The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Fight Over GOP 2012 Primary Calendar

Posted on | March 31, 2011 | 8 Comments

The 2012 Republican National Convention is scheduled for Tampa, but Florida is trying to monkey around and move up its primary, prompting at least two state chairmen to threaten to strip Florida of the convention. Ben Smith at Politico:

South Carolina Republican Party Chair Karen Floyd today brought into the open the simmering tensions between the traditional early states and the others — particularly Florida — jockeying to break into the primary calendar.
Floyd’s demand: If Florida won’t step aside, the RNC should move its convention out of the state.

Michael O’Brien in The Hill:

The chairman of Iowa’s Republican Party on Thursday backed an effort to possibly move the 2012 Republican National Convention out of Florida if that state sticks to its January primary date.
Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn said he would join the chairwoman of South Carolina’s Republican Party, Karen Floyd, in an effort to reopen the process to select the site of the 2012 convention, which is slated to be held in Tampa.
“If Florida refuses to move its primary date into compliance with RNC rules, that consequence should be the re-opening of the process to select the site of the 2012 RNC Convention,” Strawn said in a statement.

Let’s hope this threat will be supported by other state GOP chairs, and that Florida stops futzing around. You’ll remember that Florida and Michigan tried to jump the line in 2008, which ended up causing a big fight among Democrat over delegates.

The three first big events of the campaign calendar — the Iowa caucuses, followed by the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries — ought to be protected in their traditional priority.

Why should this tradition be carved in stone? The basic reason is predictability: Knowing in advance which states go first — because they go first every time — permits candidates who want to “test the waters” to set up early operations in those states. And because all of these three states are relatively small, this means that the early voting to sift the field and sort the frontrunners doesn’t award a decisive number of delegates: Even after Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have chosen, the overhwelming bulk of delegates are still up for grabs.

Recent attempts to “front-load” the primary calendar, with other states moving their primaries earlier and earlier, is bad for the process, because it permits less time for candidates to campaign everywhere. As could be seen in the 2008 Democratic primaries, where Obama and Hillary Clinton battled all the way into May, the result of a longer primary campaign is ultimately better-tested candidates.

Meanwhile, there is good news from California:

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation announced Wednesday that it will postpone what was supposed to be the kickoff debate for the GOP presidential nomination contest, moving it from May 2 to Sept. 14. The reason? There aren’t enough candidates ready to debate yet.
There will still be a GOP debate in May. South Carolina, the site of the first 2012 primary in the South, will host a Republican debate on May 5. But with the delay of the Reagan Library debate, the decades-long trend where each successive presidential campaign starts earlier than the last one may finally be ending. Virtually all the potential 2012 GOP candidates are still waiting before launching their campaigns.
“Although there will be a long and impressive list of Republican candidates who eventually take the field, too few have made the commitment thus far for a debate to be worthwhile in early May,” John Heubusch, executive director for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, said in a statement Wednesday.

This is good news, because it gives me more time to raise money for the Shoe Leather Fund.

Please go read my post about that — it’s “monthly bonus” time, and I’m trying to impress my wife.

Category: Election 2012, Florida, Iowa, South Carolina

Depends On The Meaning Of ‘Civil Rights’

Posted on | March 31, 2011 | 5 Comments

by Smitty

The BlogProf has senior Raaaaacism Industrial Complex mouthpiece Sharpton bloviating about State’s Rights being antithetical to Civil Rights:
So, the 57 states themselves are somehow evil. However, a single super-state driving the country off a financial cliff? For The Win!
Al Sharpton, if it were possible for you have any greater magnitude in the crapflooder sweepstakes, your name would be Jesse Jackson.

Category: Al Sharpton

Obama Sends CIA Into Libya Ground Operations; Andrew Sullivan Stunned

Posted on | March 31, 2011 | 34 Comments

New York Times:

The Central Intelligence Agency has inserted clandestine operatives into Libya to gather intelligence for military airstrikes and contact rebels battling Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces, according to American officials.

And don’t you know it’s just breaking Sully’s poor little heart?

I’m still absorbing this news and don’t want to vent immediately, because there is still part of me that simply cannot believe that president Obama has already ordered covert action in Libya on one side in a civil war . . . It’s so surreal, so discordant with what the president has told the American people, so fantastically contrary to everything he campaigned on. . . . I simply cannot believe it.

Heh. More salt for that fresh wound? Because we’re going to keep rubbing it in, you gullible rube.

Go ahead. Have another bite of that “turd sandwich“!

Category: Andrew Sullivan, Barack Obama, Libya

The REAL Budget Battle (UPDATED)

Posted on | March 31, 2011 | 11 Comments

Yeah, I know everybody’s riveted by negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over the federal budget, but what is far more urgent — at least to me, personally — is the battle over my own budget, which involves negotiations with Mrs. Other McCain.

