My guess is Tancredo and Mitt Romney saw eye-to-eye on immigrant/minority issues, until Mitt's leaders had a revelation in 1978.

Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) is the leading advocate for freedom in our nation's capital. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Paul tirelessly works for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. He is known among his congressional colleagues and his constituents for his consistent voting record. Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution.

Border Security and Immigration Reform

The talk must stop. We must secure our borders now. A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked.

This is my six point plan:

Physically secure our borders and coastlines. We must do whatever it takes to control entry into our country before we undertake complicated immigration reform proposals.

Enforce visa rules. Immigration officials must track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays their visa or otherwise violates U.S. law. This is especially important when we recall that a number of 9/11 terrorists had expired visas.

No amnesty. Estimates suggest that 10 to 20 million people are in our country illegally. That's a lot of people to reward for breaking our laws.

No welfare for illegal aliens. Americans have welcomed immigrants who seek opportunity, work hard, and play by the rules. But taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, and social services.

End birthright citizenship. As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. illegally will remain strong.

Pass true immigration reform. The current system is incoherent and unfair. But current reform proposals would allow up to 60 million more immigrants into our country, according to the Heritage Foundation.

This is insanity.

Legal immigrants from all countries should face the same rules and waiting periods.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/border-security-and-immigration-reform/

http://www.ronpaul2008.com

coloradodog writes
"Romney claims he saw his father marching with Martin Luther King - let's hope his father is not watching Mitt march with Tom Tancredo."


Well played, sir. Well played.

It always shocks me that people--this time a non-Republican--continue to refer to McCain as a "honest" guy or a "maverick." John sold out completely to Bush on the anti-torture bill (knowing Bush would just negate it with a signing statement), and kissed the ring of the late Jerry Falwell. Typically, John picked the wrong religious bigot on whom to pin his hopes. He should have gone to the equally crazy Pat Robertson, but Rudy beat him to that. Fat lot of good that's done Rudy, by the way. At this stage, McCain could not even get re-elected to the Senate, much less get elected president. In all the states which follow NH, McCain's immigration stance will kill his campaign.

coloradodog: Mitt says he saw his Father Marching with MLK. That is a FLAT OUT LIE by Mitt, never happened. This will hurt him everywhere when the media, and opponents, begins to pick up on it and the others exploit the truth issue, also know as flip-flop.

Dear ALMANOJODO:

or, in the spirit of the holiday season, maybe I should call you "AL"?
Anyway, AL, I have to tell you, I consider myself relatively knowledgeable on this topic, having been a MA voter for 20+ years, including the 3-3 1/4 that Romney served as governor.

'So he was an absentee,' you might say. 'He balanced the budget. Didn't he?'

Actually, no, he didn't. The economy he handed off the Deval Patrick was $1.5 billion in the red.

'But,' you insist, 'he didn't raise taxes.'

That's a little trickier. No, he didn't, despite the revenue needs (education, state parks, public works.) He did, however, raise fees... which - coincidentally? - are not progressively indexed, and thus do not demand any more from those - like Mitty and his friends - in the top income bracket than from those in the bottom bracket.

'Health care!' you cry. 'Universal health care!' You seem to be getting red in the face.

And I have to tell you, health care in MA is not working out quite as it might have. Insufficient public funds were committed to cover the expenses of those who cannot afford the state premiums, which STILL ain't that cheap, unless you are legitimately stone broke, in which case I refer you to the beginning of this sentence. The fact that it's working at all, to any extent, is largely due to the Democratic Legislatiure DEMANDING that companies be required to pay into a free care pool. (Mitt wanted to let them avoid this.)

'Conservative moral values!' you whimper.

Are the last refuge of hypocrites trying to distract voters from the services which have been cut in order to fund tax cuts, I answer. Remember, Mitt was pro-choice until he decide to run for president... and in 1994, when campaigning for the Senate, tried to out-liberal Ted Kennedy on the subject of same sex marriage. Another position that conveniently changed just when he decided that he deserved to be president.

And did I tell you about Seamus?

Please, anyone considering a vote for Romney - talk to someone from Massachusetts before you do. Ask them about these things. Far from "strengthening the economy and nation," he would - as he has in MA - give us instead a polarized and suspicious nation, divided along cultural/sectarian/economic lines and inadequately funded by a regressive tax system.

