comMITTed to Romney!

Word came early this morning about the resignation of “Green” jobs czar, Van Jones.

Chalk up another Obama appointee getting thrown under the bus. As one wag said this morning, “Sure hope it’s a “green” bus.

~~John Cronin~~

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As a free market conservative, I never thought I would be among the first to raise a hue and cry for re-regulation, but that is exactly what I’m advocating. The monumental failures of former Wall St. titans Merrill Lynch and Lehman Bros., along with mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have demonstrated
beyond any reasonable doubt, that these institutions had virtually no internal controls. That being the case and considering the devastation they leave behind them when they fail, I feel that we must come to the conclusion that external controls are now necessary.

Even for those who don’t accept re-regulation with out stretched arms, considering the massive bailouts that have already been made and keeping in mind the much rumored commercial banks that may need to be rescued by the FDIC, what alternative do we have? As big as the Federal government is, it’s resources aren’t infinite. Unless someone just happens to have an extra trillion dollars just laying around, I don’t know what else we can do, but craft new legislation that will re-institute the kind of risk management that sophisticated money management firms are expected to employ on their own.

I read an article yesterday that came to the conclusion that “moral hazard” ( usually an insurance term ) has been re-introduced to the players of Wall Street. If you take big risks and the trades go south, you are on your own. The days of coming to the U.S. Treasury or lining up the limos outside the New York Fed are over.

~~John Cronin~~

By GLEN JOHNSON
Associated Press
September 15, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Wall Street turmoil underscores the need to overhaul “the outdated and ineffective patchwork quilt of regulatory oversight in Washington,” Republican presidential contender John McCain said Monday.

In a statement issued in advance of market openings, the Arizona senator said he agreed there should be no taxpayer-financed bailout of Lehman Brothers even as the investment banking giant faced the specter of liquidation. Meanwhile, Merrill Lynch was selling itself to Bank of America for less than half of the iconic brokerage firm’s recent value.

“It is essential for us to make sure that the U.S. remains the pre-eminent financial market of the world. This will be a highest priority of my administration. In order to do this, major reform must be made in Washington and on Wall Street,” McCain said in his statement.

He added: “The McCain-Palin administration will replace the outdated and ineffective patchwork quilt of regulatory oversight in Washington and bring transparency and accountability to Wall Street. We will rebuild confidence in our markets and restore our leadership in the financial world.”

Over the weekend, advisers both to McCain and Democratic rival Barack Obama said they did not favor a government bailout of Lehman Brothers like that previously provided to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The government also help engineer the recent sale of Bear Stearns Cos. to J.P. Morgan & Co.

“I am glad to see that the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department have said no to using taxpayer money to bailout Lehman Brothers, a position I have spoken about throughout this campaign,” said McCain. “We are carefully monitoring the financial markets, including the duress at Lehman Brothers that is the latest reminder of ineffective regulation and management. Efforts must also be focused on ensuring that the deposits of hardworking Americans are protected.”

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(AP)

SALT LAKE CITY — In a show of Republican unity, one-time bitter foes John McCain and Mitt Romney raised money and campaigned together Thursday for a single goal — getting McCain elected president.

“We are united. Now our job is to energize our party,” McCain said in an airport hanger, flanked by Romney and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., an early McCain supporter.

Both men have been mentioned as potential vice presidential picks, and while McCain praised each, he did not tip his hand on whether either was under consideration.

Romney, for his part, praised McCain and promised to do all that he could to help, saying: “He is a man who is proven and tested” and without question the right man to be president.

In February, Romney won 90 percent of the vote in Utah to McCain’s 5 percent. Romney’s ties to the state run deep, from his Mormon faith to his work overseeing the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

“Look, that wasn’t the only state I lost to Governor Romney in — it was just the largest loss,’ McCain said chuckling. He joked that it was abject humiliation that was understandable given Romney’s Utah links. “I was at least hoping to break into double digits though!”

“I think he did just fine in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, California …,” Romney said, laughing as well

McCain and Romney then headed to Denver for another fundraiser.

McCain, who has struggled to raise campaign money compared with Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, is on a weeklong western fundraising swing. Romney is popular in Utah and Colorado, states with large numbers of residents who are members of his Mormon faith.

The former Massachusetts governor dropped out of the race last month after it became apparent it would be near impossible to topple McCain in the convention delegate race. A week later, he endorsed the Arizona senator and pledged to do whatever he could to help McCain win the nomination.

Since then, McCain has praised Romney repeatedly as someone who is certain to continue playing a large role in the GOP. Romney, for his part, has suggested that he’d accept the No. 2 spot on the ticket, though some Republicans privately speculate that he’s looking ahead to 2012 and a possible repeat run.

Neither man appeared especially fond of the other during the campaign. Romney cast McCain as outside of the GOP’s conservative mainstream and a Washington insider who contributed to the problems plaguing a broken system. McCain, in turn, argued that Romney’s equivocations and reversals on several issues indicated a willingness to change his positions to fit his political goals.

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Following is the opening paragraph to this AP article today:

John McCain accused Mitt Romney of wanting to withdraw troops from Iraq, drawing immediate protest from his Republican presidential rival who said: “That’s simply wrong and it’s dishonest, and he should apologize.”

John McCain coming out to blatantly lie like this smacks of complete desperation. John McCain cannot even remember what he says from day to day (see post just below) and now he is flat out lying about a fellow Republican. His new tactics: When in doubt, just lie.

For those who would like to see Governor Romney’s record on the subject (these are what we call facts), please continue reading:

GOVERNOR ROMNEY ON ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN IRAQ

Governor Romney Criticized Withdrawal Timetables And Instead Talked About Setting Metrics To Measure Progress:

Governor Romney: “You want to have a series of things you want to see accomplished in terms of the strength of the Iraqi military and the Iraqi police and the leadership of the Iraqi government.” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 4/3/07)

Governor Romney: “Could you imagine the setting where during the Second World War we said to the Germans, ‘Gee, if we haven’t reached the Rhine by this date why we’ll go home,’ or if we haven’t gotten this accomplished we’ll pull up and leave?” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 4/3/07)

Governor Romney Has Warned About Bringing American Troops Home Too Quickly:

Governor Romney: “Well, there’s no question we all want to see our troops home as soon as we can possibly have them home. But we have to recognize that if we bring them home too quickly or in a way which leads to a collapse of the country or perhaps the Iranians grabbing the Shia south or Al-Qaeda playing a dominating role among the Sunnis or a Kurdish population destabilizing the border with Turkey, you could then end up with a regional conflict which would cause Americans to somehow have to get involved again – this time at a much more ugly situation with more casualties.” (”Laura Ingraham Show,” 3/9/07)

Governor Romney: “I Don’t Think We Should Run Our Foreign Policy Based Upon Elections, Election Schedules Or Anything Of That Nature.” “But Mr. Romney said he did not agree with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, the New York Democrat, that President Bush needed to resolve the war he started before he left office and not hand it off to his successor, as she said while campaigning in Iowa on Sunday. ‘She can do what she likes – but I take exception to her conclusions,’” Mr. Romney said in an interview while campaigning across this state today. ‘I don’t think we should run our foreign policy based upon elections, election schedules or anything of that nature.’” (Adam Nagourney, “Romney: Clinton’s Wrong About Bush,” The New York Times, 1/29/07)

Governor Romney Has Consistently Said There Must Be “Clear Objectives And Milestones”:

Governor Romney Said There Must Be “Clear Objectives And Milestones” In Iraq. “This effort should be combined with clear objectives and milestones for U.S. and Iraqi leaders.” (Romney For President, “Governor Mitt Romney On Iraq,” Press Release, 1/10/07)

President Bush Has Himself Talked About The Importance Of Setting Benchmarks In Iraq:

President Bush: “Iraq’s Leaders Must Continue To Work To Meet The Benchmarks That Have [Been] Set Forward.” “As we help the Iraqis secure their capital, their leaders are also beginning to meet the benchmarks they have laid out for political reconciliation. … There’s been good progress. There’s a lot more work to be done, and Iraq’s leaders must continue to work to meet the benchmarks that have set forward.” (President George W. Bush, Remarks On The Fourth Anniversary Of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Washington, D.C. 3/19/07)

President Bush “Pleased” Iraqi Government “Meeting Benchmarks.” “I was pleased that he’s meeting benchmarks that he had set out for his government. One of the benchmarks was to move Iraqi troops into the city of Baghdad – troops that will be complemented by our own troops. He is meeting those obligations. A second such benchmark is that he would change the rules of engagement so that criminals, regardless of their religion, would be brought to justice in equal fashion. He is meeting that benchmark. Thirdly, he passed a budget of which $10 billion is available for reconstruction. He said he would do that; the budget has been passed, he has met that benchmark.” (President George W. Bush, Remarks Meeting With Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Ambassador-Designee To Iraq, Washington D.C., 2/16/07)

I am guessing that between now and Tuesday, the day of the Florida primary, that John McCain will try many other desperate tactics against Governor Romney.

~ Vic

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When McCain won New Hampshire by 5% (37% for him vs 32% for Mitt) the AP headline read: “McCain wins in New Hampshire, where he bet it all” (incidentally, if you look at the top bar of your Internet browser it reads “McCain Triumphs Where He Bet It All.”

The contrast . . . When Romney won Michigan by nearly 10% and nearly 100,000 votes the AP headline reads: “Romney Edges McCain to Win Michigan”
And if that’s not bad enough, check out the lead paragraphs to those AP articles . . .

McCain:

John McCain rode the Straight Talk Express straight into first place in New Hampshire, and back into the thick of the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

”I hate to use to the word kid, but I think we showed the people of this country what a real comeback looks like,” the Arizona senator told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday, savoring victory . . .

Another AP article about McCain’s NH win leads with:

CONDORD, N.H. (AP) — Arizona Sen. John McCain won the New Hampshire Republican primary Tuesday night, completing a remarkable comeback and climbing back into contention for the presidential nomination.

“We showed the people of this country what a real comeback looks like,” McCain told The Associated Press in an interview as he savored his triumph. “We’re going to move on to Michigan and South Carolina and win the nomination.”

The Arizona senator rode a wave of support from independent voters to defeat former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, a showing that reprised his victory in the traditional first-in-the-nation primary in 2000.

It was a bitter blow for Romney, who spent millions of dollars of his own money in hopes of winning the kickoff Iowa caucuses and the first primary — and finished second in both.

Now the contrast to the AP article linked to above about Romney’s Michigan victory:

DETROIT (AP) - Mitt Romney scored his first major primary victory Tuesday in his native Michigan, a win he desperately needed to give his weakened candidacy new life and set the stage for a wide-open Republican showdown in South Carolina in just four days.

Romney was the third Republican victor in the first four states to vote in the 2008 primary season, further roiling a volatile nomination fight that lacks a clear favorite.

No agenda there, eh?

Then they have the audacity to give McCain the last word in the AP article about Romney’s win!

McCain said he had called Romney to congratulate him “that Michigan welcomed their native son with their support.”

“Starting tomorrow, we’re going to win South Carolina, and we’re going to go on and win the nomination,” McCain declared, also in an AP interview.

Yes folks, McCain got more quoted words/sentences in the AP article about Romney’s MI win than Romney himself did. Shameless.

I’ve blogged before that McCain’s resurgence in NH and nationally has been a completely media created, directed, and propagated affair. I repeat my questions here:

Which do you think will have a better chance in the general election . . . the one who’s a front-runner DESPITE the MSM coverage or the one(s) that’s a challenger BECAUSE of the MSM coverage? I think the answer to that is clear. I’d want the guy who’s truly battle-tested.

Lest there be any doubt, that guy is Mitt Romney!

Jeff Fuller

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HAT TIP to Nivek for the link to this image. Don’t you just love photography?

What do we call it when a Republican bows down to Al Gore and the liberals of New Hampshire? “Pandering desperately”?

To whom do you think McCain is pandering below? He is hoping that big sucking sound he is hearing is not all the independent votes rushing out the door to Obama!

This photograph was taken last night in New Hampshire:

Here is a recent comment by Nivek on the above photograph:

Just went to the carbon coalition website that McCain is endorsing with his sign. They have links to recommended videos to watch, and one of them is to a “peak oil” video. Peak oil has been proved wrong again and again, has been used by environmentalists for decades to justify pushing for heavy restrictions on transportation, and the fact that McCain is pandering to it speaks volumes to me.

Is that Al Gore standing behind John McCain?

~ Vic

Governor Romney Needs YOUR Help to Win a National Campaign — PLEASE CONTRIBUTE NOW, HERE

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