A Few Current Stories

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Here are a few stories from today:

#1: Giuliani Gets Prickly Over Client-List Questions

Today's Daily News chronicles Rudy Giuliani's admirable refusal to distance himself from Bernie Kerik: "Sure, there were issues,"
shrugged the Republican front-runner (we'd say: Kerik is facing federal indictment), before praising Bernie's crime-reduction record. Seriously, people, that's integrity. Hillary Clinton, at this point, would have gone
glassy-eyed and said she'd never met the guy.

Which makes it all the more surprising that, immediately after defending a thoroughly tainted pal, Rudy blew up at a comparatively innocuous question: Would he release the Bracewell & Giuliani and Giuliani Partners' client lists? "Nobody has ever accused them of doing anything wrong," he repeated. Actually, the News points out, at issue here is not any wrongdoing but basic conflicts of interest. For instance, Bracewell & Giuliani, Rudy's law firm, used to represent Citgo, which is owned by … oh, no … Venezuela.

Rudy's got sketchy friends. What's so surprising about that?

#2 Fred Thompson's Un-Republican Federalism

Is this too much federalism to the point of alienating social conservatives? Fred Thompson came into this presidential race as the one candidate social conservatives may be able to embrace. It hasn't quite worked out that way. ... The way things are going all he needs now is to buy the gun that shoots him in the foot. Actually, he's doing a pretty good job of that himself.

Fred uses the term federalism quite frequently. Either he doesn't really know what it means or it's a cover for his real positions.

#3: Even Fred Thompson doubts he'll be president

Even Fred Thompson doesn't think he will become president. Chatting off-air to a television reporter, a stunningly candid off-the-cuff quip from the Hollywood actor cemented the impression that his heart is not in the 2008 race.

Trying to encourage his studio to hurry up so an interview could start, Carl Cameron of Fox News said into his microphone: "The next president of the United States has a schedule to keep." Standing beside him, a deadpan Mr Thompson interjected: "And so do I."

He likely didn't mean to say it. But, it slipped out.

Fred's gotta know that he is getting hammered. All the important states have him taking a beatin'.

Just before his Fox interview, Mr Thompson had given a long, meandering speech to a group of New Hampshire businessmen and state politicians.

Typical Fred. Long and meandering.

When he entered the room there was barely a stir as people continued their conversations while he took his seat.

Contrast that to Mitt's energy and hand-shaking tendencies.

Once sitting down, Mr Thompson signalled to an aide for his glasses and then proceeded to write notes on a piece of paper, initially ignoring the hosts at his table for the "Politics and Eggs" forum in Bedford, New Hampshire – a must-do event for every candidate.

He's not doing so well. Doesn't appear to be the organized, energetic leader we need for some turbulent years ahead.

#4: Are social conservatives about to fall in line behind Romney?

Republican Mitt Romney today announced he's been endorsed by Paul Weyrich, a leading social conservative who co-founded the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority and the Free Congress Foundation. At least one blogger sees this as a turning point for Romney.

"It's Official: Romney is the Social Conservative Alternative," Matt Lewis writes at Townhall.com. He says the endorsement signals social conservatives have given up looking for the perfect candidate and predicts more major figures will line up behind Romney. He also notes Fred Thompson's refusal to support a federal abortion ban.

Some religious conservatives have been wary of Romney because he is Mormon and has opposed abortion rights only since 2004. Lewis is among several conservative bloggers who view the Weyrich move as a big deal, including Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody, who broke the story.

American Spectator's Philip Klein calls the endorsement "a major pickup." At Hot Air, Bryan Preston says it "goes a long way toward blunting the the flip-flop charge and does quite a bit of damage to the idea that Romney can’t win over evangelicals. Weyrich is among the handful of activists who can claim to have been present at the founding of the social conservative movement, and he’s endorsing Romney."

This is a big deal. Romney will ride this and subsequent waves to the White House.