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The Spectacle Blog
1. By most accounts, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker performed ably in his first debate against Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, his Democratic challenger in the recall election. But how many people really watched a Friday night debate before Memorial Day weekend? The scheduling gave Walker a good dry run before the next debate, when presumably more people will be paying attention.
2. The Texas Republican Senate primary will take place immediately after Memorial Day, with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst hoping to avoid a runoff against Tea Party-backed conservative Ted Cruz. Dewhurst has been hovering around the necessary 50 percent mark in some surveys, so he has moved in for the kill by trying to associate Cruz with amnesty for illegal immigrants and calling Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert a liberal. Cruz has fired back that Dewhurst is trafficking in bigotry. From my view, Dewhurst’s ad is misleading and Cruz’ charge is a risky one in a GOP primary.
3. Barack Obama’s weak showing in last week’s Democratic primaries in Arkansas and Kentucky, following similar problems in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama, North Carolina, and Louisiana, raises red flags for the incumbent president. Of these states, only North Carolina will actually be in play this fall. But it does speak to Obama’s problems appealing to a kind of voter that will be well represented in genuine swing states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. Sean Trende covered this well in an analysis for RealClearPolitics.
4. On ABC this morning, George Will asked a pertinent question: Why would it be divisive for the Supreme Court to overturn Obamacare by a 5-4 decision, but not divisive for the court to uphold the unpopular law by 5-4?
5. All week long, Obama faced surprising Democratic backlash against his attacks on Mitt Romney’s Bain record. Cory Booker and Harold Ford have frequently tried to appeal to centrists, but Ed Rendell is a pretty partisan figure.
6. A worthwhile statement from Rep. Jeff Miller, the Florida Republican who chairs the House Veterans Committee, about this weekend: “This Monday, as a nation, we will observe Memorial Day. Memorial Day is not just for barbeques, shopping, or having the day off from work. It is the day of the year all Americans should remember and reflect upon those who have fought for our country and who now lay in peace.”
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More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/05/27/weekend-political-wrap-up-memo
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Albert Constantine Jr.| 5.27.12 @ 2:15PM
"Cory Booker and Harold Ford have frequently tried to appeal to centrists, but Ed Rendell is a pretty partisan figure."
Please allow me to insert a word or two about Fast Eddie Rendell. While no doubt my Pennsylvania neighbors to my northwest will have many things to say about having endured his reign, he does from time to time sound more statesmanlike than other Northeast Democrats. While I realize his record of partisanship is well established, in 2000, while chairman of the Democrat National Committee, he did call on the forces of Gore to give it up during their Florida recall tantrum. In addition, unlike so many Democrats and their fellow travelers on the left, he does not worship at the altar of Mumia Abu Jamal, in large part because he was DA when the former Mr. Cook killed Patrolman Danny Faulkner.
I recognize that these brief interludes into reasonableness do not expiate his many sins against the city, the Commonwealth and the Republic, but I felt that they should not go unremarked upon in the forum.
W. James Antle III | 5.27.12 @ 5:11PM
Thanks Albert, you raise a very fair point.
Clint| 5.27.12 @ 5:26PM
" It’s the spring of 2005, and then-Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell is at Boston’s Fleet Center, courtside with then-Massachusetts Gov. Romney. The Celtics are playing the 76ers, and Rendell is wearing a New England Patriots jersey, his punishment for losing a Superbowl bet with Romney a few months earlier. (The Pats, as you surely remember, had edged the Philadelphia Eagles 24 to 21, after holding off a fourth-quarter Donovan McNabb rally.)
And then a reporter wanders by, and starts chatting up the governors. Romney joshes the reporter in his hokey way, and then Rendell pipes up with words he surely regrets. As reporter Sridhar Pappu later recounted:
Slouched in his seat, the husky, balding Democrat said, “This will be the kiss of death, but if I had to choose the next Republican President, if there’s going to be one it would be Governor Romney.”
