Michigan Ground Zero

All eyes are on Michigan today, as voters participate in the state's Republican primary. It really is the Romney vs. Santorum show, with each side picking their surrogates (like, say, Kid Rock).  I think Romney will pull it out, though I don't discount the likes of Dems supported by Michael Moore voting for Santorum in order to get their "preferred" opponent for Obama. I'm not sure who I would vote for if I still liked in Michigan. I guess Santorum, Or Romney; I'm not convinced by Taranto's argument that Santorum could be more electable. 

Either way, I'm actually interested in a primary. Let's see if Romney can win.

More GOP Truth

This expresses my sentiments exactly.

Let's just say right now what voters will be saying in November, once Barack Obama has been re-elected: Republicans deserve to lose.

It doesn't matter that Mr. Obama can't get the economy out of second gear. It doesn't matter that he cynically betrayed his core promise as a candidate to be a unifying president. It doesn't matter that he keeps blaming Bush. It doesn't matter that he thinks ATMs are weapons of employment destruction. It doesn't matter that Tim Geithner remains secretary of Treasury. It doesn't matter that the result of his "reset" with Russia is Moscow selling fighter jets to Damascus. It doesn't matter that the Obama name is synonymous with the most unpopular law in memory. It doesn't matter that his wife thinks America doesn't deserve him. It doesn't matter that the Evel Knievel theory of fiscal stimulus isn't going to make it over the Snake River Canyon of debt.

Above all, it doesn't matter that Americans are generally eager to send Mr. Obama packing. All they need is to be reasonably sure that the alternative won't be another fiasco. But they can't be reasonably sure, so it's going to be four more years of the disappointment you already know.

And:

Finally, there are the men not in the field: Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Haley Barbour. This was the GOP A-Team, the guys who should have showed up to the first debate but didn't because running for president is hard and the spouses were reluctant. Nothing commends them for it. If this election is as important as they all say it is, they had a duty to step up. Abraham Lincoln did not shy from the contest of 1860 because of Mary Todd. If Mr. Obama wins in November—or, rather, when he does—the failure will lie as heavily on their shoulders as it will with the nominee.

Just Say No

Chris Christie joins Jeb Bush and Paul Ryan on the growing list of Republicans who won't take on Obama. I am not happy about this. I am officially without a candidate. I guess I am a reluctant Romney supporter, only because it is him or Perry.  Maybe I should root for Herman Cain, who at least shows some semblance of a spine.

I care about the economy, the courts, and foreign policy. And I also care about electability. I am not sure anyone really thoroughly meets all of my criteria. 

Because She's a Woman?

So I'm not sure I entirely buy Jeri Thompson's argument about Christine O'Donnell. I honestly don't think her sex has anything to do with it. You don't hear Meg Whitman or Carly Fiorina called unqualified on the basis of sex. I'm not even sure I'd even call O'Donnell unqualified, though I really don't get how she got where she did, without looks and charisma being a factor. I think she does appeal to ordinary, every day citizens who are tired of the elite politicos in Washington not giving a damn about their perspectives. Joe Biden was sort of an every man, wasn't he, who commuted on the train and was one of the least wealthy members of the Senate. Frankly, it can't be too big of a surprise that a non-wealthy, every day type of person won the GOP nomination over a long-term Washington insider.

So I don't think it is sexism that is driving these charges of her being unqualified. I think it's more the fact that she has ethical issues, she hasn't really had a real job and the one she had at ISI resulted in a law suit, she has made all sorts of other charges like insinuating that Castle's staff broke into her campaign office/home. She seems a little unbalanced.

True, there aren't a lot of smart conservative women in politics, but it's changing. Susana Martinez will be elected governor of New Mexico. California could elect both Whitman and Fiorina. There are women running for senate in Nevada, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. It's not about sexism. It's about finding the best candidate, the most conservative candidate, and the one with the highest character and ethics. I don't think Christine O'Donnell fits that bill.

Boo to Delaware Republicans

If this holds up...Christine O'Donnell seems to have a pretty sizable lead over Mike Castle. SO disappointing. The woman is an idiot, and she's going to lose us any chance of GOP control of the Senate. She is a pathological liar. This is so deflating. I don't even believe she is a real conservative.

I'm all for voting for conservative candidates over RINOs, don't get me wrong. But this idiot--who is comparing herself to Ronald Reagan--lied about her education, Castle's record, sued ISI over gender discrimination, lied about her mortgage, etc. It's really sickening.

And it was just called for O'Donnell. Who are these people voting for her???

New Music, Obama/Hillary, etc.

