August 30, 2006
8/30: So What?
In sum, that's Ramesh Ponnuru response to lefty criticism of Club for Growth's targeting of Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) at the possible expense of a GOP majority in the Sen. For months now, progressive bloggers have been decrying the lack of media attention RI SEN has received compared to their efforts to unseat Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT). There are many things that distinguish the two races (Chafee was never a GOP VP candidate, for starters) but the more important difference is mentioned by Ponnuru: the Club for Growth does not exist to help the GOP control Congress. On the other hand, pure partisanship is the stated goal of DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas in his book Crashing the Gates. This is part of what made the targeting of Lieberman such a story. Perhaps it is a function of who is in power, and who is not, but the lefty blogosphere is much more concerned with tactics and strategy than ideological purity. If the Dems have a Sweet November, then maybe we'll see if Lieberman-like purges become the norm, instead of the exception.
LANDSCAPE '06: Wipeout?
Conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt interviewed Roll Call's Stu Rothenberg 8/29 on the GOP's '06 prospects (audio/transcript). Rothenberg told Hewitt:
The environment is not improving for Republican candidates around the country. There's no indication that it will. And increasingly, I am familiar with ... there's both public, but also private polling suggesting real problems for Republican incumbents. The Republican polling shows the Republican vote down. It shows Democratic challengers who are unknown getting a surprisingly large percentage of the vote. What we're really seeing is that voters are simply inclined to change, for change, and that's hurting Republicans.
Hewitt argues that Rothenberg is caught up in his own spin and hunts down polling data on the six races Rothenberg saw as "the worst news for the GOP." The list includes: CO-7, IA-1, AZ-8, IN-2, IN-8, and IN-9. Hewitt has comments on each race and comments: "This is simply not the stuff of which "waves" are made."
On the left Chris Bowers at MyDD celebrates the success of the Dailykos / MyDD / Swing State ProjectAct Blue Netroots pre-Labor Day fund raise push, which netted $175,459.05 for 17 Dem House and Sen candidates.
CT SEN: Miles Away From Ordinary
Lefty blogger's enjoyed Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) new television ad, which features a setting sun and invites CT voters to "just sit back and think about good stuff." The best quips: Crooks and Liars: "I was waiting for the Corona beer bottle to appear." The unofficial Lamont Blog: "Who was the genius strategist who though a "setting sun" might be a good visual metaphor for Lieberman's last days in the Senate? Morning in America? More like Twilight in Connecticut."
MT SEN: Testin' The Waters In The Puget Sound
Ken Camp at DailyKos attended a State Senate Pres. Jon Tester (D) in Seattle hosted by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Max Baucus (R-MT) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA). Camp reports: "Jon talked about his farm, a place that his grandfather homesteaded in order to give his family a better life. He talked about the legacy and responsibility that previous generations have left to us, that in this land of opportunity, we must make the most of our opportunity to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren. ... Jon explained that his opponent, Senator Conrad Burns, has taken more money from convicted felon Jack Abramoff, than any other member of Congress. He also noted that Conrad is bought and paid for by the special interests."
RI SEN: The Club For Shrinkage?
Greg Sargent at TPM Cafe looks at recent FEC filings that show the NRSCC spent $181,587.66 on direct mail targeting Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey (R). Paul Kiel at Talking Points Memo notes: "Minimum amount spent by the National Republican Senatorial Committee on direct mail against Steve Laffey in Rhode Island: $181,587.66. Amount spent by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Connecticut: $0."
On a similar theme David Weigel subbing for the vacationing Andrew Sullivan looks at Club For Growth challenges in CO-5 and RI SEN and observes: "Living last year in Virginia I saw this happen on a smaller scale. Conservative Republicans primaried a number of moderate, squishy Republican state legislators in the DC suburbs and exurbs, in large part because of anger over Gov. Mark Warner's tax hikes (which said legislators supported). The victorious conservatives got summarily creamed by Democrats."
