Matt Ortega

The outgoing New York State Assembly Whip, Republican Pat Casale, on a George Pataki presidency:

Thursday, he said the governor did a terrible job during his term, citing increased taxes and a laundry list of other negative developments. He called the governor, who also leaves office in a few days, “the biggest disappointment of my political life.”

“The only thing that bothers me about George Pataki leaving is that he wants to be president,” Casale said. “That would be a disaster for America.” [emphasis added]

Governor Mitt Romney’s campaign is losing support before it even starts.

Soren Dayton picked up on a Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) news report that the Massachusetts governor is losing support in Michigan from Republican members of the State House.

There are at least four Republican Representatives from the Michigan State House that are seriously rethinking their support of Romney for President. These are members of Romney’s steering committee in Michigan who are now having reservations about recent revelations about Romney’s past comments in regards to marriage, abortion and the Boy Scouts. [emphasis from Soren Dayton]

Michigan is a must-win state for Romney. Faultering support in the state is a major concern for the ‘08 hopeful, but also part of a growing trend.

Late last week, Governor Romney left potential New Hampshire primary voters unconvinced of his conservative credentials. One person at the event said: “After talking with him in person, though, it is hard to figure out what he does believe.”

A week ago, Romney’s chief California fundraiser jumped ship.

Recent ARG poll numbers showed one thing that TRF has been saying all along: Romney is not a top-tier candidate. The numbers just simply aren’t there.

Iowa — T-4th (6%)
Nevada — 4th (4%)
South Carolina — 4th (5%)
New Hampshire — 4th (9%)

In other polls, Romney either barely breaks double digits (3rd, 10 percent, New Hampshire), or not at all (3rd, 9 percent, Iowa).

This is not to say that a Romney candidacy cannot gain support. It is still very early, more than a full year before the first caucus, and these numbers can change. However, he has a long road ahead and a lot of BS’ing to do.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the governor is making a final decision on a presidential run with his family while skiing in Utah. (Hat tip: Eric Kleefield, Election Central | TPMCafe)

Earlier this month, it was reported that a Romney candidacy announcement is expected January 8.

Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States, died yesterday at the age of 93.

President Ford, the only unelected American president, was famous for his assertion upon taking the oath of office, “Our long national nightmare is over.” Fearful that criminal proceedings of his predecessor, Richard M. Nixon, would consume the Congress and the nation, he granted him a full pardon.

In 1973, Ford ascended to the vice presidency by appointment following Spiro Agnew’s resignation due to tax evasion.

Ford was the last surviving member of the Warren Commission, the body tasked by President Lyndon Johnson to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

I’m on the road today so I will leave you with this classic clip of Dana Carvey as NBC’s Tom Brokaw.

Rest in peace, Jerry.

(Hat tip: Silent Patriot, Crooks & Liars)

Ethiopia launched a bombing raid on Mogadishu International Airport — the headquarters of the Islamic movement aimed at toppling the internationally recognized government of Somalia.

Ethiopia’s prime minister announced Sunday night that his country was “forced to enter a war” with Somalia’s Council of Islamic Courts after the group declared holy war on Ethiopia.

The Bush administration — bogged down in Iraq and, increasingly, in Afghanistan — cannot do anything.

According to U.S. officials, the Islamic militants battling for control of Somalia have ties to Al-Qaeda. Post-9/11, the Bush administration abandoned Afghanistan and completely neglected Somalia — the real fronts in the “War on Terror” — for his ill-conceived war.

National insecurity brought to you by the Bush White House.

Meanwhile, back in Somalia:

Major fighting broke out Tuesday night. On Sunday, Ethiopian forces fought alongside secular Somali soldiers in Dinsoor, Belet Weyne, Bandiradley and Bur Haqaba, officials said.

Secular Somali soldiers? Fighting on Christmas Day? The war on Christmas lives.

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney faced tough questions about his evolving views on several hot button issues during a “friendly holiday get-together” in New Hampshire. Apparently some partygoers left unconvinced of the potential 2008 hopeful’s qualifications as a conservative.

“When I first heard his answer about his journey of becoming prolife, I began to feel better about the questions being asked of him lately,” said Shannon McGinley of Bedford, N.H. “After talking with him in person, though, it is hard to figure out what he does believe.” [emphasis added]

Leaving potential voters with the idea that “it is hard to figure out what he does believe” is not a good way to win votes in the primary.

Looking to ease conservative fears on issues of abortion, stem cell research, same-sex marriage and gay adoption, Romney defended himself, saying:

… he has always believed that marriage “is a relationship between a man and a woman” but that gays should not be discriminated against in the workplace or in obtaining housing.

“Some people think that is a conflict, but it’s not in my view,” said Romney. “As much as I feel in America that we shouldn’t discriminate against people, I also feel that marriage should be about the relationship between a man and a woman, and a child deserves a mom and a dad.”

Romney says he opposes discrimination in the workplace but in an interview with Katherine Jean Lopez in the National Review Online, he said that he no longer supports ENDA and would maintain the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military.

Lopez: And what about the 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans where you indicated you would support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and seemed open to changing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the military? Are those your positions today?

Gov. Romney: No. I don’t see the need for new or special legislation. My experience over the past several years as governor has convinced me that ENDA would be an overly broad law that would open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges.

As for military policy and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, I trust the counsel of those in uniform who have set these policies over a dozen years ago. I agree with President Bush’s decision to maintain this policy and I would do the same.

ENDA was designed to combat workplace discrimination and the military is an employer. The military has discharged several linguists for being gay, including those that speak Arabic and Persian, despite the pressing need for them.