November 02, 2006
11/2: If Not Pelosi, Then Who?
Noting netroot ambivalence towards probable Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Hotline editor-in-chief Chuck Todd caused a minor stir 11/1 suggesting bloggers might get behind a DCCC Chair Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) campaign for Speaker. The netroots were not open to the idea. Todd now asks: "Regarding the blowback my 'Speaker Rahm' speculation is receiving with the liberal blogs, I just didn't realize how bad his rep was with some. Frankly, I should have been more aware of how the Rahm-Dean strategy feud damaged things. So, here's a question for the left; if not Pelosi and if not Rahm, then who could you support as Speaker?"
TERROR POLITICS: Kerrypalooza!
If you read any righty blogs 11/01, you saw a picture of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division (MN National Guard) holding up a sign reading:
"HALP US JON CARRY-WE R STUCK [backwards k] HEAR N IRAK."
National Review Online's Victor Davis Hanson comments: "One of the things I love about America is the spontaneous brilliance and humor that undermine all pretension. ... 20 million Americans must have seen it all over the Internet, and nothing sums up the nothingness of Kerryism better than those smiling soldiers."
The right continued to argue that Kerry did not misspeak. National Review Online's Mario Loyola writes: "It is a basic talking point of the Pelosi/Kerry/Dean wing of the Democratic party that the troops are in Iraq not because they are deeply committed to the mission (they need to deny that) but rather because of a system that takes advantage of their lack of social and economic opportunities." NZ Bear notes Kerry has a history of dragging "the reputation of American soldiers through the mud" that forfeits any benefit of the doubt that a Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) would have gotten. The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez posts similar thoughts from John O'Neill.
Riehl World View looks at a San Francisco Chronicleitem asking Bay Area natives if Kerry should apologize including these response:
Amy Altschul, Oakland. Why should a person apologize for telling the truth? The truth is, for those who are not educated, the military is one of their only outlets. This does not mean the people are stupid, it means they are uneducated. Their lack of education often means the military, which currently means Iraq.
Vernon Burton, San Leandro. For what? Telling the truth? If a few more so-called leaders started telling the truth about Iraq, maybe we could save some of those lives that are being thrown away for nothing.
Michelle Malkin comments: "John Kerry's elitist, anti-military smear is no errant remark. It's emblematic. Just look who Kerry has turned to for support: Markos Moulitsas of The Daily Kos. Yes, the "Screw Them" guy.
RedState's Erick Erickson looks at netroots reaction to "Kerrypalooza!" and responds:
It's very simple. Either what's happening to Senator Kerry is meaningful in a larger political sense, or it's not. We've been hearing a good deal about how it's not... but we're also getting reports that Kerry's been cancelling appearances - and having appearances cancelled for him. This clashes with the desired narrative; ... They can't have it both ways: if Kerry's comments were unacceptable, then they needed to say so; and if Kerry's comments weren't that big a deal, they didn't need to clear his calendar. The fact that they're trying to handle the situation in a certain frantic hush suggests a great deal about them - and reinforces a common stereotype about them, to boot.
National Review's The Corner was dominated by Kerry coverage 11/01. Kathryn Jean Lopez has reactions from "from very hot military guys;" Jonah Goldberg was for Kerry's apology before he was against it; and John Derbyshire expresses the minority viewpoint that Kerry was insulting Bush and not the troops.
TERROR POLITICS II: Code Talkers
Two new lefty blogger Kerry talking points emerged 11/01. MyDD's Chris Bowers argues "Kerry gets by far the better line" in APcoverage ofthe incident and adds: "This is not even to mention that Kerry's strange line about kids struggling in the educational system "get stuck in Iraq" might as well be left-wing code every bit as much as Dred Scott is for theocons, since it brings up clear echoes of Vietnam and a looming draft. That's how people ended up in Vietnam, and a lot of people are noticing the similarities between Iraq and Vietnam these days anyway."