Responding to a similar argument from TNR's Michael Crowley, Ramesh Ponnuru at National Review Online offers a limited defense of CFG strategy: "So what? [The Club for Growth] doesn't exist to help the Republican party. ... And it isn't at all clear what Chafee would do if the party's "control" of the Senate depended on him. I think the Club made the right call."
TN SEN: The Bill Frist Clone Vs. The Surrendercrat
The Ford Report looks at ex-Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker's (R) refusal to release his full tax returns and recounts an effort Corker made to seal court documents in a lawsuit involving Chattanooga and Wal Mart. The Ford Report concludes: "Don't be fooled this fall. It is time we had a U.S. Senator who is open and honest with the people of Tennessee. Not another Bill Frist clone."
Over at RedState, Erick Erickson looks ar Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-09) voting record in response to Ford's latest television ad on nat'l security: "During his time in Congress, Ford voted: Against the 9/11 Commission recommendations, which he uses in his ad, Against the PATRIOT Act extension, Against securing the border with Mexico, Against American energy independence, Ford spoke out against the NSA's surveillance program." Erick concludes: "Harold Ford, Jr. wants to run as a law and order Republican. His record is one of a cut and run surrendercrat."
VA SEN: Too ... Many ... Book Titles ... To Chose From ...
Ex-Navy Sec. Jim Webb's (D) Netroots Coordinator Lowell Feld reports at Raising Kaine that John "The Rainmaker" Grisham plans to team up with Stephen "Needful Things" King for a 9/24 Webb fundraiser in Charlottesville, VA. Feld writes: "Now, it's time for some bad puns and other plays on book titles. Will Stephen King's support for Jim Webb "Carrie" a lot of weight, fueling a "Storm of the Century" in Virginia, politically speaking? Will the receiving line at this event be a "Long Walk" or a "Dead Zone?" Will George Allen and Dick Wadhams feel "Misery" or "Rage" upon hearing news of this event?"
Plenty of lefty blogger reaction to The Nation's 8/30 article. DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas writes: "These are Allen's allies, and it's why it's so important to get rid of Sen. Felix Macaca. Politics matters, and we have a duty and responsibility to help cleanse our government of those who might be wearing hoods were it 50 years ago."
MCCAIN: The Security, Spending, and Social Issues Candidate?
Responding to in-house questioning, Patrick Hynes of Ankle Biting Pundits lays out his reasons for supporting Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "There are, at this point in my life, two hills upon which I'm willing to fight and die in terms of issues and policy: the Global War on Terror and the life of the unborn. ... Sen. John McCain is not only the strongest available candidate to engineer a victory in the Global War on Terror, he is the strongest possible candidate. ... Sen. McCain is pro-life. ... George Allen, Mitt Romney, Condi Rice, Rudy Giuliani are not."
IA GOPer Caucus Cooler passes along state Sen. Chuck Larson's (R-IA) explanation for his endorsement of McCain on "The Big Show" with John Gibson:
For a couple of different reasons, No. 1, Sen. John McCain is a fiscal hawk. Secondly, he is a social conservative, with a 24-year pro-life voting record. But from my perspective, the most important issue, whether it's 2006 or 2008, is going to be national security and the global War on Terror. And Sen. McCain recognizes that we must win this war for our own nation's security.
It wasn't all roses for McCain on the righty side o' the 'sphere. Tapscott's Copy Desk looks at the FEC's recent ruling on paid political broadcast ads two months before an election and writes: "This is the ultimate form of Incumbent Protection Act, short of repealing elections. I say it again - if the Republican Party nominates Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, for president in 2008 without his official apology for and repudiation of McCain-Feingold, plus introduction of legislation to repeal that monstrous outrage against the First Amendment, no conservative, libertarian or honest liberal can support him for the White House."
Finally, Blogometer alum William Beutler at Blog PI argues that neither McCain nor Nicco Mele have come completely clean on the length and extent of their relationship: "But there is another aspect of the McCain/Mele cooperation that strikes me as troublesome: The current McCain/Mele relationship stretches back to last fall, yet Mele didn't step aside until called out by Hotline just this week. So in the past year since they first hooked up, Mele has been doing paid work for Democrats in his primary job while doing unpaid work for a Republican in his free time. This is highly problematic for EchoDitto, but it doesn't reflect all that well on the McCain camp, either."
