Caffeinated Thoughts |
- Governor Tim Pawlenty Offers Pizza and Politics in Newton Iowa
- Michele Bachmann Makes Statement in 2012 Republican Money Race
- Rick Santorum Commits to First Presidential Debate, But is He a Candidate?
- Rand Paul Visits Iowa, Is He Really Thinking About 2012?
- Afghanistan Protest Over Quran Burning Turns Violent, UN Staff Killed.
- Haley Barbour Running Seems Unlikely
- Christians and Politics: George Barna and David Barton Weigh In
| Governor Tim Pawlenty Offers Pizza and Politics in Newton Iowa Posted: 02 Apr 2011 01:16 AM PDT
Pawlenty tipped his hand to one possible strategy in Iowa by finishing his speech with a jab at his leading Republican opponents, though he claimed Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment[1] mantle during the question and answer session. Pawlenty said "if you look at the conservative coalition: that is economic conservatives, and social conservatives, and Tea Party slash Libertarian conservatives, and national defense/security conservatives. You don't have to hyphenate all those for me because I'm the conservative that's all of those things and I admire and respect all the other people who may be running in this race but most, particularly the ones who will be the serious contenders that are gonna appeal mostly to one or maybe one-and-a-half of those categories, but I have the ability to appeal to the whole continuum. And I've got the record to back it up in Minnesota….I did it in the land of Humphrey, Mondale, Wellstone, McCarthy, Ventura, and now U.S. Senator, Al Franken." After the speech, Governor Pawlenty answered questions for another thirty minutes. Highlights: On Energy Policy, Two Words: "More American Energy" Natural gas is the most important source of energy for the near future. Pawlenty is also willing to pursue drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), Alaska, and in off-shore locations, if the neighboring states approved. On Entitlement Reform: New or newer entrants to the Social Security program will have their age of retirement raised. He also supports means testing of SS to limit cost-of-living adjustments for the really wealthy. He is the only governor to get an "A" rating from the CATO Institute. Not in favor of reducing defense spending. He wants a modern payment system in Medicare based on medical outcomes, rather than historical costs. On abolishing the Department of Education: Refused to commit to that, though he appears to agree in substance when he says education falls under the 10th Amendment referring to state's rights, and that as much as possible, these choices should be made by states and parents. On requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions: "I think having some limitations on not allowing insurance companies to discriminate against people who have been previously sick is appropriate….We don't want people to be able to say well I'm uninsured and now I got sick and now I want insurance; but if you have been previously sick, I think you have to have the ability to get insurance, I don't think you should be penalized because you have been sick before in your life." When pressed later, on the likely necessary trade-off of forcing insurers to cover previous conditions by mandating everyone to have insurance, he suggested that it would be paid for by shifting the cost to everyone else, and he did not address how you stop people from demanding insurance after they find out they are sick. In private, he finally said that he would not have the federal government mandate coverage of pre-existing conditions. I think politicians open themselves up to criticism when they don't confine themselves to addressing what they think the federal role is on these issues or at least make the distinction of roles clearer. On the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP): "I don't support it". (There is some dispute on whether this is a flip from an earlier position where Pawlenty used the "too-big-to-fail" argument defending the bailouts during a National Press Club appearance in 2008). On Taxes: Believes that every member of Congress should have to fill out his or her own tax returns in order to understand the complexity of the bills they pass. [1] Do not speak ill of other Republicans.                  |
| Michele Bachmann Makes Statement in 2012 Republican Money Race Posted: 01 Apr 2011 11:00 PM PDT
Presidential candidates are legally allowed to transfer money from a campaign committee to a presidential campaign. They can't transfer money from a PAC. This gives Bachmann a distinct advantage over the first quarter fundraising runner-up, former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) who raised $1.8 Million for his Free and Strong America PAC. None of that money can be transferred to a presidential campaign. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, and Former Speaker Newt Gingrich all face the same issue… they have not reported their fundraising numbers yet. Former Godfather's CEO Herman Cain and Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty both have formed Presidential Exploratory Committees and they can fundraise, but they have not yet disclosed their fundraising efforts. Also Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) at the end of last year had $1.8 Million in the bank,, but he has not shown the same fundraising ability that Bachmann possesses. Bachmann's fundraising effort in the first quarter follows up her record-breaking House reelection campaign effort where she raised over $13.5 Million the most ever raised for a Congressional District race. So at the start of the 2012 Iowa Caucus season, Congressman Michele Bachmann looks incredibly strong. **Photo by Dave Davidson Share and Enjoy: |
| Rick Santorum Commits to First Presidential Debate, But is He a Candidate? Posted: 01 Apr 2011 10:41 PM PDT Former Sen. Rick Santorum announced that he would participate in the first debate of the presidential primary season, a May 5 face-off in Greenville sponsored by the South Carolina Republican Party and Fox News Channel. Santorum has yet to announce a run for the GOP nomination and hasn’t even set up an exploratory committee. I can’t say for sure that this is a first, but in 2008 all those who participated in the first debates were already either announced candidates or had formed an exploritory committee. Even the late comer Fred Thompson, who did not announce until June remained out of the debates until September. May 5th is fast approaching, with many of the potential high profile names yet to announce, there is some question if the initial debates will be beneficial or if they are just too early in a year that hasn’t seen nearly the activity as was seen in 2007. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation must have been wondering the same thing when they announced that it is moving its “Reagan Centennial GOP Presidential Primary Candidates Debate” from May 2 to Sept. 14, 2011. But if there was any doubt if Santorum was in, he is in. He adds his name to those who have already announced or set up an exploratory committee. That list includes: Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Herman Cain, Buddy Roemer, Fred Karger and now Rick Santorum. Share and Enjoy: |
| Rand Paul Visits Iowa, Is He Really Thinking About 2012? Posted: 01 Apr 2011 09:50 PM PDT I must admit, even as a supporter of his father, Ron Paul, when Rand’s name started to be thrown around a few weeks ago, as a potential 2012 GOP presidential nominee, I was pretty skeptical. I found it hard to believe that a freshman senator with barely a few months under his belt would be seriously contemplating a run. But considering our current president began running not long after his ascension to the senate, it may not be too far fetched an idea. Two weeks ago he visited South Carolina, an early primary state. He has plans to visit New Hampshire later this month. Tonight, he was here in Iowa City. When asked about the possibility he says that he has not ruled it out, and the only decision he has made is that he will not run against his father, Ron Paul. Having defeated a republican establishment candidate in the Kentucky Primary, he may be just what people are looking for in the anti-establishment tea party era of the Republican party. Of the many candidates who were referred to as tea party candidates, he was one of the few that were successful in their attempt at running for office, he is now a member of the “tea party caucus” on the hill. I won’t give a name until I have permission to, but one of the 2nd congressional district GOP primary candidates was in attendance and posted shortly there after on facebook the following:
Although I remain skeptical, that certainly got my attention. I agree that we are very likely to see at least one Paul in the race, but which will it be? Ron Paul certainly has more name ID, more support from the liberty movement, has been making frequent trips to early primary/caucus states, has been courting more of the social conservative Republican base, and has some friends in high places (Iowa GOP central Committee), but it ain’t no secrete he is getting older. He will have to hand down the movement to a predecessor at some point, and it is difficult to tell what the future holds, now may be that time. Many of the assets at the Sr Paul’s disposal could certainly be “passed on” to the younger Paul. Those in the liberty movement were certainly very skeptical of Rand initially, he came out as a Hawk when it came to foreign policy. But since that time he has spoken out strongly against the intervention in Libya, sounding much like his father. Foreign policy is one of the key driving forces behind Ron Paul’s success. Rand Paul has also come out very strong when it comes to limiting the scope of government and returning to a somewhat more fiscally responsible budget. While his Republican coworkers in the congress were struggling to come up with $50 billion to cut from a massive 1.4trillion dollar deficit, Rand came out with a bold $500Billion dollar cut proposal. With neither yet announcing their intentions, we are left to speculate. Is Ron laying the groundwork for Rand, or is Rand helping out his father? Only time will tell, but either way I think they will make a great team. Two |
| Afghanistan Protest Over Quran Burning Turns Violent, UN Staff Killed. Posted: 01 Apr 2011 06:14 PM PDT  The deadliest attack against the UN in Afghanistan since 2001 occurred today as protests over a Florida Pastor’s Quran burning turned violent. The attack occurred in Mazar-i-Sharif and the fatalities included 7 UN workers, consisting of 3 civilians and 4 Nepalese security guards from a private firm, as well as 5 of the attackers. As you may recall, last summer an American Pastor from an extremely small church in Florida made headlines over his plan to burn the Quran. He got more than his 15 mins of fame over the deal, and eventually cooler heads prevailed and the burning was put to an end…at least temporarily. According to CNN:
There is something ironic about the whole situation. The church put on trial an inanimate object for the crime of “causing murder, rape, and terrorism”. They then burned the Quran, a move that they were warned and knew had the high likelihood of inflaming anger, causing violence, and costing lives. Now, obviously, there is no excuse for what the murderers did in Afghanistan, they should be held accountable in a court of law. But, the act by this pastor and church should also be condemned. Knowingly and purposefully inciting anger by defaming another religion’s symbols is wrong. I am currently reading Allah: A Christian Response by Miroslav Wolf. While discussing the issue of the Dutch comic’s depiction of Muhammad that occured several years ago, he twice quotes Pope Benedict XVI. His wise words offered during that situation, fit just as well today: First, to those who think that burning the Quran and inciting hatred is acceptable:
And to those who are offended and would consider violence in return:
A time has come to end the “my religion can beat up your religion” rubbish. Share and Enjoy: |
| Haley Barbour Running Seems Unlikely Posted: 01 Apr 2011 03:30 PM PDT
If his family is that public about it can you imagine what they are saying in private? Perhaps I was wrong… maybe Governor Mike Huckabee is working on a Barbour endorsement instead of the other way around. Shocking, I know. Barbour is going to have to do some major convincing at home. Obviously if they aren't on board a campaign would be foolish. Share and Enjoy: |
| Christians and Politics: George Barna and David Barton Weigh In Posted: 01 Apr 2011 05:30 AM PDT I had the opportunity last week to interview Christian pollster (and author of a gazillion books) George Barna and Christian historian and founder of Wallbuilders, David Barton on behalf of KTIA Radio (99.3 FM/1260 AM) before the Iowa Renewal Project Conference in West Des Moines that was hosted by the American Family Association. I asked both should Christians be involved in politics and what that should look like. Watch below:
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