… What to Do with Ames ?? [#straw poll]…

.. the Ames Straw poll is famous on the GOP side . Partisans of every stripe get to participate . Most everyone [except the campaign workers] gets to have a good time (more or less) . However , it has one particular drawback …

.. it does not predict squat …

.. [h/t — m.NationalReview.com]..
.. [link] to the blog news …

.. so , what to do ??? …

.. let the partisans for your campaign mount a draft effort . It should not hurt anything . It will give them experience , if they do not have it already . Then they can aplly it after the first of the year in the caucus …

.. but , for the candidate ‘ s campaign , concentrate on the caucus campaign . That is the important thing . Work your hiney off on it . Participating in the Ames Straw Poll is a waste of time for the pros , and it diverts needed campaign resources and $$ to where it should be going ; to the caucus …

… Joni Ernst returns Fire [#Harkin ‘ s Foot in Mouth]…

.. boy , did she ever let him have it …

.. [h/t — HotAir.com]…
.. [link] to the blog news …

.. she had every right to be mad . To be honest , so does the GOP …

.. the LameStream Media is guilty of gross hypocricy . If a GOP candidate , especially a sitting officeholder [or party leader] pulled this kind of stunt , most every GOP candidate around the country would be being badgered to no end about The question . so , the GOP has a right to be pissed about the media ‘ s response to this blunder …

… Tom Harkin is a Horse ‘ s Ass [#Joni Ernst comments]..

.. y ‘ a better believe it , folks …

.. Harkin really committed a blunder ..

.. [h/t — Buzzfeed.com]..
.. [link] to the blog post // video clip …

.. Harkin commented on Ernst ‘ s commercials and material , saying ” that she looks attractrive and sounds good … ”

.. whoops !! …

.. nice going , dumb – dumb !! …

… Rewind — the Joni Ernst Special [#the Castration Ad]…

.. the replay of the ad that will propel Iowa state Senator Joni Ernst to victory tomorrow …

.. [h/t — YouTube.com]..
.. [link] to the campaign ad …

.. Go , Joni , Go !!!! …

… Zinger ! [#Joni Ernst]…

.. it is why Jni Ernst is my choice to be Iowa ‘ s next and newest GOP US Senator …

.. Bruce ” Gaffes ” Braley was trying to make a point in a recent campaign debate with Ernst . It dealt with Iraq , I.S.I.L. , and ” boots on the ground …. ”

.. [h/t — Twitchy.com]…
.. [link] to the debate zinger …

.. Ernst pounced , and hit Braley with a right uppercut . Joni reminded the debate [and viewing] audience that she commands a battalion in Iowa ‘ s National Guard . She was one of those ” boots on the ground … ”

.. by the by , the term is ” ground troops , ” folks ….

… Nail the S.O.B. , [name] [#Candidate]…

.. get a lok at this campaign commercial that hits Bruce [Gaffes] Brasley [DummyCrap – Iowa]…

.. [h/t — m.NationalReview.com]..
.. [link] to the campaign commercial …

.. Braley walks , talks , and acts like a loser …

… There is an Elitism , You Moron [#Bruce Braley megagaffe]…

.. here we go again ..

.. will this village idiot ever learn ? I seriously doubt it …

.. it is the principal reason that Congresscritter Bruce Braley [Village Idiot – Ia] is going to lose the Senate election to a fine candidate , conservative war veteran (and currently serving) Joni Ernst …

.. [h/t — m.NationalReview.com]..
.. [link] to the interview segment …

.. what a megagaffe ! …

… Joni surges Ahead [#IA US Senate]…

.. Go , Joni , Go !! …

.. you bet I want Joni Ernst to win . She has run a fabulous campaign campaign . She has received some fairly lucky breaks , which always helps . Also , Terry Branstad running [likely a success] for re-election is a very huge help for her campaign …

.. [h/t — McClatchyDC.com]..
.. [link] to the news story ..

.. having a royal screw – up for an opponent is even better . He opponent , Iowa congresscritter Bruce Braley has run a disaster for a campaign . Even worse , he has made several ill – timed mega – gaffes at several critical points in the campaign …

.. now , Joni leads bruce 44% to 38% , with an independent [left – leaning] with 6% , and 12% undecided . That is good . Braley is an incumbent , so the pressure is on him , not her . Also , with the left – leaner in the race , it hurts Braley …

.. so , Joni only needs to get to 48% (or better) to get clear of Braley for good . There is still work to do , though , and the debate season is now upon us …

… Just as I suspected [#Iowa US Senate]…

.. especially so , considering it is a Quinnipiac University poll …

.. those Q polls are notorious for being DemoCrap – leaning in their sample distribution . So , the GOP does not look all that good in them , to say the least ….

