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Is Romney's Florida Spokesman redistricting Allen West out of Existence?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:29:00 +0000

If this is true, the Tea Party may have an issue to take national. Florida state representative Tim Weatherford (R) is a Florida spokesman for the Romney campaign. According to the Shark Tank, he has confirmed that Rep. Allen West (R) may be a victim of redistricting.

One of Governor Mitt Romney’s spokesmen was Florida Representative Will Weatherford, and during the course of his remarks in the “Spin Room”, he shed a very dim light on the ongoing redistricting process in the Florida Legislature. Over the past several weeks, many Republicans have voiced their disappointment towards the Republican legislature after the release of the preliminary redistricting maps. Much of the ire concerns the proposed boundaries of Congressman Allen West’s 22nd Congressional District that would be redrawn to include far more registered Democrats.

William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection seems to think this is a foregone conclusion:

A website, SaveAllenWest, had been set up, but it appears to be too late.

One of the rising stars of the Tea Party is about to be sacrificed by the Republican establishment in Florida, led by someone spinning for Mitt Romney.

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Folks, this is establishment level arrogance on display. The Tea Party is being slapped in the face because one of its members - West - isn't towing the establishment line. There is a way for the Tea Party to have the last laugh, however.

Though West hasn't officially endorsed Gingrich, he has been defending the former Speaker against establishment attacks recently. Gingrich has also said he would consider West when selecting a running mate. West hinted that he would be interested.

If a scenario plays out where Lt. Col. Allen West is redistricted out of a job, it might be the perfect opportunity for Newt to launch a counter-attack by naming the Tea Party favorite as his running mate.

One of the downsides to a presidential candidate selecting a running mate from Congress is that, well, you lose that candidate's vote in Congress. That's one of the best arguments against the eventual nominee selecting Florida Senator Marco Rubio. If Gingrich overcomes the odds and wins the nomination, West could be much more appealing in terms of him being out of a job anyway. The payback factor would be nice too.

Having someone as Vice President with West's military background could be a perfect fit.

Anyway, here is video of Weatherford.

Video: Why this is the Sleaziest ad from Romney Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:40:00 +0000

It is politics so the notion that the Romney campaign could be found guilty of defamation or slander for this ad is indeed laughable but that doesn't make it any less defamatory. The ad features a January 21, 1997 news report from NBC's Tom Brokaw in which the anchor reports on a bipartisan Congress voting to find then-Speaker Newt Gingrich guilty of ethics violations, with a harrowing music bed.

First, watch the ad and I'll illustrate exactly why it's so despicable.

What Romney - whose voice approval you heard at the end of that ad - ignores is the fact that in 1999, Gingrich was fully and completely vindicated. I've posted this before but in the context of that Romney ad, it's even more relevant.

Here is a CNN news report from 1999 in which Brooks Johnson reported that Gingrich had been fully exonerated of all the charges that Romney is attempting to pin on the former Speaker.

Romney's ad incorporates the dishonest tactics of the left and wasn't it Romney who in a recent debate said that if the tactics of the left are used, they will be turned back on those who use them?

h/t Hapblog

Occupy Oakland Flares up again; 300 Arrested

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:14:00 +0000

If there is one city in America that has been home to the Occupy movement's most petulant miscreants, it's Oakland. Again, former Obama green jobs czar and Occupy organizer Van Jones is from Oakland. He has a rather cozy relationship with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), whose district includes Oakland; Lee has a rather cozy relationship with Valerie Jarrett, Obama's closest adviser. Until Americans begin to connect these dots, little to no accountability will take place. The liberal media certainly isn't doing the job.

Nonetheless, Occupy Oakland has just flared up again and has given the movement something to cheer about. With 300 arrests in Oakland all on the same day, the Occupy movement is now officially well over 6000 arrests nationwide.

Guess what?

They're so proud of it that they're tracking it.

ABC News reports that three officers were injured:

Police spokesman Jeff Thomason says most of the arrests came around 8 p.m. That's when police took about 100 protesters into custody as they marched through the city's downtown, with some entering a YMCA building.

About 20 demonstrators were arrested earlier in the afternoon, after police say they threw rocks, bottles and other objects at officers and tore down fencing.

Police say three officers were injured. Officers used tear gas and "flash" grenades on the protesters after they refused to leave.

Authorities were still tabulating the exact number of arrests late Saturday.

Again, these whackos like to portray themselves as victims. Do victims seek to add to their arrest totals while injuring police?

Here's a video of Oakland on January 28th via Breitbart:

h/t Weasel Zippers

Video: Greta Interview with Newt on Florida Campaign Bus

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:32:00 +0000

This is an excellent two-part interview between Fox News Channel's Greta van Susteren and Newt Gingrich. The Romney campaign, which has become increasingly petulant didn't seem to like it very much. Before watching the interview, check out what Greta posted about the angry responses she got from Romney supporters, who are actually behaving like unhinged liberals.

Via Gretawire:

I received more than one nasty email from Gov Romney supporters criticizing me for coming to Florida and interviewing Speaker Gingrich in person and not Gov Romney. Perhaps a dose of the facts will tone down those emails: 1/ they must have forgotten that two weeks ago I went to South Carolina and interviewed Gov Romney in person and 2/ we made the same offer – interview with Gov Romney in Florida -and the Romney campaign declined.

Here is Part 1:

Here is Part 2:

Fast and Furious Bombshell: Holder Toast; Damning E-mails released

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:43:00 +0000

Looks like there has been another Friday night document dump from the White House on Fast and Furious and the e-mails included in that dump show that Attorney General Eric Holder was informed about Brian Terry's death within 24 hours AND that Fast and Furious guns were found at the scene.

The most damaging email exchange for Holder appears to be one between then Arizona US Attorney, Dennis Burke and Holder Deputy Chief of Staff, Monty Wilkinson.

NPR has the emails. I've posted screen shots of the two exchanges that point to Holder committing perjury when he said on May 3rd that he'd first learned about Fast and Furious a "few weeks" earlier. He later had to concede that he knew about the operation approximately two months earlier and tried to argue that eight weeks could still be classified as "a few."

First, the email in which Burke notified Wilkinson that Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry had died after being shot near the Mexican border. Note Wilkinson's response. He says that he has alerted the Attorney General. This shows that Holder was informed of Terry's death within hours.

Next, this email shows that Burke communicated to Wilkinson less than twelve hours later that the guns found at Terry's murder scene were tied back to Fast and Furious. It is simply not believable that Wilkinson withheld this information from Holder. It will be interesting to see how quickly Issa's team seeks testimony from Wilkinson.

Of course this puts an entirely new spin on the already suspicious testimony of Holder back on May 3rd. Though his assertion that two months equates to "a few weeks" was laughable, it will not be possible for him to make the claim that "a few weeks" equates to more than four months.

Holder is in deep, deep trouble here. This all comes out just days before Holder is set to appear in front of the committee that Rep. Darrell Issa chairs. On February 2nd, Holder will be in front of the Oversight Committee.

As Sipsey Street points out, these emails are the ones that the White House voluntarily released, which indicates they may be willing to throw Holder under the bus now. That leads to another very interesting question.

What is the level of White House involvement?

h/t Sipsey Street and Gun Rights Examiner

Video: Newt Campaign Spokesman confronts Rep. Chaffetz on Campaign Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has endorsed Mitt Romney for president but seems to be following the Newt Gingrich campaign around, apparently for opposition research. At one such event, Newt's campaign spokesman, R.C. Hammond decided to approach Chaffetz and have an interesting exchange with the congressman from Utah.

Chaffetz came off as trying to walk a fine line between appearing cordial without conveying condescension. At several points, he attempted to distance himself from Hammond by saying he wouldn't talk to him because he wasn't with the press. That was a misplaced distinction, to be sure. As a high-profile Romney supporter who is showing up at Gingrich campaign stops, refusing to talk to the campaign's spokesman because he's not with the press is rather lame. Chaffetz should expect confrontations like this if he's essentially doing opposition research when he shows up.

Chaffetz did obfuscate when Hammond asked about lobbying or if he knew about Romney's ties to Freddie and Fannie, which is exactly what team Romney has been using against Gingrich.

It's disappointing to see this from Chaffetz. As a member of the House Oversight Committee, he has been one of the bulldogs in the Fast and Furious investigation. Frankly, with the biggest hearing to date in the near year-long investigation coming up on February 2nd, it's mildly disturbing to see Chaffetz more focused on Newt Gingrich than on his confrontation with Eric Holder.

Chaffetz came across as a little more arrogant than not, here.

Yes, Chaffetz is also a Mormon, like Romney.

h/t Freedom's Lighthouse

OWS Dormant, not Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:35:00 +0000

Back in late September of 2011, Van Jones predicted that OWS protesters would bring about an 'American autumn' similar to the 'Arab Spring' and he put all of his eggs in the October basket. Though OWS did raise a ruckus, a stink, and many other undesirable things all across the country, they proved to be a very expensive and violent nuisance more than anything else. The movement dragged on into the winter months and appeared to disintegrate.

Now there seems to be chatter that OWS will be coming out of its collective hole in the spring, leading up to the main event at the Democratic convention in September, to be held in Charlotte, NC.

Via WND:

A coalition of U.S. radical groups, including the Occupy Movement, are preparing protests to target the Democratic National Convention in September in Charlotte, N.C.

The Occupy movement is likely to escalate months before the Sept. 3-6 event. A slew of extremist organizations, some tied to President Obama, are preparing protests to coincide with major NATO and G-8 summits slated for Chicago in May.

Foreshadowing possible violent confrontations, some of the same radical trainers behind the infamous 1999 Seattle riots against the World Trade Organization have been mobilizing new protest efforts geared toward world summits.

The plans for the Democratic convention are posted on a central website, ProtestDNC.org. More than three dozen organizations, including labor, anti-war and so-called civil rights and immigrants rights groups are joining together to initiate a coalition.

Klein reports too, that OWS appears to already be setting up shop in Chicago, which is where both the NATO and G8 summits will be held.

Here is Van Jones on September 29, 2011. Fast forward to the 2:00 mark. Based on what he was predicting, OWS didn't accomplish what he wanted it to, which is why it's important to be vigilant in the spring. If OWS gives it another whirl, they're likely to be more violent.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Ayatollah orders Attacks; Colleague of man given the order Visited White House

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:13:00 +0000

The recent assassination of one of Iran's nuclear scientists has apparently prompted the Ayatollah to dispatch Hezbollah to commit terror attacks through the head of the Al Quds Brigade. That man's name is Gen. Qasem Soleimani. That name is made more relevant by the fact that a close associate of Soleimani was recently given the red carpet treatment by the White House.

But first, the Ayatollah's order.

Via WND:

Iran is taking several steps to help Syria’s beleaguered President Bashar Assad, assassinate opposition figures and attack Israeli and American interests worldwide, sources have confirmed.

After the recent assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, deputy director of the first uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ordered retaliation.

He instructed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the chief commander of the Quds Forces, to prepare the ground for terrorist attacks, first to retaliate against assassination and espionage within the Iranian nuclear program, and second, to go on the offensive to make the West understand that any military action against Iran will create much instability in the world.

Some might remember an article from earlier this month that highlighted a federal judge's ruling that Iran and Hezbollah were behind 9/11. In that report, Hadi al-Ameri's connection to Iran was explored. It was relevant because he was welcomed into the Oval Office on December 12th of last year. Here is a screen shot of al-Ameri in the Oval Office as part of an Iraqi delegation. Yes, Iraqi delegation. Al-Ameri is Iraq's Transportation Minister and has obvious loyalties to the Ayatollah:

As part of the research for that article, an Arabic document that had been translated drew a very distinct connection between Soleimani and al-Ameri. Here is an excerpt from that 2005 document:

Hadi Farhan Abdullah Al Ameri, known as "Abu Hassan Al Ameri", is currently leading Badr Organization and is one of the figures that are directly connected to the Iranian Al Quds Brigade.

Al Ameri's journey started with the Shiite opposition, by the beginning of the 80s, when he left Iraq to Jordan, where he remained for a few days before moving to Syria. In Syria, he contacted the Supreme Council and he was transported to Iran. He spent all the following years there.

Al Ameri holds the Iranian nationality under the name of Hassan Ameri and his wife is Iranian. He usually visits Iran and meets with Qassem Sulaimani, the head of Al Quds Brigade, under the Iranian guard forces, on a regular basis.

While being in Iran, Al Ameri played a role in torturing the Iraqi prisoners, who were captured by Iran during the Iraqi-Iranian war. Prisoners who returned from there accuse him of being the cruelest against them. This role helped him to reach the status that he occupies in the eyes of the Iranians.

Fox News reported on al-Ameri's visit back in December. Here is the video report:

Video: National Park Director Spanked by Congressman (Metaphor)

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:04:00 +0000

This video is a must-see. National Park Service (NPS) Director Jonathan Jarvis is being grilled by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) about why OWS campers are allowed to camp despite the prohibition of such activity. Jarvis essentially hangs himself after making the distinction between camping and protesting. It played right into Gowdy's hands.

This exchange is also a good warm-up for when Eric Holder is in front of the Oversight Committee for the first time regarding Fast and Furious. Gowdy sits on that committee and is one of several fiery committee members.

Jarvis was a ball of yarn and Gowdy was a cat who turned him into a pretzel.

Via Breitbart:

Video: All American Muslim Imam Caught on tape Again

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:43:00 +0000

Remember this guy? When the controversy over Lowe's pulling its advertising from the TLC program, All American Muslim, we learned that they were justified in light of the fact that this Imam - Husham Alhusayni - has expressed support for Hezbollah and Iran. Now there is video of Alhusayni supporting terrorism and genocide.

Via Shoebat:

Ruh Roh: Will another US Attorney Plead the Fifth?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Just received a mass e-mail from Darrell Issa's press office. It looks like the head of the criminal division for the US Attorneys Office in Arizona, Patrick Cunningham, might have his subordinate joining him in taking the fifth. Issa is now demanding access to Michael Morrissey, Assistant US Attorney in Arizona.

Via the email:

Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa demanded in letter to Attorney General Holder that the Justice Department make Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant United States Attorney Michael Morrissey available to speak with Committee investigators about his role in and knowledge of Operation Fast and Furious. His supervisor, Patrick Cunningham, has stated he will exercise his Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer any questions pertaining to Operation Fast and Furious – such an assertion is extremely rare and suggests possible criminal culpability on the part of a high ranking Justice Department official. Morrissey, who reported directly to Cunningham’s and was intimately involved with Operation Fast and Furious.

“Since August, the Department has identified Patrick Cunningham as the best person in the U.S. Attorney’s Office to provide information about Fast and Furious to the Committee,” Issa said in his letter to Holder. “The Department has refused to make Michael Morrissey and Emory Hurley, both Assistant United States Attorneys supervised by Mr. Cunningham, available to speak with the Committee, citing a policy of not making “line attorneys” available for congressional scrutiny. Mr. Morrissey, however, was Mr. Hurley’s direct supervisor, and an integral part of Fast and Furious. Importantly, both Morrissey and Hurley are unique in their possession of key factual knowledge about Fast and Furious not readily available from any other source.”

The Chairman also reiterated that the Justice Department still has not complied with the subpoenas issued to date, including subpoenaed documents from Cunningham, Morrissey and Hurley.

This scandal is about to get a whole lot more interesting if Morrissey pleads the Fifth as well. Actually, it's about to get a whole lot more interesting regardless of what Morrissey does because Eric Holder will be appearing in front of Issa's Oversight Committee on February 2nd for the first time (ironically, it's Groundhog day).

Issa's letter to Holder regarding Cunningham is HERE. His letter to Holder regarding Morrissey is HERE.

Video: Newt Deals with Far Left Heckler on Florida Campaign stop

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:54:00 +0000

This is the kind of energy Newt brings to a crowd that Mitt simply lacks. A left winger in the crowd begins screaming at Gingrich about taking money from Freddie Mac. Newt responds by saying that the only article about his recommendations to Freddie Mac appeared in a New York Times article and that his conclusion at the time was that the GSE should not be given any more money. The heckler didn't stop, at which point, Newt smacked her down while invoking Lincoln.

h/t GWP

Darrell Issa going after Holder on Mexican Deaths

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

The deadly consequence that has garnered the most attention when it comes to the Fast and Furious investigation has been the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. His is a name and a face that basically represents everything that's wrong with the ATF operation that put guns into the hands of bad guys.

However, there's another aspect to the operation with hundreds of casualties; those casualties are Mexican citizens. In an interview with the Daily Caller, Chairman Darrell Issa highlights this point and says that 'Justice has blood on its hands.' Fast forward to the 4:00 mark if pressed for time.

The deaths of hundreds of Mexican nationals is something that no one in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) seems interested in holding Attorney General Eric Holder accountable. Go figure, they're all Democrats. I wrote about this after watching one of those members, Pedro Pierluisi, gushed in support of Holder at the House Judiciary Committee hearing in December.

More at Daily Caller

Video: Rep. Jason Chaffetz gave Obama a Rimshot at SOTU

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0000

I must say, this is the only portion of the State of the Union speech that I have seen. Barack Obama attempts to deliver a canned joke about crying over spilt milk. The camera then focuses on a portion of the gallery. In the top left-hand corner, you can see Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) mockingly give Obama an 'air rimshot.'

h/t Breitbart

Video: Newt Sets Univision Reporter straight on Comparison to Bill Clinton

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:20:00 +0000

Univision's Jorge Ramos attempted to do the same thing that CNN's Erin Burnett did a day after the South Carolina debate at which John King asked Gingrich about the 'open marriage' issue; he tried to paint the former Speaker as a hypocrite for attacking Clinton in the 1990's over Lewinsky while Gingrich himself was engaged in an extra-marital affair.

Like he did with Burnett, Gingrich set the interviewer straight about the difference. The issue was not about adultery; it was about lying under oath. The difference between Burnett and Ramos, however, is that Ramos appeared to be unable to understand the line of distinction. After failing to see it, Gingrich at one point referred to a misfiring 'synapse' in Ramos' brain.

Via MediaIte:

Newt and the Sarah Palin Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:05:00 +0000

In 2008, John McCain rarely went anywhere without Sarah Palin. Most of their campaign stops were as a tandem. Why? Because without Palin, McCain's crowds would have been drastically reduced in size and in energy. Palin's energy brought crowds, yes, but it also brought the full force of the mainstream media.

Fast forward to 2012. Newt seems to be drawing the crowds that Palin drew in 2008 and McRomney seems to be about as inspiring as the 2008 nominee. Newt, like Palin, has also come under the full fledged attacks from the media while Romney desperately needs the support they appear to be willing to give him.

Via New York Times:

As Republican presidential candidates duke it out down here in Florida, the most visible measure of how they are doing is the crowd count.

And by that very simple measure, Newt Gingrich is crushing his opposition.

At an event Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,500 people showed up to rally for Mr. Gingrich. Later that evening, he stood before as many as 5,000 people, all applauding his surge toward the Republican nomination. And then on Wednesday, another 4,000 people.

Contrast that to Mitt Romney, who, according to polls, is roughly tied with Mr. Gingrich in the state. He, too, has been traveling around Florida in an effort to recover the momentum he had after a big win in New Hampshire.

Mr. Romney has not had a crowd with more than a couple hundred people since he arrived in the Sunshine State.

Unlike McCain, Newt has another entity gunning for him - his own party's establishment.

If Newt takes Florida, it will be monumental in light of the onslaught he is having to face. He will also need another home run of a debate performance tonight.

h/t Free Republic

Note on State of the Union Address

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:26:00 +0000

Didn't watch. Don't care.

Newt goes after Mitt on using Charlie Crist Staffers

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:25:00 +0000

In 2008, the Barack Obama campaign was successfully able to tie John McCain to George W. Bush. Electing John McCain, they said, would be like giving Bush another term. In 2012, Mitt Romney already has to fend off the 'Republican establishment' label and campaigning in Florida with former Charlie Crist campaign staffers in tow is an opportunity Newt Gingrich doesn't appear to be willing to waste.

To further make his case, Gingrich is highlighting the fact that Marco Rubio's former campaign manager is working for him.

Via the Miami Herald:

Newt Gingrich stepped onto a podium at the Tick Tock Restaurant with a hometown message.

"As many of you know Jose Mallea is helping us with our campaign. He was Marco Rubio's campaign manager. We discovered last night that Mitt Romney has picked up Charlie Crist's campaign people," he said to yelps and a few boos. "That sort of tells you everything you needed to know about this contest."

Yes, Crist is still a whipping boy in Republican circles, though he turned out for Monday night's debate.

And, to be fair, Romney has some anti-Crists in his campaign: namely Alberto Martinez and Brett Doster, Florida advisers who worked for Crist's 2006 Republican opponent Tom Gallagher. Doster managed one of now Sen. Marco Rubio's political committees, and Martinez is part of Rubio's inner-circle.

There are definitely hairs to split on who is supporting whom here. In a campaign, however, perception is reality and if Gingrich can capitalize on the perception that he is the anti-establishment candidate who is going against the establishment's choice in Romney, he'll probably do it.

Rubio didn't just overcome long odds at several turns to become Senator in Florida; He ultimately won going away and continues to be very popular.

If Gingrich can portray himself as the Rubio candidate in Florida while portraying Romney as the Crist candidate, the nuances that blur the lines may not matter all that much.

h/t Newsmax

Video: Texas Governor went after Turkey in Presidential Debate, how about in his own State?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:40:00 +0000

In one of Rick Perry's last debates, he publicly singled out Turkey for its increasingly Islamist government. This tells us that he must have a significant understanding of the dynamics behind what makes that government work. One of those dynamics is a Turkish imam named Fethullah Gulen. However, Gulen lives in the Untied States and his schools have a significant presence across the United States, to include Texas.

As the video points out, public tax dollars have been used to build a Gulen charter school in Perry's backyard - Austin, TX. The Harmony School of Political Science and Journalism has been built to "influence the next generation of politicians, voters, and news writers."

Must-see video:

h/t Donna

Looks like Newt has someone else to tie to Saul Alinsky

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:12:00 +0000

Newt Gingrich has been going after Obama pretty hard on the Saul Alinsky connection. Mitt Romney will have a much tougher time of it in light of these photos. Mitt's dad, George, is seen meeting with Alinsky in 1967.

In fact, it's not just that the two men met but that George wanted to give legitimacy and voice to Obama's ideological hero.

Remember when Hillary attempted to nail Obama in a debate over his connection to Bill Ayers? Obama one-upped her by pointing out that her husband pardoned two Weather Underground members. This may not be as bad as that but the optics certainly can't be good.

Via Buzzfeed:

"I think you ought to listen to Alinsky," Romney told his white allies, according to T. George Harris's 1968 book "Romney's Way."

‘It seems to me that we are always talking to the same people. Maybe the time has come to hear new voices," he said.

Perhaps those words may be worse than the two men meeting. Nonetheless, George and Saul looked to be a little too chummy.

Video: Newt Vindicated by....CNN??....in 1999

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:12:00 +0000

Newt Gingrich resigned from Congress in 1999 amid the political controversy surrounding ethics charges that involved a college course he taught. Democrats - including John Lewis, who is seen in this video report - charged that Gingrich violated IRS laws by using that course to push a political agenda. In this CNN report, the likes of which you just will not see today, Gingrich was found completely innocent and the CNN reporter emphatically underscored the point at the end.

For all of Gingrich's goof-ups, this makes him look extremely good.

Oh, the irony. Courtesy of CNN, the same network John King works for. Like this report from 1999, King helped Gingrich win in South Carolina.

More irony... The Democrats charged Newt with something they've practically mastered in the years since. In psychology class, that's called projection.

Via Right Scoop:

Newt Pledge: Overthrow Castro Regime

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:23:00 +0000

Gotta admit, after three years of watching an administration cater to South and Central American thugs, it was a bit refreshing to at least hear someone at this level offer some counterbalance.

Via Newsmax:

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich vowed Monday night that as president he will "overthrow the regime" of Fidel Castro.

Responding to a question by Brian Williams during the NBC debate in Tampa about U.S. policy toward Cuba, Gingrich said he would press for a "Cuban spring," much like the Arab spring sweeping the Middle East.

"We will not tolerate four more years of this [Castro] regime," Gingrich said.

There is a reason Gingrich would say such things in Florida. The overwhelming majority of Cubans who fled Castro, along with their descendants, passionately agree with the sentiment.

Video: Carney asked about Saul Alinsky, avoids question

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:24:00 +0000

This is precisely why Newt Gingrich's repetitive attacks on Barack Obama for the latter's ties to Saul Alinsky are so effective. It generates discussion among the media. In this case, Fox's Ed Henry asks White House Press Secretary Jay Carney about Gingrich's charges and gives Carney the opportunity to confirm or deny them.

Carney did neither; he obfuscated and it showed weakness in the administration.

It's clear that by avoiding the question, the truth isn't meant to be known.

Alinsky is Obama's achilles heal.

Via Fox Nation:

Boehner, Cantor not willing to Fight in Fast and Furious Scandal

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:52:00 +0000

Imagine how much impact it would have if House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Eric Cantor expressed solidarity with the growing list of Republican congressmen who are calling for the resignation of Eric Holder. Imagining, at this point, is all you can do because the reality is neither man has any interest in doing that.

Via Daily Caller:

Boehner spokesman Michael Steel has ignored emails on the subject for months, but when TheDC caught up with him at the retreat and again asked if his boss thinks Holder should resign for the gunrunning operation that killed U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and at least 300 Mexican civilians, Steel replied, “I don’t think he has said anything on that.”

TheDC followed up with Steel in the lobby of the Waterfront Marriott and asked him if he’d just ask Boehner the question. “Yeah, maybe,” Steel replied.

As of 5 p.m. on Sunday, Steel still hasn’t answered whether Boehner agrees with the 101 members in the House GOP caucus about Holder. Instead, Steel said, “The speaker appreciates the hard work that Chairman Issa and many others have done to expose this scandal. President Obama’s Department of Justice needs to be accountable.”

Cantor’s press secretary, Laena Fallon, deflected questions in a similar way, telling TheDC that Cantor “doesn’t sign onto legislation, as a rule, as majority leader”

Fallon was referencing House Resolution 490, the bill that expresses “no confidence” in Holder because of Fast and Furious. When asked if Cantor agreed “with the concept,” Fallon replied, “I don’t know.”

TheDC: Can you ask him for me?
FALLON: I’ll see, he’s in meetings.
TheDC: I can take an answer whenever. It’s just a “yes” or “no.”
FALLON: I’ll ask and see if I can get you something, but I don’t know what he’ll say.”

By Sunday at 5 p.m., Fallon has still not responded.

Neither man is particularly politically courageous....

Wow! Newt Surges to 8 Point over Romney in Florida?!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Barrack) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:04:00 +0000

If you thought the Republican establishment is unhinged over Romney's loss in South Carolina, this latest development could have them frothing at the mouth soon.

According to the InsiderAdvantage poll, Gingrich leads Romney by 8 points in a state where Romney just a week ago had a double digit lead. The worst part for Romney? Santorum has 11% of the support and the majority of that would likely go to Gingrich.

Via Newsmax:

The InsiderAdvantage poll of of 557 registered Republican voters is one of the first polls taken in Florida in the aftermath of Gingrich's double-digit win in the South Carolina primary Saturday.

The poll results follow:

Gingrich: 34%

Romney: 26%

Paul: 13%

Santorum: 11%

Other: 2%

No opinion: 14%

The InsiderAdvantage poll was the first major poll last week to show the significant surge for Gingrich in South Carolina.

h/t Hapblog