Following the now infamous “Smoking” ad in support of Herman Cain unexpectedly going viral – sparking a media frenzy of both admiration and admonition from voters, besides numerous parodies – former Cain Chief of Staff, Mark Block, will release his own sequel at an undisclosed future date.
Meanwhile, another new video was shown to an audience at Marquette University in his home state of Wisconsin; before sitting down for a conversation with award winning journalist Mike Gousha, for his “On the Issues” interview series titled “Tales from the Campaign Trail: Herman Cain’s Chief of Staff goes “On the Issues” at Marquette Law School.”
The new video starts with a clip of former presidential candidate Herman Cain thanking the University for letting Block tells their campaign’s story, then launching into a montage of scenes from different points throughout the campaign trail. It follows Cain’s announcement, campaigning and press coverage. The video’s climax is Block’s original ad, followed by clips of the fallout. Late night comedy references and media interviews with both the candidate and Block are featured following the ad, culminating in a stylized still image of Block with the bold inscription “Block is America” as if to respond to The Five’s Andrea Tantaros asking “Who’s Mark Block?”
Last week, during one of his numerous cigarette breaks outside of the Marriot Hotel hosting the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington D.C., Block fed rumors of an impending video release.
I joined Block as he spoke informally to a group that included National Review Magazine’s Jim Geraghty. It wasn’t very hard to find Block at CPAC. One only needed to walk out the hotel’s back entry to enter Block’s “office.”
“If the last one was a four, this one will be a nine… point nine nine,” said Block, referring to his upcoming video, as confirmed by Geraghty’s blog. We wonder how many possibilities can be invented with the number nine. Will he smoke nine cigarettes at once; surrounded by nine staffers; shot by nine cameras?
Conception of the original “Smoking” ad was likewise untraditional. Missing his chance to record Cain for an Ad, the cameraman suggested that Block make a short, informal statement after bumping into him outside smoking a cigarette. Block agreed, and the rest is history; giving rise to the saying “Let Block be Block,” when Cain was asked to comment on the controversy surrounding it.
The ad was originally posted on the campaign’s YouTube channel, but quickly went viral, receiving coverage on every news outlet; especially late night comedy shows. It was a success without the campaign needing to purchase any network ad space.
“It was the best ad ever created for 4 dollars,” said Block.
Block received a flurry of support from smokers and allies who were glad to see such candor from a political campaign, but also, detraction from anti-Smoking groups calling it a bad example for children.
“Of course,” said a nearby media member ironically, “don’t you know how many children out there stay up until 4am watching political coverage and were inspired to smoke?”
The group laughed.
“Yes, maybe I need to be working for Big Tobacco,” chimed Block.
Block promised that his new ad will soon be released without specifying an exact date or time; but that Geraghty may be the first to receive and post it on his blog.
If I were psychic I couldn’t have made a better call. I make no metaphysical claims… quite the contrary. Ever since the 2010 elections, the Republicrats and the Lame Stream lap dogs of the Obama regime have been at great pains to convince us, convince you, that we were an aberration, a momentary phenomenon, a freak of nature. We would soon be absorbed into the Republican establishment, which would once again rule all of us rubes with wisdom… nay, true sagacity.
We talked at great length about Mitt Romney and the central and overriding fact that he is a big government Republican in the establishment mold. Worse yet, he’s moderate to liberal on most issues that really matter to fully 60% of the citizens of this country that consider themselves to be conservative.
That’s the one thing that Mitt Romney is not. No matter what the repeated battery from his PACs… those unaccountable political garbage grinders behind which Mr. Milquetoast can hide, while devastating anyone who is perceived as a threat to his vanilla Republicrat candidacy. Ask Herman Cain.
Romney’s all-too-cute destruction of Herman Cain’s candidacy with a (most likely) ‘paid’ bimbo eruption, during which not a single one of the supposed victims could articulate anything remotely connecting Herman to any impropriety, other than one very vague generalization of making one ‘lady’ uncomfortable. The one direct charge of an extended extramarital affair by another turned out to be just so much more opportunism by a bought-and-paid-for bimbo. Nonetheless, it had the desired effect, as Herman withdrew from the 2012 presidential race rather than have his family dragged through the filth generated by the Romney PAC. This may prove to be the lynch pin to end Romney’s presidential pretentions.
Newt Gingrich is a flawed human, as are we all. He’s made some serious mistakes in attacking Bain Capital, giving the impression of anti-capitalism which the Romnites and the leftist press have been quick to take advantage of. Fact: Bain Capital did raid several companies, resulting in their bankruptcy. But Newt Gingrich is no anti-capitalist. He led the Reagan ‘revolution’, bringing fiscal sanity to the lefty mess left by ‘Jimma Cata’. None other than Nancy Reagan herself was generous in her praise of Newt’s efforts and his unwavering support for the Reagan Conservative Revolution. Putting the lie to another of the Romney PACs whole-cloth prevarications.
Florida is being touted by the leftist press and the Romney team (et al) as the end of the campaign. That’s it, it’s in the bag. That presumptive thing fostered by the ever shifty RNC establishment again. Um… gee whiz, it’s those pesky Tea Party guys again. Romney was supposed to be nine points ahead in Florida as of yesterday. I’m not so sure. There have been many Tea Party types who, disgusted with the savaging of Herman Cain, have been waiting out on the sidelines and are beginning to stir in huge numbers with Herman Cain’s surprise endorsement of Newt Gingrich.
