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Republicans battle over ANWAR drilling
Bloomberg news reports that House Republican leadership dumped a provision within a $50.5 billion budget-cutting plan that would have allowed oil drilling in parts of the Alaska Artic National Wildlife Refuge. The change took place last night in an effort to regain the support of 26 dissenting Republicans who “objected to inclusion of the drilling provisions in legislation, which is designed to reduce the federal deficit by cutting government spending over five years.
In a letter to party leadership Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH) said that “Rather then reversing decades of protection for this publicly held land, focusing greater attention on renewable energy sources, alternate fuels, and more efficient systems and appliances would yield more net energy savings.” The letter was signed by all 26 Republicans against the drilling.
The spending cuts in the proposed legislation are a critical component of President Bush’s plans to cut the deficit and “the last-ditch effort by the leadership to avoid an embarrassing legislative defeat was the latest symptom of party unrest arising from instability in the leadership and anxiety about the 2006 elections,” the NY Times reports.
Left:Looks like some Republicans are finally realizing that short-term oil profits replacing one of the last places on earth where an intact expanse of arctic and subarctic lands remains protected, lacks merit.
Right:Seventy percent of Alaskans, and even the Inupiat Eskimos who live in and near ANWR support drilling. Alaskans pay zero state taxes and each man woman and child receives over $900 a year from the state’s oil royalties. Thus, I really don’t see the problem in drilling!
Corzine Pressed to appoint Codey
The Hill reports that Democratic leaders will press Governor-elect Jon Corzine (D-NJ) to appoint acting Gov. Richard Codey to fill Corzine’s post, a New Jersey Democratic official said yesterday.
While Corzine is the only one who can choose his replacement in the Senate, Codey has said he is unlikely to take the job if Corzine offers it to him. “His first inclination would be to say no because he really thinks it would be a strain on his family life,” said Codey spokeswoman Kelley Heck. “But he’s not saying he wouldn’t consider it.”
Democrats are aware that Codey has the highest name recognition of any of Corzine’s potential successors and that he remains well liked throughout the state. A Wall Street Journal/Zogby poll conducted in late September showed Codey narrowly beating the Republicans’ likely Senate nominee, state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., 45 to 41 percent. Two other Democrats who have been lobbying for the Senate seat, Reps. Rob Andrews and Robert Menendez, didn’t fare as well, with both losing to Kean in the poll.
Left:Even if Corzine were to appoint Menendez or Andrews, I still would expect them to keep the seat blue in ‘06, even with Kean as the opponent.
Right:If Corzine had any moxy, he would appoint McGreevy.
Social Security Reform: Dead
“I can’t even get consensus among Republicans, so I’m very pessimistic about it in the future. The next bite at the apple would come after the next presidential election.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who said Social Security is probably dead until 2009. The Finance Committee chairman is the first Senate leader to acknowledge publicly that consensus on overhauling the system is unachievable in the near future.
Left:Good, because there is no crisis.
Right:“If you don’t do anything [with Social Security], one of two things will happen. Either it will go broke and you won’t ever get it, or if we wait too long to fix it, the burden on society…”
-Bill Clinton February 9, 1998
-Bill Clinton February 9, 1998
Kerry would Beat Bush Today
From CBS News: If the 2004 election were held TODAY, who would you vote for (registered voters):
John Kerry: 41%
George W. Bush: 36%
Someone else: 13%
Not vote: 6%
Gov 2005: Corzine and Kaine Win
In New Jersey:
Precincts: 3,129 of 6,310 reporting
Corzine (D) 54.07
Forrester (R) 42.87
In Virginia:
Precincts: 91.14 percent reporting
Kaine (D) 51.55
Kilgore (R) 46.19
Potts (I) 2.18
Left:Nice night for the Democrats in VA and NJ. Now Mark Warner is even more formidable in ‘08, and now Corzine has to select a Senator to fill out his term.
Right:Tough time for the GOP. We’ve still got a year to turn it around before the ‘06 races.
