Brandon

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Don't Vote for a Liberal

You have to see this (30 seconds)

Bill Clinton: "We Just Have to Slow Down Our Economy" to Fight Global Warming

Readers will recall that we've warned time and again that global warming alarmist's first target is the U.S. economy.

Here's more proof in a report from ABC's Jake Tapper:

January 31, 2008 9:26 AM

Former President Bill Clinton was in Denver, Colorado, stumping for his wife yesterday.

In a long, and interesting speech, he characterized what the U.S. and other industrialized nations need to do to combat global warming this way: "We just have to slow down our economy and cut back our greenhouse gas emissions 'cause we have to save the planet for our grandchildren."
At a time that the nation is worried about a recession is that really the characterization his wife would want him making? "Slow down our economy"?

I don't really think there's much debate that, at least initially, a full commitment to reduce greenhouse gases would slow down the economy….So was this a moment of candor?
Save the planet so our grandchildren can live in poverty? Is that the deal? Clinton went on to talk about how other countries would have to join us in this effort, but do we really believe that nation's like China, Brazil and Mexico will all of a sudden begin start living up to the international agreements they sign?

And of course we know that GOP candidate McCain is also an adherent to the global baloney frenzy.

McCain has frequently said that "even if we are wrong" about global warming,(McCain video on that topic) we will be leaving our children a cleaner world . Yep... even if McCain is wrong our children will be living in poverty?

No thanks!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Rudy Endorses McCain

Betrayal!

My profound apologies to all readers who may have followed my lead and supported Rudy Giuliani as a candidate for President.

He not only ran the absolute worst campaign of modern times, but ended that farce by an act of betrayal in endorsing Senator John McCain, a candidate that openly mocks and ignores our conservative concerns in his zeal to compromise with Democrats.

Giuliani promised to campaign hard for Senator McCain in the weeks ahead. Let's just hope he is as successful in that venture as he was on behalf of his own fatally flawed candidacy.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Red Sky In Morning.....

McCain wins Florida. Rudy to Withdraw and Endorse McCain!

Curt at Flopping Aces has more detail and commentary of the McCain win. From exit polls, it looks like Independents screwed up what was supposed to be a Republican contest and gave the edge to McCain.

The news for those who were early followers of Rudy Giuliani is grim. Not only did Rudy's strategy turn out to be the biggest bust of all time, but now Rudy is set to endorse McCain and likely ensure he will be the GOP nominee. That is the biggest slap to many Rudy supporters.

McCain can now continue to ignore the conservative base and further undermine the conservative agenda in a campaign which appeals to independents and moderates.

Live Blog/Chat for Florida GOP Prez Primary Results Tuesday Night

Join us tonight for Florida results LIVE, starting at 7:45 PM EST, 4:45 PM PST!



Current GOP Delegate Tally

From Real Clear Politics:

Romney-59
Huckabee-40
McCain-36
Paul-4
Giuliani-1

(source: AP, Wash Post, ABC News & RCP)

Florida is a "winner take all" state where all of Florida's 57 delegates will be awarded in this "closed" primary (only those identifying themselves as Republicans may vote -- unless they are Independents who demand the right to vote for McCain).

And the winner from Florida will set the stage for Super Tuesday on February 5 with the following states and delegates:

California: (click state name for latest polling) will award 173 delegates in a closed primary. But delegates will be apportioned, not winner take all.
New York: 101 winner take all closed primary.
Georgia: 72 open primary.
Illinois: 70 open primary.
Missouri: 58 open winner take all primary.
Tennessee: 55 open primary.
Arizona: 53 closed winner take all primary.
New Jersey: 52 open winner take all primary.
Alabama: 48
Colorado: 46 Closed
Massachusetts: 43
Minnesota: 41
Oklahoma: 41 Closed
Utah: 36 Winner take all
Arkansas: 34
Connecticut: 30 Winner take all, Closed
West Virginia: 30
Alaska: 29 Closed
North Dakota: 26
Montana: 25 Winner take all
Delaware: 18 Winner take all, Closed

That's 1081 delegates awarded on Super Tuesday. 373 will be awarded in winner take all contests. 558 delegates will be awarded in later primaries.

1,191 delegates are needed to win.

Tension on the Floor During Bush State of the Union Speech

Wouldn't you like to know what Teddy is telling Obama?

From the Associated Press: So close, yet so far away—and so bitter.
Rival Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama came within a foot of each other just before President Bush's State of the Union speech Monday night and managed not to acknowledge each other, and certainly not touch.

Clinton, clad in scarlet, crossed the aisle between their seats on the House floor and reached out a hand to greet Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Democratic icon whose endorsement she had courted only to lose it to Obama.

Kennedy shook her hand while Obama, wearing a dark suit and standing between the two, turned away.

The rivals then retreated to their seats, only the aisle and four senators between them.

It was the latest chapter in the increasingly nasty fight between the two leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination and capped a dramatic day.

Hours earlier, Obama received the endorsements of Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy, the brother and daughter, respectively, of President John F. Kennedy. They were joined by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., the senator's son.

On his way out of the chamber, Bush shook hands with Obama. The president and Clinton did not shake hands.

The only Republican senator still running, John McCain of Arizona, skipped the address to campaign in Florida.

Earlier in the day Senator Kennedy endorsed Obama and said: "Through Barack, I believe we will move beyond the politics of fear and personal destruction and unite our country with the politics of common purpose," Mr Kennedy said.

Do you suppose Kennedy is warning Obama to stay out of Fort Marcy Park?

Monday, January 28, 2008

Bush Middle East Photo Tour

And a reminder: State of the Union Address is at 9 PM tonight!

President Bush stands in front of a U.S. flag Jan. 12, 2008, as he addresses military personnel and coalition forces at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. White House Photo.

We've been so busy covering the presidential primary, this story earlier this month got overlooked. It was an historic trip by President Bush, which in pictures demonstrates best the sound alliances we have with nations throughout the Middle East.

You are invited to click this link and view the slide show.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Behind the Scenes Special with President Bush TONIGHT!

Sunday night starting at 8 PM EST (check your local listings) on the Fox News Channel.

As President Bush enters the final year of his presidency, he granted Brett Baeir and FOX News Channel’s Documentary Unit unprecedented access to his day-to-day world.

And don't forget: Bush final State of the Union address is Monday evening at 9 PM EST.

Leaving SC Obama Takes the High Road, Bill Clinton Takes the Low Road

And Obama will be in Alabama afore ye!

Here's what Obama said after his blowout landslide in South Carolina:

"The choice in this election is not about regions or religions or genders," Obama said at a boisterous victory rally. "It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it's not about black versus white. It's about the past versus the future."

Barrack Hussein Obama
Remarks in Victory Speech
Columbia, SC
But Bill Clinton wasn't about to let it go at that. ABC's Jake Tapper files this report as Clinton left the state:
Said Bill Clinton today in Columbia, SC: "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in '84 and '88. Jackson ran a good campaign. And Obama ran a good campaign here."

This was in response to a question about Obama saying it "took two people to beat him." Jackson had not been mentioned.

Boy, I can't understand why anyone would think the Clintons are running a race-baiting campaign to paint Obama as "the black candidate."

In a later report, Tapper relays the email he received from a friend of his who is black: He writes: "Of all the things Bill Clinton has said, that comparison to Jesse Jackson is the most obvious -- and odious -- race baiting that he's done."

Again, if a Republican President or any senior GOP leader used overt racial messages in this way there would be a firestorm of media criticism. Remember what happened to Trent Lott? And Lott wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the presidential nominating process by dividing voters over the issue of race.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

SC Dem Decision Based on Racism and Mud!

