Wake up America

Newt Reiterates, He Is In It 'All The Way To The Convention': As It Should Be

2012-01-29T13:05:00.008-07:00

By Susan Duclos

In a previous post I published a video of Sarah Palin explaining how only 3 out of 50 states have weighed in on the GOP candidates via primaries and caucuses and how the process strengthens the eventual nominee, no matter who that candidates ends up being.

As of right now, Rick Santorum has won one state's caucuses (Iowa), Mitt Romney has won one primary state (New Hampshire) and Newt Gingrich has won one primary state (South Carolina).

Florida's primary is on Tuesday, January 30, 2012.

For those reading the mainstream media and think Florida is it.... remember that there is a Total Delegates 2286 and 1144 Delegates are needed for a GOP candidate to win the Republican nomination for President. (Numbers from NYT and CBS News)

Right now the count is:

Gingrich- 23
Romney- 19
Rick Santorum- 13
Ron Paul- 3
Jon Huntsman- 2 (Huntsman is no longer in the running)

Florida would have had 50 delegates but they are being penalized and half the delegates were taken away for conducting their primary before February 2012 which means 25 delegates will be awarded.

Note- South Carolina was also penalized and only half the delegates were awarded.

Taking all that into account, Palin is right in saying the process is just at it's beginning stages.

Which is why it makes perfect sense for Newt Gingrich, via Washington wire, predicting a "straight-out contest for next 4 or 5 months," stating that it is his intent to stay in the Republican presidential primary “all the way to the convention.

“This is a campaign about the future of America and the future of the Republican party. Do you want an insider who’s part of the city which has been accepting huge amounts of taxpayer money to prop up giant institutions or do you want somebody who’s prepared to challenge our system head on and insist on very dramatic change in Washington? I think that’s worth a serious debate and I think that debate will go all the way to the convention.”

He continued: “We have no evidence yet that Romney anywhere is coming close to getting the majority and I think when you take all of the non-Romney votes, it’s very likely that the convention will be a non-Romney majority and maybe a very substantial one. My job is to convert that into a pro-Gingrich majority.”

The full 2012 primary/caucus schedule can be found HERE.

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Michael Reagan Will Be Appearing At January 30, 2012 Events With Newt Gingrich: Gingrich, Romney Event Details

2012-01-29T12:02:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Michael Reagan will joining Newt Gingrich for a number of events to be held in Florida, in Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa, Fort Meyers and Orlando on Monday, January 30, 2012, just one day before Florida's primary day.

Event details below:

Jacksonville Grassroots Rally
7:30 am EST-9:30am EST
Location: Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
225 East Coastline Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32202
*Press Bus Stop

Pensacola Grassroots Rally
10:00am ET/9:00 am CT-12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT
Location: Pensacola Aviation Center
4145 Jerry L Maygarden Road
Pensacola, FL 32504

Tampa Grassroots Rally
1:00pm EST-3:00pm EST
Location: Tampa Jet Center
4751 Jim Walter Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33607
*Media Avail
*Press Bus Stop

Ft. Meyers Grassroots Rally
3:00pm EST-5:00pm EST
Location: Page Field
4700 Terminal Drive
Fort Meyers, FL 33907

Orlando Crossing the Finish Line Rally
6:00pm EST -8:00pm EST
Location: Renaissance Airport Hotel
5445 Forbes Place
Orlando, FL 32812
*Press Bus Stop

*Overnight in Orlando, FL

Michael Reagan has endorsed Gingrich for the GOP nominee for President in 2012.

"I am endorsing Newt Gingrich for President and here's why:

Newt understands that we must reject and fundamentally change the course that Barack Obama has set for America.

Newt is our only chance in 2012 to contrast a Reagan conservative with Obama's European' styled socialism.

Newt exemplifies the conservative principles my father championed.

Strong national defense, lower taxes and smaller government.

In the 90’s Newt's leadership brought us the Contract with America which changed Washington.

I’m confident Newt can do it again.

We cannot afford a candidate backed by the same Washington insiders who repeatedly tried to undermine my father and the Reagan revolution.

It's time to choose.

Do we go forward with bold ideas or continue with failed policies?

So I ask my fellow Republicans and conservatives to join me in supporting Newt Gingrich for president."

Two days until primary day and the battle continues to heat up in Florida.

No doubt Florida will be relieved to see the media, the candidates, the campaigns and the pollsters move to Nevada, which is the next state in the primary/caucus schedule.

For Mitt Romney supporters, event details below: (via Romney's website)

When: January 30, 2012 - 8:00am - 9:30am
Host: Team Florida
Where: Ring Power Lift Trucks 8040 Philips Highway, Jacksonville, FL 32217

When: January 30, 2012 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Host: Team Florida
Where: Pioneer Park 420 Main Street, Dunedin, FL 34698

(Post updated with Romney's January 30, 2012 event details)

Video- Sarah Palin On The Politics Of Personal Destruction

2012-01-29T11:00:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Video below is from January 28, 2012, where she discusses what she has seen happening in Florida, who drew first blood with negative attack ads and the politics of personal destruction.

Palin also points out that only three states have gone through the primary or caucus process, leaving 47 states left to weigh in.

The whole video above is well worth watching.

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300 Occupiers Arrested In Oakland California

2012-01-29T10:50:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Occupiers are tired of being ignored has beens so decided to get rowdy, burning flags, destroying equipment, vandalizing and generally breaking as many laws as they could to get arrested and drum up some attention.

Via Wapo:

Dozens of police maintained a late-night guard around City Hall following daylong protests that resulted in 300 arrests. Occupy Oakland demonstrators broke into the historic building and burned a U.S. flag, as officers earlier fired tear gas to disperse people throwing rocks and tearing down fencing at a convention center.

[...SNIP...]

Quan said that at one point, many protesters forced their way into City Hall, where they burned flags, broke an electrical box and damaged several art structures, including a recycled art exhibit created by children.

She blamed the destruction on a small “very radical, violent” splinter group within Occupy Oakland.

“This is not a situation where we had a 1,000 peaceful people and a few violent people. If you look at what’s happening today in terms of destructing property, throwing at and charging the police, it’s almost like they are begging for attention and hoping that the police will make an error.”

Since Barack Obama incited the original Occupy movement and Democratic politicians embraced, encouraged and supported them and San Fran Nan Pelosi herself "blessed" them... I say give them all the attention they want to remind voters of the divisive class open warfare Barack Obama has pushed for in this country.

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Rick Santorum Cancels Campaign Events As Daughter Is Admitted To Hospital

2012-01-29T10:07:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Republican Presidential hopeful, Rick Santorum, has cancelled his Sunday events to be at his three year old daughter, Bella Santorum's bedside after she was admitted to the hospital yesterday.

Via Philly.com:

Santorum campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said Saturday night that the former Pennsylvania senator and his wife, Karen, were with Bella at CHOP. Gidley said Santorum planned to return to campaigning as soon as possible in Florida, where the Republican primary is Tuesday.

Bella Santorum has Trisomy 18, a genetic condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. Bella was not expected to survive until her first birthday and concerns over her health have canceled previous Santorum campaign events.

Keep baby Bella and the whole Santorum family in your thoughts and prayers.

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Herman Cain and Latino Leaders Endorse Newt Gingrich

2012-01-29T08:41:00.006-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Another local Florida poll comes out, this one countering the Dixie Strategies/First Coast News poll that had Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney in a dead heat in Florida, the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald/Tampa Bay Times poll has Mitt Romney ahead of Gingrich by 11 percentage points.

Other polls show the swinging pendulum of polling results is definitely favoring Romney in Florida, while nationwide Gingrich is maintaining his lead over Romney according to NBCNews/Wall Street Journal and Gallup.

Normally, with this type of lead in Florida just days from primary day, one would assume Romney had Florida locked down, but as South Carolina showed the country, it only takes a couple of days for the whole race to turn on in the opposite direction. On the Tuesday before the South Carolina Primary, Romney was up in the polls by 15 points and by the weekend Gingrich was ahead and was declared the winner within minutes of the polls closing.

A reminder of what was written here yesterday:

Pollsters be damned, the only pattern seen over the last two weeks has been a pendulum swinging back and forth and depending on which candidate's side that pendulum is favoring on the day of the primaries, that will be the candidate that takes Florida.

What this tells us is that each state is going to count.

With Santorum having won the Iowa Caucuses, Romney having taken the New Hampshire primary and Gingrich beating Romney by 12 points in the South Carolina primary, every state, every delegate is going to be hard fought.

Just days before January 31, 2012, Primary day, it seems like everyone is throwing themselves into the fray that has become Florida.

The Tampa Tribune endorsed Gingrich in this mornings edition.

Herman Cain jumped into the mix yesterday to "officially and enthusiastically" endorse Newt Gingrich.

Sarah Palin took to her Facebook page to call the Republican establishment "cannibals" for their attacks against Newt Gingrich.

Rudy Giuliani praised Newt Gingrich and criticized Mitt Romney as a flip-flopper.

Actor John Voight, joined Mitt Romney at a rally held at the Fish House in Pensacola, Florida and gave his endorsement.

Chair National Republican Hispanic Alliance Florida, Nancy C. Acevedo joined in with other Hispanic leaders across the country to send an open letter to Mitt Romney on why they cannot support him but are supporting Newt.

Rosario Marin and a group of other Latino leaders endorsed the former House Speaker’s bid for the GOP nomination.

Former Fort Lauderdale mayor and U.S. Congressman E. Clay Shaw and his wife, Emille, endorsed Mitt Romney two days ago.

The TEA Party of Florida, the only political tea party registered with the state Division of Elections, has endorsed Newt Gingrich as has The Florida Tea Party Coalition With Newt, just days after an ABC News report showed that Florida Tea Party supporters find Gingrich's "beating the pavement" more appealing than Romney's paid ads.

The battle for Florida continues............

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Video Flashbacks: John McCain 2008 Attack Ads Against Mitt Romney

2012-01-28T13:29:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

With John McCain's recent endorsement of Mitt Romney, it is worth a minute to remember why John McCain thought back in 2008 that Mitt Romney would not be good for America as president.

First the John McCain ad titled "A Tale Of Two Mitts"

Second video below titled "Health Care Alert."

As I said in response to Mike Huckabee complaining about his 2008 attack ads against Romney being used in the 2012 campaign season, "politicians should remember before they publish ads that those ads or portions of them can and will be used in the future."

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Video- Mike Huckabee’s Original Attack Ad Against Romney In 2008

2012-01-28T12:55:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Mike Huckabee is complaining that the Newt Gingrich campaign used part of an ad that Huckabee himself used against Mitt Romney in 2008.

Fact is the Mike Huckabee attack ad against Mitt Romney is part of the public record, was shown in 2008 despite Huckabee's claim that publishing the ad was a "mistake" it ran in Iowa at least 10 times on four different stations in Davenport and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

I call: FAIR use.

[ UPDATE] Huckabee claims the ad was "taken out of context" and were also " deceptive" because he was not referring to Romney. (Source)

Watch it, he specifically names Romney!!

Original 2008 Huckabee attack ad shown below:

Beginning text of Huckabee attack ad:

"I'm Mike Huckabee and I approved this message because Iowans have a right to know the truth about Mitt Romney's dishonest attacks on me and even an American hero John McCain..."

"Then the narrator before Huckabee himself continues with "If a man's dishonest to obtain a job, he'll be dishonest on the job. Iowans deserve better"

[End Update]

Nowhere in the Gingrich ad does it claim that Huckabee is endorsing him and politicians should remember before they publish ads that those ads or portions of them can and will be used in the future.

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Videos- 1999 CNN Report On Newt Gingrich's Exoneration By The IRS Over Ethics Charges

2012-01-28T12:05:00.006-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Video below via Townhall, who writes "Of the 84 ethics charges filed (exclusively by Democrats) against Newt Gingrich, 83 were subsequently dropped due to a complete lack of merit or foundation in fact. The remaining charge is the subject of the below video. It too proved to be utterly baseless.

It's always good to keep the record straight."

This puts a bright light on Mitt Romney's latest television ad called "History Lesson," using a 1997 clip of NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw from Jan. 21, 1997, where Brokaw said "Good evening. Newt Gingrich, who came to power, after all, preaching a higher standard in American politics, a man who brought down another Speaker on ethics accusations, tonight he has on his own record the judgment of his peers, Democrat and Republican alike," to inherently and deliberately mislead Florida voters.

Ad below:

NBC has requested that Mitt Romney stop airing the ad using NBC News materials.

The NBC legal department has written a letter to the campaign asking for the removal of all NBC News material from their campaign ads. Similar requests have gone out to other campaigns that NBC says have inappropriately used clips from “Nightly News,” “Meet the Press,” “Today” and MSNBC material.

Is it any wonder that Newt Gingrich's new ad specifically says Mitt Romney is willing to "mislead, distort, and deceive just to win an election."

Ad below:

This type of dishonesty may be one reason that Mitt Romney's negativity rating has surged 20 points with Independents since November.

Seems ironic that Mitt Romney is going after Newt Gingrich using ethics charges that he was exonerated from by using questionable ethics of his own.

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Florida Tea Party Leaders Jump Into The Fray, Endorses Newt Gingrich

2012-01-28T11:27:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

TEA Party of Florida, the only political tea party registered with the state Division of Elections, has endorsed Newt Gingrich as has The Florida Tea Party Coalition With Newt, just days after an ABC News report showed that Florida Tea Party supporters find Gingrich's "beating the pavement" more appealing than Romney's paid ads.

Unlike Romney, thousands of Floridians have flocked to Gingrich’s events, hoping to shake hands with the presidential candidate and voice their concerns. That kind of enthusiasm, experts say, could well overcome Romney’s considerable financial advantage.

“Newt is everywhere here,” Ingram, a Tampa resident, said. “Where is Romney? He’s on television with the paid stuff. But the enthusiasm that’s being shown by the folks at the Gingrich rally, that translates into real votes. Anybody who shows up at a rally, they are darn well going to vote for them on Election Day.”

Tea Party darling Sarah Palin, while not endorsing Newt Gingrich, has stepped in to the battle for Florida as well by tearing into the Republican establishment that has thrown all but the kitchen sink at Gingrich in an attempt to influence Florida primary voters after Gingrich easily beat Romney in South Carolina and rose in the nation polls.

National pollsters show Romney ahead of Gingrich in Florida, yet local pollsters have the race at a dead heat between the two candidates with Rick Santorum and Ron Paul in third and fourth place, respectively.

Florida Primary day, Tuesday, January 31, 2012, promises to be very interesting.

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Local Polling Has Gingrich, Romney In Dead Heat. ... A Secret About Floridians

2012-01-28T08:54:00.008-07:00

By Susan Duclos

"And with another day we get another fresh round of polling showing one of two things: either the good citizens of Florida are prone to fits of multiple personality disorder or the pollsters are just having some fun with us."--- Jazz Shaw, Hot Air

It has been one week since Newt Gingrich came from being double digits in polling behind Mitt Romney and handily won the South Carolina primary with a 12 percentage point lead.

Then the candidates all went to Florida. Poor Florida has been subject to media hell, polling hell and campaign ad hell. Polling in Florida, has swung from one direction to another on the turn of a dime.

For example, heading to Florida from South Carolina, Mitt Romney was way ahead in the polls. Just days later, Newt Gingrich was in the lead, then the polls swung back to Romney and yesterday the local pollster Dixie Strategies/First Coast News released their findings, and has the GOP presidential race in Florida at a dead heat between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, with Rick Santorum and Ron Paul coming in third and fourth, respectively.

When asked, "If the Republican Presidential Primary were held today, for whom would you vote?," 35.46 percent of the 2,567 likely voters polled selected former House speaker Gingrich, and 35.08 percent selected Romney.

The same question showed former senator Rick Santorum in a distant third place with 9.38 percent, followed by Ron Paul's 7.42 percent.

The full Dixie Strategies/First Coast News opinion survey can be found HERE.

Let's take a look at what is happening in Florida, via campaign ads: (Source ABC News)

Pro-Romney forces are using the vast majority of the $13.9 million they’ve spent to buy up television airtime on broadcast stations in the Miami, Tampa and Orlando areas – population centers that will be critical to the former Massachusetts governor’s hopes of winning the state.

