After November: GOP Will Compromise But Liberals May Defeat Obama by Gregory Hilton

At 11 am tomorrow President Obama will announce the departure of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel described the “professional left” as “retards,” and denounced their unwillingness to compromise on issues such as health care reform and global warming. The departure press conference is being held in the East Room to provide maximum exposure for Emanuel’s campaign for Mayor of Chicago. The President will name a new Chief of Staff and is also seeing the departure of his top political aide (David Axelrod) and three of the four members of his economic team.

John Quincy Adams: A Gentleman Would Not Campaign for President by Gregory Hilton

"The Adams Chronicles" was a 1976 Emmy award winning series which covered 150 years of family history. This episode portrayed the future first family at the beginning of the American Revolution in 1776. Back row, John Quincy Adams, Abigail Adams II, First Lady Abigail Adams. Front row, Thomas Adams, President John Adams and Charles Adams.

John Quincy Adams was intent on being President of the United States in 1822. At work he focused on what would become known as the “Monroe Doctrine.” It would be named after President James Monroe, but it was Adams idea. The election was two years away but Adams fretted because few people were coming forward in support of his candidacy.

Is It Wrong For Republicans To Compromise? by Gregory Hilton

In 1995 Republicans claimed control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. Many conservatives were urging the GOP to push its own agenda and not to compromise with Democrats. That same attitude has returned as GOP control of the 112th Congress becomes a more realistic prospect. A recent National Journal poll indicates 70% of Republicans are against legislative compromises, and I can understand their frustration. George H.W. Bush broke his “no new taxes” pledge in exchange for a promise to reduce government spending. Democrats immediately broke their promise.

Trivia Questions About the First Ladies by Gregory Hilton

QUESTIONS
1) Which brilliant First Lady used her own money to send 46 disadvantaged young people to college? The press never knew of her generosity and neither did her husband. He only discovered what she had done after her death.

50 Years Ago Today: The First Kennedy/Nixon Debate

Opening statement of Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-MA):
“In the election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln said the question was whether this nation could exist half-slave or half-free. In the election of 1960, and with the world around us, the question is whether the world will exist half-slave or half-free, whether it will move in the direction of freedom, or whether it will move in the direction of slavery. . . The kind of strength we build in the United States will be the defense of freedom. . . If we fail, then freedom fails. . . .

Howard Dean: “We Are Now in Danger of Losing Everything” by Gregory Hilton

Former Gov. Howard Dean (VT) knows Democrats are headed for a significant setback in November. He is nevertheless actively campaigning for liberal candidates who are certain to lose. Dean is appearing in a variety of Congressional districts around the nation in his role as Chairman of the left wing lobbying group Democracy for America. The organization was originally established as Dean for America to promote his 2004 presidential campaign, and his current goal could be challenging Barack Obama for the 2012 nomination.
The former Governor is a medical doctor and the immediate past Chairman of the Democratic Party (2005 – 2009). He can claim credit for their huge success in both the 2006 and 2008 elections. Prior to the 2004 Iowa caucuses, Dean was considered the frontrunner for the party’s presidential nomination. He was endorsed by the top two candidates from the previous election, former Vice President Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley (NJ), as well as powerful labor unions. He was the first major candidate to largely finance his campaign from the Internet, and his major issue was opposition to the Iraq war.
His 50 state strategy later proved to be the road map for Barack Obama’s 2008 victory. Dean wanted to serve as HHS Secretary in the Obama administration, but his battle with Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel prevented the appointment. Dean said “I made it pretty clear I wanted to be HHS Secretary.” He was also passed over for Surgeon General. In a snub to Dean, he was not even invited to the White House press conference when Governor Tim Kaine (VA) was announced as his successor at the DNC.
The theme of Dean’s current speeches is that President Obama has abandoned his liberal base on Afghanistan, the health care public option and gay rights. Dean is telling liberal groups “This is not joking around time anymore. You caused a revolution in this country two years ago. We are now in danger of losing everything you worked for.”
Many liberals are dismayed with the White House and the feeling is mutual. On August 9th, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said: “The professional left will not be satisfied until we have Canadian health care and we’ve eliminated the Pentagon. That’s not reality. I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested. I mean, it’s crazy.” Rahm Emmanuel says many liberal activists are “retarded.”
If Dean does challenge Obama he is likely to have the support of left wing activists such as MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, as well as filmmaker Michael Moore. All of them are major left wing critics of the White House.
The former Governor does not want Obama to endorse an extension of the Bush era tax cuts and says “I don’t agree with supply-side economics. Reagan proved it was wrong. George H.W. Bush proved it was wrong, and George W. Bush proved it was wrong.” Dean also says:
“The biggest danger is not Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives. It’s that we’re not talking to each other.”
“I wasn’t that happy with the health care bill, and we should have done more. . . Democrats can not be blamed for health care reform. It was a bipartisan bill. The biggest problem is that it can’t work in the present system.”
“I don’t think the majority of Republicans are haters, but there is a significant hate wing of the Republican Party, including the talk show hosts like Glenn Beck and Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh and people like that and they don’t dare cross them.”
Surprising Comments:
Dean surprised many of his supporters by opposing the construction of a mosque near the ground zero site in New York City. He said: “We have to understand that it is a real affront to people who’ve lost their lives.”
“The best way to decrease the federal deficit is to change programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. I think everything has to be cut. Everyone needs to put something into the pot.”

Ann Coulter is Wrong: The GOP Welcomes The Tea Party and The Campaign is About Economic Not Social Issues by Gregory Hilton

In her article yesterday (see below), conservative pundit Ann Coulter continues to claim Republicans and “Washington elites” are undermining the Tea Party movement. To bolster her case of alarm she quotes Morton Kondracke, David Gergen, and Gloria Borger, but not one of them is a Republican.

The Next Target is the Republican Party: Diane Olson of the Tea Party Debates Gregg Hilton

Diane Olson of Rochester, Minnesota is an activist in the Tea Party movement. She has visited many foreign nations and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Diane graduated with honors from the University of Iowa. In addition to her political activities, she is a Chief Engineering Manager. For the last seven years she has been IBM\’s only female \”Master Inventor.\” In this role she has provided technical briefings for U.S. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, both Minnesota Democrats.

Debate Introduction by Gregg Hilton

This debate focuses on the relationship between the Tea Party movement and the Republican Party, which has been a hot topic in recent weeks. Republicans appreciate and admire the activities of various Tea Party organizations, but several Tea Party leaders, including Diane Olson, want to wage war on the GOP. Diane is promising a major battle soon after the November election.

Larry Summers Exit Provides An Opportunity for Obama by Gregory Hilton

We have learned today that Larry Summers will be leaving the Obama administration after the elections. This means the departure of three of the four members of the nation’s worst economic team. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel will be also be leaving and chief political adviser David Axelrod is another rumored departure.
This will allow the President to make significant changes in the aftermath of the electoral setback.

The Great Myth: The GOP Establishment vs. The Tea Party by Gregory Hilton

Tuesday’s night victory of social conservative Christine O’Donnell over moderate Rep. Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican Senate primary is being portrayed as a great setback for the Republican establishment. The enthusiasm behind the O’Donnell crusade can not be denied, but her electability remains questionable. On Wednesday morning, O’Donnell was trailing liberal Democrat Chris Coons in cash on hand by $20,000 to $940,000. That was the beginning of an explosion of Internet support, and O’Donnell now has almost $2 million and is ahead of Coons in cash on hand.