Saturday, September 09, 2006

He's fat, he's thin, he's fat, he's thin- just pick a weight and go with it

(Unfortunately our picture maker is down again. Go here and here for a look at old huck vs. new huck)

Mike Huckabee has gotten a lot of attention about things that aren't necessarily related to his politics. Most notably, the fact that he's in a rock-and-roll band and his astounding weight loss. The New Moscow Times did a feature on Huckabee, weight loss, and the obeseity problem in the American South. Those of us in the upper midwest should be cognizant of this problem as well, as this is not the healthiest part of the country either.

Interestingly Huckabee gets criticism along with praise for his work to make school cafeteria lunches healthier and banning indoor smoking. There is a lot of great material in this article. Below are some of our favorite parts, but we strongly encourage you to read the whole thing.

After the governor’s nutritional guidelines for school lunches took effect, one girl wrote a letter to him demanding “real food” like nachos and pizza. A columnist for The Baxter Bulletin imagined a future of diners picking at their “sautéed soybeans with flavor-free dressing” and discussing the criminalization of cheese curls.

Mr. Huckabee knows what he is up against, namely all-you-can-eat buffets, cheese grits and a local ice cream flavor called Woo Pig Chewy. One of his own family dogs is named Sonic, after the fast-food chain whose cherry limeades are favored by his wife, Janet.

“It’s not just your culture,” he said, speaking in his office in the Capitol building. “It’s your comfort.”

The governor insists he does not want to create a “nanny state” or a “grease police.” Many of his policies include incentives like exercise breaks for state employees. He advocated restricting access to vending machines for high school students and replacing the sugary sodas in them with juice and water.

But some critics say Mr. Huckabee’s crusade has more rhetoric than substance. Part of his Healthy Arkansas initiative is to give a seal of approval to restaurants that offer healthful alternatives and nutritional information, but critics point out that the list of 106 restaurants includes a Burger King, a Pizza Hut and 52 McDonald’s.

Interesting stuff and a good luck into what makes Mike Huckabee a different kind of candidate
in this race.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Line Change!




Well, we were taking a look at the line this evening and thought to ourselves, "why is Chuck Hagel 49-1?" Chuck Hagel has no discernable organization, he has not been to Iowa in a long time, his main platform is violent opposition to the President's Iraq policy-which could maybe get him a loyal niche following, but certainly not a plurality. Lately he's made news only for criticizing John Bolton.

For those that don't remember the math that we taught you last month. 49-1 means he has a 2% chance of winning the Caucus. Frankly, at this juncture his chances look vaguely better than Jim Gilmore's.. In other words, zero. So he has now moved to 500-1. Or approximately two-tenths of one percent...

Feel free to chime in if you think this is harsh.

Open Joke Thread

We're bored. So thanks to the two hysterical jokes in the thread below, we've decided to do an open thread- where you tell us the funniest joke you know. All are encouraged to participate in the comments section.

Another option for people who are bored like us is to go over to Krusty and check out the food fight.

I think we need a "Dick" in the race

Former House Majority Leader, Dick Armey will address "Iowans for Discounted Taxes" on September 19th. Chris Cillizza reports that Armey aides are "quick to point out that the former leader is likely to visit the presidential proving grounds of New Hampshire and South Carolina later this year. An aide said Armey hopes to 'keep the Reagan legacy alive in the presidential primary.'"

We have a "hard" time believing that Leader Armey will be able to get a hand up on the competition.

(Sorry, we know this is supposed to be a family blog)

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Various Romney Items



We've gotten a couple of emails this afternoon on Romney tidbits not relating to the Michigan bomb being discussed at great length below. Feel free to chime in. (everyone's doing it)

Here's a tally of Romney's Presidential travels (the cites on some of the other candidates are old.)

Romney also was on Sean Hannity today talking about how he is not going to give aid and comfort to former Iranian leaders.

Pepperoni or Sausage Senator?




Can anyone confirm or deny John McCain's presence in the Pizza Cafe on Monday afternoon. The good people of Arkansas aren't quite sure.


Between this story and the did he/didn't he get shot at above the Republic of Georgia dispute- Senator McCain has had a mysterious week.

Back with some serious news at some point, maybe.

Huck

A big welcome to all of the new Cooler minions. Yesterday was the most heavily trafficked day in the Cooler since our inception. Thanks to the Hotline for yet another link. And welcome to the Michiganders (is that right?) as well.

Not much buzzing in the Cooler this morning.

