Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
No Surprise: Mitt Romney Out of Presidential Race
The only suprising thing about Mitt Romney's suspension of his presidential campaign is that anyone is surprised.
Romney, the former governor of Massachussetts, is first and foremost a businessman. Using business logic, it was clear that the numbers just didn't add up for success. After spending approximately $35 million of his own money, Romney only earned 273 Republican delegate votes, or only about one-third as many as front runner John McCain.
Romney was also pushed hard by ultra-conservative candidate Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas. Huckabee's surprising strength also played into another factor in the complicated equation of politics: religion.
Huckabee is a conservative fundamentalist Baptist preacher. Romney is a devout Mormon whose religion had come under question, and often, fire.
Romney may be best known for his stunning turn-around success as CEO of the scandal-ridden 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The no-nonsense businessman who added up an astonishing American success after a lousy start is the same man who added up his own losing numbers in the presidential race.
Romney and his wife Ann also faced the extra challenge of campaigning while she struggled with multiple sclerosis (MS). Dedicated to his family, Romney also keyed in the personal costs.
In suspending his campaign, Romney also made a sound business decision. With a suspended campaign, he can still receive donations to pay off campaign debts.
Romney also tallied up the costs for the country if a Republican battle continued. With the Democrats at war between the Kennedy family/Barack Obama and the Clinton family/Hillary Clinton camps, the Republicans have a chance to come together and unite months before the conventions.
Continuing, Romney said, would mean that "I forestall the launch of a national campaign and frankly I'd be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win. Frankly, in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."
"If this were only about me, I can go on. But its never been only about me. I entered this race... because I love America, and because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I now have to stand aside, for our party and for our country," Romney told members of the old the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
Romney, the former governor of Massachussetts, is first and foremost a businessman. Using business logic, it was clear that the numbers just didn't add up for success. After spending approximately $35 million of his own money, Romney only earned 273 Republican delegate votes, or only about one-third as many as front runner John McCain.
Romney was also pushed hard by ultra-conservative candidate Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas. Huckabee's surprising strength also played into another factor in the complicated equation of politics: religion.
Huckabee is a conservative fundamentalist Baptist preacher. Romney is a devout Mormon whose religion had come under question, and often, fire.
Romney may be best known for his stunning turn-around success as CEO of the scandal-ridden 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The no-nonsense businessman who added up an astonishing American success after a lousy start is the same man who added up his own losing numbers in the presidential race.
Romney and his wife Ann also faced the extra challenge of campaigning while she struggled with multiple sclerosis (MS). Dedicated to his family, Romney also keyed in the personal costs.
In suspending his campaign, Romney also made a sound business decision. With a suspended campaign, he can still receive donations to pay off campaign debts.
Romney also tallied up the costs for the country if a Republican battle continued. With the Democrats at war between the Kennedy family/Barack Obama and the Clinton family/Hillary Clinton camps, the Republicans have a chance to come together and unite months before the conventions.
Continuing, Romney said, would mean that "I forestall the launch of a national campaign and frankly I'd be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win. Frankly, in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."
"If this were only about me, I can go on. But its never been only about me. I entered this race... because I love America, and because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I now have to stand aside, for our party and for our country," Romney told members of the old the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
Live NASA Launch Video: Atlantis Liftoff Set for 2:45 PM EST
To watch the live streaming Atlantis launch countdown and liftoff click here.
Image above: STS-122 crew members, attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, pose for a crew photo prior to a training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. From the left are European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts; astronauts Stanley G. Love, all mission specialists; Stephen N. Frick, commander; Alan G. Poindexter, pilot; Leland D. Melvin and Rex J. Walheim, both mission specialists. Image credit: NASA
Space Shuttle Mission STS-122
Orbiter: Atlantis
Mission: STS-122/1E
Primary Payload: Columbus
Launch Date: Feb. 7, 2008
Launch Time: 2:45 p.m. EST
Launch Pad: 39A
Landing Date: Feb. 18
Landing Time: 9:57 a.m.
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center
Inclination/Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tornado Video: Roundup of Freak Winter Killer Storms
Sections of Alabama were the latest to fall victim to the eastward-moving tornadic storms. At least four people are reported dead in that state as search and rescue operations continue in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennesee. The five-state death toll total has reached 52.
The long line of severe storms shown in the radar is known as "training". The miles of super storms, strengthened when they join up, roll over communities like rogue freight trains of destruction. The video of the Cleveland, Arkansas tornado is amazing.
The long line of severe storms shown in the radar is known as "training". The miles of super storms, strengthened when they join up, roll over communities like rogue freight trains of destruction. The video of the Cleveland, Arkansas tornado is amazing.
Tornado Eyewitness Account: Sirens Didn't Give Warning in TN, Family Survives in Ditch
A brother's warning may have saved the lives of his sister and her family in Huntersville, Tennessee as tornadoes raked through the area, killing at least two people in the small town.
