7/28: All Quiet On The Washington Front

It's almost August in the nation's capital. The House spends today madly voting before kicking off a five-week campaign sprint, while the Senate will spend one more leisurely week before taking a break. The city's clearing out. Everyone at the Blogometer's place of employ glances at the clocks, waiting for publication so we can all run home. It is, in the end, likely to be a slow month.

Anticipation of that slow-down is taking a toll on the blogosphere as well. The CT SEN battle is so quiet it doesn't even make our lead (okay, except for that), and instead of obsessively covering that race, we take a stroll around the blogosphere to check in on the lesser-watched races.

If August is slow, and therefore without much news, journalists will be more likely to pontificate. If we had to pontificate, by the way, we'd say that a certain Rep. from NoVA (R-Orange Line) may be hearing a little more about a story from today's Washington Post. Just a few bloggers have picked it up so far, but we're sure others will follow. Then again, maybe it's just the heat.

CONGRESS: Minimum Effort

The New York Timesreports that Congressional GOPers could allow a vote on raising the minimum wage as early as today, giving moderates something to campaign on when they get home for August recess. Righty Sundries Shack details reasons -- economic and social -- why the minimum wage shouldn't be raised, and concludes: "The Republicans have learned a trick the Democrats mastered decades ago: You don't need to actually bring a cogent argument to the table when you can simply take money from some people and give it to others in order to buy their votes in November." Mark Kleiman sees a political aspect to the move as well: "Whatever one's views on the merits of increasing the minimum wage, for the House Republican leadership to schedule a vote on it now suggests that their electoral panic is deeper than they have let on." == Joe in DC says word on the street is that "the GOP will definitely offer several poison pills to undermine the legislation. The Republicans spend a lot and energy screwing over the poor. Someone should suggest legislation that members of Congress make the minimum wage."

DEMOCRATS: Do Not Give This Man Whiskey

Peter Beinart continues his crusade for a "fighting faith" of liberalism on the op-ed page of the Washington Post, writing that Dems have finally hit on "their own approach to post-Sept. 11 foreign policy.... It's called pandering. In those rare cases when George W. Bush shows genuine sensitivity to America's allies and propounds a broader, more enlightened view of the national interest, Democrats will make him pay. It's jingoism with a liberal face." There wasn't a great deal of reaction this a.m., but the lefties who opined weren't happy. Rising Hegemon's Attaturk asks "While all those so-called panderers like Howard Dean were opposing the launch of the Clusterf*** formerly known as Iraq, what was brave, brave, prime fightin' age Beinart doing? Oh, yes, decrying people like Howard Dean who were opposed to the invasion of Iraq as being not just a mistake but counterproductive to terrorism." Nitpicker says Beinart has a four-part plan for Dem victory:

"1. Support Arab leaders who back Hezbollah2 . Support Bush's plan to hand over ports to Dubai3 . Support an amnesty for insurgents who attack our troops4 . Just, in general support Bush and his war, which would mean siding with a minority of Americans"

Righty Blue Crab Boulevard suspects Beinart "just got himself dropped from a number of Democratic politician's Christmas card lists. I also rather think he doesn't give a fig. Writing in the Washington Post he describes what he sees as the new Democratic party policy. Pander and run. It's a brutal assessment. This is as rough as it gets in assessing the party strategy up until now. Beinart is tough as heck on the Democratic 'leadership' -- and with good cause. What they have been doing is shameful, sleazy pandering. Mostly playing to the left, the Pelosi-Reid strategy is to be against Bush -- even if it screws allies. That one of Pelosi's strongest allies is the execrable John Murtha pretty well wraps it up. Read this whole thing. It is as good as it gets."

