peteah's blog
Posted at 2:52pm on Jun. 21, 2006 Boxer: We succeeded but Failed
By peteah
I received an email from Barbara Boxer's PAC For Change today. It urged me to encourage my Senators to vote for "redeployment" in the Senate because our. This is obviously not noteworthy but there is some amusing and idiotic statements in the email. None more so than this:
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Posted at 3:40pm on Jun. 20, 2006 Whistle-Blower Taddles On Herself
By peteah
The FBI Inspector General released his findings yesterday regarding the Bureau's mishandling of Moussaoui's arrest a month before 9/11 happened. This wouldn't normally warrant a diary entry from me but one statement in the WaPo's article is significant:
"The Inspector General said former FBI Lawyer Colleen Rowley, who gained fame as a whistle-blower when she pointed out the errors by headquarters, had failed to properly guide agents on what type of search warrants to seek."
Here is the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/19/AR200606190
1303.html
I'm sure many remember Rowley, she was one of Time's "Person of the Year" in 2002. The distinction was shared by three "whistle-blowers" that year from the FBI (Rowley), Enron and Worldcom. At least the other two haven't, as of yet, been found to be complicit in the schemes they brought to light. The real irony of this story is that her allegations spurred this investigation.
But here's the best part:
Rowley is running for Congress in Minnesota's 2nd district as a Democrat. I'm sure this will help Democrat efforts to reshape their image as a party strong on defense and not filled with incompetent boobs.
Hat tip: The Corner
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Posted at 10:11am on Jun. 13, 2006 MI-Gov: DeVos Widens Lead
By peteah
Dick DeVos continues to gain support in his bid to unseat hapless Governor Jennifer Granholm. A new Detroit News/WXYZ-TV poll released today, shows DeVos with a lead of 8%. Here are the numbers:
DeVos 48%
Granholm 40%
Undecided 12%
The survey polled 600 likely voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4%. The poll was conducted by EPIC/MRA, a Lansing based polling firm.
What really stands out about the poll is that DeVos leads among union households. In fact, the numbers are identical to the overall poll numbers, 48% to 40%.
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Posted at 2:53pm on Jun. 1, 2006 MI-07: Progress Within a GOP Majority
By peteah
There is no question that conservatives are frustrated with their leaders in Washington these days. The frustration has been steadily growing over the past few months. The apparent disdain elected officials have shown toward conservative voters and the causes they support have left the party in a precarious position leading up to the November mid-term elections. Some here at Redstate have advocated staying home in November or voting for a third party candidate to "send a message." But there is a better strategy.
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Posted at 1:11pm on May 30, 2006 A Good Book
By peteah
I just recently finished reading one of the most imaginative and disturbing works of fiction I can recall. Prayers For The Assassin, by Robert Ferrigno, tells the tale of a radically different United States in the year 2040.
Civil war decimates the United States and the result is a country divided along religious lines. The majority of the current U.S. becomes the Islamic States of America while a few southern states are termed the Bible Belt. I don't want to ramble about the plot because it is so complex I may omit important points in my haste. In short--it depicts a scenario that, after reading the book, seems all to plausible. It is a sobering tale of what the future could be like. I encourage everyone to read it, but for now here is the website:
http://www.prayersfortheassassin.com/
The author has also recently announced that this is the first installment of a trilogy, which to anyone who has read the book, is great news. Ferrigno seems to be creating a whole multi-media experience based on his horrifying depiction of the future. He has also created a website that portrays this alternative universe/future as real. It is complete with news stories, presidential election polls from the year 2036 and advertisements for products that don't exist. It is truly fascinating. Here is the "faux" site:
I think this novel would be greatly appreciated by many here at Redstate and wanted to give it a little free pub. I hope everyone reads it and visits the websites I have linked to. Enjoy.
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Posted at 3:52pm on May 24, 2006 IA-03: Jeff Lamberti
By peteah
Promoted from Diaries. Yes, Virginia - and West Virginia and Maryland and Pennsylvania and even plucky little Delaware, too - we still care about district races. Moe Lane
(This is the second profile of a GOP
House challenger to an incumbent Democrat Representative. The first was David McSweeney in Illinois' 8th District.)
The House race in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District should prove to be one of the most heated this November. Republican Jeff Lamberti is challenging Democrat incumbent Leonard Boswell. Iowa's 3rd is considered one of the most competetive districts this election cycle and Lamberti is recognized as one of the strongest challengers the GOP recruited in 2006. In addition, Boswell is thought to be vulnerable despite the fact he has been re-elected four times.
Read on - and people, please, use the extended copy box.
