The Morning Flap: March 22, 2012

These are my links for March 15th through March 22nd:

• Romney advisor says his conservatism can be erased – Ever since he launched his first bid for the presidency over five years ago, critics have argued that Mitt Romney’s conservative positions aren’t sincere, and that he would start to abandon them once he was no longer trying to appeal to the Republican primary electorate. I just never expected one of his chief campaign staffers to openly admit it. Yet feeling cocky after Mitt Romney’s strong victory in Illinois, top advisor Eric Fehrnstrom did just that.

  Here’s the stunning exchange on CNN (via Greg Sargent):

  HOST: Is there a concern that Santorum and Gingrich might force the governor to tack so far to the right it would hurt him with moderate voters in the general election?

  FEHRNSTROM: Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again.

• ‘Etch A Sketch’ Latest Gaffe From Romney Campaign – For a candidate who has spent months battling the title of “flip-flopper,” perhaps the last thing he would want associated with his name is an Etch A Sketch, those do-over drawing boards that let you shake your scribbles away with the flick of a wrist.

  Unfortunately Mitt Romney won’t be able to shake away this comparison any time soon. When his campaign spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom was asked this morning on CNN how the GOP frontrunner would make the pivot to the general election, Fehrnstrom compared Romney’s primary campaign to an Etch A Sketch, a gaffe that spread like wildfire to Romney’s rival’s stump speeches.

• Jeb Bush: It’s time to support Romney as Republican candidate – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says Republican front-runner Mitt Romney has earned the right to take on President Obama in November.

  “It is time to get behind the nominee,” Bush told the Tribune-Review on Wednesday during a visit to Pittsburgh. “And it is time for the country to focus on the most important thing, which is to elect a president who will create a climate for high growth and job-creating abilities for our country.”

  Bush called for the Republican Party to unite behind the former Massachusetts governor, who won the Illinois primary this week with 46.7 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Rick Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania.

  GOP strategist Bruce Haynes said the Bush endorsement is worth a lot to the Romney campaign.

  “It’s literally the sound of the referee’s whistle calling the game to an end,” Haynes said.

  Santorum, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas have declared that they will remain in the race until the Republican National Convention in August in Tampa.

• Jeb Bush: Romney should pick Sen. Rubio as running mate – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who endorsed Mitt Romney for president on Wednesday, wants Romney to pick Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as his running mate if the former Massachusetts governor wins the nomination.

  Bush, speaking to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, said that the junior Florida senator is “dynamic, joyful, disciplined and principled.”

• Obama’s Speedy Keystone Review Won’t Accelerate Cushing Pipeline –
• @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-22 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-22
• Los Angeles Marathon 2012: Race Report | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Los Angeles Marathon 2012: Race Report
• Basno – 2012 Honda LA Marathon Finisher Medal – Gregory Flap Cole – I love L.A.
• AD-38: College of the Canyons Associated Student Government to Host 38th Assembly Candidate Forum – Patricia McKeon Declines » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: College of the Canyons Associated Student Government to Host 38th Assembly Candidate Forum – Patricia McK…
• Los Angeles Maraton 2012 Start
  – YouTube – Los Angeles Maraton 2012 Start
  – YouTube
• Los Angeles Marathon 2012: The Expo | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Los Angeles Marathon 2012: The Expo
• Los Angeles Maraton 2012 Start
  – YouTube – I uploaded a @YouTube video Los Angeles Maraton 2012 Start
• Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-21 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-21
• Former Rosemead mayor pleads guilty to federal bribery charge – Former Rosemead mayor pleads guilty to federal bribery charge
• El Monte Union board selects educator for seat vacated by Tran – El Monte Union board selects educator for seat vacated by Tran
• @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-21 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-21
• Holtz-Eakin and Smith: ObamaCare’s Flawed Economic Foundations – Holtz-Eakin and Smith: ObamaCare’s Flawed Economic Foundations
• Flap’s Dentistry Blog: ObamaCare Dental Regulations Issued by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – ObamaCare Dental Regulations Issued by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Assembly candidate John Tran agrees to plead guilty to bribery – Whittier Daily News – Assembly candidate John Tran agrees to plead guilty to bribery – Whittier Daily News
• President 2012 Virginia (VA) Poll Obama Back On Top In Virginia – Quinnipiac University ? Hamden, Connecticut – President Barack Obama leads all the Republican presidential candidates in Virginia, with his 50 – 42 percent margin over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney his biggest lead over Romney in this election cycle, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

  Putting Gov. Bob McDonnell on the ticket as the GOP vice-presidential nominee does not help the Republicans carry the state, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. In a matchup of President Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden against Romney and McDonnell, the Democrats win 50 – 43 percent.

