But it's not obstructionism

This to me is the big problem. What we do, what our Government does should be about America and Americans.

The actions or lack of and their consequences today and long term.

'In a sign of just how bad congressional dysfunction has gotten, Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked the advancement of a transportation bill, a piece of legislation that traditionally has enjoyed broad bipartisan support'.

'The vote was 52-44, short of the 60 needed to take up the bill'.

'Transportation bills have traditionally been among the most popular pieces of legislation, often passing with strong bipartisan support'.

'This year's efforts have been seen by supporters as jobs legislation critical to boosting the nation's still-sluggish economy by saving or creating up to 3 million jobs. It includes a provision eagerly sought by Los Angeles officials to speed expansion of the region's public transit system and would fund politically popular traffic-easing projects'.

'But detractors, particularly conservatives, are resisting its costs at a time when lawmakers are focused on deficit reduction. Even though the legislation is a priority for Boehner, Republicans have been forced to rewrite their bill after a rebellion within their ranks over a variety of issues, including its five-year $260 billion price tag'.
From : http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/03/06/140974/senate-republicans-block-advancement.html

This is jobs and infrastructure. If people don't have jobs, they don't spend money (thus creating more jobs) nor pay taxes (creating larger budget deficets).

If we don't maintain our roads, it will cost more in the future to repair.

And DON'T even start on the 'oh it raises our debt' until YOU show me where private industry is going to build roads. And show me how much it will cost us to drive on those 'private' roads.

Our fathers and mothers built this Country and did so via higher taxes KNOWING what they were building would be great!

And WE complain that now it costs us.

Don't want to add to the debt?

Then you want America to fall apart.

So-So Tuesday

Nope. No knock out punch.

N. Dakota Caucus
Santorum - 39.7% - 11 delegates
Romney - 23.7% - 7 delegates
Gingrich - 8.5%
This should have been a good shot for Paul. He ended up 11% behind Rick. I'm including Newt as for the next month, the Sounth is very prominant.

Georgia Primary
Gingrich - 47% - 46 delegates
Romney - 25% - 13 delegates
Santorum - 19% - 2 delegates
No surprise and no doubt a good money maker for Newt.

Virginia Primary
Romney - 59% - 43 delegates
This makes Newt's 46 delegaters in Georgia a wash. Shoulda had a disciplined enough campaign to be on the ballot Newt and although not as damaging Rick too.

Vermont Primary
Romney - 39% - 9 delegates
Santorum 23% - 4 delegates
Gingrich - 8% - 0 delegates

Ohio Primary
Romney - 38% - 35 delegates
Santorum - 37% - 21 delegates
Rick had lost even the posibility of 18 delegates via signature collection so combine that with a 1% Mitt 'win' and this was the punch that didn't land for Mitt. Add to that, women really moved to Romney. You have to ask did they vote FOR Romeny, or AGAINST Santorum?

Tennessee Primary
Santorum - 37% - 25 delegates
Romney - 28% - 10 delegates
Gingrich - 24% - 8 delegates
This is the start of Mitt's Southern 'problem'.

Oklahoma Primary
Santorum - 33% - 14 delegates
Romney - 28% - 13 delegates
Gingrich - 27% - 13 delegates
More of Mitt's 'Southern' problem. Thatbeing that someone else is still running. Newt is taking away from Rick in the South but with Georgia, Tennessee and Oklahoma, Newt is still competing re:the Convention.

Massachusetts Primary
Romney - 72% - 38 delegates
No surprise as this is actually Mitt's 'home' State, not Michigan.

Alaska Caucus
Romney - 32% - 8 delegates
Santorum - 29% - 7 delegates
Gingrich (despite Palin) 14% - 3 delegates

Idaho Caucus
Romney - 61% - 32 delegates
Santorum - 18% - 0 delegates
Gingrich - 2% - 0 delegates

So......
Mitt 208 delegates
Rick 84 delegates
Newt 70 delegates
From : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/super-tuesday-2012-results_n_1324709.html?ref=politics

Of course the actual delegate count is more let's say 'special' then this but at just 1/2 the delegates up for grabs, not a knock out punch.

