http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/momentum/ en-us Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:12:08 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272544/posts Times change, and in the case of the 2010 governor's race, so do political endorsements, apparently. Just ask GOP Rep. John Campbell of Newport Beach: he's switched his backing. A few months ago, Campbell issued glowing statement endorsing California GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner -- and this week, the 48th CD representative issued another glowing endorsement statement, this backing former eBay CEO Meg Whitman. Here's Campbell on Poizner last December, talking about his backing of the state Insurance Commissioner in the 2010 governor's race: "Steve is the right man at the right time for California. As our nation grapples with... SFGate.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272544/posts#comment Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:12:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2269159/posts WASHINGTON, June 10, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he hopes to see signs that the new strategy in Afghanistan is working over the next year to 18 months as Afghan security forces improve. Speaking to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee yesterday about benchmarks in Afghanistan, both Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed hope that momentum would shift away from insurgents within 12 to 18 months. But Gates cautioned that the operation would last beyond that timeline. “This problem will not be over in 18 months. This problem will... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2269159/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:39:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2235443/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and NATO forces are close to achieving "irreversible momentum" in their battle with insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, a senior commander said on Wednesday. The Taliban and other insurgent groups have been strongest in eastern and southern Afghanistan but U.S. Army Major General Michael Tucker said security had improved this year in the east, where U.S. forces lead NATO troops. He said about 80 percent of insurgent activity now took place in southern Afghanistan, where the United States plans to deploy thousands of troops in the coming months to reinforce British, Canadian, Dutch and other NATO soldiers.... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2235443/posts#comment Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:43:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062223/posts A declining Europe must focus on the nitty-gritty By Leif Pagrotsky Published: August 14 2008 19:20 | Last updated: August 14 2008 19:20 At this time of failures in Iraq and on Wall Street, when the US has lost its role as model and inspiration for policymakers and others around the world, a golden opportunity has arisen for Europe to offer an alternative to look up to and find inspiration from. But Europe is not in good shape. It is not just about the Irish vote. The Irish referendum on the Lisbon treaty in June is merely a scapegoat for... FT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062223/posts#comment Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:30:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969830/posts **EXCERPT** The old head-scratcher — what happens if an irresistible force meets an immovable object? — now gets its test in the Democratic presidential primary. The force is Barack Obama. His sweep of the Potomac primaries in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC on Tuesday gives him seven straight wins since Super Tuesday, not to mention his first lead in pledged delegates. Unprecedented amounts of money are pouring into his campaign coffers. He now has momentum that any challenger would envy in any year. Indeed, in any other year, a candidate with his numbers would have the nomination locked up tight.... TIME Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969830/posts#comment Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:59:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959684/posts WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2008 – More than 180 representatives of 122 troop-support groups gathered today at the Pentagon to share information and insights about ways to boost their efforts during the third annual America Supports You National Summit. Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Allison Barber, the program’s architect, opened the all-day session welcoming the participants she credits with making America Supports You such a big success. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is slated to close the summit, thanking the groups for their contributions. The Defense Department launched the America Supports you program in November 2004 to showcase support for the country’s... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959684/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:03:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1956714/posts FLORISSANT, Mo. - Political momentum now shifted her way, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton flew to Missouri, a key Feb. 5 battleground state, while rival Barack Obama hoped to rejuvenate his candidacy with the help of black voters in the South. "Now we're back here in the Midwest, where I'm from. I'm so happy to see all of you," Clinton, a Chicago native, said to cheers at a campaign rally late Saturday in this St. Louis suburb. Nevada's presidential caucuses gave Clinton a big boost, powering her to a second straight win over Obama in the first Western contest of the... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1956714/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:49:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/1952456/posts Sorry, Rudy: In an interview to air this Sunday, state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long tells WNBC's Gabe Pressman the party is likely to give an early nod to Fred Thompson if he manages to "break through" in South Carolina. "As a Conservative, as the chairman of the New York state Conservative Party, my favorite candidate, naturally, is Fred Thompson," Long said. "He did very well this week in the debate. Certainly, I think in South Carolina. If he does well there, if he breaks through in South Carolina, he changes the face of this Republican race again. He becomes... Holy Coast http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/1952456/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jan 2008 07:39:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935308/posts BAGHDAD, Dec. 5, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talked with Iraqi leaders and U.S. commanders here today to explore ways to maintain momentum built in recent months and continue to build on it. Gates met with Iraqi President Jalal Talibani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji and U.S. commanders. Here on his sixth visit as defense secretary, Gates noted vast security improvements. During a joint news conference with Mufriji, Gates cited “recent months of dramatic change in the security situation across the nation, a decline in violence to levels not seen since the Samarra mosque... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935308/posts#comment Wed, 5 Dec 2007 23:27:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1928100/posts WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2007 – Terrorist-committed violence in Iraq has plummeted since the start of the surge of forces, a senior U.S. officer reported yesterday from Baghdad. “Terrorist attacks are at their lowest level since January 2006,” Navy Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told reporters at a Baghdad news conference. The overall number of attacks in Iraq is 55 percent lower than the period before the surge took hold in June, Smith said. Civilian fatalities across Iraq are down by about 60 percent during the same period, Smith said. And civilian deaths in Baghdad... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1928100/posts#comment Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:48:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1907522/posts A snapshot in time of anything can't tell the whole story or firmly establish things like patterns. Yet they can give an indication of what is happening. Reuters offers a daily round-up of news from Iraq, much if not most of which doesn't get much coverage. Here is October 6: Obiter Dictum Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1907522/posts#comment Sat, 6 Oct 2007 18:13:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1906202/posts WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2007 – Coalition and Iraqi forces have “tactical momentum” in the country, but they need to develop “irreversible momentum,” Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said today during a Pentagon interview. Odierno, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, said coalition and Iraqi forces have made significant progress against al Qaeda in Iraq and are making progress against Shiia extremist groups as well. “September is the lowest month for incidents we’ve had going back to January 2006,” he said. The numbers of improvised explosive device attacks and car bombings are at the lowest level in 18 months. For... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1906202/posts#comment Wed, 3 Oct 2007 23:58:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897629/posts WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2007 – Coalition and Iraqi forces must maintain the momentum generated by the troop surge in Iraq to defeat terrorists and insurgents, a senior military official in Baghdad said today. Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson, chief of staff for Multinational Corps Iraq, talked about results of the increase of offensive operations made possible by the troop surge. Anderson spoke during a joint conference with Navy Rear Adm. Mark I. Fox, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. In the wake of Multinational Force Iraq Commander Army Gen. David H. Petraeus’ recommendations to President Bush and testimony before Congress, forces in... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897629/posts#comment Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:06:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1891043/posts ASHLAND, N.H., Sept. 3 -- Former senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee will grab most of the headlines this week as he enters the race for the White House, but Mitt Romney likes where he stands in the contest for the Republican nomination. "When I started running seven months ago, I was at 5 percent in the national polls," the former Massachusetts governor said at a question-and-answer session here. "Now I won the Iowa straw poll; I'm ahead here in New Hampshire, ahead in Michigan, ahead in the Nevada." The energetic Romney, who is shown jogging in a television ad that... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1891043/posts#comment Tue, 4 Sep 2007 19:32:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890556/posts From Rossputin: Historically, the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary have received the perception of being, if not president-makers, at least highly reliable launching points for presidential aspirants. Indeed, these early contests correctly predicted the final choice of nominee five out of seven times for each party. Iowans’ views were not shared by the rest of the country on the Democratic side in 1992 (Tom Harkin won) and 1988 (Dick Gephardt), and on the Republican side in 1988 (Bob Dole) and 1980 (George H.W. Bush). New Hampshire didn’t create a victor on the Democratic side in 1992 (Paul Tsongas)... RealClearPolitics.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890556/posts#comment Mon, 3 Sep 2007 16:08:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883136/posts Is it possible that one or both of the major party presidential nominations could be, for all practical purposes, decided after just two states, Iowa and New Hampshire, have voted? This may sound crazy to the casual observer of American politics, but the answer is yes. But how can that be, with Iowa and New Hampshire being such small states and accounting for only a miniscule portion of the national delegate count in either party? The catalyst is here not the size of the states or their raw numbers of delegates, of course, but the momentum those states can provide.... ETalkingHead.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883136/posts#comment Sat, 18 Aug 2007 18:18:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1856240/posts If you throw enough money at something, will the problem go away? It will if you’re Willard Mitt Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts and someone who is, clearly, the front runner for the Republican Presidential nomination. The momentum is with Mitt Romney – and it could carry him through the primaries to the White House. Look how far he’s come. Romney’s campaign flagged at the outset. His polling was risible – matched by his poor national standing. Videos flooded YouTube with Romney’s sound-bites supporting abortion and extending gay rights. Soon the self-appointed champion of social conservatism faced the ire... BritainandAmerica.