WASHINGTON — The granting of Secret Service protection following Mitt Romney's decisive Florida victory did not prevent him from immediately shooting himself in the foot. "I'm not concerned about the very poor," he explained. "My campaign is focused on middle-income Americans."It is problematic for a politician to declare any group of citizens beneath his attention — either the bottom 1 percent or the top 1 percent. But those in the top 1 percent, at least, can fend for themselves.There are few things more powerful in politics than the confirmation of a…
from: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/02/03/the_romney-obama_matchup__113011.html
BRUSSELS — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has a lot on his mind these days, from cutting the defense budget to managing the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. But his biggest worry is the growing possibility that Israel will attack Iran militarily over the next few months.Panetta believes there is strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June — before Iran enters what Israelis described as a "zone of immunity" to commence building a nuclear bomb. Very soon, the Israelis fear, the Iranians will have enough enriched uranium in deep underground facilities…
from: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/02/03/is_israel_preparing_to_attack_iran_113012.html
In 1992, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton built his campaign for the White House on doing more for the "forgotten middle class." Calling it the "new covenant" (Democrats since Roosevelt have tried to work the words "new" or "deal" into their campaign slogans), Clinton promised to focus on the people he called "the backbone of the country, the ones who do the work and pay the taxes and send their children off to war."Sound familiar? Here is Mitt Romney, the morning after the Florida primary: "I'm in this race because I care about…
from: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/02/03/drop_the_middle_class_talk_113013.html