  Obama wins head to head against other Republican contenders:

  54 – 35 percent over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; 49 – 40 percent over former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum; 49 – 39 percent over Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul.

• Republicans Attack Health Law as Supreme Court Hearing Nears – NYTimes.com – RT @chucktodd: GOP seems a lot more organized on the P.R. front re: health care SCOTUS focus than the Dems.
• Republicans Attack Health Law as Supreme Court Hearing Nears – NYTimes.com – GOP seems a lot more organized on the P.R. front re: health care SCOTUS focus than the Dems.
• Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-20 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-20
• El Monte Union Board of Trustees to interview, select replacement for Tran – El Monte Union Board of Trustees to interview, select replacement for Tran
• El Monte Union appoints new board member to fill vacancy – El Monte Union appoints new board member to fill vacancy
• “Higher Costs” (TV Ad)
  – YouTube – MUST WATCH: New RNC TV ad on Obamacare — #tcot #RS
• @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-20 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-20
• Green Bay Press Gazette | Green Bay news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Green Bay, Wisconsin | greenbaypressgazette.com – Green Bay Press Gazette | Green Bay news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Green …
• Untitled (http://getglue.com/tv_shows/killing?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – On Demand works for me while I heal up from marathon. @GetGlue @TheKilling_AMC
• Green Bay Press Gazette | Green Bay news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Green Bay, Wisconsin | greenbaypressgazette.com – 29 Wisconsin judges sign recall petitions | Green Bay Press Gazette |
• 29 Wisconsin judges sign recall petitions | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com – 29 Wisconsin judges sign recall petitions | Green Bay Press Gazette |
• Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-19 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-19
• @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-19 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-19
• Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-18 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-18
• @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-18 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-18
• On the way home from San Diego to run @LAMarathon tomorrow and then to return – On the way home from San Diego to run @LAMarathon tomorrow and then to return
• In San Diego where my daughter Allison just delivered my first grandson James Phillip – In San Diego where my daughter Allison just delivered my first grandson James Phillip
• Why Your Company Is Screwed If You Don’t Go Social – Why Your Company Is Screwed If You Don’t Go Social
• Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-17 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-17
• @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-17 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-17
• Gregory Flap @ TAIX French Restaurant – foursquare – After LA Marathon Expo lunch with the LA Roadrunners gang (@ TAIX French Restaurant)
• Re: Sen Ted Stevens: Report Details Inner Workings – Re: Sen Ted Stevens: Report Details Inner Workings
• Hatch Supporters Make Strong Showing in Utah Caucuses – The Tea Party-inspired drive to oust Senator Orrin G. Hatch, a six-term Republican, got a bit more complicated on Thursday night.

  Supporters of Mr. Hatch turned up in strong numbers at some packed Republican caucus meetings around the state, where delegates were elected to next month’s state party convention.

  And here in Utah County, a deeply conservative area in the backyard of Brigham Young University, and hotbed of anti-Hatch sentiment, some prominent opponents of the senator failed to win delegate seats.

  “It’s going to be a very good night for Hatch,” said Dave Hansen, Mr. Hatch’s campaign manager.

• Dick Lugar vows to appeal ruling – For the moment, Dick Lugar can’t even vote to save himself.

  A local election board ruled Thursday that the six-term senator has abandoned his Indiana home and cannot cast a ballot in the state he represents. The Indiana Republican is up for re-election this year and faces a conservative challenger in the state’s May 8 primary.

• Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-16 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-16
• @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-16 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-16
• Untitled (http://getglue.com/Fullosseousflap/stickers/cbs_sports/2012_ncaa_second_round?s=ts&ref=Fullosseousflap) – I unlocked the 2012 NCAA Second Round sticker on @GetGlue! #MarchMadness @MarchMadness
• Untitled (http://getglue.com/topics/p/2012_ncaa_mens_division_i_basketball_tournament?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – Hoosiers! @GetGlue #2012NCAAMensDivisionIBasketballTournament
• Race Weekend Details & Cold Weather Plan – Thank you @LAMarathon for your rain and warming station plan for runner safety!
• AD-38: Ventura County Lincoln Club Endorses Republican Scott Wilk for California Assembly » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: Ventura County Lincoln Club Endorses Republican Scott Wilk for California Assembly