Category Archives: This just in…

Ayres poll shows Romney, Giuliani, McCain in dead heat

1 Reply

Whit Ayres has some figures he’s releasing today from a poll he did for tourism interests. A side finding of the poll — which talked to 300 likely voters each in the S.C. Democratic and Republican primaries — is that the horse race has shifted.

Romney and McCain are within the margin of error (which is large — 5.6 percent — for a sample that small) of each other, with Giuliani between them. Essentially, they’re in a tie for first.

Thompson, who recently had been said to be in the lead, comes in fourth.

I heard about this from someone with the McCain campaign, who was justifiably pleased, as it showed his candidate doing better than in recent polls. He neglected to mention that McCain’s lead over Thompson is also within the margin. But if the poll is accurate, we’re looking at the post-announcement bounce for Thompson wearing off, and McCain apparently being the main beneficiary.

I hear our newsroom will have a story on this, so I await the details from that.

Now I know THAT’S not cricket

1 Reply

Pakistan_imran_khan_wart

Sure, some in this country may be able to make excuses for Pervez Musharraf’s behavior lately, but I know the guy’s crossed some sort of line when he starts arresting cricket players he doesn’t like:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan,
Nov. 14 — Pakistani authorities arrested prominent cricket player and
opposition politician Imran Khan Wednesday as talks proceeded about a
possible alliance among opponents of the embattled Pakistani President
Pervez Musharraf.

Mr. Khan is the tall guy in the photo above — the one who looks like an aging jock.

Obama’s elevator small talk

3 Replies

Obama

Based upon the umpteenth statement I’ve read along these lines, here’s my impression of Barack Obama making small talk on an elevator:

"Yes indeed, the weather is very fine today. Come to think of it, the air felt much like this on the day in 2002 when I voiced my highly principled, adamant opposition to the Iraq War. Let me tell you about it…"

McCain on the comeback trail

3 Replies

B.J. Boling sent out a release to call attention to this piece by Dan Hoover. Here’s B.J.’s release, here’s a link to the story, and here’s an excerpt:

    John McCain was midway through his "No Surrender" bus tour last Sunday when he entered territory both familiar and friendly, that of yet another military veterans’ group.
    The tour was named for his position on Iraq, one mirroring that of the Bush White House: No withdrawal, at least not in any numbers and not now.
    It also could have been named for his second Republican presidential run.
    The Arizona senator is hanging in there, something many thought unlikely after six months of disastrously low fundraising for a major candidate by 2007 standards….
    Now the leaves are beginning to turn, there’s a chill in the morning air, donations have improved, the private jet’s back on call, and, like Mark Twain, rumors of McCain’s political death proved premature.
    His Iraq-centered performance in the recent New Hampshire Republican debate won favorable coverage.
    He’s staking his final presidential run on being the candidate most vocally supportive of an unpopular war, a guy who wanted a troop surge before the administration thought of it.
    McCain has used Gen. David Petraeus’ report on Iraq in a sort of "I told you so" context to reinvigorate his campaign, combining it with sharper criticism of the Bush administration’s initial policies. A reference to an America in dire need of leadership is the closest McCain comes to even hinting he’s running for president….

Now, talk amongst yourselves…

No Kevin v. Katon

3 Replies

Well, this was disappointing news. (A colleague brought it to my attention after it appeared on The Shot.)

Nothing against ol’ Katon — he’s a nice fella and all — but he takes this "party" stuff WAY too seriously.
I was sort of hoping my old friend Kevin — he’s a lawyer with Nelson Mullins — would have a somewhat better sense of perspective.
Ah, well…

KEVIN A. HALL

February 2, 2007

Dear Fellow Republican:
    Late last year, I wrote many of you to tell you of my intentions to run
for Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party.  Like you, I am
committed to working hard to ensure that the conservative values we
share are represented in every level of politics throughout South
Carolina.  I am proud of South Carolina’s red-state heritage, and I
want to do everything in my power to continue electing strong,
conservative Republicans.  The big victories we all shared here in
November showed just how important it is to have solid leadership,
great candidates and a common-sense message.

    Since the first of the year, it has come to my
attention that Chairman Katon Dawson is considering again running for
chairman of our state party.  On Election Night, Governor Mark Sanford
said that we have the best State Party Chairman in the nation—and I
agree.  And since Katon is willing to serve our party and our state for
another two years, I want you to know that I was the first in line to
sign on to his re-election campaign. With Katon’s leadership and all of
our hard work, we will maintain our first-in-the-South presidential
preference primary and expand upon our majorities in the General
Assembly.

    I appreciate all of the hard work you do to make
your County Party and our local and statewide candidates successful
each election season, and I look forward to working side-by-side with
you in the years to come.  I know that together we will continue to
advance our Party and our candidates, and most importantly, our
conservative beliefs.