.. [h/t — m.NationalReview.com]..
.. [link] to the campaign poll …

.. in this one , Joni Ernst has built a nice and healthy lead . She leads DemoCrap opponent Bruce Braley 50% to 44% , with 6% undecided . She only trails by 6 pts among women , but she has built a commanding 17 point lead among men , 56% to 39% …

.. Go , Joni , Go !! …

… Oops !! [#Bruce Braley megaGaffe]…

.. nice going , dumb – dumb ! ..

.. mega – gaffes like this are why farmer , gun – owner , conservative , and mom Joni Ernst is going to be Iowa ‘ s next Senator …

.. [h/t — WashingtonFreeBeacon]..
.. [link] to the news story …

.. it seems that the Des Moines Register itself got video of Congresscritter Braley marching in a Fourth of July parade . That is a standard staple for any office – seeker . Answering questions from someone in a crowd is not . Getting caught live on video is a huge , repeat , HUGE blunder …

.. you can count on this ending up in ads in this . It is why Braley is likely going to lose this race : His own big mouth …

.. [update] — got the video —

.. needs updating and clearing up for use in an ad , but is not a major problem …

.. [h/t — MoeLane]..

.. [link] to the video segment ….

… Bruce Braley strikes again !! [#mega gaffe]…

.. Braley is writing a new book . However , it is not a book any candidate wants to be caught writing …

.. in this case , it regards a congressional hearing . One , given the press attention , he has bragged about attending [on Veterans Affairs]. Slight problem , though …

.. [h/t — WashingtonFreeBeacon.com]..
.. [link] to the news story …

.. he was not there . Not in 2012 . Nor in 2013 , either . There is video evidence of both …

.. Whoops …

.. that is especially a problem , given who his opponent is . Joni Ernst , his Republican opponent (and a state senator in Iowa) , is also a lieutenant – colonel in the Iowa National Guard . Not in the past , though . She is a present officer in the Guard . She also did her two weeks summer duty this year , which got tons of press coverage right in the middle of the campaign …

.. also , Braley ‘ s last megagaffe [about the vacation home of a neighbor] came right in the middle of her summer duty …

… Surprises in store on the Campaign Trail [#Elections 2014]…

.. yeah , plenty of them ! …

.. [N.H.] I am thinking now that Scott Brown just might pull it off in the New Hampshire US Senate race . He has run a fabulous race , so far . He has to keep it up …

.. also , he needs to put Jeanne Shaheen on the defensive in the debates , if there are any . The way that she is running her campaign right now , she may not want to debate him …

.. [Iowa] I am fairly sure that conservative gun – owning farmer and mom Joni Ernst will take out Bruce Braley in the Senate race . She has run an excellent campaign , thus far , with some superb ads . Braley has been the Great American gaffe machine , with one after another …

.. more to come ! …

… Bruce Braley cannot help It [#foot in mouth disease]…

.. right now , Bruce Braley has the political field pretty much to himself .

.. he really needs it ..

.. after several now – famous mega – gaffes , he was originally the favourite to win Tom Harkin ‘ s open Senate seat . Well , that is now well past . He is now the narrow underdog …

.. his Republican opponent , Joni Ernst , is on annual duty , training for the next 2 weeks with the Iowa National Guard . So , she cannot campaign . But other surrogates can , just not as well . So , Braley has the field …

.. so , what happens ??

.. Braley gets busted … complaining …. over a damn chicken …

.. [h/t — theIowaRepublican]..
.. [link] to the blog article …

.. absolutely beautiful , Bruce . You have the political field to yourself , and what happens ? You make a complete and total idiot of yourself … over a damn chicken . In Iowa , that is a real , really bad move . Chickens running around are not all that uncommon …

.. Big Deal … or so you might think …

.. I re – read the article …. It is much , much worse …

.. first , it is not Braley ‘ s primary home … it is his vacation home . It is in a development community that is a typical vacation home community . Except some of the folks use the area as their primary residence …

.. next , the neighbor who has the problem chickens is a therapist . A psychologist . Whoops … She is also an Air  Force veteran , and uses the chickens as therapy tools , you dummy Bruce ..

