Blog @ MoreWhat.com

It is fair to note what has become a shadow issue in the 2008 Presidential race is national security, national defense and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Democratic party base lead by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and their friends at MoveOn, etc., has not supported the troops and continuously called for surrender in Iraq especially and met with leaders of Syria and other state sponsors of terror over the last year. Their totally reprehensible treatment of General Patraeus and opposition to the troop surge in Iraq was the focal point of their surrender strategy and appeasement campaign as well as their central theme for a so-called New Direction for America since the midterm elections. They have become silent on the issue since it became successful with the exception of calling for withdrawal several times since. Every Democratic party candidate has called for immediate withdrawal from Iraq and used the statements as a central theme of their campaigns. Reason enough to reject them all as Presidential candidates.

From the beginning of the 2008 campaign for President the GOP had three liberal leaning candidates among the top tier of contenders. That would be Senator John McCain, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Governor Mike Huckabee. Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney were the most conservative candidates in the mix. Now that former Senator Fred Thompson has withdrawn from the race, Mitt Romney is the closest thing to a true conservative still running in the 2008 Presidential campaign.

This blog has supported Mitt Romney for President from the beginning. In answer to Thompson supporters this blog noted that he was the 2nd choice and would be supported if Romney did not survive the contests. Mitt Romney has the most delegates and has done a satisfactory job answering critics about his issue positions. Only those who require perfection from candidates as their sole argument in opposition to any candidate have continued to suggest that Romney is flawed in his positions. Of course those who happen to support another candidate use the tired arguments in an attempt to defeat him. The undeniable fact that Mitt Romney is exceptionally intelligent, educated and talented as well as disciplined and incredibly successful is reason enough to support him for President.

If you are looking for a perfect candidate you won’t find one. If you are looking for a candidate who will deliver exactly what you want you are likely to fail. But if you want a candidate with honorable values, the ability to restore success where there is failure and who will surround himself with other successful people to accomplish the tasks facing this country you would be hard pressed to find a better candidate than Mitt Romney.

Both McCain and Huckabee have questionable views on immigration, especially the illegal variety. Giuliani may as well and also is characterized as a liberal on social issues. Since the Dems fail in the most basic principles like supporting the troops and calling for surrender when the country is at war and the other three GOP candidates are less conservative than Mitt Romney, the choice should be simple.

If you want to straighten out what is wrong in this country, you should vote for Mitt Romney.

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Asian stocks recouped some of their steep losses of the past two days after market confidence received a shot in the arm from the U.S. Federal Reserve. But as VOA’s Heda Bayron reports from Hong Kong, stock analysts say the markets may remain volatile despite Tuesday’s U.S. interest-rate cut.

Most Asian indexes jumped within minutes of opening Wednesday as investors heaved a sigh of relief after two days of panic selling.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point - its biggest cut in more than two decades.

However, Ben Kwong, strategist at KGI Capital Asia in Hong Kong, says it is not yet clear if the rate cut will have a long-term impact.

“I think the rate cut by the Fed is a little bit late and the market is expecting more,” he said. “I think today the rebound is just mainly due to short covering and not due to genuine buying. I think investors still have to see if the market can stabilize at the current level.”

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed more than two percent Wednesday, after losing more than nine percent in two days. South Korea’s KOSPI rose more than one percent, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 surged 4.4 percent.

Some stock analysts say the Fed’s surprise intervention Tuesday signaled that the toll on the U.S. economy of the home mortgage crisis may be worse than expected.

They expect another rate cut next week when the Federal Open Market Committee - which sets U.S. monetary policy - meets again.

As the specter of a U.S. recession loomed, investors in the region have been selling shares in companies viewed highly vulnerable to a U.S. economic slowdown - mainly Asian exporters. In Wednesday’s rallies, some exporters rose along with the rest of the market.
By Heda Bayron
Hong Kong
23 January 2008

Republican candidate Fred Thompson has announced he is quitting his bid for the U.S. presidency.

The television actor and former senator from Tennessee said in a statement Tuesday that he has withdrawn his candidacy.  He did not say if he would endorse any of his rivals. Thompson entered the contest with high expectations that his television career and Republican establishment credentials would propel him to an early lead.

But he failed to finish higher than third in any of the contests to choose the Republican presidential nominee.  On Saturday, he finished third in South Carolina, which he had said he needed to win.

Meanwhile, Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton are back campaigning in the close race for the Democratic presidential nomination, a day after clashing in a televised debate.

Obama holds a small lead over Clinton in South Carolina, which has the next Democratic Party primary in the state-by-state nomination process.  Black voters in the state are expected to account for more than half of the vote tally, and their support for Obama is expected to be a key factor in Saturday’s poll.

In a heated debate Monday, the two traded accusations about their record as lawyers. Obama also said former President Bill Clinton, an important figure in the Democratic party and Senator Clinton’s husband, was misrepresenting Obama’s record as a legislator.

