Some Thoughts On Health Care Reform

As many of you know, the major news of the week centered around the Supreme Courts review of the President's 2010 Affordable Care Act. The 3 major parts of the bill being debated are: 1) The individual mandate, which would require uninsured people to buy insurance, or face a penalty in some cases. 2) Can you remove the mandate, and maintain the integrity of the bill? 3) If you do remove the mandate, should the entire bill be scrapped, or can some provisions stand alone? These are the heart of the arguments that were presented over 3 days this week, to the high court. It is, and will become, one of the most important decisions the Supreme Court has issued in decades.


That being said, I think it fair that these same judicial heavy weights are the group that brought us the "Citizens United" decision, which scrapped over 100 years of precedent with regards to political finance reform. Sadly, like the nation itself, it is hopelessly divided along liberal and conservative ideologies. It would also be true to call the divide Republican vs. Democratic, it's simply a matter of semantics. The latest polling bears out the same divide among the electorate. Republicans dislike the bill by 75%, Democrats like the bill by 66%, and Independents are evenly divided at 40% for and against. We won't know the verdict until June, but the fact of the matter is that the decisions will be reached today.

The 2 major arguments come down to this: 1) Because of the unique nature of the health care market, which everyone will use at one time or another, can the government under the "Commerce Clause" of the Constitution force people to buy insurance, or face a penalty if they do not. or 2) It is unconstitutional for the federal government to force people to buy health insurance if they don't want to, and further; if you grant this power to Congress here, where do you draw the line in the future? For these arguments I offer 2 examples. First, while it is totally constitutional for the states to enforce these kind of mandates, ie: car insurance. The question then falls to whether the federal government can do the same? Is it "necessary and proper" to impose a similar mandate by the federal government, through the "Commerce Clause" in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution? While there have been 236 years to more broadly define this power, I would point to my second point which is this, Social Security. Which in its simplest form is old age insurance, MANDATED by the federal government. As I see it, there is no credible distinction between this, and the Affordable Care Act. It is something everybody needs, so that those with insurance, don't end up paying for those who don't have it. It took monumental effort to achieve, and would be devastating to those already reaping the benefits of this legislation. It needs to be upheld, because if it is struck down, the current state of political affairs will not allow this issue to be addressed seriously for years, and the general welfare will suffer for it.

In closing I would add this. From the very inception of this legislation, the President, and the Democrats in Congress who drafted it, have NEVER, not even today, controlled the argument on the need for this legislation. It has been demonized by the Right for over 2 years, and if a greater effort was put into letting people know what this bill does for people had been pursued, we may not have even had the challenge that now lies before us at the Supreme Court. This bill is NOT an attack on Liberty, as some would have you believe. It is an imperfect, but necessary step in providing health care for the millions of uninsured Americans, who suffer daily through no fault of their own. My hope is that a majority of those 9 justices come to understand this, and uphold this crucial legislation.

Santorum Is Losing His Mojo

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum seems to be losing steam as the next three contests fast approach next Tuesday. Wisconsin which is being touted as a must win for Father Rick to stay in the race, seems to have slipped through his fingers. Just one month ago Santorum held a 16 point lead. Once again under the barrage of negative ads from Romney, who has outspent Santorum 9 to 1, the table has turned. Romney now holds an 8 point lead in the badger state, that's a 24 point shift. The other two contests in Maryland, and the District of Columbia, also seem to be lining up in Romney's column.

More bad news for Father Rick from his home state of Pennsylvania. Just two weeks ago he held a commanding 18 point lead in the keystone state, today his lead is just 2 points. As Romney begins to capture more high profile endorsements, the math, and the April contests, have made it almost impossible for Santorum to get the nomination. He would need to capture 79% of the remaining delegates, a task that is clearly out of reach.

However, the bad news isn't just Santorum's. As people begin to take a look at Mitt Romney, his numbers are dropping. His approval rating currently stands at 34%, while President Obama's approval is at 53%. In the three major battleground states of Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, once again the President is leading in all three states. Let's also not forget his gaff of the week. It regards the revelation that the former Massachusetts Governor plans to add a car elevator to his La Jolla estate in California, and his campaign’s subsequent defense of said elevator. However, it seems research shows Romney, as Governor, once vetoed a bill that would have, among other things, funded a $40,000 upgrade to make elevators compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An elevator for his Bentley, screw the disabled. It is classic Romney, and just another out of touch moment for the masses to devour, as he continues to fail in his efforts to connect with regular people. Maybe he needs the elevator to help strap his dog on the roof of the car? just a thought.

As for Rick Santorum, seeing the writing on the wall, when asked if he would consider the V.P. spot he said, "I'll do whatever is necessary to help our country." What a trooper, if you can't beat em, join em. A suggestion that was not dismissed by Romney either, so we may still see Santorum as number 2, although to be honest, I've always seen him that way.

Santorum Scores Again In The South

The proverbial thorn in Mitt Romney's side, just won't go away. Louisiana gave Rick Santorum a 22 point victory in Saturday's Primary there. He carried every parish in the state except Orleans, home of New Orleans, which went to Romney. So we have yet another dispatch from the bumpkin belt voicing its unhappiness with the front runner Romney. The result comes as no surprise, and only stands as another example of Romney's inability to win in the south. In fact if you look at his numbers, excluding Florida (which isn't a true southern state), and Virginia, (where Santorum & Gingrich were not on the ballot), he can't seem to break the 31% mark. It should be noted that in the northern part of Florida, which is representative of the true south, Gingrich won hands down.

Romney's Southern Problem

South Carolina: 28%
Georgia: 26%
Tennessee: 28%
Alabama: 29%
Mississippi: 31%
Louisiana: 27%
Oklahoma: 28%

Despite the fact that he doesn't appeal to these states in the primaries, If I was Romney I wouldn't be overly concerned either that these states will go to Obama in November. They are all solid red bastions. However, it does raise some questions about the "solid south", that may give former Governor Romney pause. While it hasn't been talked about that much, the evangelical social conservative rubes that litter the landscape of the bumpkin belt, have a real problem with Romney's Mormon faith. They also don't see him as a true conservative. Romney's appeal has consistently been in the affluent suburban city areas, not the overwhelmingly rural areas that blanket the south. So the issue is this, we all know the majority of these states are going to vote for Romney, but will the electorates faith prevent them from embracing a candidate many see as being part of a cult? My guess is, probably not. Why? Because their hatred for Obama runs deeper than their religion. Which if you think about it, is a sad commentary on those who will be driven to the polls by that fact.

As for Father Rick, should he remain in the fight for the long haul, I can see him picking up 7 to 9 more states. The next one being Wisconsin a week from Tuesday. However, the writing is on the wall, and April is going to be a good month for Romney. My thought is this, the longer Romney has to fight Santorum, the better it is for the President. So here's to a long and bloody primary fight that carries us into June.

