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President 2012: State of the GOP Race
Mitt Romney had a big night last night (Super Tuesday Eve) winning 6 of 10 races but….Mitt Romney eked out a win in Ohio over Rick Santorum which, when coupled with victories for the former Massachusetts governor in Vermont, Massachusetts, Virginia and Idaho, ensured that he would remain the frontrunner for the Republican nomination heading out of Super Tuesday.
And, Romney leads in the actual Republican Party delegate count.
A few more “bad nights” like Super Tuesday and Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee. With his haul from yesterday, according to AP, Romney now has 415 delegates, Rick Santorum 176, Newt Gingrich 105, and Ron Paul 47 out of the 1,144 needed for the GOP nomination.
To be the frontrunner, you need to kill the frontrunner. And like a poor marksman—or at least an underfunded one—Santorum keeps missing the target. First Michigan, now Ohio. Online betting market Intrade gives Romney a 90% chance of being the GOP nominee. Of course, no one has a mathematical lock on the nomination yet. The fight will continue.
But….
Mitt Romney has not closed the door on Newt, Santorum or Paul. They all will continue in the race and probably draw enough votes and delegates to deny Mitt Romney the 1,144 needed to win the Presidential nomination.
It’s far from over. Despite claiming six state wins last night and upping his delegate count to 404, Mitt Romney still does not have a lock on the nomination—or even a clear path to claiming it if his opponents don’t leave the field.
Consider this: if Mitt wins every remaining all-or-nothing state but one, and half of the remaining proportional delegates, he would likely still fall short of the magic nomination number of 1,144—which would force him to rely on unpledged delegates, the Republican version of the infamous Democratic super-delegates in 2008, to claim his party’s mantle.
After last night’s election results the chances of a “brokered Republican convention” have increased and the nomination of a candidate, like Jeb Bush, Mitch Daniels or Bobby Jindal. This will probably not be a bad thing, especially looking at certain polls.
However, if Rick Santorum can beat Newt Gingrich in the upcoming Alabama and Mississippi primary elections, it is possible that Gingrich will quit the race. Santo would then compete one on one with Romney. Santorum might be able to beat Mitt or vice versa. Perhaps they just divide up the remaining delegates.
Should Gingrich prove obstinate and stay in the race (no matter what), it is very likely that NO candidate will have the 1,144 needed on the first nomination ballot. Then, hold onto your hats for backroom deals and the emergence of a “NEW” candidate.
Stay tuned….
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Does Saliva Quality Play an Important Role in Meth Mouth?
The effects of Methamphetamine on the Teeth – Meth Mouth
Perhaps, according to a new study. Here is the abstract.Methamphetamine abuse and oral health: A pilot study of “meth mouth”
Michele C. Ravenel, DMD/Carlos F. Salinas, DDS/Nicole M. Marlow, MS/Elizabeth H. Slate, PhD/Zachary P. Evans, PhD/Peter M. Miller, PhD
Abuse of methamphetamine (meth), a potent central nervous system stimulant, has been associated with significant dental disease. Current descriptions of “meth mouth” are limited in their scope and fail to illuminate the potential pathogenic mechanisms of meth for oral disease. The purpose of this pilot study was to characterize the oral health of subjects with a history of meth abuse as compared to nonabusing control subjects. A total of 28 meth abusers and 16 control subjects were enrolled. Interviews and surveys regarding meth abuse, dental history, oral hygiene, and diet were collected. A comprehensive oral cavity examination including salivary characterization was completed. We observed significantly higher rates of decayed surfaces, missing teeth, tooth wear, plaque, and calculus among meth abusers. No significant difference in salivary flow rates were noted, yet results showed significant trends for lower pH and decreased buffering capacity. These findings suggest that salivary quality may play a more important role in meth mouth than previously considered. Salivary analysis may be useful when managing a dental patient with history of methamphetamine abuse. (Quintessence Int 2012;43:229–237)
So, what causes Meth Mouth?
Dr. Bicuspid has an excellent post here.The ADA lists the suspected causes as dry mouth, poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of sugary and carbonated drinks, tooth grinding and clenching, and possibly the acidic nature of MA itself.
In a study in ISRN Dentistry (June 26, 2011), street samples of MA had pH levels from 3.02 to 7.03, with 72% of samples below the critical pH point of 5.6, i.e. able to cause significant damage to tooth enamel if abused by a route that brings MA into contact with the oral cavity.
Although this would seem to indicate that injecting MA rather than smoking or snorting it may lead to less enamel damage, this hasn’t been borne out by the research. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reported in the Journal of the American Dental Association that, among abusers of MA, IV users actually had a higher prevalence of oral disease and missing teeth than those who smoked MA, probably due to more advanced addiction and greater self-neglect.
“Those who use MA may make the transition from noninjecting drug use to injecting drug use, as their dependence on MA becomes more severe,” Vivek Shetty, DDS, DMD, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the UCLA School of Dentistry and lead author on the JADA study (March 2010, Vol. 141:3, pp. 307-318), told DrBicuspid.com.
“The injected substance has almost 100% bioavailability, and the onset of the drug high is fairly rapid, generally 15 to 30 seconds.”
It is interesting that IV Meth users have more dental disease than those that smoke the drug. One would think that the constant heat and dehydration of the oral tissues would contribute to more dental destruction. But, perhaps, the more intense rush from IV drug use leads to more self-neglect.
In any case, salivary analysis of patients may give dentists a better idea of the mechanism of addiction and how to combat it at an early stage.
Watch below an embedded video below from a dentist colleague, Dr. Mitchell A. Goodis, DDS in Northern California and his interview of the many methamphetamine user patients, whom he has treated.
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CA-Sen: Ex- California POL Chuck DeVore Cannot Let Go
You would think this Texas living, ex-California Assemblyman would let this year’s California U.S. Senate race just happen, right?Wrong.
Chcuk DeVore went to my friend, Jon Fleischman’s site and penned this endorsement of Dan Hughes who is running in the California June Primary election for United States Senate. The incumbent is long time Democrat U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Dan’s leading opponent, Elizabeth Emken, ran for Congress in 2010 and placed fourth in a four person GOP primary despite putting in significant personal money. Emken’s biggest political contribution before that, other than to her own campaign, was the $1,000 she and her husband gave to liberal Republican-turned-Democrat Senator Arlen Specter in the year he ran against conservative champion Pat Toomey, now a U.S. Senator. Her main efforts in public policy have been to lobby to have more state government health insurance mandates – a policy that drives up the cost of insurance for all of us. In fact, she was even paid $151,486 to professionally lobby Democrat Members of Congress to expand what ObamaCare covers and what we taxpayers are on the hook for.
Dan Hughes has been in the race only a brief time while Elizabeth Emken has been running since last year. Yet Emken has only generated around $39,000 while Hughes is the top fundraiser among Senate GOP candidates. Dan is a committed and very hard working candidate who is spending his time and money to stand up for conservative principles and take the fight to Dianne Feinstein.
One of Hughes’ opponents on the Republican side is Elizabeth Emken, whose Senior Communications Adviser, Mark Standriff, wrote this piece in response.
For the record:
- Elizabeth Emken formally entered the U.S. Senate race in late January. Chuck, you are just plain wrong on this.
- Elizabeth Emken opposed passage of Obamacare, and she has made it her first priority to repeal Obamacare. Chuck, you are just plain wrong on this.
- Elizabeth Emken is a rock solid conservative. She has a team that can (and has) won statewide. And she is far outpacing all other GOP opponents in money and endorsements, including conservatives like Bill Jones, Lew Uhler, and Ron Nehring. Chuck, you are just plain wrong on this.
- By attacking Elizabeth Emken’s past financial ”support” for an incumbent Republican U.S. Senator, Chuck is attacking Rick Santorum, Jon Kyl and other conservatives who also supported the re-elect of that incumbent Senator. Again, Chuck, you’re just plain wrong on this.
You remember, Chuck DeVore, the former Orange County based Assemblyman who wasted $ hundreds of thousands of Republican donors money in running a futile U.S. Senate primary race against former Rep. Tom Campbell and Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
Here are the results of DeVore’s last election – the one in which he received less than 20% of the vote:
Mark Standriff in his piece talks about SOUR GRAPES from DeVore.
Chuck, isn’t it time to just let it go?
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The Morning Flap: March 7, 2012
These are my links for March 6th through March 7th:
- GOP Water Torture: Mitt Romney’s Foes Can’t Win, But They Can Stop Him – It’s far from over. Despite claiming six state wins last night and upping his delegate count to 404, Mitt Romney still does not have a lock on the nomination—or even a clear path to claiming it if his opponents don’t leave the field.
Consider this: if Mitt wins every remaining all-or-nothing state but one, and half of the remaining proportional delegates, he would likely still fall short of the magic nomination number of 1,144—which would force him to rely on unpledged delegates, the Republican version of the infamous Democratic super-delegates in 2008, to claim his party’s mantle.
