ElephantBiz: October 2007 Archives

« September 2007 | Main | November 2007 »

Oct31	Happy Halloween! John Xavier October 31, 2007 Know More: Miscellaneous happy halloween, pranks The Palmetto Scoop points to a hilarious video of a great Halloween prank. For everyone heading out tonight: be safe, have a good time and BEWARE... Posted at 5:42 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct31	It's the Economy Stupid John Xavier October 31, 2007 The latest economic numbers released by the Commerce Department show that the economy grew at 3.9% for the third quarter. The economy will be an important issue for the Republicans next year in the general election and you can bet... Continue Reading Posted at 1:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ron Paul Girl John Xavier October 31, 2007 Ron Paul Girl - video powered by MetacafeHat tip:Jonathan Martin ... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Best Exchange From Last Night John Xavier October 31, 2007 The best exchange from the Democratic debate last night was not on the stage, but in the post debate between Rudy Giuliani and Joe Biden. Biden, the perennial village idiot (here, here, here, and here), took a cheap shot at... Continue Reading Posted at 7:33 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct30	Connect 2 Elect John Xavier October 30, 2007 I stumbled across a Presidential Matching Service, that is one of those tests where you put in your beliefs and it tells you who to vote for. This is one of the most comprehensive ones I've come across as it... Continue Reading Posted at 8:31 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Edwards Responds....to Colbert? John Xavier October 30, 2007 In a sign of just how bad John Edwards' campaign has gotten (and how serious Colbert's has), his campaign has now attacked Stephen Colbert. Colbert over the weekend recieved a "Key to the City" in Columbia, SC and proclaimed himself... Continue Reading Posted at 12:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Huckabee Bandwagon John Xavier October 30, 2007 The media has been showing a lot of love to Huckabee lately, with an influential Iowa columnist showering a bit of love his way:In recent days, that talk has escalated to a new level of buzz: Huckabee's doing so well... Continue Reading Posted at 10:53 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct29	Some Insight into Huckabee John Xavier October 29, 2007 John Brummet, of the Arksansas News Bureau, who has covered the rise of at least one Arkansan, has a little bit of insight of that candidate from Hope and their former First Lady:So I tell them that this same Huckabee... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hillary a Neocon? John Xavier October 29, 2007 Tucker Carlson made an interesting assertion on his show today that Hillary Clinton is a neconservative. Neoconservativism is basically the idea that got us into Iraq in the first place, and many of the President's early (and current) advisers are... Continue Reading Posted at 4:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Let It Ride John Xavier October 29, 2007 The folks at the Weekly Standard have some good analysis of the Republican Primary. Bill Kristol has a piece that looks at some important elements of the Republican primary:[Romney] spent nationally twice as much as McCain, and some twenty-five times... Continue Reading Posted at 12:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	First Look at Ron Paul's Image John Xavier October 29, 2007 Ron Paul is hitting the ground running in New Hampshire with a pair of ads that is part of a million dollar+ ad buy. Ad #1: Ad #2: The ads aren't the best production/script quality, but they get the point... Continue Reading Posted at 10:42 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct28	Thompson Backs Away from Iraq John Xavier October 28, 2007 Some interesting news of the weekend is Fred Thompson's break, and borderline criticism, with President Bush on Iraq. Bush predicted a long term troop commitment in the country which drew a response from Thompson who is wary of staying in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A Pro-Abortion Party John Xavier October 28, 2007 National Right to Life pens a column that looks at the implications inherent in a Giuliani candidacy: We are told by various experts that Giuliani's gestures to pro-lifers will be--should be--enough for us to enthusiastically support a man who once... Continue Reading Posted at 11:53 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct26	Friday Look: Let Colbert Debate! John Xavier October 26, 2007 Consider the traditional barometers that presidential candidates are measured by: Name ID, organization (online and otherwise), news coverage. Colbert has a higher name ID than many of the mainstream candidates (you could argue as high as fellow candidate and television personality Arthur Branch), he has an online organization, website, get-out-the-message operation that rivals major campaigns, and he has generated A LOT of earned media including interviews on major political talkshows. Continue Reading Posted at 5:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	So Easy Even A 15-year-old Can Understand It John Xavier October 26, 2007 In an entertaining story coming out of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney got into a heated discussion...with a 15-year-old:[Kevin Daly], the sophomore at Phillips Exeter Academy pointedly asked Republican candidate Mitt Romney about his shifting positions on abortion and gay rights. "How... Continue Reading Posted at 3:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Thompson Discusses John Xavier October 26, 2007 Jonathan Martin points to an interview of Fred Thompson with ABC News: The full intereview is interesting, and a reccomended watch. He touches on his campaign style, his wife, and a number of substantive issues. Interviews like this help soften up... Continue Reading Posted at 2:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Governator on Fire John Xavier October 26, 2007 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) was on ABC News last night to sum up the situation on the California wildfires which have forced the evacuation of more than 1 million people:The situation in California has been handled much more smoothly than... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	More John Edwards Hyprocrisy John Xavier October 26, 2007 Per First Read, John Edwards unvieled a speech entitled "Renewing the Social Contract". Putting aside that that's the wrong use of the term social contract, what he had to say is even more brilliant:Over the course of our history, every... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct25	One Tough Guy John Xavier October 25, 2007 The New York Post has a story about a mob plot to kill Rudy Giuliani in the 1980's during his "crime fighting days" as a federal prosecutor. Per First Read:The mob plot was revealed yesterday in the FBI papers made... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	On Global Warming John Xavier October 25, 2007 Hat tip:Greg Mankiw ... Continue Reading Posted at 11:46 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Giuliani-Brownback ('08) John Xavier October 25, 2007 In what Jonathan Martin is dubbing the Brownback primary, Rudy Giuliani is meeting with former preidential candidate Sam Brownback today:"Mayor Giuliani asked to meet with Senator Brownback, and Senator Brownback is happy to sit down with him," said Brian Hart,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:44 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct24	McCain's New Image John Xavier October 24, 2007 Since his campaign's fall from grace this summer, John McCain has been slowly reinventing himself under the radar. That new image is now coming to fruition with his latest ad that includes a clip of the standing ovation he recieved... Continue Reading Posted at 4:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Stem Cell Debate John Xavier October 24, 2007 Tennessee Right to Life points to an article about advances in stem cell research that raises some interesting questions. The article details a clinic in India that is using breakthroughs in adult stem cell research to treat blindness. Specifically, the... Continue Reading Posted at 1:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	And I thought Romney was the Flip-Flopper John Xavier October 24, 2007 Following the news yesterday that die-hard Yankee fan Rudy Giuliani proclaimed in the Red Sox Nation (New Hampshire) he was pulling for the Red Sox in the World Series, today he is getting crucified by the New York tabloids.One wonders... Continue Reading Posted at 9:51 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Romney Losing Support John Xavier October 24, 2007 Per the Palmetto Scoop, Dr. Don Wilton, former president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and an influential Christian leader, has retracted his endorsement of Mitt Romney.Romney had been touting this endorsement as part of his strategy to appeal to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:59 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct23	Reexamining John Edwards John Xavier October 23, 2007 While we generally don't endorse here at ElephantBiz, we may have to endorse John Edwards in the Democratic primary.And not because we agree with him, but because it just struck us that he has accepted public funds. Everyone wrote him... Continue Reading Posted at 1:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Reshuffling the Top Tier John Xavier October 23, 2007 Talk today is of a piece by Dan Balz that sets some new conventional wisdom. Balz looks at the Republican race and concludes that contrary to the conventional wisdom of the summer that this race was headed towards a two... Continue Reading Posted at 12:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Colbert Effect John Xavier October 23, 2007 Stephen Colbert's candidacy is continuing to generate talk among the media elite. In addition to drawing poll, a number of pundits have speculated on who is hurt the most by his candidacy (general consensus: the second tier). But the most... Continue Reading Posted at 7:45 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct22	A New Type of Foreign Aid John Xavier October 22, 2007 The New York Times had an interesting op-ed over the weekend that looks at problems inherent in foreign aid and encourages Congress to adopt a new approach to international develoment:While foreign aid works in some situations, it has two huge... Continue Reading Posted at 1:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Post Debate Roundup John Xavier October 22, 2007 In sports news last night...the Boston Red Sox, after being down 3 games to 1 in the AL Championship Series, staged a pretty miraculous comeback and made it back to the World Series. In Denver, the Broncos beat the Steelers... Continue Reading Posted at 10:50 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct21	Huckabee's Resurrection John Xavier October 21, 2007 The big news of the weekend is Mike Huckabee's surprise showing in the Family Research Council's Value Voters online straw poll. Although Huckabee finished second to Mitt Romney by a less than a percentage point, as Jonathan Martin points out,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct19	Friday Look: Tacit Endorsements John Xavier October 19, 2007 When it comes to endorsing in primaries, interest groups have to weigh the candidates' records and positions against the likelihood that that person will eventually be the one they have to deal with in Washington when it comes time to lobby. Thus they tend to stay out of primaries where distinctions on issues like taxes, abortion, and gun control tend to be minimal between the candidates, and wait until the general election where the differences are clear. Continue Reading Posted at 5:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rudy vs. Mitt John Xavier October 19, 2007 The rhetoric in the Republican primary is getting even harsher with the Guiliani camp out with a pretty unbelievable press release comparing Mitt Romney to Hillary Clinton:"Mitt Romney's latest political pandering proves yet again he is merely a candidate of... Continue Reading Posted at 3:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rudy's Values John Xavier October 19, 2007 First Read has a preview of what is surrounding Rudy Giuliani's speech tomorrow to the Value Voters Summit:Giuliani is facing a group that is actively opposed to him as the Republican nominee, and there will be little he can say... Continue Reading Posted at 1:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Highights from the Value Voters John Xavier October 19, 2007 Today and tomorrow the Family Research Council holds its Value Voters Summit in DC. It appears to have become another battleground, except this time on the ground rather than in speeches. Per Marc Ambinder, Fred Thompson has twice as many... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct18	Recommended Global Warming Reading John Xavier October 18, 2007 Dr. Daniel B. Botkin, a noted biologist and ecologist, has a good piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled Global Warming Delusions. He examines global warming in context, touches on the media fear mongering surrounding it, and whether the ends... Continue Reading Posted at 4:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stealing the Spotlight? John Xavier October 18, 2007 Peace in the Middle East has historically been an issue monopolized by the United States (in varied machinations), but as President Bush's international reputation has waned, it seems that Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped into the void and is... Continue Reading Posted at 1:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	More Mitt Clips John Xavier October 18, 2007 Per Mark Halperin, Mitt Romney will be up with a new ad in Iowa that features home videos, his wife, and his kids. It's a feel good commercial with a hint of nostalgia that is meant to highlight his commitment... Continue Reading Posted at 12:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Brownback to Withdraw John Xavier October 18, 2007 Per the AP, Senator Sam Brownback will withdraw from the Presidential race tomorrow in his home state of Kansas.Brownback had been a long shot from the beginning, and was banking his campaign on appealing to a particular niche - Catholics... Continue Reading Posted at 10:14 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Thompson Goes Up...On the Web? John Xavier October 18, 2007 It seems Fred Thompson is out with his first ad (not counting the announcement ad) and it is, interestingly, a web ad. It is rare to see a major campaign invest in web advertising. This is a for a couple... Continue Reading Posted at 12:07 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct17	Club for Growth Yet Another Battleground John Xavier October 17, 2007 At the Club for Growth's Fall Economic Policy Conference today, the Republican frontrunners were on hand to address the attendees and they all used the opportunity to take some shots at one another. Per Jonathan Martin, Fred Thompson took aim... Continue Reading Posted at 3:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Timeline of a Presidential Bid John Xavier October 17, 2007 Stephen Colbert, who announced last week on Larry King that the publication of his new book was actually the first step in a Presidential announcement process, went on the Daily Show last night to anounce he might announce for President.... Continue Reading Posted at 11:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Iowa 3rd" John Xavier October 17, 2007 January 3rd is now Iowa 3rd. The Republican Party of Iowa voted last night to hold their caucus on January 3rd, 2008. With Iowa on the 3rd and South Carolina on the 19th, two-thirds of the early state triumvirate is now... Continue Reading Posted at 6:59 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct16	Vintage Giuliani John Xavier October 16, 2007 Talking Points Memo has a video of Rudy Giuliani circa his Mayor days touting his Republican credentials, or that is, not touting them. In it, he characterizes himself as both a liberal and an independent. ... Continue Reading Posted at 5:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Thompson on his record, Giuliani John Xavier October 16, 2007 Before speaking to the Conservative Party of New York last night, Fred Thompson was on FOX News to discuss his record, his speech, and the GOP. He came out firing saying that Giuliani has never actually called himself a conservative,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Snapshot of the Race John Xavier October 16, 2007 Opensecrets.org has compiled the latest cash-on-hand numbers of all the candidates from the FEC reports. Additionally, there is a new poll out today which has Giuliani leading the pack. Here are the aggregated results for your consumption:Rudy Giuliani: 32%, $11.6... Continue Reading Posted at 11:12 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Normal Distribution of Tax Rates John Xavier October 16, 2007 The Cato Institute points to a recent study that aggregates recent IRS Income Tax data:Tax rates on those with high incomes are far greater than for other Americans. Folks at the top pay about 25% of their income in federal income taxes,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:24 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct15	Thompson's Veiled Shot John Xavier October 15, 2007 Fred Thompson will be speaking to the Conservative Party of New York tonight and excerpts from his speech indicate that he will define himself as the conservative in the race:This is not a time for philosophical flexibility, it is a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Hits Keep On Coming for Al John Xavier October 15, 2007 Not even a candidate for any office, Al Gore keeps taking hits. But the critiques aren't coming from politicians, most of whom have actually applauded his success, but from scientists and climatologists. This weekend, Dr. William Gray, a world-renowned meteorologist... Continue Reading Posted at 11:31 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Solving the Energy Problems John Xavier October 15, 2007 Activists and alarmists decry the free market as the source of our environmental problems, but they also fail to realize the potential the market has in solving those problems. The thing that will eventually ween us off our dependence on... Continue Reading Posted at 10:17 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct14	Weekend Spat John Xavier October 14, 2007 The big news of the weekend is Mitt Romney's choice of words that drew rebukes from both John McCain and Fred Thompson's camp. Jonathan Martin has a good writeup of the exchange.Romney, at a speech in Nevada, made the statement... Continue Reading Posted at 11:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct13	Repudiation of Big Ole Al Gore John Xavier October 13, 2007 Coming on the heels of Al Gore's Nobel Prize, a former New Zealand MP has asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to strip the producers of An Inconvenient Truth of the Oscars they won. MP Muriel Newman... Continue Reading Posted at 1:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct12	Friday Look: Hillary Cares John Xavier October 12, 2007 One of my personal favorites is the $5,000 baby bond proposal for the approximately 4 million Americans born each year. A novel approach that carries a price tag of $20 billion a year for a grand total first term cost around $80 billion. Continue Reading Posted at 6:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Interesting Tidbit on Ron Paul John Xavier October 12, 2007 In an interview with the Washington Post, Ron Paul said he doesn't make fundraising calls: He said he has never made a single call to a supporter asking for money, and said he will spend the fruits of his newfound... Continue Reading Posted at 12:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Changing the Subject John Xavier October 12, 2007 Following calls by Rudy Giuliani that Mitt Romney admit that he made a "mistake" during the debate saying that he would consult attorneys before taking decisive action on Iran, Mitt Romney cut an ad to respond: This illustrates the power... Continue Reading Posted at 11:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Analyzing the Deficit John Xavier October 12, 2007 Rich Galen has an entertaining post examining the "disappearing deficit". It turns out that as a result of the 2003 tax cuts, the hallowed-by-Republicans derided-by-Democrats "Bush Tax Cuts," government receipts have increased and the annual federal budget deficit has decreased:“In... Continue Reading Posted at 9:37 AM \| Permalink
