Where to start?  Thursday’s debate sounds like a good place.  Mitt did exceptionally well - even to the point of impressing The Man From Outer Space.  Other than a technical malfunction which caused more than a few conspiracy therorists to come out of the woodwork, there was very little drama.  The candidates were all very civil to each other which leads me to believe some horse trading for the VP slot is going on behind the scenes.

The civility excercised by the candidates did not rub off on the moderators.  NRO’s Michael Graham nailed it when he opened his debate analysis with this comment:

Did this debate accomplish anything, other than to remind us that Tim Russert is the most overrated journalist in television? (Emphasis Added)

Russert has an agenda, and he doesn’t even try to hide it.  Memo to Tim Russert:  This is a debate, and you are a journalist.  This is not a courtroom, and you are not a Federal Prosecutor.  Quit badgering the candidates until they tell you what you want them to say.  End Memo.

Much has been made about Brian Williams’ final question to Mitt on The Question.  I watched the debate and was personally floored by the fact that Williams even thought it appropriate to ask such a question.  See for yourself:

Quite a brush fire erupted in the Blogosphere when Article VI’s Lowell tried to find the poll data Williams cited and couldn’t.  Turns out MSNBC didn’t release the proper data.  It takes a brave man to admit a mistake and Lowell did.  That said, Lowell’s a damn fine lawyer and if I were ever to find myself on the wrong side of a courtroom, I’d want Lowell to fight my legal battles.The facts remain the same regardless of the outcome.  The Question has no place in a debate centered around a race for a secular office.  Lest you think I’d be silent were the same question posed to Huck, no I would not. Regardless of what the “poll” said, Williams was trying to cheap-shot Mitt.  Mitt would have none of that and hit the ball out of the park.  Williams, not Mitt, looked foolish.

Enough of the debate.

Today McCain tried to insinuate that Mitt wants to withdraw US troops from Iraq.  Unpaid interns must be doing McCains opposition research because Mitt has never held nor does he now hold that position.  Even a cursory glance at Mitt’s record bears out that fact.  Memo to McCain:  There’s a big difference between goals and benchmarks which are made between the Presdient of the United States and the Iraqi Government and a public press conference declaring a retreat date.  Hillary and Obama both have those press releases ready for January 21, 2009.  Mitt supports victory, not retreat.  How’s that for “straight talk”?  End Memo.

Focus on the Family’s Tom Minnery claims his “interpretation” of Mitt’s “Religion in America” speech is that Mitt has “acknowledged Mormonism is not a Christian faith”.  Memo to Tom:  I don’t know which speech you watched or listened to, but it most definitely wasn’t the one I (or anybody else for that matter) saw.  This is a race for President, not Pastor.  Please don’t try to confuse or comingle the two.  End Memo.

Life Lesson #14,223:  Never mix burglary with beer.

Someday I hope to have enough money to warrant the Wall Street Journal’s Elizabeth Holmes writing a story about the size of my wallet.

It seems to me Mitt’s a lot more comfortable on the campaign trail these days.  The American Spectator’s Philip Klein thinks he might be coming in to his own, and I agree.

Two closing items:  In a speech to the Latin Builders Association in Miami, Mitt made the following statement about his adventures in Private Equity:

Now it takes a degree of chutzpah* to go to someone and say give me your money and I will invest it for you and I’ll give you back 80% of the profit I make and I’m gonna keep 20% of the profit I make, I’m gonna charge you a 2% fee for taking your money and by the way if I lose your money, too bad, I don’t share in the downside, I only share in the upside.

Capitalism and Freedom require chutzpah*.

And finally, even seemingly grown men like to play practical jokes on their fathers.

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*See also, “Brass Cajones”

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Apologies to my SiteMeter rated 45 readers.  Your regularly scheduled Roundup has been delayed due to my sojourns in hotels with questionable wireless connections. 

With that said, on with the show! 

By far the biggest Mitt related story you’ll hear about today is the “Push-Polling” calls conducted in Iowa and New Hampshire over the past few days.  The object of Push Polling has little to do with polling but everything to do with planting negative images in the minds of prospective voters. 

As to who is behind the calls – Western Watts refuses to say – as of this writing it’s really anybody’s guess.  Western Wats has ties to the Tarrance Group which has done work in the past for Rudy’s campaign.  Politico’s Jonathan Martin has all the inside baseball on this developing story.  According to the AP’s Philip Elliott, some New Hampshire laws may have been violated by the callers. 

What’s the bottom line?  Blogfather Hugh sums it up nicely.  There are too many people in the ‘Sphere these days who love nothing more than connecting the dots the offending campaign swore never would be connected.  Somebody at Western Wats will talk, the dam will break, and somebody’s campaign (not Mitt’s) will implode.  Check the Vegas odds makers for the over-under on how long it will take. 

