Iowa Down and New Hampshire Next: Who's in, Who's out?

Well, the first test for the 2008 Presidential campaign is complete. Iowa had some drama and when we woke up this morning, some of us might have been surprised. The questions now are: Who Stays? Who Goes? Who drops out to support who?

For the Democratic Party, in what I feel is a surprising victory,Sen. Barack Obama won by 7%. I'm surprised because it was by that many percentage points. Obama's win came at 37%, John Edwards came in 2nd with 30% and Sen. Hillary Clinton came in third with 29%. With 97 % the rest of the Democratic field (Sen. Dodd, Sen. Biden, etc...) was irrelevant and should all drop out in a week or so. The questions comes, who do they support when they drop out of the race?

For the Republicans, it was a surging Gov. Mike Huckabee winning with 34% that overcame Gov. Mitt Romney with 25% of the vote. Sen. Fred Thompson and Sen. John McCain had a third place tie with only 13% of the vote. In what I feel is the surprise of the race, Rep. Ron Paul nearly doubled New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 10% to 3 % respectively. Duncan Hunter nearly achieved a .5%. It's safe to say that Hunter will drop out shortly.

The surprising part about the Republicans is that Giuliani had the lead just a short time ago and then to get smacked around like a fly at a picnic makes you wonder, are polls that accurate? We saw Huckabee surging in recent weeks, but like that? I listened to Giuliani on an interview yesterday with Mike Gallagher you would have thought that he had a huge lead in the polls in New Hampshire when asked about his upcoming schedule. I'm beginning to think that the socially moderate Republicans are losing ground now in politics, at least in my eyes.

On the Democratic party side, I still think that Edwards will win the nomination once he gets to the Southern States. Obama will have to answer questions about his religion and his link to Islam and Hillary will not drum up that much support being from New York. But who am I to give a prediction?

In closing, the next week is going to be even more brutal than before. New Hampshire sits close to Mass and all the other New England states that will help put some delegates in the corner of the winner. I'm thinking that Clinton and Romney will win in New Hampshire. For the GOP, McCain will gain more support as will Ron Paul. Giuliani will again be disappointed after the results come out.

Let us remember that this process is so interesting and very American. Enjoy that process but filter out the rhetoric. We live in America where we have a voice to be heard and this is the time to use it.

God Bless America!

Remembering the Holidays and Looking Ahead to the New Year!

Well, Happy Holidays everyone. We are just a few short days past the Christmas holiday and venturing into the New Year. I'm reminded of my youth and our traditions we had as a family and of the new ones being made by my own family. Back then, as a kid I remember a stretch, it seemed anyway, that it rained on every Christmas. Maybe it didn't, but it appeared that way. I loved the Song "White Christmas" and wondered why it rained all the time. I'll still wonder. I especially remember the making of cookies with my mom and now as I have grown older, my wife and I have returned the favor with our daughter.


Now my wife and I try our hardest to give our child what she wants and of course needs. Maybe not in that order but all with good intentions. The hardest part is reminding myself that items and toys cost more these days and that not worry about if the child will be OK in going without a "big gift" this year. The point to remember is family time is just that, about family. We spent some time with my side of the family then with her side. Of course, both sides have their issues, most of it being that we are all head strong individuals and getting old and cranky. All in all, it was a great time spending it with the loved ones we do have. Old stories, making cookies, watching sports games on TV, Scrabble challenges, dart games, Ping Pong, and the ever popular guessing what is each persons present...shaking of course. The holidays is about family. I challenge each and every one of you to enjoy a holidy without family. It simply can't be done.

Looking ahead to the New Year, I have a few predictions as well as some goals.

Goals:

Now for Matt's Goals for 2008: 1. Land a large salmon on the fly rod. 2. Make some substantial gains in the stocks that I own. 3. Give my wife all the help she needs around the house (that way I can make #1 happen). 4. Teach my daughter the right way to play pitcher and 2nd Base on the softball team. and 5. fill my freezer up with wild game (ducks and deer). Yes I'm aware they are pretty large goals, but if I butter my wife up, it may just happen.

Predictions:

Now for my predictions: politically speaking of course. First, a Conservative will win the Republican nomination for President (Huh?...not a RINO) Second, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will NOT win the Democratic nomination for President. A Republican WILL win the Presidency, by a large margin, say 5-7%. Third, Republicans will REGAIN control of the House in the Maine Legislature. Fourth, The Patriots will win the Super Bowl and the Celtics will win the NBA Championship. And Five...If all those happen, I'll buy my wife a diamond necklace. Actually, I'll buy her one anyway.

