October 09, 2006

10/9: Immigration Oversight?

Bloggers on the left and right tracked news of North Korea's announced nuclear detonation into the morning. The blame game aside, bloggers on both sides highly recommended Robert Kaplan's Atlantic Monthly piece on North Korea. Domestically, lefty bloggers are still in full Foley scandal mode, but Kausfiles has identified an issue that might depress GOP turnout even more. Kaus notes that Pres. Bush might pocket-veto the Secure Fence Act. Righty bloggers are not pleased by the possibility.

IMMIGRATION: Bush Signed The Bill Before He Vetoed It

Ever on top of the immigration debate Kausfiles notes that Pres. Bush has signed only the appropriations bill for the 700-mile border fence bill, not the Secure Fence Act, which actually requires money to be spent on the fence. Kaus writes: "Under the Constitution Bush has 10 days to sign the bill into law -- a deadline that would seem to be rapidly approaching." Righties were not pleased by the possibility:

• Instapundit: "If the GOP is this stupid, they deserve the brutal drubbing at the polls that will result. Message to the White House: You blew it on Harriet Miers and Dubai Ports because you ignored the early-warning signals from the blogs. You can't afford another such disaster, so if Kaus is right here, you'd better rethink, pronto."
• National Review Online's Jonah Goldberg: "Will Bush Pocket Veto the Fence? Mickey's getting worried. Given the stage in the election cycle, I'm sure he's not the only one."
• Captain's Quarters: "It seems odd that Bush has not yet signed the Secure Fence act, and his opposition to all but a comprehensive approach to immigration may be tempting him to spike the bill. If he thinks that will happen quietly, though, he is sorely mistaken, and that tactic will rebound horribly against a Republican Party that has enough trouble on its hands in these midterm elections."

NORTH KOREA: What Isn't Jimmy Carter's Fault?

Blame for North Korea's claimed nuclear detonation can be fixed to Pres. Bush or ex-Pres. Bill Clinton depending on which side of the blogosphere you read. Lefty reacts include:

• Daily Kos' Meteor Blades: "One thing to ponder: will this apparent test spur the Bush Regime to take action ... against Iran?
• Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall: "For the US this is a strategic failure of the first order. ... The origins of the failure are ones anyone familiar with the last six years in this country will readily recognize: chest-thumping followed by failure followed by cover-up and denial. The same story as Iraq. Even the same story as Foley."
• AMERICAblog's AJ in DC: "All of this, of course, comes after years of the Bush administration alternately mismanaging and ignoring the North Korea situation. ... this much is clear: this is a diplomatic, security, and non-proliferation failure... and perhaps disaster."
• MyDD's Matt Stoller: "This is directly due to Bush's inept diplomacy. We desperately need a change in direction. Desperately."

On the right:

• Townhall's Hugh Hewitt: "The Clinton-Kim 1994 Agreement, midwifed by Jimmy Carter, bears its fruit. How long until the gangster regime sells its wares to jihadists?"
• National Review Online's James S. Robbins: "The North Korean news agency statement about the purported nuclear test made much of the fact that there was no radiation release. Reported measures of the blast effect ranged between 3.6-4.2 on the Richter scale. A one kiloton weapon produces an effect that measures about 4.0, thus what took place was a detonation of something somewhat more or less than 1000 tons of TNT. But if there are no radiation signals, do we really know it was a nuclear test? It is possible that they just blew up a large conventional munition."
• Instapundit: "The reality is that the international nonproliferation regime has failed again, because although people are willing to talk, nobody's willing to actually do anything significant when a country appears close to going nuclear. See also Iran."

Looking forward, however, agreement could be found.

• From the left, Matthew Yglesias: "The trouble is that nobody especially wants to see the North Korean regime actually collapse. Similarly, would we actually want to see North Korea collapse, or would that make the nuclear situation even worse since, presumably, we don't want to see those weapons and material floating around."
• the right's Outside the Beltway: "Further, Matt Yglesias is right when he notes that the use of sanctions to push the Kim regime over the cliff that they've been heading for the past decade is not without peril. Right now, the nukes are mostly a lever that buys prestige and a high degree of security from invasion. Pushed to the point of desperation, however, it's not inconceivable that Kim could decide that a Hail Mary pass is his best option."

FOLEY: Tin-Foil Hat Department

Lefty bloggers spent the weekend documenting GOP leadership efforts to paint the Foley scandal as part of a "Grand Conspiracy Theory" involving George Soros "and Clinton operatives." Daily Kos' Georgia10 posts an exchange where CNN's Wolf Blitzer asks Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) for evidence of Dem involvement on the timing of the scandal and McHenry declines to provide any. The Huffington Post has video of the exchange. Media Matters takes Fox News' Chris Wallace to task for not challenging Rep. Jack Kingston's (R-GA) assertion that Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a "partisan 527 organization." MM writes: "In fact, CREW is a nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization." AMERICAblog has video of Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Adam Putnam (R-FL) discussing the issue on This Week.

MyDD's Jonathan Singer has video of both Reps. Tom Reynolds (R-NY) and Don Sherwood (R-PA) latest mea culpa ads and later writes: "Just how bad are things for Tom Reynolds, the New York Congressman who chairs the National Republican Campaign Committee? So bad, apparently, that he decided to skip out on his head-to-head appearance with Rahm Emanuel, his Democratic counterpart, on ABC's "This Week." AMERICAblog also has video of Cokie Roberts' This Week thoughts on GOP Foley fall out.

Over at The Huffington Post, Robert Schlesinger asks "Is the GOP Being Undone by a Gay Fifth Column?" and Alec Baldwin has thoughts. Finally TPMReader DK argues the Foley scandal can be turned into a coherent Dem mandate:

The Democrats have to make sure that they frame the election in the next few weeks in such a way that they can convert the political momentum of victory into a strong post-election political position on a range of issues. For example, prior to the Foley scandal, I think it would have been difficult for the Democrats to persuasively argue that their victory was a mandate for fundamental political reform. But now the issue of scandal and corruption has been clearly framed, and Democratic victory would carry with it a strong mandate to clean up public corruption.

On the right, Townhall's Dean Barnett is suffering from Foley-fatigue and at National Review Online's, Greg Pollowitz notes that Franklin Co. Commis. Mary Jo Kilroy's (D) new Foley ads are running "only on Christian and conservative radio stations. This should be a good test if Foley, as an issue, will help Democrats swing the GOP base to the left or if the constant attention to the story will backfire and galvanize Republicans come November."

LANDSCAPE: On Cosmic Blowouts

Outside the Beltway looks at Stu Rothenberg's latest analysis describing the current atmosphere as ripe for "a blowout of cosmic proportions next month" and continues "to hope that Denny Hastert will step aside or that the caucus will dump him but it's probably too late for that to do any good at this point." OTB then hopes Dem incompetence will save the day: "The question over the next four weeks is which set of incompetent leaders do the most damage. Do Dean and company so overplay their hand as to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? Or do Hastert and company continue to mishandle the Foley mess in such a way as to make a blowout possible?"

RCP Blog's John McIntyre links to his updated House rankings in the wake of the Foley scandal and writes: "Open seats continue to be the biggest problem for the GOP and make up 6 of the top 10 most vulnerable with FL-16 and OH-18 as new entrants. The highest ranked Democratic seat IL-8 continues to drop and doesn't hit the list until #31."

On the left, MyDD's Chris Bowers is cautiously optimistic: "Two months ago, I warned everyone to be prepared for Republicans to close the gap during this election. So far, that hasn't happened, as right now, the situation for Democrats looks just as good, if not better, than it did in mid-August. My long nagging feeling that the election is going to get closer has gradually faded, and it is now being replaced with a strange antsy feeling that things almost look too good."

CT SEN: Now Who's Making Weicker Comparisons

Writing at The Huffington Post, David Sirota looks at a new poll "showing Ned nipping at Lieberman's heels in the traditionally Republican 4th district" and calls for cable exec. Ned Lamont (D) supporters to "stop the navel gazing ... and let's all get to work." MyDD's Matt Stoller has similar thoughts noting: "At this point in 1988, Lieberman trailed Weicker by 14 points, so this one's still got a ways to go."

CT Bob has video of Lamont and retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) answering questions on the Foley scandal as well as video of Lieberman claiming he never used the phrase "partisan fenzy" to describe the scandal du jour. Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher wants to know whatever happened to claims Lieberman voted with Dems 90% of the time.

MO SEN: Ask Me A Tough One, Tim

Daily Kos' mcjoan watched 10/8's debate between Aud. Claire McCaskill (D) and Sen. Jim Talent on Meet the Press and highlighted this McCaskill response:

MS. McCASKILL:

Tim, as a former prosecutor, I had to handle dozens and dozens of heartbreaking cases where children had been sexually abused, where predators had been doing their work. I know this: That when a 50-year-old man is asking a teenage boy on the Internet for his picture, the response needs to be something other than, "I better go tell the chairman of the Republican Campaign Committee."

MT SEN: Tester Won't Let Feds Track Your Guns

Andrew Sullivan posts video of state Senate Pres. Jon Tester's (D) latest ad attacking the Patriot Act and writes: "Here's another interesting one from Montana: reframing the terrorism debate and defending individual liberty in wartime."

OH SEN: You Say Hippie Like It's A Bad Thing

RedState's machiavel posts a "very clever and effective" two minute video on Rep. Sherrod Brown's (D-13) "hippie" past.

TN SEN: On The Plus Side, He Is African-American

Daily Kos' mcjoan describes Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-09) as "not exactly a progressive's ideal candidate" but reminds readers "he is as an African-American running in a very Red Southern state, his battle is uphill, so we can't expect our ideal in this race." Mcjoan goes on to praise Ford for his 10/8 debate against ex-Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker (R) writing, "Unlike Joe Lieberman, Ford insisted that bipartisanship requires more than capitulation. Based on this performance, Ford is the type of moderate bipartisan Democrat that we can embrace, because he knows that moderation is part of the Democratic Party, and that extremism defines the Republican Party."

VA SEN: Where There Is Smoke There Is Straw That Will Set The Camel's Back On Fire

MyDD's Jonathan Singer recommends readers check out the full AParticle on Sen. George Allen's (R) failure to disclose stock options in one company and interceded on behalf of another. Singer predicts: "Taken as a whole, the article is fairly damning and provides yet another piece of negative press for Allen -- news that could represent the final straw for the Virginians who still had faith in Allen even after reports about his race issues."

The official AllenHQ comments on the story: "Leave out context, and you can make sense out of nonsense. Leave out details, and you can make anything seem like a scandal.Just because there's smoke, that doesn't mean there's fire. Sometimes, it's just people blowing smoke." AllenHQ then offers a detailed response.

Over at Raising Kaine, Eric posts pdfs that can be printed and then handed out for ex-Navy Sec. James Webb (D). Eric writes: "If you pay for copies, or have them professionally printed, please notify the Webb campaign of the amount as an in-kind contribution. Remember - grassroots played a big role in getting Jim Webb to where he is today. We have one month to finish the job and help get him to the Senate." Also at Raising Kaine, Webb's Netroots Coordinator and Raising Kaine founder Lowell Feld interviews Webb's wife Hong Le Webb.

Finally, The A-Team picks up on an article from The Nation mentioning Webb's use of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in speeches and comments: "So, on the one hand you have Senator George Allen who quotes and paraphrases Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. On the other hand, you have Jim Webb who looks to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels for inspiration, the authors of the Communist Manifesto. That's a pretty stark choice, Virginia."

ROMNEY: What's Raised In MA, Should Stay In MA

IA's Caucus Cooler is still discussing The Fix's 10/8 analysis on the RGA's decision to buy TV ads featuring MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) for MA LG Kerry Healey (R). The Cooler was critical of Romney and the RGA, but forwards a post in the tipjar: "Romney has probably raised a crapload of money in Massachusetts. Those donors are likely pressuring him into spending money there. That's clearly the other side to this story. ... That being said, there are A LOT of competitive Governor's races out there that could use the $$$. And it's still questionable that the RGA puts Mitt himself in the ad. You could've run Healey ads without a moderately popular Governor in them."

D.R. Tucker at Right Angle Blog believes Dem's are making extra efforts to defeat Healey to embarrass Romney: "The Democrats clearly sense that Mitt Romney is, as of now, the strongest potential Republican contender for 2008, and realize that if Healey, his second-in-command and close ally, is defeated, it will weaken Romney's prospects for success in the 2008 GOP primary."

MCCAIN: It's Only Purchasing Influence When Others Do It

PoliPundit's KnightHawk links to a APstory on Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) efforts in South Carolina including "handing out checks from" Straight Talk PAC to "key GOP legislators" and $1K checks to "leaders from state college Republican groups." KnightHawk comments: "The senator is handing out $1000 checks, hmm buying up those votes a early aren't we senator? Surely this doesn't appear to be purchasing influence now does it? Subtle John, real subtle."

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: Dems Support The (Canadian) Troops

Led by Michelle Malkin and Charles Johnson righty bloggers hit the DNC 10/8 for posting a photo of a "hurting" US soldier due to "GOP broken promises." Blog P.I. explains the DNC's problem: "The pictured soldier is actually Canadian, and Johnson's readers quickly located more stills, providing conclusive evidence that a Democratic Photoshopper had doctored the image to remove a medal evidently believed to be a dead giveaway (but embarrassingly leaving another - the funny lapel pin)."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: No Time For Losers, Cause We Are The Champions

MyDD's Matt Stoller advises Dems "to realize that we are winners, and learn to act like it." Stoller is looking for the first issue Dems should fight for:

I think it's more important to focus on the first fight that's going to happen. It's critical that the Democrats pick one specific fight, fight it, and humiliate their right-wing opponents. Be vindictive. Treat them the way you were treated. It's not just fair, it's immoral to do otherwise. They must pay for the norms they violated, the brutal civic tissue they ripped up for power. And then, in your first fight, pick one aggregated of right-wing power, and crush it. ... Just. Don't. Be. Nice.

LEST WE FORGET: Introducing The Mark Foley Award For Youth Mentorship

Extreme Mortman believes "it's only a matter of time before the name Mark Foley is rehabilitated and politicians flock to be associated with him. ... Not so sure? Then consider the inspiring example set by Sen. John Kerry and censured former Rep. Gerry Studds." Mortman than links to Kerry's website including:

• In 2001 the Boston Harbor Island Alliance gives Kerry the Gerry Studds Stewardship Award.
• On December 18, 2000 Kerry celebrates the Senate transferring the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Scituate to NOAA, which would use the facility to support the Gerry E. Studds National Marine Sanctuary. Kerry: "This amendment ... honors the legacy of dedication to these issues of former Representative Gerry Studds."

Mortman concludes: "So the only question may be, what will the first Mark Foley award be given for, and who will get it?"

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:41 PM