Boom. As he spoke the words, the Celtics were down more than 20 points, and Rendell may have just been showing some neighborly charity. But in that same moment, Romney scored big, because those words don’t run. You can just see them in an ad, now. Hello Pennsylvania. This is Mitt Romney, the one Republican choice of Ed Rendell."
Aaaaand,
" Rush Limbaugh: Romney Is Not A Conservative
The reason is simple: Romney is not a conservative. He's not, folks. You can argue with me all day long on that, but he isn't."
Romney Is McCain Redux.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 5.27.12 @ 8:47PM
As I was writing my remarks, I was picturing the scene in Animal House where the girls from Emily Dickinson College (former dorm mates/ sorority sisters of the late Fawn Liebowitz) were walking back from the Dexter Lake Club. Mr. Antle’s article was equivalent to “They reminded me of criminals”. My remarks regarding Fast Eddie were akin to Shelly (Fawn’s roommate and Otter’s date) saying, “I don’t know. Frank seemed kind of nice”.
Bob K. and Clint, as Pennsylvania residents who were forced to endure Mr. Rendell (without the able musical accompaniment of Otis Day and the Nights, no less), thank you for supplying the collective “EEEEWWWWWW!!!”.
Clint| 5.27.12 @ 9:55PM
Albert,
Think Of It As This News Wag Put It, " Fast Eddie, the human hairy cannonball city pool opener, hoagie eatin' machine & "expert" pseudo-pundit."
Albert Constantine Jr.| 5.27.12 @ 10:36PM
While I expected:
"Do you min' if we dance wif yo' dates",
I got your visual instead, to which I can only reply:
"EEEEWWWWWWW!!!!".
Clint| 5.28.12 @ 9:58AM
Romney, " Eddie, honey? Is it supposed to be this soft?"
Eeeeeeeewwwwww !
Bob K.| 5.27.12 @ 8:23PM
I've lived here under his 2 terms and believe me, the old saw about him never seeing a tax he didn't like is true!
My take, Mr. Antle, is "if you can't say anything bad about him, don't say anything at all!"
RJ| 5.27.12 @ 3:11PM
In 2008, Obama won based on an image that was false. In 2012, he will lose due to his failed record. I hope Ted Cruz wins the Republican primary for Senate. He would make an outstanding U.S. Senator.
Jack in Wi.| 5.27.12 @ 6:32PM
Thats good sraight reporting Jim. Lets see if the rest of the guys can do the same thing.
sweeterjan| 5.28.12 @ 2:47AM
Slouched in his seat, the husky, balding http://www.ceinturesfr.com/cei.....-c-21.html Democrat said, “This will be the kiss of death, but if I had to choose the next Republican President, if there’s going to be one it would be Governor Romney.”
Clint| 5.28.12 @ 10:01AM
Mittens Romney," sweeterjan, honey? Is it supposed to be this soft?"
Eric Dondero | 5.28.12 @ 10:14AM
And let us all remember on this Memorial Day that are enemies are not just leftists, but also infiltrators from the left, otherwise known as Ron Paulists, who want to destroy America, and denigrate the brave fighting men of America's Armed Forces.
Just today, Justin Raimondo at AntiWar.com (a site that is a favorite of James Antle), is headlining a column, "Abolish Memorial Day."
True libertarians oppose Islamo-Fascism. True libertarians want to fight back against those who want to force Sharia Law on the United States. True libertarians do not wave the white flag in face of our Islamist enemies, like the Paulists wish to do.
Fight back against the leftist infiltrators among libertarian/conservatives. They travel under the banner of "Ron Paul Revolution." Don't let them mis-represent the views of the Right.
Eric Dondero, USN hon. 1981-85
Publisher, LibertarianRepublican.net
Occam's Tool| 5.28.12 @ 12:47PM
My father in law, who is still with us, served in WWII and Korea. Bless him for his service, and for his many other attributes.
My Grandfather, who was a doughboy in WWI, Bless him for his service.
Mr. Dondero, keep putting the stick in the eye of the worthless Paulbots. They truly are scum.
