Gingrich mocks Romney for speaking French
Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich may have backtracked from a recent campaign ad attacking Romney as a job-killer during his tenure at Bain Capital, but he’s still accusing him of another act that may nettle some conservatives: speaking French.
In a web ad titled “The French Connection,” a deep-voiced narrator describes Romney as a liberal governor who authored government-mandated health care and raised taxes in his state of Massachusetts but who now masquerades as a conservative.
The narrator says, “Massachusetts moderate Mitt Romney, he’ll say anything to win — anything. And just like John Kerry, he speaks French.”
The ad then cuts to a video of Democratic Senator John Kerry saying haltingly, in French, “Let the good times roll!”
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Kerry was criticized for his connections to France, where he spent summers during his childhood. Romney, too, lived in France, where he served as a missionary for more than two years in the 1960s.
The ad closes with indisputable proof that Romney is Francophone–a shot from a video of Romney speaking in French to volunteers for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, which he helped organize. He says, in French, “Hello, my name is Mitt Romney.”
Here is the video, via Gingrich’s campaign site:
from Environment Forum:
John Kerry has had it up to HERE with “The Flat Earth Caucus”
You remember John Kerry, right? Tall, silver-haired, urbane enough to be accused of being French. But there's a feisty side to the senior senator from Massachusetts, and it was on display at a forum on energy and economic growth, where Kerry teed off on congressional Republicans and others who doubt the seriousness of the challenge of climate change.
"After a while you get exasperated and jaded and frustrated about it all," Kerry told The New Republic forum at the National Press Club. "I've had it just about up to here with America's indifference to the realities of this crisis ... the United States is like an ostrich putting its head in the sand."
How do you feel about the U.S. political establishment, Senator Kerry? "I don't know what's happened to us in the body politic of this country where facts and science seem to be so easily shunted aside and disposed of in favor of simple sloganeering, pure ideology and little bromides of politics that are offered up, that offer no solution to anything but might get you through an election."
Your Republican colleagues in Congress? "In the Republican party ... about half the class that came in (to Congress) this year doubts that humans have anything to do with climate change or that climate change is happening ... The Flat Earth Caucus is growing."
How about the billionaire Koch brothers? "The Koch brothers are funding a lot of efforts to prevent us from doing anything (about climate change). They funded this climate doubters Berkeley study in the hopes that one study out of thousands would ... show that all the rest of this stuff is fabricated ideological bunk from the left." (As it turned out, and as Kerry noted, the Berkeley Earth Science Project agreed with most other studies that climate change is occurring and human activities fuel it.)
Kerry said he was troubled that China is now "winning the clean energy race," with Germany second and the United States slipping to third.
"I think America's greatness, America's capacity to lead, is really on the line," he said. "And I see it and feel it as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the many conversations I have with leaders in various parts of the world ... I just see them and feel them doubting our resolve, doubting our capacity, doubting whether we'll really be there in almost anything ... whether our political system will let it happen."
Donjr, do you think the Supreme Court in it’s present pro business form would have ever appointed a Republican or for that matter rule against business?
As a condition of accepting a life time to the Court, Justices should be required to divest themselves of all stock investment and similar vehicles by law so that there rulings might be less tainted by financial self interest. They can pay off debt or acquire annuities with the proceeds of their holdings.
Cicero and Tacitus both stated “One can tell how corrupt a society is by how many laws they have”. Clearly the Nation is suffering from a crisis of character.
Lugar warns U.S. against war in Libya
In recent days some U.S. senators have been urging President Obama to consider military intervention to help Libyan rebels fighting Moammar Gaddafi.
Not Richard Lugar.
The top Republican on the Senate foreign relations committee said little while a senior member of his own party, John McCain, repeatedly urged the United States to pursue setting up a no-fly zone over Libya.
On Sunday Democrat John Kerry, the chairman of the foreign relations committee, suggested that Washington might want to ”crater” runways used by Gaddafi’s forces.
On Tuesday, Lugar issued a strong warning against U.S. intervention in what he called Libya’s civil war.
“The United States should not, in my view, launch military intervention into yet another Muslim country, without thinking long and hard about the consequences and implications,” Lugar said in a statement.
