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Category: February 2008

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Californians hit the road for Hillary Clinton

February 29, 2008 | 10:54 pm

Hoping to replicate her strong showing last month in California with a much-needed win this Tuesday in another big state with somewhat similar demographics -- Texas -- Hillary Clinton is getting some help from some California friends, including Antonio Villaraigosa.

The peripatetic Los Angeles mayor was one of the warmup acts for Clinton at her Friday night rally in San Antonio (where, not too far away, Barack Obama had been campaigning earlier). Also firing up the crowd before Clinton spoke was Rep. Hilda Solis of El Monte.

Clinton is hoping that, just as in the California primary, a wave of Latino support will sweep her to a win in Texas, and Villaraigosa and Solis are doing their part to make that happen. Indeed, The Times Michael Finnegan, traveling with the Clinton team, learned that after accompanying the presidential contender to stops Saturday in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan, Villaraigosa will work the same area by himself on Sunday.

His Honor already has put in a fair number of hours for Clinton. As we noted ...

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There's no escaping Obama's message

February 29, 2008 |  8:46 pm

Barack Obama's presidential campaign showed off its nimbleness -- and, even more so, its overflowing treasury -- with the quickly produced response ad to the "3 a.m. in the morning" spot that the Hillary Clinton team unveiled earlier in the day (here's the Clinton ad; here's the Obama one).

But Obama's cadres of aides also pay attention to the smallest of details. And that was on vivid display tonight at the candidate's rally in San Antonio.

Every urinal in the men's rooms at Verizon amphitheater was outfitted with a door hanger that not only urged support for Obama, but had an explanation of the "Texas two-step" voting procedure -- how those who really want to make a difference on Tuesday first should cast a primary ballot, then show up for local caucuses.

It's unknown whether locales for the hangers were found in the women's rooms; understandably, The Times' Mark Z. Barabak was unable to obtain firsthand knowledge of that.

Barabak does relate that, as has been so often the case of late, Obama ...

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New Ron Paul music video sure to ignite The Revolution

February 29, 2008 |  4:17 pm

(Note to Reader: A Ticket update on the previous "Nearly-naked Hotties 4 Ron Paul" pin-up calendar item appears at the end of this item.)

Better late than never.

As several loyal Ticket readers have thoughtfully tipped us, Rep. Ron Paul now has his very own campaign music video, albeit an "unofficial" one assembled by equally loyal supporters and released just the other day in time for Tuesday's primaries in Texas, Ohio and two lesser states somewhere in the East.

Ron Paul Republican Party candidate for president from Texas

The new video involves a woman by the name of Aimee Allen waking up in what appears to be a radio studio. It's a symbolic scene -- get it?

Like the country waking up to the impending Ron Paul Revolution, which would involve electing the 72-year-old former ob-gyn and current Republican as commander-in-chief in the White House, radically downsizing the federal government, bringing our troops home, restoring the Constitution and abolishing several government institutions that infringe on individual rights. (That explains the handcuffs and a shadowy figure duct-taping Allen's mouth a couple of times.)

Covering all that in a 3:37 music video is quite an accomplishment. But nothing is beyond the reach of Paul supporters, who've made him the most successful GOP fundraiser in recent months, although he hasn't won any primary elections.

Instead of brushing her teeth, the first thing the newly-wakened performer does is start to sing. And there are many opportunities for sharp film cuts to her militantly marching, leaning into the camera, raising her fist, jumping up and down and the usual physical antics required to keep the current generation watching. Oh, and a couple of nearly-naked female chests.

There's a quick speech quote of Dr. Paul's, the 72-year-old libertarian-like Texas congressman who's also facing a party primary challenge in his home House district next Tuesday.

It's a rhythmic song involving phrases like "start a revolution," "break down illegal institutions," "never gonna give up the fight," "save our constitutional rights" and "boo yah."

And to our knowledge this Paul anthem is the first campaign music video's lyrics of the 07-08 political season to mention the IRS, the Patriot Act and the much-despised Federal Reserve.

Ms. Allen's prominent tattoos also add a nice, threatening biker touch to the music's theme. And we bet by the time you've watched the video 25 or 30 times, you'll have the words down perfectly.

You'll then feel an irresistible urge to join The Revolution. But, first, click on the Read More line just below here.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Just so you know, Hillary Clinton's crowds get excited too

February 29, 2008 |  9:22 am

Maybe some of you have seen recent news reports about a certain Democratic candidate for president who so excites the campaign crowds that they scream and shout and go crazy and an unusually large number of front-row females there faint and the cameras capture it as a sign of voter enthusiasm.

Well, not by accident, the other Democratic candidate wants you to understand that crowds at her  rallies are also excited and cheering and emotional, though maybe not to the point of fainting because they're more, shall we say, mature and under control.

Anyway, just in time for the crucial primary vote in Ohio and the primary/caucus in Texas on Tuesday, now we have a new campaign video to document all that.

--Andrew Malcolm 


Rep. Diane Watson is feeling the heat (updated)

February 29, 2008 |  2:30 am

Rep. Diane Watson, who represents much of core Los Angeles in the House, is among the prominent black Democrats being leaned on to switch her allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama -- pressure that has intensified since the much-publicized decision by Rep. John Lewis of Georgia to do precisely that.

Watson is one of a handful of African-American Clinton supporters -- who also are superdelegates to the party nominating convention -- who lament, in a Politico.com story, the heavy-handed lobbying on Obama's behalf by unnamed forces.

“I’ve gotten threatening mail,” Watson says in the piece. "They say, ‘Your district went 61-29 (percent) Obama and you need to change.’ But I don’t intimidate. I can hold the ground. … I would lose my seat over my principles.”

We don't doubt that that's the case, but there's at least a slight bit of bravado in Watson's comment. If she was going to get bounced from office for sticking with Clinton, it would happen through a primary challenge. And California's 2008 primary, of course, has already come and gone.*

*Update: Actually, California has not held its 2008 congressional primary; the February 4 ballot was for presidential contenders.  Congressional  seats will be in play in California's June 3 primary; the filing deadline for candidates is March 7. It remains to be seen if a serious challenger to Watson will emerge.


Watson will win re-election this November ...

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In his own words: Rush Limbaugh

February 28, 2008 | 11:54 pm

From time to time The Ticket publishes an item solely in the words of someone involved in the political process. Some are long. Some are short. Some well-known. Some not. Today's words come from conservative radio broadcaster Rush Limbaugh.

He was reacting to the ongoing controversy of using Barack Obama's middle name to insinuate connections with something bad, foreign, Arabic, Muslim, you choose. Limbaugh denied using the middle-name tactic, although he wondered aloud about someone saying they don't want part of their name uttered publicly.

"All I said was, are we going to let these guys tell us what we can't say?  Obama doesn't like his middle name being used, so we can't use it?  What are we going to call him?  Barack Fitzgerald Obama? Barack Earl Obama? Should we give him some other middle name? I can call the Drive-Bys every day and say, 'You know, I really wish you wouldn't say this about me the next time you mention me,' and it isn't going to matter." 

There have also been recent reports about the Ohio broadcaster who introduced Sen. John McCain at a large rally with repeated references to Obama's middle name and reports of the Tennessee Republican party doing the same for a while on its website.  McCain renounced the remarks and the Republican National Committee chastised the state party.

Limbaugh offered a reminder about the history of it all:

"Who first made a big deal of Obama's middle name? Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb). Who ran around and talked about him selling drugs, and maybe being a coke dealer? Clinton Co-Chair Bill Shaheen. Who started playing the race card? Bob Johnson of BET.

"Who released the picture of Obama in the turban? Who forwarded that e-mail claiming he's a Muslim? Clinton Inc. did all of this!"

--Andrew Malcolm


Nevada now abuzz over the Governor's marriage

February 28, 2008 |  7:51 pm

An unusual personal, political and media drama is unfolding in Nevada this evening, which is called the Silver State because the Golden State name was taken.

Until this afternoon hardly anyone knew or at least talked openly about the strained emerging relationship between Gov. Jim Gibbons and his wife Dawn.

The pair, pictured here, are each successful politicians in their own right. A former combat pilot in both Vietnam and the first Persian Gulf war and then a commercial pilot and lawyer, Gibbons spent eight years as a state assemblyman before being elected to five terms in the U.S. House in 1996. He's Mormon; she's Presbyterian.

Dawn Gibbons, who is 10 years younger than her husband, won her husband's old state seat when he went to Congress and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination to fill Gibbons' House seat when he became governor two years ago. The couple met on a blind date and have three children: Chris, Jennifer and Jimmy and three grandchildren. But neither of their official biographies provides a marriage date.

For the last week, muffled rumors about the marriage have swirled....

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Bush sees no bailout for lenders and speculators

February 28, 2008 |  5:04 pm

As banks lobby for what has been described as an "epic rescue plan" for the mortgage industry, President Bush today hardened his oppostion to bailout plaPres George W Bush at White House news conference Feb 28 2008ns he said would help "lenders and speculators." Bush said such plans would be unfair to millions of homeowners who pay their mortgages on time.

USA Today: "Echoing Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Bush says a Senate proposal to deal with the foreclosure crisis would 'do more to bail out lenders and speculators than to help American families keep their homes.' "

Update: It's worth noting the specific objections the administration has to the Senate bill on foreclosures. From CNN Money: "Earlier this week, the Bush administration said the president would veto the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 if it passes Congress because it objected to two key elements.