Gingrich is following a similar pattern, and Winning Our Future is also spending more than $1 million on radio ads. Cumulatively his campaign and the super PAC supporting him has purchased roughly $3.8 million of television and radio time.

Winning Our Future pledged $6 million would be spent in Florida leading up to Primary day Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

With quadruple the amount of money spent to date, on primarily negative ads in Florida against Gingrich, one would think that Romney's lead would be steady, not the back and forth we have seen and Romney's ads started in Florida before the candidates even left South Carolina.

Yet the candidates, according the local polling, are statistically tied.

That is because something else has been in play. With Gingrich ahead nationally, according to Gallup, by eight points and Gallup stating "with no sign in Gallup Daily tracking from Jan. 22-26 that Gingrich is giving back any of his recent gains," the Republican establishment and the conservative media elite, who thought the "Romney is inevitable" meme was a foregone conclusion, decided to jump in and attempt to influence voters by throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Gingrich.

"What we saw with this ridiculous opposition dump on Newt was nothing short of Stalin-esque rewriting of history. It was Alinsky tactics at their worst."---- Sarah Palin, via Facebook

Having been born in Florida and living in Miami for the majority of 30 plus years before leaving the state, let me tell you a secret about Floridians.

Floridians like a good fight, they don't even mind if candidates roll around in the mud battling it out, but they don't like to be pushed, shoved or have anything rammed down their throat.

You can nudge them to attempt to alter their trajectory, but you push them, they are as likely to push you back as they are to bitch-slap you into the next county.

Pollsters be damned, the only pattern seen over the last two weeks has been a pendulum swinging back and forth and depending on which candidate's side that pendulum is favoring on the day of the primaries, that will be the candidate that takes Florida.

If Mitt Romney wins Florida, it will not be because of the Republican establishment or the conservative side of the elite media's interference, it will be despite it.

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Sarah Palin: Cannibals in GOP Establishment Employ Tactics of the Left

2012-01-27T17:41:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

"What we saw with this ridiculous opposition dump on Newt was nothing short of Stalin-esque rewriting of history. It was Alinsky tactics at their worst."--- Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin, via her Facebook page, takes a strip out of the Republican establishment's hide.

We have witnessed something very disturbing this week. The Republican establishment which fought Ronald Reagan in the 1970s and which continues to fight the grassroots Tea Party movement today has adopted the tactics of the left in using the media and the politics of personal destruction to attack an opponent.

Read the entire thing, well worth the couple minutes it will take.

The Republican establishment is doing everything in their power to force their choice of Mitt Romney down our, the voters, throats. Palin notices it and points to the tactics they are using against Newt Gingrich to do it.

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27% Of State of the Union Viewers Tuned Out On Obama In First Five Minutes

2012-01-27T14:36:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Kantar Media, who monitors the media for global clients, analyzed the data from eight networks showing Barack Obama give the SOTU address and found that 27 percent of those watching tuned out in the first five minutes.

Via TVNewser:

Kantar used second-by-second audience data gleaned from set-top boxes connected to TV sets from 9pm – 10:30pm. It found:

In the first five minutes, 27% of the audience tuned away.

The networks that benefited the most from the initial tune-away were TBS, USA, and ESPN

CBS and FOX showed sharp losses in viewers at the top of the program, while ABC and NBC showed noticeable gains.

Tune-away was gradual as the speech progressed. No individual topics drove significant audience loss.

After the speech, Fox News Channel quickly gained viewers, becoming the second-most watched network after NBC. This gain presumably was in anticipation of the Republican response (seen in the second graph after the jump).

State of the Union Audience Analysis 2012

As can be seen in the 2nd graph in the embed above, by the end of the hour-and-a-half time frame Kantar analyzed, when Obama had finished and Mitch Daniels was making his 11 minute rebuttal, there were nearly as many on fox and tuning into Fox to see Daniels as those that ended up watching until the end of the SOTU from Obama.

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Pro-Romney Ads Outspending Pro-Gingrich Ads In Florida By Quadruple

2012-01-27T14:15:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

A report from ABC News shows that negative advertising whether we like it or not, works.

Romney ads and pro-Romney SuperPAC ads are outspending Gingrich and pro-Gingrich SuperPAC ads by quadruple the dollar amount.

So far, Romney has bought $5.6 million worth of airtime and the pro-Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future, has shelled out a whopping $8.2 million, according to a Republican media buyer who is tracking ad spending in the state.

Compare that to $837,000 spent by the Gingrich campaign and the nearly $3 million of airtime bought by Winning Our Future, a super PAC supporting the former House speaker, and it’s easy to understand one reason why Gingrich has slipped in the most recent polls in the Sunshine State.

Pro-Romney forces are using the vast majority of the $13.9 million they’ve spent to buy up television airtime on broadcast stations in the Miami, Tampa and Orlando areas – population centers that will be critical to the former Massachusetts governor’s hopes of winning the state.

Gingrich is following a similar pattern, and Winning Our Future is also spending more than $1 million on radio ads. Cumulatively his campaign and the super PAC supporting him has purchased roughly $3.8 million of television and radio time.

Florida polling has shown, in the last week alone, Romney ahead of Gingrich, then Gingrich ahead of Romney and now back to Romney ahead.

According to the ABC News report, the pro-Gingrich SuperPAC Winning Our Future is pledging to buy up $6 million in airtime before next Tuesday's primaries. With seesawing of polls within the last week, it is possible that the Winning Our Future SuperPAC is waiting for weekend to have the biggest impact closer to Florida primary day.

Today the Gingrich campaign has released a new ad, called "What Kind of Man?, video shown and discussed HERE. While ABC News did reference this new ad, it is unclear if the ad is included in the totals they quoted.

Video- Newt 2012 Releases New Florida TV Ad: "What Kind of Man?"

2012-01-27T13:00:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Via email we knew it was coming, but waited until the actual ad was released before reporting on it. The ad is called "What Kind of Man?", and it references the misleading ads, distortion and lies that were covered here at Wake up America last night and this morning in detail, here, here, and here. (Links in order from most recent to oldest.)

Video below:

Using the text I received from the Gingrich campaign because it provides the source links of the criticisms made in the ad itself.

Governor Huckabee: "If a man's dishonest to get a job, he'll be dishonest on the job." (Source)

Narrator: What kind of man would mislead, distort, and deceive just to win an election?

This man would. Mitt Romney. Romney said he has always voted Republican when he had the opportunity.

But in the 1992 Massachusetts Primary, Romney had the chance to vote for George H.W. Bush or Pat Buchanan, but he voted for a liberal Democrat instead. (Source)

Romney said his investments in Fannie and Freddie were in a blind trust.

But as reported in the National Journal, Romney earned tens of thousands of dollars from investments NOT in a blind trust. (Source)

Romney denied seeing a false ad his campaign used to attack Newt Gingrich. But Romney's own campaign paid for the ad...and Romney's own voice is on the ad approving the content. (Source)

If we can't trust what Mitt Romney says about his own record, how can we trust him on anything?

Florida has seen a massive seesawing of support that favored Romney heavily, then swung to heavily favoring Gingrich, then back again toward Romney, all in less than a week, showing that four days before the Florida primaries next Tuesday, it is not out of the realm of possibility to see another two or three swings before next Tuesday's primaries.

Hispanics make up over 13 percent of Florida's registered voters and both campaigns have released open letters aimed at the opposing candidate by Hispanic leaders over recent days.

Romney released an open letter to Gingrich from Hispanic leaders criticizing an ad the Gingrich campaign had running in Florida, calling Romney anti-immigrant, urging Gingrich to take the ad down, which he then had removed from the airwaves.

Gingrich released an open letter to Romney from Hispanic leaders explaining why they could not support Romney and listing the reasons they have decided to support Gingrich.

(Both letters in full with signers, found at an earlier WuA post, HERE.)

The Florida primaries are to be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

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America Before President Obama Took Office and Now: One Chart Tells The Story

2012-01-27T12:36:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Sometimes a clear side by side visual says more than a million written words ever could. Such a visual has been made available from Representative Dave Camp (R-MI), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, who publishes a comparison chart which shows the numbers before Obama and after Obama. These are things Barack Obama "conveniently omitted from his SOTU speech."

America Before President Obama Took Office and Now

	Before	Now	Change
Number of Unemployed¹	12.0 Million	13.1 Million	+9%
Long-Term Unemployed²	2.7 Million	5.6 Million	+107%
Unemployment Rate³	7.8%	8.5%	+9%
“High Unemployment” States⁴	22	43	+95%
Misery Index⁵	7.83	11.46	+46%
Price of Gas⁶	$1.85	$3.39	+83%
“Typical” Monthly Family Food Cost⁷	$974	$1,013	+4%
Median Value of Single-Family Home⁸	$196,600	$169,100	-14%
Rate of Mortgage Delinquencies⁹	6.62%	10.23%	+55%
U.S. National Debt¹⁰	$10.6 Trillion	$15.2 Trillion	+43%

¹Number of unemployed in January 2009 and December 2011. http://www.bls.gov/data/#unemployment.
² “Long-term unemployed” means for over 26 weeks; data for January 2009 and December 2011. http://www.bls.gov/data/#unemployment.
³ Unemployment rates in January 2009 and December 2011. http://www.bls.gov/data/#unemployment.
⁴ “High unemployment” means having a 3-month average unemployment rate of 6% or higher. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “Extended Benefits Trigger Notice” for January 18, 2009 and January 22, 2012. http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/trigger/2009/trig_011809.html and http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2012/euc_012212.html.
⁵ The “Misery Index” equals unemployment plus inflation. For January 2009 and December 2012. http://www.miseryindex.us/indexbymonth.asp.
⁶ Average retail price per gallon, January 2009 week 3 and January 2012 week 4. http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG&f=W.
⁷ U.S. Department of Agriculture, values represent monthly “moderate” cost per family of four for January 2009 and November 2011. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodCost-Home.htm.
⁸ U.S. median sales price of existing single-family homes for metropolitan areas for 2008 and 2011 Q3. http://www.realtor.org/research/research/metroprice.
⁹ Residential mortgage delinquencies (real estate loans) for 2008 Q4 and 2011 Q3. http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/chargeoff/default.htm.
¹⁰ Values for January 21, 2009 and January 23, 2012. http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np.

H/T Joel B. Pollak, via BG.

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Romney Lies In FL. Debate About Not Voting For A Dem If Rep Was On Ballot

2012-01-27T11:26:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

It is campaign season, voters are used to, and in fact expect, to a certain degree, for candidates to exaggerate, to make campaign speeches specific to the state they are in, to personalize their theme to connect to the voters of that state.

What voters do not expect is outright lies.

Last night, Newt Gingrich said to Mitt Romney (via CNN transcript) "In '92 he was donating to the Democrats for Congress and voted for Paul Tsongas in the Democratic primary."

In response, Mitt Romney said "Just a -- just a short clarification. I -- I've never voted for a Democrat when there was a Republican on the ballot. And -- and in my state of Massachusetts, you could register as an independent and go vote in which -- either primary happens to be very interesting. And any chance I got to vote against Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy, I took. And so I -- I'm...

(APPLAUSE)

ROMNEY: ...I have voted -- I have always voted for a Republican any time there was a Republican on the ballot. With regards to the Speaker's involvement in the Reagan years, he can speak for himself. The Reagan Diaries and the other histories that were written at that time can lay that out as well. I -- I -- I think, I think what he said speaks for itself and I'm proud of the things I was able to accomplish."

There were two primaries that year, a Democratic one and a Republican one and Romney did, and admitted, to voting in the Democratic primary for Paul Tsongas in 1992.

His reasoning for doing so changed over the years.

Two years later, when he announced he would seek the Republican Senate nomination to challenge Ted Kennedy, Romney told the Boston Globe about his vote for Tsongas.

"Romney confirmed he voted for former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas in the state's 1992 Democratic presidential primary, saying he did so both because Tsongas was from Massachusetts and because he favored his ideas over those of Bill Clinton," the Globe reported on Feb. 4, 1994. "He added he had been sure the GOP would renominate George Bush, for whom he voted in the fall election."

By 2007, in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Romney admitted it again but gave another explanation for his vote. (Via ABC News)

"In Massachusetts, if you register as an independent, you can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary," said Romney, who until he made an unsuccessful run for Senate in 1994 had spent his adult life as a registered independent. "When there was no real contest in the Republican primary, I’d vote in the Democrat primary, vote for the person who I thought would be the weakest opponent for the Republican."

In last night's debate when Romney said "I've never voted for a Democrat when there was a Republican on the ballot," he lied.

There was a Republican on the ballot, the Republican primary ballot, which Romney consciously chose not to vote in.

This type of behavior is what I spoke about earlier. Blaming others, claiming he isn't "aware" of what his own campaign is doing and outright lies.

Mitt Romney is still reminding me of Barack Obama.

If I wanted another Barack Obama in the White House, I would go ahead and register as a Democrat and vote for him.

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Competing Hispanic Leaders Open Letters To Newt Gingrich/Mitt Romney

2012-01-27T10:35:00.006-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 are the Florida Republican primaries and all the candidates want the Hispanic vote. Florida has approximately 1.5 million Hispanic voters, representing 13.1% of all registered voters in the state.

That is a large bloc of voters.

Within the last three days we have seen two separate instances where Hispanic leaders have written an open letter to a Republican candidate.

The first was to Newt Gingrich, asking that he take down a campaign ad in which he calls Mitt Romney anti-immigrant.

Gingrich had the ad taken down.

Text of letter to Gingrich below:

Dear Speaker Gingrich,

Recently, you began airing a Spanish-language radio advertisement in Miami where you attack Governor Romney for being “anti-immigrant.”

This advertisement is untrue, offensive and unbecoming a candidate for the Republican nomination for President.

We are writing to you today to pull down this offensive radio ad.

Immigration is an important issue not just for Hispanic Republicans, but for our country.

President Obama and his liberal allies have worked hard to caricature all Republicans as being “anti-immigrant.” Your radio ad borrows from those talking points, hurts the progress that Republicans have made with Hispanics, and undermines our party’s efforts to win Hispanics over on economic and limited government arguments.

For a Republican candidate for President to reinforce President Obama’s attacks on Republicans is counterproductive, and damaging to the national dialogue on immigration issues. It will also help President Obama get reelected.

Governor Romney has worked aggressively to campaign among all Americans, including Hispanics. His message of economic opportunity and limited government are the same principles that have been espoused by conservatives and rallied Hispanics to our party since Ronald Reagan. Governor Romney understands that America should remain a land of opportunity for anyone willing to come here, work hard, and play by the rules.

While we may have differences of opinion with regard to some of Governor Romney’s policies on immigration, we nonetheless stand firmly behind him because we know he is the most qualified conservative candidate to defeat President Obama and to lift up all Americans, including Hispanics.

Like your attacks on the free market, attacking Mitt Romney as “anti-immigrant” only serves President Obama and his liberal allies.

Mr. Speaker, our party deserves better.

Sincerely,

Secretary Carlos Gutierrez
Senator Mel Martinez
Raquel A. Rodriguez
Zoraida Fonalledas
Jorge Arrizurieta
R. Alexander Acosta
Remedios Diaz Oliver
Rudy Fernandez
Jeanette Prenger
Jerry Natividad
Sal Gomez
Allen Gutierrez
Hector Barreto
Jose Fuentes
Bertica Cabrera Morris
Rafael Elias-Linero

This morning, via email, I see Hispanic leaders have written another letter, this one to Mitt Romney. This letter is not a request to remove ads it is an open letter informing Romney why they cannot support him and listing the reasons they are supporting Newt Gingrich.

(Difference in font because text is copied and pasted directly from email)

Text of letter to Romney below:

Dear Governor Romney:

We are a group of Latino Republicans invested in the growth of the economy and the support of Hispanic communities. Some of us have supported Newt Gingrich from the beginning of his campaign, and others of us have supported you. Our purpose here is to advise you that those of us who have stood by you are now withdrawing our backing in favor of Newt Gingrich. We’ve come to our decision based on our belief that your support of the Hispanic community is not a clear representation of what we need.