“ If a no-fly zone doesn’t stop the street-to-street fighting, are we prepared to escalate further, to put boots on the ground? Would that involve taking control of the country? Would we be obligated to stay until democracy is established?”
Washington Extra – Chaos theory
Something to ponder while thinking about the crisis in Egypt: Chaos Theory or Domino Effect?
Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak tells ABC’s Christiane Amanpour that he’d like to step down but… “If I resign today there will be chaos.”
It seemed fairly chaotic on the streets of Cairo where protesters were fired upon and journalists were detained. Egypt’s prime minister told the interior minister not to obstruct peaceful marches at tomorrow’s “Friday of Departure” rally.
Mubarak’s image with Official Washington appears shattered. White House correspondent Steve Holland broke the story that a draft resolution sponsored by Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator John Kerry called on Mubarak to transfer power to an inclusive caretaker government. The measure shows broad, unified American concern about Egypt.
The United States continued to condemn the violence in Egypt and urge political transition. And while a handful of lawmakers have said publicly that Mubarak should leave, there has not been an official U.S. call for him to immediately step down.
Here are our top stories from Washington today…
Lawmakers demand Mubarak transfer power in Egypt
Washington Extra – Braving the weather
President Barack Obama quipped that Chinese President Hu Jintao was brave for going to his hometown at this time of year. But what about the visit to Capitol Hill today?
Between the warm reception at the White House and the chilly weather in Chicago, Hu met lawmakers who were quite cool in their welcome. They brought up China’s currency, human rights, the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner who wasn’t allowed to attend the ceremony, Tibet, the economy and trade.
“The U.S. and China do not share values and principles as some have claimed in recent days,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry summed up the uneasiness that still accompanies the U.S.-China relationship: “It’s critical that leaders in both countries don’t allow mutual suspicions to degenerate into fear-mongering and demagoguery.”
Vice President Joe Biden, caught in the hallway by our senior congressional correspondent Tom Ferraro, told Reuters the Chinese understood they needed to work on the currency dispute. “They indicate that they understand that — that they have to work on it,” he said.
When asked whether Hu had made any commitments, Biden replied: “Nothing specific.”
Here are our top stories from Washington today…
Trump sees China from the White House
Billionaire developer Donald Trump might like to be president. And if he were, he’d bring a hard view of China to the White House.
“I’d tax China,” he tells ABC News in an interview. “They laugh at us. They feel we’re fools. You know, they’re getting away with absolute murder. The products we used to make in this country, they’re making them in China. We’re rebuilding China.”
Trump, who set up an exploratory presidential committee in 1999, said he’ll decide on a 2012 White House run by June.
He doesn’t explain how he’d tax China — or whether taxing China would be any easier than taxing America. But he’s sure the United States can still call the shots, even if China has effectively become America’s banker by holding so darn much of the U.S. national debt.
“We have the cards because we’re the ones who are spending all of this money in China,” The Donald says. “I’ve had bankers over the years. I don’t think the bankers have the cards.” As for the presidency, Trump’s worth a lot and says he’d spend a lot to get elected: ”It could be fun because I’d like to see some positive things happen for the country.”
Democratic Senator John Kerry, who ran for president in 2004, is also worried about the U.S. falling behind China. But his main concern is the paralyzing grip of ideological tension in Congress, where a new class of fiscal conservatives seems hardwired to cut spending and taxes and the debt.
That, says Kerry, bodes ill for future U.S. investment in exciting new technologies like green energy and high-speed trains.
Donald most probably reckons that if George W can win two terms as a President, why ca’nt Donald? He should not challenge CHINA though, the Banker, for without money Donald would be no body and others no body like larry King would not invite him on the cable net work.
Keep it up Donald, you are not worst than the CNBC comedians!
Rex Minor
Former political enemies join hands to save the world?
Nearly six years ago, Senator John Kerry and Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens were mortal political enemies.
As a major backer of President George W. Bush’s re-election effort in 2004, Pickens contributed millions to a right-wing ad campaign questioning Kerry’s record as a Vietnam war hero. The ads, which Kerry disputed, put him on the defensive and may have contributed to the Democrat’s failure to win the White House.
