Obama campaigned for Jon Corzine in New Jersey and Corzine lost.

Obama campaigned for Creigh Deeds in Virginia and Deeds lost.

Obama campaigned for Martha Coakley in Massachusetts and Coakley lost.

Obama campaigned for Harry Reid in Nevada last week and guess what happened…

Reid got no bounce from Obama’s visit on Feb. 19, when the president spoke highly of him at Green Valley High School and to business leaders at CityCenter, polling indicates.

A larger percentage of voters surveyed (17 percent) said they would be less likely to vote for Reid following the president’s visit than said they would be more likely to vote for him (7 percent). Seventy-five percent said Obama’s visit would have no effect on how they vote.

“Reid was not helped, and Obama was not any more popular than he was before he came to the state,” said Brad Coker, managing director at Mason-Dixon Polling & Research.

Democrats have long thought that President Obama’s personal popularity is their secret weapon. They’re repeatedly proven wrong but they keep trying to use the same strategy. What was it Einstein said about the definition of insanity?

Oh yeah.

Many people are noticing a Libertarian shift in the GOP, especially since CPAC this past weekend. I seem to remember a certain blogger predicting a Libertarian shift in the GOP as far back as July, 2009. Let me see, who was that again? Oh yeah…

IT WAS ME.

Mike Huckabee doesn’t like this shift and went so far as to criticize CPAC this year for being too Libertarian but as Allahpundit points out at Hot Air, this just makes the Huckster look a bit out of touch…

What political benefit is there, in this year of all years, to knock CPAC for being “more libertarian” and “less Republican”? Libertarianism has never had more cachet within the GOP than it has right now; it’s not perfectly synonymous with the tea-party movement (of which Huckabee is predictably complimentary) but it’s close enough, especially with Beck in the role of TPers’ patron saint.

My feeling is that Mike Huckabee is just angry about Ron Paul winning the CPAC straw poll this year. If you remember the Republican primaries leading up to the 2008 election, you’ll recall that there was no love between Huck and Paul as they both slugged it out to the end, even when it was apparent that McCain was the nominee.

But forget about the Ron Paul win in the straw poll. It’s very doubtful that Ron Paul would run in 2012 and even if he did, the chances of him getting the nomination are slim to none. The significance of Paul’s libertarian leanings are the only matter of relevance. His young supporters from the Campaign for Liberty were out in force at CPAC. Even Ann Coulter acknowledged the libertarian contingency in the room.

Even Ann Coulter, who drew a huge crowd herself, felt compelled to give a shout out to Paul-mania, saying she agreed with everything he stands for outside of foreign policy — a statement met with cheers.

The younger, Libertarian Republicans in the room were largely responsible for booing one speaker offstage when he singled out a gay Republican group which had co-sponsored the event. Whether the establishment GOP realizes it or not, this was a defining moment which wasn’t lost on the conservative gay blog, Gay Patriot…

Folks, I’m relegated to writing this from my iPhone. But it is big news and a huge topic tonight at CPAC.Earlier today, during a student activist session on the CPAC main stage, one brave young man thanked the group for including GOProud as a sponsor this year. A few minutes later, another student launched into an anti-gay tirade from the same podium. The CPAC attendees turned on him and booed him off-stage.

You see, when libertarians and conservatives can focus on fiscal conservatism, smaller government and increased personal liberty, amazing things can happen. It also scares the living hell out of rank and file Democrat voters. Even the liberal gay blog Americablog sat up and took notice…

When conservatives are standing up for gays, and Democrats treat us like we are an embarrassment, there’s a problem. And when the Republicans increasingly say the right things, like repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell now, and even supporting marriage, and all the Democrats show is political homophobia, gays get the message. To the White House, the DNC, and our leadership in Congress: You are messing with people’s lives, and we know it. And the day that an anti-gay bigot gets booed at CPAC, you all better start being very afraid.

If libertarians feel as welcome in the Republican Party as social conservatives, and they should, America’s independent voters will follow in even greater numbers.

If that alliance can hold together in 2010 and 2012, it will be an unstoppable force.

