54 Comments

• 1. Magnum Serpentine  |  January 8th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

  I predict Hulk Hogan will win the presidency of the United States (Kidding)

  Obama will win the demo-publican primary. beyond that… who knows? One thing is certain, the republicans are glad george bush can’t run again

• 2. js  |  January 8th, 2008 at 1:26 pm

  If one good independent puts on a suit of responsibility, I think that even the NH primary would mean squat at this time.

  People have no choice, the field of potentials is drab, the people need a hero.

• 3. Retired Spook  |  January 8th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

  I’ll take a stab at it.

  On the GOP side: McCain (1st), Romney (2nd, but only 2-3% behind McCain), Huckabee (3rd), Paul (4th), Giuliani (5th) and Thompson (6th). Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Romney come out on top. Either way, I think this is probably McCain’s last hurrah. It kind of depends on how many independents Obama siphons away from McCain. Something like 40% of NH voters are Independent and they can wait until the last minute to declare which primary they’re voting in.

  On the Dem side: Obama (1st), Clinton (2nd), Edwards (3rd), Richardson (4th, but only 1-2% behind Edwards)

• 4. vms1  |  January 8th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

  Many years will pass, I personally don’t see any thing distinct to be determined until a few weeks have passed. The Obama thing of getting out of Iraq, maybe scary- perhaps people might think before they vote on this one. And remember those who protect our freedom, and don’t forget without those efforts we would have a much different country now. People with good manners, nice and persuasive is one thing. But look at the roots of the person, their homelife as children is a good guide into the soul of the individual. This will perhaps be a tough election year to many persons.

  Snoops.com recently comfirmed a post on the REAL Obama, which has been circulating around and it is scary. Nothing like the person that is being projected to us via media.
  To see that the Demos. will follow anyone- with only a few years experience, that tells them what they want to hear - is also scary…

  At least Bill had some experience beforehand. He did run Arkansas for many years before he came to Washington. And George W. did so in Texas…prior. What have any of the Demo. nominees run prior to this?

  I suppose that those who are raising all the money- mainly to fund the advertising budgets to persuade all of us -are busy at their knack which is marketing their product. Andthere was previous mention in another blog about a country of change, much like after 1932 and 1860- and comparing this to now.

  Well, those were years prior to the fall of Stock Exchange and the Civil War…
  TWO major things that effected history greatly in this nation.

  I personally like the solidness of John McCain, he actually is the most experienced in that he nearly lost his life for his country. He has a calm presence that is good.

  Harry Truman had his difficulty in New Hampshire, and most of the folks go and get personal with that state now and are currently running like chickens today. They say it is democracy at its’ best.

  And a good outcome is what is needed.

  Regardless, of the outcome– oneanother note…

  If anyone wants to see what makes a real president, go visit Mount Vernon- they have a fabulously NEW center there on the life and times of George Washington. It is truely an awesome presentation of what our forefathers INTENT was to build our country on. Change is good- if it is done. On a recent visit there- they were packed—people were craving the leaders homestead and experiencing his history and his life. Perhaps praying to him too for a good year.

  Mr. Bush is a good person, he did inherit a mess in a difficult time in our history.

  Vision is what is needed.

  While American looks to its new leaders, to choose the next decision maker. someone with GOOD foreign political experience is needed, if not elected- the efforts of our forefathers might just be lost.

  There are so many opportuntities in our country it would a shame to fall backwards.

• 5. Joe  |  January 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

  Vms:
  At least Bill had some experience beforehand. He did run Arkansas for many years before he came to Washington. And George W. did so in Texas…prior. What have any of the Demo. nominees run prior to this?
  — Then you should probably vote for Richardson. If high on your list is prior “running” of something.

  I personally like the solidness of John McCain, he actually is the most experienced in that he nearly lost his life for his country. He has a calm presence that is good.
  — Remind me again… what did McCain run? Was he a governor of something? McCain, I think is the best of the GOP lot, but above you blast Obama and all Dems because they have never run anything. Why does McCain get a pass for you?

  While American looks to its new leaders, to choose the next decision maker. someone with GOOD foreign political experience is needed
  — Again… then you should probably vote for Richardson. The guy has actual foreign political experience.

  There are so many opportuntities in our country it would a shame to fall backwards.
  — You left off… “like we have in the last 7 years”.