CNN reports on Dems' "New Direction For America" strategy. Hotline On Call (go team!) analyzed the potential for the Dems and their message to hold up until 11/06. Writing at The Huffington Post, Sen Min Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) gives a human touch to his party's platform. == Righties, meanwhile, started right in attacking the plan's weaknesses. Brian at righty Iowa Voice said he could read the headline and know what the Dem plan is: "increase taxes, increase spending, impeach Bush, dismantle the Patriot Act and the Dept. of Homeland Security, return to the old welfare system, and surrender in the war on terror." Dangerous Dan said at the "Democratic website, you can't find a single detail on any one of them; at least I couldn't. If you can find some, please share them with me." Pamela Leavey at The Democratic Daily is sharing the details that she found here here and urging Dems to "get out and get involved." == AmericaBLOG's Joe in DC says the GOP's '06 "strategy is a disaster -- it's literally killing people."

REPUBLICANS: Run For The Broder

Washington Post's David Broderwrites that an old friend who helped build the Southern GOP is so angry he can barely stand to vote for his party. That touched off a debate over the role of the party and the Pres. in the 11/06 elections, with a side controversy over Broder's sanity. California Conservative thinks it "sounds like the rantings of another misinformed blueblood RINO. ... Broder needs to get out into the heartland because he's convinced himself that the Washington, DC GOP is the majority. ... Politics are driven now by the activists, not the bureaucrats. It's also disappointing to hear Broder believe the canard that the Bush administration caters only to the Religious Right. It's stupid to think that that's accurate. If the Bush administration only cared about the Religious Right, then the GOP would be a minority party." == On the contrary, DemFromCT at The Next Hurrah thinks the press is "catching on not only to the fact that this guy [Bush] isn't so popular, but that he's not going to ever be popular again. it changes the narrative, and since we're so close to November, it's unlikely that the narrative is going to change. Americans want a Dem Congress; Dems are both more motivated and (apparently) more numerous than their political opposites, and the Republican Congress, the Bush agenda, and WH freedom from oversight are all at risk. I hope it's not too late to salvage something from the political and governance wreckage caused by this President." Moderate amba at Donklephant wasn't as sure of the 11/06 outcome as the righties and lefties were, but is sure that "whichever party nominates a centrist, defensively hawkish, fiscally and socially sane candidate will win -- unless of course it's Hillary Clinton."

ISRAEL: Well, He Got Them To Shake Hands, At Least

Clinton Sec/State Warren Christopherwrites that instead of continuing to support Israel's campaign in Lebanon, the U.S. must press for an "immediate cease-fire" between Israel and Hezbollah with negotiations on "longer-term arrangements" following the cession of violence. Yoss at lefty Deny My Freedom thought it was a "devastating" critique of the Bush admin and has "said for the last week or so that the options for Democrats on this issue were limited at best. But as the days go on, and the deaths continue to mount, it has become clear that there is an alternative to silence, both for this administration and for the Democrats in Congress." == The Corner's Mona Charen writes "This is the Christopher who spent most of his time in office cooling his heels in the outer office of [ex-Syrian leader] Hafez Assad. (His successor spent most of her time importuning Yasser Arafat.) That worked out really well, didn't it? He now counsels (surprise!) that we must use our prestige to force an immediate ceasefire. There you have it. Calling all Jewish Democrats: This is what you'll get with the next Democratic president -- pressure on Israel not to defend herself." Israel Matzav notes that the Israelis haven't requested a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire as Christopher said they did during his tenure and that "Bush recognizes what Christopher's former boss and Kerry would not recognize: that anytime the United States shows support for Israel, most or all (and I say most because Tony Blair has been mostly decent in this crisis) of America's 'closest allies' are critical. When the allies need America again, the 'reputation' will be irrelevant. The United States is and for the foreseeable future will remain the leading power of the Western World. Support for Israel shows a moral decency that many of America's 'allies' are lacking. It should be praised, not criticized." Soccer Dad picks apart the piece by "clueless" Christopher, graph-by-graph. The righty pile-on continued at It Shines For All and The American Thinker.

WH '08: Just Asking, Anyone In Favor Of A Permanent Ban On "Draft This Guy" Blogs?

Captain's Quarters informs us that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) "has quietly removed himself from campaign-finance reform efforts in Congress. After infuriating conservatives with his efforts to impose speech limits -- and with the mostly unsuccessful efforts to muzzle the blogosphere -- McCain's name no longer appears on a public-financing campaign bill that he had at one time co-authored. The Senator wants to avoid looking like a hypocrite if he chooses to waive public funding, as both George Bush and John Kerry did for the 2004 primaries, in his 2008 run for President. His reformer partner in the House, [Rep.] Christopher Shays [R-CT], tried to give him some cover by telling The Sun that he would not advise anyone to agree to public financing in the current system."

