Story

An 11-year-old boy from Britain, who was partially deaf for nearly 10 years, was suddenly cured when a thick piece of cotton popped out of his ear, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

Jerome Bartens was diagnosed as deaf in his right ear when he was just two-years-old.

Over the next nine years, he struggled to live a normal life as a young boy — but everything changed when he felt a sudden pop in his right ear while playing a game of pool with friends.

He put his finger in his ear and pulled out a tip of a cotton wool bud that had been wedged in his ear since he was a toddler.

"It was just incredible — his hearing returned to normal in an instant," Barten's dad said.

"I had always suspected Jerome had stuck something in his ear when he was little and that was causing the problem. But the doctors and hearing specialists said it was wax and he would probably grow out of it."

"I am amazed they didn't spot something as obvious as a cotton wool bud."

Jerome is due to be examined by hearing experts later this week — and his dad is taking along the cotton wool bud as proof of his "miracle cure".

"It was very strange at first to be able to hear everything," said Barten.

"But now I'm getting used to it — it's great that people don't have to shout to me or that I don't have to turn my head all the time."


Sign Me Up!!!

Story

A reporter asked Mike Huckabee, who famously lost 110 pounds after being diagnosed with diabetes, how he he takes his fried chicken as both a Southerner and health junkie. The question had been inspired by reports that Mitt Romney, in front of his amused media entourage, pulled the skin off his Kentucky Fried Chicken before eating yesterday.

"Going through the weight loss program I try to eat it more broiled and baked," Huckabee said. "But I can tell you this: any Southerner knows that if you're not gonna eat the skin, don't bother with calling it fried chicken."

In jest, Huckabee said, "I'm glad to hear that [Romney] did that because that means I'm going to win Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma -- all these great Southern states that understand that the best part of fried chicken is the skin."

Huckabee compared Romney's skinless fried chicken eating to Gerald Ford eating a tamale with a shuck on it. Recalling hearing about it as a grad school student in 1976, Huckabee said, "That weekend every newscast in Texas led with 'President Ford doesn't know how to eat a tamale."

"He lost Texas," Huckabee continued. "And many believe he lost the presidency, and there are a lot of people who will believe forever that it was the shuck on the tamale -- not Jimmy Carter -- that beat Gerald Ford in 1976. So who knows?"


I found this story interesting for two reasons.

1. It exemplifies the vacuosness of teh Huckabee campaign.  Huckabee isn't about genuine conservative idea's he is about image and style. Huckabee has always been selling his personality more than record (mainly because his record is pathetic). So that he would decide that mocking someones eating habits is more important that talking abotu issues really isnt surprising.

2. Despite how ludicrous and pathetic such an attack is Romney should take note. Looking stupid is the WORST thing any presidential candidate can do. I know alot of people credit the Willie Horton add for sinking Dukakis back in 88. I personally think the picture of Dukakis in the tank with the helment on did more to damage him. How many people remember Johnm Kerry's picture in that stupid silver suit climbing out of the space capsul?  Being open for mockery can be a big problem for a candidate. People don't like to identify with peopel who look goofy or wierd and for Romney refusing to eat the skin on Fried Chicken just advertises that you are different than the rest of us. So as a bit of advice..next time leave the skin on.

Story

Senator John McCain of Arizona is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe. With a record of working across the aisle to develop sound bipartisan legislation, he would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field.

We have shuddered at Mr. McCain’s occasional, tactical pander to the right because he has demonstrated that he has the character to stand on principle. He was an early advocate for battling global warming and risked his presidential bid to uphold fundamental American values in the immigration debate. A genuine war hero among Republicans who proclaim their zeal to be commander in chief, Mr. McCain argues passionately that a country’s treatment of prisoners in the worst of times says a great deal about its character

WOW...just wow.

I mean I don't know if I could think of a worse endorsement.

All you McCain heads take a good long look. They are basically saying McCain should be the GOP nominee because he is the least republican of the pack. Well. they certainly have him pegged to a tee.

Sad to see an icon fall.

All through this primary season I was of the opinion that Duncan Hunter was the most conservative candidate and the closets to my own political opinions.

He never got off the ground thoguh with his campaign and I thought that was too bad...

Now Duncan Hunter has endorsed Mike Huckabee and completely undermined and notion that he was principled in his poltical ideology. Mike Huckabee is the antithesis of everything Duncan Hunter claimed he stood for...now he is out there trying to sell a snow job that Huckabee this lightweight lying huckster from Arkansas is the conservatives choice.

