2010 US Presidential Election

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Poltics.com
Saturday January 24th 2015

Duggan to throw his hat into Tory leadership race tomorrow

Michael Duggan, 46, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary will be joining the race to be the next leader of the Conservative Party tomorrow. An e-mail has been sent to the press and supporters inviting them to a venue in his local constituency Lancaster.

We understand his nomination will be proposed by the Chancellor William Morgan, who had ben urging him to run after he decided to sit out the race himself and seconded by Michael Jones, the Business Secretary.

With three declared candidates there would be a first ballot of MP's on Tuesday February 3rd to decide the two candidates who would go forward to a vote for the party membership.

Toby Sharp the former Health Secretary and one of those who lead the coup against James Taylor in 2010 is himself yet "un-decided" and has until noon on Thursday when nominations close.

Michael Duggan at his General election Count in November 2013

(photo by Toby Stephens)

 

[disputed]

nbs.com, Saturday January 24th

Thorn travels to New Hampshire; sparks Presidential talk

New York Senator Andrew Thorn made an low key trip to New Hampshire this weekend, but his under the radar move triggered a lot of buzz in and around the Beltway.

Senator Thorn, once seen as an inevitable Presidential candidate, has seen his stock drop following a scandal that engulfed his family and his father’s company - but this trip marked his first visit to an early voting state, triggering suggestions that he is exploring his options ahead of 2018.

Sources close to the New York Senate delegation have suggested that Thorn is meeting with local activists and organizers hoping to begin establishing the groundwork should he want to get into a future race.

Democrats eyeing the open race in 2018 have thus far been focused on the possibility of Massachusetts Senator Jimmy Fitzsimmons running again after his narrow defeat last November and California’s Sam Seaborn who is already thought to be preparing the ground for a run.

NBS analyst Dom Rayle said that Thorn shouldn’t be underestimated. “He (Thorn) has a lot of support within the caucus. Fitz and Seaborn are the early favorites but there is absolutely no doubt that Thorn will have a very serious look at the race and if he runs then he’ll be formidable.”

 

[KingCrawa]

BBC.CO.UK

Sunday January 25th 2015

With the enthronement of Gerald Lacy happening at the end of next week, here is a bit more info on the man soon to become the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury

Gerald Lacy (Incumbent)

Gerald Lacy was born in Colchester, Essex in 1962, the son of a doctor and a teacher. His parents were involved with their local church (Christ Church Colchester) and his father was Church warden for several years. However in an interview in 2009, when Lacy became Bishop of Bath and Wells, he himself said that he did not really come to faith until his teens, when he went on Scripture Union holiday camp. Following a gap year, where he spent some time working in a law firm, he took up a place studying Theology at the University in Manchester in 1981.

After graduating in 1984 he spent four years working with the organisation UCCF. It was during this time that he met his wife Sarah. In 1988 he went up to Cranmer Hall Durham to begin ordination training and was ordained in 1990. Serving his curacy at St Martin in the Bullring Birmingham, he then became Rector of St Peter’s Church in St Alban’s, in 1994.

In 1999, the family moved to the West Country where Lacy become the Bishop of Exeter’s domestic chaplain. Three years later he was nominated to become the Bishop of Taunton, the suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. In 2009, when Matthew Simmons, retired as Bishop of Bath and Wells, the diocese followed the Beaufort Principle and Lacy was appointed to succeed him.

In October 2014 it was announced by Lambeth Palace that he had been selected to succeed Dr Geoffrey Beaufort as Archbishop of Canterbury. He takes up his new post at the end of next week.

He is married to Sarah, a lawyer and they have two children.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Sunday January 25th 2015

Duggan's leadership bid of to a slick start

Michael Duggan's bid for the Conservative Leadership got off to a slick start at The Storey in Lancaster.

With a 11 am launch the Press were given a hot breakfast, and Duggan's speech was taken live on the BBC's "Sunday Politics".

Much as Richard Samuels and John Freeman had done Duggan praised the outgoing Prime-Minister Andrew Carter adding "this party is not divided, unlike Labour, all the candidates agree on much, it is just a question of emphasis and style".

