The Pink Flamingo :: This Week's Primary Wrap-Up

I think from now on I am going to limit my postings on the Primaries to just a few days a week, then hit things the main ‘sites’ have a tendency to miss. I think by doing fewer postings maybe we can start to see developing trends.

MY TAKE ON THINGS
1. Fred Thompson is rather mystifying. I don’t understand his campaign. If he is the nominee I will support him, but I would rather he not be. I’ve also discovered he just might have some appeal for conservative Dems. My very big problem with him is the fact that his campaign appears to be in such disarray that it bothers me, seriously. Is it indicative of a lackadaisical style or is it some brilliant plan? He is also showing some lack of knowledge in a few subjects but again, is this due to candid honesty or just ignorance on a few subjects? At least he has the courage to admit he is not all knowing.

2. Barack Obama is still not ready for prime time. Mike, my conservative Dem friend says Obama will be a disaster for the Dems, esp. if either Rudy or Fred get the nomination.

3. Rudy Giuliani is still my top choice. I’ve discovered he is the top choice of my Hispanic Republican friends as well as my parents’ very good RNC friend. He’s also the top choice of one of my Dem friend Mike. Giuliani had an interesting week, toped by the great cell phone debate. I loved it! Giuliani doesn’t give a rip. He doesn’t care who he does or doesn’t impress. This is what Mike also likes. We both like the fact that Giuliani is refreshing enough not to take himself too seriously. He has completely exposed the fact that the conservative, NRA end of the GOP is way out of control and has lost its sense of humor.

4. Is Hillary Clinton she or isn’t she? Does it matter? Frankly I don’t care. BUT I find it rather interesting that a liberal publication is the one that brought up the issue about Hillary Clinton being a lesbian. It’s a gay pub, so they get a break. There have been rumors for years. I don’t care. I don’t care of Rudy has had 3 wives or 10. What matters to me is the fact that during 9/11 the man’s personal life was a total wreck and it never effected his performance as a leader. That’s all I want to know and all I need to know. The most fun, as Outside the Beltway points out, is when she will be condemned for not being proud to be considered gay! Don’t you just love liberals. They are so darn much fun.
My friend Mike thinks conservative Dems will never go for her, but rather Rudy or Fred.

5. Mitt Romney could be in very deep (barn yard substance) stuff. He showed well in Michigan today, but should have. Before his supporters get all excited, remember that the Romneys are from Michigan. Not to show there would have been abject disaster. He is playing well in Iowa, but then anyone who panders to the spoiled brats of Iowa does well there. Once upon a time he had a strangle hold on SC, but with the specter of Jim DeMint preparing to perhaps bolt for Newt Gingrich is not a good sign. I think Romney is seriously floundering.

6. The only reason I am mentioning Ron Paul is because of his extreme and out of control supporters. The question that plagues me now is whether or not Paul panders to them or they are a reflection of just who he is. If so, this is a man to be feared. He may be a little annoying gnat, but his supporters are so well organized and so fanatical that I truly worry about what is going to happen in the primaries. Their ability to organize is terrifying to say the least. There are so many factors at play here. If there is bad weather during a few of the primaries, these nuts are going to get through to vote, even if it kills them.

7. Mike Huckabee had a decent week and is definitely a top VP choice. So is Bill Richardson. I still think Richardson is the GOP’s worst nightmare.

8. John McCain is just plain cool. The more I see this man the more I like him. I just wish he had more support and that Fred Thompson hadn’t sand-bagged him. I think that’s the reason I dislike Thompson. To me there was something almost smarmy about what the did to McCain.

9. Is it tacky to ask if anyone really cares about John Edwards?

WHO HAD THE BEST WEEK
Who had the best week? It may have been Alaska’s GOP governor Sarah Palin, who is definitely starting to move front and center as the best logical choice for a GOP VP. I think the era of white men only is over, and that doesn’t bother me one bit! If Bill Richardson is the Dem VP choice, Palin is the only thing that can possibly save the GOP (if Giuliani doesn’t pick Tommy Franks, who would be a good choice also).

FRED THOMPSON
Dick Morris is still on his case.
On Hillary Care from Flopping Aces
Is he competent enough a manager to be POTUS?
Candor problems?

BARACH OBAMA
Is he finished?

RUDY GIULIANI
According to Chuck Baldwin, Giuliani is the nation’s worst nightmare. Works for me. All the dear little conservatives are on his case tonight. Giuliani is the "Value's Voter's" leadership's worst nightmare. He wins and their reign of terror is over.
The Disgusting AFI ad. Looks like it was a 1-2 punch.
WSJ on the UK visit.
Just how presidential is he looking?
Giuliani continues assault on Clinton
Rudy blitzes London!
Race 42008: Rudy Across the Pond
It is obvious the NRA has no sense of humor.
Vilsack condemns Rudy for his rather interesting marital life.
Rudy & Hil
Why is the UK so important to Giuliani?