Dear ALMANOJODO:

or, in the spirit of the holiday season, maybe I should call you "AL"?
Anyway, AL, I have to tell you, I consider myself relatively knowledgeable on this topic, having been a MA voter for 20+ years, including the 3-3 1/4 that Romney served as governor.

'So he was an absentee,' you might say. 'He balanced the budget. Didn't he?'

Actually, no, he didn't. The economy he handed off the Deval Patrick was $1.5 billion in the red.

'But,' you insist, 'he didn't raise taxes.'

That's a little trickier. No, he didn't, despite the revenue needs (education, state parks, public works.) He did, however, raise fees... which - coincidentally? - are not progressively indexed, and thus do not demand any more from those - like Mitty and his friends - in the top income bracket than from those in the bottom bracket.

'Health care!' you cry. 'Universal health care!' You seem to be getting red in the face.

And I have to tell you, health care in MA is not working out quite as it might have. Insufficient public funds were committed to cover the expenses of those who cannot afford the state premiums, which STILL ain't that cheap, unless you are legitimately stone broke, in which case I refer you to the beginning of this sentence. The fact that it's working at all, to any extent, is largely due to the Democratic Legislatiure DEMANDING that companies be required to pay into a free care pool. (Mitt wanted to let them avoid this.)

'Conservative moral values!' you whimper.

Are the last refuge of hypocrites trying to distract voters from the services which have been cut in order to fund tax cuts, I answer. Remember, Mitt was pro-choice until he decide to run for president... and in 1994, when campaigning for the Senate, tried to out-liberal Ted Kennedy on the subject of same sex marriage. Another position that conveniently changed just when he decided that he deserved to be president.

And did I tell you about Seamus?

Please, anyone considering a vote for Romney - talk to someone from Massachusetts before you do. Ask them about these things. Far from "strengthening the economy and nation," he would - as he has in MA - give us instead a polarized and suspicious nation, divided along cultural/sectarian/economic lines and inadequately funded by a regressive tax system.

Knowledgeable people support Romney not for an petty little reason, but because they know he will strengthen our economy and our nation.

Romney claims he saw his father marching with Martin Luther King - let's hope his father is not watching Mitt march with Tom Tancredo.

Those posters here who call Tancredo or anyone else in Congress to be "Adolf Hitler" and his supporters to be "neo-Nazis" are leftist, Communist goons who need some serious drug therapy. Tancredo is a patriot, not a facist. The left simply can't stand law-and-order leaders, and Tancredo is exactly that.

Leftists are very worried about Romney who has the looks, the charm, the money and the great speaking and debating skills to take down any Dem he'll be up against. Getting the nomination isn't going to be easy. Romney failed to get conservative Iowas Rep. Steve King's endorsement, but when Mr. Sleepy Fred Thompson bows out, he'll get behind Romney. Getting Ghouliani's support will be next to impossible as they've been at each other's throats. Thompson and Romney seem to get along well, so I think Thompson will back Romney shortly. McCain is not a factor. Because it's going to come down to Romney or a leftist, and the country has simply gone too far to the right--will never accept a pro-Amnesty candidate--to go back to the days of the Clintons.

Romney is the best candidate by far.

NO more Bushes---no more Clintons---Romney has been a Govenor of the most Liberal state in the US------ Massakennedy.

He will stop Illegal Immigration.

He believes in God--has only been married once---has a family with no problems---which sets him apart from all the other candidates.

Go Mitt!!!

Mitt Romney will be the GOP nominee and the 45th President of the USA.

America is the largest enterprise in the world and Mitt Romney is the only candidate from either party that is qualified to run this enterprise.

If Americans liked Ronald Reagan they are going to love Mitt Romney............best candidate hands down!

At least the line-up is improving. Romney is not a great candidate but he is definitely better than Tom Tancredoni. The stronger candidates are swallowing the weak. Tancro's intellectual mentor---Mussolini---would have approved.

Zouk, do you mean commutable? Man you're dumb.

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. - A neighbor of former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton was arrested Thursday in the slaying of his wife, who he claimed had been shot by a stranger on a dark suburban road.

I am beginning to think it is communicable.

the only power people like you have, zouk, over people like us is the power WE give you. Bullies like you always back down when confronted. Always. It's only when you have the stick and they have nothing, are you brave.

Currently you are living in the land of oz. Hence the posts directed at you. You are a running joke here.

It doesn't ahve to be this way. Help get fox rush hannity and o'reilly off the air. Help to bring the coutnry together and re-unite. To do what you do and continue to rip the country apart, you should be pointed out and marginalized. that should happen in a democracy. The lunatics MUST be drowned out for the good of all. In this case the frindges. I do not think all I say, or libs will come to pass. I don't think bush is ever going to jail. But maybe we can knock you a few notches toward reality.

Like your hero O'REilly. You can't tell me he believes half of the garbage he says. But he is trying to nudge society a few notches his way. The differance is people like us us truths and the constitution and the past. you people us lies sales techins fear spin and personal attacks.

you have lost all credibility here. Not because of me or anyone. but due to your posts and attacks. time for you (and your party) to start taking accountability for thier actions. Rather than blaming everyone else. the gop has been exposed now, zouk. Change is at hand.

Few are with you. The fascists of the last 7 years. You only have a handful left, led by lying fascist propognadists. What will you do when fo xis off the air? Rush? how will you think fo ryoursef when the ambilical cord is cut. Start early. Cut your own chains. you must realize your true enemy. It's not me or anyone here. It's those that are lying to you for profit. Fight back zouk. Blame those that are worthy of your blame. Log off and join me. Only republcians can take down fox and their ilk. The liberals aren't keeping them on. you want to fix this coutnry? Start at the top. those that divide us for profit. Get your boy's off the air and I willc all a truce. Do not get them off and we never have peace between the right and left. It's up to people like you. there is no Rush, of the left. the left speaks truth and un-spins your propoganda. No more. Eliminate the cause of the division and we can solve our problems. Do not and it's on. the chocie is yours (and those like you)

Did I stumble into the moonbat cave? I see the head jackel has appeared.

I must assume that logic, reason and fact will not be an effective weapon against you Libs. Let me see what I have in my bag along the lines of insults, emotion, ranting, raving and hysterical obfuscation.

Then I will ask the others to ignore you, then point out how often you post, then go after spelling, then call for banning you, then use all the other Liberal tricks to avoid confronting my paltry positions. It's settled.

If I neglect to post anything of substance, can I be one of your jackels drindl? Is that the entry requirement?

how about this:

Mitt Romney might not live in a pink house, but he wears very gay underpants.

Wait I know, I'll talk like a teenager, will you like me then? LOL. ILSHIFOOMC

TTYL

""Bush is not a panderer."

Of course he is -- he just panders to a small subset of the American public. That will present a problem for Republican candidates next year, when the cash-rich Democrats run commercials showing GOP incumbents morphing into the highly unpopular Bush.

Tancredo played a useful role in the campaign by bringing the undeclared war with mexico to the attention of millions. The mexican government provides support and encouragement to the 10,000 daily invaders of our country, it does nothing to stop the attacks on our Boarder Patrol agents from their side of the boarder, and it is equally unhelpful in stopping the flow of drugs from the cartels. These acts of war must be addressed by the full power of the US.

Tancredo highlighted the fact that America needs a president that will defend the boarders, instead of caving to the profit interests of corporations - at the cost of better wages for American citizens.

Good job, Tancredo!

'Never mind that the R congress reined in the budget over presidential battles. ' LOL--he lives in a fictional kingdom and beleives in an alternate universe.

see he's been on here all day, too, just like every day. what did you sya you did for a living zouk? oh right. this.

"Europe has some people that are similar to American Republicans - they are hairless blue-eyed people who live in caves in Germany and have been largely unheard from since WWII."

you mean Nazi's?

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA.

"Fascism is an authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers individual and social interests subordinate to the interests of the state or party. Fascists seek to forge a type of national unity, usually based on (but not limited to) ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious attributes. Various scholars attribute different characteristics to fascism, but the following elements are usually seen as its integral parts: nationalism, statism, militarism, totalitarianism, anti-communism, corporatism, populism, collectivism, and opposition to political and economic liberalism"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2064157,00.html

you people are not fascists because you are called it. you are fascists by you ractions and words. you choose to be a fascist. The labels others put on us we can't control (you are fascists). you only have control over what you call yourself r represent yourself as.

why do you CHOOSE to be fascists? Release your fear and hate. WE can help you. not here but elsewhere. Get help. lose your fear. the trrorists are nothing compared to us. If you really fear them, tell you rleaders to stop arming them. Other than that, if we cahnge america they win. the gop has done more damage than any terrorist group. What is a terrorist anyway? Sounds like the gop party platform.

"Terrorism in the modern sense[1] is violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians for political or other ideological goals.[2] Most definitions of terrorism include only those acts which are intended to create fear or "terror", are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants. Many definitions also include only acts of unlawful violence."

"If so, why did Al gore shun him?"

I dunno, let's ask President Gore that. Oops!

"Bush is not a panderer. In that respect he is opposite of clinton(s). He clearly is not affected by approval numbers although his are double those of the Lib congress."

Kingofzouk, are you trying to audition for a professional GOP flack? If so, you've succeeded.

"the popular vote is irrelevant"

We are talking about popularity. not winning elections. not half the country would vote for this guy, yet you claim the entire world loves him. If so, why did Al gore shun him? why is he hurting his wife more than helping?

It is easy to roam the world and do charity work, while lining your own pocket and appear magnamimous. try to make a hard decsion and see how half the country disagrees. Of course as a clinton, you are not required to make any decisions that can't be changed with the publication of the next poll numbers.

but crisis (I assume you mean personality crisis) if you prefer finger-in-the-wind politicians, you have the perfect one in clinton(s). Only problem is, what will you do if your particular view becomes unpopular - like the war. change your mind weekly?

minus africa of course. Bush supports AND supporter terrorists. He trusted north Korea. He is allied himself with our biggest enemies in iran. He is helping palistine. He is definatly ignoring bin laden. (you don't want me to go there).

Syria? Libya?

Explain your double think

kingofzouk wrote:
"Still no far-left commies winning elections. except Pelosi and hillary, but look where they are from. In fact none of the left wing aganda is selling."

Far-left commies? You really don't know what the heck you're talking about, zouk. By the way: Your name-calling is juvenile and doesn't do much to help you get your point across. While you may be well-intended, you simply sound like a garden-variety right-wing shill. Grow up, please.

Zouk, you realize that a "conservative" European is about the same as a moderate Democrat in the U.S., right?

A Pro-American European simply isn't a socialist. Europe has some people that are similar to American Republicans - they are hairless blue-eyed people who live in caves in Germany and have been largely unheard from since WWII.

And with the GOP's refined taste for tampering in foreign elections, I wouldn't leave any scandal off the table.

"Clinton is credited with largely rolling out the red carpet to terrorists, which allowed him to make the cuts he did. He danced with Arafat, trusted N Korea, invaded Somalia, then retreated, ignored bin laden, threw cruise missiles at saddam, supported Iran, encouraged Libya and Syria, etc."

Rehash. Read again, hypocrite. Everything you just said, bush did also. Why do you suck bush's toes, yet clinton is somehow your arch-enemy. The first step to solving a mentla problem is admiting it exists. Get help zouk. join reality. Stop sabotaging this great nation.

Or join up. If you believe so much, enlist. Put you life where you mouth is, like a true patriot. I did. your turn.

Mitt Romney might not live in a pink house, but he wears very gay underpants.

"Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. It has its roots in kompa music from Haiti, cadence music from Dominica, as popularised by Grammacks and Exile One. Zouk means "party" in the local creole of French with English and African influences, all three of which contribute the sound. In Europe it is particularly popular in France, and in North America the Canadian province of Quebec, while on the African islands of Cape Verde they have developed their own type of zouk."

"the politics of personal destruction". right zouk?

Clinton is credited with largely rolling out the red carpet to terrorists, which allowed him to make the cuts he did. He danced with Arafat, trusted N Korea, invaded Somalia, then retreated, ignored bin laden, threw cruise missiles at saddam, supported Iran, encouraged Libya and Syria, etc.

Since then Libya has abandoned its bio program, n Korea shut its nuke program down, (for real this time), Iraq had elections, Iran quit its secret program (perhaps), Hammas is at the peace table, etc.

cowboy diplomacy seems to work great.

France elected a very pro-american, so did germany. the eastern bloc is our best friend, Italy loves us, turkey is an important ally, etc.

As usual, if one examines the unaltered facts, the Dems look bad.

thecrisis: notice how zouk makes fun of polls but repeatedly cites approval ratings? He's just a bit self-contradictory.

"Can someone help me here: Is "zouk" a planet in some alternate universe? That would explain the posts from "kingofzouk."

Posted by: Spectator2 | December 20, 2007 05:36 PM
"

Maybe zouk is the land run by bush, above. Maybe this is the ulternate america these people live in and are loyal subjects to. they're not americans, that's for sure.

HAH Zouk, nice one on the poll-spinning!

Although if you pay ANY attention to the news, you'd know the most recent polls put Congress at about 32% and Bush at 33%. You neocon/neanderthals really go as far out of your way to twist reality as possible, don't you?

Clinton's rating right now is around 60%, which is almost DOUBLE Bush's latest rating. Bush's rating even went as low as Nixon's rating AFTER HE RESIGNED.

If you chase an approval rating it'll run away? Really? So you're saying representing your constituents is a bad idea because as soon as you do as they ask of you, they'll hate you for it? You make about as much sense as Bush trying to explain the mapping of the human genome to someone who doesn't speak English.

" He clearly is not affected by approval numbers"

What you mean to say is he is not accountable to the american people.

Again, if bush is a kin and the gop are his loyal subjects, what country do you fascists party loyalists claim? Not america.

You people are red coats. At one time choosing party money or self over country was treason. Just because you have better lawyers now doesn't mean your people are not breaking the law, and are not traitors.

r

"Are you referring to the President who never got more than half the vote, not even 40%?"

As Republicans never failed to point out in 2000, the popular vote is irrelevant. Clinton won the Electoral College quite handily both times.

Riddle me this, Fixman: If immigration is such a key issue why did Tancredo have no support? And if Romney has flip flopped on this issue as he has with most all others, how does the help of a race baiter like Tancredo help him?

Can someone help me here: Is "zouk" a planet in some alternate universe? That would explain the posts from "kingofzouk."

approval numbers that President Clinton had/has.

Are you referring to the President who never got more than half the vote, not even 40%? the one who was impeached? the one who stood for nothing but himself and being liked? who could flip his stance on a dime?

Bush is not a panderer. In that respect he is opposite of clinton(s). He clearly is not affected by approval numbers although his are double those of the Lib congress. so it seems if you chase them, they run away. good sound Lib policy.

"casts aside the views of half the population " - that would be the rules that the Pelosi congress enacted.

Zouk,
Clinton is credited with largely modernizing the military, which allowed him to make the cuts he did. And I'd hardly say he eliminated a functional military - Bush didn't do jack with the military pre 9/11 and we seemed to be able to respond in full force in Afghanistan within a month of the attacks so if I were you I'd check my logic before posting completely absurd arguments in a public forum.

If a Republican had been in office during the rise of the Internet or cell phones, the GOP would likely have traded net neutrality for campaign cash before the internet ever got off the ground. Leave it to the GOP to attempt to capitalize on everything in the name of personal profit and partisan gain.

Clinton's respect for net neutrality and the free flow of information is what allowed the Internet to explode like it did.

Though I'm sure you have some obscure argument for how Gingrich invented the Internet and was the only thing saving Clinton's feeble military from WWIII, right?

hmm, so the R congress "reined in the budget" while Clinton was president but then lost control of the reins once Bush took office. Yeah, that makes sense.

"Last one - are you hoping that by becoming the newest intern in the WH, that bill will show interest in you after all this time?

Posted by: kingofzouk | December 20, 2007 05:19 PM
"

Time to get out of old men's sex lives , larry craig. That's just gross to think about. I know you foot tappers get excited. But this is politics. People's lives and future are at stake. This is not high school. No matter how much you people want it to be.

running a budget surplus at the cost of eliminating a functioning military is only considered a good idea by Democrats. Ignoring terror and dancing with fascists is not good policy, although practiced and encouraged by Libs.

there was this little attack on american soil, you may recall, although I don't think your candidates remember. They never mention it. that little incident, set up by clintons gross inattention (he had blue dresses on his mind I suppose) ended up costing a tidy sum.

then there was this little thing called the Internet and the cell phone which according to Libs, must have been invented by Bill, or Hillary or Al gore because they personally drove the economy with no outside help during those years. Never mind that the R congress reined in the budget over presidential battles. Just tell your little fairy tales as you like.

Some writers obviously think we readers are so ignorant we cannot read between the lines.

Tancredo was a no-body so way out there his campaign collapsed before he even got going.

His repulsive, extremist views, are reprehensible and do not jive with those of millions of Americans.

Now we are to believe his pulling out and his endorsement of Romney helps Romney.

If there are intelligent people out there and hopefully there are millions ------ this is one more reason to vote for Huckabee or McCain.

kingofzouk-
Your president...Puddin'head...would voluntarily change his clown pajamas if he could have the approval numbers that President Clinton had/has.

Wow Zouk, no insults are too low for you, eh? Why am I not surprised that you both use the National Enquirer as a source for your opinions and are not afraid to blabber even the most toxic vitriol when you yourself knows it is pure punditry?

You are the worst kind of pundit because unlike most Americans, who at least acknowledge that their political foes are still American, you and your kind endorse a brand of Republicanism that is not democratic, completely disregards the Constitution and casts aside the views of half the population in favor of your fascist neocon agenda.

Any Republican who says that McCain is a "dem-lite" clearly doesn't know their head from their backside. You see compromise, logic and compassion as a weakness, though unfortunately those three tenets are the lifeblood of our Constitution.

Zouk, you and your cronies have gone way, way off the conservative deep end. You don't even hold your own beliefs. Your beliefs are simply to hate others' beliefs. You are a miserable addition to any political party or election process.

ucke: zouk doesnt let pesky facts get in the way of a good rant or screed.

HAHAHAHAH

Dang zouk. I'm glad you changed. No more posts on right-wing lies and propoganda. Great. Now all your posts are whining and complaining about my (and others here) posts. Much better for the conversation here. I'd much rather you look like fred barnes whining about "fairness in the media". I love it. better attacks on me than on the good people trying to fix this nation. Better attacks on me, than you spreading lies and rumors for fun. I'll take the trade-off. thanks. continue. you look like a elementary school kid. Keep it up. Show the independant thinkers what you and your party are about.

r

Umm, Zouk, I believe last time we ran a budget surplus, there was a Clinton in office.

It was Chimpy the Prez who promptly ran the budget into the ground, among many, many other things.

Hey hillary - still don't beleive the suyrge is working? Ready to re-establish dis-non-belief?

an easier question - do you now beleive that your husband played cigar with the intern or do you still maintain it was a vast right wing conspiracy?

Last one - are you hoping that by becoming the newest intern in the WH, that bill will show interest in you after all this time?

Last I checked, more people listened to Liberman than to moveon.org and thier handpicked candidate.

you Libs are always overestimating your support based on decibels. Most thinkers don't shout so you moonbats don't notice them. but you assume that because the three stooges on this blog, drindl, loud and dumb and rufas, with the help of simple simon, can post nonsense at the rate of every five minutes, that they represent some major slice of the voters.

Still no far-left commies winning elections. except Pelosi and hillary, but look where they are from. In fact none of the left wing aganda is selling. I alsmost laughed myself out of bed when I saw Santa hillary doling out gifts for the voters. I am so happy she has all those elves to pay for it all and do the work.

where did I put universal pre-k? how about in the budget deficit column?

"To be sure, Gen. Petraeus & Co. are putting their most encouraging spin on the focus-group results. The WaPo noted, "At the very least, analysts optimistically concluded, the findings indicate that Iraqis hold some 'shared beliefs' that may eventually allow them to surmount the divisions that have led to a civil war."

Yes, I suppose that's true. But if those "shared beliefs" include the notion that we're an "occupying force" responsible for ruining Iraqis' lives, isn't it a little difficult to be "optimistic"?

"

http://www.crooksandliars.com/

r

"LOL regarding those buffoons who like McCain but find him "a little too hawkish"
A little too hawkish...
This baby-burner never saw a war he didn't like!
A republican is a republican and the only good one is a-

Posted by: kase | December 20, 2007 05:06 PM
"

eeeeaaasssyyyyy. Trying to bring over republicans ssshhhhhh. He is never going to win anyway.

Good point. Sorry for a breif lapse :)

"If you ask Iraqis about how best to achieve political progress, they'll offer a helpful perspective.

Iraqis of all sectarian and ethnic groups believe that the U.S. military invasion is the primary root of the violent differences among them, and see the departure of "occupying forces" as the key to national reconciliation, according to focus groups conducted for the U.S. military last month. [...]

Dated December 2007, the report notes that "the Iraqi government has still made no significant progress toward its fundamental goal of national reconciliation." Asked to describe "the current situation in Iraq to a foreign visitor," some groups focused on positive aspects of the recent security improvements. But "most would describe the negative elements of life in Iraq beginning with the 'U.S. occupation' in March 2003," the report says.

"

r

"I think Lieberman's endorsement was great, and will help him with Is."

No one listens to Lieberman.

LOL regarding those buffoons who like McCain but find him "a little too hawkish"
A little too hawkish...
This baby-burner never saw a war he didn't like!
A republican is a republican and the only good one is a-

"Romney also, not a secular candidate."

Not this year, anyway. Mittens is always flapping in the breeze, tailoring his approach to the particular race.

"I'm not a Republican but I've always liked McCain. "

and that folks is why he is on the outs and why Huck-a-bubble will likewise burst.

clearly either of them or any other R would be superior to any of the Ds. but I don't see the Dem-lites running the party. now you may accuse me of hypocrisy for endorsing rudy, who could be considered a D-lite. but on the real R issues - war, budget, judges, I think he is the man.

mark, If Huckabee wins IA, then conventional wisdom goes out the window about what it takes to win. I'd like to see McCain get a strong third place showing in IA, but the NH primary is more important,imo, as it is an actual primary not a caucus.

Davis' pleas for contributions have gotten louder lately, that's for sure. I must admit to deleting many of the emails when I'm busy, although I have continued to send them $. I think Lieberman's endorsement was great, and will help him with Is.

"As I've documented before, the media -- with the filibustering GOP in the minority -- now routinely refers to the "60 votes required to pass a bill in the Senate," as though that's the most normal and natural state of affairs in the Senate, rather than what prevails only when a filibuster is invoked. It's precisely because Beltway reporters slothfully refer to the "60-votes required to pass," rather than making clear that Republicans are engaged in a filibuster to obstruct legislation, that such a misleading picture has been created. Thus, they endlessly depict these filibusters as noting more than a "failure on the part of Democrats to obtain the 60 votes required to pass.""

Here is the defense to an argument we had here earlier. When I said it was strange that all of a sudden the majority cannot pass anything without 60 votes, I was mocked. The majority is the majority and the minority is supposed to be the minority. The obstructionist gop is destroying the country. And the sell-out moderates on the democratic side are enabling it.

Change indeed. Hopefully obama or edwards can deliver on their promises. god help us if clinton or a republcain wins.

proud, did you get the McCain email from Rick Davis that outlined the strategy for the next month? It pins a lot on NH of course, but what worried me was the concession that there was no money for FL.

"The 62nd cloture vote of the session is more than any single session of Congress since at least 1973, the earliest year cloture votes are available online from the Senate. Republicans are on pace to force 134 cloture votes to cut off a filibuster, according to the Campaign for America's Future analysis, more than double the historical average of the last 35 years.
As Benen notes, the GOP has used the filibuster as a common tool on virtually every piece of significant legislation, all part of what Trent Lott described as their strategy: "The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail . . . and so far it's working for us." "

glen greenwald

river845 writes "Will Huckabee consolidate the religious right, and win against the more secular Romney, McCain, and Guiliani?"

I feel compelled to correct you here. John McCain is certainly not a secular candidate; he is and has always been a social conservative , always voting in favor of life, against fed funding for embyonic stem cell research, etc. although he has championed the causes of ethics reform and a strong military more so than that singular cause of the evangelicals.

Romney also, not a secular candidate. It is fair to say that all of them would appoint conservative justices to the SC, and that is the legacy whcih we should collectively pursue, not some radical one-issue agenda, imo.

excellant diagnosis of mccain, from a non-repub perspective crisis.

My problems with him are as you mentioned, a little to hawkish, but he's at least not scared of his party like the rest of them are. His war and immagration stances leave much to be desired though. It could be worse. I still think the only hope the gop has is the dem's nominating clinton. Hopefully she steps down for the good of the nation.

Remember those fox news polls, proud. They are only valid through the republcian primary. After that they are worthless. What does that say about ox and their polls?

Cool now dealing with only republcains. But in a month they are obsolete. Obama and edwards will not go on there. Nor will dodd, again. Not after o'reilly called a seating senator a propogandist for voicing truth and his opinion. Only the moderates and the weirdo is going on there (clinton biden richardson, kusinich).

Fox is done. It's a matter of time. How is their business channel doing, anyway? they ahve ratings, but so would the "peeping tom network", or "execution tv." People love to see a train wreck. that doesn't make it news. Enjoy them while they last. they can't go on this this forever, can they?

Sorry Hoomes but McCain is practically a household name in politics. He's a staple of the true conservative Republican Party.

I'm not a Republican but I've always liked McCain. He's honest, he's bipartisan and he's got massive amounts of experience.

While he's more hawkish than I like, I get the feeling that he'd be a little more responsive to the public in the midst of a horrid war (unlike Bush) and I also feel like he'd be more trustworthy when it comes to making military decisions. After all, he actually HAS experience in military affairs, while Bush has none.

bhoomes, A Romney win in IA does not necessarily translate into an automatic win in NH.

A new FOX News poll shows that Rudy Giuliani (20 percent), John McCain (19 percent) and the surging Mike Huckabee (19 percent) are clustered together at the top of the GOP hill--with Mitt Romney (11 percent) and Fred Thompson (10 percent) still within striking distance.

http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2007/12/20/fox-news-poll-three-way-toss-up-in-republican-presidential-sweeps/

"Does this mean that Romney's the only one who is allowed to out-Tancredo Tancredo?

Posted by: judgeccrater | December 20, 2007 04:32 PM
"

HAHAHAHAHAHA

This is for whoever posted last week regarding Krauthammer. The meat puppet. What is a newsperson with zero credibility, again? Are they propogandists? If they are professing fascist principles, are they then fascist propogandists? Yes. Tiem have finally woken up to this.

"Always Wrong...And Now Out Of A Job
By: Nicole Belle @ 1:27 PM - PST

It may be storming outside, but I'm definitely feeling sunshine breaking through some neo-con clouds..

Two conservative Time magazine columnists are on their way out the door: Neither William Kristol nor longtime contributor Charles Krauthammer will be on contract with the magazine starting next month. Mr. Krauthammer confirmed the news to Off the Record, and a spokeswoman for Time said Mr. Kristol's contract would not be renewed.

The exact reasons for the departures of Mr. Krauthammer and Mr. Kristol, both high-profile backers of the Iraq war, are not entirely clear.

But sadly, we're not completely rid of rightwing hackery at Time:

And according to two sources familiar with the discussions, Time is in negotiations with National Review editor Ramesh Ponnuru to sign him to a contributor contract. Mr. Ponnuru, who in 2006 published The Party of Death: The Democrats, the Media, the Courts, and the Disregard for Human Life, has written twice for the magazine over the past month.

"

Does this mean that Romney's the only one who is allowed to out-Tancredo Tancredo?

What do you have to show that this is a boost for Romney? I can't see how this could possibly be a boost. Tancredo has a small number of anti-immigrant following - that's all.

Now if we could just keep Tancretin from coming back to Colorado. He stinks up the place.

Do Tancretin's knuckle-dragging supporters like Mitt's sexy, silky magic underpants? Why not, all Repukes are closet cases.

In a close race, picking up potential supporteres and voters from Trancredo could spell the difference between a 1st or 2nd finish. If Romney wins Iowa, he wins NH and so on so on. Romney will remind NH voters about McCains support for illegal immigrants, thereby putting his campaign out if its misery. I respect McCain but his day has come and gone but like most politicians, he's the last one to know it.

How on earth could a guy who actually polled at 0% in many states have a positive effect on Romney's campaign?

Tancredo just effectively nailed the coffin for Romney. So much for stealing away any of the compassionate female voters that are flocking to Huckabee for his warmth.

I'm glad to see this. Even though I agree with Romney on more issues, I think Huckabee would be a more bipartisan president, should he get the election.

However, I also think he'd be steamrolled by Clinton, Obama or Edwards, so there's always that to consider.

There is no way these racist bigots are going to vote for a Morman. They'd vote for Hillary or Obama first.

So does this mean that the Klan will be endorsing the Morman now too?

Romney looks like he is about to be overtaken by a surging Mccain, who will probably win New Hampshire.

This race is a real unknown.

Will Huckabee consolidate the religious right, and win against the more secular Romney, McCain, and Guiliani?

Well, I get since Adolf Hitler isn't actually in the Republican race--the only one who could perfectly combine Tancredo's love of fascism with absolute hatred of those different from him--I guess Tancredo's endorsement was up for grabs.

Congrats Mitt "I don't live in a pink House" Romney! You picked up the support of a couple hundred Neo-Nazis!