September 3-4, 2008
Sep 03 10:15 My Interview With Jeff Beatty Sep 03 20:55 McCain-Palin Fights Back Sep 03 21:42 Liveblogging Sarah Palin Sep 03 22:50 Sarah 'Sticks the Landing' Sep 04 06:49 Giving Rudy His Due Sep 04 08:18 Reaction to the Speech Sep 04 10:33 Not Ready For Prime Time Players Sep 04 17:22 Ratings Giant!!!
Prior Months: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
My Interview With Jeff Beatty
Last night, I had the privilege of interviewing Jim Beatty, the man who's attempting to unseat John Kerry, who served in Vietnam. I'd done some research on Mr. Beatty prior to the interview. His national/homeland security resume is quite impressive, having served in the Delta Forces, as a FBI Special Agent and with the CIA. In addition to that, Mr. Beatty owns a business that called TotalSecurity.US, which he started in 1992.
According to his campaign bio page , here are some of his accomplishments:
In transportation, www.TotalSecurity.US has written the Anti-terrorism Action Plans for both the American Trucking Associations and the American Bus Association. Further consulting support has been given to 25 major US cities and the FMCSA, FTA, WMATA, MBTA and MASSPORT.In other words, his resume suggests that he'll be more than able to hold his own on these issues with Sen. Kerry.
On a Global scale Mr. Beatty and www.TotalSecurity.US worked on major international meetings and special events like the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade, Superbowl, Asian Development Bank, BIOTECH and 4 Olympics.
I'd be doing Mr. Beatty a disservice, though, if I left the impression that he's a one issue candidate. He isn't. The first question I asked was intentionally a softball. What I asked was why he'd be a better senator than Sen. Kerry. His response was measured but to the point. He said that he'd "protect Massachusetts' families, protect our country & protect Massachusetts' jobs."
He said that he'd protect Massachusetts' families and Massachusetts jobs by not raising their taxes. He said that Massachusetts' families already have too much of an financial burden, that they don't need a higher tax burden.
Mr. Beatty said that he'd favor an aggressive pro-drilling energy plan. Mr. Beatty also agrees with Sen. McCain that we need to build nuclear power plants.
Mr. Beatty said that he'd give our law enforcement and intelligence agencies all the tools they need to protect us from future terrorist attacks.
The next thing caught me off guard but it makes perfect sense. He said it's in our interest to build nuclear power plants overseas. That way, we know that they aren't being used for nuclear weapons. We'd also make a nice profit, too.
He stressed the fact that he'd made numerous decisions in his various security-related jobs, something Sen. Kerry wasn't required to do in his time in the Senate. His running a company certainly gave him lots of additional executive experience.
The last question I asked was about the threat Iran poses. He called it significant and that we can't let the mullahs get nuclear weapons. He said that the best way to do that would be to appeal to pro-democracy factions inside the country. According to Mr. Beatty, this is a highly viable option as people there don't like the oppressive nature of the mullahs.
I'd like to thank Jeff Beatty for granting me this interview. I found him to be a man of sound judgment, someone who is certainly grounded in national security matters at a time when those credentials are important in the Senate.
Finally, we hear each election cycle about a challenger who has a shot at unexpectedly knocking off an incumbent. Rarely does the incumbent get defeated. This isn't one of those times. Jeff Beatty is very competitive in the polls right now. Here's a question from a Zogby International poll :
Jeff Beatty recently entered politics. He is 54 years old and is a national security consultant/small business owner. He made 200+ nat'l security 'appearances on TV. He is a US Army Combat-wounded veteran and former FBI Agent/former CIA Counter-terrorism Officer. Has a home in MA, and opposed the recent Immigration Reform Bill. Who would you vote for, John Kerry or Jeff Beatty?I've talked with a couple friends living in Massachusetts. They said that Massachusetts think poorly of Kerry's constituent service record, adding that Kerry isn't well liked within his own party.
Kerry 48%, Beatty 45%
Based on that information, I'd consider this a prime opportunity for the Republicans.
Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:19 AM
Comment 1 by Chuck at 03-Sep-08 05:29 PM
I found this to be a little bit of a stretch but certainly shows with the right campaign, Kerry could be vulnerable. GFor one thing, the Dems never really forgave him for losing to Bush. Seeing this idiot go down would be great.
Comment 2 by Lauren at 09-Sep-08 09:50 AM
While Kerry is a big disappointment to the Democrats in Massachusetts, he's a bigger disappointment to the Republicans here.
Of concern is Jeff Beatty's bio. There's no documentation of his experience in the FBI or CIA. There's more info on his acting in movies.
His company, Total Security sort of gives me the creeps. Aside from that it tells me that he has a vested interest in the huge government beaurocracy that is Homeland Security. That's not a fiscally conservative message.
His stated pledges to protect sadly don't even mention the United States Constitution.
As a Classically Conservative Republiclan, I'm unconvinced.
McCain-Palin Fights Back
After not defending themselves against the whithering attacks against Gov. Palin by the hatemongers in the Agenda Media, the McCain-Palin ticket will start fighting back :
The campaign announced: "The McCain campaign will launch a television ad directly comparing Gov. Palin's executive experience as a governor who oversees 24,000 state employees, 14 statewide cabinet agencies and a $10 billion budget to Barack Obama's experience as a one-term junior senator from Illinois."The McCain campaign shouldn't have waited this long to take the offensive. The Agenda Media is hateful. As hateful as the Agenda Media is, it's more afraid than it is hateful. The Agenda Media know that Sarah Palin is the mortal enemy of the Left's agenda. If she gets elected and helps Sen. McCain accomplish his agenda, that will give rise to a new generation of conservatism.
One of the objectives of this media storm is designed to deflect people's attention away from Sen. Obama's thin resume and his weaknesses. The hatemongers in the Agenda Media know that the minute that people compare Gov. Palin's accomplishments in taking on corruption with Sen. Obama's 'Sweet Nothings' speeches is the minute that this race reaches its tipping point.
Here's a portion of Steve Schmidt's statement:
"Gov. Sarah Palin is an exceptional governor with a record of accomplishment that exceeds, by far, the governing accomplishments of Sen. Obama. Her selection came after a six-month long rigorous vetting process where her extraordinary credentials and exceptionalism became clear. This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee for vice president of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys' network that has come to dominate the news establishment in this country. Sen. McCain picked his governing partner after a long and thorough search. Gov. Palin looks forward to addressing the nation and laying out the fundamental choice this election represents for the American people.This is the pivot point. This is where the McCain-Palin ticket starts taking it to the Obama-Biden ticket. This is what Sen. McCain told a gathering this afternoon:
"They're not doing right by our vice president, they're not doing right by the American people," McCain said, according to a source in the room. "We're gonna fight back, we're gonna get 'em." McCain pounded his fist into his hand as he spoke, the source said, and made clear that he would be aggressively challenging those who are attacking Palin.All I can say is this: don't rile the measured man. That's what the media has done. They've incurred the wrath of John McCain and Sarah Palin. God pity those fools.
Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 8:56 PM
Comment 1 by Walter hanson at 03-Sep-08 10:33 PM
My I make a suggestion for the commercial. Play Obama talking about how much larger he has managed his campaign for her small town city.
Have somebody say, "If he doesn't know she's the governor of Alaska how can he defend this country?"
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Liveblogging Sarah Palin
9:28: Sarah is introduced.
9:32: The Standing ovation ends. Sarah accepts the nomination and another standing ovation starts.
9:33: "It was just a year ago" that the pundits wrong our candidate off. "They just overlooked one thing: the caliber of the man named John McCain."
9:34: Victory in Iraq is within sight. "And as the mother of one of those troops, that's exactly the type of man I want as commander-in-chief."
9:35: Son Track to deploy to Iraq on Sept. 11. Nephew also deployed in the Gulf.
9:37: Talking about family. Families with special needs babies inspire special blessings. to the families who've welcomed special needs children into the world, "I promise that if you elect Sen. McCain and I to the White House, you'll have an advocate in the White House." (I've gotta believe that that's gonna endear her to those families.
9:41: Those families are always proud of America.
9:42: "You know they say the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom? Lipstick."
