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Today’s VP-pick Commentary

The WSJ heads an editorial this morning with “Why Not Paul Ryan?Romney can win a big election over big issues. He’ll lose a small one.” Too risky, goes the Beltway chorus. His selection would make Medicare and the House budget the issue, not the economy. The 42-year-old is too . . . . Continue Reading »

Re: Petraeus

Some thoughts, 1.  Do we have any idea what he thinks about any domestic policy matter? 2.  The norms of campaigns have developed in such a way that national candidates have to comment on a wide variety of issues and have a finely tuned sense of the dynamics of national-level popular and . . . . Continue Reading »

Whither Petraeus?

This morning brought polling about the possibility of Gen. David Petraeus as VP.  Now I see a story on Drudge Report that tells us the president is predicting the pick.  I’m a fan, but hate to see what the press would do the man and his family for pity’s sake. . . . . Continue Reading »

Pete Spiliakos’ Birthday

How do I know?  Facebook told me.  This is my opportunity to pay a little tribute to my fellow blogger.  Below, Pete writes a post that he begins with “I don’t have the mental energy . . . ” and then he proceeds to prove that even when he doesn’t have his . . . . Continue Reading »

The Final Four?

So I was watching the 6:00 PM Fox News show.  It is a pretty good straight news program. They focused on Tim Pawlenty, Rob Portman, Paul Ryan, and Marco Rubio as the four who are being looked at the hardest to be Romney’s running mate.  The Weekly Standard came out . . . . Continue Reading »

The Case For Mitt Caution

I don’t fully buy it, but this is what I see: 1.  The polls that show Obama ahead show a larger percentage of self-described Democrats than did the 2008 election exit poll.  By comparison, the 2010 poll showed an equal number of self-described Democrats and Republicans.  If you . . . . Continue Reading »

A Message Pick Vs. A No Message Pick

When looking at how much “risk” Romney wants to take on in picking a running mate, it helps to look at what kind of positive message Romney wants the public to hear in the fall campaign (that is distinct from the obvious negative message that Romney will run regarding economic . . . . Continue Reading »

The Subtle Hack

Ryan Lizza’s long New Yorker profile of Paul Ryan is a masterpiece of subtle liberal partisanship.  My favorite part is Lizza’s treatment of Ryan’s proposal for premium support Medicare.  When referring to the Ryan Roadmap, Lizza describes “Obama’s alleged . . . . Continue Reading »

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