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Posted at 10:32am on May 24, 2006 SV Michigan Poll: DeVos Gains Momentum (Again)
By peteah
Strategic Vision has released its latest Michigan poll (5/24) and the momentum for Dick DeVos' campaign for governor is still growing. The numbers released today show DeVos leading Governor Jennifer Granholm for the first time in a SV poll, 45% to 42%. The last Rasmussen poll showed DeVos overtaking Granholm for the first time as well. Here are the numbers compared to the last poll taken on 4/21:
Startegic Vision 5/24 4/21
DeVos 45 42
Granholm 42 43
It appears that Granholm's attempt to pander to the voters and blame Michigan's problems on the President are not working. About a month ago a petition was circulating around the internet that originated out of the Governor's office. The petition implored the President to lower gas prices and investigate price gouging by oil companies. It doesn't look like it had the desired effect that Granholm had hoped. The economic woes of the state are not going unnoticed by the voters here and the Governor is rightly getting her share of the blame. More people disapprove of the job she is doing (44%) than approve (41%). Now, the question is, can this momentum create coattails for the eventual GOP candidate that will face Senator Stabenow in November?
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Posted at 1:19pm on May 3, 2006 IL-08: David McSweeney
By peteah
In November, the voters of the 8th Congressional District of Illinois will have a clear choice who will represent them in Washington. The Republican candidate, David McSweeney is a conservative facing a first term incumbent in Democrat Melissa Bean. This race has the potential to be one of the most competetive in 2006.
David McSweeney left a career as an investment banker in order to run for congress in 2006. He has a B.A. in Economics and a Masters degree in business administration, both from Duke University. He is a conservative that will be a strong voice in Congress for tax cuts and reduced spending. In addition to his conservative stance on economic issues (He supports making the tax cuts permanent and freezing government spending except for national security and social security), he is on the right side of a wide array of issues most important to conservative voters. He is Pro-Life and is opposed to stem cell research, supports drilling in ANWR, favors strong border security and is opposed to a guest worker program.
McSweeney's views, in comparison to Bean's, are much more compatible with the district's constituency. The 8th Congressional District has traditionally voted Republican in the past. It voted for President Bush in the 2004 election by a margin of 56% to 44%, the largest margin of any district he carried in the state. Despite the overwhelming support Bush enjoyed, the district chose the first Democrat to ever represent them by a margin of 52% to 48%. Republican Phil Crane, who held the seat since 1969, lost due to charges that he was out of touch with his constituency and a large influx of money to his opponent's campaign.
McSweeney faces a one term incumbent in Melissa Bean that has angered some of her supporters. She has had to vote with Republicans on many issues in order to placate her conservative-leaning district. She has infuriated the local unions by voting for CAFTA after she pledged she would not support it. Leaders of the Teamsters have even flirted with the McSweeney campaign due to their displeasure with Bean. The fact that McSweeney also supports CAFTA has not seemed to placate union leaders' anger over Bean's betrayal. The first term Democrat also has to worry about a challenge from left-wing candidate Bill Scheurer, who could siphon votes from despondent liberals who feel Bean has abandoned them.
Democrats across the nation realize that this race will be competetive. The Bean campaign has received millions of dollars in donations from high profile individuals and PACs. She has out-raised McSweeney by a large margin, numbers that have increased since McSweeney spent nearly 2 million dollars to secure the hotly contested GOP nomination. However, McSweeney has stated that he will tap his vast personal wealth in order to win the election, perhaps making the large discrepancy a non-factor.
The race in the 8th Congressional District represents a great opportunity for conservatives to elect someone who will fight for what they believe while sending a Democrat incumbent back to the private sector.
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Posted at 12:12pm on May 1, 2006 TX-17 Edwards Leads Boxer's Poll
By peteah
Last Friday I posted a diary about an online poll Barbara Boxer's PAC for a Change is conducting to decide which congressional candidates to support. The winners of the poll (one Democrat incumbent and one Democrat challenger) will be the beneficiary of an email campaign by PAC for a Change that could generate "tens of thousands of dollars to their campaigns."
Chet Edwards is currently leading among incumbents in the poll. Democrats know he is facing a tough challenger in Van Taylor. The following link offers a quick analysis on which candidates need the most help.
http://www.swingstateproject.com/elections/2006_elections/2006_elections_ho
use/index.php?page=2
Notice their take on Edwards' situation. His precarious position has been noted by voters of this "contest" as well. He has a ten point lead in the incumbent category. This is more proof that Van Taylor is a strong, viable candidate that has Democrats worried.
This may not influence the election much but it can't hurt. Let's help Van Taylor again by voting for another incumbent and taking away this extra fundraising apparatus. My suggestion is John Salazar. He is within striking distance and not as liberal as the other choices. Here is the link to PAC for a Change's voting page. Voting ends May 12:
http://ga4.org/pacforachange/housevote.html?member_key=dun8ku4053j68e&
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Posted at 3:11pm on Apr. 28, 2006 Boxer Wants You to Vote
By peteah
Who gets the money? It's up to you, the average citizen to decide. Barbara Boxer is encouraging supporters to help determine which congressional candidates will be forever beholden to her.
Her political action committee, PAC for a Change, is sponsoring an online vote to decide who will get her money. Their website touts that the winners could receive "tens of thousands of dollars." Those casting ballots are allowed to vote for one incumbent member of the House and one challenger to a Republican incumbent. The choice of candidates apparently was pared down based on this criteria: vulnerability and the Republican opponent. Here is a link to the website which has current vote tallies as of 2AM:
http://ga4.org/pacforachange/housevote.html?member_key=dun8ku4053j68e&
The vote totals are interesting and really make what Redstate has been doing here the past few days seem all the more relevant.
