Romney Knows the Future

Via Media Matters:

An ABCNews.com article quoted Mitt Romney attacking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's health care policy, but did not note that Romney was attacking a plan that he had not yet seen, nor that as governor of Massachusetts, Romney endorsed a law requiring residents to purchase health insurance.

Romney attacked the plan on the 16th, but the plan wasn't released until the 17th (today). Ms. Clinton's plan is posted on her website. Many of the leading republican candidates know that Democrats will try to move the debate in '08 to domestic policy instead of focusing purely on foreign policy (like 2004). This could be a good thing for Democrats, as Republicans have been focusing their efforts on weakening their opponents arguments instead of making any definite plans for themselves. Republicans, focus on yourselves, leave the Democrats alone until after the primaries. Build a strong stance on the issues that voters will deem important instead of merely choosing to side with or against Bush on his Iraq policies. Voters have started to care less and less about Iraq as it seems to make no progress in any direction. Voters will begin to realize that Republicans are going to need to bring a thought out domestic program to the table before they will be able to persuade anyone on their foreign policy's merits.

McCain Knows Better

Via the Daily Background:

General James Jones recently returned from a Congressional-mandated trip to Iraq and reported that political reconciliation “is absolutely the key to measurable and rapid progress” and needed to happen before any significant reduction in violence could happen. On Meet The Press today, John McCain incorrectly claimed that General Jones did not conclude in his recent Iraq report that political reconciliation needed to happen before a drawdown in violence can be achieved:

MCCAIN: Tim, I’ve known Jim Jones for 30 years. That’s not what he’s saying.

In reality, this was exactly what Jones said, both in his report and on Meet The Press a week ago.

There's clips of McCain disputing what Mr. Jones said on Meet the Press at that link. It takes a certain amount of self confidence to say, on national television, something so clearly untrue. His reasons are obvious, the quote is unfavorable to his position of supporting president Bush's war. The biggest issue for the republican candidates will be their support for the war. While some of them have intelligently decided to distance themselves from Bush, others have latched themselves to Bush's policies in pursuit of appeasing the 29% that they perceive as the base. Hopefully, republicans will vote for change in the primaries instead of just more of the same.

Fred, We Hardly Knew You

Via News For The Left:

Fred Thompson is breaking the law and it's time somebody did something about it. So, this morning, I filed an FEC Complaint against him. [...]

It is my contention that he has violated the 'testing the waters' exemption of election law. He has been presenting himself as a candidate for President, he has been raising large sums of money beyond what would be required to explore a possible candidacy, and he has signed a long term lease on a headquarters for his campaign. He has even spent advertising dollars, which are specifically prohibited by the law.

If this pans out, it should be a big hit to the combined ego of the Republican party. They have been waiting for quite some time for their fabled savior, Fred Thompson, to enter the race and crush the opposition. It really does seem unfair to be essentially counted as a candidate while skirting the rules. "Testing the waters" is important for candidates who are not immediately recognized front-runners, but with someone who has been as popular as Fred Thompson, candidacy is just a matter of time (or, possibly, was after this).

Experience or Change?

Via NY Times:

Voters are almost equally divided over which is more important, with 41 percent citing fresh ideas and 44 percent citing experience.

But, the survey also indicated that voters think Mrs. Clinton is “more qualified” and “has a much better chance of becoming president.”

Mr. Obama has been trying to capitalize on his fresh-thinking approach, hoping it will resonate with voters. [...]

Six of the Democratic candidates took part in a forum organized by the Iowa Federation of Labor in Waterloo, Iowa. The Quad-City Times reports that the Democrats spoke about issues important to American workers and “stayed away from personal attacks”

It almost makes you think that democracy could work, doesn't it? The biggest difference between the democratic front-runners is not race or gender despite what the media wants; the biggest difference is experience against change. Ms. Clinton has touted her time as first lady and tenure in the senate as her main examples of superiority over the other candidates, yet she has not seemed to take a strong stance on many of the issues that so many progressives want her to take. Obama, on the other hand, is much less experienced in federal politics, having joined Congress in 2005 (elected in 2004). Obama, however, has used that to his advantage by pointing that he is not a "normal" politician, but an agent of change from "business as usual". This country has been harmed deeply by Bush and his administration's "business as usual" take on government.

This could be accomplished by someone with experience in the system that knows how to change things, or this could be accomplished by an agent of change who is knew to the scene. We'll see which one the American people want once the primaries finish. (...go Gore!)

D. None of the Above

Via the Detroit News:

The crowded field of presidential hopefuls isn't crowded enough to suit Michigan voters, who prefer two unannounced candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations, a new Detroit News/WXYZ-TV poll shows.

Former Tennessee Senator and TV star Fred Thompson would lead the GOP pack and former Vice President Al Gore would top the Democratic slate should they decide to run, according to a statewide survey of 400 likely Republican and 400 likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan conducted last Wednesday through Monday by EPIC/MRA of Lansing.

Well, that's interesting. The best choice seems to be none of the above when talking about the current crop of candidates. The stats are listed below: With Al Gore as a choice:

• Al Gore - 36%
• Hillary Clinton - 32%
• Barack Obama - 16%
• John Edwards - 8%

Without Al Gore:

• Hillary Clinton - 45%
• Barack Obama - 26%
• John Edwards - 16%

Gore would be a great addition to the Democratic field and would have a very good chance of winning the candidacy. It would be interesting to see a Gore/Clinton ticket (as opposed to the Clinton/Gore ticket of '92 and '96), but the a Gore/Obama ticket would bring great change to presidential politics. With Fred Thompson (and Newt Gingrich - who is also not a current candidate) as a choice:

• Fred Thompson - 22%
• Rudy Giuliani - 19%
• John McCain - 16%
• Newt Gingrich - 15%
• Mitt Romney - 12%

Without Thompson (or Gingrich):

• Rudy Giuliani - 30%
• John McCain - 21%
• Mitt Romney - 21%

Fred Thompson has, at least, shown his intent to run although he has not officially thrown his hat into the ring. Newt Gingrich's intent has been more vague, but may include running for the Republican candidacy. This was a poll from Michigan only, but may represent a strong possible position for each of these non-candidates across the nation. There is still time before the primaries for each of these people to officially announce candidacy, only time will tell.