Romney Can't Keep A Good Thing Going

Well, what looked like a promising week for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, once again proved he was able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A pattern that has increasingly become the norm for the Romney campaign. The week began with his first solid primary win in Illinois, and a luke warm, but no less important, endorsement from former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Enter Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's senior campaign adviser. When asked in a CNN interview Wednesday morning whether the former Massachusetts governor had been forced to adopt conservative positions in the rugged race that could hurt his standing with moderates in November's general election. "I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes," Fehrnstrom responded. "It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up, and we start all over again."


The king of gaffs, has now been out done by one of his political advisers, with devastating results. It is these type of ongoing missteps that continue to rob Romney's momentum. After a big win, he can't even escape a 24 hour news cycle without having the air let out of his balloon.

Why does this particular gaff carry ten times the power of his previous ones? I'll explain. Romney has struggled to connect with social conservatives, who don't like him personally, and basically don't trust him. He has had a terrible time trying to define his message, (whatever that is), to an electorate that is voting more against Obama, than it is for Romney. He already has a reputation for being disingenuous, pandering to groups while attempting to hit the political talking points they want to hear, regardless of what he may think on the issue.

Now take all these problems, and all the progress he has struggled to make on them in speeches, debates, interviews, rallies, and press events, and throw them all out the window. The new message is don't pay any attention what I'm telling you now, because come the general election, I'll just shake my Etch-A-Sketch, and all my previous comments and campaign rhetoric will be wiped clean. What more proof do you need to see, to recognize this man will do or say anything to become President? He has a side for every argument, and if you don't like it, he'll just shake his Etch-A-Sketch until you hear what you want to hear.

This man is most likely going to be the Republican nominee for President. He is bland, out of touch, uninspiring, and lies more than any man I've ever seen in politics. If you don't like what he has to say, like a train, a new position will come down the tracks shortly. He is a political amoeba, with no spine, or ideological core. This Etch-A-Sketch comment is going to stick to him like flypaper, and the more he fights to free himself, the worse it will be. For a candidate that has 65% of his own party wanting to press the "Reset Button" on him, this was a major blunder. Whatever political capital Mitt Romney had built up to this moment is now GONE, and that my friends is a big problem for Mitt Romney.

Republican War On Women Is Real

It is hard not to swing a cat in this country, and not hit some type of Republican legislation trying to limit women's abortion rights. The effort is both on the state, and federal level, but most of the moves have been made by Republican state legislatures nationwide. Lets look at some examples:


In Virginia, Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell recently signed a law requiring women to get an ultra-sound prior to receiving an abortion. The procedure is forced on women, as well as, medically unnecessary. If you live over 100 miles from an abortion provider, you must wait 24 hours before the abortion can take place. The bill originally mandated an invasive trans-vaginal ultra-sound, but was removed after public pressure. Even Governor McDonell walked back his position on that part of the bill, mainly because of the perceived overreach by the Virginia legislature, and how it would reflect on him as a possible vice presidential nominee.

In Pennsylvania, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett endorsed that states ultra-sound abortion bill claiming that if women didn't want to see the state mandated procedure they could, "just... close your eyes." A Corbett spokesman said later his comments were taken out of context by liberals, "trying to make this into a political issue instead of stating fact." The same type of bills passed in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Texas, are currently pending court challenges. Idaho is debating similar legislation, but is facing mounting pressure from women's groups, and my be dead, at least this year.

In Utah, Republican Gov. Gary Herbert signed a law extending the waiting period for women seeking an abortion from 24 hours, to 72 hours. This same law was adopted in South Dakota, but was struck down by the courts.

In Kansas, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has said he will sign pending abortion legislation in his state. The bill would allow doctors to withhold information from their patients, and be safe from malpractice charges. It further says if the mother died during the abortion, because the doctor gave misinformation, that too was protected from legal action. Women would also be forced to listen to the heartbeat of the fetus. All tax deductions for providers, or tax credits for patients would be removed. Finally, women would be told abortions increase your risk of breast cancer, which is an out write lie, legalizing misleading and false information in the State of Kansas.

In Tennessee, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is backing a move by state legislators to amend the state constitution on abortion, known as the Life Defense Act of 2012, or House Bill 3808. Doctors who perform abortions in Tennessee could see their names listed online, and women who undergo the procedures could be unintentionally identified under a bill pending in the state legislature. Demographic information on patients would include age, marital status, race, number of children they currently have, and their county of residence. It would also force doctors to have a hospital affiliation in order to perform abortions, clearly a move to stop the procedure in rural areas. “I think publicizing this information will do nothing but cause serious consequences,” said state Rep. Gary Odom, D-Nashville. “This is dangerous. This is a dangerous piece of legislation.”

In Arizona, Republican Governor Jan Brewer is supporting a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks, raising the question of when the fetus feels pain, and would include the malpractice provisions found in the Kansas law. State Rep. Terri Proud (R-Tucson)reportedly wrote an email to a constituent saying that women should witness an abortion before having an abortion. Personally I'd like to make a law that mandates a woman watch an abortion being performed prior to having a "surgical procedure". If it's not a life it shouldn't matter, if it doesn't harm a woman then she shouldn't care, and don't we want more transparency and education in the medical profession anyway? We demand it everywhere else. Until the dead child can tell me that she/he does not feel any pain - I have no intentions of clearing the conscience of the living - I will be voting YES."
In addition to the abortion ban, the Arizona Legislature is considering bills to defund Planned Parenthood, allow doctors to withhold information from patients to prevent abortions, and to allow employers to opt out of contraception coverage for religious reasons. The contraception bill also would allow employers to demand women provide reasons for why they are using birth control and allow for firing if it is for non medical reasons.

When you look at the staggering and inventive ways the Right is using to undermine abortion rights, and women's rights in general. It hard to believe they counter this argument by saying liberals just want to scare women? Really? Liberals aren't legislating fear, misinformation, lies, public humiliation, and intrusive medically unnecessary procedures. The facts are clear, and they can put whatever kind of spin they want on it. The war on women is real, and it's being championed by the Republican Party.

Romney Scores His First Solid Win In Illinois, While Father Rick Stays Off Message

As the Republican brawl for the nomination rolls on, it would seem Mitt Romney is beginning to pull away from the pack. After a big 12 point win in Illinois last night, doubts about HOW he's going to win the nomination, are slowly giving way to WHEN. Romney continues to pile up the delegates. In Puerto Rico last Sunday, he took all of the territories 20 delegates. Although it's not real hard when Rick Santorum goes all the way down there to tell Puerto Ricans they need to speak English, hows that for a lead balloon? He got 8% of the vote, for an effort that was a true waste of his time, Romney went on to win with 83% of the vote.

