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Gustav stalls offshore in Haiti after killing 23
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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Indian security forces kill 3 in Kashmir
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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Indian security forces kill 5 in Kashmir
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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Kashmir police and suspected rebels in shootout
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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Swiss exonerate Europes last executed witch
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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Combat flares in 3rd area of Pakistan border belt
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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At least 5 dead in Kashmir battle over hostages
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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9 killed in bomb blast in northwestern Pakistan
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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Garth, Doherty make nice while filming new 90210
Southern Ledger - August 28, 2008
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ROOTS OF REPUBLICAN DISCONTENT.
February 6, 2008 -
February 11, 2008
Republicans expecting to wake up the morning after Super Tuesday with their presidential field winnowed down awoke with a hangover of post-Fat Tuesday proportions. Instead of clarity Republicans have a more muddled situation than ever. With John McCain, Mitt Romney and John McCain splitting victories Tuesday all three may be unable to secure enough delegates to win the Republican nomination prior to the Convention in Minnesota.
Putative front-runner McCain, for example, must capture about 77% of the remaining delegates up for grabs in order to reach the magic number of 1,191 needed to lock up the nomination. Huckabee actually finished behind Ron Paul in three of the Super Tuesday contests, is in third place in the delegate count and has shown little support beyond the Bible Belt. While Romney touts the fact that he has won eleven states so far, plus eleven second place finishes, he is far too short of the finish line to be able to win the nomination.
So if NOBODY can win, what happens then? A brokered convention with backroom deals? Does the Party look beyond the three remaining candidates for a savior to emerge? Perhaps; but sailing off into the uncharted territory and chaos of the first brokered convention in the modern era is not a good recipe for political success.
Republicans may wonder why they have not had better candidates to choose from. The collective failures of the Republican-controlled House and Senate and the Bush Administration were certainly a factor. The abandonment of fiscal restraint by the Republicans in Washington and their orgy of pork barrel spending, exemplified by the “Bridge to Nowhere,” the Amnesty debacle, and a series of resignations and prosecutions of numerous House members, led directly to the 2006 political meltdown that produced Democrat majorities in the House and Senate.
When Republican political fortunes collapsed in 2006 the impact rippled far beyond the halls of power in Washington. The GOP also lost several rising stars that might have improved the Presidential field in 2008. Virginia Senator George Allen, Missouri Senator Jim Talent and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist all saw their potential presidential hopes for 2008 washed away in the tide of defeat in 2006.
Republicans lost several other potentially strong Presidential candidates in recent years for a variety of reasons. Popular Mississipi Governor Haley Barbour passed on a race for President to focus his attention on post-Katrina rebuilding efforts in his state. Former Colorado Governor Bill Owens was once a rising superstar in Republican circles until his career was derailed by his embrace of tax increases and personal scandal. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush might have made a great presidential candidate…if his last name had been anything other than Bush. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich remains hampered by past personal scandals.
Ultimately, Republicans will have to make the best of what they can in 2008. But as they look to 2012 and beyond, developing a deep bench and a better farm team for producing presidential candidates should be a high priority.
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BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. -
January 29, 2008 -
February 5, 2008
A combative President George W. Bush gave his final State of the Union Speech Monday night. After rolling over for excessive and wasteful spending fostered by Republican majorities in the House and Senate during his first six years in office he finally found his veto pen and promised to use it.
Bush called for a major crack-down on the pork barrel practices of Congress, saying he will veto any spending bill that does not cut in half the number and cost of congressional pet projects, kno... |
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LASTING IMPRESSIONS. -
January 20, 2008 -
January 27, 2008
When Fred Thompson first opened the door to a potential race for President last March he generated unbridled enthusiasm from many conservatives throughout the country. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was sitting on a significant lead in most national polls and the media was anointing him as the Republican nominee. Possessing a gruff, no-nonsense style, movie star celebrity and solid conservative credentials, Thompson was seen as perhaps the only one who could stop Rudy from winning.
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OVER?!?! IT HAS ONLY JUST STARTED! -
January 10, 2008 -
January 7, 2008
“Over'? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is!” – Bluto Blutarsky, “Animal House”
With the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary now in the rear-view mirror most of the political experts in the mainstream media have given the impression that the Republican and Democratic Primary races are in their final moments. Really? A quick glance at the meager number of delegates to the respective party conventions that have been awarded, and the huge number that remain ou... |
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FRED SKATES AHEAD ON THIN ICE -
January 6, 2008 -
January 13, 2008
Although Fred Thompson emerged from Iowa with a third place finish he is not getting the sort of media bump that a third place spot usually generates. The reason is two-fold.
First, major media attention has rightfully been focused on the huge Barack Obama win, and Hillary Clinton third place finish, in Iowa.
Hillary Clinton has long relied upon a sense of inevitability as a strong foundation for support. Now that she is no longer able to portray herself as "unbeatable" she must f... |
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THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, LEGALLY SPEAKING. -
December 23, 2007 -
December 29, 2007
Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to, a mouse.
A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a.k.a. St. Nicholas a.k.a. Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus")would arrive at sometime thereafter.
T... |
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