP gubernatorial nomination last year. He got 38 percent after running a dreadful campaign.” A GOP operative with whom I spoke also says “worth mentioning” is wealthy businessman Tim Michels, who ran in 2004.

    For now, the betting on the Hill is that the Senate will flip to a Republican majority. I won’t say “control” because 60 is well out of reach. Nevertheless, with Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, West Virginia and Nebraska as potential pick-ups, the Republicans could wind up in the mid-50s. Much will defend, of course, on the nominees and whether the GOP has a strong candidate at the top of the ticket.

    Wisconsin will also be in play for the Presidential race and will be a key battleground state. With a contested Senate contest, the spending and media attention will accelerate.

    The GOP’s Senate prospects are only looking better.

  • Barack Obama,  Day By Day,  Oil

    Day By Day May 12, 2011 – Hugz

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Talk about job killing regulations.

    But, I see that President Obama does know how to read the polls about gasoline prices and Americans being pissed off about them.

    The White House will take a series of steps — including expediting drilling plans on government lands in Alaska — designed to show that the administration is serious about expanding domestic oil production and lowering gas prices.

    President Obama announced Saturday the government would hold annual onshore lease sales in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve; extend the life of leases in the Gulf of Mexico and in some areas off the coast of Alaska for one year; speed up ongoing Interior Department testing in the mid- and south-Atlantic to gauge the level of resources; and establish an interagency task force to coordinate permitting for offshore drilling in Alaska.

    The White House is making the policy shifts after taking intense criticism from Republicans in recent weeks over energy policy as gas prices have topped $4 per gallon in some parts of the country.

    Guess Obama wants to be re-elected – shocking.

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  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for May 14th on 05:56

    These are my links for May 14th from 05:56 to 13:58:

    • Mike Huckabee on 2012: I’ve made a decision – Mike Huckabee emailed a select group of advisers Friday evening to explain that he couldn't say what his 2012 plans are because of a "sworn obligation" to reveal it first on Fox, adding that "once I pull the trigger…things will get even crazier."

      One source said the email appeared to have gone to roughly 10 people. Yet while it sparked widespread intrigue among political watchers, several sources close to Huckabee still remained unconvinced he will run again for the presidency, citing his approach to making a decision.

      Others privately expressed concern that, if Huckabee does run, his approach so far has had an overly theatrical quality that hasn't screamed "presidential" and has been comparable to the way developer Donald Trump has gone about his potential candidacy.

      By mid-afternoon Saturday, few Huckabee supporters were expressing optimism he was set to announce a run, with most speculating the "trigger" he referred to pulling meant another venture, like a politically focused non-profit, or that he was taking on a new role with Fox.

      Even if he does announce he's running, many supporters made clear he'll have repair work to do with his inner ranks. Several sources said his media-hyping approach would only make the donors and operatives he's acknowledged he would need support from view him with suspicion.

      ======

      Read it all….

      And, stay tuned….. we will all know soon…

    • President 2012: Mike Huckabee email to his inner circle – Tomorrow night (Saturday) I will announce the next step in my plans for 2012 during my show on the Fox News Channel. I would like to be able to call you or email you personally and in advance of the announcement, but due to the fact that the decision was not finalized until today and that I committed to Fox that I will absolutely not release it prior to doing so on the channel, that became impractical.

      A lot of information and speculation was already rampant in the press today, and it frankly isn't fair to you to tell you the details and then put you in the awkward position of saying you didn't know (which at that point wouldn't be true) or saying you did know, but couldn't reveal or discuss it.

      It was this afternoon before I could even get word to all of my own children and even now, the executive producer of my show and the staff and crew of the show don't know and won't until I actually do the final preparation literally minutes before I share the decision live Saturday night.

      I will look forward to speaking with you soon and once I fulfill my sworn obligation to Fox, I will be free to discuss things that I can't now due to promises to them and to some possible legal considerations of the announcement.

      Many friends have said, "how can we help you in the decision?" My answer has consistently been, "Pray that I have clarity." I have it and will share it Saturday night during the show. Please be patient if I don't respond immediately to an email because I expect that once I pull the trigger Saturday night, things will get even crazier, as if that's possible.

      My heartfelt thanks for your friendship, prayers, and support,

      Mike Huckabee

      ======

      Ed Rollins says no.

      Huck leaning to yes?

      Stay tuned….

    • Huckabee Remains Tight-Lipped on 2012; Aides Say He’s a No Go – FoxNews.com – Daniels = the anti-Romney apparently RT @foxnewspolitics: Huckabee Remains Tight-Lipped on 2012; Aides Say He's a No Go
    • Flap’s Links and Comments for May 13th through May 14th | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Links and Comments for May 13th through May 14th #tcot #catcot
    • Flap’s Links and Comments for May 13th on 14:01 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Links and Comments for May 13th on 14:01 | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
    • @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-05-13 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-05-13 | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
    • @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-05-14 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-05-14 | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for May 13th through May 14th

    These are my links for May 13th through May 14th:

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