Illinois teaches us a few things about Romney and Father Rick. Romney is more likely to win in traditionally moderate, general election blue states. While Santorum is more likely to win in hard core conservative red states. Where moderate, upper income, fiscal conservatives dominate, Romney does well. Where very conservative, low income, evangelical social conservative rule, Santorum wins. The problem once again, is we are traveling into a series of struggles that favor Santorum, proving yet another opportunity to steal Romney's thunder. The next Primary is this Saturday the 24th, in Louisiana, where Santorum holds a 13 point lead. To start the April contests on Tuesday the 3rd, we have Primaries in Maryland, The District of Columbia, and Wisconsin. Again in Wisconsin, Santorum leads by 18 points.

The problem for Santorum is that he's running out of time to close the gap. He can't get the 1144 he needs to win, but is he still in a position to deny the 1144 to Ronmney? It is still possible, but is becoming more elusive with each passing day. In April, the majority of the challenges will be in the northeast, which is Romney country, with the exception of the battle in Pennsylvania. April could just be the month that the math will prove too much for Father Rick to overcome. However, should he survive, May brings the contests back into his court, with 7 of the 8 encounters in the south, and mid west.

It should be noted that Santorum simply cannot lay off the hot button religious rhetoric which has made him famous. It is also clear his inability to maintain his focus on the economy, as opposed to social issues, is hurting him. He recently claimed he didn't care about the unemployment rate, that his campaign was about something bigger? Bad news for the millions still unemployed, who he has clearly given a back seat, when it comes to promoting his social conservative crusade.

Just to give you a taste of the kind of people I'm talking about, give a listen to Pastor Dennis Terry of Louisiana, who spoke before introducing Father Rick on the campaign trail. If you can stomach watching until the end, you'll see Rick Santorum just clapping away in support. So as you watch ask yourself, are these the kind of people I want running my country? These are the people Rick Santorum wants in the front seat, not the unemployed, not those focused on the economy. These people are the "something bigger" he's talking about. So when you count all the votes people have cast for Father Rick, think of Pastor Terry, and be afraid... be very afraid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgHR_jnFrvQ

New Drilling And Pipelines Will Not Solve High Gas Prices

The Republicans seem to think they have a hot issue with rising gasoline prices, and for the uninformed masses out there, they may be right. The fact is every time they cry "drill baby drill!", push for the Keystone Pipeline, rail for access to the vast tracts of government land that is just waiting to be tapped, putting us on a path toward energy independence, the promises of $2.50 a gallon gas, the pledge never to bow again to a Saudi King, or the President's ineffective energy policy, just remember its all a lot of crap!


Of the 91.5 Million acres of land, on and offshore, currently leased for crude oil and gas production by Big Oil in this country, 68 Million acres of that land is currently NOT PRODUCING. Well most people would think, that doesn't make any sense? Ah, but if you're Big Oil, it makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't they utilize all this product rich territory? Because it would flood the market, and gas and oil prices would tumble. The Oil Industry, for decades now, loves to make everybody think the next energy crisis is right around the corner, or they tout huge reserves just waiting to be tapped, but government regulations are holding up the works. It is all smoke and mirrors, perpetuated by a Republican party it holds in its back pocket. Big Oil doesn't care if you pay 4,5,6 dollars a gallon for gasoline, because it makes them rich. Add a President that wants to take away their government subsides because oil giants like Exxon-Mobil made over 23 Billion dollars just last quarter. In an election year, or any year for that fact, who gets blamed for high gas prices? It's not the oil companies, it,s the President. If your an oil company dealing with a hostile President, what better way to hurt him, and the economy than rising gasoline prices. Add all the geo-political turmoil in the Middle East, and you have the perfect recipe to hurt the one man who doesn't have your interests at heart.

Ten days ago a House subcommittee held a hearing on "The American Energy Initiative" Wednesday morning that focused solely on rising pump prices. Seventy members of Congress signed a letter this week to regulators at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), urging immediate action on oil speculation by enacting "strong position limits" and to "utilize all authorities available to…make sure that the price of oil and gasoline reflects the fundamentals of supply and demand."

The CFTC was given authority in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to impose position caps on oil traders beginning in January 2011. These limits have not yet been implemented by the CFTC. In an interview Wednesday with The Daily Ticker, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says the CFTC doesn't "have the will" to enact these limits and "needs to obey the law."

"What we need to do is…limit the amount of oil any one company can control on the oil futures market," says Sanders, who has long advocated limits on speculation. "The function of these speculators is not to use oil but to make profits from speculation, drive prices up and sell."
This is not the first time oil speculators have been blamed for higher energy prices. In 2008 U.S. oil prices skyrocketed to $145 per barrel and gasoline prices averaged well above $4 per gallon. There were calls to increase domestic offshore drilling and legislation was proposed that would have required buyers of oil to physically own and store the oil barrels. Then the 2008 financial crisis hit causing oil and gasoline prices to plummet.

Blaming the speculators may seem like scapegoating to some (namely, oil traders) but speculators control more than 80 percent of the energy futures market, up from 30 percent a decade ago, and there is mounting evidence that speculation contributes to higher prices:
•At a Senate hearing last June, Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, said speculation was driving up the price of a barrel of oil by as much as 40 percent.
•A study conducted by the nonpartisan consumer advocacy group Consumer Federation of America found that speculation caused the average American household to spend an additional $600 on gasoline expenditures in 2011. Moreover, the report concluded that excessive speculation (which the organization estimated added about $30 per barrel to the cost of oil in 2011) drained the U.S. economy of more than $200 billion in consumer spending in 2011.
•The St. Louis Federal Reserve has also recommended that the CFTC do more to prevent oil speculators from driving up the price of oil. Fed officials studied the effect of oil traders on the price oil over five years and determined that "speculation contributed to around 15 percent to oil prices increases."
•CFTC Chair Gary Gensler declared last year that "huge inflows of speculative money create a self-fulfilling prophecy that drives up commodity prices." Rising gasoline prices are a huge pocketbook issue for many Americans, a reason that stands alone for politicians to focus on the role of speculators.



My Thanks to Morgan Korn at Yahoo Finance for the information regarding the CFTC and Wall Street Speculation. - MJP Bluefieldstars.

What Is Mitt Romney Selling?

Former Governor Mitt Romney is the presumed front runner for the Republican nomination, but what are his plans for America? You would do better to find out all the things he believes President Obama has done wrong, rather than find his vision for what he would bring to the White House. Whatever that vision may be, it goes without saying his personal appeal is pivotal to explaining that vision.

So first, lets look at Romney the man. He has a net worth of 250 Million dollars. He has 5 homes scattered across the country. He is a Mormon, or if you prefer, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, many media people refer to this as (LDS). Half way through the primary season, he has spent 30 Million dollars on negative campaign ads attacking his opponents, with mixed results. He has outspent his rivals on a massive scale, proving his money can't buy him love. He has a major problem in the south, and among evangelical social conservatives in general. The 2 groups where he has consistently done well are, those who make over 100 Thousand dollars a year, and moderates who do not agree with the Tea Party. He is backed by the Republican establishment, and known in most circles as a fiscal conservative. He has a daunting reputation as a flip flopper, who often takes the position that is politically expedient for the moment.