A local area resident told the Peanut crew that tornado sirens failed to go off in Huntersville.
A phone call from a worried brother, who saw the tornado track heading straight for his hometown, sent one family racing out of their house and into a nearby ditch. They rode out the tornado holding onto each other and the earth as the tornado shrieked overhead.
Two family members, including one child, were hospitalized with injuries. Their home was knocked off its foundation. For privacy reasons, the family has requested that their name not be used at this time.
With the father and one daughter in the hospital, the family is grateful to be alive. Damage estimates on the home aren't yet available.
There are unconfirmed reports of deaths in that area.
A montage of storm videos and photos with a background of President George Bush's pledge to help hard-hit areas.
Click here for tornado videos and photos.
The Huntersville tornado siren that survivors said failed to sound during Tuesday night's tornadic outbreak.
A local area resident told the Peanut crew that tornado sirens failed to go off in Huntersville.
A phone call from a worried brother, who saw the tornado track heading straight for his hometown, sent one family racing out of their house and into a nearby ditch. They rode out the tornado holding onto each other and the earth as the tornado shrieked overhead.
Two family members, including one child, were hospitalized with injuries. Their home was knocked off its foundation. For privacy reasons, the family has requested that their name not be used at this time.
With the father and one daughter in the hospital, the family is grateful to be alive. Damage estimates on the home aren't yet available.
There are unconfirmed reports of deaths in that area.
A montage of storm videos and photos with a background of President George Bush's pledge to help hard-hit areas.
Click here for tornado videos and photos.
The Huntersville tornado siren that survivors said failed to sound during Tuesday night's tornadic outbreak.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Killer Tornadoes Photos, Videos: Storms Savage Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi
Update: Several tornadoes that roared across four Southern states are now known to have killed at least 47 people, injured hundreds more, and inflicted significant damage across hundreds of miles.
Several students have been rescued from the debris of two dormitories destroyed as a tornado ripped through Union University in Jackson, TN. A search and rescue mission is ongoing.
Watch a tornado forming in Memphis.
A natural gas pumping station caught fire in Green Grove, TN. Flames were reported shooting several hundred feet into the night sky.
This storm stalked Southaven, Mississippi. Wath the left side closely in this excellent coverage.
At least one tornado touched down in Nashville, TN. Part of I-40 in West Tennesse closed after a reported 60 tractor trailers crashed in the storms, many rolled over on their sides like beached whales.
Oxford, Miss. has been hard hit as the storms churn eastward. The entire town of Gassville, Arkansas was sealed off because authorities fear natural gas explosions.
Remnants of Sears store in Hickory Ridge Mall, Memphis, TN.
Tornado bears down on Arkansas communities.
A supercell lowers, preparing to unleash a tornado near Cordova, TN. The same system destroyed a mall in Memphis. Click here for a map of tornadoes in the Memphis area.
The human and property cost of the storms have only begun to be tallied. Most evaluation will have to wait until after daybreak. Several states remain under tornado watches and developing warnings as the system rolls east.
The Peanut crew is anxiously awaiting word about a dear family friend in the Memphis area.
Several students have been rescued from the debris of two dormitories destroyed as a tornado ripped through Union University in Jackson, TN. A search and rescue mission is ongoing.
Watch a tornado forming in Memphis.
A natural gas pumping station caught fire in Green Grove, TN. Flames were reported shooting several hundred feet into the night sky.
This storm stalked Southaven, Mississippi. Wath the left side closely in this excellent coverage.
At least one tornado touched down in Nashville, TN. Part of I-40 in West Tennesse closed after a reported 60 tractor trailers crashed in the storms, many rolled over on their sides like beached whales.
Oxford, Miss. has been hard hit as the storms churn eastward. The entire town of Gassville, Arkansas was sealed off because authorities fear natural gas explosions.
Remnants of Sears store in Hickory Ridge Mall, Memphis, TN.
Tornado bears down on Arkansas communities.
A supercell lowers, preparing to unleash a tornado near Cordova, TN. The same system destroyed a mall in Memphis. Click here for a map of tornadoes in the Memphis area.
The human and property cost of the storms have only begun to be tallied. Most evaluation will have to wait until after daybreak. Several states remain under tornado watches and developing warnings as the system rolls east.
The Peanut crew is anxiously awaiting word about a dear family friend in the Memphis area.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Super Tuesday: Jeff Greenfield Says California, Missouri Key
On the other hand, while some pundits are saying that Super Tuesday is going to be "so what?", Jeff Greenfield has a different take. He identifies how voting is "spun" by media and candidates asas key post-voting elements.
Britney Spears Photos: Paparazzi Photographer Nick Stern Quits Over "Dangers" To Spears & Public
Nick Stern resigned from Splash because of ethical concerns over "dangers" to Britney Spears and the public in the frantic mobbing of paparazzi. Good for him. Next?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
