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According to the Rasmussen report Giuliani and Thompson lead the national polls for the GOP at 23 and 25% respectively near the beginning of October 2007 while McCain and Romney essentially shared second at 10 and 13% and Huckabee was not a factor in mid-single digits. For the Democrats, Clinton held a whopping 44 or 45% with Obama trailing in the 20’s and Edwards in the teens.

What a difference a couple of months can make. Currently, at Rasmussen Reports, Huckabee has nearly the first place numbers held by Giuliani and Thompson earlier at 22%. Giuliani and Romney are in second with mid teens as McCain and Thompson follow in third in the lower teens. While McCain has been mentioned in news reports as gaining some strength of late, for example, the Peter King endorsement, his 13% is representative of the last months. Giuliani and Thompson have slipped while Huckabee and Romney have gained. The Dems, nationally have not changed, but Clinton is faltering in the early state polls while Obama continues to climb and Edwards appears the same and steady. For the GOP, Huckabee and Romney lead Iowa.

With the religious questions still lingering in the campaign a recent poll indicated eight out of ten likely Republican voters said religion was not a factor in their vote. Of those voters the support for each candidate may be reflected in the other polls. For the twenty percent who say religion is a factor most suggest support for Huckabee. A related story suggest Romney has much ’silent’ support in addition to what the other poll numbers show in Iowa. Huckabee is thought to have much support in Iowa but that has not translated to strength in other early states. A first for Huckabee in Iowa may give him competing strength in subsequent early state contests while less than second may see his recent surge fade. For the Dems, less than first in Iowa may signal the beginning of the end for Clinton while a first for Obama could build a breakout leading into the New Hampshire and other states.

At USA Election Polls one could say Iowa is a statistical tie for each party. As most people know, Huckabee and Romney are a tie as well as Clinton and Obama are tied. Several delegate count listings have what one would expect based on national polls through the campaign to date. But when averages or proportional distribution of state delegates are considered the game changes dramatically.

In New Hampshire it is Romney and McCain or Romney, McCain and Giuliani for the GOP. At one time Giuliani was stronger but his strategy of focus on the ‘big’ states has seen the numbers change. Clinton and Obama for the Dems mirrors Iowa. With the NY connections for Giuliani and a NY Senate seat for Clinton, they were much stronger in the Northeast early on but things are changing.

But all this is just a snapshot in time and too much should not be read into it. Just like Huckabee’s recent rise, two months ago, who’d a thunk it? The view from this blog sees Giuliani conceding early states. The Huckabee surge is only a factor in one state thus far. Clinton continues to decline. Obama continues to climb. Edwards in holding steady and leads in at least one poll in Iowa for the Dems. Thompson has slid some while McCain and Romney have maintained or increased strength, the exception has been the tie for Romney and Huckabee in Iowa.

If forced to pick only from the Democratic party offerings this blog would recommend Obama or Edwards. Only because they are not Clinton and are the only other Dems candidates with a chance to win. But then Biden, Dodd or Kucinich would not be selected here, under the conditions mentioned, or under any other circumstance. That would be why this blog would not vote for a Democrat in 2008. Oh, did Richardson get overlooked? Yes.

On the GOP side, this blog has always supported Mitt Romney for President and will continue to do so. Based on some of the positions of Giuliani and Huckabee, this blog could only support them if they were the last ones standing. While some concerns remain about an outstanding American named Senator John McCain, primarily due to his support of amnesty last summer, if he was nominated he would get this blog’s full support. Nearly the same can be said for Fred Thompson. While some of the early criticism appears to have been a lame attempt to discredit him, since entering the campaign, his performance is a bit puzzling and an aura of almost hesitation causes some questions. But again, if he was the nominee for the GOP he would get this blog’s support.

That brings it back to Mitt Romney. Romney possesses the attributes required to be successful. The criticism voiced about Romney may be more a matter of political gamesmanship and the strategy of rivals. Questions about his faith are a distraction. Questions about his positions may reflect a willingness to respond to the will of the electorate or the strength to do what is right on behalf of them. People do change their minds for good reason although it is popular in politics to highlight that fact as a flaw.

On the practical side, Mitt Romney is credited even by some of his critics for successfully correcting a massive budget shortfall in Massachusetts. He successfully repaired a failing Olympic organization. He has successfully rebuilt million or billion dollar companies. He can do the same for a debt ridden nation. He has the knowledge to surround himself with a team to produce results and strengthen this country. With the economy taking over first place as the most important issue for the 2008 election, Mitt Romney is the one superior choice for President. Not only can he deliver leadership to our economic troubles but the remainder of policy matters are well within his grasp. His faith and family values can also restore some of the traditional concepts that have made this country great. These are not campaign tricks. The man has demonstrated throughout his life that intelligence, discipline, hard work and values have driven his success. He can apply those attributes and principles to leading this nation and getting it done.