- Ventura County Area legislators received $14,000 in gifts last year – Six state legislators who represent portions of Ventura County received a total of $14,171 in gifts last year, according to reports filed last week with the Fair Political Practices Commission.
The annual reports detail statements of economic interests and are designed to reveal potential conflicts of interests lawmakers might have relating to income sources, assets and gifts received.
Among the noteworthy gifts listed in the report are $1,445 in hotel accommodations and cultural activities paid for by the government of Vietnam and the Chinese International Affairs Foundation received by Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, while on a fact-finding trip to Asia last fall with three other state senators.
- Cantor: Romney alone has ‘clear path’ to nomination –
- Why the bloody GOP primary won’t help Obama in the fall –
- Poll: Romney holds big lead in New York, but running behind Obama –
- Mitt Romney wins Super Tuesday but major questions remain –
- Limbaugh Has Lost 29 Advertisers – Conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh is hemorrhaging advertisers following his harsh comments about a Georgetown University law student last week, with at least 29 halting their commercials on his show, according to Politico. Two stations have dropped him as well. The Atlantic Wire counted 31 advertisers who have abandoned Limbaugh.
- ‘Joe the Plumber’ wins congressional primary –
- Mitt’s Got Trouble. Right Here in River City – Mitt’s Got Trouble. Right Here in River City.
- GOP Hopefuls Losing Ground to Obama Among Latinos, Poll Says –
- Loudly Catholic Santorum loses Ohio Catholics –
- In Upset, Schmidt Goes Down in Ohio – In Upset, Schmidt Goes Down in Ohio
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-07 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-07
- Untitled (https://plus.google.com/114401727024677849167/posts/VFrasUhECKs) – Santorum & Romney close in Ohio search trends
Ohio is a key state to watch in tonight’s race.
- More Sponsors Pull Their Ads from Rush Limbaugh’s Radio Show | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – More Sponsors Pull Their Ads from Rush Limbaugh’s Radio Show
- CA-25: Rep Buck McKeon to Speak at the Reagan Presidential Library | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – CA-25: Rep Buck McKeon to Speak at the Reagan Presidential Library
- Video: Stephen Colbert on the Fluke – Limbaugh Flap | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Video: Stephen Colbert on the Fluke – Limbaugh Flap
- The Morning Flap: March 6, 2012 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – The Morning Flap: March 6, 2012
- President 2012: Will California Make a Difference in GOP Presidential Race? » Flap’s California Blog – President 2012: Will California Make a Difference in GOP Presidential Race?
- AD-38 Video: Patricia McKeon Compares A Plastic Bag Tax to Obama’s Contraception Flap » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38 Video: Patricia McKeon Compares A Plastic Bag Tax to Obama’s Contraception Flap
- Food and Drug Administration Says Soda is Safe – Not Cancer Causing | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Food and Drug Administration Says Soda is Safe – Not Cancer Causing
- President 2012: Super Tuesday on Google Politics and Elections | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: Super Tuesday on Google Politics and Elections
- AD-38 Video: Scott Wilk Asks and Receives the Endorsement of the Ventura County Republican Party » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38 Video: Scott Wilk Asks and Receives the Endorsement of the Ventura County Republican Party
- Video: Jon Stewart on the Fluke – Limbaugh Flap | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Video: Jon Stewart on the Fluke – Limbaugh Flap
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Senator Bernard Sanders and America’s Oral Health Crisis – Senator Bernard Sanders and America’s Oral Health Crisis
- Day By Day March 6, 2012 – Costs | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day March 6, 2012 –
- GOP Water Torture: Mitt Romney’s Foes Can’t Win, But They Can Stop Him – It’s far from over. Despite claiming six state wins last night and upping his delegate count to 404, Mitt Romney still does not have a lock on the nomination—or even a clear path to claiming it if his opponents don’t leave the field.
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U.S. Job Creation Declines in February – Hiring Down and Firing Up
According to the latest Gallup Poll.Job market conditions in the United States slid back slightly in February, as Gallup’s Job Creation Index fell to +14 from +16 in January. The February score matches those recorded from October through December 2011. However, the reading last month reflects an improvement of two percentage points compared with a year ago (+12 in February 2011).
Hiring Down, Firing UpThe February Job Creation Index of +14 is based on 32% of workers nationwide saying their employers are hiring workers and expanding the size of their workforce, and 18% saying their employers are letting workers go and reducing the size of their workforce. The percentage hiring is down from 33% in January, while the percentage letting go is up from 17%. Both February percentages now match the readings recorded each month in the fourth quarter of 2011.
