The Dust Settles In Boston, A Long Campaign In The Books

Election Wrap – KWAM 990 AM

Election Day at Romney HQ

Previewing Election Day From Romney HQ

Election Preview – KWAM 990 AM

President Obama – Concord, NH Rally

To view the complete photo gallery from the campaign stop in a full screen slide-show click here.

Scott Brown – Wakefield Rally

President Obama – Manchester, NH Rally

To view the complete photo gallery from the campaign stop in a full screen slide-show click here.

Sens. McCain & Ayotte – Peterborough Surrogate Event

To view the full gallery from the Mitt Romney surrogate appearance in a full screen slide show click here.

Hofstra Debate Reaction – The David Pakman Show

2012 DNC Photos

To view my complete photographic coverage from the DNC in a full screen slide-show click here.

2012 RNC Photos

Are Big Business CEO's A Good Choice For DNC Program?

Hilarious GOP Goodie Bag at DNC

Republicans Descend on Democratic Convention

DNC: Rock Concert or Trade Show?

Ron Paul's Maine Delegates Stir Up Rare Convention Drama

Who Built What? The GOP's Rhetorical Sloppiness

Continuity Errors at the RNC

The Most Boring Convention Ever?

RNC Happy Snaps!

Here's a look into the convention through the eyes of my 4S:

Mitt Romney Taps Paul Ryan As His Running Mate

Paul Ryan Unveiled As Romney's VP – KWAM 990AM

Do-Nothing Congress Takes A Break – KWAM 990AM

The Great DC Storm of 2012 – KWAM 990 AM

Recapping the Continental Congress 2.0

By Luke Vargas

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Since the 2010 midterms, numerous groups have risen to challenge the current direction of American government. The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street both challenged establishment positions, with the Tea Party attacking lawmakers from the right, and Occupy taking aim at the increasing amount of corporate money in politics.

As a growing number of voices within the Occupy movement call for a clear articulation of the group’s demands, a non-partisan group with roots in the movement is attempting to do just that by planting the seeds of Constitutionally-sanctioned action by drafting an official Petition for the Redress of Grievances.

The document, “The 99% Declaration,” was created over the course of a three-day gathering convened in Philadelphia last week, and will be delivered to members of Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House within the coming months.

The Supreme Court rules on "Obamacare"

Weekly News Wrap - Earle Farrell Show - June 29, 2012

Intelligence Leaks and Arizona's SB 1070 – KWAM 990 AM

Breaking down an announcement by Senate Republicans that the investigation into national intelligence leaks demand the attention of an independent special counsel, as well as recapping the Supreme Court's ruling on Arizona's SB 1070 immigration law.

KWAM 990 AM's "Earle Farrell for Memphis."

Luke N. Vargas. June 26, 2012.

Weekly News Wrap - Earle Farrell Show - June 22, 2012

Steriods and the Supreme Court on KWNA 92.7 FM

Morning show appearance with Rodd Stowell on Nevada's KWNA 92.7 FM.

Luke N. Vargas. June 22, 2012.

Weekly News Wrap - Earle Farrell Show - June 8, 2012

News from DC

I've started a new job with Talk Radio News Service in DC as a Capitol Hill reporter.

Check out my pieces at the following address:

www.talkradionews.com/tag/luke-vargas

Mitt Romney – Hillsborough 'Bridge to Nowhere"

Third Party Profiles

The past few weeks I've caught up with third party presidential candidates passing through New York City.

Gary Johnson, Buddy Roemer, and Jerry White all see a place for themselves in the contemporary political dialogue, but unique obstacles stand between each man and the exposure they feel their movement deserves.

Excluded from televised debates, working outside the corporate fund raising model, and culturally ostracized, third party candidates articulate the strengths and weaknesses of American politics.

Here's a clip of a recent Fox appearance in which I introduce my third party footage. An HD version of my 3:00 minute segment can be found at the bottom of the post, while an extended cut of all three interviews will be posted next week.

Santorum's Delayed Defeat

Rick Santorum suspended his campaign today. In the hunt to produce something along the lines of an obituary I reread my own impressions of the candidate after spending two days with him in Iowa before the Caucus this January:

The sea of assembled supporters frequently nodded along with Santorum's talking points and responses to audience questions. "Amens" could be heard regularly in both private whispers and proud public agreement with the candidate's statements. Just when it seemed like the mid-December Iowa field would avoid resembling the 2008 contest, the parallels between Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum are emerging.

In the words of Ms. LaFrancis, having treated Iowans with respect and dedication throughout the year, Rick Santorum has a reason to be proud of his efforts.

Indeed, the Rick Santorum supporters I met in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and across the Deep South all echoed that precise pride that would distinguish Santorum's campaign from the more subdued and cautious effort of his rival, Mitt Romney. The same was characteristic of Mike Huckabee's campaign, which was similarly popular among the conservative television-watching audience until its suspension.

As in 2008, the Republican Party and influential figures within it did acknowledge the impassioned sentiments of staunch conservatives supporting Santorum, but they stopped short of making Santorum's job of overthrowing Romney any easier. In the interest of presenting a more 'mainstream' candidate capable of carrying a carefully-branded political message, the political capital lined up behind Mitt Romney was always hesitant to defect to Santorum, and with Santorum's withdrawal today that unlikely door has finally closed.



At the end of the day, Romney's capacity to change his political tune (despite the downsides of this "skill") made him a more viable candidate than Santorum ever showed himself capable of being. When faced with uncertain results in close primary contests in Ohio, Michigan, and further South around Super Tuesday, Santorum doubled down on the language of social conservatism. This strategy had fallen short of derailing Romney, and in the process, Santorum harmed his national appeal by  harping on issues of birth control and faith-based prescriptions for family values that would never catch on among swing voters in November.

By the middle of last month, Santorum's weaknesses as a general election candidate had become as glaring to the Republicans with the ability to influence the course of the nominating contest as they had been to many outside observers for some time.

Santorum stuck around for longer than expected, but to quote from my observations of the race in November:

Rick Santorum is the most solidly social-conservative candidate in a year when even the most disheartened Obama-supporter couldn't see themselves voting for him.

With today's news, that final word on Santorum is as true ever.

 

Shocked by the Humanity

The public cannot believe it has glimpsed the delicate and personal underpinnings of international relations.

Russia and America may not be entirely honest and open allies, but the reality of a globalized world is the inevitable cohabitation of relatives forces of suspected malice and purported sanctimony as determined by each of nearly 200 nations. This is complex stuff.

If Americans are truly concerned about Russia, it should be as an model of how not to prioritize free speech within society. Instead of fearing an outdated nuclear threat, Americans should look to the circumstances surrounding Putin's recent election and constitutional 'maneuvering' as a warning about misuse of power and its ability to silence public opinion.

The supposition that Obama's exchange is shocking behavior on the part of the President reveals the public's petty sensitivity to being excluded from the procedures of setting policy, and says little of its collective understanding of historical perspective. As evidenced by the tone of forum comments and blog posts criticizing Obama's leaked comments (a term I prefer to "gaffe"), there's a reason the vast majority of Americans are not consulted in foreign policy matters.

Setting a civil tone in domestic politics is a necessary place to start in sustaining this country's health. The feigned bafflement by politicians at the notion that the President conducts business of importance behind closed doors for the presumed benefit of our nation is a step in the wrong direction.

Santorum Upstages Gingrich, Romney in Southern Contests

Santorum's Strength Visible Ahead of Southern Primaries

Alabama GOP Candidates Forum

To view the complete gallery from the event at the Alabama Theater in a full screen slide-show click here.

Whilst Covering Politics

Although I've tried to keep a busy schedule, you can't fill every day with politics. Below are a selection of photographs captured on my travels during the 2012 campaign.

To view the full gallery in a full screen slide show click here.

Rick Santorum – Jackson Museum Rally

View the complete gallery from Rick Santorum's Jackson campaign event at the Mississippi Museum of Agriculture and Forestry in a full-screen slide show here.