9:43: Let me explain the difference between a small town mayor and a community organizer. The difference is that mayors have real responsibilities."
9:44: "We like candidates that talk the same way in Scranton as they do in San Fransisco."
9:45: "I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion; I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country."
9:47: "With the support of the citizens of Alaska, we put government back on the side of the people." "I got rid of the luxury jet. I put it on eBay."
9:50: Nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes. "If we wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves."
9:53: "Take it from a gal who knows the North Slope: We've got plenty of both." Starting in January, a McCain-Palin administration will get to work opening up our oil reserves and build nuclear power plants."
9:57: "Terrorist nations want to develop nuclear weapons and he wants to meet with them without preconditions." "Taxes are too high but he wants to raise them."
10:00: "Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."
10:02: "The American presidency isn't supposed to be the place of personal discovery."
10:10: Sen. McCain on stage: "Don't you think we made the right choice to be the next vice president of the United States?" LOUD APPLAUSE
Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:13 PM
No comments.
Sarah 'Sticks the Landing'
All day long, conservative pundits spoke in sports metaphors about the need for Sarah Palin to 'stick the landing' like a gymnast needs to achieve a perfect 10. With the speech just finished minutes ago, I'm confident in saying that Gov. Palin didn't just stick the landing. She also landed some pretty stong straight rights to Sen. Obama's chin.
For instance, she landed this shot at Sen. Obama's career as a community organizer:
"And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities ."That's a straight right to Sen. Obama's chin.
Tonight, America got to see that Gov. Palin isn't just another pretty face. America didn't just find out that Gov. Palin is proud of her lengthy and impressive list of accomplishments. America didn't just find out that she cut wasteful spending. They also found out that she cut waste by putting the governor's luxury airplane for sale on eBay.
They found out that, rather than spending the extra revenue that came pouring in when the oil companies started making the big profits, she sent the money back to the Alaskan citizens so they could afford to fill up their cars and heat their homes.
They also heard her in full pit bull mode tonight. This isn't a lady who's hoping to come to Washington to hear Washington's elites speak glowingly of her. She's hoping to come to Washington to make America work for the people again.
Aside for this being a well-written speech, it was a well-delivered speech, too. The only question I have left is about how many people watched the speech. If it was 30+ million people, which it had the chance to do, then Sarah Palin took a huge step in winning over the people.
Tonight she nailed the landing. For the rest of the campaign, I'm betting that she'll be nailing Sen. Obama with lots of right-left combos. I'm betting that Sen. Obama will soon find out why her high school teammates nicknamed her Sarah Barracuda.
Tonight a new star was born in the Republican Party. Let there be no doubt but that Sarah Palin is the real deal.
Posted Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:52 PM
No comments.
Giving Rudy His Due
This morning, everyone will rightfully be talking about Sarah Palin's speech. It was a spectacular speech. It'd be a shame, though, if we didn't spend a bit of time honoring Rudy Giuliani's speech . It was a spectacular speech in its own right. Here's one of my favorite sections of the speech:
Then he ran for...then he ran for the state legislature and he got elected. And nearly 130 times, he couldn't make a decision. He couldn't figure out whether to vote "yes" or "no." It was too tough.The job of most lifetime senators is to pontificate. The job of mayors, governors and presidents is to make decisions. I want someone who isn't afraid of making decisions. I want someone in the Oval Office who makes the best decision even if there isn't a good solution to a sticky problem. It isn't the president's responsibility to ignore a problem or to 'vote present'.
He voted - he voted "present."
I didn't know about this vote "present" when I was mayor of New York City. Sarah Palin didn't have this vote "present" when she was mayor or governor . You don't get "present." It doesn't work in an executive job. For president of the United States, it's not good enough to be present.
You have to make a decision.
There's nothing in Sen. Obama's resume that says he's a great decisionmaker. The only decision he's made that I've noticed was his deciding to dump Jeremiah Wright after Wright dissed him at the National Press Club.
Here's another great section of Hizzoner's speech:
But he's never...he's never run a city. He's never run a state. He's never run a business. He's never run a military unit. He's never had to lead people in crisis.This reminds me of the old cliche that "after everything is said and done, more is said than done." Hillary put it best in this quote :
He is the least experienced candidate for president of the United States in at least the last 100 years.
