"Summit kicks off Iowa caucus activity" by James Pindell, Globe Staff January 25, 2015
DES MOINES – The kickoff event of the 2016 Iowa caucuses, an all-day political gabfest.
See: Presidential Kingmaker
Romney and Bush — establishment GOP politicians whose potential 2016 rivalry has been the focus of much chatter in recent days — were both invited but did not attend the event.
The obvious question is.... Will Romney Run in 2016?
Only one other major potential Republican presidential candidate, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, wasn’t there, choosing instead to attend a political donor conference in California put on by Charles and David Koch.
(I wrote OMG in my printed pos)
At times the crowd at Saturday’s event grew rowdy. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin got a standing ovation for a speech in which she referred to President Obama as “a little boy.”
Woa!
And protesters claiming to be in the country illegally interrupted former Texas governor Rick Perry’s speech before being removed by police.
The weekend’s Freedom Summit had the atmosphere of a reunion of sorts, since it was the first large Iowa caucus event in three years. At the Des Moines Marriott on Friday night, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum chatted with Palin. Hours later former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Trump, and Gilmore ate breakfast together.
On stage, amid the one-liners, there was also serious discussion of issues.
Oh, yeah, those.
Walker spoke about teacher tenure. Santorum focused on the middle class and the American Dream. Gingrich and former UN ambassador John Bolton discussed the threat of Islamic terrorists. Cruz said he wanted to “repeal every single word in Obamacare.”
No one mentioned global warming?
"After the season’s first major snowfall left some areas of Massachusetts with up to 9 inches of snow Saturday, residents are now bracing for a potentially major storm expected to arrive Monday evening. That storm will probably intensify quickly and bring strong winds and a significant accumulation of snow, said Eleanor Vallier-Talbot, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton. She could not estimate how many inches of snow would fall, but urged people to watch developments. “Everyone should pay attention to this pretty closely, because there is the potential for this to be a very strong storm with a lot of snow,” she said. Highs will be in the mid-20s Monday in Boston, Vallier-Talbot said, and temperatures will drop to about 20 degrees overnight, then stay in the low 20s Tuesday, which is below normal for the season."
We have been having snow since November, but I guess the Globe forgot that.
Remember last year's brutal winter?
The event comes at a time when no one has officially announced a presidential campaign, but behind the scenes multiple would-be candidates are offering jobs to top-notch local operatives in Iowa and New Hampshire, hosts of the first two 2016 nominating contests.
Besides speaking at the event Walker, Santorum, Cruz, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and businesswoman Carly Fiorina held private meetings with activists. Earning their support will be critical in a state where candidates need to organize more than 1,700 individual caucus meetings.
With the Iowa caucuses scheduled to take place in 53 weeks, local Republicans are looking to back candidates who don’t just say the right things but also explain how they will fight for causes in office even if they aren’t popular, said Republican National Committeeman Steve Scheffler.
“After Obama, Republicans here are listening to all this talking, but what they are looking for is who they believe can continue to lead the fight when they win,” Scheffler said.
Against what and for who?
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Also there were Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and businessman Donald Trump, who announced he was once again “seriously considering” a run for president — and the “last thing we need is another Bush.”
I agree with that!
NDU:
"Rubio seems poised for 2016 run" Associated Press January 26, 2015
WASHINGTON — Senator Marco Rubio of Florida joined several other potential candidates at a gathering Sunday in Palm Springs, Calif., organized by the conservative billionaire Koch brothers, who have a keen interest in the party’s contenders.
More than 450 allies and donors to the Koch network attended the event, which was scheduled to close with a panel discussion on domestic policy by Rubio and fellow Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas.
The organizer, Freedom Partners, is the hub for the political machine backed by wealthy industrialists Charles and David Koch. The Koch group let reporters watch an Internet transmission of the event.
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Rubio would be playing catch-up to Bush and Romney. To help, Rubio has recruited Anna Rogers, the top fund-raiser for American Crossroads, a conservative group backed by Karl Rove....
Which is supposed to be a Tea party faction at odds with the Kochs.
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