If you're into YouTube, here's a link to an extremely important video by Carly Fiorina, former CEO of H-P and a strong possibility for V-P on McCain's ticket.
The video is about why she supports John McCain and her praise of Hillary Clinton. Very, very good message http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8qq3hrw5fk
The video could serve as a model for all Republican candidates, especially those working hard to get backing from Hillary Supporters. On another blog, I write today about "My Life Among Clintonistas," talking about who those Hillary Supporters are and what they want from candidates. I work closely with Democrats and Independents in the effort called NoBamaMission. I'm one of 15 national leaders.
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There's a diehard Democrat named Mike Pasternak who regularly "comments" on my blogs, always using stale Democrat talking points. My western PA political ally (Stacy), who blogs at (http://smartgilrpolitics.blogspot.com/.) answers Mike, who is a "yeller dog Democrat," one who would vote for a yellow dog before he'd vote Republican.
Mike is a classic PA Democrat, dumb as a doorknob. [The following was sent to congressional candidates and staff members in PA, IL, CA, and elsewhere.]
The information Stacy provides [scroll down] will be useful as you draw-and-quarter your opponents on the energy question. Her reply focuses on Jason Altmire, a human slug, but it applies to Democrats generally on energy.
I continue to work everyday on "NoBama" efforts, and I believe they will pay dividends for our congressional and senatorial candidates. Clinton Democrats (many of them are really "Reagan Democrats") are asking me which Democratic Superdelegates (e.g., Altmire and Murphy) stabbed Hillary in the back, and I'm providing the information.
If you or your staffs want to look for useful information on this subject, you can find it at: http://dncreform.com. It shows which congressional reps and Senators (Kerry, Kennedy, Rockefeller, Bob Casey, others) favored Obama and how much money they got from the Obama Campaign. One way to stay off that kind of "hit" list is to do what Cong. Tim Holden did and NEVER declare.
The list consists mainly of congressmen whose districts (Altmire, Murphy) went heavily for Clinton but whose endorsements Obama. I hope Melissa Hart says, "Jason Altmire stabbed Mrs. Clinton in the back," or, "Jason kicked Sen. Clinton under the bus for his own political advantage." No Hillary Supporter in his or her right mind would vote for Altmire (or Murphy, or Holden, or Sen. Dick Durbin, or Pelosi).
Of course, someone like Tom Manion can use the same charges against Patrick Murphy, who strongly supports Obama even though his district went massively for Hillary Clinton. There is growing understanding among Hillary Supporters that people like Murphy and Altmire have real contempt for most Democrats.
In districts where a delegate/representative endorsed Mrs. Clinton, the congressmen are still vulnerable because they're generally allies of individuals (Pelosi and others) who are perceived as having shafted Sen. Clinton.
Overall, the Democrats remain totally vulnerable on gas prices. Obama's solution (and they will all follow his lead) is to do nothing and let gas prices double, so as to ensure "conservation." Of course, that would wreck the economy and destroy 10 million jobs, so it's not really a good "solution."
The following are Stacy’s comments eviscerating Democrats’ talking points on energy:
Stacy says to Mike [the Democrat], "You are being misleading saying that Melissa Hart and Congress did nothing [in the past on energy]. I continue to do research on this subject and I found out some interesting things.
"12/1/2001-House was controlled by Reps., but Senate was controlled by Dems. House passed Energy plan that included drilling in ANWR as well as funding additional nuclear power. Senate Dems would not let the bill pass.
"2002: Senate again continued to kill a bill that would have drilled in ANWR, nuclear power, and tax incentives for alternative fuel.2003-Rep.controlled both Houses.
The bill AGAIN passed the House, but the Dems led by Senator Schumer killed the bill in a filibuster.I have plenty more examples and could continue to list them, but as far as I can tell Melissa Hart did her job in Congress.
"What has Jason Altmire done in the two years he has been in Congress with both houses being held by Dems?"
Future columns this week will deal with R. Craig Williams against D. Joe Sestak, and R. Marina Kats v. D. Allyson Schwartz. The column below deals with the crucial issue of gas prices and how to present it to PA voters.
Showing posts with label Patrick Murply. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patrick Murply. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tim Holden: PA's Political Mugwump
Most Americans wouldn't know Tim Holden if they tripped over him. He's the congressman from Pennsylvania's 17th district (Dauphin County-Harrisburg and parts of Schuykill, Lebanon, and Perry Counties).
In fact, you might actually trip over him someday because, when confronted with a tough decision, Tim has a habit of assuming the fetal position. That one reason he has a serious challenger: Toni Gihooley, a long-time state cop and victim's advocate.
Tim is a classical political mugwump, a fence-sitter. In Abraham Lincoln's time, they defined a mugwump as someone with his mug on one side of a fence -- and his "wump" on the other. He's seemingly convinced himself that if his voting record is all over the map people in his moderate-leaning district will assume he's a . . . moderate Democrat. In short, a mugwump.
In previous coolumns I've talked about Pennsylvania Superdelegates -- particulary 4th district representative Jason Altmire and 8th district representative Patrick Murphy -- whose districts went solidly for Hillary Clinton. How did they do on reflecting the popular will? Not well. They both supported Barack Obama. (As you'll see in the Republican Herald story below, Altmire has left an air of mystery about where he stands on the candidates.)
What about the fact that the state of Pennsylvania went frr Mrs. Clinton by more than 200,000 votes? That didn't seem to impress Murphy or Altmire, and it didn't influence the aforementioned Tim Holden.
But what candidate did Holden, undeclared month after month, finally declare for? Hey, this is Tim Holden remember, and apparently he's still not made up his mind. Ask him again in a year or so.