• 6. vms1  |  January 8th, 2008 at 2:14 pm

  http://quizrocket.com/political-party-quiz?gatherer_id=100332&gclid=CIjsz5q555ACFQ2nGgodTCH8Wg

  check out survey.

  who r u cheering for?

• 7. Joe  |  January 8th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

  I’ve seen quizes like that, but usually it is which CANDIDATE is best for you.
  This is the first I’ve seen of which PARTY is best for you. Why would you care? So it wouldn’t matter if a candidate of the other party is a perfect match for you, would you not vote for him?

  That certainly doesn’t seem like the way to go vms1.

• 8. vms1  |  January 8th, 2008 at 2:35 pm

  I doubt if candidates of the other party are a match. I’ve been Rep. for years. Lived in Texas for 38 yrs. prior to living on East Coast.

  the survey requires to purchase something- most people should make their own decision. Which candidate is best truely is the way to choose. I added the survey to see if you would look…LOL

  Problem with most folks is that they DON’T care about the party thing. It’s become more of a marketing thing than a really system of a choice as to what they stand for.

  No one is really talking about what they would do. that is why I mentioned it is really to early to tell. Now, I mention John McCain- based on what has been available. I haven’t seen many things on Richardson.

• 9. Joe  |  January 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

  Fair enough vms.
  I’m an Independent. I voted for Bush in 2000 (and was quickly disappointed). I voted for Clinton before that. I highly suggest NOT blindly following a party and look into the candidates themselves.
  Look into Richardson, I’m guessing he doesn’t make it past Feb 5th, but I can still hold out hope.

• 10. vms1  |  January 8th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

  Your a true American Joe….thanks! I know blindly following a party is not good either.
  I will look into Richardson—does he have a website?

• 11. Joe  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

  http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/home

  Governor, UN Ambassador, Congressman, negotiator… etc.

• 12. Kahn  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

  Watching the video of the Obama staffer deliberately blocking O’Reilly’s camera man, I had to ask: how is this positive change?

  If Obama is REALLY for change, wouldn’t he reach across the divide? Wouldn’t he tell us what he’s going to do? Tell us about the compromises?

  I really don’t see how vilifying and attempting to block a news commentary outlet is change. Hillary does it all the time.

• 13. Joe  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

  Kahn,
  I haven’t seen the video, but from what I’ve heard O’Reilly wanted the guy to move and he didn’t. I’m not one to say if it was on purpose or what. But what the hell does that have to do with Obama? Obama wasn’t the one that made the staffer block anything.
  That is just a sour GOPer raising something that is so insignificant that it isn’t worth dealing with… unless you are Big Bad Bill O’Reilly.

• 14. Just Another Taxpayer  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

  To anyone whose interested,

  December hires fell far short of expectations. The housing market is bad and getting worse.(Two million foreclosures last year.) The market has lost 10% of its value in the last 2 weeks. Even Bush has had to concede that the market is sending increasingly mixed signals, and is reportedly contemplating a govt. stimulus package.
  Anyone heard any suggestions from anyone, buisiness leaders, politicians, anyone, how we’re going to keep this slide from turning into an avalanche?

• 15. sleepygene  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

  There are fears of not having enough ballots in the big towns because of record turnout. Some are predicting 500K, that is more than voted in the 2006 midterm. I would suggest this bodes well for Osama and Huckleberry. Huckleberry won’t win he will come in third nipping Mittsy heels.

  Osama vs. McCain in Nov. would be good for this country. Two grown ups with integrity.

• 16. Kahn  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

  Joe - First, I note you admit to post out of ignorance. That makes your advice suspect.

  But, well watch it.

  It’s not just that he wouldn’t move. The guy is like 6′6″ walked up and stood in front of the camera. It looks deliberate. But when the cameraman moved (more than once) so did the guy. That takes the argument out of it.

  So why no discipline from the great change engine? I ask, is this change? How? How is this better? The staffer is his agent. Look it up. What he does in Obamas name, Obama does unless he redresses it.

  More hatred, hostility, and anger doesn’t look positive to me. Your post kind of helps prove it by the way. Well, it does if you’re a change oriented Obama person. Are you? You think this should impress us?

• 17. sleepygene  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

  oops…. Mittsy’s heels.

