9/19: Elevation Or Degradation

On the plus side, it wasn't a blogger who injected a question from the "Twilight Zone" into 9/18's Chamber of Commerce debate between Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and ex-Navy sec James Webb (D). Nevertheless, bloggers from both sides took the bait and spun the "how Jewish is Allen" question into their over-arching storylines of the debate. For the left, the encounter was just another episode exposing Allen as a temperamental racist. For the right, it was just another example of the MSM out to get GOPers. Actual issues facing Virginians took a back seat. Blog supporters claim they offer a great opportunity for nuanced, reasoned debate, but when we look at the races they've actually affected, have blogs elevated or degraded the level of discourse in the race?

In a debate many thought would center around Iraq and terrorism, WUSA's Peggy Fox stole the show from Sen. George Allen (R) and ex-Navy sec. James Webb (D) by asking Allen about his Jewish ancestry. Lefty bloggers seized on Allen's testy response as more evidence of his temper and racism:

• Webb Netroots Coordinator Lowell Feld at Raising Kaine: "Why is George Felix Allen so ANGRY about this subject (and so many other subjects)? Because that's the real issue here; not the reporter's question, which was, at worst, a bit out of place, but George Allen's angry, almost violent reaction TO the question. ... Over and over again, George Allen has shown himself to be a bully towards women, towards minorities, towards men who wear bicycle helmets, and now towards a female reporter who dares ask him about HIS OWN HERITAGE!"
• teacherken at Raising Kaine: "Please, someone tell me asking when and how his forebears decided to cease being Jewish is "making aspersions because of their religious beliefs"? ... I think Allen's response does him more damage that "macaca."
• Not Larry Sabato: "The best debate I have ever seen. ... The debate can almost totally be summed up with one question: Is George Allen a racist? ... Allen has got to be one of the only Republicans in America who want to talk about issues right now."

Feld also live blogged the event at Raising Kaine including this exchange:

• Stephanopolous: One key difference between you and Sen. Allen.
• Webb: There are a broad number of them. Key difference is that he is comfortable with the idea that we can stay in Iraq for 20-30 years. I believe we need to get combat forces out of Iraq.
• Allen: As usual, there is no clear plan from Mr. Webb. For the most part, there is agreement.

Also on the left, reaction was still pouring in from the candidates 9/17 Meet the Press dust up. Rob at Raising Kaine looked at Allen's refusal to commit to a full six year term and asked: "A more relevant question for this year - will George Allen resign his position as U.S. Senator to campaign for another job outside of Virginia? ... Will George Allen pledge to serve even HALF of his term?" And DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas reports the MTP debate was a fundraising boon for Team Webb: "In the 24 hours since the debate, the campaign scored over $100,000 online, unsolicited. That's not including offline fundraising. The more people hear Webb, the more they see him, the more they learn about him, the more excited and engaged they become."

Righty bloggers had no love for WUSA's Peggy Fox or her Jewish heritage question. Extreme Mortman asserts she "probably wouldn't have been booed at Nuremberg." At the same time, Allen still came in for criticism for his handling of the question. Kathryn Jean Lopez at National Review Online writes: "As ridiculous as the question was, I hate to say it but Allen had a bit of a Macaca problem. But that I mean: It wasn't racism, stupid ... It was the anger. It was that Allen looked to so naturally take refuge in demeaning some kid. In this case, a local reporter. Jonathan Martin[ (go team!!)] has it right - the senator has a demeanor problem."

Allen's New Media Coordinator Jon Henke liveblogged the debate including these observations:

• 1:06p - Webb has launched into his "three America's" class warfare argument. John Edwards pegged it at "two America's" in 2004. Webb one-upped him! (Soon, Howard Dean will have an epiphany for the next Democratic campaign message: "FOUR America's!") Webb doesn't actually offer a solution, of course, except to suggest more socialism and protectionism.
• 1:22p - Asked about Wal-Mart, Jim Webb launches into a tirade against free trade and Virginia's right to work law. Protectionism. George Allen supports consumer sovereignty - the right of individuals to vote with their feet, rather than having government control the market. He also supports litigation reform.
• 1:37p - Question to Webb: what is the one key difference between you and Senator Allen? Webb claims the key difference is that Allen is comfortable with the US staying in Iraq for decades, whereas Webb wants to bail soon. And then, if we want to, he says, we can just ride back in to deal with any problems. Really? Is he advocating a second invasion of Iraq?