Republican Party candidates are holding events in Florida ahead of their party’s next primary on January 29.

The contenders from both parties are hoping to build momentum before the critical primaries and caucuses on so-called Super Tuesday, February 5 when 22 states hold presidential nominating contests.
By VOA News

Welcome to Blog @ MoreWhat.com’s Open Trackback

Secure the Borders Linkfest

This is an open trackback linkfest. It happens on Tuesday and Saturday. Each linkfest is open until the next one starts. Trackbacks will be on the frontpage in a post called MoreWhat Matters. The Secure the Borders theme is intended as a reminder to all for obvious reasons. If you have any suggestions, criticisms, questions or just feel the need to communicate, trackback or post it in the comments. If you want to be added to Z’ Blogroll, register and/or inquire to make arrangements. The Honor Roll is reserved for blogs viewed as special by this blog’s owner.
JIHAD stands for Jesus I Have A Deathwish.

This linkfest is dedicated to the guest worker who never left.There are plenty of illegal immigration posts on this blog.

If you’re here legally and behavin’ yo self, welcome aboard.
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We suggest using the Linkfest Haven Deluxe Trackback pinger for ease of use and time savings to catch all the festive linking activities today. Or, if you have done this less than we have, the permalink for this Open Trackback is the title link and the trackback is located near the bottom of the permalink page for this post. Just poke around, you’ll find it.

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Below is a press release for the Tata Nano and a news report about its debut. It is doubtful anyone has really had time to draw any conclusions about this vehicle or the implications of its introduction yet. There is probably enough speculation to go around and one cannot help but recall the Yugo at a time like this. But it seems reasonable to offer a post on this blog featuring this unique development in the automotive industry.

As far as the $2500 price tag is concerned that has to get someone’s attention. You could purchase a Ford Mustang in 1970 for about $3500. A Fiat 850 went for $2500 in 1972. So is the Tata Nano reliable? Is it really safe? Will it be reasonable to service? Will it be available in the US? How will the insurance industry respond? What are the performance characteristics? Is anyone interested in the US? Will it have an effect on automotive trends here? Is anyone reading this buying one?

Tata Motors unveils the People’s Car

Released on : 10th January, 2008
A comfortable, safe, all-weather car, high on fuel efficiency & low on emissions

Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, today unveiled the Tata ‘NANO’, the People’s Car from Tata Motors that India and the world have been looking forward to. A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People’s Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families. The People’s Car will be launched in India later in 2008.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, Mr. Ratan N. Tata said, “I observed families riding on two-wheelers – the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family. Tata Motors’ engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”

Stylish, comfortable
The People’s Car, designed with a family in mind, has a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room. It can comfortably seat four persons. Four doors with high seating position make ingress and egress easy.

Yet with a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas. Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and manoeuvrability, which will set a new benchmark among small cars.

When launched, the car will be available in both standard and deluxe versions. Both versions will offer a wide range of body colours, and other accessories so that the car can be customised to an individual’s preferences.

Fuel-efficient engine
The People’s Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.

Meets all safety requirements
The People’s Car’s safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements. With an all sheet-metal body, it has a strong passenger compartment, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tubeless tyres further enhance safety.

Environment-friendly
The People’s Car’s tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint.
(For more information: www.tatanano.com )

About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company, with revenues of US $ 7.2 billion in 2006-2007. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world’s fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina. The company already distributes Fiat branded cars in India. Tata Motors’ international footprint includes Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pick-up vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the U.K., and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.

(For free broadcast-standard and streaming quality video content about Tata Motors, please log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/tatamotors. You can preview and request broadcast-standard video which will be delivered digitally or by tape. Registration and video is free to the media.)

- Ends -

Issued by:
Debasis Ray
Head - Corporate Communications
Tata Motors Limited
Phone: +912266657613
E-Mail: peoplescar@tatamotors.com
Website: http://www.tatanano.com

Indians Respond Enthusiastically to World’s Cheapest Car

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
15 January 2008

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The world’s cheapest car, made by an Indian manufacturer, has triggered unprecedented interest in a country where only eight people in every thousand own a car. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha has a report on how people in India are reacting to Tata Motors’ Nano.

Tens of thousands of people are flocking to the Auto Show in New Delhi - and the star attraction is a $2,500 car dubbed the “People’s Car”.

The Nano, produced by India’s Tata conglomerate, made its debut last week.

After a peek at the no-frills vehicle, with a 624 cubic centimeter engine, thousands say they want to buy it.

“I belong to middle class family, so it is very good thing for us, good news for us, because I can dream a good car in India,” said one person.

“This is very cheap, I want to buy for my son,” one gentleman said.

“Its cost is not too much, and I wish I have personal car and I cannot buy large one,” said one woman.

