Redstate

Posted at 9:20am on May 17, 2008 MI Morning Update: MI House Dems Wrong on PBA - McCain, GOP Heavyweights Make Splash at NRA

By saul anuzis

171 Days until Election Day

May 17, 2008

MORNING UPDATE:

WHY TAXPAYERS ARE LOSING…the Democrats' strategy is very simple…if you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can usually count on Paul’s support.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS…ENDORSED BY RTL… The rights of the unborn were blatantly ignored by House Democrats again today as they allowed the heinous and unethical partial birth abortion procedure to continue in Michigan. Speaker Pro-Tem Mike Sak gaveled down and refused to hear arguments on seven amendments to ban partial birth abortion.

Posted in huckabee | McCain | Michigan Republican Party | NRA | Partial-Birth Abortion | Republicans | Romney | Saul Anuzis — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:11pm on Feb. 15, 2008 The Conscience of Conservatism

What role, the venerable National Review magazine in 21st century conservatism?

By Mark Kilmer

In raising the $300,000 necessary to start National Review magazine in the mid-1950's, William F. Buckley promised prospective investors that his new magazine would "recommend policies for the simple reason that we consider them right (rather than 'non-controversial'); and we consider them right because they are based on principles we deem right (rather than on popularity polls)." This was gripping stuff, staring at the Soviets as the Cold War breathed its icy breath across oceans. It was, as Buckley would write in NR's founding statement, standing "athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no other is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it."

We begin publishing, then, with a considerable stock of experience with the irresponsible Right, and a despair of the intransigence of the Liberals, who run this country; and all this in a world dominated by the jubilant single-mindedness of the practicing Communist, with his inside track to History. All this would not appear to augur well for NATIONAL REVIEW. Yet we start with a considerable — and considered — optimism.

Of course, those words were first published on November 19, 1955. 'T was a different world then, and I dare say, a different magazine.

Please Read More…

Posted in Archived | National Review | Reagan | Romney — Comments (34)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:08pm on Jan. 30, 2008 What Next For Romney - Repeating A Suggestion.

By Martin A. Knight

I like cbs' diary on the issue. Not even his most unfair and vituperative critics (or supporters) would find anything to fault him on if he backs out, extends his congratulations to McCain and begins the work of making sure that John McCain gets to the finish line ahead of HillObama in November.

Posted in Archived | peter pace | post-florida maneuvering | Romney | vice president — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:58pm on Jan. 30, 2008 The end of Mitt Romney. Was it that "silly flip-flopping thing"?

By Mark Kilmer

In lamenting the political demise of her guy Mitt, NRO's Kathryn Jean Lopez suggests that the candidate's problem might have been that "silly flip-flopping thing," or that Romney might have taken "too long to rise above it." Oh, I don't know.

For a lot of people, that "silly flip-flopping thing" is the essence of Mitt Romney, what defines him; something which, being that integral to his being, cannot be risen above or escaped.

Posted in 2008 | McCain | Republican | Romney — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:55pm on Jan. 27, 2008 Romney/"X?": An Open Letter To Governor Willard M. Romney

By Martin A. Knight

Good day again, Governor Romney,

Since I wrote you last it would seem as if you've found your sea legs - the cutting down on the negative ads and running to your strengths seems to be working (who'd have thunk it, eh?) That said, that was a very nice win in Michigan, and in retrospect, it would seem that the rather unconventional decision to step it down in South Carolina to go for the gold in Nevada was something of a very clever move. So now you're heading towards Super Tuesday with the highest number of delegates, raw votes and the most cash. Couple all that with apparently very good Florida numbers, you're looking like you very well could win this thing.

Posted in Archived | Romney | ticket | vice-president — Comments (44) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:00am on Jan. 24, 2008 From A Former Thompson State Political Director

By RepublicanRoots

[NOTE TO "RepublicanRoots": You're welcome. If you have something important to say, you write a diary like this. Do not spam this (or any other) message all over our threads again. Last warning. - Martin A. Knight]

Friends and supporters of Senator Thompson;

By now you have been inundated with the news of Senator Thompson’s decision to not pursue the office of the President of the United States. I have received many emails and phone calls asking what the next steps for Senator Thompson are and who is the best candidate to support?

Posted in Archived | Romney | spam | thompson | what next? — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:32am on Jan. 15, 2008 Could Clinton win 80% of the vote without locking in a single delegate? YES!

By RightMichigan.com

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

Today is the day... did you vote yet?  Then what are you sitting around reading a blog for?  Go.  Vote.  Forthwith.  Then come back.  I'll wait...

~twiddling thumbs~

~whistling~

~pacing room~

~looking at wrist pretending there's a watch there~

Back?  Awesome.  You may have been one of the first to vote today but you certainly won't be the last.  Early projections vary but all expect the primary election to draw around 1.5 million people.  That's about a 20% voter turnout when you do the math.  In 2000, the last time the State had a presidential primary we drew about 1.4 million so you can do the math on that one.  Of course back then there was only a GOP contest.  And as a group of lawmakers from metro-Detroit continue to point out in the press and via advertising and a grassroots ground game, there is very much a Democrat contest this year as well.