The A-Team also was live blogging and summed up Webb's performance this way: "Ask yourself, if "Macaca" is really the horrible slur that the Webbsters have convinced the gullible media that it is, the equivalent of the "N" word as many have claimed, would Jim Webb have used it so easily today during the debate? ... So, to boil down Jim Webb's campaign strategy: I was in Vietnam. I oppose the War in Iraq. My opponent said, "Macaca."

Following up from 9/17's MTP debate, AmSpec Blog argues Webb lied about his prescience on WMDs in Iraq. AmSpec tracked down the Washington Post article cited by Webb in the debate and notes that while Webb does make a number of good arguments against the war, he never mentions WMDs once. The A-Team also jumps in the way back machine, this time heading to 1990 noting that Webb called troop build ups in the region "a mistake" and that attacking Iraq would only compound the problem.

Back in the present day, at National Review Online Kathryn Jean Lopez notices Allen's calendar includes a conference call with reporter's on detainee treatment and instructs Allen to "Get Mad at the Torture Trio" (meaning Sens. John Warner (R), John McCain (R-AZ), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC)).

Chris Bowers at MyDD wanted to sit back and enjoy GOP infighting over detainee treatment but found himself increasingly irritated over the lack of coverage Dems were getting on the issue: "The vast majority of the opposition to Bush's policies in this, and other areas of national security, are Democrats. ... Even though Democrats form over 90% of the opposition to Bush on this, [the AP] makes it seem as though all of the opposition to Bush is coming from three Republicans. ... That just is not fair. We form the vast majority of the opposition to a piece of legislation, and the AP never quotes a single Democrat, instead portraying Republicans as the opposition to Bush."

Digby at Hullabaloo is also wary of the lack of Dem players in the detainee treatment negotiations:

I hear Joe Lieberman is running on his bipartisan credentials these days too and it's not surprising either. His definition of bipartisanship is also to take sides with John McCain in a Rovian kabuki with George Bush, follow the script, get rolled and then call it a compromise. ... George W. Bush doesn't actually compromise with Democrats and Republicans in congress have consciously governed without Democratic input for six years. ... This new definition of bipartisanship means Republicans like Joe Lieberman, John McCain and Lindsay Graham are considered the loyal opposition to a Republican president.

On the right, Bull Dog Pundit at Ankle Biting Pundits looks at the known "methods" at issue: "Long Time Standing; Temperature Extremes; and Waterboarding, and writes: "Call me a Neanderthal, a torturer, whatever. But I find absolutely nothing wrong with any of this, especially if it leads to information preventing another attack. I don't favor it just to make the person suffer, but to get information to save lives. If it affronts the dignity of someone like KSM, or anyone like him, I won't lose any sleep over it."

Bull Dog isn't ready to say if these methods violate the Geneva Conventions Article III prohibition of "Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment." Instead Bull Dog reasons: "Sorry, but I think blowing up innocent people "outrages human dignity" and is a bit more serious that "humiliating". But not to the people like John McCain, his Kato Kaelin Lindsey Graham and the rest. If some of these "techniques" constitute "torture", but it's what's required to save innocent lives, then so be it."

Chris Bowers at MyDD looks at NRCC television ad buy strategy after looking at their FEC independent expenditure filings:

In total, Republicans are adding another $1.88M of independent expenditures through these ads, bringing their total independent expenditures on TV ads / production up to around $3.6M since July 1st. The NRCC is spending 87% of their money in districts held by Republicans ... Since, by way of contrast, they have made independent, non-polling expenditures in 21 Republican held districts, the NRCC is clearly playing defense this year.

