Written by - Cal Thomas
http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/Thomas-012012
A group of conservative evangelical Texans endorsed Roman Catholic Rick Santorum as their GOP candidate. Evangelicals are repeatedly searching for an "earthly saviour" and they apparently found what they were looking for in Santorum. However, the Evangelicals are making a grave mistake according to their scriptures. Evangelicals feel the need to see their faith on display when it clearly says in the Bible "as for prayer, do it privately and not in public like the hypocrites." Scripture also says that all authority comes from God and he puts people in power in order to serve HIS purposes, now ours. I doubt that this will have a major affect on the political arena. At the end of the day, Santorum is winning the votes and support that he needs. The more support, the better. At such a crucial time where Romney is steamrolling the other candidates, they need to just take what they can get and do the best that they can. It doesn't matter if evangelicals support catholics. The only thing people are really concerned about at the end of the day is numbers and votes.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Iowa Caucus Was Too Early
Written by - The Gazette Editorial Board
http://thegazette.com/2012/01/04/iowa-caucuses-valuable-but-too-early/
Iowans might have been under too much pressure to vote. Did the results from the caucus really tell us anything? Half of Iowans were still undecided as to who they wanted to rally their support behind in the days before the actual caucus. The point of the caucus is to winnow the field, and this could have been done more effectively had voters been given more time to get to know the candidates. The timing of the caucus was a period when voters were more concerned with the holidays instead of politics. They were too distracted and had to deal with sorting through ad campaign attacks while trying to find out who really catered to their needs and shared the same values and goals that they did. The results of the caucus might have been different if Iowans weren't bombarded with stepped up political schedule manipulating. It serves as a warning to voters of future caucuses and primaries to really know the candidates and what they stand for before becoming overwhelmed. Politicians can really be up and in your face. If not given a good amount of time to think things through, almost anyone can be won over, just so that they don't have to be bothered with decision making anymore. It brings voters back to the central question - were the Iowa caucuses really that meaningful?
http://thegazette.com/2012/01/04/iowa-caucuses-valuable-but-too-early/
Iowans might have been under too much pressure to vote. Did the results from the caucus really tell us anything? Half of Iowans were still undecided as to who they wanted to rally their support behind in the days before the actual caucus. The point of the caucus is to winnow the field, and this could have been done more effectively had voters been given more time to get to know the candidates. The timing of the caucus was a period when voters were more concerned with the holidays instead of politics. They were too distracted and had to deal with sorting through ad campaign attacks while trying to find out who really catered to their needs and shared the same values and goals that they did. The results of the caucus might have been different if Iowans weren't bombarded with stepped up political schedule manipulating. It serves as a warning to voters of future caucuses and primaries to really know the candidates and what they stand for before becoming overwhelmed. Politicians can really be up and in your face. If not given a good amount of time to think things through, almost anyone can be won over, just so that they don't have to be bothered with decision making anymore. It brings voters back to the central question - were the Iowa caucuses really that meaningful?
Santorum Supporters Upset Over Caucus Results
Written by - Jennifer Jacobs
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120120/NEWS09/301200034/1007/news05
Voters and candidates in Iowa have been wrestling over Santorum's discovered win in the Iowa caucus by thirty four votes. The election has become a competition over who will own the bragging rights for winning the first caucus. Santorum believes that if the small precincts who weren't certified were counted as well, he would've had an even greater advantage. Despite his thirty four point win, GOP officials discovered double digit percentage errors in 51 certified precincts. Because of these errors, the numbers counted from caucus night cannot be trusted. Santorum supporters are frustrated because the party won't officially announce Iowa as a win for their candidate. It's as if his hard work doesn't even count because it is not being acknowledged. William C. Brown says there is no such thing as a "split decision", where there is one official winner and one unofficial winner. A spokesman from the Santorum camp says that Santorum's win means Romney is not the inevitable candidate. The impact of the Iowa caucus is alive and well, because the four remaining GOP candidates were the ones who were top four in the Iowa caucus. With the upcoming South Carolina primary, this means that there is still hope for Santrum and the other anti-Romney candidates. The new results from Iowa show that he can be beaten, and a win in South Carolina is far from impossible. Hopefully, the virtual tie results from Iowa won't cause Santorum supporters to lose faith in their candidate and the process of choosing a GOP candidate. If something like this were to happen again, it wouldn't look good for the Republican party as a whole.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120120/NEWS09/301200034/1007/news05
Voters and candidates in Iowa have been wrestling over Santorum's discovered win in the Iowa caucus by thirty four votes. The election has become a competition over who will own the bragging rights for winning the first caucus. Santorum believes that if the small precincts who weren't certified were counted as well, he would've had an even greater advantage. Despite his thirty four point win, GOP officials discovered double digit percentage errors in 51 certified precincts. Because of these errors, the numbers counted from caucus night cannot be trusted. Santorum supporters are frustrated because the party won't officially announce Iowa as a win for their candidate. It's as if his hard work doesn't even count because it is not being acknowledged. William C. Brown says there is no such thing as a "split decision", where there is one official winner and one unofficial winner. A spokesman from the Santorum camp says that Santorum's win means Romney is not the inevitable candidate. The impact of the Iowa caucus is alive and well, because the four remaining GOP candidates were the ones who were top four in the Iowa caucus. With the upcoming South Carolina primary, this means that there is still hope for Santrum and the other anti-Romney candidates. The new results from Iowa show that he can be beaten, and a win in South Carolina is far from impossible. Hopefully, the virtual tie results from Iowa won't cause Santorum supporters to lose faith in their candidate and the process of choosing a GOP candidate. If something like this were to happen again, it wouldn't look good for the Republican party as a whole.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN
Written by - Ken Thomas
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19768383?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
This week, Obama released his first television ad for his re-election campaign. The ad was in response to attacks coming from a Republican group saying that Obama conducted pay-for-play politics concerning the bankruptcy of the California energy company Solyndra. Obama's ad reinforced that he kept his promise to toughen ethics rules and strengthen the American economy. The ad was released in Michigan, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, Wisconsin and cable television networks. Obama has raised more than $220 million for his campaign, and we can definitely expect more from him. This ad was to help prepare for criticism from Republican groups and to prepare for Mitt Romney (it looks like he will come out victorious in South Carolina.) Obama will begin to get on the campaign trail in order to discuss the policies included in his re election campaign. Americans must remember that Obama did not create the problems our county is in. He inherited them, and he is doing his best to correct them. He's dealing with criticism from all fronts and extreme stubborness from Republicans, making it difficult to achieve any work. However, he is trying to get the job done. For the GOP candidates, they should start working on how they plan to defeat Obama. Obama is wasting no time in getting on the campaign trail, and the final GOP candidate will have no time to rest when it comes to ensuring Obama stays a one term president.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19768383?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
This week, Obama released his first television ad for his re-election campaign. The ad was in response to attacks coming from a Republican group saying that Obama conducted pay-for-play politics concerning the bankruptcy of the California energy company Solyndra. Obama's ad reinforced that he kept his promise to toughen ethics rules and strengthen the American economy. The ad was released in Michigan, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, Wisconsin and cable television networks. Obama has raised more than $220 million for his campaign, and we can definitely expect more from him. This ad was to help prepare for criticism from Republican groups and to prepare for Mitt Romney (it looks like he will come out victorious in South Carolina.) Obama will begin to get on the campaign trail in order to discuss the policies included in his re election campaign. Americans must remember that Obama did not create the problems our county is in. He inherited them, and he is doing his best to correct them. He's dealing with criticism from all fronts and extreme stubborness from Republicans, making it difficult to achieve any work. However, he is trying to get the job done. For the GOP candidates, they should start working on how they plan to defeat Obama. Obama is wasting no time in getting on the campaign trail, and the final GOP candidate will have no time to rest when it comes to ensuring Obama stays a one term president.
Perry Calls It Quits
Written by - Kasie Hunt
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/01/19/20120119PNI0119-wir-election-perry-dropping-out-of-GOP-race.html
Two days before the primary in South Carolina, Perry has made the decision to drop out of the GOP race and now places his endorsement behind Gingrich. Perry's endorsing Gingrich does not mean that his supporters will readily follow the Gingrich campaign as well. Senator Santorum recently received a few endorsements from Evangelical groups in South Carolina. Perry's quitting leaves room for the remaining candidates to court his supporters in hopes that they will transfer over to their respective campaigns. Romney has received endorsements from George W. Bush and has also gained some of Perry's old followers. The plan is to stop the Romney Juggernaut from surging forward, which will be hard to do considering how popular he has become. When Perry entered the race, it was thought that he would be one of the favorites, and in the position that Romney is in now. It because of crucial campaign mistakes that Perry made that cost him his own election. It was questionable how his rhetoric would sound to a national audience. He made flubs during debates and it was unsure of how he would be able to stand against Obama. In the political arena, the race is heating up and narrowing down. If Romney wins this primary, it is predicted that the race is pretty much over. If he doesn't, it lends hope to the remaining candidates. Now the candidates are dropping like flies, who will be the next to go?
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/01/19/20120119PNI0119-wir-election-perry-dropping-out-of-GOP-race.html
Two days before the primary in South Carolina, Perry has made the decision to drop out of the GOP race and now places his endorsement behind Gingrich. Perry's endorsing Gingrich does not mean that his supporters will readily follow the Gingrich campaign as well. Senator Santorum recently received a few endorsements from Evangelical groups in South Carolina. Perry's quitting leaves room for the remaining candidates to court his supporters in hopes that they will transfer over to their respective campaigns. Romney has received endorsements from George W. Bush and has also gained some of Perry's old followers. The plan is to stop the Romney Juggernaut from surging forward, which will be hard to do considering how popular he has become. When Perry entered the race, it was thought that he would be one of the favorites, and in the position that Romney is in now. It because of crucial campaign mistakes that Perry made that cost him his own election. It was questionable how his rhetoric would sound to a national audience. He made flubs during debates and it was unsure of how he would be able to stand against Obama. In the political arena, the race is heating up and narrowing down. If Romney wins this primary, it is predicted that the race is pretty much over. If he doesn't, it lends hope to the remaining candidates. Now the candidates are dropping like flies, who will be the next to go?
Can Santorum Win Over Undecided Voters?
Fox Sunday News - Air Date January 15
In a segment of Fox Sunday News under the Huckabee Forum for Undecided Voters in South Carolina, Rick Santorum answered questions posed by the undecided voters. He said that his record should give voters confidence that he will be able to win over liberals and independents. He has run four successful races in heavily democratic areas. His beliefs speak for him, and he is a candidate that the people can trust. He does what he needs to do in order to win states that are important, such as Pennsylvania, and he puts policies together in order to look out for blue collar workers. When asked about unemployment, Santorum said that the best way to get the economy going for everyone was to create opportunities in manufacturing. The government has left no room for competition, which is also a reason why trade and balance is the way it is now concerning China. Santorum has a bold plan to compete against countries that want to take jobs from America. Winning votes and creating jobs were the first and most popular questions. The underlying question underneath it all is are Santorum’s arguments enough to win over undecided voters? Will he able to pull in a win in South Carolina? Is he enough to beat Romney? In the political arena, the polls are never constant, and this election in South Carolina is all about beating Romney. Santorum and the remaining candidates need to step their game up if they want the election to continue past South Carolina.
This Week with George Stephanopoulous
Air Date - January 15
Rick Perry has not been doing well in the polls lately. The interview he recently had with George Stephanopoulos is an example of why this is so. Despite lagging behind in the polls, Perry believes he is the most consistent physical and social conservative out there, who has done a good job at creating jobs. Creating jobs was the only thing that Perry could talk about. He wants to keep taxes low, implement a legal system that doesn’t allow for over suing and get the country working again. He’s shown commitment to the men and women in the military and would be committed to America as a country. However, social conservatives in Texas don’t think Perry is a good alternative to Romney. To this, Perry pointed out that the same thing was said about Ronald Reagan, so there is still hope for him. If Perry doesn’t win first or come in a close second in the polls in South Carolina, he is undecided about whether or not he will drop out. (Of course, we know that he will drop out before the South Carolina results.)
Another negative point for Perry was a comment he made about Romney being a vulture capitalist. If Romney becomes the Republican candidate, Republicans are worrying about Perry giving Obama ammunition to use against him. Perry redirected the conversation back to his ability to creating jobs, saying that his job creation record is incomparable. He said the people of South Carolina would make the decision, and that it is good to talk about this issue now. However, Perry avoided questions about giving Obama ammunition and only made unenthusiastic, half hearted attempts at saying that he could create jobs. The interview was a bust. It didn’t give the voters anything new from Perry. This must be one of the reasons why he dropped out. He isn’t good at communicating or answering the important questions that make a difference. In the political arena, it gives voters a clear view of who they do not want as their GOP candidate. Someone like Perry would never be able to stand up to a political firecracker such as Obama. Perry dropping out of the race only makes an easier job for the remaining candidates. Either Romney will cinch another win, or the other candidates will be able to pick up some serious slack.
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