Elections 2009-2012, Part 3

[racehorse]

John Boehner (Republican-Ohio) has been elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives over Nancy Pelosi (Democrat-California) by a vote of 241 to 173. There were 19 votes (from "Blue Dog Democrats") who voted for others or present.

Outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi will turn the gavel over to Incoming Speaker Boehner momentarily and the Grand Old Party will re-assume Majority Status in "The People's House".

[racehorse]

Snip:

Boehner elected House speaker as 112th Congress convenes

By Debbi Wilgoren and William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writers

Wednesday, January 5, 2011; 2:35 PM

Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) was elected speaker of the House on Wednesday, as the GOP formally took control of the chamber on the opening day of the 112th Congress.

The election of Boehner to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), the first woman speaker, was a formality following his designation by Republicans in November as their nominee for the post. The GOP captured the majority in the House in the midterm elections and reduced the Democratic majority in the Senate, giving President Obama a divided Congress to work with as he enters the third year of his term.

Nominated by the Democrats was Pelosi, who became speaker in 2007 following a Democratic victory in the November 2006 midterm elections. Some Democratic conservatives and moderates in the Blue Dog Coalition voted for Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) as a way of registering their disapproval of Pelosi, although no formal alternative nomination was presented.

The vote for Boehner over Pelosi was 241 to 173. Nineteen lawmakers voted present or for other candidates, 11 of them for Shuler. Three House members did not vote.

In a speech after taking an oversized gavel from Pelosi as the new speaker, Boehner pledged to cut spending and said, "We will start by cutting Congress's own budget."

He promised the new Democratic minority "openness" and said he hoped to rebuild the public's trust in Congress.

"No longer can we kick the can down the road," Boehner declared. "The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin to carry out their instructions."

The American people "have reminded us that everything here is on loan from them," Boehner said. "That includes this gavel, which I accept cheerfully and gratefully, knowing I am but its caretaker. After all, this is the people's House. This is their Congress. It's about them, not about us." . . .

Rest of Article at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... id=topnews

[racehorse]

Incoming House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, receives the gavel from his predecessor, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, during the opening session of the 112th Congress on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

[racehorse]

Snip:

Bachmann considering White House bid, aides say

Aides say she has made no decision. But 'nothing is off the table.'

By KEVIN DIAZ and JEREMY HERB, Star Tribune

Last update: January 5, 2011 - 2:04 PM

WASHINGTON - Fresh off winning re-election and proving she can raise massive amounts of campaign cash, Rep. Michele Bachmann is beginning to consider a presidential run, according to close congressional aides.

As part of that effort, the Minnesota Republican is traveling to the early caucus state of Iowa on Jan. 21 to confer with state GOP leaders and address a group a conservative tax activists.

That will put her in Iowa a week before former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has spent nearly two years laying the groundwork and building credentials for a possible presidential campaign. He heads to New York next week to roll out a book tour.

While Bachmann has made no firm decision about a White House bid in 2012, "nothing is off the table," press aide Sergio Gor told the Star Tribune Wednesday, confirming an earlier ABC News report that quoted Bachmann chief of staff Andy Parrish.

Bachmann, who was born in Waterloo, Iowa, has deep roots in the state. . . .

Rest of Article at:

http://tiny.cc/5y48e

--
United States Representative Michele Bachmann (Republican-Minnesota)
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[racehorse]

January 07, 2011

Giuliani Gearing Up for Another Run?

"Confident that he'd have a chance to win, Rudy Giuliani is rounding up his top political advisers for a possible 2012 presidential run," sources tell Page Six.

Sources say the tough-talking former mayor "thinks the Republican race will be populated with far-right candidates like Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, and there's opportunity for a moderate candidate with a background in national security."

"Giuliani has even scheduled a trip to New Hampshire for next month to meet with constituents in the state that failed him in January 2008, when he placed fourth in the Republican presidential primary."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/ ... r_run.html

[racehorse]

January 08, 2011

Emanuel Still Way Ahead for Chicago Mayor

A new Teamsters/Anzalone Liszt poll in Chicago finds Rahm Emanuel is in a solid lead in the first public poll for the Chicago mayoral race taken since the field has shrunk to four major contenders.

Emanuel leads with 42%, followed by Carol Moseley Braun at 26%, Gery Chico at 10% and Miguel Del Valle at 7%.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/ ... mayor.html

[racehorse]

January 10, 2011

Blue Dogs Ready to Cut Deals with Republicans

"Blue Dog Democrats remain deeply frustrated with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's leadership and are signaling they are ready to break ranks and cut deals with Republicans," Roll Call reports.

Pelosi "has yet to reach out to the moderate bloc since Democrats lost the majority, nor has she acknowledged any mistakes, they argued. Blue Dogs remain flummoxed over her decision to stay on as the party's leader after she presided over what they consider to be a series of political blunders that led to Democrats' historic defeat at the polls on Nov. 2, and most of them refused to vote for Pelosi for Speaker on the floor last week."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/ ... icans.html

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January 10, 2011

Menino Says No One Can Beat Brown

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (D) told the Boston Herald that no Democrat will be able to beat Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) in 2012.