The New York Times’ David Kirkpatrick takes a look at Mitt’s missionary service in France during the late 1960s.  All in all, not a bad effort – an improvement on Kirkpatrick’s earlier efforts, but that wasn’t very hard.  If the MSM were to focus on three years of any other candidates adolescent life, I think they’d find a lot more interesting stuff than three years of door knocking in France. 

CBS’s Skinny Blogger Keach Hagey cherry picks nuggets from the aforementioned NYT piece and comes up with [drum roll] Not Much.  Originality, Keach.  Try it some time. 

That thud you heard at the Box Office over the weekend was Robert Redford’s latest attempt at film making.  Turns out Redford also bombs at the interview box.  Bad form, Bob.  Really bad form.  Not even worth my time to comment. 

The Concord Monitor’s Lauren Dorgan pens a lengthy piece on Mitt’s interview with Monitor editors and reporters and produces one valuable quote from Mitt as he confronts (yet again) the Mormon Question: 

John F. Kennedy gave the landmark speech on the topic. He said what needs to be said.  I don’t know that there’s something different that needs to be said than what he said. I guess I could go back and reprint it! 

Hopefully the staffer who keeps on stringing the press along with hopes of the Mormon speech has been dutifully sacked. 

Mitt got mentioned by Obama in the latest Democratic Presidential Candidate Joint Press Conference.  Mitt has facts and figures to back up his platform.  The Democrats? Not so much. 

Speaking of the Joint Press Conference in Vegas, Mitt summed it up quite nicely:

The only place you can lose more money than in the casinos of Las Vegas will be in that debate tonight. 

George Will looks at the political map and sees good harbingers for Mitt while at the same time declaring Hillary “less than inevitable.” 

Even the Sith Lord has good things to say about Mitt’s campaign. 

Paul Weyrich writes an Op-Ed in the Washington Times on why he’s thrown his support behind Mitt. 

Time Magazine’s Michael Kinsley has doubts about the value of consultants.  I think Mitt’s consulting has far better results than Kinsley’s writing and punditry ever will. 

Today’s Read The Whole Thing Award goes to Jay Ambrose.  Well done, Jay.  Brains have to count for something.

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Mitt is out with a new ad which showcases his experience, and Hillary’s lack of the same.  CBN’s David Brody has the transcript of the ad, but the message is very clear.  Hillary doesn’t have the chops to sit in the Big Chair. 

The Des Moines Register’s Lisa Rossi focuses on some of the details in Mitt’s trade proposals.  He plans on tapping consultants and business executives to review federal work training programs.  There’s a novel solution – pick guys with actual experience to do the job. 

The AP’s Steve LeBlanc found some businesses in the Bay State that were unhappy with the way Mitt went about closing tax loopholes and enforcing tax laws.  Businesses are always unhappy when they have to pay any amount of tax.  Nothing to see here.  Moving on. 

The Boston Globe’s Michael Levenson has a none-too-flattering profile of Mitt’s chief counter terrorism advisor – J. Cofer Black.  In addition to serving his country as an intelligence officer for nearly three decades. Mr Black also holds down an executive job at Blackwater Worldwide.  The very mention of Blackwater is enough to send the MSM into apoplectic fits of visceral rage. 

Let’s get a few things straight here.  The MSM Drive By crowd doesn’t understand how the shadowy world of intelligence and counter-terrorism works.  It is not a world which most Americans would like to see or be a part of.  Nasty things are done by nasty people.  Guys like Cofer Black understand that in a way the MSM never will.  I’ll take Black’s counsel over the Boston Globe’s every single day of the week. 

Howlin’ Mad Howie’s Head Mitt Hit Man Damien LaVera is back in the press release sphere after a lengthy absence.  I doubt his press releases were curtailed, just that nobody found them newsworthy.  Sadly, LaVera’s absence hasn’t improved his work.  Memo to Damien:  As long as you still venerate Bill Clinton, you have no room to call anyone else a “smooth talker”.  There.  Is that clear enough for you now?  End Memo. 

Hillary asked a question during her slow motion train wreck of a debate this week.  Mitt answered it.  I doubt she’ll notice. 

The Deseret Morning News’ Suzanne Struglinski reports on yet another congressional endorsement for Mitt.  The Salt Lake Tribune, of course, injects religion into the headline. 

The AP’s Amy Lorentzen has Mitt talking about presidential trade authority.  Simply put, America’s Chief Executive needs the ability to negotiate and fast track trade deals.  Its simple economics not many democrats understand. 

 Radio Iowa’s Kay Henderson has some good zingers from Mitt as he talks about Hillary’s immigration waffle: 

I watched her dancing around the issue. I thought I’d tuned to ‘Dancing with the Stars’. I still don’t know where she was coming out. It was clear by her choice of language that she’s in favor of driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, but she somehow was unwilling to say it and I rarely agree with John Edwards, but he pointed out that she had changed positions within two minutes and I don’t know that she changed so much as she just wanted to have it both ways. 

