Thursday, January 31, 2008
Schwarzenegger endorses McCain
Arnold Schwarzeneggers endorsement of John McCain has seriously damaged Mitt Romney's prospects of winning the GOP California primary. However Romney whose personal fortune is estimated at $250 million will greatly outspend McCain not alone in California but also in all other states involved in Super Tuesday. Romney has spent $35 million in his presidential campaign so far. This is the final throw of the dice for Romney so a massive advertising splurge is anticipated. Romney will paint himself as the true conservative. In reality John McCain is a true fiscal conservative. McCain has consistently favoured tax cuts allied to sharp curbs on public expenditure and a balanced budget.
Mike Huckabee is a true fiscal conservative notwithstanding comments from Mitt Romney. Huckabee's financial stewardship in Arkansas was superior to that of Romney in Massachusetts.Huckabee also supports the Fair Tax.
Mike Huckabee is a true fiscal conservative notwithstanding comments from Mitt Romney. Huckabee's financial stewardship in Arkansas was superior to that of Romney in Massachusetts.Huckabee also supports the Fair Tax.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
McCain band wagon gains momentum with Giuliani endorsement
John McCain- already buoyed up by a stunning victory over Mitt Romney in Florida -received further good news in the form of an endorsement from Rudi Giuliani. Giuliani stated that "We both believe in fiscal discipline…finally, we both believe in building a strong and broader Republican party. One that is growing and reaching out…” This endorsement may help McCain in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Of course conservatives may rave and rant about Giuliani's liberalism but the reality is that McCain has a greater capacity to reach out to Democratic and Independent voters than Romney.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is believed to be in discussions about endorsing John McCain’s presidential bid. In an interview on CNN- just now-however he was rather coy saying "I have nothing to announce today".
Two Georgia Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Issacson, have already committed to endorse McCain. If Schwarzenegger were to support McCain- in advance of Super Tuesday-Romney's prospects in California would be seriously diminished.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is believed to be in discussions about endorsing John McCain’s presidential bid. In an interview on CNN- just now-however he was rather coy saying "I have nothing to announce today".
Two Georgia Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Issacson, have already committed to endorse McCain. If Schwarzenegger were to support McCain- in advance of Super Tuesday-Romney's prospects in California would be seriously diminished.
Ireland's Green Mouse
Ireland is home to a very special Green Mouse. I speak of course about the political Green Mouse. It hides and hides and hides. Green Mouse is now so coy. It has lost much of its nutritious food. Its diet of co-location terror and ethical foreign policy is no longer available. It now feeds on less nutritious roughage of incineration and tar and chips. Haggard and gaunt it manages a little squeak from time to time. Today the little Green rodent peeped out and squeaked and squeaked. -Just avoiding the FF tom cat.
The sound was barely audible. "Give me a little taste of Mahon. Give me a little taste of Mahon. Not too much, not too much. I love red herrings, red herrings, red herrings. I love hypocrisy, hypocrisy, and hypocrisy".
Green Mouse has now scampered back to its little political hellhole a pale shadow of its former self.
What a sad tale.
The sound was barely audible. "Give me a little taste of Mahon. Give me a little taste of Mahon. Not too much, not too much. I love red herrings, red herrings, red herrings. I love hypocrisy, hypocrisy, and hypocrisy".
Green Mouse has now scampered back to its little political hellhole a pale shadow of its former self.
What a sad tale.
McCain victory in Florida - a massive blow to Romney
John McCain's victory in Florida has severely dented Romney's prospects of securing the GOP nomination. McCain now has momentum going into Super Tuesday. Rudi Giuliani's poor third place performance ensures that his prospects have been effectively dashed. It is quite possible that Giuliani may withdraw and throw his weight behind McCain. The majority of Giuliani supporters lean more towards McCain than Romney. Mike Huckabee who finished in fourth place intends to contest Super Tuesday. He will have a sizeable block of delegates at the GOP convention. He may become the king maker if neither McCain or Romney has an overall majority of delegates. He leans towards McCain and could yet become a Vice Presidential candidate.
John McCain is now the front runner and favourite to win the GOP nomination. A McCain/ Huckabee ticket would appeal to a wide strand of public opinion. Democrats fear McCain more than Romney. Can Romney turn the tables on McCain on Super Tuesday? One thing is certain he will outspend McCain.
John McCain is now the front runner and favourite to win the GOP nomination. A McCain/ Huckabee ticket would appeal to a wide strand of public opinion. Democrats fear McCain more than Romney. Can Romney turn the tables on McCain on Super Tuesday? One thing is certain he will outspend McCain.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Bill Clinton smears Obama
Here Bill Clinton links Barack Obama to Jesse Jackson in an ugly smear. Clinton is endeavouring to imprint in white voters minds a belief that Obama represents African Americans only. This may have convinced Edward Kennedy to endorse Obama.
