OH FOR THE LOVE OF PETE. . . DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

THE LAST WORD ON ROMNEY'S SONS AND SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY:

Alright, your Mittiot has been frank when it comes to calling out the Media, Hufficrat, BS when it comes to the unfounded attacks on Mitt. There's no doubt, I believe Mitt Romney will be the President and no doubt that he's the right man for the job. I understand others would like to see that not happen - "Them's Politics." But my faith in Mitt shouldn't be confused with employee loyalty - I don't work for the Romney campaign - I have volunteered my time for THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. In other words, I am sacrificing my time to support a better path for the US of A. Is it the same as joining the military? No. Is it close? No. It's totally different - but it IS SUPPORTING THE COUNTRY. Put it another way: You drive to work, I walk to work. Is driving the same as walking? No. Is it even close? No. It's totally different - but in the end we are both traveling to work. Romney does not owe an apology - it's easier then a clarification - and the emotion blinds individuals into denial - but what Romney said, is indeed correct.

"NO! No it is not!" You say. Let me ask you this: "Do you actually know when and where that comment was made? Have you done your homework? (asks the PoliSci instructor)" I bet you haven't. Did you know that Romney has been asked that question before by individuals not curious but hostile to a Romney Presidency. It's a rhetorical dig.

"NO! No you're wrong! It was a legitimate question!" You say. NOPE, it was a rhetorical dig posed by ". . . a reputed war protester while Romney was discussing Iraq. The presidential hopeful continued his answer by calling for a “surge of support” for those enlisted and their families. According to The Associated Press, the woman is a member of Quad City Progressive Action for the Common Good . . ." [CNN]

Here's the scripted question as asked, and Romney's ACTUAL response:

QUESTION: "Hi, my name's Rachel Griffiths, thank you so much for being here and asking for our comments. And I appreciate your recognizing the Iraq War veteran. My question is how many of your five sons are currently serving in the U.S. military and if none of them are, how do they plan to support this War on Terrorism by enlisting in our U.S. military?"

GOVERNOR ROMNEY: "Well, the good news is that we have a volunteer army and that's the way we're going to keep it. My sons are all adults and they've made their decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty. I respect their decision in that regard. I also respect and value very highly those who make a decision to serve in the military. I think we ought to show an outpouring of support just as I suggested. A surge of support for those families and those individuals who are serving. My niece, for instance, just to tell you what a neighborhood can do and how touching it can be.

"My niece, Misha, living out West, her husband I think he got a call on a Tuesday. He's in the National Guard. He got a call on a Tuesday that he was going to be called up and shipped overseas on a Thursday. And they just bought a home -– they hadn’t landscaped it -– but the rules in the neighborhood were that unless you got your home landscaped within a year of the time that you bought your home, they began fining you, because they didn’t want people having mud holes in front of their homes. And she was very worried and just before the year expired, she woke up one morning and looked out the window and all the neighbors were out there, rolling down sod, putting up trees, getting it all done."

"It’s remarkable how we can show our support for our nation and ONE of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected, because they think I’d be a great president. My son, Josh, bought the family Winnebago and has visited 99 counties, most of them with his three kids and his wife. And I respect that and respect all of those IN THE WAY they serve this great country." [emphasis added]

"Why aren't your sons on the front-line?" Is a rhetorical smear of campaign blather! This topic will be brought up again and again - but you're Mittiot has said all that needs to be said, "involving yourself in the democratic process - to get competent people elected to lead this country - is, indeed, ONE WAY to show support for this country." If not, why is Rachel Griffiths a committed war protester?

~ so sayeth & asketh the Mittiot.