I have not been listening to much new music lately, mostly b/c not much has interested/intrigued me. I do like the new Landon Pigg and Mates of State tracks on the new Paste sample. Death Cab for Cutie's new CD is coming out next Tuesday, as is Duffy's. I love her Mercy song. I plan on buying or downloading both of those CDs, and perhaps the others too, eventually. I really can't remember if I bought anything else this year. I guess Missy Higgins. I've mostly been cycling through my ipod to listen to everything else, once again. Of course, my great recent score was finally after at least a decade landing my hands on the 24 Gone/The Spin CD. Girl of Colours is easily one of my favorite random music finds of all time, kind of like Drinking in LA. Oh how I miss Detroit radio. (Edited to add: Big fan of the Val Emmich cut, too.)

Well, Obama won big in North Carolina, and lost small in Indiana (2 points). Is Hillary done? Will Operation Chaos endure? Is Obama the nominee? Yes...to at least one of those questions.

I' m just excited that McCain delivered a pretty decent speech on judges yesterday.

Presidential Daughters, Detroit, and DC

Fun piece in today's Post on Meghan McCain and her McCainBlogette.com blog. She sounds like a fun girl. There have been the inevitable comparisons between her and Chelsea, her and the Bush twins. Just leave it alone. Chelsea's been in the news because someone asked her a question on how her mom handled the Lewinsky story, and she expressed astonishment that someone would even ask that. Please. Juan Williams and Michael Reagan defended her answer on Fox News this morning. I think it's about time she actually speaks, and I'd rather have her give that answer then stand mute like the Clintons usually force her to do.

So in Detroit, Kwame is in so much trouble that even the Free Press is calling for him to resign.
Detroit deserves better. And it's sad that this could over shadow the awesome season the Detroit Tigers are about to have. Even Sports Illustrated is picking them! I may have to get myself something other than those yummy butter pretzels in Detroit this weekend (and other than a baby shower gift!).

It is a beautiful day, 69 degrees according to my computer. And cherry blossom festival time! And the perfect weather to get a good run outside tonight.

Thirty-Two

So I got some nice emails this morning (and yesterday) from Michelle, Donna, and Leigh Ann. And Kevin, too. Paul just called, though we had a lousy connection. Here, Dave wished me happy birthday. I guess we're only part-way through the day, so perhaps someone else will remember. It's horrible that you remember who did not acknowledge it, like it is something you are seeking, rather than think happily about everyone who does remember. Just being honest.

We are having a quiet night at home, watching Super Tuesday II returns, and having a nice sea bass dinner. Yum. I went and got Corner Bakery ravioli for lunch. Probably an overrated lunch, but I don't let myself have that very often.

So will Hillary pull it off tonight, or will Obama triumph and knock her out? I don't think she will go too easy, and I would like to see her fight til the bitter end :)

Til later...

New Computer!

I love love love my new computer. Lenovo Thinkpad R61. It actually synced my entire itunes library, including music that mysteriously would not play previously. Oh, and there is actually memory on it! So very exciting. My CD drive works, and I finally had a chance to enter the Chantal In My Life song. All of these years later. And the Fratellis CD from last summer, too.

I am finally home from LA. I voted yesterday, for McCain. I wish I would be a bit more enthusiastic about it, but I have a feeling he will have a tough time vs. Obama. Hillary, too, but Obama certainly has to mojo now. Hillary is going down, down, and I really can't wait to see it. But if there's a price to be paid in November? I'm very interested to see who the Veep pick will be.

I miss Fred Thompson

Good piece.

It's telling that his most notable moments were negative--marked by his refusal to follow some custom of the modern campaign. (From another debate: "Should government step in and help Chrysler and the other auto makers?" Thompson: "No.") Asked about education reform, he said: "It would be easy enough for someone running for president to say: I have a several-point plan to fix our education problem. It's not going to happen. And it shouldn't happen from the Oval Office." When journalists and candidates, with their typically childlike enthusiasm, suddenly began gumming the word "change" after the Iowa caucuses, Thompson pointed out the obvious: "Change has been part of every election since the dawn of elections, if you weren't an incumbent." He noted how easy it was "to demagogue" the issue of federal spending by dwelling on relatively insignificant earmarks: "All these programs that we talk about in the news every day are a thimbleful in the ocean compared to the entitlement tsunami that's coming to hit us."

Maybe he could be veep? Please??

McCain & Judges

There has been all sorts of buzz today at NRO and elsewhere about John Fund's column and this passage in particular:

Mr. McCain has told conservatives he would be happy to appoint the likes of Chief Justice John Roberts to the Supreme Court. But he indicated he might draw the line on a Samuel Alito, because "he wore his conservatism on his sleeve."

Fund does not offer the source of the quote, and McCain's campaign has equivocated, affirming how deeply the Senator supported the Alito nomination. But the real question is: Yeah, so McCain voted for Alito. But would he have nominated him?