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, third world county, Faultline USA, Pirate’s Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, Big Dog’s Weblog, Cao’s Blog, Wolf Pangloss, Conservative Cat, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

While Rudy Giuliani is receiving substantial mention in the media lately as the early voting draws near, his strategy of focusing on large electoral states and abandoning the early states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina is similar to the chatter than accompanied the prolonged anticipation of Fred Thompson entering the Presidential campaign earlier in the year. It would be fair to say that although Thompson’s entry strategy did not launch him to a commanding lead in the national polls he has established a momentary first place followed by a longer stay at second or third until Huckabee’s late surprising surge. But Giuliani may be risking his long term lead in the national polls with the big state only strategy. Or perhaps his campaign is concerned about the thin advantage of 911 celebrity status and the chance that it will not continue to be a strength.

Unless Mike Huckabee’s recent surge in the polls can sustain a victory in Iowa his campaign’s current success may wane as the next few states begin voting. Besides the religious right or evangelicals or Baptists or Mormons, the unusual focus on candidates and their religious faith may not only be a big question mark for Mitt Romney. There are other positions held and faiths practiced by American voters as well as those not practicing or responding to faith whose candidate selection may not have been properly factored into the election forecasts or polls.

News of the demise of the McCain campaign may have been not only premature but just plain wrong. Certainly it is a reminder of the need to await the song of the fat lady before drawing conclusions. That can be said about the three candidates described in the first two paragraphs as well. Not that long ago when the results of campaign fund raising efforts were published, all the talk was on the impressive totals of the Democratic party versus the GOP. Clinton and Obama were exalted as the warchest winners giving rise to expected campaign success by the dollars. That is when some, including this blog, suggested it may well be over for Senator John McCain. How things change. Now the Clinton campaign may have traded places with the McCain campaign in terms of whose future is being predicted as dismal. Based on the earlier experience, no such predictions will be offered this time around.

But it should be mentioned that former Senator John Edwards was doing very well in Iowa early in the campaign. By virtue of all the media attention focused on Clinton and Obama the Edwards campaign may have been unfairly ignored. The Clinton campaign may receive less momentum from a first place showing in Iowa as would either Obama or Edwards. Being considered the default nominee and leading national polls from the beginning, a loss in Iowa would be a severe blow to the Clinton campaign. An Edwards victory in Iowa would really shake things up for the Democratic party race.

If any of the remaining candidates not mentioned here have a strong showing or unthinkable upset victory in Iowa it may not cause more than a momentary ripple. But then no predictions were going to be made here today. If expected outcomes are less certain now than in the recent past it may be a good thing. Just knowing that one of the candidates will be the next President of the United States can keep voters occupied with ‘what ifs’ about the next four or five years.

By Amin Fekrat
Washington
18 December 2007

The annual season of Hajj is now under way. Every Muslim who is financially capable is required by the Koran - the Muslim holy scripture - to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at the annual season of Hajj, at least once in their lifetime. The culmination of the Hajj is the Id-al Adha, the festival of sacrifice, which this year falls on Wednesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 20. Amin Fekrat describes the Muslim celebration.

The muezzin repeatedly calls to prayer, “God is most great… I bear witness to greatness of God.” At the muezzin’s call, Muslims, around the world, turn toward Mecca and prostrate themselves in humility before God to say their daily prayer:

“God is great

I bear witness to the oneness of God

And, I bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger.”

It was in Mecca, close to the year 570, that Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, was born. Forty years after his birth, Muhammad began to guide his people and to teach them the oneness of God. By doing so, the Islamic faith teaches, Muhammad completed a tradition begun by Adam and followed by a succession of prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, in order that humanity would be in peace and in covenant with God.

Soon after Muhammad started his teachings, he asked his clansmen from the elite tribe of Quraysh to abandon their worship of idols.

But, faced with defiance and persecution, Muhammad fled Mecca with a handful of his followers and journeyed to Medina, then an oasis 320 kilometers north of Mecca. The flight, or Hegira, of the prophet of Islam in the year 622 marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

Muhammad thrived in Median and, eight years after his flight, he returned to Mecca, in triumph, to witness the removal of idols from Ka’ba, the House of God.

Muslim tradition has it that Abraham, the Patriarch, built Ka’ba as the House of God. Located in one corner of Ka’ba is the “black Stone,” or “Hajar-al-Aswad,” which Muslims believe was given by God to Abraham as reward for his faithfulness. The stone represents the covenant between God and humans.

The great Patriarch, in a test of his faith and rectitude, was ordered by God to sacrifice his son, Ismael. However, God, satisfied that Abraham had passed the test of faith, offered a ram to be sacrificed in place of his son at the last minute. The “Eed-al Adha,” or the festival of sacrifice commemorates these events.

For more than 14 centuries, Muslims around the world have cast their eyes toward Ka’ba and looked forward to the day when they would be able to set foot in Mecca, a barren valley, surrounded by harsh hills in today’s Saudi Arabia.

Pilgrims to Mecca start their arduous journey stripped of the trappings of class, power, privilege and status. Men don the “Ihram,” a two-piece cloth cover. Women pilgrims wear a head-to-toe white garment that reveals only their faces and hands. The pilgrims then head toward Ka’ba, chanting the “Talbiyya,” a prayer to Allah:

“Here we come O’ Allah

No partner have thee

And the Blessings are yours.”