Herman Cain stood a darn good chance of capturing the Republican nomination, which is why he had to be destroyed. I’ll tell you what must be giving not only Romney but MaoBama himself hives… the thought of a Gingrich candidacy in which he drafts Herman Cain as his running mate. Talk about a living nightmare for the communist regime of our wannabe Mahdi President Barack Hussein Obama and the febrile establishment Repubics (thanks, Mark Levin).
The South Carolina Tea Party Patriots fired the first shot. It won’t be the last.
Former candidate and Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain made a surprise endorsement of candidate Newt Gingrich tonight at the Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee Lincoln Day Dinner in West Palm Beach, Florida; according to The Shark Tank.
Cain, who ended his presidential bid among allegations of infidelity on December 3, 2011; has kept up his public profile, keeping voters and pundits guessing as to who he will endorse, and when.
In a recent interview with conservative radio and television host Sean Hannity, Cain hinted that he will be endorsing a candidate soon, though it would come as a surprise and will be “unconventional.”
Meanwhile the Gingrich campaign and dinner organizers also gave the media hints to expect a big surprise endorsement at the dinner.
“I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for president of the United States! One of the biggest reasons is the fact that I know that Speaker Gingrich is a patriot, Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas and I also know that Speaker Gingrich is running for president and going through this sausage grinder. I know what this sausage grinder is all about.”
Herman Cain left the presidential race after being accused of sexual harassment by numerous women who served under him while head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990’s. Although, never admitting guilt, Cain was unable to credibly rebut the claims against him, and saw his lead in national polls quickly slip away. He cited the pain that the accusations were causing his wife and family as the main reason for his decision.
Cain appealed to many conservative voters because of his relationship with the Tea Party movement and his successful business career. He saw a surge in the polls primarily because of his innovative 9-9-9 tax plan; resonating with voters because of its simple, fair and innovative structure; besides its easily remembered handle. Mitt Romney, also a businessman, was edged out by Cain – because unlike Romney, who made his money in investment markets – Cain had a “main street” business background that appealed to small business owners having once revitalized the struggling Godfather’s Pizza chain from the ground up.
Significantly, Cain’s rise began in the state of Florida, then spilling over into South Carolina before becoming the national frontrunner. This endorsement comes at a critical time for Gingrich, who is looking to regain momentum after two undistinguished debate performances. Moreover, latest poll results show Romney’s newly acquired offensive strategy against Gingrich is paying off.
With this endorsement, Gingrich can now claim some economic credibility and a chance to absorb supporters whose value of a business experience moved them toward an uneasy support of Romney. Gingrich may also gain the few voters still left who are undecided by the exit of other candidates.
Unfortunately, Cain’s endorsement may have come too late to impact the race as much as he and Gingrich would like. Most Cain supporters had already gone to Gingrich and the other “not-Romneys” anyway. With no more debates left before the Florida primary, Gingrich also finds himself lacking the best medium to trumpet and contextualize this endorsement to the largest audience; moreover, network news coverage will be very limited since most weekend time-slots are already occupied by pre-recorded shows, making them inflexible to breaking news. Whether Gingrich could capitalize on this endorsement with so little time before the primary is uncertain, unless, of course, Monday’s media barrage to follow provides him with the exposure he missed during last week’s debates.
PCW Manchester Madness Report
The Verizon Manchester, NH
Tuesday January 10th, 2012
Host: Johnny Suave
An overflow crowd booed PCW Security as they searched high and low for any sign of PCW Women’s Champion Valora Salinas.
PCW Women’s Champion Valora Salinas HT: 5-9 WT: 165
HOME: South Central, California
FIN: Aztec Moonsault/Tequila Sunrise
Suave recaps PCW CEO Barack Obama (D-IL) attempt to lay down the law to Valora last Thursday night on PCW Politics is War.
PCW CEO Barack Obama (D-IL) walked out and arbitrarily declared Kathryn Randall Collins (D) the winner of Iowa match and threatened to strip Valora of Women’s Title if she doesn’t accept a title match with KRC.
And then the end of the show after the Charlie Blackwell (American Heartland) vs. ’New Age Sensitive Guy’ Blaine Thomas-Taylor (D) match…
Post match, PCW Women’s Champion Valora Salinas ran out and hit a sick missile dropkick to New Age Sensitive Guy. The Big Union forces chased after her as the show ended.
Suave also discussed the tournament to determine the #1 Contender for the PCW Television Title. Tonight, it’s New Age Sensitive Guy Blaine Thomas-Taylor (D) vs. former PCW Champion O’Beck Bahama (D) for the #1 Contender’s slot. The winner gets a shot at TV Champion ‘The One Man Hollywood A-List’ Stone Chism (D).
BACKSTAGE PCW Security Forces continue to scour the arena for Valora.
MATCH #1
PBR (I) vs. Ken Worth-The American Trucker (I)
Worth, a former PCW Television Champion, nearly had the match won when he hit the Jake Brake on PBR. But PBR turned it around and got his first win in PCW with the Blue Ribbon Bash- PBR grabs a beer can and bashes Worth in the face with it, to get the pin.
PBR chugs a can of Pabst’s Blue Ribbon down after the match with Worth. The American Trucker surprises everyone by announcing he’s becoming PBR’s manager and changing his name to Chief.
Colorado Hottie Alert Teenager Sydney Spies and her mother Miki show up in the ring to complain that her racy senior picture was rejected by Spies’s school’s yearbook committee.