7PM EST Projection: Barrack Hussein Obama WINS SC!!!

The spectacle of a former President stumping South Carolina stirring up racial animosity would be a HUUUGGEEE scandal if the President doing it were a Republican!

Writing at 5 PM EST on Saturday, we'll know the results of the Democrat primary in South Carolina in a few hours. While most of us have been distracted dealing with the GOP race, it's important to consider what is happening on the other side as it's likely just a warm up act for what we will see in November.

After McCain won the SC GOP primary, attention quickly turned to the Democrats. The air waves immediately filled with commercials by Barrack Obama promising to rob from the rich and give to the poor. That's not so far off what Hillary and John Edwards were promising as they each marked out a socialist campaign platform.

But the real story was Bill Clinton campaigning all week in the state while his wife was elsewhere as if that would fool the voters into believing she wasn't responsible for what he was doing.

On his wife's behalf, Bill Clinton waged a subliminal racist campaign against Barrack Obama. That subtext came out into the open midweek when Bill Clinton postulated that his wife might lose SC because: "As far as I can tell, neither Senator Obama nor Hillary have lost votes because of their race or gender," he said. "They are getting votes, to be sure, because of their race or gender — that's why people tell me Hillary doesn't have a chance of winning here."

This was in the same time frame when Bill Clinton accused Obama of being the one to inject the race issue into the campaign.

Meanwhile, Hillary took the high road:"I'm out there every day making a positive case for my candidacy. I have a lot of wonderful people, including my husband, who are out there making the case for me," she said on Wednesday.

All of this has prompted Democrats who previously defended Bill Clinton, no matter what, to rethink their support for him and his wife.

Here's a sampling:

Skin Deep
by Michael Crowley
Just how strong is black affection for the Clintons?
The New Republic
Post Date Wednesday, February 13, 2008

...With black voters turning away from her, Clinton has found a new firewall: Latino voters, whose reputed tensions with African Americans will lead them, some Clintonites believe, to reflexively oppose Obama. Indeed, the black embrace of Obama poses a threat if it makes him appear to be the "black candidate," perhaps driving away some white voters, too. If that happens, Hillary, in a twist few could have predicted, might win the nomination much as her husband first won the presidency--using the black electorate as a foil.


Is the right right on the Clintons?
Hillary's campaign tactics are causing some liberals to turn against the couple.
By Jonathan Chait
LA Times
January 26, 2008

...Something strange happened the other day. All these different people -- friends, co-workers, relatives, people on a liberal e-mail list I read -- kept saying the same thing: They've suddenly developed a disdain for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Maybe this is just a coincidence, but I think we've reached an irrevocable turning point in liberal opinion of the Clintons.
... It made me wonder: Were the conservatives right about Bill Clinton all along? Maybe not right to set up a perjury trap so they could impeach him, but right about the Clintons' essential nature? Fortunately, the Journal's attempt to convince us that the Clintons have always been unscrupulous liars seemed to prove the opposite. Its examples of Clintonian lies were their claims that Bob Dole wanted to cut Medicare, that there was a vast right-wing conspiracy, that Paula Jones was "trailer trash" and that Kenneth Starr was a partisan.
...
But the conservatives might have had a point about the Clintons' character. Bill's affair with Monica Lewinsky jeopardized the whole progressive project for momentary pleasure. The Clintons gleefully triangulated the Democrats in Congress to boost his approval rating. They do seem to have a feeling of entitlement to power.

If Hillary wins the nomination, most of us will probably vote for her because the alternative is likely to be worse. But what happens if she's embroiled in another scandal? Will liberals rally behind her, or will they remember the Democratic primary?
And while all of that is troubling to Eleanor Clift, she says what is probably on many Democrat's minds when she suggests that such tactics are fair game if used on the GOP:


Cheap Shots, But Valuable?
The Clinton approach to Obama could pay dividends this fall.
By Eleanor Clift
Newsweek
Jan 25, 2008

...What happened to the softer Hillary we saw in New Hampshire? I thought maybe if I closed my eyes and imagined Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney standing at the podium in Obama's place, I'd feel better about the "Rollerball" politics the Clintons play. "Let me finish," Obama interjected, vainly trying to quiet Hillary, whom he said had gone on for two minutes. That's my signature line when I struggle to get a word in edgewise on "The McLaughlin Group," which is perhaps why I found the combat so unsettling.
So there you go. Racebaiting is bad unless it's being used against a Republican!

Can you say HYPOCRISY Eleanor Clift? Proably not!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Campaign of McCain vs. Hillary a "Love Fest?"

Birds of a feather, flock together!

Is this what we will be seeing on our television screens if either McCain or Hillary is elected President?



It was bad enough when the New York Times endorsed McCain. Now this:

Bill Clinton: John McCain and Hillary are 'very close'
CNN's Political Ticker
January 25, 2008

CNN) — If Hillary Clinton and John McCain become their party's presidential nominees, the general election race is likely to be a love-fest.

At least according to Bill Clinton.

Campaigning in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Friday, the former president brushed aside suggestions his wife would prove to be a divisive nominee for the Democratic Party, pointing out how she has successfully worked with Republicans in the Senate — including one of the current GOP presidential candidates.

"She and John McCain are very close," Clinton said. "They always laugh that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history, and they're afraid they'd put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other."
McCain has shown a remarkable carelessness and desire to compromise on core GOP principles with Democrats! But who knew that that he and Hillary actually spent so much time together?

Many of us would prefer to defeat our enemies. Not send them Valentines and hope they like us!

Clinton Trash Talk Litters Palmetto State

We haven't seen anything this ugly in South Carolina since the Rebs fired on Fort Sumter!

It started in Nevada, when Barrack Hussein Obama told the Reno Gazette-Journal's editorial board that "Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not, and a way that Bill Clinton did not."

That remark caused Bill Clinton to flip out and the Bill and Hillary tag team went into overdrive.

In the nasty Dem debate on January 21st (transcript) Hillary said that Reagan and Republican ideas were "bad ideas for America." And in a Hillary radio ad run on SC stations an announcer with a deep voice and southern twang, declared that Republican ideas were "disastrous."

But in that Myrtle Beach debate, Obama pointed out that Hillary had "fulsome praise of Ronald Reagan in a book by Tom Brokaw that's being published right now." In that book, Hillary said Reagan "Could call the Soviet Union the Evil Empire and then negotiate arms-control agreements. He played the balance and the music beautifully. "

Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, not a member of what Hillary called the "vast right wing conspiracy" went further in describing how both Clintons are now criticizing Obama for doing exactly what they themselves have done:

Clinton's Depressing Assault on Obama
By E. J. Dionne
Real Clear Politics
January 25, 2008

It was a remarkable moment: A young, free-thinking presidential hopeful named Bill Clinton sat down with reporters and editors at The Washington Post in October 1991 and started saying things most Democrats wouldn't allow to pass their lips.

Ronald Reagan, Clinton said, deserved credit for winning the Cold War. He praised Reagan's "rhetoric in defense of freedom" and his role in "advancing the idea that communism could be rolled back."

"The idea that we were going to stand firm and reaffirm our containment strategy, and the fact that we forced them to spend even more when they were already producing a Cadillac defense system and a dinosaur economy, I think it hastened their undoing," Clinton declared.

Clinton was careful to add that the Reagan military program included "a lot of wasted money and unnecessary expenditure," but the signal had been sent: Clinton was willing to move beyond "the brain-dead politics in both parties," as he so often put it.

