Happy Monday everyone!
Some items from the weekend in case you missed them.
First, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann didn't do as well as she had hoped in Florida's GOP Straw Poll this weekend. In fact, she got dead last (http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/130505468.html), which is now raising questions about how her own electability as as candidate. It should be noted that this was only a straw poll and NOT the actual Florida GOP primary, which isn't scheduled until 2012. Her campaign said Bachmann is focusing most of her resources in Iowa, where she won the Ames Straw Poll in June and helped diminish a presidential run of former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Second, President Barack Obama is firing back and openly mocking his GOP presidential opponents while campaigning for re-election and his jobs bill out west (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_REPUBLICANS_?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT). Obama criticized Perry for his stances on climate change while his state deals with wild fires. He also took aim at a few activists at a recent GOP debate in Florida for booing a gay U.S. soldier serving in Iraq.
Third, the Republican National Committee Chairman said there's still time for other GOP candidates to join the field (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_REPUBLICANS_2012?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT). Among those encouraged to run has been New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has said numerous times he is not interested in a White House bid in 2012. It's also unknown if Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will join the race. The current field of candidates includes former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, business entrepreneur Herman Cain, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.
Fourth, Colts owner Jim Irsay reportedly announced Manning would not be back for the season during a breakfast meeting with Superbowl donors Monday (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d822952fc/article/report-colts-irsay-says-manning-likely-out-for-season?module=HP11_breaking_news). Irsay later clarified his remarks on Twitter and didn't say he was out for sure, and that the team was taking it month by month. Manning had surgery on his neck during the NFL lockout last spring and again Sept.8 after not being ready for the season-opener. He has not been placed on injured reserve and the Colts have been mum on his status.
And finally, my beloved Minnesota Vikings gave up a 20-0 deficit and allowed the Detroit Lions to come back and win 26-23 in OT. All I can ask is what the heck is going on?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Romney, Perry, Bachmann, and the dark horse
Happy Friday!
Last night was another of many debates among many Republican candidates seeking their party nomination to take on President Barack Obama in 2012. And again, most of the focus was between former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry sparring over who was the bigger flip-flopper.
Unfortunately, I didn't watch last night's debate and can't really offer my thoughts intelligently. But after listening to National Public Radio and reading the Washington Post, the Associated Press, and the Star Tribune, here's what I gathered.
First, Romney is still the presumptive frontrunner of the party and performed better than Perry on the argument of who flip flopped more on the issues. Romney, by all accounts, looked and sounded great while Perry seemed off his game.
For the record, I think Perry will do fine in this weekend's straw poll in Florida, which is meaningless because it's not the actual primary. But his folksy charm won't continue doing him any favors if he doesn't do a better job criticizing Romney over issues like health care and defending his own stances on social security and immigration.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who usually does a great job putting herself in the news for better or worse, also had a bad night. She's not owning up to her biggest gaffe last week when she told NBC's Matt Lauer that a mother claiming that the HPV vaccine caused symptoms of mental retardation to her daughter. Bachmann was given numerous chances to clarify her remarks, but instead shifted her criticism back on Perry and Obama. Without any clarification or even an apology, I don't see this issue going away any time soon.
My surprise, however, was former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and how well he is doing in these debates. He's putting himself into the debates not only giving his stances, but also attacking Perry over issues like immigration. Santorum is still a second-tier candidate in this race compared Romney, Perry, and Bachmann. But he's doing an OK enough job that he may actually have a shot of at least a VP spot.
What say you? Did you watch the debate or do you have a strong view of any of the candidates mentioned in this thread? Or do you like others like Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Godfather's executive Herman Cain, or the Governor of New Mexico who no one doesn't seem to know about?
Last night was another of many debates among many Republican candidates seeking their party nomination to take on President Barack Obama in 2012. And again, most of the focus was between former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry sparring over who was the bigger flip-flopper.
Unfortunately, I didn't watch last night's debate and can't really offer my thoughts intelligently. But after listening to National Public Radio and reading the Washington Post, the Associated Press, and the Star Tribune, here's what I gathered.
First, Romney is still the presumptive frontrunner of the party and performed better than Perry on the argument of who flip flopped more on the issues. Romney, by all accounts, looked and sounded great while Perry seemed off his game.
For the record, I think Perry will do fine in this weekend's straw poll in Florida, which is meaningless because it's not the actual primary. But his folksy charm won't continue doing him any favors if he doesn't do a better job criticizing Romney over issues like health care and defending his own stances on social security and immigration.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who usually does a great job putting herself in the news for better or worse, also had a bad night. She's not owning up to her biggest gaffe last week when she told NBC's Matt Lauer that a mother claiming that the HPV vaccine caused symptoms of mental retardation to her daughter. Bachmann was given numerous chances to clarify her remarks, but instead shifted her criticism back on Perry and Obama. Without any clarification or even an apology, I don't see this issue going away any time soon.
My surprise, however, was former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and how well he is doing in these debates. He's putting himself into the debates not only giving his stances, but also attacking Perry over issues like immigration. Santorum is still a second-tier candidate in this race compared Romney, Perry, and Bachmann. But he's doing an OK enough job that he may actually have a shot of at least a VP spot.