Bowers concludes: "In the end, Kerry could end up kickstarting a big, final week debate about Iraq, and give us the opportunity to engage in some of our toughest anti-Iraq messaging yet. That fits with our 2006 Candidate Memo perfectly." Steve Gilliard is on the same page: "John Kerry is telling the truth and everyone knows it. Rich kids do not join the military, college bound kids don't join the military, only the poor and those who can't get scholarships do. Acting like he was lying or insulting people is just bullshit. This is supposed to hurt Dems?"
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) largely escaped blogger criticism for her description of Kerry's statement as "inappropriate." Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher wasn't about to let her off the hook though writing: "Sista Souljah is obviously a family affair." Hamsher also adds: "First of all - I don't care if John Kerry was eating live babies on TV, one week out from an election you do not repeat GOP talking points. Ever. It makes you look like a big pussy who can't stand up to the Republicans, even when they're playing from an exceptionally weak hand on an issue you own."
And Keith Olbernmann added to his already sterling lefty blogger reputation with a lengthy special comment demanding Pres. Bush apologize. AMERICAblog links to Crooks and Liars video and transcript.
The second lefty blogger Kerry item came courtesy of House maj. Leader John Boehner (R-OH) who told CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "Let's not blame what's happening in Iraq on Rumsfeld. ... But the fact is, the generals on the ground are in charge, and he works closely with them and the president." AMERICAblog responded under the header "Republican House leader blames troops for Iraq mess" writing: "So US generals aren't as patriotic as other US service members in Iraq? They haven't made the same sacrifice? They aren't risking their lives? They're not just as much heroes as everyone else, doing the best they can in an impossible situation?" DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas and Talking Points MemoJosh Marshall both picked up on the attack.
AMERICAblog later followed up with statements from DNC chair Howard Dean and Senate min. Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) demanding an Boehner apologize to the troops.
In other Kerry related items: TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent attacks McCain for his involvement in "phony GOP attack[s]" on Kerry and posts "New RNC Web Ad Attacking Kerry Really About Firing Up GOP Activists;" and Ed Kilgore seeks outrage over "the president's and vice president's coordinated message two days ago that essentially said a vote for Democrats is a vote for terrorism."
TERROR POLITICS III: Back In Iraq
Lefty bloggers continued to plead for more coverage of Iraqi PM Maliki's order for American soldiers to back of pressure on Sadr City designed to find abducted American soldiers. Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum writes: "So far, though, Democrats have restrained themselves. Is this because they know in their hearts that letting Maliki call the shots in this case was the right thing to do, and they've decided they don't want to politicize the situation? Maybe, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. The Dubai port deal was almost certainly the right thing to do too, but that didn't stop Dems from mounting a two-week frenzy over the whole thing. There's probably some other calculation going on. Or maybe they just need a day or two to get their act together."
Christy Hardin Smith at firedoglake notes the story and comments: "I am shaking with rage at the moment. American soldiers do not abandon their own. Unless, of course, someone orders them to do so. Which is exactly what happened when the Bush Administration via it's envoy Zalmay Khalilzad agreed to lift the eight day long blockade and search and rescue mission for the captured American soldier on the demand and order of the Iraqi government." DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas posts a new DCCC ad on Iraq that "will run nationally."
On the Maliki story, National Review Online's Kathryn Jean Lopez notes: "Michael Rubin talked about this at length on Bill Bennett's show yesterday (some audio here). In short: Not good." But Gateway Pundit did have some good news on Iraqi security forces.
LANDSCAPE: Is Lieberman The 1/2 Senate Seat?
Pollster.com guest Alan I. Abramowitz discusses his generic ballot to actual outcome model and predicts a 29 seat Dem gain in the House and a 2.5 seat gain in the Senate.
At Washington Monthly's Showdown '06Ruy Teixeira also looks at recent generic congressional data and notes: "In the nine polls finished since 10/20 that are listed on PollingReport.com, the Democrats' average lead is 14 points. That's huge by historical standards. Democrats haven't seen these kind of leads this late in an off-year election campaign, since the elections of 1974 and 1982, when they gained 43 and 26 seats respectively."