Spies: “I want to be a model. I’m a dancer, and I feel like administration isn’t allowing me to show that.”
She then takes off her overcoat.
Miki Spies: “When your child is spreading her wings, you just want to come alongside and support them. That’s what I’m doing as a mother.”
Johnny Suave: “Those pictures may not be appropriate for a school yearbook; but Sydney could have a promising career in pro wrestling! She is 18 right?”
Sydney: “But I want to be a model…a dancer.”
Suave: “As I said, you could make it in pro wrestling. You could be the next Daisy Cutter-Bomb!”
Daisy Cutter-Bomb (R)
BACKSTAGE Several members of the PCW Security Force lay unconscious in the hallway. Suave immediately suspects Valora Salinas is responsible. So does Democrats Harry Reid (D-NV) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). They take off to discuss the situation with PCW CEO Barack Obama.
Tanaka Enters the Building Former 3 Time PCW Champion Yamamoto Tanaka (D)…
Former Three Time PCW Champion
Yamamoto Tanaka (Free Agent)
HT: 6′ 9″ WT: 350
HOME: Nagano, Japan
FIN: Japanese Super Destroyer
…enters the building. Suave notes that he has been offered a substanial amount of money by Super PAC’s representing both the Republicans and the Democrats.
Suave: “Who will he choose? We may find out tonight.”
Next, an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming novel- Jesusland vs. Progressiveville follows:
Stacey started for the door. “Whatever. If we’re done here, Kate and I really have to be at the Kennedy Center in just two hours-”
KILMER VALKILMER:
(sings to the tune of “One More Day” from the musical Les Miserables):
“In just two hours
A hundred twenty-minutes away.”
Stacey thumbed through a manuscript of Jesusland vs. Progressiveville- “All right, just when the hell did this turn into a musical?”
KILMER VALKILMER:
(sings)
“On the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
The forces of the left and right
Will gather on the road tonight
In just two hours.”
Darius took Stacey by the hand and turned her away from the door- just off to the left of Valkilmer.
DARIUS
(sings):
“I wish you’d come with us tonight
I wish you’d be with me forever.”
KILMER VALKILMER:
“In just two hours “
DARIUS:
“Though you don’t strip or model lingerie
I hope with me you will endeavor.”
Kate walked over to the right of Valkilmer.
KATE:
“In two hours, he’ll be away.”
DARIUS and STACEY:
“If we make it through the night.”
KATE:
“In two hours, I’ll be with her.”
DARIUS and STACEY:
“We should sit and talk awhile.”
KATE:
“But I don’t know what I can say.”
DARIUS and STACEY:
“And plan the future, you and me.”
KATE:
“That’ll change her love to me.”
Enriques stepped out and thrust his fist into the air.
ENRIQUES
(sings):
“Two more hours until the march!”
DARIUS:
“Should I go with her instead?”
ENRIQUES:
“We’ll stop the extremists on the roadway!”
DARIUS:
“Should I watch her at the show?”
ENRIQUES:
“As the people come and join.”
DARIUS:
“Should I stay or should I go?”
ENRIQUES:
“Our demonstration to be free”
ALL:
“It’s time, to go
Two hours, the show!”
VALKILMER:
“Two more hours!”
JAVIER- AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WASHINGTON D.C. PARK SERVICE:
“If you trespass on the park grounds
You’ll be arrested on the spot
You’ll be hauled down to the station
And you will wet yourselves a lot.”
VALKILMER:
“Two more hours!”
MR. AND MRS. THENARD- OWNERS OF A LOCAL MOTEL 6:
(sings)
“Why were we brought here?
We really do not know
We were walking to the Kennedy
To see the show…
We run a Motel 6
Across the river so
Can we wrap this up
So we can go.”
More people stream into Stacy’s house and line up behind the others.
ALL:
“Two more hours til things start changing!”
STACEY:
“Who let these others in the house?”
ALL:
“Two more hours to make a stand.”
STACEY:
“They weren’t here a minute ago.”
ALL:
“We will stop them at the Kennedy.”
STACEY:
“I hope my landlord doesn’t show.”
ALL:
We will make them understand.”
DARIUS (to ENRIQUES):
“I pledge- to you
I’ll be back- real soon.”
VALKILMER:
“TWO MORE HOURS!”
(At the same time)
DARIUS and STACEY: When this is over, we will leave.
KATE: Two more hours, she’ll be with me.
JAVIER: I will watch the ground this evening- I will watch for things amiss.
(At the same time)
DARIUS and STACEY: Take a trip, far, far away.
JAVIER: If they trepass on park property- I will be extremely pissed.
VALKILMER:
“TWO MORE HOURS!”
(At the same time)
DARIUS and STACEY: We’ll be a hundred miles from here
KATE: But she doesn’t love me like him
JAVIER: If you trespass on the park grounds- you’ll be arrested on the spot
THENARDS: Why were we brought here?-we really do not know
(At the same time)
DARIUS and STACEY: At a cottage we will stay
JAVIER: You’ll be hauled down to the station
THENARDS: We were walking to the Kennedy
VALKILMER:
“Two hours is the chosen time- where we will put it on the line.”
ALL:
“In just two hours from now we’ll find out just where our story’s going to go.
At sunset
In two hours
TWO…MORE…HOURSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!”
As the chorus wound down with a glorious crescendo, Kilmer Valkilmer’s face turned blue holding the very last note and dropped to the floor.