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Posted at 1:15pm on Apr. 26, 2006 Clinton Cabal Goes After Weldon
By peteah
Newsmax.com has a story today about Bill Clinton's National Security Team's efforts to defeat Congressman Curt Weldon in his bid for re-election. Here is the link:
http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/26/01529.shtml?s=ic
This is obviously an effort to silence the Pennsylvania congressman for his work exposing Able Danger and the Clinton Administration's failure to connect the dots prior to 9/11. Here is a list of the donors and the amount contributed to challenger, Joe Sestak's campaign:
-Madelaine Albright (Sec of State) $500.00
-Sandy Berger (NSA) $1000.00
-John Deutch (CIA Director) $500.00
-John Podesta (Chief of Staff) $300.00
-Anthony Lake (NSA-Berger's predecessor) $500.00
-John Dalton (Navy Sec) $500.00
-Hillary Clinton (First Lady) $2500.00
In addition to the campaign contributions, I'm sure HRC has some inside info on Weldon that will surface at some point during the campaign. Having illegal access to over 800 FBI files can come in handy.
Does anyone here at Redstate live in Weldon's district or PA, for that matter, and have some information on polls and/or the overall complexion of this race? I think this may be an interesting one to watch.
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Posted at 11:59am on Apr. 21, 2006 Granholm Slips; GOP Voters Unsure
By peteah
A new Strategic Vision poll on the Michigan election was released today that shows Democratic Incumbent Jennifer Granholm's sizable lead in the polls has evaporated. The numbers are here:
http://strategicvision.biz/political/michigan_poll_042106.htm
Gop challenger Dick DeVos has closed the gap from seventeen points to make it a dead heat. Here are the numbers from Strategic Vision's last poll (3/15) compared to the poll released today:
3/15
Granholm 50
DeVos 33
Undecided 17
4/21
Granholm 43
DeVos 42
Undecided 15
DeVos is siphoning off voters from Granholm's camp. These numbers seem to confirm the latest Rasmussen poll that also had the race virtually tied. Granholm's freefall is a direct result of the woeful state economy (49th in the nation).
The race for US Senate has not changed much in relation to the last poll taken. One interesting note though, is that in the race for the GOP nomination, undecideds have increased substantially (Undecided runs second at 28% behind Mike Bouchard at 34%). The indication here is that many GOP voters still are unsure which of the three candidates will make the most formidable opponent for Debbie Stabenow in the fall.
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Posted at 11:23am on Apr. 6, 2006 GOP Momentum in Michigan
By peteah
According to the latest poll by Rasmussen, released today, the GOP Senate candidates are closing the gap on Senator Stabenow. Here are the numbers now compared to the previous poll released Feb. 15:
Stabenow vs Bouchard
2/15
54 33
4/6
51 37
Stabenow vs Butler
2/15
53 32
4/6
50 36
Stabenow vs Zandstra
2/15
53 33
4/6
48 37
It is obvious that there is still a long way to go but these are encouraging numbers, especially considering the fact that the GOP candidates are still widely unknown. The same poll states that 44% of Michiganders have no opinion of the three candidates. Couple these numbers with Gov. Granholm's falling poll numbers and it looks like the stagnant Michigan economy is coming back to bite the Dems.
*Note: All polls can be found at rasmussenreports.com
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Posted at 2:18pm on Mar. 23, 2006 Saddam Approved bin Laden Meeting
By peteah
Well, well, well. There are newly released documents on the Army website, fmso.leavenworth.army.mil, that show Saddam Hussein approved a meeting between bin Laden and an official of the Iraqi Government. ABC's website also has a story on the newly released documents. I haven't read it in full detail yet, but I wanted to post it to get it out there. Happy hunting!
Hat tip: The Corner
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Posted at 10:57pm on Feb. 7, 2006 McCain's Surprise Supporter
By peteah
Dick Morris was on Sean Hannity's show today and they were discussing Hillary and her chances, etc. At the end of the conversation Hannity asked Morris whom he thought the GOP front-runner was for 2008. He stated John McCain was the early favorite. No surprise there. His reasoning was a little startling, however. Morris said that people he originally didn't believe would support McCain are beginning to do just that. He indicated that a prominent US Senator had assured him he (the senator) would support the Maverick. Morris surreptitiously let Hannity know about whom they were speaking. The host was in disbelief.
I am no McCain supporter and I think I have made that clear on this site. McCain is a political opportunist and a moderate on many critical issues. His consituency is the MSM. That's why this news was a bit distressing to me. I believe that by "prominent" Morris meant a highly regarded CONSERVATIVE senator.
My question to everyone is, which senator do you think Morris is talking about? I have thought of only a couple possibilities and the one I believe it to be is extremely discouraging. I don't want to influence anyone's thinking by posting what I believe so I'll wait a while on that. Also, I hope someone convinces me I am wrong.
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