Medina spoke at the Dallas chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans (That is the gay Republican group, BTW) and said these words (thanks to GOP 12  for the quote and the Dallas Voice for some background):

Question from audience member: “The Texas Republican Party platform has contained some very offensive language to gays and lesbians, for example equating us to child molesters and rapists. saying that we are against God and our founding fathers, very nonsensical language, how do you feel about that?”

Medina: “I think that one of the things I’ve had to do as a Southern Baptist, right-wing Christian conservative is try to remove myself a little bit from that place, and back up to the proper role of government. It is easy for all of us to find that emotion and to react emotionally to things and I think the challenge to our leadership is to look at the challenges that face us, and try to ask some questions about where do we need to be, what’s the role of government and family and community.

…. I’m a Bible-believing Christian. I’m not going to waver on my view of homosexuality. That’s where I am, and I’d be less than honest to tell you anything different than that. But I also don’t believe it’s the government’s job to get in there and do anything about that. And if it’s not the government’s job, then the party probably needs to stay away from it as well.”

Liberty is great, isn’t it?  It is a coalition that can win elections.  As a fellow follower of Christ, I applaud Medina’s honesty and her outreach to this group.  The other two GOP candidates did not meet with the Log Cabin Republicans according to GOP 12.  While she did not emphasize gay issues in her speech, Medina answered questions like the one stated above.  The Dallas Voice reported that Medina had good support among the Log Cabin group.

3. Bobby Jindal: Yes, he had a bad response to Obama’s State of the Union, but the Rhodes Scholar is just 38 years old. Chalk it up as a MINOR setback for his national ambitions. He has a reputation for being a good executive, has lots of money in the bank, and represents something that’s currently lacking in the Republican Party — diversity.

This is a very balanced view of Jindal, including the so-called disastrous speech.  I thank also GOP 12 for this lead.

Here’s another comment that excites me and will send tajitj to new heights of rhapsody!  This is a quote from Bill Kauffman in the American Conservative cited in GOP 12:

At breakfast the morn of the rally, I sat across the table from a friendly dude wearing a peace-sign T-shirt and looking like an affable old surfer. He introduced himself as Gary Johnson, the former two-term governor of New Mexico. Over the next day, I spent a fair amount of time chatting with Governor Johnson: mountain-climber, triathlete, vetoer of 750 bills.

He told me that he may take a shot at the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 as an antiwar, anti-Fed, pro-personal liberties, slash-government-spending candidate—in other words, a Ron Paul libertarian.

This is small potatoes compared to this next story.  Dick Morris suggests in Newsmax that former Massachusetts Mitt Romney is out of serious 2012 running due to his healthcare “solution” in his home state.  I would seriously consider anything Morris says about politics.  You might not agree or feel confortable with Morris but he is a brilliant politico on the level of Machiavelli.  I respect anything he says. 

Morris also says that former Alaska Governor Palin has a way to go to be the GOP front runner:

“I think that Sarah Palin’s book sales are doing well, and I think she’s an incredible woman, but a lot of people were concerned when she resigned from the governorship of Alaska. Right now there is no front-runner…”

I think this has been a good two weeks for Governor Jindal.  He is quietly not making mistakes but being a good, competent governor of an important state.  I know he wants to run for re-election but i also know he listens to the Lord and if He says, it’s time, thne it’s time.

Ron Paul is only 8% behind Barack Obama. Is anyone else surprised by this number?

Paul is actually more popular with Democrats than either Palin, Huckabee or Romney.   He has the most undecided and has the lowest Obama percentage, according to Politics Daily:

Obama leads Mike Huckabee by 49 percent to 44 percent with 7 percent undecided; Sarah Palin by 51 percent to 43 percent with 5 percent undecided; Ron Paul by 46 percent to 38 percent with 16 percent undecided; and Mitt Romney by 48 percent to 43 percent with 9 percent undecided.

I think that this is good news for Ron Paul.  Very good news.  He is now a mainstream candidate.  Many do not know him.  They can be persuaded to support him.  I am impressed at all the video press Cong. Paul gets.  And every time he speaks, I am sure somebody somewhere says, “I like this guy.  Let me find out more.” 

Perhaps a Paul/Jindal ticket in 2012?

UPDATE:  Cong. Paul’s Audit the Fed act survived a major gutting in committee and may go to the House floor for a vote.  The co-sponsor with Paul is Cong. Alan Grayson of Florida.  See this video.  This is of course a reason why conservatives find Paul troubling.  Thanks to Abraham, Senior Member of the Ron Paul forums for that last insight.

Highlights:

Piggybacking on the Center of Public Disclosure’s ranking of Louisiana as the Number One state in the nation in public disclosure, a recent Portfolio.com analysis of how all 50 states and the District of Columbia fared during the recession, Louisiana ranked second best with an overall economic index of 7.298. North Dakota was the only state that fared better than Louisiana with an overall economic index of 7.463.  

