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The Morning Flap: September 17, 2012
Chief Strategist Stuart Stevens and Mitt Romney
These are my links for September 13th through September 17th:
- Mitt Romney abruptly shifts strategy– Mitt Romney, sensing an opening in the Middle East mess and catching flak from conservatives for giving too little detail about his policy plans, is rolling out a new and broader strategy to make the election a referendum on “status quo versus change,” chief strategist Stuart Stevens told POLITICO.The shift, which is to include much more emphasis on Romney’s policy prescriptions, means he is scrapping the most basic precept of his campaign. From the time he began contemplating running again after his loss in the 2008 primaries, Romney’s theory of the case has been a relentless and nearly exclusive focus on the listless economy.
- Daily Number: 79% of Egyptians Have an Unfavorable View of the U.S.– 79% – Most Egyptians Have an Unfavorable View of the U.S.Egyptians express highly negative opinions of the United States and President Barack Obama’s performance in the Pew Global Attitudes Project survey done this spring.Fully 79% say they have an unfavorable view of the U.S., while just 19% offer a favorable one. That is one of the highest unfavorable ratings among the 20 nations in the survey; 86% say this in Jordan and 80% in Pakistan.Most Egyptians also say that the U.S. gives little consideration to their country’s interests when making international policy decisions. Eight-in-ten (80%) say the U.S. considers their interests “not too much” or “not at all.” Again, that is one of the highest among the countries surveyed.About seven-in-ten in Egypt (69%) say they do not have confidence in Obama to do the right thing in world affairs, while 29% express confidence in the U.S. president. That also ranks among the most negative ratings for Obama; 73% say this in Jordan and 68% in Greece
- Inside the campaign: How Mitt Romney stumbled– Stuart Stevens, Mitt Romney’s top strategist, knew his candidate’s convention speech needed a memorable mix of loft and grace if he was going to bound out of Tampa with an authentic chance to win the presidency. So Stevens, bypassing the speechwriting staff at the campaign’s Boston headquarters, assigned the sensitive task of drafting it to Peter Wehner, a veteran of the last three Republican White Houses and one of the party’s smarter wordsmiths.Not a word Wehner wrote was ever spoken.
- Swings states remain focus for White House– With just over seven weeks until Election Day, the campaign for the White House has boiled down to just a handful of states and neither campaign is spending time in other places – unless it is to raise money.That was the script followed last week by Mitt Romney, who stopped Thursday and Friday in Virginia and Ohio, sandwiching those events with some fund raising in New York.And that’s exactly what President Obama will do this week – he campaigns on Monday in Ohio, raises money on Tuesday in New York, and makes stops later in the week in Florida and Virginia.When you look at the ten states seen as toss ups right now, the poll averages (as tabulated by Real Clear Politics) are almost all trending in favor of the President (Electoral votes in parentheses):Florida (29) – Obama +1.3%
Ohio (18) – Obama +4.2%
Michigan (16) – Obama +6.3%
North Carolina (15) – Romney +4.8%
Virginia (13) – Obama +0.3%
Wisconsin (10) – Obama +1.4%
Colorado (9) – Obama +3.0%
Nevada (6) – Obama +3.3%
Iowa (6) – Obama +0.2%
New Hampshire (4) – Obama +4.0%
- With voting under way, Romney camp faces test from Obama’s ground game– The first votes of the presidential election have already been cast — and in a battleground state.As of Sunday, 602 ballots had been returned by mail to election officials in North Carolina. President Obama won the state narrowly in 2008, becoming the first Democrat to carry it in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976. It sits near the top of Mitt Romney’s target list this year.By Saturday, almost half the states in the union will be issuing absentee ballots by mail, according to the Early Voting Information Center at Reed College. Among them will be the battleground of Virginia. Yet another key state, Iowa, will allow in-person voting from Sept. 27.
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-17 – Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-17 #tcot
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/tv_shows/boardwalk_empire?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – Season premier…. Love Boardwalk Empire #GetGlue @hbo
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/tv_shows/nbc_sunday_night_football?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – Love that Faith Hill… #GetGlue #snf
- NC Poll Watch: Romney 51% Vs. Obama 45%– Mitt Romney has cleared the 50% mark again in the battleground state of North Carolina despite the presence of the Democratic National Convention there little over a week ago.The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina Voters shows Romney with 51% support to President Obama’s 45%. One percent (1%) likes some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided.
- Twitter / Wilk2012: Scott Blough has begun the … – RT @Wilk2012: Scott Blough has begun the sign campaign in Simi Valley. got wilk?
- Obama Is Too drunk On His Celebrity To Understand The Gravity Of The Attacks On America– So, on a highly symbolic date, mobs storm American diplomatic facilities and drag the corpse of a U.S. ambassador through the streets. Then the president flies to Vegas for a fundraiser.No, no, a novelist would say; that’s too pat, too neat in its symbolic contrast. Make it Cleveland, or Des Moines.The president is surrounded by delirious fanbois and fangurls screaming “We love you,” too drunk on his celebrity to understand this is the first photo-op in the aftermath of a national humiliation.
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-16 – Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-16
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-16 – Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-16 #tcot
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/topics/p/usc_trojans?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – USC vs Stanford on Fox. Fight on! #GetGlue #USCTrojans
- Gregory Flap @ Ronnie’s Diner – foursquare – Only got 9.5 miles in today due to the heat. Wow! Hit 92 in Santa Monica. Now at Ronnie’s Diner (@ Ronnie’s Diner)
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-15 – Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-15
- AD-38: Anti-Scott Wilk Website Makes Its Appearance – Flapsblog.org – AD-38: Anti-Scott Wilk Website Makes Its Appearance
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-15 – Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-15 #tcot
- The State Worker: Conservative organization gives $4 million to Proposition 32 – Conservative organization gives $4 million to California Proposition 32 Paycheck Protection Initiative campaign #tcot
- Ethics czar angers bloggers with proposal to shine light on campaign pay – latimes.com – Angers? No, it is just unconstitutional |Ethics czar angers bloggers with proposal to shine light on campaign pay #tcot
- Ace of Spades HQ – Ace has the burning skull out: US GOVERNMENT NOW ACTING AS CENSORSHIP ARM OF ISLAMISTS #tcot
- Parents Photo Faves – Please vote for my grandson James in this baby photo contest. You can vote every day until the 17th! Thanks. #tcot
- ElectionTrack – Those Teachers, Nurses, FF’s & Police unions are sure giving the cash to defeat Cal Prop 32 Paycheck Protection #tcot
- California Proposition 32 “Paycheck Protection” Passing 53% Vs. 37% – California Proposition 32 “Paycheck Protection” Passing 53% Vs. 37% in latest CBRT Pepperdine Poll
- Amazon buyers can use 3rd-party sellers to avoid tax– Here’s some good news for California bargain hunters annoyed that they’ll have to pay sales tax on Amazon.com starting Saturday: Many of their purchases won’t be affected.Amazon doesn’t plan to collect tax on anything sold by its vast array of third-party sellers – the thousands of retailers, large and small, that use Amazon’s Internet platform to market their goods.It’s no small change. Third-party sellers accounted for about 40 percent of the goods ordered by Amazon buyers worldwide in the second quarter of this year, said Anne Zybowski, an e-commerce analyst with Kantar Retail consulting in Boston.That’s millions of dollars a year in sales in California alone.The percentage has “really started to creep up,” she said. “It’s pretty big.”
Amazon says its stance is perfectly legal – and consistent with how the company handles third-party sales in the seven other states where it collects sales tax.
- Worst of West Nile virus season to come in California– California and parts of the Bay Area are expecting the current West Nile virus season to be the worst in at least five years, with almost twice as many cases of the viral infection in humans so far compared with last year.Contra Costa County officials announced the first Bay Area case on Wednesday, in a woman who was infected in mid-August and is recovering now. With the peak reporting weeks still ahead, five people in the state have died from the virus, including a 74-year-old Placer County man whose death was reported Thursday.Beyond California, the United States is in the grip of what may turn out to be the worst outbreak of West Nile since the virus arrived in the country 13 years ago. Although the national outbreak may have reached its peak, public health authorities say they won’t have full reports on the extent of the epidemic for another few weeks.
- Nearly one in four California children in poverty, Census Bureau says– California’s poverty rate was 16.9 percent in 2011, the highest it has been in 15 years, according to numbers released by the US Census Bureau Wednesday.Nearly one in four California children lives in poverty, the report said. More than a third of Californians living below the poverty level are age 18 or younger.The increase in the poverty rate between 2010 and 2011 was not statistically significant, but since 2006, the rate has increased by 4.7 percentage points from 12.2 percent. The last time it was as high as it was in 2011 was 1996, when the state was still recovering from an early 1990s recession and just prior to the high-tech boom that improved economic conditions across the board in California.To be classified as poor in 2011, a family of two adults and two children would have had to make less than $22,811. That is a national figure, and many advocates believe it understates the poverty level in California because of the state’s high cost of living.
- Ventura County Star Says No On California Proposition 37 – Flap’s Blog – Ventura County Star Says No On California Proposition 37 #tcot
- CA-26: “Out of Townley” Julia Brownley Files Specious Complaint – CA-26: “Out of Townley” Julia Brownley Files Specious Complaint with FEC #tcot
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-14 – Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-14
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-14 – Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-09-14 #tcot
- Parents Photo Faves – OK, friends! You can vote everyday for my grandson’s photo in this baby photo contest. Please vote! #tcot #teaparty
- AD-38: Scott Wilk Hosting Republican Assembly Leader Connie Conway – AD-38: Scott Wilk Hosting Republican Assembly Leader Connie Conway at Fundraising Event
- Berman and Sherman play ‘Dueling Republicans’ – LA Observed – What a JOKE! Both LIBERAL Dems Berman and Sherman play ‘Dueling Republicans’ #tcot
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Another Case of an Illegal Dentist Harming Patients – Another Case of an Illegal Dentist Harming Patients
- (404) http://www.flapsblog.net/2012/09/another-case-of-illegal-dentist-harming.html – Another Case of an Illegal Dentist Harming Patients
- U.S. Jobless Claims Rise to Highest in Two Months: Economy- Bloomberg – Jobless Claims in U.S. Rose More Than Forecast Last Week #tcot
- The Morning Flap: September 13, 2012 – Flap’s Blog – The Morning Flap: September 13, 2012 #tcot
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The Morning Flap: May 29, 2012
These are my links for May 25th through May 29th:
- In Texas, a rising conservative star takes on the establishment– Hoping to build on momentum from Richard Mourdock’s Tea Party-driven victory over Richard Lugar in the Indiana Senate primary earlier this month, the Tea Party is setting its sights on another possible win Tuesday, this time in Texas.In Tuesday’s Texas Republican Senate primary, Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz, a Cuban-American lawyer with strong conservative bona fides, is hoping to force a runoff against David Dewhurst, lieutenant governor to Rick Perry and the longtime establishment favorite. Former Dallas mayor and businessman Tom Leppert is currently running in third, while former NFL running back and ESPN announcer Craig James trails in fourth place. The four candidates are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.The winner will go head-to-head with the winner of Tuesday night’s Democratic primary. Paul Sadler, a former state representative, and Sean Hubbard, a first-time candidate, are vying for that spot. In the deeply red state, however, the Republican nominee is expected to prevail in November.
Recent polls show Dewhurst well ahead of Cruz, and the consistent front-runner in the race. But in order to avoid a run-off this July, he needs to earn at least 50 percent of the vote – a threshold he has yet to breach in recent surveys. If Cruz can maintain his second-place positioning and keep Dewhurst under the 50 percent mark, he could build on a recent surge in momentum and publicity.
- Texas Primary: What to Watch – Everything’s bigger in Texas, and today’s state and presidential primary is no exception.
Mitt Romney is expected to reach (and surpass) 1,144 delegates tonight–the magic delegate number needed to officially win the GOP nomination. With 155 delegates at-stake, Texas’s GOP primary is the largest delegate prize in the contest so far–the second largest overall. California will offer the most delegates on June 5.
Bigger than the delegate math however, is the Republican Senate primary, which is so far the most expensive Senate race in this election cycle. Some $25 million has been spent on behalf of the candidates seeking to fill the seat left open by Kay Bailey Hutchison’s retirement. Although the list of candidates on the ballot is long, the race is mostly considered to be contained to David Dewhurst, the state’s lieutenant governor, and Ted Cruz, the former solicitor general.
The Dewhurst/Cruz race has been largely framed as an establishment vs. Tea Party battle, with Dewhurst labeled as the establishment candidate, and Cruz appearing to claim the tea-party mantle. Cruz has received endorsements from national tea party figures like Sarah Palin and Jim DeMint, but Dewhurst has numerous conservative endorsements as well such as Rick Perry and Mike Huckabee. - Why Obama’s Senior Strategists Think He’ll Beat Mitt Romney – David Plouffe sits in his White House office, just a few steps from the Oval, staring at an oversize map of these United States. It’s late afternoon on May 9, two hours after Barack Obama’s declaration that his evolution on gay marriage has reached its terminus. The president is down the hall and on the phone, discussing his decision’s theological implications with several prominent African-American pastors—while Plouffe is being queried about its political dimensions by a querulousCaucasian reporter. The map at which Plouffe is gazing isn’t the electoral kind with the states shaded blue and red; as a federal employee, he notes wryly, “I’m not permitted to have one on the wall.” But given the way his head is hardwired, I’m pretty sure Plouffe is seeing those colors regardless
- Christie’s Vice Presidential Skills– The most striking thing about the current Republican vice presidential field is its striking superiority to the Republican presidential field of six months ago. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Rob Portman are among the more accomplished, knowledgeable, ideologically balanced political figures in American politics. The same could not be said of Rick Perry, Herman Cain or Michele Bachmann.The untested, of course, are also unwounded. It is easier to appear qualified and dignified when you haven’t been stripped, prodded with sharp sticks and forced to perform tricks on dozens of debate stages.But there is more at work in this obvious stature gap. Part of the explanation is structural. Presidential candidates are largely self-selected, which favors ambition and self-regard above, well, all other traits. A vice presidential field results from a party’s consensus on talent and competence
- Backers See Huckabee Filling VP Niche– If Mitt Romney’s most pressing consideration in selecting a running mate is to find someone who can expand his appeal among independents or a critical demographic that remains up for grabs, several candidates would likely fit the bill better than Mike Huckabee.But if the former Massachusetts governor instead concludes that his right flank is not as secure as it needs to be, Huckabee may be among his best options.