Newt Gingrich – Jackson Hilton Rally

View the complete gallery from Gingrich's Mississippi campaign event in a full-screen slide show here.

From the Field: Memphis Super Tuesday Turnout

Gingrich's Knoxville Rally & Super Tuesday Setup

Romney's Michigan Win Cools Talk of Brokered Convention

Romney Doesn't Get It

Mitt Romney's campaign released this video today following his narrow victory over Rick Santorum. Progressives, as well as the Santorum folks, encouraged Democrats to vote for Santorum in the Michigan Primary with the hopes of upsetting Romney in his home state...and it nearly worked.

But now, after what could have been a dramatic stand by his campaign, Santorum finds himself taking heat from Romney for "betraying the party" and involving Democrats in the primary race. I expect to hear a lot along these lines from Romney in the coming days. The funny thing is, Romney doesn't get it. The joke is on him.

Democrats didn't turn out to vote for Santorum because they see Romney as a strong candidate who needs to have a few barbs tossed his way in order to slow him down and make him an easy target for Obama. No, Democrats voted for Romney because it's evident how vulnerable he is, and that they sensed there's a very real opportunity to disrupt his path to the nomination. Romney proved his weakness by being so spooked by Santorum's tactics. Romney's campaign is in a tizzy over the threat of a few thousand crossover Democrats getting involved in a handful of open primary states. For a strong nominee, there's nothing those few Democrats could do to get in the way.

So how will Romney-supporting members of the GOP establishment react to what happened in Michigan? Perhaps by calling for the elimination of open primaries in the years ahead.

It's a trap! 



If this disappointing crop of Republican candidates has taught us anything, it's that the Republican Party is too ideologically close minded. When a Republican candidate comes along with true crossover appeal, the party needs to be able to see this in the primaries. If Democrats are truly are willing to break rank and vote for a Republican for ideological reasons, then it's important they be allowed to do so so that the Republican Party can nominate this unusually strong candidate with a good chance to win the presidency. By contrast, closing off party primaries to independents and Democrats only raises the walls of the Republican echo chamber.

Let me be clear, Rick Santorum did himself no favors with his robocalls targeting supposed "Reagan Democrats" in Michigan. Santorum should have left it to liberal talk show hosts to do the work of convincing activists to go out and vote for Santorum on their own initiative, which many did. Instead, he's now an easy target for his unsuccessful act of rebellion, and for the first time this election, there's actually a reason to vote for Romney in the eyes of conservatives frightened of the mere mention of Democrats. The narrative Romney voters can use going forward: "We don't want the Democrats deciding who our nominee should be, so we support Mitt."



But there used to be a time when Republican candidates did court Democrats. Santorum's pitch in Michigan was indeed a subversive one that played into the Democratic agenda of sabotaging Romney instead of any ideological affiliation with the candidate, but the very fact that so many Republicans maintain a principled stand against their candidates even acknowledging there are necessary voters to pursue outside of the collapsing GOP tent exposes just how weak their eventual nominee stands to be this Fall.

By contrast, Obama is a master of campaign strategy and a politician who dares to expand his appeal. His campaign demonstrates a bravery when it announces its pursuit of victories in difficult swing states, and his broad political appeal was proved in 2008 by the successful inroads he made among groups that typically lean conservative. That he pursues these challenging votes sincerely—while Santorum does so with an eye to disrupting Romney—and that a small cadre of Obama's loyal supporters understand the power of their influence over the President's Republican opponents shows just how much of an advantage Obama has in the upcoming election.

3 Michigan Truths

1. If Mitt Romney were a strong nominee there would be none of this hoopla in Michigan. He should be winning Michigan by more than 10%.

2. If it wasn't 2012, Rick Santorum might be able to spin his courting of Democrats to his advantage in so far as it "proves" his electability and willingness to broaden GOP appeal.

3. If Mitt Romney wins Michigan (and Arizona, as assumed), Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich will perform better on Super Tuesday in what's become a reliable pattern of hesitancy on the part of voters when any candidate appears to possess a momentum that could lead them to the nomination with successive victories.