.. Braley complained to the community association . So , it told the therapist she had a month to crack the whip  , so  to speak , on her chickens , and properly enclose them . Evidently , she did , or is doing so …

.. but that was not good  enough for Braley …

.. what did he do ? he threatened to sue …. which figures , for a trial lawyer …

.. he did not think that this would get out …. but , oh boy , did it ever . The timing  could not be worse . Ernst is on National Guard duty , and Braley makes an idiot of himself …. nice contrast …

… It is Joni Ernst in Iowa …

.. she had a very , very good night , getting almost 60.0 % of the Republican primary vote …

.. her ads have been fantastic in the primary . They were in large part a part of the reason that she pulled away from her primary competition . Now , it is off to the general election matchup with Bruce Braley . I like her chances …

.. it will be interesting to see who hits who in the political ad war , and takes over the theme of the campaign . It is always good to take the initiative from your opponent . Carpe Diem , aka , Seize the Day . Never let the initiative go …

.. Go , Joni , Go ! …

… Busy Day [#Primary Day] …

.. election day , today ..

.. eight different states with primary elections , today , including : …

.. California — not too much here — the principal ones are the congressional ” jungle ” primaries . If two candidates from the same party make it to the general election , then the other party ….. too bad ….

.. the big battle should be the last district , # 52 — Incumbent Scott Peters is likely headed to a fall battle with local San Diego businessman Carl de Maio …

.. Iowa — republican Joni Ernst is likely headed to a fall battle with congresscritter Bruce Braley . If Braley can keep his foot out of his mouth , then this one will be a real barn – burner …

.. New Mexico — the set – up for the fall election . nothing major here …

.. New Jersey — ditto , except for a special election in CD # 1 …

.. South Dakota — a set – up for the fall . The prime battle will be the US Senate battle for the seat that is now currently held by retiring Senator Tim Johnson . This one is widely expected to go Republican …

.. Montana — the set for the fall battle will be the US Senate race , also a seat that is very , very highly likely to go Republican …

.. Mississippi — a crazy brawl in the Republican primary . Thad Cochoran is trying to survive and hold onto his seat . If he wins the primary [which he may not] , he would be an easy faviourite to win in the general election …

.. Alabama — nothing major , here

… Joni Ernst Strikes Again [GOP — Iowa]…

.. Joni Ernst is a strong GOP candidate for the open US Senate seat in Iowa . She had been little known until a hog – castrating ad of hers helped to make her a household name . Now , her name recognition has soared …

.. before , joni was a part of the pack . Now , she has taken a solid lead in the primary race , with the GOP Senate primary itself still yet to come ..

.. [h/t — RealClearPolitics]..
.. [link] to the campaign ad ..

.. I hope that you will enjoy the ad as much as I did ….

… Is Congresscritter Bruce Braley [D – IA] stuck on stoopid !?!?!…

.. it appears that way ..

.. Braley already has a claim to fame by sticking his foot in his mouth over iowa ‘ s senior US Senator , Chuck Grasseley . Grasseley , who is 1 of 2 farmers in the US Senate , is an Iowa institution . Now , Braley ‘ s past has come back to haunt him …

.. the I.R.S. is unpopular enough as it is . The G.O.P. is hyper enough , given the re – election strength of Governor Terry Branstad . Republicans are hoping that strength rubs off on the US Senate campaign , which is for an open seat , with democrap Tom Harkin retiring (finally !!) ..

.. [h/t — RedState]..

.. [link] to the blog news ..

.. Braley was , it appears , one of 30 DemoCrap Congresscritters back in the Spring of 2012 who wrote a letter to then – IRS Commish Douglas Schulman , siccing the IRS on the Tea Party and related groups . It is the height of irony , given that the service was already doing the ObamaCrap Administration ‘ s bidding on the subject ..

.. nice one , dummy !! ..

… Go , Joni , Go [Joni Ernst , in Iowa (US Senate)] …

.. sometimes , a very good ad can become extraordinary …

.. so far , Joni Ernst has been steadily coming up in the polls …

.. [h/t — theRightScoop]..
.. [link] to the blog post …

.. a solid resume sure helps . An Iowa mother , a veteran of military service , a conservative , and a farmer [yes , even a pig farmer] …

.. an endorsement from a figure with national stature sure helps . Sarah Palin ‘ s endorsement may not go over well with DemoCraps , but her endorsement does wonders in GOP circles , especially with women . Also , in this race , her likely opponent helped contribute to the ‘ till …

.. her likely opponent , DemoCrap congresscritter Bruce Braley , made a colossal gaffe by making a very stooped attack on an Iowa institution , the senior Senator , republican Chuck Grasseley . Grasseley , who is one of 2 farmers in the US Senate , is not one to be trifled with . Braley attacked Grasseley , and looked stooped in the process …

.. in other words , Go , Joni , Go !! …

.. here is a [link] to get another look at her now famous ad …

… Great Ad [Jodi Ernst — Iowa]…

.. Jodi Ernst is a GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate seat that will soon be vacant at the end of the year in Iowa .