Clint| 5.28.12 @ 4:14PM
The Israel Firster Smear Bund Neo-Chickenhawk Captain Of The Bibi Towel Boys Wants To Give Us Their McCain Redux Israel Firster Candidate.
Another Plastic Phoney RINO-CINO Israel Firster Sell Out.
We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.
These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
aware| 5.29.12 @ 6:20AM
Amazing reaching for someone to justify your murderous inclinations, Dr. Prison/ Industrial Complex. Luckily for you, it was always "somebody else".
All you have to do is flag wave and "bless". Not much danger in that is there? Ever read Mark Twain's War Prayer?
Clint| 5.28.12 @ 4:08PM
Uh Oh !
The Israel Firster Smear Bund Bibi Towel Boy, Eric Dondero-Rittberg Is In The Building.
" Dr. Ron Paul served in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon for several years (1963-1965). While in the air force, Paul reached the rank of Captain. Directly after his service in the air force, Paul worked again as a flight surgeon for the United States Air National Guard (1965-1968).
" Paul served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, spending time on the ground in countries like Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, and Turkey. He also sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs."
Compared To The Israel Firsters' Ruling Elites' RINO-CINO Fop Chickenhawk, Mittens Romney.
" The New Hampshire Gazette
The Chickenhawk Hall Of Shame
name:
Willard Mitt Romney
rank:
Chickenhawk First Class with Distinguished Fleeing Cross
date-of-birth:
March 12, 1947
home state:
Michigan
missed opportunity:
Vietnam War
excuse:
None to speak of
preferred activity:
Trying to talk people into becoming Mormons
occupation:
Climbing ambition's greased pole
When your daddy's a Governor and a Cabinet Secretary, it's amazing how your odds of being drafted diminish."
aware| 5.29.12 @ 6:14AM
Mr. Dondero, your love affair with the State prohibits you from ever being a "libertarian". It is you, sir, that is an infiltrator. In fact, you are a neo con braying for endless war.
Now the State has it's "kill switch" for the internet, can spy on the American public without cause or warrant, can kill at will any citizen deemed an "enemy" by the Executive, and can "detain" its own people indefinitely without formal charge or court hearing, I just ask you: what else is needed to make us "safe" from your hobgoblin? A few million dead?
I suspect you are a paid plant of the Garrison State and its interests. While I am not a libertarian, and sure as hell am no Republican, I do know the loss of liberty is the biggest threat we face and it ain't towel heads who don't even know what toilet paper is that is destroying it.
As far as fascism goes, you don't seem to have any objections to the entrenched version currently imposed here. In true Republican fashion, you ultimately love crony corruption and only get upset when you and your cabal are not directing it.
Eric Dondero | 5.29.12 @ 10:20AM
And your love affair for Al Qaeda and Sharia Law?
Do you have a pretty wife/girlfriend? Take a moment and look at her, will ya? Do you wish to see her covered in an ugly black burka from head to toe?
You're either with the Islamists or your against them. Try as you might, you Ron Paulists cannot evade the Sharia issue. We pro-defense libertarians will never let you live down the inherent hypocrisy of your views. You say you're pro-Liberty, but you side with the burka-enforcing, bearded ones.
Casey Abell| 5.29.12 @ 11:33AM
"Cruz has fired back that Dewhurst is trafficking in bigotry. From my view, Dewhurst's ad is misleading and Cruz' charge is a risky one in a GOP primary."
Why in the world is Cruz playing the ethnicity card in a GOP primary? It's beyond "risky," it's downright dumb. If there's anything GOP voters don't want to hear, it's an Hispanic politician complaining that other politicians are bigoted against him because he's got a "z" in his name.
http://www.statesman.com/news/.....77639.html
That said, it still looks like a runoff, though Dewhurst has been creeping close to the magic 50% in some polls. It's tough to win half the vote in a four-man field. But if Cruz does get his one-on-one shot at Dewhurst, I would definitely advise him to shelve the bigotry claims. Republican voters do not want to hear that stuff.