Sincerely,
Kevin A. Hall

Enough, already!

Leave a reply

All right, I’m just going to give the top bits from some of my latest e-mail releases. If you’re interested in more, click:

Congressman Barrett honored for pro-life, pro-family votes
WASHINTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Gresham Barrett was recognized as a “True Blue” Member of Congress by the Family Research Council (FRC)Action and Focus for his Second Session 109th Congressional voting record. A handful of “True Blue” awards were given to the Members of Congress who demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment through their consistent votes on defense of family, faith and freedom… (more)

Prepared Floor Statement on Iraq
Senator Christopher J. Dodd
January 26, 2007
Mr. President, about a month ago I met a bright young West Point graduate in Iraq named Brian Freeman.   He was a bright, passionate young man who felt deeply about what was happening in Iraq.  He said to me, “Senator, it’s nuts over here.  Soldiers are being asked to do work we’re not trained to do.  I’m doing work that the State Department people are far more prepared to do in fostering democracy, but they’re not allowed to come off the bases because it’s too dangerous here.  It doesn’t make any sense.”… (more)

Congressman Clyburn Announces Staff Visits to Sixth District Communities
(Columbia, SC) – Sixth District Congressman James E. Clyburn today announced his staff will hold regular office hours throughout the district to meet with constituents.  Clay Middleton has joined the staff as Low Country Area Director and will serve Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Georgetown counties.  He will join Kenny Barnes and Carlton Askew in holding regular office hours in Sixth District communities… (more)

SCPA MEDIA ADVISORY
THIS WEEK IN THE SENATE
WITH PRESIDENT PRO TEM MCCONNELL
This week’s SCETV Senate teleconference hosted by President Pro Tem McConnell on Thursday, February 1st, at 9:30 a.m., will feature Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence), Senator Clementa Pinckney, (D-Jasper) and Senator Jim Ritchie, (R-Spartanburg).  The topic of the program will be the South Carolina State Ports Authority… (more)

"Commerce Clips"
We are pleased to bring you another edition of "Commerce Clips," a weekly mailing that keeps you up-to-date with the latest in economic development and business news from across South Carolina. Please enjoy learning about what’s going on across the Palmetto State with this week’s installment of Commerce Clips!… (more)



Press Availability with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates at the Pentagon
SEC. GATES: Well, welcome.
Just a word first. I apologize for the crowding. I would like to try
and do this on a regular basis. I’d like to try it perhaps once a week.
Frankly, I would prefer a more informal setting than the dais and the
big sign behind me and so on. I realize this arrangement probably
cramps some of you, and so we’ll look for another opportunity, just
have an evolution here in terms of what meets your needs and the kind
of more informal setting that I would prefer…. (more)

And so forth and so on…. Anybody getting anything out of this, or shall I turn off the firehose?

Brownback support in SC

2 Replies

Got this from fellow Rotarian Hal Stevenson:

Dear Brad,

I am personally an avid supporter of Senator Sam Brownback for President, a true conservative who honestly represents traditional family values.  I invite you to attend this event and learn more about Senator Brownback’s platform.  For more information please review the details below or explore this website http://millenniumiii.com/brownback.htm

Sincerely,
Hal Stevenson

Senator Brownback to Speak
in Columbia, S.C.   
Friday, February 2nd
Tronco’s Rosewood Ballroom at the State Fairgrounds
Doors Open: 11:45 A.M.    
Lunch Served:  12:00 P.M. (Complimentary)
The Senator Speaks: 12:30 P.M.

United States Senator Sam Brownback (Republican – Kansas)
Senator Brownback embodies the very core principles that most South Carolina Republicans share, certainly the true conservatives. He does not read polls to decide which popular positions to embrace; rather he leads from strong personal convictions.  Sam is motivated by his deep Christian faith that is the very foundation of his calling to public service. On that firm foundation he has built a platform of real solutions to tough problems that confront America today.

This event is open to all supporters and interested persons, but we cordially request the courtesy of an RSVP. Please feel free to invite friends!

Please RSVP to:
David H. Barron ([email protected])

Brownback for President Campaign: (785) 220-2615

PAID FOR BY BROWNBACK FOR PRESIDENT
P.O. Box 2008 | Topeka, KS 66601-2008 | http://www.Brownback.com

 

——————————————————————————–
You have received this message because you have subscribed to a mailing list of Palmetto Family Council. If you do not wish to receive periodic emails from this source, please click below to unsubscribe.
http://votervoice.net/unsubscribe.asp?id=c:pfc:28568318

McCain support in SC

1 Reply

Another one (this is already getting old, unless y’all say you like it):

Dear The:

Here’s your personal copy of the McCain News From the Palmetto State! Inside you’ll find breaking news from the campaign trail and ways you can get involved with McCain 2008 – The Exploratory Committee. If you would prefer not to receive this email-newsletter, then simply hit reply and type “Remove” in the subject line.