His apostasy was widely noticed. The Memphis Commercial Appeal praised Clinton two days later for daring to "set himself apart from the pack of contenders for the Democratic nomination by saying something nice about Ronald Reagan." Clinton's "readiness to defy his party's prevailing Reaganphobia and admit it," the paper wrote, "is one reason he's a candidate to watch."
...
And with both Clintons on record saying kind things about Reagan, why go after Obama on the point? Honestly: If Obama is a Reaganite, then I am a salamander.
Obama's response to the attacks has been to repeat something many of us have known for a long time, but that some Democrats are only now beginning to understand. In a new radio ad for Obama, an announcer describes Hillary Clinton thusly: "She'll say anything, and change nothing. It's time to turn the page."

Windows Panes Smashed in Hillary's Glass House!

In that same nasty debate, Hillary attacked Obama for his close ties to Antoin Rezko an indicted Chicago businessman and fundraiser for Obama whom Hillary described as a "slumlord."

And yet, here is Hillary and Bill posing in a photograph with that same "slumlord"

And let's not forget that Hillary has her own problems with criminal fundraisers:

Bigtime fundraiser Norman Hsu, now behind bars after years on the lam and Hillary Clinton.

Hillary and Bill with disgraced fundraiser Johnny Chung (left) and Chinese money bag men at White House Christmas party circa 1990's.

And let's not forget Hillary posing at another White House Christmas fundraiser party with convicted drug smuggler Jorge Cabrera.

All this proves is that you can take the white trash out of Arkansas. But you can't take the white trash out of the Clintons!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Florida GOP Debate YAWN!

What is Ron Paul Still Doing Up There?

Maybe I'm just bored with debates, as I kept changing the channel on this one. But I wonder why Democrats had a debate in Myrtle Beach where all the minor candidates were excluded and yet Republicans still have that raving loon Ron Paul in ours?

Why?

Ron Paul polls at about 4% in current Florida polls. He's scored 4 delegates in the early contests out of 140. He's never received more than 8% in primaries and only topped 10% in caucuses where his Paulite brown shirts can work their black magic.

I was all in favor of having My Favorite Martian in the early debates for entertainment value. But it's time for things to get serious. Now that Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter have dropped out, we should get down to business and spend limited debate time to candidates who actually do have a shot at the nomination.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

A Sad Day for Fred Heads

It's official: GOP Presidential candidate Fred Thompson withdraws from the race!

Fred Thompson introduces his grandson at a visit to Mike's America in October, 2007. Mike's America photo.

It's hard to put so much of yourself into a campaign and a candidate even if you never met the man. We invest our hopes and dreams in a candidate and when he withdraws, or worse yet, loses, it's painful.

But that's the reality of the game called politics. I remember that the first vote I cast for President was for Gerald Ford in 1976 and Carter won. But four years later, I voted for Ronald Reagan and he won. Three years after that, I was a paid staffer on the Senate campaign of conservative founder John Ashbrook when he died suddenly before the Ohio primary.

Politics can be a wild ride from victory to defeat. And certainly, Fred Head friends today can permit themselves a brief moment of disappointment and sadness.

But the game is never over and the best way to overcome the sting of defeat is to get back out there and WIN!

I know that many of you are less enthusiastic about second choices. But each of those choices is better than the Democrat alternative. Not only CAN we win in 2008, we MUST win. There is just too much at stake for the long term future of our nation than to sit and watch Democrats destroy our economy, undermine national security and discard traditional American values.

Fred's departure from the race means that the conservative vote which was split in South Carolina allowing John McCain to win, will now be much more focused as the Florida primary looms on Tuesday, January 29th.

Rest, regroup and come back to the game as soon as you can my friends. We need you! We need ALL of you!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Lib Christian Haters Silent on Obama/Clinton Pulpit Politicking

I have no problem with politicians campaigning in churches. But I wonder why the lefties who hate "right wing Christians" and explode into sanctimonious fits every time a Republican even mentions the word "God" are so silent when Democrats campaign under the cross?

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Fred's Revenge

Mike Huckabee stole Fred's thunder in the early primaries. On Saturday in SC, Fred got his revenge!

One candidate stood between Mike Huckabee and victory in Saturday's GOP Presidential Primary in South Carolina: Fred Thompson. McCain won the primary with 33% of the vote to Huckabee's 30% (results).

Looking at the SC exit polls, it's clear that McCain didn't win conservatives. 69% of South Carolina voters identified themselves as conservatives and their vote went to Huckabee: 35%, McCain 26% and Thompson 19% and Romney 16%.

35% of conservatives went for both Thompson and Romney, denying Huckabee a win and further underscoring the very large number of conservatives who will vote for anybody but Huckabee and McCain.

Those who attend church weekly or more often made up 64% of the GOP vote. Huckabee took 41% of that vote and McCain only 27%. But it was Thompson who cut into Huckabee's weekly church going base at 15%, 2 more points than Romney at 13%. Enough votes right there to bring the overall total close to a tie between McCain and Huckabee.

[Note: McCain got 50% of those who never attend church].

Fred's Late Surge Undeniable Factor

In the three days prior to Saturday's election 16% of the exit poll sample made up their mind. Of those, 29% voted for Huckabee, 35% for McCain, 22% for Thompson, and 11% for Romney. That surge, more than any other factor blunted any momentum Huckabee had.

Of course the beneficiary here was the John McCain, whose natural base was much stronger with self described liberals, moderates and Independents.. One McCain supporter declared: "Thank God For Fred Thompson."

What Next for Fred?

Reports are that Fred has returned to Tennessee to visit with his ailing mother and consider his options. The word is that he still retains some funds which could help him mount campaigns in other states, but it is doubtful he has enough to compete in larger states like Florida.

Fred's vote also splits Romney's strength which continues to benefit John McCain in states like Florida.

Huckabee is said to be planning on a resurgence in the heartland arc of Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee. If Huckabee won all of those (and they are almost all winner-take-all states), he would take home a surprisingly large 308 delegates. Would Thompson voters continue to stick with him, splitting the anti-McCain anti-Huckabee vote with Romney knowing Fred is very unlikely to win? Again, doubtful.

The Bottom Line: Stop McCain ?

At some point, voters who find McCain and Huckabee unacceptable will have to coalesce around a single candidate to block either of those from continuing to exploit their respective strengths and capture the nomination. Mitt Romney holds an advantage over Fred in that he has already won a number of contests, holds the highest number of delegates and has all the money he needs to mount a campaign.

We should know soon what Fred's intentions are. Also, the Florida GOP primary is a week from Tuesday on January 29th. Currently, Rudy and Mitt are slightly below McCain's average in Florida polls. Hopefully, the overall picture will become clearer after Florida as we move into Super Tuesday.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Live Chat for SC GOP Results Saturday 7 PM

Join the election night live blog/chat starting at 7 PM EST.

Rain Covers SC on Polling Day

MITT ROMNEY WINS NEVADA CAUCUS

Update: Mike's America back from SC polls: Two more votes for FRED! It was crowded in our precinct, held at our Boat House Pavilion. Commenter "Scarlett" and I were among the 147 Republicans that preceded us in line before we voted at 1 PM.
Will Rain dampen the vote for McCain?



Radar image for the South East at 1:30 PM Saturday, January 19, 2008.

South Carolina is in the upper right.

Rain and perhaps snow in the western part of the state will continue throughout the day. Will this dampen the ardor of Independents and Dems who may intend on voting for McCain? Typically those voters are easily dissuaded by a few rain drops.

Ann Coulter descibes the wishy washy Dem/Indp voter this way:


Unluckily for McCain, snowstorms in Michigan suppressed the turnout among Democratic "Independents" who planned to screw up the Republican primary by voting for our worst candidate. Democrats are notoriously unreliable voters in bad weather. Instead of putting on galoshes and going to the polls, they sit on their porches waiting for FEMA to rescue them.
Best of luck to all the candidates and I'll check in with a report from the polls after I vote!

