Meredith Warren on NECN

Meredith Warren was a guest on NECN's Morning Show today to discuss last night's Second Presidential Debate. Check out her comments in the video below:

Today, it feels good to be a Republican

We’ll admit it: we were nervous about last night's debate. So much was riding on a stellar performance from Mitt Romney, that it was almost impossible to imagine him pulling it off. It’s easy to feel like that as a Republican. In recent years, we in the GOP have gotten used to disappointment.

Sure, there have been high points and occasional wins: Scott Walker beating back the unions in Wisconsin, the GOP taking the House, and, here in Massachusetts, Scott Brown’s amazing U.S. Senate win.

But for the most part, Republicans have been the minority, the butt of late-night jokes. The presidential primary race brought this to a whole new level, with our candidates being caricatured (what Democratic woman has ever been called "Crazy Eyes?") and our values mocked relentlessly.

Here in Massachusetts, being a Republican brings its own special brand of frustration. We worked at the State House when there were only 21 Republicans in the House and five in the Senate (there are only four now). We were subjected to the jokes about all of us fitting into a phone booth. We would work for weeks on an agenda or a piece of legislation only to be reminded once we were in session that the House—the Democrats—always wins.

So that’s what we've come to expect when moments like last night’s debate present themselves.

For once, we were pleasantly surprised.

Mitt Romney came prepared. He knew his points and he delivered them convincingly. Gone were the annoying tics, the protestations about being interrupted, the seemingly forced laugh. He was just good. And Barack Obama, the incumbent president, could barely respond. At one point, it almost seemed the debate moderator, Jim Lehrer, was coaching Obama.

As the debate went on, and as we watched the reaction on social media, it felt like the world was turning upside down and Republicans were suddenly on top.

Chris-I've-Got-a-Thrill-Up-My-Leg Matthews practically screamed on MSNBC that Romney was "winning."

Liberal nasty Bill Maher Tweeted, "i can't believe i'm saying this, but Obama looks like he DOES need a teleprompter."

Moviemaker and liberal loudmouth Michael Moore added, "This is what happens when u pick John Kerry as your debate coach."

Flipping through the stations doing post-debate wrap-ups, political pundits were shocked that Obama couldn’t deliver the blows Democrats have been leveling all year: Where was Bain? How about the whole 47 percent debacle?

And, then, there were the instant polls showing Romney having won the debate - convincingly.

As a Republican, it felt like a dream you didn’t want to wake up from.

Hopefully, we won't have to. If Romney can continue to nail future debates and he can keep the rest of his campaign out of trouble, he has a serious shot at knocking an incumbent president out of the Oval Office.

Van Magness Quoted in AP Story

Fred Van Magness is quoted in an Associated Press story about tonight's debate between United States Senator Scott Brown and his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren:

Republican political consultant Fred Van Magness said the first debate gives both candidates another shot at reinforcing their image among voters.

"For Brown, it’s really an opportunity to show that he’s kept his promise to be an independent voice in the Senate and to remind people he’s done a good job there and has lived up to their expectations," Van Magness said.

Warren’s task is somewhat different, he said. "It’s her challenge to explain why there’s a need to fill that seat with someone new," he said. "She has to figure out how do you do that effectively when you’re up against a sitting senator who has enjoyed pretty strong popularity and job approval ratings."

Click here to read the full story on Boston.com.

Van Magness on NECN

Fred Van Magness was a guest on the NECN Morning Show today to discuss current events in the race for President. Here's the video:

Meredith Warren on NECN's "Broadside" Political Panel

Meredith Warren joined Mara Dolan on the Political Panel on NECN's "Broadside" this evening. Hosted by Jim Braude, the discussion included the current state of the race for President as well as the upcoming debates in the race for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. Catch the full video below:

Van Magness on NECN

Fred Van Magness was a guest on the NECN Morning Show this morning to discuss the Democratic National Convention and President Bill Clinton's speech to delegates:

ICYMI: Our RNC analysis on the NECN Morning Show

Meredith Warren and Fred Van Magness joined NECN's Morning Show this week to discuss the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Tuesday, August 28 - Meredith Warren


Wednesday, August 29 - Meredith Warren


Thursday, August 30 - Fred Van Magness


Friday, August 31 - Fred Van Magness

Meredith Warren on CBC Radio Canada

Meredith Warren was a guest on CBC Radio Canada's "The Current" earlier today, talking about the Republican National Convention in Tampa and some of the policy issues being discussed there.

You can listen to the full clip here.

Meredith Warren on NECN re. Rep. Todd Akin

Meredith Warren was a guest on NECN's Morning Show today to discuss recent remarks by Missouri Congressman Todd Akin (R) regarding abortion.

Among the questions Warren addressed were whether or not Akin should step aside as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, and the effect of the controversy on other races across the country.

Click on the video player below to watch the full interview:

Meredith Warren talks GOP politics on NECN

Meredith Warren joined NECN's Morning Show this morning to talk about presidential politics; specifically, the possibility that GOP candidate Mitt Romney will pick a woman to serve as his vice president.

Click below to watch the full video on NECN.com.

