National Review:

There’s a reason rogue regimes such as North Korea try so hard to acquire nuclear capability. It empowers their conventional aggression by protecting them from reprisals that threaten to remove them from power. That’s because the civilized world knows that, if pushed too far, the regimes can use nuclear weapons against undefended targets. Even if the threat to launch is a bluff, it’s not a bluff the United States can afford to call. Kim Jong Un knows that, whatever else happens as a result of his aggressive tactics, nuclear capability means that he’s not likely to end up in a spider hole the way Saddam Hussein did.

That makes provocation a no-lose proposition for the North Korean regime. At worst, from Kim’s point of view, he can challenge his enemies with no consequences that he cares about. (Economic sanctions against North Korea are almost meaningless, at least as long as it has China’s support.) At best, he can create a crisis and then negotiate a “solution” which extracts concessions in return for promises he can later ignore. Read more…Similar Posts:

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During his talk, Talent spoke critically of the recent sequester for its mandatory cuts to the defense budget. He voiced concern over the national security risks that could result from cuts in military spending.

“What’s happening with the defense sequester is in my judgment the worst thing for American national security in the 20 years that I’ve been involved,” Talent said.

He fielded questions from an audience composed mostly of UMSL students, faculty and staff and distributed copies of two recent articles he’d written for the National Review: “Defense is not optional” and “Rough times coming for America.” Read more…

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On Wednesday October 17, 2012 Sinclair News questioned American Conservative Union Executive Director and former Sen. Jim Talent staffer Gregg Keller at the ACU HQ in Washington, DC.

Keller answered questions about ACU/CPAC goals of bringing conservatives from all walks of like into the ACU tent; Liberty Movement involvement in CPAC; Presidential Debates; Romney-Ryan; Benghazi; the Clintons; Occupy & the TEA Party. Read more…

Hat tip:SinclairNews

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Hat tip: Igor Volsky

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“I think the numbers are something like the campaign spent $55 million, campaign alone, I’m not talking about super PAC money, $55 million as of January 31st,” she added.

“The other way of looking at that,” Sen. Talent responded, “is that if you can’t raise any money, it has a bearing on whether you’re a good candidate, and whether you can beat Barack Obama. It’s all part of being a good candidate, having an organization, having a strong message, being energetic on the stump, raising money.”

Of course, the money will be there for whomever the nominee is, and although fundraising certainly can be an indicator of support, this isn’t the year to make the case that it trumps the enthusiasm of grassroots voters. The Romney campaign needs to come up with better answers than these, if such answers exist. Read more…

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Really? A voice for limited government?

Sen. Kit Bond: “The Senate Financial Rescue Bill Includes a Host of Taxpayer Protections”

Sen. Kit Bond: “Rescue for Fannie and Freddie Should Protect Taxpayers Before Wall Street Shareholders”

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Former Senator Jim talent is taking a little grief from the media on his attack on Rick Santorum’s voting record:

The Weekly Standard:

Talent continued, pointing to a few votes that show Santorum’s “liberal” spending record. “I want to note that Senator Santorum voted for No Child Left Behind, which was a big expansion of federal power over local education,” he said. “He voted for Medicare Part D, a big expansion of a federal entitlement.”

Asked about the validity of these criticisms, particularly since Talent himself had a similar voting record to Santorum while both men served in the Senate, Talent said he would be “happy” to compare his record to Santorum’s if they were running against each other.

Talent followed up with THE WEEKLY STANDARD, calling back to explain his comments further. Talent clarified that he didn’t mean to say that Santorum’s (and his own) votes for bills like Medicare Part D can’t “be explained or justified, because they can” but that Santorum’s self-described image as a true conservative doesn’t reflect the truth. Read more…

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Hat tip:biosecuritycntr

Senator Jim Talent, Vice Chairman, The WMD Center, discusses “Talking Biosecurity with the Public” at a special symposium, Charting the Future of Biosecurity: Ten Years after the Anthrax Attacks, held October 4, 2011, in Washington, DC.

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Slate.com: “One reason I’m so bullish on Mitt this time is that I think he’s finding his moment,” said former Sen. Jim Talent, a Romney surrogate. “He’s talking about the economy and he’s been talking about it. Remember, in 2007, the surge in Iraq became the issue, and that benefited John McCain. I think you’re seeing something similar happen here with the economy and Mitt.” –Former Sen. Jim TalentSimilar Posts:

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“When it was announced that Hitler had died, my grandmother commented: “The Devil has a companion.” Thanks to our heroic American special operations forces, the Devil has yet another companion.” – Former Sen. Jim Talent

Read more…

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Remember, you read it here first. Sources tell MOPNS that Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is NOT planning a run for U.S. Senate in 2012.

St. Louis Beacon:

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said Wednesday night that she has yet to make a decision on whether to run for the U. S. Senate in 2012 — denying reports on the internet and Twitter that she has opted against it.

“I have made no decision,” said Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, in a telephone interview. She attributed Wednesday’s blitz of online speculation to the usual “stuff out of Jefferson City” every two years that wrongly asserts “I’m not running re-election.”

The congresswoman (right) said she plans to take a few more weeks to mull over the possibility of a Senate challenge of Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, to discuss the matter with allies, family and fellow Republicans. Read more…

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