NFL QB Shuler to run for Congress
Former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler (D) is challenging eight term incumbent Representative Charles H. Taylor (R) for his US House Seat in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina, according to the NY Times.
In areas such as this one in North Carolina, football loyalties run deeper than party lines. “Because Shuler is a Democrat who played football at the University of Tennessee, and because this part of western North Carolina generally votes Republican and roots for Tennessee, the endorsement usually goes this way: “You’re on the wrong side of the ticket, but you know what? I’m going to vote for you anyway.”
Shuler is a 33-year-old real estate executive who is best known elsewhere as one of the most disappointing draft picks in NFL history. “But in this area - in the Blue Ridge Mountains where North Carolina meets Tennessee - legends are built in high school and in college, not in the pros.”
Shuler is not a traditional Democratic candidate: he opposes abortion rights, gay marriage and gun control. “He is perhaps the only kind of Democrat who can compete in this part of North Carolina.”
Left:Although he ain’t a traditional dem socially, if he opposes reducing Medicaid, food stamps, student loans, agriculture subsidies and child support enforcement in favor of tax-cuts for the rich, then im all for him. Besides, I have his rookie card.
Right:I’m a loyal Jets fan, and if Joe Namath or Curtis Martin ran and courted my vote, I’d think twice. Loyalty, especially for a socially conservative Democrat, might be too much. We’ll see…
NJ Gov: Race tightens on Final Day
The latest NJ Governor’s Race Polls indicate a closer race than ever before between Jon Corzine (D) and Doug Forrester (R). Corzine’s lead in the Star-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers Poll is 6%, and his lead in the SurveyUSA poll is also 6%.
Left:If voter turnout is normal or better, Corzine wins.
Right:Nice weather in Jersey tomorrow, meaning higher turnout.
VA Gov: Kaine Leads in Latest Poll
According to the latest SurveyUSA poll, Tim Kaine (D) leads Jerry Kilgore (R) 50%-45% in the VA Governor’s race today.
Left:GOTV!
Right:The poll doesn’t look good, but let’s see.
Ombudsman’s Take: 24 Hour news and Public Policy
For the past two weeks Washington has been a buzz with several high-profile news stories: the withdrawl of the Miers nomination to the Supreme Court, the indictment of I. Lewis Libby in the CIA leak case, and then the second round nomination of Samuel Alito to the high court. These events are very important for our country and, rightfuly so, they have garnered a significant amount of media attention.
These news stories all arrived between a Thursday-Monday time period. Cable news outlets and the internet blogosphere seized the occasion and did not cease its 24/7 coverage. In yesterday’s New York Times, Todd S. Purdum wrote a thought provoking piece in which he purges the notion that perhaps it is the modern media’s instantaneous response to news events that cause so many hasty policy decisions in Washington.
Former Clinton press secretary and Kerry campaign spokesman Michael D. McCurry suggests, “We get so caught up in the news of the day…that we forget most of the country is still two or three days behind. Only smatters of information get through, and no sustained conversation about what matters most.”
Mr. Purdum says that the past week was a “good illustration” of how the media has begun to dictate the debate.The president laid out a plan to tackle the very serious threat of the avian flu, and a presidential commission outlined sweeping changes to the federal tax code. “But both events more or less got lost in the shuffle” of the Alito nomination, the Democrat’s move to send the Senate into closed door sessions, and the continuing CIA leak saga.
Right now in Washington there are many important stories unfolding, but few have a single unifying theme (”war,” “terrorism,” or even “indictment”). Instead the issues are spread all over the board, forcing each story to fight for attention. The media will of course highlight the sexiest, flashiest stories, leaving the necessary conversation about the other topics by the wayside. However, prolonged debate on the spot-light issues falls short as the attention span of 24/7 coverage wains. The media churns out headlines so fast that the news-makers barely have a chance to prepare their response, let alone hold meaningful debate over how to make policy on the issue.