Not a personal attack, a statement of fact. Barack Obama has never led anything, nothing, nada.
"I know Sen. McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House. And Sen. Obama has a speech he gave in 2002." - March 2008 campaign commercialAs good as those prior sections were, this is my favorite:
We agree. We agree with Joe Biden,one time, one time, when he said that, until he flip-flopped and changed his position. And, yes, being president means being able to answer that call at 3:00 in the morning. And that's the one time we agree with Hillary.There's nothing like sticking a finger in Sen. Obama's eye with the words of another Democrat. Expect this type of attack to continue. In fact, I'm expecting there to be a back-and-forth game with McCain-Palin advertising, alternating between ridiculing Sen. Obama with Democrats' words and touting the McCain-Palin agenda to lay out a positive agenda that people can vote for.
But I bet you never thought Hillary would get applause at this convention . She can be right. Well, no one can look at John McCain and say that he's not ready to be commander-in-chief. He is. He's ready.
Rudy will be an invaluable asset this campaign. He's great at highlighting liberals' ineptitude and questionable logic in a humorous light. The best thing about doing things that way is that you don't leave your target anything firm to lash back at.
Expect Democrats to get increasingly frustrated with this pattern. They can't unload with both barrels but they can't do nothing either. It's east of the rock, west of the hard place type of territory.
Thanks to Rudy's speech, Obama-Biden will spend the next couple of days figuring their way out of that predicament.
Posted Thursday, September 4, 2008 6:51 AM
No comments.
Reaction to the Speech
Here's a collection of the various reactions to the speech. First, let's start with David Brody's article for CBN:
So much for being nervous on the national stage. If she was nervous, she sure didn't show it. She may be new to the national stage but I have a feeling she's not leaving that stage for a long, long time. And the Republican crowd inside the Xcel Center in St. Paul was in such a frenzy that they didn't want her leaving that stage tonight.As Mr. Brody points out later in his article, "Democratic Party, especially the Obama campaign has a problem on its hands." I'd modify that statement this way:
This speech was part mom, part Pit Bull and part policy wonk. I mean she went after Obama as hard as anyone. She basically ripped him to shreds but she didn't do it in a way that looked mean or vindictive. That's hard to do but she pulled it off. Instead, she did it in a way that playfully poked fun at his expense. There was no reason for her to deliver her lines in a mean, terse way. Rather, she let the crowd take care of the wild and raucous reaction. They were eating it up.
The Democratic Party, especially the Obama campaign, has big and growing problem on its hands.
John Fund also praised Gov. Palin's speech:
Twenty years after Ronald Reagan left office, Republicans who have long missed him may have found a future Margaret Thatcher. If John McCain wins, conservatives may find one of the most enduring accomplishments of his term will have been what he did before it started: helping to fill the Republican Party's future talent bench with such a fresh and compelling figure.This isn't a happy, cheerful morning for Democrats.
Sarah Palin is a conviction politician, a naturally compelling speaker and someone who can relate to her audience on very human terms. America has just learned why Mrs. Palin enjoys the highest approval ratings of any governor in America.
Here's part of Dan Henninger's reaction :
Attribute the surge in the GOP base, if you wish, to Rush Limbaugh's concise Friday afternoon summary: "Sarah Palin: babies, guns, Jesus. Hot damn!" But even that probably won't get you 270 electoral votes.People who thought that Gov. Palin was picked to go after Hillary's voters are misunderestimating her. Gov. Palin is a multifaceted, complex person. She doesn't fit neatly into one box. She's hard-hitting but she's also compassionate. Witness her statement about special needs children:
The really interesting reaction to Sarah emerged just beyond the base. A lot of us picked up real enthusiasm Friday from people, notably women, who've never spent one moment with Politico.com or talk radio.
I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.How many parents of special needs children will hear that and feel like they'd have an advocate in Washington with a McCain ticket?