Romney Report thinks the resignation of Big Dig/Transit chief Matt Amorello was a "big day" for Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and that he showed his "business and law acumen, [when] Mitt pointed out provisions negating the possibility of a 'golden parachute' for Mr. Amorello. ... Mr. Romney's intelligence and experience provide him with a solid understanding he is able to clearly articulate. It is this characteristic I believe will be most beneficial to him in the presidential primary."

Giuliani Blog wants to "refresh everyone's memory, Mitt Romney has campaigned in the past on the belief that abortion 'remains safe and legal'. If it was so easy for Mitt to flip his abortion stance, (so much so that Lifenews now groups him with Pro-Life candidates in this piece), why are people so skeptical of Rudy's chances should he change his position?"

The New Republic features a story that argues the real split in the Dem party is between Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and DNC chair Howard Dean, with HRC as the insurgent to Dean's establishment. Kitty at DailyKos attacks HRC and Bill Clinton of not being "on the same page as Dean, the DNC or the netroots. They are playing the old trianglization [sic] game. This time with their own party. They just don't understand the the GOP came to power by respecting and using all of their constituency & organizations. Hillary is hoping to marginalize [sic] Dean (DNC) and split the blogesphere [sic] to come to power.

Meanwhile, last p.m.'s Kos poll asked what bug respondents would plant in HRC's ear, should they have the chance. 32% responded with "tell me again what you stand for," while 30% wanted to tell her not to run. Just 1% wanted to tell her to make a WH bid. That's half the number who voted for "Forget Bill -- take me now ... now!"

New West Network reports ex-Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) is going to MT for a Raise Montana rally on 8/8. "Edwards will be talking about Montana's minimum wage fight, perhaps part of a larger stump speech should he be eyeing the presidency."

Righty WILLisms talks Dem bumper stickers and noticed that ex-Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA) "has no union label on his stickers. It's likely part of his 'moderate' image he so carefully cultivates. Then again, he's not officially running, and the stickers are all part of a manufactured 'draft Warner type of movement."

Big Lizards applauded Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and other Dems for voting in favor Child Custody Protection Act that makes it illegal to "transport a minor girl across state lines to procure her an abortion in violation of state parental-notification laws."

Righty Mark A. Kilmer says Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) was "utterly confused" by UN amb. John Bolton during his confirmation hearings yesterday.

SHEEHAN: Minute 16?

One of the right's favorite boogeymonsters is back in the news as Cindy Sheehan took insurance money from her son's death and used it to buy a piece of land. In Crawford, TX. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram details the transaction and the history of Sheehan's relationship with the family who provided her a base during recent protests, while AP fills in details. == PoliPundit calls it a "nightmare in Crawford." Expose the Left: "Absolutely disgusting. She is using her son's blood to pay for land that she will use to shout her anti-Bush, anti-American slogans with her Hugo Chavez loving friends." Sister Toldjah uses virtually the same language. == Michelle Malkin just wants to know if there's a Jamba Juice in town. AllahPundit says she'll use the property "to house the world's largest banana split." Blue Crab Boulevard, meanwhile: "Sheehan reportedly celebrated the closure on the property with a barbecue chicken and jalapeno pepper pizza made into a smoothie in accordance with her strict fast." == The Right Angle takes a more political approach: "If Bush really is avoiding Crawford because of Cindy and her crazy crew, it's because the man is just plain smart, not scared. Of course, it's hard to believe the president pays much attention to her in the first place."

IN THE STATES: Good News? We're Fresh Out Of That

As if Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) doesn't have enough trouble as it is, DNC chair Howard Dean took her on, comparing her to Stalin. AP reports that Harris now wants an apology from Dean. TPMmuckraker header: "I Knew Josef Stalin, Josef Stalin was my Friend, and I, Sir, Am No Josef Stalin." The All Spin Zone: " It's really hard to read this kind of crap with a straight face. Really. Really, really."