So, let me get this straight:  Hillary was dancing with John Edwards?  That must’ve been some show. 

NRO’s John Hood takes a look at the primary calendar and sees good fortunes for Mitt. 

The American Spectator’s Paul Chesser catches up with someone who is really worried that a Mitt presidency would lead to an explosion in the number of converts to Mormonism.  Meet James Walker: 

Walker says he can envision American missionaries working to spread Mormonism to other countries asking, “Would you like to hear about the faith of our president?” So for Christians to contribute to the election of a Mormon would mean that they are not just endorsing a man, but also a false (to them) belief system, for the highest profile post in the world. Almost any publicity-seeking organization would delight in such an earned media campaign that costs next-to-nothing. 

Chesser says Walker is an ex-Mormon, but I’d have to see his membership records to believe that.  Walker has no understanding of the LDS missionary program and less understanding of the Church as a whole.  I’m not sure what Walker had to drink before his “visions” of Mitt-inspired missionaries came to his mind, but it must’ve been something really, really strong. 

And finally today, Human Events’ Jennifer Rubin has a new adage for Hillary:  “There’s no whining in politics!”  Well, Jen, I reserve the right to plagiarize that new adage early, and often.

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Many apologies for the light posting of last week.  I was overcome by professional and domestic duties which understandably interfere with blogging from time to time. 

On to the roundup of recent headlines. 

The Page’s Mark Halperin has excerpts from Hannity’s interview with Mitt.  Mitt gets in quite a few zingers aimed at Hillary, but this one is what will make the soundbyte rounds for the next few weeks: 

MITT: I think the greatest drawback beyond the direction she’d take us is that she’s never run anything. She’s never had the occasion of being in the private sector, running a business, or, for that matter, running a state or a city. She hasn’t run anything, and the government of the United States is not a place for a president to be an intern. You need to have experience actually leading and running things. 

HANNITY: She says her experience makes her uniquely qualified to be president at this time. 

MITT: I’d suggest it makes her uniquely unqualified in that she is one of the few that really has not had experience in leading in a significant way an enterprise of some kind, to know how you bring teams together, how you work on key challenges, how you’re able to bring together public support and pull the organization in a direction that allows it to be successful. 

A “Uniquely Unqualified Intern”.  I’d say that’s a pretty concise description of Hillary’s astonishingly thin presidential resume.  Check out the video here.

The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder writes about Mitt’s campaign to “close the deal” in New Hampshire.  Contrast this with Political Derby’s David Kaiser and his post on Rudy’s Granite State push.  Kaiser is right – if Mitt sweeps Iowa, New Hampshire, and Michigan, the primary race will be a foregone conclusion. 

The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes (via FoxNews) puts in print what most political observers have already figured out.  It’s a two man race at this point.  Sorry Team Huckabee. 

Also from FoxNews, Martin Frost pens a surprisingly well written Op-Ed piece about Mitt and the religious discrimination he faces.  Here’s the best graphs: 

My late wife Kathy, who served in the U.S. Army for 31 years, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The person in the grave next to her is a Mormon. 

Mormons pay taxes, can wear the uniform of our county, and can die for our country. There are Mormon members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. And yet significant numbers of voters believe they are not qualified to serve as president. 

I love my country. But that doesn’t mean that my country doesn’t disappoint me from time to time. 

Well stated and argued, Mr. Frost. 

The Keokuk Gate City has a Chris Faulkner piece on Mitt’s visit to Fort Madison.  Basic stump speech stuff here – I just like the sound of the word Keokuk. 

The National Journal’s Jane Roh chides Mitt on his alleged decision to take part in the CNN/YouTube Circus.  C’mon, Jane.  Was that really worth the bandwidth? 

New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg has endorsed Mitt.  Gregg holds a lot of sway up there in the Granite State. 

All I can say to Herman Cain’s piece is a good hearty, heart felt “amen”. 

Florida’s WINK has a lengthy interview with Mitt. 

Take Mitt’s tour of Hillary’s House of Horrors. 

Naples Daily News’ Kathleen Cullinan summarizes Mitt’s swamp buggy visit to South Florida. 

Bloomberg’s Nichols & Stern explore (again) the perceived Mormon/Christian divide. Evidently the authors found several rabid “evangeilical” who get their collective boxers in a bunch when Mitt proclaims himself to be a Christian.  Well, I have a message for people like Representative Bob Inglis and Richard Land:  Neither of you are qualified to stand at the gates of Christendom and judge who and who is not fit to enter.  That, Mr. Land, is a fight you will lose every single time.  End Memo. 

The Bismark Tribune’s Jonathan Rivoli reports on Mitt’s win of a straw poll in the Great White Frozen North Country. 

The Washington Post’s Michael Shear reports on Mitt’s encounter with a 15 year old wanna-be punk at an upscale “prep-school”.  The kid got schooled – and he knows it. 

Tom Tancredo really needs a better campaign harbinger. 