For example, in Iowa you stated that you would immediately veto the Dream Act. Mr. Gingrich proposes to push an essential part of the Dream Act which offers citizenship to those young men and women who serve in military. Last Tuesday in Florida, you openly agreed with Newt on a partial acceptance of the Dream Act, reversing your original stance on the matter.

It appears you find it “dishonest” to consider yourself Mexican-American, even though your father was born in Mexico. Under that same pretense, would those of us born in the United States, but have parental ancestry from Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia, Cuba, and other Latin American countries, be dishonest in claiming ourselves as Americans?

It is clear to us that you have not provided a real solution on behalf of the 12+ million immigrants who live in the shadows of the American communities. You fail to dignify the economic refugees who reside, work, pay taxes, and are otherwise productive citizens in this country. In stark contrast, Mr. Gingrich has a true history of supporting our community. He says we he means, and means what he says.

As examples:

As Speaker, he pushed through the Cuban LIBERTAD Act, which codified the embargo on Cuba, authorized aid to dissidents, and set the framework for principled engagement to support a genuine transition to democracy
Newt Gingrich pushed humane immigration laws, including the NACARA act (authored by former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart) to ensure that we kept our pledge to those who fled the Sandinistas in the 1970’s.
Newt Gingrich is the only candidate that has offered a humane approach to our immigration problem. He understands how inhumane and unrealistic it is to deport 12 million undocumented immigrants. He proposes to secure the border, deport criminals, and recognize the remainder through temporary work permits, and through establishing legal status for those with American sponsorship and deep ties to their communities.
Newt Gingrich proposes to push an essential part of the Dream Act which offers citizenship to those young men and women who serve in the military.
Newt Gingrich supports a referendum for the people of Puerto Rico to decide between independence, statehood and continued commonwealth status. Newt Gingrich has for years shown active support by reaching out to us, our organizations and our community to better understand the real concerns of American Hispanics. His interest in us did not begin last Tuesday in a Florida debate.

Mr. Gingrich has showed active support for the Hispanic community by reaching out to us, our organizations, and our communities to better understand the real concerns of American Hispanics. This is a quality that we respect, value, and appreciate.

Mr. Romney, without an open dialogue with us you are unable to understand issues important to the Latino community. Due to this absence, we are unable to support you.

Sincerely,

Rosario Marin - Former US Treasurer, California

Mario Rodriguez - Hispanic 100 Chair, California

Massey Villarreal - Former National Chair of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Texas

Vinicio Madrigal, MD - Former Chair Louisiana Republican Hispanic Assembly, Louisiana

Theresa Speake - Former National Secretary of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Virginia

Al Zapanta - President & CEO. U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Texas

Lionel Sosa – President of Bromley Communications, Texas

Miguel Orozco – Immigration lawyer, California; Outstanding Americans by Choice Recipient; Actor & Producer

Elizabeth Orozco – Business Executive

Eduardo Verástegui – Pro-life activist, actor, singer. California

Joe Galvan - Former regional director HUD, Former chair RNHA. Illinois

Teresa Hernandez – Restaurateur

Saul Delgado – President of Caboraca

Fortino Rivera – CEO

Bertha Rivera – Business Executive

Nancy C. Acevedo – Chair National Republican Hispanic Alliance Florida

Robbie G. Munoz – Hispanic 100 Youth Chair, California

Julio Gudino – President, Gudino Financial & Insurance Services, Inc.

KV Kumar – Nat’l Vice Chairman, Asian American & Pacific Islanders Nat’l Republican Assembly

NBC News-Wall Street Journal" Gingrich Leads Romney By 9 Points

2012-01-27T10:08:00.002-07:00

By Susan Duclos

MSNBC released their national polling results and found that Newt Gingrich is leading Mitt Romney nationwide among registered Republican primary voters likely to vote in the primaries across the country.

Gingrich leads Romney 37 percent to 28 percent nationally among registered Republicans likely to vote in the primaries; Rick Santorum is in third with 18 percent, and Ron Paul is fourth with 12 percent.

The breathless headline over at MSNBC also includes that Gingrich trails Obama in head-to-head match ups, but I have maintained steadily and multiple times here at Wake up America that head-to-head match ups with Barack Obama have no predictive value until one GOP candidate is chosen.

Barack Obama is one man and the leaning right Independents and conservative voters have multiple choices before them until one candidate is chosen to be the Republican nominee for presidency.

Until one candidate is chosen as the nominee, conservatives do not have the opportunity to coalesce behind that candidate, so until the primaries are over and the delegates are counted at the convention, head-to-heads against Obama make great headlines, but mean absolutely nothing in my mind.

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Mitt Romney Reminds Me Of Obama: Always Blaming Someone Else

2012-01-27T09:21:00.006-07:00

By Susan Duclos

There is a recurring theme to the Obama presidency besides redistribution of wealth and attempting to turn America into a socialist country and that his constant blaming of others for his failures.

His advisers advised him badly. He didn't know the economy was as bad as it truly was. Shovel ready wasn't as shovel ready as he was led to believe. The Republicans obstruct him (even through the first two years of his presidency he had a Democratically controlled House and Senate). Congress blocks him.

Nothing is ever Obama's fault.

Watching last night's CNN Debate for the Republican presidential candidates, I noticed that Mitt Romney does the very same thing. Somehow Romney is never to blame for what his campaign does or with his money.

When asked about an ad from his own campaign where at the end he says "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message," he told Wolf Blitzer "“I doubt that’s my ad, but we’ll take a look and find out."

Blitzer checked, during the debate, it was a Romney campaign ad, paid for by Romney.

After spending the last week criticizing Newt Gingrich for his consulting earnings from Freddie Mac, when he was questioned about his Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae investments, he said "First of all, my investments are not made by me. My investments for the last ten years have been in a blind trust, managed by a trustee. Secondly, the investments that they made, we learned about this, as we made our financial disclosure, had been in mutual funds and bonds. I don't own stock in either. There are bonds that the investor has held through mutual funds."

It is never his fault, it is always someone else. He never takes responsibility for his own actions, his investments, his ads.

Not only that, but as was explained and shown, with video last night, of Romney in 1994, he once claimed "The blind trust is an age-old ruse. You give a blind trust rules. You can say to a blind trust, don't invest in properties which would be in conflict of interest or where the seller might think they're going to get an advantage from me."

Making matters worse, National Journal, fact checked his claim and found that not all his investment earnings from Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae came from "blind trusts"...

Yet, according to Romney's financial disclosure forms, not all of his mutual funds were part of a blind trust. The Boston Globe reported in September that Romney owned between $250,001 and $500,000 in a mutual fund called the Government Obligation Fund that invests in debt notes of various government entities, including mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and he made between $15,001 and $50,000 in interest from those investments.
Since those assets were considered a charitable trust rather than a blind trust, Romney could have reviewed them himself.

Romney denies knowing the ads his campaign slaps his very name on, either being a lie or a case of not even knowing what is going on in his campaign, in his name. Romney flip-flops on his previous assertion about blind trusts as well as lies about his investment earnings being from Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae.

Aren't we tired yet of a President that blames his own mistakes on other people, his own lack of knowledge in what is going on in his own backyard, so to speak, on someone else, or outright lying when faced with his own failures instead of taking personal responsibility for them?

Does the Republican establishment truly want another Barack Obama in the White House?

Transcripts of the Florida debate, via CNN:
• Part I: 20:00-20:30, CNN FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
• Part II: 20:30-21:00, CNN FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
• Part III: 21:00-21:30, CNN FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

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CNN Florida Republican Debate: Romney Flip-Flops on Blind Trusts (1994 Video)

2012-01-26T20:19:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

National Journal fact checked Mitt Romney's claim that his investments (Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) were made by a blind trust, managed by a trustee and finds Romney's position now.................

Romney answered the charge this way: “First of all, my investments are not made by me. My investments for the last ten years have been in a blind trust, managed by a trustee. Secondly, the investments that they made, we learned about this, as we made our financial disclosure, had been in mutual funds and bonds. I don't own stock in either. There are bonds that the investor has held through mutual funds.”

..........To be contrary to Romney's position on "blind trusts" in 1994:

Romney himself was a blistering critic of blind trusts when he was running for the Senate against Ted Kennedy in 1994.

“The blind trust is an age-old ruse. You give a blind trust rules. You can say to a blind trust, don't invest in properties which would be in conflict of interest or where the seller might think they're going to get an advantage from me.” Romney told the Boston Globe in 1994. "'A United States senator has an obligation to tell its blind trust what it cannot and can invest in,' Romney told the Associated Press later.

The Goldman Sachs investments referenced specifically by Gingrich were analyzed by the liberal Think Progress blog, which found that both Mitt and Ann Romney owned millions in a Goldman Sachs investment fund that invested heavily in mortgage-backed obligations. The current owners of those mortgage debts have launched foreclosure proceedings against Floridians.

Video below:

Transcripts via CNN:
• Part I: 20:00-20:30, CNN FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
• Part II: 20:30-21:00, CNN FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
• Part III: 21:00-21:30, CNN FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

Video- Winning Our Future SuperPAC New Anti-Romney Ad: 'Blood Money'

2012-01-26T15:38:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

The Miami Herald reports that the pro-Gingrich SuperPAC, Winning our Future, is spending $6 million to advertise in Florida this week with anti-Romney ads.

The latest ad is called "Blood Money" and hits Romney on ObamaCare, Cayman Islands tax shelters and even Medicare fraud.

According to their description this is just a preview and full video will be coming soon.

Video below:

The Florida primaries will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

A GOP Republican debate is scheduled for tonight on CNN at 8pm ET.

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Romney Failed to Disclose Swiss Bank Account Income, Gingrich To Amend Disclosure Too

2012-01-26T15:08:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

[Update] The LA Times provides a little more information than the original ABC News story posted on:

A review by the Los Angeles Times/Tribune Washington Bureau found that at least 23 funds and partnerships listed in the couple’s 2010 tax returns did not show up or were not listed in the same fashion on Romney’s most recent financial disclosure, including 11 based in low-tax foreign countries such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg.

The campaign has stressed that Romney has paid all required U.S. taxes on his foreign funds.

Many of the funds are affiliated with Bain Capital, the Boston-based private equity firm Romney ran for 15 years. Several others are apparently unrelated offshore entities with mysterious names such as Babson 2006-1, which is based in the Cayman Islands, and Barracuda Investments, which has an address in Dublin, Ireland, but appears to be solely owned by Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm based in San Francisco.

Original post below

No wonder Mitt Romney hemmed, hawed, refused and delayed releasing tax returns, ABC News reports that the Mitt Romney campaign is amending financial disclosure reports filed in 2007 (before he ran and failed to obtain the GOP nomination against John McCain, and 2011 (submitted to run for 2012 presidential hopeful), to include those Swiss bank accounts that were missing from both previously submitted forms.

The discovery that the Romneys had $3 million in an account with the Swiss bank UBS came only after the Republican presidential candidate released his tax returns for 2010 on Tuesday. The campaign had maintained that it was not necessary to disclose the Swiss account because Romney's money manager, Brad Malt, had shuttered it in early 2010.

Several Republican election lawyers told ABC News Thursday that the account still needed to be disclosed because a Romney trust earned about $1,700 in income on the account during 2010. The campaign's decision to amend the forms was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Even though Newt Gingrich willingly offered up his tax returns before the other candidates, he too forgot to add income and is amending his forms as well.

Gingrich's returns showed he received $252,500 in wages from Gingrich Holdings Inc. in 2010, but those wages do not appear anywhere on his presidential disclosure report.

"An internal account review found the need to amend the reporting," said a Gingrich campaign official. "It was done immediately."

More at Political Wire.

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Another Obama Backed Company Files for Bankruptcy

2012-01-26T14:14:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

The Solyndra scandal wasn't the exception it was part of a pattern that is emerging of Obama backed companies that, combined, received billions in grants or loan guarantees, going bankrupt because they were bad investments to begin with.

Other companies in this pattern include, but are not limited to;

SunPower, BrightSource, Tonopah and Solar Energy.

Today, news is out that Ener1, an Indiana-based energy-storage company, whose subsidiary received a $118.5 million stimulus grant from the Energy Department, has filed for bankruptcy.

The Irony

The Energy Department in 2009 approved a $118.5 million stimulus grant for EnerDel, a subsidiary of the company that develops lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The company has so far spent $55 million of the federal funding.

Ironic because this comes just days after Barack Obama touted "our partnership with the private sector has already positioned America to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries," in his State of the Union Address.

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Newt Gingrich Campaign's Unique Usage Of Social Media: Newt 2012 Influencers

2012-01-26T12:14:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

The Newt Gingrich campaign has been very active in using social media in their campaigning efforts and via Twitter, they posted a link to another unique type of campaign effort they named the "Newt 2012 Influencer."

There is a choice given of whether the announcements automatically get posted to the social networks your choose to include or whether you wish to approve those announcements before being posted to your choices of social media networks.

Once a user signs up, the page offers statistics on how many links the user has shared, how many clicks per link and how many total clicks.

Easy steps, via Newt.org.

Sign up to be an Influencer by clicking on the sign-up widget below. This takes just a few seconds. Specify which social networks you’re interested in sharing our information on.
Once we publish new and interesting articles and stories that match your preferences you’ll get an email about the latest news and we will ask if you would like to share it on the social networks you selected.
After you agree, with your approval, the content gets automatically shared to your networks right from your email. You never even have to log in! Your friends will see that you’ve shared this contact with them and have a chance to learn more about Newt.

Just another example of how social media like Twitter, Facebook and others are becoming an effective campaign tool for candidates.

[Update] The email sent after signup:

Dear Susan Duclos,

Thank you for signing up to be an Influencer for Newt 2012. We really appreciate your support! As a registered Influencer you are able to help us share new and interesting content on your various social networks. The way that this works is very simple:

1. You will receive an email notification whenever new content is posted that Newt 2012 would like your help sharing. This email will provide you with information about the content and provide you with an opportunity to view it on the website, so that you can decide if it is something you would like to share with your network.

2. Depending on your preferences, you will click a link in the email to either approve the content to be shared (if you have chosen to approve everything), or to opt-out of having the content shared (if you have chosen to auto-post everything).

3. That's it! If at any time you wish to stop sharing content altogether you simply have to log back into SocialToaster and update your preferences. You can do this by returning to the Newt 2012 website and logging back in.

Sincerely,
Newt 2012

If at any time you wish to stop sharing content altogether or change your preferences, simply log back into SocialToaster at http://www.newt.org/influencer.

You are receiving this email because you signed up to participate as an Influencer for Newt 2012 on their website. This service is provided to you through SocialToaster.com. If you do not wish to participate in this service you may click here to cancel your participation: http://my.socialtoaster.com/st/opt-out/MjI2MjA

Kaiser Health: Public 'Twice As Likely' To Be Unfavorable Of Individual Manadate As Likely To Favor It

2012-01-26T11:30:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Via Kaiser Health Tracking Poll -- January 2012:

As for the public's own views of the mandate, the January poll shows that the requirement that everyone obtain health insurance or pay a fine continues to be unpopular. This month's poll finds the public more than twice as likely to have an unfavorable rather than favorable view of the provision (67% to 30%), very much in line with findings of previous Kaiser polls. Reflecting this dislike for a mandate, 54 percent of Americans say the Court should rule the individual mandate unconstitutional, while just 17 percent say they think it should be found constitutional. Roughly mirroring public views on the mandate, 55 percent of the public say they expect the Justices to find the mandate unconstitutional and 29 percent expect the Justices to find it constitutional.

Findings (.pdf)

Chartpack (.pdf)

Toplines (.pdf)

Nancy Pelosi famously stated "We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it."

Well, almost two years ago, Democrats, who controlled both the House of Representatives and the Senate, shoved it through and "passed the bill' without Republican support and against the majority of Americans who opposed it. Barack Obama signed it into law.

The public has seen "what is in it" and according to RCP averages, the plurality of Americans are still opposed to Obamacare as a whole, by a 11.6 percent margin.

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Professor Jacobson's 'Drudge vs History' - Does Establishment Choose or Do Voters?

2012-01-26T10:27:00.008-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Professor William A. Jacobson has a must read piece up titled "Drudge vs History, where he shows the panic of the Republican establishment, who until recently thought they had the "Romeny is inevitable" meme locked and loaded and is now in full fledged panic mode after Newt Gingrich blew that meme to hell and back by rising in the polls and taking the South Carolina primaries by a hefty 12 percent margin.

He clearly shows how Ann Coulter, Tom DeLay, Elliot Abrams and Matt Drudge are on a crusade to stop Gingrich's rise so the candidate of their choice, Romney, can gather back some momentum.

Read the whole thing, but portion below, the history, is well worth noting and passing around:

Against the anti-Newt crusade stands a wealth of counter-viewpoints of people who were in a position to know and who share very different recollections of Newt and Reagan, via Josh Painter in the comments:

Reagan Nat’l Security Advisor Bud McFarlane: http://bit.ly/zd9eAF

Reagan Economist Art Laffer: http://bit.ly/xEDETi

Reagan WH political director Jeffrey Lord: http://bit.ly/zw2ZMb

Reagan Policy Analyst Peter Ferrara http://bit.ly/zq1QxI

Reagan media consultant Richard Quinn: http://on.msnbc.com/y2sPM2

Reagan’s Speechwriting Dir. Bently Elliott: http://thedc.com/xOkDvA

Reagan’s older son Michael Reagan: http://bit.ly/yYVy7L

Reagan’s beloved wife Nancy: http://bit.ly/zrWvAw

I’ll add to that Peter Robinson, former Reagan speechwriter, who wrote the historic Berlin Wall address in which President Reagan urged Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall!”:

Republican voters can be influenced if the party establishment declares all out war against a candidate as they are doing against Gingrich, but voters should also be allowed and encouraged to see both sides of the issue, all the information available and not be forced toward one candidate or another by those with the loudest voices.

As a quick point to put things into perspective, the loudest voices of the Democratic party are the hard core, extremists, the far left liberals, yet according to Gallup, among Democrats, 29 percent consider themselves liberal and only 10 percent say they are "very" liberal".

51 percent of Republicans consider themselves to be conservative and only 20 percent identify as "very" conservative.

Just as the 10 percent of Democrats should not determine what the Democratic agenda is just because they scream the loudest, the same goes for the conservatives.

The 20 percent, like Coulter, just because they screech with the loudest voice, should not be allowed to determine what candidate is better for the majority of Republicans.

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Obama, Jan Brewer Bruhaha- 'Thin-Skinned' Obama Didn't Like What Brewer Wrote About Him

2012-01-26T09:36:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

"He was a little disturbed about my book."--- Jan Brewer

Barack Obama came to Arizona, but of course not to see our border problem, as Brewer continues to offer invitations to him to do.. no, he is in campaign mode, but Brewer never one to miss an opportunity to show the country that Obama doesn't care about the border problem, went to offer him an invitation to join her by handing Obama an envelope with a handwritten invite to return to Arizona to meet her for lunch and to join her for a visit to the border.

Evidently the thin skinned Obama was perturbed about her characterization of Obama in previous meetings about border control along the Arizona border with Mexico.

CBS News reports:

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer came to greet President Obama upon his arrival outside Phoenix Wednesday. What she got was a critique. Of her book.

The two leaders could be seen engaged in an intense conversation at the base of Air Force One's steps. Both could be seen smiling, but speaking at the same time.

Asked moments later what the conversation was about, Brewer, a Republican, said, "He was a little disturbed about my book."

"We could have been talking about a million different things," Brewer told reporters. "Bottom line is that he generally wants to talk about amnesty and I want to talk about securing our border."

Brewer recently published a book, "Scorpions for Breakfast," something of a memoir of her years growing up, and defends her signing of Arizona's controversial law cracking down on illegal immigrants, which Obama opposes.

The photo (top left) was the rage on local news and national news last night and the talk of the internet today, and Brewer describes the moment:

"I will say that a picture is what it is," Brewer added. "I must say, I was not hostile. I was trying to be very, very gracious. I respect the office of the president, and I would never be disrespectful in that manner."

However, O'Donnell says Brewer took a different tack during an appearance on Fox News' "On the Record" with Greta van Susteren, saying she couldn't understand why Obama was surprised by her book, and calling him "very thin-skinned."

Obama was objecting to Brewer's description of a meeting he and Brewer had at the White House, where she described Obama as lecturing her. In an interview in November Brewer described two tense meetings. The first took place before his commencement address at Arizona State University. "He did blow me off at ASU," she said in the television interview in November.

She also described meeting the president at the White House in 2010 to talk about immigration. "I felt a little bit like I was being lectured to, and I was a little kid in a classroom, if you will, and he was this wise professor and I was this little kid, and this little kid knows what the problem is and I felt minimized to say the least."

Local conservatives are supportive of Brewer, as the audio linked to by Hot Air shows. (Not embedding it here because there is no "play" option it just starts playing with the loading of the page.)

While all this is entertaining, it brings up a very serious question.

If Barack Obama cannot handle a few comments in a book that Brewer wrote, exactly how is he going to handle the scrutiny his record is going to be under when a Republican presidential candidate is chosen and Obama's record to date is constantly under attack during the campaign leading up to the November 2012 election?

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Grassfire Nation Tea Party Polling Overwhelmingly Favors Newt Gingrich

2012-01-26T08:28:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Via email link to Liberty News, we see that polling conducted from January 23-25, 2012 puts Newt Gingrich at the top of their favorite list with nearly a two-to-one lead over their second choice, Rick Santorum.

The survey was taken by 29,000 members and hit on a number of questions related to the 2012 GOP primary election. Of the 29,000, 75.7% of respondents said they closely identify with the ideals of the movement, and 17.2% said they are actively a part of the tea party movement.
The margin of error is at 0.56% with 95% confidence for the Grassfire Nation audience. First let’s take a look at the national results. We’ll follow up with some points about the numbers.

Question #1: If the caucus or primary were held in your state today, which of the following Republican presidential candidates would you support?

Newt Gingrich – 48.2%
Rick Santorum – 24.6%
Mitt Romney – 14.8%
Ron Paul – 12.4%

Read the rest.

This is confirmed by a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday which revealed that evangelicals and Tea Party supporters favor Newt Gingrich in Florida, putting the former House Speaker within two points of Mitt Romney.

A press release describing the poll states Gingrich "leads among white evangelical Christians 43 - 30 percent and among those who consider themselves to be tea party supporters 43 - 28 percent." Each segment makes up roughly a third of primary voters, according to Quinnipiac pollsters, "although there is substantial overlap among those two groups."

This comes six days after a report showing that 100 Tea Party leaders, from 25 different states, stepped up to support Gingrich.

Two recent Florida polls have come out today showing that after overcoming Romney's lead in Florida and taking the lead himself, Gingrich has lost that edge and Romney has once again taken the polling lead.

The fluctuations in Florida polls over the last week alone, show a race that is unpredictable and could go to either candidate by Tuesday, January 31, 2012, which is primary day in Florida.

The RCP average for nationwide polling, as of this moment, has Gingrich up by one percent, showing a very close race. That average changes with every new national polling data that is added.

Click to enlarge- RCP Screen shot taken on 1/26/12

As South Carolina clearly evidenced with Romney leading Gingrich by double digits on a Tuesday and Gingrich overcoming that lead and winning the South Carolina primaries by 12 percentage points by that same Saturday, polling is a snapshot and dependent on the mood of the moment which can turn on a dime and many not making up their minds who to vote for until primary day.

An example is provided by the FiveThirtyEight forecast yesterday where they gave Newt Gingrich a 60 percent chance of taking Florida on Tuesday the 31st, with the caveat pointing to the fact that even that lead was diminished from just two days before.

Further mucking up of the GOP primary process in Florida is that not only are campaigns running negative ads against each other along with SuperPACS that are pro-one candidate or another, but also now liberal groups have jumped into the ad war against Romney, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the nation’s largest public employee union and Service Employees International Union and Priorities USA Action, a pro-Obama super PAC, have also jointly launched a Spanish-language radio campaign in Florida accusing Romney of having “two faces” on immigration issues.

Tonight's debate sponsored by CNN, CNN en Español, The Hispanic Leadership Network and The Republican Party of Florida, at 8pm ET on CNN, just became of prime importance for the vote of the ten percent still undecided and the third of voters saying they could still change their minds.

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Florida Polls Swinging Toward Romney Again

2012-01-26T07:54:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

As pollsters, media, candidates and negatives ads flood Florida, polls have see-sawed back and forth, first for Romney, then Gingrich and two polls now show a swing back in Romney's favor.

Rasmussen and Insider Advantage are both giving Romney an eight point lead over Gingrich in the Sunshine state. CNN has Romney leading by two percentage points in Florida.

Gallup's Election 2012 Tracker hasn't updated with yesterday's numbers as of yet, but as of the latest update, Gingrich was still ahead nationally. (The numbers change as the last day polled is added in)

Florida hosts another Republican debate tonight at 8pm ET on CNN

Location: University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL

Sponsor: CNN, CNN en Español, The Hispanic Leadership Network and The Republican Party of Florida

Participants: Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Paul

(Headline fixed)

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Google Updates Privacy Policies And Terms Of Service

2012-01-25T14:26:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Video below via the Official Google blog where they explain their updated privacy policies and new terms of service.

From Google:

In just over a month we will make some changes to our privacy policies and Google Terms of Service. This stuff matters, so we wanted to explain what’s changing, why and what these changes mean for users.

First, our privacy policies. Despite trimming our policies in 2010, we still have more than 70 (yes, you read right … 70) privacy documents covering all of our different products. This approach is somewhat complicated. It’s also at odds with our efforts to integrate our different products more closely so that we can create a beautifully simple, intuitive user experience across Google.

So we’re rolling out a new main privacy policy that covers the majority of our products and explains what information we collect, and how we use it, in a much more readable way. While we’ve had to keep a handful of separate privacy notices for legal and other reasons, we’re consolidating more than 60 into our main Privacy Policy.

Regulators globally have been calling for shorter, simpler privacy policies—and having one policy covering many different products is now fairly standard across the web.

These changes will take effect on March 1, and we’re starting to notify users today, including via email and a notice on our homepage.

What does this mean in practice? The main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience.

Our recently launched personal search feature is a good example of the cool things Google can do when we combine information across products. Our search box now gives you great answers not just from the web, but your personal stuff too. So if I search for restaurants in Munich, I might see Google+ posts or photos that people have shared with me, or that are in my albums. Today we can also do things like make it easy for you to read a memo from Google Docs right in your Gmail, or add someone from your Gmail contacts to a meeting in Google Calendar.

But there’s so much more that Google can do to help you by sharing more of your information with … well, you. We can make search better—figuring out what you really mean when you type in Apple, Jaguar or Pink. We can provide more relevant ads too. For example, it’s January, but maybe you’re not a gym person, so fitness ads aren’t that useful to you. We can provide reminders that you’re going to be late for a meeting based on your location, your calendar and an understanding of what the traffic is like that day. Or ensure that our spelling suggestions, even for your friends’ names, are accurate because you’ve typed them before. People still have to do way too much heavy lifting, and we want to do a better job of helping them out.

Second, the Google Terms of Service—terms you agree to when you use our products. As with our privacy policies, we’ve rewritten them so they’re easier to read. We’ve also cut down the total number, so many of our products are now covered by our new main Google Terms of Service. Visit the Google Terms of Service page to find the revised terms.

Finally, what we’re not changing. We remain committed to data liberation, so if you want to take your information elsewhere you can. We don’t sell your personal information, nor do we share it externally without your permission except in very limited circumstances like a valid court order. We try hard to be transparent about the information we collect, and to give you meaningful choices about how it is used—for example our Ads Preferences Manager enables you to edit the interest categories we advertise against or turn off certain Google ads altogether. And we continue to design privacy controls, like Google+’s circles, into our products from the ground up.

We believe this new, simpler policy will make it easier for people to understand our privacy practices as well as enable Google to improve the services we offer. Whether you’re a new Google user or an old hand, please do take the time to read our new privacy policy and terms, learn more about the changes we’re making and understand the controls we offer.

Needless to say, there is some reaction across the web over this news.

Gingrich Attracting 'Enormous' Crowds In Florida; Romney, Meh, Not So Much

2012-01-25T14:04:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

LA Times reports that Newt Gingrich drew a crowd of approximately 3,000 in Naples Florida on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, then drew another crowd of 5,000 on his final stop of the day.

According to the same article, Romney's crowds were "significantly smaller throngs."

While Romney spoke Wednesday morning at a metal distribution facility in Orlando, 300 unused chairs remained stacked off to the side. That was more than the number of people he attracted, no more than 250 in all.

On the same day that just two of Gingrich's appearance drew a combined total of 8,000 people, Romney drew about "150 people to a closed speech in Tampa and addressed about 300 people outside a foreclosed house in southwest Florida later in the day."

Read the entire article.

Is it any wonder that Mitt Romney is on Full Tilt?

Romney needs a political miracle between now and next Tuesday's primaries if he hopes to take Florida.

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Death Row Inmate Tells About His 'Life Of Leisure' In Prison

2012-01-25T13:29:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Some things are just wrong, on many levels and having a death row inmate, who confessed and was convicted of murdering a 17 year old kid, taunt the public and the family of the victim by detailing his life of leisure in prison, classifies.

Via ABC:

Danny Robbie Hembree Jr. was found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Heather Catterton in 2009 and was sentenced to death on Nov. 18, 2011.
Hembree, 50, is on death row at Central Prison in Raleigh, N.C., but he's not looking for any pity in the letter he sent to The Gaston Gazette.
"Is the public aware that I am a gentleman of leisure, watching color TV in the A.C., reading, taking naps at will, eating three well balanced hot meals a day," Hembree asked in the letter. "I'm housed in a building that connects to the new 55 million dollar hospital with round the clock free medical care 24/7."
He also asks if the public knows that the chances of his "lawful murder" taking place in the next 20 years, if ever, are "very slim."

Hembree has also been accused of killing two other women. One was 30-year-old Randi Dean Saldana, whose burnt remains were found near Blacksburg, S.C. in 2009. The other was 30-year-old Deborah Ratchford, whose body was found in 1992.
He admitted to taking drugs and having sex with Catterton and Saldana on the days they died, but told jurors he did not kill them or dispose of their bodies, according to ABC News' Raleigh-Durham affiliate WTVD. He is scheduled to go on trial for Saldana's killing in March.
Hembree confessed to killing the three women during recorded police interviews, but later said the confessions were an attempt to cover up a string of armed robberies, according to the Gaston Gazette.
In the letter, Hembree also mocks the judicial system.
"I laugh at you self righteous clowns and I spit in the face of your so called justice system. The state of North Carolina has sentenced me to death but it's not real," he wrote.
North Carolina State Representative Paul Stam told WTVD that the letter is a travesty of justice. He said that it is more likely that Hembree will die of natural causes than of the death penalty.
"His punishment does not fit his crime at all," Stam said.

Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell admitted to receiving distraught calls from Catterton's father "I got a call from the father of the 17-year-old that he murdered, in tears. He said that this is tearing the family to shreds. This is ripping the wound open," Locke told ABCNews.com. "[The father] said, 'He murdered our daughter, got the death penalty and now he's just sitting in jail laughing at us.'"

Outrageous.

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Poker Analogy: Mitt Romney Goes Full 'Tilt' With Criticism Of Gingrich Attacking Media And Moderators

2012-01-25T12:06:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Someone should tell Mitt Romney to slowly back away from the cookie jar because his latest criticism of Newt Gingrich is tantamount to a poker player going on full "tilt."

Poker Term: Tilt

A player goes on tilt when his or her emotions take over. A player on tilt no longer plays rationally and instead plays like a maniac. Often, the player just suffered a bad beat and is very upset. A player on tilt often loses a lot of money, so going on tilt needs to be avoided. However, even the best players can go on tilt at times.

The Hill headline "Romney blasts Gingrich over attacks on debate moderators, news media"

Mitt Romney attacked his GOP presidential rival Newt Gingrich over what has to date been one of Gingrich’s most effective debate methods — going after the moderators and the media for questions he deems inappropriate.

“It’s very easy to talk down a moderator,” Romney said Wednesday on Fox News. “The moderator asks a question and then has to sit by and take whatever you send to them. And Speaker Gingrich has been wonderful at attacking the moderators and attacking the media.”

It is understandable that Mitt Romney would be upset, emotional over losing his polling lead over Newt Gingrich in the next primary state, Florida, as well as losing his 20 plus point national lead, with Gingrich now leading in the polls with both Florida and the nationwide, but has Romney lost his mind??????

Two-thirds of the South Carolina primary voters, who gave Newt Gingrich a 12 percentage point win on primary day in South Carolina, said it the debate performances mattered for their voting preference.

Newt Gingrich received a standing ovation in his criticism of the debate moderator, Juan Williams, in one debate and two standing ovations for his outrage and criticism of CNN's John King and the liberal media in the second debate.

In case Romney has forgotten, the majority of the public see media bias (60%) and by three-to-one they see that bias as being liberal, 47 to 13 percent.

Note to Mitt Romney- That goes double for conservatives Mitt, which means appearing to defend the media and moderators from Gingrich, puts you on the opposite end of the spectrum, hell the political universe, as conservative voters. You know, those people that you want to vote for you!!!!

Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit calls Romney "tone deaf" and Charlotte Hays at NRO has a "word of advice" for Romney's advisers.

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BHO SOTU 2012: Deja vu, all over again

2012-01-25T11:56:00.001-07:00

*cross posted from Assoluta Tranquillita*

It is well known that I avoid any BHO speechifying, and judging by his latest State of the Union, seems I didn't miss much.

Take a look:

Familiar Rhetoric, Failed Record
rnc on Jan 24, 2012

http://www.GOP.com -- If you thought the 2012 State of the Union was very similar to President Obama's past State of the Union speeches, you were right...

(H/T Sylvia)

Videos- Pelosi: 'Something I know', Gingrich: 'Spit it out', Pelosi's Office: 'No New Dirt'

2012-01-25T11:02:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Nancy Pelosi, trying to appear still relevant, speaking to CNN's John King: (Video below text)

Pelosi: "He's not going to be President of the United States. That's not going to happen. Let me just make my prediction and stand by it, it isn't going to happen."

King: "Why are you so sure?"

Pelosi: "There is something I know. The Republicans, if they choose to nominate him that's their prerogative. I don't even think that's going to happen."

Video:

Newt Gingrich on NBC's "Today" show: (Video after text from The Hill)

"She lives in a San Francisco environment of very strange fantasies and very strange understandings of reality," Gingrich said Wednesday as he laughed off the notion that the House minority leader could derail his bid for the GOP presidential nomination.
"I have no idea what's in Nancy Pelosi's head," Gingrich said on NBC's "Today" show. "If she knows something, I have a simple challenge: Spit it out."

Video:

Mitt Romney who has been overcome in Florida and national polling by a Gingrich surge, really really wants to know!!!!

ROMNEY: I wish I knew what that was [laughter]. I'd tell people what it is right now.

Video:

The last part of the latest Pelosi saga is entertainment for Gingrich, disappointment for Romney and embarrassment for Pelosi.

The Hill's Ballot Box headline "Pelosi's office says she has no new dirt on Newt Gingrich."

Popcorn anyone?

[Update] For history buffs, Byron York asks and answers and provides historic data in his piece "What really happened in the Gingrich ethics case?"

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It Takes AP 3 Pages To Fact Check Obama's SOTU Lies

2012-01-25T08:49:00.006-07:00

By Susan Duclos

[Update] CNN conducted an instant focus group on Obama's State of the Union, (January 24, 2012), 24 second video below.

"If you thought the 2012 State of the Union was very similar to President Obama’s past State of the Union speeches, you were right…"-- RNC (Video below) H/T BuzzFeed

The AP, via Seattlepi.com, takes a look at Obama's rhetoric Tuesday night during his State of the Union address and how it fits with the facts and political circumstances and it takes them three pages to fact check what Obama said and compare it to reality and finds Obama's version of the state our country to be lacking, containing half truths or misinformation.

The Washington Post Fact Checker examines 11 claims by Obama that were misleading or lacking context.

The transcript for the SOTU can be found HERE.

Below is the video of Mitch Daniels who gave the republican rebuttal of Obama's State of the Union address. (12:19 minute video)

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The Leopard Will Change His Spots

2012-01-24T23:14:00.000-07:00

Book of Obama Chapter 13

And the Holy One, anointed by Holy Chief of Justice, John of Roberts, returned to the Dome of the Capital, dressed in the Holy suit and tie and addressed the assembled chapter of the Congress, the Holy Justices of the land, the members of the anointed Cabinet and guests from near and far, the Anointed One, Wearer of the Mantle of Power, spoke:

I ended the war in Iraq, I killed the evil bin Laden, and personally I welcomed all the soldiers home from Iraq. I am the Holy One, the President and I can do everything. I have brought peace to the world, the world respects us better now than at any time, I will end the war in Afghanistan too. For I am the Messiah of the World.

I want all of you, My ~~slaves~~ oops My people to remember what I did for you after World War 2. My Grandfather who fought with Patton (and liberated Auschwitz) and My Grandmother who built the entire US Navy by herself, got to go to college for nothing. They built the US to its greatness all by themselves.

But now I see that you have done everything to destroy Me. You have overspent, you have destroyed My credit (and yours), you have bought homes that you could not afford. But I am here. I will pay your mortgages. I will refinance your mortgages. I will make it all better. I am your Savior.

I will prevent jobs from going overseas. I will investigate businesses who outsource their jobs to China. (That is until Warren Buffet tells Me to stop.) There will be no more bailouts for banks, for Wall Street, for anyone, except for Unions. I saved the auto industry. No one helped Me. And they are stronger now than before. (Sorry about the Volt thing.) I will make other nations have an equal playing field with Me. I am the equalizer.

I will tax the rich higher. And I will tax everyone else higher too. I will change the tax code. I am Omnipotent. I can and will do all.

I salute America's teachers. I stand by your unions. I will throw more money to you so you can indoctrinate the children. I want a law saying that a child must stay in school until either he or she graduates or turns 18. That way I can have them indoctrinated to be our slaves. I will find a way to destroy the home schools, the private schools (But not the ones My daughters attend.), and the religious schools. Everyone will learn the same, think the same, live the same. Everyone will get free college under Me. (Except to the "good" schools.)

I will give citizenship to every immigrant to the United States. It matters not to Me if they are legally here or not. And I demand that this be done before the November elections (I need the votes.).

I will create jobs in energy. I will have the oil fields opened up. (Until the environmentalists either go to court or demand that I stop.) I demand that we develop alternate energy (The people who created Solyndra have given Me more money. I need to give them more government funds.) Under Me the United States has imported less oil than in the last 16 years. (Not really but if you tell a lie long and loud enough the sheeple will believe it.)

I will clear away all the Red Tape, all the government regulations that hold business down. But only until I am re-elected. Then not only will it all return but I will impose stricter restrictions upon the land.

Under My leadership the Muslim world has undergone transformations. I was the cause of the Arab Spring, the Arab renewal, the Muslim revival. This is all good in My eye. I will remove Assad from Syria, nukes from Iran and Jews from Palestine. I will defeat the evil Netanyahu and replace him with the moderate Abbas. There will be peace through out the land, for under Me all will drink the Kool-Aid and sing the Kumbaya. Under Me all men, all women will live in peace. There will be peace, the peace of Islam and the joy of the jizya. This I will demand of the world.

Upon listening to this the people turned to each other and wondered why the Anointed One didn't do any of these things when He first came into office. They saw what He had done and shook their heads. In a loud voice they shouted:

NOT THIS TIME!

Video- RNC Releases Preemptive TV Ad Before Obama's SOTU: Titled 'State of Our Union'

2012-01-24T13:51:00.006-07:00

By Susan Duclos

The RNC has just released a television ad called "State Of Our Union" with clips of the harsh economic realities of today, preemptively attacking Barack Obama for his failed policies.

Video below:

Description from GOP's YouTube page:

http://www.GOP.com -- The Republican National Committee released a new television ad "State of Our Union" to coincide with President Obama's State of the Union address. The ad displays the nation's economic struggles -- 13 million unemployed and 49 million in poverty -- that are a direct result of Barack Obama's failed leadership.

Above was the 31 second TV ad, below is the 45 second extended cut.

[Update] Guy Benson over at Townhall also has an excellent read, headline is "Pre-butting Obama's 'State of the Union' Campaign Speech."

My Take On The Electability Argument... My Dog, Shamus, Is More Electable Than Barack Obama

2012-01-24T12:19:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

I click a lot of links throughout the day. I read through the Twitter comments of those I follow and click even more links. Over the past few days I have been watching a running debate, for lack of a better word, on the electability of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, from @aceofSpadesHQ,@justkarl @ctiberius, just among a few.

Let's talk about Obama's re-electability.

Unemployment has been well over 8.5 percent for the majority of Obama's term. Obama gave us Obamacare! Obama has reigned over the highest deficits over any president. Obamacare! More people have been put on food stamps since he has taken residence in the White House than ever before. Obamacare! America's credit rating has been downgraded. Obamacare! He pushed, passed and implemented a nearly trillion dollar stimulus plan that failed. Obamacare! The debt was $10.626 trillion on the day Obama took office, it is now over $15 trillion just three years later. Have I mentioned... yes, OBAMACARE!

And that is just off my head for a quickie.

Dudes.... It has been interesting, but to me, with Barack Obama's record over the last three years, my freaking dog, Shamus, a little cairn terrier, (seen at the top of this post) is more electable than Barack Obama in 2012.

While everyone has their preferred candidate, Newt or Mitt is more electable than Barack Obama.

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Gallup Five Day Tracker Now Has Gingrich Over Romney By 4%

2012-01-24T11:19:00.006-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Gallup keeps a rolling tracker which includes the data from five days at a time and yesterday's report stated "Newt Gingrich has all but erased Mitt Romney's 23-percentage-point lead of a week ago among Republican voters nationally, and the two candidates are now essentially tied, at 29% for Romney and 28% for Gingrich. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum have significantly lower levels of support, at 13% and 11%, respectively."

Today though, as can be seen by the graphic at the top, Gingrich has overtaken Romney's lead and is now four percentage points ahead nationwide.

Florida, which holds it's primaries on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 and which hosted last night's debate and will host one more on Thursday the 26th, is showing the same type of turnaround in polling numbers that Gallup is finding nationally.

Polls taken after Newt Gingrich's South Carolina primary win, from Insider Advantage, Rasmussen and Public Policy Polling (D), all show the same type of resurgence on the part of Gingrich. The RCP averages have Gingrich leading Romney with a 7.4 percentage point margin.

Insider Advantage on 1/22/12 shows an 8 point lead for Gingrich over Romney.
Rasmussen on 1/22/12 shows a 9 point lead for Gingrich over Romney.
PPP on 1/22-23/12 shows a 5 point lead for Gingrich over Romney.

With that said, as South Carolina clearly proved, debate performances, campaigning, superPAC ads as well as candidate ads and interviews can turn numbers around on a dime.

Going into the South Carolina primary week, polling had Mitt Romney leading Newt Gingrich by a 14 and 14 percent margin and by Saturday, January 21, 2012, primary night, Gingrich easily won South Carolina by a 12 percent margin.

Recent developments in the GOP campaign to win the Republican nomination for president are; Mitt Romney released his 2010 tax returns. Newt Gingrich authorized the released of his Freddie Mac contract. (I have it embedded HERE) News reported Mitt Romney has substantial investments with Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae. Former 2008 presidential candidate and Senator, Fred Thompson endorsed Newt Gingrich. Pro-Gingrich SuperPAC received $5 million from Dr. Miriam Adelson who is the wife of Sheldon Adelson who earlier this month donated $5 million. Ron Paul won't be in Florida on primary night he will be off campaigning in Nevada and Colorado. Rick Santorum tells Fox News this morning that Romney's attacks against Gingrich on Freddie Mac are "over the top."

Nice amount of linkage in the above paragraph... enjoy the reading.

Oh, and Barack Obama will be giving another "campaign speech" tonight. It is an annual speech a president gives called State of the Union address, but this time Obama will have a captive audience to hear him continue with his perpetual campaigning for reelection since almost all prime time channels will be tuned in.

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Video- Fred Thompson Endorses Newt Gingrich

2012-01-24T10:29:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Former 2008 presidential candidate and former Senator and actor Fred Thompson, endorsed Newt Gingrich for President in one of the latest endorsements, He announced his endorsement on Sean Hannity last night.

Thompson statement on Hannity, via Fox News:

HANNITY: All right, you know, I read your statement and most people haven't seen it. So I think it's really important that I'll let you lay it out because you go into some really, really specific details why this race is so important, what is at stake here and who you decided to endorse. Explain.

THOMPSON: Sean, for me the way I view the strength of these candidates had to do with the way I view the status and direction of our government. I think we're in deep trouble. I probably think greater trouble than most people do.

Even these numbers that are coming out of Washington that look so bleak are understated. They are based on false projections of growth and things of that nature. We have historically low interest rates, and when they start to come up as the largest debtor in the world, we're going to be in an additional fix that we can't bail ourselves out of.

I think we're at a tipping point in this country. I think there are going to be more people in the wagons soon than are pulling the wagon.

HANNITY: We're close.

THOMPSON: I think we're there. Almost half the people are on some federal government program. Almost half the people pay no federal income tax.

I think this president is taking us down the road of a genuine welfare state full-fledged, even when we have the example of Europe to teach us and guide us. I think the American people see what is going on there, see what's going on in their own country. That is why they are organizing in hamlets and communities and towns all across this nation. You know, some of them are called Tea Parties.

That's my view and I have come to the growing realization for me anyway that Newt Gingrich is the guy who can articulate what America is all about. American exceptionalism can make the case and not just read the talking points or do it off the teleprompter.

He can make the case for free markets and our basic case that lower taxes can be good for everybody. Bring about growth, it's good for everybody. He is not afraid. He is tough. He is experienced. I don't think any more it's an advantage to be able to say I know nothing about the operation of the federal government.

I know something about it. Newt knows something about it. It is colossal mess. I came to Washington in 1995 in part because of what was going on in the country right now that had generated in large part by the leadership of Newt Gingrich.

He conceived and carried out really a revolution in American politics at that time. We were able to balance the budget for about four years in a row, pass welfare reform and begin to rebuild a depleted military. These things can be done, but we can't be apologetic about it or be tentative about it.

We can't look surprised, you know, if we get off of our talking points. We have to stand up to the establishment on both sides of the aisle and to the news media and carry this thing through. These times are different in America, Sean. The old rules don't apply anymore.

People are concerned. People are frightened. People see their country going in a direction that is different from the first principles that made us the envy of the world. That is why you're seeing people react the way they did in South Carolina.

HANNITY: You released a report and you mentioned this in your statement. You put this together when you were chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Committee in 2001. Government on the brink, you say, it's far worse now than it was then.

You see the debt, the deficits, what do you make of -- even tonight Governor Romney is coming down hard on Newt. Washington insider, it was one attack after another after another. I don't think this the path towards inspiring people on either side when any of these guys are attacking each other. They spent 20 minutes on this earlier in the debate.

THOMPSON: Well, I'm not really surprised. I guess, I am surprised that Newt is doing his own, shall we say, tough and gritty work. Usually he leaves that to his surrogates and the Super PACs to put on those television ads and spent millions on attacks like that, while Mitt stands up there, you know -- I think in the last debate, he said one of his regrets was he had said something negative toward one of the candidates. Now, he's coming out with an array of accusations, you know, that everyone can be addressed at the proper time.

If these candidates want to spend their time talking about what happened 10, 15, 20 years ago and mistakes that were made in their personal lives or business lives or political lives, I'm sure that each candidate is going to have plenty to talk about. I think the American people are fed up with all of that.

They are asking the question -- who is going to be bold enough, smart enough, articulate enough to carry the mail? To beat Barack Obama and start the difficult task of righting this American ship.

HANNITY: Will you head out the campaign trail with Newt Gingrich?

THOMPSON: I'll do some things, I'm sure. It's not a full-time job. I'm not going to be spokesman for the campaign or anything like that. I have the same concern that every father and grandfather has and the same thing that got me in politics to start with.

That is, to try to leave the place a little better than you found it. I have been the recipient -- you know, I above all else know, that, you know, you can be born into modest circumstances in this country, but you are blessed in ways that kings of old could not even begin to contemplate.

You are born with a legacy of freedom and independence and free choice. The founding fathers of this country understood human nature. They understood the wisdom of the ages and the lessons of civilizations that have come and gone.

These things have come together, you know, to give us the kind of life we had. I'm ashamed kind of what our generation is in the process of leading the next one.

H/T Legal Insurrection.

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Romney's Tax Returns, Gingrich's Freddie Mac Contract.... Can We Get Back To Issues Now?

2012-01-24T08:50:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Mitt Romney's tax returns have been released and can be found at his site- HERE.

A firestorm of discussion is being shown over at Memeorandum over the releases of his 2012 returns and how much he made, where his bank accounts are, how much he donated to charity and what rates he paid, but very few actually explaining that the federal tax rate on his investment income isn't just the 14 to 15 percent being spoken about, but actually 40 to 50 percent since that type of revenue is taxed twice.

John Hood over at NRO explains that little tidbit.

Also, before the debate started last night, Newt Gingrich authorized the release of his Freddie Mac contract, I put an embeddable version up after the debate. Too bad Newt didn't know about all the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae stock that Romney owns before the debate, that tussle might have had some more punches thrown.

Oh well, there is always Thursday's debate.

Yeah, believe it or not, there was a debate last night. After the initial rumble between Gingrich and Romney, the candidates got back to discussing the issues. Oh, and the audience was muzzled, so no applause or ovations were allowed.

Washington Post has the full transcript of the debate. As always, I personally encourage readers to read through it and determine for themselves, and not to let others tell them who won, who lost, who beat around the bush or who answered the questions asked.

I will note, there were moments of levity, especially the friendly back and forth ribbing between Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich.

For those that are interested in a variety of different analysis of the debate, National Journal has a pretty well rounded selection:

In Florida Debate, Romney Morphs from Prey into Hunter- By Ronald Brownstein

Personal Question Trips Romney- By Alex Roarty

Contemplating a President Gingrich- By Michael Hirsh

What Part of Full Disclosure Does Romney Not Understand?- By Ron Fournier

Gingrich Lost His Crowd-Pleasing Groove in Tampa- By Tim Alberta

For Romney, the SC Lesson is Attack, Attack, Attack- By George E. Condon Jr.

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Embedded Gingrich Freddie Mac Contract, Romney's Freddie Mac Fannie Mae Investments

2012-01-23T21:21:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Embeddable Freddie Mac contract below post.

Earlier it was reported that after all day Mitt Romney attacks against Newt Gingrich with Romney challenging Gingrich to describe the work he did for Freddie Mac, Newt authorized the release of his Freddie Mac contract, which is embedded below.

What Romney neglected to mention but which is public little known knowledge is that Romney himself has substantial money invested in Freddie Mac and it's sister company Fannie Mae.

AP:

Romney's most recent financial disclosure report listed several investments in U.S.-backed lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Romney, Gingrich and other GOP critics repeatedly have all singled out the two quasi-government entities as prime villains in the housing crisis that played a central role in the nation's long and deep recession.

While continuing to hammer Gingrich for his consulting work for Freddie Mac, the Romney campaign sought to deflect questions about the former Massachusetts governor's investments. They include a mutual fund worth up to $500,000 that includes assets from both lenders among other government income, and separate investments in each of the lenders in Romney's individual retirement account, each worth between $100,000 and $250,000.

Romney campaign officials said Monday that a trustee handles the investments and that Romney had no role in choosing or managing them.

Romney claims Gingrich worked as a lobbyist for Freddie Mac and Gingrich maintains he was a paid consultant. No mention in tonight's debate of Romney's investments into the companies in question.

Freddie Mac Agreement

This topic led to heated exchanges in the Tampa, Florida Republican debate tonight.

Expect the battle in Florida to heat up more between Romney and Newt since recent polling, three now with the latest PPP poll added to the Insider Advantage and Rasmussen polls reported on earlier in the day, all show Gingrich has gone from trailing Romney to leading in the Florida polls. Gingrich has also caught up to Romney in the national polls according to Gallup Election 2012 tracking (Right side at Gallup link).

While both Santorum and Paul performed well in tonight's debate, the fighting back and forth at the beginning of the debate focused more on Romney and Gingrich.

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Gingrich Meets Romney's Challenge And Releases Freddie Mac Contract

2012-01-23T17:19:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

[Update] Embeddable contract found HERE in a followup post as well as data on Romney's Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae investments.[End Update]

Reuters reports that Mitt Romney challenged Newt Gingrich to describe the work Gingrich performed for Freddie Mac as well as unleashing television ads attacking Gingrich and claiming he cashed in on the housing crisis.

Via Reuters:

Rival Mitt Romney, who was trounced by Gingrich in Saturday's South Carolina primary, has hit the former speaker of the House of Representatives particularly hard because of his ties to Freddie Mac as part of an effort to paint him as a creature of Washington.

[SNIP]
Republicans blame government-sponsored mortgage finance companies like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae for the 2007 housing-market crash that plunged the country into the deepest recession since the 1930s. Outside economists say lax oversight of the financial industry is primarily to blame.
Gingrich has denied he worked as a lobbyist for Freddie Mac and said he would work to release details of his contract.
The Center for Health Transformation, a consulting firm founded by Gingrich in 2003 and sold to his partners in 2011, has previously said that it could not release the contract due to client confidentiality concerns. But spokeswoman Susan Meyers said the firm would make the material public on Monday.
The company says it does not perform lobbying services for clients, which come from the healthcare, education and technology industries.

Challenge met!!!

In the meantime, Romney still has not made his tax returns available. Not that he had to, but when insisting others be totally transparent, it would be helpful if Romney was.

Romney, after refusing to release them, after losing to Gingrich in South Carolina, finally agreed to release them, but not until tomorrow.

Related:

Politisite "Gingrich Releases Freddie Mac Contract."

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It's 2012!

2012-01-23T15:14:00.002-07:00

A powerful M9-class solar storm that unleashed a coronal mass ejection toward Earth in the early hours of Jan. 23, 2012 (GMT).CREDIT: NASA/SDO/SOHO

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

We are experiencing Solar Activity on a scale we haven't seen in decades. The Sun has come to life and is throwing a fit.

RADIATION STORM IN PROGRESS: Solar protons accelerated by this morning's M9-class solar flare are streaming past Earth. On the NOAA scale of radiation storms, this one ranks S3, which means it could, e.g., cause isolated reboots of computers onboard Earth-orbiting satellites and interfere with polar radio communications. An example of satellite effects: The "snow" in this SOHO coronagraph movie is caused by protons hitting the observatory's onboard camera.

ALMOST-X FLARE AND CME (UPDATED): This morning, Jan. 23rd around 0359 UT, big sunspot 1402 erupted, producing a long-duration M9-class solar flare. The explosion's M9-ranking puts it on the threshold of being an X-flare, the most powerful kind. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the flare's extreme ultraviolet flash:

"This was amazing," he says. "It was a wonderful experience to see these stunning auroras."

NOAA forecasters estimate a 10% - 25% chance of continued geomagnetic storms tonight as effects from the CME impact subside. The odds will increase again on Jan. 24-25 as a new CME (from today's M9-clare) approaches Earth. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras.

We could experience blackouts, loss of satellite signals, even loss of television (cable) systems.

A powerful solar eruption is expected to blast a stream of charged particles toward Earth tomorrow (Jan. 24), as the strongest radiation storm since 2005 rages on the sun.

Early this morning (0359 GMT Jan. 23, which corresponds to late Sunday, Jan. 22 at 10:59 p.m. EST), NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory caught an extreme ultraviolet flash from a huge eruption on the sun, according to the skywatching website Spaceweather.com.

According to NOAA, this is the strongest solar radiation storm since May 2005, and as a precaution, polar flights on Earth are expected to be re-routed within the next few hours, Kathy Sullivan, deputy administrator of NOAA, said today at the 92nd annual American Meteorological Society meeting in New Orleans, La.

The solar flare spewed from sunspot 1402, a region of the sun that has become increasingly active lately. Several NASA satellites, including the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and the Stereo spacecraft observed the massive sun storm.

A barrage of charged particles triggered by this morning's solar flare is expected to hit Earth tomorrow at around 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT), according to experts at the Space Weather Prediction Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Scientists call these electromagnetic bursts "coronal mass ejections" (CMEs), and they are closely studied because they can produce potentially harmful geomagnetic storms when the charged particles rain down Earth's magnetic field lines.

In addition to generating stronger than normal displays of Earth's auroras (also known as the northern and southern lights), geomagnetic storms aimed directly at our planet can also disrupt satellites in orbit, cause widespread communications interference and damage other electronic infrastructures.

"There is little doubt that the cloud is heading in the general direction of Earth," Spaceweather.com announced in an alert. "A preliminary inspection of SOHO/STEREO imagery suggests that the CME will deliver a strong glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 24-25 as it sails mostly north of our planet."

Sunday's solar flare was rated an M9-class eruption, which placed it just on the verge of being an X-class flare, the most powerful type of solar storm. M-class sun storms are powerful but mid-range, while C-class flares are weaker.

NASA routinely monitors space weather conditions to determine any potential hazards to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Based on the agency's assessment, the six spaceflyers currently living and working on the orbiting outpost are not in any danger, said NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries.

"The flight surgeons have reviewed the space weather forecasts for the flare and determined that there are no expected adverse effects or actions required to protect the on-orbit crew," Humphries told SPACE.com in an email.

Finish reading here

The year is 2012 and perhaps the Disaster Gods don't wish to wait until December 21st.

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

Ron Paul Won't Be In Florida On Primary Night

2012-01-23T14:18:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Trending on CNN is the announcement that while Ron Paul will participate in the twp Florida debates this week, he will be heading to Nevada and Colorado afterward and will not be in Florida for primary night.

Want more proof Rep. Ron Paul is looking past Florida to February's contests? Well, here it is.

While the Republican presidential candidate and longtime congressman from Texas will attend both of the GOP debates being held in Florida this week (including a CNN debate on Thursday night in Jacksonville), Paul won't be in the Sunshine State on primary day, January 31.

This comes as news of Ron Paul supporters gathering in Cocoa Beach, Florida today at the intersection of State Roads 520 and A1A from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.

The Christian Science Monitor wonders if Paul's strategy of debating but not campaigning in Florida will backfire.

He also emphasized what his goal is right now: "In the beginning, I thought it would just be promotion of a cause. Then it dawned on me, when you win elections and you win delegates, that’s the way you promote a cause.”

US News and World Report, on January 18, 2012, gave one possible reason why Paul might not do as well in Florida even if he had decided to campaign there.

In Florida, there is no way to register with a party affiliation the day of the primary; voters must register 29 days before the Republican primary to vote for a GOP candidate. This means a candidate who might have made a large, late surge in another state won't be able to do so in Florida.

It's potentially devastating for Ron Paul, who earned 30 percent of the independent vote in New Hampshire, according to a Fox News exit poll.

It seems Ron Paul's ceiling of support has expanded to include independent and even liberal voters who have gravitated toward the Texas congressman's message of smaller government and less interventionist foreign policy.

"This is definitely going to hurt Ron Paul," says Daniel Smith, a professor of politcal science at the University of Florida. "It is going to limit the surge he's so well known for getting in the last few days [before a vote]."

While some Ron Paul supporters may be disappointed with Paul for not sticking around and actively campaigning in Florida, strategically, it might be best for Paul to move along and focus on other states.

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Video- Georgia Judge Orders Barack Obama To Appear In Court

2012-01-23T13:53:00.005-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Anyone really believe Barack Obama is going to appear in a Georgia court room just because a judge orders him to?

News Clip from CBS Atlanta below:

Deputy Chief Judge Michael Malihi denied a request by Barack Obama's lawyers to squash a subpoena that requires Obama to appear in court.

More from AP, via Washington Post:

A judge has ordered President Barack Obama to appear in court in Atlanta for a hearing on a complaint that says Obama isn’t a natural-born citizen and can’t be president.

It’s one of many such lawsuits that have been filed across the country, so far without success. A Georgia resident made the complaint, which is intended to keep Obama’s name off the state’s ballot in the March presidential primary.

Other outlets reporting: The Miami Herald and The Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Absolutely no commentary from me on this.

Supreme Court Rules GPS Tracking Device Constitutes A ‘Search'

2012-01-23T13:42:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Wired's Threat Level:

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that law enforcement authorities likely need a probable-cause warrant from a judge to affix a GPS device to a vehicle and monitor its every move — but the justices did not say that a warrant was needed in all cases.

The decision (.pdf) in what is arguably the biggest Fourth Amendment case in the computer age, rejected the Obama administration’s position that attaching a GPS device to a vehicle was not a search. The government had told the high court that it could even affix GPS devices on the vehicles of all members of the Supreme Court, without a warrant.

“We hold that the government’s installation of a GPS device on a target’s vehicle, and its use of that device to monitor the vehicle’s movements, constitutes a ‘search,’” Justice Antonin Scalia wrote, declining to say whether that search was unreasonable and required a warrant.

In a footnote, Scalia added that, “Whatever new methods of investigation may be devised, our task, at a minimum, is to decide whether the action in question would have constituted a ‘search’ within the original meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Where, as here, the government obtains information by physically intruding on a constitutionally protected area, such a search has undoubtedly occurred.”

Much more at Wired.

Cato@Liberty:

The Supreme Court has delivered a big win for privacy in U.S. v. Jones. That’s the case in which government agents placed a GPS device on a car and used it to track a person round-the-clock for four weeks. The question before the Court was whether the government may do this in the absence of a valid warrant. All nine justices say No.

More there too, read the rest.

New York Times, headlines "Justices Say GPS Tracker Violated Privacy Rights."

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that the police violated the Constitution when they placed a Global Positioning System tracking device on a suspect’s car and monitored its movements for 28 days.

But the justices divided 5-to-4 on the rationale for the decision, with the majority saying that the problem was the placement of the device on private property. That ruling avoided many difficult questions, including how to treat information gathered from devices installed by the manufacturer and how to treat information held by third parties like cellphone companies.

Again, you know the drill, go, read the entire thing.

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Gallup Shows Mitt Romney's National Lead Collapsing

2012-01-23T13:11:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

January 20, 2012, just three days ago, Mitt Romney held a national lead over Newt Gingrich by a 10 percent margin. Today, according to Gallup's Election 2012 Tracking, Romney holds a one percent lead over Gingrich, 29 percent to 28 percent, well within the margin for error.

Ron Paul holds 13 percent and Rick Santurm 11 percent.

Worse yet, via Political Wire, "The tracking survey is a five day rolling average and reflects just one day of polling since Gingrich's blow out primary victory in South Carolina.."

This comes on the heels of two national polls seeing a large Gingrich surge that puts him well ahead of Romney in Florida primary polling.

Mitt "Perfect" Romney had a bad week last week and it doesn't look to be getting any better as the new week begins. It seems to be making him a tad grumpy as well.

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Two Polls: Gingrich Ahead In Florida- He Should Send Coulter, Romney And Media Thank You Gifts

2012-01-23T11:36:00.016-07:00

By Susan Duclos

[Update] Gallup Election 2012 Tracker shows Romney's 10 point lead from just three days ago, collapsed into a one point lead today. More- HERE. [End Update]

Just two days after Newt Gingrich took first place in the South Carolina primary, winning 43 of 46 counties, with a 12 percentage point plus lead over Mitt Romney who just earlier in the week enjoyed a 15 percentage point lead over Gingrich, two new Florida polls shows the Newt surge has followed him to Florida.

Rick Santorum and Ron Paul finished in third and fourth place, respectively in South Carolina.

An InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research conducted for NEWSMAX puts Newt at 34.4 percent and Romney at 25.6 percent, Paul at 13.1 percent and Santorum at 10.7 percent, according to the PDF. Media seems to round up and down so the numbers being reported are Gingrich 34 percent, Romney 26 percent, Ron Paul has 13 percent, and Rick Santorum garners 11 percent.

The second poll, by Rasmussen, shows Gingrich with a nine point lead over Romney in Florida, with Newt at 41 percent, Romney 32 percent, Santorum 11 percent and Ron Paul with eight percent. Nine percent remain undecided.

Much like South Carolina, Newt has come from trailing Mitt Romney by double digits in the polls to jumping ahead, according the Rasmussen poll, two weeks ago Romney held a 22 point advantage over Newt Gingrich.

Less than two weeks ago, Mitt Romney had a 22-point lead in Florida, but that’s ancient history in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Following his big win in South Carolina on Saturday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now is on top in Florida by nine.

In response to Newt's surge in the polls and his resounding win in South Carolina, Romney and the Republican establishment are making the same mistake that the liberal media made in South Carolina the week of the primary voting, when they attempted to blindside Newt with an interview with his ex-wife who decided to air dirty laundry of a personal nature.

Newt's a fighter and he does not crouch and defend when he is attacked relentlessly, he acknowledges his flaws then goes straight for the knockout punch.

Newt's Rise

Lets take a look at possible reasons why Newt Gingrich's candidacy, which has been declared dead and resurrected more than once during this campaign season, is on the rise yet again in the polls.

Exit polling from the South Carolina primaries tell us quite a bit.

First off, let's give Newt his due.

He debates well, he pushes the conservative agenda UN-apologetically. He does not kowtow to the Obama media, which the majority of the country see as as biased, and more liberally biased by over 3 to 1 than conservatively biased, he punches them back, usually on live television during debates where all can see him doing it. He keeps his eye on the ball and he attacks Obama's record in every speech, debate and interview.

Those reasons are not the only ones that has helped Newt though, people like Ann Coulter, the Obama media and Mitt Romney himself have helped and they deserve their due as well.

Ann Coulter, by anyone's definition, would be considered a hard core, extreme right conservative, so when she attacks Newt Gingrich with statements like "with Newt Gingrich you throw out the baby but keep the bath water," it stands to reason that moderates are going assume that if Gingrich is not conservative enough for Coulter and company, he must not be an extremist.

Exit poll data shows that Gingrich received 31 percent of the moderate to liberal vote with Romney taking 34 percent. So, moderate to liberal Republicans see Romney as more liberal than Gingrich but thanks to people like Coulter, Newt is not seen as over-the-top conservative.

Newt should thank Ann for her help.

Romney should get credit as well for helping Newt. Using his latest attack as an example here, via The Politico:

Romney continued: “He was investigated over an ethics panel and had to make a payment associated with that and then his fellow Republicans, 88 percent of his Republicans voted to reprimand Speaker Gingrich. He has not had a record of successful leadership.”

First thing that encourages people who do not know the facts to do, was a Google search, because no one truly believes a campaigning politician will tell the full story.

Using keywords "Newt Gingrich Ethics investigation," up comes the Washington Post archived stories on the probe, where we see that 83 of the 84 ethics allegations filed by Democrats were dropped and Gingrich paid a fine on one charge and was reprimanded by Republicans.

Also in that search, Newt's Wiki page comes up and in that we see the Republican Revolution" of 1994, where Gingrich and several other Republicans came up with the "Contract with America", which led to the November 1994 elections seeing Republicans gaining 54 seats and took control of the House for the first time since 1954. Following Gingrich's first two years as House Speaker, the Republican majority was re-elected in the 1996 election, the first time Republicans had done so in 68 years, and the first time simultaneously with a Democratic president winning re-election.

Researching Romney's line of attacks gives as much or more positive information as negative on Gingrich when voters look up Gingrich's leadership abilities.

Add to that, instead of gracefully offering congratulations to Gingrich on the night of his South Carolina primary win, Romney came out, in what should have been his concession speech, and attacked Gingrich, looking more like a sore loser than a presidential candidate, while Gingrich's speech complimented each of the other candidates.

(See both speeches and the Paul and Santorum speeches- HERE.)

This goes back to the Exit Poll Data, where see that when respondents were asked "Who ran the most unfair campaign?, primary voters chose Romney's campaign against Gingrich with 58 percent.

Newt should thank Romney for his help.

Then we come to the Obama media's role in helping Gingrich rise again.

As South Carolina voters clearly showed by giving Newt two standing ovations during his last debate and handing him a huge win on primary night, they see, acknowledge and do not appreciate, the media attempting to influence their vote with last minute hit jobs and attempting to force the Romney is inevitable meme.

We know this by the second standing ovation Gingrich received after he called the debate moderator despicable for starting the debate with a question about an interview with Gingrich's ex-wife saying he wanted an open marriage, and Gingrich blasted the media and the moderator, ending by stating "I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans."

Long lasting applause and the second standing ovation of the debate followed that remark and shows that conservative voters prefer a candidate that is willing to call the media out on their bias, their antics and their attempts to force their political desires on to voters.

Newt should thank the liberal media for their help.

Newt Gingrich should really send out some gift baskets to the Obama elite liberal media outlets, Ann Coulter and Mitt Romney, because they have all lifted his candidacy and helped him rise in the polls.

Florida debate schedule details:

January 23, 2012- 9pm ET/8pm CT and 9pm PT on NBC – Live Stream (Live stream from 9pm to 10:30pm ET only)
Location: University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida
Sponsor: The Tampa Bay Times, NBC News, the National Journal and the Florida Council of 100
Participants: Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Paul

January 26, 2012- 8pm ET on CNN
Location: University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL
Sponsor: CNN, CNN en Español, The Hispanic Leadership Network and The Republican Party of Florida
Participants: Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Paul

Florida Primary to be held on January 31, 2012.

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Congress Has Constitutional Grounds To Require Keystone Pipeline Approval

2012-01-22T13:22:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Last week it was reported that a House proposal could bypass Barack Obama's politically calculated rejection of the Keystone pipeline and The Hill reports that according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service if "Congress chose to assert its authority in the area of border crossing facilities, this would likely be considered within its Constitutionally enumerated authority to regulate foreign commerce."

The four CRS attorneys write that their review “suggests that legislation related to cross-border facility permitting is unlikely to raise significant constitutional questions, despite the fact that such permits have traditionally been handled by the executive branch alone pursuant to its constitutional ‘foreign affairs’ authority.”

A House Energy and Commerce Committee panel will hold a hearing next Wednesday on Rep. Lee Terry’s (R-Neb.) bill that takes review of the pipeline away from the State Department and instead requires the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a permit.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who is planning a separate bill to put approval in the hands of Congress, requested the study.

“I think this confirms what we have been saying all along – Congress has the authority under the Constitution to approve the Keystone pipeline,” said Ryan Bernstein, Hoeven’s deputy chief of staff and legal counsel.  “It gives great weight to not only our bill but any bill Congress considers,” he added.

The Keystone pipeline has bipartisan support and after Obama's decision to reject it, many Democrats publicly came out and harshly criticized Obama over the decision.

(Statements from Democratic Senators and Representatives with links to those statements can be found HERE.)

This move on the part of Republicans will force Barack Obama to publicly defend his rejection and explain why the thousands upon thousands of jobs associated with the Keystone pipeline could go to China instead of America as well as the potential to rely more on a friendly nation for our energy supplies rather than the unfriendly nations in the Middle East.

(Cartoon credit- Chip Bok, via Townhall)

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After Losing The South Carolina To Newt, Romney Now To Release 2010 Tax Returns

2012-01-22T12:10:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Mitt Romney was beat in the South Carolina primary by Newt Gingrich by an unexpected double digit figure, today Romney agrees to release his 2010 tax returns and his 2011 estimated tax returns.

Via The Hill:

Gov. Mitt Romney said Sunday he will release his tax returns on Tuesday as he tries to pivot from an issue that dragged him down in his South Carolina primary loss to Newt Gingrich.

Romney said he’ll post his 2010 tax return and 2011 estimate online Tuesday, after he was hammered by his rivals and gave awkward debate answers last week as he said he would release his tax returns in April.

“I think we made a mistake holding off as long as we did,” Romney said in an interview on Fox News Sunday. “It was a distraction. We want to get back to the real issues of the campaign.”

Newt Gingrich's tax returns were released online during the Thursday CNN South Carolina debate.

Gingrich, according to the CBS link above, paid 31 percent and previous Romney statements claimed he probably paid a 15 percent tax rate.

During that same debate Ron Paul sheepishly admitted he wasn't offering his because he didn't make as much as the others and Rick Santorum said his were on his computer at home and he would release his when he could.

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Video: Gabrielle Giffords To Resign From Congress

2012-01-22T11:59:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

A congress woman that members from both parties acknowledged was a good woman, a good legislator even if one didn't agree with her stances, who suffered a brutal attack in a shooting that killed six and left Giffords in the hospital fighting for her life after being shot in the head, has announced she is stepping down to focus on her recovery.

Video below of Giffords' announcement:

Transcript of video: (Via YouTube)

"Arizona is my home, always will be. A lot has happened over the past year. We cannot change that. But I know on the issues we fought for we can change things for the better. Jobs, border security, veterans. We can do so much more by working together. I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week. I'm getting better. Every day, my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country. Thank you very much."

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Conservatives Are Going to Need A Fighter To Battle Obama- Newt Has Proven He Is A Fighter

2012-01-22T11:12:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Browsing through Memeorandum, naturally there is article after article and discussions galore about how Mitt Romneyy, who was double digits ahead of Newt Gingrich earlier in the week, ended up losing the South Carolina primary to Gingrich by over 12 percentage points. The defeat was so sound that the projected winner, Gingrich, was announced by all major networks within minutes of the polls closing.

According to CBS's county by county page Gingrich took 43 of 46 counties in South Carolina. New York Times has some data on the exit polls and it is telling that Gingrich took the lead of those very conservative or somewhat conservative and Mitt took a three percentage point lead over Gingrich from those self identified as "moderate to liberal."

The Morning After Analysis

In 2008 I simply couldn't get behind Mitt Romney and when asked why, all I could articulate was that "there is something about him" I just couldn't stand. Horrible articulation I know, but he rubs me wrong and always has. Then this morning, while slogging through piece after piece of the morning after the primary analysis, I ran across a piece by Byron York over at The Washington Examiner, which quoted a former Huntsman supporter that backed Gingrich after Huntsman dropped out of the race.

Why? Even after four years of trying, Campbell can't quite accept Romney's changes of position on abortion and other issues. But beyond that, Campbell explained, there was something about Romney that he, like a lot of other South Carolinians, just couldn't live with. "[Voters] can't quite get that comfort level with him," Campbell said. "They don't really know quite where he really is coming from. It's an intangible."

Another legendary South Carolina political name, Attorney General Henry McMaster, was also aligned with Huntsman until Monday, and he too chose Gingrich instead of Romney. McMaster cited Gingrich's performance in the two South Carolina debates as a prime factor in his decision, but he also expressed concern over Romney's problem engaging voters. "I don't know why," McMaster said Saturday night. "I can't explain it, but there's a little bit of a connection problem."

Exactly.

As a voter I can't connect with Romney. I couldn't imagine myself sitting down with him and being comfortable. I couldn't imagine having a conversation with him because he is too busy talking at people instead of seeming to talk to them.

Here is another thing, and while it seems simplistic, it is an important factor in how I see candidates. I think of Mitt Romney as "Romney", I think of Newt Gingrich as "Newt."

That is something Newt has in common with Ron Paul. Paul's supporters feel connected to him which is why I think they are so loyal to him. While not a Ron Paul supporter myself, it is easy to see why they are so loyal to him.

York's piece also highlighted another comparison that resonates:

Romney stages perfect events. For example, on the eve of the primary, Romney's rally in North Charleston was perfect from a production point of view: stage just right, big flags, big Romney signs, smooth introductions from South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, all topped off by a showy entrance by Romney, who arrived in his big campaign bus that drove right into the room.

It was perfect in every sense but engaging with the voters. Romney's stump speech was a clipped -- some would say dumbed down -- list of generalities, concluding with this: "I love this land, I love its Constitution, I revere its founders, I will restore those principles, I will get America back to work, and I'll make sure that we remain the shining city on the hill." Romney offered his supporters very little to chew on. In this primary race, voters are hungry for substance, and Romney didn't give them much.

Gingrich's last event before the voting, a couple of hours later, was a rally on the hangar deck of the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier that is now a floating museum across the bay from Charleston. It was a most un-perfect affair. To begin with, it just so happened that dozens of Cub Scouts were having an overnight on the Yorktown at the same time as Gingrich and the press showed up for the rally. Their presence contributed to an air of happy chaos on board, and Gingrich was delighted to invite a few scouts on stage with him at the beginning of his speech. When Gingrich got to the substance of his remarks, he was wandering, expansive, and detailed, where Romney had been brief and canned. But Gingrich kept the crowd with him the whole way, and in the end had engaged his audience more than Romney could have hoped for. Gingrich respected them enough to discuss issues with them seriously.

I repeat my comment from earlier... exactly.

Romney always appears to be trying too hard to be "perfect." No one is perfect. Romney expends too much energy attempting to appear "presidential." Perhaps he should spend a little more energy on attempting to appear human.

In no way, shape, or form is Newt perfect and he doesn't even try to pretend he is. Newt acknowledges his mistakes, his flaws and apologizes for them and moves on instead of trying to excuse, justify or explain them.

Side note- For those that continue to harp on the ethics investigations in the 90's- please read the AP article at the time when the last of the 84 charges were dropped and the actual violation was "using a political consultant to develop the Republican legislative agenda."

Talk about sitting on that couch with Nancy Pelosi or any other mistake but before talking about the dropped charges, read them, learn them, then speak to them. End Side Note

Another major difference is that Romney doesn't seem to get his audience, which goes back to that business of talking at people instead of to them.

Romney spent most of his so-called concession speech attacking Newt instead of gracefully congratulating him and focusing on the endgame which is replacing Barack Obama. Romney rarely highlights what Republican supporters see as the liberal media bias from the majority of the mainstream Obama media.

Newt's speech on the other hand, highlighted something good in each of the other candidates, then went on to annihilate Barack Obama. Newt doesn't worry about offending the media by calling them out on being cheerleaders for Obama, he understands that they are going to attack any and all Republican candidates to protect their choice for 2012 which is Obama.

(See both speeches and the Paul and Santorum speeches- HERE.)

In Conclusion

I was a Rick Perry supporter, although in hindsight I can see that one-on-one against Obama, Perry's message of jobs and economy, would have taken second place to his ability to articulate that message.

Out of the four candidates left, Paul, Santorum, Romney and Newt, I choose Newt.

Newt will not pull punches against Obama and the liberal faction of the media. Newt will keep his eye on the objective which is to remove Barack Obama from office. Newt will fight the battles conservatives find the most important.

Newt will make mincemeat out of Obama in debates, in speeches and in terms of knowledge and how to get America headed back to the right direction.

Conservatives are going to need a fighter to battle Obama in 2012 and Newt has proven that he is a fighter.

[Update] While Newt has shown his ability to be competitive, Romney has the money and the on the ground organization in Florida. Newt will need money by way of donations, will need feet on the ground by way of volunteers to help, and will need to overcome, as he did in South Carolina, a large polling lead that Romney has over Newt as of now.

Each state has it's own dynamic and as Newt stated in his South Carolina victory speech, he needs help. He needs people to reach out to their Florida contacts to make the case against Romney.

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Videos- Gingrich SC Victory Speech, Romney, Paul and Santorum Concession Speeches

2012-01-21T20:28:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Within minutes of the South Carolina polls closing, all major networks announced that Newt Gingrich was the projected winner and as results came out, Gingrich was indeed the winner of the South Carolina Republican primary.

Below is Newt Gingrich's victory speech.

Next up is Mitt Romney's concession speech:

Then came Ron Paul's concession speech:

Last up before Gingrich made his victory speech was Rick Santorum's concession speech:

Results posted at posted CBS, CNN and NYT for vote tallies.

CBS has a county by county link and so does CNN.

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Newt Gingrich Takes South Carolina

2012-01-21T17:48:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

[Update] Full videos of Newt Gingrich's South Carolina victory speech and Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum's concession speeches can be seen HERE. [End Update]

Within minutes of the polls closing in South Carolina, all major news stations announced that they have called it for Gingrich. The final numbers are still being posted, links to CBS, CNN and NYT for vote tallies.

CBS has a county by county link and so does CNN.

Rick Santorum has been called in third place and Ron Paul in fourth.

[Update] Exit Polls- HERE

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Live Blogging, Live Chat: January 21, 2012 South Carolina Exit Polls, Republican Primary Results

2012-01-21T12:00:00.011-07:00

By Susan Duclos

[Update] Gingrich wins South Carolina.

[Update] Full videos of Newt Gingrich's South Carolina victory speech and Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum's concession speeches can be seen HERE. [End Update]

Updates will be below chat feature on latest polling, exit/entrance polls, etc.... until the Cover It Live feature starts, then info, links and results will be within the live discussion.

Originally posted on 1/18/12.

Once again joining with Right Pundits, (Thanks Patrick!!) Wake up America will be live blogging and joining in with Right Pundits' live discussion and chat during the January 21, 2012 South Carolina Republican primaries.

Set your reminder below and join us all for a night of watching the polls, discussing the numbers, and waiting for the final results to come in throughout the evening.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=881012a239" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.coveritlive.com']);" &amp;amp;amp;gt;2012 South Carolina Primary, Exit Polls&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Eligibility: Individuals can register to vote in the primary until Dec. 22, 2011, and the primary is open to all registered voters.

[Updates below- 1/21/12] Latest polling shows Gingrich surging over Romney.

Link to Exit Poll Data will start trickling in HERE.

Afternoon Turnout Report- South Carolina, January 21, 2012- HERE.

CBS- Exit Polls show that 2/3 of voters said the latest debates in SC helped them decide who to vote for.

Twitter hashtag is #SCPrimary.

South Carolina Polling, Gingrich Rises To The Top

2012-01-21T09:16:00.007-07:00

By Susan Duclos

(Join us tonight for the live blogging/live discussion as we watch and talk about entrance and exit polls and report on primary results)

This week, after two impressive debate performances, Newt Gingrich has seen a solid rise in support in the latest polls conducted in South Carolina.

One example is Rasmussen where on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, Gingrich was trailing Romney by 14 points, yet by Thursday, January 19, 2012, Rasmussen had Gingrich with a two percentage point lead on Romney.

Democratic leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) is another example where on Tuesday the 17th, they had Romney up on Gingrich by 15 percent and by Thursday the 19th, Gingrich was up by six and today, Primary day in South Carolina, Gingrich's lead has expanded to 9 points over Romney.

On Thursday, Insider Advantage had Gingrich up by three and by Friday the Clemson Palmetto Poll has Gingrich up by six percentage points.

FiveThirtyEight projects Gingrich with an 82% chance of winning, Romney at 18%, Paul and Santorum at zero percent chance.

There is no doubt that Gingrich has momentum as voters head in to cast their primary votes, but that does not guarantee a Gingrich win in South Carolina. Polling is a great way to see patterns or in this case which candidate is trending high or falling, but overall, polls are just a snapshot in time. Gingrich happens to be fortunate that this snapshot is taken the day of the primary.

Newt Gingrich has also benefited from Rick Perry dropping out of the race earlier this week and announcing his endorsement for Gingrich at the same time. That very same day MSNBC reported a host of other endorsements for Gingrich, including support from Huntsman and Perry backers.

Yesterday, another endorsement came down the pike for Gingrich, from Chuck Norris. (made big news although I am not quite sure why)

The Obama liberal media, for reasons I explained yesterday, want Mitt Romney to be the candidate to go up against Obama in 2012, so they have predictably thrown a live grenade, so to speak, into the South Carolina primary this week by publishing tidbits of an interview with Gingrich's ex-wife, where she claims Newt wanted to have an "open marriage."

ABC News' live grenade may have backfired on them though, because after news of the interview became public knowledge, Gingrich was asked about it as the first question in Thursday night's South Carolina debate and the audience there gave Gingrich two standing ovations when he ripped CNN's John King, the moderator, a new one, for asking about it at a presidential debate.

It is telling though that one of those standing ovations came when Gingrich took the media and John King to the woodshed and said "I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans."

South Carolinian's do not appear to appreciate the media trying to influence their vote.

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DOJ Official Pleading 5th In House Oversight Committee, Fast And Furious Investigation

2012-01-20T13:30:00.004-07:00

By Susan Duclos

When a DOJ official, Patrick J. Cunningham, feels the need to cover his ass by pleading the fifth in a congressional investigation as to not "be compelled to be a witnesses against himself," which is a quote from the letter sent to the House Oversight Committee by Cunningham's attorney, Tobin Romero, then you know how big of a scandal the "Fast and Furious" government operation really is.

Cunningham was ordered Wednesday to appear before Chairman Darrell Issa and the House Oversight Committee regarding his role in the operation that sent more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa Cartel. Guns from the failed operation were found at the murder scene of Border Agent Brian Terry.

The letter from Cunningham’s Washington DC attorney stunned congressional staff. Last week, Cunningham, the second highest ranking U.S. Attorney in Arizona, was scheduled to appear before Issa‘s committee voluntarily. Then, he declined and Issa issued a subpoena.

Cunningham is represented by Tobin Romero of Williams and Connolly who is a specialist in white collar crime. In the letter, he suggests witnesses from the Department of Justice in Washington, who have spoken in support of Attorney General Eric Holder, are wrong or lying.

“Department of Justice officials have reported to the Committee that my client relayed inaccurate information to the Department upon which it relied in preparing its initial response to Congress. If, as you claim, Department officials have blamed my client, they have blamed him unfairly,” the letter to Issa says.

Romero claims Cunningham did nothing wrong and acted in good faith, but the Department of Justice in Washington is making him the fall guy, claiming he failed to accurately provide the Oversight Committee with information on the execution of Fast and Furious.

"To avoid needless preparation by the Committee and its staff for a deposition next week, I am writing to advise you that my client is going to assert his constitutional privilege not to be compelled to be a witness against himself." Romero told Issa.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa issued the following statement:

"The assertion of the fifth amendment by a senior Justice official is a significant indictment of the Department's integrity in Operation Fast and Furious. The former head of the ATF has previously told the committee that the Justice Department is managing its response to Operation Fast and Furious in a manner designed to protect its political appointees. This is the first time anyone has asserted their fifth amendment right in this investigation and heightens concerns that the Justice Department's motivation for refusing to hand over subpoenaed materials is a desire to shield responsible officials from criminal charges and other embarrassment.

"Coming a year after revelations about reckless conduct in Operation Fast and Furious were first brought to light, the assertion of the fifth amendment also raises questions about whether President Obama and Attorney General Holder have made a serious and adequate response to allegations raised by whistleblowers. Did Attorney General Holder really not know a senior Justice Department official fears criminal prosecution or is this just another example of him hiding important facts? The committee will continue to demand answers."

More at the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform website.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is being blocked at every turn from conducting clear oversight and investigating "Fast and Furious", by members of the Obama administration, who have already been shown to have provided false testimony.

Guns went missing from a government program, people died, guns from that operation were found at the scene of a murdered Border agent, there is nothing unreasonable about a full investigation to find out what went wrong, when and who is to blame.

The scandal of "Fast and Furious", in the long run, might be far smaller than the cover up by the Obama administration and their obstruction to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's search for answers.

There has been a massive effort along with a long list of Congressional members demanding Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder's resignation, which has gone ignored by Barack Obama.

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Why Does The Obama Media Want Mitt Romney? Answer: They Believe Obama Can Beat Him

2012-01-20T11:24:00.001-07:00

By Susan Duclos

With just two caucus/primaries completed, the media has pushed for the Romney is "inevitable" meme, and there is a reason for that. The liberal faction of the media want Mitt Romney to be the GOP nominee because they believe that Obama can dominate Romney in the presidential debates and ultimately beat him in November 2012.

I was a Rick Perry supporter, for reasons I have explained on this blog, multiple times. Perry dropped out and threw his support behind Newt Gingrich yesterday.

Even while supporting Perry I have noted many times that Newt Gingrich is a consistently good debater and there is no doubt in my mind that one-on-one against Barack Obama in debates, Gingrich will make mincemeat out of Obama.

That is why the liberal media want Romney and will do anything within their power to influence voters towards the "Romney is inevitable" meme.

Taylor Marsh, a liberal, someone whom I rarely agree on policy issues, but have stated many times she shoots from the hip, she is honest in her opinions whether I agree with her stances or not, and who pulls no punches when it comes to Obama's failures, understands and acknowledges what other liberals refuse to...... the liberal media in this country want Obama to be reelected and have been "at his feet," since he came to Washington.

Gingrich is now leading in the South Carolina polls and is surging to the front of the pack as the odds on favorite to win the largest primary to be held to date, South Carolina, on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

(Join us tomorrow for the live blogging/live discussion as we watch and talk about entrance and exit polls and report on primary results)

Yesterday news reports showed that Rick Santorum beat Mitt Romney in the Iowa caucuses. Romney took New Hampshire.

If Newt Gingrich takes South Carolina on Saturday, will the media stop acting like Romney is the presumptive nominee? Will they start calling someone else inevitable? Doubtful. Or will they continue to push and attempt to influence the public into the candidate of their choice to go against the liberal media's darling, Barack Obama?

It is this political bias in the media that makes Newt Gingrich's statement "I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans," highly effective and resonates with GOP supporters. (Video of two more standing ovations for Gingrich when he ripped the press, at the above link)

Marsh and Gingrich are not the only ones that see the media bias for what it is, according to Pew Research in Sept. 2011, 60 percent of Americans also perceive bias in the media, with 47 percent saying the media is too liberal, and 13 percent saying that that it was too conservative.

Only the blind or intellectually dishonest will claim there is no liberal media bias and only conservatives feel there is.

It is decision time in South Carolina and the the residents of that state can and should tell the liberal media with their votes, that it isn't the media that chooses the Republican nominee, it is the voters.

Newt has a message out today saying something similar. (Video below)

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For the Record: Army statement on MEDEVAC issue

2012-01-20T10:57:00.001-07:00

There has been much misinformation on the matter of Red Crosses on our MedEvac helicopters. This misinformation has been accepted as the truth by various msm outlets who, instead of checking the FACTS, have taken the word of just one never-seen-combat writer, who continues to insist that he knows all, and damn anybody else's facts.

Once again, the US military has responded with the FACTS:

January 20, 2012 By Office of the Chief of Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (Jan. 20, 2012) -- "Recent news items about the use of Army medical evacuation, or MEDEVAC, helicopters in Afghanistan contain troubling information. The reporting suggests that putting red crosses on MEDEVACs, and not arming them somehow, is putting injured Soldiers' lives at risk. The facts do not support these assertions for several reasons.

First, there is no evidence, implied or proven, that the enemy deliberately targets MEDEVAC helicopters, but we know from hard experience that the enemy does try to shoot down any and all U.S. and coalition aircraft. Further, all helicopters in Afghanistan fly in pairs as a force protection matter. It's the way we do business and to suggest that arming MEDEVAC aircraft would result in crews launching sooner is a dubious assertion.

U.S. Army Soldiers transport a trauma victim to a U.S. Army medical helicopter in Tarmiyah, Iraq, Sept. 30, 2007. The Soldiers are from Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

Here are the facts: DOD has specifically tasked the Army, not any other service, to provide a standing MEDEVAC capability. The other services, as well as the Army in some cases, fly CASEVAC missions. This is a critical distinction. CASEVAC stands for Casualty Evacuation, which is a technical distinction that means they use whatever helicopters are available at the moment to extract the wounded or downed aircrews. However, DOD has tasked the Army to provide evacuation to the MEDEVAC standard, which means our MEDEVAC crews and helicopters are purpose built, manned, trained and equipped to provide advanced trauma care in flight.

While putting a red cross on our MEDEVAC helicopters has the added benefit of being consistent with the Geneva Conventions, it also marks that aircraft and crew for no other mission besides medical evacuation. In Afghanistan and other austere environments, where helicopter assets are in very high demand, it's important that we dedicate a fleet of aircraft for no other purpose than to provide advanced in-flight care for wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

The Army provides the great majority of medical evacuations in Afghanistan. That includes allied personnel and even enemy wounded. The U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, and in Iraq before that, specifically asked for the Army to provide medical evacuation of its personnel because they know we provide the "gold standard" in modern battlefield evacuation. No military force in the world is better than the US Army at MEDEVAC. The 92 percent survival rate for wounded in Afghanistan is the highest in history because of the power of our MEDEVAC capability and its battlefield support network.

Another important point is that arming our MEDEVACs would significantly impact the capability of the aircraft. Machine guns, related mounting equipment, ammunition and the gunners all add weight to the aircraft. The added weight would hinder the aircraft's ability to work at higher altitudes because of reduced lift, as well as its speed and range. Additionally, MEDEVACs can carry up to four litter patients, but if weapons were added, that number would be reduced, which would in turn require the commitment of more MEDEVAC aircraft, an already low density and high demand asset.

Further, arming MEDEVACs would not reduce the need for armed escort. Again, our aircraft travel in pairs. The decision to use escort is the tactical commander's, and the Army does not dictate how or when it is necessary to use these assets.

Finally, it's important to remember that the Army would change its policy if battlefield commanders wanted a change. We take our obligation to perform the MEDEVAC mission very seriously. We're a learning organization and periodically we review our policies to make sure they remain relevant. We looked at the MEDEVAC policy in 2008, but after a review, we determined no change was necessary.

Additionally, neither the International Security Assistance Force or U.S. Forces - Afghanistan has requested a change in policy; because our MEDEVAC crews and aircraft provide the best chance at survival ever seen in warfare, and because -- as commanders in Afghanistan have told us -- not arming our MEDEVACs and identifying them with the red cross has had no impact on the medical evacuation mission."

Previous columns on WOTN on this issue:

The Difference Between MedEvac and CasEvac

MedEvac Crew Shaves Minutes To Save Soldiers In Iraq

Anonymous Hackers News: DOJ, FBI, U.S. Copyright And Many More Hit By Hacker Group

2012-01-20T10:01:00.003-07:00

By Susan Duclos

Immediately after the DOJ took down a number of file sharing sites, the hacker group named Anonymous hit the U.S. Department of Justice, Recording Industry of America, Motion Picture Association of America and Universal Music, with denial of service attacks.

On Thursday afternoon, Anonymous claimed credit for cyberattacks that knocked offline the websites of the U.S. Department of Justice, Recording Industry of America, Motion Picture Association of America and Universal Music. The so-called denial of service attacks that overwhelmed those sites with junk traffic came less than an hour after the Justice Department announced the takedown of the Mega sites, along with the arrest of former hacker and Mega founder Kim Dotcom and six others, who are being indicted on charges of copyright infringement and money laundering.

“One thing is certain: EXPECT US!,” wrote the Anonymous-linked Anonops Twitter feed Thursday just after the Mega raid, adding a hashtag for Megaupload.

“Anonymous/Megaupload backlash update: http://RIAA.ORG is now Tango Down,” wrote the Twitter feed Anonnews less than one hour later, as other Anonymous feeds claimed credit for downing Justice.gov and Universalmusic.com.

[SNIP]

The raid on the Mega sites, which were massively popular among Anonymous’ young, copyright-flouting contingent of the Web, come just as the Internet is mobilized for protest against Hollywood’s copyright regime. Wednesday marked a largely successful day of protest against the copyright-enforcing Stop Online Piracy and the Protect IP Act, with Reddit, Wikipedia and other popular sites going dark in protest of the bills. The Department of Justice’s raid on the Mega sites just a day later must seem to many in the anti-copyright movement as a retaliatory move aimed at showing that even without SOPA or PIPA, law enforcement can take action against sites that Hollywood accuses of copyright infringement.

Updates from Forbes show that The U.S. Copyright office and FBI.gov were also hit hard by the group.

Here is a question to think on: If the U.S. Government cannot protect their own sites from a group of hackers, how safe do we feel about their capabilities in protecting our Internet against cyber terrorism coming from our enemies?

Hat Tip Candice Lanier's Tech News.