Duggan took questions from the press, handling them well on everything from economic policy, foreign policy to even his musical taste. Duggan is clearly the outsider of the three declared candidates but his campaign team are focused on getting into the run off ballot which they believe will be with Richard Samuels which they think they can win. A member of the Duggan campaign said "We are not trying to top the first ballot, Samuels will win that, it is all about beating Freeman and getting into the party membership ballot".

 

[MountainDew17]

ACN- January 25th, 2015

ACN- Atlantis Cable News

ACA's Rohr to join Hodder-Shaw Campaign

Jackson, Mississippi- In an announcement made today by the American Christian Assembly, they announced that there own George Rohr, a longtime spokesman of the ACA and former Chief of Staff to former Speaker Jim Hohner from 1997-2001, will be joining the Hodder-Shaw 2015 Campaign in the position of Campaign Manager.

Both Incumbent Governor, Katie Hodder-Shaw, ad her father, former RNC Chairman and Mississippi Governor Steven Hodder are both prominent members of the ACA, and they relied heavily on the ACA's backing to win the Governor's mansion 4 years ago.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Tuesday January 27th 2015

Brecon and Radnorshire by-election called for February 26th

The Brecon and Radnorshire by-election will be held on Thursday February 26th.

The election is necessary after the resignation of disgraced former Conservative Junior Minister Alan Reiger over claims of sexual assault.

Reiger won the seat for the Conservatives at the 2011 General Election with a majority of 5,971. At the November 2013 General Election he almost trebled that majority to 17,139.

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Tuesday January 27th 2015

Butler on course for landslide primary win

Rev Ethan Butler looks to be on course for a landslide win in today's GOP primary for South Carolina Governor.

Butler is facing only one other candidate, State Senator Luke Ravel. Most pundits believe that Butler will win around 85% of the vote in the closed primary which is open only to Republican voters.

In the Democratic Primary incumbent Governor Nate Singer is un-challenged.

 

[MountainDew17]

ACN- January 27th, 2015

ACN- Atlantis Cable News

White House to observe minute of silence on Auschwitz anniversary

Washington D.C.- 70 years ago today, the Auschwitz Concentration Camp was liberated by the advancing troops of the Soviet Red Army. 70 years later, the buildings of Auschwitz still stand, a haunting memorial to the 1.1 Million souls who perished as part of the Nazi Holocaust that claimed the lives of 12 million innocent souls.

This morning, White House Press Secretary Katie Moore, announced that along with other leaders around the world, the White House would be observing a minute of silence at exactly 3:00 Eastern Standard Time.

From 1941-1945, a estimated 11 million Jews, Gypsies, Russians, Poles, Homosexuals and others perished during the Nazi Holocaust.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/News
Tuesday January 27th 2015

Party Leaders attend Holocaust day anniversary ceremony

Prime-Minister Andrew Carter made his first public appearance since his stroke almost two months ago at Central Hall, Westminster to mark 70 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.

About 1.1 million people, mostly Jews but also gays, Gypsies, Freemasons, and the Disabled were killed at the camp between 1940 and 1945.Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by the Red Army of the Soviet Union on 27 January 1945. It opened as a museum in 1947.

Carter walked using a stick, and was flanked by Deputy Prime-Minister Richard Samuels, Labour Leader Andrea Benn and Liberal Democrat Leader Robert Richardson. The incoming Arch Bishop of Canterbury Gerald Lacy also attended.

 

[JFWR]

ITN.COM
Wednesday 28th January 2014

Leaked Cabinet Office Memo Draws Fire to Deputy PM Samuels

Richard Samuels, the Deputy Prime Minister has been criticised by many for signing memos sent to various Government Ministry's "The Acting Prime Ministers Office". The memos were leaked to the press and published in the Independent. Critics so far include the shadow Foreign Secretary Jack Coll, Socialist Alliance MP Hamish Galloway, the Tory backbencher Bob Eastwick and many others. It is likely to be a hot topic in Prime Ministers Questions due to happen later today.

As yet this unofficial title has never been used and the Deputy PM Samuels had not used it publicly, nor have other members of his party or the press. Many have said it is disrespectful to the current PM Andrew Carter who is still recovering from his stroke last year. Whilst Samuels is in the race to succeed Carter as Conservative Leader, and therefore Prime Minister, he is not the only candidate and could come under fire for making this assumption. Accusations that Samuels is jumping the gun, despite being the frontrunner, can be said to be well founded. However, already some have jumped to Mr Samuels defence, with Robert Bolton, the Education Secretary saying to the Today Programme "I don't see the issue... the title gives clarity as to who is making the decisions... Richard is in charge and needs the authority of the Prime Minister without the formal title... "acting" seems perfectly acceptable, and I'm sure Andrew [Carter] will agree"

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Wednesday January 28th 2015

Sharp and Hartley rule out Leadership bid as Mayboyle considers his options

Toby Sharp, the Former Health Secretary and Tom Hartley, the former Work and Pensions Secretary have both said this morning that they would not be seeking nomination for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Sharp who was sacked from the Cabinet in September 2012, had been considering a bid as had Hartley who was also sacked from the cabinet back in October 2011 for comments he made about poverty and people on benefits.

With nominations due to close at Noon tomorrow, the focus is now on another former Cabinet Minister, the former Home Secretary Daniel Mayboyle and if he would make a very late entry into the race.

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Wednesday January 28th 2015

Butler wins landslide victory in Gubernatorial primary

Rev Ethan Butler racked up an impressive landslide win in yesterday's Republican South Carolina Primary for Governor.

Butler received 308,309 votes, some 88.87% of the vote, with State Senator Luke Ravel getting a mere 37,214 votes, 10.72% of the vote, with the remaining 1,369 going for various write-in candidates.

In his victory speech Butler turned his focus on the incumbent Democratic Governor Nate Singer "Governor Singer has failed this state, I am going to hold him to account on his four failed years in office. Unemployment up, job creation down, more people on lower wages, more people losing homes and jobs. It is a disgrace and the people of this great state deserve much better than this".

 

[MountainDew17]

ACN- January 28th, 2015

ACN- Atlantis Cable News

Source: President Walken speaks with former DNC Chairman

Washington D.C.- A Source inside the White House is reporting that yesterday afternoon, President Glen Allen Walken placed a brief phone call to one of his biggest political rivals, former DNC Chairman Joshua Lyman.

However, politics, wasn't the subject of the call. It has been well known for years, that Lyman's Grandfather was a survivor of the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Other members of his family, were not as lucky. Despite openly admitting to being a non-practicing Jew, Lyman has been known to be touchy on the subject of the Holocaust.

For some in Washington, everyday is about Politics. But yesterday, at least for Josh Lyman and Glen Allen Walken, it was about something far greater: Remembrance.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics.com
Thursday January 29th 2015

Mayboyle rules out leadership bid

The former Home Secretary Daniel Mayboyle has declared this morning that he would not be standing for the Conservative Leadership.

He said that he had been "given support from across the party" but in the end he said "I don't I think could win the election".

He also refused to say who he was going to vote for in the first ballot on Tuesday.

Unless there is a dramtic late entry into the race when the closing time for nominations, Noon today, then the election will be between Richard Samuels, John Freeman and Michael Duggan. The ballot of MP's on Tuesday will determine the two candidates to go forward to a vote of the party membership.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Thursday January 30th 2015

Nominations close for Conservative Party Leader

Three nominations have been confirmed for the Leadership of the Conservative Party as nominations closed at Noon today.

They are Deputy Prime-Minister Richard Samuels, Transport Secretary John Freeman and Energy and Climate Change Secretary Michael Duggan.

The first ballot of the parties 391 MP's will take place on this coming Tuesday. The top two candidates will then go forward to a ballot of all paid up party members.

It was confirmed today that the final result will be announced on the first day of the Conservative Spring Conference on Saturday March 14th in Nottingham.

 

[MountainDew17]

ACN- January 29th, 2015

ACN- Atlantis Cable News

BREAKING NEWS

1st Republican Challenger in Oregon Gubernatorial Race

Pendleton, Oregon- In front of a small crowd of supporters, State Senator Walter Collins has announced his intentions to seek the Republican Nomination for Governor of Oregon. The longtime State Senator from the 29th District, and Senate Minority Leader since 2007, Collins is the 1st challenge to step up and challenge the unpopular incumbent Democratic Governor, Paul Chang.

Seen my many as a "Vinick Republican", Collins is a longtime supporter of same-sex marriage and of alternative energy solutions. On most other issues such as taxes, abortion, and gun rights, he takes the traditional, more conservative stance.

Since 1st being elected at the age of 30 in 1990, Collins has never had a serious challenger for re-election, never dropping below 90% of the vote, including a 98.13% this past November.