Don't Forget: Live Blog/Chat for results tonight starting at 7 PM EST.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Last Day of SC Campaign

Mike's America Checks Out Packed McCain Rally on Hilton Head Island

Immigration Amnesty Protesters Make a Stand!

Latest SC Polls Show McCain leading. (Michigan anyone?)


Polls open Saturday morning, January 19th at 7 AM for the South Carolina GOP Presidential Primary.

Excitement for the race is palpable as ads on television and radio and phone calls continue to flood into voter's homes.

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. talks to supporters on the eve of the South Carolina Republican primary elections at The Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, in Hilton Head Island, S.C.(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

Arizona Senator John McCain held his next to last rally on Hilton Head Island this afternoon at the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort.

The event was packed and even though the candidate was running late and the auditorium was over heated, the crowd quickly came to life when John McCain walked in accompanied by South Carolina's senior Senator Lindsey Graham and retired Texas Senator Phil Gramm (who defeated Ron Paul for the senate seat in 1984).

The presence of former Senator Phil Gramm was an attempt to stress control on spending and fiscal restraint, which is at the heart of the conservative agenda. But perhaps others were reminded of all the promises that have been made including the hardfought Gramm-Ruddman-Hollings Act which was gutted later when Democrats were able to override it's spending control provisions.

Outside the auditorium representatives with Numbers USA held signs which read "Stop McCain Amnesty" referring to McCain's attempt to work with Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) to offer a legal way for those who broke our immigration law to stay in the U.S. legally if they purchase a Z visa.

McCain fired up the crowd with some jokes and then launched into his standard stump speech and made a prediction that he will win on Saturday. After weeks of tough campaigning, McCain looked no worse for wear than when I met him in November.

But a quick survey of the crowd revealed a number of people who were there to see the candidate and be part of the event, but who did not necessarily support him.

An older couple cornered a McCain staffer on the subject of immigration, insisting that they were dead set against amnesty for illegal aliens. While the McCain staffer tried to give the campaign talking points denying McCain's position amounted to amnesty, yours truly chirped in regarding the "Z" Visas which were part of the McCain-Kennedy bill.

A man wearing a Fair Tax T-shirt and a Mike Huckabee button tried to convince another couple that Huckabee's willingness to sign a pledge regarding the Fair Tax was enough. Again, Mike's America interceded to point out that candidate pledges mean much less than the candidate's performance in office.

A father with his five year old son on his shoulders was interested in having his son witness the event of a modern campaign rally. But he disclosed to Mike's America that he had been listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio on the way over and while he was still undecided, was more inclined to vote for Thompson or Romney.

It was an exciting finish to a long campaign. The polls open at 7 AM EST Saturday and Close at 7PM.

Tom Delay "The Hammer" Slams McCain

McCain hit by Hammer on the Hill
By Jackie Kucinich
The Hill
01/18/08

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) lambasted Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) Thursday for “betraying” the conservative movement.

During a private luncheon with Republican chiefs of staff on Capitol Hill, DeLay — who has criticized McCain for years — stepped up his attacks in the wake of the senator’s reemergence as a top presidential contender. DeLay said McCain has no principles and indicated he would not endorse the senator if he won the GOP primary.

“If McCain gets the nomination, I don’t know what I’ll do,” DeLay said at the Capitol Hill Club, according to a source in the room. “I might have to sit this one out.”

He added that a McCain triumph for the GOP nomination would destroy the Republican Party. DeLay delivered his luncheon address to Republicans Assuring Mutual Support (RAMS), a group of current and former chiefs of staff and staff directors.
...
Some conservatives have long mistrusted McCain, citing his work on campaign finance reform, global warming and immigration as well his opposition to President Bush’s 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

Yet McCain voted against the 2003 Medicare drug bill, a measure that many in the conservative movement rallied against. As majority leader, DeLay vigorously urged his colleagues to back the legislation, which narrowly passed Congress.

McCain, a former House member, has jousted with House Republicans over the last several years.

Several years ago, McCain and then House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) engaged in public spat, with Hastert joking that he didn’t know McCain was a Republican. McCain fired back by suggesting Hastert was not fiscally responsible.

McCain does enjoy support in the lower chamber, attracting the backing of 20 House Republicans.
Meanwhile, another prominent former member of Congress has also said he will not back McCain for president.

“I served 12 years with him, six years...as one of the leaders of the Senate,” former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) told radio host Mark Levin on Jan. 10. “John McCain was not only against us, but leading the charge on the other side.”

He added, “There’s nothing worse than having a Democratic Congress and a Republican president who would act like a Democrat in matters that are important to conservatives.”

Reminder: Live Election Night Blog/Chat starting at 7 PM EST Here at Mike's America and Patriot Blogs Across the Country!

Truth Comes Out in S.F. Zoo Tiger Mauling Case

Drunk, Stoned, Hip Hop Thugs Responsible for Friend and Tiger's Death!

I Miss the Tiger!

Even though it appears that the official police investigation is ongoing, we know have a clearer idea of what happened on Christmas Day at the San Francisco Zoo that left one young man and a beautiful 4 year old Siberian Tiger dead.

At first, the two Dhaliwal brothers, 23-year-old Kulbir and Paul, 19 refused to cooperate with Police and were even overheard in the ambulance as it took them to the hospital making an arrangement to keep silent. "Don't tell them what we did," older brother Kulbir was overheard by Paramedics telling Paul.

On January 8th, the two brothers attended the funeral (see photo right, note claw marks) of the mauling victim 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr.

Paul Dhaliwal, is also quoted by the victims mother, Marilza Sousa saying: "We didn't do nothing. We were just normal kids in the zoo.. That's what happened - just dancing, talking, laughing like normal kids."

Friday, we learned that multiple reports of the three taunting the tiger were correct and Police Investigators stated in court documents: "the three had yelled and waved at the animal while standing atop the railing of the tiger's exhibit", police said in court documents filed Thursday.

The investigation also confirms that small amount of marijuana as well as a partially filled bottle of Grey Goose vodka and kit commonly used to defeat drug testing, which included a vial of unisex synthetic urine, were found in the 2002 BMW belonging to the older brother Kulbir.

All three of the victims tested positive for marijuana and had alcohol in their systems. Young Paul had a blood alcohol level of 0.16 percent, twice the legal level for drunkenness.

Sousa's father, Carlos Sousa Sr., is quoted in the affidavit as saying he spoke by telephone with Paul Dhaliwal after the attack. ...According to the elder Sousa's account to police, Dhaliwal told him that he, his brother and the younger Sousa had been "waving their hands and yelling at the tiger" just before the animal bounded up a 12 1/2-foot wall from its dry moat and attacked them.

Paul Dhaliwal - referred to in affidavit by his formal name, Amritpal - "said the three of them were standing on the railing looking at the tiger," Sousa told police.

The 3-foot-tall metal railing is a few feet from the edge of the tiger moat.

Dhaliwal told Sousa that "when they got down they heard a noise in the bushes, and the tiger was jumping out of the bushes" on Paul Dhaliwal, the affidavit said.
Yep. Just some "normal kids in the zoo.. dancing, talking, laughing like normal kids." Stoned, drunk and taunting a wild animal. Only when they heard some rustling in the bushes did they realize too late how dangerous their day had become!

