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President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Romney Expands National Lead to 40% Vs. 26% for Santorum Vs. 14% for Gingrich
According to the latest Gallup Poll.Mitt Romney’s national support among Republican voters has surged in recent days, coincident with his decisive victory in the Illinois primary and a prominent endorsement from Jeb Bush. Romney’s support has increased to 40%, the first time a candidate has reached that level in this campaign, and his lead over Rick Santorum is back into double digits after narrowing to four percentage points on March 20.
The data are based on Gallup Daily tracking from March 18-22, an eventful time in the GOP campaign. On March 20, Romney won the Illinois primary, and he got Bush’s endorsement the next day. That same day, a Romney aide hinted the former Massachusetts governor would “reset” his positions for the general election campaign in the same manner a child would shake an “Etch-a-Sketch” toy to clear it, which again raised concerns about Romney’s issue consistency.
Romney’s current positioning could also be affected by the results of Saturday’s Louisiana primary, with polls showing Santorum leading there.
Maybe with gaffes from Romney and Santorum this week, Newt Gingrich can make another comeback?
But, it is becoming apparent that Mitt Romney will be the nominee, unless a contested or brokered convention becomes a reality.
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The 2012 U.S. Senate Races That Will Determine Who Controls the Senate
Tilting the toss ups — ranking toss-up Senate races from most likely to go Republican (top, dark red tint) to most likely to go Democratic (bottom, dark blue tint)
Larry Sabato et. al have the analysis here.Ah, the Senate. The battle for control fascinates us — and all election observers — because there are so many intriguing races and personalities. Yet, as we update our ratings today and move in a new direction on Congress’ upper chamber, it is worth stressing at the outset that no party will truly control the Senate come January 2013. There is no chance at all that Democrats or Republicans will hit the magic 60 seats required to break filibusters and thus run the Senate. Increasingly, it looks likely that the winning party will have a smaller majority than the Democrats do now (53 seats) — if there is a majority at all. The tiny margin for the winning party will enable the new Senate to do what Senates do best: a whole lot of nothing (discounting talk, of course).
I pretty much agree with their analysis. They deliver a good race by race analysis and it is worth the time to read.
The Senate races in Virginia and Nevada intrigue me and will be fiercely fought since they are key battleground states for the Presidency. If the GOP nominee, beats Obama in the state, then the Senate seat will likely go red.
In any event, there will not be a 60 vote majority obtainable by either party. So, the only people that will really care will be Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell and their staffs.
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The Morning Flap: March 23, 2012
These are my links for March 22nd through March 23rd:
- Obamacare on trial: The case’s policy implications – Beyond its constitutional importance, the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on President Obama’s national health care law will have dramatic policy and legislative implications.
There are three ways the Supreme Court could rule (which it’s expected to do by June). It could uphold the law, strike down the whole law or only strike down parts of the law.
- Obamacare on trial: Oral arguments schedule – Here’s a breakdown of the U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments schedule for challenges to the constitutionality of President Obama’s national health care law.
- Obamacare: The reckoning – Obamacare dominated the 2010 midterms, driving its Democratic authors to a historic electoral shellacking. But since then, the issue has slipped quietly underground.
Now it’s back, summoned to the national stage by the confluence of three disparate events: the release of new Congressional Budget Office cost estimates, the approach of Supreme Court hearings on the law’s constitutionality and the issuance of a compulsory contraception mandate.
- Day By Day March 23, 2012 – Cramps | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day March 23, 2012 – Cramps
- #ObamaCare = ObamaScared – #ObamaCare = ObamaScared
- Obama will avoid healthcare defense during court review – Obama will avoid healthcare defense during court review
- Health care law: 5 things Democrats got wrong – Health care law: 5 things Democrats got wrong
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-23 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-23
- Mitch McConnell | Repeal Obamacare and make actual reforms | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com – Mitch McConnell | Repeal Obamacare and make actual reforms
- Liberty and ObamaCare – Few legal cases in the modern era are as consequential, or as defining, as the challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that the Supreme Court hears beginning Monday. The powers that the Obama Administration is claiming change the structure of the American government as it has existed for 225 years. Thus has the health-care law provoked an unprecedented and unnecessary constitutional showdown that endangers individual liberty.
- Mitch McConnell | Repeal Obamacare and make actual reforms –
- “ObamaCare’s Lonely Birthday”
– YouTube – RT @ZekeJMiller: New RNC video: “ObamaCare’s Lonely Birthday” - @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-23 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-23
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/Fullosseousflap/stickers/cbs_sports/2012_ncaa_sweet_16?s=ts&ref=Fullosseousflap) – I unlocked the 2012 NCAA Sweet 16 sticker on @GetGlue! #Sweet16 @HOOPSonCBS
- Today is the First Pre-Election Campaign Receipts and Expenditure Deadline for the California June Primary Election » Flap’s California Blog – Today is the First Pre-Election Campaign Receipts and Expenditure Deadline for the California June Primary Election
- AD-38: New Study Finds Patricia McKeon Continuing to Enjoy the Fruits of Husband Rep Buck McKeon’s Campaign Account » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: New Study Finds Patricia McKeon Continuing to Enjoy the Fruits of Husband Rep Buck McKeon’s Campaign Account
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Heartland Dental Care Adds Six Dental Practices in Wisconsin – Heartland Dental Care Adds Six Dental Practices in Wisconsin
- Poll Watch: Americans Favor Keystone XL Pipeline | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Poll Watch: Americans Favor Keystone XL Pipeline
- U.S. housing market shows signs of life and is becoming less … on Twitpic – RT @WSJGraphics: U.S. housing market shows signs of life and is becoming less of a drag on the economy.