- Scott Walker recall: Wisconsin governor keeps low profile before vote– With a slim lead in the polls and just a week to go until the June 5 recall election, Scott Walker isn’t taking any chances.The Wisconsin governor is running under the radar in an attempt to freeze the race where it stands and limit the chances of a momentum-shifting mistake.
- Saudis Demand Punishment for McDonald’s Toy They Say “Insults Muhammed”– Saudi Arabians are angry at a McDonald’s toy which they say mocks their prophet Muhammad. According to a report appearing today (5/27/12) on the Arabic news website, Kermalkom.com,the McDonald’s fast food restaurant “abused the Prophet Muhammad by placing his name at the base of a toy that is being distributed as part of the Happy Meal, a toy which steps on the name ‘Muhammad.'”The toy consists of a blue superhero figurine (apparently a Power Ranger Samurai; click here for pictures). It stands on one leg, and, when the lever is pressed, it pounds on the base with the other leg. According to the Saudis, the designs that appear all around the base, where the figurine stomps its foot, is really the name “Muhammad” written several times in circles.
- Somebody Tell Nina Totenberg Her Buddy Brett Kimberlin Is Making News Again –
- Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » Memorial Day 2012: They Did God’s Work – Memorial Day 2012: They Did God’s Work
- Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-05-28 – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-05-28
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/Fullosseousflap/stickers/amc/the_killing_72_hours?s=ts&ref=Fullosseousflap) – I unlocked the The Killing: 72 Hours sticker on @GetGlue!
- Patterico’s Pontifications » BREAKING: Bogus Call Sends Police to Home of Kimberlin Critic Erick Erickson – RT @Patterico: BREAKING: Bogus call sends police to home of Brett Kimberlin critic Erick Erickson. #tcot
- SWATting the Ericksons | RedState– Last week we spent a lot of time writing about Brett Kimberlin and the incident involving blogger Patterico where someone spoofed his phone number and told 911 he had shot his wife.Tonight, my family was sitting around the kitchen table eating dinner when sheriffs deputies pulled up in the driveway.Someone called 911 from my address claiming there had been an accidental shooting.
It wasn’t nearly the trauma that Patterico suffered, but I guess the Erickson household is on somebody’s radar.
Luckily it was two sheriffs deputies who knew me and I had already, last week, advised the Sheriff’s Department to be on the look out for something like this.
- Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-05-27 – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-05-27
- (500) https://foursquare.com/flap/checkin/4fc18aa7e4b07a4edd89d99b?s=gacXiPvZ_H4boM_zIzle2zNErEw&ref=tw – With Alice and rest of LA Roadrunners Run /Walk 5 (@ Golden Dragon)
- Gregory Flap @ Ronnie’s Diner – foursquare – At Ronnie’s Diner with Alice, Tara and Nancy. Way better than Morton’s Steakhouse who gave @LizMair grief!
- Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-05-26 – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-05-26
- Who Is Brett Kimberlin? Part 1
– YouTube – Video: Who Is Brett Kimberlin? Part 1 #BrettKimberlin #tcot - PICKET: Sen. Hatch – ‘No surprise’ Kimberlin is harassing conservative bloggers-Utah GOP’er had ‘run-ins’ with Kimberlin before – Washington Times – Sen. Hatch – ‘No surprise’ Kimberlin is harassing conservative bloggers-Utah GOP’er had ‘run-ins’ with Kimberlin before
- Live Stream – Wisconsin Recall Debate: Walker Vs. Barrett – RT @BreitbartFeed: Live Stream – Wisconsin Recall Debate: Walker Vs. Barrett #tcot #TeaParty
- Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day: The Aaron Walker Chapter – Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day: The Aaron Walker Chapter #BrettKimberlin #tcot
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Federal Agents Arrest Two Dentists in Medicaid Fraud – Federal Agents Arrest Two Dentists in Medicaid Fraud
- Democratic Poll Also Shows Walker Ahead – Democratic Poll Also Shows Scott Walker in Wisconsin – Ahead 49-46% #tcot
- IMAO » Blog Archive » 10 Fun Facts About Brett Kimberlin – 10 Fun Facts About Brett Kimberlin #BrettKimberlin #tcot
- In U.S., Nearly Half Identify as Economically Conservative – In U.S., Nearly Half Identify as Economically Conservative, 38 percent say they are conservative on social issues #tcot
- N.Y. man admits to pouring bleach into children’s milk – CBS News – N.Y. man admits to pouring bleach into children’s milk
- State Department Introduces Arab Visitors to Convicted Bomber Brett Kimberlin – Come on now | State Department Introduces Arab Visitors to Convicted Bomber Brett Kimberlin #BrettKimberlin #tcot
- Obama stumbles out of the gate – Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei – POLITICO.com – Obama stumbles out of the gate #tcot
- Obama and His Pot-Smoking ‘Choom Gang’ – ABC News – Obama and His Pot-Smoking ‘Choom Gang’ #tcot
- RightOnline » Speakers – RT @AFPhq: JOIN @dloesch, @michellemalkin @secupp for this year’s @RightOnline! REGISTER today! #RO12 #tcot
- A User’s Guide To Smoking Pot With Barack Obama – A User’s Guide To Smoking Pot With Barack Obama #tcot
- Flapsblog Posts / Memorial Day…. – Memorial Day….
- Wilk is the one who’s qualified | www.simivalleyacorn.com | Simi Valley Acorn | www.simivalleyacorn.com | Simi Valley Acorn – Scott Wilk is the one who’s qualified in California Assembly Dsitrict 38 #catcot
- » A Brett Kimberlin situation “could happen to you” – Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion – A Brett Kimberlin situation “could happen to you” #BrettKimberlin #tcot
- Mitt Romney’s Moment – WSJ.com – Peggy Noonan: Mitt Romney’s Moment
- 405 project months behind, Carmageddon II delayed – LA Observed – California FWY 405 project months behind, Carmageddon II delayed
- Capitol Alert: CA Senate passes bill protecting bicyclists – CA Senate passes bill protecting bicyclists
- What Did Barbra Streisand Know… – What Did Barbra Streisand @BarbraStreisand Know…And When Did She Know It? Re: Brett Kimberlin #tcot #BrettKimberlin
- (403) https://www.capitalresearch.org/2012/05/nonprofit-of-terrorist-bomber-received-tides-foundation-funding/ – Nonprofit of terrorist bomber, Brett Kimberlin received Tides Foundation funding why? #BrettKimberlin
- Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » The Afternoon Flap Featuring Brett Kimberlin: May 25, 2012 – The Afternoon Flap Featuring Brett Kimberlin: May 25, 2012
- Capitol Alert: CA Senate passes bill protecting social media passwords – CA Senate passes bill protecting social media passwords
- In Texas, a rising conservative star takes on the establishment– Hoping to build on momentum from Richard Mourdock’s Tea Party-driven victory over Richard Lugar in the Indiana Senate primary earlier this month, the Tea Party is setting its sights on another possible win Tuesday, this time in Texas.In Tuesday’s Texas Republican Senate primary, Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz, a Cuban-American lawyer with strong conservative bona fides, is hoping to force a runoff against David Dewhurst, lieutenant governor to Rick Perry and the longtime establishment favorite. Former Dallas mayor and businessman Tom Leppert is currently running in third, while former NFL running back and ESPN announcer Craig James trails in fourth place. The four candidates are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.The winner will go head-to-head with the winner of Tuesday night’s Democratic primary. Paul Sadler, a former state representative, and Sean Hubbard, a first-time candidate, are vying for that spot. In the deeply red state, however, the Republican nominee is expected to prevail in November.
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The Morning Flap: February 13, 2012
Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, flanked by his wife Karen, right, and daughter Elizabeth, addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Friday, Feb. 10, 2012
These are my links for February 9th through February 13th:
- Congressman wants Afghanistan study group – Citing an Army lieutenant colonel’s claims that there is no progress being made in Afghanistan, Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., is urging Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to create an independent study group to review U.S. strategy in the sandbox.
In a letter dated Friday, Wolf wrote he is deeply troubled by the conclusions reached by Lt. Col. Daniel Davis and asks Panetta to immediately create an Afghanistan/Pakistan Study Group.
In 2010 and 2011, Davis traveled to Afghanistan on assignment with the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force, an organization tasked with getting urgently needed equipment to soldiers in the field.
“What I saw bore no resemblance to rosy official statements by U.S. military leaders about conditions on the ground,” Davis wrote in an opinion piece titled “Truth, lies and Afghanistan,” published online Feb. 5 by Armed Forces Journal.
Rather than the gradual progress described by top U.S. officials, Davis wrote he saw, “the absence of success on virtually every level.”
During a yearlong deployment that began in late 2010, Davis wrote, his job sent him around the country to talk, travel and patrol with troops in Kandahar, Kunar, Ghazni, Khost, Paktika, Kunduz, Balkh, Nangarhar and other provinces. It was his fourth combat deployment, and his second in Afghanistan.
Davis wrote a classified and unclassified report. He has not released either report publicly. On his website, he says he will publish the full unclassified version as soon as Army public affairs completes its review and grants permission for release.
On Feb. 10, Rolling Stone magazine published a copy of the unclassified version on its website.
Davis has provided the reports to members of Congress — both Democrats and Republicans, senators and House members. He has also sent his reports to the Defense Department’s inspector general.
He declined to comment for this story.
The Pentagon maintains that the security environment in Afghanistan continues to improve.
During a briefing this week, Army Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, deputy commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, described steady progress in the country, from local and national government to the development of Afghan security forces. Responding to a question about Davis’ report, Scaparrotti said, “it’s one person’s view of this,” adding that he thought the Defense Department’s outlook is accurate.
Wolf has written similar letters to Panetta over the past several months.
The congressman is the author of the legislation that created the Iraq Study Group and has been pushing for the Obama administration to conduct a similar review of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- Santorum surges into the lead – Public Policy Polling – Riding a wave of momentum from his trio of victories on Tuesday Rick Santorum has opened up a wide lead in PPP’s newest national poll. He’s at 38% to 23% for Mitt Romney, 17% for Newt Gingrich, and 13% for Ron Paul.
Part of the reason for Santorum’s surge is his own high level of popularity. 64% of voters see him favorably to only 22% with a negative one. But the other, and maybe more important, reason is that Republicans are significantly souring on both Romney and Gingrich. Romney’s favorability is barely above water at 44/43, representing a 23 point net decline from our December national poll when he was +24 (55/31). Gingrich has fallen even further. A 44% plurality of GOP voters now hold a negative opinion of him to only 42% with a positive one. That’s a 34 point drop from 2 months ago when he was at +32 (60/28).
Santorum is now completely dominating with several key segments of the electorate, especially the most right leaning parts of the party. With those describing themselves as ‘very conservative,’ he’s now winning a majority of voters at 53% to 20% for Gingrich and 15% for Romney. Santorum gets a majority with Tea Party voters as well at 51% to 24% for Gingrich and 12% for Romney. And with Evangelicals he falls just short of a majority with 45% to 21% for Gingrich and 18% for Romney.
It used to be that Gingrich was leading with all these groups and Romney was staying competitive enough with them to hold the overall lead. No more- a consensus conservative candidate finally seems to be emerging and it’s Santorum. - Labor unions left sour with President Obama set to sign FAA funding bill – Labor’s division over the bill funding the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has helped clear the way for President Obama to sign it.
Unions are split in their opposition to the measure, with some fearing its provision on union election rules endangers organizing.
Union officials say they were kept in the dark about the negotiations between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) that helped pass the bill.
- Does Indiana Need a Pro-Teapot Museum GOP Senator? – By Jim Geraghty – The Campaign Spot – National Review Online – RT @jimgeraghty: In Indiana’s GOP Senate primary, Richard Mourdock releases new statewide ad hitting Lugar on earmarks:
- Day By Day February 12, 2012 – Logic | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day February 12, 2012 – Logic
- Romney and Birth Control: a Shift – WSJ.com – RT @LizMair: Rough news day for Mitt Romney on many counts, but especially this one:
- Shrinking Senate Hopes – for 2012 – Three other Democratic seats are vulnerable. No state has trended Republican in recent years more than Missouri. John McCain narrowly beat Obama in Missouri in 2008. Roy Blunt won the open Senate seat there in 2010 by 14 percentage points. So it’s no surprise that Democratic senator Claire McCaskill is in deep trouble this year. The Republican Senate primary is August 7.
Wisconsin is more Democratic, but it offers Republicans a great opportunity. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate, is gay, liberal, and a zealous campaigner. Either of the GOP candidates, former governor Tommy Thompson or ex-House member Mark Neumann, could beat her. When Neumann gave up his House seat in 1998 to run (unsuccessfully) for the Senate, by the way, he was replaced by Paul Ryan.