The chart:What does all mean?
The American economy is NOT dramatically improving on the jobs front. With gasoline prices haven risen and rising and job creation prospects flat around the country in almost all regions – see map at the top), the Obama Administration will have a hard time making a case for success of their economic policies.
Declining consumer confidence is also generally unfavorable for the economy.
Gallup’s March numbers are looking a little better, but stay tuned since it is early in the month.
There will be no carping from the White House on these numbers, in advance of the government’s release of their numbers on Friday.
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Day By Day March 7, 2012 – The Here and Now
Day By Day by Chris MuirDamon, it is indeed a shame that you are abandoning your run for the Presidency.But, the “here and now” is beating President Obama in November and the LEFT with conservative principles – just as Andrew Bretibart would have wanted.
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@Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-07
- Untitled (https://t.co/4rzjYQ7u) http://t.co/jqLWTfhk #
- More Sponsors Pull Their Ads from Rush Limbaugh’s Radio Show | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/K0LFF87V #
- CA-25: Rep Buck McKeon to Speak at the Reagan Presidential Library | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/0pZ4LxkX #
- Santorum & Romney close in Ohio search trends
Ohio is a key state to watch in tonight's race. https://t.co/4rzjYQ7u #
- More Sponsors Pull Their Ads from Rush Limbaugh’s Radio Show http://t.co/ty47FD9Y #
- CA-25: Rep Buck McKeon to Speak at the Reagan Presidential Library http://t.co/nqpv6Jp8 #
- Video: Stephen Colbert on the Fluke – Limbaugh Flap http://t.co/U74rcRCQ #
- The Morning Flap: March 6, 2012 http://t.co/Vq5LdQwR #
- President 2012: Will California Make a Difference in GOP Presidential Race? http://t.co/2DyfnTpW #
- AD-38 Video: Patricia McKeon Compares A Plastic Bag Tax to Obama’s Contraception Flap http://t.co/znJEhRRZ #
- Food and Drug Administration Says Soda is Safe – Not Cancer Causing http://t.co/GVmljAjP #
- President 2012: Super Tuesday on Google Politics and Elections http://t.co/58revZKT #
- AD-38 Video: Scott Wilk Asks and Receives the Endorsement of the Ventura County Republican Party http://t.co/xGHEvvGo #
- Video: Jon Stewart on the Fluke – Limbaugh Flap http://t.co/jVENisg1 #
- Senator Bernard Sanders and America's Oral Health Crisis http://t.co/0PbnP4ah #
- Day By Day March 6, 2012 – http://t.co/ZOCJU1ZI #
- Sandra Fluke Argued for Mandatory Coverage for Sex-Change Surgery http://t.co/Emtvwqgw #
- Call Them Out By Name: Sandra Fluke, David Gregory and David Friend http://t.co/LS57dgTL #
- Sandra Fluke, Gender Reassignment, and Health Insurance http://t.co/sYXkPowC #
- RE: I don't like targeted boycotts because they suppress speech. But, the RIGHT, including myself are tired of takin… http://t.co/gkH11WYL #
- 2011 total: 254 companies leave California http://t.co/YNkBX5qz #
- Contraceptive corporate welfare http://t.co/hDpTYYfH #
- Flip This White House! http://t.co/tvboBonZ #
- GOP focus on control of Congress amid presidential doubts this fall http://t.co/H4GCMi7F #
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-06 http://t.co/tc9Q87yd #
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-06 http://t.co/urPW39KM #
- CA-Sen: Unknown Candidates Line Up Against Sen Dianne Feinstein http://t.co/b37f6qYW #
- Re: Rush Limbaugh: They don’t want an apology, they want a confession http://t.co/PZgJrpq3 #
- Carbonite CEO tied to http://t.co/dlgG41Yo: time for conservatives to fight blacklisting? http://t.co/00Qhbjio #
- Sandra Fluke Defenders Target Rush Limbaugh, Not Bill Maher Or Ed Schultz http://t.co/A2WimtUB #
- @michellemalkin Just back from a run, Michelle and the weather is wonderful here in California at Twilight time… in reply to michellemalkin #
- @bradyjfrey No, it kind of sucks. I like being up all day and night! in reply to bradyjfrey #
- @bradyjfrey Thanks for the chat. I am old so will be back more in the early AM LOL… in reply to bradyjfrey #
- @bradyjfrey I am not defending any ad hominem attacks and name calling. I am more alarmed w/ the targeted boycotts and suppression of speech in reply to bradyjfrey #
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