For Me

Clearly there are two candidates that are (somehow) leading the pack: Mitt Romney & Rick Perry. I know this isn’t news to anyone, but I feel the need to write out exactly what they each are campaigning for myself. I want to know what the similarities and differences are between the two candidates, even the personal things. I want to see the “facts” laid out in front of me . This will all be based off of their individual websites, and only an example of my research.

PERRY-
From: Texas
Education: Bachelor’s in Animal Science from Texas A & M
Title: Governor of Texas
Jobs: Did what he did in Texas- Establish incentive funds, supports budgets that invest in education, and lawsuit reforms.
Fiscal Responsibility: Control spending and taxes.
Health Care: Create more jobs (so American can be covered by employer-sponsored health plans), and repeal Obamacare.

ROMNEY-
From: Michigan
Education: Brigham Young University – dual degrees from Harvard Law & Harvard Business School.
Title: Former Governor of Massachusetts
Jobs: Plans to submit a jobs package to Congress that has five major proposals and will demand that Congress act upon this package within 30 days
Fiscal Responsibility: Cut federal spending, balance budget, and return power to the states and the people.
Health Care: Repeal Obamacare and replace with market-based reforms, taking the power away from federal government.

This is only the tiniest portion of issues to compare, of course. However, simply looking at the websites you get a hint of difference. You seem to get more of a history of Rick Perry’s career and the future plans from Mitt Romney. Comparing these candidates is something that will continue outside of this blog and expand to more of the president hopefuls. Just for kicks, take a look at these videos from the candidates campaign.

Rick Perry
Mitt Romney

Campaign Finance

Meredith McGeHee briefly discusses the difference between the previous elections campaign finance and how it differs from todays.



McGeHee explains how less than 1% of Americans financially contribute to campaigns.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/296500-1

Watch 4:33-5:44 to see what Charlie Cook has to say about how money affects a candidate's campaign.

I Ate Through This Debate

Why, yes, I am going to talk about the most recent debate held in Florida last Thursday. (The title will make sense later, I promise.)

The most discussed topics in this particular debate were the Economy & Immigration. But seeing as how my jar full of change is getting full, let’s stick with economy for today.

The first question asked what each candidate would do to help small businesses hire new employees and grow in this “troublesome” economy. Rick Perry takes the lead by talking about what he has done in Texas. (Shocking.) Basically his solution: lower the taxes. Great Rick, now tell us how you plan to do that. The moderator addresses Perry by stating that all of the other candidates have a jobs plan that is written down and people can read for themselves. Everyone except him, that is. So where is it?

“Well, you will see a more extensive jobs plan. But the fact of the matter is, you look at the state of Texas…,” states Perry. (I’ll put that at about a TWO on the I.B.I scale.) Apparently, he couldn’t come up with a direct answer. Needless to say he didn’t exactly come out of the gate ready to go, and, unfortunately, that is the path that he chose for the rest of the night.

Mitt Romney also addressed the question by saying that our corporate and employer tax rates need to be competitive. Then goes on to review the first few steps in his 59 point plan.

The always compelling, Newt Gingrich is asked about unemployment benefits, to which he replies that people should not receive money for doing nothing. Blunt, but at least he answers the question.

**Now, how are these candidates going to turn this country around?

Jon Huntsman will take his tax reform package, regulatory reform, energy independence and take it all to Congress.

Herman Cain, besides his 999 plan, will lead us back up a hill. Good to know. (And congrats on Florida.)

Michele Bachmann will repeal Obamacare.

Romney will place his hand on his heart, tell the truth, live with integrity and lead our country like a true patriot.

Perry wants to, of course, be a leader, repeal Obamacare, and lower tax rates.

Ron Paul will help us understand about the bubbles, and get the people to create jobs and not the government.

Gingrich plans on Obama not getting re-elected.

Rick Santorum shall believe in the American people.

Last but not least, Gary Johnson promises to balance the federal budget.

So, for the real question: Did I really eat my way through this debate? The answer: Absolutely. You have to eat when you watch something as catfight-y as this debate. You can always count on the Perry vs. Romney (nice try) love fest, but this time we got a little Santorum vs. Huntsman action! Watching Santorum attempt to interrupt Huntsman was definitely popcorn-eating worthy.

Quote of The Day: “My next-door neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this current administration.”- Gary Johnson

Bachmann vs. Perry

An issue seems to be heating up more every day between Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry: the HPV vaccine.  (This vaccine is to mainly prevent cervical cancer in young women.)

So, why is this causing such a stir between to the representatives?