In Hawaii, Democrat Dan Akaka is stepping down after three terms, and there’s only one Republican with a realistic chance of winning his seat, former governor Linda Lingle. Fortunately for Republicans, Lingle is running. She didn’t have to buck a Democratic tide in a presidential year when she won the governorship in 2002 and 2006. With Obama, a native of Hawaii, leading the ticket, she’ll have to overcome a strong partisan headwind.
Where does this leave us? Duffy projects a Republican gain of three to six seats. The Rothenberg Report says two to five. A year ago, I’d have said four to seven. Today, three to six seems about right, with emphasis on the three. But my rule of politics is that the future is never a straight line projection of the present. In November, Republican prospects may look better—or worse.
- Canada’s Harper talks oil with China as U.S. faces $4 gas | Washington Examiner – RT @mtapscott: Canada’s Harper talks oil with China as U.S. faces $4 gas | Washington Examiner: #TCOT #TEAPARTY #SG …
- AD-38: California Assemblyman Cameron Smyth Endorses Scott Wilk for Assembly » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: California Assemblyman Cameron Smyth Endorses Scott Wilk for Assembly
- Media Matters | Sources | David Brock | The Daily Caller – Inside Media Matters: Sources, memos reveal erratic behavior, close coordination with White House & news organizations
- SNL Parodies of Clint Eastwood’s Half Time in America Are Really Stupid | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – SNL Parodies of Clint Eastwood’s Half time in America Are Really Stupid
- Weasel Zippers » Blog Archive » Occupy Oakland Burns The American Flag For The Third Week In A Row… – Occupy Oakland Burns The American Flag For The Third Week In A Row…
- Merkel taking Europe in wrong direction: Soros – Merkel taking Europe in wrong direction: George Soros
- Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns
| Reuters – Greek lawmakers approve austerity bill as Athens burns - Day By Day February 11, 2012 – Listing | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day February 11, 2012 – Listing
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-12 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-12
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-12 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-12
- foursquare :: Gregory Flap’s Badges :: Greasy Spoon – I just unlocked the “Greasy Spoon” badge on @foursquare! Bring on the burgers!
- foursquare :: Gregory Flap @ Ronnie’s Diner – Finished @LAMarathon 20 miler! Yay! (@ Ronnie’s Diner w/ 6 others)
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-11 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-11
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-11 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-11
- The Afghanistan Report the Pentagon Doesn’t Want You to Read – Earlier this week, the New York Times’ Scott Shane published a bombshell piece about Lt. Colonel Daniel Davis, a 17-year Army veteran recently returned from a second tour in Afghanistan. According to the Times, the 48-year-old Davis had written an 84-page unclassified report, as well as a classified report, offering his assessment of the decade-long war. That assessment is essentially that the war has been a disaster and the military’s top brass has not leveled with the American public about just how badly it’s been going. “How many more men must die in support of a mission that is not succeeding?” Davis boldly asks in an article summarizing his views in The Armed Forces Journal.
Davis last month submitted the unclassified report –titled “Dereliction of Duty II: Senior Military Leader’s Loss of Integrity Wounds Afghan War Effort” – for an internal Army review. Such a report could then be released to the public. However, according to U.S. military officials familiar with the situation, the Pentagon is refusing to do so. Rolling Stone has now obtained a full copy of the 84-page unclassified version, which has been making the rounds within the U.S. government, including the White House. We’ve decided to publish it in full; it’s well worth reading for yourself. It is, in my estimation, one of the most significant documents published by an active-duty officer in the past ten years.
- Flap’s California Afternoon Collection: February 10, 2012 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Afternoon Collection: February 10, 2012
- Poll Watch: Americans View China as Leading Economic Power | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Poll Watch: Americans View China as Leading Economic Power
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Afternoon Drill: February 10, 2012 – The Afternoon Drill: February 10, 2012
- Teachers union defends endorsement of Falk – The state’s largest public teachers union is standing behind its endorsement of Kathleen Falk for governor despite controversy among Democrats and some union members.
Some complained the endorsement came too early: A recall election hasn’t been ordered, and many expect other prominent candidates to join the race. Others felt the unions shouldn’t play kingmaker before a primary or give the impression that the election is about only collective bargaining rights.
Mary Bell, Wisconsin Education Association Council president, said she understood the passionate feelings but said the recommendation was made with input from union leaders throughout the state.
“It’s not surprising,” she said. “Our members have a lot invested in what’s happening.”
Though acknowledging other candidates may enter the race, Bell said she is confident the former Dane County executive is the best choice to beat Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
Bell said the short and uncertain time frame of a recall made it necessary to put out a recommendation early.
Mike Tate, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said the party is proud to work closely with organized labor – which he called “the backbone” of the party – though he said the election is about much more.
“A million Wisconsinites signed a recall petition; each one has their own reason,” he said. “There’s a number of reasons to recall Scott Walker.”
He shrugged off the significance of the WEAC decision.
“Unions make endorsements,” Tate said Thursday. “That’s what they do.”
- Day By Day February 10, 2012 – The Useful | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day February 10, 2012 – The Useful
- Here’s A Peek At What Falk As Governor Would Look Like – Don’t say you haven’t been warned!
Kathleen Falk, the candidate from WEAC, says she wants to “undo the harm” that Governor Walker has done and is apparently willing to devastate Wisconsin in order to advance her agenda.
Want to see what “undoing the harm” would look like?
A year ago Pat Quinn, the ultra-liberal Governor of Illinois, faced many of the same challenges that Scott Walker faced. Instead of standing up to public employee unions and reining in spending, Quinn pushed for massive tax increases and business as usual.
So how did that work out?
In contrast to Governor Walker (who has an approval rating over 50%), Quinn has an approval rating of 30%! That’s right! 30%.
Let’s be real clear. Kathleen Falk is a slightly more opportunistic version of Pat Quinn with a Madison mailing address. The policies of Quinn have decimated Illinois. There’s absolutely no reason to think that they’d work any better in Wisconsin under Kathleen Falk.
Want to see what Wisconsin would look like one year after Kathleen Falk became Governor? Just look at Illinois today.
It’s not a pretty sight.
- Nearly 1 in 20 US adults over 50 have fake knees – Nearly 1 in 20 Americans older than 50 have artificial knees, or more than 4 million people, according to the first national estimate showing how common these replacement joints have become in an aging population.
Doctors know the number of knee replacement operations has surged in the past decade, especially in baby boomers. But until now, there was no good fix on the total number of people living with them.
The estimate is important because it shows that a big segment of the population might need future knee-related care, said Dr. Daniel Berry, president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and chairman of orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He was not involved in the research.
- Medscape: Medscape Access – Midlife smoking in men linked to more rapid cognitive decline in later life i
- Majority of Search Queries Go Mobile By 2016 — Bernstein – Peter Kafka – Mobile – AllThingsD – RT @allthingsd: Here’s What Apple and Google Are Fighting Over: Search Goes Mobile By 2016 -by @pkafka
- Report: Adelson done giving to Gingrich as funding dries up – The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room – Report: Sheldon Adelson done giving to #Gingrich as funding dries up #tcot #GOP12
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-10 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-10
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-10 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-10
- ObamaCare: The Catholic Epiphany | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – ObamaCare: The Catholic Epiphany
- AD-38: Patricia McKeon to Address Simi Valley Moorpark Tea Party » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: Patricia McKeon to Address Simi Valley Moorpark Tea Party » Flap’s California Blog
- Untitled (https://plus.google.com/105353644409523560325/posts/VtTyPoGT4nP) – Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass it to find out what is in it,” referring to the Health Care bill
- AD-38 Video: Rep Buck McKeon Doesn’t Want to Answer Questions About Defense Contractors Contributing to His Wife Patricia McKeon’s Assembly Campaign » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38 Video: Rep Buck McKeon Doesn’t Want to Answer Questions About Defense Contractors Contributing to His Wife…
- AD-38: Patricia McKeon to Address Simi Valley Moorpark Tea Party » Flap’s California Blog – (500) …
- (500) http://flapsblog.org/2012/02/09/ad-38-patricia-mckeon-to-address-simi-valley-moorpark-tea-party/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ad-38-patricia-mckeon-to-address-simi-valley-moorpark-tea-party&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter – AD-38: Patricia McKeon to Address Simi Valley Moorpark Tea Party
- President 2012: The GOP Presidential Delegate Calculator | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: The GOP Presidential Delegate Calculator
- Obama administration reaffirms support for California high-speed rail – latimes.com – Obama administration reaffirms support for California high-speed rail
- Carmen Trutanich will run for L.A. district attorney – latimes.com – Carmen Trutanich will run for L.A. district attorney
- How the housing settlement might affect you | HealthyCal – How the housing settlement might affect you
- Flap’s California Afternoon Collection: February 9, 2012 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Afternoon Collection: February 9, 2012
- Sen Jim DeMint Video: Brokered GOP Convention Possible | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Sen Jim DeMint Video: Brokered GOP Convention Possible
- Poll Watch: 22 Per Cent of Americans Satisfied With the Way Things Are Going | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Poll Watch: 22 Per Cent of Americans Satisfied With the Way Things Are Going
- President 2012 Ohio Poll Watch: Santorum Tied With Obama While Romney Trails | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 Ohio Poll Watch: Santorum Tied With Obama While Romney Trails
- Updated: President 2012 Video: Mitt Romney’s Greatest Hits | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Updated: President 2012 Video: Mitt Romney’s Greatest Hits
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Tom’s of Maine to Award Five $20K Grants to Non-Profit Dental Clinics – Tom’s of Maine to Award Five $20K Grants to Non-Profit Dental Clinics
- Congressman wants Afghanistan study group – Citing an Army lieutenant colonel’s claims that there is no progress being made in Afghanistan, Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., is urging Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to create an independent study group to review U.S. strategy in the sandbox.
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The Morning Flap: February 6, 2012
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
These are my links for February 3rd through February 6th:
Many Democrats have high hopes for the Southwest in Election 2012 and some even think that President Obama even has a decent shot to move Arizona from Republican to Democrat in the Electoral College column this November. However, the president may have an uphill fight to achieve that goal as most voters in the Grand Canyon State disapprove of the way he’s done his job.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone poll found that just 41% of Likely Voters in Arizona approve of the way President Obama has performed his role. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove. Those figures are significantly lower than the president’s national ratings. They include 28% who Strongly Approve and 48% who Strongly Disapprove.
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: February 6, 2012 – The Morning Drill: February 6, 2012
- CA-26 Video: An Interview with Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks » Flap’s California Blog – CA-26 Video: An Interview with Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks
- Untitled (https://plus.google.com/105353644409523560325/posts/GcAwrS8kw7Q) – Sunday’s Dilbert looks at lunch in a far different way!
- Romney up in Colorado, close race in Minnesota – Last night’s results in Nevada were bad news for Newt Gingrich and PPP’s first day of polling in Colorado and Minnesota indicates things may only get worse for him in the coming days.In Colorado Mitt Romney looks primed for another big Western win to match his one in Nevada. He leads with 40% there to 26% for Rick Santorum, 18% for Gingrich, and 12% for Ron Paul.
Minnesota looks like a toss up with any of the four candidates having some shot at winning. Santorum holds a small edge there with 29% to 27% for Romney, 22% for Gingrich, and 19% for Paul.
What both states have in common is that Gingrich has fallen precipitously since our last polls in them. In Colorado Gingrich was in first place with a 19 point lead in early December. His support has declined 19 points since then and his net favorability has dropped 33 points from +41 (64/23) to only +8 (49/41). Gingrich has had a similarly large decline in Minnesota, but there it’s much more abrupt. We polled the state only two weeks ago but in that time he’s dropped 14 points from 36% to 22%, and his favorability has 26 points from +34 (59/25) to +8 (47/39). That after glow from South Carolina has worn off real fast.
- PAYROLL D?J? VU, THE MAX BAUCUS WAY, HOEKSTRA’S AD SUPER-CONTROVERSIAL, PELOSI: BLESSING OR CURSE?, REHBERG UNDER-REPORTS LOBBYIST CASH, PAUL REIMBURSED TWICE FOR FLIGHTS, BACHMANN’S REVOLVING DOOR – POLITICO Huddle – POLITICO.com – PAYROLL D?J? VU, THE MAX BAUCUS WAY, HOEKSTRA’S AD SUPER-CONTROVERSIAL, PELOSI: BLESSING OR CURSE?, REHBERG UNDE…
- Romney tops 50% in final Nevada tally – Mitt Romney won Saturday’s Nevada caucuses with his highest portion of a state’s vote yet, just over 50%, according to certified results released Monday by the Nevada Republican Party.Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich finished in second place with just over 21% of the vote. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas placed third at 18.7%, and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania earned 9.9%.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who also won the state’s GOP caucuses in 2008, received more than twice the votes of his closest opponent.
- Obama: I’m getting ‘better as time goes on’ – During an interview that aired Monday on NBC’s “Today” show, President Obama said that he gets “better as time goes on” at his job and that he believes the grassroots movement that propelled him to victory in 2008 will help him win a second term.”What’s frustrated people is that I’ve not been able to implement every aspect of what I said in 2008. Well, it turns out our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change than I would like sometimes. But what we have been able to do is move in the right direction,” Obama said.
“And you know what? One of the things about being president is you get better as time goes on,” he added.
