From Bad to Worse for GOP

When you can't hold a seat in a conservative district in Mississippi, your prospects in the fall look more than bleak.

House Democrats won a conservative northern Mississippi House seat in a special election tonight, a victory certain to send shock waves through the ranks of congressional GOPers.

The Associated Press called the race for Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers (D), shortly after 10 p.m. eastern time. With 81 percent of precincts reporting, Childers held a 51 to 49 percent edge over Southhaven Mayor Greg Davis (R).

The victory marked the third time this election cycle that Democrats have won a Republican-held seat in a special election and seemed to suggest that the national political atmosphere could significantly broaden the House playing field in the fall.

This is more than a trend. It's a disaster looming.

It would be nice if the GOP leaders, if you can call them that, were a bit more visible and got out there with an agenda that contrasted with what the Democrats plan to shove down our throats when they increase their majorities.

We have probably the weakest Senate Majority Leader in eons in Harry Reid and a pathetic House Speaker in Nancy Pelosi and despite their ineptitude, the Republicans are losing ground.

Sure, you can point to an unpopular president, sagging economy, etc., but what they need to do is be forthright with the voters and tell them what will do, not just slink and hide behind the curtains.

Otherwise, it is curtains.

By the way, I've been harping on this for a week now, but keeping Vito Fossella around is a sure way to lose another seat.

Hollywood's Closet Republicans

It's nice to see such tolerance and diversity from those who lecture us about tolerance and diversity.

Sure, you've probably heard there are a few actors who dare to come out of the closet, but nothing quite sums up the oppressive liberal mindset like this:

"They learn very quickly, if they know what's good for them, to donate to the Democratic Party," said Andrew Breitbart, co-author of "Hollywood, Interrupted." "If they were to donate to the Republican Party, they would be exposed to career-ending ridicule, period."

Still, there's hope.

Mr. Breitbart noted that seven anti-war films recently have bombed at the box office, and said optimistically that Hollywood conservatives may speak up more this election cycle.

"A lot of these people really believe that we're at crossroads, whether or not we're going to be aggressively taking on ascendant radical Islam," he said. "At that point, you'll see a lot of people come out of the closet."

Iowa Straw Poll Results (Update: Romney Wins, Huckabee Second)

Well, it's still pending.

Drudge links this blog, which is drawing its share of Ron Paul kooks, saying the results are delayed.

AMES -- The announcement of tonight's straw poll results has been delayed due to what one informed source says was a voting machine malfunction. About 4,500 ballots had to be re-run. We are waiting....

Supposedly, results are to come at 9 ET.

Appears to be a very low turnout.

UPDATE: Partial recount. Some Paul chumps failed to get a judge to intervene Friday. A Diebold thing.

UPDATE II: Romney wins, Huckabee second.

Gov Mitt Romney won the 2007 Ames straw poll, receiving 4516 votes, or 31%.

In a surprise, Gov. Mike Huckabee finished second with 2587 votes at 18.1%

11. John Cox with 41 votes.
10. John McCain with 101 votes.
9. Duncan Hunter with 174 votes.
8. Rudy Giuliani with 183 votes.
7. Fred Thomson [sic] with 231 votes.
6. Tommy Thompson, 1,009 votes, 7.3%
5. Ron Paul with 1305 votes, and 9.1%
4. Tom Tancredo with 1961 votes, 13.7%.
3. Sen. Sam Brownback with 2192 votes and 15.3%

Iowa state auditor David Vaudt unofficially certified the results.

14,203 ballots were cast.

I'd call for John Cox to end his campaign, but I have no idea who the hell that is.

In a mild surprise, Ron Paul managed to scare up 1305 votes. Can't you just feel the momentum building?

I'm really beginning to warm to Mike Huckabee. A genuinely nice guy.

Opposition to Amnesty Paying Off for State GOPs

Donations to the Republican National Committee may be dwindling, but in many states the fierce opposition is paying off handsomely.

President Bush's immigration bill is hurting fund-raising by the Republican National Committee, but fierce grassroots opposition to the legislation is helping several state Republican parties, Ralph Z. Hallow will report Monday in The Washington Times.

Tina Benkiser, chairwoman of the Republican Party in the president's home state of Texas, says raising money has been successful "in large part to our principled stance against illegal immigration."

Since the beginning of 2006, when substantial immigration debate began, "the Republican Party of Texas has experienced an exponential increase in direct mail donations from supporters statewide," she said.

Both phone and direct-mail fundraising remain strong for Republicans in Michigan, said state chairman Saul Anuzis.

"In Michigan, seven out of nine congressional Republicans oppose the bill, our activists are publicly opposing amnesty and we are also re-establishing our brand image by fighting a Democrat attempt to increase taxes," Mr. Anuzis said. "These issues are keeping our people engaged, where otherwise we could feel a [donations] drop off."

Read the rest.

Rudy a Hit With California GOP

Rudy Giuliani headed west Saturday and took the California Republican Party convention by storm.

Rudolph W. Giuliani came west to learn whether his brand of Republican politics has a chance among party members significantly more conservative than himself. By the time he had received a fourth standing ovation Saturday at the California Republican Party convention, the answer seemed clear.

Equating the U.S. fight against terrorism with the Civil War and the Cold War, Giuliani told about 750 of his party's faithful that failure in Iraq would turn that country into a "massive headquarters for terrorism."

I've stressed for some time the social issues being used against Giuliani are dwarfed by the primary issue of our day, national security. Without stability and strong leadership against terror, nothing else matters. Of course the media will obsess over any issues they think will hurt him.

He has been in the private sector for six years; he still supports the war while the rest of the country is shifting against it; he would be only the second Roman Catholic to win the White House; and his social views -- he is pro-choice, pro-gun-control and pro-gay-rights -- are at odds with those of much of his party.

That may as well have been written by the DNC, and I suspect it was. Curiously, it's been the left who keep noting Giuliani's stance on civil unions, abortion and gun control, which is laughable since they will change their own stance to suit the audience. I can live with some of his positions so long as I have confidence he will take the fight to the enemy, and I'm not alone.

Many in the audience said they are aware of the gaps between their views and Giuliani's. Nonetheless, several who were interviewed seemed willing to give him a break.

"I'm a Christian, and his views on a lot of social issues are to the left of mine," said Larry Stirling, a retired state superior court judge from San Diego. "But if you have to make a trade-off, I'll make the trade-off for Giuliani. He's been through a trial by fire. He's got gravitas. The first thing a president has to do is protect us. The rest is a secondary consideration."

Giuliani's speech "hit the right tone and the right messages," said Kevin C. Eckery, a Sacramento-based Republican political consultant. "He managed to be true to himself and connect with an audience that is more conservative than he is. It shows he can do it."

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