Now I need to throw in, no one else really has a chance at getting the nomination but Romney. He basicly has it wrapped up.

What's happening now is the slow and very ugly hacking apart of what was once, to me, a very Grand Old Party in the mold of Eisenhower.

The seperation, ideological, between Rick, Newt and Mitt is huge.

And add to that the 'excitement' factor and Romeny and the other Republican candidates are shaping a Romney winning the battle (nomination) and really losing the war (election) badly.

Policy should not have been replaced with ideology.

And the running total :
Romney - 386 delegates
Santorum - 159 delegates
Gingrich - 120 delegates
Paul - 73 delegates
Needed to win - 1144
From : http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P12/R-HS.phtml

Ohio + Tennessee = I guess it's Romney

Newt will have one big win tonight - Georgia and one even bigger loss - Virginia where he failed to even qualify to get on the ballot.
HAD he been on the ballot, it would add weight to the 'any body but Mitt'.

Ron Paul may actually win and even TWO States tonight. Alaska and N. Dakota.

Santorum will win Oklahoma. Tennessee is now a toss up. If and that isn't looking too promising but still IF Santorum wins Tennesse AND the popular vote (he won't win the delegates) then it keeps this race going. It would clearly show Romney simply can't deliver the knock out punch.

Romney. Big wins in Vermont, Virginia, Massachusetts and a win in Idaho. Possible Tennessee, possible Ohio (defenately will get the Ohio delegates).

So.....
Ron Paul 2 States - Alaska, N. Dakota
Newt 1 State - Georgia
Rick 3 States - Tenneesse, Oklahoma, Ohio (popular vote only)
Romney 4 States - Massachusetts, Vermont, Virginia, Idaho (and the Ohio delegates.)

But then comes the rest of the month for Mitt -
3/10 - Kansas, US Virgin Isl, Guam
3/13 - Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi
3/17 - Missouri
3/18 - Puerto Rico
3/20 - Illinois
3/24 - Louisiana

A lot of Southern and Mid Western States that so far haven't been kind to Mitt.
From : http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-republican-primary-schedule/

Some interesting notes :
-In Tennessee only 33% of GOP primary voters think Barack Obama was born in the United States, while 45% do not.
-In Georgia 40% of Republican primary voters think Obama was born in the United States, while 38% do not.
-In Ohio 42% of Republican primary voters think Obama was born in the United States, while 37% do not.
From : http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/03/limbaugh-and-birthers.html
Hence the double face palm. (GRINS!)

If You’ve Had Pre-Marital Sex, You Can’t Be A Republican

'Before you can join the Laurens County Republican Party in South Carolina and get on the primary ballot, they ask that you pledge that you’ve never ever had pre-marital sex — and that you will never ever look at porn again'.

'Last Tuesday, the LCGOP unanimously adopted a resolution that would ask all candidates who want to get on the primary ballot to sign a pledge with 28 principles, because the party “does not want to associate with candidates who do not act and speak in a manner that is consistent with the SC Republican Party Platform.”

And some of those 'manners'? -

You must favor, and live up to, abstinence before marriage.

You must be faithful to your spouse. Your spouse cannot be a person of the same gender, and you are not allowed to favor any government action that would allow for civil unions of people of the same sex.

You cannot now, from the moment you sign this pledge, look at pornography.
From : http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/sc_county_gop_if_youve_had_pre-marital_sex_you_can.php

First Lady Barbara Bush vs. possible First Lady Ann Romney

First Lady Barbara Bush -

 “I think the rest of the world is looking at us these days and saying, ‘What are you doing?’” she said'.
From : http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/park-cities/headlines/20120305-barbara-bush-bashes-2012-presidential-hopefuls-in-first-ladies-conference-at-smu.ece

Ann Romney -

"We can be poor in spirit, and I don't even consider myself wealthy, which is an interesting thing. It can be here today and gone tomorrow."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR4aXOth9hQ

'The Romneys made $20.9 million last year and are estimated to be worth $250 million'.
From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/03/05/extra_bonus_quote_of_the_day.html

Another 'Fight' for the 'Right'

I've only sorta been following this. I like some and I repeat just some of the op-eds that come from some of the writers from The Cato Institute.