Daniel Schorr, veteran journalist and senior news analyst for NPR, says that “a lot of government’s attention these days is focused on what do you say right away” as a response to breaking news coverage. Maybe those who deliever the news to the public as well as those who comment on it in the blogoshphere should allow adequate time for their subjects to deliberate the issues before making judgemental comments. Perhaps, then, sound and deliberate policy could be proposed, leaving less room for critique. Then again, that wouldn’t raise viewership and hit counts, now would it?
Left:The rise of 24/7 news coverage and the blogosphere has had a strong effect on politics. You can see it through the creation of rapid response teams and on the spot quotes and leaks to shape news stories. News is being made faster than ever before and newsmakers are running to keep pace. The new phenomena are forcing leaders to plan ahead more effectively to allow their policy choice to survive the inevitable tidal wave of coverage.
Right:This is just the media pretending it’s more important than it really is.
The West Wing Debate: Vinick (R) v. Santos (D)
Sunday Night, the hit TV political drama The West Wing on NBC had a live television debate between fictitious Presidential candidates Republicans Senator Arnold Vinick (R-CA) and Democrat Congressman Matthew Santos (D-TX).
The AP has a summary of the much publicized event. The event was realistic, spirited, and provocative. Both Alan Alda, who plays Vinick, and Jimmy Smits, who plays Santos were articulate, charming, impressive, and often inspiring.
Unlike most Presidential debates, on Vinick’s suggestion, the candidates scrapped the pre-negotiated debate rules and engaged in a real debate without rules. The format allowed for fierce discussion, even some fighting, much more intense debate, and far more entertainment than real presidential debates.
Here are the Santos and Vinick campaign websites.
Left:Santos won this debate. He looked more professional, smoother, calmer, and more Presidential! His attacks on both the oil industry and health care corporations, which are raking in record profits as Americans struggle, were phenomenal. Furthermore, Vinick looked mean-spirited. Point Santos!
Right:I think it’s clear that Vinick won this one big. He seemed smarter and more experienced. Furthermore, his monologue on African poverty made him look both fiscally conservative and compassionate, all while not being a social conservative. And Santos, while being charming, had left wing ideas like expanding Medicare to the whole nation. If America saw this debate, I bet this country would vote 65% to 35% for Vinick.
Liberal Image of the Day
Last week we stood up to the President for the first time in 5 years, and as Jon Stewart proclaimed, we finally saw “donkey testicles.” Whats in store for Batman and Robin this week? Picture courtesy of SamuelAlito.blogspot.com.
Washington Post Endorses Kaine
The Washington Post endorsed VA Gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine on Sunday.
According to the Post, “Mr. Kaine — forthright, proactive, inclusive, brimming with energy — is a far better candidate possessed of much clearer vision. He alone has the potential for excellence.”
Left:It’s Crunch Time and Kaine got some much needed help from the Post.
Right:The Washington Post: the second biggest in-kind campaign contributor to the Democratic Party. The New York Times is #1!
Congress 2006: Democrat Lead Grows
ABC News/Washington Post Poll: “If the election for the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2006 were being held today, would you vote for the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate in your congressional district?” If other/unsure: “Would you lean toward the Democratic candidate or toward the Republican candidate?”
All Adults:
Democrat: 53%
Republican: 36%
Registered Voters:
Democrat: 52%
Republican: 37%
Tip: PollingReport.
Left:Thats pretty damn close to rock-bottom for the GOP considering that 1/3rd of the country is a registered Republican.
Right:Does anyone other than me think the poll is skewed or incorrect and the country isn’t giving Democrats credit for having no ideas on all of the most pressing challenges the nation is facing?
Quote of the Day
“I think that judgment won’t be made until the bulk of us have had a chance to actually see him and speak to him. But I think the probability is that (a vote) will happen.”
– Democrat member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Joe Biden hinting that a Democratic filibuster of Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito would be unlikely.
Left:Remember, Clarence Thomas was doing well until we found out he put a pubic hair in someone’s coke. So lets not jump to conclusions on how this nomination will or will not go.