Personally, he is uncharismatic, almost robotic on the public stage. He gives the impression that his messages are forced, which makes him come off as uncomfortable in his own skin. He is probably one of the worst panderers I have ever seen on the campaign trail. Try as he might, he has failed to connect with regular working class people. For example, you ask him about NASCAR or professional football, and he'll tell you he knows some owners. He makes no apology for his wealth, but hopelessly emphasizes it every time he opens his mouth. He is a 1% candidate, desperate to appeal to the other 99%, and is failing miserably.

So what does HE stand for? Well the major things I found were this. Repeal Obamacare, or as it's known in Washington, The Affordable Health Care Act of 2010. This would allow insurance companies to drop you if you reach a predetermined monetary limit, like a million dollars. It would allow insurance companies to deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions. He would prevent children up to 26 years of age from staying on their parents insurance. He would prevent seniors from getting assistance with their prescription drugs, in what is know as the donut hole. This is just to name a few. Next, cut taxes on the rich, and raise them on the poor.


Third, he would increase defense spending. We currently outspend the next closest 9 nations and then some, COMBINED. See the chart below to see where we rank in the world in defense spending.


So if you cut taxes on the rich, and increase defense spending, want to balance the budget and cut the deficit, where is the money going to come from? Well, he endorses the Ryan plan, which would end Medicare and Social Security as we know it. He also favors overturning Dodd-Frank. This is the bill designed to prevent another Wall Street meltdown. So to sum up, tax breaks for the rich, no regulation for Wall Street, Scrap Health Care reform, destroy Medicare and Social Security. WHERE DO I SIGN! Add in the Republican wars on women's rights and voting rights, and you have quite a platform there. Do they live in 2012, or 1912? In any event, watching Romney struggle to be the standard bearer for all this good news borders on the insane. This is what they're fighting to bring to America in 2012? It's like crashing your car before the race. Sadly, there are a lot of people who embrace this message even if it runs contrary to their own personal interests, but after all that is what Republicans do best, that and trying to scare the crap out of you. Republicans always have a boogie man just around the corner, but don't look for him, he's not there.

No Southern Comfort For Romney

Last nights 2 primary fights in the heart of Dixie, once again emphasized Romney's weakness with social conservatives. In Mississippi, where 80% of Republican voters identified themselves as evangelicals, and Alabama, where 74% did the same, in this true test of the bumpkin belt electorate, it was Rick Santorum who emerged as the victor in both contests. Once again pulling out the wins, despite being outspent by Romney's big money machine. In keeping with his streak of island victories, Romney did win the caucuses in Hawaii and American Samoa.


So Father Rick's crusade toward the presidential nomination continues, as he refuses to go quietly into that good night. As for Newt Gingrich, who declared these 2 states as "must wins", his ego once again will not allow him to see the big picture. While his "southern strategy" imploded last night, Gingrich again vowed to fight on. I think despite his great appeal in the south, people there are beginning to realize he simply can't win, no matter how HE spins it. However, while taking very close silvers in both contests last night, he most likely will fade into the ranks of the marginal candidate, only to cultivate 3rd place finishes from here on out. He can continue his delusion of grandeur all he wants, the fact is the final nail went in his coffin last night. Despite his refusal to leave the race, look for Santorum to pick up a bigger slice of what would normally go to Gingrich. A scenario that looks like, for the moment, is going to be the best Santorum can manage in turning this into a 2 man race.

The next state, Missouri will hold its caucus Saturday. Actual delegates will be awarded this time, after February's "beauty contest", I see no reason for the state not to remain in Father Rick's column. Next will be Puerto Rico on Sunday, followed closely by Illinois on Tuesday March 20th. Like Florida, Michigan, and Ohio before it, this is another must win for the "front runner" Romney. Latest polling has Romney with only a 4 point lead, which with a week to go, should give little comfort to the former Massachusetts Governor.

For those of us who follow politics, this is a political junkies wet dream. If only Gingrich would get out of the way, and let Santorum and Romney go head to head. In a 2 man race, Mitt Romney would have a serious problem on his hands, and he knows it. As hard as he tries to push Santorum out of the picture, like a bad dream, with no money, he keeps winning. The fact of the matter is, the evangelical social conservative base is not going to just settle this primary season. If Romney is going to be the inevitable nominee, social conservatives are going to make him pay for every delegate he needs to capture that prize. They don't like him, he doesn't connect with them, and if the establishment is going to try and force a moderate like Romney down their throats, they're going to make him pay for it. End result, a bloodied nominee in Tampa, and more fodder for the President come the general election. The longer this fight goes on, the worse it is for Romney, and I don't see him being able to put this away anytime soon. So the struggle continues, and it the words of Montgomery Burns all I can say is "Excellent".

Enough Already In Afghanistan

I wanted to take a break from election politics to weigh in on the recent turmoil in Afghanistan. Yesterday, at about 3am local time, an unidentified 38 year old United States Marine, walked about a mile to the nearest Afghan town, and killed 16 people. Among the total were 9 children, and 3 women. The marine knocked on door after door at three houses, and then methodically killed the inhabitants of each home. When he was finished, he walked back to his base and went back to business as usual. The marine a staff sergeant based in Fort Lewis Washington State, has 2 children of his own. He had previously served 3 tours in Iraq, this was his first tour in Afghanistan. It is believed this marine may have been suffering from (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.


A week earlier, 6 U.S. Marines were killed by rioting across Afghanistan, when U.S. forces mistakenly burned Korans. Four of those marines were killed by Afghan Security Forces, the same forces we are supposed to be training. The rioting was sparked by the Taliban, who is still very much alive and well in the country. As for this latest incident they claimed, it would "take revenge from the invaders and the savage murderers for every single martyr." further calling our troops, "sick-minded American savages". Afghan President Hamid Karzai called it "an assassination, one that cannot be forgiven." This from a government leader who has been proven illegitimate, mentally unstable, and, plagued by corruption on a massive scale.

So my next question is, What are we still doing here? The country is no better than it was 10 years ago when we started this war. While meeting with initial successes early in the campaign, the years that followed have proved to be nothing but a giant quagmire. Can someone tell me what we are trying to accomplish here? To add insult to injury we now have cries from the Right, to engage in wars in Syria and Iran. Haven't we learned anything from 10 years and 2 wars? We have troops who have been put on multiple deployments in the region, like the staff sergeant in question, and our forces are quite literally burning out. Things like PTSD and suicides, are rampant in both active, and inactive troops. So again I ask, what are we trying to accomplish there?, and the bigger question, what have we won for our 400 Billion dollars and counting, besides the 17,000 brave servicemen and women that have been killed or wounded?

