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Giuliani Notes: Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle – Rudy is the Strong Leader We Need as President
Former New York Mayor and Presidential candidate and Mrs. Rudy Giuliani in Simi Valley, California, May 3, 2007. Standing next to the Mayor is Anaheim, California Mayor Curt Pringle.
Flap welcomes the Honorable Curt Pringle, Mayor of the City of Anaheim, California in a guest blog post
Mayor Curt PringleAs Mayor of Anaheim, I know that city government needs to be held accountable – accountable for keeping its citizens safe, accountable for how taxpayer funds are spent, and accountable for basic services that improve daily life.
There was one candidate in the Republican presidential field who also knows about accountability, and that is Rudy Giuliani. While Republicans can find reasons to like each one of the candidates running for President, Rudy is the only candidate that has showed he is going to hold government accountable for its actions, and he has the record to prove it.
With this Democratic Congress, we are already seeing signs that government spending will reach record heights. We need to ask ourselves, when will Washington ever be held accountable for constantly increasing the size of government and out of control spending. Years ago, that is exactly what was said of our country’s largest city – New York.
I know in Anaheim, we are an inviting city. Much like New York, we are a community of well-rooted families and a city that welcomes thousands of tourists and vacationers each year. However, when Rudy took over New York, the city was decaying. In 1993, there were almost 2,000 murders, and each week more than 11,000 major crimes were committed.
The city needed to be held accountable for its actions. Despite being well outnumbered by Democrats on the City Council, Rudy Giuliani took control of New York.
His administration launched a program called CompStat that radically reduced crime in New York using performance measurements to hold the city accountable for its crime levels. Now imitated in cities across the United States, CompStat established protocols for information gathering; effective problem solving; efficient police deployment; and constant assessments.
By the end of Mayor Giuliani’s second term, murders dropped by 66%. Rape decreased by 45%, robbery decreased 67%, and aggravated assault, larceny, and motor vehicle theft each decreased by at least 39%.
When you listen to Rudy Giuliani speak, it is not just rhetoric. These are real results from a real leader. Many of us know Rudy Giuliani as the symbol of leadership in a time of crisis. Rudy faced a city in crisis when he became mayor. He proved then that he could guide New York out of that crisis, just like he did on 9/11. That is the strong leader we need as President.
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani, Curt Pringle
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Mitt Romney Watch: ConserveNH Asks New Hampshire Attorney General to Investigate Romney
Conservative group asks AG to investigate Romney traffic stops
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney should be investigated by the New Hampshire attorney general for what might have been an illegal traffic stop, a group of conservative activists with a connection to rival Sen. John McCain said Thursday.
ConserveNH President Paul Nagy wrote a letter to Attorney General Kelly Ayotte asking her to check if Romney aides illegally stopped a New York Times reporter, checked his license plate against a database and overstepped their role.
“We want attention to the indiscretion,” said Nagy, who said he is not supporting a candidate. “I think there is a bunch of arrogance involved in this. We just don’t do that to guests when they visit our state during the presidential primary season.”
The Flap started from this piece written by New York Times reporter, Mark Leibovich, who on Saturday wrote:
He travels with an entourage that includes two or three “operations†guys who serve as advance men and a security detail. (Between stops in New Hampshire, this reporter found himself trailing the former governor’s S.U.V. on a back road, only to be led to the shoulder and instructed to “veer off†by a man wearing an earpiece who emerged from Mr. Romney’s car. “We ran your license plate,†he told the reporter, and explained that no one was permitted to follow Mr. Romney’s vehicle.)
Earlier today, the Romney campaign denied stopping the reporter:
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign is denying a report that aides pulled over a New York Times reporter trailing the former governor’s caravan in New Hampshire, checked his license plates and told him to leave.
In a story profiling Romney in Saturday editions, the reporter, Mark Leibovich, wrote that while following Romney’s caravan last month, an aide stopped him and told him his plates had been run.
“As we reported, I was instructed to veer off, which to me is the same as telling someone to leave,” Leibovich said in an interview. “I obviously cannot speak to whether they ran my license plate or not. I can only speak to what the person told me he was doing.”
New Hampshire law does not allow campaign aides access to license plate databases, nor does it allow private staffers to pull over fellow citizens.Romney spokesman Matt Rhoades said Wednesday that the campaign did not stop Leibovich.
“We will not comment on security procedures for the governor,” Rhoades said. “We can confirm, though, that at no time was the reporter’s license plate run through a check or was his vehicle pulled over.”
Romney’s campaign said the group became lost on back roads after a May 29 stop at Harvey’s Bakery in Dover. A construction detour confused them, the cars stopped, and the staffer walked back to chat with the unknown car.
