Republican Party seemingly working hard to kill Ron Paul's chances in Missouri

Love him, hate him or don't even care, it seems the staunch, traditional Republicans--the hard core of the Party--are doing their absolute best to squash any chances Ron Paul might have in Missouri of gaining the presidency this Fall. A couple weeks ago, the Party had to shut down the caucus in St. Charles County in St. Louis because it not only wasn't going the way they wanted but because, it seemed, it was going too much for Ron Paul. Now, today, there's this from a St. Louis paper: Ron Paul supporters dominate GOP caucuses in St. Louis, Jackson County "Ron Paul's chances of winning the White House may be minimal, but his supporters dominated the Republican caucuses in St. Louis and Jackson County on Saturday.

Paul's backers won all 36 delegates here while taking about two-thirds of delegates in Jackson County." I'll never forget that one Republican Presidential debate where Mr. Paul got a whopping 89 seconds off coverage, total, in answering time while the other candidates got, of course, far more time to respond to questions. Don't misunderstand me here, either, as I'm not a Ron Paul supporter. I just find it curious to the point of surprising that Mr. Paul has gotten so little coverage in the press, compared to the other candidates, and that the mainstream Republican Party has so obviously done everything they could in their rather blatant efforts at killing Mr. Paul's chances of being heard, let alone winning the spot at the top of their ticket this November. Sure, he'd be horrible for their chances of winning but they surely threw fairness and openness and at least some of "the people's will" out the window with all this. Links: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/ron-paul-supporters-dominate-gop-caucuses-in-st-louis-jackson/article_4c7977d4-75e0-11e1-858e-001a4bcf6878.html; http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/mo-gop-caucuses-in-jackson-county-st-louis/article_8e60de1e-f0b4-5d00-ab79-9e1ca9839511.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul

Leonard Wood?

Scrolling headlines on the internet today, I saw one that said "Just Who Is Leonard Wood, Anyway? And, well, since all of us in this part of the country have "Fort Leonard Wood" just roll off our tongues since, after all, it's little more than a stone's throw from here, I had to see why this came up. The reason? "Former House Speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has been calling his opponent Mitt Romney the weakest front-runner in modern times. On CNN, he clarified it when he said the former Massachusetts governor is probably the "weakest front-runner since Leonard Wood in 1920." That according to NPR (link at bottom, as usual). So if you're interested in the good gentleman or in this bit of American history, you might check it out. It's very brief. While you're at it, you might look into the role Ft. Leonard Wood also played in spreading pandemic influenza worldwide, back in WWI. Really fascinating stuff. (2nd link). Link: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/18/148878850/just-who-is-leonard-wood-anyway?ft=1&f=1001; http://www.jackson.army.mil/sites/leaderdevelopment/docs/608

The current state of the Republican race for the Presidency

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This 2012 Election: The Election of Inevitabilities?

Think about it. Is this presidential election the election of inevitabilities? First, there is the seemed inevitability, to a lot of people's dislike and/or distaste, of Mitt "Willard" Romney, aka "Mittens", as the Republican Party's assumed best chance of defeating a sitting, incumbent president. Second, is the seeming inevitability, if indeed, that's what happens, of course--nothing, nothing is certain--of President Obama defeating Mr. Romney or, in fact, any of the candidates that party put up, precisely because they were so bad or extreme or whatever. Obviously, we'll find out come the first week in November. (I wrote this last evening but found this link today: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/08/148197575/romney-aides-claim-his-nomination-is-inevitable).

This looks to be just one more "Super Tuesday"

With today's vote for the Republican presidential candidate in Michigan, it looks to be just one more great day for Michiganers and Americans, as a whole, for that matter. Worst case scenario? Mitt Romney wins and wins big. How likely is that? Incredibly unlikely, given his very public stance that he was only too happy to let Detroit and GM and Chrysler and the automobile industry in the US fail and go bankrupt. He's reaping what he sowed. Best case scenario--and what's most likely to happen today? Rick "So What If I Don't Have a Brain" Santorum wins here. After that, it's still all good. So what if the Newtster won or Ron Paul? None have a chance, nationally against their Democratic rival in November. So all in all, today seems like just more of this terrific, mild winter we're having. That is, fantastic. Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/27/us-usa-campaign-idUSTRE81N1PG20120227

Who do YOU think is more concerned about the "common man and woman"

And keep in mind, this percentage is a far higher percentage of the President's income and worth while, in sharp and high contrast, this is a far smaller percentage of Mitt Romney's worth.

Quote of the day

"How did American conservatism end up so detached from, indeed at odds with, facts and rationality? For it was not always thus. After all, that health reform Mr. Romney wants us to forget followed a blueprint originally laid out at the Heritage Foundation! My short answer is that the long-running con game of economic conservatives and the wealthy supporters they serve finally went bad. For decades the G.O.P. has won elections by appealing to social and racial divisions, only to turn after each victory to deregulation and tax cuts for the wealthy — a process that reached its epitome when George W. Bush won re-election by posing as America’s defender against gay married terrorists, then announced that he had a mandate to privatize Social Security. Over time, however, this strategy created a base that really believed in all the hokum — and now the party elite has lost control." - Paul Krugman, writing for the New York Times. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/opinion/krugman-severe-conservative-syndrome.html?_r=1

The Republican conundrum

Eeny, meany (and I do mean meany), miney... "Lesser of two evils," indeed.

