Month: December 2011

If Newt Gingrich Became President . . . . . . .

Ronald Leave a comment

If former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich became President:

1. He would be taking the oath of office as the second oldest to Ronald Reagan, but about five and a half months younger than Reagan was when he took the first oath of office.

2. He would be only the second Speaker of the House to become President, after James K. Polk in 1844.

3. He would have had the second longest career in the House of Representatives of any President, a total of 20 years, as compared to
Gerald Ford’s nearly 25 years.

4. Only three other Speakers of the House were nominated for the Presidency–Henry Clay in 1824, 1832, and 1844; John Bell in 1860, and James G. Blaine in 1884.

5. He would be the longest out of public office (14 years), with Abraham Lincoln second with 12 years.

6. He would come into office with the most controversial and divisive reputation since Richard Nixon in 1968.

7. He would be only the second President to have an earned Ph. D. (Tulane University in History), after Woodrow Wilson (Johns Hopkins University, History and Political Science), elected in 1912, exactly a century earlier!

8. He would be the second President to be divorced after Ronald Reagan, but the first to have had two divorces and a third wife, and interestingly, his first two marriages lasted precisely 19 years each!

9. He would be the second President to come from the state of Georgia, after Jimmy Carter in 1976, although Gingrich was born and grew up in the state of Pennsylvania.

10. Gingrich would enter the Presidency as the most controversial and “ethically challenged” President since Richard Nixon, and only James G. Blaine, nominated by the Republicans in 1884, might be considered to be of equal “ethical challenge” to Gingrich.

11. Gingrich would compete with other Presidents for prolific authorship of books, including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter.

12. Finally, Gingrich would continue the “summer birth” tradition of the previous four Presidents–Bush I in June, Clinton in August, Bush II in July, and Obama in August, if he were elected!

The Profession Of Politics And The Field Of Business: Never The Twain SHOULD Meet!

Ronald Leave a comment

The field of politics, despite many cynics, is a PROFESSION, and requires a lot of training and expertise to do it well.

That is why people who go into politics run for local office and state office usually before running for national office, such as the Senate and House of Representatives.

That is why ALL Presidential winners in our history, except for three generals–Zachary Taylor, Ulysses Grant, and Dwight D. Eisenhower–have had some kind of political experience before becoming President.

Only two people have ever been nominated for the Presidency WITHOUT any political or military experience–Wendell Willkie in 1940 by the Republicans, and Ross Perot, who ran as an Independent and Reform Party candidate in 1992 and 1996.

The thought of Herman Cain running for the Presidency without any knowledge or expertise in any field of government policy turned out to be a total disaster, beyond his own moral and ethical issues. It is obvious that Herman Cain undermined the respect of the Presidential office by having the gall to run, knowing full well that he was not qualified by any measurement!

Cain took advantage of his race to enter the race, knowing no one would dare challenge it because of his race. But all he did was exploit the publicity that one gains running for the Presidency to sell books, promote more lucrative, highly paid speeches, and to gain the opportunity for a likely television show, because now he is a celebrity, who loves the spotlight and the ability to profit from it by his associations with the political class that he knows nothing about!

This disaster of Herman Cain is good enough reason to say that never again should an arrogant businessman, including Donald Trump, think he or she is qualified to hold our highest office! If one wishes to strive for such, get serious and get experience in politics and political office first before lessening the dignity of the Presidency for one’s own selfish gains!

The Republican Condemnation Of The Poor: Adding Insult To Injury!

Ronald Leave a comment

The Republican Party has become more venal, more disgraceful, than ever in their 157 year history, with their new tactic of condemning the poor, bringing back reminders of the nineteenth century Gilded Age and the philosophy of Social Darwinism.

Not only are poor people already subjugated by poverty with inadequate or no housing, poor food supply, lack of decent living conditions, and little hope and optimism about the future, with two thirds of the poor being children unfortunate enough to be born into the “wrong” families, but now they are being condemned with the old conservative belief that they are lazy, shiftless “losers” who don’t wish to work for a living, and instead wish to be supported by taxpayers with “luxurious” welfare packages, including Medicaid and Food Stamps, and support for each child born to them.

The fact that Medicaid provides inadequate medical care; that Food Stamps do not provide the means for a nutritional diet; that the amount given for each child’s support is miniscule, and that living in slums, often rat infested and crime ridden, has a psychological effect on children is not considered.

Also, the fact that three out of four adults in poverty actually work, but cannot make enough to get out of poverty and give their children hope for the future, is not pointed out by the critics.

To be poor is a terrible thing, but to be condemned and denounced by people who claim often to be “religious” is enough to make one wish to vomit at the disgrace of many people’s false beliefs and terrible attitudes toward those less fortunate. To kick one symbolically when they are down is reprehensible beyond belief! And it brings up the old saying: “There but for the grace of God go I!”

The Negatives Of Mitt Romney Growing, Making His Nomination For President Less Likely Scenario!

Ronald Leave a comment

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has long been thought to be the frontrunner for the Republican Presidential nomination, but as we get closer to the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire primary, about a month from now, his problems and challenges are growing rapidly!

Romney is now seen as very vulnerable in many different ways, including:

1. Romney may be respected, but is not loved, as Time Magazine reports this week.

2. Romney, being a Mormon, a subject he tries to avoid discussing, is becoming a growing issue to many evangelical Christians and other Protestant religious groups, who feel that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a cult, and not Christian, but instead a phony religion.

3. Romney, being extremely wealthy (estimated $250 million minimum) comes across as part of the elite, the one percent, as one of “them” against the rest of us, and with his comments advocating the destruction of the auto industry in Michigan and elsewhere, his support of accelerating home foreclosures, and his bad joke about being “unemployed” , that image is hard to overcome.

4. Romney, being from the Northeast, and specifically Massachusetts, a Democratic state, is unappealing to a party which gets its major support from the South, Midwest and Mountain West.

5. Romney has an image of being a moderate, in fact to some as liberal, due to his support of a state health care plan in Massachusetts, which became a model for Barack Obama’s push for health care reform, and Romney cannot escape that image and advocacy no matter how hard he tries.

6. Having moved from liberal to moderate viewpoints when first running against Senator Ted Kennedy unsuccessfully in 1994, and then successfully for Governor in 2002, and now claiming to be a conservative who has completely transformed himself and his views, he comes across as a massive “flip flopper”, possibly one of the greatest such cases in American history, and therefore, is seen as not genuine, not honest, not believable, not reliable that he will keep the views he now professes.

7. Romney comes across as arrogant, haughty, not liking to be challenged, snobby, and seemingly believing he is “entitled” to be the next Repubiican nominee as the so called “next in waiting” runner up candidate in the past, just like John McCain in 2008 and Bob Dole in 1996.

So Mitt Romney is in deep trouble, and many are starting to think he may not be the GOP nominee for President in 2012!

Newt Gingrich: The “Flame Thrower” Thinks He Can Unite America! The Master Of Deception And Duplicity!

Ronald Leave a comment

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is clearly ahead in many public opinion polls for the Republican Presidential nomination, and contends he can “unite” America! Is there any more ridiculous assertion than that from the original Congressional “flame thrower”?

Newt has made his career on dividing people, using nasty tactics, a “taking no prisoners” approach, a master of deception and duplicity, issuing reckless statements, advocating unethical and illegal ideas, and fooling people when he actually practices what he preaches!

Ask those who were part of the Republican Revolution of 1994, when Gingrich led the GOP into House control, as to whether they support their former leader and comrade, and you then know how much they became disillusioned with him, and brought ethics violations against him in 1998, and forced him out as Speaker of the House after a tumultuous four years.

Ask those who know him best as to his hypocrisy, and willingness to sacrifice anyone in his mad quest for attention and power, and you discover he has few friends in the political establishment.

As President, he would be full of ideas and talk more to the people than anyone in modern Presidential history, but he would very quickly be seen as abusing his powers as President, alienate Congress even if it was a Republican majority, engage us in multiple foreign wars as George W. Bush did, expand federal authority over our lives in social terms and eavesdropping, and make the Supreme Court so right wing that it would be a hopeless situation for anyone who is not rich and powerful, for the next thirty years!

Newt Gingrich may be engaging personally, but he is obnoxious, egotistical, narcissistic, infuriating, and dangerous to the reputation of the Presidency, and the civil liberties and civil rights of the American people!

He must be stopped at all costs as a threat to America’s image in the world and to our own self image. He would be worse than Richard Nixon, although in some ways, he resembles the former President in tactics and mentality!

Ron Paul: The “Secret Weapon” Of Barack Obama In 2012!

Ronald Leave a comment

Texas Congressman Ron Paul is Barack Obama’s “Secret Weapon” in the Presidential Election of 2012.

Ron Paul is the steady candidate, constantly improving his standing in the public opinion polls nationally, and in Iowa and New Hampshire polls.

He is the burr in everyone’s back, including Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, and was an annoyance earlier to Rick Perry, critical of his home state governor in GOP debates when Perry was soaring.

He could take away the chance of Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney to win Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively, without himself winning the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

He could be the “bridesmaid”, instead of the “bride”. He is like someone’s uncle who is always present to annoy, but not able to take the number one spot.

With his libertarian economic and social viewpoints, and his anti interventionist (some say isolationist) foreign policy, Ron Paul CANNOT win the Republican nomination or win the Presidency, but he can decide, by being the annoyance in the race, who does win the nomination.

And then, it is clear that a repudiated Ron Paul could very well run a third party candidacy, as he did as the Libertarian Party candidate for President way back in 1988. Ron Paul is NOT a typical politician, never has been, but has a very loyal following among his supporters, many of whom are young and fanatical about him. He brings a different image to the race, totally different in so many ways from all of the other Republican candidates for the White House.

If Paul runs on a third party, he has the potential to take 5 to 7 percent of the vote, and be a spoiler for the Republican nominee.

No matter how one looks at it, Barack Obama is the ultimate beneficiary of a Ron Paul second or third place finish in Iowa and New Hampshire, and of an independent candidacy!

Four “McCain” States Which Could Be Won By Barack Obama In 2012

Ronald Leave a comment

A lot of attention is being given to the idea that President Barack Obama could lose some of the “swing states” that he won in the Presidential Election of 2008–including Virginia, North Carolina and Florida in the South; New Hampshire and Pennsylvania in the Northeast; Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota in the Midwest; and Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada in the Mountain West.

While it is true that he could lose some of these states, what is less recognized and talked about is the potential for Barack Obama to win FOUR states which went to John McCain–Georgia with 16 electoral votes, Missouri with 10 electoral votes, Arizona with 11 electoral votes, and Texas with 38 electoral votes–therefore a possible total of 75 electoral votes!

This is not saying Obama is certain to win any of the four states listed above, but it is POSSIBLE, primarily because of the growing Hispanic and Latino population in Georgia, Arizona and Texas, and because Missouri was lost by only about 4,000 votes! Missouri is the state which has always gone with the winner in Presidential elections since 1900, with only two exceptions–1956 when Adlai Stevenson defeated President Eisenhower by about 4,000 votes, and then in 2008 when Senator John McCain also won by about 4,000 votes over President Obama!

The odds would seem better in Missouri first and Georgia second, much less likely in Arizona, and a long shot in Texas. Certainly, in theory, these states are much more likely to go Democratic in future years, as the Republicans are losing the future with their anti immigrant philosophy and rhetoric.

So the Presidential Election of 2012 has not only FOURTEEN states as “swing states”, but also possibly another FOUR, making it a total of EIGHTEEN states which will be the focus of most of the political campaigning and advertising over the next eleven months!

The Growing Surge Of Newt Gingrich, And The Growing Likelihood Of Independent Presidential Candidacies Of Ron Paul And Jon Huntsman!

Ronald Leave a comment

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich looks more than ever the likely Republican nominee for President as a result of recent events and likely scenarios.

He received the endorsement of the Manchester Union Leader in New Hampshire.

He received the backing of two major Iowa newspapers this week.

It is thought likely, with the removal of Herman Cain from the race, that Gingrich will receive most of his support.

It is also thought likely that Cain will endorse Gingrich before the Iowa caucuses.

It is also likely that Donald Trump will endorse Gingrich after the December 27 debate to be moderated by Trump.

And Gingrich is ahead in the Iowa polls, and if he wins that race, we may see some of the other candidates withdraw, and it seems certain that such candidates as Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann would prefer Gingrich over Mitt Romney as the GOP nominee, and would endorse him.

Only Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman would be unlikely to back Gingrich, and both might be considering third party or independent runs for the White House.

Interestingly, ONLY Paul and Huntsman are refusing to take part in the charade, the circus, the farce known as the Trump debate on December 27. This says a lot about the GOP race, that only these two men can really be seen as principled and consistent in their views, whether one likes them or not! They are not going to spend time flattering the ego of Donald Trump!

The Bizarre Ending Of The Herman Cain Presidential Campaign

Ronald 1 Comment

Herman Cain has “suspended” his Presidential campaign, while conceding nothing about the sexual harassment and long term liaison charges lodged against him.

He has invoked God and patriotism, the usual way that Republicans go when they are out to protect their rear flank!

He was able to convince his wife to be there on the platform in Georgia, cheering him on with every sentence of his statement, and proving to be an embarrassment to womanhood that she would be so willing to subjugate herself for her “man”, when in her heart of hearts, she has to know that she is married to a liar, a cheater, an egotist, a braggart, a “windbag”, who has no substance, knows nothing about any topic in public affairs, and is totally unqualified to be anything more than a motivational speaker, since one can always find a gullible audience to be mesmerized by the power of good speech delivery, no matter what propaganda or bull is promoted in the speaking before such an audience!

This man calls himself a “common man” because of his difficult childhood, but he has forgotten what being in poor circumstances means, as he has joined a party that only cares about the wealthy, and having had the good fortune to gain wealth through corporate connections over the years, he is now quite wealthy, and cares not a whit about those he has left behind!

Herman Cain is only about Herman Cain, and his new website is just another way to enrich himself, and satisfy his craving for constant attention and a sense of having power and influence!

And one can be assured that he has not learned from his nightmare last month of accusations from various women, and that he will engage again and again in inappropriate behavior with women, while his wife acts like a “Stepford Wife”, an embarrassment to herself and all women who have any sense of propriety and self esteem, and would throw overboard a cheating adulterer as Herman Cain is!

Herman Cain also said that he would endorse a candidate for President, and it is clear that he will back his good “friend”, Newt Gingrich, since the two men get along well, and actually participated in a Lincoln-Douglas style debate in the past month, one that made very little news!

Certainly, Cain will not back Mitt Romney, who he indirectly referred to, when he said a “common man” without money or a Harvard pedigree as he is, can still become a success.

He will not back Rick Perry, who he accused a month ago of spreading the rumors about sexual harassment, although he had no evidence that he ever presented to prove that was so!

Cain has little association with Jon Huntsman, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann or Ron Paul, so Gingrich will “benefit” from the endorsement, if that endorsement means anything!

In any case, with Herman Cain suspending his race, one can say “Good Riddance”, unless maybe Herman Cain decides with his new website to form a third party movement, further complicating the Presidential race!

American Unemployment At Two And A Half Year Low: The Tide Is Finally Turning, But Could Be Reversed By Republican Obstructionism In Congress!

Ronald Leave a comment

Finally, real progress is being made on unemployment, with the rate last month dropping to 8.6 percent, the lowest since March 2009, when everything was collapsing economically, due to the Bush administration disaster financially, just as Barack Obama took over the Presidency!

There is a long way to go, and no one is saying a miracle will occur in the next eleven months, but what can be detrimental would be for Congress to refuse to keep the payroll tax cut, which put $1000 into the pockets of the average taxpayer, and a continuation of the unemployment compensation benefit to the long term unemployed, who are rapidly become homeless, as well as jobless, in the worst economy in 75 years!

But those two actions required before the end of the year seem to be moving toward failure, due to obstructionism by the Republicans in Congress, who seem ready to see taxes go UP for the middle and working classes, while refusing to raise one cent in the taxes on the top two percent! And the long term unemployed are being depicted as lazy and shiftless, a total disgrace to depict them as such!

So the Republicans could be working toward trying to undermine the economic recovery, because after all, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky made it clear that the major goal of the GOP was the defeat of a second term for President Barack Obama.

The American people, and particularly those in economic distress, are being abandoned, being thrown into the sea without a life preserver, with any conscience by the Republican Party, which only concerns itself with the wealthy and the corporations and unbridled capitalism!

The bright spot in all this is the belief that the Republican stand will harm them in the Congressional Elections Of 2012! But meanwhile, there will be millions of victims, as a result!