Both Dhaliwal brothers have been in trouble with the law recently. They were arrested last year after police witnessed them chasing two individuals near their home. They became belligerent and violent. Young Paul Dhaliwal was on felony probation after pleading no contest Oct. 31 to reckless driving, driving under the influence, resisting an officer and providing a false name, after he led a Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy on a chase of up to 140 mph before crashing into a tree in San Jose.

Lawyers Cry Foul at Police Investigation

An attorney for the Sousa family, Michael Cardoza, said it was clear police had been pressured to conduct their search despite a shortage of evidence that the Dhaliwals and Sousa had committed a crime.

"You wonder who is pulling the strings here," he said. "If they were looking at bringing manslaughter (against the Dhaliwals for Sousa's death), that is unbelievable."
...
"Come on, how many people go out there to the zoo a little stoned?" he said. "This is ridiculous. Is that a reason to dirty the kids up?"
Come on... how many people get drunk and high and dance on rail taunting tigers! No big deal right?

Meanwhile, the Dhaliwal family has signed up celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos to shake down the zoo for every penny they can get.

And sadly, there are reports that the San Francisco Police Dept. may shelve the investigation without filing charges against the two people most responsible for the death of the Tiger and their friend.

One Impeached Scoundrel Inspires Another

This week was the 10th anniversary of the Drudge Report breaking the Monica Lewinsky scandal that led to the impeachment of the adulterer in chief. (historic Drudge post here)

And since the chief villan in that scandal has inserted himself into the presidential campaign, the following is especially noteworthy:

Inside the Beltway
By John McCaslin
Washington Times
January 18, 2008

Ma and Pa Clinton

"Interesting discussion with one of my clients in Texas," a leading political observer in Washington tells Inside the Beltway. "Topic was that Bill Clinton is treating this election as his third, and that the missus looks far less presidential while he grabs more and more limelight on the stage.

"My client was reminded of an old, real-life Texas story of Ma and Pa Ferguson — she being the first woman governor of Texas."

We learn more about Miriam "Ma" Ferguson and her "impeached" other half from Fort Worth, Texas, writer Judy Alter, winner of the 2005 Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Western Writers of America. She wrote that Ma "was a quiet, private person who preferred to stay home in her big house in Temple, Texas, and take care of her husband, raise her two daughters and tend to her flower garden."

"But in 1923, she was elected governor of Texas, the first woman governor elected in the United States. Her husband, Jim Ferguson, served two terms as governor, but during his second term he was impeached, which meant he could not run again for public office. So Miriam agreed to run to clear his name and restore the family's honor."

Hmmm, sounds familiar.

The story goes on to say that Ma served two terms as governor, when she and her husband became better known as "Ma and Pa." Ma's campaign slogan, by the way: "Two Governors for the Price of One."

So that's it!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

2 Days to SC GOP Vote

48 hours to go before we vote in the SC GOP presidential primary. Will the polls that misjudged McCain's strength in Michigan be wrong in SC too?

Will the Fredmentum carry Thompson through to victory or a strong second?

Will we witness the unraveling of the Huckabee campaign in the state that he thought was his only the week before?

All this electoral drama coming to you LIVE on primary night here at Mike's America with another of our Live Blog/Chats on Election Night: Saturday starting at 8 PM EST.

Stay Tuned!

Racial Joke Leaves Audience Stunned!

This is a consequence of the Democrat presidential candidates efforts (on both sides) to inject race into the Democrat nomination process.

The question is: was it a setup by Obama?

Joke leaves 'em gasping
Obama quip stuns Citizen of the West banquet crowd

by John C. Ensslin
Rocky Mountain News
Thursday, January 17, 2008

A Greeley businessman apologized Wednesday after a joke about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama fell flat during the National Western Stock Show's annual Citizen of the West banquet.

William R. Farr was pretending to read telegrams congratulating this year's award recipient, University of Colorado President Hank Brown, when he pulled out a piece of paper and said, "I have a telegram from the White House."

Then he added, "They're going to have to change the name of that building if Obama's elected."

Witnesses said they could hear people gasp in the ballroom of the Adam's Mark Hotel.

"I gasped," said Gov. Bill Ritter, who was sitting at the table with Farr.
...
"I apologize for that," Farr told a reporter as soon as the banquet ended. "I mistook it to be humorous, but it was something I shouldn't have said."

Do You Trust Mike Huckabee?

Captured Audio from the pro-Huckabee push poll misleading the voter about Mike Huckabee's record and trashing the voter's first choice: Fred Thompson.



Thanks to Alan M. Teitleman who captured the audio.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Sing along for Huck-a-bee and Cle-men-cy!

Considering the slime being directed at Fred and Mitt voters by the pro-Huckabee push poll in SC, this delightful sing along is fair game:

3 Days to SC GOP Vote!

UPDATE: Audio from the call here!

It's getting nasty!

Political phone calls ave been coming in every hour here at Mike's America. Most of them don't even connect, but hang up after I answer.

One call which did connect was especially curious.

It claimed to be an automated poll for the upcoming SC GOP primary on Saturday.

The first question was: "Do you support President Bush?"

I answered yes and the call ended.

A neighbor got a similar call and answered no. The automated "poll" then proceeded to explain why Huckabee is the only candidate who wants to end illegal immigration and that the others, primarily Romney were for amnesty.

The phone number for both calls was:(703) 961-1077.

And caller ID displayed the name: L Hinton

Using a reverse phone number lookup the following information is available online:

L Hinton
13296 LEAFCREST LN
FAIRFAX, VA 22033
(703) 961-1077

This same phone number has been connected to similar calls in Michigan (see this bulletin board discussion) and other states.

TPM Muckraker has the full story as well as the link to a group called Common Sense Issues which is operating a web site : Trust Huckabee.

In a December 17th press release, Mike Huckabee denied any connection to this group: "As I've said before, our campaign has nothing to do with push polling and I wish they would stop. We don't want this kind of campaigning because it violates the spirit of our campaign."

And yet the slime continues to ooze in the Palmetto State!

Only three more days!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

M I T T
W I N S
M I C H I G A N!!

Clinton Campaign Uses Teacher's Union in Nevada to Block Poor Hispanic Caucus Participation

Funny how Democrats who made false accusations that Republicans wanted to disenfranchise poor and minority voters are doing just that in Nevada!

Remember all the brouhaha about the Bush campaign trying to disenfranchise Black voters in Florida? Yet, when the U.S. Civil Rights Commission issued it's otherwise scathing report, it could find NOT ONE person denied the right to vote.

If anyone disagrees, then name Black voter who was intentionally refused the right to vote due to a Bush conspiracy to deny their rights.

You might think that Democrats would be especially sensitive to the issue since they routinely demonstrate such concern on the matter. If you thought that, you would be wrong:

CLINTON ALLIES SUPPRESS THE VOTE IN NEVADA
by Ari Berman
The Nation
January 15, 2008

...On Meet the Press on Sunday, Hillary Clinton said her campaign had nothing to do with a lawsuit--written about by Nation Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel--that threatens to prevent thousands of workers from voting in the Nevada caucus on Saturday.

Back in March, the Nevada Democratic Party agreed to set up caucus locations on the Vegas strip for low-income shift workers, many of them members of the state's influential Culinary Union, who commute long distances to work and wouldn't be able to get home in time to caucus. It was an uncontroversial idea until the Culinary Union endorsed Barack Obama and the Nevada State Education Association, whose top officials support Clinton, sued to shut down the caucus sites. The Clinton camp played dumb until yesterday, when President Clinton came out in favor of the lawsuit.