Oct11	Attempting to Winnow the Field John Xavier October 11, 2007 Chuck Todd, MSNBC's Political Director, recently discussed the Presidential race and makes some good observations. He discusses Thompson's entrance into the race, and particularly how Giuliani has now engaged Romney directly, something which is sure to develop further in the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct10	Clinton the Inevitable John Xavier October 10, 2007 The Fix poses a question:What is the effect on Clinton's campaign -- if any -- of being the focus of repeated Republican attacks in these debates? Is there a short-term (nomination fight) versus a long-term (general election) effect? If so,... Continue Reading Posted at 12:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Post Debate Roundup John Xavier October 10, 2007 A lot of the pre debate talk was about Fred Thompson, and not surprisingly so is a lot of the post debate talk. None of the other candidates really went after Thompson, and he was even given the last word... Continue Reading Posted at 8:38 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 9	Post Debate: Initial Thoughts John Xavier October 9, 2007 The debate just wrapped up (it will reair tonight at 9 PM ET on MSNBC) and my first reaction is that there were way too many people on that stage. RedState is on to something with a reader poll up... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hell of a Quote John Xavier October 9, 2007 Mike Huckabee, who is leading in the war of the one-liners, came out today with another good one: "If you look at where we are, even with the national polls, we've spent a nickel to the 100-dollar bill as some... Continue Reading Posted at 12:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Debate Prep: Context on the Ground John Xavier October 9, 2007 Tonight marks the first Republican Presidential debate where all the major candidates will be on stage together. It will be broadcast from Dearborn, Michigan at 9 PM ET. The debate will mark Fred Thompson's first official debate and his "debut"... Continue Reading Posted at 9:24 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Land on Romney and the Right to Life John Xavier October 9, 2007 Dr. Richard Land, of the Southern Baptist Convention appeared on CSPAN to discuss the Presidential race, the issue of a 3rd Party challenge, and the pro-life movement in general. As I had previously reported, leading Christian Conservative leaders are considering... Continue Reading Posted at 7:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 8	Congressional Endorsements John Xavier October 8, 2007 On the eve of the sixth Republican Presidential debate, the Southern Political Report has a list of Congressional Endorsements. Here is the Republican field:Mitt Romney (31 nationally*; including 16 Southerners):AL: US Reps. Bob Aderholt & Mike Rogers; FL: US Reps.... Continue Reading Posted at 5:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Global Waming Controversy Brewing at CNN? John Xavier October 8, 2007 CNN Meteorologist Rob Marciano last week, following the news that a political disclaimer would be needed to accompany Al Gore's popular Inconvenient Truth, applauded the judge's decision: Marciano comments apparently sparked a flurry of hate mail from viewers, Gore supporters,... Continue Reading Posted at 12:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Romney vs. Thompson, New Iowa Poll John Xavier October 8, 2007 A poll released yesterday in Iowa shows the Republican Presidential race in that state tightening.Mitt Romney is leading with 29%, Fred Thompson is in second with 18%, and Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani round out the top four with 12%... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 5	Friday Look: Ron Paul John Xavier October 5, 2007 The one-time 1988 Libertarian Nominee for President and 10-term Texas Congressman, Ron Paul is the quintessential anti-establishment candidate. In 1976, he endorsed Ronald Reagan against incumbent President Gerald Ford. He stands on principle, and John McCain once called him the "most honest man in Congress." He speaks a Libertarian Populism that has a romantic appeal to it. Continue Reading Posted at 1:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 4	The Hits Just Keep On Coming John Xavier October 4, 2007 Since I first reported about a potential revolt among Christian Conservatives in the Republican Party over Rudy's Giuliani's stance on abortion, somebody actually went out and polled to see if it was significant. The results are shocking to say the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Homosexuals take out a hit Romney John Xavier October 4, 2007 The Log Cabin Republicans have taken out an ad attacking Mitt Romney for his flip-flopping. Lest we forget, Romney was the one who once said he would be a better advocate for gay rights than Ted Kennedy. He probably drew... Continue Reading Posted at 1:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Disenfranchising Democrats John Xavier October 4, 2007 The Florida Democratic Party is suing the Democratic National Committee over the DNC's decision to strip the FDP of its primary delegates. At issue is the decision of Florida Democrats to hold its primary earlier than "prescribed".While we never want... Continue Reading Posted at 9:22 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 3	Huckabee for VP John Xavier October 3, 2007 With the news that Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has been unable to raise a competitive amount of money, he has pretty much cemented his status as a long shot Presidential candidate. Despite his win in the Iowa Straw Poll a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	We Can Write Off John Edwards John Xavier October 3, 2007 It looks like Johnny Ried, who has raised far less than his opponents, has been far behind in the polls, and just recently accepted campaign money from the federal government has finally been downgraded to second-tier status. Apparently it took... Continue Reading Posted at 8:56 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 2	Rudy Fans the Fires John Xavier October 2, 2007 Following reports that leading Christian Conservatives were floating the idea of running a 3rd Party candidate if Rudy Giuliani were to win the Republican nomination, the Giuliani camp sent out a surrogate in Congressman Pete Sessions to do its spin.Sessions... Continue Reading Posted at 11:25 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Life and Times... John Xavier October 2, 2007 From dabbling in politics to a little creative writing, and driven by an interest in economic and political development, John Xavier III was born.My work in politics led me to be intrigued by the role of media in politics. In... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments

« September 2007 | Main | November 2007 »

Oct31	Happy Halloween! John Xavier October 31, 2007 Know More: Miscellaneous happy halloween, pranks The Palmetto Scoop points to a hilarious video of a great Halloween prank. For everyone heading out tonight: be safe, have a good time and BEWARE... Posted at 5:42 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct31	It's the Economy Stupid John Xavier October 31, 2007 The latest economic numbers released by the Commerce Department show that the economy grew at 3.9% for the third quarter. The economy will be an important issue for the Republicans next year in the general election and you can bet... Continue Reading Posted at 1:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ron Paul Girl John Xavier October 31, 2007 Ron Paul Girl - video powered by MetacafeHat tip:Jonathan Martin ... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Best Exchange From Last Night John Xavier October 31, 2007 The best exchange from the Democratic debate last night was not on the stage, but in the post debate between Rudy Giuliani and Joe Biden. Biden, the perennial village idiot (here, here, here, and here), took a cheap shot at... Continue Reading Posted at 7:33 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct30	Connect 2 Elect John Xavier October 30, 2007 I stumbled across a Presidential Matching Service, that is one of those tests where you put in your beliefs and it tells you who to vote for. This is one of the most comprehensive ones I've come across as it... Continue Reading Posted at 8:31 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Edwards Responds....to Colbert? John Xavier October 30, 2007 In a sign of just how bad John Edwards' campaign has gotten (and how serious Colbert's has), his campaign has now attacked Stephen Colbert. Colbert over the weekend recieved a "Key to the City" in Columbia, SC and proclaimed himself... Continue Reading Posted at 12:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Huckabee Bandwagon John Xavier October 30, 2007 The media has been showing a lot of love to Huckabee lately, with an influential Iowa columnist showering a bit of love his way:In recent days, that talk has escalated to a new level of buzz: Huckabee's doing so well... Continue Reading Posted at 10:53 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct29	Some Insight into Huckabee John Xavier October 29, 2007 John Brummet, of the Arksansas News Bureau, who has covered the rise of at least one Arkansan, has a little bit of insight of that candidate from Hope and their former First Lady:So I tell them that this same Huckabee... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hillary a Neocon? John Xavier October 29, 2007 Tucker Carlson made an interesting assertion on his show today that Hillary Clinton is a neconservative. Neoconservativism is basically the idea that got us into Iraq in the first place, and many of the President's early (and current) advisers are... Continue Reading Posted at 4:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Let It Ride John Xavier October 29, 2007 The folks at the Weekly Standard have some good analysis of the Republican Primary. Bill Kristol has a piece that looks at some important elements of the Republican primary:[Romney] spent nationally twice as much as McCain, and some twenty-five times... Continue Reading Posted at 12:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	First Look at Ron Paul's Image John Xavier October 29, 2007 Ron Paul is hitting the ground running in New Hampshire with a pair of ads that is part of a million dollar+ ad buy. Ad #1: Ad #2: The ads aren't the best production/script quality, but they get the point... Continue Reading Posted at 10:42 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct28	Thompson Backs Away from Iraq John Xavier October 28, 2007 Some interesting news of the weekend is Fred Thompson's break, and borderline criticism, with President Bush on Iraq. Bush predicted a long term troop commitment in the country which drew a response from Thompson who is wary of staying in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A Pro-Abortion Party John Xavier October 28, 2007 National Right to Life pens a column that looks at the implications inherent in a Giuliani candidacy: We are told by various experts that Giuliani's gestures to pro-lifers will be--should be--enough for us to enthusiastically support a man who once... Continue Reading Posted at 11:53 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct26	Friday Look: Let Colbert Debate! John Xavier October 26, 2007 Consider the traditional barometers that presidential candidates are measured by: Name ID, organization (online and otherwise), news coverage. Colbert has a higher name ID than many of the mainstream candidates (you could argue as high as fellow candidate and television personality Arthur Branch), he has an online organization, website, get-out-the-message operation that rivals major campaigns, and he has generated A LOT of earned media including interviews on major political talkshows. Continue Reading Posted at 5:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	So Easy Even A 15-year-old Can Understand It John Xavier October 26, 2007 In an entertaining story coming out of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney got into a heated discussion...with a 15-year-old:[Kevin Daly], the sophomore at Phillips Exeter Academy pointedly asked Republican candidate Mitt Romney about his shifting positions on abortion and gay rights. "How... Continue Reading Posted at 3:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Thompson Discusses John Xavier October 26, 2007 Jonathan Martin points to an interview of Fred Thompson with ABC News: The full intereview is interesting, and a reccomended watch. He touches on his campaign style, his wife, and a number of substantive issues. Interviews like this help soften up... Continue Reading Posted at 2:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Governator on Fire John Xavier October 26, 2007 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) was on ABC News last night to sum up the situation on the California wildfires which have forced the evacuation of more than 1 million people:The situation in California has been handled much more smoothly than... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	More John Edwards Hyprocrisy John Xavier October 26, 2007 Per First Read, John Edwards unvieled a speech entitled "Renewing the Social Contract". Putting aside that that's the wrong use of the term social contract, what he had to say is even more brilliant:Over the course of our history, every... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct25	One Tough Guy John Xavier October 25, 2007 The New York Post has a story about a mob plot to kill Rudy Giuliani in the 1980's during his "crime fighting days" as a federal prosecutor. Per First Read:The mob plot was revealed yesterday in the FBI papers made... Continue Reading Posted at 1:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	On Global Warming John Xavier October 25, 2007 Hat tip:Greg Mankiw ... Continue Reading Posted at 11:46 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Giuliani-Brownback ('08) John Xavier October 25, 2007 In what Jonathan Martin is dubbing the Brownback primary, Rudy Giuliani is meeting with former preidential candidate Sam Brownback today:"Mayor Giuliani asked to meet with Senator Brownback, and Senator Brownback is happy to sit down with him," said Brian Hart,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:44 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct24	McCain's New Image John Xavier October 24, 2007 Since his campaign's fall from grace this summer, John McCain has been slowly reinventing himself under the radar. That new image is now coming to fruition with his latest ad that includes a clip of the standing ovation he recieved... Continue Reading Posted at 4:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Stem Cell Debate John Xavier October 24, 2007 Tennessee Right to Life points to an article about advances in stem cell research that raises some interesting questions. The article details a clinic in India that is using breakthroughs in adult stem cell research to treat blindness. Specifically, the... Continue Reading Posted at 1:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	And I thought Romney was the Flip-Flopper John Xavier October 24, 2007 Following the news yesterday that die-hard Yankee fan Rudy Giuliani proclaimed in the Red Sox Nation (New Hampshire) he was pulling for the Red Sox in the World Series, today he is getting crucified by the New York tabloids.One wonders... Continue Reading Posted at 9:51 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Romney Losing Support John Xavier October 24, 2007 Per the Palmetto Scoop, Dr. Don Wilton, former president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and an influential Christian leader, has retracted his endorsement of Mitt Romney.Romney had been touting this endorsement as part of his strategy to appeal to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:59 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct23	Reexamining John Edwards John Xavier October 23, 2007 While we generally don't endorse here at ElephantBiz, we may have to endorse John Edwards in the Democratic primary.And not because we agree with him, but because it just struck us that he has accepted public funds. Everyone wrote him... Continue Reading Posted at 1:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Reshuffling the Top Tier John Xavier October 23, 2007 Talk today is of a piece by Dan Balz that sets some new conventional wisdom. Balz looks at the Republican race and concludes that contrary to the conventional wisdom of the summer that this race was headed towards a two... Continue Reading Posted at 12:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Colbert Effect John Xavier October 23, 2007 Stephen Colbert's candidacy is continuing to generate talk among the media elite. In addition to drawing poll, a number of pundits have speculated on who is hurt the most by his candidacy (general consensus: the second tier). But the most... Continue Reading Posted at 7:45 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct22	A New Type of Foreign Aid John Xavier October 22, 2007 The New York Times had an interesting op-ed over the weekend that looks at problems inherent in foreign aid and encourages Congress to adopt a new approach to international develoment:While foreign aid works in some situations, it has two huge... Continue Reading Posted at 1:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Post Debate Roundup John Xavier October 22, 2007 In sports news last night...the Boston Red Sox, after being down 3 games to 1 in the AL Championship Series, staged a pretty miraculous comeback and made it back to the World Series. In Denver, the Broncos beat the Steelers... Continue Reading Posted at 10:50 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct21	Huckabee's Resurrection John Xavier October 21, 2007 The big news of the weekend is Mike Huckabee's surprise showing in the Family Research Council's Value Voters online straw poll. Although Huckabee finished second to Mitt Romney by a less than a percentage point, as Jonathan Martin points out,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct19	Friday Look: Tacit Endorsements John Xavier October 19, 2007 When it comes to endorsing in primaries, interest groups have to weigh the candidates' records and positions against the likelihood that that person will eventually be the one they have to deal with in Washington when it comes time to lobby. Thus they tend to stay out of primaries where distinctions on issues like taxes, abortion, and gun control tend to be minimal between the candidates, and wait until the general election where the differences are clear. Continue Reading Posted at 5:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rudy vs. Mitt John Xavier October 19, 2007 The rhetoric in the Republican primary is getting even harsher with the Guiliani camp out with a pretty unbelievable press release comparing Mitt Romney to Hillary Clinton:"Mitt Romney's latest political pandering proves yet again he is merely a candidate of... Continue Reading Posted at 3:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rudy's Values John Xavier October 19, 2007 First Read has a preview of what is surrounding Rudy Giuliani's speech tomorrow to the Value Voters Summit:Giuliani is facing a group that is actively opposed to him as the Republican nominee, and there will be little he can say... Continue Reading Posted at 1:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Highights from the Value Voters John Xavier October 19, 2007 Today and tomorrow the Family Research Council holds its Value Voters Summit in DC. It appears to have become another battleground, except this time on the ground rather than in speeches. Per Marc Ambinder, Fred Thompson has twice as many... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct18	Recommended Global Warming Reading John Xavier October 18, 2007 Dr. Daniel B. Botkin, a noted biologist and ecologist, has a good piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled Global Warming Delusions. He examines global warming in context, touches on the media fear mongering surrounding it, and whether the ends... Continue Reading Posted at 4:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stealing the Spotlight? John Xavier October 18, 2007 Peace in the Middle East has historically been an issue monopolized by the United States (in varied machinations), but as President Bush's international reputation has waned, it seems that Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped into the void and is... Continue Reading Posted at 1:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	More Mitt Clips John Xavier October 18, 2007 Per Mark Halperin, Mitt Romney will be up with a new ad in Iowa that features home videos, his wife, and his kids. It's a feel good commercial with a hint of nostalgia that is meant