After reaching Ka’ba, the pilgrims start their “tawaf,” or the act of circumambulation, a ritual in which they walk seven times, counterclockwise, around Ka’ba. They then make the “Sa’ay,” the trip between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times. A trip to Mina takes place on the eighth day of the Hajj.

The following morning, the pilgrims make a trip to the plains of Arafat, near the site of Muhammad’s “Farewell Address,” where they pray from noon to sunset. At night, the pilgrims retreat to a place called the “Muzdalifah.”

Then they return to Mina for three days, where they cast stones at the three pillars representing the Satan. A final walk around the Ka’ba and sacrifice of animals bring the Hajj to a close.

BLOGS4BORDERS 121707

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1. An attitude of gratitude « nuke’s Says:
   December 15th, 2007 at 6:30 pm […] Trackposted to ….. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
2. Faultline USA Says:
   December 15th, 2007 at 8:08 pm Amnesty and Pardon for White People…

   Print out a document in PDF format of a PROCLAMATION OF AMNESTY AND PARDON absolving all white people of any alleged injustices towards black people….

3. The World According To Carl Says:
   December 15th, 2007 at 10:28 pm […] Trackposted to ….. Also thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
4. THE MIDNIGHT SUN » Blog Archive » OPEN SEASON ON CHRISTIANS Says:
   December 15th, 2007 at 11:22 pm thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
5. Stuck On Stupid Says:
   December 15th, 2007 at 11:58 pm Fred Thompson And Nurse Diesel: I Ain’t Gonna Play That Game……

   Bookmark to:

   Hide Sites

   ……

6. Planck’s Constant Says:
   December 16th, 2007 at 1:47 am Difference between Islamic and Infidel Sport Stars…

   How exciting it must be to play sports to an empty arena without cameras and that annoying attention of the rest of the world! …

7. Right Voices » Blog Archive » “We make it our business to Never Forget.” Says:
   December 16th, 2007 at 3:40 am […] Trackposted to …. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
8. Right Voices Says:
   December 16th, 2007 at 3:43 am “We make it our business to Never Forget.”…

   The wreath-laying at Arlington Cemetery

   Trackposted to …..

9. Adam’s Blog Says:
   December 16th, 2007 at 5:55 am Victims of Illegal Alien Identity Theft…

   Podcast Show Notes
   A Tennessee couple finds themselves victims of illegal alien identity theft. (Hat Tip: Digger’s Realm.)
   An investigation brings to light the unethical practices of Reverend Al Shaprton.
   Plus a man puts his life to risk, not for…

10. The Florida Masochist Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 2:05 pm The Knucklehead of the Day award…

    Today’s winner is Sunrise Elementary School Principal Issac Burgess IV….

11. Right Truth Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 3:55 pm Sunday Reading List 12/16/07…

    I’ve selected a wide range of reading for you today. Take your pick and have a wonderful Sunday: Must Read: COMMON USA REVERSE DISCRIMINATION IN RACE …

12. Big Dogs Weblog Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 4:33 pm Elizabeth Edwards Worries About Huckabee…

    Elizabeth Edwards has been brought out on various occasions to attack others on behalf of her husband. Her favorite target has been Hillary Clinton and my belief is that John used her so he would not be seen as a man attacking a woman. Elizabeth has …

13. Chuck Adkins » Hey, can someone turn off the snow machine, please??!?!?! Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 7:47 pm […] Trackposted to …. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
14. Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 10:45 pm Ocean Acidity Changing - Is this a problem?…

    A buoy in the north Pacific known as Ocean Station Papa has recorded increasing levels of acidity in this section of ocean 700 miles west of Seattle. Is this cause for concern or just an anomaly?…

15. Cao’s Blog Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 11:37 pm typical tactics of a leftist…

    I have now been threatened with a lawsuit in my comments section by a man in the bathtub, because he can’t defend her.

    ……

16. Right Voices » Blog Archive » Sen. Joe Lieberman To Endorse John McCain Says:
    December 16th, 2007 at 11:43 pm […] Trackposted to …. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
17. Adam’s Blog Says:
    December 17th, 2007 at 12:36 am Huckabee Derangement Syndrome…

    We’ve not been shy in dealing with the faults of Governor Mike Huckabee, but it’s all been going a little too far in recent days, particularly with the tone of the attack.
    Erick Erickson at Red State sums up the problem:
    But the sheer snide…

18. Woman Honor Thyself Says:
    December 17th, 2007 at 1:11 am A-rabs GoT a BaD Rap..or is it Rep?…

    Hmmmmmmm.
    Let’d do some Math class.
    Ar-abs constitute roughly 20% of Israel.
    Jews constitute 0% of Jordan, or ahem. what some like to call: “Pale-stine”.

    ……

19. The split « nuke’s Says:
    December 17th, 2007 at 3:24 am […] Trackposted to ….. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
20. Conservative Cat Says:
    December 17th, 2007 at 10:20 pm Boots the Cat, Episode 1: The Choosing…

    Adopting a cat is not quite so simple as it was in the days when Bruce’s wife grabbed me out of a cardboard box and drove me to my new home. These days the preferred method is to go to……

21. Woman Honor Thyself Says:
    December 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am Stop the ACLU Blogburst…

    Send one now!
    Bwhahahaha!

