Posted on 02/07/2008 6:25:21 AM PST by SE Mom
Ideas & Agenda for the GOP Party Today
All four remaining GOP presidential candidates attend the 2008 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Sen. John McCain (AZ), Rep. Ron Paul (TX), and Fmr. Gov. Mitt Romney (MA) address and seek conservative support at nation's largest annual gathering. Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR) speaks at CPAC on Saturday
Romney Pulling Out? Campaign Doesn’t Want “To Look Destructive At What Might Be The End.” [Byron York]
We are beginning to see signs that Mitt Romney might be preparing to pull out of the Republican race.
Everyone is looking for tea leaves from the campaign, and we’ll know more about the governor’s state of mind when we hear from him at CPAC today. But in the last 24 hours, I have noticed a dramatic drop-off in the number of emails I have received from Team Romney. This is no small thing. Every reporter will tell you they receive reams of emails from the Romney campaign. But the last one I got was at 1:47 p.m. yesterday, advising me of Romney’s campaign schedule in Maryland. Before that, I last received on at 8:37 a.m., advising me of Romney’s CPAC speech.
Normally in that time period, I would have received lots of emails telling me, among other things, that John McCain’s Straight Talk Express had taken a detour. For example, I would have expected to receive one about McCain’s “calm down” remark. But nothing from the Romney camp. I wondered whether the campaign is dialing back its aggressiveness in preparation for a Romney withdrawal.
A few moments ago, I spoke to someone in the Romney camp. Would I be crazy to read that into the email traffic? “You would not be crazy to read that into it,” he said. “There have been a lot of discussions going on about whether there is a path to victory, and not wanting to look destructive at what might be the end. You are reading the right thing into it.”
02/07 11:30 AM
————UPDATE:
More Re: Romney Pulling Out? [Byron York]
I just talked to another source in the Romney camp about the possibility that Romney is preparing to pull out of the race. “I think you pretty much nailed it,” he told me. “You might also note that there have been no media buys placed since Super Tuesday. The radio silence is deafening. Go to CPAC. I would highly recommend it.”
02/07 12:07 PM
http://corner.nationalreview.com
Hernandez is a certifiable traitor. He was born in Dallas, but became a dual Mexican citizen. His last job was as Vicente Fox's reconquista chief. The "New Pioneers" of his book are the illegal alien invaders/settlers he and McCain love so much.
Only a traitor would hire a traitor to promote the invasion of his nation.
I wonder if he'll show at CPAC.
Jim Lemmmmmonshefsky (sp?) on FOX news. He said that a web site reported a rumour that McCain would show a video of Regean right before his speech today. He seemed to be quite amused, said it was not true and just a rumour. Jim was definitely having an “I’m full of myself” moment.
FOX reporting....ROMNEY pulling out according to Mark Halprin at Time.
lol, probably the same source that suggests mcCain might have a meltdown during his.
See post 145
FOX reporting....announcement by Romney at the bottom of the hour.
I’m so sad... :(
I can’t tell you how many times I have watched that guy on TV and just wanted to crawl through the screen and take him out.
I hope Romney gets a standing O when he takes the stage at CPAC.
I won’t believe it till I see it.
If true, then Mitt is doing a sort of deja vu of his father George. Nixon beat George Romney for the nomination in ‘68, I believe. Gee, that worked out really well for the country. Apparently, George Romney changed his mind on Vietnam and no longer supported the war after visiting the area back in the 60’s. Smart man.
Back for a bit .. then off again. CSPan’s link is horrible.
Real Player is the ONLY choice I’m being offered, and when you look at cspan.org, -2 and -3, there’s no indication of which channel of theirs it’s on. Grrrrr .. they drive me to distraction!
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Cheney’s speech synopsis, by Capt. Ed:
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/016896.php
Cheney Speech Live-Blog
Dick Cheney is giving one of the first speeches here at CPAC. He got a very warm welcome from the crowd, which is SRO. The Cheney we’re seeing now is the relaxed and funny speaker that we’ve known from many speeches here and other places. The intros are still going on, but I’ll live-blog the substance.
11:24 - Cheney just reviewed the service record of a couple of men who will speak later today, and now he’s wrapping up. A good speech, well received, and unapologetic for the war effort.
11:20 - On the war policy of the Bush administration: “Would I support those same decisions today? You’re damned right I would.” The war won’t be on the defensive, Cheney says.
11:18 - Iraq will remain a tough job, as Petraeus has said. He is highlighting the gains from the surge, nothing terribly surprising.
11:14 - Defends the interrogation of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, which gets a rousing cheer from the audience. “They are in full compliance with the nation’s laws and our treaty obligations.” It has saved thousands of lives, Cheney tells the audience. “We do not torture,” but do not shrink from aggressively working to protect the nation.
11:12 - Emphasizing that terrorism is not a law-enforcement issue, but a national-defense and intelligence issue. The US needs to ensure that the front line of our defenses has the tools it needs to protect us. Cheney wants to make sure that the FISA laws passed last year get extended for a lengthy period, and “those who helped secure this nation do not get harassed with lawsuits”.
11:10 - “The absence of another 9/11 is not an accident — it is an achievement.” That gets by far the biggest response. Everyone is on their feet.
11:08 - A better reaction on Bush’s work on pro-life and judicial nominations. Will McCain take a cue from that?
11:06 - Repeats Bush’s pledge to veto budgets that don’t reduce earmarks by 50%. He also talks about the EO on non-legislative earmarks. That gets a bigger cheer, but I suspect that many may wonder why the number can’t be 90% or better, and why the EO couldn’t have applied to this year’s budget. I’m not hearing a huge reaction to this.
11:04 - Demands permanence for the Bush tax cuts and outlines the impact of them. He also calls for lower spending, and explains how that works in a $3.1 trillion budget. Well, that doesn’t get much more than golf claps.
11:03 - Cheney is emphasizing economics, and the need to keep taxes low. “Put more tax money back into the hands of those who earned it.” He promises no new regulations for “meddling” with the economy.
11:00 am ET - He’s underscoring the support that he has for the candidates who will speak here. That may carry some weight with the conservatives, although it was somewhat subtle.
~~~
I’m sure you all know that McCain has now discredited
the ‘rumor’ that he was going to start with a
Reagan video ... LOL.
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Anyone have any clues about cspan live coverage and getting a better link ?
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DARN!!! Looks like the word is that Romney’s dropping out.
Damhuckabuster!
1. example:
Ask Real Conservatives why McCain didn’t vote for Bush tax cuts and when you find out that he was taking a stand as strong Fiscal Conservative because the Cuts did not include NO NEW SPENDING then it kind of enlightens you especilly when Sean Hannity tries to bash McCain with that issue and those lemmings that listen fall dutifully in line
Except when you consider the reason mccain gave at the time of his votes (yes, he was whoring himself to the left-wing media as usual so it is well documented) was that they were taxcuts for the “rich.”
Sickening.
I’m having trouble opening the C-Span live feed link.
Time reporter has three sources saying Romney drops out today and will likely to it in the speech he will give in a few minutes.
Also on CBS news.
Go to Fox News. Main page. Top left. Cheney speaks. Watch live. Much better.
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