Well, somebody here is not telling the truth.
If the Romney operations folks did what Leibovich wrote then they CLEARLY violated New Hampshire law. At best, the Romney operations crew lied to the reporter to scare him off or intimidate him – real nice.
In any case, the New Hampshire Attorney General should investigate the matter.
And Romney himself needs to clear the air, set the record straight (since he was there), fire the staff responsible and apologize, if necessary.
Stay tuned……..
Previous:
Mitt Romney Watch: The Robert Lichfield FLAPMitt Romney Watch: Mormonism – Is it an Issue?
Mitt Romney Watch: Mitt 25% Thompson 17% Rudy 15% in Latest Iowa Mason-Dixon Poll
Mitt Romney Watch: California – Romney Leading in Latest Datamar Poll
Mitt Romney Watch: Calling Brownback a “Bottom Feederâ€
Mitt Romney Watch: Brownback Calls Out Mitt on Abortion
Mitt Romney Watch: McCain Calls Out Mitt on Abortion
Mitt Romney Watch: Flipping on Immigration AGAIN
Mitt Romney Watch: Modulating on Immigration?
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Florida – Its Rudy vs. Fred Thompson
Republican presidential hopeful former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to potential supporters, Wednesday, June 20, 2007, in Des Moines, Iowa.
The GOP NUTS:
- Rudy – 30% (32%)
- Thompson – 24% (10%)
- McCain – 11% (20%)
- Romney – 8% (5%)
- Gingrich – 4% (7%)
This race will be between Rudy and Fred Thompson. Both candidates MUST win this state.
The edge goes to Rudy drawing support from many New York transplants. However, it is their media campaigns and debate performances that may very well decide this race.
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Quits Iraq Study Group to Make Money?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy 28% Thompson 19% McCain 18% Romney 7% in Latest USA Today/Gallup Poll
Rudy Giuliani Watch: The Left’s Inability to Rebut Rudy Giuliani on Terrorism
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Nation Lacks Strong Leadership
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy – “My 12 Commitments to Americaâ€
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Mitt Romney Watch: The Robert Lichfield FLAP
Utahn stays on campaign despite abuse allegations
A Utah man remains on presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s state finance committee despite his ties to an organization that a lawsuit alleges abuses children.
Robert Lichfield, who helped launch the Worldwide Association of Specialty Schools (WWASPS), held a fundraiser for Romney in southern Utah earlier this year that raked in more than $300,000 and has been a top financial supporter of the former Massachusetts governor and other Republicans in recent years.
Soren has more on the story and links to this Hill piece: Lawsuits hit a Romney money man.
Creepy, you bet.
If Flap were Romney, he would deep six this donor and start returning money – and QUICK.
And Flap has already raised the issue about Romney’s Utah fundraising operation.
Overall, Romney has raised $2.7 million in Utah for his presidential campaign, far more than any other candidate, according to data compiled by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has raised the second most in the state, $113,000.
These Utah/Mormon cult stories WILL start to stick if Romney continues to ignore the issue.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will return to one of his favorite – and most lucrative – fundraising spots this weekend: Utah. Romney has scheduled a $500-per-person fundraising breakfast Saturday in the EnergySolutions Arena, hosted by Jazz owner Larry Miller. Later that day he will hold a $1,000-a-plate luncheon in Logan at the home of Cache Valley Electric CEO Jim Laub. And that evening, Romney is hosting a $2,300-per-person fundraiser at his vacation home in Deer Valley.
Stay tuned……
Previous:
Mitt Romney Watch: Mormonism – Is it an Issue?
Mitt Romney Watch: Mitt 25% Thompson 17% Rudy 15% in Latest Iowa Mason-Dixon Poll
Mitt Romney Watch: California – Romney Leading in Latest Datamar Poll
Mitt Romney Watch: Calling Brownback a “Bottom Feederâ€
Mitt Romney Watch: Brownback Calls Out Mitt on AbortionMitt Romney Watch: McCain Calls Out Mitt on Abortion
Mitt Romney Watch: Flipping on Immigration AGAIN
Mitt Romney Watch: Modulating on Immigration?
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
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Journalists Dole Out Cash to Democrats Over GOP 9 to 1
Journalists dole out cash to politicians (quietly)
MSNBC.com identified 144 journalists who made political contributions from 2004 through the start of the 2008 campaign, according to the public records of the Federal Election Commission. Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left: 125 journalists gave to Democrats and liberal causes. Only 17 gave to Republicans. Two gave to both parties.
And this is a surprise?
The Media Company Donors (Partial List):
Magazines:
Newspapers:
McClatchy Newspapers D.C. bureau
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Corpus Christi, Texas, Caller-Times
Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel
Martha’s Vineyard Times, Mass.