Posted in Archived | Barack | Fred Thompson | Hillary | John Edwards | John McCai | Michigan | POTUS | Primary | Romney | Ron Paul — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:12am on Jan. 10, 2008 MI Morning Update: McCain, Romney Arrive in Michigan - Richardson Drops Out

By saul anuzis

301 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

Senator John McCain and Governor Mitt Romney were the first to arrive to Michigan yesterday.

Governor Bill Richardson drops out of the Democrat contest for the presidential nomination.

Candidates are on their way to South Carolina for another presidential debate…and then back to Michigan.

Yesterday morning I met with New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner and discussed our proposal for presidential primary reform. Secretary Gardner is open to all the various proposals, with the caveat that NH preserves their first in the nation status. We actually spent several hours talking about various options and the politics of the primary system.

Posted in Bill Gardner | McCain | Michigan Republican Party | Republicans | Richardson | Romney | Saul Anuzis — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:33am on Jan. 6, 2008 MI Morning Update: Romney Wins Wyoming - County, State Convention and State Committee Meeting Schedules

By saul anuzis

305 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

Only two more days until they count the votes in New Hampshire. Then, all eyes will be on the Republican primary in Michigan, just one week later! It’s gonna be one interesting week…

Yesterday, Governor Mitt Romney convincingly won the Wyoming County Conventions as voters in that state selected the nation’s first delegates to the 2008 Republican National Convention. Fred Thompson came in second and Duncan Hunter third.

Posted in Michigan Republican Party | Michigan State Convention | Republicans | Romney | Saul Anuzis | Wyoming — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:56am on Dec. 19, 2007 MI Morning Update: Oakland Co. GOP to Hold 60th Anniversary with Romney - Thoughts and Prayers Go Out to Sue Groth

By saul anuzis

323 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

Oakland County Republicans will be holding their 60th Anniversary on January 14th with Governor Mitt Romney - the day before our presidential primary. All 10 living and past Chairman have committed to attend this historic event. For more info go to:

www.oaklandgop.net .

Sue Groth, Calhoun County Republican Women's President, and the Calhoun County Republicans’ Secretary is very ill. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Posted in Michigan Republican Party | Oakland County | Presidential Primary | Republicans | Romney | Saul Anuzis — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:41pm on Dec. 13, 2007 "A Little Snappier Gentleman"

By Michelle Oddis

Was John McCain there yesterday? I didn’t notice. I think we need another rendition of "Bomb Bomb Bomb – Bomb Bomb Iran." Call someone a "little jerk," start a fight with Cornyn again… I like him better with guns blazing.

And Tom Tancredo what was your problem? Was someone in a bad mood? You took your time taking cheap shots at Romney, what a waste of breath. Knocking the top tier’ers will not help you now... it’s too late. I thought his comments about Romney seemed spiteful and bitter. No political gain for him there so what was the point? As a matter of fact he was so aggressive that the Monotoner (boy was she the worst moderator or what? I take that back shes better than listening to Matthews) cut him off.

Alan Keyes -- What in the world was he going on and on about? His presence cheapened the debate. If I had an office in Iowa would I be able to participate too? If I did... I think I would have come off more coherent then he did. Stop preaching, start talking. I dont want a revival I want a president. Thank God Huckabee doesnt sing when he...

Alan -- the monotoner was ignoring you because your answers had NOTHING to do with the questions...

"EXCUSE ME, DO I HAVE TO RAISE MY HAND?"

"I'M GETTING TO YOU."

"NO, YOU'RE NOT. YOU HAVEN'T IN SEVERAL GO ROUNDS, SO I HAVE TO MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF IT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION."

"YOUR UNFAIRNESS IS NOW BECOMING SO APPARENT THAT THE VOTERS IN IOWA MUST UNDERSTAND THERE'S A REASON FOR IT, AND THE REASON IS WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY."

Well, that was awkward.

“And I would say as president one of my goals would be I cant part the Red Sea, but I believe I would part the red tape."

Hmmm, who said that? It wasn’t Moses...

I thought Huck did well but the biblical references are starting to seem staged – or maybe I am more aware of them now? I knew Huck would make it to the top...He earned it. He participated and fought for it. He said the right things at the right times and he seems to really want it... (cough Fred Thompson cough)

Fred was good, but I don’t know that he won per se... I don’t think anyone "won" really. I wish Fred was there before, I really do. His best answer was on the new NIE on Iran.

"WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. IT ALONG WITH CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR MILITARY WERE NEGLECTED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE NOW. THE FACT IS NOBODY HAS ANY REAL CONFIDENCE IN THE RESULT THAT THEY'RE GETTING. THE RESULT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS DIRECTLY CONTRADICTED BY THEIR STRONG BELIEFS JUST TWO YEARS AGO. SO YOU'VE GOT TO REBUILD FROM THE BOTTOM UP. I THINK THAT IN THE MEAN MEANTIME, WE HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE, THE BRITISH ARE HELPFUL TO US, THE ISRAELIS SOMETIMES ARE HELPFUL TO US."

