Erick Erickson's Blog, page 150

How Many Male Semi-Pornographic Pictures Does Anthony Weiner Have on His Blackberry?

Anthony Weiner is now offering up this to CNN.

It certainly doesn't look familiar to me, but I don't want to say with certitude to you something that I don't know to be the certain truth," Weiner told CNN in an interview.

If Anthony Weiner cannot "say with certitude" that it was his weiner on twitter, how many other men's weiners does Anthony Weiner have on his blackberry. After the last 48 hours, it is a bridge too far to say the picture did not come from Anthony Weiner.

He says he won't talk further about the case to protect his wife. They've only been married about a year.

It is increasingly clear that Anthony Weiner is a pervert and if he is protecting his wife, it is to protect her from the truth that she is married to a cad.

When will Anthony Weiner resign out of the shame of showing America his eponymous organ? I won't hold my breath, considering Barney Frank is still there after the whole brothel thing. Frank and Weiner — they could open some sort of sordid law firm together.

The Horserace and More Weinergate #EERS

There is late breaking word today that Sarah Palin has met with Fox News Executives. That all ties into the horse race that I'll kick off the show with live at 7:05 p.m. ET today.

You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

Consider this an open thread.

Mike Haridopolos Needs To Put Whatever He Uses On His Hair Into His Spine

This is embarrasing.

This morning, Haridopolos got thrown off a Florida radio show for going wobbly on the Paul Ryan Medicare plan, including not wanting to say yes or no on whether he supports it.

Then, his campaign issued a press release, which you can read below the fold. The key nugget of which is this line, "I absolutely support the goals of the Ryan Plan to cut federal government deficit spending and applaud Rep. Ryan's bold leadership in putting forth an intelligent and serious plan to tackle the largest issue confronting our nation." That line is subsequently repeated in the 222 words.

In between the repetition is this: "While I support almost every provision of the Ryan Plan, I believe that it must be amended to provided greater protections for Seniors."

After all that, Haridopolos is now a solid "no" on the Ryan plan, claiming he'd vote against it.

What. The. Heck?! Perhaps he needs to take some of whatever he puts in his hair to keep it stiff and put it on his spine instead.

Full statement below the fold.

US Senate candidate Mike Haridopolos made the following statement regarding his strong support for protecting Florida's Seniors.

I absolutely support the goals of the Ryan Plan to cut federal government deficit spending and applaud Rep. Ryan's bold leadership in putting forth an intelligent and serious plan to tackle the largest issue confronting our nation. Rep. Ryan's leadership in actually putting forth a plan to tackle the deficit is in stark contrast to the irresponsibility demonstrated by President Obama and the Democratic Senate who have failed to pass a budget for over 750 days, adding trillions to the debt during that time. While I support almost every provision of the Ryan Plan, I believe that it must be amended to provided greater protections for Seniors.

Fighting for Seniors is not new to me. One of the main reasons I fought ObamaCare, including passing Florida's Health Care Freedom Act, is because of the devastating cuts it dealt to Seniors, cutting $500 billion from Medicare to fund ObamaCare-Welfare programs.

Again, I absolutely support the goals of the Ryan Plan and believe in almost all of the provisions to cut federal government deficit spending and address entitlements. As a candidate for the US Senate, I am the only person in this race with a proven record of reforming entitlements [Medicaid, Government Pensions, and Welfare] and a demonstrated commitment to making cuts to balance the budget in the state of Florida without increasing taxes or fees.

This Week's Horse Race

It's been a few weeks since I've done one of these. A lot has happened since then.

Let's get started and, again, we'll go in alphabetical order.

Just note that I'm putting Sarah Palin and Rick Perry outside the list, since they are just speculation right now and I want to deal with them first, above the fold.

Sarah Palin

I still think Sarah Palin is not running. Given the leaks and buzz about Fox News pressuring Gingrich, Santorum, and Huckabee to make up their minds and that we are not hearing this about Sarah Palin suggests to me that they know she is not running. UPDATE at 4:27 p.m.: That might have just changed.