Here's TNR's John Judis' reaction to Gov. Palin's speech:
There is no question that Sarah Palin did well tonight. She spoke well, and the speech she read was very effective. The strongest section was the middle when she was responding to the Obama campaign's dumb attack on her for being the mayor of a small town. Let me quote it in full:It's understatement that TNR isn't exactly a bastion of conservatism. Nonetheless, John Judis gave Gov. Palin's speech a pretty strong review. For him to say that she hit Sen. Obama hard in parts is praise indeed for Gov. Palin.And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.I thought that section of her speech combined her biography with her political appeal and turned it into a criticism of the Democrats and Obama's indifference to the white working class and small town voter . I was less impressed with the rest of the speech. Her recitation of her own accomplishments--and her critique of Obama's proposals--was less effective and less effectively delivered, but it was good enough not to raise questions about her suitability as vice president.
I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.
We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.
That said, some crusty clueless commentators still can't see what's obvious to most Americans. Jonathan Alter fits that description perfectly . In fact, he's the embodiment of crass cluelessness:
Faced with a shaggy, seat-of-the-pants convention, Republicans are determined to get back on message. So now their new, more disciplined line is about experience. That's right, after John McCain selected a vice presidential candidate who is clearly unprepared to be president, his aides-and any other Republicans who want a future in the party are singing from the same choir book. In speeches, interviews, a new ad, and even off-the-record sessions with reporters, the line is that Sarah Palin is more prepared than Barack Obama to be president.I know it's impossible for Alter to wrap his head around the fact but, yes, Gov. Palin is more qualified than Sen. Obama. To this day, I still haven't seen supporters tell me what corruption he's took on and demolished. I haven't found anyone who's able to talk about major legislation that Sen. Obama's gotten past. And I damn sure haven't found anyone talking about his executive experience. I haven't heard anyone offering proof of his decisionmaking abilities, either.
If Alter would put his thinking cap on and discard his partisan blinders, he'd notice that those are important qualifications to being a chief executive. Of course, Alter putting his thinking cap on and discarding his partisan blinders is less likely than hearing that Hillary has suddenly and sincerely become a pro life lady. In other words, it ain't gonna happen.
UPDATE: Mark Halperin's given Gov. Palin's speech an A+:
Sarah Palin
Grade: A+
Mother, fighter, small town girl, patriot, reformer, energy expert, hockey mom, McCain attack dog, America's political sweetheart; she did everything she had to do, and more. The Alaska Governor was poised, stirring, charming, confident, snarky, cozy, well-rehearsed, biting, utterly fearless, unflappable, and self-assured . She read the teleprompter like a champ, with fine, varied pacing and conversational projection. Touched on her family story and then veered into a forceful political presentation, going hard after Barack Obama and selling John McCain with flowing admiration. She rocked the hall (and likely the country) with a tough, conservative message, steely offense, glowing optimism, and boundless charisma. The start of something truly big, or the best night of her candidacy.
- by Mark Halperin
Posted Thursday, September 4, 2008 8:37 AM
Comment 1 by Gary Gross at 10-Apr-13 10:07 AM
Actually, Erika, it's quite easy to think of what Thatcher was for. She was for budgets that spent responsibly. She was for cutting taxes. BTW, that's how she turned the British economy around.
She was for running the USSR into the dustbin of history at a time when liberals were certain that they'd be around forever. In fact, Reagan, Thatcher & Pope John Paul II were almost entirely responsible for driving the USSR into extinction.
She was for British staying out of the EU because she saw the disaster that would have sunk Britain's economy. That's another wise decision of Thatcher's.
Other than that, I can't think of much that she was for.
Not Ready For Prime Time Players
It was predictable that Harry Reid would react after Sarah Palin took a shot at him. What's embarassing is that he doesn't hit as hard as Gov. Palin and his spokesman is utterly clueless. Here's what Gov. Palin first said:
Here's the official statement from the Reid camp:
"Anyone who knows Sen. Reid knows he never backs down when he's fighting for what's right and that he always stands up to John McCain when he is wrong," Manley said. "Shrill and sarcastic political attacks may fire up the Republican base, but they don't change the fact that a McCain-Palin administration would mean four more years of failed Bush-Cheney policies."Sticking with the tired McCain-Palin is another term of Bush-Cheney policies line is utterly predictable and totally unimaginative. This is what happens when someone of Reid's or Manley's intellectual heft tries hitting back at a lipstick-wearing pit bull. It's gonna get ugly pretty quick. I just feel sorry for Dingy Harry. I hope Sarah doesn't beat him up too bad.