On the right, Ankle Biting PunditsBull Dog Pundit tackles the accuracy of New York Times' latest poll: " In the NYT poll, 23% of respondents aren't even eligible to vote. And of those 77% that are registered, a full 37% didn't vote in the last mid-term election, and an additional 13% don't remember if they voted then. Folks, that means that OVER HALF OF THE TOTAL RESPONDENTS DIDN'T VOTE/CAN'T REMEMBER VOTING IN 2002. How in God's name can the NYT seriously this poll to be reflective of anything?"
Swing State Project and RCP Blog both have round ups of recent committee spending in congressional races. SSP writes: "The NRCC spent nearly $650,000 smearing Joe Sestak and $230,000 attacking Zack Space today. Does that sound like "retreat" to you?" RCP notes: "You can see a couple of big numbers that jump out. Dems dumped a million two in NH-2 and $320K in NY-25. Republicans spent $203K in NC-11 and $155K in PA-4."
LANDSCAPE II: The Undressing Of Rove Continues
Both TAPPED's Greg Sargent and MyDD's Matt Stoller post on Washington Postdoubts about Karl Rove's effectiveness. Sargent: "It looks like it may be time for pundits to drop the "Karl Rove is supremely confident about winning" storyline -- because it's now pretty clear that Rove, for all his outward expressions of confidence, has also begun to lay the groundwork to spin his way out of blame and preserve his reputation should the GOP get shellacked next Tuesday." Stoller: "This is a remarkable admission - the 1938 election was not the end of the New Deal because even though the Republicans picked up 6 seats, the Democrats still held two thirds of the Senate. It also presaged the first fracturing of the Democratic coalition. If this is their 1938 election, the Rove plan is basically over. ... Rove is also unable to comprehend that his strategy isn't working." Stoller later adds thoughts on Rove and early early voting reports.
CT SEN: The Right's Loan Gloat 11/8?
RedState's Thomas looks at recent CT SEN news and pens an open letter:
Dear Nutroots:
Although I could point out that we told you so (aw, heck: We told you so), I'd instead like to point out that you really should have known that Ned was toast (we told you so), and not just because of Nutroots-intensive Mentos commercials (we told you so), because, and learn this rule now, If Bob Shrum ever judges a candidate viable, that candidate is doomed. Ya'd think you'd've learned that in 2000 and 2004. (And 1980, and 1984, and 1998, and...) Oh, yeah: We told you so.
Sincerely, T.
Lefty bloggers are still conceding nothing. DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas posts two cable exec Ned Lamont(D) ads and comments: "These are the final two Lamont ads in the race, and the message is clear: A vote for Lieberman is a vote for more war." Firedoglake's TRex posts Lamont's schedule through 11/4 and LamontBlog asks readers to "Keep Your Eyes Open" for "Rove-backed" "slimy stuff." Daily Kos' Sadie thinks she's already identified one; a mailer "from Lieberman" attacking Lamont for his relationship with Markos Moulitsas Zuniga.
TN SEN: Please Do Forward Us That Picture
Instapundit passes along a Insta-Mom update: "So the Insta-Mom volunteered at Harold Ford, Jr. headquarters today. Downside for Ford: This was because a friend of hers who was volunteering said they had a shortage of people making phone calls. Upside for Ford: She said that most of the people she called (obviously identified as likely Democratic voters) said that they'd already voted for him in early voting.
Instapundit further reports: "Also, I note that you see a lot of Ford signs out in the rural countryside. I have a friend who keeps promising to send me a picture of a house in Sixmile with a Harold Ford sign in the yard and a Confederate flag hanging on the porch, but so far he hasn't delivered. I trust his report, though.
VA SEN: A Genuine Netroots Hero
Righty bloggers pushed back against Daily Kos diarist Mike Stark. The A-Team linked to AllenHQ "photographic evidence" showing "Senator Allen's stalker initiated the physical altercation" and comments: "Having worked 10 years ago on a presidential campaign that received Secret Service protection and being part of the staff that received regular briefings on possible threats, had this guy been stalking Steve Forbes the way he has been George Allen, he would have been on the Secret Service watch list distributed to us. This individual is obviously disturbed and we can only hope that he receives the treatment he may require in order to get better."
Ex-Navy Sec. James Webb's Netroots Coordinator and Raising Kaine founder Lowell Feld fires back: "*Mike Stark is NOT a Webb staffer!!!!! *Mike Stark is NOT even a Webb volunteer (we checked our huge volunteer database)!!!! *Mike Stark was criminally assaulted by Allen thugs!!!!! *Jim Webb had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with this!!!! *George Allen and his staff are 100% at fault, and will likely end up facing criminal charges!!!!" Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher helps out, linking to video of "Genuine netroots hero Mike Stark on Olbermann here. "
In non-Stark related VA SEN news The A-Team and Raising Kaine have competing lists of newspaper endorsements for their candidates. For Allen: Washington Times, Richmond Times Dispatch, The (Fredericksburg) Free Lance-Star, Staunton News Leader, Daily News Record, The Virginia Mountaineer, The Voice Newspapers, Kingsport Times, The Bristol Herald-Courier, The Sun Gazette Newspapers.
For Webb:
BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: Coup De Fizzle
Lefty bloggers rejected Hotline editor Chuck Toddsuggestions that their might be a netroots backed Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) for Speaker campaign post-11/8. After disclaiming any netroots control DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas writes: "a serious grassroots effort to get behind Emanuel for Speaker? Not in a million years. Rahm is too much of an ass. ... I'm pretty confident in predicting that bloggers 1) wouldn't launch a grassroots effort to promote a Rahm Speakership, and 2) would actively and energetically oppose it. Perhaps a Murtha could get some support, but I doubt it."
MyDD's Jonathan Singer adds: "it's difficult for me to envision Emanuel being able to marshall the support for his own bid -- particularly from the Netroots. While Todd is correct that Pelosi is not terribly popular within the progressive blogosphere, polling (albeit non-scientific polling) shows that Emanuel is even less popular. ... And just to make sure that I'm not taking the sentiments of the readers of this site and others for granted and am completely off base, I ask you this: Should the Democrats gain 18 seats, giving them a slim majority in the House, would you support a Pelosi speakership, an Emanuel speakership or the speakership of someone else?"
CLARK: Sideshow Kerry
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) takes to The Huffington Post to defend Sen. John Kerry (D-MA): "John Kerry made a mistake trying to joke about "getting stuck in Iraq." But this election isn't about John Kerry; he isn't running. But, for a crazy day or two, his gaffe has provided a powerful distraction to an election shaping up to be a referendum on the President's national security policy, and his mission in Iraq, in particular. We can not allow the most powerful country in the world to get sidetracked when American lives and the future of our leadership in the world is at stake."
ROMNEY: Like Moths To Flame
Watching too much television National Review Online's Kathryn Jean Lopez notes: "No sooner is Mitt Romney off the phone with Sean Hannity, I look up and see him on FNC with John Gibson. ... Mitt Romney is to conservative media (FNC isn't really, but that's CW, so I'll go with it) what John McCain is to The Today Show (he seems to be always on)."
GINGRICH: Don't Forget Newt
The Worldwide Standard's Daniel McKivergan wants to know why George Will saw only benefit to MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) from Sen. George Allen's (R-VA) rapid demise: "But what about Newt Gingrich? ... a candidate Gingrich ... would likely hit Romney from the right on several fronts on which he is vulnerable, making it more difficult for any one candidate to consolidate the right in the early races."
THOUGHT OF THE DAY: More GOPers Online?
Outside the Beltway's James Joyner links at a Nielsen//NetRatings report showing "Republicans outnumber Democrats online" including analysts Ken Cassar assertion: "The fact that the online population is more heavily composed of Republicans than Democrats is principally a function of the Republican party's higher composition within the overall electorate."
Joyner responds: "That's not only not demonstrable through this survey but almost certainly untrue. Indeed, he himself points to the far more logical explanation: "This is exacerbated by the fact that online penetration continues to be deeper among affluent households, which have historically skewed Republican."
LEST WE FORGET: The ACC Sucks
The Plank's Jonathan Chait notes: "Some of the best attack ads you'll see this campaign season have nothing to do with politics, but rather something even more tribal: college football."
Posted by Conn Carroll at November 2, 2006 12:38 PM
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