Here's the schedule for Mike Huckabee's upcoming visit. Courtesy of Iowans for Huckabee blog

Friday, September 8
11:45: Lunch benefit for Polly Granzow, HD 44
Ellsworth Community College
Gentle Student Center, Formal Dining Room
1100 College Ave.
Iowa Falls

2 p.m.: Fundraiser for George Eichhorn, HD 9
Home of Carl and Vicky Hokel
901 Bank Street
Webster City

6 p.m.: Ankeny Christian Academy Potluck Supper
Sandpiper Shelter
Saylorville Lake

Saturday, September 9:
10:30: Community Coffee for Dan Clute, HD 59
Home of Paul and Bev Leighton
13982 Lakeview Dr.
Clive

3:30: Fundraiser for David Hartsuch, SD 41 (The Cooler loves David)
Crown Point Community Center
Prairie View Room
6300 Pioneer Parkway
Johnston


Back to the regularly scheduled Burton Rider v. Gary Glenn showdown in the below comments.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Jerry's Jonesin' for a fight

The Pro-Life Federation of Michigan sent out this biting email about Gov. Romney. If it's getting this intense, this early- you can only imagine what's to come... Paging Burton Rider for the response on this one...

Pertinent Excerpts Below. You can email us if you want to see the whole letter.

September 5, 2006

To: State Representatives on Commonwealth Steering Committee
From: Dr. Jerry Zandstra, Chairman Pro-Life Federation of Michigan

Dear State Representative,

We formed the Pro-Life Federation of Michigan to support pro-life candidates across the state of Michigan and to certify their pro-life status.
As you know, candidates can apply for certification and are officially certified pro-life if they correctly answer just a few questions and pass a basic analysis of their past statements.

I recently read the press release from Mitt Romney’s Commonwealth PAC indicating that you have signed on to his Political Action Committee as a member of his Steering Committee.

The Washington political newsletter Hotline reported on August 23rd that:

In theory, these new members of Romney's Commonwealth PAC affiliate in Michigan are fully and completely dedicated to helping elect Republicans in Michigan in 2006. But the reality is, of course, that they're fully fledged members of Romney's presidential campaign, which, although it has yet to officially begin... has... well... pretty much officially begun.

The Pro-Life Federation of Michigan does not view Mitt Romney as a suitable Republican nominee for President of the United States because of his pro-choice position on abortion:

"I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time when my Mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a U.S. Senate candidate...

Romney's response to the National Abortion Rights Action League's 2002 candidate survery: ''I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose. This choice is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government's. The truth is, no candidate in the governor's race in either party would deny women abortion rights." (Notably, Romney refused to answer Massachusetts Citizens for Life's candidate questionnaire.)

Given these comments, the Pro-Life Federation of Michigan requests that you consider removing your name from the Commonwealth PAC Steering Committee.

Governor Mitt Romney is clearly not a suitable nominee for pro-life elected officials to support for President of the United States.

I know that social conservative leaders in Michigan like President of the American Family Association of Michigan Gary Glenn, Judy Zabik, Judy Climer of Black Americans for Life and other pro-life activists share my concerns.

I respectfully ask you to reconsider your support for Governor Romney in his bid for the White House. If you would like to discuss my concerns, please don’t hesitate to email me at jerry@jerryzandstra.com

Dr. Jerry Zandstra
Chairman
Pro-Life Federation of Michigan

Labor Day Lineup Results

Hat tip to all of those who wrote into the tipjar. A lot of the following pairings came in multiple times.

We feel quite confident about those that have been posted. We'll come back with some of the more outrageous pairings that were proposed at another time.

Here are a list of legislators that are lining up with 08ers to this point:
Watts (Romney),
Zaun (Romney),
Mulder (Romney),
Seymour (Romney),
Roberts (McCain),
Tomenga (McCain),
Lukan (McCain),
Schickel (McCain),
future Rep Linda Miller (Pataki),
future Rep Windschitl (Pataki),
Alons (Huckabee),
Boal (Huckabee)

And the always formidable Cox-Inman pairing.

Comment away.

Aside to out of staters. We'll come back this evening with a description on who these local representatives are and give a little more background on each of them. Unfortunately the day job is in the way right now.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Weekend Roundup

  • Caucus Coolerisms
  • The Cooler Line

    Mike Huckabee 10-9
    Mitt Romney 3-1
    Fred Thompson 9-1
    John McCain 9-1
    Rudy Giuliani 12-1
    Ron Paul 12-1
    Duncan Hunter 98-1
    The Cooler line is an exclusive creation of Caucus Cooler and will be updated as the political environment changes.
    It is an unscientific assessment of the Iowa Caucus (not the Presidential race as a whole) from an insiders view at the given time. The line IS NOW mathematically accurate but is NOT intended for gambling purposes. Information may only be reproduced with credit to the Caucus Cooler.