Obama vs. Romney - The Democrats VIEW

The New York Times: Reports that the Obama Campaign has a problem, as how to define Governor Romney, as a extreme conservative or a flip flopper. The problem is not that for the Obama Campaign, any of the above is a bad idea, if you say Governor Romney is a Conservative, thus will make him acceptable to the Tea Party movement, thus end the race faster, if you say he is flip flopper then the Romney Campaign can come back with all the U turns by POTUS, from the Bush tax cuts, green rules, the terror prison in Cuba. What the Liberal NYT fails to get is that by making Romney a Conservative you then get the polar opposite in President Obama, he will be seen as a extreme liberal, that might work well with the base, not with the lost Independent voters and Conservative Democrats. This article sounds more like the liberal wish list from the extreme liberal NYT. This is the reason that Governor Romney is a threat to President Obama, any attack defines Obama more, and the point of the Obama re-elect Campaign is to have the subject be Romney not Obama, thus neat try either by the Obama Campaign or the NYT, but no prize, work harder team.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the UK Soldier who died on January 2nd 2012 of wounds sustained in Afghanistan in 2010, the Soldier was “ Rifleman Sachin Limbu, from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Rifleman Sachin Limbu.

Greece and the Eurozone

Telegraph: Reports that Greece has stated that it will crash out of the Eurozone if it does not get the planned 130 billion Euros bailout. The Greeks are holding a gun at the temple of the EU, this blog has lost count of the number of bailouts Greece has had, it is still not enough, even with the extreme austerity package over years Greece will still have 120% of debt when compared to all the assets of Greece. The Greeks need to get out of the Euro, for their own health and that of the Euro and the EU. The EU cant bailout Greece forever, the Greeks don’t want the austerity but they want to stay in the Euro, something has to give, the Greek Government should decide over one weekend, to close the borders, secure the banking system, close down the bank dispensers and return to its native currency, then the EU can help Greece, as Greece would have been blackballed by the Markets, otherwise its just good money down the toilet, the Greeks did give the West Democracy, its needs a chance to get itself back on its feet, otherwise the Classic Greeks would disown modern Greece.

Back to the Euro - Eurozone Crisis

Guardian Live - Euro: Reports on the Euro via the Pound, “ The euro is now weaker against the pound than it has been since September 2010, …”. Yes the horror story that is the Euro is back, the upswing in the UK and US Markets has been hit by reality, the EU leaders have stated that 2012 will be worse than 2011, fantastic! The Greeks still need money, not news there folks, the Guardian notes the following, “ the deepening poverty that is increasingly being seen not only in the surge of soup kitchens but also in the proliferation of pawnshops and gold dealers ”. Thus Greece will hit the headlines again, with its hand out, the Germans have made noises that the UK should support the Euro, the UK Coalition would fall apart should UK Coalition PM David Cameron try to get that through the House of Commons. Thus expect more Euro stories folks, the festive season is well and truly over.

Iowa Result

BBC News: Reports on the victory of Governor Mitt Romney in the Iowa Caucuses, the margin of victory was only eight votes over former US Senator Rick Santorum. It was a narrow victory folks, both candidates got 25% ( rounded up ) with Paul on 21%. It seems both Governor Perry* and Congresswoman Bachmann are out, it will be interesting to see in South Carolina who takes their votes, Santorum or Gingrich, these two Candidates are the Anti Romney. One has to wonder will there be pressure on Gingrich to get out and support Santorum, otherwise Romney wins by default. It is a given that Romney will win New Hampshire, he was the Governor of a neighbouring State, he is well ahead in the polls there. Thus in many respects it’s a fight between Romney and Santorum, as Romney has the money, the field operation, one has to say that Romney will be the nominee, but there is still time for Santorum, the Conservative groups if they want to defeat Romney will NOW have to spend their money in supporting Santorum and airing negative ads on Romney.

*It seems from US news reports that Governor Perry still wants to be in the race, we shall see how long this lasts folks.