Jesusland vs. Progressiveville is coming soon to an online bookstore near you.BACKSTAGE
PBR and Chief chug a can of Pabst’s Blue Ribbon. Corporate Might: Big Oil and Kirk Walstreit (R)…
Big Oil
HT: 6′ 11″ WT: 323
HOME: Houston, TX
FIN: Oklahoma Driller (modified piledriver)
MGR: Texas TexKirk Walstreit- The Wall Street Market Analyst with the Man Crush on ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit
HT: 6-2 WT: 220
HOME: New York City, NY
FIN: Stock Market Plunge
…walk by. Big Oil bumped into Chief and caused him to lose his beer. Big Oil laughs and heads to the ring.
In the ring, Big Oil again crows about the slowly rising gas prices. With Walstreit nodding with approval, Big Oil says the American people are nothing more than sheep who can’t live without their car.
Big Oil: “The more you pathetic people drive because you’re too lazy to walk a block to the store; the richer you make me.”
The crowd boos and lobs debris into the ring until they see PCW Women’s Champion Valora Salinas hit the ring. She oulls out a taser and Big Oil doesn’t see her until it’s too late. He gets zapped by the taser and falls like a tree to the mat.
Walstreit, realizing that he was in immiment danger, tried to get out but PBR and Chief ran in and blocked his exit. PBR blasted him in the face with a beer can and then Chief threw him to Valora. She in turn tasered him and left him in a puddle in the ring.
PBR tossed Valora a beer and the three shared a drink before PCW Security ran down and chased the Women’s champion off.
YOUR GRATIUTIOUS TIM TEBOW MOMENT OF THE WEEK
BACKSTAGE PCW Champion Daniel-San and Mrs. Miyagi shared a quick word with…
New Hampshire Primary Match ‘American Citizen’ Kevin Scott (R) w/Mitt Romney (R-MA)
K-Roy (R) w/Newt Gingrich (R-GA) Texas Jack (R) w/Rick Perry (R-TX Jim Schmidt (R) w/Ron Paul (R-TX) The Right Rev. Randy Richardson (R) w/Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Jamie Walker (R) w/Jon Huntsman and the Huntsman Girls (R-UT)
Richardson and Texas Jack go after Kevin Scott from the get go. Things get even more wild when Schmidt drags Richardson from the ring and beats the holy hell out of him.Walker has a good outing and ends up finishing third.
Scott shakes off the early double team and takes over the match. He gets the pin on Jim Schmidt and takes the NH Primary match for Mitt Romney.
Romney and Scott stand together in the ring and celebrate their win. Then Yamamoto Tanaka walks to the ring. Suave wonders what side he’s chosen. Tanaka makes it clear seconds later when he choke slams Scott to the canvas.
Then Occupy Wall Street…
-Nate, HOME: Minneapolis, MN
-Shane, HOME: Newark, NJ
-Adam, HOME: New York City, NY
…hit the ring and attack Romney. The OWS drive Romney to the ground and start kicking him. This brings Chris Christie (R-NJ) and his Jersey Boys: Frankie and Vinnie to the ring and a full scale brawl breaks out to end the show.
I have spent some time in 2011 working to advance conservative principles, and with respect to the Presidential election, advancing candidates who promote the ideas of conservatism.
In early spring, I was inspired by Herman Cain’s simple message of smaller, simpler government and bringing real-world solutions to Washington, D.C. I resolved to join his early grassroots movement here in Iowa to promote his candidacy for President.
By early summer, Herman Cain’s campaign was sputtering with a severe lack of message control. Sadly, it appeared that Herman Cain lacked either the political skill or the management qualities it required to adequately oversee a political campaign.
I found a new home for conservative activism with the candidacy of Michele Bachmann. My family attended Michele’s campaign kickoff in Waterloo, Iowa and thoroughly enjoyed her clear message on the conservative view of government, and a warm personal style. In August I agreed to volunteer for Michele Bachmann at the Iowa GOP Ames Straw Poll. I wrote a little about that experience here. It was exciting to spend that time on a beautiful day in Iowa, witness democracy in action among many conservative brethren, and have it end in “victory” late in the day.
Sadly, it was all downhill from there for Michele Bachmann’s campaign. Increasingly she looked less presidential and simply not ready to mount a serious national campaign. As Michele continued to roll out her conservative platform, I heard few specific ideas or proposals for changing the culture of government. My interest was always to raise conservative voices, and Michele’s voice was disappointing. I am glad to have Michele Bachmann serve in government, but I believe the office of President isn’t for her right now.
Between late September and early November, I didn’t have a particular home for my efforts. I did spend more time for Herman Cain for a few weeks, but left again when the old habits of message control resurfaced. As someone observed on Erick Erickson’s radio show, if a particular draw for Herman Cain is his skill in business management and the people he puts around him, how can I support him when the people around his campaign messaging appeared so inept? I was relieved when Herman Cain finally suspended his campaign, because frankly it felt like someone was finally putting it out of our misery.
I spent several weeks researching and reflecting upon who I would finally support for the stretch run to the Iowa caucuses. My criteria were simple:
A correct, clear view of the relationship between government and people,
A strong view of how the economy, and a civil society really works,
A record of upholding these principles in public or private service,
A clear ability to get elected, both the nomination and general election.
As you might imagine, every major candidate addresses these principles to varying degrees. It has been lamented that there is “no perfect candidate” and while I suppose that is true, as I look back over elections at least through Ronald Reagan in 1980, I don’t think this is an honest standard with which to judge a candidate. In some ways, even Ronald Reagan could not have fully met this standard of “perfection” in 1980.