We prop up a corrupt government, have paid the ultimate sacrifice in both blood and treasure, and our people are now being killed by the very forces we are training to take over the country when we leave. The Taliban has had a resurgence in not only Afghanistan, but Pakistan, yet we remain? How many more of our brave armed forces do we have to lose? How many more staff sergeants have to snap? How many more billions of dollars must we spend? All questions no one has the answers to, but I think it's time, we at the very least, need to start asking the questions, don't you?

Can Mitt Romney Win In The South? ...Maybe

Well aside from the handful of delegates to be decided today in the American territories of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Guam, most eyes will be on the caucus in the sunflower state of Kansas. It is widely expected that Rick Santorum will win big here. There are 40 delegates up for grabs in Kansas, and 27 delegates in the 3 territorial contests combined, 9 delegates each. The next series of contests are this coming Tuesday March 13th. They will include caucuses in the Territory of American Samoa with 9 delegates, and Hawaii, with 20 delegates, also the primaries in Alabama, with 50 delegates, and Mississippi, with 40 delegates.

The primaries in Alabama and Mississippi, are thought to be fights between Father Rick and Newt Gingrich. Gingrich in particular has said both states are must wins for him to continue. However, the latest polling I have, puts both states very much in question.




IN ALABAMA:

Gingrich: 31%
Romney: 30%
Santorum: 29%
Paul 8%




IN MISSISSIPPI:

Romney: 35%
Gingrich 31%
Santorum 26%
Paul 7%

In what were suppose to be easy pickings for the social conservatives, Romney is in a statistical dead heat in both of these southern states. In 2008, Huckabee won Alabama, but McCain won Mississippi. So is it possible Romney can stake some wins in the bumpkin belt? Maybe. In spite of himself, Romney has struggled to end this rather damaging and contentious primary fight. He needed to win in Florida, and did. He needed to win in Michigan, and did. He needed to win in Ohio, and did, but still he can't shut down the process. If he wins just one of these states,(and my money is on Mississippi), he will have passed every test put to him. If he wins in the south, while Santorum and Gingrich may linger, the shows over. The problem is he will become the Republican nominee, without the support of the Republican base. Jimmy Carter did the same thing in 1976, with the Democrats. However, it is an incredibly difficult position to operate in, and Romney's fiscal conservative message, will have a hard time finding a home in the party's current social conservative firestorm. The thing he's betting on is that once nominated, he will end up getting the social conservative voters anyway, if for no other reason, than their hate of Obama. A bet I would say is a pretty sad, but fair assumption.

Republicans Phoney War On Gas Prices

The recent rise in oil prices has prompted Republicans, and the subsequent rise in gasoline prices, as a hot political issue they can use to their advantage. They have put the blame squarely on President Obama's energy policies, as the main reason prices have spiked of late. The current unrest in the Middle East has nothing to do with it, nor does the impact of Wall Street speculators, who some say add upwards of 56 cents plus, to a gallon of gasoline.



So lets look at some facts that are all factors in rising gas prices. 1) Israel has made it well known as a matter of national security, it will bomb Iran to prevent it from gaining a nuclear weapon. 2) Iran has threatened to close the strait of Hormuz, and conducted military exercises there to emphasize it. 3) In response, promising to keep the strait open, the United States sent 2 carrier strike groups into the Persian Gulf. It should be noted 1 out of every 5 barrels of oil pass through this strait. 4) Tensions in the Middle East are much higher than usual. Libya is struggling through a power vacuum since Gaddafi's death. Egypt is struggling to transfer government power from the military to the people. Syria is imploding, and sinking into civil war. 5) To add fuel to that fire, Senator John McCain has taken to the Senate floor calling for the United States to bomb Syria. It should be noted the Syrian regime is supported by both Russia and China, and any military attacks would become a proxy war against those states, Syria is not Libya. 6) All of the Republican presidential contenders, (except Ron Paul), have been quite outspoken about going to war with Iran in order to stop them from obtaining nuclear weapons. 7) At least 3 major oil refineries have suffered fires, or some kind of disaster, that has limited or stopped gasoline production at those facilities. 8) The general atmosphere in the Middle East has Wall Street speculators driving the price of oil up, on the fear that supply could be cut at any time.

Now, in the face of so many factors, is it really President Obama's fault gas prices are rising? Under President Obama, national domestic oil production has risen 8%, after declining during the Bush Administration. Oil rig start ups are up 350%. Supply has never been greater, despite demand being at its lowest level since 1997, which is a direct result of the high prices. So when you hear how gas prices are all President Obama's fault, give them the facts. To illustrate how the Fox News Republican noise machine blames President Obama when he is in office, and "uncontrollable market forces" are responsible when President Bush was in office, you have to watch this clip from The Ed Show on MSNBC which sums it all up quite nicely.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755822/ns/msnbc_tv-the_ed_show/#46661745

Romney Takes Ohio, But Did He Seal The Deal?

After a night that had something for everybody, Mitt Romney won 6 of Super Tuesday's 10 contests, including the all important state of Ohio. In Ohio, Romney grabbed 39% of the vote to Santorums 38%, out of 895,835 votes cast, Romney's margin of victory was only 12,019. So with 23 contests in the books, lets check the map. Remember Romney is DARK RED, Santorum is RED, Gingrich is PINK, Paul is GRAY. According to CNN, the delegate count is Romney at 404, Santorum 165, Gingrich 106, and Paul 66. 1,144 are needed to win.


Romney comes out of Super Tuesday with the lions share of victories, and the delegates to go with them, but did he seal the deal last night? I'm not so sure? The fact remains that Mitt Romney has a serious problem in the rural south and mid-west. In the south he has been unable to reach 30%, In the mid-west Romney squeaked by in Ohio because he outspent Father Rick 12 to 1, and even then still almost lost.

So Romney picked up Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Massachusetts, Idaho, and Alaska. Father Rick took Oklahoma, Tennessee, and North Dakota. Newt Gingrich won big in his home state of Georgia. However, Romney better savor the flavor, because he is entering a series of states he will not win. The 5 major states upcoming are Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois with the exception of Illinois, where Chicago may carry Romney over the hump, the remaining 4 will go to either Santorum or Gingrich. Further compounding his problem of connecting with the nation's rural, evangelical, social conservative voters.

So where are Gingrich and Santorum winning? Gingrich has won South Carolina, Georgia, and despite losing the state of Florida, he carried the old south redneck northern part of the state. Setting himself up for possible wins in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Santorum I think would be highly competitive in Kansas and Illinois. Oddly I don't have any data on Hawaii from 2008, so I'm not sure who might win there. So after coming through Super Tuesday with the most gained, he is heading into a period that will prove very difficult for him.


So in spite of Newt Gingrich's baggage, and Father Rick's wild religious rhetoric, both men are appealing to a part of the Republican electorate that simply can not bond with the idea that Mitt Romney, most likely, will get this nomination. To add insult to injury they're doing it with little or no money, and poor national organizations. I have news for you people, if Newt Gingrich was out of this contest, Father Rick would have wrapped this up weeks ago. How's that for a sobering thought?

The next question, is this primary process over? not a chance. If the social conservatives were smart they would be turning up the heat on Gingrich to get out of the race, giving Santorum a fighting chance to really challenge Romney. The problem, Newt Gingrich is an overblown ego maniac, who will screw Santorum just to stay in the fight. Which is odd, considering his rabid dislike of Romney. Yet, in Gingrich's mind Santorum should be the one to drop out, which in his deluded dreams of grandure, would somehow propel him to the nomination. Of course this is a pipe dream of gigantic proportions, Gingrich may win a few more states, but he is not going anywhere, the man as a viable presidential candidate is finished.

So with Super Tuesday quickly fading in the rear view mirror, can Romney maintain his front-runner status after 3 weeks of unfriendly contests? Can Santorum continue despite his disadvantage in message, money, and organization? Will Gingrich and Father Rick split the upcoming states, in Kansas and the south? Will Gingrich get out of the race to give Santorum a shot? All this and much more to be decided in the days ahead. Next stop the Kansas Caucus this Saturday March 10th, be there or be square.

Will Romney's Momentum Carry Him Through Super Tuesday

Mitt Romney is coming off two caucus wins in Wyoming on Thursday, and Washington State yesterday, as we head into the contests on Super Tuesday. Added to his wins last Tuesday in Michigan, and Arizona, puts him on a four state roll. There are seven primaries, and three caucuses less than 48 hours away, so can Romney keep it going?


In what is seen as the, do or die state of Ohio for Rick Santorum, last weeks eleven point lead has degenerated into a statistical dead heat. Father Rick is banking on his western Pennsylvania blue collar appeal to help him in the buckeye state. However, he has continued to target his rhetoric on social conservative religious issues, which many attribute to his drop in the polls. In Tennessee, where just three days ago he held a twenty one point lead, it now stands at just four. In Oklahoma, Santorum is maintaining a fifteen point edge over Romney.

So where Father Rick stood to gain at least three states on Super Tuesday, now he looks to hold only one in the bag. In Georgia, it looks like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is going to carry his home state. So with Gingrich concentrating on Georgia, and Oklahoma looking like Santorums only sure thing, that leaves the other eight contests within Romneys grasp. However, in North Dakota, Ron Paul is expected to give Romney a run for his money, some are even saying Congressman Paul has a good chance to carry the state.

However, despite all the good news for Romney, the man still has a likability problem that shows no sign of going away in the days ahead. His often robotic uncomfortable perception remains, and is something that he is definitely going to have to improve on in the coming weeks. If he wins the lion share of states this Tuesday, it should relieve some of the pressure to keep pace with Father Rick, and the lunatic fringe. I put my money on Romney last August, and while his competitors will linger, Tuesday will signal the beginning of the end for the rest of the field. I think this will particularly hold true if Romney pulls out a win in Ohio. The next step will be if he can repair the damage his opponents have inflicted, not to mention the damage he has done to himself.

Republicans Are Out Of Touch And In Turmoil

If you have watched even fifteen minutes of any national news,(except FOX of course), you can't help but see this giant Hindenburg of the Republican party filled with highly flammable gas, descending into its moorings. Then, as it approaches bursts into flames in horrific fashion, while the country watches speechless, and in terrified amazement.

If you need a little help with that visual click here: Hindenburg
Disaster - 1937 - Herb Morrison reports

Republicans are in a far Right feeding frenzy, and they just can't stop. As they crash and burn, you can't help but watch, but what does my analogy mean? First, we can point to the ongoing purge of moderates from Congress. This week Senator Olympia Snowe (ME-R), announced she would not be running for re-election in the fall. Her reasoning, increased pressure from the hard Right in her party, and the ongoing polarization of politics in Washington. In Indiana, long time moderate Republican Senator Richard Lugar is facing a serious Tea Party challenge in a primary there. In Utah, long time conservative Senator Orrin Hatch is facing a similar fate. In 2010, it was moderate Senator Evan Bayh (IN-R) who left siting the same reasons Senator Snowe mentioned, and it's not limited to the Republicans. In 2010, moderate Senator Blanche Lincoln (AR-D) was forced from office. This year you can add moderate Senators Kent Conrad (ND-D), Ben Nelson (NE-D), and Joe Liebermann (CT-I) to the list. All of which leads to a body in which almost every member thinks "Compromise" is a dirty word. The result, government gripped by narrow ideological dogmas that do nothing but entrench their own personal politics, over the general welfare of a people desperate for government to address their problems.

However, since 2010 when Republicans captured the House, we have seen gridlock on a scale never before seen. The only highlight, a budget battle last summer that Republicans took to the wire, costing the United States its AAA bond rating. It was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who listed the Republicans number one goal in 2010 was not to create jobs, improve education, or invest in infrastructure, it was to defeat Barack Obama. It was this same Senator who took to the Senate floor this week to support stripping all manner of women's health care, at the whim of her employer, with the Blunt-Rubio Amendment. While the amendment went down 51-48, he argued that President Obama took over the banks, took over the auto industry, and now wants to take over religion. In what can only be classified as a dispatch from fantasy land, it is this type of hard Right rhetoric that find the Republicans consistently on the wrong side of the argument. Do they realize how ridiculous they sound with comments like this?

Then we have the two Republican presidential candidates, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, or as I affectionately call him Father Rick. First, there is Mitt Romney. A man who is so uncomfortable in his own skin, I get nervous just watching him. He is a man of obvious privilege, who definitely dwells within the ranks of the 1%, and is hopelessly trying to connect with regular middle class voters. The problem is he hasn't got a clue about how middle class people live, how hard they work, or even what they like? The disconnect is so bad at this point, the gaffs are coming on a daily basis. He won't talk to the media because he's petrified he'll say the wrong thing, and continues to portray himself as a man on every side of any issue, in a desperate attempt to tell people what they want to hear. It's like when he's off stage, his handlers are constantly beating the moderate out of him, forcing him to be something he isn't, and it shows every time he opens his mouth. It is really sad to watch as an observer.

Then we have Father Rick, who has captured the ultra social conservative lunatic fringe of the Republican base. So poor Mitt Romney has to continuously pander to these loony tunes, in order to somehow create some kind of appeal for a message he is instinctively uncomfortable with. It is truly reality T.V. at its best. However, courting the crazies does have its cost. A new Super Tuesday poll from Ohio, which Santorum needs desperately, showed his lead in that state cut from 11 points to 4 with just 4 days to go. In a party that wants to party like it's 1959, rehashing issues long settled, while alienating about 70% of the women in this country. They are on a path that will leave them so damaged come November, their general election appeal will win them about 4 States. To which I can only say, "keep talking boys, keep talking."