Well to start, Texas has an HPV vaccine policy. This policy states that all females entering the sixth grade will receive the vaccine, with some exceptions of course. Keep that in mind.

Now, during the Republican Primary debate this past week, Bachmann accused Perry of taking a $5,000 campaign contribution from a medical company, Merck, so that in turn he will support the HPV vaccine policy in Texas. To which Perry denies by stating, “If you’re saying I can be bought for $5,000, I’m offended.”

What are Bachmann & Perry’s stances on this issue?

Bachmann is anything, but for this policy. She comes at this from the angle of a concerned parent.  Bachmann fears that it gives young girls the idea that this vaccine can protect against any STD. Not only that, but that certain side effects from the vaccine are just too risky.

Perry, on the other hand, was looking at the HPV vaccine as “pro-life” attempt. Ever since he launched his GOP presidential bid, he claims to have changed his position on the vaccine mandate and is in full support of over-turning it. In this past week’s debate Perry commented on his mistake and that he would do it over again if he could.

While Perry’s plea of regret might ease some parents’ minds, Bachmann is one parent who won’t accept it. With latest research it doesn’t seem that her accusations, of Perry’s suspicious involvements with support of the vaccine, are too far off.

The Washington Post released an article early September 13^th that will clarify more appropriately than myself.

“It soon emerged that Perry was close to one of the lobbyists who was pushing for the order and who worked for the vaccine’s New Jersey-based manufacturer. That lobbyist, Mike Toomey, had served as Perry’s chief of staff and has since helped found a super PAC aimed at boosting Perry’s bid for the presidency.” (Dan Eggen)

…

“At the time that he did this, it just had everybody scratching their heads,” said Andrew Wheat, research director at Texans for Public Justice, an Austin-based watchdog group that has frequently locked horns with Perry. “He wasn’t known as a crusader for women’s health. There’s no explanation that seems to make sense other than that Toomey’s got his ear and he got Perry to do this favor for him.” (Eggen)

Nonetheless, this is an issue that is far from having any sort of closure.

See what Bachmann had to say on Jay Leno.

Electoral College Pros and Cons

Rob Richie and John Samples share the opinions on whether the Electoral College is still useful or not.



Thomas Mann discusses the history of the Electoral College.



John Koza briefly describes the National Popular Vote bill, and why it should pass.

The First

Welcome to my very own Discoveries of the Road: a place where I will be discovering how Presidential candidates campaign their way to the top, what said candidates stand for, and occasionally I will rate them on a scale (entitled "I'll Buy It") of 1-10. There will even be a quote of the day!

Earlier this week the Republican presidential primary debate was held in Tamp, FL. The first, and what seemed to be, the longest, most heated topic was that of Social Security.  Bachman was first out of the gate, claiming to have “feet in the private sector and a foot in the federal government.” She says that she knows what to do and has the conviction to make changes that senior citizen can count on. I’ll give that a 4 on the I.B.I scale for grammar choices.

What seemed to be the biggest phrase of this topic was, “ponzi scheme”. Now, this is a phrase that the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, originally used to describe social security before having an article printed in USA Today saying that he thinks social security should be saved.

After Perry reinforced his opinions printed in the USA Today article, the always “not so fair complexioned” Mitt Romney states how the term ponzi scheme is too over the top and all it does is frighten people. Perry pointed out that all Romney is doing is scaring people. While they discussed what’s in each other’s books and who scares who more, it wound up sounding like a “my horse is bigger than your horse” kind of conversation. The former governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman, also seems to think that Romney and Perry’s debate is too dramatic, and says that it’s the entire Republican party that is frightening the people. “We’ve got the answers. We don’t have leadership,” he says. Took the thoughts right out of my head, Huntsman. How did you know?

Notably, Ron Paul gets in a few applause moments with his early mentions of getting our troops home and ending this war.  However, when healthcare starts rearing it’s head and Paul is the one on the line, he seems to waver between letting Americans take risks by not having a healthcare plan and never turning away people who are in need of healthcare. It’s really never clear. What is clear, is the audience member who screams “YEA” in reference to letting people die if they don’t have healthcare.

Throughout this debate you hear Herman Cain speak of his 999 plan, how Perry created over one million jobs in Texas, metaphors from Romney, and, of course, abolishing Obamacare. But for the more personal touches we hear what each candidate would bring to White House if elected. A beautiful wife, the constitution, and a Harley Davidson motorcycle are among the answers. Thankfully, if Herman Cain is elected, we can expect a sense of humor to be roaming about the halls. Can a “that’s what she said” joke finally be heard in the oval office? Maybe we’ll never know.

Quote of the Day: “Texas saves lives.”- Rick Perry