So like everyone else I was left to consider each candidate on their merits, and assign my own weighting system upon how they stack up against the value system that I hold dear.
For the 2012 election, I support Governor Rick Perry.
Some might be surprised to see my support of Rick Perry, as this spring I wrote a highly critical post about Rick Perry’s bona fides on conservative principles.
One of my chief issues in that post was his decision to issue an executive order mandating a particular vaccine for young children. In Rick Perry’s first days on the campaign trail, he flatly apologized for that mistake in judgment. The entire text of that apology and my remarks can be found as an update at the end of that post.
Weighing all the candidates again, I found that Governor Rick Perry has the best balance of record and performance upon all the issues I described above.
Relationship between government and the people
Rick Perry has been a longtime advocate of federalism, state’s rights through the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, and republican government. In Rick Perry’s campaign kickoff, he proclaimed that the virtue of his presidential campaign would be to “make the federal government as insignificant in your life as possible.” This is unabashed conservatism. It is a foundational principle of our nation’s founding and of the Republican Party that the government which governs least governs best. Further, we maintain the government closest to the individual will always be most responsive to the needs and wishes of the individual.
If you listen to any speech or text from Rick Perry, you cannot walk away without hearing something about how government power comes from the people up, not from the government down. Rights are not bestowed upon us by a central government, but rather each citizen in the United States is a sovereign individual who grants limited power to the government to ensure a civil society. Rick Perry’s ideals are right on point.
Furthermore, Rick Perry is a rare politician who understands and keeps the word servant relevant to his role as a public servant. That ideal can be seen right in his public apology for the executive order, and through to his idea that we should press for our legislative representatives to spend less time in Washington, D.C. and hopefully more time living within their districts under the laws that they create.
Rick Perry’s plan to end the Departments of Education, Energy, and Commerce and remand this spending and these responsibilities back to the several States is right on point in my book.
Strong view on economy and civil society
This is somewhat related to my first ideal, but more specific to economics and the principle of private property.
Rick Perry firmly and dependably professes a strong belief in the central government doing as little in the marketplace as possible to “pick winners and losers.” I respect that he comes to Iowa and openly supports ending subsidies for corn ethanol (as much as a canard as that tends to be), but he does so by proclaiming that all such subsidies from the federal government should stop. In the name of republican government, states should be free to subsidize a particular activity as they see fit, but the role of the federal government should begin and end with keeping the market open and free. Wonderful.
Another example: Rick Perry plans to end or dramatically reduce the EPA and remand more of these responsibilities to the states. Once again, I find this not to be red meat for conservatives but right on point in federalism. While everyone values clean air and water, today’s version of the EPA is ridiculously anti-development. We are no longer talking about the choice between development and clean air and water – we are talking about the law of diminishing returns. The greeenpeace types in the EPA do not understand that economic prosperity is also a friend to environmental stewardship. Poor people do not care for the environment. There must be a better balance struck between the value of commerce and the value of environmental concerns – and I believe the best judgments can be made by the governments closest to their constituents.
As for the scoreboard, Rick Perry’s support for low taxes, reasonable regulations, a predictable civil litigation system and an educated workforce has produced a business climate consistently ranked among the best in the nation. This is the definition of “good government” and we desperately need more of that in Washington, D.C.
A record of upholding conservative principles
One might say, “talk is cheap”. It doesn’t take a lot of skill to stand in front of a camera or a group of people and say words that make you sound conservative. Even Barack Obama can do that.
Rather we need someone who walks the conservative walk as much as they like to talk the conservative talk during an election campaign.
Rick Perry has never been confused about whether or not a central government can choose your medical care insurance better than you can. I am certain you would never find Rick Perry on a couch with Nancy Pelosi, or confused about government’s role in “global warming” like Newt Gingrich. I’m also certain you’d never find tape of Rick Perry proclaiming he is “very proud of his earmarks” and endorsing moderates and Washington elites over purebred conservatives, like Rick Santorum.
Rick Perry has led the charge in Texas to maintain limited, relatively small government. The people of Texas and its business climate have flourished as a result.
Rick Perry has also been a staunch advocate of pro-life ideals. One accomplishment along those lines is to cut state funding in Texas for Planned Parenthood. No person in this race is more pro-life than Rick Perry.
Rick Perry is the only Texas governor to cut state spending since World War II. Today, the citizens of his state enjoy the second lowest government debt burden per capita in America.
Rick Perry’s plan to push for an amendment to the Constitution to limit federal spending to 18% of GDP (which correlates to a decades-long average of government revenue) along with several proposals to simplify the tax codes is dramatically pro-business, pro-growth, and conservative to the core.
A clear ability to get elected
To be frank, none of the above positions matter if the candidate ultimately cannot win the nomination, or even the election. This can be one of the most contentious qualifications for supporting a candidate. For some it might seem as reasonable pragmatism, yet for others it might seem like settling for less than your ideal candidate because of ‘what other people think’.
As a result each person applies this rule differently in their level of pragmatism. I have a friend who I believe is a supporter of Mitt Romney primarily due to this principle. I suspect a healthy portion of “Romney supporters” are in that camp primarily because they believe he is ‘most electable’ out of the bunch, for various reasons.
However I apply this reasoning to give the final award to Rick Perry, because unlike ALL the other candidates Rick Perry has a stellar record of winning elections and governing as a conservative.