Politico’s Jeanne Cummings reports on Mitt’s Money Machine. 

I don’t really like taking shots at fellow republicans, but these details about Huckabee will slip out sooner or later.  HT – E4M.

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Though I wasn’t present at the FRC event last night, I’d like to point out MItt’s best line of the night.  Many people (especially those affiliated with the MSM) believed the FRC speech would be Mitt’s JFK moment.

For their benefit, here is the only mention of religion in the entire speech:

By the way – a few of you may have heard that I’m a Mormon. I understand that some people think they couldn’t support someone of my faith. That may be because they’ve listened to Harry Reid.
 

There you have it folks.  Have a good night.

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Before I get started with today’s Roundup, there’s one quite serious subject I’d like to address. 

Let me first state that I have never met Evangelicals For Mitt’s David French.  He and I wouldn’t be able to pick each other out of any line-up.  Having said that, I’m damn proud of him – and not just because he’s thrown his support behind my preferred candidate. 

9/11 changed the lives of countless Americans.  For me the events of that Tuesday morning in September changed each and every day that followed.  You can read about how it changed David’s life here.  To sum it up far too briefly, I will now refer to David as First Lieutenant David French, United States Army.  He’s now a part of the JAG Corps and today he announced he will shortly be deployed to the Land of Sand – otherwise known as Iraq. 

As a husband and father, I can only imagine what is passing through the collective heart and mind of the French family.  My thoughts and prayers are with David, Nancy, and their two children – Camille and Austin.  This isn’t something David had to do.  He heard the call of his country and he chose to answer it.  Personally, I stand in awe of him and guys like him. 

I’m sure he’ll get his fair share of well-wishes from the collective Blogosphere.  To those accolades I can add only three:  Good luck, Godspeed, and Good Hunting.  May the Good Lord be with you, Lieutenant French. 

Now on with the show: 

Larry Craig (I refuse to refer to him as “Senator”) is complaining to anyone with a microphone that Mitt “not only threw me under his campaign bus, he backed up and ran over me again.  Memo to Larry:  Do you really enjoy the feel of rubber tires running over you?  Mitt has no need of law-breaking laughing stocks working for his campaign.  Please just go away.  End Memo. 

The Salt Lake Tribune’s Thomas Burr makes his best attempt at stoking the Mormon Mafia Conspiracy Theory by showcasing a book which details the relationship between several Oval Office occupants and various Mormons.  The author admits that Mitt’s name appears only once in the 43 chapters, but never the less Burr tries to tie it to Mitt’s campaign.  Hmmm.  Maybe I should see if I’m mentioned. 

Yes, I know Ron Paul won a straw poll in Nevada.  Yes, I know he managed to raise $5 Million last quarter.  No, I do not care.  Until Ron Paul commits to support whoever the eventual Republican nominee will be (and it sure as all hell will not be him) I’m going to ignore him and his minions. 

As a general rule, I’m really trying to obey Reagan’s 11^th Commandment – Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of a fellow Republican.  John McCain is really trying my resolve.  He’s called into question Mitt’s “Republicanism” – and that’s where I draw the line.  McCain is a great American, but a lousy Republican.  I cite two instances (and lack the time and inclination to cite more) which call into question his standing as a “Reagan” republican.  Number 1 – The Gang of 14.  Number 2 – McCain-Feingold.  Memo to McCain:  Brickbats wreak havoc on those who dwell in glass houses.  End Memo. 

The Salem News’ Robert Kelly says Mitt is still the one. 

The Post Chronicle’s Deal Hudson sees James Dobson as creating a hole for Mitt to exploit. 

MSNBC’s Erin McPike reports on Mitt in Nevada.  Here’s a great exchange: 

In his remarks, he invoked Clinton’s comments to the Boston Globe: “I have a million ideas. The country can’t afford them all.”  To more laughter, he said, “I now have a million good reasons not to vote for a Hillary Clinton.” 

RedState’s Jerry Zandstra takes his best shot at Mitt over the line-item veto only to miss by a country mile.  Memo to Jerry:  You’ve got to work harder than this.  Your commenters eviscerated your argument seconds after you posted it.  End Memo. 

The AP’s James Kuhnhenn reports on Mitt’s new terror ad.  Even Howlin’ Mad Howie’s Head Mitt Hit Man Damien LaVera makes an appearance. 

If you have a subscription to the Wall Street Journal, you can read Mitt’s response to the WSJ’s “Sent in the Attorney’s” article. 

Time’s Rick Friedman writes on the possible shift of Evangelicals toward Mitt. I grow very weary of endless citations attributed to “DC Insiders” about Mitt’s need to pull a JFK on the Mormon question.  Townhall’s Kevin McCollough seems to be able to vote for “this” Mormon.  You takes the compliments you gets. 

RightWingSparkle declares Mitt to be her “Rebound Man”.  C’mon in, Sparkle.The water’s just fine. 