- (500) http://flapsblog.com/2012/02/06/day-by-day-february-6-2012-game-on/ – Day By Day February 6, 2012 – Game On
- House bill bans welfare spending at strip clubs – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs – House bill bans welfare spending at strip clubs –
- News from The Associated Press – Georgia’s top court overturns assisted suicide limits; victory for group that helped cancer patient die: -ldh
- Economic Confidence Highest in D.C., Lowest in W.Va. – Economic Confidence Highest in D.C., Lowest in W.Va… #Gallup
- Most Egyptians Oppose U.S. Economic Aid – Most Egyptians Oppose U.S. Economic Aid… #Gallup
- News from The Associated Press – Obama says U.S. has a “very good estimate” of when Iran could finish making a nuclear weapon: -ldh
- Economic Gains, Questions on Romney Boost Obama’s Prospects for November – ABC News – RT @amyewalter: Winner of GOP primary: Obama. New ABC/WaPo poll shows POTUS approve at 50%, beats Romney by 6 pts.
- Hill Poll: Voters willing to see US attack Iran over nuclear weapons – TheHill.com – The Hill Poll: Voters willing to see US attack Iran over its nuclear weapons #iaea #nuclear #iran
- (500) http://flapsblog.com/2012/02/06/flap-twitter-updates-for-2012-02-06/ – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-06
- Red-light cameras boost coffers, rile drivers – Red-light cameras boost coffers, rile drivers
- Neophyte Democratic candidate joins Berman/Sherman race – latimes.com – Neophyte Democratic candidate joins Berman/Sherman race: “If the battle between Democratic Reps. Howard Berman o…
- Rose Ann DeMoro News – The Sacramento Bee – Nurses flex their political muscle in Sacramento and across California: “Rose Ann DeMoro is always ready for ano…
- Giuliani: Romney Changes ‘Give Me Pause’ – Alexandra Jaffe – NationalJournal.com – Giuliani says Romney’s changes ‘give me pause.’
- Face the Nation: Rudy Giuliani on GOP race » The Right Scoop – – Face the Nation: Rudy Giuliani on GOP race:
- Armey: Gingrich a lost cause for tea party base – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs – RT @PoliticalTicker: Armey: Gingrich a lost cause for tea party base –
- Nevada Caucus 2012 Results MAP (REAL-TIME DATA) – Nevada Caucus 2012 Results MAP (REAL-TIME DATA)
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Daily Extraction: February 4, 2012 – The Daily Extraction: February 4, 2012
- Nevada Republican caucuses, 2008 – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – RT @DanRiehl: Romney beat McCain 51% to 13% in 2008 with Paul getting 14%
- Nevada Caucus 2012 Results MAP (REAL-TIME DATA) – RT @HuffPostPol: #NVCaucus results map: Romney 42%, Gingrich 26.5%, Paul 18.3%, Santorum 13.2% (w/ 41.3% reporting)
- Iran mass producing anti-ship cruise missile – Iran has begun mass production of an anti-ship cruise missile, state television’s website said on Saturday.The Zafar missile, as it is dubbed in the report, “is a short-range, anti-ship cruise missile capable of destroying small- and medium-sized targets with high precision.”
It can be mounted on speed boats and other light vessels, can withstand electronic warfare, and is able to fly in low altitudes to avoid detection, the report said.
Iran has a fleet of speed boats that often challenge US and allied warships in the Gulf.
The vessels are usually controlled by the elite Revolutionary Guards and can be equipped with missiles.
- Newt speaks. “I will be a candidate for President of United States. We will go to Tampa.” #Nevada – RT @guypbenson: Newt speaks. “I will be a candidate for President of United States. We will go to Tampa.” #Nevada
- President 2012: Mitt Romney Wins Nevada Big | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: Mitt Romney Wins Nevada Big
- (500) http://flapsblog.com/2012/02/04/day-by-day-february-4-2012-third-base/ – Day By Day February 4, 2012 – Third Base
- Nevada Caucus: Live Election Results – National Journal Staff – NationalJournal.com – RT @nationaljournal: With 6.2% of precincts reporting, see the live results from the Nevada Caucus here:
- (404) http://flapsblog.com/2012/02/04/flap-twitter-updates-for-2012-02-04/ – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-02-04
- Log In – The New York Times – Log In – The New York Times
- Log In – The New York Times – Log In – The New York Times
- Log In – The New York Times – Gingrich’s Deep Ties to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac #teaparty #tcot
- Nearly half of California jobless workers considered ‘long-term’ – Not only does California have more than 2 million unemployed workers, but nearly half of them have been jobless for 27 weeks or more, according to new data assembled by the state Department of Employment Development.”Between May 2007 and February 2011, the number of people who were jobless 27 weeks or more in California rose an astounding 620 percent,” says the EDD report.
Those who are called “long-term unemployed” grew from 15.9 percent of the jobless population in late 2007 to 46.8 percent last March, remaining over 46 percent in December.
“The rapid rise in long-term unemployment can be directly tied to the collapse of the housing bubble in California,” the report continues. “This event had dramatic effects on the construction and finance industries and on the duratio
- Cheer Up Republicans: More States Go RED in 2011 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Cheer Up Republicans: More States Go RED in 2011
- Day By Day February 3, 2012 – Translation | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day February 3, 2012 – Translation
- S&P 500’s Booming Start Brings Back Memories Of 1987 – MarketBeat – WSJ – RT @WSJ: The S&P 500 has jumped 6.9% in 2012, its best start to a year since 1987
- GA-2012 Primary: 45% Gingrich, 32% Romney, 9% Santorum, 8% Paul (SurveyUSA 2/1-2) – RT @pollsterpolls: GA-2012 Primary: 45% Gingrich, 32% Romney, 9% Santorum, 8% Paul (SurveyUSA 2/1-2)
- Why the official 8.3 percent unemployment rate is a phony number—and what it means for Obama’s reelection « The Enterprise Blog – Why that 8.3% unemployment rate is phony — and what it means for Obama’s reelection
- The PJ Tatler » Official Unemployment Went Down, Actual Unemployment Still High – Official Unemployment Went Down, Actual Unemployment Still High #tcot
- American Power: ‘Atlas Shrugged’ Sequel Secures Financing, Production to Start in April – Atlas Shrugged sequel secures funding. Production starts in April!
- Panetta won’t confirm whether he thinks Israel will attack Iran this spring – The Hill’s DEFCON Hill – Panetta staying quiet about report he thinks #Israel could attack #Iran this spring
- Romney up big in Nevada – Public Policy Polling – If you missed our middle of the night release final Nevada numbers are: Romney 50, Gingrich 25, Paul 15, Santorum 8:
- The 15 Worst Housing Markets For The Next Five Years – The 15 Worst Housing Markets For The Next Five Years
- Record 1.2 Million People Fall Out Of Labor Force In One Month, Labor Force Participation Rate Tumbles To Fresh 30 Year Low | ZeroHedge – Jobs are up by 243k, but people not counted in the numbers are up 1.2 million. Yup! MILLION!
- The PJ Tatler » Planned Parenthood’s Actions Proves that It’s Not Really a ‘Pro-Choice’ Organization – Planned Parenthood’s Actions Proves that It’s Not Really a ‘Pro-Choice’ Organization #tcot
- Exclusive: Doctor cheating warnings expand to dermatology – CNN.com – Dermatologists are cheating on medical board exams, CNN exclusive investigation finds.
- Komen Decision Exposes Planned Parenthood, Abortion-Breast Cancer | LifeNews.com – Komen Decision Exposes Planned Parenthood, Abortion-Breast Cancer @gerardmnadalphd @charmaineyoest
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The Morning Flap: January 30, 2012
These are my links for January 27th through January 30th:
- Newt expressed support for Obama health care plan in ’09 – On a May 2009 conference call for the Center for Health Transformation, Newt Gingrich called the health care reform debate “healthier” than in 1993 and said the model being discussed was “the kind of general model we’re going to be advocating”:
The good thing is that unlike the Hillarycare process of 1993, we don’t have 500 people in a room hiding in a room trying to write the magic bill that’s gonna go through on an up or down vote. We actually have a process underway where lots and lots of different players have a real opportunity to have input. And I think in that sense this is already a healthier process than we saw in 1993, and a more open process.
He also discussed the concept of a mandate:
We believe that there should be must carry – that is, everybody should either have health insurance or if you’re an absolute libertarian, we would allow you to post a bond, but we would not allow people to be free riders failing to insure themselves and then showing up at the emergency room with no means of payment.
- In Florida run-up, Chuck Norris battles for Gingrich – Chuck Norris isn’t “missing in action” in Florida, one day out from the state’s pivotal GOP presidential primary.
The tough-guy Hollywood star — perhaps best known for his role in “Delta Force” and TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger” — endorsed Newt Gingrich more than a week ago and on Monday the former House speaker’s campaign pointed to his words as evidence that the “mainstream media” and “Washington elite” are out of touch with the everyday voters.
“Proof! Voters are smarter than media, Washington elite,” reads the subject line of an email blast from R.C. Hammond, the Gingrich campaign spokesman.
In a new commentary Mr. Norris inked for WND.com, the Oklahoma native delivers a stinging rebuke of the “mainstream media” and “Washington Elite” while breaking down the state of the GOP contest between Mr. Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
- InsiderAdvantage Poll: Gingrich Surging, Race ‘Tighter Than Expected’ – A new InsiderAdvantage poll conducted Sunday night of likely Republican voters in the state of Florida shows a significant surge for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The poll has former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leading with 36 percent of voters, followed by Gingrich at 31 percent.
The Sunday results of 646 likely GOP voters are as follows:
Romney 36 percent
Gingrich 31 percent
Santorum 12 percent
Paul 12 percent
Other/Undecided 9 percent“The race will be tighter than expected,” Matt Towery, chief pollster of InsiderAdvantage told Newsmax.
- Cain: Finishing second a ‘win’ for Gingrich in Florida – Former presidential candidate and freshly minted Newt Gingrich surrogate Herman Cain downplayed the former Speaker’s chances for a win in Florida’s pivotal primary, citing the Romney campaign’s aggressive spending in the state.
“My expectation isn’t necessarily that he will win because of the sheer difference in spending. But my expectation is that he is going to have a much stronger showing than the weekend polls have been showing. There was one last night that showed that Gingrich is a lot closer to Romney,” Cain said during an interview Monday with Fox News. “So this thing is so dynamic, we won’t know until the votes are counted tomorrow night in Florida.”
Cain said that considering the circumstances, he would consider a second-place finish a “win” in the Florida primary — and reiterated Gingrich’s pledge to carry forward past Florida.
- January 30, Video: 2012 Health care expert Sally Pipes on what could replace Obamacare – “Repeal and replace” has been a conservative mantra ever since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010. But while the process of getting rid of the law is somewhat straightforward, there’s been no consensus on what to actually replace it with.
Enter Sally Pipes, the renowned health care expert and president of the Pacific Research Institute. Pipes has a way to replace Obamacare’s expensive government health care bureaucracies with a market-driven system that she says would offer better treatment to patients while saving taxpayers money.
“I wanted to do a blueprint so politicians, staffers and people in the states could say ‘this is what I believe in,” Pipes said of her new book, “The Pipes Plan,” during an extensive interview with The Daily Caller.
- Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Bills come due this week in California Legislature – Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Bills come due this week in California Legislature
- Gingrich Looks Ahead to Super Tuesday – An internal Newt Gingrich campaign memo obtained by the Daily Caller claims “this race is just getting started.”
The memo stresses that Mitt Romney currently has just 33 of the 1144 delegates needed (Gingrich has 25 of 1144).
In addition, more than 20% of the available delegates (467) will be awarded on Super Tuesday March 6, 2012, and the memo notes that, one of the Super Tuesday states is Georgia, with 76 delegates at stake. To put that in perspective, “even if Romney wins Florida on Tuesday, he will only have 83 total delegates; Newt’s home state could effectively cancel out his entire delegate count to date.”
- President 2012 Poll Watch: Romney Tied With Obama in Swing States – Gingrich Trails By 14 Points | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 Poll Watch: Romney Tied With Obama in Swing States – Gingrich Trails By 14 Points
- President 2012 Video: Newt Gingrich Does Not Have a Conservative Ideological Core – Pat Buchanan | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 Video: Newt Gingrich Does Not Have a Conservative Ideological Core – Pat Buchanan
- Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Bills come due this week in California Legislature – RT @CapitolAlert: AM Alert: Bills come due this week in California Legislature
- Election Day Tea Party 2012 – News – Tea Party Leaders to Florida Voters: Santorum, Gingrich, and Paul Should Continue Past Florida – RT @michaelpleahy: Tea Party Leaders to Florida Voters:Santorum,Gingrich& Paul Should Continue Past Florida #tcot
- Third Aircraft Carrier Group Coming To Iran | ZeroHedge – RT @zerohedge: Third Aircraft Carrier Group Coming To Iran
- Newsweek: Debbie Wasserman Schultz Won’t Apologize for Blaming Tea Party for Giffords Shooting | NewsBusters.org – Wow RT @mattsheffield: Newsweek: Debbie Wasserman Schultz Won’t Apologize for Blaming Tea Party for Giffords Shooting
- Gingrich memo downplays Florida; looks ahead to Super Tuesday | The Daily Caller – RT @JimPethokoukis RT @DailyBaller: Gingrich internal memo downplays Florida; looks ahead to Super Tuesday #tcot
- The Hill Poll: No benefit from tax holiday, say a majority of voters – TheHill.com – RT @thehill: The Hill Poll: Majority of voters see no benefit from tax holiday
- Log In – The New York Times – RT @charliespiering: Jeb Bush told Romney to tone it down on immigration
- Obama: The most polarizing president. Ever. – The Washington Post – Former senator Bob Kerrey tells The Fix that he is buying property in Nebraska, but that it’s not indication he’ll run
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-30 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-30
- Official Formspring for Android application available now | Android Central – Official Formspring for Android application available now
- foursquare :: Gregory Flap @ Chez Cole – Laid up in bed with a cold. Watching Lakers, Clippers and Dallas. Nap soon. Thank you Android! (@ Chez Cole)
- Official Formspring for Android application available now –
- Gingrich: I can beat Obama, ‘liberal’ Romney can’t | Campaign 2012 | Washington Examiner – Gingrich: I can beat Obama, ‘liberal’ Romney can’t: THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Newt Gingrich is painfully aware that …
- Florida paper backs a Gingrich presidency – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs – RT @PoliticalTicker: Florida paper backs a Gingrich presidency
- PFCs From Food Wrappers Could Reduce Effectiveness of Vaccines – Neil Wagner – Health – The Atlantic – PFCs — found in food wrappers, some clothing, more — could be reducing effectiveness of vaccines in kids:
- What Is Trisomy 18? – ABC News – Learn more abt Trisomy 18, the genetic disorder Rick Santorum’s daughter Bella suffers from:
- Obama, Democrats Facing Challenges in North Carolina – Hotline On Call –
Hotline On Call – RT @PounderFile: NJ: “Obama, Democrats Facing Challenges in North Carolina” - Romney Outspends Gingrich More Than 4-1 In Florida – It’s not just the message: Romney + friends spending 4X Newt+Adelson
- Newt: If Romney wins, it’s because of Santorum | Campaign 2012 | Washington Examiner – Newt: If Romney wins, it’s because of Santorum: Newt Gingrich suggested today that Rick Santorum could be, unint…
- Mark Levin: ‘Character Matters and Romney’s Worries Me’ | NewsBusters.org – Mark Levin: ‘Character Matters and Romney’s Worries Me’
- Day By Day January 29, 2012 – Executive Order | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day January 29, 2012 – Executive Order
- (500) http://flapsblog.com/2012/01/29/president-2012-video-herman-cain-endorses-newt-gingrich/ – President 2012 Video: Herman Cain Endorses Newt Gingrich
- President 2012: Fred Thompson Says Romney Has Matt Drudge in His Back Pocket | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: Fred Thompson Says Romney Has Matt Drudge in His Back Pocket
- (500) http://flapsblog.com/2012/01/29/president-2012-video-sarah-palin-says-vote-for-newt-rage-against-the-machine/ – President 2012 Video: Sarah Palin Says Vote for Newt – Rage Against the Machine
- Day By Day January 28, 2012 – Competence an’ Stuff | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day January 28, 2012 – Competence an’ Stuff
- Robert Gibbs back on Obama payroll – POLITICO.com – Robert Gibbs is back on the Obama payroll, reports @glennthrush:
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-29 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-29
- War Room Logistics poll: Romney 40%, Gingrich 30% | Saint Petersblog – Florida: War Room Logistics poll: Romney 40%, Gingrich 30%,Santorum 15%
- Romney up in Florida – Public Policy Polling – Florida: Romney now leads with 40% to 32% for Gingrich, 15% for Rick Santorum, 9% for Ron Paul #tcot
- The non-endorsing endorsers – Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman – POLITICO.com – Huck pants-on-fire: his claim that comments in newt ad from ’08 were general and not about Mitt simply false. Deets:
- foursquare :: Gregory Flap @ Ronnie’s Diner – 7 easy miles today. Here with Tara. Alice and Mary to join us after their 13 miler. (@ Ronnie’s Diner)
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-28 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-28
- Election Day Tea Party 2012: A New Beginning
– YouTube – RT @michaelpleahy: @Flap Inspiring video about what’s next for the #teaparty ! - News from The Associated Press – RT @AP: Nevada GOP to release presidential caucus results via Twitter and Google: -CC
- News from The Associated Press – RT @AP: Cynthia Nixon’s remarks on choosing to be gay, rejecting bisexual label, worry activists: -CC
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Daily Extraction: January 27, 2011 – The Daily Extraction: January 27, 2011
- Little change in union affiliation in 2011 | Campaign 2012 | Washington Examiner – Little change in union affiliation in 2011
- President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Gingrich Maintaining National Poll Lead While Romney Slumps | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Gingrich Maintaining National Poll Lead While Romney Slumps
- Welch: Be nice to Paul, we need his supporters – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs – Jack Welch: Be nice to Ron Paul, we need his supporters
- Ron Paul signed off on racist 1990s newsletters, associates say – The Washington Post – Ron Paul signed off on racist newsletters in the 1990s, associates say
- CA-26: A Republican – Akiva Werbalowsky In and a Democrat – Zeke Ruelas Out | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – CA-26: A Republican – Akiva Werbalowsky In and a Democrat – Zeke Ruelas Out
- Newt expressed support for Obama health care plan in ’09 – On a May 2009 conference call for the Center for Health Transformation, Newt Gingrich called the health care reform debate “healthier” than in 1993 and said the model being discussed was “the kind of general model we’re going to be advocating”:
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The Morning Flap: January 25, 2012
These are my links for January 23rd through January 25th:
- Newt Gingrich plays the Charlie Crist card – Once the Republican presidential campaign came to Florida, it was only a matter of time until someone played the Charlie Crist card.
In an attempt to tarnish Mitt Romney’s conservative credentials, Newt Gingrich on Tuesday connected Romney to Florida’s former governor, the once-ambitious moderate who fell so far out of favor with the GOP that in 2010 he left the GOP.
“We discovered last night that Mitt Romney has picked up Charlie Crist’s campaign manager,” Gingrich said Tuesday at the Tick Tock Restaurant in St. Petersburg. “I thought that told you everything you need to know about this primary.”
“As governor of Massachusetts [Romney] was pro-abortion, pro-gay rights, pro-tax increase and pro- gun control,” he said. “Now that makes you a moderate in Massachusetts but it makes you pretty liberal in a Republican primary. That’s probably why he hired Charlie Crist’s staff.” - Gov. Daniels: Obama is ‘pro-poverty’ – Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) castigated President Obama’s policies as “pro-poverty” and extreme in his response to the State of the Union address.
The Indiana governor, who considered a run for the White House before deciding last year against a campaign, knocked Obama for imposing regulations on business and for rejecting the proposed Keystone oil pipeline.
He labeled Obama’s policies as “pro-poverty and extremism that stifles the development of homegrown energy, or cancels a perfectly safe pipeline that would employ tens of thousands, or jacks up consumer utility bills for no improvement in either human health or world temperature.”
Daniels said Obama’s “trickle-down government” policies has restrained the country’s economic growth.Daniels also criticized Obama for trying to divide people with class warfare. “No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others,” he said
- 11 things Obama didn’t tell you about tax fairness last night « The Enterprise Blog – RT @JimPethokoukis: 11 things Obama didn’t tell you about tax fariness ast night
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-25 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-25
- Mitch Daniels blasts Obama for ‘trickle-down government’ – latimes.com – RT @latimes: Mitch Daniels blasts Obama for ‘trickle-down government’ #SOTU #tcot
- Read the GOP response to President Obama’s State of the Union remarks – latimes.com – RT @latimes: Full text of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Republican Address to the Nation in response to #SOTU address:
- State of the Union 2012: Obama speech full text – The Washington Post – RT @FixAaron: Full text of Obama’s speech here: #tcot #catcot
- Excerpts from Governor Mitch Daniels’ Republican Address to the Nation | Speaker of the House John Boehner | speaker.gov – RT @Students4Mitch: Excerpts from Governor Mitch Daniels’ Republican Address to the Nation |Speaker of the House John..
- CA-Sen: Santa Monica Republican Businessman Al Ramirez to Challenge Senator Dianne Feinstein » Flap’s California Blog – CA-Sen: Santa Monica Republican Businessman Al Ramirez to Challenge Senator Dianne Feinstein
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: No California Deaths Due to Whooping Cough or Pertussis in 2011 – No California Deaths Due to Whooping Cough or Pertussis in 2011
- Do People Become More Conservative as They Age? : Discovery News – Do People Become More Conservative as They Age? Answer is No… #tcot
- Poll Watch: Americans Want Specific Proposals Not Vision from President Obama State of the Union Speech | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Poll Watch: Americans Want Specific Proposals Not Vision from President Obama State of the Union Speech
- Under Obama, Price of Gas Has Jumped 83 Percent, Ground Beef 24 Percent, Bacon 22 Percent | CNSnews.com – Obamanomics, Price of Gas Has Jumped 83 Percent, Ground Beef 24 Percent, Bacon 22 Percent
- California still has second-highest unemployment in U.S. – latimes.com – No surprise here RT @latimes: California still has second-highest unemployment in U.S.
- Stephens: The GOP Deserves to Lose – WSJ.com – The GOP Deserves to Lose – That’s what happens when you run with losers #tcot
- (500) http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-23/buffett-s-burlington-northern-among-winners-in-obama-rejection-of-pipeline.html – Warren Buffett’s Burlington Northern Among Winners From Keystone Denial #tcot
- Challenge Your Brain to Ward Off Alzheimer’s Disease? | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Challenge Your Brain to Ward Off Alzheimer’s Disease?
- (500) http://flapsblog.com/2012/01/24/president-2012-video-president-obama-a-warrior-for-the-middle-class/ – President 2012 Video: President Obama a Warrior for the Middle Class?
- AD-38: Scott Wilk Releases California State Senator Tony Strickland from Endorsement » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: Scott Wilk Releases California State Senator Tony Strickland from Endorsement
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: January 24, 2012 – The Morning Drill: January 24, 2012
- Day By Day January 24, 2012 – No Time Left For You | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day January 24, 2012 – No Time Left For You
- Riehl World View: Romney Adviser To Jen Rubin: Mitt’s Not A Man Of The People – That is a FACT | RT @DanRiehl: Romney Adviser To Jen Rubin: Mitt’s Not A Man Of The People
- Debate Winner: Mitch Daniels | The Weekly Standard – PERHAPS | RT @memeorandum Debate Winner: Mitch Daniels
- Untitled (http://www.memeorandum.com/120124/p18#a120124p18) – PERHAPS | RT @memeorandum Debate Winner: Mitch Daniels
- RNC ad takes on president over State of the Union – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs – RNC ad takes on president over State of the Union –
- Poll: Romney’s Unfavorability Skyrockets – Steven Shepard – NationalJournal.com – Understandable | RT @nationaljournal Poll: Romney’s unfavorability skyrockets
- Is Oral Sex to Blame for the Surge in Cancer of the Mouth and Throat? – Elaine Schattner – Health – The Atlantic – Partly to blame – smoking too RT @TheAtlanticHLTH Is oral sex to blame for the surge in cancer of the mouth and throat?
- Introduction | Mitt Romney for President – If you want to look through details of Mitt Romney’s 2010 and 2011 taxes links at bottom
- Untitled (http://www.memeorandum.com/120124/p14#a120124p14) – Here it comes | RT @memeorandum Draft Jeb Bush
- Draft Jeb Bush – Artur Davis – National Review Online – Here it comes | RT @memeorandum Draft Jeb Bush
- One Thousand Days Without a Budget | The Weekly Standard – One Thousand Days Without a Budget: It has been 1,000 days since the Senate has produced a budget, and congressi…
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-24 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-24
- 9PM – Watch the NBC Republican Debate | The Right Scoop – @murphymike Go here Mike:
- Update: CA-26 Video: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Issues Two Challenges | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Update: CA-26 Video: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Issues Two Challenges
- President 2012 GOP Florida Poll Watch: Gingrich 38% Vs. Romney 33% Vs. Santorum 13% Vs. Paul 10% | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 GOP Florida Poll Watch: Gingrich 38% Vs. Romney 33% Vs. Santorum 13% Vs. Paul 10%
- Newt up 5 in Florida – Public Policy Polling – RT @ppppolls: Florida: Gingrich 38, Romney 33, Santorum 13, Paul 10:
- Gingrich releases Freddie Mac contract – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs – RT @PoliticalTicker: Gingrich releases Freddie Mac contract –
- Citizen Kane | KFI NEWS – KFI AM 640 More Stimulating Talk Radio – RT @KFINEWS: Citizen Kane to be shown at Hearst Castle.
- Mark Levin blasts Christie for parroting old left-wing ethics propaganda against Newt | The Right Scoop – RT @trscoop: Mark Levin blasts Christie for parroting old left-wing ethics propaganda against Newt:
- Adelson to double contribution to help Newt’s presidential bid – Politics: Ralston’s Flash – Las Vegas Sun – RT @RalstonFlash: Adelson to double contribution to help Newt’s presidential bid
- GOP food fight: Sarah Palin slams Chris Christie for getting his “panties in a wad” over Gingrich | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog – RT @cmarinucci: .@SarahPalinUSA goes ballistic on Chris Christie for getting his “panties in a wad” on @newtgingrich
- California Election 2012: California Democratic Party Pre-Endorsement Conferences » Flap’s California Blog – California Election 2012: California Democratic Party Pre-Endorsement Conferences
- Posts – Liz Mair – A Fresh Voice – RT @JimPethokoukis: RT @LizMair: Some important things about Florida worth paying attention to:
- CA-26 Video: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Issues Two Challenges | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – CA-26 Video: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Issues Two Challenges
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Aspen Dental to Sponsor Ryan Newman’s Chevrolet for NASCAR – Aspen Dental to Sponsor Ryan Newman’s Chevrolet for NASCAR
- Romney’s National Lead Collapses – Romney’s National Lead Collapses –
- Newt Gingrich’s rise — in one chart – The Washington Post – Newt Gingrich’s rise — in one chart
- President 2012 GOP Florida Intrade Watch: Gingrich 61.4% Vs. Romney 38.1% | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 GOP Florida Intrade Watch: Gingrich 61.4% Vs. Romney 38.1%
- Exercise To Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease? | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Exercise To Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
- U.S. Economy Most Toxic of 24 Issues – Americans’ satisfaction with the nation’s economy has dropped by 23 points since January 2008 to 13% today
- Newt Gingrich plays the Charlie Crist card – Once the Republican presidential campaign came to Florida, it was only a matter of time until someone played the Charlie Crist card.