Meredith Warren on CBC's "The Current"

Congratulations to Meredith Warren for appearing live on CBC's "The Current" national radio show on Friday morning to discuss the Supreme Court's decision on health care and what it means or the GOP in the 2012 elections and going forward.

Please click below for full audio:

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2012/06/29/obamacare-decision-debate-2/#

Van Magness on NECN

Fred Van Magness was a guest on NECN's Morning Show today to talk about the results of the recall election in Wisconsin, in addition to other political issues of the day.

Van Magness on NECN

Fred Van Magness was a guest on NECN's Morning Show twice this week to discuss the presidential election and GOP primaries in Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware.

Here are the links to the videos:

April 24, 2012

April 25, 2012

Barack Obama: When Being Transcendental Becomes Presidential

Mirroring the historic campaign that swept him into office in 2008, much of Barack Obama's presidency has been built upon a fundamental desire to solve problems by transcending traditional political relationships and understandings.

Evidence of this spirit has been clear from the earliest moments of the Obama Administration.

For example, it was a highly-transcendental spirit that served as the underpinning of Obama's inaugural address on January 20, 2009:

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics…. There are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans…. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply."

The same theme was echoed by the President on June 4, 2009 in a major foreign policy speech delivered to the Muslim world at Cairo University:

"I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world…. We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written."

Likewise in the President's address to Congress about health care reform on September 4, 2009:

"The time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do."

Yet, for all of his desire to be transcendental, President Obama's first term has seen little tangible progress on the issues that served to catapult Obama into office back in 2008 -- most notably, the economy.

The reason, we believe, is that Obama entered the presidency ill-prepared to deal with the size and scope of the substantial problems confronting the nation when he took office.

Despite sporting a wealth of Harvard-educated intellect, Obama's role as a freshman senator gave him little time to form the relationships and gain the practical experience necessary to achieve success on the national political level by 2008.

What it did give him, however, was a platform from which the former community organizer could deliver lofty speeches based on his gift for inspiring, passionate oratory.

Hence, Obama the candidate expounded on the "audacity of hope" and encouraged all Americans to overcome the differences that divide us to realize a common sense of purpose. In other words, he encouraged transcendence as a way to achieve prosperity.

A noble goal, no doubt.

However, the desire of one to transcend a certain condition is absolutely meaningless unless it is firmly rooted in a mastery and dominance of the condition itself.

As they say, windmills aren't usually built within the sky; they are mere mirages if they lack a solid foundation. So, too, is much of Obama's first-term agenda. It is a highly-liberal mirage in search of a solid foundation.

In consistently trying to transcend the thorny issues that underlie national and international problems, President Obama has either ignored or purposely avoided addressing these issues head-on. He talks about problems, but he doesn't solve them. And, in the process, he has made the meaningful change he campaigned on in 2008 practically impossible. He has also shown that he, himself, is not above leveling partisan blame when things don't go his way.

The White House believes its central role is to pacify the turbulent political waters in Washington to create a condition where change can occur. Once such a condition is created, the process of solving national problems is essentially crowd-sourced to the supportive masses who will have set aside their differences in search of a common purpose.

Calling for the nation to come together is unquestionably good. But, it's simply not good enough. Presidential leadership demands more, particularly in troubled times.

Being president means solving real problems by offering real solutions and finding ways to accomplish them. And, it's at exactly this point that the Obama Administration falls woefully short. President Obama has no solutions to offer at a time when America needs real solutions the most.

Thus, by choosing to call merely for transcendence instead of solving problems on his own, President Obama has shown that America's challenge isn’t just that we need a new mindset. It's not just that we need to be transcendent.

What we need is to elect a new president.

Van Magness Analyzes Illinois GOP Primary on NECN

Meredith Warren on NECN's Morning Show

Meredith Warren joined Stonehill College professor Peter Ubertaccio and NECN Morning Show host Bridget Blythe for a discussion of GOP presidential politics this morning, including a talk about today's GOP primary contests in Alabama and Mississippi.

Please click here to catch the full video:

Warren makes guest appearances on "Geraldo Rivera Show" and "The Takeaway"

Meredith Warren made several guest appearances on national radio shows this week.

In both cases, the subject of her talk was a discussion of the current state of the GOP and its popularity with female voters.

On Monday, Warren was a guest on Geraldo Rivera's radio show, broadcast live on KABC in Los Angeles. [Click for audio link.]

On Tuesday, Warren was a guest on NPR's The Takeaway, broadcast locally on WGBH radio. [Click for audio link.]

Meredith Warren Goes on CBC Radio's "The Current" to Discuss GOP Politics

Meredith Warren talks about 'Super Tuesday' on NECN

Meredith Warren joined Democratic analyst George Bachrach and host Steve Aveson on NECN's Morning Show this morning to discuss 'Super Tuesday' and the current status of the GOP race for President.

To view the video in full, please click here.

We offer debate analysis on NECN

Meredith Warren and Fred Van Magness took to the airwaves this week to do before and after analysis of the GOP presidential debate in Arizona. Both appeared on NECN's Morning Show with host Steve Aveson and Democratic analyst George Bachrach.

You can check out their appearances below:

Pre-debate Fred Van Magness February 22, 2012 Video Link

Post-debate Meredith Warren February 23, 2012 Video Link