.. yea , it is the one that right now is currently held by 5 – term DemoCrap Tom Harkin .

.. this ad is nice , cute , and effective …

.. [h/t — theGatewayPundit]..
.. [link] to the campaign ad …

.. the more that I think of it , the more that I think she will be the nominee for the GOP in the fall . Right now , the likely Dem nominee , congresscritter Bruce Braley is in quite a bit of trouble . Braley hit Iowa farmers (and senior GOP senator Chuck Grassely) with a colossal gaffe at a fundraiser in Texas . It was caught on video , in  a form ready –  made for campaign ads , ones that will help Ernst and haunt Braley all year long …

.. Iowa is more GOP favourable than you might think . Terry Branstad is the 5 – term GOP Governor (who is running for re – election) and the legislature is in GOP hands . I would give Jodi more than a 50-50 chance to win the seat [a pickup for the GOP from Harkin]…

… Nice Going , Bruce Braley …

.. Bruce Braley is a congresscritter from Iowa . He is also a U.S. Senate candidate , running for the open seat that is being left open by the retirement by the departure of Thomas Harkin , a Democrap . He is trying to win the DemoCrap nomination and then the election …

.. [h/t — TruthRevolt]..
.. [link] to the video segment ..

.. Braley is also a lawyer , which normally in Washington , D. C. is an asset . Right now , after his foot – in – mouth stunt , it is not so muc . Basically , Braley attacked farmers in general , and his state ‘ s senior Senator , Charles Grasseley , in particular . In a campaign , to piss off a possible fellow senator is not such a great idea .

.. Braley teed off , attacking farmers , and praising lawyers . Really dumb movve , especially in Iowa . Agriculture is Iowa ‘ s biggest industry , and the state is chock full of farmers , especially ones that vote . They generally do not like lawyers all that much , either …

… Bravo , Vets [ Operation ShutDown ] …

.. these men and women are World War II veterans that are in Washington , D.C. , with the Honour Flight program . Courtesy of some Congressional help (Steve King , Iowa , Republican) , these folks got to visit the World War II memorials in D.C. today …

[h/t — Washington Free Beacon]
WWII Vets Knock Over Shutdown Barrier to Visit Memorial

Leo Shane III

BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff
October 1, 2013 11:55 am

A group of World War II veterans in an Honor Flight group Tuesday knocked over barriers imposed during the government shutdown at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., to get inside.

As part of the federal government shutdown, national parks are closed. But the group of veterans continued to the monument Tuesday, as reported by Stars and Stripes reporter Leo Shane:

… ditto !! …

… well done !! …

Related articles

• Shut`er Down! And Keep Out Those WWII Veterans! (theuniversalspectator.wordpress.com)
• Utah WWII Veteran Hopes Honor Flight Becomes Reality (abc4.com)
• Honor flight takes WWII vets to memorial (abcactionnews.com)

… Let Us See if POTUS is that Dumb …

… U. S. Sen Ted Cruz [R – Tx] …

.. POTUS is in Texas on this day , on some bogus new jobs tour . So he is down there in Texas trying to take credit for the success of others .

.. Oh , and he also wants to make Senator Ted Cruz the “ face of the Republican Party . ”

By coming to Texas, the president wants to frame the two poles of our broken   policy debate this way: Obama’s White House (compromise) vs. Cruz-type   Republicans (obstruction). …

Political veteran Bob Van der Plaats, a Christian conservative leader in the   politically important state of Iowa, puts it this way: “What Obama wants to do   is come into Texas and say, look at how great everything is and to take credit   for something that really isn’t his. And without saying it, he’s saying you’ve   got this Sen. Ted Cruz who wants to be the fly in the ointment. Tell him to   fall in line.” (Read More)

.. That is funny , and I hope that it works. I hope he does make Cruz the face of the GOP. Cruz does actually stands for something . He could turn out to be the best thing that’s happened to the GOP since Reagan.

Related articles

• Obama seeks to make Cruz ‘face of GOP opposition’… (trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com)
• Ted Cruz wants to taunt President Obama about jobs? Really? (dailykos.com)
• Boom! Sen. Ted Cruz zings Obama’s Texas visit with hilarious graphic (twitchy.com)