Fantasy Politics USA

The one term Governor from Massachusetts Mitt Romney, declared he will run in 08. He made his announcement at the Ford Museum in Dearborn Michagan. Since he is calling himself the true conservative of the Republican party it was probably hard to declare himself in the lefty state of Massachusetts. Besides, his father George Romney, who had a failed attempt for President in 1968 against Nixon, was the Govornor of Michagan from 1963 to 1969. So it makes sense, kinda. Mitt Romney is a Morman, which should make no difference at all, but will. And he was also the head of the Salt lake City Olympics in 2002, bringing it back on it’s feet. Romney is a clean cut kinda guy, doesn’t smoke, drink, or cuss. Just like President Bush, Romney was a cheerleader in school. He married his high school sweetheart, has 5 children, and 10 grandchildren. He has been accoused of flip-flopping a trait that failed his fathers Presidential campaign against Nixon. Most notably he has changed his mind about abortion. When running against Ted Kennedy in 1994 for the Senate seat Romney was for abortion rights, but now he is pro life. Romney explains, “Not everything I believed 12 or 13 years ago is the same today,” …. “And so about two years ago, I said I am pro-life.” Romney says Washington needs new blood saying, “I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician,”…. “There have been too many deals, too many favors, too many entanglements — and too little real world experience managing, guiding, leading.” Romney went on to say, ‘We have lost faith in government, not in just one party, not in just one house, but in government.” …. “It is time for innovation and transformation in Washington. It is what our country needs. It is what our people deserve.”…”Talk is easy, talk is cheap. It is doing that is hard. And it is only in doing that hope and dreams come to life.” On Iraq, Romney is for staying the course, “I believe that so long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population.” For a complete text of his speech this morning click here.
Alan Cosgrove

Mike Huckabee was on ABC’s This week with Stephanopoulos, and explained he is not like other Republicans because he likes music and art, and calls this a “paradoxical Republican.” He was also an Arkansas governor that rasied taxes. Huckabee explained,

Well, you know, when people say we shouldn’t have any taxes, you know what? When you dial 911 and your house is on fire, you want a fire truck to come. Guess what pays for it? Taxes. What Americans don’t want is unfair, unnecessary, exceptionally high taxes where the money is wasted. But Americans understand that, if you have the garbage pickup, or the fire trucks and police cars out there, or for that matter if you have a highway, then it’s got to be paid for.

Also on This Week was John Kerry, who said now that he isn’t running, he can focus more on the war in Iraq.
Chris Dodd moved up in the polls this past week from 0% to 1%. Don’t want to peak to quick. Dodd was on CBS’s Face the Nation this morning talking about, talking about the Iraq war in the Senate. When speaking about the non binding resolutions of last week Dodd said, “None of these resolutions could garner barely 50 votes, and so we ended up sort of competing about debating over debating.” But then Trent Lott came on and said the Republicans, “didn’t block debate – actually, the vote was to continue debate.” Lott said that Republicans are insisting on a “debate, not a mandate.” So the Senate is debating about debating while the Iraqi war goes on. Dodd went on to say in Iraq, “Sixty percent believe it’s appropriate to shoot and kill Americans who are there,”….. “How do you sustain a policy when the very people we’re trying to help are opposed to our being there?”
Australian Prime Minister John Howard attacked Obama the day after Obama announced his candidacy. Howard said of Obama and Democrats, “I think he’s wrong. I think that will just encourage those who want to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory”….”If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.” P.M. Howard is a good friend of President Bush, and also is sliding down in the polls because of his stance on the Iraq war, just like Bush’s other good friend on the war Tony Blair. Obama responded with, “I would also note that we have close to 140,000 troops in Iraq, and my understanding is Mr Howard has deployed 1,400, so if he is … to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq.”…..”Otherwise it’s just a bunch of empty rhetoric.” Most American politicians on both sides of the aisle have indicated that Howard should stay out of American politics, except for Duncan Hunter who defended Howard, by saying, “I think the Aussies have earned a right to comment on the world stage about their partner in this endeavour because they’ve been fighting side-by-side with us in Iraq,” The Aussies currently have about 1,000 troops in Iraq in noncombat positions. Obama also said he took it as a compliment that an ally of Bush is already speaking out about him. And Finally today I have to give it up to John McCain for putting his money where his mouth is. McCain is a strong supporter of sending more troops to Iraq, even against all this mainstream opposition going on now. Among those 20,000 troops expected to go to Iraq is McCain’s 18 year old son who just graduated from Marine boot camp in December. McCain is willing to do what very few politicians would do, he is willing to send his own son.
Alan Cosgrove

Obama mania has started again. Barack Obama announced today, as expected, that he will run for President in 08. He made his announcement from the state capital building, the same place that Abraham Lincoln worked at.