I DON'T like it when they or anyone begins to misinform or disinform. ANd to me that is the bulk of what comes out of Cato.

But I spotted this : 'There’s every indication that they (and their proxies on the board) think Cato would be more useful if it were integrated more tightly into the Koch portfolio of advocacy groups—Americans for Prosperity, etc.—for which it could serve as a source of intellectual ammunition in the ongoing struggle to defeat Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. Indeed, they’ve said as much, more or less verbatim, to the chair of Cato’s board. I don’t think it’s the end of democracy if people want to throw money at that cause, but I doubt Cato’s the right place to do it, and I know it’s not what I signed up for'.
From : http://www.juliansanchez.com/2012/03/05/cato-and-the-kochs-a-presignation-letter/

That's from Julian Sanchez. You have to admire someone sticking to principle over politics.

And it's a very good example of why we as a Nation are slowly failing. We can't actually discuss compromising policies because of our uncompromising  politics.

Limping with the Limbaugh advertisers

Think Progress has a run down on who is still advertising on Limbaugh.
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/05/437601/list-advertisers-sticking-with-rush-limbaugh/

Lear Capital(Gold Coin Pro) and LifeLock.

Clear Channel will not drop Limbaugh nor do the devoted listeners really care if sponsors come or go. They will keep listening.

This may well turn into a somewhat strange 'boycott' of 'If you sponsor, we will boycott'. (Sorry. It's baseball season so what can I say.)

I do have some mixed feelings about this : Pittsfield Mass. Radio Station Drops Rush Limbaugh After Contraception Controversy
From : http://nepr.net/news/pittsfield-mass-radio-station-drops-rush-limbaugh-after-contraception-controversy

I am a very firm advocate and believer in the freedom of speech. Even when I don't like the speech.
Limbaugh needs to be heard and has a very large audience. He also needs to be challenged and on the same level.

We NEED this debate in America. It can't be degraded into 'right' of 'left' but NEEDS to be debated for the moral and ethical standards we as individuals and we as a Nation need to stand for and advocate.

And if common decenecy isn't a standard of ethics or morals, then we are all in trouble.

Breaking News

Former Governor Mitt Romney has announced that his campaign will be hiring someone to 'feel our pain' since he doesn't.

"They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh."

George Will :

"Mr. Boehner comes out and says, Rush's language was inappropriate. Using a salad fork for your entree, that's inappropriate. Not this stuff... And it was depressing, because what it indicates is that the Republican leaders are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh."
From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/03/04/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html

And still losing more advertisers :
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LIMBAUGH_ADVERTISERS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

What Republicans need to start asking themselves is OK Rush lost a few advertisers. So he'll get others. But what about rank and file Conservatives that frankly find this offensive.

What about moderate Conservatives that find it offensive.

What about Independents that find it offensive.

What about most women who find it offensive.

What about most men who find it offensive.

This is an election year.

Can or will you as politicians speak for yourselves?

Or will you let Rush speak for you?

The BREITBARTOCALYPSE!

It is a 'truism' that in hard times, people turn Conservative. It is becoming a 'truism' that people are smart enough (or are getting tired of the rhetoric) to want actual policies over blaming.

Ummmm. We've figured out, well most of us, that blaming, true or false, doesn't put food on the table, pay the mortage or provide ANY actual living benefits.

But to go back for the 1000th time to Saul Alinsky?

Really.
'Charles Johnson'
'Wingnuts • Sun Mar 4, 2012 at 8:44 pm PST'

'Before his death, Andrew Breitbart had been promising a true BOMBSHELL revelation about Barack Obama, a STUNNER that would finally put an end to Obama’s reign of terror. Some whispered darkly that this may have been the reason for Breitbart’s sudden mysterious collapse'.

'Tonight, Breitbart’s fearless heirs have unleashed the BREITBARTOCALYPSE! And Barack Hussein Obama can only cower in terror'.

'The earth-shattering scoop that will blow this baby wide open can now be revealed: 14 years ago Obama attended a play in Chicago'.

'Yes! A play'!

'The subject of this nefarious play: the dreaded Saul Alinsky'.

'It’s over, Barack. You should just resign right now like Sarah Palin; you’ll never recover from this blow. It was fun while it lasted'.
From : http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/40015_Everything_Is_Different_Now_-_the_Breitbartocalypse_Is_Upon_Us

Spokane County no longer 'Paul Country'?

As a 'Liberal' in the land of Conservatives, I very often just like being on the outside looking in.

Spokane is and always has been a very Conservative town and County. Over the last several years, this has been 'Ron Paul Country'.

But now this :

Spokane
Gingrich - 411 - 8%
Paul - 1,340 -26%
Romney - 1,521 -30%
Santorum - 1,511 - 30%

The total for the State :
Total
Gingrich -  5,221 - 10%
Paul - 12,594 - 25%
ROmney - 19,111 - 38%
Santorum - 12,089 -24%
From : http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2012/by_county/WA_President_0303.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS

Washington State, this caucus, is just a 'beauty contest' with no delegates awarded.

Will that matter and especially in Ohio on Tuesday?

'Social' Justice for Limbaugh - Boycott Hate

And great to see people actually caring enough to get involved.

Five companies have already pulled their sponsorship from Limbaugh's show:


“Due to continued inflammatory comments– along w/valuable feedback from clients & team members– QL has suspended ads on Rush Limbaugh program
Kelly@ Quicken Loans

"Recent comments by Rush Limbaugh do not align w/our values, so we made decision to immediately suspend all advertising on that program".
SleepNumberSara

“Thanks to all of you for your concern and input. We are currently pulling all ads with Rush Limbaugh"
theSleepTrain
“@moughthere As of today, LegalZoom has suspended all advertising on the Rush Limbaugh show"

"We have listened to our customers & have decided to cease our advertising on The Rush Limbaugh Show immediately". facebook.com/Citrix
From : http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/02/436852/rush-limbaugh-advertisers/

Sign the petition :
http://thinkprogress.org/stand-with-sandra-fluke-b/

Over reacting on Rush?

Or too long in coming?

16 videos that show Rush's 'true character'.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/02/rush-limbaugh-controversial-statements_n_1316417.html?ref=politics&ir=Politics#s748136&title=Rush_Limbaugh_mocks

Another 'your vote doesn't really matter but we know it makes you feel good so Get Out And Vote!'

'ABC News’ Michael Falcone reports':

'UPDATED: COLUMBUS, Ohio — Even if Rick Santorum wins Ohio on Super Tuesday, he won’t be able to claim all of its delegates. In fact, he is at risk of forfeiting more than one-quarter of them'.

'In three of the state’s 16 congressional districts, including two that are near Ohio’s border with Pennsylvania, Santorum will lose any delegates he might have won because his campaign failed to meet the state’s eligibility requirements months ago'.

'But it gets worse: Nine more Ohio delegates may also be in jeopardy'.

'Sources say that in six other congressional districts — the third, fourth, eighth, tenth, twelfth and sixteenth — Santorum submitted fewer names than required to be eligible for all three delegates up-for-grabs in each district'.

'Chris Maloney, a spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party, said the leftover delegates will be considered “unbound” and the campaigns will be able to file a petition with the state party to claim them. Once such a petition is filed, Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine is required to impanel a “committee on contests” composed of three members of the Ohio GOP’s central committee to sort out the delegate awards'.
From : http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/rick-santorums-ohio-delegate-problems-pile-up/

Oh look Ohio. 1 person will appoint a 'central committee' to 'decide' who gets the delegates.

I LOVE Democracy! Don't you?

The 'Voice' of Conservatives?

¦Rick Santorum: called Limbaugh “absurd” because he’s an “entertainer”

¦Brave Mitt Romney: walked right by a reporter who asked for comment — Mitt was probably busy formulating his simultaneous approval / condemnation of Limbaugh’s remarks. Later said “it’s not language I would have used.“

¦Brave John Boehner: called Limbaugh’s remarks “inappropriate”

And then..............

¦Sen. Scott Brown: called Limbaugh’s remarks ‘reprehensible’ and demanded Rushbo apologize to Ms. Fluke.
From : http://underthemountainbunker.com/2012/03/02/a-dittohead-comments-on-the-petition-to-support-sandra-fluke/

1 out of 4 Republicans 'gets it'.

This ISN'T a political issue. This is a HUMAN DECENCY issue.

Romney - "I like to fire people'

But not Rush?

'Clear Channel Communications is owned by Bain Capital'.
From : http://nationalmemo.com/article/would-mitt-fire-bain-employee-rush-limbaugh

The Weekly 2012 - Super Tuesday

Washington State has a Caucus on Saturday and Romney is in a comfortable lead.

Georgia - 76 delegates - Proportional
Gingrich is leading.
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/213515-ohio-is-next-battlefield-for-the-gop

Massachusetts - 41 delegates - Proportional
Romney and big.

Ohio - 66 delegates- Winer Take All
Santorum up slightly in Ohio. He's trying to get away from the "God is good, God is great, all the rest are second rate' message. If he can, big win here.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/ohio/release-detail?ReleaseID=1714

Oklahoma - 43 delegates - Winner Take All
Another big lead for Santorum.
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/213515-ohio-is-next-battlefield-for-the-gop

Tennessee - 58 delegates - With majority, Winner Take All
Santorum up and up big.
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/213515-ohio-is-next-battlefield-for-the-gop

Vermont - 17 delegates - With majority, Winner Takes All
Romney but not big.

Virginia - 49 delegates - With Majority, Winner Takes All
Romney holds big lead. Bet Santorum wishes he'd gotten on the ballot now. (Newt's failure not to do so wouldn't have made much of a difference.)
http://roanoke.edu/News_and_Events/Campus_News/RC_Poll_March_2011_Republican_primary.htm

Alaska - 27 delegates - Caucus
Paul.

Idaho - 32 delegates - Caucus
Likely Paul but a large Mormon population too.

N.Dakota - 28 - Caucus
Paul and Santorum?

Washington - Romney
Georgia - Gingrich
Massachusetts - Romney
Ohio - Split
Oklahoma - Santorum
Tennessee - Santorum
Vermont - Romney
Virginia - Romney
Alaska - Paul
Idaho - Romney
N. Dakota - Paul

We are looking at a possible at, around or even less the 200 delegates for Romney on (cough) Super Tuesday.

Only 'winning' Michigan by 3 points and Santorum NOT getting on Virginia's ballot are two big loses for both campaigns.

But worse, Super Tuesday will allow Santorum to get back ON message (and off of the piety stuff) and doesn't give Romney the knock out punch with all of the splits and delegate sharing. If Santorum wins in Ohio, it just adds to the same doubt as the 3 point Romeny 'win' in Michigan.

The 'Voice' of Modern Day Conservatives?

LIMBAUGH: 'So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex. We want something for it. We want you post the videos online so we can all watch'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wskH45vKWdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RCPU0Qsv9wM

''“I used to be a conservative.'
Jeb Bush
http://foolocracy.com/2012/02/jeb-bush-i-used-to-be-a-conservative/

Why Romney lost in Michigan - Blame the Democrats

Will he lose Michigan? We'll know in 24 hours but with Santorum running ads hitting the 'workers' hot button and calling on Democrats to vote for Santorum, Romney may well lose.

And a defeat here, even a close one, will make a much, much bigger splash then Romneys big victory in Arizona.

So what does Romney do?

Well he could stop talking -
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_02/mitt_keeps_digging_in_michigan035674.php

Describing an event he was at that occured before he was born is kinda weird.........

Maybe that's why he doesn't excite his base.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/02/28/romney_quickly_losing_conservative_vote.html

Or more accurately he doesn't have a base to excite. 

But instead he'll blame the Democrats.

Michigan is an 'open primary' State so anyone can vote for any candidate.

And if I lived in Michigan, I'd vote for Santorum. Why?

Something HAS to wake up the Republican party. The party of Eisenhower and Reagan.

So if the Republicans won't wake up, discipline themselves, maybe the Democrats should step up and do it for them.

It's not just the Republicans losing the Presidential election, it's America losing what should be the real and intelligent debate between two differing opinions as to the economy and the  direction of our Nation.

And instead, we're getting ideological crap from the fringe of the Republican party. A fringe that with each passing day, is gaining credibility because no one in the Republican party will (or can) stop it and redirect the energy of the Republican party back to the real issues of ALL Americans - the economy.

Not going to college.

Not contraception.

Not seperation of church and State.

Not name calling.

But - 'It's the economy stupid'.

So why is this happening? How could a moderate Conservative like Romney lose to a biblicial Constitutionalists like Santorum?

Go back to 1970 -
http://gawker.com/5814150/roger-ailes-secret-nixon+era-blueprint-for-fox-news

Roger ailes proposes a National news network for the GOP to Nixon.

In 1996, Roger Ailes launches Fox.

To boost ratings (for profit) Fox attaches and promotes a small political movement called the Tea party beginning in 2009.
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2011/12/21/the-fox-in-the-tea-party/

From the beginning, Fox was the 'dog wagging the the Tea party tail'.

Fox gave the Tea party 'credibility' even thosugh there was very little credibility.

The Tea party took the lead in the 2010 Midterm elections and Republicans soared. Then it fell flat on it's face.

Good rhetoric does not equal good policy.

But the toothpaste was already out of the tube.

Fox is now toning down it's rhetoric but the tea party which proved to be a failure, has been taken over by the fringe religious right that has waited oh so long for this opportunity.

And that's why Romney lost in Michigan (maybe).

The Republican party embraced the popularity of the Tea party (profit for Fox) over the practicality of policies giving credibility to now fringe religious right.

But blame the Democrats.

So while Romney lost in Michigan (maybe), Americans are the real losers.

We've lost the needed debate about the economy for our future to the need to go back to our religious foundings.

The new Republican party song :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8

A Rick-A-Day keeps the intelliegence at bay

"We went into a recession in 2008 because of gasoline prices," Santorum told a packed hotel ballroom of supporters. "The bubble burst in housing because people couldn’t pay their mortgages because of $4 a gallon gasoline," he added.
From : http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/santorum-gas-prices-caused-the-2008-recession

'One Democratic economist points out four problems with Santorum's argument':

1) The NBER business cycle dating commission said the recession began in December of 2007 and he’s talking about prices in summer 2008.

2) Lehman fails in September 2008 and the economy collapses. That leads gasoline prices to plunge precipitously (check out the price series at http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx and click on the 5 year or 4 year graph) according to all analysts at the time because people understand output will be falling, not the other way around.

3) By Santorum’s reasoning, why didn’t the fall in gasoline prices from a record of 4.12 in summer 08 or from 3.75 in September 08 down to 1.61 in December 08 lead to a big recovery? Obviously the economy is driving the gasoline price not the other way around.

4) High gas prices hit consumers, no question, but the average person drives about 10k miles and gets 20 mpg so uses about 500 gallons. If gas prices go up a full $1 per gallon, that’s an extra $500 bucks a person or around $1000 per household. That’s a tough hit but compared to a 14.5 trillion economy, it’s hard to see that causing the recession.