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The Morning Flap: January 12, 2012
These are my links for January 11th through January 12th:
- Mormons in America – Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life – With a Mormon candidate among the front-runners for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, a musical about Mormons playing on Broadway and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) running television ads about ordinary Mormons, America is in the midst of what some media accounts have dubbed a “Mormon moment.” But how do Mormons themselves feel about the media spotlight, the election campaign and their place in America? A major new survey finds a mixed picture: Many Mormons feel they are misunderstood, discriminated against and not accepted by other Americans as part of mainstream society. Yet, at the same time, a majority of Mormons think that acceptance of Mormonism is rising. Overwhelmingly, they are satisfied with their lives and content with their communities. And most say they think the country is ready to elect a Mormon president.
- President 2012 GOP Florida Poll Watch: Romney With Commanding Lead – Mitt Romney is now running away with the race in the latest Rasmussen Reports’ survey of the end-of-the-month Florida Republican Primary.
Coming off his decisive win in Tuesday’s New Hampshire Primary, Romney earns 41% support with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich a distant second at 19%. A new telephone survey of Likely Florida Republican Primary Voters finds former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum running third with 15% of the vote.
- Laura Bush wanted Jeb to run for president in 2012 – Former first lady Laura Bush wishes there were one more candidate in the Republican presidential primary: Jeb Bush.
Speaking to a sold-out Sarasota audience on Wednesday, Bush said she had hoped that her brother-in-law and former Florida governor would have jumped into the race this year.
Husband George W. Bush “and I wish he would,” Laura Bush said when asked if Jeb Bush will run for president someday. “We wanted him to this time.”
Laura Bush singled out his work on education as a key reason he would make a good president. She said his commitment to public policy is evident.
Jeb Bush has repeatedly said he is not running for president in 2012, though he has not ruled out a future campaign.
- 3 billionaires who’ll drag out the race – Meet the three billionaires who could drag out the GOP presidential primary, bloody up front-runner Mitt Romney and weaken the odds of defeating President Barack Obama: Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess and Jon Huntsman, Sr.
The three men are contributing millions of dollars to a trio of outside groups flooding the airwaves in early voting states with brutal ads attacking Romney and ads backing the candidates they would prefer to win the Republican nomination.
- Homeland Security watches Twitter, social media – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s command center routinely monitors dozens of popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks and news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report, according to a government document.
A “privacy compliance review” issued by DHS last November says that since at least June 2010, its national operations center has been operating a “Social Networking/Media Capability” which involves regular monitoring of “publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites and message boards.”
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-12 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-01-12
- Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews – TIME.com – Buffett Challenges McConnell, Republicans on Tax Policy | Swampland |
- Gingrich Spokesman Stands Firm on Romney Criticism – By Brian Bolduc – The Corner – National Review Online – Gingrich Spokesman Stands Firm on Romney Criticism
- Mitt Romney’s top strategist first used “vulture” imagery in California: On Romney supporter Meg Whitman (VIDEO) | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog – Mitt Romney’s top strategist first used “vulture” imagery in California: On Romney supporter Meg Whitman (VIDEO)
- Crime renews lawmaker’s concerns about shifting felons to counties – latimes.com – Crime renews lawmaker’s concerns about shifting felons to counties
- Afternoon Fix: ‘King of Bain’ ads airing tomorrow – The Washington Post – RT @FixRachel: The ‘King of Bain’ ads to start airing tomorrow
- Buffett Challenges McConnell, Republicans on Tax Policy | Swampland | TIME.com – Warren Buffett Ready to Take Republicans’ Tax Challenge – Slams Romney and Bain #FB
- Warren Buffett Slams Mitt and Newt – In exclusive interview with TIME, Berkshire Hathaway boss blasts the two ’12ers, Romney for his time at Bain and Gingrich for his dealings with OWS/Freddie Mac.
On Mitt: “I don’t like what private equity firms do in terms of taking out every dime they can and leveraging [companies] up so that they really aren’t equipped, in some cases, for the future.”
- Crime renews lawmaker’s concerns about shifting felons to counties – A Republican lawmaker who opposes shifting supervision of many felons from the state to counties voiced concern Wednesday over the arrest of a Sacramento man this week on sexual assault charges a month after he was released from state prison.
Aaron Suggs had been designated a non-serious, nonviolent felon when he was released from state prison Dec. 8 after serving a sentence for drug possession. That designation resulted in his supervision, upon release, being assigned to the Sacramento County Probation Department rather than state parole agents under a program adopted by the state last year to cut its costs.
State prisons spokesman Luis Patino said last year’s change in state law shifting responsibilities for some felons to counties did not affect how long Suggs spent in prison. County officials also denied that the shifting of post-prison supervision had an effect on Suggs’ ability to commit the crime, although Suggs spent five days in county jail for not immediately reporting to his county probation officer after his release from prison.
Suggs was arrested Monday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a house near the Capitol and stole some of her possessions.
- Gregory Flap Cole – Google+ – When Mitt Romney Comes to Town….. – When Mitt Romney Comes to Town…..Mitt Romney | Gary Varvel | The Indianapolis Star |
- As Romney rises, Tea Party sees Senate as bulwark
| Reuters – As Romney rises, Tea Party sees Senate as “bulwark” #teaparty #tcot - When Mitt Romney Came to Town – The full video of When Mitt Romney Came to Town is Up:
- Untitled (http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2012/01/rnc-announces-more-hispanic-outreach.html) – Congrats @BettinaInclan | The RNC has named Bettina Inclán as the Director of Hispanic Outreach
- DeMint tells Newt to drop negative hits on Mitt – POLITICO.com – Sell out DeMint RT @politico: Out of South Carolina: Jim DeMint tells Gingrich to drop negative hits on Mitt:
- Rush torches Perry: This is the way Fidel Castro thinks! | The Right Scoop – Yes | RT @DanRiehl: Limbaugh’s wrong. RT @trscoop: Rush torches Perry: ths is the way Fidel Castro thinks!
- Limbaugh, Defending Romney, Has Bain Tie – RT @DanRiehl: Limbaugh, Defending Romney, Has Bain Tie #tcot
- Gregory Flap Cole – Google+ – Good grief…..Axelrod defending Jeremiah Wright – they… – Good grief…..Axelrod defending Jeremiah Wright – they know that Mitt will use it, unlike McCain,,,
- (404) http://t.co/C1 – RT @joegarofoli: Don’t mention Bain! If you do, Sean Hannity sez to @RickPerry: You sound like Occupy Wall Street (VIDEO) …
- Three way tie with NC Republicans – Public Policy Polling – RT @ppppolls: Head to heads- Santorum leads Mitt by 18 in NC, Newt leads by 1. Perry trails by 17, Paul by 46:
- Romney likens work at Bain Capital to Obama’s auto industry bailout – The Hill’s Video – Romney likens work at Bain Capital to Obama’s auto industry bailout
- Gingrich’s anti-Bain ad buy is tiny – Right Turn – The Washington Post – Oh Yeah – let Mitt Romney debate his days at Bain Capital with Newt and Perry – relish it.
- Gregory Flap Cole – Google+ – Yes, just like 2008 and likely the same results = an Obama… – Yes, just like 2008 and likely the same results = an Obama victory.Haven’t We Lived Through This Pri
- President 2012: Newt Gingrich anti-Romney Ad Asks “Who Let the Dogs Out?” | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: Newt Gingrich anti-Romney Ad Asks “Who Let the Dogs Out?”
- (500) http://flapsblog.com/2012/01/11/the-morning-flap-january-11-2012/ – The Morning Flap: January 11, 2012
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The Afternoon Flap: November 21, 2011
These are my links for November 21st from 08:13 to 14:38:
- Boehner blames Obama for failure of supercommittee to reach a deal – House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is blaming President Obama for the failure of the congressional supercommittee to reach a deal for cutting the federal deficit.The Speaker’s office sent out a memo Monday morning that says the supercommittee “was unable to reach agreement because President Obama and Washington Democrats insisted on dramatic tax hikes on American job creators, which would make our economy worse.”The memo from Boehner’s office says Obama set the deficit panel up for failure by demanding it become the vehicle for economic stimulus.
“The President designed a political strategy that doomed the committee to failure first by insisting the committee include $450 billion of his failed stimulus policies in any agreement, making deficit reduction much harder and second by issuing a veto threat warning he would not accept an agreement that did not include a job-killing tax increase,” the memo obtained by The Hill states.
The memo was not signed by the Speaker, as is customary for messages that come directly from him.
- Super Committee Fails to Reach Deficit Agreement – The bipartisan congressional committee tasked with finding at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction announced on Monday it cannot reach agreement by the Wednesday deadline, a stark if not unexpected admission that its efforts have ended in failure.”After months of hard work and intense deliberations, we have come to the conclusion today that it will not be possible to make any bipartisan agreement available to the public before the committee’s deadline,” the co-chairs, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said.The declaration came late Monday afternoon in a written statement from the 12-member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction despite last-second discussions in closed-door meetings.
The committee, in the end, could not resolve that Republicans would not go as far as Democrats wanted on allowing more revenue raisers, and Democrats did not want to move on entitlement reforms. Intense messaging by both political parties on which was more to blame is surely to spill out for days, if not months.
The super panel was created with extraordinary, fast-track powers this summer under the law agreed to by Republicans and Democrats during the debt ceiling crisis. That same law now says its failure will trigger $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts over 10 years, starting in 2013. That so-called sequestration is to include cuts to Pentagon spending.
- When Did Liberals Become So Unreasonable? – If we trace liberal disappointment with President Obama to its origins, to try to pinpoint the moment when his crestfallen supporters realized that this was Not Change They Could Believe In, the souring probably began on December 17, 2008, when Obama announced that conservative Evangelical pastor Rick Warren would speak at his inauguration. “Abominable,” fumed John Aravosis on AmericaBlog. “Obama’s ‘inclusiveness’ mantra always seems to head only in one direction—an excuse to scorn progressives and embrace the Right,” seethed Salon’s Glenn Greenwald. On MSNBC, Rachel Maddow rode the story almost nightly: “I think the problem is getting larger for Barack Obama.” Negative 34 days into the start of the Obama presidency, the honeymoon was over.Since then, the liberal gloom has only deepened, as Obama compromise alternated with Obama failure. Liberals speak of Obama in unceasingly despairing terms. “I’m exhausted [from] defending you,” one supporter confessed to Obama at a town-hall meeting last year.“We are all incredibly frustrated,” Justin Ruben, MoveOn’s executive director, told the Washington Post in September. “I’m disappointed in Obama,” complained Steve Jobs, according to Walter Isaacson’s new biography. The assessments appear equally morose among the most left-wing and the most moderate of Obama’s supporters, among opinion leaders and rank-and-file voters. In early 2004, Democrats, by a 25-point margin, described themselves as “more enthusiastic than usual about voting.” At the beginning of 2008, the margin had shot up to over 60 percentage points. Now as many Democrats say they’re less enthusiastic about voting as say they’re more enthusiastic.
- We’ve All Gone Crazy – Unlike David Brooks — I walk out of room the minute he starts talking — David Frum is someone I consider a friend, which causes me to get a lot of heat from some of my conservative friends, including those friends whom Frum has attacked by name.Frum stubbornly believes he’s right (and also, Right), and any attempt to argue him out of his position is doomed to failure, simply because it’s his position and he feels honor-bound to defend it. Being rather mule-headed myself, I can relate to that, even when I know Frum is wrong, wrong, wrong (as is anyone who disagrees with me). However, I believe the point of arguments among conservatives is always to find the best way to stomp liberalism into smithereens. And I wish Frum would stop carping so much about conservatives, and start stomping some liberals.Read it all
- David Frum on the GOP’s Lost Sense of Reality – It’s a very strange experience to have your friends think you’ve gone crazy. Some will tell you so. Others will indulgently humor you. Still others will avoid you. More than a few will demand that the authorities do something to get you off the streets. During one unpleasant moment after I was fired from the think tank where I’d worked for the previous seven years, I tried to reassure my wife with an old cliché: “The great thing about an experience like this is that you learn who your friends really are.” She answered, “I was happier when I didn’t know.”It’s possible that my friends are right. I don’t think so—but then, crazy people never do. So let me put the case to you.I’ve been a Republican all my adult life. I have worked on the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal, at Forbes magazine, at the Manhattan and American Enterprise Institutes, as a speechwriter in the George W. Bush administration. I believe in free markets, low taxes, reasonable regulation, and limited government. I voted for John McCain in 2008, and I have strongly criticized the major policy decisions of the Obama administration. But as I contemplate my party and my movement in 2011, I see things I simply cannot support.