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1856240/posts#comment Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:17:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1846462/posts By Sean J. Miller .... sean@dmcityview.com Iowans warm up to Romney The former Massachusetts governor is riding high among Republicans Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, during two campaign stops in the Des Moines area last Wednesday, outlined his plan for increasing the size of the military, confronting international terrorism and providing healthcare to uninsured Americans. Romney’s message is resonating with Iowa Republicans. The former governor and business consultant enjoys a 12-13 point lead over his rivals Sen. John McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani among Republicans caucus-goers polled by The Des Moines Register May 12-16. His... City View (Central Iowa's Independent Weekly) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1846462/posts#comment Thu, 7 Jun 2007 15:59:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1838075/posts BOSTON -- For Mitt Romney, the multimillionaire venture capitalist turned Olympic savior turned politician, all is going according to plan. With an eye-popping $21 million raised in the first quarter of this year for his presidential campaign and a steady stream of television advertising, the one-term former governor of Massachusetts has caught the attention of both voters and political insiders. Star turns at the first two Republican debates gave his candidacy yet another shot of credibility. And now, recent polls in the early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire show Romney surging with a double-digit lead over Sen. John McCain... The Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1838075/posts#comment Tue, 22 May 2007 23:01:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1791175/posts Sunday, February 25, 2007 -- East County Congressman Duncan Hunter drew a sellout crowd to his first major campaign breakfast in San Diego. KUSI's Doug Curlee shows us how the presidential candidate is trying to reel in local voters. KUSI News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1791175/posts#comment Mon, 26 Feb 2007 04:17:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790773/posts T wo leading Republican presidential candidates will skip next month's New Hampshire debate, a WMUR-TV source said yesterday. Faxed letters arrived at the WMUR newsroom yesterday, announcing that Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani planned to bypass the debate. McCain is scheduled to visit Iraq, said Jill Hazelbaker, his New Hampshire spokeswoman. The cancellation was not intended as a slight to New Hampshire, where McCain won the 2000 Republican primary, Hazelbaker said. "The Senator looks forwards to frequently visiting New Hampshire and talking straight with voters," she said in an e-mail. A scheduling conflict... Concord Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790773/posts#comment Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:58:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790450/posts The former mayor of New York City gets the nod as the Republican candidate for president in last week's Business Pulse survey. We asked: "Who should the Republicans pick as their 2008 presidential candidate?" The results: Rudy Giuliani, former mayor, New York City, 44 percent; Sen. John McCain, Ariz., 27 percent; Mitt Romney, former governor, Mass., 12 percent; Tommy Thompson, former governor, Wis., 3 percent; Mike Huckabee, former governor, Ark., 3 percent; Sen. Sam Brownback, Kan., 3 percent; Rep. Ron Paul, Texas, 2 percent; Rep. Duncan Hunter, Calif., 1 percent; Jim Gilmore, former governor, Va., no votes. Portland Business Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790450/posts#comment Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:56:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1789465/posts COLUMBIA, S.C. - Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter on Thursday named a South Carolina adviser who boasted about telling an illegal immigrant worried about an abused child to "get back to Mexico." At a news conference at the Statehouse, Horry County Auditor Lois Eargle talked up her hard-line stance on illegal immigrants. The former county GOP chairwoman said an illegal immigrant with three children came to her office this week asking for free legal help for an abused child. "I told her the best thing for her to do was to get back to Mexico," Eargle said. Hunter, a California... FortWayne.com/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1789465/posts#comment Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:11:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788489/posts Obviously, the biggest issue for the Democrats in 2008 will be the war. They're betting their entire stake on the hopes that America is fed up with the war dragging on so long, and they're convinced that their big wins in 2006 were due primarily to President Bush's determination to stay the course, versus their own antiwar stance. Hillary is furiously back pedaling trying to distance herself from her own pro war votes as her popularity erodes away and shifts to the up and coming antiwar superstar, Barack "Osama" Obama. And most of the lesser Democrat presidential wannabes are falling... Vanity Opinion http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788489/posts#comment Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:15:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1787551/posts Well last week it became official that the Duncan Hunter campaign’s consulting firm had hired blogger John Hawkins to help increase Hunters web presence and online support. John is a good guy and will do well in that role. But today, he has an assistant, as that same consulting firm has picked up Michael “A.J. Sparxx” Illions from PoliPundit. Yet another good move which will serve the campaign well. And it appears as if Duncan Hunter may be gaining a little ground, at least amongst online activists, of which many are also “real-world” activists. GOPUSA did a poll recently on... Eckernet.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1787551/posts#comment Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:59:44 GMT