“It appeals [to] me just due to the parking situation available in India number one, number two the fuel efficiency, number three is price, number four it is very cute vehicle, seems to be very cute,” added yet another gentleman.

People have even flocked in from villages far from the city to see the Nano.

Balwan Ram took a bus from a village in Haryana state, 100 kilometers away from Delhi. Ram says he came especially to see the car and now is waiting to buy it to replace his motorbike.

The enthusiasm is not surprising in a country of more than a billion people, where a family outing can be a challenge because of dismal public transportation.

Tata chairman Ratan Tata says he conceived of the low-priced car for India’s masses when he saw a family traveling on a two wheeled scooter; the father driving, his child standing in front of him, and wife seated behind holding a baby - all getting wet in the rain.

“This has been referred to as one man’s dream,” sadi Tata. “And indeed it was.”

Now global automakers are watching to see how that dream pans out in the marketplace.

If the small car is successful after hitting the roads later this year, it could expand the car market in an unprecedented manner in developing countries.

But not everyone is happy. Although the manufacturers say the small car will meet strict emission standards, environmentalists worry about fuel use and the congestion it will cause on India’s crowded roads.

The head of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, R.K. Pachauri, says the focus should be on more efficient public transportation.

“The problem is not with the product itself. The usage of the product and what that implies, how can we be blind to that?” he asked. “Where are we going to find road space to accommodate all these cars, not to speak of local pollution, not to speak of the fact that it is going to crowd out public transport options.”

But these concerns are of little interest to the millions eagerly waiting to become car owners for the first time.

Welcome to Blog @ MoreWhat.com’s Open Trackback

Secure the Borders Linkfest

This is an open trackback linkfest. It happens on Tuesday and Saturday. Each linkfest is open until the next one starts. Trackbacks will be on the frontpage in a post called MoreWhat Matters. The Secure the Borders theme is intended as a reminder to all for obvious reasons. If you have any suggestions, criticisms, questions or just feel the need to communicate, trackback or post it in the comments. If you want to be added to Z’ Blogroll, register and/or inquire to make arrangements. The Honor Roll is reserved for blogs viewed as special by this blog’s owner.
JIHAD stands for Jesus I Have A Deathwish.

This linkfest is dedicated to the guest worker who never left.There are plenty of illegal immigration posts on this blog.

If you’re here legally and behavin’ yo self, welcome aboard.
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.

We suggest using the Linkfest Haven Deluxe Trackback pinger for ease of use and time savings to catch all the festive linking activities today. Or, if you have done this less than we have, the permalink for this Open Trackback is the title link and the trackback is located near the bottom of the permalink page for this post. Just poke around, you’ll find it.

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1.   Bad Movies - Dragon Wars + Best and Worst Vampire Movies — Pirate’s Cove Says:
   January 12th, 2008 at 9:02 pm […] Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary’s Thoughts, 123beta, Adam’s Blog, Shadowscope, Big Dog’s Weblog, Leaning Straight Up, Pursuing Holiness, Adeline and Hazel, third world county, Stix, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Global American Discourse, The Pink Flamingo, CORSARI D’ITALIA, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
2. Nuke’s News & Views » Blog Archive » Fred Sez….”Federalism” Says:
   January 12th, 2008 at 9:39 pm […] Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary’s Thoughts, 123beta, Right Truth, Adam’s Blog, Shadowscope, The Amboy Times, Cao’s Blog, Big Dog’s Weblog, Leaning Straight Up, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Adeline and Hazel, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Allie is Wired, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, Stix, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate’s Cove, Celebrity Smack, Global American Discourse, The Pink Flamingo, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
3. Big Dogs Weblog Says:
   January 12th, 2008 at 9:44 pm Blumenthal Pickeled Tink to Win…

   Sidney Blumenthal is a real schmuck who plays it hard and ugly in politics. This might explain why he is a friend and adviser to the Clinton crime family. Sidney was the one who went after Arkansas State Troopers who exposed Bill Clinton as a man who…

4. A Blog For All Says:
   January 12th, 2008 at 10:46 pm Syria Building On Site of September 6 Airstrike…

   That the Syrians remain silent over what happened on September 6 is the most curious part of the entire episode and suggests that whatever the Israelis hit, Syria didn’t want to bring any attention to what they were doing at the site….

5. 123beta Says:
   January 13th, 2008 at 1:34 am Kos: Advocating Voter Fraud…

   developing… via the Illinois Review, by John Bambenek:”Yesterday, I filed a complaint with the Michigan Attorney General against Daily Kos’ blogger Markos Moulitsas, requesting an investigation into……

6. Rosemary’s Thoughts Says:
   January 13th, 2008 at 2:54 am Weekend Open Trackback+Military Stuff…

   Good evening. I will be hosting an open trackback weekend, so feel free to share with others your fabulous works. I have quite a bit to do, so I shall be using this trackback post to add news and other information as the weekend progresses. Check out…..