Young Libertarian style Republicans care about fiscal conservatism, defense, liberty, love of country, and many more of the same things that motivate conservatives. What they don’t care about is if their friends and neighbors are gay or straight, what people choose to eat drink and smoke, and which religion a person does or does not practice.

If the GOP really wants to attract more young voters, they will embrace this young Libertarian Republican faction. With their enthusiasm and activism the sky would be the limit.

Just remember, I said “if.”

Hey Folks. I’m making one final appeal to ask you to hit my tip jar to help send me to CPAC. You’re the only way I can do it and you don’t need to give very much to help make it happen but time is running short. If I’m going to make it to the conference I’ve got to come up with the money in about 48 hours.

I can go to CPAC if:

30 people give $35 each.
50 people give $20 each.
100 people give $10 each.

The tip jar is at the top of the column on your right.

If you’re a reader of American Glob, please consider helping out. I would like to be at CPAC covering it for you live and in person.

Thanks for your time.

Aleister

Evan Bayh (D IN) has announced his retirement. Why? The guy has $13 million in his campaign war chest and was running 20 points ahead of his competitors in the polls. This is a guy who was considered VP material by Democrats in 2009.

Are Democrats that nervous after the election of Scott Brown? Bayh’s decision pretty much hands his senate seat to the GOP in November.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh announced Monday that he will not seek re-election this November, an unexpected decision that hands Republicans an opportunity for a pick-up in a year when Democrats are already defending several open Senate seats.

Bayh, calling his decision a “very difficult, deeply personal” one, said he had been discouraged by the intense partisanship on Capitol Hill and that he had no interest in running in November solely “for the sake of winning an election.”

The situation is prompting liberal bloggers to use the obvious headline.

OK, the CATO Institute didn’t actually say that Libertarians are wicked smart but they did suggest that Libertarian minded voters are probably the lead indicator of political trends in 2010.

David Kirby and David Boaz wrote the report:

Libertarian — or fiscally conservative, socially liberal — voters are often torn between their aversions to the Republicans’ social conservatism and the Democrats’ fiscal irresponsibility. Yet libertarians rarely factor into pundits’ and pollsters’ analyses.

In 2004 libertarians swung away from Bush, anticipating the Democratic victories of 2006. In 2008, according to new data in this paper, libertarians voted against Barack Obama. Libertarians seem to be a lead indicator of trends in centrist, independent-minded voters. If libertarians continue to lead the independents away from Obama, Democrats will lose 2010 midterm elections they would otherwise win.

We find that 14 percent of American voters can be classified as libertarian. Other surveys find a larger number of people who hold views that are neither consistently liberal nor conservative but are best described as libertarian. A 2009 Gallup poll found that 23 percent held libertarian views. A Zogby poll found that 59 percent considered themselves “fiscally conservative and socially liberal,” and 44 percent agreed that they were “fiscally conservative and socially liberal, also known as libertarian.”

Read it all here.

BONUS VIDEO: The CATO guys analyze the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts. “This is like Ted Kennedy being elected in Utah.”

Oh, but watch out for the CATO Institute! According to the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee), those Libertarians are just a bunch of right wing extremists!

My only question is… When does Mark Steyn get his own FOX News show?

Based on the polling data of Luntz and others, count on a bill in 2010 or 2011 that pushes voter rights for “undocumented citizens.”

When Democrats realize Obama faces a serious re-election challenge in 2012, they’ll do whatever they can to bolster their ranks including promises of citizenship for Democrat votes.

I hope I’m wrong but I’ve gotten to the point where I won’t put anything past the Democrats.

They’ll sell out America and even their own base if they think it will keep them in power.

And how right he is…

If you can’t stand to watch this whole video (I can’t blame you) just skip ahead to 7:47 for the good part. The transcript is below the video.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

David Gregory: …What does the president need to address to keep his own party in line? Should there be personnel changes in the White House? What do you think the left is going to demand?

KOS: Well, 2006 is going to be a base year. It’s going to be a base election.

David Gregory: 2010, you mean.

KOS: I mean 2010.

David Gregory: Yeah.

