2007

Cancer on Political Pistachio Radio

My son was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. Last Friday he underwent surgery to remove the cancerous mass, and yesterday underwent a CT Scan to make sure the cancer has not spread to the rest of his body, primarily through his lymphatic system. The readers of Political Pistachio have been following this story as news becomes available, and their comment and e-mail response has been wonderful.

The President of the American Authors Association, Maria Edwards, contacted me and recommended that I speak with Rob Ballister, for he has endured the same cancer. After e-mailing with him, it was agreed that our interaction ought to take place on Blog Talk Radio. Rob Ballister, as a result, will be my guest on Political Pistachio Radio this upcoming Saturday.

Rob Ballister is the author of the book “God Does Have a Sense of Humor.” He is a Naval Academy graduate and is currently an officer serving in the United States Navy. His book is about his journey through dating, growing up in New Jersey, and surviving Testicular Cancer. His cancer also spread into his lymphatic system, and the battle became long and arduous. Now, as a cancer survivor, he has chosen to use humor and wit to tell about his battle with the dreadly disease. The opportunity to have him on Political Pistachio to relay his pearls of wisdom is especially important to me, considering my son’s current battle with the same type of cancer.

As an added note, when I last received an e-mail from Rob, he was eager to send my son an autographed copy of his book, hoping that his story would be inspirational to my 22 year old son as he continues through this stressful part of his young life. The book is on its way.

Listen this Saturday, 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern. Political Pistachio Radio.

With apologies to Rudy, of course.

Well, no, not really.  He’s still in the top tier, and the point of this post doesn’t leave him out, but he’s got an insurmountable contradiction on an issue as vital to the GOP base as the war.  The other two guys don’t.

And I ain’t talking about McCain.  Even if he was, or had ever been, a viable contender, the Democrats don’t fear him like they do “Ready Freddie“:

Of keen interest to GOP primary voters is that Thompson would likely be a formidable opponent for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. And that’s what Democrats are saying. Bob Beckel, who managed Walter Mondale’s 1984 presidential run, says Thompson is the only potential GOP candidate “who scares me” because of his communications skills and ability to appeal to swing voters.

Then there’s Lanny Davis, who as the Clinton White House’s chief spinner in the 1990s clashed with Thompson during the investigations into the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign fundraising scandal. “I hope he isn’t the GOP nominee because he would be very difficult to beat,” Davis wrote in the Hill newspaper. He directly addressed Thompson by saying: “An awful lot of Democrats and independents would share with me their high level of respect for you, as well as their concern that you may be the most difficult Republican to beat in November 2008.”

Two words, ladies and gents: charisma and communication.  As an actor, the ex-Tennessee senator has “stage presence” like no GOPer since you-know-who.  And he’s in the same league as a communicator.  Neither of those things are true of the current White House occupant, who not only can’t talk very well, but has never exhibited much of a desire to even bother trying.  Maybe that was stylistically refreshing after almost a decade of Bill Clinton’s 24/7/365 ubiquity that was reminiscent of those creepy Burger King commercials where a guy wakes up in the morning and finds the silent, grinning gut-bomb monarch lying next to him staring at him all too expectantly.  But it’s done nothing for the substance of critical policy areas like the war and the desperate need to genuinely reform entitlements programs, both of which are likely to be lynchpins of Thompson’s campaign.

The GOP needs a nominee who can re-sell Reagan conservatism.  Fred Thompson can do that in spades.

So, if this YouTube clip is indicative, can Mitt Romney.  Note the reactions of the Frank Luntz focus group:

“He’s answering the questions right off the bat; he’s not giving any bull.”

“He’s answering the questions more directly.”

“He’s not backing down from his answers; he’s firm on them whether you like them or not.”

“He’s answering the questions the best he can, [and] honestly.”

“He’s a very good communicator and sticks by his answers.”

“He’s very knowledgable in a comprehensive way.  He covers a lot of territory.”

Once again, charisma and communication.  Kind of like if you took Bill Clinton, reversed his ideological polarity, and put him through six-months of chemical, psychological, and spiritual de-tox, but left his political gifts alone.  The former Massachusetts governor can make the conservative case and seal the deal.

Neither man is flappable, neither man is gaffe-prone, and both appear to possess generous quantities of natural PR “teflon,” which is why the “flip-flopper” charge isn’t sticking to Romney and the “He’s not enough of a wonk” slam won’t even slow Thompson down.

Whether or not you believe that Giuliani’s ”punk out“ on the Ames Straw Poll is a big deal, the fact remains that Romney is leading big in both Iowa and New Hampshire.  Given that in politics, perception is nine-tenths of reality, plus the history of recent primary cycles where winning early has meant darn near everything, that wouldn’t bode well for the former mayor of Gotham in a one-on-one showdown.

Throw Ready Freddie into the mix?  Forget about it; we’ll probably have our ‘08 ticket right there, and the best shot at averting the nightmare of waking up the morning of November 5th, 2008 to find Bill Clinton lying in our beds wearing a Burger King head, staring at us all too expectantly, while President-Elect Rodham sets her Alaska gulag plans into motion.

If, as the Democrats argue, America cannot and should not be “the world’s policeman,” how is it that America can and should be the world’s most extravagant flophouse?

Still no word, BTW, from the open borders crew at the WSJ about accepting NRO’s immigration debate challenge.  I guess they must figure that the bill is gonna pass, so success will be their argument.

When they’re opining about crushing entitlements burdens and massive tax increases and the collapsing economy and the monstrous “last resorts” that may give rise to (euthanasia of the elderly, anyone?) in the years ahead, they should be reminded each and every time about this immigration bill - and then told to shut the hell up.

I am unable to change the notice above, but today’s lineup is easy. Take out everyone in the list on the top of the page except Will and Nikki, CQ Radio, and Andrea Shea King.

See, I told you it was easy.