Clinton's comments drew a heated response from D. Taylor, the head of Nevada's Culinary Union, on MSNBC's Hardball. "He is in support of disenfranchising thousands upon thousands of workers, not even just our members," Taylor said of Clinton. "The teachers union is just being used here. We understand that. This is the Clinton campaign. They tried to disenfranchise students in Iowa. Now they're trying to disenfranchise people here in Nevada, who are union members and people of color and women."

Rank-and-file members of Nevada's teachers union also come out against the lawsuit filed by their leadership. "We never thought our union and Senator Clinton would put politics ahead of what's right for our students, but that's exactly what they're doing," the letter stated. "As teachers, and proud Democrats, we hope they will drop this undemocratic lawsuit and help all Nevadans caucus, no matter which candidate they support."

The lawsuit's opponents make a persuasive point. Creating obstacles to voting is what the GOP does to Democrats, not what Democrats should be doing to other Democrats.

Will we see a media firestorm over this blatant attempt to disenfranchise the poor and minority voters in Nevada? Will we see an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Civil Rights Commission?

You know the answer: NO!

But mark my words. Next time a Republican poll worker asks a Democrat to provide identification before voting (just as they do with all voters in many states), the Dem will scream "I'm being DISENFRANCHISED!"

Voting rights and truth aren't important here. The big lie works and the Clintons will do whatever it takes to win.

John McCain: A Dim Bulb on Global Warming!

Here's the latest Mike's America production:




Monday, January 14, 2008

Huckabee's Misleading Mailing on Immigration Endorsement

This arrived in the mail Monday:


Larger image here.

Larger image here.

While Minuteman Founder Gilchrist has endorsed Huckabee, the Minutemen who are actually building the border fence and manning border outposts has NOT!

Confused?

Via Marc Ambinder, here's the press release from the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps:

Real Minutemen Do Not Endorse Huckabee.

No National Minuteman Group has endorsed Mike Huckabee.
One individual Minuteman has personally endorsed him.

For the sake of clarity, it is important to note that the Minuteman
Civil Defense Corps (MCDC), the nation's largest Minuteman organization,
is a 501(C)4 non-profit organization and cannot and does not endorse any
candidate for public office. MCDC is not associated with Mr. Jim
Gilchrist, who today endorsed Mike Huckabee for president.

Jim Gilchrist’s erstwhile Minuteman Project is itself an organization
which by its own representations as a non-profit civic group cannot
legally endorse candidates. It does not have any volunteers who observe
illegal border activity. It has no border fence building projects. Jim
Gilchrist here speaks only for Jim Gilchrist, he does not speak for the
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, nor is he nationally representative of
most patriots in the "Minuteman movement" – who under no circumstances
could ignore the failed record nor endorse the duplicitous “plan”
recently rolled out by candidate Mike Huckabee. The national media needs
to recognize that Jim Gilchrist’s endorsement is his own personal
statement, nothing more.
The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps isn't the only immigration group to profoundly disagree with Huckabee's weak stand on immigration:

Illegals foes reject nod to Huckabee
By Jerry Seper
Washington Times
December 13, 2007

..."Mike Huckabee is pro-amnesty and favors a path to citizenship for illegal aliens currently in the U.S. that would require a lifting of current penalties," said William Gheen, whose 25,000-member Americans for Legal Immigration sent mass mailings yesterday to more than 300 pro-enforcement groups.

"Huckabee has released an immigration plan that contains the deceptive 'touch back' provision that the pushers of amnesty tried on us in Washington this year," he said. "He wants to trick the nation by having illegal aliens leave for a day to pick up new papers at an office set up across the border and then walk right back."
...
Bob Wright, who heads the Patriots' Border Alliance, another Minuteman splinter group, said although Mr. Gilchrist helped move the issue of illegal entry into the U.S. "to it's rightful place on the national stage," his endorsement of Mr. Huckabee "is at best disturbing."

"While I believe it is possible for a professional politician to change his mind on a subject as he becomes more informed, I have serious doubts that is the case with Huckabee," Mr. Wright said. "His past rhetoric about the goals of Minutemen everywhere has been vicious — parroting the tired and discredited foolishness that an American citizen's desire to see the law enforced is somehow racist or xenophobic."
Even Huckabee endorser Gilchrist has had second thoughts about Huckabee and with the Huckabee campaign walking away from Gilchrist's insistence that Huckabee supports ending automatic citizenship for babies born to illegals, I wonder if the above mailing wasn't rushed out a bit too soon.

McCain, who is just as weak as Huckabee on immigration and amnesty faced protesters from the Young Americans for Freedom at Michigan State University on Sunday, January 13th. The day before he was booed on his immigration ideas at the Americans for Prosperity Summit held Saturday in the Detroit suburb of Livonia.

Huckabee and McCain.... Both WRONG on immigration!

Bush Hating Billionaire Behind Big Lie in Anti-war Left

Born in Hungary as György Schwartz, George Soros has become infamous as the Bush hating billionaire behind the Democrat Party's plan to turn the United States into a socialist country.

Schwartz/Soros is also infamous for funding a variety of left wing groups, some with ties to communist organizations.

A key objective of these groups, and apparently also of the Democrat Party, is to force the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq and be seen as defeated by the jihadis.

Schwartz/Soros and his "peace" activist buddies apparently feel no lie is too big to tell to bring about that defeat and use it to weaken the United States and make our political system more vulnerable to the winds of socialism/communism that are at the heart of their ambitions.

Anti-war Soros funded Iraq study
By Brendan Montague
London Times
January 13, 2008

A STUDY that claimed 650,000 people were killed as a result of the invasion of Iraq was partly funded by the antiwar billionaire George Soros.

Soros, 77, provided almost half the £50,000 cost of the research, which appeared in The Lancet, the medical journal. Its claim was 10 times higher than consensus estimates of the number of war dead.

The study, published in 2006, was hailed by antiwar campaigners as evidence of the scale of the disaster caused by the invasion, but Downing Street and President George Bush challenged its methodology.

New research published by The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that 151,000 people - less than a quarter of The Lancet estimate - have died since the invasion in 2003.

“The authors should have disclosed the [Soros] donation and for many people that would have been a disqualifying factor in terms of publishing the research,” said Michael Spagat, economics professor at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The Lancet study was commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and led by Les Roberts, an associate professor and epidemiologist at Columbia University. He reportedly opposed the war from the outset.
Again, apparently no lie, not even one as monstrous as the one above, is too great if the lefties think it will help them weaken the United States and bring about the nightmare of their Socialist false utopia.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Reagan Conservatives Say: Huckabee Not One of Us

In the search for the next Reagan, why do some GOP voters seem intent on ignoring the Reagan legacy?

During the South Carolina GOP Presidential Candidate's Debate on January 10, Former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, referred to the late President Reagan six times. He went so far as to make the claim that he "stayed faithful to the things that Ronald Reagan stayed faithful to."

Early in the SC debate, former Senator Fred Thompson challenged Huckabee's attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of conservatives:
THOMPSON: This is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party and its future. On the one hand, you have the Reagan revolution. You have the Reagan coalition of limited government and strong national security.

On the other hand, you have the direction that Governor Huckabee would take us in. He would be a Christian leader, but he would also bring about liberal economic policies, liberal foreign policies.

He believes we have an arrogant foreign policy and the tradition of, blame America first.

He believes that Guantanamo should be closed down and those enemy combatants brought here to the United States to find their way into the court system eventually.
He believes in taxpayer-funded programs for illegals, as he did in Arkansas.

He has the endorsement of the National Education Association, and the NEA said it was because of his opposition to vouchers.

He said he would sign a bill that would ban smoking nationwide. So much for federalism. So much for states' rights. So much for individual rights.