    ……

22. Mark My Words Says:
    December 18th, 2007 at 3:54 am The taming of a shrewd…

    If only that were a word play on literature or the title of a movie, but Mike Huckabee is all to real and whether or not he will be the Republican candidate for president is far more serious. Despite negative stories……

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill

Tate report - Download MP3 (1424k)
Listen to Tate report

Democrats took control of Congress for the first time in 12 years in 2007, promising to fulfill an ambitious legislative agenda and to change the course of the unpopular war in Iraq. They conclude the year accomplishing few of their key priorities, including affecting the course of the war. VOA’s Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

President Bush offered his assessment of the Democratic-led Congress at a recent appearance with reporters.

“The end of 2007 is approaching fast, and the new Congress has little to show for it,” said President Bush.

The American people appear frustrated with Congress, too. A recent New York Times/CBS News poll finds that only 21 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Congress, with 64 percent disapproving.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans acknowledge they haven’t accomplished as much as they would have liked, and are blaming each other.

Republicans say Democrats refuse to compromise. Senator John Cornyn is a Texas Republican:

“When one side or the other tries to jam their agenda down the throats of the other side, it does not work,” said Senator Cornyn. “Exhibit A [the example] is the dismal record of this broken Congress during this last year.”

But Democrats say Senate Republicans are to blame, calling them obstructionists. Under Senate rules, the minority can block legislation using procedural tactics. Sixty votes are needed to overcome such tactics, known as filibusters, but Democrats only hold a 51 to 49 seat majority.

Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, says Republicans’ use of the tactics has neared record levels, and predicts they will pay politically in congressional election less than a year from now.

“They are filibustering themselves out of their seats next November,” said Senator Schumer. “The American people dramatically want change. Every time they stop the wheels of progress, every time they stop us from doing things that America wants, they are hurting the country.”

Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada blames President Bush for his unwillingness to compromise.

“President Bush reminds me of somebody who was a lawyer, who would never negotiate anything, a nice guy, pleasant to visit with, but he was impossible to deal with on any case that he had,” said Senator Reid. “That is what we have with President Bush. He is impossible, and he has been for seven years, to deal with.”

But President Bush and his Republican allies in Congress defend their strategy, saying they are stopping Democrats from legislating on matters that are not in Americans’ best interest.

Despite much partisan wrangling, lawmakers did manage to accomplish several modest achievements - including approving measures to improve homeland security as recommended by the commission that investigated the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States. In addition, Congress overrode a presidential veto on a bill to restore the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, and reformed congressional ethics and lobbying rules.

Democrats were not as successful in overriding vetoes of popular legislation to deliver health care to children of low-income families and expand stem cell research to help cure diseases.

But more importantly, Democrats failed to make good on key priorities, including reforming the nation’s immigration system and setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Democrats, who were elected to the majority in large part as a result of Americans’ dissatisfaction with the course of the war, are especially disappointed that they were not able to push through a withdrawal timeline, despite dozens of attempts. They abandoned the effort in the waning weeks of the congressional session.

One political analyst says the reason the Democrats’ had trouble making good on their vow to change the course of the war is in large part the influence that the president wields - even as his second term in office winds down.

Ross Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey:

“The inability of Congress to pass any kind of legislation limiting the American role in Iraq was a reflection of the fact that the president would veto anything that Congress passed that imposed any kind of limitation on him,” said Ross Baker. “The fact that the Democrats have withdrawn all such efforts is an indication of the power of even a weakened president in his final year in office to play a very commanding role in what gets done on Capitol Hill.”

Baker also says changing circumstances on the ground in Iraq played a role in the Democrats’ inability to get a withdrawal timetable approved. He says President Bush’s decision to increase the number of troops in Iraq helped tamp down violence, which in turn, helped reduce the number of U.S. casualties.

“As that number has gone down I think the place of Iraq on the agenda of American people has gone down, and a great deal of the anger and frustration has dissipated,” he said. “That could change if things get worse, and they easily could. But that certainly is a major element in the inability of the Democrats to get the votes they need.”

Members of the Democratic Party’s liberal base are angry that their party’s majority in Congress has not been able to set a timetable for withdrawal. Democratic leaders are vowing to try again next year.

Senator Carl Levin is a Michigan Democrat and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee:

“The effort is not over,” said Senator Levin. “We may not be able to get the votes, but we are going to keep on trying. I think we are duty-bound to see if we can get some kind of timetable in place.”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat of California sought to accentuate the positive, suggesting that a timetable for a troop withdrawal from Iraq and other agenda items that did not pass this year could be approved if more Democrats are elected next year.

“We signaled change,” said e Nancy Pelosi. “We made a difference. And now we are showing that in order to get much more of this done - we can some of it done this year, but we need a Democratic president and we need stronger majorities in the House and Senate.”