7. Shadowscope Says:
   January 13th, 2008 at 11:04 am Florida to Charge Hilton……

   Gary Michael Hilton, the scumbag who has been busy getting himself charged with murder and kidnapping in the death of Meredith Emerson in north Georgia, sits and languishes in a Dawson County Jail. He is now being investigated in five cases, two in Geo…

8. Right Truth Says:
   January 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pm Sunday Reading List, January 13, 2008…

   The Lost Archive — Missing for a half century, a cache of photos spurs sensitive research on Islam’s holy text (WSJ) On the night of April 24, 1944, British air force bombers hammered a former Jesuit college here housing the…

9. Stageleft:. Life on the [lower] left side » Blog Archive » Open Trackbacks & Comments Sunday (The “11 Rows Back” Edition) Says:
   January 13th, 2008 at 5:34 pm […] Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, A Blog For All, Right Truth, Shadowscope, Leaning Straight Up, Big Dog’s Weblog, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Allie is Wired, The Pink Flamingo, Global American Discourse, Dumb Ox Daily News, and CORSARI D’ITALIA, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
10. Woman Honor Thyself Says:
    January 13th, 2008 at 5:48 pm Ezra Levant: Booyah!…

    Don’t ever “offend” the holy um…”prophet”- you know who.

    ……

11. The World According To Carl Says:
    January 13th, 2008 at 6:30 pm […] Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary’s Thoughts, A Blog For All, 123beta, Adam’s Blog, Right Truth, Shadowscope, The Amboy Times, Leaning Straight Up, Big Dog’s Weblog, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Adeline and Hazel, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, third world county, Allie is Wired, Woman Honor Thyself, Stix, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate’s Cove, Celebrity Smack, The Pink Flamingo, Global American Discourse, Dumb Ox Daily News, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Right Voices, Stageleft, and The Yankee Sailor. Also thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
12. Adam’s Blog Says:
    January 13th, 2008 at 10:01 pm Make All the Promises You Have To…

    Podcast Show Notes
    An overheard pep talk from Mitt Romney sums up the problem of his campaign in 7 words.
    Plus ethical questions about the McCain campaign’s use of their mailing list. (Hat Tip: Red State.)
    The Deficit is up year-to-date (hat Ti…

13. Conservative Cat Says:
    January 14th, 2008 at 3:27 am Say It Ain’t So: New Poll Shows Republican Voters Favor McCain…

    Here’s the story. Read it and weep. Of course, the polls have not been covering themselves with glory lately, but just in case this is an accurate snapshot of voter sentiment, I thought I’d better put a damper on it…….

14. Right Voices » Blog Archive » Democrats are now taking credit for the surge… Says:
    January 14th, 2008 at 3:56 am […] Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary’s Thoughts, A Blog For All, 123beta, Right Truth, Shadowscope, Leaning Straight Up, Big Dog’s Weblog, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, Allie is Wired, Stix, The World According to Carl, , Global American Discourse, The Pink Flamingo, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Dumb Ox Daily News, and Stageleft, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
15. The World According To Carl Says:
    January 14th, 2008 at 6:02 pm […] Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, Mark My Words, Rosemary’s Thoughts, A Blog For All, 123beta, Right Truth, Adam’s Blog, Shadowscope, Leaning Straight Up, Big Dog’s Weblog, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, third world county, Allie is Wired, Stix, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, DragonLady’s World, , Pirate’s Cove, Global American Discourse, The Pink Flamingo, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and Stageleft. Also thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
16. 100% Preventable! The Deportation Joke! » Freedom Folks Says:
    January 14th, 2008 at 9:34 pm […] Dragonlady’s world  Mark my words  Pirate’s cove  Rosemary’s thoughts  Adam’s blog  Conservative cat  Third world county  The world according to Carl  Bluestar chronicles  MoreWhat  The virtuous Republic […]
17. Woman Honor Thyself Says:
    January 14th, 2008 at 10:20 pm Gilad Shalit’s BooK…

    Execute the dang terrorists Ham-ASS wants released, one a day guys and dolls, until Gilad is released.

    ……

18. The World According To Carl Says:
    January 15th, 2008 at 5:51 am […] Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, Mark My Words, Rosemary’s Thoughts, A Blog For All, 123beta, Adam’s Blog, Right Truth, Shadowscope, Leaning Straight Up, Cao’s Blog, Big Dog’s Weblog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, Allie is Wired, third world county, Stix, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, DragonLady’s World, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate’s Cove, Global American Discourse, Celebrity Smack, The Pink Flamingo, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and Stageleft. Also thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]

Israeli and Palestinian officials have formally launched negotiations aimed at reaching a final peace agreement by the end of this year.