This is the final Straw... at least it should be.
All the hype, all the money, all the bus fumes wafting from the parking lot.... for what?
Most of the major players... Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and the unannounced Fred Thompson... didn't pay to play. The turnout didn't turn out for the GOP Straw Poll in Ames, posting a measly 14,302 vote tally today.
The prediction two weeks ago of 40,000, was reduced before the event to 30,000..... not even close.
The final indignity, or perhaps irony, the voter-distrusted electronic machines "had difficulty" and the somewhat breathless main-stream media was left, and left, and left in front of the deadline altar for ninety minutes.
Now at last, however, it can be announced.... the winner as expected after investing millions of dollars and months of effort.... Mitt Romney with 4516 votes, or 31.5 percent.
In a close tussle for second, Mike Huckabee 2587, and, Sam Brownback third with 2192 votes.
Nipping at their heels in fourth place, Tom Tancredo who garnered 1961 votes, while the fifth place Ron Paul showing was a disappointing 1305 tally.
Wisconsin's Tommy Thompson, who vowed to quit if he didn't place high, may be the first to bow out of the competition after his 1039 sixth-place finish.
The numbers plummet from there... 7th Fred Thompson 203, 8th Rudy Giuliani 183, 9th Duncan Hunter 174, 10th John McCain 101, and 11th John Cox with 41 votes.
The GOP must be in a cold panic after the lukewarm showing in hot Iowa..... and, they must be asking of their lineup....is there no there, there? No candidate to set a fire in party bellies?
Romney's expensive win, instead of having the ring of success, seems instead to toll for a GOP brought low by Boy George and his nasty neocons.
Showing posts with label Tommy Thompson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tommy Thompson. Show all posts
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Ten White Men in a Row
A testosterone-hyped field of 10 white men went mano a mano on the Iraq war and torture last night in their debate battle for the GOP nomination . With a couple of refreshing exceptions.
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas (who, by the way, has a corn dog's chance at the Iowa State Fair of getting a bite on the nomination) stood his lonely ground by denouncing the decision to go to war in Iraq, the use of torture and even suggested that terrorists actions like 9/11 were in part in retaliation for the United States' actions in the world, saying "If we ignore that, we ignore that at our risk."
This gave the question-dodging and debate-floundering America's mayor, Rudy Giuliani, the opening he needed for chest thumping, challenging Paul's statement as an "absurd explanation for September 11." We know what Paul was trying to say, but this forum wanted napalm in the morning.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona also rejected the use of torture explaining he's been there and had that done unto him.... and, the thing that kept him and his fellow POW's going was the fact that their country wasn't like that. Of course, McCain stayed with his support of the surge in Iraq, at this point he really has no choice.
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee delivered the best zinger, joking that in recent years Congress had "spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop." This campaign season the GOP will make sure that Edwards keeps paying for his $400 haircut.
Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, was articulate, polished, knowledgeable and well.... perfect. I could hear the casting call. Would someone please put a big spot on his tie?
Former governor James Gilmore, as a poll bottom-feeder, tried to make points by challenging the true conservatism of McCain, Giuliani and Romney. They easily dodged his barbs and he faded once again into the Virginia countryside.
Rep.Tom Tancredo of Colorado delivered the second best zinger aimed at his GOP rivals changing positions... "I trust those conversions when they happen on the road to Damascus, not on the road to Des Moines." But strangely, he gave a shallow reply on a question about illegal immigration, his calling card. It didn't turn out to be a trump.
A glib Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas put on a good performance, but it seemed a performance.
Rep. Duncan Hunter of California was on point on defense issues and immigration. His concise responses were refreshing.
And that leaves only Elmer Fudd, the former Wisconsin gov Tommy Thompson, who seemed to be down-shifted to low gear.... upstaged perhaps by the other Thompson, Fred, the Thompson the GOP electorate is panting for although he has yet to announce, let alone debate. According to the latest polls, Fred is even eating into Giuliani's leading position.
I had predicted, and anticipated, that a debate sponsored by FOX News and hosted by Brit Hume would be one long GOP commercial, all softballs and no substance. I was wrong. It was the best debate by either party so far, although probably partly because the candidates are becoming better at it. And mixing it up a bit.
I also looked for the 10 white men to trip over each other in expressing their sympathy over the death that day of Rev. Jerry Falwell who spearheaded the Moral Majority winning GOP strategy. But wisely, Hume nipped that rush in the bud at the outset of the debate by expressing their unified regret so the candidates wouldn't need to do so individually.
The other no-show thus far in the GOP field is former House speaker Newt Gingrich who is dangling the "great possibility" of his candidacy. At least his timing may be propitious, he is slated to deliver the commencement address at Falwell's university on Saturday.... there could be no better center stage than before a grieving GOP base.
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas (who, by the way, has a corn dog's chance at the Iowa State Fair of getting a bite on the nomination) stood his lonely ground by denouncing the decision to go to war in Iraq, the use of torture and even suggested that terrorists actions like 9/11 were in part in retaliation for the United States' actions in the world, saying "If we ignore that, we ignore that at our risk."
This gave the question-dodging and debate-floundering America's mayor, Rudy Giuliani, the opening he needed for chest thumping, challenging Paul's statement as an "absurd explanation for September 11." We know what Paul was trying to say, but this forum wanted napalm in the morning.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona also rejected the use of torture explaining he's been there and had that done unto him.... and, the thing that kept him and his fellow POW's going was the fact that their country wasn't like that. Of course, McCain stayed with his support of the surge in Iraq, at this point he really has no choice.
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee delivered the best zinger, joking that in recent years Congress had "spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop." This campaign season the GOP will make sure that Edwards keeps paying for his $400 haircut.
Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, was articulate, polished, knowledgeable and well.... perfect. I could hear the casting call. Would someone please put a big spot on his tie?
Former governor James Gilmore, as a poll bottom-feeder, tried to make points by challenging the true conservatism of McCain, Giuliani and Romney. They easily dodged his barbs and he faded once again into the Virginia countryside.
Rep.Tom Tancredo of Colorado delivered the second best zinger aimed at his GOP rivals changing positions... "I trust those conversions when they happen on the road to Damascus, not on the road to Des Moines." But strangely, he gave a shallow reply on a question about illegal immigration, his calling card. It didn't turn out to be a trump.
A glib Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas put on a good performance, but it seemed a performance.
Rep. Duncan Hunter of California was on point on defense issues and immigration. His concise responses were refreshing.
And that leaves only Elmer Fudd, the former Wisconsin gov Tommy Thompson, who seemed to be down-shifted to low gear.... upstaged perhaps by the other Thompson, Fred, the Thompson the GOP electorate is panting for although he has yet to announce, let alone debate. According to the latest polls, Fred is even eating into Giuliani's leading position.
I had predicted, and anticipated, that a debate sponsored by FOX News and hosted by Brit Hume would be one long GOP commercial, all softballs and no substance. I was wrong. It was the best debate by either party so far, although probably partly because the candidates are becoming better at it. And mixing it up a bit.
I also looked for the 10 white men to trip over each other in expressing their sympathy over the death that day of Rev. Jerry Falwell who spearheaded the Moral Majority winning GOP strategy. But wisely, Hume nipped that rush in the bud at the outset of the debate by expressing their unified regret so the candidates wouldn't need to do so individually.
The other no-show thus far in the GOP field is former House speaker Newt Gingrich who is dangling the "great possibility" of his candidacy. At least his timing may be propitious, he is slated to deliver the commencement address at Falwell's university on Saturday.... there could be no better center stage than before a grieving GOP base.
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