Huckabee Criticized for Meth Bill

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Mike Huckabee's Republican rivals, fighting back as he surges in the presidential race, are tagging him as soft on crime because of a law he signed as Arkansas governor that gave some methamphetamine offenders more credit for good behavior.

"Mike Huckabee's solution? Early releases for meth dealers," Fred Thompson's campaign proclaims.

[...]

Opponents also point to Huckabee's record of pardons and commutations: He had a hand in twice as many as his three predecessors combined, granting 1,033 pardons and commutations in his 10 1/2 years in office. The acts of clemency benefited the stepson of a staff member, murderers who worked at the governor's mansion, a rock star and inmates who received good words from their pastors.

He answered critics of his record on methamphetamine Thursday, singling out former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in particular.

Sad Day for Kucinich Family

Sad Day for Kucinich Family

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's youngest brother was found dead at his home in Cleveland Wednesday, the Associated Press has reported.

Perry Kucinich, 52, was found face down by another brother, Larry, at about 9 a.m., a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office told the wire service this afternoon. There were no signs of foul play, Caesar said. An autopsy was being performed Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

Kucinich's press secretary, Natalie Laber, told the Associated Press that the presidential contender flew immediately to Cleveland. "He was very close to Perry and he's taking this very hard," Laber said.

Dennis and Elizabeth are in my prayers - so is the future of our country and the world this holiday season. Kucinich deserves time to grieve but our country still needs his leadership. May god help us through our national crisis and bless Dennis and Elizabeth with peace.

Mike Gravel's offensive

Mike Gravel's offensive

With the most recent Times Poll showing Democrat Mike Gravel's standing at 0% in both Iowa and New Hampshire, the former senator's surge to the front of the political pack has yet to emerge.

Yes, he's gotten some ink recently and even not so recently when The Times' Tomas Alex Tizon followed him on his simple campaign trail.

He's still trekking around the countryside, alone, staying at friends' houses and talking to anyone who will listen. He was in Colorado this week where he got some free publicity in a Denver Post article. And hoped he could convince maybe 70 people to show up at his niece's house in Boulder and pay $50 apiece to hear him speak.

Chris Dodd will take care of women's and children's future

Chris Dodd will take care of women's and children's future

Dodd has the boldest vision for creating a peaceful, safe and prosperous future. He has the most dynamic solutions to fix our energy and environmental problems, bring stability to the Middle East and to fight a smart, effective war on terrorism.

Dodd's advocacy for children has transcended his recent support of the SCHIP bill and work to reform No Child Left Behind. He was able to bring both parties together to pass the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act.

[...]

While he is probably best known for his work authoring and passing the Family and Medical Leave Act - through seven years and two presidential vetoes - Dodd has been working to ensure that women have the support necessary to protect and care for themselves and their families.

Dodd also passed landmark child-care legislation, providing billions of dollars to improve the quality of child care; he was an early supporter of the Violence Against Women Act and authored and won passage of a bill that expands state child-protective service programs. Importantly, he has sponsored a bill that would strengthen the landmark Equal Pay Act, ensuring equal pay for men and women who do equal work.

With the actions of Chris Dodd, it seems that he has the vote of many women. His intentions seem to be focused on people, specifically women. His goals and desires for the future are in good will. If he is elected, I am sure women would make sure he would enforce it. Just because he is desired in one area doesn't mean that he will be in others.

Biden Still Loves His Newspapers

Biden Still Loves His Newspapers

(US News) We've listened to all the hullabaloo about the new online political order. But long-shot Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has taken a decidedly old school tack in the run-up to the January 3 Iowa caucuses: full-page black-and-white newspaper ads. His latest quotes opponents like Sen. Hillary Clinton saying, "Joe is right."

By plowing $50,000 into the ads, the garrulous Delaware senator may be on to something. The venerable Iowa Poll found that 82 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers read newspapers to get campaign information. Says Biden senior strategist John Marttila: "Caucusgoers are high news consumers. They read print."

I am questioning him with his route of "old school tack" Will this affect his rank in the race.

Richardson 'not interested' in pursuing vice presidency

Richardson 'not interested' in pursuing vice presidency

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Tuesday he's ruling out a vice presidential bid if he doesn't succeed in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"No, I am not running for vice president. I am not interested in it. I am very happy with my life," Richardson said in an interview with Des Moines Register editors and reporters.

"I am not one of those people who, if I don't win, I am going to become depressed. That is not me. I will go back and be governor of a state that I love and a job that I love, where I can get things done and where I can still do my foreign policy mission," he added.

I don't think this looks very good for Bill Richardson. This completely puts a negative spot light on him. He should really consider fixing his reputation.

The new urgency of John Edwards

The new urgency of John Edwards

A year ago, John Edwards flew to New Orleans to announce another run for the White House. The man America met as a Southern-twanged, hope-is-on-the-way, sunny son of a mill worker emerged in the Lower 9th Ward grimmer, better traveled and quicker to attack, his policies more ambitious, detailed and liberal.

The tone and manner were as if Edwards' persona had been transformed, or at least as if Edwards listened to different people now. Was that true?

"Yeah," he says. "I listen to me."

[...]

Rivals note that Edwards is also a legendary trial lawyer with a focus-group-honed skill for swaying juries. His political evolution coincides with a leftward drift in the Democratic electorate. Some of his top issues this campaign -- including global warming and poverty -- hardly show up in his six-year Senate record.

Why does what happened a year ago effected with John Edwards today? I suppose it makes sense because this is a man who is running to take control of our country.

The Truth About Rudy Giuliani and Illegal Immigration

The Truth About Rudy Giuliani and Illegal Immigration

One of the biggest topics in the debate last night was how the candidates have handled the illegal alien issue in the past. Governor Romney put forth that Mayor Giuliani presided over a sanctuary city in New York, that he ignored the problem. The mayor then accused the governor of running a sanctuary mansion because some illegal aliens had worked at Romney's Massachusetts home.

So here's the truth. Like most Americans, Governor Romney doesn't personally check the papers of people working for him. So that's an unfair criticism by Giuliani. However, the mayor is correct in saying that he did what was best for the City of New York when it came to the illegal alien situation.

[...]

In '94, the federal government detained very few illegal aliens. So what was Giuliani supposed to do? It is true that since many New Yorkers are either immigrants or the children of immigrants, tracking down illegals has never been a smart political move here. But again, in a city of eight million people, the cops have other things to do. Not an excuse, a reality. So I think it's fair to cut Giuliani some slack.

I believe if the immigration is such a big problem, then the government needs to figure out a better way to maintain this goal. Also, we, as voters, should make sure that we elect people to handle this issue.

Obama gains on Clinton in New Hampshire

Obama gains on Clinton in New Hampshire

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is gaining on rival Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, while Republican Mitt Romney’s lead in the early voting state is stable, according to a new poll by Suffolk University for Boston’s WHDH TV.

[...]

“If Obama could shave off another six points in the next few weeks, he’ll be well within the margin of error – and John Edwards still has a chance to make it a three-person race,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center.

I don't like that Obama is gaining points in the race because I believe that this country needs a woman touch. I mean, I like Clinton and Obama the most out of all the other candidates, but it is time for a woman to take control. I believe that women have a motherly expression and may make good decisions with that skill.