Those are just a few items on my plate for the New Year. The political scene in which I love so much is so hard to get a handle on sometimes. In Maine where I live, people act conservative most of the time, but they vote liberal the other part of the time. What's funny is that they are so used to the liberal way of life, it is like that is their "conservative principle" or less change and not the traditional way of what liberals really are. Hopefully in a new year and with new people around the political scene here in Maine, things can happen in a way to move us forward, not behind and stuck with the ever growing high tax burden. I do my part in my community and I push for and support those that believe in the same principles that I do. Nonetheless, 2008 should have as much drama and excitement on many fronts as did 2007. Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.

God Bless America

Democrats pulling Religion into Campaign Trail?

For those who haven't heard, former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Nebraska) recently apologized to Sen. Barack Obama regarding his comments on his association with the Muslim community. Additionally, Kerrey is a supporter of Hillary Clinton.

What he apologized for was this statement:

"It's probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his
name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim and that his
paternal grandmother is a Muslim," said Kerrey, a former governor and the
current president of the New School in New York City. "There's a billion people
on the planet that are Muslims, and I think that experience is a big deal."

In my eyes, I don't feel it is a big deal to even bring up religion when it deals a presidential candidate, especially when many are doing the same with Mitt Romney and his Mormanism. Is Obama embarrassed regarding his families religion? Is he ashamed of his middle name being the same as a murderous dictator such as Saddam Hussein? You have to wonder.

Another thing to think about regarding this issue is, is Camp Hillary behind any of this? Did her campaign organizers pick Kerrey to mention this only to retract it in short time, just to throw out the subtle hint of Obamas past? It's campaign season and her numbers are dropping, so this would not surprise me.

On to the context of the association, do we as Americans have a right to want to understand what Obamas relationships are regarding the Muslim community, considering who we are at war with? This is my question to Sen. Barack Hussein Obama: "What are your personal viewpoints on Islam and your churches viewpoints of other ethnic groups"?

That is all I got today.

God Bless America

Maine's 2008 local elections will not be based on War!

Last week I was discussing with a few Republican colleagues about the upcoming the potential outcome of our elections here in Maine. In our county of Somerset, we have 11 or so legislative seats along with about 6 county seats that are continuously up for grabs. In the past few elections, Republicans have represented Somerset well. Some could say that it is the rural area and conservative nature of the area. Other might add that it is the lack of strong Democratic candidates to run against our team. Regardless of the reasoning, the fact remains that we are probably the second most conservative county in Maine behind Piscatiquis. I want to be the most conservative.

Having said all that, I wonder what will the election outcome be in 2008 for our local legislators? What will be the pressing issues here in Maine, outside of the national political scene which is all focused on the presidential race. One of my colleagues, whom I admire, seems to think regardless of the issues pressing Mainers this upcoming year, the only issue on the minds of local voters will be the War in Iraq and their feelings towards President Bush. Whats puzzling about that statement is that in 2006, Mainers came out on full force for the governors race as well as for the referendums and citizens initiatives. So what was the pressing issue that got the citizens of Maine to vote in large numbers in 2006? Simply: governmental spending and borrowing. Mainers sent a message to the governor as well as across the state that they are fed up with the overspending by the government as well as the borrowing to balance the budget. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, although failed by a slim margin, would have given the people more power or control over the governments spending and proved to be the hot topic as well as an eye opener to those in the legislature as well as the governor. Is there any reason to think at this point in time that will be any different come November of 2008? Now I'm not saying the the War will have no effect on the results here in Maine, but the overall issue regarding the local elections it will not be.

One legislator I know told me that during his last campaign in 2006, he fielded very few questions on his stance on Iraq or President Bush. Another said that he had no questions regarding the War. This was at a time when could be arguably said it was the most hottest time during the War. As of right now, shortly after the much talked about "surge" in Iraq by allied forces, the surge as been reported on by General Petreaus as well as in recent weeks by anti-war critic, Congressman Murtha, to essentially be working. Reports of lower casualties and increased captures of al Quaida enemy combatants is proof that the war is going in the right direction. Where's the good new from Maine?

I firmly believe that the spending issues here in Maine by all levels of government; state, local, county and school boards, will be the main focus on our local elections. Increased fuel costs resulting in higher heating costs as well poor roads and lack of new businesses will be key to the local races. The candidate that best describes their plan to help us get our spending down in a way the voters can understand...will win, period. I do not think that voters will say to themselves, "I hate President Bush because of this War and he's a Republican, so I'll vote Democrat". There is no correlation between the War and Augusta. Mainers have to realize that there is a difference between national politics and Maine politics. Things that happen in the Maine Legislature and in the local county or municipal offices hit us more quickly than with Washington politics. As I told someone before, I became a Republican before the War and before President Bush took office. I became a taxpaying Mainer long before that, as did many I know.

God Bless America!