It looks like today’s post will begin and end on a serious note.  Chris Muir runs a hilarious, politically incorrect comic-strip site that usually has me in stitches.  Today I learned his sister, Catherine M. Forsythe passed away after a long battle with cancer.  My thoughts and prayers are with Chris and his family as they mourn the loss of this great woman. 

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. – Matthew 5:4    

  

 

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This will be one of those “Lots of Links And Little Commentary” Roundups.  Its what happens when I get overtaken by domestic events.
 
Dean Barnett brought this to my attention last week.  It’s a video clip of Mitt’s interview with WHO radio talk show host Jan Mickelson.  I’m hesitant to call it an interview, because Mickelson basically insinuated that Mitt should’ve been excommunicated for being effectively pro-choice.  Where did Mickelson get his facts about LDS Church policy and doctrine?  As best I can tell – first from a pirated copy of the Church Handbook of Instructions and secondly from George Stephanopolus.  Mitt acquitted himself well and Mickelson ended up looking – and sounding – like a fool. I’m not sure that strays much from Mickelson’s normal operating status.
 
CBN’s David Brody says Mitt needs to better manage his emotions on the Mormon issue or it “could become a real problem for him”.  Memo to David Brody:  You  won’t see Mitt lose his cool.  What you saw in the Mickelson interview was as close to an uncensored view as you’re going to get.  If there was a time when Mitt would’ve come unglued on camera, you can bet it would be when he didn’t know there was a camera running.  If you’re waiting for a Mitt eruption, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.  End Memo.
 
The NRO’s Byron York thinks Mitt did a fine job making mincemeat of Mickelson.
 
Politico’s Jonathan Martin declares Mitt to be

cutting, combative and sarcastic, but most of all agitated at being forced to defend what he and his church stand for.

Memo to Jonathan Martin:  I don’t think I’d call it “agitated”.  I believe “annoyed” would be a better term.  Anyone who thinks George Stephanopolous knows more about Mormon Doctrine than a former Stake President and Bishop does clearly has an agenda that has no place in a presidential race.   Mickelson has no standing from which to lecture Mitt about the dangers of distancing himself from a faith Mickelson clearly does not understand.  End Memo.
 
Also writing at the NRO, Mark Hemingway puts in his buck and half about Cleon Skousen.  Hemingway clearly doesn’t like Skousen and makes a point of using Mitt as a springboard with which to fill his column inches.  What this has to do with a presidential race escapes me.
 
The New York Times’ Michael Luo also chimes in on the WHO clip.  Clearly Mickelson is getting his 15 minutes.
 
In other news, ABC’s This Week hosted a GOP debate.  Note the timing of the broadcast – Sunday morning at 9:00 AM.  Just the time when every single LDS Chapel in the United Stats is filled to capacity – along with most every other Christian denomination in the country.  I haven’t watched the footage yet, but I’m curious as to whether or not George asked any questions about Missouri or the White Horse prophecy.
 
During that debate, Mitt got off some shots at Obama:

In one week he went from saying he’s going to sit down, you know, for tea, with our enemies, but then he’s going to bomb our allies.  I mean he’s gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week.

And also directed some fire at Cheap-Shot Sam:

I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they’ve been pro-life longer than I have.

Speaking of Cheap-Shot Sam, TNR’s Michelle Cottle indulges in a bit of hero-worship whilst making some good points about the Republicans beating up their own in the name of God.  Doesn’t anybody remember Reagan’s 11^th Commandment?  At the very least we should be debating political issues, not ecclesiastical ones.
 
Mitt’s PR people have a full roundup of debate related links.
 
The LA Times’ Paul Brownfield has an entertaining look at the 2008 Oval race.  Its Hollywood, what did you expect?
 
The Council on Foreign Relations’ Michael Gerson – in a Washington Post Op-Ed – writes about Mitt, Mormonism, and the White House and ends with this nugget of common sense:

Given this common ground, evangelicals and other religious conservatives should not disqualify Romney from the outset. There may be other reasons to oppose him for president, but his belief about the destiny of the soul is not one of them.

Well said, Mr. Gerson.
 
IowaPolitics’s Chris Dorsey has some of Mitt’s comments on healthcare.  His solution is market (not government) based.  Makes sense to me.
 
The AP’s Mike Glover reports Mitt has a novel concept about what to do with ethically challenged politicians whose conduct only comes to light after they “retire”.  What does Mitt suggest?  Confiscate their pensions.   Mitt doesn’t look favorably on ethical lapses and (as the SF Chronicle’s Debra Saunders explains) isn’t above using creative ways to encourage people to do that which is right but not necessarily in their self interest.
 
The Wellesley Townman’s Samantha Fields has a great quote from Wellesley College professor Wilbur Rich:

A lot of people underestimate Romney.  They don’t remember what he did to Shannon O’Brien [in the governor’s race in 2002]. Everybody thought he had no chance against her … and he came from nowhere to beat her.

Very true professor.  Lots of people are misunderestimating Mitt right now.
 
I know this is getting into what is now old news, but its worth including:  Last week Mitt suggested a Surge of Support for the Troops.  He put some of his money where his rhetoric is and donated $25K to the cause.
 
The Miami Herald’s Adres Oppenheimer writes of Mitt and Latin America.  Oppenheimer disagrees with Mitt on most ever US/Latin American issue and believes that Mitt will be a very lonely guy in the hemisphere if he wins in 2008.  I’m not sure what Oppenheimer wants, but I much prefer the United States over most every Latin American country – especially Venezuela and Cuba.  I believe Chavez and Castro will be very lonely (ideologically) because their form of government cannot survive.   Communists and Populist regimes have a very short life expectancy.
 
Mitt also had an interview at Victory Caucus.
 
Article VI’s John effectively eviscerates Larry Sabato.  Well done, John – though it was a pretty easy target.
 
The Rocky Mountain News’ M.E. Sprengelmeyer.  The Mormon question is number four. 
 
Mitt scares Robin Miller.  If Robin Miller made sense, he’d scare me.  Since he doesn’t, I’ll cease commenting on his post.
 
And finally, the Des Moines Register’s Thomas Beaumont quotes Mitt as being willing to cut his rivals some slack for gaffes and flubbed lines on the campaign trail.  Don’t look for the favor to be returned.
 
This has nothing to do with Mitt, but with blogging in general.  Over at the Yearly Kos convention there was a booth set up with people wanting to organize a Blogger’s Union.  The only thing that would do would be to increase costs and decrease the quality of the work performed.  How Kos could possibly sink any lower on the quality scale is beyond me.

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The AP’s Amy Lorentzen caught up with Mitt on a Iowa golf course and describes his “stinging” assessment of Bush’s handling of the Iraq war.  What the MSM doesn’t seem to understand is Mitt is not Dubya and thus would handle things differently.  I don’t see the stinging rebuke.  Mitt is right, however, that the Democratic candidates (and the overall party) are dangerously overconfident.  The Democrats are busy rooting for defeat and have no dedication to victory – which is what the American people want. 

The AP is also reporting that Mitt is considering a “Kennedy-esque” speech about his religion.  Article VI’s Lowell thinks this is a bad idea.  With this in mind, I am going to write my very first Memo to Mitt.  He can take or leave my advice, but this is what I’d suggest: 

Memo to Mitt:  Word on the street is you’re considering a speech about your (and my) religion.  While I agree you’ll probably end up having to address this issue – though none of the other candidates will be met with the same requirement – I don’t believe there’s a way for you to satisfy the preconceptions of friends and foes alike.    Therefore I suggest you make the speech very short, direct, and to the point.  In fact, I suggest your entire speech consist of the following paragraphs: 

The issue of my religion has been an incessant one during this long campaign.  Most Americans believed President John F. Kennedy dealt with the question of a candidate’s religion in the last century.  Evidently some have forgotten his pioneering efforts and thus I must plow the same ground as it relates to my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

To do so, I will paraphrase one of the founding documents of my Church.  I will say no more than this, as I am running for the office of President of the United States and not President of the LDS Church. 

[I] claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of [my] own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. 

This is a country founded upon religious values – a country where membership in a specific church or religion is not required by law but protected by the Constitution.  I do not question the religious beliefs or tenets held by my opponents.  I would hope they would do me the same courtesy. 

Thank you. 

Feel free to use any part of this in your speech – no attribution necessary.  The donation box is at the top left of the screen.  End Memo to Mitt.

The WaPo’s Chris Cillizza has his latest rankings of both Republicans and Democrats.  Mitt comes in at #1.  Stay tuned for accusations that Chris just wants to latch on to Mitt in order to increase his income. 

Speaking of rankings, and in the “It’s About Damn Time” category comes Political Derby’s Jason Wright.  Jason has some slippage of Mitt to the #2 slot behind Rudy.  Oh well, some days you’re the statue, other days you’re the pigeon.   Jason only escapes a chiding slap because of his caricature of Michael Moore. 

The Boston Herald’s Inside Track refers to Mitt and Ann as the second coming of the Eisenhowers.  Covered this already guys.  Where have you been? 

The Telegraph’s Kevin Landrigan writes of Mitt’s stand against “gay” marriage while not being hostile to homosexuals.  Some people don’t get how a person can work to protect a group of people against discrimination while also working to defend traditional marriage.  Homosexuals are citizens and are thus entitled to the protection offered citizens by government.  There are those of us (quite a lot of us actually) who don’t believe that government protection extends to redefining the institution of marriage.  It really is that simple. 

The New York Times’ Michael Luo has Mitt’s barbs aimed at Obama following the YouTube/CNN Circus.  Commenting on Obama’s pledge to meet with the International Thug Caucus (Iran/North Korea/Cuba/Venezuela), Mitt said: 

[Obama] told us his agenda for the people he’d be visiting his first year: Ahmadinejad, Chavez; he’d be going to Syria, meeting with the president of Syria.  It’s absolutely extraordinary that somebody can be so out of touch with the nature of our world.  It’s a bit like Chamberlain. It’s more Chamberlain than it is Churchill. We need to have leadership that understands the importance of a strong America and understands the willingness to stand with our friends and to be able to say no to those who are evil around us. 

That’s gonna leave a mark.  Truth hurts. 

The Forest City Summit’s Bob Fenske details Mitt’s well oiled Iowa campaign machine. 

The Citizen of Lanconia’s Cutter Mitchell chronicles Mitt’s visit to Central New Hampshire. 

The Des Moines Register’s Grant Schulte reports on Cheap Shot Sam Brownback’s use of automated phone call machines to slime Mitt.  Brownback sticks to his guns, but the bottom line is he’s running a Tier 2 or 3 campaign and is desperate for a good showing at the Ames straw poll.  Memo to Sam:  You’re an also ran.  The sooner you figure this out the better for the party.  End Memo. 

The Union Leader’s John Distaso writes that Mitt is considering not participating in the upcoming CNN/YouTube circus.  Well, after seeing the YouTube questions posed to the Democrats, I really don’t see the point of participation.  Other than Obama’s gaffe, not a single question actually dealt with any pressing issue.  It was all fluff, but then again, that’s CNN. 

Also from the Union Leader, Stephen Beale reports on Mitt’s judicial philosophy. 

The AP’s Philip Elliot reports that Mitt has no problem with the Manchester County GOP holding a fundraiser where guests will get to shoot Uzis and M-16’s.  Mitt admits to being a poor shot with the automatic rifles.  Stay tuned for more firearm fallout.  I’m sure Damien LaVera will question why Mitt was allowed to fire such weapons during his trip to Iraq. 

411Mania.com’s Jason Easley sees some truth to Gingrich’s “pygmy” label referring to the current crop of GOP contenders.  While I like a lot of what Newt has to say, his electability is somewhere around that of Jimmy Carter.  Mitt’s response to Newt’s barb was polite, but could be translated to “get in the race or shut up, Newt.”

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ABCNews’ Teddy Davis is out with the latest assault on Mitt’s record using a tried and true liberal weapon – the Minimum Wage.  As a governor, Mitt proposed indexing the government mandated minimum wage – mostly so the few, far between, and usually large increases wouldn’t do too much damage to job creation.  Yes, it is a proven fact that increases in the minimum wage actually does cause entry level jobs to disappear.
 
Davis manages to find a bunch of union-thugs to bring up the specter of “yet another” flip-flop by Mitt.  Here’s the bottom line: As a governor Mitt thought about tinkering with the minimum wage and ended up not doing it.  What might work for one state probably won’t work on a national scale, despite declarations to the contrary by people like Americans United for Change’s Brad Woodhouse.  Wages should be set by businesses, not government.
 
CBN’s David Brody has the latest on Cheap Shot Sam Brownback’s Boy Scout barb.  To answer your question, David, no, it won’t work.  This is old news already refuted several times.  It’s the hallmark of a sinking Tier 2 or 3 campaign desperate for headlines and thus willing to use cheap shots to score column inches and sound bytes.
 
The New York Sun’s Seth Gitell was surprised by Mitt’s source for a recent speech.  Gitell is right, so is Shimon Peres and Mitt.
 
Mitt’s Press Shop has a good round up of what real people are saying about Mitt.
 
PC World’s Mark Peckham is positive there is an instilled climate of fear it today’s society.  Somehow, Mitt has something to do with it, though I’m not sure why and Peckham does little to bolster his opinion.  Memo to Mark Peckham: Your point sir?  How exactly does Mitt tie into Puritans burning witches?  Even the hard core anti-Mitt crews only go back as far as frontier Mormon polygamy.  End Memo.
 
The AP has more fallout from “The Picture”.  Mitt’s response?  “Lighten up.”  Sorry, Mitt, the MSM only has one setting and that is “frenzy”.
 
The Christian Science Monitor’s Linda Feldmann sees a possible narrowing in the race to Mitt and Fred.  I’m not sure I’ll write off Rudy that quickly, but the possibility is interesting.
 
The New York Times’ Michael Falcone has a story about Mitt’s visit to the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.  This visit, and Mitt’s comments to the group, may come as a surprise to many who accept the MSM adage that any Republican who didn’t support the amnesty bill is a raving anti-Hispanic racist.  Howlin’ Mad Howie Dean’s Head Mitt Hit Man Damien LaVera sure thinks so.   (In fairness to LaVera, at least he quoted someone other than himself today.)  Mitt has no problem with legal immigration.  It’s the illegal immigration that he – and most Americans – abhor.
Pajamas Media’s Richard Miniter has an interview with Mitt where he unequivocally states that he is “absolutely” committed to victory in Iraq.  No nuance, no bet hedging.  Hillary, are you listening?
 
Mitt summarized the CNN/YouTube debate rather well.  Naïveté doesn’t work as a basis for foreign policy.
 
Article VI’s Lowell makes a good point.  Today marks the 160^th anniversary of the day when Brigham Young led a rag-tag bunch of weary pioneers down Emigration Canyon and boldly proclaimed the Valley of the Great Salt Lake to be “The Right Place”.  Mitt’s ancestors followed Brother Brigham into that valley, as did mine.  Will you hear Mitt talk about that today?  Probably not – and that is sad.  That he needs to be that cautious about mentioning his ancestral roots speaks volumes about the current political and religious atmosphere.
 
Drive on.  All is well.

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I’ll start this Roundup with some no doubt offensive links – if you’re a Democrat that is.  After all, it should be noted that any of the Republican contenders is a darn sight better than even the best Democratic contender.  Mitt took some shots at the Democratic field over the weekend.  He criticized Obama for endorsing sex-education for kindergartners and had this to say about Hillary’s “economic” plan:

Hillary Clinton’s course: Let government manage your life. Our course: Let the individual and personal responsibility lead and guide.  She said we have been an ‘on-your-own society’ and she says we need to replace that with shared responsibility and ‘working together society.’ That’s out with (free-market pioneer) Adam Smith and in with Karl Marx.  She wouldn’t be elected president of France today, never mind the United States.

(If I may be so bold as to interject a comment - the fact the author felt the need to give a quick bio of Adam Smith speaks loads about the sad state of the economic education in this country.  End Digression.) 

And he took a well aimed shot at the entire field with this remark:

It would be helpful to have a person leading the country who understands how the economy works and has actually managed something. In the case of the three Democratic front-runners, not one of them has managed even a corner store, let alone a state or a city.

No, Hillary, eight years as First Lady in your husband’s (sorry excuse for) administration doesn’t count as executive experience.  Neither do all those years as First Lady of Arkansas - wherever that is.
 
And for those of you waiting for my take on the story behind Mitt’s picture with the lady who can’t spell “Mamma”, let me state, unequivocally, that I simply do not care.  The Daily Utah Chronicle’s Lindsay Sine, however, does care.   She thinks Mitt has done a dis-service to Mormons everywhere and she’d rather be identified with Donnie and Marie than with Mitt.  Good luck with that, Lindsay.
 
CBN’s David Brody has the latest cheap-shot from the Brownback camp.  Sam wants you to think Mitt is anti-Boy Scout now.  Good luck with that, Sam.
 
The Examiner’s Andrew Miga has Mitt’s immigration comments to a Hispanic gathering.
 
Bloomberg News’ Albert Hunt takes up the well worn issue of faith and the presidency.  There is no real news here other than Hunt’s discovery of the root of anti-Mormonism.  Yes, dear reader, Hunt declares
 
The real root of anti-Mormon sentiment is the religion’s passion for proselytizing - Romney and his five children all spent two years as church missionaries - and an illegitimate threat: to some, it’s a weird cult.
 
Now why haven’t we thought of this before?  If Mormons would simply stop sending out the legions of missionaries, we’d be accepted as Christians and be able to sing Kum-by-ya around the campfire with the boneheads who consider a vote for Mitt equal to a vote for the Prince of Darkness.  Nice try, Al.  Article VI’s Lowell disagrees with me and thinks Hunt’s piece may have a grain of truth to it.  Ok.  Maybe a small grain.
Newsflash:  Jay Garrity has resigned.  Don’t look for the MSM “fake cop” cries to quiet down anytime soon.
 
The AP reports Mitt has scaled down his Ames Straw Poll efforts in Iowa.  Common sense is a hallmark of Mitt’s campaign.  Simply put, he sees no need to spend money on a contest he’s already won.
 
The Gazette’s Rod Boshart has more coverage of Mitt in Iowa.
 
The Sunday Times’ Sarah Baxter profiles the Romney family.
 
Newsbuster’s Michael Lanza dissects an ABCNews piece which started out as a story on Obama’s endorsement of kindergarten sex-ed and turned into hit piece on Mitt.  You’d almost think it was planned that way, but that would require an extra layer of tin-foil.
 
The New York Times’ Michael Falcone profiles Ann on the campaign trail.  Falcone’s work is pretty good, but the Nutters own the comment space.
 
HuffPo’s Chris Kelly says Mitt thinks “you” smell.  His piece contains all the DNC bullet points and nothing much original.  After having read what you pass off as work, Chris, I can say now for the record, You Stink.
 
And finally, Mitt took some time to scoop out some ice cream at Kingston’s Memories Ice Cream parlor.  I hate to give Damien LaVera any ideas, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a press release slamming Mitt for contributing to the “obesity epidemic.”
 

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