If you think this is leading up to me asking you to hit the tip jar — hey, you know me too well. But there’s much more to the story, if you want to read it. Read more

Category: Budget, Election 2012, Mrs. Other McCain, Shoe Leather Fund, Taxes

LIVE AT FIVE – 03.31.11

Posted on | March 31, 2011 | Comments Off on LIVE AT FIVE – 03.31.11

TOP NEWS
CIA Officers In Libya Aiding Rebels

Libyan rebel watches the retreat from Brega

Every promise from the President has an expiration date.

Libya’s Foreign Minister Resigns, Arrives In Britain

Rebels forced to retreat to Benghazi



Obama Renews The Call For Energy Independence; Analysts & Energy Companies Dubious About Energy Policy
Oppenheimer’s Fadel Gheit: “You want a partnership with the industry to get out of this energy crisis.”



POLITICS
Ohio Legislature Passes Collective Bargaining Limits

Ohio House Speaker William Batchelor: "We cannot continue to pay what we have been paying."

Bill severely limits public workers’ collective bargaining rights; Governor Kasich expected to sign bill by the end of the week

Congressional Budget Deal Emerges, Shutdown Threat Recedes

Arizona Outlaws Abortions Based On Race, Sex

Obama Advisors Urge Veto Of Aviation Bill

Despite Hecklers, NY Lawmakers Close In On Early Budget



THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Buffett Lieutenant Sokol Resigns Under Cloud
Google Settles With FTC On Buzz
Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Says Bill Gates Schemed To Reduce His Share Of The Company
ADP: Private Sector Adds 201,000 Jobs In March
US Stocks Hold Gains On ADP Job News, Dow Up 43
Oil Heads For Third Quarterly Gain As Libya Disruptions Counter US Glut
Microsoft Developing Mobile Payments For Windows Phone
Dell And HP Poke Fun At Apple, IPad



SPORTS
Former A’s Infielder Velarde Says He Got Drugs From Bonds’ Trainer

Former infielder Randy Velarde

Fourth former ballplayer to testify for the Feds

Sabres’ Enroth Thwarts Rangers

Devils Beat Islanders, Cling To Playoff Hopes

Blues Rout Slumping Red Wings 10-3


Sixers Hand Rockets Critical Loss, Inch Closer To Playoffs

Simple Truth: Crosby Might Not Return To Pens This Season

Berry Tramel: BCS Has A Strong Smell Of Corruption



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Judge Judy Taken To Hospital By Ambulance

Judge Sheindlin - down but not out!

Stress, fatigue take their toll on the iconic TV judge

Carson Daly Whines About Britney’s Strict Interview Conditions

Daily Mail On Palicki: “She’s A Wonder!”

Rihanna: Chris Brown And I “Don’t Have To Talk Again Ever”

Miley Cyrus Bashes Rebecca Black

Burke, Alley Snub Chris Brown Backstage At “Dancing With The Stars”

“Jersey Shore” In Contract Dispute – Not Signed For Season 4?

Lily Allen’s Wedding Tractor

Charlie Sheen To Appear On Drew Carey’s New Show


FOREIGNERS
Clinton Says No Decision Yet On Arming Libyan Rebels
Assad Warns Of Foreign Plot, Won’t End Emergency Rule
Fukushima Solution Could Take Decades
Battle For Abidjan Looms As Ouattara’s Northern Militia Advance (Video)
Berlusconi: Refugees to Leave Lampedusa In 48 Hours
Cairo Revolutionaries Take Aim At Free Market



BLOGS & STUFF
Neo-Neocon: What Happened To The Tea Party?
NRO Corner: Blue Dog Dems Unveil Budget Framework
Sarah Palin: Setting The Record Straight On Alaska’s Film Production Credit
Jennifer Rubin: Obama’s Jaw-Dropping Hypocrisy On Energy
Allahpundit: GOP Report – AARP Stands To Make $1 Billion Off Obamacare; IRS Should Investigate
Left Coast Rebel: Planned Parenthood CEO Caught Lying About Mammograms
Snark & Boobs: NBC – It’s Not News If It Makes GE Look Bad!
Cubachi: House Passes DC School Voucher Bill
Jawa Report: Al Qaeda Urges US Sympathizers To Stay Home And Commit Lone Wolf Terrorist Attacks

— compiled by Wombat-socho

Category: Live at Five

New Motherf–g Tone, Libya War Edition

Posted on | March 30, 2011 | 10 Comments

“I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic. We should stand up and say, we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration.”
— Hillary Clinton, April 2003

“Republicans are attacking the Commander-in-Chief during a time of war! . . . There should be no debate: we ought to be kicking [Moammar Qaddafi’s] ass . . . Whose side are you on? Are you with the terrorists, Sarah [Palin], or are you with the President of the United States? . . . And I have to ask the question tonight: Where is the patriotism from all of these war-hawks? Where’s the patriotism of the Republican Party?”
— Ed Schultz, MSNBC, March 2011

Now, try to stop laughing at Ed Schultz long enough to imagine how Keith Olbermann’s head would explode if he ever saw a story like this about George W. Bush:

President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

A secret order for covert war? In an Arab country with lots of oil? Without approval from Congress? Consulting with Bill Kristol?