I tell you with a tin ear like that no wonder Hunter's campaign never took off.

Newflash for you Duncan...Huckabee is toast. His campaign is broke and he is on his way out.

Even worse however is the pathetic assault  on Mit Romney over his old company Bane Captial's dealings with China.

Mit hasnt been connected to this company in a decade and has no say in what they do now as a business so to bring this up is frankly low, cheap and rotten. I would have expected better of Duncan but it seems I held him in too high of an esteem.

How about this for an argument...

That John McCain...you know I undertsand that Arizona has people in prison..actual criminals in Arizona...How can we elect someone from a state that has CRIMINALS...

The argument is about as rational and has about as much merit as Duncans sleazy attack.

How about this Mr Hunter. Go sit in the Huckabee corner and when Huckabee goes the way of the dodo bird in this race hopefully that will be the last of you as well.

This story was interesting.

Not to put words into Rush's mouth..but as someone who listens to him about 3 times a week it sounds to me like Rush is basically saying he won't support Mike Huckabee or John MCCain because they ARE NOT CONSERVATIVE.  Actually it sounds like he hasnt ben very enthusiastic about the "movement conservative" credentials of any of the nominees but I think in particular his complaint is against primarily McCain and Huckabee. 

I have to say thats where I am at.  If HUckabee were to be the nominee (no danger of that I don't think) then I would not have voted. I used to say I would vote for McCain but frankly the more I think about it the more inclined I am to say that I probably would stay home with him too.

To recap my argument with McCain

1. 1. He would almost certainly reverse the Bush tax cuts…certainly things like the death tax would come back...so count on your taxes going up.
2. 2.  His claim that he will reduce spending is irrelevant...presidents don’t spend money congress does and no matter what he says he wont veto spending bills forever and a democrats congress is GOING TO SPEND MONEY.
3. 3. In spite of a looming energy crisis he is a global warming true believer and he WILL imposes carbon caps on energy (which amounts to energy taxes and higher energy costs with less energy available).
4. 4. Despite his claims to the contrary one of the first things he is going to do is cram the McCain Kennedy Immigration bill down our throats.
5. 5 "He is good on the life issue" Horse crap and a pile of it. The ONLY place where a president is going to influence this is on the courts and if you think you can rely on John McCain to put strict constructionists on the supreme court you are crazy. This is the guy who through good conservative judges under the bus for the sake of political amity. Remember that when you think he is going to fight for conservative judges.
6. 6. Despite his support for the war in Iraq he is apposed to water boarding and wants to close Guantanimo.

Ya know I just don't think I can be persuaded to vote for someone who is so antithetical to everything I think need to happen in Washington. Folks like Hugh Hewitt say well at least he gets the war right.  But frankly he destroys so much else that I don't think that is enough.

His campaign was a joke from the get go. Had Fred Thompson gotten into the race two months earlier and gone full bore after Iowa instead of waiting for South Carolina then he never would have gotten a foot hold. No this lying liberal will finally exit the stage he never should have been allowed on in the first place.

This story is a huge indicator.

Key statement

The former Arkansas governor promised to remain in the race through next Tuesday's Florida primary,

Bottom line is Huckabee has no money which means he really doesn't have any support..oh sure some folks will go and vote for him out of identity politics but noone will give him money. Mike Medved once predicted after Huckabee's Iowa win that he was gonna get this surge of money now which would propel him onward possibly to victory.

This never happened. Now Huckabee's campaign is broke he has no momentum having spent it all losing  and then losing and then losing. His cmapaign has been exposed as the narrow support built on lies about his liberal record and he never did and never will translate his position outside his narrow support base.

My guess is a disappointing fourth place finish in Florida will finally put a close to this fellow.

Such an exit will help Romney and hurt McCain.

It wouldn’t take much reading here to discover that I am a Giuliani supporter. I would very much like to see him be president. Having said that I would like to state that I am officially changing my support to Mit Romney.

 

It’s been a long while coming to this conclusion. I have been skeptical about his too contrived political positioning as a “social conservative” I have been put off by his too too pretty appearance...it smacked of the same sort of controlled superficiality I found distasteful about Edwards. His permanently affixed smile made me wonder what he was hiding. Finally some of his positions just frankly smacked of a process guy which just trumpets business as usual.  Talking about consulting with lawyers in the event of a nuclear crisis with Iran coupled with his stated intention of using special forces to build schools in Islamic countries as a means of combating terrorists still make me nervous.