All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats will be on the ballot in November’s elections.

The Russian state agency building Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power station has made its first shipment of fuel to the facility.

Atomstroiexport issued a statement Monday announcing the delivery to Bushehr - Iran’s first nuclear power plant.

Russia’s foreign ministry said Monday that the fuel will be under the control and guarantees of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the whole time it is in Iranian territory.

Tehran argues that nuclear work at Bushehr and elsewhere is strictly for civilian purposes. But the United States and its Western allies have accused Iran of using the programs as a cover to develop nuclear weapons.

An Israeli delegation is in the United States in an effort to convince U.S. officials that Iran is still developing nuclear weapons — despite a recent U.S. intelligence report that said Tehran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

The report also said Iran continues to enrich uranium and would have enough for a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015.

Enriching uranium is a process that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.

By VOA News

This blog has presented opinion and some reports and transcripts related to criticism surrounding Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith. The short version is a candidate’s faith should not be a campaign issue. There are now some reports perhaps gaining circulation about a rumor that Barack Obama is really a Muslim and threatens the security of the US. While it appears Mr Obama’s response or handling of the matter is more subdued than the Faith in America speech finally given by Romney as a result of the repeated attacks on his faith, it may have done more good defusing the campaign flap over religion for Obama to in some way follow suit with a speech of his own. Of course that may yet happen. Mitt Romney may have preferred it go away on its own rather than extending the life of a counterproductive criticism.

As a measure to demonstrate that the two major political parties do not need to always maintain an adversarial posture, Obama presenting an announced speech to respond to the religious rumor about his faith would strengthen the idea that a person’s faith should be off the table. With all the references to JFK’s speech after Romney presented his, it appears we have not learned much since candidate John F Kennedy delivered his statements. However Barack Obama handles this topic will probably be fine. The comments here are just a suggestion with the exception of keeping faith off the campaign table.

One report link about the Obama rumor is presented below:

Obama Describes Faith Amid False Rumors

One report about Obama’s opinions about faith earlier in the campaign are also offered below:

Barack Obama: Putting faith out front | csmonitor.com
How the Illinois senator came to embrace religion in his life.

Here is a link related to faith on Obama’s campaign website:
http://faith.barackobama.com/page/content/faithhome

You may argue that faith is an issue in a political campaign and it is obvious that a voter’s faith may influence whether or not they vote for a candidate. There has been much talk about the separation of church and state. Not everything said about how that concept is interpreted or understood is necessarily correct. With all the conflict about what can or cannot occur due to this concept it is still unresolved to everyone’s satisfaction and typical recurring themes continue to dominate the arguments. One example of what is probably being ignored and more difficult to confront relates to churches and their congregations. A sound bite aired on radio this past week featured a person expressing their church had instructed members not to vote for a particular candidate on religious grounds. Do you view that as a violation of the separation of church and state? It does not matter. It should not be part of the process We are allowed to practice any faith we wish by virtue of the freedom of religion and also free not to participate.

Even if people who feel compelled to consider religion a factor in candidate selection consciously decide to remove it from their selection criteria it may be impossible to determine if that effort was successful. This may serve as one example of where the human condition fails to fulfill the notion we can be objective. Puts a hole in another notion that humans are a superior life form on this planet. Seems the remainder of the animal kingdom may do a better job than us on being objective as well as many other measures.

The U.S. military is making an assessment of coalition strategy in Afghanistan in an effort to ensure that a recent increase in violence does not threaten long-term progress.

The effort, first reported in Sunday’s New York Times newspaper, was confirmed to VOA by a U.S. military official.

The assessment is being handled by Admiral William Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military activity in the Middle East and East Africa, as well as Afghanistan.

The official who spoke to VOA Sunday on condition of anonymity said Central Command is constantly assessing strategy and progress in Afghanistan and elsewhere, but that this effort by the admiral goes beyond the usual process.

The New York Times reports that Admiral Fallon’s assessment is one of three that will feed into a broader Afghanistan policy review early next year.

The Times says the others are being done by the State Department and the NATO alliance.

On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates got approval for the development of a long term plan for achieving stability in the country during a meeting of key NATO members with troops in Afghanistan.

NATO has a total of 40,000 troops in Afghanistan, including 14,000 Americans. In addition, the United States has another 12,000 troops in the country conducting counter-terrorism operations outside the NATO structure.

In other news, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry says its troops have killed four Taliban members near Musa Qala, in the first fighting since the militants were ousted from the southern town.
By VOA News

By VOA News

U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and John McCain have received endorsements by a newspaper in Iowa, where the first step in the election process takes place next month.

The Des Moines Register endorsed Senator Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination and Senator McCain for the Republican Party, saying they are the most competent and ready to lead of the 2008 presidential hopefuls.

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe newspaper endorsed Democratic Senator Barack Obama, saying he fulfills America’s need for a president with an intuitive sense of the wider world.

The newspaper also endorsed Senator McCain, calling him a straight talker who could help a polarized nation.

Iowa holds presidential caucuses on January 3 in which state voters from each party choose their preferred candidates for the November election.