Right:While this is just a prediction, it seems unlikely that the Alito nomination will be filibustered. If Democrats filibuster, they’ll be writing off evangelicals for the next decade and swinging the Catholic vote further to the right with little to gain. Not only is it bad policy, it’s bad politics.
OH Senate: Hackett leads Dewine
According to the Wall Street Journal, Paul Hackett (D) leads incumbent Senator Mike Dewine (R) by 9% in their 2006 Senate match. Hackett is facing US Congressman Sherrod Brown for the Democratic Nomination.
Left:I wish Sherrod Brown would quit the Democratic Primary and let Hackett take this nomination. Brown is only going to drain Hackett’s resources, and if Brown himself won the nomination he would be far less likely to unseat Dewine than Hackett. Did I mention that I absolutely love Paul Hackett?
Right:So Hackett leads DeWine by about as much as Democrats seemingly lead Republicans in a 2006 poll, and his popularity is tied to the unpopularity of the Iraq War. If, as I suspect, the situation there improves and troop deployments are drawn down, the war will become more popular, and DeWine will win. If the opposite is true, and the situation does not improve or gets worse, than the DeWine’s Senate seat, may be the least of the Party’s woes.
To Our Readers
Sorry for not posting any news Thursday and today. Both Raj and I have been extremely busy, but we will be back up on Monday. Please check the site then, thank you.
One Year Ago…Election Day 2004
Today marks one year from Election Day 2004. At approximately 1 am, FOX News called Ohio for Bush, thus confirming his victory. The image is from the JibJab video.
When all was said and done, Bush received 286 votes, Kerry received 252.
Left:I was told at 9pm from a “reliable” FL-pollster that Kerry “definitley” won Florida, and thus the election. That certainly didn’t help what was to come.
Right:Best day of my life!
Blog Reactions: Dem’s Forcing Closed Session
In response to the Democratic motion Tuesday to force the Republican-controlled Senate into a closed session over the Bush administration’s use of intelligence and the Senate’s willingness to examine it, DC Debate examines how Liberal and Conservative blogs have reacted.
At Kos, Hunter notes that Reid’s decision move was “political brilliance on more fronts than I can count.” It forced the Senate to agree to finally investigate the bogus Iraq War intelligence. It absolutely nails the Republicans to the wall on Plamegate. It disrupts the Alito hackery of the right, and shows Democrats are serious about the Republicans’ ongoing dismissal of critical national security matters.
At Powerline, Paul notes that “Minority leader Reid used the Libby indictment as a pretext for this meaningless stunt.” The Democrats must feel that they are losing momentum now that the Republicans have their act together on the Supreme Court, and Fitzgerald did not indict Rove.
Left:I am as proud today of the Democratic party as I have ever been. Politics aside, Reid and co.’s motion will allow the Senate to examine fullheartedly the falsified intelligence that lead our country to war. It’s nice to know our leadership has balls again. Keep giving ‘um hell Harry.
Right:I guess the Alito nomination really hit a nerve. Or maybe it was the fact that today is the one year anniversy of America’s mandate to keep Democrats out of power. Nice stunt though Harry. Is this part of your scheme to scandalize Bush and the GOP because you don’t any constructive ideas of their own?
Edwards and McCain: Most ‘08 Crossover Appeal
A Pew Research Poll looked at 2008 crossover appeal and found that ‘08 hopefulls John Edwards (D-NC) ands John McCain (AZ-R) receive the most appeal from independants and their opposite political parties, respectively.
Edwards has the greatest crossover appeal among Democratic candidates. He is viewed favorably by 68% of independents, and 48% of Republicans. McCain is viewed favorably by 78% of independants, and 78% of Democrats.
“By comparison, Sens. Hillary Clinton and John Kerry remain highly polarizing figures” outside of the Democratic Party. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani performed well among independants and Democrats.
Left:If Edwards can put a national-security VP on his ticket, he could be very formidable in ‘08. Edwards/Clark?
Right:Crossover appeal didn’t really win 2004 for the President. Maybe crossover appeal isn’t what its cracked up to be.