Conservative Pulse » 2008

Posted on 02.27.08 by Stephen Covington @ 8:23 am

During a recent McCain stop in Cincinnati, pre-show speaker Bill Cunningham, a nationally syndicated talkshow host, repeatedly pointed out that “Hussein” is Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s middle name. McCain later denounced Cunningham’s statements, saying that he wanted to keep the discourse focused on the issues.

“A comment disparaging of Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate. I have never done that in any of my campaigns,” the Arizona senator told reporters after the rally.

“And I absolutely repudiate such comments and, again, I will take responsibility,” he said, describing the two Democrats as “honorable Americans.”

One would think that Cunningham would have learned his lesson. But no…

“He just threw me under the bus to the national media. I’ve had it with McCain,” he said. “I want Hillary Clinton to become the next president of the United States.”

It seems that Cunningham is less hurt by having been “thrown under the bus,” and more stung by the fact that he was taken to task for his childish and irrelevant comments, which too often go overlooked by candidates. McCain himself has had experience with such mistakes, such as his 1998 public comment about Chelsea Clinton, which he quickly found himself apologizing for.

It’s refreshing to see a candidate who, so far at least, has shown a commitment to keeping an issues-focused public debate, and not wandering off onto underhanded detours. Hopefully Bill “Clever Pig” Cunningham will eventually see the light, as well.

The Other March 4th States

Posted on 02.27.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 3:19 am

In case you missed it, there are actually four states voting on March 4th. Texas and Ohio are the major delegate prizes, but voters in Vermont and Rhode Island will also be heading to the polls.

Right now, it’s expected that Barack Obama will cruise to an easy victory in the Vermont primary and Hillary Clinton might score her final victory of the campaign in Rhode Island. But that state is actually growing closer by the day.

For the Republicans, the main question will be if John McCain can secure the official 1,191 delegates he needs to be declared the GOP nominee and force Mike Huckabee from the race. Huckabee is making his stand down in Texas and hopes to do well there.

Meanwhile, there will be Congressional primaries in Texas and Ohio as well. Congressman Ron Paul will be on the ballot twice, both as a candidate for President and defending his seat in the U.S. House. Up in Ohio, Congressman Dennis Kucinich is also facing down several serious challengers in his re-nomination fight.

Filed under: Campaign 2008
Comments: 2 Comments

Ron Paul Pushes Forward, Cash in Hand

Posted on 02.21.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 6:43 pm

Longshot Republican Ron Paul is pushing forward with his Presidential campaign despite earlier indications that he was calling it quits to focus on a tough renomination fight for Congress.

Apparently, at the end of January, the Paul Presidential campaign had about $6 million in cash on hand. That’s more than Huckabee, more than Romney, and even more than presumtive nominee John McCain.

So as long as the money and volunteers are there, Paul vows to keep up the fight: “I will stay in as long as my supporters want me to,” the Texas congressman promised CNN. “And I say as long as the number of volunteers continues to grow, and the money comes in, and there are primaries out there, and they want me to be involved, I am going to stay involved.”

A local conservative city councilman has launched a primary challenge against Congressman Paul. He’s trying to use Paul’s opposition to the Iraq war to highlight that Paul is not in touch with the voters of his Texas district.

It was a similar situation that took Dennis Kucinich out of the Presidential race several weeks ago, as he now tries to win another term in Congress against stiff local opposition. Kucinich’s vote totals haven’t suffered much, making some wonder if anyone even noticed that he pulled out.

Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Ron Paul
Comments: 26 Comments

Michelle Obama: Open Foot, Insert Mouth

Posted on 02.21.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 2:36 pm

Michelle Obama (wife of Barack) said Monday in Madison, Wisconsin that: “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country.”

It’s unfortunate that she can’t be proud of her country unless it’s voting for her husband. That’s really just kind of sad, actually… and not what I would expect from a potential first lady.

Pride in your country shouldn’t be tied to politics. I was proud of America under Bill Clinton and I will be proud of America even if we elect Barak Obama President.

Filed under: Barack Obama and Campaign 2008
Comments: 3 Comments

Meet the McCain Blogette…

Posted on 02.19.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 10:00 pm

Meghan McCain graduated in May of 2007 from Columbia University with a major in Art History. Her previous job experiences include working at “Saturday Night Live” and “Newsweek”.

Now, the 24 year-old daughter of Senator John McCain maintains her own blog along with two of her friends. It’s an entertaining read that gives you a real backstage feeling.

Together they post reports and photos (lots of photos) from the campaign trail. Not idea if Miss McCain is dating anyone at the moment, but she’s a very cute girl and it would be easy to imagine her at the center of a big White House wedding someday. For now, we’ll just have to settle for pictures of cold pizza and campaign signs.

Filed under: Campaign 2008 and John McCain
Comments: None

Is Obama Stealing More Rhetoric?

Posted on 02.19.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 9:48 pm

Oh boy, more videos of Obama supposedly stealing rhetoric from Gov. Deval Patrick have surfaced. The Clinton’s have been banging this drum all day and it’s starting to work.

The Politico lays out the newest set of similarities…

Here is Deval Patrick on June 3, 2006, according to an 11-second YouTube video posted Tuesday afternoon:

“I am not asking anybody to take a chance on ME. I’m asking you to take a chance on your OWN aspirations.”