Going back to Mitt Romney for comparison, it’s funny that he bears the brand of “most electable” when his record running for public office is FIVE wins in twenty-two tries. Conversely, Rick Perry has not lost any of the races he’s entered for public office. He has served Texas in the state legislature, Agricultural commissioner, Lieutenant Governor (separately elected from Governor in Texas), and finally winning the race for Governor three times. While some might discount Perry’s record in “Republican-friendly Texas”, you must also take note that even the primary races for Governor were hotly contested. In the most recent primary, Governor Perry defeated longtime Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (who had the clear backing of Washington-connected Republicans) to reclaim the Republican nomination. Over and over through the public service career of Rick Perry, political pundits have discounted his electoral chances – but Rick Perry keeps winning elections.
Some might discount Rick Perry on the point of electability because he’s had his share of gaffes during the early debates. Some even fear that he would lose the general election because they fear Perry’s ability to handle Barack Obama in a debate. First – what could Barack Obama say in comparison to Rick Perry’s record of governing Texas to creating ONE MILLION net jobs? If it were not for Rick Perry’s Texas, Barack Obama’s record on jobs would be even worse than it is today! Since Barack Obama has become President, the total size of the American workforce has declined by millions of people as they have given up looking for work in Barack Obama’s economy. The people and businesses who are willing to move – they move to Texas to find prosperity. Economic freedom and liberty breed prosperity – and no candidate can sell that message better than Rick Perry, especially when he is on a stage with Barack Obama. Finally, Rick Perry has shown terrific wherewithal in the the last several GOP debates – and I think “America’s jobs governor” standing on the stage alone with Barack Obama will make the choice clear and obvious. This is a record that will sell itself, and Rick Perry has shown on the campaign trail and in office that he is absolutely qualified to sell this record convincingly to the American people.
Finally, as a longtime governor, Rick Perry has access to campaign resources and a healthy campaign structure that demonstrates he has a serious ability to mount a national campaign for President. Rick Perry can win this thing and he already has the tools that it takes to get there.
RICK PERRY MEANS CONSERVATIVE RESULTS
Governing a country is not about being slick in a debate. This is not American Idol – Presidential edition. I want a candidate who will govern as a conservative, and not merely be the “chief negotiator” with the statists (Republican and Democrat) in Washington, D.C. Many candidates claiming the conservative mantle, including Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, have their political knees buckle when the time comes to stick to conservative principles in tough situations. I don’t want the next president to have a record of leaving conservatives at the altar to “get the sure deal” like Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum have done. We need someone who will sell conservative principles and attract them to that position, as Ronald Reagan once did.
Rick Perry has a clear record of electoral and political achievement unlike any other candidate. As a result, his political record is one of achieving conservative results. While all the candidates in this race talk glowingly of their ideas to reshape Washington with their supposed conservative ideals, Rick Perry has been doing this very thing as Governor for the last 11 years in Texas. While other candidates like to talk the conservative talk, Governor Rick Perry has walked the conservative walk in Texas. Rick Perry knows what conservative government looks like, because he has been governing as a conservative. No other candidate can claim this record like Rick Perry can.
For these reasons, I will caucus for Rick Perry on January 3rd. Please join me!
On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Francis Cianfrocca to discuss the the top stories in politics, the marketplace and sports for 2011.
We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.
On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Francis Cianfrocca to discuss the the top stories in politics, the marketplace and sports for 2011.
We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.
The video barely ends when Def Leppard‘s “Tear It Down” plays over the loudspeaker, heralding the appearance of PCW Extreme Equalizer Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Suave: “Maybe the video is a little- too ‘strong.’”
WTF grabs Perry by the throat, lifts, and choke slams him to the mat.
Suave: “You know, Perry could have made his point about the ‘war on religion’ without specifically naming gays.”
BACKSTAGE
PCW Investigative Reporter Woodward Bernstein interviews ‘American Girl’ Sarah Mae Smith (R). Smith is upset over what went down last week during her women’s #1 contender’s match against Kathryn Randall Collins (D).
REPLAY: PCW Politics is War last Thursday night …Smith locks Collins up in the cobra clutch. Then Union Maid, Soccer Mom, and Code Pink (D) hit the ring. Soccer Mom yells “It’s For the Children!” and belts Smith in the mouth with a right hand. Code Pink fires off a Glitter Bomb and blinds Smith.
Code Pink (D) walks out and mocks Smith. Smith challenges her to come into the ring. Code Pink feigns going in but then KRC attacks Smith from behind. Collins seems to have the upper hand but Smith slips behind her and slapped on an Elevated Double Chickenwing. Pink tried to get into the ring but the ‘Trailer Park Queen’ Lani Harlot runs up and pulls her back down. Harlot slams Pink to the floor and puts her in the White Trash Compactor.
…Big Oil into the ropes. Blackwell drops down to the mat. When Big Oil rebounds back, Blackwell tries to kip up but Walstreit blocks him. Walstreit then boots Blackwell in the head.
The crowd stands when PCW Tag Team Champions Big Union: ‘The Self Proclaimed Savior of the Middle Class’ Big Labor and James the Jeep Worker (D), run in and attack Big Oil. ‘The King of Big Labor,’ the AFL-CIO‘s Richard Trumka, goes over to the broadcast table and tells Suave that even though Blackwell has said critical things about big unions, here they are coming to his rescue- proof positive that labors are the saviors of the middle class.
Blackwell skips out of the ring and grabs a chair. He pops back in and brains Big Labor over the noggin with the chair. Trumka is incensed and starts yelling at Blackwell. James the Jeep Worker runs at him and gets clobbered by a chairshot, too. Blackwell turns to Walstreit- chairshot. Big Oil- chairshot.
BACKSTAGE ‘The Alaskan Pitbull’ Sarah Palin (R) walks into the arena. Suave reminds us what happened to her last week.
REPLAY: PCW Politics is War last Thursday night ‘The Alaskan Pitbull’ Sarah Palin, one half of the cover for the novel Jesusland vs. Progressiveville, is laid out on the floor unconscious.
Suave: “HOLY CRAP! SOMEONE TOOK OUT THE ALASKAN PITBULL! WHO DID IT? WE’LL FIND OUT NEXT WEEK.
Suave says we’ll find out tonight who attacked Palin.
Suave: “Oh, that wasn’t a wrestling match. My bad.
Kathryn Randall Collins in in the ring with the leader of the PCW Executive Committee Harry Reid (D-NV) and former leader of the PCW Competition Committee Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and she’s pissed. KRC tells the crowd if Sarah Mae Smith wants a fight, she’s got one. With Pelosi and Reid nodding, KRC challenges Smith to an old fashioned street fight next Sunday night at Jesusland vs. Progressiveville PPV.
Suave then reviews the ongoing feud between PCW Men’s Champion ‘The One Man Hollywood A-List’ Stone Chism (D) and PCW Women’s Champion Valora Salinas (I).
REPLAY: PCW Politics is War on P-SPAN- December 1st
…Chism pulls out an apron next. He rolls Valora over and puts the apron on her. Kim and Kourtney laugh at the PCW Women’s Champion. Chism says Valora will never, ever be good enough to be in the same ring with him. He adds that Valora should go back home, have babies, and leave pro wrestling to the big boys.
REPLAY: PCW Extreme Political TV- December 5th PCW Men’s Champion ‘The One Man Hollywood A-List’ Stone Chism (D) and Skanky Rich Bimbo Kim Kardashian come out to confront Valora. From behind, six foot two, two hundred pound Cassidy McConnell (D) jumps Valora and choke slams her.
REPLAY: PCW Politics is War on P-SPAN- December 8th …Valora opens up the briefcase she’s had with her all night long- inside is a French Maid’s uniform. She then dresses Chism up in the outfit and flips him off as she leaves.
Suave: “Next. Valora Salinas in action against Cassidy McConnell (D). If Valora can defeat the six foot four giant, she will get Stone Chism one on one next week at J vs. P.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Suave: “So, who attacked Palin last week?”
Except from the upcoming book: Jesusland vs. Progressiveville by Mr. A. Nominous
…Solo, fighting back tears, grabbed a crowbar from a rack of tools at the front of the trailer and walked back to the box. He jammed the crowbar hard into the area where the top of the box was nailed down and forced it open.
“Holy crap!” said Lingerie Girl.
It wasAlaskan President Sarah Palin- tied up and gagged inside the box.
CHAPTER SIX
Standing off to the side of I-95 behind Ron Solo’s truck, Lingerie Girl and Ninja Kitty untied President Palin and threw the ropes into the ditch below.
“Are you okay?” asked Lingerie Girl.
“You betcha I am,” Palin responded. “Oh, boy. I can’t believe this happened to me.”
“What exactly happened?”
“My staff had to take the carcass of the oversized duck I shot to a local meat packer to store until we were ready to return to Alaska.”
“Oversized duck?” said Lingerie Girl.
“Long story,” Rebecca bellowed from inside the trailer.
“Oh.”
Palin continued: “I was walking back to the hotel and someone snuck up behind me and knocked me out. The next thing I knew, I was inside this dark box and couldn’t move my arms or legs.”
“Do you know where they were taking you?” Ninja Kitty asked.
“No clue.”
“It was Markos, Arianna Huffington, and Chris Matthews who put Solo up to this. They wanted to deliver you to the Olbermann Empire at 30 Rock.”
—————
Markos Moutilsas, Arianna Huffington, and Chris Matthews (D) walk out.
Suave: “I knew it! It was you!”
Markos: “We would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids.”
MATCH #3- PCW Women’s Title Match
(c) Valora Salinas (I) vs. Cassidy McConnell (D) w/’The One Man Hollywood A-List’ Stone Chism (D) and Skanky Rich Bimbo Kim Kardashian
McConnell comes out first with Chism and Kim and wonders where Valora is. Then the champion slides out from under the ring. She pushes McConnell’s legs off the ring apron and the 6-4 giant falls, hitting her thigh hard on the corner of the ring. Chism and Kim try to help McConnell up. Valora goes top rope…AZTEC MOONSAULT! Chism and Kim are wiped out.
Valora drags McConnell back to the ring and cinches in the figure four leg lock. McConnell taps out frantically and Valora wins her match this Sunday against Chism.
WINNER AND STILL PCW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Valora Salinas @ 1:10
The final card for PCW Jesusland vs. Progressiveville:
Rematch- Women’s Division #1 Contender Match
‘American Girl’ Sarah Mae Smith (R) vs. Kathryn Randall Collins (D)
Smith and Collins had an epic battle Thursday night on PCW Politics is War on P-SPAN and KRC picked up the win with a little tug on Smith’s tights. Smith vows to even the score next Sunday night in a match that current PCW Women’s Champion Valora Salinas (I) will be keeping close tabs on.
Grudge Match #1
Charlie Blackwell (American Heartland Coalition) and Average Joe (Tea Party) vs. The California Teacher’s Union: ‘Foul Pole’ Andy Golatta and Malibu Dusty (D) vs. Corporate Might: Big Oil and Kirk Walstreit- the Wall Street Market Analyst with the man crush on ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit (R) w/Texas Tex and CEO Gordon Guyko
Blackwell and Big Union have fought for several months over just who is the crusader for the middle class. Big Union has been fighting with Corporate Might over just about everything. The feuds converge into this three way tag team dance. Who will come out ahead- Big Union backed by the Democrats? Corporate Might backed by the Republicans? Or Charlie Blackwell and Average Joe?
PCW Women’s Tag Team Title Match-Three Way Dance:
(c) The Korver Sisters: Kelly and Korey (D) vs. The Mercenaries: Dawn McGill and Svetlana Kovelevski (I) vs. Merchants of Death: Angel Scott and Angel Casey (R)
Well, at Jesusland vs. Progressiveville the feud between the Korver Sisters and Merchants of Death was already going to explode. Adding the always dangerous Mercenaries to the mix?
Grudge Match #2
‘The Alaskan Pitbull’ Sarah Palin (R) vs. Current TV’s Keith Olbermann (D)
They’re on the cover of the upcoming book Jesusland vs. Progressiveville. It’s fitting that Palin and Olbermann have another epic match at the J vs. P PPV.
PCW Men’s Tag Team Title Match:
(c) Big Union: ‘The Self Proclaimed Savior of the Middle Class’ Big Labor and James the Jeep Worker (D) vs. The Schmidt Brothers: Jack and Joe w/Ron Paul (R-TX) and Jim Schmidt
Big Union won the title from Ron Paul’s protegees on November 21nd. The Schmidt Brothers, three time holders of the PCW Tag Team Titles, shoot for a fourth title reign at J vs. P.
Grudge Match #3
PCW Men’s Champion ‘The One Man Hollywood A-List’ Stone Chism (D) vs. PCW Women’s Champion Valora Salinas (I)
Chism has held multiple titles in PCW. Valora has held multiple titles in various promotions. Does Chism truly know what he’s getting himself into? Or will Valora be overmatched by Chism and his political friends.
PCW Title Match:
(c) Daniel-San (I) vs. Magnum P.O.’d (R) w/Robyn Masters and Newt Gingrich (R-GA) vs. O’Beck Bahama (D)
The bellwether match headed into 2012. Nuff said.
When Herman Cain proposed his 9-9-9 plan, many conservatives became energized, despite their misgivings with the fine print of the plan. It wasn’t so much the details of the proposal that excited the base, as most conservatives intuitively recoiled from a consumption tax; it was the boldness of the plan that resonated with them. Cain’s 9-9-9 brought some excitement to a race that was defined by a frontrunner who offered 160 pages of banal fluff. Nevertheless, his plan was too flawed to be utilized as a viable rallying cry in the general election. Perry appears to have proposed both a viable and bold economic plan, albeit with some inevitable flaws.
Here is a synopsis of all of the major components.
Tax Plan
The centerpiece of the plan is a flat individual income tax of 20%. This would serve as a vehicle for massive economic growth, as it offers a huge tax cut for job-creators who currently pay as much as 35%. However, unlike the traditional Steve Forbes flat tax, this proposal would keep the deductions for mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and state and local taxes for those earning less than $500,000 (over 99% of taxpayers). It would also offer a standard deduction of $12,500 per household members. Consequently, a family of four earning $50,000 would have a zero tax liability. Update: Phillip Klein reports that the employer tax exclusion for healthcare would remain until Obamacare is repealed.
Moreover, the entire system would preserve the option to remain under the current tax code. As such, the 47% who have zero tax liability and the 29% who have a positive tax liability (as a result of the EITC and Additional Child Tax Credit), would have no incentive to move to the flat tax. Accordingly, there would be two shortcomings to this plan:
On this Monday’s PCW Extreme Political TV in Manchester, New Hampshire, prospective Republican candidates for PCW CEO: Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, and Tim Pawlenty will appear and their wrestlers will face off in the first big rumble of the upcoming 2012 selection season.
Participants to date:
-’Pizza Delivery Guy’ Josh Jackson- representing Herman Cain
-’American Citizen’ Kevin Scott- representing Mitt Romney
-Jack Schmidt- representing Ron Paul
-Farmer John- representing Tim Pawlenty
The rest will be revealed tomorrow night.
——————–
More bad news for Anthony Weiner (D-NY).
Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
At a PCW house show last night in Laconia, New Hampshire, several Democratic leaders were seen being hosed down and de-slimed after another meeting about Weiner’s future coming on the heels of relevations that Weiner had online exchanges with a 17 year old.
Democrats Nancy Pelosi, the PCW Competition Committee minority leader, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the chair of the Democrats, as well as Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), virtually simultaneously said at a press conference afterwards, that the time had come for Weiner to step aside.
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The main event tomorrow night will be a six man tag team match:
PCW Champion Yamamoto Tanaka (D), Big Labor (D), and Triple R (D) versus
Charlie Blackwell (AmHeart), Ken Worth- The American Trucker (AmHeart), and Daniel-San (I)
Dan Spencer: Scorned by GOP electorate Roemer to go all Nader and continue his Quixotic presidential quest as an Independent. http://t.co/ePvruHMB#RSRH
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Moe Lane
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
