The GOP Field

Posted 30 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: 2008, GOP, Michael Medved, Politics, Republican Party

Michael Medved had a column in Town Hall today that says what I think…nay…know needs to be said about the current field of GOP Presidential contenders and party-goers “discontent” with our candidates. I highly suggest that everyone go read it.

Maybe to entice you a little bit to actually click that highlighted link, I’ll give you a snippet from the article that speaks volumes:

Recently, I hosted a Reagan Ranch Center commemoration of President Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” address with former White House speechwriter Peter Robinson, who helped the President prepare that speech. A member of the audience asked Robinson who he believed would be “the next Ronald Reagan” and the one-time White House aide very wisely commented: “There won’t be another Ronald Reagan. He was singular, one of a kind, like Lincoln and Churchill. We get that kind of leader only once a generation, maybe once a century. We shouldn’t expect or demand another one. We were lucky to get one, and we should feel thankful for it.”

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower

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Left Coast Waltz

Posted 29 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: 2008, California, Democrats, Electoral College, Politics, Republicans

Last month, The Watchtower made a post about the possibility of a change in how California awards its electoral votes [West Coast Swing]. This is because of a new measure likely to end up on the California ballot this year.

This proposition on the ballot would lose Democrats their likely sweep of California in 2008 and turn it into a swing state. What the initiative would do, if passed, would award Presidential nominees electoral votes based on which Congressional Districts they won, plus give the 2 votes for the Senatorial seats to whomever won the majority. The Democrats would still win most of the votes, however, the GOP would have the chance to take at least 19 (the number of seats held by Republicans).

Rasmussen Reports, however, has recently released polling data showing a mostly negative view of this proposition. In general, 45% of voters think that the ballot measure is a good idea, while 30% oppose it. However, once the information about the help that would provide to the GOP, opposition increases to 43% and support drops to 31%.

Among Republicans, 45% approve it initially, and after hearing about the support it would give their party, that number barely increases to 48%. Not an entirely strong showing.

With these numbers being shown thus far, it is very unlikely that the proposition would actually pass. I have to say that it is probably all for the better. While it sounds nice to gain another 19 electoral votes, I have to ask, “at what cost?” If other states passed the same initiative, that means the D’s would be able to siphon off votes from traditionally GOP strong holds such as Texas or Indiana. It is better to stay with the system that has worked for so many years.

But I still stand by what I said in the previous post about this issue. This measure on the ballot means that the Dems are going to be spending a lot of money to defeat it, taking away funds from other uphills battles they’ll have to face. If we send up a good nominee for the GOP, and the D’s make the mistake of picking Hillary, then the DNC has even more problems to worry about when the Republican turnout is higher than they can work with.

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower

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Check out Gabby Watch

Posted 29 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: Gabby Giffords

Gabby Watch has the latest on Gabby Giffords failure to end the pork barreling spending in Washington…

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Dems starting to sweat over Bee

Posted 28 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: 2008, Arizona Democratic Party, Congress, Democrats, Gabby Giffords, Politics, Tim Bee

You know that someone over at the Arizona Democratic Party is either scared, ticked off, or both when they send out a press release, attacking someone who isn’t even a declared candidate yet.

Today the AZ-D’s attacked Senate President Tim Bee for not declaring an official candidacy yet in the 2008 race against Gabby Giffords. The Dems accuse Bee of violating Arizona’s Resign-to-run Law by fundraising for his run and not resigning his position as the State Senate. However, the fact that he is about to form an exploratory committee is perfectly legal under Arizona law, thus making the basis of the attack completely unfounded.

In fact, half of the press release is dedicated to Arizona election law, while the other half is AZ Dem Chairman Don Bivens directly attacking Bee as a person. He praises Giffords for resigning from the legislature to make her run in 2006, as if the fact that Bee is still the Senate President is some sort of ethical violation. He attacks Bee for not having “substantive opinions” about the issues and for trying to “skirt the law”. So Bivens wants Bee to follow the law, yet he attacks him for not breaking it by not attacking Gabby’s position yet (thus following the law?) Seems to be that Don Bivens wants to force Senate President Bee into breaking the law so that the AZ-D’s, not to mention Gabby herself, can have something to attack him on.

But what this all actually reveals is what is going on inside the Democratic circle. They are afraid of Tim Bee’s candidacy against Gabby. Gabby campaigned on ethics reform, reducing federal spending, immigration reform, and a promise to be independent of the party-line, yet has done none-of-the-above. With that, it is going to be hard for the Democrats in Arizona, the DNC, or the DCCC to defend her in a right-leaning district. Especially when the Democrat-controlled Congress that Miss Giffords is a proud part of has the lowest approval ratings of any Congress in recent history.

Compare that with Senator Bee, a person who has high favorability ratings among Republicans, Independents, and even some Democrats. A man who was re-elected in District 30 with more than 61% of the vote, winning all 3 counties by comfortable margins. Someone who has worked in a bi-partisan fashion his whole career in politics.

I can see why they are attacking Tim Bee’s character, it’s all they can do in a vain attempt to keep Giffords in Congress. Especially when many people such as Gabby Watch and Think Right AZ are keeping a close watch on Giffords, and have constantly revealed her broken promises and toe-to-toe voting with the most liberal members of the House of Representatives. The lashing out that occurs by liberal bloggers and the Democratic Party machine are angered responses to the truth being revealed about Gabby’s stance on the issues and place in the inner circle of the liberally left wing of the House Democrats.

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower

Comments: 1 Comment

Media coverage of the war

Posted 27 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: Iraq, Media, Politics

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Gene Chewning to run in CD7

Posted 27 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: 2008, Gene CHewning, Raul Grijalva, Ron Drake

Arizona is going to have another good person come 2008 to take a shot at Raul “Ralph” Grijalva. Last time we had Ron “The Drake” who ran a phenomenal campaign and stood hard against tough odds. Though Ron has decided not to run again next fall, he is giving his full support to Gene Chewning, a native of Tucson.

Chewning has led an amazing life in the United States Navy during Vietnam, as a missionary serving in Israel, Thailand, and Latin America; as well as a pastor, a teacher, a father, husband, veteran, and moral leader.

Gene will be running TV ads on CNN and FOX during primetime, calling into question the ethics of Grijalva and votes he has made in the US House this year.

Gene deserves our support and will make a great candidate.

See his full bio HERE.

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower

Comments: 1 Comment

Breaking: Renzi to retire!

Posted 24 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: 2008, Arizona, GOP, Politics, Rick Renzi

In a statement released to Roll Call today, Rick Renzi of the 1st District is announcing his retirement…

Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) said Thursday in a statement obtained by Roll Call that he will not seek re-election in 2008, ending months of speculation regarding the ethically clouded Congressman’s political future.

“I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008. I am honored and thankful to serve Arizona’s first district and appreciate all that we have accomplished together over the past 6 years.”

Renzi’s retirement announcement adds to a list of GOP Members planning to depart upon the conclusion of the 110th Congress, including Reps. Ray LaHood (Ill.), Deborah Pryce (Ohio) and Chip Pickering (Miss.), as well as former Speaker and Rep. Dennis Hastert (Ill.).

But while some of those retirements and the open seats they are creating could cause problems for the Republicans’ hopes of recapturing the majority, Renzi’s departure could help the GOP by allowing them to nominate a replacement that is free of the ethical baggage that appears to have ultimately undone the Congressman’s future.

Renzi staved off a spirited challenge from his Democratic challenger last cycle, but saw his political fortunes plummet following an FBI raid of a business connected to his family as part of a federal probe into his dealings as a Congressman.

Renzi has not admitted to any wrongdoing, but it has become increasingly clear that the investigation would imperil any 2008 re-election bid, and possibly result in him facing multiple GOP primary challengers.