GIULIANI: His Heirness?
The unofficial Giuliani Blog looks at the Cook Political Report's RT Strategies poll and declares: "Rudy Giuliani is the clear frontrunner for the '08 GOP nomination." Giuliani Blog highlights these findings:
- Rudy Giuliani is George Bush's heir apparent. McCain voters don't much care for the President, and are unhappy with the current direction of the country.
- Rudy: Popular with the Republican base, with more potential to grow.
- Giuliani supporters are more Republican than McCain supporters.
- People who do not want Rudy Giuliani to be the nominee are more split among rival campaigns.
- Younger and middle aged voters seem to favor Giuliani. Older voters are more likely to favor McCain.
FRIST: 15 Days Of Fun
Senate Maj. leader Bill Frist (R-TN) spent part of his 8/29 with conservative bloggers including John Hinderaker of Power Line and Captain Ed of Captain's Quarters.
Hinderaker writes: "Based on my observations today, Senator Frist is a highly viable Presidential candidate. His intelligence, competence, judgment and reliability cannot be questioned. His views are compatible with those of the Republican base across a broad range of issues. He needs to beef up his Presidential persona, by, for example, learning what to do with his legs when he is addressing a group.
Captain's Quarters transcribed a discussion on politics, including this exchange between Frist and Hinderaker:
BF: I will do port security next these are my general plans, I haven't even told my colleagues this. I want to do port security, I want to address the Bolton nomination, I want to address the Hamdan decision on these security issues, I want to address the Specter-FISA compromise. That right there I've only got 15 legislative days, so you can imagine the challenge. JH: Do you think those things will have an impact in November? BF: I don't know, but as I travel around and talk with people, everything gravitates back to security. I think there will be clarification with some people, instead of saying "I'm for the war on terror but I don't like this." We'll look at the tools we need to fight the war on terror, and we'll look at the issue the Supreme Court gave us. So there will be a lot of discussion of those, which will lead to the clarification. That's what people want to feel safer and more secure.CLINTON: How Do You Solve A Problem Like Hillary?
At The Huffington PostWhen Harry Met Sally screenwriter Nora Ephron looks at Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) success on the morning-after pill and her meeting with cable exec Ned Lamont (D-CT) and sees only one more blemish on HRC's resume: Iraq. Ephron argues that HRC will eventually bend to popular opinion on the war, but finds that leaves HRC doubters in a pickle:
What are those of us who believe that she will do anything to win, who believe she doesn't really take a position unless it's completely safe, who believe she has taken the concept of triangulation and pushed it to a geometric level never achieved by anyone including her own husband, who can't stand her position on the war, who don't trust her as far as you can spit - what are we going to do if she ends up in agreement with us?
It's going to be an interesting moment for us Hillary Resisters. And we're not going to be able to say we're not supporting her because she can't win. Because let's face it, we don't have a candidate who can win.
TERROR POLITICS: What Would A Progressive Do?
Associate at The Project on Middle East Democracy Shadi Hamid got progressives talking foreign policy with his American Prospectweb exclusive "Vision Gap" arguing "for resisting the realist temptation and reclaiming democracy promotion from Bush."
Ernest Wilson at TPM Cafe identifies four critical Hamid errors: " He fails to provide a principled rationale for 'progressive foreign policy' (PFP); he doesn't adequately link a PFP to a progressive domestic agenda; his defense of democracy as the core tenet is deeply flawed; and he conflates U.S. policy toward the Middle East with U.S. foreign policy more generally.
Spencer Ackerman at TAPPED offers a response to Hamid titled: "Why human rights, not democracy, should be the lodestar of a liberal foreign policy."
TERROR POLITICS II: What Would Posner Do?
U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner sat down for a podcast with The Glenn & Helen Show at Instapundit to discuss his new book Not a Suicide Pact: The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency.