- Gallup poll: Is the Gingrich surge overrated? – In the latest Gallup GOP national poll, Mitt Romney (21 percent) and Newt Gingrich (22 percent) are in a statistical tie among registered Republican and Republican-leaning voters. Herman Cain has dropped to third (16 percent), with Texas Gov. Rick Perry (8 percent) now behind even Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) (9 percent).What is interesting is the Gingrich surge at the onset of his first round of rigorous scrutiny has him much lower than the peak for Perry (29 percent). A GOP operative says he’s not surprised. “[Gingrich is] more of a known commodity, and not always in a good sense. Therefore he’s less likely to see a full-scale swoon.” Republican consultant Tony Fratto says the terrain is also different now than when Perry entered with a splash. He tells me, “Perry and Cain haven’t lost all of their elevated support, just part. So there’s less for Gingrich to capture. And Romney’s support stays fairly consistent.”Probably……
- Will GOP NLRB Member Resign to Shut Down Labor Agency? – On November 30, the National Labor Relations Board is scheduled to vote on proposed rule changes that would speed up union elections by disallowing some appeals until after a workplace vote occurs. Employers typically aim to delay an election so that they can use the time to intimidate employees to voting against a union.But that vote may never take place, because some conservative members of Congress are pushing a plan that would force the NLRB, which is an independent federal agency tasked with enforcing labor law, to shut down. There are currently three people serving on the NLRB; if that is reduced by one, the body will be unable to issue valid rulings.In New Process Steel, L.P. vs National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that the NLRB cannot decide cases with only two members on the NLRB. For 27 months, during the last year of President Bush’s term and the first 14 months of the Obama administration, the NLRB only had two members (a Democrat and a Republican). The two members agreed to work together on common sense cases where they could easily agree on a ruling; they passed judgment in nearly 600 cases.
But the Supreme Court invalidated all those rulings because they were made with only two members. Therefore, some conservative politicians such as South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and prominent right-wing blogs such as RedState.com are pushing for Republican NLRB Board Member Brian Hayes to resign before the vote for the rules is issued on November 30, which would effectively shut down the agency.
- Spirit Airlines’ deceptive Tweets land a U.S. fine – MarketWatch – Oh MY! | RT @WSJ:Spirit Airlines has been fined $50,000 for tweets advertising $9 fares that didn’t disclose add’l fees
- Federal lawmakers restore $12.5 million to program for methamphetamine lab cleanup – The war on methamphetamine has gotten some support from Congress — millions of dollars to clean up the toxic waste generated by clandestine meth labs.President Barack Obama signed a wide-ranging appropriations bill Friday that included the restoration of $12.5 million for meth lab cleanup.0
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“It’s an awesome thing,” said Tommy Farmer, state meth task force coordinator for Tennessee, the state that led the nation in the number of meth labs in 2010. “It keeps us in the fight so we can combat these things.”
The measure restores funding lost in February, when federal meth lab cleanup money through the Community Oriented Policing Services program ran out, and was not renewed. The program provided $19.2 million for meth lab cleanup in 2010.
- Why Can’t Newspapers Make Money Online? – The bottom line is this: the reason that newspapers can’t make money is because they’re pricing themselves out of the market. It’s true that newspaper circulation has declined due to competition of various new media (check out Newspaper Death Watch if you really want to get depressed), and newspaper ad expenditures have declined along with them since 2001. But the real problem seems to be that newspapers have been way too slow in responding to competitive pressures by lowering their ad rates to a competitive level. Lulled into complacency by decades (if not centuries) of dominating the advertising industry, they’ve failed to recognize that when it comes to advertiser value, they’ve long since fallen from the top spot. The advantages they once had based on geographic exclusivity, readership, and exclusive content have been eliminated by the rise of the web. Today you can get your news from a huge number of sources other than the local bundle of papers tossed on your doorstep; and you (as a consumer) can get it for free. Craigslist and Facebook and Yelp and blogs and job listing sites and myriad other sources of local content have drained away readership and, more importantly, have all but negated the exclusive lock that newspapers used to have on local content. Advertisers who want to reach local audiences now have a huge amount of options and don’t have to be held hostage to the rates newspapers got used to charging.“News” has now become a commodity, yet the papers continue to charge premium prices. Unless they can figure out how to pare down costs, price themselves competitively, and, more importantly, offer content that’s worth paying for (see The Wall Street Journal), desperation tactics such as paywalls are only going to hasten the inevitable decline.
- Dilbert November 20, 2011 – To Catch a Thief » Flap’s California Blog – Dilbert November 20, 2011 – To Catch a Thief
- President 2012: Newt Gingrich – Really? | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: Newt Gingrich – Really? #tcot #catcot
- George Will | Newt Gingrich | Ron Paul | Mediaite – George Will Dismisses Newt Gingrich, Scoffs At Idea That He Is A ‘Historian’ #tcot
- Democrats Pray for Newt – Democrats Pray for Newt #tcot
- (500) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/conservatives-shouldnt-kid-themselves-about-newt/2011/11/20/gIQA9RhhhN_blog.html – Conservatives shouldn’t kid themselves about Newt #tcot #teaparty
- Only 12% Expect Value of Their Home To Increase In Next Year – Rasmussen Reports™ – Poll Watch: Only 12% Expect Value of Their Home To Increase In Next Year #tcot
- Untitled (http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/us/politics/deficit-deal-fell-apart-after-seeming-agreement.html&OQ=_rQ3D4Q26adxnnlQ3D1Q26pagewantedQ3DallQ26adxnnlxQ3D1321891541-qqfPM1wiKQ51yi2VQ2BBJWqRqAQ26utm_sourceQ3Dtwitt – Deficit Deal Fell Apart After Seeming Agreement
- Do Overweight People Eat LESS Often? | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Do Overweight People Eat LESS Often?
- Where Michigan stands on 2012 race for president | Detroit Free Press | freep.com – President 2012 Michigan Poll Watch: Romney 46% Vs. Obama 41%
- The Morning Flap: November 21, 2011 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – The Morning Flap: November 21, 2011 #tcot #catcot
- Boehner blames Obama for failure of supercommittee to reach a deal – House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is blaming President Obama for the failure of the congressional supercommittee to reach a deal for cutting the federal deficit.The Speaker’s office sent out a memo Monday morning that says the supercommittee “was unable to reach agreement because President Obama and Washington Democrats insisted on dramatic tax hikes on American job creators, which would make our economy worse.”The memo from Boehner’s office says Obama set the deficit panel up for failure by demanding it become the vehicle for economic stimulus.
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The Morning Flap: November 9, 2011
These are my links for November 8th through November 9th:
- Court will draw Texas map in boon to Democrats – In a boost to Democrats’ chances of retaking the House next year, federal judges in Texas will draw a map for the state’s 2012 congressional races.
A Washington, D.C., federal court on Tuesday declined to sign off on redistricting plan spearheaded by the state Republican Party. The D.C. court ruled that the Republican line-drawers “used an improper standard or methodology to determine which districts afford minority voters the ability to elect their preferred candidates of choice.”
The decision means the issue is headed for a lengthy court battle, which, in turn, means the map won’t be ready in time for the 2012 election. Because of this, the DC court tasked a panel of federal judges in San Antonio to draw an interim 2012 map — which could lead to significant Democratic gains — by the end of the month.
“This most likely means three additional Democratic seats in Texas,” said former congressman Martin Frost (D), a victim of the GOP’s last redistricting map. “The GOP overreached one time too often in Texas.”
Republicans had drafted a map on which they would likely win three of the four new seats the state is gaining in reapportionment — despite already having a 23-to-9 edge in the state’s congressional delegation and much of the state’s growth over the last decade occurring among minority communities.
Democrats say a court-drawn map could net them an extra two or three seats in Congress, bringing their gains to three or four seats and reducing GOP gains to one or zero seats. Republicans expect the new map to include one new GOP seat and three new Democratic ones.
Democrats nationally need to win 25 seats to retake the majority.
- David Gregory: No “Grand Wizard” In GOP To Force Cain Out – On Wednesday’s “Today” show, host of NBC’s “Meet the Press” David Gregory says there is no “Grand Wizard” right now in the GOP to “force” Cain out of the primary. Transcript below:
Ann Curry, NBC News: “He’s not stepping down, continuing to suck the air out of the narrative the Republican party really wants to tell. Does the party now wish he would just go away?”
David Gregory, NBC News: “Well there is no, you know, Grand Wizard in the party right now who can really force the issue. I’ve talked to Cain’s advisers in Iowa, they think their support is still strong there, that it’s not falling. There may be cracks in the foundation according to pollsters I’m talking to, that his numbers may be starting to shift but right now core support remains there.”
UPDATE: David Gregory has apologized and tweeted the following: “‘Wizard’ remark this morning was a very poor choice of words. Did not mean to make that connection at all. Was not thinking. I apologize”
- Ohio Voters Choose To Opt Out Of Health Care Mandate – Voters in Ohio have approved a ballot measure intended to keep government from requiring Ohioans to participate in any health care system.
The constitutional amendment passed is largely symbolic, coming in response to the 2009 federal health care overhaul, a provision of which mandates that most Americans purchase health care.
Supporters hope it will prompt a challenge of the overhaul before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The tea party and Republican groups backing the amendment say the Affordable Care Act was an overreach by the Obama administration and Congress.
They hope approval of the ballot issue will bar Ohio from instituting a state-mandated health insurance program like that of Massachusetts.
Opponents argued state law can’t trump federal law and that the amendment’s wording could unintentionally jeopardize state health programs.
- Cain aide wrongly insists they’ve ‘confirmed’ accuser’s son works for POLITICO – Herman Cain campaign manager Mark Block, in an appearance with Sean Hannity on Fox News just now, insisted that a relative of the second woman to publicly accuse the candidate of sexual harassment in the 1990s works at POLITICO.
“Her son works at POLITICO,” Block said of Karen Kraushaar, whose name POLITICO printed earlier today after other media outlets made her identity public.
Continue Reading“I’ve been hearing that all day – you’ve confirmed that now?” Hannity asked.
“We’ve confirmed that he does indeed work at POLITICO and that’s his mother, yes,” said Block.
Block appeared to be referring to former POLITICO reporter Josh Kraushaar, who left for another outlet, National Journal, in 2010.
Josh Kraushaar tweeted earlier in the day, apparently after getting questions, that he’s in fact not related to Karen Kraushaar, and simply has the same last name.
- Herman Cain Accuser filed complaint in next job – A woman who settled a sexual harassment complaint against GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain in 1999 complained three years later at her next job about unfair treatment, saying she should be allowed to work from home after a serious car accident and accusing a manager of circulating a sexually charged email, The Associated Press has learned.
Karen Kraushaar, 55, filed the complaint while working as a spokeswoman at the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the Justice Department in late 2002 or early 2003, with the assistance of her lawyer, Joel Bennett, who also handled her earlier sexual harassment complaint against Cain in 1999. Three former supervisors familiar with Kraushaar’s complaint, which did not include a claim of sexual harassment, described it for the AP under condition of anonymity because the matter was handled internally by the agency and was not public.
To settle the complaint at the immigration service, Kraushaar initially demanded thousands of dollars in payment, a reinstatement of leave she used after the accident earlier in 2002, promotion on the federal pay scale and a one-year fellowship to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, according to a former supervisor familiar with the complaint. The promotion itself would have increased her annual salary between $12,000 and $16,000, according to salary tables in 2002 from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Kraushaar told the AP she considered her employment complaint “relatively minor” and she later dropped it.
- Craig Huey to Run for Office in 2012 – AD 66? » Flap’s California Blog – Craig Huey to announce candidacy for California AD-66? #tcot #catcot #teaparty
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: November 9, 2011 – The Morning Drill: November 9, 2011
- Day By Day November 9, 2011 – Pussies | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day November 9, 2011 – Pussies #tcot #catcot
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-11-09 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-11-09 #tcot #catcot
- Banning Soda at School Ineffective In Curbing Consumption? | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Banning Soda at School Ineffective In Curbing Consumption?
- Dilbert November 8, 2011 – The Lie » Flap’s California Blog – Dilbert November 8, 2011 – The Lie
- The Afternoon and Evening Flap: November 8, 2011 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – The Afternoon and Evening Flap: November 8, 2011 #tcot #catcot
- Court will draw Texas map in boon to Democrats – In a boost to Democrats’ chances of retaking the House next year, federal judges in Texas will draw a map for the state’s 2012 congressional races.
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The Sunday Flap: October 30, 2011
These are my links and comments for Sunday, October 30th:
- Adult Babies by Mark Steyn– Last Thursday was officially “Diaper Need Awareness Day” in the State of Connecticut. Were you aware of it? There are so many awareness-raising days, it’s hard to keep track. Maybe we could have an Awareness-Raising Day Awareness Day. At any rate, the first annual Diaper Need Awareness Day was proclaimed by Dan Malloy, governor of the Nutmeg State, and they had a big old awareness-raising get-together in New Haven. It’s not clear yet whether they’ve got an official ribbon. We’re running a bit low on ribbon colors these days: It’s not just pink ribbons for breast cancer, but also teal for agoraphobia, periwinkle for acid reflux, pink-and-blue ribbons for amniotic fluid embolisms, and pinstripe ribbons for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We could use a Ribbon-Hue Awareness Day to raise awareness about how we’re falling behind in the race for more ribbon colors.If you’re wondering what sentient being isn’t aware of diapers, you’re missing the point: Connecticut representative Rosa DeLauro is raising awareness of the need for diapers in order to, as Politico reported, “push the Federal Government to provide free diapers to poor families.” Congresswoman DeLauro has introduced the DIAPER Act — that’s to say, the Diaper Investment and Aid to Promote Economic Recovery Act. So don’t worry, it’s not welfare, it’s “stimulus.” As Fox News put it, “A U.S. congresswoman in Connecticut wants to boost the economy by offering free diapers to low-income families.” And, given that sinking bazillions of dollars into green-jobs schemes to build eco-cars in Finland and a federal program to buy guns for Mexican drug cartels and all the other fascinating innovations of the Obama administration haven’t worked, who’s to say borrowing money from the Chinese politburo and sticking it in your kid’s diaper isn’t the kind of outside-the-box thinking that will do the trick?
In fact, the federal government already provides free diapers for at least one lucky American. Stanley Thornton Jr. of California receives Supplementary Security Income disability checks from the Social Security Administration in order to sit around the house all day wearing a giant diaper and a giant onesie, sucking on a giant pacifier and playing with a giant baby rattle. Stanley Jr. runs a website for fellow “adult babies” called BedWettingABDL.com. I believe I first heard of the “adult baby” phenomenon some years ago in London. If memory serves, there was a club, and the members lay around in giant cribs being read bedtime stories by a bosomy nanny. Minor celebrities and possibly backbench Tory members of Parliament may have been involved. In those days, it was what we called a “fetish” and you had to do it on your own dime. Now it’s a “disability” and the United States government picks up the tab. And, if that’s not progress, what is?Sen. Tom Coburn happened to catch Stan with his babysitter and fellow disability-check recipient on a reality show, and wondered how a chap capable of running a popular website and doing such complicated carpentry jobs as his own giant highchair could be legitimately classified as “disabled.” But the Social Security Administration said Junior qualifies, and Senator Coburn was condemned as heartless: Why, if those mean Republicans got their way, the streets would be crawling with giant babies bawling, “I want my mommy!” Conversely, if Congresswoman DeLauro gets her way and the stampede for government Huggies gets going, Stanley Thornton Jr. will still be entitled to park his giant pedal car in the disabled space while the penniless single mom from Hartford has to leave the Toyota at the back of the lot and hike in.Read all of this excellent post.
- Where Rick Perry’s Campaign Went Wrong– Rick Perry’s campaign is in a bunker. On the first floor of 804 Congress St. in Austin, a 1970s building with a redbrick front, 45 people are trying to figure out how to get Perry elected President. There are no Perry for President signs – only maps (Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, Florida – New Hampshire is curiously absent) – as during Perry’s third and last campaign for Texas governor he proudly didn’t waste money on such frivolities. The office is in an old bank space just off the lobby. At the back is a vault, its massive three-foot-thick metal door hanging open. Inside the concrete box sit campaign manager Rob Johnson and Perry’s longtime political guru Dave Carney. On Carney’s desk there is a small stack of books, including one by Ken Blackwell and Ken Klukowski entitled, Resurgent: How Constitutional Conservatism Can Save America. As both men know well, Perry is in desperate need of a resurgence.When he announced his candidacy 10 weeks ago, the three-term Texas governor entered the GOP field in first place, blowing ahead of Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain. But his numbers have plummeted since; at 6% in some national polls he can’t go much lower. So it came as not too much of a surprise when Perry announced this week that he’d be shaking things up. He brought in four national campaign veterans, including Joe Allbaugh, who ran George W. Bush’s 2000 bid. As a former head of FEMA, Allbaugh is no stranger to disasters.Read it all
Delusions of grandeur if you think Rick Perry can right his campaign.
- Rick Perry: Turnaround or end of the road?– Implicit in this is that Perry had developed an outsize ego and national reputation that didn’t comport with his actual abilities. After all, how hard is it for a Republican who inherited the governorship to win re-election in Texas and deal with a GOP-controlled legislature that meets every other year? Yes, he suffered from lack of preparation, because he had never developed the critical ear, policy chops and rhetoric that traveled well outside Texas. You can run a quick campaign, if you are prepared to be president. But you can’t create someone of presidential stature in a few weeks or months.Many in the media and the GOP are desperate to keep the race competitive. So you’ll hear “comeback” stories. That story line, however, is more properly applied to Newt Gingrich, who was at least smart enough to figure out that he’d do better without the staff that went from his campaign to Perry’s. As for Perry, no staff in the world can make up for the defects that he’s revealed, nor make him a genuinely likeable figure. Only he can correct those flaws.Read it all.
It is the end of the road for Perry.
- Rick Perry flip-flops on debates– That was quick.Three days after suggesting Rick Perry might skip some of the upcoming GOP presidential debates, his campaign confirmed he’ll attend at least five more, a sign that the campaign may have recognized Perry had as much to lose as gain from a debate-dodging strategy.Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan told the Associated Press on Saturday that the Texas governor will attend the four events currently scheduled in November as well as a December debate.
Just by floating the idea that he might avoid debates, the Perry campaign raised hackles among activists in the states slated to host the upcoming events. But even setting aside the question of ruffled feathers, there was always a strategic reason to show up: In no other way can a candidate — especially one like Perry who is trailing front-runners Mitt Romney and Herman Cain in national and early-state polls — reframe the campaign discussion as Perry did last week in Las Vegas.
Perry spokesman Mark Miner touched off the debate debate Wednesday when he told POLITICO the campaign wouldn’t commit to participating in any forums after the one Nov. 9 in Michigan. Officially, that’s also the position of Mitt Romney’s campaign despite his string of strong performances.
It doesn’t make any difference, Rick Perry is not in this race. He is done.
- New Iowa poll: Elimination threatens several not-Romneys– The Des Moines Register is out with a new poll of likely caucus-goers. Herman Cain (23 percent) and Mitt Romney (22 percent) are in a statistical dead heat. Far back is Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) at 12 percent. Then come Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) at 8 percent, Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 7 percent and Rick Santorum at 5 percent. There is plenty to chew on.We should begin with a word of caution. The poll has a margin or error of plus or minus 4.9 percent. That means Romney might be ahead or Santorum could have passed Bachmann. Moreover, there are a ton of debates and plenty of retail politicking an TV ads between now and the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3. This is at best then, a blurry snapshot in time.The GOP needs to draft another candidate or go with Newt Gingrich.
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-10-30 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-10-30 #tcot #catcot
- President 2012: George Will, Michael Dukakis and Mitt Romney – The Pretzel Candidate | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: George Will, Michael Dukakis and Mitt Romney – The Pretzel Candidate #tcot #catcot
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-10-29 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-10-29 #tcot #catcot
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-10-28 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-10-28 #tcot #catcot
- foursquare:: Gregory Flap @ Ronnie’s Diner- After LA Roadrunners and 10 easy miles. With Alice, Tara, Maria Elena, Nancy (@ Ronnie’s Diner)
- Untitled (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AIC0UjpgEJo/TqvobVeS99I/AAAAAAAAAX4/4Ja04jyecJ8/CIMG0216.jpg) – Off soon to Venice Beach for LA Marathon Roadrunner training. 10 miles today. Temps in the 60’s. Ronnie’s after!
: - SD-27: Former California Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg to Challenge Senator Tony Strickland? » Flap’s California Blog – SD-27: Former California Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg to Challenge Senator Tony Strickland?
- Dilbert October 26, 2011 – The Underling » Flap’s California Blog – Dilbert October 26, 2011 – The Underling
- President 2012: George Will, Michael Dukakis and Mitt Romney – Oh My! | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Republicans really should seek better choices for the Presidential nomination….:
- Dental Practice Management – > Shocker – Not RT @drbicuspid Australian dental therapists may expand scope of practice. #dental
- What is your PROskore? Find out if you are a top ranking Professional in your Community at PROskore.com – #PROskore – I just joined – what is your PROskore? via @proskore
- Gregory Cole just got top ranking on PROskore with a professional score of 55. – #PROskore – I just joined – what is your PROskore? via @proskore
- Medscape: Medscape Access – Big Medicare Pay Cut Would Shut Physician Doors to Patients
- Capitol Alert: Obama administration approves California Medi-Cal cuts – Obama administration approves California Medi-Cal cuts #catcot
- President 2012 Nevada Poll Watch: Romney 46% Vs. Obama 46% | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Obama and Romney locked in a close race in Nevada….
: - The Divider vs. the Thinker – WSJ.com – The Divider vs. the Thinker:While Obama readies an ugly campaign,Paul Ryan gives a serious account of what ails US
- Boehner: ‘Great concerns’ Obama is exceeding Constitution – The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room – Boehner: ‘Great concerns’ Obama is exceeding Constitution #tcot #teaparty
- Save America’s Food and Economy Conference Call with Rep. Dan Lungren | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @SaveUSAFood Here is my take on the conference call this afternoon:
- Save America’s Food – Was on a conference call with SAFE and Rep. Dan Lungren – more information on legislation here:
- Poll: Clinton favored over 2012 GOP candidates – Hillary Clinton leads GOP presidential candidates, poll says
- Jerry Brown Outlines His Pension Overhaul Plans » Flap’s California Blog – Jerry Brown’s Public Employee Pension Reform Plan will never make it to the ballot in 2012…
: - Occupy Oakland’s Amazon.com Wishlist | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Occupy Oakland needs some love for their November 2nd general strike – their Amazon wishlist….:
- (503) http://Amazon.com – Occupy Oakland’s Wishlist #tcot #catcot
- Rep. Steve King may stay on sidelines in Iowa race – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs – Benefits Mitt Romney >Rep. Steve King may stay on sidelines in Iowa race #tcot
- Election 2012: New Hampshire Republican Primary – Rasmussen Reports™ – President 2012 GOP New Hampshire Poll Watch: Romney 41% Cain 17% Paul 11% #tcot
- President 2012 Poll Watch: Obama Showing Some Modest Improvement – 43% Approval | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President Obama remains in the danger zone for re-election….:
- President 2012: How’s That Mitch Daniels Candidacy Looking? | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Will Mitt Romney choose Mitch Daniels as Vice President?
: - Poll Watch: Half of German Adults are Obese and Overweight | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – Poll Watch: Half of German Adults are Obese and Overweight
- 3 arrests in probe of Calif. street gang – 3 arrests in probe of Ventura County California street gang
- Judge rejects Edwards’s attempt to have charges of illegal payoff dismissed – The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room – Jail time > Judge rejects John Edwards attempt to have charges of illegal pay-off dismissed
- What if Perry Skips the Debates? – NYTimes.com – Probably not much of an effect on the race > What if Perry Skips the Debates?
- Occupy Oakland: Mayor Quan Issues Contrite Statement after Police Crackdown | City Brights: Aimee Allison | an SFGate.com blog – Occupy Oakland: Mayor Quan Issues Contrite Statement after Police Crackdown #catcot #tcot
- Capitol Alert: Labor balks at Jerry Brown’s pension plan – Labor balks at Jerry Brown’s pension plan #tcot #catcot
- Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. – Home – RT @KQED_CapNotes: Gov. Brown’s #capension event at 11am will be live streamed on his website:
- Occupy Wall Street Launching First Nationwide General Strike In America Since 1946 – Nov. 2 >Occupy Wall Street Launching First Nationwide General Strike In America Since 1946 #tcot
- After Finishing Dieting, Hormonal Changes May Lead to Weight Gain? | Smiles For A Lifetime – Temporary (Locum Tenens) Dentistry – After Finishing Dieting, Hormonal Changes May Lead to Weight Gain?
- Obama Remakes the Student-Loan Industry – By Annie Hsiao – The Corner – National Review Online – Obama Remakes the Student-Loan Industry #tcot
- Oakland Mayor Jean Quan Says She Will Minimize Police Presence And That She Supports The Movement | ThinkProgress – Right! >Oakland Mayor Jean Quan Says She Will Minimize Police Presence And That She Supports The Movement
- The Morning Flap: October 27, 2011 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Today’s national political headlines on …..:
- Occupy Oakland retakes plaza, plans General Strike | Campaign 2012 – > Certainty RT @conncarroll: SF Mayor Ed Lee up for election Nov 8. Don’t expect any action against #occupysf b4 then
- Justice Scalia speaks for himself on death penalty, not the Catholic Church – The Washington Post – RT @postpolitics: Justice Scalia speaks for himself on death penalty, not the Catholic Church
- Occupy Wall Street kitchen slowdown targets squatters – NYPOST.com – Occupy Wall Street kitchen staff protesting fixing food for freeloaders #tcot
- Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball » History of presidential coattails points to Republicans keeping the House – History of Presidential Coattails Points to Republicans Keeping the House #tcot
- Twitpic – Share photos and videos on Twitter – Gallup Finds Significant Drop in Unemployment During October Link:
- Gallup Finds Significant Drop in Unemployment During October – Gallup Finds Significant Drop in Unemployment During October Link:
- Adult Babies by Mark Steyn– Last Thursday was officially “Diaper Need Awareness Day” in the State of Connecticut. Were you aware of it? There are so many awareness-raising days, it’s hard to keep track. Maybe we could have an Awareness-Raising Day Awareness Day. At any rate, the first annual Diaper Need Awareness Day was proclaimed by Dan Malloy, governor of the Nutmeg State, and they had a big old awareness-raising get-together in New Haven. It’s not clear yet whether they’ve got an official ribbon. We’re running a bit low on ribbon colors these days: It’s not just pink ribbons for breast cancer, but also teal for agoraphobia, periwinkle for acid reflux, pink-and-blue ribbons for amniotic fluid embolisms, and pinstripe ribbons for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We could use a Ribbon-Hue Awareness Day to raise awareness about how we’re falling behind in the race for more ribbon colors.If you’re wondering what sentient being isn’t aware of diapers, you’re missing the point: Connecticut representative Rosa DeLauro is raising awareness of the need for diapers in order to, as Politico reported, “push the Federal Government to provide free diapers to poor families.” Congresswoman DeLauro has introduced the DIAPER Act — that’s to say, the Diaper Investment and Aid to Promote Economic Recovery Act. So don’t worry, it’s not welfare, it’s “stimulus.” As Fox News put it, “A U.S. congresswoman in Connecticut wants to boost the economy by offering free diapers to low-income families.” And, given that sinking bazillions of dollars into green-jobs schemes to build eco-cars in Finland and a federal program to buy guns for Mexican drug cartels and all the other fascinating innovations of the Obama administration haven’t worked, who’s to say borrowing money from the Chinese politburo and sticking it in your kid’s diaper isn’t the kind of outside-the-box thinking that will do the trick?