That's What Rudolph Finds Disgusting?

Earlier today former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani called Moveon.org's ad questioning General Pateraus' honesty regarding the Iraq war "one of the more disgusting things that has happened in American politics."

Really? An ad? An ad in which American citizens exercise their god given inalienable right to seek answers from a government official. This is what Rodolph considers "disgusting?" Mr. Giuliani obviously isn't a student of American history. If he was, he'd know our past is chock full of far more disgusting things than the moveon.org ad.

What would that be? How about then Governor George Bush's whisper effort during the 2000 campaign regarding the race of one of Senator John McCain's children for starters? Gee, wonder where the Bushies got the idea to attack an opponent's child?

Don't like this example of disgusting politics, well who could forget the swift boat veterans for truth and their smear job on Senator John Kerry's war record, or President Richard Nixon's cover up of the break in at the Headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, or even Senator Joseph McCarthy's witch hunts? Hell, Vice President Aaron Burr actually shot and killed one of his political rivals. Talk about crude politics!

Even a cursory study of American history shows its politics to be a very rough business. If Rudolph can't stomach a simple ad, then he clearly doesn't have the constitution to be President.

Romney Shoots and Misses?

"Slick" Mitt Romney is at it again, making crazy claims about his past in order to win the republican presidential nomination. This time Slick asserts he's a "lifelong" hunter. "I've been a hunter pretty much all my life," Slick recently told a New Hampshire resident. Problem is Romney's only been hunting twice, once when he was 15 and then again when he turned 60. Other than being in a committed marriage, (sorry John and Rudolph) or on rare occasion kicking an addiction, most thinking Americans know it often takes more than two attempts to call oneself a lifelong anything.

Slick clearly thinks gun voters are gullible hicks who can be bought off with a couple of hunting trips (the last taking place in a fenced game preserve) and a $1000 donation to the NRA. Hmm. . . perhaps the one G is why the NRA is surprisingly quiet on Romney's claim that two hunts is the minimum necessary to become a lifelong hunter.

If Slick has bought off the NRA for so little, maybe he believes he's accurately dialed his sights in on the gun voter. It remains to be seen if gun voters reject Slick's pandering and make themselves a moving target or sell out their values and offer themselves up to him as sitting ducks.

Republican Cluster F*#@!

The republican race for president is becoming quite a mess. Combining last week's Gallop/USA Today Presidential poll with yesterday's first quarter campaign fundraising numbers, we see a republican field with major problems.

Let's start with Giuliani who had a tough week. First as conservatives learn more about Rudolph's background, his judgement, and political stances his poll numbers drop like a stone. The Gallop poll saw his number fall more than 13 points in just two weeks. Ouch! At that rate, he'll be out of the race in little more than a month. This sagging support meant mediocre contributions. Putting him far behind Willard "Slick" Romney. All this has "the Mayor" somewhat unhinged and defensive.

John McCain is in even tougher straits. His poll numbers plateaued at roughly 20 percent and he came in a disappointing third in the money race. Like Giuliani, McCain is starting to reek of desperation. He is looking for any spark to jump start his campaign, even one that put hundreds of US soldiers in harms way.

Then there's Romney. Old Willard had to choke on his lunch when Gallop revealed he's convinced just three 3 percent of the country he should be the next President. Three percent! That's within the poll's margin of error, which could mean Willard is actually appealing to no one. On the flip side, he sucked in over the past three months a mighty $23 million for his campaign. That has got to be the richest 3 percent in the country. Romney is obviously going after the Bush base.

Meanwhile, Newt's star is fading and Brownback, Tancredo, and Huckabee can't even get off the launching pad. Finally, Fred Thompson's poll numbers went from zero to 12 points in the last 14 days. Impressive for someone who isn't even running. Just shows how desperate the republican base is becoming given the current slate of official candidates. Unfortunately, for thespian Thompson, he's now down $23 million to Romney.

What fun!

General Pace, better vote Democrat!

Yesterday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace told the Chicago Tribune that homosexuality and adultery are equivalent immoral acts. Pace went on to say that the Pentagon should not condone immoral behavior. One wonders if General Pace would serve under republican presidential pretenders John McCain, Rudolph Giuliani or Newt Gingrich. All three have admitted marital infidelity.

Democratic Sizzle, Republican Fizzle!

With the announcement over the weekend of Senator Barack Obama's candidacy for the President, the Democratic field now appears set. What a field it is! Any one of the top three candidates (Clinton, Edwards, or Obama) would make a far better President than our current leader. Buzz surrounding the Democratic field has never been higher. See here, here, and here.

Compare that to the republicans' current slate of candidates. All have significant PR problems. The flip flopping duo of John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani are falling all over themselves to attract the extreme right vote. Good luck John and Rudolph playing the republican base for dupes. Meanwhile Willard "slick" Mitt Romney appears to have fallen off the radar screen, and finds it hard to convince party faithfuls he's their guy. As such, a lack excitement surrounding the republican field has them infighting to attract attention.

Bring on the campaign!