Said Menino: "There's nobody that can beat him."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/ ... brown.html

[racehorse]

Snip:

January 10, 2011

Within GOP, Huckabee Most Liked, Palin Best Known

Palin, Romney, and Gingrich trail Huckabee on Gallup's net favorable dimension

by Frank Newport


PRINCETON, NJ -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has the highest net favorable score among Republicans nationwide in a field of potential GOP candidates for 2012, while former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the most recognized. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are also widely recognized by Republicans, and have favorability numbers similar to Palin's.

These results are based on a Gallup poll conducted Jan. 4-5 among 923 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. Gallup's net favorable measure is based on the difference between strongly favorable opinions and strongly unfavorable opinions, calculated only among the group of respondents who recognize each candidate.

Taken as a whole, these data represent the lay of the land at this juncture as the GOP candidates begin to maneuver through the complex process of mounting a challenge for their party's presidential nomination. . . .

Rest of Article at:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/145508/Withi ... Known.aspx

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[racehorse]

Snip:

Monday, January 10, 2011

Iowa 2012: Huckabee leads

The GOP firm, Neighborhood Research, releases a poll, measuring the preferences of likely voters in the 2012 GOP Iowa caucus.

1. Mike Huckabee 24%

2. Mitt Romney 19%

3. Sarah Palin 11%

4. Newt Gingrich 8%

5. Tim Pawlenty 4%

6. Ron Paul 3%

7. Michele Bachmann 2%

8. Mike Pence and Haley Barbour 1% . . .

Rest of Article at:

http://www.gop12.com/2011/01/2012-iowa- ... leads.html

[kbot]

Snip:



Rest of Article at:

http://tiny.cc/5y48e

--
United States Representative Michele Bachmann (Republican-Minnesota)
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Snippet from article:

"Bachmann's record of prodigious fundraising, inflammatory pronouncements on cable TV talk shows, and her founding of the House Tea Party Caucus have cemented the affection of conservative activists nationwide and sparked at least one website encouraging her to run for president."

Regarding the above, especially the inflammatory remarks issue, this may prove to be a detriment. Given the events of this past weekend, my personal feelings are that voters will tend to be more sensitive to "inflammatory" remarks, and may even find candidates espousing such views as candidates for early withdrawal from a race rather than a potential frontrunner. But then again, that's my personal opinion......

[HB3]

Sweetness.

OXON HILL, Md. – Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus (Ryns Pree'-bus) is getting close to the 85 votes he needs to be the next head of the Republican National Committee. He leads the field with 80 votes after six rounds of balloting. Current chairman Michael Steele has dropped out.

Former Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis got 37 in the most recent round, GOP operative Maria Cino got 34 and Ann Wagner dropped to 17.

The winner will serve for the next two years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110114/ap_ ... p_chairman

[racehorse]

Everything I read said he wasn't running again, Michael is full of surprises, what do you think his odds are Race ?

Sweetness.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110114/ap_ ... p_chairman

Hi SETIsLady.

Hi HB3.

The RNC has a new Chairman.

I wish Reince Priebus well.

I also appreciate Michael Steele's devoted service in his time as RNC Chairman.

Snip:

01/14/2011

Reince Priebus wins RNC Chairmanship
By Chris Cillizza

Wisconsin Republican party chairman Reince Priebus won a protracted fight for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee today, replacing his one-time ally Michael Steele at the helm of the committee.

Priebus led on every ballot but picked up momentum once Steele exited the contest after the fourth round of voting. (Steele endorsed former RNC official Maria Cino but it was Priebus who harvested most of the incumbent's support.)

Priebus won the chairmanship -- a simply majority of the 168 RNC committeemen and women -- on the seventh ballot.

In addition to Steele and Cino, Priebus beat out former Michigan Republican party chairman Saul Anuzis and former ambassador Ann Wagner for the top job.

Throughout the race, Priebus was a reluctant warrior -- waiting on the sidelines for weeks for Steele to step aside and, when that didn't happen, saying little about his one-time ally during the final weeks of the process.

But, in the way that he cast his candidacy, Priebus made clear he was the anti-Steele. He touted himself as a low-key doer, and made sure the 168 voting members of the committee knew about the successes he had enjoyed as chairman of the Wisconsin GOP, which won a governor's race, a U.S. Senate seat and two House seats last November.

Priebus' candidacy did not seem hamstrung by his one-time close association to Steele. (He served as Steele's campaign manager in the 2009 RNC contest.) Steele pointedly refused to endorse Priebus when he decided to exit the race, a sign that the ill feelings still lingered between the two men.

"I will step aside because I think the party is ready for something different," said Steele in stepping aside. He remained defiant about the gains the GOP had made under his guidance, however, noting: "Despite the noise, despite the difficulties, we won." . . .

Rest of Article at:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix ... hairm.html

[SETIsLady]

Kinda of sad to see him go, you never knew what he was going to stay. It made watching him interesting ! I don't know anything about the new guy.

[HB3]

Has he defected to the Dems yet?