 

 

So why am I going to vote for him?

 

Well, despite my reservations his stock has been rising for me. His speech at the George Bush Presidential Library on religion and politics was a truly great speech and started the process. His campaigning in Michigan was earnest and solid, he spoke about his leadership on economics and touted his credentials in that arena which as a successful business man are not insignificant. He doesn’t talk enough about reducing spending in my view but he does inspire confidence that he understands the economy and can get this ship righted and more than any other candidate he displays a comprehension of how to promote energy independence has a legitimate plan for doing so and seems to pander less than anyone on the environment...and for me that’s huge. I am utterly convinced we are facing a energy crises due to our stupid politics on this issue and Romney might be best positioned to steer us clear of it.

 

Also, Romney had done well recently to expose a more human side that has been easier to connect to. His message of being an agent of change has been resonating better than his trying to position himself as a social conservative. But also frankly he is clearly more comfortable in those shoes and being comfortable with your message is important. I believe the man more now because I feel less like I am getting swindled by his handlers. The guy I have seen recently is a guy I trust and that’s important to me too. The guy I have seen recently has been strong with a good sense of where he wants to lead and silly as it may seem..he strikes me as a genuinely good and decent man.  All of that matters.

 

Still all of that only got him to an enthusiastic second place.  But South Carolina has changed all that. As I blogged prior I think that South Carolina sinks two ships. Huckabee is done (though not out as a VP candidate (shudder with revulsion) and so he will plug on to raise his stock in that regard) and so too is Fred. McCain however is well poised to capture the nomination. I still think he will not prevail because there is a lot of animus out there against him… but he is well positioned to win it. A win in Florida would put McCain in the drivers seat and I really don’t want that to happen.

 

In recent days I have come to the conclusion that McCain would be as big of a disaster as Huckabee.

 

Let’s examine this briefly.

 

1. He would almost certainly reverse the Bush tax cuts…certainly things like the death tax would come back...so count on your taxes going up.
2. His claim that he will reduce spending is irrelevant...presidents don’t spend money congress does and no matter what he says he wont veto spending bills forever and a democrats congress is GOING TO SPEND MONEY.
3. In spite of a looming energy crisis he is a global warming true believer and he WILL imposes carbon caps on energy (which amounts to energy taxes and higher energy costs with less energy available).
4. Despite his claims to the contrary one of the first things he is going to do is cram the McCain Kennedy Immigration bill down our throats.
5. “He is good on the life issue” Horse crap and a pile of it. The ONLY place where a president is going to influence this is on the courts and if you think you can rely on John McCain to put strict constructionists on the supreme court you are crazy. This is the guy who through good conservative judges under the bus for the sake of political amity. Remember that when you think he is going to fight for conservative judges.
6. Despite his support for the war in Iraq he is apposed to water boarding and wants to close Guantanimo.

 

In short I think John McCain will lead to yet even more internal revolt (in the form of staying home on election days) for republicans. You can kiss goodbye any chance of recapturing the congress…indeed I predict a John McCain presidency would lead to a economic disaster with an utterly routed republican party. Mind you I would still vote for him…because he would be better than Hillary (only Huckabee would be worse) but I would do so with a heavy heart knowing the republican party is ruined and the country is heading for a train wreck.

 

THAT is why I am now a Romney supporter. I like Rudy…but he should have gotten in the game earlier. He is no longer a part of the story and that’s dangerous. Right now my vote is no longer just for the guy I want...it’s for the guy I want who has the best chance of winning. I’m not about to vote for Rudy if it means handing McCain the nomination. Mit Romney is best poised to win Florida aside from McCain and so I have to give him my support…not that I get to vote in Florida living in Minnesota as I do, but I’m an all in guy and so for me to root for the man I need to be on his side.  

Panic!!!

That was what I watched this morning for the first 20 minutes of the market...my ticker ticking down down down as the amrket opened to plummet almost 500 points.

Of course the old adage about whatever goes up must come down is true in reverse with the markets and it didnt take long for the bargain hunters to come out of the wood works...as I write this that 500 points on the dow is sitting at 125.

So as I hold my positions refusing to give in to this blind panic I am reading an article on the Bush stimulus plan when I come across this tidbit.

Such a measure presumably would involve tax rebates, business tax cuts and funding for a Democratic-led call for additional food stamp and employment aid.