The Oregon Primary is Tuesday, May 12th

Jon Lindstrom as Walter Collins

 

[KingCrawa]

BBC.CO.UK

Thursday January 29th 2015

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY ENTHRONED

At twelve o’clock today Gerald Anthony Lacy was enthroned with all due tradition and splendour as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral. The ceremony involved two enthronements, and was witnessed, by members of the government, royal family and the public as well as the assembled ranks of the Church of England and the world wide Church.

At twelve o’clock exactly Lacy banged three times on the door of Canterbury Cathedral with his pastoral staff, where he was met by the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Andrew Lester who asked him who he was and by what authority he was sent. Following his response he was asked by the Archbishop of York, Matthew Walsh to swear an oath of faithfulness to the Queen and an oath of faithfulness to the church.

Having been presented with the Gospels of Saint Augustine, Lacy was first installed in the Diocesan throne as the Bishop of the See of Canterbury. He was then lead to the Chair of Saint Augustine and enthroned as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England.

Lacy’s robes were a gift from his former boss the Bishop of Exeter James Hood who he was chaplain to from 1999 to 2002.

Lacy is now the symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, which is made up of some 80 million Christians worldwide. His main tasks in months to come will be healing the recent rifts with Rome and overseeing the appointment of the first woman bishop in the Church of England

Today's Enthronement Service at Canterbury Cathedral

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Friday January 30th 2015

Riley tells Senate Republicans "I want my best team on the field in 2016"

The new Senate Minority Leader Cody Riley has told a meeting of Republican Senators that he was focused only on "winning back the Senate next year" and not on any future Presidential run.

He also addressed concerns of many Republicans, that the candidates that the party fielded last November were not of the highest standard stating "I want my best team on the field in 2016". Riley has already believed to have spoken to former North Carolina Governor Andrew Wu to try and get him to take on Democrat Brett Logan.

There are also strong rumors that Riley has also had a meeting with Ray Sullivan, the 2006 VP nominee. Sullivan has stayed out of front-line politics since losing the Republican Presidential nomination five years ago, instead focusing on his media career. Riley is understood to want Sullivan to take on Democrat Michael Huggins in West Virginia. Although the state has started to swing to the Democrats, with two Democratic Senators, a popular Democratic Governor in Stan Hale, the state party believe that Huggins is beatable next year, but only with a strong candidate such as Sullivan.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Friday January 30th 2015

Three leadership candidates agree live TV debate on Sunday Evening

The three contenders for the leadership of the Conservative party have agreed to take part in an hour long live TV debate to be hosted by the BBC on Sunday evening, just two days ahead of the first ballot.

The debate will be broadcast on the BBC News Channel and BBC2 and will be hosted by David Dimberley.

The debate starts at 7.00 pm, Sunday.

 

[MountainDew17]

ACN- January 30th, 2015

ACN- Atlantis Cable News

Fisk fires 1st shot in Mississippi Gubernatorial Race

Gulfport, Mississippi- On a campaign swing through the southern half of the state, Democratic Gubernatorial Contender Alan Fisk took his 1st shot at Incumbent Governor, Republican Katie Hodder-Shaw. Terming her the "Do-Nothing" Governor, Fisk attacked Hodder-Shaw's record on well, doing nothing. Here is an excerpt from the Former Attorney General's statement

"Governor Shaw is the do-nothing Governor. And now she wants to do nothing, for another 4 years. We here in Mississippi have seen what 8 years under a Hodder can be like. We suffered under the stagnant economy and increased unemployment under her father's 2 terms. Hell, the only thing she has done is campaign in other states for her ACA friends. Mississippi needs a full-time, Do-SOMETHING Governor. And i'll tell you right here and now folks, Katie Hodder-Shaw is not it"

After some fact checking, we can confirm that under former Governor Stephen Hodder (1996-2004), the unemployment rate rose from 7.6 to 11.2. Under the Current Governor Shaw, the unemployment rate has risen from 8.7 to 10.4, the highest since the 1st Governor Shaw left office.

Thus far, Alan Fisk and Katie Hodder-Shaw are both unopposed in their respective primaries, and appear to be on course to lock horns in the General Election this fall. The Mississippi Primary is on Tuesday March 10th.