JELLO, JELLO, J-E-L-L-O, JELLO

ON THE DEBATE LAST NIGHT:

Just a follow up to the ridiculous conclusion that McCain "won" the debate last night. If anything (as stated below) - McCain's second tier status saved him from the brutality of the Fox panel. I don't have a problem with tough questions - the campaign will be full of them - but you can't beat the heck out of guy (or guys. . . Giuliani was pummeled, too), hug and kiss another, and declare that the person gettin' all the love "won" the debate. Many bloggers are pitching the same - the standard quip seems to be "McCain helped himself." I guess that's accurate. He helped himself. . . to the JELLO they were tossing at him.

Here's the breakdown of the GOP New Hampshire debate [Full Debate Transcript Here]:

THE ASSAULT ON MITT:

Question Number 1 (after Thompson roast):

MR. WALLACE: Thank you, Brit. Good evening, gentlemen. Let’s talk about illegal immigration. Governor Romney, in recent weeks, you have gone after Mayor Giuliani for running what you say was a sanctuary city for illegals. But as governor of Massachusetts, you did nothing to stop Cambridge, Somerville or Orleans, all of which proclaim themselves to be sanctuaries. In fact, you didn’t even catch the illegals who were mowing your front lawn. (Laughter.) So the question is -- so the question is, why should we believe that you would be any tougher on illegal immigration than Mayor Giuliani? [Romney Responds]

Mittiot's Comment: 'You did nothing. . .' That's a lot like the ol' "Are you still beating your wife" "question." Isn't it? And Romney gets a slew of them - find me a similar question asked of McCain.

***

Question 2:

MR. GOLER: Thank you, Congressman. Governor Romney, your aides say you see ending abortion as a two- step process -- rolling back Roe v. Wade, which would leave it legal in some states and then a constitutional amendment to ban it nationwide. If abortion is murder, how can you live it with being legal in some parts of the country, and for how long can you do so? [Romney Responds]

[MR. GOLER: Governor Huckabee, do you see any real difference -- (interrupted by applause) -- between Governor Romney’s willingness to allow legalized abortion in some states and Mayor Giuliani’s support -- effective support for a woman’s right to choose?]

Mittiot: Another Push-Pull question. To rephrase the question, "How long are you going to continue to allow babies to be murdered, Romney?"

***

Question 3:

MR. GOLER: Governor Romney, you have suggested that U.S. troops in Iraq move to a support phase after the surge, which pretty much has to end in the spring, and a standby phase after that in Kuwait and Qatar. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems even Hillary Clinton is willing to commit troops to Iraq longer than that, sir. [Romney Responds]

The Mittiot: WTF? A kidney punch disguised as a question. . .

***

Question 4 (Let's set up the ambush. . .:

MR. CAMERON: Hi, Brit. During part of this exchange, I sort of asked our group gathered here what they thought of what was going on. And the consensus was that there was a lot of skirting of the issues and not a great degree of clarity. New Hampshire, in fact, our hosts here at UNH have all had sacrifices. There was a UNH grad, Ben Keating, who was the head of the College Republicans, who gave up his life in Iraq for this mission. And we want to talk now with Mark and Deb Riss. Mr. Riss is a deputy sheriff here in Strafford County, and their son Dan comes back after his second tour in just two weeks. You’ve heard a great deal about this. Tell us what it is that you are most interested in. And there’s a question, I guess, for Mr. Romney about the timing of all this.

. . . allow the sucker punch.)

MARK RISS: Yes, what I’m obviously most interested in is how we can bring an endgame to the war in Iraq and yet still do it so that it’s a victory for us and a victory for the people of Iraq. And my question is to Governor Romney. And that is, I’ve heard the other people up there articulate themselves a little bit better. But in your answer, I didn’t hear how you would end it. I didn’t hear an endgame plan from you and I would like a response on that. And also along those same lines, sir, a comment. I don’t think you fully understand how offended my wife and I were and probably the rest of the people who have sons, daughters, husbands and wives serving in the war on terror to compare your son’s attempts to get you elected my son’s service in Iraq. (Cheers, applause.) I know you apologized a couple days later up there, a firestorm started. But it was wrong, sir, and you never should have said it. [Romney responds]

(And, for good measure, poke him a bit)

MR. HUME: Governor, let me follow up on one point. MR. ROMNEY: Yeah. MR. HUME: You again said it looks successful. Senator McCain disagreed with you on that. MR. ROMNEY: I’m going to wait -- MR. HUME: Is it or isn’t it? MR. ROMNEY: Well, you know, we haven’t heard from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. I believe it’s successful -- MR. HUME: Okay.