Now I am sure that economists might have some disagreements abotu all the root causes of the current market turmoil..but one thing I doubt many will disagree on is that the Federal Governments Spnding habits are causing problems for the dollar. Personally I think that Federal meddling in lending practices led to the Sub Prime mess and you couple that with a weak dollar due to the Federal Government spending like drunked sailors and high energy costs with a looming energy crisis (once again thanks to crappy federal policy) and walla it leads to a weak economy and a bearish market.

So what in the midst of all of this do the Democrats find as their priority?

Food stamps and unemployemnt aid...more welfare, more spending money we don't have...and I can assure you opposition to cutting taxes "for the rich" even though those are the people whose invested dollars will get the market healthy again.

If you vote for democrats you have noone to blame for your financial woes but yourself...because THAT is the kind of idiotic economics you get from career politicians who couldnt run a hot dog stand but somehow manage to be running our country into the ground.

I think that no matter who wins today two campaings will be effectively over.

There are essentially three races against the ropes.

Mike Huckabee, John McCain, and Fred Thomspon.  All three of these guys need the win badly enough that if they don't get it it will signal the end for them.

I dont think any one of them gets out of the race at this point. There is no real reason to since noone has yet to elevate themselves out of the pack with the exeption of Romney who has perhaps his head sticking above the fray..easily pulled back down but nevertheless with a noticable lead.

Huckabee however has been steadily sinking. Since Iowa he has basically been able to accomplsih nothing outside of his narrow evangelical base...this gets him larger slices of the pie down south but still only slices..and as the race drags on and other candidates get out their voters will gravitate to other people eventually destroying his campaign...if he LOSES in South Carolina even his own slice will stat to leave him behind for more electable candidates. A loss in South Carolina means he pulls 10% or less in Florida..and then he is done.

Fred? Well I like Fred...he is a legitimate conserative though not a movement conservative. STill I like him and I like what he hasto say..but his lack of energy has damaged his run. He has to win or he is finished..period.

McCain, McCain sadly has the best chane of the three to keep going and win...a win in South Carolina coupled with his current position in Florida means he could make a legitimate run at winning Florida and that would make him hard to stop (though I still think in the end he would lose as republican voters begin to merge into a single candidate it WONT be him..republicans generally speaking can't stand McCain.

I think the best of all results for me would be for Fred Thompson to win South Carolina in a shocker.  If that happens both MCCain and Huckbee are finsihed and since I can stand niether of them and would stay home in November if they become the nominee I would love to see them out of the race. Plus Fred I dont think can win and that makes the race between Romney and Giulianni which is where it shoudl have been all along. And I can enthusiasticly cast a vote for either one of them thoguh my preference is for Giulianni.

So who do I think will win?  To be frank I have no idea...my gut says McCain wins SouthCarolina in a squeeker.

Love this little kernal.

Good Old Mike..apparently he really would like a theocracy of some sort..

What a loon.

MIKE HUCKABEE: I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. And that's what we need to do, to amend the Constitution so it's in God standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family.

First off I don't think anyone suggests changing God's standards...The left might argue that Gods standards are irrelevant...but they arent arguing we shoudl change them.

As for changing the constitution to fit more in line with Gods standards...whose interpretation of those standard would that be Mike...I 'm guessing yours..does that mean no smoking no drinking and no dancing?..that gonna be the 28th ammendment?


here is What Geist and Scarborough had to say about it.

JOE SCARBOROUGH [with some trepidation]: I got to stop there. I will say, and I think it is interesting, and I think we should comment on it -- just in passing -- he's our friend, Mike Huckabee is our friend, and I have always been the first guy to say that evangelicals should be able to talk politics just like liberals should be able to go into churches and talk politics. I will say that some might find that statement very troubling: that we are going to change the Constitution to be in line with the Bible, and that's all I'm going to say.

GEIST: And isn't it interesting that Mike Huckabee, because of his charm --

SCARBOROUGH: Well I'm going to say one more thing: render onto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and onto God that which is God's. Let us worry about the spiritual on one side -- anyway, go ahead.

GEIST: Let's imagine someone else saying that, someone without his charm and his personality. He'd be dismissed as a crackpot, wouldn't he? But he's Mike Huckabee and he's basically the frontrunner.

Geist you hit the nail on the head...

"crackpot"

As a Christian I try and live my live in as accordance with God's will as I can...like most humans I fail at it miserably..last thing I what is the government handing out the rules on how to do that...thanks but no thanks Mike.