Election 2008

Protester removed from Fred Thompson event!

HOUSTON, Texas - July 25, 2007 - A woman screaming “you’re not a real conservative, sir” was removed by police from a welcoming reception for likely GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson this morning. A second protester was also taken from the room.

Houston police officers escorted the woman - as well as a man - from the hangar at Hobby Airport, where Thompson was shaking hands with a crowd of supporters. They were not arrested.

The woman questioned Thompson as he talked to reporters. She asked him why he was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and noted that the organization supported the North American Union with Canada and Mexico.

After the woman interrupted Thompson by questioning his conservative credentials, the likely candidate said, “Don’t fuss at me. You asked me a question. Let me answer it.” He told the woman, “I try to learn as much as I can from all viewpoints.”

Later, she shouted at Thompson as the news conference ended. Police officers took her outside a fenced area near the hangar, and stood with her until the former Tennessee senator departed.

Election 2008

More staff depart McCain campaign!

WASHINGTON - July 16, 2007 - John McCain's top communications aides and several staffers in Iowa and South Carolina quit on Monday, the latest departures to hit the Republican as he struggles to rebound from financial and political woes.

Brian Jones, McCain's communications director, and his two deputies, Matt David and Danny Diaz, stepped down but plan to stay on through the week. Two others in the communications shop at the campaign headquarters also are leaving, as are two staffers apiece in Iowa and South Carolina.

Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's current New Hampshire communications director, is expected to take over for Jones and head up a slimmed- down media operation.

The press office moves were all but certain following the departures last week of campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver; several of those in the communications office, including Jones, had ties to Nelson.

"This is not an acrimonious departure," Jones said.

In Iowa, Tim Miller, his state communications director, and Marlys Popma, the Iowa coalitions director who was serving as a link to the state's influential religious conservative community, also announced their resignations. And, in South Carolina, Adam Temple, a spokesman for the candidate, and Josh Robinson, the state field director, also stepped down.

"The leadership team that I came to work for is no longer leading this campaign," Temple said.

Also Monday, Iowa Republican Party officials said they had been told McCain was closing his campaign in the state. But officials at McCain's campaign headquarters in suburban Washington disputed that, saying the Iowa headquarters remains open and the senator plans to campaign in Iowa this weekend.

Election 2008

U.S. ambassador concerned that 2008 elections will be postponed!

Former U.S. Ambassador Dan Simpson writes for the Toledo Blade. In his July 18, 2007 column, he writes:

I thought that by now the White House would have decided that the strains of the job on his health were too much for Mr. Cheney to continue as vice president, that he would then have stepped down for valid health reasons, and the Republicans would have plugged into the position a viable 2008 presidential candidate.

I can think of several reasons why they didn’t do that (I will give them credit for enough intelligence to at least realize they had a problem). First, Mr. Bush felt he couldn’t live without Mr. Cheney around. Second - and I suspect this is probably the truth of the matter - Mr. Cheney didn’t want to step down and Mr. Bush decided in the end that he didn’t care what happened to the Republican Party after he was out of the White House.

There is also the late-at-night, eerie concern that Mr. Bush has in his head some sort of scenario where, for reasons of national security - real or drummed up - the 2008 elections will have to be postponed and he will get to stay on.

My suspicions have at their base the feeling I have that, given their operating style now, this bunch will not leave the White House easily in 2009.

Because, really, when do monarchs ever surrender power?

Election 2008

McCain campaign co-chairman arrested!

July 12, 2007 - A member of the Florida House of Representatives arrested yesterday on charges of soliciting a male undercover police officer is the co-Chairman of the Florida campaign of presidential hopeful John McCain.

Bob Allen (R) was appointed Florida co-Chairman of the McCain campaign in March. At the time, McCain said he was proud of the support he received from Allen and that Allen and his three co-chairs were "respected leaders in their communities and have real experience wrestling with the important issues of our day." McCain pledged to "turn to these leaders. Their counsel will be very helpful and their support invaluable."

Fox News Orlando reported the arrest yesterday evening. According to the report, Allen was charged with a second degree misdemeanor. Allen, who is married, was arrested in Titusville, Florida, approximately twenty-five miles east of the district he represents.

Election 2008

Ron Paul campaign is a 20/20 success!

ARLINGTON, Virginia - July 12, 2007 - The Ron Paul presidential campaign has reached two important benchmarks of success: 20,000 YouTube subscribers and 20,000 Meetup group members.

As of today, the Paul Campaign's YouTube channel has 20,302 subscribers, giving the organization a powerful platform for their popular videos. The GOP candidate with the second most subscribers is Mitt Romney with 2,416. Barack Obama has 8,807.

Dr. Paul also has 20,677 individuals in 428 cities across America signed up though Meetup.com to participate in grassroots activities. Meetup members have thus far held 1,127 events for Dr. Paul: walking neighborhoods, making signs and handing out literature. Barack Obama has 5,327 Meetup group members, while Mitt Romney has 29.

"Our campaign is growing by the day," said campaign chairman Kent Snyder. "Dr. Paul's message of freedom, peace and prosperity is spreading across the country like wildfire. It is exciting to see online attention translate to action on the ground."

Election 2008

The Ron Paul “surge” continues!

July 7, 2007 - Following the surprising announcement that Ron Paul is third in terms of fundraising this quarter, comes the news that the Cobb country GOP, the biggest Republican organization in Georgia, held a straw poll in which Ron came in second. Here’s how the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported it:

“Year after year, the Fourth of July gathering by the Cobb County GOP is one of the largest in the state. On Thursday, 247 cast votes in a presidential straw poll. To no one’s surprise, Fred Thompson - who has a fund-raiser in Atlanta on Friday - was the leader. But the fact that Ron Paul and Mitt Romney finished second and third may be significant. Possibly. It was just a straw poll.”

Here’s the vote break-down:

Fred Thompson: 30%
Ron Paul: 17%
Mitt Romney: 15%
Mike Huckabee: 13%
Newt Gingrich: 12%
Rudy Giuliani: 10%
John McCain, Tom Tancredo, Jim Gilmore: 1%

Election 2008

Ron Paul wins big in New Hampshire!

July 8, 2007 - Presidential candidate Ron Paul won the Coalition for New Hampshire Taxpayers (CNHT) straw poll at their annual picnic in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Dr. Paul received 182 of 294 votes cast, or 65 percent. In second place was Rudy Giuliani with 24 votes, or 8 percent. The poll took place on Saturday, July 7.

"Today's strong victory is further proof that Dr. Paul's message is resonating throughout New Hampshire," said campaign manager Lew Moore. "Dr. Paul is the only candidate in this race truly dedicated to smaller government and lower taxes for all Americans."

CNHT is a statewide, grassroots organization dedicated to reducing the size of government at all levels, stopping judicial activism, providing students and parents with a choice of educational opportunities, expanding job markets, and protecting property rights.