The Mittiot: A couple of things. One, read my last blog, Mitt does not owe anyone an apology for his remarks about his sons and their service to this country. Secondly, a large block of NH veterans have already endorsed John McCain in this race like in April. I contend the veteran, Mark Riss,' mind was made up long before Mitt answered the loaded question about his "able bodied" boys not joining the military. Lastly, it becomes clear, Mitt isn't in a debate with the other GOP candidates on the platform, but the commentators on the floor.

***

Question 5:

MR. GOLER: I want to talk, gentlemen, about presidential power and the war on terror here at home. And Governor Romney, I’ll start with you. You have said that the government should wiretap some mosques to keep tabs on Islamic extremists. Would you do this even without a judge’s approval, sir? [Romney Responds]

Mittiot: Probably the fairest, straight forward question asked of Romney though it was the only religious-like question posed. It could have gotten interesting if Mitt said, "If necessary." He'd be in good company - The President that most often is on the list as A-Number One, "Bestest President," Abraham Lincoln, suspended habeus corpus during the "Civil War" for the good of the country.

***

Question 6:

MR. WALLACE: Governor Romney, you have taken the pledge. You like to say that you don’t just talk about budgets, but in fact you actually had to operate one as governor of Massachusetts. But according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, in your first year as governor you raised fees and fines by half a billion dollars, including fees paid by the blind, by gun owners, by those seeking training against domestic violence and even by used car shoppers. In fact, the Associated Press says you earned a nickname back then in Massachusetts, it was FeFe. (Laughter.) How do you respond, sir? [Romney Responds by calling Wallace a dork. . . not really, but he should have.]

Mittiot: Yet another swipe disguised as a "question." See the McCain related question below.

***

Last Stone:

MR. HUME: Governor Romney, your thoughts. [To the Hypothetical Scenario with IRAN] [Romney responds, Hume interrupts] MR. HUME: What if they don’t?

Mittiot: Hmmmm. A hypothetical question that changes as the candidate answers it. . . ? All in all, Hume seemed to offer the most fair questions of the group - I guess that's why he's the SENIOR politico on Fox, and the rest of the "All Stars" pale in comparison. . . in Wallace's case, disappear altogether.

***

NOW FOR THE MCCAIN JELLO-FEST

Question Number 1:

MR. WALLACE: Mr. Mayor, time. (Applause.) Senator McCain, when you were backing comprehensive immigration reform this spring, you accused Governor Romney of flip-flopping on this issue. In fact, you said maybe his solution will be to get his small varmint gun and run the Guatemalans off his lawn. (Laughter.)

Mittiot: Jello with a side of "stick Romney"

***

Question 2:

MR. CAMERON: So we’re going to spin this one back to both John McCain and Rudy Giuliani, and ask them Lieutenant’s question: How can you not call it amnesty? MR. GIULIANI: Well, I think. . . [gives answer] MR. HUME: Senator McCain, the same question to you. How do you not call the circumstances the officer described as an amnesty?

Mittiot: A little tougher Jello - softened to the consistency of plain ol' Jello by making Rudy chew it first.

***

Question 3:

MR. GOLER: Senator McCain, Mayor Giuliani says his leadership after the 9/11 attacks shows he is the best candidate for national security, and you say nothing he has done shows any real experience in foreign policy or national security affairs. Tell me why, sir.

Mittiot: Jello. . . actually wait, that wasn't "Jello" that wasn't even a question, that was an opportunity to punch Giuliani.