• 18. sleepygene  |  January 8th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

  Kahn-

  I watched the video and heard DildO’Reilly’s explanation of the incident before the video was released. In his explanation he said he never touched the tall dude, and clearly from the video he does push the tall dude and then the SS comes an DildO’Reilly calms down. Then him and Senator Osama chat and it is all pleasant like. I think Osama’s campaign may have told his goon to block THE FACTOR, but O”Reilly is an obnoxious douche and made himself look that way on camera once again. Hey it is what Bill does best.

• 19. js  |  January 8th, 2008 at 4:26 pm

  Lets just hope Obama n Hillery dont team up. Could you imagine a corrupt inexperienced administration with a female VP that denies she had S-E-X with so and so?

• 20. sleepygene  |  January 8th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

  Kahn-

  Check out this video about with O’Reilly and Obama. I know it is slanted towards Obama, but he does have some reason to freeze out Fox.

  http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/08/will-barack-obama-go-on-fox-news/#more-25096

  JS, you are a dope there is no way Osama and Hitlary are going to be on the same ticket. What are you talking about who is denying they had sex with whom?

• 21. Casper  |  January 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

  I predict Romney (1st), McCain (2nd), Huckabee (3rd). Obama will pull a lot of Independents from McCain.

  On the Dem side: Obama (1st), Clinton (2nd), Edwards (3rd). Edwards will come in closer to Clinton than everyone expects.

• 22. Ricorun  |  January 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

  I mostly agree with Casper, except I think the large turnout could favor McCain.

• 23. Casper  |  January 8th, 2008 at 4:59 pm

  Kahn, I have a hard time believing that Obama would give instructions to his staff to block Fox News. What would be the point?

• 24. Casper  |  January 8th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

  Rico,
  You could be right. It really depends on how independents Obama draws. This is one contest where a vote foe Obama takes away a vote for McCain.

• 25. Ricorun  |  January 8th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

  Casper: This is one contest where a vote foe Obama takes away a vote for McCain.

  It wouldn’t bother me if there were another contest of that very same sort in several months.

• 26. Reg Dwight  |  January 8th, 2008 at 5:27 pm

  Funny, how the GOP has been set for months to trash HC as Satan’s HandMaiden, drive her negatives as high as they can go so they can win in November. Obama has thrown that plan overboard.

  So what will the GOP run on?

  a. Stay in Iraq forever and prop up the corrupt al-Malaki regime as they cut deals with Iran?

  b. The economy is great if you’re making $560K/year and have most of your money in Euros in a Swiss bank?

  I think the GOP will be eaten alive this fall.

• 27. phnx  |  January 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

  Wasn’t Richardson (along with Halfbright) responsible for negotiating the deal that was supposed to stop the the North Koreans from developing nuclear weapons?

  That was certainly effective.

• 28. Casper  |  January 8th, 2008 at 5:45 pm

  Ricorun,
  This is the most excited I’ve been over a presidential election in years. There are three Republicans I could support at this point; Romney, McCain, or Huckabee. There are also three Democrats I good go for; Obama, Edwards, or Richardson. It’s nice to have choices.

• 29. neocon  |  January 8th, 2008 at 5:59 pm

  Reg,

  I think the Dems are making a huge leap of faith with Obama. Granted the man is highly intelligent, very personable and engaging. However his lack of experience is glaring and his yet-to-be-exposed left leaning policies, which are even further left than Hillary, will not play well in the general.

  That being said the best counter punch to Obama is Romney in my opinion. McCain does not repressent change, which I believe is needed, and Huckabee is too liberal on social issues. Romney is extremely intelligent, very personable and articulate and has far, far more real world experience than Obama.

  The kicker is Health Care, which the Dems want to own, but Romney will take even that away from them.

  Romney/Giulani ‘08. That’s the winning ticket.

• 30. js  |  January 8th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

  It would actually be good for Obama to win.

  Funny, he is the one thats most vulnerable too. The real truth is, it will be easy to beat him in November.

  “Heres to the hills slide!!”

• 31. westmich  |  January 8th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

  I am going out on a limb and saying Paul.

  I was really leaning towards McCain, personally, but the more I look into Ron Paul the more I like him. That is who I will be voting for in the primary and hopefully in November. Assuming the media bias, especially Fox, doesn’t completely shut him out.