Thank you,
John McCain 2008 – The Exploratory Committee

McCain News From the Palmetto State
From the Spartanburg Herald-Journal – Johnson ready to back McCain
Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain has added one of Spartanburg’s biggest hitters to his lineup.
    George Dean Johnson is set to climb aboard McCain’s South Carolina juggernaut, the Herald-Journal has learned. The official announcement could come as early as today. (To read the whole story, click here.)

From the Myrtle Beach Sun News – Bachus to serve as southeast co-chairman of McCain Committee
U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama will serve as Southeast co-chairman of U.S. Sen. John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee, the Arizona Republican announced Thursday. (To read the whole story, click here.)

From the Myrtle Beach Sun News – McCain suggests Iraqi Government meet benchmarks
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of the most stalwart supporters of the war in Iraq, said Thursday that he might propose that the Iraqi government meet certain benchmarks for the United States to continue its engagement. (To read the whole story, click here.)

From National Review – The Tragic Courage of John McCain
“…as poll-conscious Republicans flee from Bush, John McCain is steadfast, and the very picture of courageous political leadership.” (To read the whole story, click here.)

From the Blogosphere
From SC Chaser – Zogby from N.H.
McCain leads Giuliani 26% to 20%! (To view the poll, click here.)

From SC Chaser – McCain Adds Two More to Staff
Josh Robinson and Blake Montgomery join the McCain team. (To read the whole story, click here.)

John McCain – In His Own Words
“Until the government and its coalition allies can protect the population, the Iraqi people will increasingly turn to extra-governmental forces, especially Sunni and Shiite militias, for protection. Only when the government has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force will its authority have meaning, and only when its authority has meaning can political activity have the results we seek.” (Sen. John McCain, “Send More Troops,” The Washington Post, 1/7/07)

Paid For By John McCain 2008 – The Exploratory Committee, Inc.
www.ExploreMcCain.com

The Friday Freakley briefing

2 Replies

Freakley

This is an altogether different sort of release, but I thought I’d vary up the mix. It’s very long, so I’ll just give you the link to the Web version, with this excerpt to give you an idea of the flavor:

"Progress quietly proceeds here in Afghanistan, and we see in this both counterinsurgency and in development.Reporting acts of violence continues to make news in the United States, but significant good news are often overlooked.The Taliban have not achieved any of their objectives in the last year, and by contrast the Afghan government, the international community has worked on infrastructure, getting more Afghans to work, more children into schools and expanding the government."

Those are the words of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, speaking to a Washington press briefing from Afghanistan, where he is the commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-76 and commanding general, 10th Mountain Division.

Romney to S.C.

1 Reply

Here’s another one. In a strategy you may have heard about, Romney sends out a LOT of these:

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
CONTACT: Romney Press Shop

January 26,  2007                                                                                                                           (857) 288-6390

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY TRAVELS TO SOUTH CAROLINA
Boston, MA – On Monday and Tuesday, January 29-30, Governor Mitt Romney and his son, Tagg Romney, will travel to South Carolina.  Governor Romney will begin his trip by delivering the Keynote Address at the Aiken Rotary Club Meeting in Aiken, SC.  The Romneys will then travel to Mt. Pleasant, SC, and hold a press conference to announce key endorsements from leaders in the Charleston, SC area.  The following day, Governor Romney and his son will meet with local residents in Columbia, SC.  The events listed below will be open to members of the media.

Monday, January 29
12:40 p.m.     Governor Romney Keynotes Meeting of the Aiken Rotary Club
                        Aiken Municipal Conference Center
215 The Alley
Aiken, SC

5:00 p.m.       Governor Romney Announces Key Endorsements of Charleston Area Leaders
                              Coen Capital
                        100 Church Street
                        Mt. Pleasant, SC

Tuesday, January 30
8:30 a.m.       Governor Romney and Tagg Romney Meet with Area Residents
                        Lizard’s Thicket
                        818 Elmwood Avenue
                        Columbia, SC

*All Times Are Eastern Standard Time

Joe Wilson on TV

3 Replies

Do y’all see any value in my routinely posting such extremely routine press releases as this?

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) on Saturday will be a special guest on Fox News’ Weekend Live with Brian Wilson to discuss the impact of 2008 Presidential hopefuls on the 110th Congress.  Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-17) will join Congressman Wilson for the segment.
*TOMORROW*

12:15 p.m. EST

I tend to go ahead and post some of the interesting e-mails I get, but it sometimes occurs to me that some folks would find it useful to know really small stuff like this.

So what do you think? If several of you would like me to try it for awhile, I will.