December 05, 2006

12/5: Lefties Love Labor, Not Libertarians

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas "throwaway blog post" describing himself as a "Libertarian Dem" generated enough interest that CATO Unbound hosted a "Should Libertarians Vote Democratic" forum 10/06 including a lead essay from Kos. CATO Research VP Brink Lindsey follows that interest up with a TNR piece 12/4 that has bloggers from the left and right talking again ... and no one is buying into the idea. Meanwhile, MyDD's Matt Stoller argues "the most interesting piece of netroots development that I'm hoping to see is an alliance between labor and the progressive blogs."

LABOR: A Match Made In Vegas

Looking back on Dem/netroot success in '06, MyDD's Stoller writes: "When you think about it, labor and the netroots have a lot in common. We're both frustrated at the skewed power dynamics in this country, and we are both working to restore accountability to our political and economic elites, because we see them as disconnected from American society at large. We're both by and large supportive of Democrats, but we also have independent power centers outside of the party and want to hold Democrats accountable. They pump huge amounts of money into campaigns, we pump some money into campaigns. And we're all organizing ourselves to inject our voices into the political process." Stoller goes on to support SEIU nurses currently locked out by United Health Services in Las Vegas, NV.

Echoing that sentiment Daily Kos diarist Phoenix Woman defends incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) from charges of banning Labor from meeting with freshmen reps. PW posts "some facts" from fellow Daily Kos commenter DemHillStaffer:

• This isn't an orientation session for Freshmen - it's part of an ongoing series of caucus meetings for all Members of Congress with leading thinkers on issues. For example, there's also one this week with military leaders on Iraq.
• Labor wasn't banned from this session. It's for Members of Congress only and a special guest. To be banned implies that it's open to people other than members of Congress. According to that logic, everyone who's not Bob Rubin is "banned." A better title would be "Pelosi Invites Rubin, not Labor, to Discuss Fiscal Responsibility."
• Whatever you think of his trade policy, [Robert] Rubin knows how to make the case for fiscal responsibility, which is the subject of his talk.
• Labor has a friend in Nancy Pelosi, whose top lieutenant - Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the author of the Employee Free Choice Act - is going to chair the House Education and Labor Committee.
• Why are we assuming the worst about Democratic leaders before she's even said one word opposing a pro-working family agenda?

LIBERTARIANS: A Match Made In Fantasyland

CATO Research VP Brink Lindsey's TNR article calling for a liberal/libertarian alliance drew fire from The Corner's Jonah Goldberg and his readers. Goldberg writes:

"Liberaltarians," if you ask me, starts unpersuasively analytically but slowly works up a head of steam toward crazy-enough-to-work territory. ... At the most basic level, what Lindsey is really asking is for liberals to give up the psychological and political impulses that make them liberals in the first place. ... We should all hope that Lindsey's project succeeds. Who among us unapologetic conservatives wouldn't like to see the two parties get in a bidding war over who is more libertarian on economic issues? I know I'd be ecstatic over such a struggle for the new - currently mythological - "libertarian center."

Goldberg later posts reader arguments that hopes of a libertarian-liberal alliance are nothing new and that none of the "three camps of libertarians" (the anti-tax, anti-government spending libertarians; the dope-smoking libertarians; and the pro-gun wing of the libertarians) will get along with Dem "party elders."

On the left, The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum illustrates Goldberg's point: "Liberals are never going to give up on the idea of progressive taxation, and our overall tax system is only barely progressive as it is. ... Ditto on entitlements. Universal pensions and universal healthcare are bedrock parts of the social safety net, and it's simply not conceivable that liberals will give ground on these. Nor should we. ... Bottom line: I just don't see it. Lindsey is better than most at diagnosing where the real differences lie, but those difference are core to the identities of both groups. It's hard to see the point of even trying to compromise on this stuff."

BAYH: The Next Lieberman?

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas looks at Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) warnings that Dems "could lose their newfound grip on Congress if the party pursues an ideological course" and calls him "deluded." Kos adds: ""Ideological"? You mean, like governing based on core Democratic principles? I know Bayh doesn't have any of those. But perhaps he could wait until Democrats propose something "extreme" before he says idiotic shit like this? The punchline is that Bayh thinks he'll be a serious candidate for president. He refused to send some of his big warchest to the DSCC when we pushed the "Use it or lose it" strategy, denying the national party money when locked in its fierce battle for control of the Senate. Now, after betraying the party pre-election, he wants to lecture it post-election? I don't know why anyone would want to be the Joe Lieberman of 2008, but I guess Bayh wants the title. It's his. Congrats to him."

GORE: The Best Pre-Campaign Campaign Ever

Daily Kos' Mcjoan links to Al Gore's recent GQinterview and writes: "Gore's focus on global warming and his willingness to speak out against the Bush administration even before the rest of the country turned against it have been a real service to the nation. And how refreshing is it to hear a potential presidential candidate willing to skewer the Bush administration in no uncertain terms? Even if he doesn't intend to turn what appears to be the best pre-campaign campaign I've ever seen into a real campaign, he's rehabilitated as a public servant and a politician."

OBAMA: I Do And Do And Do For You, And This Is The Thanks I Get?

While Arianna Huffington celebrates Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) complications of Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) '08 plans, MyDD's Chris Bowers worries about Obama's use of "left wing strawmen" to distance himself from a 'liberal' label. Bowers picks out two quotes from New York mag's 10/2 profile and writes: "What's worse, is that when it comes to someone like Barack Obama, for who I worked and tried to get elected, I am not really sure what I did to deserve being talked to that way. And yes, it actually hurts to be made a scapegoat by someone you wanted to see in office, and that you helped - even if only slightly - to achieve that office. A single phrase keeps going around in my head whenever I hear Obama use one of his strawmen: I helped you, man. Why are you treating me like this? Is this a sign you don't want me to help you anymore? Do you honestly believe that attacking me is more valuable than the help I can provide?"

Andrew Sullivan also is catching up on his New York mag reading, but he picks out a different Obama quote from the same article: "One good test as to whether folks are doing interesting work is, Can they surprise me? And increasingly, when I read Daily Kos, it doesn't surprise me. It's all just exactly what I would expect." Instapundit and Blog P.I. curiously also have thoughts, on the same day, on the 10/2 article.

KENNEDY: Why Not?

A blog "dedicated to electing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. President in 2008" came online 11/25. DraftRFKJR argues "As for his legacy, he is Bobby's son -- and that legacy is a good one. Bobby Kennedy is alive, and if anyone should ask why he should run for President, we just need to quote his father, and ask, "Why not?" To those who say that he has not thrown his hat in the ring, I say, "There are times that call for certain people to come forward. For those of us seeking a new paradigm for our society, one has to look no further than RFK, Jr."

BROWNBACK: Less Credible Than Barack Obama

Righty blogger reaction to Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-KS) entrance into the '08 was, at best, lukewarm. The Right Angle's Robert Bluey describes Brownback "[a]s the lone candidate so far who is sincere on social issues" and can force other GOPers "to be honest about many important issues" but also reminds readers that his vote for "amnesty" makes him un-electable.

Townhall's Dean Barnett also sees little hope for Brownback: "Bad news for you, Duncan Hunter. That ironclad lock you had on the least-plausible Republican candidacy has disappeared overnight." Back at Right Angle, Matt Lewis explains his lack of enthusiasm for Brownback comes from his growing concern "with the new brand of "purpose driven," mega-government compassionate conservatives (of which Sen. Brownback seems to belong). ... Aside from the fact that I disagree with them on some fiscal issues (Mike Huckabee is a prime example of this), I also have a suspicion that some of them hope to slowly move us away from opposing things like same-sex marriage, in order to be more (you guessed it) compassionate. (I'm not accusing Brownback of having this motive!). ... It also seems disingenuous; watching a recent television interview with Rick Warren, Barack Obama, and Sen. Brownback, I found myself thinking that Obama is the one I trust the most."

ROMNEY: We're Guessing Dean Has A Lot Do With Romney

Townhall's Dean Barnett reports on "buzz" that FL Gov. Jeb Bush (R) is a strong possibility for a MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) running mate and adds: "One thing you'll learn about Romney - there aren't a lot of people who have a lot to do with him who emerge anything less than completely and entirely impressed."

NM SEN: More Bunning Than Stevens?

Hitching his wagon to a Roll Call report (see 12/4's Hotline and Wonkette) suggesting Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) may have been walking around the halls of Congress in his pajamas, Kos calls NM's senior senator the "Jim Bunning of '08": "Those of you around in 2004 might remember the Jim Bunning situation, with the Kentucky Senator acting so bizarrely that he almost lost to an under-funded, low-name ID state legislator. And that was in a pretty solid Red state. The rumors of NM Senator Pete Domenici's degraded mental faculties are rampant, and now apparently confirmed with his own bizarre behavior." Jonathan Singer agrees: "These are not the actions of someone who is tasked with running for reelection over the next two years." More Singer: "This is not a mere Ted Stevens wearing an Incredible Hulk tie, this is a Senator potentially ambling around the halls of Congress in only his underwear. If this isn't a borderline Jim Bunning moment, I don't know what is."

BOLTON: Loud Complaining, Muted Celebrations

Reaction to Bolton's departure stirred up anti-UN sentiment on the right, beginning with Ankle Biting Pundits: "If a man can ever be judged his enemies and what they say about him, then John Bolton certainly had all the right enemies, and their comments upon his departure show why the UN is a useless organization and should be ignored." The Corner's Andy McCarthy: "We Don't Need an Ambassador at the UN ... We need a wrecking ball."

Captain Ed thinks it's evidence "that the White House has signalled a full retreat on its executive prerogative." More: "It doesn't look like the last two years of the Bush administration will have room for tough-minded fighters like Bolton and [Amb. to Iraq Zalmay] Khalilzad. "

From the left, Steve Clemons is magnanimous in victory, but still offers thoughts on the winners and losers from Bolton's departure. He says the biggest loser may be Sec/State Condoleezza Rice. Tapped's Mark Leon Goldberg: "Progress is now also possible on a host of important UN reforms that would make the UN a more efficient bureaucracy. These reforms stalled this summer amid threats by Bolton that the U.S. may withhold its support for the UN's budget unless the reforms were adopted. With threats like this one, Bolton showed an uncanny ability to torpedo UN reform by simultaneously uniting a previously fractious alliance of underdeveloped countries generally hostile to reform and dividing a previously united coalition of European and northern states that supported many of the proposed reforms."

BOLTON II: Who's Got Next?

Some suggestions on who ought to replace Bolton in NYC:

• Many float ex-Sen. George Mitchell (D-ME), to whom reaction runs the gamut. Some righties would be okay with it, including RedState
's Rick Moran ("We could do worse."). Others, like Mary Katharine Ham, aren't so amused at the idea: "So, I guess we're bypassing squishy Republicans and going straight to Democrats? ... Nuthin' says good things for America like 'ardent support' for the 'globalist agenda!'"
• Wizbang! offers a "semi-serious" suggestion: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO). Commenters have a great time suggesting other names, including Jimmy Carter, Khalilzad, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I/D-CT), ex-MN Gov. Jesse Ventura, MD LG Michael Steele (R), Amb. Joe Wilson, ex-Sen. Zell Miller ("D"-GA), Dennis Miller, 50 Cent and "no one."
• The Corner's Andrew Stuttaford: "Ambassador Giuliani. Now there's a thought..."
• Meanwhile, Jonathan Martin urges us not to forget outgoing Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA). Martin: "Fear the sweater vest!"
• Steve Clemons thinks the job will go to Undersec/State Paula Dobriansky, who is "acceptable to both Rice and Cheney, and is not a complete rejection of John Bolton's views."
• American Prospect's Mark Leon Goldberg, on Khalilzad, Leach and Dobriansky: "Each of these three could be described as foreign policy pragmatists from of Secretary Rice's camp. If this holds, it seems that we may be in for a course correction at the United Nations."
• K-Lo's all about Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA). (Stuttaford chimes in: "Um, no.")
• More KLo: "And I thought I was depressed....an e-mail: 'K Lo, two words for you on who the new UN ambassador will be: Lincoln Chafee.'"

IRAQ: Doesn't Look Like Kucinich Got The No Funding Cutoff Memo

Noting that a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner survey of the 50 most competitive GOP-held districts found "25 percent of likely voters said Iraq was the single most important issue behind their vote -- nearly twice the level for the two next issues," The Democratic Strategist's Jeremy Rosner lays out a plan for how Dems can solidify their recent gains on national security issues: "The new Democratic Congress needs to provide the vigorous oversight of the war their Republican predecessors never provided. But they also need to avoid pushing for funding cut-offs that could be cast as undermining the troops (and which would in any event merely be veto bait). And they need to push for an end-game that moves gradually, doing what we can to build up Iraq's infrastructure and professionalize its military and police forces, acknowledging that we bear some moral responsibility for Iraq's growing chaos."

Daily Kos's Mcjoan echoes Rosner's plans for increased oversight and TPM Muckraker's Paul Kiel reports Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) has formally asked incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to approve the creation of a new House Armed Services Committee subcommittee "devoted to oversight and investigations."

At The Huffington Post, however, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) finishes up his three-part post on the necessity of cutting off war funds with a five point plan for Iraq:

• Transfer to the United Nations the authority the United States currently exercises in Iraq.
• The United States will finance a UN-sponsored peace keeping mission in Iraq and enlist the help of other members of the coalition of nations which participated in the Iraq action.
• UN troops will rotate into Iraq, and all US troops will come home. The United Nations, through its member nations, in cooperation with member nations from the region, will commit 130,000 peace keepers to Iraq on a temporary basis until the Iraqi people can maintain their own security.
• The United States must agree to pay for what we destroyed. An Iraq reconstruction fund, monitored by the UN in cooperation with the Iraqi government, must be annually replenished to replace destroyed infrastructure.
• The United States will abandon policies of "preemption" and unilateralism and commit to strengthening the UN.

TERROR POLITICS: Outrage Wanted

Andrew Sullivan posts photos of Jose Padilla in custody and writes : "An American citizen detained without charge for almost four years - in solitary confinement and darkness and forced to wear goggles and sound-erasing ear-plugs in public. ... One man is responsible for this. And he is president of the United States. I am told I am hysterical to be angry about this. But my anger gets deeper the more we know. I simply do not understand why the anger and sense of disgrace is not more widely felt." Talk Left also calls for "a greater outcry over this" and Digby is reminded of the Count of Monte Cristo.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: But Yglesias Says QBs Don't Matter

Chicago Bears fan Sheldon Drobny is happy the Bears are 10-2 but worries coach Lovie Smith is demonstrating too many similarities to Pres. Bush in sticking with struggling QB Rex Grossman:

Those of us in Chicago and in the MSM all are painfully aware of the fact that Grossman is not the man to lead this team, but Lovie Smith has a different reality than most others who observe and analyze the NFL. ... But, Lovey lives in his own reality. ... In many ways the nature of Smith's behavior is a metaphor for Bush and many of our political leaders. Lovey Smith and George Bush seem to be in the same reality. Do not confuse them with facts. They keep dreaming and leading by hunches and stubborn feelings in which they are certain that they are right. ... I wonder if Lovey Smith is a Republican.

LEST WE FORGET: Mmmm, Kerry-licious!

Apparently no one at The New Republic likes to buy groceries. After Jason Zengerle shared his discovery that NM Gov. Bill Richardson's (D) '04 Dem convo salsa was "pretty good" and "notably ... hot" Michael Crowleyconfessed to eating his "special-edition 2004 Democratic National Convention Kraft macaroni and cheese" during a late-night craving. Crowley writes: "After about 90 seconds of debating what it could be worth on eBay someday, I cooked it up and unsentimentally wolfed it down. Kerry-licious!"

Posted by Conn Carroll at December 5, 2006 12:11 PM