• 32. JHL  |  January 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm

  Here are some interesting poll numbers that might provide some insight into whom the Republican nominee will be come summer.
  New Hampshire exit polls of Republicans show that 49% are dissatisfied and angry with Bush, his policies and his administration.
  This is of Republicans, not independents or the socialists. Errrr Democrats.
  Let the attacks on me begin!

• 33. Casper  |  January 8th, 2008 at 7:45 pm

  CNN, and NYT have declared McCain winner. If so Romney is toast.

• 34. phnx  |  January 8th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

  westmich if you are considering Ron Paul you need to read this:

  http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e2f15397-a3c7-4720-ac15-4532a7da84ca

• 35. phnx  |  January 8th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

  JHL I have heard, but not seen polling data reporting that 65% of the republicans voting in NH are satisfied with the job the Bush is doing. So what? He’s not running.

  But I do hope that Dems continue to run against him instead of providing a clear cut positive vision for the future of America.

  BTW: HOPE is not a strategy.

• 36. neocon  |  January 8th, 2008 at 8:16 pm

  Casper,

  A second in Iowa, a second in NH, and winning Wyoming over the weekend would suggest that Romney can sustain. Now if he could win Michigan, he may become the front runner.

• 37. Kahn  |  January 8th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

  sleepy - “I think Osama’s campaign may have told his goon to block THE FACTOR, but O”Reilly is an obnoxious douche ”

  Soooo, it’s OK to act hostile to O’Reilly, because he deserves it?

  1. Obama’s people were deliberately hostile and haven’t been (to my knowledge) reprimanded. O’Reilly correctly points out that Obama has refused ALL serious news shows and interviewers opting instead for Tyra and shows like that.

  2. Edwards still refuses to answer ANYTHING Fox asks. Why shut out 20 million viewers? His hostility is palpable.

  3. Hillary (to her credit) did at least go on the Sunday show. Thats where she cackled like a hen at any questions she didn’t like.

  So I ask, where is the change? What is different? How would a president Edwards, Obama, or Clinton get things done if they are still going to be part of the partisanship problem? Without a veto proof majority in both houses, they won’t be able to do anything. They can’t just float legislation that is obviously flawed hoping to gain political points when Republicans kill it. Thats what Pelosi and Reed do now. How will they be different?

  Isn’t this about change? So, what change? Work with us? Or gag us and take our guns? Because honestly, thats what it looks like Democrats may be planning. Well, at least that explanation fits their hostility.

• 38. JHL  |  January 8th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

  Pheonix:
  What you heard is incorrect. The point is, if the poll is representative of a microcosim of the attitudes of Republicans (albeit in New Hampshire but lets extrapolate the results to the rest of the country) and 97% of the socialists marxists liberals atheists errrr Democrats in New Hampshire share the same opinion and if the country is still divided 50 50, then the Republican candidate, whomever that might be has a tough row to hoe because he (no woman Republican is runing) cannot pledge to continue the same failed policies and attitudes because members of both parties combined reject them. This does not even include independents. One has to only look at the turn out thus far in 2 states to see how seriously Americans are taking this election.
  This website is an alter to all things Bush and only having being forced to accept reality that he cannot run anymore was obliged to change it’s name.
  I am glad that McCain won. I wish he was younger. But if he relies on his support of Bush’s policies and plans to continue them, he will loose by a greater margin than I predict any Republican candidate will loose by come November.

• 39. Casper  |  January 8th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

  “Edwards still refuses to answer ANYTHING Fox asks. Why shut out 20 million viewers? His hostility is palpable.”

  Not sure were you got the 20 million. They’ve never had had many viewers.

• 40. Retired Spook  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

  Some late thought here before hitting the sack. I realize they already called the race for McCain , but in the last 30-45 minutes the McCain-Romney numbers have gone from 38-28 to 37-32. Romney is not “toast”.

  On the Dem side, it’s a 2-3% edge for Mrs. Clinton with all the college towns yet to report.

  To me, all this points to a wide open race on both sides. I’d love to see it go all the way to the conventions without a clearcut nominee on either side. I think it would assure a higher level of interest across the board, which, IMHO, would be a healthy thing for American politics.