NPR affiliate in Washington, WAMU
Non-English news:
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Flap supposes that the harping of the right blogosphere about left-wing democrat bias of the MSM is correct, now isn’t it?
Some of the comments of the “CAUGHT” journalists are funny:
The New Yorker, Hendrik Hertzberg, senior editor, $2,000 to John Kerry in three payments in 2004. Hertzberg often writes the Comment in the front of the magazine, and was a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter.
Hertzberg, in answer to the question whether he made these donations, sent this reply: “Damn right.”
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Fox News Channel, Codie Brooks, researcher for Brit Hume’s “Special Report,” $300 to Senate campaign of Harold Ford Jr., Tennessee Democrat, in March 2006, $200 more in June, and $2,100 more in September.
Brooks, who said her family is friendly with Ford’s, said she raised much of the $2,600 from friends — it wasn’t her money alone. “A lot of Fox employees have contributed to Democratic candidates. I know I’m not the only one.”
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Update:
James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal has his favorite journalist comments:
A particular standout is Mark Singer, who gave $250 to “Victory Campaign 2004, which supported America Coming Together, which opposed President Bush.” He says:
“I believe very much that writers have to be aware of conflicts of interest in all sorts of situations. Probably there should be a rule against it. But there’s a rule against murder. If someone had murdered Hitler–a journalist interviewing him had murdered him–the world would be a better place. I only feel good, as a citizen, about getting rid of George Bush, who has been the most destructive president in my lifetime. I certainly don’t regret it.”
And……
Then there’s Randy Cohen, who writes the “Ethicist” column for the New York Times and gave $585 to MoveOn.org, an Angry Left Group”:
Cohen said he thought of MoveOn.org as nonpartisan and thought the donation would be allowed even under the strict rule at the Times.
“We admire those colleagues who participate in their communities–help out at the local school, work with Little League, donate to charity,” Cohen said in an e-mail. “But no such activity is or can be non-ideological. Few papers would object to a journalist donating to the Boy Scouts or joining the Catholic Church. But the former has an official policy of discriminating against gay children; the latter has views on reproductive rights far more restrictive than those of most Americans. Should reporters be forbidden to support those groups? I’d say not. Unless a group’s activities impinge on a reporter’s beat, the reporter should be free to donate to a wide range of nonprofits. Make a journalist’s charitable giving transparent, and let the readers weigh it as they will.
“Those who do not cover anything, but write a column of opinion should have even more latitude. It is such a writer’s job to make his views explicit. Those donations to nonprofits will no doubt reflect the views he or she is hired to express. In evaluating such civic engagement, it is well to remember that to have an opinion is not to have a bias. To conceal one’s political opinions is not to be without them.”
After MSNBC.com checked the names of Times staff and contributors on this list with a spokesperson for the Times, Cohen sent this addendum:
“That said, Times policy does forbid my making such donations, and I will not do so in the future.”
James Taranto:
Cohen’s effort at self-justification approaches high comedy: If it’s OK for his colleagues to make donations to nonpolitical organizations that he finds politically objectionable, it must be OK for him to make donations to political organizations! And anyway, he thinks of MoveOn.org as nonpartisan! We haven’t read Cohen’s column in ages, but we recall that his guiding principle always seemed to be that the ends justify the means, so long as the ends are liberal.
One could argue that journalists who make political donations are doing the public a service by disclosing their own biases. The reason that many news organizations bar such contributions (though not all do; see this sidebar for the details) is to protect their institutional credibility–that is, the plausibility of the claim to be unbiased.
So, what does Flap think?
I think this quote is especially appropriate:
Abe Rosenthal, the former New York Times editor, who is reported to have said:
“I don’t care if you sleep with elephants as long as you don’t cover the circus.”
Each news organization which is a private concern and not regulated by the government must develop their own policies and disclose them.
A free press with disclosure will expose the bias – as it has.
But, what is scary are attempts like this to regulate the press – in particular talk radio by government action.
Stay tuned……
Previous:
Talk Radio Watch: How to End Right Wing Domination
Technorati Tags: media bias, journalism, journalism ethics
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Mitt Romney Watch: Mormonism – Is it an Issue?
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney exits after addressing the media prior to a fundraiser Wednesday, June 20, 2007, in Gilbert, Ariz.
Rival camps take aim at Romney’s religion
In a presidential race in which Romney’s candidacy is testing the country’s attitudes toward Mormonism, the comments by a McCain representative in Iowa are the latest of several instances of rival campaign operatives trying to bring Romney’s faith onto the campaign playing field. Over the past year, staff or volunteers from at least three opposing campaigns have, at times subtly and at times not, spread negative information about Mormons in an apparent effort to damage Romney’s bid for the presidency.
Yes, Romney’s religion is clearly an issue in this campaign. Why?
Because Mitt Romney is using his religion to gain advantage over his political opponents.For example, Flap has received a number of letters from Mormon aquaintenances asking for financial support of his candidacy. Romney is without a doubt using his Mormon base of support (church lists, volunteers, etc.) to financially support his candidacy.
The early money is allowing his campaign to hit the television airwaves early to build his name recognition, fund his internet operations and mold his BUZZ. In the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, Romney has been running numerous television ads and surprisingly enough (NOT) has shot up in the polls.
The other campaigns know this and are calling him out.
There is nothing wrong with Romney using his church – as long as the American people understand and this is disclosed. Some voters may be concerned that there is too close a Mormon Church tie to this candidate. But, this is for the voter to decide.
Flap expects more anonymous Mormon sniping and intense scrutiny of his Mormon donor base after second quarter fundraising reports are released.
Stay tuned……
Previous:
Mitt Romney Watch: Mitt 25% Thompson 17% Rudy 15% in Latest Iowa Mason-Dixon Poll
Mitt Romney Watch: California – Romney Leading in Latest Datamar Poll
Mitt Romney Watch: Calling Brownback a “Bottom Feederâ€
Mitt Romney Watch: Brownback Calls Out Mitt on AbortionMitt Romney Watch: McCain Calls Out Mitt on Abortion
Mitt Romney Watch: Flipping on Immigration AGAIN
Mitt Romney Watch: Modulating on Immigration?
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
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North Korea Watch: Hill Visits North Korea to Accelerate Six Party Nuclear Talks
Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Christopher Hill, right, is greeted by Ri Gun, vice director of North Korean Foreign Ministry’s U.S. Affairs Department, left, in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Thursday June 21, 2007. The high-ranking U.S. envoy made a rare trip to North Korea on Thursday in a surprise bid to accelerate the international efforts to press the communist government to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
U.S. nuclear envoy visits North Korea
The chief U.S. nuclear envoy made a rare trip to North Korea on Thursday in a surprise bid to accelerate international efforts to press the communist government to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Christopher Hill’s trip came ahead of the expected resumption of six-nation talks next month following the resolution of a key financial dispute that had blocked progress.
The trip is Hill’s first to North Korea, as well as the first by a U.S. nuclear envoy since the latest crisis with the North over its nuclear development began in late 2002.
The United States wants to end North Korea’s nuclear program. The North Koreans and Kim Jong-Il have a history of abrogating “DEALS”.
So, Christopher Hill is in North Korea to seal the deal after the transfer of the Macau funds and the transfer of fuel oil.
“I think the U.S. is trying to keep North Korea from dragging its feet any longer” now that the banking dispute is resolved, said Nam Sung-wook, a North Korea expert at Korea University. “Unless something is done right now, North Korea could stall for time on another pretext.”
Nam said the North appears to want to reaffirm concessions it would get from Washington before it closes down and seals the reactor, including removing Pyongyang from the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism.
Hill planned consultations Thursday and Friday on the nuclear issue “to move the process forward,” the State Department said in a statement.
The Clinton administration allowed North Korea to develop their nuclear program by weakness and diplomatic neglect.
This won’t happen again.
Stay tuned……..
A satellite image from DigitalGlobe taken on January 5, 2006 shows the Yongbyon nuclear reactor in North Korea.
Previous:
North Korea Watch: Hill – North Korea to Disable ALL Nuclear Facilities by the End of 2007
North Korea Watch: North Korea’s Invite to the IAEA Welcome as Good News
North Korea Watch: North Korea Continues to Develop Nuclear WeaponsNorth Korea Watch: Deal or NO Deal?
North Korea Watch: North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Disarmament
North Korea Watch: North Korea Tentatively Agrees to Nuclear Disarmament
Iran Nuclear Watch: North Korea Helping Iran With Nuclear Testing
North Korea Watch: North Korea Wants United Nations Sanctions Lifted
North Korea Watch: Bush Warns North Korea – “Don’t Transfer Nukesâ€
North Korea Watch: A Return to 6 Party Talks – A Diplomatic Win for President Bush
North Korea Watch: Pyongyang Threatens War Against South Korea
North Korea Watch: Kim Jong-Il REGRETS Nuclear Test
North Korea Nuclear Watch: President Bush – United States WILL Stop North Korean Nuclear Transfers
North Korea Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice Promises United States Defense of Japan
Technorati Tags: NorthKorea, KimJong-Il
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Day By Day by Chris Muir June 21, 2007