I really liked his line about Romney getting good at acting.
I like Romney, but sometimes I do worry about that.

Sometimes I think: Mitt -- are you always "on?"

I wanna see Mitt in his pajama’s with his hair messed up. (NOW STOP IT THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEAN! GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER) I mean I need him to not be in a perfectly tailored suit with his hair all coifed. Go dig in the dirt or take pictures of you hunting or pumping your own gas or SOMETHING. I see a suit, and that’s all. That worries me occasionally.

Most of all, my favorite thing about this debate -- It means something now. It’s no longer a glorified press conference. I popped pop corn and sat at my desk analyzing Iowa on my 2006 election results map while I chuckled and boo’ed. This is when it starts to get fun.

P.S. I didnt forget Rudy... just didnt think he said anything worth mentioning.

Posted in 2008 | Debate | Fred Thompson | GOP | Iowa Caucuses | John McCain | Romney | Rudy Giuliani — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:25pm on Dec. 6, 2007 Romney's Kennedy Moment

Successfully Defusing that Mormon Thing

By Hunter Baker

I have not seen the speech, but I have read it. Religion and politics is my academic specialty. While I would quibble with the way Romney presents the founding of the Republic and what it did or didn't settle about religious liberty, I think he did an outstanding job of framing the overall discussion.

1. The United States has traditionally been a nation that recognizes freedom must be paired with religion and morality if it is to persevere in political society. Mitt said it. Libertarians need to hear it. So do secularists. When Mitt embraces that point of view, he puts himself squarely in the conservative camp, not only the religious conservatives, but the traditionalist Burkeans, too.

2. Though his faith has some unique features (so unique that thinking of it as "Christianity, but different" is a BIG stretch), he plants his flag on American values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, religious liberty, and limited government. He is right to do so. It is perhaps imperfectly understood that Mormonism is an American religion with a major preference for American values. Mormon missionaries spread their faith and its unique doctrines, but they also spread pro-Americanism. I think you'd be hard pressed to find Mormons abroad who hate America.

3. He correctly recognizes that while the church must always seek to encourage the state, to critique the state, to urge the state toward justice, it must never be part of the state. When the church is part of the state, it either becomes a useless Department of God, as is the case of European established churches, or it becomes a dangerous theocracy of the sort we find in many Muslim lands.

Overall, this speech showed tremendous sophistication on religion and politics. I'm not a Mitt supporter. But he listened to someone who understands the issues well.

A+++ for this one. Attaboy, Governor Romney.

END.

Posted in 2008 | politics | religion | Romney — Comments (50)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:50am on Dec. 4, 2007 One Month From Iowa

By Mark I

Originally posted at Political-Buzz.com

Sen. Sam Brownback became the first Republican to officially announce his intention to seek the GOP nomination a little less than eleven months ago. Since then, the race has had more twists and turns and ups and downs than a Six Flags roller coaster. Brownback is no longer in the race, and neither are former governors Jim Gilmore of Virgina and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was in, for a day. Then he was out. Other talked about Republicans never made the plunge. Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina decided that his current job was a better one; and former Gov. Jeb Bush decided to keep his surname and look for alternate employment. As the campaign winds its way, mercifully, towards votes that count, all the dynamic changes have failed to shake things out. The nomination is as up for grabs now, one month from Iowa, as it was last January.

Read on . . .

Posted in 2008 | Fred Thompson | giuliani | huckabee | Iowa | McCain | New Hampshire | Republicans | Romney — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:13pm on Nov. 26, 2007 Mitt Romney: Flipping In The Right Direction.

By Martin A. Knight

I've seen quite a few folks on the Right attack Romney for moving from Left to Right (I do believe his 2002 campaign was more conservative than the one he ran eight years earlier) at suspiciously all-too-convenient times but ... strangely enough, I'm yet to see anyone show me anywhere where he moved from Right to Left.

Consistent movement from Left to Right is a good thing, I would think. At least, being a conservative, I tend to like it when I see someone coming over from the other side. Like I've said before, Romney is not a "flip-flopper," he's a "flipper" ... and as far as I can see, he only flips one way.

Posted in 1994 | 2002 | 2008 | Archived | democratic nomination | flip-flop | Massachusetts | Mitt | Romney — Comments (34) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:13am on Nov. 9, 2007 Is Michigan's early primary dead? Mark Brewer and John Edwards sure hope so...

By RightMichigan.com

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

Just a quick note on the save-the-primary process...

The Senate yesterday overwhelmingly approved an updated bill that would save the January 15 joint primary but there's a catch.  Without a procedural move granting the bill "immediate effect" it won't go into effect until March.  Kinda late, don't you think?

The Dems all walked away from the immediate effect vote.  That way they can claim they voted for the joint primary, that they didn't WANT to disenfranchise millions of Michigan voters and that they aren't really in the pocket of Big Labor when in reality they are.  

Posted in Breaking News | Clinton | Edwards | Fred | Michigan | Paul | Presidential Primary | Romney | Rudy — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Read More »