to highlight his commitment... Continue Reading Posted at 12:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Brownback to Withdraw John Xavier October 18, 2007 Per the AP, Senator Sam Brownback will withdraw from the Presidential race tomorrow in his home state of Kansas.Brownback had been a long shot from the beginning, and was banking his campaign on appealing to a particular niche - Catholics... Continue Reading Posted at 10:14 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Thompson Goes Up...On the Web? John Xavier October 18, 2007 It seems Fred Thompson is out with his first ad (not counting the announcement ad) and it is, interestingly, a web ad. It is rare to see a major campaign invest in web advertising. This is a for a couple... Continue Reading Posted at 12:07 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct17	Club for Growth Yet Another Battleground John Xavier October 17, 2007 At the Club for Growth's Fall Economic Policy Conference today, the Republican frontrunners were on hand to address the attendees and they all used the opportunity to take some shots at one another. Per Jonathan Martin, Fred Thompson took aim... Continue Reading Posted at 3:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Timeline of a Presidential Bid John Xavier October 17, 2007 Stephen Colbert, who announced last week on Larry King that the publication of his new book was actually the first step in a Presidential announcement process, went on the Daily Show last night to anounce he might announce for President.... Continue Reading Posted at 11:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Iowa 3rd" John Xavier October 17, 2007 January 3rd is now Iowa 3rd. The Republican Party of Iowa voted last night to hold their caucus on January 3rd, 2008. With Iowa on the 3rd and South Carolina on the 19th, two-thirds of the early state triumvirate is now... Continue Reading Posted at 6:59 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct16	Vintage Giuliani John Xavier October 16, 2007 Talking Points Memo has a video of Rudy Giuliani circa his Mayor days touting his Republican credentials, or that is, not touting them. In it, he characterizes himself as both a liberal and an independent. ... Continue Reading Posted at 5:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Thompson on his record, Giuliani John Xavier October 16, 2007 Before speaking to the Conservative Party of New York last night, Fred Thompson was on FOX News to discuss his record, his speech, and the GOP. He came out firing saying that Giuliani has never actually called himself a conservative,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Snapshot of the Race John Xavier October 16, 2007 Opensecrets.org has compiled the latest cash-on-hand numbers of all the candidates from the FEC reports. Additionally, there is a new poll out today which has Giuliani leading the pack. Here are the aggregated results for your consumption:Rudy Giuliani: 32%, $11.6... Continue Reading Posted at 11:12 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Normal Distribution of Tax Rates John Xavier October 16, 2007 The Cato Institute points to a recent study that aggregates recent IRS Income Tax data:Tax rates on those with high incomes are far greater than for other Americans. Folks at the top pay about 25% of their income in federal income taxes,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:24 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct15	Thompson's Veiled Shot John Xavier October 15, 2007 Fred Thompson will be speaking to the Conservative Party of New York tonight and excerpts from his speech indicate that he will define himself as the conservative in the race:This is not a time for philosophical flexibility, it is a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Hits Keep On Coming for Al John Xavier October 15, 2007 Not even a candidate for any office, Al Gore keeps taking hits. But the critiques aren't coming from politicians, most of whom have actually applauded his success, but from scientists and climatologists. This weekend, Dr. William Gray, a world-renowned meteorologist... Continue Reading Posted at 11:31 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Solving the Energy Problems John Xavier October 15, 2007 Activists and alarmists decry the free market as the source of our environmental problems, but they also fail to realize the potential the market has in solving those problems. The thing that will eventually ween us off our dependence on... Continue Reading Posted at 10:17 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct14	Weekend Spat John Xavier October 14, 2007 The big news of the weekend is Mitt Romney's choice of words that drew rebukes from both John McCain and Fred Thompson's camp. Jonathan Martin has a good writeup of the exchange.Romney, at a speech in Nevada, made the statement... Continue Reading Posted at 11:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct13	Repudiation of Big Ole Al Gore John Xavier October 13, 2007 Coming on the heels of Al Gore's Nobel Prize, a former New Zealand MP has asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to strip the producers of An Inconvenient Truth of the Oscars they won. MP Muriel Newman... Continue Reading Posted at 1:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct12	Friday Look: Hillary Cares John Xavier October 12, 2007 One of my personal favorites is the $5,000 baby bond proposal for the approximately 4 million Americans born each year. A novel approach that carries a price tag of $20 billion a year for a grand total first term cost around $80 billion. Continue Reading Posted at 6:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Interesting Tidbit on Ron Paul John Xavier October 12, 2007 In an interview with the Washington Post, Ron Paul said he doesn't make fundraising calls: He said he has never made a single call to a supporter asking for money, and said he will spend the fruits of his newfound... Continue Reading Posted at 12:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Changing the Subject John Xavier October 12, 2007 Following calls by Rudy Giuliani that Mitt Romney admit that he made a "mistake" during the debate saying that he would consult attorneys before taking decisive action on Iran, Mitt Romney cut an ad to respond: This illustrates the power... Continue Reading Posted at 11:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Analyzing the Deficit John Xavier October 12, 2007 Rich Galen has an entertaining post examining the "disappearing deficit". It turns out that as a result of the 2003 tax cuts, the hallowed-by-Republicans derided-by-Democrats "Bush Tax Cuts," government receipts have increased and the annual federal budget deficit has decreased:“In... Continue Reading Posted at 9:37 AM \| Permalink