Ireland-Fine Gael unveils radical proposals to improve broadband access
Fine Gael's Communications Spokesman Simon Coveney TD, today launched a radical plan designed to pressurise the Government into the the delivery of next generation broadband across the country and in so doing improve Ireland's competitiveness. The Government has been lethargic and complacent for too long. Hopefully the FG proposals will elicit a prominent Government response.
The ten point plan is strong on analysis of the problem but more importantly it is brimful of concrete proposals designed to expedite the roll out of the next generation broadband communications infrastructure delivering high speeds.
Mr Coveney stated that Government broadband policy had failed to deliver in terms of penetration and in particular in terms of bandwidth and download speed. Ireland is 33rd out of 35 OECD countries for average internet speeds, ahead of only Mexico and Turkey.
"According to the latest OECD figures, 15.4% of the Irish population subscribes to broadband, with speeds of little over 3 Mb per second, while the OECD average is 13.7 Mb per second...
In Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland, over 30% have broadband access."
Many of Ireland’s developed economy competitors have long since seen the importance of investment in Next Generation Access.
Korea is recognised as the world leader in such investment. Through its “Korea Information Infrastructure Project” (KII), launched in March 1995, the government invested US$800 million in putting a government-owned fibre-optic backbone network in the ground.
Successive investments by both private and public sectors have seen the country remain close to the top of global league tables for both penetration and average speeds ever since. It now enjoys average download speeds of 43.3Mbps.
Japan is another country in which the government recognised at an early stage the importance of investment in high-speed internet infrastructure, and the country now enjoys average speeds of 93.6Mbps
"Fine Gael's document 'Creating a Fibre Nation' mandates the Department of Communications to undertake a comprehensive audit of all ducting capable of accommodating fibre optic cable, both in public and private ownership. Following this audit, we are calling on the Government to tender out to the private sector a ducting roll out programme that will facilitate and encourage the investment in fibre optic cable that is required for next generation broadband access.
"What is particularly important is the need to upgrade the existing copper wire infrastructure to fibre optic cable.
"Essentially what the State needs to do is invest in expensive ducting infrastructure as well as coordinating existing infrastructure to create a broadband fibre network with adequate back haul in the ownership of the private and public sector.
"There is also an urgent need for legislation to be passed to require ducting for broadband to be installed in all new housing and apartment developments as well as being part of all new road-building.
"Fine Gael also calls on the Government to review and upgrade its National Broadband Scheme to provide for high-speed internet access to rural areas of the country. Otherwise Government policy will be adding to an already existing urban-rural divide.
"For any country competing in the global economy, next generation broadband access is essential, but for Ireland, shortcomings in this area are a serious impediment to our plans to create an economy based on technology, innovation, research and development".
The full FG broadband policy document can be viewed at Fine Gael
The ten point plan is strong on analysis of the problem but more importantly it is brimful of concrete proposals designed to expedite the roll out of the next generation broadband communications infrastructure delivering high speeds.
Mr Coveney stated that Government broadband policy had failed to deliver in terms of penetration and in particular in terms of bandwidth and download speed. Ireland is 33rd out of 35 OECD countries for average internet speeds, ahead of only Mexico and Turkey.
"According to the latest OECD figures, 15.4% of the Irish population subscribes to broadband, with speeds of little over 3 Mb per second, while the OECD average is 13.7 Mb per second...
In Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland, over 30% have broadband access."
Many of Ireland’s developed economy competitors have long since seen the importance of investment in Next Generation Access.
Korea is recognised as the world leader in such investment. Through its “Korea Information Infrastructure Project” (KII), launched in March 1995, the government invested US$800 million in putting a government-owned fibre-optic backbone network in the ground.
Successive investments by both private and public sectors have seen the country remain close to the top of global league tables for both penetration and average speeds ever since. It now enjoys average download speeds of 43.3Mbps.
Japan is another country in which the government recognised at an early stage the importance of investment in high-speed internet infrastructure, and the country now enjoys average speeds of 93.6Mbps
"Fine Gael's document 'Creating a Fibre Nation' mandates the Department of Communications to undertake a comprehensive audit of all ducting capable of accommodating fibre optic cable, both in public and private ownership. Following this audit, we are calling on the Government to tender out to the private sector a ducting roll out programme that will facilitate and encourage the investment in fibre optic cable that is required for next generation broadband access.
"What is particularly important is the need to upgrade the existing copper wire infrastructure to fibre optic cable.
"Essentially what the State needs to do is invest in expensive ducting infrastructure as well as coordinating existing infrastructure to create a broadband fibre network with adequate back haul in the ownership of the private and public sector.
"There is also an urgent need for legislation to be passed to require ducting for broadband to be installed in all new housing and apartment developments as well as being part of all new road-building.
"Fine Gael also calls on the Government to review and upgrade its National Broadband Scheme to provide for high-speed internet access to rural areas of the country. Otherwise Government policy will be adding to an already existing urban-rural divide.
"For any country competing in the global economy, next generation broadband access is essential, but for Ireland, shortcomings in this area are a serious impediment to our plans to create an economy based on technology, innovation, research and development".
The full FG broadband policy document can be viewed at Fine Gael
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