Back in the day, 2006-2008, that would have merited a 5,000-word “Special Comment” from Olbermann: “Have you no shame, sir?”

PREVIOUSLY:

Category: Hillary Clinton, Libya, MSNBC

At Least He Didn’t Call Sheen, Green

Posted on | March 30, 2011 | 1 Comment

by Smitty

The hyper-critical Vodka Pundit takes Silvio to task for calling on George Clooney as a character witness. Burlesconi is older than two and a half men, in some countries, and he’s far less ugly than his neighbor to the south. Get yourself some cold Stoly and go easy on the man, Stephen.

Category: VodkaPundit

In Case You Missed It: Democrats Waving White Flag on Taking Back House in 2012

Posted on | March 30, 2011 | 17 Comments

Thanks to Moe Lane for pointing this out. In the immediate aftermath of the mid-term GOP tsunami, Democrats were boasting about how many of the Republican freshmen they were targeting for 2012. In the past few months, however, these boasts have been significantly downsized. Jim Geraghty at National Review reprints this e-mail from the National Republican Congressional Committee:

IN NOVEMBER 2010, THE DCCC SAID IT WAS TARGETING 61 DISTRICTS CARRIED BY OBAMA: “The DCCC has identified 61 seats currently held by Republicans in districts that Barack Obama won in 2008.  ‘Republicans won a lot of seats they have no business winning,’ said a top Democratic strategist. ‘It’s going to be a full-on recruitment cycle [and] Israel is the perfect person for that.’” (Brian Beutler, “Blue Dogged: Meet Steve Israel, The Incoming Chair Of The DCCC,” Talking Points Memo, 11/23/10)
EARLIER THIS MONTH, THEY SCALED THAT BACK TO 37 SUBURBAN DISTRICTS: “Representative Nancy Pelosi’s selection of Mr. Israel to lead the Congressional campaign had much to do with his district, a swath of Nassau and Suffolk Counties where Democrats hold a modest registration edge but independents decide elections.  The path to retaking the House, both say, leads through 37 similar suburban districts, home to nine million independents who voted for President Obama in 2008 but deserted the party in the 2010 elections.” (David M. Halbfinger, “L.I. Congressman Leads Uphill Charge Toward a Democratic House,” New York Times, 03/19/11)
NOW, THE DCCC HAS BEEN FORCED TO FOCUS ON ONLY 14 DISTRICTS: “The Democratic Party is taking aim at 14 freshmen Republicans in the House, of 87 elected, whom it deems the most vulnerable…the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is focusing on districts where Mr. Obama and Senator John Kerry both won as presidential nominees and where Democrats have a registration advantage.” (Jennifer Steinhauer, “Hardly Settled in House, but Already in Hot Seat,” New York Times, 03/27/11)
ACTUALLY, THEY EVEN GOT THAT NUMBER WRONG.  IT’S 13 DISTRICTS WON BY KERRY, NOT 14: “All told, 63 Republicans in the 112th Congress will hold seats that President Obama carried in 2008 and, of that group, 13 will hold seats that Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) also won in the 2004 presidential race.” (Chris Cillizza, “The Obama Republicans,” The Washington Post’s “The Fix” blog, 11/11/10)

Which is not to say that Republicans can shift into neutral and expect to coast to re-election, of course. We’re way too early in the cycle to start trying to predict what the results will be on Nov. 6, 2012. “But it’s pretty remarkable that we’re not hearing much talk about Democrats retaking the House in 2012,” Geraghty says.

And I would add that, if we take this as evidence of demoralization and disarray in Democrat ranks — combining it with Obama’s sagging poll numbers — this provides a strong argument against GOP leaders rolling over easy on the budget showdown.

Republicans should listen to Rick Crawford.

UPDATE: Linked by The Lonely Conservative and welcome, Instapundit readers! Reports that Republican budget negotiators have settled for $33 billion in cuts — after initially promising $100 billion in cuts — are not exactly being applauded by Ace of Spades.


Category: Budget, Congress, Democrats, Election 2012
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