Forget that. I was just being polite. I hope she beats him bloody with her words. (I would've said I hope she beats him senseless with her words but it's obvious someone's already beaten her to that.)
Reports are that 30 million people watched Gov. Palin's speech last night. They saw with their own two eyes that Gov. Palin is a substantive, intelligent, witty lady. I'd bet the proverbial ranch that people have noticed the difference between Gov. Palin and Dick Cheney.
I'm also betting that the Obama campaign is privately telling Harry Reid to shut up, that any day that he's the face of the Democratic Party is a losing day for Democrats. Personally, I'm just hoping Harry stays in the spotlight. Every slip of the lips is worth a bunch of votes for Republicans.
Posted Thursday, September 4, 2008 10:34 AM
No comments.
Ratings Giant!!!
Last week, a little over 38 million people tuned in Sen. Obama's speech. Yesterday, I speculated that 30 million people might tune Gov. Palin's speech in. According to this article , I underestimated Gov. Palin:
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's highly anticipated speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night nearly matched the record-setting numbers of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.I knew that the Democrats' criticisms would work against them. Their constant criticism caused people to judge Gov. Palin for themselves. I'm betting that they came away liking her. ALOT.
Palin pulled in 37.2 million viewers across broadcast and cable networks, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's 55% higher than Day 3 of the DNC, when her Democratic counterpart, Joe Biden, and President Clinton took the stage (24 million).
It's also up a sharp 99% from the Republican convention's third day in 2004 (18.7 million). In fact, it came close to upsetting Obama's historic address on Thursday, the most-watched convention speech in history (38.4 million viewers).
This number also has to worry Democrats. In January, February and March, Democrats were drawing far more voters to their primaries than Republicans were drawing to their's. The term "enthusiasm gap" became the journalists' buzzword. Based on those numbers, pundits started talking wildly about a Democratic clean sweep: Democrats retaking the White House, building a bigger majority in the House and reaching a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
I was skeptical throughout.
It wasn't that I thought it'd be a great year for Republicans. It's just that I've never believed in the Belway punitocracy's conventional wisdom. More often than not, I've sided with the opposite of the CW because the CW is usually wrong.
Now that Gov. Palin has joined the ticket, excitement is running high in GOP circles and the enthusiasm gap has essentially disappeared. This isn't going to be the year that Democrats thought they were getting into. In fact, I'd be surprised if Republicans don't win back some seats in the House. As I've said all along, I think that they'll still lose seats in the Senate, though not nearly as they've been predicting.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there might not be a couple of surprises come Election night.
Posted Thursday, September 4, 2008 5:23 PM
Comment 1 by Chuck at 04-Sep-08 09:45 PM
55% more than Biden and Bill Clinton. Forget all of the polls comparing the effect of the two picks on the respective campaigns. This number says it all.
Comment 2 by larrys at 04-Sep-08 11:04 PM
There were a lot of people watching last night's speech who had no idea who Sarah Palin was, and they tuned in to find out. And after tuning in, many of those folks will vote for Obama and Biden.
If you want to look at numbers, check out the $10 million that Obama's campaign received SINCE Palin's speech.
Comment 3 by J. Ewing at 05-Sep-08 09:21 AM
"lose seats in the Senate." Will someone please explain that unwavering defeatism to me? How do you win if you don't try?
Comment 4 by Walter Hanson at 05-Sep-08 09:51 AM
J Ewing:
Keep in mind we have a very stacked deck against us in the Senate. Just to gain one seat we're going to have defend 25 seats. The problem is we have three open seats in states that lean Democrat right now and at least two senators who for different reasons seem to be losing right now.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 5 by Gary Gross at 05-Sep-08 11:12 AM
Jerry, New Mexico is lost. Colorado is iffy at best. Virginia looks bad, too. Meanwhile, we have a chance at picking off Mary Landrieu.
I hope that explains things.