Natural Born Killers producer and progressive activist Jane Hamsher at firedoglake visits the "newly un-hacked Joe2006 blog" and isn't amused by Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) claim to have a "Bipartisan Record On Fighting Global Warming." Joe2006 cites Lieberman's efforts to pass The Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) which "would reduce U.S. global warming pollution to year 2000 levels by 2010." Hamsher wasn't buying: "But the "Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act" stands about as much chance of passing as National Kobe Day. What did pass was Dick Cheney's energy bill, which Joe obediently voted for at the behest of his GOP overlords. It should also be noted that while Joe is trying to ride Al Gore's coattails, Gore refuses to endorse Joe."

Over at DailyKos, Markos Moulitsas celebrates Lieberman's "last on the line" placement on the ballot and includes video of Lamont's new "turncoat" ad, which features cable exec. Ned Lamont (D) supporters turning the coats inside out to protest Lieberman's run as an independent after losing the Dem primary.

Alex Charyna at National Review Online loves LG Michael Steele's (R) new anti-lobbyist, but pro-puppy, ad and looks forward to "his future ad endorsing rainbows."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas is also impressed by the Steele/puppy ad but thinks the MD Dem ad tying Steel to Pres. Bush is slick enough to work since it doesn't use the "scary music or grainy pictures" the Steele ad warned MD voters about.

Oakland Co. Sheriff Mike Bouchard (R) quizzes RedState readers: "Who's the US Senate's biggest spender? Ted Kennedy? Robert Byrd? The answer may surprise you. ... According to Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, who keeps a running list of the cost of spending earmarks and who votes for them in his desk on the Senate floor, the Senate's biggest spender is Michigan's Debbie Stabenow." Bouchard finishes his pitch: "In the end, I won't out raise or outspend Senator Stabenow in the campaign, but I will work harder and smarter than she does. ... If you agree with me that we need a change in the US Senate, I hope you'll join me in my quest to restore fiscal sanity to Washington, DC."

Over at National Review Online Greg Pollowitz reports on Bouchard's efforts to get Stabenow to commit to the same number of debates that Stabenow asked for when she challenged Sen. Abraham in 2000.

John Hinderaker at Power Line links to a 2002 Scott W. Johnson Real Clear Politics history of partisan ineptitude by the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Minnesota Poll: "The Minnesota Poll has a long and inglorious history in Minnesota. Most famously, in 1978 the Minneapolis Tribune (as it then was) called all three major statewide races wrong by a wide margin on the basis of its Minnesota Poll."

Hinderaker notes that the poll's long history of errors always favors Dems and concludes that the most recent poll showing Hennepin Co. DA Amy Klobuchar (D) up by 24% over Rep. Mark Kennedy (R): "can only be viewed as a tactical effort by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, a staunchly Democratic newspaper, to dry up Kennedy's fundraising among people who don't know their poll's history, thereby helping to push Klobuchar's nose over the finish."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas loves 9/18's Washington Post story on Sen. Conrad Burns (R) trip with Vonage lobbyist Frank Cavaliere to a golf tournament in Bigfork, MT. Kos writes: "Burns knows he's in a tight race. He knows this will look terrible. He knows it'll feed into the Dem narrative against him -- that's he's a corrupt SOB. And yet he still can't help himself. He's drawn to lobbyists like a moth to flame. And if a tight reelection battle can't get him to change his behavior, it'll only get worse if he's reelected."

Think Progress reports ex-VP Al Gore is now calling for "an immediate freeze on CO2 emissions" and a "complete elimination of the payroll tax" in favor of a tax on CO2 (which for editorial purposes the Blogometer has named the Federal Elimination of Carbon Act). At The Huffington Post, Donnie Fowler comments: "Lots of detractors and naysayers have turned from questioning Al Gore's powerful case that global warming is upon us to saying that he has no solutions. Well, no one can make that argument anymore."

Jason Zengerle at TNR picks up on a Political Wire report from the Tom Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, IA that describes Sen. Barack Obama's efforts their as a "B+" that still "sure beats anything else they have to listen to on a beautiful fall day." Zengerle observes: "Even when Obama doesn't bring his A game, he's still performing at a level most presidential wannabes can only dream of."

AMERICAblog has video of Obama from a rally in Louisville, KY and leaves it at: "Wow."

Conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt has problems with 9/18's Washington Post headline "McCain's Stand On Detainees May Pose Risk For 2008 Bid: Opposition to Bush Could Alienate Republican Base." Hewitt argues: "The "base," meaning the party primary voters, separated from Senator McCain long ago. On crucial issue after crucial issue he has disappointed them: McCain-Feingold, The Gang of 14, McCain-Kennedy, and now the tribunals bill and the elections of 2006. ... The decision by the Bush Administration to "negotiate" with Senator McCain is an attempt to save the senator unnecessary embarrassment. But if Senator McCain continues to elevate himself above his party, don't expect the party to applaud."

In a later post on the same subject Hewitt finishes: "John McCain: Great American. Lousy senator. Terrible Republican."

Watching the VA SEN debate Kathryn Jean Lopez at National Review Online noticed ex-Navy sec James Webb's (D) support for MA GOV Mitt Romney's health-care plan and wonders: "That has advantages and disadvantages for Mr. Mittster down the road..."

Krempasky at Red State notes, "There aren't too many issues on which the liberal and conservative work well together. Transparency in government is one," and goes on to introduce a joint blogger effort through The Sunlight Foundation to pass S. 1508 which as DailyKos' Adam B explains would: "bring the United States Senate into the 21st century when it comes to campaign finance reporting." The Huffington Post, Captain's Quarters, Think Progress, and Wonkette are also all in on the effort to get the bill out of the Rules and Administration Committee where Adam B guesses Sens. Trent Lott (R-MS) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are holding it up.

Chris Bowers at MyDD celebrates the efforts of the Western Carolina New Network and Colorado bloggers as "local blogging of the highest order." Bowers continues:

I point this out because I think that local blogging is the way of the future for the progressive movement. Partially, I write think because I think that the national scene is close to tapped out: we currently reach nearly every progressive political junkie who is also a heavy user of the Internet. While there are some demographic areas where we could make more gains, in general I do not feel that there is much room for national political blogging to grow. We already reach 17% of the Democratic electorate on a fairly regular basis, and how many more progressives are there who follow news closely enough, and who use the Internet frequently enough, to increase on that number? I can't imagine it is very many.

However, I do dare to imagine a progressive movement where what is happening in Colorado and Western North Carolina happens in every region of the country. Imagine the incredible benefit to the progressive movement. We are dealing with a near total market failure for local news in the country, which gives local action such as this the potential to weld far, far more influence on a local level than blogs can ever hope to do on a national level. Local progressive blogospheres can become local news, practically. They can give proper attention to all local races, whereas on national blogs we tend to offer simple glosses. If what was happening in Colorado and North Carolina right now was happening all over, it would be a lever of power to which the right-wing would have absolutely no answer. Talk a bout being able to attack on all fronts at once.

Extreme Mortman laments the bloodying of C-SPAN's "pure, gentle, tranquil" studio by the presence of Bob Novak and David Corn. Mortman includes this exchange:

• Novak: Mr. Corn is a nasty piece of work, let me tell you that. And he was the one who really built this story up. He is in a deliciously ironic situation. He was one of the people, much more than Chris Matthews, for building this story at the outset and advising Joe Wilson which he never puts in his column. ...
• Corn: He called me a left-wing ideologue, and I have to say, with all due respect to Bob who I used to like going on Crossfire with, to be called an ideologue by Bob Novak is sort of like being called a cheat by Jack Abramoff...

Mortman quips: "By the way, David Corn's book is entitled "Hubris." I say that so I can work in this old Extreme Mortman joke: I'm proud of my circumcision. You might say I have hu-bris."