I read the news so you don't have to

A few highlights from around the political news circuit-
Rick Santorum is in some hot water for saying to CNN's John King, "I want to create every opportunity for women to be able to serve this country . . . but I do have concerns about women in front-line combat.
“I think that could be a very compromising situation, where people naturally may do things that may not be in the interest of the mission because of other types of emotions that are involved. It already happens, of course, with the camaraderie of men in combat, but I think it would be even more unique if women were in combat,” Santorum added. “And I think that’s not in the best interests of men, women or the mission.”
He's now trying to spin it as men are the one's with conflicting emotions about women. A woman next to them could distract them.  He's trying to convince everyone that he wasn't implying women are the ones who have emotions.
Will anyone believe that? Only time will tell.

Callista Gingrich (who we now know goes by Calli Lou at home, thanks to Randi Kay on CNN) will be taking on a more vocal role on her husband's campaign.  This is not surprising at all as the campaigns shift towards more social issues, and Newt is up against two very family-first candidates. Calli Lou took her first big step yesterday by introducing her husband at CPAC. For many people (most?) it was our first time to hear her voice, and really witness her style. She came across as dull, wooden, and not the warm, loving faithful wife the campaign most likely wanted to present. Calli Lou is up against two of the most easy to love women in Ann Romney and Karen Santorum. One has MS and is a breast cancer survivor, while the other is a home-schooling mother with a special needs child. Both look like the mom you wished you had. And Calli Lou, cute name or not, has a long and well-storied past to overcome with her document affair with her now husband, massive credit line at Tiffanys, etc. She would be better off to not position herself as the next First Mother, and instead take a page from Hilary Clinton's campaign playbook. Like Hilary, she has a great deal of professional and political experience of her own. She needs to play to her strengths, and not pretend she is something she is not.



President Obama has put forth his proposed 2013 budget (not 2012- that ship sailed a long time ago).  It allows for a $901 billion deficit for 2013. He had campaigned and promised many times in the past that he would halve the deficit in his first term, and this new budget doesn't even come close. (Notable- this budget will also be the budget the next president will have to work with his first year in office, whether that be the incumbent or someone news.) The budget also indicates that in 2012 the federal deficit will increase from  $1.3 trillion to $1.33 trillion.
In order to cut the $400 billion dollars out in order to reduce the deficit to $901 billion in 2013 requires enacting the president's policies, including spending reductions agreed to last summer and ending George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy at the end of this year.
This subject will get its own post in time.


The Maine Caucuses have been held over the course of the past week, and will end tonight. Maine has 21 "proportional" delegates, and the caucus is only open to registered Republicans, though independents and unregistered voters may register as Republicans on Saturday to participate in the caucuses. Only Ron Paul has made a concerted effort in Maine, but Mitt Romney did arrive in the state just yesterday. This is yet again another non-binding caucus. Prior to Friday what few articles were out there on Maine had Ron Paul in the lead to take Maine. However, last minute stories are coming out mid-Saturday saying it may go to Romney. Considering 6 of the 8 states so far have had surprise results, we won't know until it is over.