Here is Barack Obama on Nov. 2 in Manning, S.C., according to an 11-second YouTube video posted nine minutes later:

“I’m not just asking you to take a chance on ME. I’m also asking you to take a chance on your OWN aspirations.”

Does it really matter if Obama is borrowing some lines from others? No. But does it diminish the power of what he’s saying? You bet it does. And that’s what Hillary is banking on.

Filed under: Barack Obama and Campaign 2008 and Hillary Clinton
Comments: 1 Comment

Can Hillary Survive a Wisconsin Loss?

Posted on 02.19.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 9:43 pm

Hillary Clinton’s campaign has decided it has a chance to win in Wisconsin, and they’ve poured resources into the state. It was originally expected she would skip the state and focus on Ohio and Texas. But polls show her within reach in Wisconsin, so they went for it.

Trying to break Obama’s 8 state winning streak will be tough, and if she fails… it will hurt. The media has already started to ask the question. A headline on Drudge right now reads: “Would Wisconsin loss doom Hillary?”

We shall see. But she’s made a dangerous gamble by betting on Wisconsin. A big loss here just might mean something.

Filed under: Barack Obama and Campaign 2008 and Hillary Clinton
Comments: None

H.W. endorses McCain

Posted on 02.18.08 by Stephen Covington @ 7:30 pm

Former President George H.W. Bush, father of current president George W. Bush, has endorsed McCain, saying that he is “a remarkable patriot” and dismissing concerns about his conservative credentials.

Asked about conservative unease with McCain, the 41st president read from the diaries of former President Ronald Reagan, who was also assailed by the Right during his presidency for being “a turncoat.” Bush dismissed conservative criticism of McCain as “an unfair attack,” and said the Arizona senator has “a sound conservative record but not above reaching out to the other side,”

This, along with the earlier announcement of Nancy Reagan’s tacit support, Jeb Bush’s direct endorsement and even an endorsement by McCain’s former competitor, Mitt Romney, sends a strong message that the conservative establishment is rallying around McCain to defeat whoever might emerge as the challenger for the Democrats.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee remains as the only serious challenge to McCain, although so far the rhetoric between the two has been amicable. Huckabee is widely considered to be “running for vice-president” - staying on good terms with McCain, while using the opportunity to show that he can campaign strongly and draw in socially conservative voters.

Filed under: Campaign 2008 and John McCain and Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney
Comments: 7 Comments

Global Warming Forced into Classrooms?

Posted on 02.17.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 3:30 pm

A California lawmaker is pushing a bill to require global warming be included in all science courses throughout the state’s public schools. What business does the state legislature have of deciding what is taught in a science class? Shouldn’t science teachers and local school officials makes these sort of decisions?

A Silicon Valley lawmaker is gaining momentum with a bill that would require “climate change” to be among the science topics that all California public school students are taught.

The measure, by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, also would mandate that future science textbooks approved for California public schools include climate change.

“You can’t have a science curriculum that is relevant and current if it doesn’t deal with the science behind climate change,” Simitian said. “This is a phenomenon of global importance and our kids ought to understand the science behind that phenomenon.”

The state Senate approved the bill, SB 908, Jan. 30 by a 26-13 vote. It heads now to the state Assembly. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken numerous actions to reduce global warming, but he has yet to weigh in on Simitian’s bill. Other Republicans in the Capitol, however, are not happy about the proposal.

Some say the science on global warming isn’t clear, while others worry the bill would inject environmental propaganda into classrooms.

“I find it disturbing that this mandate to teach this theory is not accompanied by a requirement that the discussion be science-based and include a critical analysis of all sides of the subject,” said Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, during the Senate debate.

This seems like an intrusion from a bunch of people who don’t know for sure what they’re talking about, but want to feel like they’re doing something. But if the legislature wants to encourage science education, let them send some more money to school districts to hire new science teachers. Or fund the creation of a new state university that focuses on scientific research.

State legislators have no business writing science curriculum, that’s for certain.

Filed under: Enviroment
Comments: 2 Comments

Clinton Giving Up on Wisconsin

Posted on 02.17.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 3:08 pm

Here’s another sign that the Democratic nomination is slipping through Hillary Clinton’s fingers, she is giving up on Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary…

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton has scaled back her Wisconsin campaign schedule by a full day, and is now planning to leave the state after Monday morning instead of Tuesday morning.

The move suggests the campaign does not think it can overtake rival Barack Obama here. Obama has already campaigned in the state Tuesday night, Wednesday, Friday, and today. He also has single events planned for Sunday (Kaukauna) and Monday (Beloit).

While the two have exchanged hard-hitting TV ads here, Obama began airing ads a week earlier and has spent much more on TV.

Today is Clinton’s first day of campaigning in the state, with an event in Kenosha and a state party dinner in Milwaukee, where Obama also will appear. Clinton will campaign Sunday in De Pere, Wausau and Madison, and is expected to do one event in the state Monday morning before leaving.

While recent public polls suggested Obama began the run-up to the Feb. 19 primary here with only a small lead, the Clinton campaign has wrestled with the tradeoffs of spending time and money here versus the Ohio and Texas primaries March 4, which Clinton cannot afford to lose.

What are the odds she can skip over a dozen primaries, lose them all by big margins, and then come back and when the big states that she’s hand picked later on? Well, that strategy worked really well for Rudy Giuliani so I’m sure Hillary will have just as much luck with it.

Filed under: Barack Obama and Campaign 2008 and Hillary Clinton
Comments: 19 Comments