Oct11	Attempting to Winnow the Field John Xavier October 11, 2007 Chuck Todd, MSNBC's Political Director, recently discussed the Presidential race and makes some good observations. He discusses Thompson's entrance into the race, and particularly how Giuliani has now engaged Romney directly, something which is sure to develop further in the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct10	Clinton the Inevitable John Xavier October 10, 2007 The Fix poses a question:What is the effect on Clinton's campaign -- if any -- of being the focus of repeated Republican attacks in these debates? Is there a short-term (nomination fight) versus a long-term (general election) effect? If so,... Continue Reading Posted at 12:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Post Debate Roundup John Xavier October 10, 2007 A lot of the pre debate talk was about Fred Thompson, and not surprisingly so is a lot of the post debate talk. None of the other candidates really went after Thompson, and he was even given the last word... Continue Reading Posted at 8:38 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 9	Post Debate: Initial Thoughts John Xavier October 9, 2007 The debate just wrapped up (it will reair tonight at 9 PM ET on MSNBC) and my first reaction is that there were way too many people on that stage. RedState is on to something with a reader poll up... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hell of a Quote John Xavier October 9, 2007 Mike Huckabee, who is leading in the war of the one-liners, came out today with another good one: "If you look at where we are, even with the national polls, we've spent a nickel to the 100-dollar bill as some... Continue Reading Posted at 12:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Debate Prep: Context on the Ground John Xavier October 9, 2007 Tonight marks the first Republican Presidential debate where all the major candidates will be on stage together. It will be broadcast from Dearborn, Michigan at 9 PM ET. The debate will mark Fred Thompson's first official debate and his "debut"... Continue Reading Posted at 9:24 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Land on Romney and the Right to Life John Xavier October 9, 2007 Dr. Richard Land, of the Southern Baptist Convention appeared on CSPAN to discuss the Presidential race, the issue of a 3rd Party challenge, and the pro-life movement in general. As I had previously reported, leading Christian Conservative leaders are considering... Continue Reading Posted at 7:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 8	Congressional Endorsements John Xavier October 8, 2007 On the eve of the sixth Republican Presidential debate, the Southern Political Report has a list of Congressional Endorsements. Here is the Republican field:Mitt Romney (31 nationally*; including 16 Southerners):AL: US Reps. Bob Aderholt & Mike Rogers; FL: US Reps.... Continue Reading Posted at 5:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Global Waming Controversy Brewing at CNN? John Xavier October 8, 2007 CNN Meteorologist Rob Marciano last week, following the news that a political disclaimer would be needed to accompany Al Gore's popular Inconvenient Truth, applauded the judge's decision: Marciano comments apparently sparked a flurry of hate mail from viewers, Gore supporters,... Continue Reading Posted at 12:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Romney vs. Thompson, New Iowa Poll John Xavier October 8, 2007 A poll released yesterday in Iowa shows the Republican Presidential race in that state tightening.Mitt Romney is leading with 29%, Fred Thompson is in second with 18%, and Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani round out the top four with 12%... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 5	Friday Look: Ron Paul John Xavier October 5, 2007 The one-time 1988 Libertarian Nominee for President and 10-term Texas Congressman, Ron Paul is the quintessential anti-establishment candidate. In 1976, he endorsed Ronald Reagan against incumbent President Gerald Ford. He stands on principle, and John McCain once called him the "most honest man in Congress." He speaks a Libertarian Populism that has a romantic appeal to it. Continue Reading Posted at 1:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 4	The Hits Just Keep On Coming John Xavier October 4, 2007 Since I first reported about a potential revolt among Christian Conservatives in the Republican Party over Rudy's Giuliani's stance on abortion, somebody actually went out and polled to see if it was significant. The results are shocking to say the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Homosexuals take out a hit Romney John Xavier October 4, 2007 The Log Cabin Republicans have taken out an ad attacking Mitt Romney for his flip-flopping. Lest we forget, Romney was the one who once said he would be a better advocate for gay rights than Ted Kennedy. He probably drew... Continue Reading Posted at 1:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Disenfranchising Democrats John Xavier October 4, 2007 The Florida Democratic Party is suing the Democratic National Committee over the DNC's decision to strip the FDP of its primary delegates. At issue is the decision of Florida Democrats to hold its primary earlier than "prescribed".While we never want... Continue Reading Posted at 9:22 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 3	Huckabee for VP John Xavier October 3, 2007 With the news that Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has been unable to raise a competitive amount of money, he has pretty much cemented his status as a long shot Presidential candidate. Despite his win in the Iowa Straw Poll a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	We Can Write Off John Edwards John Xavier October 3, 2007 It looks like Johnny Ried, who has raised far less than his opponents, has been far behind in the polls, and just recently accepted campaign money from the federal government has finally been downgraded to second-tier status. Apparently it took... Continue Reading Posted at 8:56 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 2	Rudy Fans the Fires John Xavier October 2, 2007 Following reports that leading Christian Conservatives were floating the idea of running a 3rd Party candidate if Rudy Giuliani were to win the Republican nomination, the Giuliani camp sent out a surrogate in Congressman Pete Sessions to do its spin.Sessions... Continue Reading Posted at 11:25 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Life and Times... John Xavier October 2, 2007 From dabbling in politics to a little creative writing, and driven by an interest in economic and political development, John Xavier III was born.My work in politics led me to be intrigued by the role of media in politics. In... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments

Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

Advertise

Related Resources

recent comments

sponsored ads

topics

subscribe

Current News

resources

Support This Blog

archives

blogroll

business social media

Know More Media - Government / Politics

know more media network

we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

LandingTheDeal

CustomersAreAlways

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness

TheInsurancePolicy

MarketingBlurb