But Standard's Hayes Thinks Christie MAY Run

Stephen F. Hayes of  the Weekly Standard admits that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie doesn't want to run for President but still says there's a possibility that Christie may run if Congressman Paul Ryan doesn't run.
According to Hayes, Christie and Ryan had an extensive telephone conversation about the GOP presidential race and the two of them agreed that they are disappointed that no one among the current crop of Republican candidates has adequately addressed the mounting US deficit -- not the way it ought to be addressed; not with Christie's bluntness and not with Ryan's mastery of facts and figures.
Ryan (the technician) feels he's got the solution. Christie (the activator) feels that he's demonstrated so far in New Jersey that he can get it done.*
So, the way Hayes explains it, Christie told Ryan he doesn't want to run but he feels somebody must take this issue and run with it. And Hayes leads us to believe that Christie would support Ryan if Ryan did just that.
And Christie's not the only one who's been encouraging Ryan. Similar encouragement has been coming from Karl Rove, Jeb Bush, Senators Ron Johnson and John Cornyn, Bill Bennett and other mainstream Republicans and heavy hitters.
We're told that Ryan will probably make up his mind about this sometime during the coming week.
As for Christie, Hayes indicates he's waiting to see what Ryan does.
Click here to read what Hayes has to say.
*BTW: What about a Ryan-Christie or Christie-Ryan ticket?

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Here We Go Again: Is Christie Running?

And so people keep asking me: Is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie running for President?
Why is this happening -- again?
Well, just within the past 48 hours Karl Rove has been suggesting that Christie may be leaving his options open; that he may indeed jump into the fray. Rove says that Sarah Palin, Paul Ryan and Chris Christie could all be late entries into the GOP field.
Look, Chris Christie's not dumb. He's a damned good politician. He knows that none of the current GOP candidates have really seemed to catch on so far. None have really lit a bonfire. He pays attention. And he can read the poll numbers just like anyone else.
A good politician keeps his options open.
But, you respond:  "Christie has said he's not running and there's nothing that could get him to run. Hasn't he closed the door to a presidential run?"
Verbally, he has. And I do believe that in his own mind he's 90% sure he's not running -- maybe even 95%. That's quite certain. And I don't expect Chris Christie to be a candidate this year.
Plus, I believe Christie when he says he's still looking for a candidate to back for the GOP nomination. I take him at his word. I can understand that none of the candidates may have really captivated him so far.
Considering that, it makes sense that Christie must sometimes look at the field and think to himself: "Damn, I can be a better candidate than any of 'em."
So, there's a teeny, tiny, really narrow crack left open in the window (and I stress, just a narrow crack) when it comes to Christie and the presidential race this year.
But there are other factors. And what's more likely is that Christie will hitch his wagon to a GOP star. He'll endorse someone for president.
The Governor believes the next president should have executive experience. And, he's partial to governors.
I don't think Christie would tend to favor Palin. Just not the right chemistry there.
Which means we're looking at either Perry or Romney. Remember this: Christie rose to prominence in politics as a Bush bundler. He raised a ton of money for George W. Bush. And Christie's pal, Bill Palatucci has close ties to the Bushes. Factor in that there is no love lost between the Bushes and Rick Perry. Recall that in 1988 when George H. W. Bush was seeking the GOP nomination for president, Rick Perry was a Democrat and chaired the presidential effort of Al Gore in Texas.
Word is that there's bad blood between the Bush family and Perry.
Which brings us to Romney. Mitt Romney was an early supporter of Chris Christie here in New Jersey. He championed Christie's cause, even before Christie snagged the Republican nomination.
I was there in Haddonfield on a bright sunny day in May, 2009 when Romney endorsed Christie on the steps of the Haddonfield borough hall on Kings Highway. I reported it right here.

“I’m convinced the challenges facing New Jersey and the rest of the country can be overcome with courageous leadership. Chris Christie is a strong conservative voice for balanced budgets, low taxes and more jobs. He will bring badly-needed change to state government,” Romney said at that time.
“By electing Chris Christie, the people of New Jersey will be taking a giant step toward a brighter and more prosperous future,” Romney added.
Romney was right. He bet on a winner.
Now, I've got to believe that Romney & Co. are seeking to collect on that bet.
At a critical place and time -- at just the right place and just the right moment -- Mitt Romney hopes to stand next to Christie (just as Christie once stood next to Romney) and receive Christie's endorsement for president.
And assuming things fall into place (always a big assumption in politics) that may yet happen.

Stay tuned . . . .
Photo copyright 2009 by Dan Cirucci

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Some Now Hope Hillary Will Challenge Obama

Some Democrats are now expressing more than buyer's remorse over President Obama.
And they're doing more than simply biting their elbows.
They're beginning to hope -- aloud -- that Hillary Clinton will actually jump into the 2012 presidential race and challenge Obama from within his own party. They're hoping against hope that this will happen. They feel that betrayed, that desperate.
Here's a snippet from a story in London's Telegraph:

Gary Pearce, a Democratic strategist in North Carolina, a swing state Mr Obama is likely to struggle to retain in 2012, said: "Democrats are worried. He looks weak, he doesn't say anything that grabs you, and people are looking for some kind of magic."
He said some activists were asking "do we need someone tougher to fight the tea party?" "You see a yearning for a Bill Clinton-type approach and Hillary would reflect that. Obama is just a different political animal, he is a low-key guy," he added.
Mr Obama's approval rating has fallen dramatically since the killing of Osama bin Laden in early May, and he has failed to outline a vision for how he will improve chronic unemployment and a housing market in which one if five mortgage holders are in negative equity.
A 2012 primary challenge by Mrs Clinton is currently regarded as unlikely, but growing number of party activists and old hands are hoping that she changes her mind.

Click here for more on this story.

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Re: Hillary; We're Tempted To Ask "What If?"

I remember the night of the Pennsylvania presidential primary in 2008.
I stood in the ballroom of the Hyatt at the Bellevus as Hillary Clinton triumphed and came to chive the adulation of her friends and supporters.
Just a few moments before that I saw Clinton insider Lanny Davis as he scurried across the room and for once he allowed himself a smile. "It looks good," he told me "real good."
The roar was loud. But the evening was bittersweet.
As I glanced at many Democrat friends of mine in the crowd, I knew -- and, on some level, they knew -- that in the overall scheme of things Hillary's impressive triumph that evening (against formidable odds) would make no difference.
The handwriting was on the wall.
The Democrat super delegates (party office holders and bigwigs) all but delivered to Obama. Even as Hillary smiled and waved, the die was cast. In fact, the Obama people boasted about their "juggernaut." So confident was Team Obama that they had already departed Pennsylvania. That now-familiar Obama strut was on it's way to Denver, and then to the White House.
Now, the Daily Beast reports Democrats are beginning to seriously regret choosing President Obama over Hillary Clinton in 2008.
Well, I TRIED to tell some Obama-crazed friends back in 2008 but there was no talking to most of them. They were in a virtual daze. They took leave of their senses.
Still, There were a few who stood with Hillary to the bitter end. They knew. They understood that nothing less than the future of our country was at stake.
Here's a loving shoutout to those who kept their heads.
For now, we can only ask: "What if . . . . . ?"

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Washington Post: Tea Party A Winner

The Washington Post has listed the Tea Party among the top winners in the debt deal. Here's how the Post puts it:

"There were major questions coming into the 112th Congress about who would blink first — the largely establishment-aligned leaders of the new Republican House majority or the tea-party-aligned freshman members. We got our answer to that question late Thursday as House Speaker John Boehner was forced not only to postpone his compromise bill but ultimately to add conservative sweeteners to get the 217 votes he needed. (He got 218.) The tea party — inside and outside Congress — will almost certainly be emboldened by the result of this fight."

Click here for more "winners" and "losers."

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Noonan: Nobody Loves Obama

Peggy Noonan has a great observation in the Wall Street Journal on why Obama seems so disconnected and irrelevant just now. Here's part of what she says:

"Nobody loves Obama. This is amazing because every president has people who love him, who feel deep personal affection or connection, who have a stubborn, even beautiful refusal to let what they know are just criticisms affect their feelings of regard. At the height of Bill Clinton's troubles there were always people who'd say, "Look, I love the guy." They'd often be smiling—a wry smile, a shrugging smile. Nobody smiles when they talk about Mr. Obama. There were people who loved George W. Bush when he was at his most unpopular, and they meant it and would say it. But people aren't that way about Mr. Obama. He has supporters and bundlers and contributors, he has voters, he may win. But his support is grim support. And surely this has implications."

Once again, Peggy has hit the mark.
Obama is a cold fish. "No drama" Obama doesn't seem to make real-life, personal connections with people. He doesn't really endear himself to people. He's strangely disconnected. Often he seems aloof and above it all -- almost as if taking the time to care about and get involved with people, one on one, is just too much trouble for him or too mundane, too pedestrian, too boring.
Let's face it: If a politician isn't a "people person" what the hell good is he or she. In the end, such a person is bound to fail.
So now Obama is failing. No one should be surprised. What's incredible is that he's gotten this far almost solely on image and faux branding.

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Democrat David Wu Resigns Amidst Sex Scandal

Well, another Democrat has just bit the dust.
Democratic Rep. David Wu (Ore.) resigned from the House today, just days after news broke that He had been accused of having an “unwanted sexual encounter” with a teenage girl.
The Taiwanese-born Wu, 56 said he was stepping down to protect his family while he responds to “these very serious allegations.”
Wu is the second congressional Democrat rp resign in recent months amidst a sex scandal. His resignation follows on the heels of that of Congressman Anthony Weiner of New York.

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How A Beautiful Bromance Went Bust

IT SEEMED THE MOST unlikely romance imaginable. One, a Democrat; the other, a Republican. One a (nominal) liberal; the other a (sometimes) conservative. One a high-school grad and labor organizer; the other a successful lawyer with key contacts in the business sector. One an advocate for government; the other a tough prosecutor who sent corrupt government officials to jail. One a Phillies fan; the other a Mets fan. One from bustling North Jersey; the other from more rural South Jersey.
And yet, it seemed to work. These two certified Big Guys somehow managed to wrap their arms around one another and feel a connection. It was as if actors James Gandolfini and Kevin James had suddenly fallen in love and wanted the whole world to know about it.
But it wasn't . . . . . 
Click here to read the rest of my column from today's Philadelphia Daily News.

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Capozzi 'Disappointed' With Legal Ruling; Evaluating

Here is an important statement from Philadelphia City Council candidate Barbara Capozzi:

We are surprised and disappointed at the Judge's ruling denying us any opportunity to make our case in Court. My lawyers believe that we had a strong set of provable facts that would have shown significant irregularities in the election.
Our legal team will determine the next steps.
Thank You,
Barbara Capozzi

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NJ Labor Leaders: We're United, No Matter What

New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council President Bill Mullen made following statement today:

"The New Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council has made its choices of candidates we will ask our members to support this November. These are candidates who have spent their lives and careers advancing the labor movement, and who have made New Jersey one of the nation's most pro-labor states.

"Now, unions within the NJ State AFL-CIO will seek to use one vote to discredit and dismiss the entire pro-labor lives of many of these excellent candidates. We will not let that happen.

"New Jersey's building trades are proud to stand with Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Donald Norcross, Assemblyman John Amodeo and the many other worthy candidates who did not follow the NJ State AFL-CIO's wishes on one issue. If the NJ State AFL-CIO is going to let one vote dictate who is and who is not going to get their endorsement, the Building & Construction Trades Council unanimously have agreed to continue to stand together and walk out of their convention alongside our Building Trades Legislators. We will not stand idly by and watch the NJ State AFL-CIO do what we have fought a lifetime against....endorse on one vote. Our 150,000 members know who is on their side.

"We recognize that being pro-labor is about a lifetime of dedication on a broad range of issues important to our livelihoods, our members, their families and our state. That the NJ State AFL-CIO would consider not endorsing the building trades legislators is a disgrace. More importantly, labor stands with labor, period."

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RNC: Investigate Obama White House Fundraising

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus today called on the Department of Justice to investigate whether or not President Barack Obama broke federal election laws by conducting illegal political fundraising activity in the White House.
A fundraising video featuring the President appears to have been recorded in the Map Room which is not part of the White House residence, but rather “occupied in the discharge of official duties.” According to federal law, it is a crime for the President of the United States to solicit political contributions in a place of official government business.
Chairman Priebus has asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for the Department of Justice to investigate the matter to determine if, in fact, federal laws were broken by President Obama.
Below are excerpts from Chairman Priebus’ letter to Attorney General Holder:

"It is with grave concern that I write to request a Department of Justice investigation into an apparent crime committed by President Barack Obama. On or about June 27, 2011, Obama for America Campaign Manager Jim Messina sent an email message containing an announcement he said President Obama wanted to make personally.  The message solicited funds for a raffle, of which the winner would have the opportunity to have dinner with President Obama and Vice-President Biden.  “If you haven’t yet thrown your name in the hat for this thing,” Mr. Messina wrote, “I have a feeling this announcement might change that.” Embedded in Mr. Messina’s message was a video of President Obama, along with a link to a website through which donors could enter the raffle by making contributions to the President’s reelection campaign …
"According to multiple individuals with knowledge of the White House’s rooms and layout, the video appears to have been recorded in the Map Room.  According to news reports, however, the White House Counsel has indicated that the video was filmed somewhere in the residential portion of the White House …
"As Chairman of the Republican National Committee, I have the responsibility to hold the President accountable for his reckless spending, for the unsustainable growth of government and the crushing debt he is leaving for future generations of Americans, and now, sadly, for his apparent criminal behavior.  I never expected I would be in this regrettable position, but the President’s conduct and the White House staff’s stonewalling leave me no choice …"

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Crunch Time: Team Obama Getting Testy

The word from inside the Beltway is that Mr. Cool & Co. are starting to sweat.
And, they're getting testy.
Ohhh, yeah . . . economic numbers and prospects are apparently not going to be what Team Obama thought they would be. This is not the kind of climate they thought they'd be facing as they move into 2012 campaign mode.
It doesn't look good, folks.
Here's an excerpt from the National Journal:

It’s been a rough June for the White House. Instead of being able to run a campaign taking credit for economic improvement, President Obama will, according to the latest forecasts, be trying to win four more years amid a grim economy next year. The president’s reelection team, once hoping to run on a “Morning in America” theme now doesn’t have that luxury.  No wonder, the president’s advisers over the past month have been making moves that suggest they’re awfully concerned about his prospects.

Click here to read more.

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Rove: Why Obama Is Likely To Lose In '12

In the Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove has a cogent analysis of President Obama's current predicament and his prospects in 2012. Here's how the column opens:

President Barack Obama is likely to be defeated in 2012. The reason is that he faces four serious threats. The economy is very weak and unlikely to experience a robust recovery by Election Day. Key voter groups have soured on him. He's defending unpopular policies. And he's made bad strategic decisions.

Click here to read the entire column.

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Capozzi Goes To Court In Election Battle

A special message from the campaign of Philadelphia's 2nd Council District candidate Barbara Capozzi:

Barbara Capozzi has received your outpouring of concerns, and has petitioned the Court of Common Pleas to investigate allegations of Election Day irregularities. Furthermore, we've been encouraged by many dedicated committee people and voters to pursue, on there behalf, the case of irregularities in the 2nd Councilmanic District.

The petition we submitted this week documents 31 accounts of ballot fraud, where Damon K. Roberts' name was illegally taped over in voting machines in the Second Council District. The petition specifically states that the widespread irregularities have compromised the results of the election. "...the results cannot be trusted to accurately reflect the will of the Democratic voters of the Second Council District to select their nominee for the City Council".
Our mission is to ensure accuracy of the count and address the concerns of 2D citizens who witnessed irregularities at the polls.
If you have not yet reported any irregularity that you yourself witnessed at your polling station, please kindly help us continue this investigation by sending the following information to info@capozziforcouncil.com:
 
NAME
ADDRESS
POLLING STATION LOCATION
IRREGULARITY WITNESSED
 
Thank you for your continued support as we help ensure the accuracy of the 2nd District Council election on May 17th.

We are proud to add our voice to Barbara's as we ask that all those who know of any election irregularities of any kind please come forward. Report what you know directly to the Capozzi campaign. This is an election that hangs on the thread of a mere 40 votes. Your cooperation is essential to our democracy. 

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Newt's Campaign A Train Wreck As Senior Staff Resigns

If it wasn't tough enough for Newt Gingrich to get the GOP nod for 2012, it just got a hellavuh lot tougher.

His entire senior staff - not just one, or a handful - but ALL of them just resigned.

That's right. ALL OF THEM!

Here's an excerpt from the AP Story:

Rick Tyler, Gingrich's spokesman, said he, campaign manager Rob Johnson and senior strategists had resigned, along with aides in the early primary and caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Other officials said Gingrich was informed that his entire high command was quitting in a meeting earlier in the day. They cited differences over the direction of the campaign but were not more specific.

The officials declined to be identified by name, saying they were not authorized to discuss private conversations.

And after all this, Newt still wants to run!

Take the hint. Get out while you still have some dignity left. You're just playing make-believe. You are not the candidate I want to see going up against Obama.

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Pennsylvania Voters To Obama: Get Lost

The Philadelphia Inquirer is out with the latest Susquehanna Poll which has scathing results for President Obama. It seems the Keystone State has soured on all that hopey/changey stuff. Here's an excerpt:

If President Obama got a “bounce” from the killing of Osama bin Laden among Pennsylvania voters, the benefit has since melted away.
A poll released Thursday by Susquehanna Polling & Research finds that the president is “upside down” in the state, with 48 percent of voters disapproving of his performance and 41 percent approving. The negative rating is 3 percentage points higher than the firm’s same poll in March. . . .
On the re-elect question, 43 percent of Pennsylvania voters say that Obama deserves a second term, while 50 percent say that it is “time to give someone else a chance.”

Click here to read the full story.

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Criticize Sarah Palin And Feel The Heat

So many people read my Philadelphia Daily News column about Sarah Palin yesterday (it was one of the most-read opinion pieces at philly.com) and it generated a huge number of comments both at the Daily News and at Lucianne.com where it also appeared.
Here is a cross section of unedited comments about the column -- and about me:

Palin is definitely unqualified. She's got no community organizing experience.

Usually, I agree with you Dan, but this time I disagree. Sarah Palin can talk to middle America, and she can energize the Republican Party like none of the other candidates. To say that Hillary Clinton is Presidential is to ignore the fact that she is a blatant liar. We have had too many of those in the White House. 

Palin is so stubborn in her stupidity that she is still insisting (on her Fox-only appearances) that she is right about Paul Revere. Stop defending this idiot. You should be shaming and shunning her for the betterment of the world. She is permanently ruining the Republican brand (further than Bush has). 


My theory: John McCain brought this 75 IQ out of oblivion and set it loose on the rest of the world because he knew that he already did his time in hell in a VC POW camp. I was hoping if we ignored it, it would go away and take its offspring with it.

The thought of Sarah Palin with her hand on 'that button' is far and away the scariest thought I've ever had. 

I grew up in Philadelphia and currently live in its suburbs. The Daily News is train/el reading material, i.e. quick and lightweight coverage of mostly local new with lots of sports talk and always only half-a-step away from a trash can. Mr. Cirucci sounds like a faux conservative trying to build up his street cred with the big-time Journ-O-listas who try to maim Palin. While sometimes repetition is an effective smear tactic, sometimes it boomerangs. Lately the boomerangs have been laying out their throwers quite nicely--especially when Sarah has been the primary target. The woman is remarkable. 

Spot on and describes her exactly. Not for prez, not ever. 

Daniel, Daniel. From what I see, Sarah has been heading for higher office from the day she resigned in a gutsy move to save the Alaska taxpayers and herself from the burdensome costs of fighting multiple frivoulous lawsuits. She just didn't send you the memo. Everything she has done since then has been purposeful and orderly. What has any other potential cnadidate done in the past 2 years to promote the greatness of American and address the significant distructive policies coming from Obama?  

Dopey Dan must have missed her Fox News Sunday interview.  

Dear Dan, You write like a high-schooler.  

The writer admits: I'm quite conservative and actually agree with you on a number of issues facing the nation and the world. But style is more important to him than substance. And her critics say she's stupid! I say, RUN, SARAH, RUN! 

Hillary is presidential, but Palin is not? And this author claims to be a conservative? Palin is a "polarizer"? Hey dummy! That is the point! We need to be polarized! You don't compromise with stupidity, you defeat it! This is a liberal who thinks he is something else. Disregard anything he says. 

Dear Sarah: Just say yes! You are the only one with balls!  

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Weiner: Not Thinking About Election

Weiner says the "last thing" he's thinking about today is the next election.
"This is a deep weakness that I have demonstrated."
Weiner says that some of the online relationships have "gone back for the past few years."
Weiner says that what is paramount now is taking care of his problem and "amking sure that this absolutely never happens again."
Weiner says that his wife has known about some of the online relationships since before he married her. "We spoke frankly about it," Weiner says. But he says his wife did not know all of the details -- the full story -- until this morning.
"I treated this as a frivolous thing and did not acknowledge that it was causing harm."
He says his wife was "not happy" about the situation but that she loves him and she very much wants to see them "pull through this."
His says there was "no physical relationship" involved in the online dalliances.
"I don't believe that I did anything that violates any law or violates my oath to my constituents."
Weiner repeats: "I've never has sex outside my marriage."
He adds: "I'm not making any excuses for my behavior." He says there was no substance abuse involved. "This was me doing a dumb thing."
"My wife is a remarkable women. She's not responsible for any of this. This was a personal failing of mine."
He says that his actions do not "reflect on my official duties."
He says his constituents will have to decide whether he remains in office. He says that all of the women that he chatted with "were adults and were engaging in consensual behavior."
"I wasn't telling the truth. I lied. It was dishonorable."
He describes the situation as an "aberration from what I learned."

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Weiner Admits He Lied; "I'm Sorry."

Weiner admits he lied.
He says "The picture was of me and I sent it."
"Never actually met any of these women," though.
Congresmman is choked up.
"I'm deeply sorry. I apologize to my wife, family, friends and supporters.
"I accept full responsibility. I deeply regret what I've done but I am not resigning."
Weiner says he trusts the people of his district to make their own judgment about him. "I should not have done this. I should not have done this."
"It was wrong. I regret it."
Weiner cannot deny that x-rated photos of him are out there.
"I love my wife very much and we have no intention of splitting up over this. I love her and she loves me."
"This was a very destructive thing to do. But it wasn't part of my plan to be deceitful to you," he tells the media.

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Weiner Will NOT Announce Resignation

Still waiting for Anhtony Weiner to hold his news conference and make his statement.
But Fox News is now reporting that Weiner will NOT resign today.

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