“…The unprecedented feat of staging a show of genuine closeness to four British prime ministers – three of whom evoke degrees of veneration in America – placed the former New York mayor firmly on the global stage and cemented his claim to be a world leader.   Linking the September 11 attacks on America to the July 7 attacks in London – when Mr Giuliani happened to be in the British capital – and the Blitz, he hailed the transatlantic relationship as a force of history.   "It's now such a strong relationship that it's going to endure whatever we have to endure to overcome Islamic terrorism, which we have both suffered from," Mr Giulani said, highlighting personal bonds beginning with Sir Winston and President Franklin Roosevelt and continuing up to Mr Blair and President George W Bush.   He praised the "most resilient people of Britain" who after July 7, he witnessed returning to work as if nothing had happened. "You've got the right attitude, which is you've got to take it seriously, you've got to do everything you can to stop it but God forbid if it happens you can't let it break your spirit."   Mr Giuliani, who still leads the Republican field for the presidential election next year despite predictions that his liberal social views would be unacceptable to American conservatives, was speaking during a lunchtime event in which he was questioned by Celia Sandys, a granddaughter of Sir Winston….”

Bluey says Rudy was a “rock star” in Michigan.

JOHN & ELIZABETH EDWARDS
Did Hil rip off Edwards’ health care plan.
Liberty Pundit

MIKE HUCKABEE
Wins SC Straw Poll
More on the Straw Poll

HILLARY CLINTON
Dick Morris on the dark side of Hillary Care http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/?p=158#more-158
The Whole Lesbian Thing http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/09/21/2007-09-21_hillary_clinton_im_not_a_lesbian.html
The Florida Masochist http://thefloridamasochist.blogspot.com/2007/09/depends-on-what-your-definition-of-gay.html basically expresses my opinion of the situation.

Wizbang ponders if Hillary can be beat.

JOHN MCCAIN
Sister Toldjah - campaign finances down
But – he’s not out yet!
Goes after Romney at NRA

NEWT GINGRICH
Wizbang reports he’s put a price tag on running. If you are thinking Newt Gingrich is NOT on an ego trip, he says he will consider running so he can stop Clinton!
Dan Hoover agrees with me that Jim DeMint is hedging his bets and may dump Romney for Gingrich. (Which is what I’ve been saying for a couple weeks now).
Politico says the $$$$$$$ just isn’t there.
The Palmetto Scoop picks up on the DeMint hedge.

BILL RICHARDSON
Why is anyone surprised that he has a concealed weapons permit. This is New Mexico. I’m probably the only person in the state not packing heat!
Will the Hispanic Vote help Bill Richardson?

MITT ROMNEY
I am quick to criticize Romney. Consequently, when he does or says something of which I approve, I need to make sure I acknowledge it. I think he did a bang-up job today criticizing the Dems Betrayus of Petraeus.

“…"Hillary Clinton had a choice. She could stand with our troop commander in Iraq, or she could stand with the libelous left wing of her party. She chose the latter. The idea that she would be a credible commander-in-chief of our armed forces requires the willing suspension of disbelief."…”

Mad at GOP
Great hit piece on Romney !
A QUICKIE MINI RANT
Captain Ed notes Romney’s newest tactic and wonders if it will help him – attacking Republicans. I pointed out ages ago that I think once the bloom is off the rose so to speak that (let’s mix a few more metaphors) familiarity is going to breed contempt. The average GOP primary voter (aide from the spoiled little brats in Iowa and New Hampshire who just blossom under intense pandering, has a very good “BS” barometer. Romney is full of it. He has been all over the place and his numbers are dropping. As I’ve been reporting in SC, Jim DeMint is thinking of jumping ship to Newt. This can’t be good for Romney. I think Captain Ed is way to charitable toward Romney. The way I see Romney, he is so plastic he makes Bill Clinton seem genuine.

TOM TANCREDO
Our 2nd Favorite Liberal blog, Tancredo Watch has news about TT’s showing in the values vote debate the other night. Yep, he bombed!

RON PAUL
Read the Ron Paul people and their spin on the Palmetto Family Council Straw Poll.
The Palmetto Scoop is very suspicious about the Ron Paul showing at the Straw Poll and basically makes fun of his supporters.

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Right Pundits, Webloggin, Is It Just Me?, Leaning Straight Up, CommonSenseAmerica, The World According to Carl, Nuke's News & Views, and Public Eye, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.