KOS: And according to my own polling, we use an independent pollster, 86 percent of Republicans plan on turning out or are likely to turn out. Only 56 percent of Democrats are – similarly believe they’re going to turn out or likely to turn out. Only 32 percent of African-Americans, only 41 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds. We have numbers like that, we’re going to get killed in 2010. So the Democrats have to start paying attention to the base, have to start probably picking some fights. I mean, maybe regulatory reform could be a way to do that.

Commiseration…

Welcome to the second installment of a new series here at American Glob where I present an interview with a political blogger to get their opinion on a host of subjects.

Today I’m speaking with Dan Riehl of Riehl World View, a daily must-read blog on the conservative side of the web. Dan has been interviewed on TV news and talk radio for his political opinions. Below, we discuss the future of the GOP, Libertarian Conservatism, the Obama Agenda and more. I’m honored to have Dan as a guest on American Glob.

Aleister: Dan, thanks for chatting with me. Riehl World View rocks, your site must get mad traffic.

Dan Riehl: Thank you for the compliment. I do my best. As for traffic, I wouldn’t say that. It goes up and down. Right now it’s averaging about 13k a day. But if I back off, or slow down, it can drop to about 5 or 6k in less than a week. Traffic is only one part of blogging. What you’re saying or doing and who’s reading you is just as important, if not more so. When I covered the Natalee Holloway story I was in the Top Ten at TTLB, even ahead of Michelle Malkin. But Crime isn’t where I want to make a difference right now, not that I minded the people clicking in.

Aleister: How would you summarize your political views?

Dan Riehl: A mix of conservative and libertarian philosophy, far more libertarian than what the Left would give me credit for. Somewhere in the middle of those two. I appreciate the proper role of and need for government. But in no way do I like seeing it so overdone.

Aleister: Where did you grow up and how did that help to shape your political views?

Dan Riehl: I grew up in New Jersey and was either a more Left-leaning libertarian, or liberal, in fact, given what liberalism represented at the time. That’s changed. Many self-identified conservatives are more classically liberal than Progressives are today. College was the turning point for me.

I edited the college newspaper and considered myself a reasonably responsible libertarian, or moderate, perhaps. But there was a huge controversy during my tenure that put me on a crash course with the Academic Left. It was with professors, more than it was students, in fact. I discovered that while trying to be a balanced, responsible editor, giving all sides their room, it simply wasn’t going to be tolerated by the Left.

I’ll spare the details. But it became a huge issue and even made front page news away from the campus media. It was that which taught me what the modern Left is really about. Since then, I have feared them far more than I ever have even the so-called fringe Right. The Left is Stalin-esque in their tactics and intolerant to the max.

Aleister: How did you start out as a political writer and commentator?

Dan Riehl: I didn’t do any after college, opting for business, instead. Though I have always maintained a political streak, it surfaced more at election time, than regularly. But the 2004 election was important to me. It was then that I first discovered blogs.

As an egotist, it wasn’t long before I decided I could do it as well, if not better than many. So, I launched my first blog in 2004 and have been at it almost daily ever since. The only reason I can comprehend for that is that I’m also a bit nutz.

Aleister: What sources do you visit daily for political news and information?

Dan Riehl: Twitter is becoming increasingly important in my blogging as regards sourcing. Other than that, it’s Michelle Malkin, Instapundit and Memeorandum. From there, I head out to the wires, and/or various news services to see what’s breaking right then. Nearly all of my subject matter comes from the above sources, or email tips.

Aleister: Who are your favorite/least favorite political bloggers?

Dan Riehl: Favorites is an uncomfortable term. There are so many unique blogs and bloggers, it’s hard to compare them straight up. For red meat issues and content delivery, Malkin is the best of the best. In terms of trends and what may resonate more broadly, there’s Instapundit. For DC politics from a conservative slant, there’s RedState. If I want some funny, there’s Ace. But there are good and bad in every category and more. Who am I to really judge? I just know what I like and those are the ones I find myself paying attention to most.

Aleister: Let me ask you about President Obama’s agenda – Healthcare, Cap and Trade, the expansion of government. In your opinion, which item should cause Americans the most concern?

Dan Riehl: They all should. However, Cap and Trade is by far the worst. It will touch everything. There will be no private sector left, not that there really is one now due to government over-regulation.

Aleister: What’s the best/worst thing about Democrats and Republicans?

Dan Riehl: Many of the current crop of Republicans have lost touch with the base. They went to Washington with Reagan and became of Washington and not of their various states, except for pork and spending initiatives. That has to stop or the GOP is doomed.

As far as the Democrats, there’s nothing right with them today so far as I can tell. They have sold out to the Progressive Left. It isn’t even American at heart.

Aleister: What are your thoughts on Libertarians?

Dan Riehl: Too many appear to be raw idealists, as bad as the Progressives, or elements of the Right that are intolerant, or unrealistic. Without government there would be anarchy. Often times I see too many Libertarians who act as if that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. That’s a childish, naive view, as unrealistic as the extreme of any one ideology. I’d like to see some of them become more pragmatic.

Aleister: If the Republican Party asked for your advice in three points, what would you say?

Dan Riehl: You need new faces, fresh people more to the Right of what you presently have. Stop being afraid or ashamed of conservatism and start talking back and facing down the liberals in the press. Talk to the American people straight from a solid heart. I believe the vast majority of America remains center-Right. But Republicans have to dump the hypocrites. There are too many of them in DC right now.

Aleister: On 12/07/09, Rasmussen Reports said that a “Tea Party” would outpace the Republican Party. Would a third party movement guarantee re-election for President Obama in 2012?

Dan Riehl: Yes, absolutely. That poll means nothing. I didn’t even post on it. It’s more a complaint with the government and many politicians we have than anything else. Put a name and a face on Tea Party candidates, run them against the Dems and the GOP and you’d be lucky to win any congressional seats. People should overlook it. It’s a distraction more than it is anything else. That’s true except for the general dissatisfaction across the electorate it registers.

Aleister: The “Tea Party” is not an official party. It’s a coalition of disaffected Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and Conservative Independents. How can this movement of activists/voters be united in 2010? 2012?

Dan Riehl: The GOP has to go to them and mean it. There is no other course. I suspect the vast majority of them either already are, or will find themselves aligned with the GOP in 2010. If they don’t, we’re doomed. Obama and the Democrats will destroy America and run away to hide in an elitist, untouchable and unresponsive ruling class. They’ll be holding too many cards if we don’t throw them out in 2010, or at least significantly rein them in.

Aleister: What are your top 3 favorite musicians/bands?

Dan Riehl: Again with the favorites. ha! I like good blues playing but listen to a broad spectrum of music when I’m of a mind too. Most of my favorites go back to the 70’s, along with even earlier music released in 45, as I collected them. The Allman Brothers, Temptations and Four Tops, Otis Redding, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King and others – how do you pick a favorite from that bunch and so many others of similar quality? You can’t.

Aleister: What are your top 3 favorite movies?

Dan Riehl: Patton, Something About Mary and I like a lot of Sci-Fi, too. Action flicks rate high. But, again, when people want to talk favorites, I’m lost. Oh, Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, Lord of the Rings and some Star Wars flicks deserve Honorable Mentions, I guess. I enjoy fantasy like Harry Potter, as well. But Tolkien was always a sort of favorite, among others. Hey, I love video games, too. I’m not as old fashioned as I might seem. I’m more of an eclectic with many things, if I had to use one word to describe likes and dislikes.

Aleister: Dan, thanks so much for chatting with me and the great writing you do on Riehl World View.

Dan Riehl: Thank you. Best of luck with your blog. Keep blogging, it’s all any one blogger can do if they want to make a difference somehow.

Thanks for reading this interview, folks. In case you missed it, last week I had a conversation with Smitty from The Other McCain which you can read HERE.

Stay tuned, I already have my interview subject lined up for next week and it should prove fascinating.

This should be interesting…

“NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The first National Tea Party convention is going to be held in Music City, with Sarah Palin as the keynote speaker.”

“The former vice presidential nominee is on a three-week book tour promoting her just-released best seller titled “Going Rogue.”

“Palin will be in Nashville for the tea party convention held Feb. 4 to 6 at Gaylord Opryland.”

“Tickets are $549 each.”

The official convention site is HERE.