***

McCain Questions Romney???:

[SEN. MCCAIN:] Chris. MR. WALLACE: Senator McCain. SEN. MCCAIN: [To Mitt] Governor, the surge is working. The surge is working, sir. It is working. MR. ROMNEY: That’s just what I said. SEN. MCCAIN: No, not apparently -- it’s working.

Mittiot: Not Jello. . . but then again, that wasn;t a question for McCain.

***

Jello Shot Number 4:

MR. GOLER: Senator McCain, what do you think about what Congressman Tancredo just said? And more broadly, do you feel President Bush may have overreached his constitutional authority in some actions after the 9/11 attacks, sir?

Mittiot: Again, huggy, huggy kiss-kiss, here's some Jello.

***

Question 5:

MR. WALLACE: Gentlemen, let’s talk about taxes and spending. As you all well know, pledges not to raise income taxes are a big deal here in New Hampshire. Six of you on this stage -- (interrupted by cheers, applause) -- six of you on this stage have signed the pledge of the Americans for Tax Reform to oppose any increase in marginal tax rates, while two of you have not. Senator McCain, why have you refused to sign? And why do you feel that six of your seven colleagues here on this stage are mistaken in deciding to take that pledge?

And, 6:

MR. WALLACE: Senator McCain, if I can follow up for 30 seconds, those tax cuts that you talked about that have given us so much revenue, in fact, you voted against those. And why not, if you are determined to not raise taxes, why not sign the pledge?

Mittiot: Alright, this was a good question (nasty Jello. . . like pistachio. . . in the end it's still Jello) BUT lets put it in context: "Senator, you didn't support the Bush tax-cuts? Oh that's right you wouldn't support the tax cuts without cuts in spending (Shouldn't someone ask why he'd support them now, given that we still aren't cutting spending? But this isn't the point), however Mr. Romney, you're worse, because. . ." [reference the unfounded "FeFe" jab at Romney above.]

***

And the last, "question:"

MR. HUME: All right. Senator McCain, you have the last word here, sir. [To the Hypothetical Scenario]

Mittiot: Jello chewed by every other candidate first. If you couldn't swallow that lob by then. . .

Yep, beat the crap out of the guy running to the top, Romney - toss healthy heaps of Jello on the guy falling fasted to the bottom and then proclaim that individual "VICTORIOUS." Seems in the end, media is media no matter what channel it's on. . .

- so sayeth the Mittiot and Chris Cillizza of The Fix

WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS, BAY-BEE!

ON TAKING AUGUST OFF:

HELLO, Fellow Mittiots. August was brutal on your happy-go-lucky Mittiot. So, I thought I'd pull a Thompson and see if I could be a blogger without actually blogging. . . I figured what I would do was I'd tell everybody I was a blogger but not actually post anything. . . and that way I wouldn't have to work. . . you know, bloggin' ain't easy, it takes commitment and an original thought or two. . . this is much better. . . I'm a blogger, but I don't have to actually write anything. . . I wonder if the college will buy that argument: "I'm an instructor, but I'm not going to actually instruct anybody." Thank God for tenure. . . it seems to me a lot like Hollywood syndication.

Joking aside, for all those bloggers out there (like Nick at RightMichigan.com) who post every single day come hell or high water, the Mittiot chapeau goes off - it really isn't easy. However, if an explanation is needed, just know that Michigan's economy sucks (the Governor has been INVISIBLE) and if you're in the field of public supported higher education, the uncertainty is almost debilitating. I spent August negotiating our faculty contract. Our negotiating team took the position of recognizing the reality of Michigan's economy, negotiated a good contract for the STUDENTS (no 17% tuition increases), the faculty and by extension the institution and - TA DA - our faculty rejected it. . . way to go guys! Needless to say, the negotiating team has gladly "stepped aside." So, GOOD NEWS, unless you're a Hufficrat or Chris Wallace (which may just be the same damn thing), your Mittiot's back Bay-Bee!