That's not the model of the Reagan coalition, that's the model of the Democratic Party.
There are many of us who remember the Reagan Revolution and what it stood for because we were there at the beginning. We were privileged to see and hear and some to know the man who led this nation in difficult times and succeeded spectacularly in unleashing the power of freedom which brought waves of prosperity and democracy to the entire world.

Here's what conservative leaders and thinkers with long memories have to say about Mike Huckabee:

"We are engaged in a global war on terror which will not disappear because you imply a willingness, without any preconditions apparently, to sit down with the enemy."
Bob Dole

"I'm sorry to say it is my sense that Mr. Huckabee is not so much leading a movement as riding a wave. One senses he brilliantly discerned and pursued an underserved part of the voting demographic, and went for it. Clever fellow. To me, the tipoff was 'Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?'"
Peggy Noonan

"Since he is not running for head of a theological college, what is he doing proclaiming himself a "Christian leader" in an ad promoting himself for president?...I suspect that neither Jefferson's Providence nor Washington's Great Author nor Lincoln's Almighty would look kindly on the exploitation of religious differences for political gain."
Charles Krauthammer

"Mike Huckabee is a Christian socialist. He is a good man, but with a Big Government heart. He is the most liberal of all the Republican presidential candidates on economic issues...Huckabee's approach to every problem or perceived problem is to pass a law and launch another government program...Four years of a Huckabee presidency would ensure that there wouldn't be a penny's worth of differences between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party on economic issues."
Richard Viguerie ,"the funding father of the conservative movement" for his role in helping build dozens of conservative organizations.

"If the Republican party chooses to follow Huckabee's lead, it will allow political sweet talk to destroy its greatest electoral and policy-making advantage: the GOP's traditional political consensus built around limiting the size and scope of government."

"Indeed, Huckabee explicitly seems to want to destroy the longstanding partnership that has defined the Right. Ed Rollins, Huckabee's campaign manager, recently dismissed the Reagan coalition as "gone," saying "it doesn't mean a whole lot to people anymore." That's quite the claim, but perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise. Huckabee has every incentive to distance himself from the GOP coalition; his nomination rests on its demise."

Dick Armey, Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey is chairman of FreedomWorks in Washington, D.C.
"Like Job after losing his camels and acquiring boils, the conservative movement is in distress. Mike Huckabee shreds the compact that has held the movement's two tendencies in sometimes uneasy equipoise. Social conservatives, many of whom share Huckabee's desire to "take back this nation for Christ," have collaborated with limited-government, market-oriented, capitalism-defending conservatives who want to take back the nation for James Madison. Under the doctrine that conservatives call "fusion," each faction has respected the other's agenda. Huckabee aggressively repudiates the Madisonians."
George Will

"He destroyed the conservative movement in Arkansas, and left the Republican Party a shambles...Yet some of the same evangelicals who sold us on George W. Bush as a 'compassionate conservative' are now trying to sell us on Mike Huckabee."
Phyllis Schlafly

"Mr. Huckabee was the only GOP candidate to refuse to endorse President Bush's veto of the Democrats' bill to vastly expand the Schip health-care program. Only he and John McCain have endorsed the discredited cap-and-trade system to limit global-warming emissions that has proved a fiasco in Europe."
John Fund

"Huckabee is a "compassionate conservative" only in the sense that calling him a conservative is being compassionate."

"Huckabee opposes school choice, earning him the coveted endorsement of the National Education Association of New Hampshire, which is like the sheriff being endorsed by the local whorehouse.He is, however, in favor of school choice for kids in Mexico: They have the choice of going to school there or here. Huckabee promoted giving in-state tuition in Arkansas to illegal immigrants from Mexico -- but not to U.S. citizens from Ohio."
Ann Coulter
"During Huckabee’s tenure as governor, the average Arkansan’s tax burden increased 47 percent, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A dyed-in-blue tax hiker, Huckabee supported raising sales taxes, gas taxes, grocery taxes, even nursing home bed taxes. He virulently opposed a congressional moratorium on taxing Internet access, and sat on the sidelines while his Democratic legislature pushed the largest tax hike in Arkansas history into law. What’s more, on his watch, and frequently at his behest, state spending increased by 50 percent, more than double the rate of inflation, and the number of state government workers rose by 20 percent."
Pat Toomey, Former PA Congressman who opposed Senator Arlen Specter for Re-election. President, Club for Growth

"Governor Huckabee is a true conservative. He is the only guy who is a true conservative, and I have concluded that I am debasing myself and the conservative cause by questioning it. As a matter of fact, Governor Huckabee was right to increase taxes by $500 million in Arkansas. Governor Huckabee was right to offer in-state tuition to illegal aliens. He was right to offer the Mexican government a consulate in Arkansas for one dollar a year. More states should show this kind of compassion. When I learned this, I said, "There's a conservative." The Mexican consulate, a dollar a year in Arkansas. He was right to release over one thousand criminals. This is conservative. He is right to oppose school choice. This is conservative. And he was right to accuse President Bush of a bunker mentality and stubbornness in dealing with our enemies. He was right in suggesting that the way to deal with Bin Laden and Zawahiri and other enemies of the United States is to implement the Golden Rule. He was right.

This is, ladies and gentlemen, the new conservatism. It is both Reaganism and post-Reaganism, postmodern Reaganism and after-modern post-Reaganism.
...
[H]ow could all the rest of us, the tens of millions of conservatives who have yet to even vote in these primaries, and the over 60% in Iowa who did not vote for Governor Huckabee, how could we have made such an error? I have seen the light.
Rush Limbaugh
"Huckabee is the candidate whose name you practice pronouncing because you thought up until now that he was a character in one of Mark Twain's novels. Some voters may have suspected that that is exactly what he in fact is, and wished to help in his road to incarnation."
William F. Buckley Jr.

I was able to find a politican who liked Huckabee:

"He's a very socially compassionate man who obviously has concern for the poor and the working middle class, while at the same time, having rather conservative views when it comes to a matter like abortion or gay marriage. ... I think of all the Republican candidates, Mr. Huckabee would be my personal choice."
Ted Strickland, Governor of Ohio and a liberal Democrat.


P.S. Mike's America urges Rudy voters in SC to Vote for Fred Instead!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

SC Rudy Voters : Pick Fred Instead!

It's confirmed! Rudy has pulled out of South Carolina!

Giuliani says bye bye to South Carolina….
by Mosheh Oinounou
Fox News
January 10th, 2008

Myrtle Beach, SC — The Giuliani campaign has also moved all of it’s paid staff out of South Carolina as it concentrates all of its efforts in Florida. The decision to pull SC staff comes in the wake of a similar decision to pull paid staffers out of Michigan. Over the course of the last six months, Giuliani has visited South Carolina about a dozen times and held more than 20 public events in the state.
...
It is Florida or bust for the Giuliani campaign where the former NYC mayor has launched five television ads and is now focusing almost all of his resources. Giuliani returns to Florida Friday for campaign events and will be conducting a 3-day bus tour thru the Sunshine State starting on Sunday.
On New Year's Day I explained the reasons that I believe make Rudy Giuliani the best overall Presidential candidate for the GOP. I also expressed disappointment that his campaign decided that it was not worth their effort to make their case more forcefully to the voters of South Carolina.

Considering that Rudy is pulling his remaining campaign staff out of the state to concentrate on Florida, I recommend fellow Rudy voters to consider casting their ballot for Fred Thompson in Saturday's GOP primary.

I've already given countless reasons why neither Huckabee nor McCain would be suitable as the nominee of our party.

Romney's a fine candidate, but Fred now is making an all out effort in South Carolina and for that, I think he deserves your vote.

For those of you in Florida and Super Tuesday states, I still encourage you to vote for Rudy, or Fred or Romney if you prefer.

But for South Carolina, there is really only one conservative choice now: FRED THOMPSON!

Friday, January 11, 2008

The Miracle of Snow Comes to Baghdad

For lefties who thought peace would come to Iraq "when hell froze over" guess what happened?

Not for one hundred years has snow been seen in the Iraqi Capital!

Young girls play in the park in the first snow in Iraqi memory.


Today in Baghdad, there was no Green Zone, but one large white zone of joy.

Today it was snowball fights, not sectarian conflict. Today it was the miracle of snow, something never before seen by old and young alike.

Quotes from the AP report: "I asked my mother, who is 80, whether she'd ever seen snow in Iraq before, and her answer was no," said Fawzi Karim, a 40-year-old father of five who runs a small restaurant in Hawr Rajab, a village six miles southeast of Baghdad.
"This is so unusual, and I don't know whether or not it's a lesson from God," Karim said.

Talib Haider, a 19-year-old college student, said "a friend of mine called me at 8 a.m. to wake me up and tell me that the sky is raining snow."

"I rushed quickly to the balcony to see a very beautiful scene," he said. "I tried to film it with my cell phone camera. This scene has really brought me joy. I called my other friends and the morning turned to be a very happy one in my life."

First the surge succeeds, now a blanket of pure white snow brings joy and renewed hope and happiness to Iraqis.

And so much for global warming!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Man on the Scene Reports LIVE from SC GOP Debate TONIGHT!

Ken Taylor, whom many of you know as the author of "The Liberal Lie, the Conservative Truth" is on the scene at the Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina reporting on tonight's GOP Presidential Candidates Debate.

Ken has kindly offered to share with us his on-site reports using the Liveblogging platform:



NOTE ON COMMENTS: While we highly value and appreciate all reader's comments, we do not wish to overwhelm Ken's important first hand reports with comments that are simply cheerleading for their candidate or naysaying those they oppose. We do however, invite substantive comments which address key issues in the debate and the candidate's performances. Mike's America will once again be moderating, and cannot promise to print every comment.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Rudy Campaign Found Alive and Well in South Carolina

Call Greta Van Sustern at Fox News and let her we've found the missing campaign!

Amid concerns that the Rudy campaign had gone missing, a happy band of Rudy supporters were found alive and well putting up signs for Rudy in Columbia, South Carolina this week. We are thrilled they appear ok and full of energy and enthusiasm!

Next up, South Carolina GOP Debate Thursday Night on Fox News!

Post New Hampshire GOP Analysis

The day after the Iowa Caucus I concluded that John McCain was the big winner in Iowa, even though he came in third.

The momentum he got from unexpectedly placing third propelled an already re-invigorated New Hampshire campaign to victory in last night's primary (results).

What Next?

Michigan in the next primary on Tuesday, January 15th. But polling (Real Clear Averages) for that contest has been non existent for the last three weeks during which time the entire dynamics of the race has changed.

Michigan has 61 delegates at stake in the GOP race. Romney will attempt to make Michigan a firewall. It is the state where his father was a very populat Governor. For many candidates the focus seems to be on South Carolina which votes on Saturday January 19th and has 47 delegates to assign.

On Thursday, the South Carolina GOP is hosting a debate of GOP presidential candidates in Myrtle Beach which will be televised on Fox News. At that time we may see some new strategy on the part of McCain, who insisted during a visit to Mike's America in November that he could win South Carolina.

To do so, McCain will have to defeat Huckabee who is running away in recent SC polls. Up to now, both Huckabee and McCain have been content to work together to maintain the negative focus of their respective campaigns on Romney.

Huckabee has gone out of his way to compliment John McCain. By complimenting McCain Huckabee makes a smart move. If McCain has to take down Huckabee to win in SC, he will appear mean after all the nice things the Huck has said about him. And with Huckabee's lead in SC, he can afford to continue playing Mr. Nice.

Meanwhile, Romney and Fred Thompson will likely end up battling for third place. Romney can afford another loss. The question is: can Fred?

All the while, Rudy Giuliani sits down in Florida (polls here) waiting. While his campaign prefers the slogan "Tested. Ready. Now." I'd say he's spent enough time in Florida to consider changing that to "Tanned, rested, ready."

Delegate Counts

With the race so far providing no clear winner, the all important delegate count will soon be the key metric to gauging a particular candidates ability to capture the GOP nomination.

CNN is running a GOP Delegate Scorecard. You might want to bookmark that page as we'll be referring to it often in the weeks ahead. The current count (last update Jan. 9) is:

Romney---30
Huckabee-21
McCain---10
Thompson--6
Paul------2
Giuliani--1
Hunter----1

The "magic number" required to secure the nomination is: 1,191

The bottom line is that it is still way too early to count anyone in, or anyone out. Candidates that are well funded for the long haul have the best shot at picking up delegates as they go. But will a wave of momentum develop for one particular candidate? There's no evidence of that from these first contests.

Update: McCain Move on Huckabee Has Begun

Jonathon Martin's Blog at The Politico:

Asked what he would say to conservatives still suspicious about his candidacy, McCain interrupted the question.

"I say a very large portion of it, the conservative base, voted for me yesterday — I thank you," McCain said, alluding to his victory among registered Republicans in the N.H. primary. "I will continue to expand that base."

McCain cited two reasons — one old and one new — to make his case as to why Christian conservatives should get behind him.

"A very large portion of the evangelical community is becoming more and more concerned about climate change because of our biblical obligation to be good stewards of our planet," McCain said. "That clearly is an issue that I’m in complete sync with the evangelical community on."

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Live Chat for New Hampshire Primary Results

Live Chat for New Hampshire results is closed.

If there's interest for this feature, we'll keep doing it.

Bill Clinton Goes BALLISTIC!

Bill on Obama: "Biggest Fairy Tale I've ever seen!"

His voice is hoarse. His finger is wagging and it's clear he's not prepared to see his legacy (Hillary) go down without a fight!

This is the great thing about the new technology of internet videos. We get to see the candidates, and in this case their surrogate husband, unfiltered.

The previous video showing the boredom at Hillary's New Hampshire rally is revealing. But, THIS, is the real Bill Clinton. Unleashed and going for blood!

You MUST SEE this!

And look at the guy in the top left corner sitting behind Bill Clinton wearing the white stripped shirt. He looks like he either has the flu and is going to expectorate any moment, or like so many younger voters, he's just not sipping the Clinton flavor of Kool Aid any more.

Bigger question for us: what flavor Kool Aid IS he sipping?

McCain the Conservavtive Choice?

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., holds up a climate change awareness poster as he speaks at a campaign rally in Portsmouth, N.H., Monday, Jan. 7, 2008.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

I guess McCain's been too busy campaigning to read the report of his Senate GOP colleagues listing the growing number of top notch scientists who say manmade Global Warming is a SCAM!

Live Chat Tonight for New Hampshire Primary Results

Starting shortly before 8 PM EST (5 PM PST) we'll be hosting a live chat to discuss the results of the New Hampshire primary election.

The last polling stations close at 8 PM and we should have the results fairly quickly as most polling locations close at 7.

This will be another experiment in blog simulcasting as several blogs will have the chat screen available on their site with the chat playing on all.

We're also returning to the more free-wheeling Gabbly Chat, which requires no moderator but also makes banning offensive kooks more difficult.

Keep in mind you can always mute offensive commenters by clicking on their name in the sidebar and it's usually a good idea NOT to feed their poisonous egos by responding.

Tune in tonight before 8PM EST and join the party!
fsg053d4.txt Free xml sitemap generator