This is when I groan at the thought of McCain. LL has said in the past that McCain does not get this issue; he votes like Kyl. But after Kyl's horrid support of the judicial seminar/GMU issue, is that such a good thing? UGH. The real question is: Would McCain have nominated a Harriet Miers, or a Samuel Alito? That answer would be meaningful for me.

The Politics of Being Undecided

This is one of the rare times when I am actually glad to live in DC, and I don't really have much of a vote for president. The primary is meaningless, and no Republican could ever win DC.

I still am undecided. Fred Thompson dropped out, and he might have been my top pick. Maybe. I'm wavering between McCain and Romney. McCain has the war cred, and I think he has a better chance of winning. Romney gets judges. Sigh.

I did think this blog post by Rich Lowry nailed Obama's ascent and the way the Clintons have completely without class.. "Divisions, distractions, and drama." As much as I don't want Obama to be president, ugh to four years of the co-presidency. And between Hillary and Bill, seriously--who is worse? Both are just horrid. Ugh.

I still want someone to make a justification to me as to why Obama is THE candidate. He still has little experience, and most people just seem to care about his rhetoric and his "audacity of hope" hoopla.

But for now, as I keep thinking and waiting out the GOP primary season, I am going to enjoy watching the Clintons self-destruct.

Fred Thompson!!!

So I took an online Washington Post quiz today to tell me who my candidate should be. The winner: Fred Thompson!!! I scored closest to him 40% of the time. OK, he's going to lose. But I have my candidate now! Whoo hoo. If it were only this simple....

I talked to Paul tonight. They pretty much have all of their wedding plans done. And I'm officially having a couple of freak out, ohmygod I will never get everything done moments.

But hey, it's the day before the NH primary, and I have a candidate. I'm With Fred! :)

New Faces In Iowa

So Huckabee and Obama came away with the oh-so-critical Iowa caucus victories. Chances are, the Huck is probably not going to do so well in NH, which is much less evangelical and he's just barely campaigned in. But this does put the pressure on Romney. I can see John McCain carrying NH, and Mitt really needing to scramble.

Wouldn't it be interesting if it were McCain-Thompson as the GOP nominees? Thompson did vote with McCain on campaign finance...

I can't say my heart breaks for Hillary's third place finish. I can't stand Edwards, and he won't do well in the south. Obama is a little more tolerable, but barely. But oh how I can't stand Hillary.

On to the next one...

'Twas the Week Before Christmas

Some interesting news...

Lost returns January 31!

Joe Lieberman is endorsing John McCain. That says SO much, doesn't it? Not his colleagues Hillary or Obama. Not his former colleague John Edwards. Not Joe Biden or Chris Dodd. Not a Dem. I'm with Jonah Goldberg: I haven't made up my mind yet, but John McCain is someone whom I am least against. According to Lieberman: "There are some things more important than the political parties. One is friendship and the other is I think this guy is the best of all the candidates to unite our country and cross political lines so we can begin to finally solve some of the political problems that we have in this country and to lead us against the war versus Islamic elitist terrorism." Nice.

Well, I have made up my mind about Huckabee. Yikes. He's the only Republican, besides Ron Paul, that scares me. The GOP would go down so quickly if he's the nominee.

Jessica Simpson is a curse on Tony Romo.

Another reason not to vote for Hillary Clinton: United States Supreme Court Justice William Jefferson Clinton.

Convention Stuff, Wedding Stuff

Well, my 9th convention is over and out. Ugh. As much as I like to catch up with friends as these things, I am so so so glad it is over. And I'm certainly irked by things that didn't go smoothly here. 1) lack of contingency plan for someone who has been ill quite often. 2) stepping in, ditching assigned responsibilities, and bossiness. 3) not being sufficiently grateful for everyone who did step in.

Well, enough about that. Giuliani gave a good speech, though I really wish the words "freedom to choose" never left his lips. I guess whomever I vote for will be a compromise candidate. At least he, Mitt, and Fred all acknowledge the importance of the judges issue.

We're going to look at the dream site tonight, the Reagan Building. It will be so, so expensive, but at least we will see that option. I am really anxious to get some details settled on soon. There is so much to do.

We leave tomorrow p.m. for Detroit!!!

Assessment of the Candidates

I thought Dan Bartlett's assessment of the candidates is pretty much right on.
Though I am not as big of a fan of Huckabee.

It's hard to know how much/how little Mitt Romney's religion will hurt him. It didn't hurt him when he was elected governor of Massachusetts, though some would say that is because of the enlightened, liberal, accepting Northeastern elite types. The South is too stuck in the 1950s. Well, we'll see. I think he and Giuilani are the best candidates right now. I'm not sure about McCain, but I think he could surprise us. There are things I like about him--most consistently pro-life, a long record of service to this country, as tough as anyone on the war on terrorism. But he's too old, and campaign finance is a big obstacle to overcome to win the right.