CPAC 2012 Video Wrap Up

Brief Thoughts:



Extended Thoughts:

CPAC 2012: The Tea Party vs. Occupy Wall Street

CPAC Live Blog / Twitter Stream

I'm in Washington D.C. Friday and Saturday for the Conservative Political Action Conference. Check out my commentary below and a Twitter stream further down the page:

Saturday, 3:50 PM: Occupy Wall Street v. Tea Party
Oh boy, the rhetoric's really heating up during this panel. I'm cutting together a short video of highlights + will post it later. Lots of yelling, name calling, etc.

Saturday, 3:00 PM: "Why Am I Living in my Parent's Basement?" Recap

"You owe it to your philosophy to know how to win." — Abigail Alger, Leadership Institute

Some tips from the panel of young conservative leaders:

If a government regulation has shut down an employer near you, invite that employer to your campus as a guest speaker.

Embark upon a "Rescue Mission for Conservative College Students" and help find a buddy for persecuted conservative friends on your campus.

And finally, follow the "Campus Conservative Battle Plan," which includes going around campus and asking liberals if they'd be willing to redistribute their GPA to lower-performing students. When they say no (or more likely, are baffled by this question), you've apparently exposed the grand hypocracy behind graduated taxes.

Huh...


Saturday, 2:15 PM

Breaking news: Just picked up a glossy pair of colorful Ronald Reagan and Sarah Palin posters.


Saturday, 1:45 PM: CPAC 2012 Job and Internship Fair

I had a great time interviewing conservative employers and prospective employees both young and old earlier today. Takeaways:

At the college level there's a large talent pool of well-qualified applicants, many with double-majors and extensive political experience. One organization offering three unpaid internships in communication, government affairs, and policy analysis noted that 1/3 applicants were law school graduates: "overqualified is the name of the game these days."

One representative from FIRE (The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) had some advice for young folks looking for a job and insights into trends among applicants: "I see a lot of people daisy chaining internships," and he warned against "having any dead areas on a resume, even if that means taking a job at Starbucks." 

High school senior Alvaro Gabriel, who I spotted introducing himself to a number of employers and donning a Rick Santorum sticker on his suit, was well aware of the challenges ahead in the job market, but he was far from discouraged. His plan for the coming years: the Air Force Academy, an engineering degree, and law school. Keep an eye on this guy!


Saturday, 10:05 AM: CPAC Friday Wrap Up 


Romney is probably in command, despite what was an underwhelming speech (that included a particularly awkward phrase: “I was a severely conservative Republican governor”) but hell, they all are, so what's changed?

Gingrich assailed the GOP establishment and explained that CPAC was created as a way to push back against the establishment, but the crowd hardly gobbled up that statement. CPAC doesn't mirror the opinions of voters in states like South Carolina or Minnesota, but the trepidation expressed for Gingrich's anti-establishment remarks was palpable, subtle though it was.

Much has been made of a "brokered convention" in which delegates face inconclusive results from the state primaries and will have the opportunity to chose which of the four men still running they like the most.

Yesterday at CPAC brought some clarity to how that long-shot convention transpire: Without a doubt, convention gridlock would not result in Gingrich capturing the nomination. I won't shirk from this point, despite what a small army of Newt supporters told me yesterday: Newt won't win the nomination if the decision is left to the delegates in Tampa.


Saturday, 9:35 AM: Gingrich Recap

Callista Gingrich starring in one of her first speaking roles was a fortuitous beginning to her husband’s CPAC showing yesterday.Callista's diction was crisp, she was straightforward yet subdued, a fitting foreshadowing of Newt’s speech at a time when his candidacy very much needs a shot of energy.

Truth be told, I expected a more enthusiastic reception for Gingrich at CPAC, but then again the loud PA music (Joe Satriani’s “Just Like Lightnin’”) with its thumping bass made it hard to tell exactly how the crowd felt.