On Wednesday, the billionaire and the Massachusetts senator sat side-by-side in the Capitol’s ornate Senate Foreign Relations Committee room, where Kerry presides as its chairman.
Their mission: To spread the word about the legislation Kerry and Senator Joseph Lieberman have written to tackle global warming by reducing U.S. consumption of dirty-burning fossil fuels blamed for climate change.
“If you look at life looking backwards and standing in one place, you’re going to waste your time,” Kerry told a small group of reporters when asked about the new relationship with the man he now calls “Boone.” “Six years ago was six years ago,” Kerry said.
Both Kerry and Pickens talked about the need to reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil, which the Kerry-Lieberman bill aims to do. Pickens talked in patriotic tones about the need to make America energy independent within 10 years. “I don’t care whether you use natural gas, ethanol, the battery. You can use anything, just so it’s American,” said Pickens, who turns 82 this week.
Patriotism aside, Pickens stands to gain financially from the climate change bill that Kerry hopes to push through the Senate this year.
Democrats can’t escape questions about Sarah Palin
Democrats can’t go anywhere these days without being asked about Sarah Palin, and some of them are not overwhelmed.
“Look, she is interesting,” Senator John Kerry told CNN’s “Larry King Live” program Wednesday.
“She represents some of the transformation of American politics into entertainment,” he said.
Palin, the former Alaska governor and defeated Republican vice presidential candidate, spent last week skewering Democrats.
She went after President Barack Obama at a gathering of the grassroots conservative Tea Party movement, calling him a “charismatic guy with a teleprompter” and saying to win the war against al Qaeda, the United States needed “a commander in chief, not a professor of law standing at a lectern.”
Palin also ridiculed his campaign slogans, asking his supporters, “How’s that hopey, changey stuff working out for you?”
“If you come up with a phrase like, ‘How do you like that hopey-changey stuff?’, that’s a pretty good phrase, to be honest with you,” Kerry said.
I’ll agree that I wouldn’t want Palin as President, but it’s hysterical that the nasty posters here can’t see that their comments could apply equally to Obama as well as Palin.
> To DEOSIL: “has there been anyone else who has combined all of the fetid qualities — the proud ignorance, the sadistic viciousness, the shameless hypocrisy, the arrogant laziness, the congenital dishonesty, the unctuous sanctimony, the bilious resentment, and whichever others I’m forgetting for the moment — that this morals-free harridan so relentlessly displays?” YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN: OBAMA! THE MOST BLATANT LIAR I CAN EVER REMEMBER BEING ELECTED, OR EVEN RUNNING FOR, PRESIDENT.
To STREETFIGHTER: “I think V.P. Biden grossly underestimates the power of the American people to vote into office someone who will run as their champion then sell them out the minute after inauguration.” LET’S SEE NOW — WHO HAS DONE THAT? OH YEAH, THE LIAR IN CHIEF, OBAMA!! GUANTANAMO? NOPE. TRANSPARENCY? NOPE. BIPARTISAN? NOPE. MODERATE? NOPE. NON-IDEOLOGUE? NOPE. THE LIST GOES ON.
To JANEYCAT: (UM, YOU CAN CAN JUST KEEP HUMMING THE “TWILIGHT ZONE” THEME IN THE BACKGROUND)
To BUTCH_FROM_PA: “The writing on the hand was no mistake. Look for more continued sillies like this to come out…” BUT YOU’RE NOT EMBARRASSED BY OBAMA, WHO NEEDS A TELEPROMPTER TO SPEAK TO A GROUP OF 6TH GRADERS??! AND Y0U CRITICIZE SOMEONE GIVING A 2 HOUR SPEECH FOR HAVING 7 WORDS ON HER HAND???!! I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU’VE NEVER GIVEN A SPEECH IN YOUR LIFE, AND ARE CONTENT TO PULL THE COVER OVER YOUR EYES WHENEVER OBAMA WHIPS OUT THE EVER-PRESENT TELEPROMPTER IN THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
You all complain about Palin when they guy in the Oval Office outranks her in every possible way in the areas of dishonesty, lack of qualification, and incompetence. Even the people he surrounds himself with are utterly lacking in competence and integrity. I’ve never seen a bunch of voters as self-deceiving as those who supported, and continue to support, Obama, after he has shown himself to be a consummate liar. Palin may be unqualified to be President, I’ll grant you that…but she’s much more qualified than Obama, who has no professional job experience at all to speak of.
Brown shows rare trait on Capitol Hill: humility
The man who shook up Washington came to Capitol Hill on Thursday and demonstrated a trait rarely associated with the nation’s marble halls of power and giant egos: humility.
“I’ve got a lot to learn,” Republican Senator-elect Scott Brown said repeatedly during a series of visits with members of the Senate — a chamber often referred to as “the world’s most exclusive club.” “I’m stepping into big shoes,” Brown said.
By tapping into voter anger aimed at a grid-locked Congress, a double-digit jobless rate and an unpopular plan to revamp the U.S. healthcare system, Brown won the Senate seat formerly held by the late Senator Edward Kennedy, a Democratic icon. Once sworn in in the next week or so, Brown will be the 41st Republican in the 100-seat Senate — and could provide the vote to block much of President Barack Obama’s legislative agenda, including healthcare reform. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell flashed a big grin and told Brown that he has already begun calling him “forty-one.” Brown thanked senators for taking time to meet with him. “I really appreciate it,” he said again and again. He even voiced appreciation to reporters, photographers and TV crews following him. “Thanks for coming out here,” Brown said. “I guess it’s a slow news day.”
Brown also delivered a message, however, that he shouldn’t be taken for granted and that he expected to be heard. He did so in a little more than a whisper. “I believe that people on both sides of the aisle want me to come here,” said Brown, who was elected on Tuesday with the support of Republicans, independents and Democrats. “They want me to be part of the process, and part of the solution.” Brown stepped into the office of Democratic Senator John Kerry, Massachusetts’ senior senator who supported Brown’s unsuccessful Democratic foe, and quickly demonstrated deference. “It’s good to be the junior senator-elect from Massachusetts,” Brown said. “I’ve always had respect for Senator Kerry and look forward to working with him.” Then he said it again: “I have a lot to learn.”
Click here for news coverage of Brown’s arrival on Capitol Hill.
Reuters photos by Larry Downing
I hope he does not think he is going to turn the US upside down with his big truck, I think his truck is all that got him elected… He needs to remember that he ran as a Independent and better act like one and do what is right for the People instead of now turning into a Rethug and running to them for all his decisions and listening only to one side of everything that has to be done to get us ALL out of this mess that the Rethugs got us into… He better remember that he comes up for reelection pretty soon and not being bipartisan can loose his seat for him…
The First Draft: Afghanistan and Obama
President Barack Obama heads to Florida today to thank members of the military for their service — but given the deadly violence in Afghanistan, the commander-in-chief might use the opportunity to reflect on strategy in the region.
Before Obama takes off, he’ll meet with his foreign policy and national security team to discuss the situation and troops on the ground.
Afghanistan will also be on the agenda at the State Department, where Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew will talk about progress made in hiring civilians there. The topic could come up at the Council on Foreign Relations too; Sen. John Kerry’s speaking there around midday.
But domestic matters could take the top spot, with Senate Democrats reportedly close to securing enough votes to move a national healthcare plan forward. A proposed bill could be sent to the Congressional Budget Office for an official cost estimate. A Thomson Reuters report indicates the U.S. healthcare system is just as wasteful as Obama says it is, but reforms could be paid for by fixing inefficiencies, preventing mistakes and fighting fraud.
In Washington, it’s the day after the Marine Corps Marathon, a massive road race that this year drew more than 20,000 finishers.
Click here for more Reuters political coverage
Photo credit: REUTERS/stringer (U.S. military personnel watch as a U.S. helicopter flies over a military base in Ghazni province, October 26, 2009)
What an encouragement Obama has been to the Taliban,this guy has definitely been an answer to the all the misgivings that they might have had during the constant retreating and hiding they had to endure during the Bush years.