“We can build a more hopeful America. And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America,” Obama said, “For the last six years we’ve been told that our mounting debts don’t matter, we’ve been told that the anxiety Americans feel about rising health care costs and stagnant wages are an illusion, we’ve been told that climate change is a hoax, and that tough talk and an ill-conceived war can replace diplomacy, and strategy, and foresight. And when all else fails, when Katrina happens, or the death toll in Iraq mounts, we’ve been told that our crises are somebody else’s fault. We’re distracted from our real failures, and told to blame the other party, or gay people, or immigrants.”
And as people have looked away in disillusionment and frustration, we know what’s filled the void. The cynics, and the lobbyists, and the special interests who’ve turned our government into a game only they can afford to play. They write the checks and you get stuck with the bills, they get the access while you get to write a letter, they think they own this government, but we’re here today to take it back. The time for that politics is over. It’s time to turn the page.”

For a complete text of his speech click here.
Hillary went to New Hampshire for the first time in 10 years. Instead of a big welcome, she faced tough questions about her stance on the Iraq war. She set up some small town meetings allowing for questions. At one meeting voter, Roger Tilton asked, “I want to know if right here, right now, once and for all and without nuance, you can say that war authorization was a mistake,” Tilton said. “I, and I think a lot of other primary voters — until we hear you say it, we’re not going to hear all the other great things you are saying.” Hillary answered with her same ole, if I had known what I know now bullshit answer which didn’t seem to impress Tilton. For the most part Hillary received a warm reception. It was in New Hampshire that her husband Bill Clinton got the name “the comeback kid” because he got a second place showing there in 1992 despite allegations of all kinds of hooliganism, and went on to win the presidency. Hillary said that Bush has been incompetent in Iraq.
Rudy Giuliani went into California this weekend to speak before the California republican party faithfuls semi annual meeting. Also at the meeting was governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Both Scharzenegger and Giuliani face pressure from the right side of the republican party for their views on social issues. Giuliani has been trying to fix that and has slid his views on abortion a bit more toward the right. Giuliani said he hates abortion, but also respects the womans right to choose. Giuliani said in an interview with Fox’s Hannity, “I think abortion is something that, as a personal matter, I would advise somebody against. However, I believe in a woman’s right to choose. I think you have to ultimately not put a woman in jail for that.” On the other hand he has indicated he would appoint “strict constructionist” judges to the Supreme Court, the same kind that would ban Roe V Wade, making abortion illegal. John Kerry gave the Democratic Response to the President’s weekly radio address. Kerry blasted the republicans for blocking debate on the troop surge plan. He also said, Bush’s proposal for more troops was “nothing more than the escalation of a misguided war.” Mitt Romney and Sam Brownback are in Michagan this weekend. They both where there to speak before Michigan Republicans during the Michigan GOP Convention in Grand Rapids. Romney talked about his father, who was the governor of Michagan. Romney spoke about the economy, and offered a solidly conservative fiscal program. He wanted Bush’s tax cuts to become permenant. Brownback said he was conservative, and wants to protect the traditional family. Brownback also wants to cure cancer in ten years. Bill Richardson gave a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies last Thursday. He called for a “new realism” in America’s foreign policy. Richardson said, “Prisoner abuse, torture, secret prisons, renditions, and evasion of the Geneva conventions must have no place in our policy….. “If we want Muslims to open to us, we should start by closing Guantanamo.”

Conservative radio Talk show host Michael Savage, of “The Savage Nation” has hinted in an interview with NewsMax.com that he is considering a run for President in 08. Savage said, “I know it sounds bizarre but when you consider the people running for the presidency, none . . . seems to be qualified.” Savage also said, “I would think that somebody who’s not a politician might be a viable candidate.” Michael Savage, born Michael Alan Weiner, is best known for his rants about border control, illeagal aliens, and pinko diaper wetting liberals. In real life Michael Savage has a different life according this Salon.com article. Michael Savage is also an author with a best selling book, “The Savage Nation: Saving America From the Liberal Assault on Our Borders, Language and Culture,”
Alan Cosgrove