The first is a provision to change the bankruptcy law and let judges reduce the amount of principal and interest due on mortgages of those filing for bankruptcy. The administration also objects to a provision in the bill that...

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Finally, some good new$ for the Clinton campaign, but then...

February 28, 2008 |  1:50 pm

Some good news for and from the embattled Clinton campaign. At least for a little while.

Sen. Hillary Clinton raised more than $35 million so far in February, including $34.5 million specifically earmarked for the primary, her campaign aides announced today.

Speaking to donors in a conference call a short time ago with The Times' Dan Morain listening in, Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said Clinton had by far the best fund-raising month of her 13-month campaign.

An aide to Sen. Barack Obama, who's been a money-raising machine this year, did not specify at first exactly how much Obama raised in February, but claimed the Illinois senator out-raised Clinton anyway. Obama raised $36.7 million in January.

McAuliffe said Clinton has amassed a total of $167 million since the campaign began, including $145 million specifically for the primary, plus another $5 million she loaned herself.

McAuliffe said Clinton would have enough to compete in the Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont next week and in primaries to follow. McAuliffe added that....

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Have it your way: Ron Paul must go! Or, Ron Paul rules!

February 28, 2008 | 10:22 am

Because we always try to please our readers here on The Ticket, we have a special two-for-one offer today that, for a change, is worth exactly what you paid for it. (Ron Paul fans can just skip to the second part of this item):

1) Wonkette, the D.C.-based gossip website, has an absolutely hilarious item up now on Chris Peden, a small-town city councilman in Texas who's running a well-funded Republican House primary campaign to oust Rep. Ron Paul. Peden you've never heard of. Paul you know as a perennial loser in recent Republican presidential primaries around the country, running behind even Mike Huckabee as a Libertarian-like, antiwar, anti-government, pro-Constitution candidate, whom Fox News deemed not good enough for a prime-time debate.

With the headline "Kick Ron Paul Out of Congress," Wonkette shows total disregard for the wrath of Paulunteers who've earned a well-deserved reputation for militancy in devotion to their 72-year-old candidate, both in terms of campaigning and wasting their hard-earned money by fueling the former OB/GYN's hopeless presidential run in state after state.

Yes, he got some second places in a few caucuses. But while he was speaking to large and small crowds in wonderful places such as Iowa and New Hampshire, people back in Texas' 14th Congressional District, such as Peden, were wondering what's in it for them?

Wonkette, with no pretense of objectivity, heartily endorses Peden and describes him as "a tall, handsome, charming young conservative with a fluent command of local issues from NASA to rice farming, and whose easy demeanor and embrace of English-only legislation will thrill all but the most hardened liberals."

The site even sent a special correspondent to the Texas district near Houston and publishes a number of photographs of Peden campaigning. The site describes Paul this way: "To most American political fanatics, Ron Paul is just a goofy hobbit whose hilariously doomed online presidential campaign provided standout entertainment in a year that offered a wealth of hilariously doomed campaigns.

"But to many of his constituents in Texas Congressional District 14, Ron Paul is just a blame-America-first attention whore who completely ignores the people who put him in office."

Wonkette also points that Peden points out that over Paul's 10 terms in Congress, he has introduced 351 pieces of legislation. Only six ever came out of committee and zero have passed into law. Every term, Paul just reintroduces the same doomed bills, Wonkette says.

The website also refers to Paul's challenger as "Future Congressman Peden."

-- Andrew Malcolm

Ron Paulunteers start here

2) The notoriously irresponsible satirical website Wonkette has launched a completely unprovoked attack on Rep. Ron Paul, the 10-term principled former doctor who stands firmly for a strict interpretation of the Constitution and bringing our boys and girls home from military assignments abroad.

In a complete mockery of professional journalism standards, the biased website publishes an outrageous online article that actually endorses the congressman's challenger in the Texas primary election next Tuesday as part of its "news story." It describes this inexperienced "city councilman" as "handsome" and "charming," as if that should have anything to do with representing the state's 14th Congressional District.

It ignores the congressman's long record of fighting for the rights of his constituents and that every term he continues that fight by introducing the same legislation, more than 350 pieces in total so far . The so-called article doesn't even mention Dr. Paul's Air Force service nor the nearly $20 million of fund-raising success from dedicated donors last quarter in Paul's valiant struggle to downsize an out-of-control federal government that ignores people's rights, the Constitution and invades other countries.

There are no quotes from the good doctor in the article either. It's so typical of the mainstream media's vast left-wing conspiracy to ignore the only Republican candidate to oppose the war and make sense while doing it.

It calls Paul's opponent a "CPA," which stands for Certified Public You-Know-What. The article calls the good doctor, who has delivered 4,000 babies in his career, "a barking loon."

And it says this youngster politician claims to be qualified for Congress because he's delivered one baby, his third child. What is that about?

The Revolution will not be televised!

-- Andrew Malcolm



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