From the left Glenn Greenwald notes: "Posner's relentless characterization of the Constitution as this amorphous, evolving document which must be shaped and molded by political events led Reynolds to ask the right if not obvious question -- isn't Posner advocating the very theory of a "living, breathing Constitution" which conservatives have long claimed to despise, even consider tyrannical? ... Posner paused and stuttered quite a bit after being asked that question, and then admitted, quite astonishingly, that he "hadn't thought about that" painfully obvious point before. But he then told Reynolds that he's "right" about the fact that he, Posner, has an elastic view of the Constitution -- that it is a "flexible" document."
Instapundit responds:
Glenn Greenwaldsays Posner is being un-conservative by advocating "drastically expanded police powers." Some things that Posner advocates in his book might fall within that category, though generally I think that's something of an overstatement. As I note in the podcast, what's interesting is that Posner's advocating a "more European" approach to national security powers, which produces a left/right role reversal. Posner also makes the point that it's interesting that the Supreme Court's foreign-law enthusiasts don't look to Europe as a model in these areas, as they do in the case of capital punishment.
BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: The Revelation To Nowhere
After all that calling, some good old fashion Googling may have uncovered the secret Sen. behind the hold of Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) publicly searchable pork database bill, S. 2590. TPM Muckraker's Justin Rood passes a long a Fort Smith Times Recordreport from a Coburn townhall meeting where Coburn said of Stevens: "He's the only senator blocking it," in response to a question about the bill.
Muckraker goes on to report: "But did he really do it? Well, he had a motive: As the paper and others have noted, Stevens and Coburn have clashed before -- in particular over Stevens' now-legendary "bridge to nowhere." Coburn attempted (and failed) to block the $233 million boondoggle. And revenge certainly fits the senior Alaskan's m.o."
Only one blogger has stepped forward to defend the practice of secret holds (but not this specific one). Conservative Tim Chapman writes:
But with all the excitement over outing the holder, there appears to be momentum building to abolish the secret hold in general. On its face, that seems to make sense. But conservatives should rethink abolishing the secret hold. ... More often than not it is conservatives - anti pork, limited government types - who employ the secret hold. They use the hold to slow down legislation that is incessantly offered by liberals in the Senate. Legislation that would appropriate x amount of billions of dollars to this or that socially acceptable and politically popular cause is often the target of these holds. Why? because without a hold the bill goes to the Senate floor and passes with unanimous consent for fear of opposing a politically popular piece of legislation that is often either not constitutional or further bloats the federal government.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Ahmadinejad Must Be Really Far Behind If He's Challenging Bush To All These Debates
Ryan Sager at RCP Blog recognizes that it is only a CNN online poll but still marvels at the results showing 63% of CNN.com readers believe Pres. Bush would lose a debate to Iranian Pres. Ahmadinejad.
LEST WE FORGET: Offsides On Socrates
One of the guest posters at Andrew Sullivan has uploaded a YouTube of a Monty Python classic: a Greek vs. German philosopher soccer match. The play by play includes: "Socrates scores on a beautiful cross from Archimedes and the Germans are disputing it. Hagel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics. Kant, by the categorical imperative is holding that the ontological exists only in the imagination. And Marx is claiming offsides."
NOTES AND ERRATA: Team Hotline Needs You!
The Hotline is looking for a Virtual Intern (three hours, five days a week) to assist in daily compilation of Blogometer updates and assist on special projects. Applicants must consider themselves regular consumers of blogs, be familiar with nationally read blogs from across the spectrum; know how to use blog search engines/aggregators (such as Technorati and Memeorandum); be able to quickly analyze and synthesize developments in the news as well as summarize ongoing blog activity with brevity, clarity and accuracy. Excellent writing and time-management skills are also a must.
This is a "virtual" position, so as long as you have always-on Internet access, Firefox, a plain text editor, and a pulse (i.e. actual presence in DC not necessary) you can apply. As with every Hotline position, we don't expect our writers to not have an opinion, we just expect them to keep it out of their work. Interested applicants should send their resumes to ccarroll@nationaljournal.com
Posted by Conn Carroll at August 30, 2006 12:07 PM
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