MICHIGAN STRAW POLL-- ROMNEY BOUGHT TOP PLACE AS USUAL BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT RON PAUL BEAT GIULIANI & FREDERICK OF HOLLYWOOD

No one exactly expected Rudy Giuliani to win over the NRA Convention this week, although some people admired his gumption for even showing up at all. After all, NRA members are well aware that as mayor of NYC Giuliani didn't just back gun control laws, but that he sued gun manufacturers, claiming that they are responsible for crimes committed by people using guns. Nor did they enjoy Giuliani calling them "an extremist group" back in the '90s before he ever dreamed he'd need their votes for something. They hate him and many NRA members would support a Democrat over Giuliani any day of the week, particularly Bill Richardson, who also addressed the conclave (the only Democratic presidential candidate to do so).

Politicized gun worshippers, like most of the radical right, are stuck without a candidate and are part of why "None of the Above" wins every Republican presidential preference poll. The pathetic pygmies™ seem none too appetizing to anyone. But "None of the Above" wasn't allowed on the straw poll ballot the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference held on Mackinac Island. No one was surprised that the tiny varmint hunter came in first since, as he always does, he paid for hundreds of people to attend. Observers discount his first place finish with a sneer. Earlier, at the NRA meeting, McCain had, in fact, summed Full O' Mitt up to the satisfaction of many wing-nuts, pointing out that Romney is all wrong if he thinks that claiming "bona fides by hunting ducks or varmints or quail, it makes up for support for gun control." Romney has been determined to get beyond being just "the untrustworthy Mormon candidate" and he has. He is now the untrustworthy flip-flip candidate with lots of money who is a Mormon.

So Romney's millions bought him 39% of the 979 votes cast and lots of eye-rolling and shrugging. McCain, who has just lost his Michigan State Chairman, Attorney General Mike Cox-- and no, since I know what you're thinking, Cox wasn't caught in a men's room blowing an undercover officer in diapers like other McCain state chairmen-- came in a surprising second. Third place went to Loonitarian Ron Paul, primarily as a protest vote among the 10% of Republicans who, like normal Americans, would like to end the occupation of Iraq. The shock, though, was that Paul beat Giuliani and Frederick of Hollywood, who showed up, spoke (really badly) and impressed no one at all-- not even far right extremists who thought he would save their crumbling universe. There were a scattering of votes for Duncan Hunter, Huckabee and Brownback (all together about equal to Sir Frederick's) and Tancredo didn't get a single vote.


YOU WONDER WHY GUN OWNERS HATE MITT ROMNEY ALMOST AS MUCH AS THEY HATE GIULIANI?

No wonder most NRA members are rooting for Bill Richardson this year! Here's some more of ole flip-floppin' Mitt: