Lots of cargo jets

Last week, Right Wing News published results of an informal poll showing John McCain ranking high on conservative bloggers' hit list.

Glenn Beck said he might have voted for Hillary Clinton if she'd been McCain's foe:

"McCain is this weird progressive like Theodore Roosevelt was."

But a very cursory glance at voting records will show McCain's one of the strongest conservatives in the Senate, and a more substantive one will corroborate that.

Here's something that's kind of both.

Last week the Club for Growth flagged a new report on who's voted for the first 5 budget-busting appropriations bills this year.

Republicans on the list.

Lamar Alexander -- TN
Robert F. Bennett -- UT
Thad Cochran -- MS
Susan Collins -- ME
Orrin G. Hatch -- UT
Kay Bailey Hutchison -- TX
Mike Johanns -- NE
Richard G. Lugar -- IN
Lisa Murkowski -- AK
Richard C. Shelby -- AL
Olympia J. Snowe -- ME
George V. Voinovich -- OH
Roger Wicker -- MS

Republicans voting against all five budget-busters:

Tom Coburn -- OK
Jim DeMint -- SC
John Ensign -- NV
John McCain -- AZ

Now comes word that the Senate's rejected John McCain's effort to divert $2.5 million for new C-17 cargo jets into military readiness accounts.

In case you're wondering why the U.S. needs 10 new cargo jets, so is the Pentagon, which says it has enough.

Let's take a look at roll call.

Those voting "yes" wanted to divert the money; those voting "no" wanted 10 more C-17 cargo jets at a cost of $2.5 billion.

Key names voting "yes":


a. Nevada Sen. John Ensign YES

b. Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker YES

c. Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl YES

d. South Dakota Sen. John Thune YES

e. And of course, it's McCain's amendment, so McCain "yes".


Some key names who want 10 new C-17 Cargo Jets:


a. Texas Sen. John Cornyn

b. SC Sen. Jim DeMint

c. Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett

d. California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein

e. The entire Senate Democratic leadership.


Result: The amendment was defeated 64-34.

Let's see if this makes Glenn Beck's show tomorrow -- the fact that $2.5 billion will be spent for cargo jets the Pentagon says we don't need.

Beck could draw a plane figure with cute wings on the blackboard.

In a way, this vote is a kind of F-22 redux, wherein John McCain led opposition to a military spending project that many conservatives said was waste.

The F-22 was a perfect opportunity to score political points on the GOP's best brand -- the military and national security -- but McCain stood against exploiting the issue for political currency.

Numerous Republicans weren't of the same persuasion, including SD Sen. John Thune, Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, and Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, to name just a few.

And in in her Hong Kong speech, Sarah Palin added her voice of dissent to the F-22 decision, which stood in marked contrast with her image as a pork-buster, but would make her a welcome companion of Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, who voted to continue F-22 funding.

Yet the cosmetics of "conservatism" right now rest on whichever is the easiest crutch, just as the cosmetics of liberalism did during the Bush years.

The Left's crutch was "blood for oil".

The Right sees blood, too, but it's from "a bleeding heart that doesn't want to protect America".

And so cargo jets turn into the political balloon (10 of them, at a cost of $2.5 billion).

Barack Obama supported McCain's amendment -- let's see if he's willing to buck his party's leadership and veto money for 10 new cargo jets (at a cost of $2.5 billion).

[Hat tip: Senatus]

Palin: Train wreck or gravy train?

The train-wreck that's supposed to be Sarah Palin's political career might be doing some shape-shifting.

Of course -- some people say you stop to watch the wreck; others that you hop aboard the wagon.

Whichever the case, "this book has taken off like a rocket".

AllahPundit responds.

.... if it goes on to become a mega-seller, it’s a game-changer insofar as it’ll establish her unquestionably as the most prominent Republican in America, which leaves Huck and Mitt in an awkward spot before the primaries...

Right now, she's unquestionably the most prominent Republican in America, if by prominence you mean prominence. The question is whether this kind of retail sale leads to the other kind -- the New Hampshire kind.

Remember Runners World, circa July. 1.12 million page views for a photo spread of Palin wearing running shoes (you can be the 1,120,001th by going here).

Paterson slams Rudy

New York Gov. David Paterson turned strident today after being asked about a race against Rudy Giuliani.

“If he thinks he could have done better, he should tell us that now. Until he does, then I think that I should be running for governor and will be elected governor because he’s not bringing any new ideas."

Corker: Blame Canada

Maybe Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker and South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker were all separated at birth.

CNN:

During a hearing of the Special Committee on Aging, the Tennessee Republican told Canada's former Public Health Minister, Dr. Carolyn Bennett, that her country is "living off of us" because they set lower prices for health care and "all the innovation, all the technology breakthroughs just about take place in our country and we have to pay for it."

Such a great catalog to choose from, but let's go with this...

Reading Palin's ghost

If your life is on a pre-ordered hold, get a sneak peek at Sarah Palin's memoir by reading Ben Smith's profile of her ghostwriter, World Magazine's Lynn Vincent.

Palin's choice of Vincent suggests that hers will be, emphatically, a partisan tract.

And it is of a piece with a post-election posture in which the nation's most intensely popular, and most intensely unpopular, Republican has chosen to deepen her bond with her base at the cost of antipathy from the independent voters who decide presidential elections.

As an aside, World Mag's editor in chief is Marvin Olasky, the University of Texas Professor who was largely responsible for imprinting the phrase "compassionate conservative" onto George W. Bush's philosophical map.

Lynn Vincent frequently posts at World Mag's blog (click here), which is a pleasant read and a good source for 2012 info.

It was in a World Mag interview (May 2009) that Mike Huckabee called the two-state solution "nonsense".

SC Sen. Jim DeMint also caused something of a stir when he sat down with the magazine in July.

"I am not going to be able to persuade my colleagues to do the right things, so I am just going to have to create pain."

(Out of pure coincidence, the day that story hit the mainstream (July 17) is the day DeMint's Waterloo comments also got major play).

Evening eats

c. Tim Pawlenty's headlining a fundraising dinner in South Dakota on Friday.

b. Psalm 23 gets a 2009 make-over.

c. Olympia Snowe has a 70% approval rating in Maine.

d. Robert Gibbs likes Bobby Jindal.

e. A list of people close to Palin.

f. Former VA Gov. Linwood Holton endorses Deeds.

g. "I got you normals looking at me."

T-Minus 9

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist just sent out a pitch for money, noting there are only 9 hours left before the fundraising quarter covering July 1 - Sept. 30 closes.

Yesterday, the St. Petersburg Times' Adam Smith tweeted.

How much money will Charlie Crist report raising this qtr? "Nothing like before, I can tell you that,'' the gov said

Last quarter, he raised $4.3 million.

At the time, Chris Cillizza noted how important 3rd quarter numbers would be for opponent, Marco Rubio.

He'll never be the money machine that Crist is but another quarter of being outraised at a 10-1 clip would make him irrelevant whether he is in the race or out of it.

Newt slams Obama's Copenhagen trip

Newt Gingrich, on Greta Van Susteren last night.

.... faced with the objective fact that the Iranians have been running a secret second program and lying about it, faced with a deadline in Iran, faced with 9.7 percent unemployment - where is the president?

He's in Copenhagen, on behalf of Mayor Daley, trying to get the Olympics.

The Two Generals

Conor Friedersdorf thinks Colin Powell and David Petraeus are the only two viable GOP contenders who can beat Obama in 2012.

As for the rest of the crop:

Folks who can’t unseat President Obama, in my quite fallible opinion: Mitt Romney, who might actually make a good president, Sarah Palin, who wouldn’t, Ron Paul, who the American people would never elect, and Mike Huckabee, who would spend lots of money at home and abroad.

Andrew Sullivan asks:

Who says Petraeus is a Republican?

And he has publicly vowed to not run for high office. I'm also creeped out by the militarism of this, and know full well that Powell would be more anathema to the base than even McCain. And can you see Petraeus - an educated, civilized, humane man - presiding over the party of Beck and Limbaugh?

Last year, Petraeus said he's a Republican -- a Rockefeller one.

Newt talks up Americano

The Americano interviews Newt Gingrich about his new bilingual website, The Americano.

In light of the preceding sentence, love some of these Q's.

The Americano: You have been one of the most active leaders in the Republican party reaching out to the American Hispanic community. What are the key messages you would like to give to American Hispanics?

[next question]

The Americano: Together with your para Latinos web page, you are also launching the Americano project. This is part of a long American tradition of having bilingual....

That aside, the website's a great step forward and a worthy venture for the party.

Palin topping charts

Her upcoming memoir is #1 at Barnes & Noble; now #2 on Amazon.

Who's gonna get to write the first customer review?

Meghan McCain likes funny guys

A breezy, new interview with Meghan McCain over at Mediaite.

Highlights:

“F-bomb” or “S-word?”

-Ohh F-Bomb, nothing is more cathartic than dropping one.

Bad boys or funny guys?

-Ahhh, funny guys, bad boys break your heart and if you can make me laugh its the quickest way to get me to go on a date with you.

So why did the chicken cross the road, again?

[Hat tip: Monday Morning Clacker]

Rasmussen: McDonnell up 9%

In the wake of a Public Policy Polling survey showing Bob McDonnell up by only 5% and a Survey USA poll showing him up by 14%, a new Rasmussen poll nearly splits the difference.

Key points:

a. McDonnell leads overall, 51-42%

b. 51% say McDonnell's controversial master's thesis is at least somewhat important in determining how they'll vote.

c. McDonnell wins on taxes, +15%.

d. 53% view McDonnell favorably, 46% say the same about Deeds.

Cantor: Afghanistan delay threatens troops

Minority Whip Eric Cantor tells the Washington Times there's no room for more "uncertainty" on a troop surge in Afghanistan.

"Listen, you've got American lives on the line over there. As long as they are delaying, that puts in jeopardy, I believe, our men and women."

Romney will back Herbert

Mitt Romney's spokesman says the former Gov. will campaign for Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's reelection.

Herbert moved into the gubernatorial mansion when former Gov. Jon Huntsman resigned to take a role in Obama's Administration, but he has to win a special election next year to serve out the remainer of Huntsman's term.

Herbert's election isn't a sure thing. Utah state Sen. John Valentine has indicated he might run against Herbert in the primary, and Swing State Project says another state senator, Steve Urquhart, and state house speaker, David Clark, might jump in.

Rush: Dems afraid of Palin and me

Rush Limbaugh's been beating this drum for awhile* -- claiming Democrats fear whom they mock (if that were the criteria, then the GOP would live in holy terror of Al Sharpton).

Regardless, it's interesting to see Rush tying himself to Palin. You get the sense he's been left behind (apologies to Tim LaHaye), and wants to get in on the populist movement.

Rush:

“I have been pointing out that the Democrat Party and the media will tell us who they fear most — and they're not afraid of Huckabee, and they're not afraid of Mitt Romney, and they're not afraid of Rudy Giuliani.

But they have gone out of their way to destroy Sarah Palin. They have gone out of their way to destroy me . . . I hope Sarah Palin sells five million copies of her book. It's going to be interesting to see just what connection she does have with the voting base, conservatives and Republicans. I hope she sells five million copies. I hope it does great."

*Here, here, here.

Ghostwriters

Sarah Palin's ghostwriter is the most-discussed apparition since Hamlet's father.

Not because it's Lynn Vincent, but because everyone needs to know Palin has a ghostwriter.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Btw, are there such things as ghost-bloggers?

NY GOP chair: Rudy would make a great governor

On Monday, The New York Times quoted newly-elected NY GOP chair, Ed Cox, urging Rudy Giuliani to run for Senate instead of Governor.

But at a press conference yesterday, Cox softened his tone.

"I think he [Rudy] is an executive-type and I think he would make a great candidate for governor, I think he would make a great governor.

If he chooses, I also think he would make a great candidate for Senate. The Senate, I think, is more winnable...on the Democratic side, the Senate seat could be a race that we could win."

Keep reading....

Watch Santorum on C-SPAN

If you'd like to hear Rick Santorum's speech tomorrow, but can't catch a red eye to Dubuque, Iowa, you're in luck.

[C-SPAN] plans to air the former Pennsylvania senator’s speech at the University of Dubuque, where he is speaking as part of the American Future Fund’s conservative lecture series.

.... Santorum’s appearance is at 7 p.m.

Romney raises money for GOP in Utah

Mitt Romney was in Salt Lake City last night to raise money for the Republican party at a $1,000/plate dinner.


UPDATE: The money raised is going to his PAC, Free and Strong America.

Perry: "I don't think it's going to be good for her"

Texas Gov. Rick Perry continues to dismiss Kay Bailey Hutchison's efforts at unseating him, telling supporters she shouldn't resign from the Senate.

“I just don’t think it’s good for Texas if she makes that decision.

Quite frankly, I don’t think it’s going to be good for her.”

Nice to see Perry looking out for her.

Who wants to book Palin?

An "insider" tells the New York Post that Sarah Palin's proving to be a tough sell on the lecture circuit.

The only problem is that the insider doesn't sound very credible.

He calls Palin a "blithering idiot", "uninteresting", trots out a moose joke, and essentially deems her illiterate.

His only point that rings true is that most buyers are corporations who like playing things safe, and universities who don't like conservatives. Both of which might disqualify Palin.

[Hat tip: Huffington Post]

Jindal undecided on Vitter

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal tells Politico he hasn't decided if he'll be endorsing Republican Senator David Vitter's reelection.

“We’ll make a decision whether we’ll get involved in that race once we get closer. We haven’t made that decision yet."

It's interesting there's still hesitation on Jindal's part, when you consider the fact that a possible primary foe of Jindal's, the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, chose not to run and endorsed Vitter back in March.

"I am grateful for those who’ve encouraged me to consider returning to elected office, but this is not the right time. Along those lines, I would like members of the State Central Committee to know that I support Senator David Vitter’s bid for reelection in 2010."

Looks like Jindal's being very careful in making an endorsement that could be used against him in the future.

Whitman: eBay turned me political

After speaking to a women's group in Yolo County yesterday, Meg Whitman offered reporters some more context for her voting record.

"I was focused on raising a family, on my husband's career, and we moved many, many times. It is no excuse. My voting record, my registration record, is unacceptable.

.... And so when I came to eBay, what I saw was the incredible difficulties that government created for small business."

It's easy to see how running a business could inspire you to become more political, but it's also easy to see how raising a family could, as well.

We'll see if this is as deep as she goes....

[Hat tip: The Fix]

Evening eats

a. The hottest race around is quiet as can be on TV.

b. Business still loves McDonnell.

c. The LA Times editorial board slams Whitman.

d. Will this turn the youth against Obama (just brainstorming here....)

e. Is Huckabee studying Reagan?

f. A Republican congressman calls Obama "an enemy of humanity". No, that would be George Steinbrenner.

g. Newt, Sharpton, and Duncan start their "listening and learning" tour.

h. NSFW lyrics.

"Political sabotage" disrupts Perry event

Texas Gov. Rick Perry took to the Internet today to talk to supporters in a live streaming video event, but many of those supporters got a message reading "unable to connect to database service".

By all accounts, it was a deliberate hack into the system.

Perry's campaign spokesman, Mark Miner.

"This planned and coordinated attack was political sabotage, and we are working to identify those responsible for this illegal activity."

The Houston Chronicle asked if he thought Kay Bailey Hutchison's team was behind it.

"I hope not."

"That would be a Fox News alert"

Neil Cavuto screws things up a bit, while talking to Bobby Jindal today.

CAVUTO: Let me ask you, though, Governor. I know you'll be campaigning for the Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia...

JINDAL: Republican candidate — Republican candidate.

CAVUTO: I'm sorry. That would be a — that would be a FOX News Alert.

If you want to read the rest of the i/view (which includes Jindal's six point health care plan) click here.

Santorum as Veep?

A long-time follower of Rick Santorum's political career tells CBS the former Senator might be angling for a Vice-Presidential slot.

Maybe. But most the viable 2012 names already occupy Santorum's socially conservative wheelhouse.

If Huck, Romney, or Palin really wanted someone Pennsylvania-friendly and ideologically diverse, Tom Ridge would be the more logical choice.

Also, Ridge has indicated he wouldn't mind stepping onto the national scene again.

Who is Lynn Vincent?

Diane Bell has a nice profile of Sarah Palin's ghostwriter, Lynn Vincent (click here).

Vincent's not talking about the book, although John Fund did bump into her a few weeks ago, and get confirmation that at least some of the material will be coterminous w/the book's title.

Fund:

Ms. Vincent didn't reveal any details about the book, but did acknowledge it will describe Ms. Palin's frustration over her treatment by the staffers she inherited from the McCain campaign.....

Let's see how many pages that frustration fills.

Santorum: Palin's book an opportunity

In a new interview with the The Corner, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum talks about Sarah Palin's upcoming memoir:

“Sarah has jumped onto the scene and has been hammered by the mainstream media.

This is an opportunity for her to show a more thoughtful side. She has a gift for prose. Hopefully that comes across.”

"She's hot. Did I say that out loud?"

That's Emile Vicale, CEO of Herobuilders, when asked why his newest creation is the Michele Bachmann action figure.

Minnesota Public Radio:

The $39.95 Bachmann action figure will share the catalog with Rod Blagojevich, (a $149.95 limited edition figure), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (sporting a t-shirt that reads "Let them eat yellow cake"), Joe the Plumber (with his own custom-made crow bar), and a talking Joe Wilson, among others.

.... When asked what aspects of Bachmann "struck his fancy," Vicale said, "She's hot. Did I say that out loud? Yeah, I guess I did."

You can buy the Sarah Palin Kick Ass Action Figure, talking Joe Wilson figure, Nancy Pelosi with Waterboard (!) and others here.

[Hat tip: Washington Monthly]

Gilibrand raising money off Rudy, Pataki

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sends a fundraising pitch to Democrats, warning about a potential challenge in 2010 from either Rudy Giuliani or George Pataki.

(Rudy's been clear he's not running against her, much to the chagrin of state party head, Ed Cox).

Highlight:

Recently we have learned that they are recruiting high profile figures like Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki.... We are 39 hours away from a major filing deadline. Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki are going to make their decisions based on how much money we raise.

You’ve stood with Kirsten before, and I thank you for that. We’re just $45,000 away from reaching our goal. $125,000 of grassroots money will make Giuliani and Pataki think twice about taking on Kirsten.

Former GOP party chair switches from Poizner to Whitman

Republican California gubernatorial candidate, Meg Whitman, reaps the benefit of second thoughts.

Release:

[Today Whitman] announced the endorsement of Bob Naylor, a former Assembly Republican Leader and Chairman of the California Republican Party. Naylor has withdrawn his earlier endorsement of Steve Poizner.

Naylor said he decided to support Whitman because she has a vision for how to improve California that will attract independent voters and fed-up Democrats to the Republican ticket.

"I believe her background at eBay makes her our strongest candidate and she is a proven job creator."

"Confident but not complacent"

That's how Florida Gov. Charlie Crist described the state of his Senatorial campaign to Mika Brzezinski on Morning Joe today.

MIKA: So tell us how this race is going? You've got kind of an upstart [Marco Rubio].

CRIST: It's going great.

MIKA: Yeah? Are you sure?

CRIST: Yeah, pretty sure.

MIKA: Yes, he can? (referring to National Review's cover piece on Marco Rubio)

CRIST: Confident but not complacent.

[Later]

MIKA: Your opponent, you've got this Marco Rubio. Pretty heated battle. Is that safe to say?

CRIST: Heated? No, I don't think I'd describe it as heated. I just think that, you know, competition is good. I like it. I look forward to it. And I'm ready for it.

[Later]

MIKA: There's been a lot of response to all the spending that's been going on in Washington, and when President Obama was promoting that $787 billion stimulus bill, you appeared with him on stage. Do you regret doing that, at this point, given the way things are going?

CRIST: Not at all. No, well, the President had just gotten elected. That was back in February, the first time he'd visited our state after being elected. I'm a civil human being. I believe that when the President of your country comes to your state for the first time, it's only appropriate to welcome him, and I was happy to do so.

Now do I agree with everything he does? Obviously not. We're in different parties, but it doesn't mean I'm an uncivil person to my President.

And thus concluded Crist's morning blitz, which included chats with Fox and Friends, CNN's American Morning, as well as Morning Joe.

UPDATE: Here's vid.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Miss November: Michele Bachmann

The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute has released the "Great American Conservative Women" calendar.

The list: Michele Bachmann, Miss California, Bay Buchanan, S.E. Cupp, Star Parker, Phyllis Schlafly, Kellyanne Conway, Ann Coulter, Kate Obenshain, Michelle Malkin and Marji Ross.

And no, Schlafly's not doing body paint.

Click here for the calendar (and yes, TMZ's running a story on it).

Perry's pyramid thing

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's "Home Headquarters" program sounds like a doorbell you wouldn't answer or a phone you wouldn't pick up.

Gromer Jeffers, Jr. from the Dallas Morning News:

Volunteers are asked to recruit friends and neighbors, referred to as Perry Home Headquarters. Those recruits pledge in turn to recruit 11 more people to vote for Perry in the March primary.

The initial recruiters get $20 for each Perry Home Headquarter they bring in, plus another $20 for every 11 voters that the "headquarter" signs up for the primary.

The potential voters can go out and recruit more Perry Home Headquarters and voters.

In what might be an overstatement, but is nevertheless, colorful, one Democratic political consultant calls it "ripe for abuse" and possibly, "the Anglo ACORN".

UPDATE: Kay Bailey Hutchison's communications director, Jennifer Baker, comments.

"Typical Rick Perry arrogance, when his failed record can't earn him support, he'll just buy it. This is just more of the disappointing politics we've come to expect from Rick Perry."

Minnesotans send mixed message on Pawlenty run

According to a new poll, 55% of Minnesotans don't want Gov. Tim Pawlenty to run for President.

But... if he did, 50% said there's either "some chance" or a "good chance" they'd support him, while 43% say there's "no chance" they'd back him.

Which means its 10 electoral votes are still winnable.

His approval rating is 49%. On September 21, Survey USA released a poll showing his approval at 56%.

[Hat tip: Political Wire]

Crist talks health care on Fox

In the Sunshine State's lab of democracy, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist tells Fox and Friends' Steve Doocy that they've got the health care thing figured out.

DOOCY: Now down in Florida, you helped originate something called "Cover Florida Health Care Program". How does your system work, because I understand there are no deficits, everybody gets it. How's it work?

CRIST: We realized in Florida we have a problem with the uninsured, as we do in America. About 4 million Floridians have no health insurance, so we wanted to come up with a plan that provided the opportunity to get health coverage, done through the private sector.

So we aggressively negotiated with health insurance companies here in Florida. We reduced the cost from an average of about $900/month for health insurance down to about $150/month through aggressive negotiations in the private sector way. There are no government mandates, no taxes involved, and it's just utilizing the private sector and the power of pooling those 4 million potential customers for the free enterprise system.... it's compassionate, it's the right thing to do, and it's done in the private sector. I think Washington could learn a lot from Florida.