There’s more:

Louisiana’s position has improved across a variety of national business climate rankings over the last two years, including Forbes.com’s Best States for Business, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council’s Business Tax Index and Small Business Survival Index, Beacon Hill Institute’s State Competitiveness Report, Pacific Research Institute’s Economic Freedom Index, CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business, Kauffman’s State New Economy Index and State Policy Reports’ Index of Economic Momentum.

In addition, Louisiana currently ranks in the top five in ethics rankings published by the Better Government Association, and Center for Public Integrity recently announced Louisiana’s legislative disclosure requirement was first in the nation. Louisiana also won the Co-state of the Year award from Southern Business and Development.

The Governor was quoted as stating that while he is pleased, he is not resting on this accomplishment:

“Portfolio.com’s analysis underscores what we have known for a long time — Louisiana’s economy consistently has outperformed the South and the U.S. since the beginning of the national recession,” said Gov. Bobby Jindal. “While we are pleased with this ranking, we will continue to aggressively pursue economic development efforts so that we can remain ahead of the South and the U.S., but more importantly, so that we can create more opportunity for our people.”

This is very impressive.  The state that beat Louisiana is North Dakota.  I salute North Dakota for its clean government and good people but I think Louisiana might have several business advantages over ND – climate, The Big Easy, culture, food and of course the SAINTS!  (Still unbeaten!) 

Here is the press release from Louisiana Economic Development.  I also must thank GOP 12 again. 

Might be IMPORTANT blog news coming up…

Let me know what you think!

The Advocate reports that other agencies such as Moody’s and Fitch’s have raised their ratings for the Pelican State.  The State Treasurer, John Kennedy, was quoted that this will save $2,700,000 in interest for twenty years.  Kennedy also told the Advocate that Louisiana is in better financial condition than other states in a bad economy.

Thanks for this tip to GOP 12 again!  Go read it daily!  GOP 12 is great!

I would add this:  Moody’s has warned the Federal Government that the deficit must be cut or the United States might lose its Aaa credit rating.  This should warn all of us and the Obama adminstration that we must abandon health care reform and other new projects and programs other than what is absolutely necessary.  We must also consider what Cong. Ron Paul says and find ways to cut back our foreign troop involvements as well.  The GOP must rally behind the slogan, “No new programs until we cut the deficit!” 

Perhaps it will take a President that has improved his state’s credit rating and brought necessary reforms to step up to leadership.  Someone like Governor Bobby Jindal.

Here’s where I place former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee.  He is a cult icon for evangelicals but he also has this TV show that he seems to genuinely have fun with (and has high ratings).  There is this interesting site that makes me wonder.  I think unless he has polling numbers and fundraising potential showing a real chance, he’ll not walk away from a sure thing.  I wish he’d run in 201o against Sen. Blanche Lincoln.  

Former PA Senator Rick Santorum is apparently testing the waters in Iowa.  I agree with most of Santorum’s views.  It’s a shame that the people of PA put him out.  However, I think he’ll not have staying power.  I can’t see him being more than a fringe candidate. 

Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush is a great candidate – if his name was not Bush.  But he has some support.  He may be a future candidate, if the American people decide by 2016 or 2020 then Jeb Bush might be a winner.  But not now.  Maybe George P. Bush after two terms as Governor of Florida in say 2032!

Congressman Eric Cantor (who is my congressman) would be a formidible candidate except, he’d have to give up what may be an apparent goal of being Speaker of the House.  I do not think Virginia allows multiple candidacies at the same time. 

Want an experienced candidate?  How does former Secretary of the Interior (under Bush 43), Mayor of major city (Boise, Idaho), Senator and Governor sound?  Try Dirk Kempthorne.  He’s from Idaho and I like the Mountain West (Go Boise State – bust the BCS cartel!) area.  Thanks again to GOP 12 for this lead.  Mark Ambinder at Atlantic has a very good assessment on Sec. Kempthorne.  Here’s a highlight:

Kempthorne, who served as President Bush’s final Secretary of the Interior, is widely known to environmental advocates as a dedicated opponent of regulation and of the Endangered Species Act. His tenture at Interior was pockmarked by scandals — all gifts from his predecessors. But he was also a fan of the National Park System and convinced the administration to prioritize its expansion. In his farewell address, he took credit for tough new ethics rules. During his one term as a senator, his bill to quash unfunded federal mandates for local governments is now law.  Californians and Oregonians credit him for breaking the longstanding impasse over damming the Klamath River. In Idaho, he took the sleepy and rundown city of Boise and rebuilt it.  But his public profile is no higher than that although the American Indian community presumably knows him well from his Interior service. Kempthorne began his political career as a consultant and campaign manager. He’s a fiscal and social conservative with no deviations from the orthodoxy. As a former chairman of the National Governors’ Association and because of his dealings with oil, coal and natural resource enterprises, he could probably raise enough seed money to get started.

That’s not bad except his base is small.  Idaho has only four electoral votes.  If Kempthorne could pull together an idea that was banded about – that the Mountain West would have their primary on the same day – that might increase his base.  Kempthorne could be a good addition to a 2012 ticket from the East or South.

 More not likelies in my next blog entry!  I promise I will get to Mitch Daniels!  Amd Jindal!