And it is certainly not only the boys of summer with a problem. Try naming a sport, professional or amateur, in which there has never been mention of steroids and participants suspected of cheating. Aside from curling or some obscure local sport with extremely limited participation, the steroid stigma is alive and well. The obvious coverage of Barry Bonds and baseball as well as Marion Jones and the Olympics fuels the latest public and private debate on what it all means or should mean. The whole situation gives new meaning to the phrase ‘pros can cons’. While the discussion may be inevitable, having the discussion may be a little silly.

What is so difficult to understand and why is there so much chatter about what it all means? Other than providing filler for sports reports or talk shows, one point about the whole discussion should be central. There are rules, laws and all sorts of accepted conditions placed upon the world of sports. Participating in sports requires playing by the rules. One of the rules most people become familiar with early on is that cheating is not allowed. Determining the guilt or innocence of a participant regarding cheating should not be based on opinion and conjecture by the masses. Whether the authority having jurisdiction in the matter is a court of law or a governing body that regulates a sport, if the participant is found guilty they should suffer the consequences. Likewise, if the participant is found innocent that should be the end of the matter barring any form of appeal by others.

Without laboring over the idea represented by the ‘asterisk’ in the record books, that too is a silly discussion. One example being made notable by the allegations against Barry Bonds involves the previous home run record of Hank Aaron. If Bonds is determined to be innocent then of course his home run record should stand. But if he is found guilty and the timeline suggests an offense prior to that record it should be removed.

That people do not make this simply a matter of if you cheat you pay the price and if you don’t things are fine may indicate how people view honesty and what concessions they are willing to allow. The only gray area that should exist in checking honesty of someone is whether or not there are grounds to suspect cheating and then perhaps whether there is evidence to support the allegation. The final determination should be within an official body charged with the duty of such tasks.

There appears to be a contrast in opinions expressed publicly. The players may be relatively and perhaps understandably quiet on the topic. Opinions of those fostering sports within k-12 primarily speak to the damage done to sporting activities and potentially harmful challenge to young minds sorting out the proper way to compete. Those whose incomes are directly affected by the sports industry either now or in the future express distinctly different views overall. It seems a simple conclusion to draw. The powerful lure of wealth in the sporting industry is adversely affecting the judgment of those involved. It is really that simple. If you cheat, anything you gained was not earned. Because the industry dragged its collective feet in addressing the issue does not change that. It may complicate and prolong resolution but it does not change facts. To defend or try to redefine cheating to suit your preference only makes you complicit and does not remove guilt. Those who suggest it does or that something else demands it are in denial. Cheating is wrong and should not be rewarded or appear to be rewarded.

You had a choice. You made a decision. Now live with it. Removing credit for achievements made while cheating is fair and what the offense demands. The rules and ethics that guide fair play in sports as in life cannot be abandoned. Play by the rules or pay the price, end of story.

‘But no one running is more impressive than Mitt Romney’ according to an opinion piece by Mona Charen. So what you say? The reason for her statement was the ‘Faith in America’ speech and prior to the speech she viewed him as something of a carefully packaged and marketed Presidential candidate. There are plenty of reactions to the Romney speech on religion in America with criticism based on a comparison to the JFK speech years earlier or positive comments drawing on the complaint that the Mormon question is unfair and largely presented or supported by rivals or those who support other candidates. Certainly the subjective argument about religion can attribute the Huckabee approach as an attempt to draw support from those viewing his faith as superior.

Charen begins her commentary with a brief review of the candidate pool in past elections as well as specific ‘props’ to the relative merits of the campaigns of Thompson, McCain and Giuliani before describing Romney as the most impressive. There are some interesting notes including no presence of the religion question for either Mo Udall or George Romney, both Mormons who also ran for President. And her reference to no discussion of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s Mormon faith connects with an earlier post here indicating the vast array of faiths represented in Congress that receive no special attention. That includes the Mormon faith of not only Harry Reid but Michael Crapo, Gordon Smith, Robert Bennett and Orrin Hatch. There are about 30 different faiths represented with none getting the scrutiny to which Romney has been subjected. Charen suggests the doctrine or history of Mormon faith as more a matter of scholarly interest.

A Second Look at Romney
Mona Charen
Dec 14, 2007

When Mitt Romney took office as governor of Massachusetts, the state had a $1.2 billion deficit. Four years later it was in surplus. He boasts that fourth and eighth graders in Massachusetts achieved the highest scores in the nation in reading and math, though they were doing so before he became governor as well. But his program of assessment, merit pay for good teachers, English immersion and a focus on math and science may have helped keep them at the top.

It is difficult to find any significant weakness in Romney. He is refreshingly articulate, exceedingly well prepared and self-disciplined, clearly an excellent manager with both private and government experience, happily married with a large, supportive family, and well within the mainstream of conservatism on every major issue. His nomination would not divide the base.

He is just the sort of candidate people complain that they never get.

