Friday Musical Interlude - Calexico's

Calexico's song Not Even Stevie Nicks, live in 2010.

Flashback 2009 - I want Obama to succeed.

Back in 2009 I predicted President Obama would have to lead from the center-right or else his policies would prove ineffective and he would suffer losses in both big 2010 and 2012.  Looks like I am on track so far. Sweet.

2009-2010: A reminder for 2012.

A video entitled 'Remember November', just to remind you why 2012 is so important.  The video was made for the 2010 midterm elections, but nothing in the video is outdated nor will it be in 2012.

Obama caught in his own crosshairs

Get the bumper sticker.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air writes perhaps the most politically astute paragraph I have read this year.  In particular, while the paragraph positions the debt ceiling fight on good ground for Republicans,  his last sentence is amazingly precise on how to deal with President Obama's personal approval ratings - an item which will be key in 2012.

"Expect to hear more of the argument that Republicans agree with Barack Obama — circa 2006, though, not 2011, on debt ceilings. Crowley notes that the White House now says that Obama regrets the vote, and it’s clear that he does, but for all the wrong reasons. Republicans have a good argument in this case that a vote against a debt-ceiling hike is a mainstream and not extreme position, but that enabling trillions more in deficit spending is not just extreme but also extremely dangerous. For the White House to argue otherwise is to admit that Obama really was the emperor who wore no clothes in 2006, just a year before he claimed to have all the expertise necessary to be President of the United States." 

 It sets up the following alternate explanations of the Obama flip-flop on the debt ceiling, none of which show the President in a positive light.

Obama's speech today is not a coincidence

President Obama is expected address the nation today to address the Middle East, oil and probably try to allay fears about the impacts on gas prices and the anemic economic recovery.  It's not a coincidence that it is timed to the Saudi Arabia 'Day of Rage' protests expected today.  I have to admit that the President is trying to get out in front of something for a change instead of voting Not Present on the Middle East for quite some time (since Iran's attempt at a Green Revolution).  What concerns me now is not the fact that he's finally paying serious attention to important events, but rather what his responses might be. This might be for national security an out-of-the-frying-pan-and-into-the-fire moment.

SOTU III - Same old same old

The mainstream media agrees - the State of the Union speech is one great PR opportunity for any sitting President. Funny, I don't recall that take last year or the year before. Nevertheless, this year's speech offered no bold new Obama vision. It offered more of the same old same old. In fact instead of analyzing the speech, it's probably worth more to compare the year over year similarities to show that the President doesn't have much to offer that you haven't heard before.

Important lessons for conservatives from Obama - Part 1

As a conservative, I’m loath to admit that there are things to learn from President Obama. But he does provide us with a number of examples of what to do and what not to do as a movement. Coming out of  the 2010 midterm election cycle, the lessons are worth noting. Of course a number of people have pointed out the electoral lessons and there is much to be said about how to win elections. Most of it has already been said - repeatedly. But there's value in focusing on how to govern. Thinking we know enough to not make the same mistakes as President Obama, or past Republican Congresses will likely lead to a similar fate for conservatives that the President has suffered in his approval ratings slide. How can conservatism benefit from what Obama has done while governing?

Intra-Party Fights? Not really. Maybe.

Just a quick observation as I'm mired in my day job.  The meme going on throughout the mainstream media is that the GOP is risking tearing itself apart or at least wasting time and energy in intra-party squabbles - Tea Party versus establishment - instead of focusing on governing.  The thought is that Republicans are of two minds and that they are destined for trouble.

Helping Out Patrick Meehan in PA-7

Republican Patrick Meehan is running for Congress in PA-7. He needs your vote and any other help you can provide. If you can volunteer to help, it still might not be too late.

Please spread the word to anyone you know in Pennsylvania!  He's worth your vote. Here's his closing argument.

Here he is proving that he is non-partisan when it comes to stopping corruption.

Helping Out Tim Burns in PA-12

Tim Burns is running for Congress in the congressional district of PA-12. The only poll I could see in October has his opponent ahead by 7, but the sample size seemed a bit small. Tim Burns needs your vote.

In his own words, here's why he's a better choice than Mark Critz.

Don't forget, Mark Critz likes Obamacare.

Helping Out Brian Dubie

Back in September, after an extremely close Democratic primary, Peter Shumlin was running narrowly ahead of Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie in Vermont’s gubernatorial race. This is Vermont. Back then the gap was less than 5 points among likely voters. Like many other Republicans in this cycle, Dubie understands that the economy is the topmost item on voters' minds.

Jobs,



Growth,



Even Democrats see it;



Vote for Dubie.

Jon Stewart Rally? Yawn.

Really, no links, no thoughts, no writing about it, because it is a distraction from stories that merit coverage.

Like this one.

John Stewart rally to fool the youth of America - I've already spent too many words on it.

Helping Out Charles Djou in HI-1

Charles Djou is the Republican Congressman representing HI-1.  This is tough territory for Republicans but Djou has a shot a pulling out a victory over the once heavily-favored Colleen Hanabusa.  Please throw your support behind Djou, and get out there and vote for this;

Because this is a view of the alternative;

Helping Out Roy Blunt

Just because Missouri Republican senate contender Roy Blunt has a decent lead in the polls over Robin Carnahan doesn't mean you can take it easy.  Please be sure you make it out to vote for him if he's on your ballot.

He needs your vote, because this,

is better than this;

Helping Out Charlie Baker

In Massachusetts, Charlie Baker is running for governor.  It's a close race, and he's within striking distance of Democrat Deval Patrick.  That leads me to the following question. Okay Massachusetts, do you really want Deval Patrick as your governor? This guy?

Seriously, this guy??



How about a real change? How about helping out Charlie Baker so he can work for Massachusetts?

Helping Out Chris Dudley

In Oregon the governor's race is neck and neck.  Republican Chris Dudley is neck-and-neck with Democrat John Kitzhaber.  There's plenty of reasons to want Chris Dudley to win.

Jobs.



Spending



and ideas.



Vote for Chris Dudley.

Helping Out John Kasich

The Ohio governor race is pretty tight.  Right now Republican John Kasich holds a 3 point lead over Democrat Ted Strickland.  John Kasich understands what matters to Ohio voters - jobs, jobs, jobs.

He talks about it here;

He also discusses integrity;



And why Ted Strickland is not the man for the job;

Helping Out Tom Emmer

Republican Tom Emmer may be a bit of a dark horse, but the race for Minnestoa governor is very tight in the home stretch. According to Rasmussen,

The race to be Minnesota's next governor remains a close one with Republican Tom Emmer running neck-and-neck with Democrat Mark Dayton, while support for Independence Party candidate Tom Horner appears to be fading.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Dayton still barely ahead, with 44% support to Emmer's 41%. Horner now picks up 10% of the vote.

For Emmers, jobs are priority #1:

And that means better education;



and most importantly, he's no Mark Dayton;

Helping Out Paul LePage

Paul LePage is running for governor of Maine.  He's only 3 points up on Libby Mitchell.  He needs your help and more importantly he needs your vote.  He's a common sense conservative, and Maine could use that.

Want to know more?



His opponent, on the other hand, is a big spender of taxpayer money.

Helping Out Daniel Webster

In the congressional district of FL-8, bellicose and uncouth Democrat Alan Grayson is in danger of losing his seat to Republican contender Daniel Webster, in a close FLorida race. Daniel Webster needs your help defeating Alan Grayson.

You DO remember Alan Grayson, don't you?



Now why have that, when you can have this;



From a candidate who understands the reality of the math;