Romney Pulls Out Big Win In Michigan

After weeks of speculation and a growing threat from challenger Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney re-established his front runner status last night. In Arizona, Romney beat Santorum by 20 points, and carried every county in the state. In Michigan, Romney's home state, He pulled out a 3 point win against a surging Father Rick. So now that the dust has settled, Romney has emerged to fight another day. This despite a campaign that has been foundering, and desperate to find a way to connect with conservative voters. While this win in Michigan has put the wind back in his sails, it failed to take any out of Santorum's, who remains a real threat one week out from Super Tuesday.

Let's also not forget the Washington State Caucus this Saturday March 3rd, where the latest polling had Santorum winning here by 11 points against his closest competitor Romney.

So where do we go from here? Well the contests are going to become more frequent, starting with Super Tuesday on March 6th, which has 10 contests, with over 400 delegates ups for grabs. Then from March 10th to the 24th another 11 contests will follow fast and furious, holding another 381 delegates for distribution.

My take on all this? Mitt Romney got his must win in Michigan, but it had nothing to do with Mitt Romney. Michigan was Rick Santorum's to lose, and he did just that. Father Rick's ultra conservative religious diatribes over the last 10 days hurt him in Michigan, where he had a comfortable lead just one week ago, only to lose it, and hand Romney a 3 point win. While Santorum shot himself in the foot in Michigan, he is far from out of the race. However, the tables have been turned, and the pressure is now on Father Rick to win in Ohio. He holds an 11 point lead there currently, but a week is an eternity in politics, and with Romney regaining momentum, will Father Rick be able to hold on there? If Super Tuesday was held today I'm guessing the states would fall like this:

ROMNEY:
Alaska
Massachusetts
Idaho
North Dakota
Vermont
Virginia

SANTORUM:
Oklahoma
Ohio
Tenneesse

GINGRICH:
Georgia

A little bit for everybody, and a very good indicator that this process is far from over. Some things to consider? 1) Can Romney use this new momentum to his advantage? In a campaign plagued by gaffs, and no real message other than "I'm better than the other guy" can he finally find a way to rally Republicans, and more importantly, attract conservatives? 2) Did Rick Santorum's ultra social conservative rants on contraception, education, and religion, damage his candidacy to a point he may not be able to recover? He let a lot of genies out of the bottle in the last 10 days, genies that can't be put back in the bottle. Did he destroy his chances as a general election candidate, by trying too hard to fire up the conservative base? 3) If Newt Gingrich wins in Georgia, as expected, will that be enough to keep him in the race? There is no question should Gingrich remain, it helps Romney. In fact, Romney's win in Arizona was in large part due to Santorum and Gingrich splitting the conservative vote there. This roller coaster ride continues, starting Saturday in Washington State. Who will survive the twists and turns, as things get fast and furious, we shall see.

Rick Santorum Theocrat In A Democracy

I have never seen anything like Rick Santorum in my life. Once again he doubled down on crazy over the weekend, which for him is becoming a daily occurrence. He said the notion of religion not playing a role in politics “makes me want to throw up." He continued, "To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes me want to throw up. What kind of country do we live in where only people of non-faith can come in the public square and make their case? That makes me throw up. And that should make every American [throw up]," Santorum said on ABC's This Week. The former Pennsylvania senator was referring to John F. Kennedy’s famous 1960 speech that argued religion should be separate from politics. "I don't believe in an America where the separation between church and state is absolute," he said.

Now just to be clear here, I'm not suggesting people of a particular faith cannot participate in our government. Frankly, that has been an unavoidable fact for over 235 years. However, I draw the line when a political candidate wishes to impose his own particular brand of religion into the lives of the American people, whether they happen to agree with him or not. Oh and just for the record, its against the United States Constitution. You know that wonderful governing document that Republicans love to shove in every body's face when it's convenient for them, and hide it under a rock somewhere when it's not. If I had a dime for every conservative who's screamed about upholding THEIR interpretation of the Constitution, I'd be a millionaire. Now you have a Republican presidential candidate openly fly in the face of that very document, and what do you hear from the Right? A chorus of crickets!

Rick Santorum needs to find his way to a Catholic Parrish house, not the White House. He needs a church pulpit, not a bully pulpit in the oval office. He needs a congregation, not a delegation. There is no way around it, this man is off his rocker! I understand on Aaron Klein's WABC Radio Show, former New York Mayor Ed Koch called him "Nuts" today, well I'm right there with you Mayor, the interview will air tonight. I think there is a bumper sticker out there that says "The last time we mixed religion and politics people got burned at the stake." My question is where can I buy one. I'm making light of this a little, but this is serious as a heart attack, Father Rick is certifiable. Here is a little something that might enlighten my good readers about the impact of fear in the imposition of religion in the United States. Lets not let Rick Santorum add to that list in the year of our Lord 2012.

DID YOU KNOW:

THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WAS RATIFIED IN 1789 HAD ONLY ONE REFERENCE TO RELIGION [ARTICLE 6] NO RELIGIOUS TEST SHALL EVER BE REQUIRED AS A QUALIFICATION TO ANY OFFICE OR PUBLIC TRUST UNDER THE UNITED STATES.

THE DE FACTO MOTTO OF THE UNITED STATES, ADOPTED AS PART OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS IN 1782 WAS E. PLURIBUS UNUM [OUT OF MANY ONE] CONGRESS CHANGED IT 174 YEARS LATER. [1956] TO IN GOD WE TRUST

THE ORIGINAL "PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE" WAS WRITTEN IN 1892 BY BAPTIST MINISTER FRANCIS BELLAMY WHO DID NOT INCLUDE THE WORDS "UNDER GOD." THOSE WERE ADDED BY CONGRESS 62 YEARS LATER. [1954]

THE UNITED STATES DID NOT ISSUE CURRENCY UNTIL 1861, AND "IN GOD WE TRUST" DIDN'T APPEAR ON IT FOR 96 YEARS. [1957]

JUST AFTER THE RED SCARE OF THE 1950'S, CONGRESS CHANGED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND OUR NATION'S MOTTO OVER THE FEAR OF COMMUNISM.

In a time when FEAR is traded like a commodity, and the word Socialism is being used the same way Communism was used then. Remember that our Nation wasn't founded on FEAR. Our Nation was founded out of hope for a world where all people were equal, that we were ONE FROM MANY.

Lets not let FEAR change our nations great tradition and direction again.

Rick Santorum Run Away Train

He is out of control, the Republican establishment can't stop him, and with each speech he gives, he does more and more damage to the general electorate. As long as Father Rick maintains his momentum, it looks like nothing can stop Santorum's hard line brand of social conservatism. From Satan eyeing America's soul, to his radical theological view on women's rights. Views he would gladly impose on contraception, and abortion contrary to existing law, doesn't just stoke the Republican culture wars, for him, it's personal.


He continued that theme this morning on NBC's Meet The Press. When moderator David Gregory played a clip of President Kennedy's 1960 speech distancing himself from the Catholic church, where he proclaimed an absolute separation between church and state. Santorum responded that was wrong, that in fact religion should drive social policy in American government. He openly admitted that christian religious values should actively dictate public policy. I have never heard a conservative state that flat out. Religion has been touted as personally helpful, a guiding force, a consideration of moral implication, but never before advocated as a driving force in a candidates public policy goals. While some may dismiss this, it underscores the comfort of those on the Right to publicly exclaim this as part of their personal narrative, as a candidate for President of the United States. I believe this is over reach on a gigantic scale, and will do serious damage to Republican efforts to win the White House, it is unprecedented in it's effect.

Just to give you a little perspective hear is what the Constitution says about this:

AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof:...

That's it folks, that's all the Constitution says about Religion. By promoting an agenda of public policy based on one religion, you automatically create an establishment of religion with-in the state. Not to mention the implied discrimination against those of other religions, or no religion at all. Now you tell me Rick Santorum doesn't want a theocracy? he freely admits it. There is no putting this toothpaste back in the tube.

It doesn't stop there either? Santorum called President Obama "a snob" for saying every American child should be able to go to college. "Why does Obama want everybody to go to college? So his liberal college professors can be indoctrinating people like he has," Santorum actually said this! Then he makes the leap that America's college's and universities are some kind of liberal indoctrination camps? Which totally plays into his contempt for the public school system in America. All his kids were home schooled, he wouldn't dare subject them to the undergraduate and graduate liberal academia, that may somehow contribute to making his children, oh I don't know, free thinkers? His kids are only allowed to believe the narrow dogma, and theological rantings of what he considers acceptable.

How sad for this man, how sad for his children, and how sad for America that in the year 2012, this man is a viable choice to be the Republican nominee for President? This man is out of control, and probably the biggest danger to the United States since NAZI Germany. How's that for a Hitler reference. Here is the really scary thought kids, people who support this man are in every state, in every corner of our country. They like what he's selling, and come November are willing to buy. I know the Left will rally against this wingnut, but this battle is going to be settled by moderates and Independents, will they hear what he's preaching? or will they vote for him because gasoline is $5.00 a gallon? Think about that? Yes, it's the economy stupid, but despite recent gains, people vote their pocketbook. If Rick Santorum is the Republican nominee will that be enough? For a lot of people in this country it will be, and that my friends is dangerous beyond words.

Commentary On A Dying Party

Since the 2010 red tide, that allowed Republicans to capture the House of Representatives, and several state houses nationwide, there has been a definite sense of urgency driving these elected officials. Despite the claims that brought them to power regarding fiscal discipline, and job creation, what they have actually pursued is quite different. As if driven by the sound of a ticking clock, Republicans have concentrated their collective fire on the state and national level, on social issues. The very first thing they did when they took control of the House wasn't jobs legislation, it was abortion legislation. House Bills (HB)1, 2 and 3, all were attacks on abortion, and women's rights.


In states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Jersey Republican governors went after collective bargaining rights, and anti-union legislation. They pushed voter ID Laws meant to target students, the elderly, and the poor, not to correct voter fraud (which was their premise), but as an attempt to disenfranchise voters who overwhelmingly vote Democratic. In Virginia, a new bill was introduced that said women seeking an abortion, must be mandated to have a trans-vaginal ultra-sound. A procedure which is not only invasive, but medically unnecessary.

Presidential candidates have launched a full fledged attack on individual liberties, under the guise of protecting religious freedom. In debates, their audiences cheer letting people die if they don't have insurance, cheer touts of having executed 235 people, boo active duty soldiers who put their lives on the line for our country because they are gay, and boo questions that demand their views on contraception, when they are the ones making it an issue?

The one overwhelming constant in their messages is their inability to give any hope to Americans. It is always in terms of what will happen "If". It is consistently negative, consistently divisive, consistently fearful, consistently pitting one group against another. Whether it's immigrants, unions, the rich, the poor, minorities, gays, the elderly, and now even women. These are called wedge issues for most people, but for Republicans they ARE the issues. You can almost smell the panic of a party that has gone to far to the Right, and knows in a relatively short period of time, for most Americans, this kind of derisive politics isn't going to resonate much longer. The party has become to old, to white, to entrenched in the past, and hopelessly incapable of attracting new members in a rapidly changing and diverse America, that rejects their reactionary ideals outright. To Republicans I can only issue this warning, "That your party, your hate, and your fear, will die... with you.

Final Republican Debate Was A Dud

Well if you missed the 20th and, if there is a God, last Republican debate last night, you didn't miss a thing. The final four squared off in Arizona, with just five days to go until that states primary with Michigan next Tuesday. While there was no real winner, there was a loser, and that was Rick Santorum. Father Rick basically played dodge ball all night. He was off message most of the debate, and got hammered from all sides which put him on perpetual defense. His responses were basically long winded admissions that he did do things contrary to what he is now advocating, and to top it off, when asked for a one word description of himself he said "courage." Well, I'm not sure what type of courage he was referring to, but it certainly wasn't courage of conviction. In a nutshell, he proved himself to be the Washington insider Mitt Romney claims him to be. Add that to a hostile Arizona Republican audience, and Father Rick was probably thanking God when it was all over.

Mitt Romney probably scored highest on points, but still couldn't knock it out of the park. Ron Paul had what I thought was his best performance, and Newt Gingrich did his best to remain relevant. The two hours passed slowly, and really didn't provide any new insights into the minds of these four horseman of the apocalypse. It is a consistent theme put forward by these Republicans of negativity, fear, and gloom, and it has become stale and tiresome to listen to on its unending loop.

I found it interesting that it took 45 minutes for CNN's John King to get around to Father Ricks religious crusade, and even when the subject was broached, it was done by presenting it as a question from an online viewer. The question raised a chorus of boos from the conservative audience as expected, and centered solely on birth control. They all painted this horrifying vision of President Obama with his boot heal on the neck of religion across America. It was just more of the same old fear mongering for the rest of us, but red meat for the conservative base.

As for the number one issue in America, "Jobs", there wasn't a peep. If I was an independent and watched last night, I'd be asking myself, "This is what they have to offer?" As for the implications going into next Tuesday's big contests in Michigan and Arizona, I think it safe to say Romney has stopped the bleeding, at least for now. Santorum withered under fire last night, and may have given Romney a much needed boost in his home state. Recent polls have the Michigan contest in a statistical dead heat, but I would bet Romney's lead begins to widen in the next few days. The result of Father Rick's poor showing last night, coupled with a week of radical theological babble, that has establishment Republicans, Independents, and women all moving toward the isles. Yes I agree with the former Pennsylvania Senator, the devil has his eyes set on America, and his name is Rick Santorum.