Search for Next Reagan Fades

07 November 2011 |permalink | email article

Bill Kristol, a deeply respected conservative voice, appears to have thrown in the towel about recruiting a 2012 candidate who could appeal to the party elites in the Ronald Reagan model, Politico reported. Founder of The National Standard and a Fox News contributor Kristol reminds that every American conservative remembers the evening of November 4, 1980 when Reagan, leader of the movement since 1966 and despised by liberal elites and the Republican establishment, was elected president and led America out of the abyss, conservatism was vindicated, and America restored. But that was then, this is now and it seems clear than 2012 isn’t going to be another 1980. He recalled Reagan stood tall. riding gracefully to victory over the GOP establishment in the primaries and over decadent liberalism in the general election. Assuming that the presidential field stays as it is, 2012 likely won’t be a repeat of 1980. Good news for Democrats.

Sacramento

Given the weak economy and the fact that one day last August when the California deferred a $2.5 billion payment to public schools because it didn’t have the money the actions of the State Senate took a break from quarreling over legislation to dine at taxpayer’s expense. So far this year the upper house has spent at least $111,316 on food this year, while working to cut 6% from the budget for state services, the L. A. Times uncovered. By comparison the State Assembly has been far more frugal.

L.A .Politic

The Times reviewed confidential documents which reveal that the Sheriff’s Department had some of it least experienced jailers handling some of the most hardened inmates as the FBI investigates allegations of inmate abuse and other deputy misconduct in the jails. While Sheriff Lee Baca has said in recent weeks he’s open to jail reforms the reality is that his brass was warned as early as September 2009 about problems. A top commander, part of a task force to implement jail reforms, acknowledged he was unaware of any changes that have yet been made. County supervisors are assembling an independent commission, including three retired judges, to review the scandal.  But without subpoena power how effective can the commission be?

Quotable

“I’m really trying to help him, but he seems to have lost his narrative.”—Former President Bill Clinton, whose new book, “Back to Work,” comes out Tuesday last summer at a party in the Hamptons celebrating his 65th birthday.

“Clinton does something that’s almost unique in American politics, which is to talk to the middle.”—Bill Carrick, a leading Democratic political consultant.

“I am the Koch brother’s brother from another mother.”—Herman Cain, acknowledging his close relationship with the billionaires David and Charles Koch, the Tea Party puppeteers, who spoke at their Americans for Prosperity event last Friday.     

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