DOOCY: I think so, too. No mandates, no taxes, has anyone from Washington examined that?

For more info on Cover Florida, go here.

Crist also referenced a laudatory WSJ piece called "The Florida Revelation" during the i/view. That's here.

Crist continues Carter parallels

Last weekend, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Barack Obama might be the second coming of Jimmy Carter and 2012 might be the second coming of 1980.

He reiterated the point on CNN's American Morning.

"What I think has occurred is that in 1976 the people wanted a change…I think the same thing sort of happened last year in America."

What change we got may not necessarily be the change that America wants. What I mean by that is that every day you get up and the government has taken over some other industry, auto industry or banks or whatever it might be."

"I won't make a Shermanesque statement about 2012"

I just got off a media conference call with former PA Sen. Rick Santorum in advance of his speech to the American Future Fund in Iowa.

There were a bunch of questions about his 2012 plans, and he didn't exactly discourage them.

"When you give a speech in either Iowa or New Hampshire, people are going to pay attention.... I’m gonna be out there speaking on a national level, because I think I have something to add to the equation."

Other key points.

a. Someone asked about his qualifications for 2012, considering he's been out of elective office for so long.

Santorum used the question to pivot into his "16 years of doing" in the Senate on "foreign policy, international poverty, work, taxes, health care".

b. When asked why Sarah Palin gets so much media coverage, Santorum replied:

"The media enjoys covering her. She's colorful".

c. I asked Sanotrum about an interview in early September, in which he said a driving force behind a run might be the concern that his children wouldn't be able to "practice their faith in a way that's consistent with what the [Catholic] Church teaches".

Does he have any examples of what that might look like?

He said the threat is inexorably-tied to the growth in government -- that as Obama's Administration continues to have more say in citizens' daily lives, religious expression will inevitably suffer.

d. He was asked if Obama had "surrendered" America's preeminent role in the world. Santorum said he wouldn't necessarily call it "surrender", but added:

"I’d say surrendering our position, but not surrender."

e. Santorum also defended past support for Specter by claiming Samuel Alito and John Roberts might not have been confirmed without Specter's voice during their respective hearings.

HuckPAC pulls in $45K on fundraising drive

Finally, some good $ news for HuckPAC.

Mike Huckabee:

....Huck PAC recently asked you to help us identify 720 Republicans who believed that the American people should have the right to read the cost analysis of the health care bill 72 hours before the Senate votes on a $1 trillion+ bill. We asked you to contribute to Huck PAC before midnight Saturday.

Boy did you respond. No, we didn't get 720 donors - we got 1174!! You contributed over $45,000 to help us fight for fiscal responsibility and to elect conservative Republicans. Thanks to all of you once again.

Romney's road

Matt Lewis says Mitt Romney might be the favorite for the 2012 nomination, but that doesn't mean it's going to be a cakewalk, and it certainly doesn't mean he won't be faced with claims that he's been Janus-faced.

Whether the reason is anti-Mormon bigotry, political chicanery orchestrated by an opponent, jealousy over his perfectly coiffed head of hair, or legitimate concerns over his past positions (ranging from abortion to health care), Mitt Romney never ceases to arouse anger from certain corners of the conservative movement.

When it comes to winning the 2012 GOP nomination, Mitt Romney is clearly a front-runner, if not the front-runner. But it is also clear that there will be a long, nasty road on the way to the GOP nomination.

Last week, AllahPundit responded to a Public Policy Polling survey showing Sarah Palin with -18% favorability ratings, Romney struggling to inspire support among Republicans, and Huck continually outperforming expectations.

The Hot Air scribe asks.

.... is he [Huckabee] just drawing good vibes as the funny, genial southern guy, in contrast to the more polarizing personas of Palin and Romney?

Jindal raises funds in D.C.

Earlier today, we mentioned Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was raising money for Republican VA gubernatorial candidate, Bob McDonnell.

What I didn't know is that Jindal is also using his D.C. stay to raise money for his reelection efforts.

Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said one event will be hosted by United Parcel Service Inc. and the other by lobbying firm Monument Policy Group, which lists among its clients several pharmaceutical companies, the Entertainment Software Association, Microsoft Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp.

Sanford wants answers on plane use

Not his, mind you. But state-funded universities'.

The AP:

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is reviewing how three state-funded universities use their airplanes.... In response to a Sept. 1 request, Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina have provided records for flights officials took to meetings, conferences and sports events in recent years.

Sanford's foes say he's trying to deflect attention from an investigation over his own use of pricey air travel.

"Fascinating details"

Andrew Malcolm on "Going Rogue":

Harper publisher Jonathan Burnham says the ex-governor obviously invested herself deeply -- and also quite quickly -- in penning the 400-page volume, and it contains "fascinating details."

Crist's morning blitz

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will be all over your morning airwaves tomorrow.

Tallahassee–Governor Charlie Crist will discuss health care and the economy on CNN's American Morning, FOX & Friends, and MSNBC's Morning Joe tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29, 2009. Please see below for details. Check local listings to confirm times.

CNN's American Morning
7:30 a.m.

FOX & Friends
7:50 a.m.

MSNBC's Morning Joe
8:15 a.m.

"Going Rogue": Palin's book out November

Seriously, couldn't we get a "Goin' Rogue"?

"Going Rogue" sounds like "I am going to participate in a party tonight".

Mike Allen reports that Sarah Palin's book will be published November 17th, instead of spring 2010, in order to fill all those stockings.

Palin had a deadline of Sept. 15 for her manuscript and turned it in a bit early. Copy-editing and fact-checking are now underway in a race to meet the crash publishing schedule, which has been accelerated four or five months because of the huge anticipated demand.

It's pretty interesting that Palin's embracing the "going rogue" moniker, because it fits nicely with the political brand she's worked hard to cultivate -- that of the "common sense" maverick, who's a bit unpredictable, but, of course, that's half the fun.

It's a title that plays to her strengths, as well as her weaknesses. As Karen Hughes said following Palin's abrupt resignation:

"There's a fine line between maverick and quirky, and so I think she has to be very careful that the next steps she takes are very thoughtful."

But if Palin chooses not to run for President, it sets her up nicely in the role of a modern day Will Rogers.

UPDATE: I didn't include the full title. It's Going Rogue: An American Life.

Evening eats

a. Newt, Jindal raise $350K for Bob McDonnell.

b. George Will likes Rubio.

c. Would Sarah Palin form a 3rd party?

d. Deeds' new ad hits McDonnell on utilities.

e. Rumors flying in race to take on Barbara Boxer.

f. Where have you lived? Well, whaddya know, McDonnell's lived there, too!

g. California Republican Veterans of America endorses Steve Poizner.

h. We figured out how to make the dragon's scales glow in the dark.

CA 2010: Brown beats Republicans, Republicans beat Newsom

Rasmussen Reports releases a new poll, showing Democratic candidate for governor, Jerry Brown, beating all three hypothetical Republican nominees.

But should the Democrats instead nominate San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, all three Republicans would take him down.

Unfortunately, we don't get primary numbers, but here the general matchups:

1. Jerry Brown 44% Meg Whitman 35% Not Sure 18%

2. Jerry Brown 44% Tom Campbell 34% Not Sure 16%

3. Jerry Brown 45% Steve Poizner 32% Not Sure 18%

Now, pairing the 3 elephants against Gavin Newsom:

1. Tom Campbell 42% Gavin Newsom 36% Not Sure 17%

2. Meg Whitman 41% Gavin Newsom 36% Not Sure 18%

3. Steve Poizner 40% Gavin Newsom 36% Not Sure 18%

Romney praises Obama's Olympic trip

The Washington Times has Mitt Romney stepping away from the partisan game for a second.

And isn't that what the Olympics are all about, 1936 notwithstanding, and pretty much the entire Cold War era, and now the Chinese gymnast thing?

"I think his presence makes it almost certain that Chicago will win the bid," said Mr. Romney, who oversaw the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. "I think we could have easily lost the bid" had the president not gone to make the case for Chicago in person.

Mr. Romney.... said he believes that while Mr. Obama may be risking some political capital on the international stage by making the appeal in person, the move is in the country's best interest.

Folks in Massachusetts still favor RomneyCare

A joint poll conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and The Boston Globe finds residents of Massachusetts relatively pleased with the results of former Governor Mitt Romney's health care plan.

Public support for Massachusetts’ closely watched health insurance overhaul has slipped over the past year, a new poll indicates, but residents still support the path-breaking 2006 law by a 2-to-1 ratio.... 59 percent of those surveyed said they favored the state’s multimillion-dollar insurance initiative.

A full 79% wanted the law to continue, although there are concerns about the plan's rising costs.

.... residents were nearly evenly split over whether Massachusetts could afford to continue with the law as it stands: 43 percent said the state could not, and 40 percent said it could.

Before the reform took effect, 90% of Massachusetts residents had health coverage, and now a national-best 97% do.

Newt: Pope "was having the time of his life"

Newt Gingrich talks about his conversion to Catholicim with Inside Catholic, and in doing so delivers the moment he took the decisive step, internally: when he first saw Pope Benedict XVI, up close and personal.

"It was clear he [the pope] was having the time of his life, and the joy in his eyes belied his reputation as an austere German. As he walked past me, I knew I wanted to become a Catholic."

[Hat tip: Dan Gilgoff]

The Whitman press conference

Meg Whitman addressed the press about you-know-what at this weekend's California Republican Party convention.

There's quite a lengthy exchange where reporters ask Whitman why not voting was so inexcusable, and Whitman continually responds "I should have voted and I didn't".

But the reporters' questions persist: Why is that a bad thing?

And Whitman's answer persists: It's a bad thing.

But why?

Clearly, they reporters are trying to get Whitman to say is that not voting represents an indifference to political matters, which would be a tough chink in Whitman's armor.



And as for opponent Steve Poizner's call on Whitman to drop out...

"I can imagine Steve Poizner would like me to get out of the race, and it's not happening."

[Hat tip: Chris Cillizza]

UPDATE: Love the sound of Windows shutting down on someone's laptop at 1:32.

Fred Thompson plays black sheep

Aaron Blake says Fred Thompson's political action committee, JeriPAC FredPAC, is soliciting $ for Conservative Party candidate, Doug Hoffman, over the GOP's nominee in the special election for New York's 23rd District.

Huck responds to... Huck's speech

There's been quite a bit of to-do over Mike Huckabee's speech at the How To Take Back America conference last weekend.

Well, Mike Huckabee just wrote about it over at HuckPAC, and he's not really backing down, titling his blog post "It's time to get out of the United Nations", and including key portions of his speech.

That sentiment's pervasive among a lot of Republicans and independents, but it's still a pretty inflammatory statement to make from a future (can we say "front-running"?) Presidential candidate.

If Huck became Prez, do we really think he'd pull us from the UN? Or even bluff at doing it?

UPDATE: A reader notes that Huck didn't actually advocate getting out of the UN, as the title of his post suggested; instead he wanted the UN to get out of the U.S.

The United States would still be a participating member. Regardless, it's some inflammatory rhetoric.

Connie Mack touts Crist's pro-life creds

Former Florida Sen. Connie Mack aims for the social base in a new fundraising email for Senate candidate, Charlie Crist.

Charlie is a pro-life conservative who will defend Florida’s families.

In Florida, he has worked to maintain a culture of life and implemented policies that led to historic adoption levels. He has fought to keep violent predators in jail and consistently defended the rights of gun owners and was recently awarded the Gun Rights Defender of the Month.

How Rick Perry got Perry wealthy

Democrats are calling attention to it, and now, so is Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The AP:

The Associated Press said records it examined show Gov. Rick Perry has squeaked over the millionaire line thanks to his investments and a series of private land deals.

Some of the deals took advantage of his political connections.

Keep reading...

The California straw poll that wasn't

Why you shouldn't trust the results of the "straw poll" from last weekend's California GOP convention.

Another Dem to challenge DeMint

Lawyer Chad McGowan says he's running to win the right to take on SC Sen. Jim DeMint in the 2010 general election.

McGowan joins Mike Ruckes as the only two Democrats vying for the nomination, so far.

Chad McGowan is a medical negligence attorney. Find out more about him here.

Mike Ruckes already has a campaign website up, so you can head over there to find out more on him.

Huck: UN is international ACORN

At this weekend's "How to Take Back America Conference" in St. Louis, key note speaker, Mike Huckabee, linked two controversial organizations into one highly-charged speech.

"It [The UN] has become the international equivalent of ACORN and it’s time to say enough!

.... Let any country that is willing to spend the money that the United States is hosting–let them have it. Give it to the Saudis and let these diplomats suck the sand out of the Saudi desert for a few summers and see if that’s where they’d like to go, and make their ridiculous speeches.

[Hat tip: Eric Zimmermann at the Hill Blog Briefing Room]

Jindal headlines McDonnell fundraiser tonight

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is headed to Virginia tonight to headline a fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial candidate, Bob McDonnell.

Joining him will be BET co-founder, Sheila Johnson, who surprised just about everyone when she endorsed McDonnell on July 20 (here's her explanation of why).

This is Jindal's second trip on behalf of McDonnell, and considering the slew of 2012 prospects who've stumped for McDonnell, he'd better getting lots of pics with them to hang in his office.

UPDATE: More info here.

Campbell no-comments Whitman voting record

Dark horse candidate* for California's Republican gubernatorial nomination, Tom Campbell, is perfectly content to let the two monied candidates (billionaires Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman) fight over Whitman's voting record.

The San Francisco Chronicle:

Whitman's other Republican primary rival, former Rep. Tom Campbell, declined to address the issue Saturday, saying, "I want to run a positive campaign."

*Funny thing is that the latest poll on the race (as far as I know) was released August 13, and showed Campbell nipping at Whitman's heels and far ahead of Poizner.

1. Meg Whitman 24%

2. Tom Campbell 19%

3. Steve Poizner 9%

It might be easy to chalk that up to name ID issues, but the "no opinion" option on the fav/unfavs likely taps into that factor.

23% of Republicans had no opinion of Whitman, 26% no opinion of Campbell, and 31% no opinion of Steve Poizner.

Romney set for Iraq, Afghanistan trip

Byron York asks Mitt Romney to assess Barack Obama's foreign policy in a new i/view.

Romney repeats his major beefs with Obama over missile defense, international apologies, the situation in Honduras etc.,

But the most interesting part of the i/view comes when York turns the Afghanistan discussion into "If I were king", and after fumbling a bit, Romney mentions he'll be over there soon.

When I ask Romney, “What would you have done?” he seems slightly off-balance. “I’m not in that position,” Romney says. He pauses a moment. “When you say, what would I have done, I, I -- ” “Do you think we needed a new strategy in Afghanistan?” I ask.

“I’m going to Afghanistan and Iraq in a couple of months,” Romney says. “I’ll get an assessment of what’s happening there and what the prospects are. But I certainly would support our troops with the additional troops which are being called for by General McChrystal, and provide the equipment and the manpower and the budgetary support which our troops deserve.”

[Hat tip: Hugh Hewitt]

Crist's parents send fundraising appeal

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist brings his Dad and Mom aboard in a new fundraising pitch.

At first, it may seem a bit odd, until you realize his Dad is named "Dr. Charlie Crist" and the email deals with health care things.

Highlight:

One of the most important debates facing our leaders in Washington is the struggle to craft effective health care reform legislation.

Here in Florida, Charlie worked with members of the Florida Legislature to develop the Cover Florida program. Charlie used conservative, market-based principles to create a program where private companies compete to offer high-quality, low-cost insurance to Florida’s uninsured population.

The program comes at no cost to the taxpayers and includes no government mandates. As a family physician, I am confident that this type of reform will increase the number of Florida families covered by medical insurance, while reducing the taxpayer burden of costly emergency care the uninsured must often seek when a medical emergency arises.

Texas GOP chair resigns to help Perry

Texas GOP chair, Tina Benkiser, is stepping down to join Texas Gov. Rick Perry's reelection efforts.

Big score, right?

Paul Burka says, maybe:

Benkiser, whose title will be senior adviser, brings to the table a knowledge of all the players in the GOP–SREC members, county chairs, precinct chairs, the big fundraisers, the state party organization, the whole works. That’s worth something.

But then again, probably not.

Evidently, her leadership has always been suspect w/inside Republicans, and she's recently become more brazen with her support for Perry in his duel with Kay Bailey Hutchison -- something that's a no-no for a state party chair.

Burka concludes:

So the answer to the question, Big deal or not? is “probably not.” The Perry campaign can send her out to criticize Hutchison, and to woo her contact list, but Benkiser has too many critics and too little to show for her tenure as chairman to be a major asset to the campaign.

[Hat tip: Blue Dot Blues]

Mitch Daniels sheds labels, spending

The Wall Street Journal's Kimberley Strassel writes a flattering profile of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

At issue: both his record and ambitions. Daniels has repeatedly claimed he's not interested in a 2012 run, and for the first time, digs into what's behind the hesitation.

"This business of our advancing ideas . . . and not spending a lot of time arguing the philosophy—that's a luxury you have in state or local office that's harder if you are running for federal office where you are, appropriately, dragged into all the litmus tests and the yes-nos."

In fact, speaking of the litmus tests and yes-nos, that's another thing Daniels wants to un-talk about it.

".... leave the labels out. I rarely mention party names, ours or theirs. I don't use the i-word [ideology] or the c-word [conservative]. I don't use the p-word [privatization]. Because I don't think most people think in those categories."

And finally, the 2012 quip.

'You'll be the first to know," laughs Mitch Daniels. But "don't hang around the phone."

Read full profile here.

[Hat tip: Harvard Republican Oasis]

Mary Bono Mack defends Whitman

U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack says that - considering her own late husband's voting record - there's no harm, no foul in Meg Whitman's.

"[Sonny Bono] hadn't even registered to vote before he ran for mayor [of Palm Springs]. He went on to be a successful mayor and a successful member of Congress.”

Did Goode really think Palin's speech was good?

After Sarah Palin's Hong Kong speech, there were a handful of eyewitness reactions -- some positive, some negative.

One of the most heavily-cited came from a marketing consultant, Mel Goode, who told the New York Times:

"She was articulate and she held her own. I give her credit. They've tried to categorize her as not being very bright. She's bright."

The Asia Times Online then tracked down the very same Mel Goode, talking to the South China Morning Post.

"Well, she delivered well - but then so does Pizza Hut."

Romney's Foreign Policy Initiative speech

Last week, Mitt Romney spoke to William Kristol's Foreign Policy Institute; this week, we bring you video.

For commentary, read ABC's Teddy Davis' report. The speech features Romney's "This is not the time for Hamlet" line (i.e. indecision on foreign policy).

The talk, actually, sounds a lot like his delivery to the Mackinac Leadership conference last weekend.



[Hat tip: BlipTV]

Biggies get behind Fox Nation Website

At the recently concluded Values Voter Summit, top Republicans like Eric Cantor, Mitt Romney, and Rick Perry plugged the Fox Nation website, which Fox VP Bill Shine promised would be "aggressive but not ideological".

You can take a gander at the website and see if you agree, but GOP luminaries all seem to dig it.



[Hat tip: Link The.Com]

Meek: Crist will exploit Senate to run for Prez

The odds-on favorite to face Charlie Crist in a Florida Senatorial general election, Kendrick Meek, is using Crist's pointed speech at the Mackinac Leadership Conference this weekend to suggest the Florida Gov. is only running for Senate, so he can turn around and run for President two years later.

Or, to put it more simply.

"He's just another Republican hoping Obama fails and lining up to run for president. Governor Crist is using our Senate race to jumpstart his 2012 run."

It should be noted the accusation is embedded in a fundraising pitch.

Of Crist's 2012 prospects, Chris Cillizza says.

.... it remains to be seen whether his image as a moderate -- not to mention the quick turnaround time from the Senate race -- could sell at the national level.

Fred Barnes: Gimme half-Palin, half-Whitman

The San Francisco Chronicle's, Joe Garofoli, chit-chatted with Fred Barnes this weekend, and got the ingredients for the politician to die for.

Fred Barnes:

"If you could combine Meg Whitman and Sarah Palin, you'd have an incredible candidate. With Sarah Palin, people want to hear her. Touch her -- and I don't mean just men.

With Meg Whitman, I haven't seen that kind of star power, but she certainly has the intellectual power."

Pretty funny that Barnes included the "touch her" sexual element in there, considering the oft-repeated theory that, among other things, Barnes' colleague, William Kristol, wanted Palin on the ticket b/c of her sex appeal.

Kristol again pushed Palin when asked whom McCain should pick:

“Sarah Palin, whom I’ve only met once but I was awfully impressed by—a genuine reformer, defeated the establishment up there. It would be pretty wild to pick a young female Alaska governor, and I think, you know, McCain might as well go for it.”

On July 22nd, again on Fox, Kristol referred to Palin as “my heartthrob.”

He declared, “I don’t know if I can make it through the next three months without her on the ticket."

[Hat tip: Sarah Palin Truth Squad]

Romney: Obama aping United Nations

In his address at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, Mitt Romney continued finding his voice as an increasingly visible opponent of Barack Obama's foreign policy.

(As an aside, the two dominant issues in political discourse right now are Iran/Afghanistan and health care. If Romney wants speak out, the former's probably a better place to plant his rhetorical megaphone.)

Onto Romney's most salient point -- one that's actually kind of interesting.

"America has always been a ardent supporter of democratic efforts and protecting and defending American values and western values, but this President seems intent to step back to — if you will — lift himself above the world stage and say we're not a player down there with everybody else between the democracies and the autocracies.

Instead we're going to become the neutral arbiter. We're going to be above everybody. Almost like the United Nations, sort of telling people what's right and what's wrong, instead of coming down firmly, solidly, and vehemently in favor of democracy."

Over the years, the U.S. has drifted into both roles -- advocate of democracy, but also neutral arbiter trying to score the best, possible deal considering the limit of the regimes involved and the stark reality that even if you can always come down in favor of democracy, practically-speaking, it's a matter of degree, and not a boolean thing.

So in a sense, yes, the U.S. has traditionally supported democratic advancement, but only to the point that it's feasible and cost-effective (or whatever the political term for that concept is).

Ironically, you can look at it another way. According to Romney, Obama could be accused of American arrogance.

".... lift himself [Obama] above the world stage and say we're not a player down there with everybody else between the democracies and the autocracies.

Instead we're going to become the neutral arbiter. We're going to be above everybody. Almost like the United Nations, sort of telling people what's right and what's wrong."

Telling people what's right and wrong? How does that jive with his earlier statement that we're no longer coming down on the side of democracy?

I think I know what Romney's getting at, but this is one of those things where there's quite a bit of incest, and not in the sexual sense of the term, but the idea of nearly identical concepts somehow thinking they're different enough to copulate. Usually, the result is something confusing.

Poizner's new ad hammers Whitman

Steve Poizner's up with a new ad, bringing the heat (or more specifically, the Sacramento Bee) at California gubernatorial primary foe, Meg Whitman.

Toughest line:

"She didn't skip some votes as she claims. She skipped every one for 28 years."