Consider the following story that appeared in the June 5 edition of RepublicanHerald.com:
"Sen. Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination Tuesday night, letting uncommitted superdelegates off the hook.
"U.S. Rep. Tim Holden — one of the uncommitted — called the process “flawed, foolish” and “undemocratic” on Wednesday.
“It looks like a decision has been made without the superdelegates having to step in, and that’s what I think should have happened,” Holden, D-17, said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Holden is one of about 140 superdelegates who did not endorse Obama or Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during primary season, according to an Associated Press tally.
In Pennsylvania, Holden is one of two congressmen who endorsed neither Clinton nor Obama. The other congressman, Rep. Jason Altmire, a freshman from outside Pittsburgh, says he won’t formally endorse a presidential candidate but he supports Obama.
"On Wednesday, Holden blasted the involvement of superdelegates — party officials, governors and members of Congress free to support whichever candidate they choose. There are about 800.
“My feeling about this process is it’s flawed, foolish,” Holden said. “We look foolish. For superdelegates to impose their will on voters is undemocratic and I will tell Howard Dean that the next time I see him.”
"Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has been calling for superdelegates to pick a candidate for several months.
"Holden said his support of either candidate — in his role as a superdelegate — is “moot” now."
In fact, you might actually trip over him someday because, when confronted with a tough decision, Tim has a habit of assuming the fetal position. That one reason he has a serious challenger: Toni Gihooley, a long-time state cop and victim's advocate.
Tim is a classical political mugwump, a fence-sitter. In Abraham Lincoln's time, they defined a mugwump as someone with his mug on one side of a fence -- and his "wump" on the other. He's seemingly convinced himself that if his voting record is all over the map people in his moderate-leaning district will assume he's a . . . moderate Democrat. In short, a mugwump.
In previous coolumns I've talked about Pennsylvania Superdelegates -- particulary 4th district representative Jason Altmire and 8th district representative Patrick Murphy -- whose districts went solidly for Hillary Clinton. How did they do on reflecting the popular will? Not well. They both supported Barack Obama. (As you'll see in the Republican Herald story below, Altmire has left an air of mystery about where he stands on the candidates.)
What about the fact that the state of Pennsylvania went frr Mrs. Clinton by more than 200,000 votes? That didn't seem to impress Murphy or Altmire, and it didn't influence the aforementioned Tim Holden.
But what candidate did Holden, undeclared month after month, finally declare for? Hey, this is Tim Holden remember, and apparently he's still not made up his mind. Ask him again in a year or so.
Consider the following story that appeared in the June 5 edition of RepublicanHerald.com:
"Sen. Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination Tuesday night, letting uncommitted superdelegates off the hook.
"U.S. Rep. Tim Holden — one of the uncommitted — called the process “flawed, foolish” and “undemocratic” on Wednesday.
“It looks like a decision has been made without the superdelegates having to step in, and that’s what I think should have happened,” Holden, D-17, said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Holden is one of about 140 superdelegates who did not endorse Obama or Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during primary season, according to an Associated Press tally.
In Pennsylvania, Holden is one of two congressmen who endorsed neither Clinton nor Obama. The other congressman, Rep. Jason Altmire, a freshman from outside Pittsburgh, says he won’t formally endorse a presidential candidate but he supports Obama.
"On Wednesday, Holden blasted the involvement of superdelegates — party officials, governors and members of Congress free to support whichever candidate they choose. There are about 800.
“My feeling about this process is it’s flawed, foolish,” Holden said. “We look foolish. For superdelegates to impose their will on voters is undemocratic and I will tell Howard Dean that the next time I see him.”
"Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has been calling for superdelegates to pick a candidate for several months.
"Holden said his support of either candidate — in his role as a superdelegate — is “moot” now."
I'm sure you've heard of people voting "yea" or "nay" -- or even "present." But I doubt you've ever heard of anyone voting "moot."
How did Sen. Clinton do in Congressman Holden's district? She did lose urban Dauphin County (Harrisburg), with a big Black population. But she won Schuykill [SKOOK-uhl] County by 15,355 to 5,517. She carried Lebanon County by 7,316 to 5,772. And she won Perry County by 2,613 to 1,623.
So why didn't Tim Holden reflect the will of the people -- and come out for Senator Clinton? Or, if he didn't like Hillary, why not back Barack? Or anybody of his choosing?
I fear you already know the answer. Holden knows that when he takes a strong stand -- on any issue -- he might end up offending someone. Better to remain undeclared -- or vote "moot" -- unto eternity.
I believe Hillary Clinton supporters are going to identify not so much the "process" as what's wrong with the system. I believe they going to declare that The Problem lies with people like Tim Holden Howard Dean, Jason Altmire, and Patrick Murphy.
They'll also identify the Jason Altmires of our political system -- a man who "supports" Obama but won't declare that he does so -- as deeply flawed human beings. (Jason Altmire is opposed by Melissa Hart, who -- unlike Holden and Altmire -- has the capacity to make up her mind.)
Pennsylvanians do have a choice. They can re-elect Tim Holden to a 9th term, or they can elect Jason Altmire to a 2d term. The alternative is to vote for two people -- Toni Gilhooley and Melissa Hart -- who've never been mistaken for mumwumps.
In short, we can have the "Three Stooges" -- Murphy, Holden, and Altmire -- for another two years, or we can end a comedy show that's gone on much too long to be funny anymore.
Note: Patrick Murphy's 8th district GOP opponent is Tom Manion at: http://votemanion.com/. If the challengers I've cited are to end Pennsylvania's congressional clown show, they very much need your help. Visit their web sites today -- and often. Thanks.
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