Much earlier in this long campaign season there were reports that the hot button issues of the war in Iraq and all things related to terrorism like national security, border control and illegal immigration as well as health care and other issues would be surpassed by economic concerns as the top issue before election day. There is reference now to an ABC poll suggesting just such a change in top elections issues. If this information stands and the voting public turns to more personal and practical considerations who better to accomplish the task than Mitt Romney? All the discussion on topics of principle or other ideals or ethical and moral considerations are fine but in the final analysis voter concerns about their wallets may override philosophical pursuits when entering the voting booth.

Not to suggest a scathing indictment of the human condition in America but let’s be honest. We may all have an interest in addressing moral considerations on issues in public affairs and politics but nothing gets attention like economic survival. And no one has a resume’ like Mitt Romney for solving those problems. Could it be that all the fuss over other questions raised in the campaign are merely designed to avoid the question of which candidate has the best record of solving economic issues and financial crisis in the public and private sectors?

A report from AP suggests that a statement in the recent GOP debate by Mike Huckabee was a subtle shot at Mitt Romney’s wealthy status.

“Our founding fathers had a brilliant, really revolutionary idea that the people elected would not represent the elite, but would represent the ordinary,” Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, said at a debate in Iowa this week, a subtle poke at the former Massachusetts governor.

Perhaps Mike Huckabee felt a need to criticize the very proof that Mitt Romney has a history demonstrating his skill and effectiveness in solving economic and financial problems that the former Arkansas governor does not. And since most of the candidates financial disclosures indicate each one having wealth that exceeds the level of most Americans, Fred Thompson’s humorous quip while less subtle than Huckabee’s was no doubt intended to target Romney’s success.

Thompson, a lawyer, actor and former senator from Tennessee, was more direct, saying: “My goal is to get into Mitt Romney’s situation, where I don’t have to worry about taxes anymore.”

While one of Thompson’s disclosures lists his assets between $2 and $8 million and is certainly far below that of Mitt Romney, the source of his income is largely from acting, lobbying and perhaps fees for speaking engagements of which one was for six figures. If the statement that the wealthiest 5% of Americans pay about half the nation’s taxes is accurate then even if Thompson does not have the same after tax income of Mitt Romney it is likely that Fred Thompson’s tax worries are no where close to that of ordinary Americans.

This blog supports Mitt Romney for President. But this particular blog post is not intended as a criticism of either Mike Huckabee or Fred Thompson. It was presented to address comments of other GOP candidates that may be intended as criticism of Mitt Romney. This was not a criticism of Huckabee or Thompson as candidates only their statements directed at Romney. Criticism by others about Thompson suggesting he is lazy or not really interested in being President are as meaningless and trivial as the criticism of Romney’s success or faith. The same is true of criticism of others toward Mike Huckabee if that criticism does not address his qualifications as a candidate for President. Obviously one of the many candidates for President will become exactly that….President of the United States and we should avoid being distracted by campaign tactics designed to redefine an opponent’s strength as a weakness.

With the crushing debt and wasteful spending that has been a Washington characteristic long before George W. Bush became President, selecting Mitt Romney to lead this country could easily prove that his ability to fix such problems wold allow us to then seriously attend to the other great issues facing this nation. With the suggestion by the ABC poll mentioned earlier that the economy is once again becoming the top issue, Mitt Romney’s record of success in matters of economics and finance may be the key to moving this country to the success and respectability everyone wants. The criticism of Romney’s success also mentioned earlier in this post may indicate his competitors are also aware of his superior leadership skills and ability to perform as Commander and Chief.

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1. 123beta Says:
   December 11th, 2007 at 11:53 pm eLed Zeppelin Show Almost Didn’t Happen…A very nervous Jason Bonham, the late John Bonham’s son, suffered a major stage-fright attack last night ……
2. Global Warming Today: Peer Review Says Man Not At Fault — Pirate’s Cove Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 12:19 am e[…] Trackposted to …. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
3. Cao’s Blog Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 12:46 am eR. Kevin Jaques-US Response to 9/11 should be: conform to sharia law…Dr. Kevin Jaques is one of the Three Mosqueteers. Of the three academics who are helping architect Paul Murdoch to plant a terrorist memorial mosque on the Flight 93 crash site, Jaques was most central to the Park Service’s fraudulent internal invest…
4. Cao’s Blog Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 1:05 am eRachel Carson, Silent Spring and DDT…There has been a lively debate in comments (that is, if a lib calling me a liar qualifies as “debate” ), but I thought I would bring it to the fore if not for mere documentation efforts and for others who might be trying to distinguish t…
5. Chuck Adkins » Quiet Riot’s Lead Singer Kevin Dubrow dead from Cocaine Overdose Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 1:36 am e[…] Trackposted to …..thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
6. Right Truth Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 2:31 am eTerror Attack in Algeria, Threat to Europe Intensifies…Terror Attack in Algeria, Threat to Europe Intensifies, thanks to Insights Into Today’s Middle East Chronology of recent militant activity in North Africa: “TIMELINE-Armed attacks and bombings in Maghreb states”, REUTERS, 11 December 2007 At least…
7. Woman Honor Thyself Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 2:59 am eReligion of “____” Killing Christians..Oh Well….Yup yup.
   “Visualize world surrender”. The new mantra.
   I think not.