• 41. Mark Noonan  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

  Spook,

  Agreed - and I’m getting more certain of open conventions on both sides, though there’s a lot more chance of that in the GOP than in the Democratic party.

• 42. phnx  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

  JHL,

  I still fail to see your point. Is anyone running on support of Bush? Bush and Iraq will not be the issue in November. The issues will be:
  1. Immigration (Notice none of the Dems have even talked about this, because its a big looooser for them.)
  2. Healthcare (Everyone has a plan, the question is how and who will pay for it?)
  3. Taxes: (Do we end tax cuts to become a socialist state and redistribute even more wealth or do we make the tax cut permanent to grow the economy?)
  4. Homeland Security: (Do we or do we not believe that there is a fundementalist Muslim movement (call it what you want) that is intent on destroying our country?)
  5. The economy (see 3 above because it all hinges on that).
  6. Energy policy & energy independence (Do we all trade our cars for bicycles and rollerskates or do we build nuclear power stations, start to tap domestic sources, and develop alternative sources?)

• 43. phnx  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

  I think that Super Duper Tuesday in February will decide it for both sides, certainly the Dems.

  Edwards is toast. If he wants to have a shot he needs to cut a deal and throw his support behind Obama.

• 44. Mark Noonan  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

  phnx,

  In my view, the war will be a very central issue - if the Democrats nominate anyone other than Hillary Clinton, who is the only Democrat who hasn’t completely denounced Iraq and thus could pretend - with MSM help - that she was for victory all along. With the war a clear success, we’ll start to have victory parades for our troops in the summer…and the Democrats who called the war a failure in 2007 will have some ’splainin’ to do…

• 45. Mark Noonan  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

  Real Clear Politics says that McCain won by GOP vote (keep in mind, Independents vote in both Donk and GOP primary) by 5 percentage points…this augurs well for him, as his weakness in 2000 was in GOP primary voters.

• 46. Brian  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:50 pm

  If Hillary wins the primary, do you think that “willing suspension of disbelief” line will come back to haunt her?

• 47. Mark Noonan  |  January 8th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

  Brian,

  Yep - and for all the Democrats, all their statements will come back to haunt them…Obama is just up there now saying he’ll end the war in Iraq. Supposing he gets the nomination, what will he do at the victory parade in August? For a smart guy, he really hasn’t got a clue.

• 48. JHL  |  January 8th, 2008 at 10:12 pm

  Mark Noonan says…”with the war a clear sucess”…
  Sorry Mark. This “war” as you so desperatly are engaged in and so feverently belive in and pray so much that America and American christians will somehow prevail in their religious attitudes towards the rest of the world in order to throw your mental blanket over all of us has failed and will continue to fail. The faction of the political party that you have made a personal, intellectual and business commitment to is crumbling before your very eyes, has it not?
  If you are capable of rational objective critical thinking then surely you must come to the conclusion that the support you give to a religiously biased entity is the only sourse of your stength. And since you suffer from self deluison this supposed attribute that you think you have only goes to be the ultimate source of your blogosphere downfall.
  Basically you have problems. Your sister is a Marxist. Your dad (god bless him) is 81 and all of a sudden he changes his vote registration?
  At your proud behest?
  But you make aspertions that McGovern is senile.
  ~ same age but more representative of that which you dispise.
  Roses are Red. Violets Blue.
  I can’t imagine what it’s like to be you.

• 49. Mark Noonan  |  January 8th, 2008 at 10:20 pm

  JHL,

  I can, on the other hand, imagine what it must be like to be you. Turn your life over to Christ, it’ll all start getting better.

• 50. Brian  |  January 8th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

  Some of the political pundits are actually crediting Hillary’s teary breakdown with helping her to win.

  Does this mean that she’s going to start crying in public every time she falls behind in the polls?

• 51. js  |  January 8th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

  Christians just dont get the credit they deserve. This was not a war by Christians. Its an American war, yes. Yes, a very high number of Americans profess to be Christians. But the Church didnt send us to war.

  Only idiots think that way. Im getting to believe that the term democrat is synonymous with the word idiot, they all think alike (if you call it thinking).

• 52. Kahn  |  January 8th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

  Casper, sorry - gotta admit I heard that someplace and wasn’t sure. So for the first time, I searched on Fox News. Boy, there are a lot of people that hate them. I mean hate. The arguments and twists in logic I read were incredible.