- CA-26 Poll Watch: Linda Parks Beating Democrats in June Primary AND Tony Strickland in November | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – CA-26 Poll Watch: Linda Parks Beating Democrats in June Primary AND Tony Strickland in November
- The Morning Flap: March 22, 2012 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – The Morning Flap: March 22, 2012
- Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 22, 2012 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 22, 2012
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: March 22, 2012 – The Morning Drill: March 22, 2012
- Obamacare on trial: The case’s policy implications – Beyond its constitutional importance, the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on President Obama’s national health care law will have dramatic policy and legislative implications.
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Texas and the Feds Take Action on Orthodontic Medicaid Fraud
About damn time.A Dallas dentist has agreed to pay the state and federal government $1.2 million to resolve allegations that he submitted false orthodontic claims under Medicaid.
Dr. Richard Malouf, former majority owner of All Smiles Dental Center, allegedly submitted false Medicaid claims between 2004 and 2007.
News 8 reported on Malouf’s lavish homes and two multimillion dollar corporate jets. Malouf did not admit any wrongdoing or liability in his settlement.
He is one of several orthodontists highlighted for multimillion dollar billings under Medicaid.
Eleven dental operations statewide have had their state funds suspended for credible allegations of fraud in billing the Texas Medicaid Orthodontics program. This follows a 10-month News 8 investigation of medicaid orthodontics in Texas, which found the state spends more on braces for poor children than the rest of the nation combined.
Watch the video embedded below for more on the story.
Of course, there will be some money paid back to the State of Texas and the federal government. Some bureaucrats will be scolded or fired. Maybe a dentist or two will have their dental license suspended for a while.
But, the total lack of oversight in this program is an example of what happens when government involves itself too much into health care. There is vast unaccountable waste, abuse and fraud.
On the second anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare, one has to wonder what will happen in the future with the public purse should the United States Supreme Court rule the law is constitutional
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Day By Day March 23, 2012 – Cramps
Damon, nothing more makes a leg cramp feel better than cold, hard cash!Well…..maybe.
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@Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-23
- Today is the First Pre-Election Campaign Receipts and Expenditure Deadline for the California June Primary Elect… http://t.co/MhlEZI1r #
- AD-38: New Study Finds Patricia McKeon Continuing to Enjoy the Fruits of Husband Rep Buck McKeon’s Campaign Acco… http://t.co/aIENPt1U #
- Today is the First Pre-Election Campaign Receipts and Expenditure Deadline for the California June Primary Election http://t.co/ce7jcll3 #
- RT @politicalwire: Santorum says Obama would be better than "taking a risk with what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate of the future." #
- AD-38: New Study Finds Patricia McKeon Continuing to Enjoy the Fruits of Husband Rep Buck McKeon’s Campaign Account http://t.co/pMEMf6EQ #
- Flap's Dentistry Blog: Heartland Dental Care Adds Six Dental Practices in Wisconsin http://t.co/VQRgUNyU #
- Heartland Dental Care Adds Six Dental Practices in Wisconsin http://t.co/TGRRNn75 #
- Poll Watch: Americans Favor Keystone XL Pipeline | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/m4pmoWzb #
- U.S. housing market shows signs of life and is becoming less … on Twitpic http://t.co/h2B5lsWB #
- Poll Watch: Americans Favor Keystone XL Pipeline http://t.co/kWe4u5dQ #
- CA-26 Poll Watch: Linda Parks Beating Democrats in June Primary AND Tony Strickland in November | Flap's Blog – … http://t.co/ubiuyRyG #
- The Morning Flap: March 22, 2012 | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/OEkOlhFv #
- Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 22, 2012 » Flap's California Blog http://t.co/0QSpqgRK #
- RT @WSJGraphics: U.S. housing market shows signs of life and is becoming less of a drag on the economy. http://t.co/h2B5lsWB #
- CA-26 Poll Watch: Linda Parks Beating Democrats in June Primary AND Tony Strickland in November http://t.co/U8Ml6Rk2 #
- The Morning Flap: March 22, 2012 http://t.co/OueNk1xY #
- Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 22, 2012 http://t.co/umccRvBo #
- Flap's Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: March 22, 2012 http://t.co/MUfHNJHc #
- The Morning Drill: March 22, 2012 http://t.co/SwY7E4K7 #
- Romney advisor says his conservatism can be erased http://t.co/sMwovdEl #
- 'Etch A Sketch' Latest Gaffe From Romney Campaign http://t.co/45Xo8Pq1 #
- Jeb Bush: It's time to support Romney as Republican candidate http://t.co/5HQ9fxSN #
- Jeb Bush: Romney should pick Sen. Rubio as running mate http://t.co/esVaVF22 #
- Day By Day March 22, 2012 – Never Again http://t.co/TZIF8ty7 #
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-22 http://t.co/JwpoG1Ge #
- Obama’s Speedy Keystone Review Won’t Accelerate Cushing Pipeline http://t.co/7VF0TcFD #
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-22 | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/aEtuAfU9 #
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-22 http://t.co/korcGk81 #
- Los Angeles Marathon 2012: Race Report | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry http://t.co/P4QcW94l #
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