All that said, as this bus tour rolls along, I think she is seeing if she can affect an uptick in favorability ratings. If she can, I think she might change her mind. Should Palin get in, she will be a game changer. A Michele Bachmann candidacy loses its allure. Pawlenty has trouble continuing his stead build up. Cain disappears off the headlines. It's all Palin all the time.

And I'd note that the issue with Bachmann is not because they are the two women. The issue is that they are the two fighters. If the men were fighting like the women, there wouldn't be a sustained and steady call for Bachmann and Palin to get into the race. They say what must be said.

Rick Perry

I believe Rick Perry needs to get into the Presidential race. He needs to get in now. The clear economic difference between Texas and the rest of the nation presents a compelling picture for a Perry run.

Should Perry get in, expect two funny things to happen. (1) The Bushies will throw every bit of dirt they possibly have at Perry because the Bushies do not like Rick Perry. (2) The Democrats will tar and feather Rick Perry as the second coming of George W. Bush. The media will gravitate toward the second and largely feed off of the first.

That makes Perry's hill much tougher to climb, but it is totally doable and a Perry candidacy, coupled with the message from his book Fed Up, is a winner within the primary during a year like 2012. His support would come from across the board, taking from almost any candidate in the race, including Romney. Likewise, his candidacy would undermine Newt Gingrich's bid as Newt is running with Perry's team. I can't imagine them staying with Newt should Perry get in.

Rudy Giuliani

One more wild card to dispense with before we go below the fold. A CNN poll shows that were Giuliani to get in, he'd be in the lead. I think he'd hurt Romney and I think his campaign strategy would hurt Huntsman. But I don't see how Giuliani would be able to solidify support among major donors after his disastrous run in 2008. Likewise, I fail to see the rational for a Giuliani candidacy this time around. When national security and leadership issues were the big issues in 2008, it made sense. But with the economy being the big issue now, Giuliani is too far removed from his successful career as mayor of New York to make a strong pitch on this front.

Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann's campaign continues to build steam. Her Chief of Staff is leaving her congressional office to help with the campaign. If Palin gets in, I don't see that Bachmann has staying power. Without Palin and with Bachmann's zeal to fight the left, I think she makes it to Iowa. I just don't see how Bachmann can capitalize on the first three states: Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Iowa will come down to evangelicals and Bachmann is seen as more tea party than evangelical. New Hampshire will want someone perceived as more moderate. South Carolina is going to have a bias for a bigger name. It's just the way it is. And without making significant traction in the first three, I don't think she can survive primary season.

I'm going to be curious to see how Bachmann segments herself in the market. If she comes up with a compelling rationale, it could potentially keep out Palin and hurt Cain.

Herman Cain

Cain continues to surprise. He is fifth in the latest CNN poll, ahead of bigger names. He is 2nd in Iowa according to PPP. I maintain that Cain will be this year's Mike Hucakbee, even though Rove and Krauthammer disagree. If he gets second in Iowa — and that is a big if given who else might get in and the time until Iowa — Cain will put himself into a secure position to be considered a VP. He's going to have to hit everything right, though, to get the nomination.

Newt Gingrich

It was smart of Gingrich to go under the radar these last few weeks. The press attention and conservative activists have not been good for him. If Perry gets in, Gingrich's campaign is going to see major shakeups. That might actually help him, but I get the sense that will ultimately be his undoing.

He continues to vie for the same crowd as Romney. If Giuliani gets in, it helps Gingrich if only because evangelical women in Iowa will have someone else to heap scorn on. But, women primary voters continue to be a sore point for Gingrich.

Jon Huntsman

I think Huntsman still can do well in New Hampshire, but I don't yet see him getting support outside the press. If anything, so much favorable press attention has made it tougher for him. He's not going to play well in Iowa. He'll have to fight Romney and maybe Giuliani for New Hampshire. He'll be a bust in South Carolina. That leaves what? Nevada where he'll do okay and Florida where he won't? Pffffft.

Gary Johnson

I'm leaving the same thing I wrote two weeks ago, except I'll add this: Ron Paul goes further than Gary Johnson.

He and Ron Paul will go nowhere except at each others' throats competing for the slim pickings of college students not too stoned to stay home and libertarian voters too ashamed to vote libertarian. It will amount to a lot of hot air and the aggravation equivalent of termites and lice, but in the end, actual primary election days will function like turpentine to the scalp of the Republican Primary.

Ron Paul

See Gary Johnson above.

Tim Pawlenty

Slow and steady, Pawlenty keeps making gutsy moves that are getting him noticed by donors and folks in Washington. If Perry or Palin gets in, it hurts Pawlenty tremendously. But I think he continues playing his hand better than any of the others with fewer unforced errors. I still expect, at this point, that he's the odds on favorite for the nomination. That's not an endorsement, or a bias in his favor, just an observation based on who else exists currently in the field and how those campaigns are doing in relation to Pawlenty's.

Mitt Romney

The front runner, Romney keeps making errors, though I think he shrewdly played off Pawlenty's ethanol rejection to get in good with people in Iowa. That might help him and hurt Pawlenty, but I also think it leaves a bad taste in people's mouths as too opportunistic. Between that and an embrace of Romneycare, I think Mitt may be the front runner, but will have too much baggage to cross the finish line — particularly if Perry and/or Giuliani get in the race.

Rick Santorum

I am keeping what I said about Santorum from two weeks ago.

I still don't see him making it to Iowa, but he is pulling in voters who were with Huckabee largely on the strength of his social conservative credentials. Left-wing media attacks on his prior statements are only helping him.

But he is still going to have to overcome the stigma of losing his Senate seat in a swing state in a year Obama was not on the ballot. Likewise, coming from the Senate continues to be a drain on Republicans. I continue to have a hard time trying to figure out exactly why Santorum is in the race.

If Palin gets in, I think Santorum's run ends sooner rather than later. Without her, he's got some basic staying power, but I don't think he'll have the funds to compete effectively.

Why Adam Hasner Remains The Conservative Choice for Florida

It has been the big issue for weeks on end. The media is demanding to know where Republicans stand on Paul Ryan's plan to save Medicare.

Just a few weeks ago, Adam Hasner, my pick for the Senate in Florida, came out swinging in favor of Paul Ryan's plan — and he even made his pitch to senior citizens in Florida.

Compare him to Mike Haridopolos, the Florida Senate Majority Leader who is best known for getting paid to write a text book for a public college that was so lame the college never used it. He went on a radio show in Orlando and couldn't answer the question. The host of the show threw him off the air.

Whether we wanted to fight this fight or not, we are now. And the GOP can either fight to win or fold. If they fold, they lose. This is just another reason why I'm with Adam Hasner. He's not afraid of the fight.

Using Twitter With RedState

I realize this is really random administrivia, but I have lately used the "tweet" button on posts at RedState (you have to go into the individual posts and look at the bottom of the post to see the button) and been disappointed to see credit given to @RedState for the content.

It does't have to be that way.

For example, if you click the tweet button on this post, a window will come up and it will show that this post comes "via @ewerickson".

We want you to be able to get credit for your posts on twitter too.

If you edit your profile by going to http://www.redstate.com/INSERT USER IDwp-admin/profile.php and scroll to the bottom, just before the "update profile" button, you'll see this:

Insert your twitter ID without the "@". Then click "update profile".

From then on, when someone clicks the tweet button on a post you've written, you'll get credited in twitter.

Weinergate Continues With Four Questions

It is becoming increasingly obvious that Anthony Weiner sent a college co-ed a picture of his . . . well I'm not sure which word I should use . . . weiner . . . on twitter.

CNN Reporter Dana Bash has the four questions Congressman Weiner needs to answer:

Is the picture of the Congressman?
Why did the Congressman hire a lawyer?
Why won't the Congressman let law enforcement handle the matter?
Why is Congressman Weiner following a 21 year old college student on twitter?

For those of you unfamiliar with twitter, you have the ability to follow other people on Twitter. It is not automatic. You must opt to do it. And Congressman Weiner had, prior to this incident, opted to follow the Seattle college student to whom the picture was sent.

He will not call for an investigation. He has not reported it to the FBI or police. He has instead lawyered up. In a very awkward interview yesterday, he refused to answer Dana Bash's simple question of whether or not it was his pornographic picture that he sent. Weiner instead wanted to talk about pies and called a CNN producer a jackass for trying to get him to answer.

The married Congressman Weiner, on twitter, sent an inappropriate picture to a 21 year old college co-ed in Washington State. He did so publicly and is now lying.

Either this statement is true, or Anthony Weiner would be demanding an investigation into who hacked his twitter account . . . or was it his Facebook account? The Congressman has given mixed answers on that.

When will Congressman Weiner resign for exposing his weiner to America?

Morning Briefing for June 1, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For June 1, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. Weinergate Continues With Four Questions

2. House votes against raising debt ceiling, 318-97.

3. Obama Seeks Final Death Blow to Auto Industry

4. Sarah Palin Opposes All Energy Subsidies

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1. Weinergate Continues With Four Questions

It is becoming increasingly obvious that Anthony Weiner sent a college co-ed a picture of his . . . well I'm not sure which word I should use . . . weiner . . . on twitter.

CNN Reporter Dana Bash has the four questions Congressman Weiner needs to answer:

Is the picture of the Congressman?
Why did the Congressman hire a lawyer?
Why won't the Congressman let law enforcement handle the matter?
Why is Congressman Weiner following a 21 year old college student on twitter?

For those of you unfamiliar with twitter, you have the ability to follow other people on Twitter. It is not automatic. You must opt to do it. And Congressman Weiner had, prior to this incident, opted to follow the Seattle college student to whom the picture was sent.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. House votes against raising debt ceiling, 318-97.

Which is a surprise, given that I didn't think that there were 318 Republicans in the House… no, wait, there aren't. 82 Democrats voted against raising the debt limit without accompanying spending cuts; which is highly entertaining, given that 114 House Democrats signed Rep. Peter Welch's letter requesting… precisely this vote. Do compare the signatories to said letter with the no votes on HR 1954: you will notice an entertaining amount of overlap, there.

The hysterical bit? The Democrats are complaining that they didn't get to add amendments to the bill.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Obama Seeks Final Death Blow to Auto Industry

President Obama is trotting out yet another policy aimed at forcing American's to change our ways and embrace the green. Just a few weeks ago, the administration floated the idea of adding yet more taxes to our already overtaxed cars to serve the dual purpose of shoring up revenues as well as curbing driving habits (which one would assume can't both be accomplished simultaneously, but I digress).

He also famously demanded more green to come out of Chrysler during the bailouts. Not green as in cash of course, rather green in the environmental whacko dream of tiny cars devoid of style and features. Luckily for the American taxpayer, Chrysler realized how bad for business this would be and promptly ignored the demands of the green police in favor of gas guzzling SUV's which have helped put the company in a position to pay back government loans.

But now President Obama is embarking on something long promised to his environmental base in the hopes that he can change our habits so he can keep his campaign promise of slowing the rising oceans and healing the Earth.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Sarah Palin Opposes All Energy Subsidies

As the presidential election heats up, we will continue to track where the candidates stand on ethanol and energy subsidies. The issue of ethanol subsidies is vital to conservatives for several reasons. First, ethanol epitomizes everything that is wrong with onerous government interventions; corporate cronyism, market distortions, higher prices for vital goods and services, and government dependency. Also, with food and energy prices at an all time high, ethanol subsidies will provide the eventual Republican nominee with a unique opportunity to use bread and butter issues to educate voters about the virtues of the free market.

Finally, and most importantly, if the Republican nominee lacks the temerity to rebuff a handful of corn welfare recipients in Iowa, he/she will certainly lack the moxie to cut trillions from the millions of dependents on the welfare state.

Last week, Mitt Romney embraced ethanol, Tim Pawlenty disavowed his support for ethanol (while speaking in Iowa), and Newt Gingrich….well, he is Professor Cornpone. Today, Sarah Palin rejected all energy subsidies in a brief interview with reporters in Gettysburg.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Herman Cain's Poll Numbers, Sarah Palin's Scientology Connection, Weiner's Weiner, and my Diversity Training #EERS

We have a jam packed show on the Erick Erickson Show tonight on WSB, which happens to still be the largest talk radio station in the country, if not the world.

The show starts at 7:05 p.m. ET. We're going to get into Herman Cain's poll numbers, Sarah Palin's Scientology connection, and Anthony Weiner's weinergate scandal.

Oh, at 8:05 p.m., I'm going to do my online diversity and sexual harassment training. It has to be done if I want to get paid. I figured if they are going to make me do it, I'd do it tonight while discussing Weinergate.

You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com if you can't pick up 750AM out of Atlanta. You can call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

Consider this an open thread.

Thank Speaker Boehner for Blocking Obama Recess Appointments

You need to call Speaker Boehner's office right now at 202-225-0600 and thank him for the extraordinary step he took this week to slow down President Obama's radical agenda.

With the Obama legislative agenda stalled, the left has turned its attention toward using the Executive power to accomplish their socialist goals. The key to this strategy is to the pack agencies, boards, and commissions such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with leftists like Craig Becker and Elizabeth Warren who will advance the collectivist agenda, regardless of whether there is any legal authority to do so.

The Senate has blocked several of the more radical nominees, but under the Constitution, President Obama has the power to appoint them during a Congressional recess.

Republican Senators warned Obama not to use his recess powers to appoint Becker to the NLRB. He did it anyhow. Becker didn't disappoint, leading the NLRB to accuse Boeing of violating workers rights by opening a plant in South Carlolina.

Observers expect him to appoint leftists to the Obamacare Independent Payment Advisory Board, they expect him to appoint liberal Peter Diamond to the Federal Reserve Board, along with Warren, Becker, and a host of other leftwing radicals. He can even recess appoint Federal judges to rubber stamp his agenda until the end of the Congress.

Obama needs two things in order to do this – (1) a pen (or, I suppose, an autopen), and a (2) a Senate recess. The Constitution is unclear how long a recess is required. Most constitutional scholars say ten days is the minimum. However, there is almost universal agreement among scholars that a recess of less than three days does not trigger the recess appointment power. In 2007, Reid held "pro-forma" Senate sessions every three days, which successfully prevented Bush from making recess appointments.

Which brings us to another provision in the Constitution. Article 1, Section 5 says "Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days[.]". This means that without the consent of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, the Senate cannot adjourn for more than three days, and thus President Obama cannot make any recess appointments.

On Wednesday, 20 Senators led by David Vitter and Jim DeMint wrote a letter to Speaker Boehner asking him to use his authority under Article 1, Section 5 to block the recess appointments.

On Friday, the Examiner reported that Speaker Boehner did not pass a resolution giving the Senate permission to adjourn. Therefore, as he did in 2007, Harry Reid will convene pro-forma sessions today, on Tuesday May 31, and on Friday June 3rd, in order to block his own President from doing recess appointments.

Reid was forced to do this because of the leadership of Speaker Boehner. We must thank our Speaker.

Call Speaker Boehner at 202-225-0600 and thank him for his leadership.

Tell him to continue to refuse to allow the Senate to adjourn for the remainder of the Obama Presidency.