  But, here is what I’ve learned:
  ” In the evenings, or prime time, an average of 1.59 million people watched Fox News in 2005, up from 1.47 million in 2004. That is more than double the 725,000 watching CNN, whose median prime time viewership dropped by 90,000, from 815,000 in 2004. MSNBC had a median prime time audience in 2005 of 335,000 viewers, slightly less than the 341,000 viewers a year earlier.

  During the day, 901,500 people watched Fox News at any given moment. The median audience of CNN was less than half that number, at 448,500. Roughly half that number again watched MSNBC— 229,500 (an increase for the channel from 224,000 a year earlier). ”

  Source: http://www.stateofthenewsmedia.org/2006/narrative_cabletv_audience.asp?cat=3&media=6

  Also, here is an interesting article on polarization of news outlets. I wonder which others besides Fox would be considered conservative?

  http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=215

• 53. Faceplant  |  January 8th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

  “I still fail to see your point. Is anyone running on support of Bush? Bush and Iraq will not be the issue in November. The issues will be:
  1. Immigration (Notice none of the Dems have even talked about this, because its a big looooser for them.)”

  In polls that ask people what the number one issue should be for the next President immigration ranks somewhere around 6 or 7 percent nationally. And it’s a big loser for Democrats? That’s funny, that isn’t what the polls say.

  ——————————————————————————–

  Problems and Priorities See also: Political parties (handling the issues)

  ——————————————————————————–

  Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.

  .

  .

  NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Dec. 14-17, 2007. N=1,008 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

  .

  “Let me list some issues that have been proposed for the federal government to address. Please tell me which one of these items you think should be the top priority for the federal government. [See below.]” If more than one: “Well, if you had to choose just one, which do you think should be the top priority?”

  .

  %
  The war in Iraq 18
  Health care 18
  Job creation and economic growth 14
  Illegal immigration 12
  Terrorism 9
  Energy and the cost of gas 8
  The environment and global warming 7
  Foreign policy and Iran 5
  All equally (vol.) 8
  Unsure 1

  ——————————————————————————–

  CBS News/New York Times Poll. Dec. 5-9, 2007. N=1,133 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

  .

  “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?” Open-ended

  .

  %
  War in Iraq
  25
  Economy/Jobs
  12
  Health care
  7
  Immigration
  4
  Environment
  3
  Gas/Heating oil crisis
  3
  Poverty/Homelessness
  3
  Terrorism (general)
  3
  Other
  36
  Unsure
  4

  ——————————————————————————–

  Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll. Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2007. N=1,245 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

  .

  “What issue or problem do you consider the top priority for candidates running for president to address this election? Is it the war in Iraq, or protecting the country from terrorist attacks, or the economy, or education, or the environment, or health care issues, or illegal immigration, or other social issues, such as abortion and gay rights, or is there another issue?” Two replies accepted

  .

  %
  War in Iraq
  32
  Economy
  25
  Health care
  19
  Terrorism
  18
  Illegal immigration
  15
  Education
  10
  Environment
  5
  Other social issues
  5
  Other
  4
  None/All (vol.)
  10
  Unsure
  1

  ——————————————————————————–

  Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2007. N=1,002 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 4 (for all registered voters).

  .

  “In deciding which presidential candidate to support in 2008, which one of the following issues is most important to you: [see below]?” Options rotated

  .

  ALL Repub-
  licans Demo-
  crats Indepen-
  dents
  % % % %
  The economy and jobs 22 14 30 19
  Iraq 19 13 26 19
  Health care 17 14 22 15
  Terrorism and national security 15 27 5 14
  Taxes and government spending 10 16 4 11
  Immigration 7 10 3 8
  The environment and global warming 5 1 7 8
  Other/None of these (vol.)
  1 2 - 1
  Unsure
  4 3 3 5

  ——————————————————————————–

  CBS News Poll. Oct. 12-16, 2007. N=1,143 registered voters nationwide.

  .

  “Which one issue would you most like to hear the candidates for president discuss during the 2008 presidential campaign?” Open-ended

  .

  %
  War in Iraq
  26
  Health care
  25
  Economy/Jobs
  11
  Immigration
  6
  Education
  3
  Environment
  2
  Social Security
  2
  Defense/Military
  2
  Terrorism (general)
  2
  Abortion
  1
  Other
  12
  Unsure
  8

  ——————————————————————————–

  ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Sept. 4-7, 2007. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Fieldwork by TNS.

  .

  “Thinking ahead to the November 2008 presidential election, what is the single most important issue in your choice for president?” Open-ended

  .

  %
  War in Iraq
  35
  Health care
  13
  Economy/Jobs
  11
  Terrorism/National security
  6
  Ethics/Corruption in government
  6
  Immigration/Illegal immigration
  5
  Morals/Family values
  2
  Other
  13
  Unsure
  9

  ——————————————————————————–

  NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Neil Newhouse (R). July 27-30, 2007. N=1,005 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1 (for all adults). Several items asked of half the sample.

  .

  “When it comes to [see below], which party do you think would do a better job — the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or both about the same? If you think that neither would do a good job, please just say so.”

  Dealing with immigration:
  Democratic party 29%
  Republican party 19%
  Both about the same 19%
  Neither 26%
  Unsure 7%

  Do you just make this stuff up as you go along phnx?

  “2. Healthcare (Everyone has a plan, the question is how and who will pay for it?)”

  Dealing with Healthcare:
  Democratic Party 49%
  Republican Party 13%
  Both about the Same 14%
  Neither 21%
  Unsure 3%

  “3. Taxes: (Do we end tax cuts to become a socialist state and redistribute even more wealth or do we make the tax cut permanent to grow the economy?)”

  Why don’t we ask the American people what they think of Republican ideas on taxes?

  Dealing with Taxes:
  Democratic Party 36%
  Republican Party 27%
  Both About the Same 14%
  Neither 18%
  Unsure 15%

  “4. Homeland Security: (Do we or do we not believe that there is a fundementalist Muslim movement (call it what you want) that is intent on destroying our country?)”

  Huh? When has the existence of Al Queda ever been questioned?

  “5. The economy (see 3 above because it all hinges on that).”

  And what do the American people think?

  Dealing with the Economy:
  Democratic Party 41%
  Republican Party 26%
  Both About the Same 17%
  Neither 12%
  Unsure 4%

  “6. Energy policy & energy independence (Do we all trade our cars for bicycles and rollerskates or do we build nuclear power stations, start to tap domestic sources, and develop alternative sources?)”

  And who do people trust to make energy independence happen?

  Dealing with Energy Policy:
  Democratic Party 41%
  Republican Party 17%
  Both About the Same 20%
  Neither 15%
  Unsure 7%

  Doesn’t look good no matter how you slice it.

• 54. phil  |  January 9th, 2008 at 8:07 am

  Well at least Mitt won Wyoming. Small consolation that, but consolation for Camp Romney nevertheless. But he outspent Huckabee 10 to 1 in Iowa and got hammered. He outspent McCain by a similar margin in New Hampshire and got hammered there too. Mitt was well known as a frugal manager during his days at Bain Capital (witness the thousands of people laid off due to the corporate austerity measures he instituted) but there is nothing frugal about wasting tens of millions of dollars in a vain (and increasingly futile) attempt to get people to like him.

  Now it’s off to Michigan where in spite (or perhaps because) of Mitt’s history there the 2 largest newspapers in the state have already endorsed McCain. With another disastrous loss there Mitt risks being a well-coifed afterthought in the 2008 campaign.

  In his concession speech last night Mitt reminisced about how well he got to know the people of New Hampshire during the campaign. Unfortunately for Mitt however, the people of New Hampshire got to know him as well, and they clearly did not like what they learned. They got to see what the people of Iowa and Massachusetts already knew; that behind the polished façade lurks a shameless prevaricator, a man ruled by political expediency who will say anything, change any position, violate any trust–all with a smile. Mitt has spent millions to sell himself to primary voters, but he has found out the hard way that insincerity doesn’t sell. The larger problem for the Mittster at this point is that he can’t re-invent himself again without looking like even more of a flip flopper. He’s stuck being the guy with all the skills, with the right resume, the looks, everything…but that nobody seems to like (except you people, of course).

  Its desperation time in Mitt land, the Mittanic is listing heavily. It will make it as far as Michigan, after that…who knows?

  Have a nice day,

  Phil

Matt Margolis on Twitter