This week's flap over MD LG Michael Steele's (R) supposedly off-the-record/on-background comments to reporters at a DC steakhouse admitting his ties to the GOP hurt more than help (see WBAL for a post-frakas interview with Steele) have some claiming conspiracy. Conservative Outside The Beltway notes that Steele's camp knew the leak would be posted and calls the dust-up "quite odd." Taegan Goddard reports on an email sent between the Steele camp and WaPo writer Dana Milbank that shows the campaign knew what was up. BTW, how did MD Dems get their hands on that?!? == The News Blog: "To pile on would be like beating a puppy for sport. I mean, what a total lack of character. ... Al Sharpton could beat him for Senate." Kos writes: "Hapless. It looks like the WaPo wasn't in the mood to take the blame for Steele's big mouth."

Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-MI), a moderate who snuck through a primary crowded with conservatives in '04, is 10 days away from a rematch with '04 candidate Tim Wahlberg (R). RedState, firmly in Wahlberg's camp, is counting down the top 10 reasons to kick Schwarz out.

In VA, Rep. Tom Davis (R) is the subject of a Washington Post piece suggesting he's connected to a consulting company which helps technology firms get gov't contracts. The firm was founded, the piece notes, just months before Davis took over as chair of the House Gov't Reform Cmte. TPMmuckraker's Justin Rood calls the piece "fascinating" and remains skeptical of Davis' innocence. Ed Copeland follows the story as well.

CT SEN: No Lead For You!

Not much going on in the Nutmeg State today, though Genghis Conn reports on a visit to oft-overlooked Suffield by cable exec. Ned Lamont. Lamont, he writes, "is a good public speaker, although this didn't come across as well on television during the debate, and he has a kind of intense, personable charisma that people seem to like. He still doesn't quite seem like the kind of man who could possibly bring down one of the most prominent Democrats in America. Which maybe is why he's been so successful."

Apparently a staffer for Sen. Joe Lieberman (D) showed up at the speech with a video camera. Connecticut Bob thinks the way the staffer was treated is illustrative of the two campaigns' different approaches: "Joe Lieberman is anxiously keeping nearly all of his appearances a secret until the last minute, and when he DOES appear in public, he has an army of staffers, volunteers, and hired muscle there to keep those pesky voters away from him (which sometimes isn't even enough to stop a determined blogger with a video camera!). But when a Lieberman staffer shows up at a Ned Lamont speech, he's not only allowed to set up his camera and have access to the event, but is also politely acknowledged by the candidate, in the very best tradition of good sportsmanship and fair play."

INTERVIEWS: Weekend Reading, Anyone?

RedState features an interview with RNC chair Ken Mehlman, while Kos' Susan G sat down with Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND).

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: McCain, Or Machiavelli?

Mickey Kaus admits this is more "conspirogism" than "syllogism," but try this on for size:

• The Republicans will only swallow hard and nominate John McCain if they are really scared of losing in 2008.
• If the Republicans do very badly in the 2006 midterms they will be really scared of losing in 2008.
• A big reason they might do very badly in the midterms is that President Bush's misguided "comprehensive" immigration semi-amnesty has demoralized conservative voters.
• One of the main people pushing Bush to pursue a misguided immigration semi-amnesty is John McCain.

LEST WE FORGET: Really, This Is Getting Beyond Absurd

One week after we learned about a new "Panda Awareness" wrist band (you know, because no one in this town is paying enough attention to little Tai Shan), local blog DCIst brings news of the Mosquito Awareness wrist band. "The next time we shake our fists at the feisty devils, let it be with a blue silicone bracelet around our wrists. We call this bucks well-spent, plus shipping is free! ... (True, the bracelets don't immediately cure the bites per se, but let's think about the longterm benefits.)" More: "Broadcast to all local mosquitoes, or apparently just femme mosquitoes : Listen up. No more planting your proboscis into our fat thighs, and thinking you can run away with our sweet blood in your abdomens. We're tired of people thinking our body acne is still an issue."