What say you? Did you watch the debate or do you have a strong view of any of the candidates mentioned in this thread? Or do you like others like Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Godfather's executive Herman Cain, or the Governor of New Mexico who no one doesn't seem to know about?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Welcome to CagleInk
Hello and Happy Autumn Everyone!
Spring seems to be a rebirth of sorts for people in many situations. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and people genuinely seem happier. I, too, fit into this category somewhat. However, my own rebirth occurs sometime between the end of the summer and early fall.
And with the first official day of autumn less than a few hours away, I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce CagleInk to the world. It is a blog that will focus on my passions in life - news, politics, media, sports, and entertainment. My hope is that you find CagleInk an informative and inviting blog for lively discussions.
I am a former newspaper reporter who covered politics, health, and education for the Owatonna People's Press in Owatonna, Minnesota from July 2006 to January 2009. Before moving to Owatonna, I was a general assignment reporter for the Burnett County Sentinel in Grantsburg, Wisconsin from August 2005 to June 2006. And before becoming a pro, I was a student reporter for The Reporter at Minnesota State University, Mankato, as well as an intern for the Mankato Free Press.
I decided to start this blog after my girlfriend's aunt challenged me to get back to writing and become an informative and objective media source - especially in politics. Having grown up in Minnesota and covered politics, it is hard not being a political junkie. After all, we are the state that elected "The Body" to the Governor's mansion, as well as liberal satirist Al Franken to the U.S. Senate and the fiery conservative and tea party leader in Congress, Michele Bachmann.
One of the things I have a knack for is predicting election winners and losers before Election Day. I am proud to say I have predicted more election wins than losses. In a way it's like picking winning teams in the NFL; it all depends who you listen to and how much you pay attention to the news.
Given the polarization in Minnesota and the rest of the country today, I feel like we're all expected to drink the Kool-Aid or eat the Baja Sol without any question as to whether our preferred candidates are being truthful or not. And when I worked as a reporter, I found it nauseating listening to scripts and non-answers to basic questions on policies and why citizens should support a candidate running for office.
One thing you will learn about me is that I am a liberal thinker with an independent streak. I have voted for candidates in all four major parties in Minnesota since 2000 (the Green Party had major party status after Ralph Nader garnered more than 15 percent of the vote in Minnesota in the 2000 elections. However, they became a minority party again following the results of the 2002 elections when none of its candidates could muster 15 percent of the vote). I prefer being a critical thinker to all the issues and throw topics out there for the world to discuss as opposed to sticking with a script.
Without the script, people are able to rationally discuss things happening in their state and the rest of the country - which is what I hope to accomplish with this blog.
So sit back, grab a beverage, and enjoy the discussions of politics, media, sports, entertainment, and other things happening in the news!
Cheers!
Jeff Cagle,
Publisher and Editor of CagleInk
Spring seems to be a rebirth of sorts for people in many situations. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and people genuinely seem happier. I, too, fit into this category somewhat. However, my own rebirth occurs sometime between the end of the summer and early fall.
And with the first official day of autumn less than a few hours away, I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce CagleInk to the world. It is a blog that will focus on my passions in life - news, politics, media, sports, and entertainment. My hope is that you find CagleInk an informative and inviting blog for lively discussions.
I am a former newspaper reporter who covered politics, health, and education for the Owatonna People's Press in Owatonna, Minnesota from July 2006 to January 2009. Before moving to Owatonna, I was a general assignment reporter for the Burnett County Sentinel in Grantsburg, Wisconsin from August 2005 to June 2006. And before becoming a pro, I was a student reporter for The Reporter at Minnesota State University, Mankato, as well as an intern for the Mankato Free Press.
I decided to start this blog after my girlfriend's aunt challenged me to get back to writing and become an informative and objective media source - especially in politics. Having grown up in Minnesota and covered politics, it is hard not being a political junkie. After all, we are the state that elected "The Body" to the Governor's mansion, as well as liberal satirist Al Franken to the U.S. Senate and the fiery conservative and tea party leader in Congress, Michele Bachmann.
One of the things I have a knack for is predicting election winners and losers before Election Day. I am proud to say I have predicted more election wins than losses. In a way it's like picking winning teams in the NFL; it all depends who you listen to and how much you pay attention to the news.
Given the polarization in Minnesota and the rest of the country today, I feel like we're all expected to drink the Kool-Aid or eat the Baja Sol without any question as to whether our preferred candidates are being truthful or not. And when I worked as a reporter, I found it nauseating listening to scripts and non-answers to basic questions on policies and why citizens should support a candidate running for office.
One thing you will learn about me is that I am a liberal thinker with an independent streak. I have voted for candidates in all four major parties in Minnesota since 2000 (the Green Party had major party status after Ralph Nader garnered more than 15 percent of the vote in Minnesota in the 2000 elections. However, they became a minority party again following the results of the 2002 elections when none of its candidates could muster 15 percent of the vote). I prefer being a critical thinker to all the issues and throw topics out there for the world to discuss as opposed to sticking with a script.
Without the script, people are able to rationally discuss things happening in their state and the rest of the country - which is what I hope to accomplish with this blog.
So sit back, grab a beverage, and enjoy the discussions of politics, media, sports, entertainment, and other things happening in the news!
Cheers!
Jeff Cagle,
Publisher and Editor of CagleInk
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