Rich (white) guy endorses rich (white) guy

Word is out yesterday that (irrelevant) Donald Trump endorsed Willard "Mitt" Romney for president. La-ti-freakin'-da. As I said above, rich white guy endorses rich white guy. What's additionally funny about this is that Mittens nearly immediately left Florida, after his win there and was said to be heading straight for Michele Bachmann, for her endorsement. Only not so fast Ms. Bachmann announced that she was no way endorsing Mittens--at least yet, anyway, if ever. Then, the Newtster announced earlier that he would be getting "The Donald's" endorsement when--again-- not so fast, "The Donald" comes out declaring for Mittens. What a hoot. Never has so much money looked so disorganized, so, dare I say it? so low class (or white trashy). Seriously, keep the popcorn coming, this is getting really good. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/us/politics/trump-endorses-romney-in-las-vegas.html

Thank God for Newt Gingrich!

What else can you say at this point but thank God for Newt Gingrich? First, he's divisive as heck. For everyone out there in the Republican Party and in the Right Wing who is all "No way I'm voting for Mitt Romney", they have their man. Second, he's got ideas that are off the wall, like the idea of going back to the moon and colonizing within his first 4 years of office (don't make me choke). That's a good one. Third---and I'll stop there--there's his monumental ego and that let's him off the hook for what a sexist he is. So he loses last night in Florida to Mittens but is he going to quit? HECK NO. The Newster is in this, likely, until at least March, if not all the way to the Republican National Convention (here's hoping). As if President Obama and the Democrats don't have enough ammunition to go after the eventual nominee but with this, he'll have even more. And Ron Paul? Quit? Doubtful. That will just add more divisiveness and internal strife to the party and for the Tea Party members and who knows? It should add some trouble for the Libertarians and Independents, too. So good on you, Newt Gingrich! You just stay in there fighting your "good fight." Stay on your own principle. It just makes it that much better for our side.

Another ad the White House may play next Fall

More from the Newtster's own mouth on Newt

Newt Gingrich, hypocrite extraordinaire

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What a huge, hypocritical egotist. Go, Newt.

The man who might be president

As ever, click on picture for better viewing.

That he has a chance is scary. So scary.

Quote of the day

"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're right.' If you don't have that, if you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." --Saul Alinsky, American community organizer and writer Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky

The Gregory Brothers do it again--this time to Newt and the Repubs

Brilliant, once again.

Tweets tonight from Robert Reich on So. Carolina

1) Gingrich victory in SC a huge gift for Romney -- making him seem reasonable & responsible. And it rallies the adults in the GOP around him; 2) Now is the time for Republican leaders -- if there are any left -- to do the responsible thing and tell the truth about Newt Gingrich; 3) Newt Gingrich has perfected the art of demonizing others in order to promote himself. His message is anger, fear, and resentment; 4) When voters are stressed and angry, they'll vote for the person who most embodies their nasty mood. Hence, the Gingrich surge; 5) Gingrich almost destroyed the GOP in 1996. Now he's been given a second chance; 6) White House loves idea of Grinch heading R ticket. Increases O's odds by 20%. But also increases odds that next US prez will be insane.

Newt and MItt: "I won't show you mine but let me see yours"

Yes, indeed, say what you will about what their differences are, whether many or few, but Republican presidential candidates Newt "I won't cheat on this wife" Gingrich and Mitt "I'll say anything to be president" Romney do share one trait. That is, they are both huge hypocrites of the first order. Right now, the Newtster want Mittens to release his tax returns and Mittens wants the Newtster to have released an "ethics review" of some 300 pages from when Newt was Speaker of the House. No surprise, both say no. It seems the American public might best be served if we got all these documents out in public, doesn't it? And then, maybe as soon as possible? Links: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10201597-gingrich-foes-fight-to-remind-gop-of-ex-speakers-ethics-woes; http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/01/The-Case-of-Mitt-Romneys-Missing-Tax-Returns

Hypocrite, thy name is Newt

You have to hand it to Newt Gingrich last evening. For him to explode as he did, at the beginning of the Republican presidential debate, when asked about his ex-wife's statement on him wanting an "open marriage" was magnificent. It was an excellent way for him to immediately both deflect the question but also take a "high road" in the same debate, immediately. Sure, it was a phony "high road" but it certainly worked. That said, for him to now act as though he's, somehow, the "victim" of any attack is rich. Sure, Americans have horrible memories but we really cannot and did not forget, Newt, that it was you who attacked then-President Bill Clinton for a lack of morals for his situation in the Oval Office with one Monica Lewinski. For you to now feign morality when it's known you cheated on your then-wife for quite some time and hand one of those wives divorce papers as she recovered from cancer treatment is beyond the pale. And yet, last evening's debate gave Newt a "bounce" in popularity and the polls. The "lesson learned" for Newt and all future presidential candidates will likely be "indignation works", sadly enough. We shall see. (See link below). What's great is that the White House would love nothing more than going against anyone but Mitt Romney in next Fall's election. The White House would LOVE going up against the Newt. This is one fascinating presidential election campaign. Crazy, but fascinating. Links: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/newt-gingrichs-stock-rises-in-south-carolina-after-clash-with-john-king/2012/01/20/gIQAJP5HEQ_blog.html; http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/newt-gingrich-phoniest-presidential-candidate-article-1.1009014; http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/exclusive-gingrich-lacks-moral-character-president-wife/story?id=15392899

Quote of the day

“You have to ask the question: Is capitalism really about the ability of a handful of rich people to manipulate the lives of thousands of people and walk off with the money, or is that in fact a little bit of a flawed system?” --Newt Gingrich. (God, I love irony).