ON THE FOX DEBATE TONIGHT:

I understand now why the dems are afraid of holding a debate hosted by Fox News - sock puppets are clearly easier to handle than the real people of New Hampshire. The questions were really frickin' tough and some down right ugly. I think the field did great overall - and Mitt, who clearly had a target the size of Texas on his forehead, handled himself very, very, well. He and Giuliani were getting the brunt of the no win questions - a clear indication of their front-runner status (Mitt, the front runner of the front runners) - and McCain? Well, he was getting the softballs. . . Hell, that's even a stretch, McCain was getting Jel-lo tossed at him. All in all, however, a pretty good debate.

And by the way, let me say this about Mitt's boys not joining the military. . . For the last 5 years during this war on terror, semester in and semester out, I've taught young men and women a thing or two about the political process and this great country. And, one thing is certain, it takes a lot more than the military to support and protect the freedom we hold so dear. It takes men and women "to do" and it takes men and women "to lead." Running for public office is no frickin' cake walk, and an individual who puts them self in the "arena" (as T. Roosevelt called it) makes a HUGE sacrifice for this great country. . . and for what? So some asshole can point a hypocritical finger at your sons and question whether they're giving enough because they haven't volunteered to put on a uniform? So some drop-shot can question your religion and faith in God? So some lowlife muckraker can put you and your family and your business and your education and every decision you've ever made under a microscope to sell some sensational, out of context, headline for the Dan Rather "Gotcha Affect"? Running for office, RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, is indeed a sacrifice and the fact that a man's sons would put their lives on hold and join in that sacrifice speaks as much about that man as it does the sons. Mitt, nor his son's, owe anyone an apology. Some of us, many of us, recognize that the honor of participating in our democratic process is, indeed, a sacrifice.

And while I'm on a rant, chew on this. . . there is no comparison to the soldier who puts their life on the line, (or the fire fighter or police officer, for that matter) but statistically, you have a greater chance being killed as president (nearly 10%*) than you do fighting in Iraq (just under 3%**). I know it ain't apples to apples but if you want some out of context, BS, headline. . . chew on that. . . its absolutely true.

ON MICHIGAN'S EARLY PRIMARY:

I took a wait-n-see on Fred Thompson (he still isn't in as of this post by the way) and, I'm going to take a wait-n-see on Michigan's January 15th Primary. I'll bet a buck the dems back out and the GOP runs a Convention on January 28-29th to pick our nominee. Either way, Mitt is in the driver's seat here at home. Some might think the Convention would slow down his post Iowa/NH momentum going later in January, but your Mittiot would rather go AFTER South Carolina anyway. SC seems poised to offer Fred a squeaker maybe even Giuliani . . though I'm told Romney is on the rise in SC. The way I figure, Iowa, NH, Nevada will go solidly Romney, Florida is looking good, SC is iffy, but a late January victory in Michigan will give the Governor the last bounce before Tsunami Tuesday - from there, it's a horse race to the White House!

ON HUMAN/ANIMAL EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH:

UK authorises human/animal cell research

British authorities have given the green light to controversial research involving implanting human DNA in animal cells. The aim is to create hybrid embryos from which stem cells can be extracted. Experts say such research is critical to unlocking treatments for genetic diseases.

Embryo Scientist Professor Lyle Armstrong said: "In one day we can easily get 200 cow eggs from a local slaughter house, the same applies to rabbits or perhaps pigs that we may be able to use. So it offers us a chance to make embryonic stem cell technology more accessible to everyone,"But Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority ruled that research projects should be considered on a case-by-case basis. That reflects ethical concerns by opponents who claim the procedure violates the rights of human embryos.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE PATH REALISTS KNEW WAS COMING. . . Man-Bear-Pig is just around the corner. Needless to say Mitt Romney and the Pro-Life community were right!

~ so sayeth the Mittiot

* 43 Presidents (42 if you don't count Cleveland twice) with 4 assassinated while in office (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy) ** 130,000 troops in Iraq with 3,738 tragic, TRAGIC, casualties.