Latest 2008 headlines
Here are the latest headlines from the 2008 race along with some other things

First, thanks to the Americans for Richardson group for linking one of Politizine's recent links. There has been a bit of extra traffic coming this way due to the link - and some others - and it is appreciated.

The AP had a pretty good piece this week about our local high school here in Concord which is becoming a campaign stop for most presidential candidates: ["Campaign trail stops at this NH high school"]. I'm bummed that we, CHS 1983, didn't think about this for the 1984 cycle. I would later meet a slew of candidates that year - including Sen. Fritz Hollings, Sen. Alan Cranston, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Gary Hart's daughter - at various places, including Kearsarge Regional High School and while waiting tables at the old Highway Hotel in Concord right out of high school. Cranston tipped me a quarter for a breakfast; Jackson's group stiffed me on a coffee party. I ended up voting for Hollings in the primary, my fist vote. I thought it might be cool to have Foghorn Leghorn in the White House and I believed in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act, the nuclear freeze, mutual arms reductions, and fair trade. Ahhhh, the memories.

Over at the New Hampshire Union Leader, Granite Status had this preview piece: ["A year of drama ahead in '07"]. Hee, hee, hee, wringing our hands with glee ... can hardly wait for the new year. Heh, heh, heh.

Just when you thought we were done with 9-11, at least as when it comes to the catastrophic event being used for political purposes, we hear this: ["Rudy's Angels of 9/11"]. Illogic - and Anne Coulter - would say that since the widows themselves have been using 9-11 for their benefit, why shouldn't Rudy? Well, I guess. But you know, we should have some amount of decency when it comes to these things. Is anyone using the Cole attack for political benefit? The Murrah Building? Alright, we'll have to wait and see what Frank Keating starts saying on the stump if he does actually run for president. But come on. Let's leave this stuff alone. Then again, there is mention in the piece that Rudy might be worried about some Swiftboat-like attacks from anti-Giuliani folks. I guess in that case, it is fair game to line up some folks who like you.

Oh no, not this: ["Clinton Hires Evangelical Consultant for Presidential Campaign"]. What is it about the Clintons and focus groups? Don't they know deep down what they stand for? A candidate shouldn't have to hire an evangelical consultant to figure out how to share their views on religion with the American people, the same way they shouldn't need a peace or war consultant on issues of peace and war, and other issues. You either know what you stand for or you don't. And if you don't, then you shouldn't be running for the highest office in the land. It really is that simple.

Another fluff story about campaigns and the Internet: ["White House hopefuls develop campaign skills for the Internet"]. This is like a standing head. Yawn.

Sen. Chris Dodd tries to reshape his image, message, and voting record: ["Anti-War Step By Dodd"]. More revisionist history. I'm just waiting for the reporters of New Hampshire and Boston to start asking Sen. Dodd about Ted Kennedy, drinking, and the waitress sandwich ...

Sen. Obama's ground troops: Are they ready to invade Iowa?: ["Obama eyes Iowa in putting '08 HQ here "]. As we all know, field is everything in a campaign. But be careful. Sometimes, invading forces going into states can feel like invading forces. And the home folks, no matter which state, don't like to be told what to do, don't like to be talked down to, and don't like it when outsider campaigns assume that they know more than the hometown team. Obama should consider himself warned.

A pretty good article here about Michigan and its more prominent role in the Republican process in 1008: ["'08 hopefuls hot for Mich."]. The great thing about the New Hampshire experience is that most of the time, the voters get to take a good look at these folks and make solid decisions on who should be the nominee. Sometimes, our voters make stupid decisions after getting a good look at these guys, like voting for John Kerry in 2004, Al Gore in 2000, and giving Bill Clinton second place in 1992. Other times, they make wise decisions, like John McCain in 2000, Pat Buchanan in 1996, and Gary Hart in 1984. As I have said previously, the best thing for the political committees to do is spread the New Hampshire experience to other states - not take our experience from us. And hopefully in Michigan, over the next year, they will have the chance to get the retail political experience that we have here.

The beating of Willard continues: ["Romney left Mass. on 212 days in '06"]. He doesn't care though. He is on the way out and he won't win Massachusetts even if he manages to become the nominee. Most people don't know that Mitt Romney's real name is "Willard Mitt Romney." They should. For awhile there, he was calling himself "W. Mitt Romney," but later dropped the W. entirely. I've taken to calling him "Guy Smiley," named after the Sesame Street game show host character who isn't on much any more [I know, I have a toddler]. Kat Powers, the editor of the Somerville Journal, had taken to calling the governor Willard not unlike folks call Bush W. Maybe we should all begin to call Mitt by his real name, Willard.