November 30, 2006

11/30: The Dream Opponent?

It is general Blogometer policy not to cover what one side says about the other side's primary candidates, but it is also useful to at least know which candidates each side would prefer to face during the general election. Since 11/7, lefty bloggers have been making it increasingly clear that they fear Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and ex-NYC Mayor. Rudy Giuliani (R) the most, and would most like to face MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R). There is no counter consensus on the right as to which Dems, GOPers would prefer to face, but if one develops, we'll let you know.

GOP FIELD: The Left's Choice

Looking at state by state breakdowns of partisan self-identification from '06 exit polling, MyDD's Chris Bowers concludes: "We are going to have a lot of trouble if McCain is nominated and, barring a right-wing third-party revolt, if Giuliani gets nominated. On the other hand, I feel reasonably confident that any Democrat will mop the floor with any other Republican nominee."

Fellow MyDDer Jonathan Singer later makes clear who lefty bloggers would prefer to face in '08: "The nomination of Mitt Romney to be the standard bearer of the Republican Party in 2008 would be an unmitigated failure for the party. Boy, would I love to see him try and go up against almost any Democrat considering a run at the White House."

ROMNEY: It's A Tough Job, But Somebody's Gotta Do It

National Review Online's Jonathan Martin reports from the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, FL on the RGA's Annual Conference that "[t]he star of the show here, of course, is the RGA's chairman [MA Gov.] Mitt Romney." Martin continues: "He is hosting (or being feted at) a variety of events, public and private, leading up to his valedictory speech tomorrow night to this group of governors, lobbyists, reporters and staffers."

Back in New York, The Corner's K-Lo alerts readers that Jerry Falwell is "in the news today making clear he has not endorsed Romney or anyone else. But could - endorse the Mormon."

In non-RGA Romney news, The Right Angle's Amanda Carpenter reports "RomneyisaLiberal.com is up and running now." Carpenter adds: "On the homepage is his quote, "I will protect a women's right to choose" from his 2002 letter to the National Abortion Rights Action League."

BROWNBACK: Brown Monday

In other RGA conference news, The Corner's Martin forwards a tidbit from two key supporters of a '08 hopeful: "Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas will launch an exploratory committee for the WH on Monday."

MCCAIN: What Are People Saying About Mitch Daniels?

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is not allowing Romney to soak up all the attention in South Florida. Martin tells Corner readers McCain "is hosting an invite-only reception "honoring our Republican governors" (most of them at least) tomorrow night at Don Shula's resort across town." Martin also identifies one governor suspected to be a McCainiac: "The press check-in here at the Doral features a stack of handouts titled, "What is being said about Governor Mitch Daniels." The five-page document features dozens of favorable quotes on the Indiana governor and ex-OMB chair from a variety of media sources. That there would be such an offering at the press area is notable not just because Mitch isn't the featured attraction, but also because he's widely believed to be sympathetic to the other big kahuna in the '08 race (the one throwing the counter-Prom tonight)."

GINGRICH: On Further Review...

After reading ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich's First Amendment/GWOT comments in context righty bloggers are rallying to his defense. Captain's Quarters initially described Gingrich's speech as a "stumble" in efforts "to position himself as the premiere conservative candidate" but after reading the full speech later concluded: "If that's all Newt said, it doesn't seem all that outrageous to me." Others on the right were with Gingrich form the get go:

• The Corner's Andy McCArthy: "The Speaker is right, and the fact that he is treading on this third rail is further indication that he will be formidable as a presidential candidate. Plainly, he understands that the modern threat environment requires going back to first constitutional principles rather than simply accepting the law as sculpted by the Warren Court."
• Professor Bainbridge: "As for the war on terror, one is reminded of Ben Franklin's dictum that "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." At the same time, however, as late Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson famously remarked, "The Constitution is not a suicide pact." There must be a balance. ... Accordingly, Gingrich is sensibly calling for a proactive discussion of the basic question: What is the appropriate balance between order and liberty?"

GIULIANI: The Mayornator

Giuliani Blog argues Boston Globereports on CA and FL efforts to move up their primary dates is good news for ex-NY mayor Rudy Giuliani (R): "Rudy has been leading in early Florida polls by as much as 2-to-1. The state also features a huge number of New York transplants who probably voted twice for Rudy as mayor. ... California in many ways has already provided a template for a Rudy victory. ... Arnold's resilience in the face of many of the same criticisms Rudy faces now shows that conservatives will accept a political moderate with star power."

OBAMA: At Least His Middle Name Isn't Felix

Lefty bloggers are up in arms over GOP strategist Ed Rogers use of Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) middle name "Hussein" when talking about his '08 chances on Hardball 11/29. Crooks and LiarsJohn Amato writes: "Ed Rogers, is one of these wingnuts (a Lee Atwater man) that MSNBC constantly puts on the air and allows him to relentlessly smear people. I think Dan Abrams needs to hear about this one." TPM Cafe's Eric Kleefeld wonders if this is the first cable news reference to Obama's middle name.

CLINTON: There Goes The Conservative Gay Catholic British Immigrant Vote

Andrew Sullivan links to Hotline editor-in-chief Chuck Todd's article on obstacles Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) would face in an '08 run and writes: "She really shouldn't run. It would divide and polarize the country; she's dreadful on the stump; she has very high negatives; most Democrats only like her; almost no-one loves her; and do we really want 20 years of two families in the White House? Besides: what do you do with Bill?"

WEBB: Born Slugging

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas celebrates Washington Postreports on Sen.-elect Jim Webb's terse exchange with Pres. Bush over the well being of Webb's son in Iraq. Markos writes: "The Washington Post doesn't include Webb's desire to slug the president. Which was endearing in its own right." Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher links to Not Larry Sabato suggestions that there was more to the story:

I've gotten a tip on the background to this confrontation, and it appears that Webb may have under reacted. As President Bush is well aware, a couple of weeks before this dinner the tank riding next to Jimmy's in Iraq was under fire and three marines died. My sources are telling me that the way President Bush approached Webb with his tone, it appeared he was asking the question of how Jimmy was doing in a mocking manner, while he was certainly aware of the tragedy that had hit his unit a few weeks earlier.

LA 02: Corruption's Embarrassing In Louisiana?

MyDD's Tim Tagaris posts video of state Rep. Karen Carter's new ad "Spelling Bee" and writes: "William Jefferson's corruption might not be the most important issue to folks recovering from "the storm" and "the flood" in post-k New Orleans, but it is an issue. What's more, it's an issue that moves numbers. ... Guilty or not, the "cash in the freezer congressman" is a local embarrassment, a natural enemy of those working tirelessly to rebuild both the city and its image."

TX 23: The Proof Is On The Air

James at Swing State Project posts video of a DCCC ad for ex-Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D) and writes: "It ain't the prettiest commercial in the world, but it's a good sign that Democrat Ciro Rodriguez may have a shot in the upcoming (December 12) special election in Texas' 23rd. Why? Because from what I've heard, the DCCC commissioned an independent poll last week that would determine how heavily involved they would be on Ciro's behalf. The poll must have shown promising results, because otherwise the DCCC would have been a lot more low key about this race."

IRAQ: The Difference Between Pullback And Withdrawal Is?

Lefty bloggers are mostly welcoming early reports that the Iraq Study Group "will call for a gradual pullback of the 15 American combat brigades now in Iraq, but stop short of setting a firm timetable for their withdrawal" Reax include:

• MyDD's Jonathan Singer: "In short, the Iraq Study Group appears to be calling for what the majority of Democrats have been calling for over at least the course of the last year: a phased redeployment of troops. If the Democrats had been heeded months ago, there is little doubt that the number of American troops who would have lost their lives would be less than it is today, though there is little indication if there would have been more or less bloodshed among Iraqis."
• Atrios: "Barring tremendous political leadership by, well, our political leaders we aren't leaving. Leaving is losing. Bush has made this clear."
• AMERICAblog: "So, in reading Joe's post below, I'm trying to fully comprehend if the Baker commission is adopting "cut & run" or "Vietnam"? Because it sounds a little of both."

Righty blogger reaction is light as of today's early deadline, but National Review Online's Mark Levin does comment on New York Sun reports that the commission will recommend the administration pressure Israel to make concessions to entice Syria and Iran into a regional conference on Iraq: "For James Baker and his ilk, it always comes down to Israel and, by implication, the Jews. I warned about this the other day. His thinking is skewed by his contempt. Baker is Pat Buchanan in a $3,000 suit."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Can't We All Just Get Along

Buzz Machine's Jeff Jarvis examines the MSMification of some blogging stalwarts:

The Huffington Post announces that it is hiring a political editor and will start reporting with all that brings: deadlines, expense accounts, and salaries. It's the next step for HuffPo and the blogosphere, to add more original reporting as it becomes worthwhile to do so. And it's the next step for more and more institutional journalists to venture into the future. The HuffPo editor, Melinda Henneberger, comes out of Newsweek and The New York Times. Note again Washington Post political editor John Harris and a colleague leaving for an online effort. All three quickly say that there's nothing wrong with print - nothing, clearly, except that they don't see a bright a future there. Note, too, that it will soon be more difficult to tell the difference between old and new, as blogs and reporting and reporters blog. It's all news.

LEST WE FORGET: 69 Psychiatric Outpatients Can't Be Wrong

Tom Tomorrow finds evidence that "anyone who's spent any time reading right wing blogs already understood" to be true: A direct link between mental illness and support for President Bush. The New Haven Advocate story describes Southern Connecticut State University social work master's student Christopher Lohse survey "of 69 psychiatric outpatients in three Connecticut locations during the 2004 presidential election." Lohse found: "Our study shows that psychotic patients prefer an authoritative leader ... If your world is very mixed up, there's something very comforting about someone telling you, 'This is how it's going to be.'"

Posted by Conn Carroll at November 30, 2006 01:49 PM