2010 US Presidential Election

[Marky Bunny]

townhall.com Monday November 23rd 2009
Two new national polls show GOP race close
Two new national polls have just been released and they show that the race for the GOP nomination is still very close.


CNN

1. Ray Sullivan 25%
2. Glen Walken 24%
3. Marcus Blakemore 18%
4. George Fuller 17%
5. Nicholas Alexander 11%
6. Jeff Haffley 3%

FOX NEWS

1. Glen Walken 26%
2. Ray Sullivan 25%
3. George Fuller 19%
4. Marcus Blakemore 17%
5. Nicholas Alexander 10%
6. Jeff Haffley 3%

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/News Tuesday November 24th 2009
Prime-Minister's Wife rushed to hospital
The wife of Prime-Minister John, Jane, has been rushed to hospital. She complained for feeling un-well after giving a speech for the Childrens Foundation at the Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair.
Jane Green, 56, has been taken to Westminister hospital, where condition has been described as "Stable".
The Prime-Minister was working in his Commons Office, when he was told, and was taken to the hospital straight away.
The couple who married in 1974, have two grown-up children, Andrew 34, and Sarah,30.

 

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Tuesday November 24th 2009
Santos attacks Walken for the first time in speech
President Santos was in Litchfield, New Hampshire to give speech which has formally opended up his re-election campaign.
Litchfield is where the Santos campaign was based in New Hampshire, four years ago.
"Litchfield has good memories for me. We started our campaign to chnage our nation, from an old sporting goods store, and now four years later. I am back here to ask the american people to give me and my adminstration another four years to carry on the great progress we have made".
He turned his attacks onto the Republicans and Glen Allen Walken for the first time.
"Glen is a great american. His service to our country is beyond question, but he is not what we need. He will take our country back , not move it foward. FDR once said "A Conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs, who, however, has learned never to walk forward" and to me that sums up the Republican Party as a whole to me at the moment".
Anne Stark of the Walken Campaign told reporters, at a campaign stop in De Moines, Iowa.
"I am happy that the President thinks Glen will be the nominee. We know it will be hard to win the nomination, and if we do, the President has proved he is a good campaigner, but we have the solutions to the countries problems, to move us forward from the last four years of failure".

 

[Marky Bunny]

Foxnews.com Tuesday November 24th 2009
Haffley "I can still win the nomination"
Speaker Jeff Haffley was in Iowa, tonight speaking at a donors dinner in Iowa City, and he said he still believed that he could still win the Republican nomination.
"I believe the polls are wrong, and that I can still win the nomination. We need good old-fashioned Republican values back in the Oval office. We must never change our views, or try and hide what we as a party stand for".
All the recent polls have Haffley struggling. He was taken several hits over his foreign policy, and has been eciplised by Glen Walken.

 

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Wednesday November 25th 2009
Blakemore "This race is still very close"
Marcus Blakmore was in San Jose, California at a large campaign rally infront of 15,000 supporters.
"I say don't believe those in the media and the pollsters that say that this race is just between two people. It is not, this is going to be a hard fight, as always said it was going to be. I love hard fights. We need a change in direction away from the ultra-liberal ideas and failures of the current President".
Of course, it wouldn't be Marcus Blakemore if he didn't miss an oppunity to make a dig at rivial Ray Sullivan.
"When I talk about change, I mean about changing the way we do things, not just changing my mind all the time", which drew cheers from the crowd.

 

[disputed]

townhall.com, Wednesday November 25th

Walken Attacks Santos Deficit Reduction Plan As “Empty”

Republican Presidential contender Glen Walken has turned his assault on the President this morning calling the plan he has outlined for reducing the deficit as “a collection of vague and empty promises with a non existent timetable.”

There had been rumors on Monday that Santos was planning to unveil a radical plan to tackle the deficit, but in practice the Journal of Commerce Conference heard only the same message the President has been presenting for some time that the stimulus they put in place is helping the economy back towards growth and that difficult times were ahead.

Walken seized on this last night whilst appearing at event co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. “I wonder how long this will continue.” The former acting President said “We need a plan to grow the economy and reduce the deficit. I’ve been saying for sometime that we need a plan to dramatically cut business tax and where possible income tax. In my view we should fund that through the implementation of a federal value added tax allowing us to split the proceeds between cutting the deficit and reducing the tax burden on individuals and on business. I appreciate the difficulty in these policies, and as such I am calling on the President to create a bi-partisan commission to produce a single proposal for approval by Congress. This is too important to play politics.”

 

[disputed]

politico.com, Wednesday November 25th

Sullivan Challenges Walken Over Tax

Former West Virginia Governor Ray Sullivan has launched a broadside on his main rival for the Republican nomination for President, Glen Walken, over the latter’s plan for reducing the deficit.

“Who would ever have thought we’d see the day when Glen Walken was proposing new taxes? I have great concern over adding any new taxes to the people of this country at a time when it can only harm our recovery.”

Sullivan was responding to Walken’s comments to the Chamber of Commerce event he attended on Tuesday night.

The 2006 Vice-Presidential nominee refused to comment on whether he supported Walken's call for a bi-partisan commision to be established.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/News Wednesday November 25th 2009
Somber mood at PMQ'S
There was a somber mood in the House of the Commons today for Prime-Minister's question time.
The news that the Prime-Ministers Wife, Jane, had suffred a "minor heart-attack" meant the mood within the chamber was a somber one.
With the Prime-Minister by his wife's bed-side, Conservative Leader as by custom, stayed away. Deputy-Prime Minister Peter Kennedy stood in for the Prime-Minister, whilst the Conservatives who have no actual deputy leader as such, Taylor is always deptised by the Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Jones.
He wished the Prime-minister and his wife the best, and said the thoughts of the opposition where with them.
Kennedy thanked Jones for his remarks.
The clashes between the two where low key
Jones asked regards to the on-going British troop deployment to the Nato peacekeeping mission in Gaza, things got a little more heated over city bonous with Jones saying that the Government had "done nothing about bonus payments, and just hoped the problem would go away".
Kennedy replied that the "Conservatives would always side with there friends, the city fat-cats". Other than this brief exchange, the House of Commons for once got it right.

 

[disputed]

redstate.com, Wednesday November 25th

Tax Debate May Frame GOP Primaries

It’s a significant break with party orthodoxy but Glen Walken has truly shaken up the American electoral ground with his plan for tackling the deficit. Firstly, it appeared that President Santos was all set to hi-jack Walken’s plan but it seems that the sources that broke the story of a new decisive economic policy from Santos were wide of the mark.

The Santos story has however, allowed Walken to take centre stage in the discussion of deficit reduction. The plan, which he actually outlined sometime ago, is a significant switch towards taxing consumption rather than income – it is believed to be the work of Walken’s most trusted economic advisor Patricia Calhoun and breaks a number of interesting GOP taboos.

Already the wolves are circling, Governor Ray Sullivan has claimed that this plan marks the death of Walken’s claim to be “the last defender of supply side economics” and that he is “stunned” to see Walken advocating a new tax.

Sullivan has been joined in the attack by an unlikely ally in Governor Marcus Blakemore who said yesterday that the key to getting the economy going was tax reduction, not new taxes.

For his part Walken has stayed focused on the same message “cut business and income tax to drive growth, use taxes on consumptions and the removal of the tax deduction for employer funded health insurance to reduce the deficit and focus every economic policy on job creation.” He backed that up at the Chamber of Commerce saying the top three drivers of a Walken administration would be “jobs, jobs, jobs.”

It will be interesting to see how this plan plays. Sullivan is already spinning it as a new tax, although Walken’s numbers are specific in showing that any increase will be offset with reductions in income and business taxes. The left are already pointing out that any move towards consumption based taxes disproportionately hits the poor, opening another front of attack.

Walken for his part is unmoved “I’m not going to get into ideological debates. My opponents can pretend they can fill the hole we have by slight of hand if they want, I will not tell the American people that there is a magical solution – we are in a terrible mess and we need to take difficult decisions. A Walken administration will not shrink from those decisions, we will do what is necessary to secure this country’s future.”

 

[disputed]

foxnews.com, Wednesday November 25th

Sullivan Endorsed By Former South Carolina Governor

After months of wooing Ray Sullivan today got his wish. He was endorsed by former South Carolina Governor MacDonald Barclay. The Sullivan camp have been talking with Barclay for sometime and it seems that the efforts of campaign manager Colt Marchant have finally paid off.

71 year old Barclay, who served as Governor between 1994 and 2002, remains a hero to most conservatives in the state and is a big boost to Sullivan’s chances there. At today’s press conference Barclay told the press that “Ray Sullivan is a great friend of South Carolina and he’ll make a great President. We need to change politics in this country and Ray is just the man to do it.”

Political analyst Brad Whitehead of Whitehead & Associates said that Barclay’s endorsement was vital for Sullivan “The general trend has been away from Governor Sullivan and towards Glen Walken, Barclay is a major figure to conservatives in the state and if he’s going to stumping for Sullivan that has the potential to attract a lot of voters.”

Governor Barclay leapt to national fame as the Chief of Police in Charleston who caught notorious serial killer Bam Balleci in 1987, he was tapped by the then Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association Owen Lassiter to challenge incumbent Stacy Bamber who he defeated in a landslide.

 

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Wednesday November 25th 2009
President Santos pardons lucky turkey
President Santos, as per the tradition, today pardoned a turkey for thanksgiving on the lawn at the White-House.
The lucky turkey will now spend the result of its days at Washintgton DC childrens farm.

 

[disputed]

washingtonpost.com, Friday November 27th

Governor Johnson To Leave Office In 2010

Louisiana Governor Mick Johnson has today announced that he will not seek re-election next year, amid falling poll numbers and disappointing fund raising.

Johnson, who has been Governor since 2006 when he defeated Independent Hack Galloway in a run off, has faced criticism from his own party over a number of controversial policies. He enraged many by raising taxes on three occasions, won himself few friends by publicly slating Republicans in Congress for not supporting President Santos’ education bill in 2007 and compounded all of that by supporting the initial Santos stimulus bill earlier this year.

There had been rumors for sometime that he would face a primary challenge, but few expected anyone as high profile as former Senator Cole Quigley entering the race. 59 year Quigley used his state wide profile to raise an impressive war chest and has been hitting Johnson relentlessly ever since. At last count Quigley had a 39% - 19% lead in the primary polls.

The news will also please likely Democratic nominee Rachel Maddison, who leads Quigley narrowly in most polls but was trailing Johnson by a similar margin. Johnson’s departure makes Louisiana a prime target for next year.

 

[disputed]

politico.com, Friday November 27th

Ziegler Books Release Date Sure To Add Spice To Election Year

Publishers Maiden Voyage today finally announced the release date for “More Than Words” the autobiography of former White House Communications Director Toby Ziegler.

The long awaited book will be released on Monday March 1st 2010 and is sure to include some fascinating insights into the Bartlet White House and will no doubt reopen a number of old wounds for the Santos administration.

Ziegler, who served as Director of Communications for President Bartlet between 1999 and 2006, was spectacularly fired after leaking classified information to the New York Times and later granted a pardon by one of Bartlet’s last acts as President. Even now the memory of the bungled handling of the story’s release haunts the current administration.

At today’s announcement Maiden Voyage spokesman Christine Bower said “The release of this book promises to be one of THE political events of 2010, Mr. Ziegler has some amazing stories to tell and his autobiography contains some amazing revelations about his time in the White House, his interactions with many of the biggest names in American politics over the past twenty years. It really is not to be missed.”

Political analyst Joe Kyle of Lucas & Associates told MSNBC that “I don’t want to help promote the book but Toby Ziegler’s book is one of the most anticipated memoirs from the Bartlet administration. After Leo McGarry he was Bartlet’s closest advisor and was at his side during the most dramatic events of the period. Add to that the fact that it’s an election year and that his ex-wife is running for a seat in the senate then your left with what could be a explosive journal.”

 

[Marky Bunny]

cnn.com Friday November 27th 2009
Owen Sullivan sex video clip posted on line
It will not please his father and Presidential candidate Ray Sullivan, but Owen Sullivan is up to his old tricks again.
Today, a two minute video, taken on a video phone reporting to be of Owen Sullivan 17, and a un-named teenage girl having sex has found its way onto the internet.
The image is not clear, and of poor quality, but it will do nothing help either Sullivan espically with the GOP primary season just five and half-weeks away.
Earlier in the week, the Sullivan's campaign had to refute stories that the Governor was planning or hand planned to send his wayward son travelling to Australia to attempt to get him on of the limelight.
These sorts of stories will not help Sullivan with the family Conservative base of the GOP.
No-one from the Sullivan campaign would comment on the story.

 

[Marky Bunny]

washingtonpost.com Sunday November 29th 2009
Mary Marsh attacks "teenage sex and lack of morals"
Mary Marsh, the political Director of the American Christian Assembly, and for over the last decade and half, the self procalimed protector of the nations morals told a meeeting of ACA members in Nashville, Tennessee, that the country needed an "return to old-fashioned values".
She said " teenage sex is like a cancer in our society, teenagers lack morals, the majority do not attend church, or understand moral responability".
The attack is widely reguarded as an attack on Governor Ray Sullivan, and the problems with his teenage son Owen. Only Friday a brief video phone clip, reporting to be of Owen, 17 and a un-named teenage girl having sex was posted on-line. Marsh did not mention Owen Sullivan or his father by name, she did not need to.
The attack will be regarded as a blow to the Sullivan camp, who has moved more to the right in the last couple of months, espically since Colt Merchant took over the campaign.
Merchant told a press brefing in Concord New Hampshire where Governor Sullivan has spent the last two days campaigning "The campaign has no comment to make over the clip on the internet. The Governor is here in New Hampshire again, meeting voters to put across his vision and idea of a new america".

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/News Sunday November 29th 2009
Jane Green to be released from Hospital later this week
Prime-Ministers Wife, Jane Green, is to be released from hospital by the end of this week, a spokesman for the Prime-Minister said today.
"Jane is doing well, and should be released by the end of the week. Jane and the PM, would like to place on record all the cards, flowers and messages of support".
Jane Green suffered a minor heart-attack last Tuesday after making speech at the Dorcester Hotel, in London on behalf of the Childrens Foundation.

Jane Green

 

[disputed]

townhall.com, Monday November 30th

New Report Links Walken to Lobbyist Battles

A report published today on the disgraced former lobbyist Philip Battles appears to implicate Republican Presidential candidate Glen Walken in the scandal of 2003, which saw Battles sent to jail for corruption.

Walken, who was Speaker of the House from 2001-2003, was cleared of all involvement during the investigation, but the report, written by former journalist Jodie Scheffer, suggests that Walken’s involvement was deeper than was reported at the time.

One passage suggest Walken was in daily contact with Battles associate Hank Rodgers for a period of at least two weeks before the vote on HR 2498, which granted telecommunications contracts to Widescape who are based in Walken’s home state of Missouri.

The Walken campaign reacted angrily to the release. Senior advisor Steve Atwood told Fox News Sunday “This is unbelievable. President Walken was cleared of all wrong doing, he wasn’t involved – the investigation clearly showed that he met Battles once, in 2002. With regard to the so called “smoking gun”, Ms. Scheffer claims that phone calls were placed to the Speakers office – I’d like to direct her attention to just how many lobbyists are in contact with the speaker on any given day, to suggest that there was some wrong doing is scandalous.”

Anne Stark, Walken’s campaign manager, confirmed that they were investigating legal action “We are exploring all of our options. For anyone who isn’t aware, Ms Scheffer is a member of the Democratic Party, I understand they are very concerned about their chances next year, especially against President Walken, but these kinds of unfounded allegations are disgraceful.”

 

[disputed]

politico.com, Monday November 30th

Sullivan Camp Claims Owen Clip “Fake”

The campaign of West Virginia Governor Ray Sullivan has issued a statement announcing that they believe the controversial clip of the Governor’s son, Owen which was posted on line late last week to be a fake.

A Sullivan spokesman told reporters “It’s clear from the clip that it’s fake, the dating on the original video appears to have been shot in a hotel in California on November 6th of last year. At the time Owen was in Mexico with his father. We feel that this is a hideous attempt to discredit the Governor by his opponents.”

Governor Sullivan himself offered a strong defense of his son on Fox News this morning saying “Owen is not perfect. He’s a teenage boy who has done some things that I’d rather he hadn’t. The current level of investigation and intrusion into his life is completely unacceptable, my family is not a concept for the news media to debate and I will do everything I can to protect them.”

 

[disputed]

washingtonpost.com, Monday November 30th

New Polling Boosts Sullivan

Ray Sullivan has shown up well in new polling on the various Republican candidates for President. Sullivan showed up particularly well on leadership, which 54% of voters suggesting that they see him as a strong leader, he scored well amongst Republicans where 69% of voters had a favorable opinion.

The former Governor of West Virginia had favorable ratings on Gaza (51% favoring his policy of renegotiation or withdrawal), values (59% of all voters/73% of Republicans) and 57% said they felt he was qualified to be President, an increase of 7% from the last poll.

Sullivan still trails Glen Walken on a number of areas, the former speaker and acting President is seen as qualified by 88% of Republican voters (69% overall), 59% see him as a strong leader and 55% believe him to be decisive (compared to 42% for Sullivan).

Of the other candidates General Nicholas Alexander is seen by only 43% of voters to be qualified to be President, however, he has a 51% favorable rating overall. Governor Marcus Blakemore scores well on policy, but only 40% believe him to be qualified to be President. Former Speaker Jeff Haffley still retains an unfavorable position with voters 56% of voters have a negative view, with 82% of Democrats holding that view.

 

[disputed]

thehill.com, Monday November 30th

Club For Growth Will Not Endorse Primary Candidate

The influential fiscally Conservative organization, Club For Growth has said today that it has no intention of endorsing any of the leading Republican candidates for President stating that “We have strongly supported Glen Walken and Ray Sullivan in the past and feel at this time either would represent our goals. As such we do not feel that we can endorse either at this time.”

At a press conference in Washington D.C. the organization’s President Steven Paquette spoke in glowing terms about both Walken and Sullivan and promising to do everything they possibly can to ensure whichever candidate successfully negotiates the primaries is successful against President Santos next year. “This country has gotten completely out of control. We are spending like a banana republic and have run up a deficit that would make a third world dictator weep. If we don’t get the economy under control and take tough decisions to drive growth and reduce government spending then we’ll see our global competitors push ahead of us over the coming years.” Pacquette added that he strongly supported Walken’s deficit reduction and tax reform plan that he outlined last week.

The lack of an endorsement at this stage is not entirely surprising, the Club strongly supported Sullivan’s two gubernatorial bids and Walken has always been held in high regard due to his long support of supply side economic and belief in tax code reform.