It’s not that Gingrich didn’t try. At certain points in his remarks — for example, after listing each of three pieces of Obama-era legislation he intends to repeal — he paused to let the audience voice their approval. They largely obliged, but it was a deviation of style for an orator who typically plows ahead through his talking points and let his crowds work themselves up for an opportunity to jump in and cheer him on. This conscious attempt at conditioning the ballroom audience through a series of applause lines was as telling an indicator of Gingrich’s current support among conservatives that I’ve seen in recent weeks.

Gingrich did draw favorable responses on his lines about “abolishing Obama’s White House tsars” and “repudiating” the President, but there was a striking absence of enthusiasm, and if these are the main points that conservatives want to hear, they don’t need Gingrich to be the one to articulate them.  

Friday, 3:50 PM: "Video Activism" Tutorial

Can conservatives reverse the political satire deficit being suffered at the hands of comedians Stephen Colbert and John Stewart? Oliver Darcy and the Leadership Institute think so, and the group is conducting a CPAC seminar educating up and coming YouTube-minded activists how to record and edit footage "highlighting how crazy they [liberals] are" as a way of "effectively pushing forward the conservative message."

Another speaker, Adam Kissel, is now at the microphone warning of certain state laws that mandate both parties in a conversation are aware of being taped.

Compared to my NYU course in "First Amendment Law and Journalism Ethics" this seminar rounds some of the corners of media law, but on the heels of wildly successful gotcha journalism by activists like James O'Keefe, the message is clear: the conservative movement has benefited greatly in recent years by exposing "liberal bias" — particularly on college campuses — and with so much to gain, there's a premium on quantity over textbook journalistic ethics.


Friday, 2:30 PM: Romney Recap

Romney spoke to the record, not directly to the CPAC crowd.

There was little semblance of a logical progression to Romney's policy pledges; after addressing Planned Parenthood and "innocent life" it was on to his assertion that America's military was the most powerful in the world. It was as if Romney had responded to criticism by some conservatives that he'd been short on details in recent speeches by keeping a notepad next to his bed, adding whatever red meat talking points came to mind.

The contrast with Santorum in this regard is clear. Santorum constructed a strong argument for his positions against government interference, concluding his speech with a powerful command: "Put your honor on the line [for me]."

Romney's message in a nutshell: What's so wrong with me?


Friday, 12:55 PM: Santorum Recap

Santorum succeeded in communicating that election is about more than financial advantages or, more specifically, Mitt Romney's inevitability narrative.

It's curious how little space has existed between the rhetoric of Santorum and Romney on the role of government and personal liberty, but Santorum's riff today on the risks of allowing government to "give rights" — they can be taken away, can be used as a coercive tool, etc. — was a fresh and effective approach in appealing to conservative fears.

Romney is taking the stage now...

Friday, 8:25 AM: The Risks for Romney

Despite being bashed quite frequently by panelists yesterday, Mitt Romney still has the most to gain from CPAC.

Having offered to this date few concrete economic proposals—instead concentrating his energy on criticizing Obama—Romney is in a strong position should he keep his ear to the proverbial CPAC ground and gauge what policy ideas excite the conservative base the most. Herman Cain's 999 is ultimately the wrong direction for Romney, but Cain did make the case yesterday that a simple tax or spending mantra could be a powerful calling card for the party's eventual nominee.

Romney is a blank slate, and although I often criticize him for avoiding specifics, he's in a good position now to adopt a popular economic proposal as a part of his own campaign platform.

On the flip side, there are risks for Romney today, and he should be wary of carrying his campaign attitude into the conference and proving himself as being unaware of the rampant skepticism of his candidacy among many conservatives. Romney must not enter CPAC to merely stuff his inevitability narrative down the throats of rightfully wary conservatives who'll want red meat and a direct appeal from the candidate instead of the behind-the-scenes courtship of power brokers and conference organizers that Romney busied himself with yesterday.

The Title Bout & Ron Paul's Caucus Strategy: Themes Leaving Florida

Ron Paul – Freeport Town Square Rally

View the complete gallery from Ron Paul's campaign rally in Freeport, Maine in a full-screen slide show here.