links for 2010-05-17

There was one problem: Mr. Blumenthal, a Democrat now running for the United States Senate, never served in Vietnam. He obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war, according to records.

The deferments allowed Mr. Blumenthal to complete his studies at Harvard; pursue a graduate fellowship in England; serve as a special assistant to The Washington Post’s publisher, Katharine Graham; and ultimately take a job in the Nixon White House.

Even though Jon Huntsman, Jr. stopped pretending not to run for president to become President Obama's ambassador to China, associates of the former Utah Governor say that he will return to the U.S. as a proud Republican and will probably try to position himself for a 2016 run. The thinking is that the GOP will have shaken off the willies by then and be ready to modernize. In any event, Sarah Palin has today called out Amb. Huntsman in a Tweet, which marks the first time, I believe, that Palin has referenced a fellow Republican and potential presidential aspirant in a provocative way.
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Who says Sarah is not going to run for President?

According to Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, it was Fiorina who courted the pro-life group for its support. They didn't need much convincing.

"I have been at this for a while, and I have not come across anyone who has articulated the life issue better than she does," Dannenfelser told me. "As a woman, as someone who's unable to have children — no one has articulated it better."

In its campaign material, the SBA List calls Fiorina the candidate whom anti-abortion activists have "been waiting for since the day Barbara Boxer was elected." The reason, Dannenfelser said, is that Fiorina would shatter a stereotype — that successful women, naturally, have to be in favor of abortion rights.

In California, Ryan said the group is spending about $2 million for ads in a three-way Republican U.S. Senate race, with most criticizing front-runner Tom Campbell for not signing a pledge to oppose tax increases. California's primary is June 8.

"What we're doing is running an issue campaign around Tom Campbell," said Ryan. "We did that because of Tom Campbell's incredibly liberal record on taxes."

The American Future Fund has grand ambitions. Ryan sees it as a conservative version of MoveOn.org, a prominent liberal advocacy group.
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I have received at least three pieces of mail against Campbell

The following statement is being released from Lakers head coach Phil Jackson:

“I’ve been involved in a number of progressive political issues over the years and I support those who stand up for their beliefs. It is what makes this country great. I have respect for those who oppose the new Arizona immigration law, but I am wary of putting entire sports organizations in the middle of political controversies. This was the message of my statement. I know others feel differently, even in the Lakers organization, but it was a personal statement. In this regard, it is my wish that this statement not be used by either side to rally activists.”

Campbell’s advisors are trying to spin this as a super-sneaky strategy to conserve funds, banking on the fact that California’s two billionaire Republican gubernatorial candidates, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, will crowd everyone out on television anyway. And maybe there’s a little truth to that. But far more likely is the fact that Campbell has run out of money. He’s never been a good fundraiser, having been chased out of the Governor’s race for just that reason. And while this may work in a primary when he’s pitted against two horrible candidates, Carly Failorina and far-right goon Chuck DeVore, the general election is another matter. And Campbell inspires no confidence that he’ll be able to run the kind of campaign that will truly challenge Boxer.

Campbell being that he can’t mount the kind of capacity you need to run statewide in California.
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So much for his campaign – runs out of gas at the end.

Activists outraged at comments made by Lakers Coach Phil Jackson that seem to back Arizona’s controversial new immigration law plan to rally outside Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles before Monday’s playoff opener against the Phoenix Suns.

“The way we look at it, Phil Jackson is supporting the Arizona law,” said Mario Gonzalez, a longtime Lakers fan and rally organizer. “That’s surprising. It caught us off guard. We want to find out where the team stands on the law.”

Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina will be in Irvine this morning showing off some endorsements she’s received from local political elected officials and activists.

The list put out by Fiorina’s campaign includes former state Sen. Marian Bergeson; Hispanic 100 Chairman Mario Rodriguez, a GOP activist; Brea Mayor Ron Garcia; Orange County Business Council Director of Communications Matt Prince; Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Pro Tempore Tony Beall; Dana Point City Councilwoman Lisa Bartlett; Westminster City Councilman Tyler Diep; Capistrano Unified School District Governing Board Member Ellen Addonizio, and Laguna Niguel City Councilman Paul Glaab.
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DeVore's home turf

I think liberals and those in the mainstream media fear her. Sure, they openly say she has no chance of beating President Obama – if she even runs, that is; but, inside, they must fear that she could very well beat President Obama in a one-on-one match-up. And unlike previous Republicans whose conservatism has been diluted once they got to Washington, Palin does not seem to care in the least what the establishment class – on both sides of the aisle – thinks of her. If she does come to Washington, her conservatism and convictions won't get watered down. She'll come to Washington to change it and not let Washington change her. In the end, this, more than anything, is what scares the left-leaning members of the establishment and chattering class. And also why conservatives gravitate towards and are willing to fight harder for her.
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Read it all

Ex-Rep. Tom Campbell (R) is cutting back on TV advertising, switching strategies as some opponents wonder whether Campbell's surprisingly strong campaign is running low on funds.

Campbell will not be on TV this coming week. And he has cut his ad buys for the final 2 weeks of the campaign significantly, according to sources who watch campaign ad spending; data shows Campbell has purchased $286K in ads over the last 2 weeks, less than the $393K he had previously reserved.

Instead, Campbell's campaign will send an oversized mailer to 1.1M voters this week, according to his campaign.

The decision to pull ads off TV means ex-HP CEO Carly Fiorina (R) will continue outspending Campbell on the air. Fiorina has spent $2.2M on TV ads, 4 times the amount Campbell has spent, according to data collected by several ad buyers with interests in the race.
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No money as predicted by many. Fiorina will bury him on TV now.

Some politico pros argue that Fiorina has a better chance of beating Boxer. Fiorina's telegenic and gutsy. She can put money into the campaign. Jon Fleischman, publisher of Flashreport.org, notes that Fiorina excites the donors whom Campbell leaves cold.

Running against a woman could throw Boxer off her game. And Fiorina has a great story – a woman who started as a secretary and rose to become CEO of a Fortune top 20 corporation.

Fiorina has been a solid candidate, an aggressive campaigner and an able debater. Maybe her supporters are right.

As for DeVore, he's a happy conservative warrior with a military resume. But when he voted against Republican Abel Maldonado, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pick to fill the vacated lieutenant governorship, that told me DeVore wants to go to Washington to talk to himself.
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Like lifelong politician Tom McClintock who endorses him

While I am always mindful of President Reagan's 11th Commandment, there are issues of judgment that voters should consider before they cast their ballots in the Republican primary. I admire the success that Steve Poizner has had in the private sector and believe his commitment to public service is sincere. But I have concerns about whether he truly adheres to the conservative principles of our party.
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Will carry alot of weight among CA conservatives