Now the question is, who can step up to keep the seat for the GOP come 2008.

More to come…

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower

Comments: 3 Comments

Breaking news on Tim Bee

Posted 23 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: Tim Bee

Think Right AZ has the latest scoop on what is happening in Bee’s camp.

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Arizona marking its territory

Posted 21 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: 2008, Arizona, Fred Thompson, GOP, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Politics, Presidential Primary, Rudy Giuliani

Arizona’s importance in the Presidential process has just grown significantly. The Veto signed a proclamation today setting the new primary date for February 5th. This puts Arizona now in place as an early primary state, leaving us party voters a few more choices instead of the usual voting that takes place simply because it has too.

But the real question is, for whose candidacy does an early Arizona primary put into play? Of course I’m talking about the GOP. Who cares about the D’s? Besides, if all goes well, Arizona as well as the rest of liberal America will nominate Hillary, giving the Republicans a good chance to keep the White House, so long as we send up a credible candidate with party and independent appeal.

But again, who could that candidate be for Arizona? First off, we have to address the question our of own Senior Senator in the race. He may be flying low right now, but some have speculated the major shakeups in his campaign are exactly what he needs, and the slashing in staff will allow him to run a successful primary campaign. Some have said that he spent resources better suited for a general election, and not his own party’s nomination. Fair enough. If his campaign rebounds, then in all honesty, an early primary isn’t going to make a difference for the GOP. Arizona will be solidly McCain.

But if McCain doesn’t swing back into the top of the polls? Then Arizona’s seal-of-approval is in major play. The two candidates that would be fighting for the votes would be Romney and Giuliani, granted that they are still leading the pack come February and that Fred Thompson isn’t running (because who the hell knows what he is up too right now?). Both the Governor and the Mayor have a decent base of support in Arizona, although a quiet base as the state is currently McCain territory. But if McCain was out, there would be an explosion of support, rallying around the two.

Hard to tell from here.

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower

Comments: 1 Comment

Supporting a Presidential candidate

Posted 16 August, 2007 by The Guard
Categories: 2008, Barry Goldwater, Fred Thompson, GOP, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Politics, Rudy Giuliani, Sam Brownback

I’ve said before that I believe the whole Presidential process is happening way too early. I still stand by that. I’ve gotten some e-mails recently asking who it is that I support for President, and I’m not going to tell you. Right now everything is so up in the air with the GOP nomination that the direction it all is going today could be a completely different direction tomorrow.

But to be perfectly honest, I’m not 100% on any candidate right now. Oh there is a person or two that I am leaning towards, I can’t deny that. But I’m still not 100%. Right now I’m taking my time reading about each candidate in the news, watching their campaign videos online, and seeing what other blogs are saying about them. I’m particularly interested in what makes them an appealing candidate for the general election.

But there is something I like in every candidate. For example, I like the fact that Mitt Romney has strong business credentials. I like Rudy Giualiani’s triumphs in reversing crime and poverty in New York through conservative means . I believe that John McCain is the most knowledgeable on military and foreign policy matters. I appreciate Sam Brownbacks pro-life voting record. I like how Mike Huckabee can personally connect with voters as being a real common-man politician.

But who knows where all this is going. Fred Thompson or Newt Gingrich could jump in the race next week and really shake things up. So I’m going to continue reading about all of them. Checking their credentials. Seeing what they are all about.

Remember too what it is the The Arizona Watchtower supports. Big Tent, No Bull, Plain Talk, Barry Goldwater Conservatism. I want to see a candidate would embodies those ideas. Someone who can unite the GOP and rally the country around them. Someone who isn’t going to blow smoke, and give it to you straight. Someone who truly embodies the small government principles that Barry Goldwater fought so hard for all his political career.

When the time is right, you’ll know who The Arizona Watchtower supports.

Ever watchful, ever mindful.

The Guard
Arizona Watchtower

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