   ……

8. Rosemary’s Thoughts Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 5:09 am eOpen Trackback Tuesday…Here we are again, it’s Tuesday, and I don’t really have anything prepared. I’ve been relaxing, because I don’t want to allow the stress to get to me. Besides, I have too many e-mails yet to read. I will probably end up posting them tomorrow ……
9. Adam’s Blog Says:
   December 12th, 2007 at 5:29 am eThe Anti-Human Movement…Podcast Show Notes
   Say hello to the latest misanthropic voice of the anti-human movement, Australian Professor Bruce Walker who has proposed a tax on new babies of $5,000 a year and $800 per year. No word yet on what Professor Walker would do with tho…
10. » More inconvenient truth: Amanda at Think Progress thinks foolish over Global Warming as the Science continues to get “un-settled” » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive » Says:
    December 12th, 2007 at 7:23 am e[…] Trackposted to …. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
11. The Florida Masochist Says:
    December 12th, 2007 at 12:56 pm eThe Knucklehead of the Day award…Today’s winner is Anthony Wayne Williams….
12. The Florida Masochist Says:
    December 12th, 2007 at 1:43 pm eCitrus Canker Suit…Palm Beach County residents won their class action suit. Don’t expect much if anything to come in the mail for your cut down citrus trees and plants….
13. The Florida Masochist Says:
    December 12th, 2007 at 3:39 pm eRacing to the airport…Some news from Germany. No mention is made if the taxi driver got Mr. Schumacher’s autograph.

    Michael Schumacher can add the unofficial title of Germany’s fastest taxi driver to his other achievements after taking over behind the wheel to get his …

14. The Florida Masochist Says:
    December 12th, 2007 at 3:40 pm eVistula oil spill…100 tons of fuel oil have leaked into Poland’s biggest river….
15. Dumb Ox Daily News Says:
    December 12th, 2007 at 4:18 pm eSun, Not Man, Main Cause of Climate Change, New St…Duh! More actual science against the “consensus” of socialists……
16. The Florida Masochist Says:
    December 12th, 2007 at 6:35 pm eBack to normal…A month ago North Korea was thanking the US. What are they doing now?…
17. Big Dogs Weblog Says:
    December 13th, 2007 at 12:26 am eClinton Hypocrisy Part of the Fun…When Bill Clinton was running for the presidency he made a now famous statement when he responded to questions about his drug use. He said that he smoked marijuana but that he did not inhale. This is a stupid answer and anyone with brains knew he was…
18. Conservative Cat Says:
    December 13th, 2007 at 1:57 am eCongress Unable to Afford Cost of Preventing Tax Increase…In the words of Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.): I would remind [the Republicans] we took the majority and decided we were not going to run the government as they did, as profligate spenders. I think she’s wrong, but I have……
19. Woman Honor Thyself Says:
    December 13th, 2007 at 4:49 am eIsrael passed its first resolution at the U.N.!…I do have one question though.
    What exactly do the A-rab nations have against aiding developing, third-world countries and farmers?

    ……

20. » More Global warming stuff » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive » Says:
    December 13th, 2007 at 8:39 am e[…] D’ITALIA, High Desert Wanderer, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. | RSS | Inlinks| […]
21. THE MIDNIGHT SUN » Blog Archive » AL GORE: CITIZENS MUST BEAR CARBON DEBT Says:
    December 13th, 2007 at 10:33 am e[…] Trackposted to ….. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
22. Right Voices » Blog Archive » Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) accuses Senate Democratic leaders of developing “Stockholm syndrome,” showing sympathy to their Republican captors Says:
    December 13th, 2007 at 5:13 pm e[…] Trackposted to …. thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
23. The World According To Carl Says:
    December 14th, 2007 at 5:17 am e[…] Trackposted to …. Also thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
24. The World According To Carl Says:
    December 14th, 2007 at 5:44 am e[…] Trackposted to ….. Also thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
25. » Are the Democrats imploding? » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive » Says:
    December 14th, 2007 at 10:03 am e[…] D’ITALIA, High Desert Wanderer, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. | RSS | Inlinks| […]
26. Mark My Words Says:
    December 14th, 2007 at 11:34 pm eEvangelicals - short term thinkers?…With Mike Huckabee supposedly rising in the polls, this being largely attributed to evangelical primary voters, I have to wonder if said evangelicals can think in the long term. This brings up a question I now present to these evangelical ……
27. Stuck On Stupid Says:
    December 15th, 2007 at 12:32 am eFred Thompson And Nurse Diesel: I Ain’t Gonna Play That Game…………
28. The World According To Carl Says:
    December 15th, 2007 at 7:17 am e[…] Trackposted to …. Also thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
29. » Yet more Global Warming stories: The real goal, angry Al, the baby tax, and the letter no one will read » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive » Says:
    December 15th, 2007 at 8:03 am e[…] Trackposted to …..thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
30. » Christmas Cuteness. Warning, may cause eye leakage » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive » Says:
    December 15th, 2007 at 8:40 am e[…] Desert Wanderer, OTB Sports, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe