The Right Commentary - First Post

Hello!  I want to welcome you to the first post of a new blog, "The Right Commentary."

The parent blog of The Right Commentary is David's Musings.   Now, I did political commentary on David's Musings for the past three years.  But, since I reopened that blog, I prefer to focus on the lighter side of things, some amusing, some not so amusing.  This blog will focus on politics in the United States of America.  These are turbulent times in which we live.  Unemployment is at a staggering 9.1%, the economy is sinking again, Wall St. is up and down with more downs than ups.  Liberals like to lay the blame at the feet of former President George W. Bush.  No doubt, he shares some blame.

I'm Leaning Toward Mitt Romney

As the subject title states, I am leaning toward Mitt Romney now.  I know he is known as the great "flip-flopper."  I know he has the albatross of "Romneycare" around his neck. I know he is known as a "moderate Republican" which runs counter to all that I believe the Republican Party should be.  I have several other issues with the former governor of Massachusetts.  At one time, prior to this year, there is no way I would have voted for Mitt Romney.  That was before Newt Gingrich came to the forefront of the Republican race for President.  Gingrich is thought of as a "conservative" in some circles. That is total, complete nonsense.  His declaration of Rep. Paul Ryan's budget deficit cuts as "right-wing social engineering" told me all I need to know about this man.  His backdoor amnesty plan for illegal aliens clinched it for me.  He is a big government Republican that we all hoped and prayed had gone the way of the dinosaur.  

The more I learn about Ron Paul, the less I like him.  I would probably vote for Gingrich before I would this anti-Israel, anti-military, isolationist candidate.  Rick Santorum is making inroads in Iowa.  But, he simply doesn't have the drawing power to sustain any kind of momentum for long. Rick Perry may make a move. But, he's probably positioning himself for a future run now. Michelle Bachmann is finished and simply doesn't seem ro realize it.  So, why am I leaning toward Mitt Romney, you may ask?  Simply because he is the strongest candidate, the one who has the best chance at beating President Obama.  I know he is having difficulty getting past that 25% support level.  That will change after Iowa, one way or another.  Right now, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are neck and neck in Iowa.  No one knows who will win that caucus.  If Romney wins Iowa and then wins New Hampshire (where he is heavily favored), the race is basically over.  The rest of the state contests will be simply window dressing.  So, Mitt Romney is my candidate for now.  Will he beat Obama?  I think he can as long as he doesn't make any big mistakes during the campaign. But, with the news media in President Obama's corner, that will be next to impossible for any Republican candidate.

Romneycare Gives Benefits to Illegal Aliens

Governor Rick Perry, whose campaign for the Republican nomination has hit the rocks, has hit Mitt Romney where it hurts most; Romneycare gives benefits to illegal aliens.  Governor Perry's campaign stated, "Governor Romney’s government-mandated healthcare plan provided free care for illegal immigrants in Massachusetts, establishing just the kind of illegal immigration magnet Governor Romney claims to oppose,” Perry spokesman Mark Miner said.  The Perry Campaign also stated that citizenship is not required under the rules of the Health Safety Net which allowed anyone without insurance (including illegals) to go to any medical clinic or hospital to receive medical care at practically no cost.  The Romney Campaign countered that the Health Safety Net Fund was made long after Governor Mitt Romney left office in Massachusetts. However, Perry Campaign spokesmen stated that the Massachusetts Free Care website was updated three days after former Governor Mitt Romney signed the law. In fact, the law clearly states “Your citizenship or immigration status does not affect your eligibility.” 


I must say I find Mitt Romney to be the big hypocritical, flip-flopper that those of us on the Right have always thought him to be.  I have no interest in Rick Perry due to his love affair with illegal aliens in Texas (instate tuition for one thing, heartless if you don't agree is another).  Romney has been blasting Perry for his pandering to illegals  with the instate tuition thing.  All while doing this, Romney had a provision in Romneycare that basically gave free medical assistance to illegal aliens.  I'm really sick of both of these candidates.  Not just due to the fact they are both RINOs.  It goes deeper, to the very core that both men are just big government Republicans in the same manner as Rockefeller,  Nixon and both Bush presidents.  Cain is mopping up both right now according to the latest polls.  It may be, in due part, to his being civil in the debates.  Part of it is that people like the fact he is considered an outsider.  Whatever the reason, Herman Cain is resonating with Republican voters.  Both Romney and Perry better get themselves together.  We get they both like the idea of cheap labor that illegals provide.  What we don't get is why they both are being such hypocrites over the issue of illegals.

I had thought that the economy is what the core of the argument would be in the Republican nomination process.  Right now, it appears that illegal immigration is wounding both Perry and Romney.  Herman Cain?  He's reaping the benefits of the Romney-Perry War.

Herman Cain in Trouble

Herman Cain's less than stellar performance in Tuesday night's GOP debate has seen some chinks in his armor.  None are what you could consider mortal wounds at this juncture.  But, he has had to clarify at least three comments he has made before and during the debate.  One, he obviously made a joke about having an electrified fence about twenty feet high on the Mexican border.  But, he should have known that the news media is very politically correct.  They were not going to let that one pass by.  Cain made it clear he was simply joking.  If it were financially feasible, I would personally like to see some sort of fence that would make illegals think twice before attempting to cross.  His "999" plan was viciously attacked from the outset by Romney, Perry and even an obviously finished Michelle Bachmann.  He said it was like comparing "apples and oranges" without really clarifying what consisted of apples and oranges in his tax plan.  Cain also got into hot water with his less than clear message on abortion.  He initially made it sound as if he were personally against abortion, but felt the government should not intrude on such a personal decision.  That put him on par with people such as Joe Biden, Barack Obama and a host of other liberals.  Cain later stated he was categorically against abortion regardless of consequences.  Taken one by one, the issues were not to be considered hurtful for Cain.  But, taken as a sum of parts, it points to some troubled times a head for Herman Cain.

Herman Cain has to be more clear in explaining his positions on issues.  He states he wants to bring common sense to politics.  But, he is muddying the waters with his vague statements that are important to conservatives such as illegal immigration, taxes and, of course, abortion.  It was not a bad night for Cain.  This has not been what you could call a bad week and debate for Cain.  But, at the same time, one can't say this had been a good week either.  I have been leaning in the Herman Cain direction.  But, I will never again vote for a man whom I know little about.  No, I did not vote for Obama.  But, I wager a lot of people who voted for Obama not only regret that vote, but regret not delving into his past positions on issues.

Like Obama, if Cain is elected as President, he will be a novice in Washington D.C. politics.  He has to learn to avoid the landmines that are there in his path.  Americans want a President who has a clear, concise message.  Herman Cain has shown this week he has work to do to convince the American voters he can be that man.  I believe Mr. Cain can come back.  He has to go on the attack at those who feel his 999 plan is unworkable.  Right now, Herman Cain is on the clock.  His polling is showing people trust him.  But, if he continues to be unable to clarify his positions, those polling numbers will drop like a rock into the ocean.  It definitely is time for a change in American politics.  But, not more of the same as we have seen in Obama.  Cain has to change that perception of himself.

Rick Perry Fading

Tuesday night was another GOP debate in a seemingly endless line of debates.  It seems they have been having debates every week since January.  Once again, the frontrunners, Herman Cain or Mitt Romney, were at center stage, facing withering attacks from third-tier candidates such as Rick Santorum and, alas, Michelle Bachmann.  One former frontrunner, Rick Perry, was also be at the debate.  He must be a glutton for punishment.  He has made himself look foolish, ill-prepared and nonchalant about the whole thing.  True enough, Rick Perry has around $17 million in his war chest.   But, what good is all that money if his poll numbers remain in single digits? 

I've stated before on this blog that Rick Perry's decline can be linked from the time he started supporting illegal aliens.  His Texas Dream Act was unknown by most people (and probably by those people who have contributed money to his campaign).  I don't know how he can make a comeback now.  He can't change what he is and what he is, is a RINO.  He claims to be a fiscal and social conservative.  He is anything but either of the two.  He is George W. Bush Part II in my opinion.  We simply don't need another RINO in the White House.  Barack Obama is a known evil.  We know where he stands on the issues.  But, another character flaw in Perry is that he is not absolutely concrete on where he stands on some issues.  Sure, we know he is all for helping children of illegal aliens.  He made that clear to us with his "heartless" comment.  Again, that was a moment that helped to define the Perry campaign.  It was an ill-advised comment that has continued to haunt him.

I'm not on the Herman Cain bandwagon.  I'm certainly not on the Mitt Romeny bandwagon.  I would vote for either of those two if they were the Republican nominee.  However, if Rick Perry somehow makes a miraculous comeback to win the Republican nomination, I would have to look elsewhere to cast my vote.  I find Perry to be all fluff and no substance.  Furthermore, if he can't stand up to the attacks from Republicans in a debate, how well would he handle attacks from Democrats in Congress  as President?  I don't think we will have to find out.  Perry is done.

Perry's Do or Die Debate

It is do or die time for Rick Perry.  The one time right-wing favorite and darling is barely holding on after two lackluster debates and his seemingly out of touch with reality position on illegal immigration.  It did not help Rick Perry when he told a Republican audience they were "heartless" if they didn't agree with him on providing instate tuition to children of illegal aliens.  Since that comment, he has gone from front-runner to a candidate who is taking a standing eight-count.  Tuesday night's debate in New Hampshire is going to decide if Rick Perry remains in the campaign...or falls out gracefully.  There is simply no room for margin of error in the debate Tuesday night for Rick Perry (author note:  this post is being typed up just prior to Tuesday night's GOP debate).  There can be no "heartless" comment in the GOP debate Tuesday night.  Perry simply can't sit idly by and watch Romney and Cain tear him to shreds on illegal immigration and his economic polices as governor in Texas.  To do so would be political suicide.  The Romney and Cain campaigns smell blood in the water.  I suspect both will try for an early knockout punch in this debate. 

I'll make a prediction here (really going out on a limb here);  I think Rick Perry will give another lackluster performance Tuesday night.  Perry will forever be known as an inferior debater.  It will be a moniker he will never be able to live down.  If he blows up in the debate Tuesday night, I suspect it will forever kill any presidential aspirations by this Texas governor.  Really, Perry has no one to blame but himself.  He should not blame his campaign people, he should not even blame his campaign manager who many will criticize.  Perry went downhill when he started making it known he is a big supporter of illegal aliens and their children.  What Perry, and people like him, fail to recognize is that the American people have to foot the bill for these children of illegal aliens.  Why should we do that?  Don't we have enough problems trying to care for our own children?  Perry took a calculated gamble that his support of instate tuition for these children of illegals would go over well.  It did not work.  As much as he has made a fool out of himself in the debates, his position on illegal immigration has been his downfall.  To their credit, Herman Cain and Mitt Romney have taken advantage of this weakness.  I think they will go after him again Tuesday night on this same issue of illegal immigration to the USA.  Perry will stumble and fumble again on this issue.

Perry started out with such great promise.  Many of his positions on spending and tax cuts are very popular with Republicans.  He seems to have the charisma that many people seek in a presidential candidate.  But, every presidential campaign will reveal a weakness if a candidate has one.  Perry's weaknesses of being a poor debater and coddling of illegal aliens has proven this point.  Now, Rick Perry could prove me wrong.  He could turn it around to have a great debate performance. But, he can't make himself into something he isn't overnight.  He poor performances in the debates aren't going to magically change Perry into Abraham Lincoln.  He can't backtrack on illegal immigration.  Perry would be doing the one thing that is a weakness for Romney right now; he would be characterized as a flip-flopper.  Perry simply doesn't need that accusation at this point in the campaign.

Orlando GOP Debate

 
Thursday night Fox News held the latest GOP debate among Republican Presidential candidates.  I had some lasting impressions that I came away with after watching this debate.  The first and foremost impression I had was Rick Perry mortally wounding himself in defending illegal aliens in Texas.  When Perry stated "You don't have a heart" if you don't want to help children of illegal aliens in this country, he was roundly booed by the crowd.  That is a rather simple indictment on Rick Perry's immigration policy (or lack thereof).  Perry also stated, "We need to be educating these children, because they will become a drag on our society."  Here's a news flash for you, Governor Perry;  Illegals are already a drag on our society.  The notion they take jobs Americans won't do is no longer accepted.  They take up slots in public schools which in turn creates classroom crowding.  They do take social services such as Social Security and Medicare.  If you don't believe it, let me know.  I'll be glad to explain it in more detail.

Michelle Bachmann, I'm sorry to say, is probably finished.  Her poor performance was only made worse when she tried to explain away her remarks  on vaccinations.  She seemed exasperated at times.  Herman Cain made good points, especailly how Obamacare would have killed him when he stated, "Getting treatment on my timetable, not the government’s timetable, saved my life."  Herman Cain is a good man and someone I would feel no hesitation to support if he could possibly win the nomination.  Unfortunately, presidential nominating processes are all about personality and not substance.  Witness the clueless wonder we have as president right now.  His greatest appeal (and still is) is his personality.  Rick Santorum  did well, especially when he was nailing Perry on instate tuition for children of illegal aliens.  He had a good night.  But, again, he just doesn't have the personality that people are searching for in this era of political horse and pony shows.  Ron Paul did well and I personally felt was the winner of the debate.  The problem is that Paul doesn't get many questions in the debates.  He seems a flake and a bit weird at times.  But, overall, he has some good points, especially about supporting the Tenth Amendment.  I was not aware previously he was a states rights supporter.  Romney performed well at times.  But, he spent most of the night on just two issues, social security and illegal immigration.  I might just have to hold my nose and vote for him some day.

Overall, there was nothing earth shattering that came out of the debate.  I do think Perry continued his recent downward trend.  Did he hurt himself enough to lose the Florida primary?  Last reports were that he held a nine-point lead over Romney.  If Romney cuts that in half, after this debate, it spells serious problems for Governor Perry.  

Rick Perry on Illegal Immigration

 
Like many conservatives (and liberals as well, most likely), I watched the debate among the Republican Presidential candidates Monday night in Tampa, Florida.  As expected, Rick Perry was catching heat from all sides.  That is what happens to a front-runner.  But, some revealing things came out in that debate that caught my attention..  Rick Perry is becoming more and more a  cardboard box cut-out.  Meaning, he is all fluff and no substance.  I had been leaning heavily toward voting for Governor Perry prior to that debate.