January 31, 2007

1/31: Favorite Son No More?

Up 'til now, John Edwards has posted comfortable leads over his WH '08 rivals in online straw polls, but with the continuedheathehas beentaking over his 1/22 comments that "All the options are on the table to ensure that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon," an opening for the hearts of netrooters has developed. Sen. Barack Obama has capitalized on that opening by calling for a withdrawal of troops. As popular as Edwards' focus on poverty is in lefty 'spheres, this is a movement whose core (think Howard Dean '04 and Joe Lieberman '06) centers around opposition to the Iraq war. With DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas saying Obama is "the first of the top-tier presidential contenders to clear" the bar on the Iraq issue, will the netroots begin to coalesce around the Illinois Senator?

OBAMA: Leading At Last?

TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent was the link of choice for lefty bloggers announcing news of Barack Obama's 1/30 Iraq legislation. Sargent writes: "Here we go. Barack Obama is introducing binding legislation mandating the phased removal of combat brigades from Iraq to start in a few months, with the goal of getting "all" -- we repeat, "all" -- removed by March 2008." AMERICAblog posts video of Obama's floor statement from Politics TV.

Glowing Obama reviews include:

• DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas: "This isn't a wussy "stop the escalation" measure, nor some half-measure like "withdraw some troops but not all" (which appears to be the Edwards position). ... it's an indictment of DC that Obama's obvious stance is actually a sign of "leadership."
• The Left Coaster: "It is relatively specific and goes beyond anything Hillary has ever said, and sounds better thought-out than what Edwards has come up with. It will be a winner with the base and with independents, and will cause problems for Hillary. But screw that; it's the right thing to do."
• MyDD's Matt Stoller: "This is great. Obama isn't just calling for withdrawal, he's introducing legislation to make it happen."
• DailyKos' AdyBarkan: "Obama's introduction today of a bill to end the war in Iraq is not only the best substantive bill he's backed since entering the Senate 2 years ago, it's also by far his best political move since then."

Not everyone was sold on the genuineness of Obama's proposal. The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum first outlines Congress' war powers: "Congress can declare war, it has certain military rulemaking powers, and it can fund and defund a war. But that's it. Like it or not, Congress simply doesn't have the power to manage specific operational aspects of a war."

Drum concludes: "I can't help but get the feeling that this bill is carefully crafted to sound a lot more agressive than it really is. If Obama is serious about getting us out of Iraq, why not include the one thing that everyone agrees is a bulletproof way of accomplishing his goal?"

The Reality Based Community's Mark Kleiman begged to differ: "[I]f I read Obama's statement correctly, he means that it won't reduce funding for troops currently in Iraq; it will forbid adding new ones, and it will mandate a systematic withdrawal by a date certain. Clearly the Congress has the power to limit not only funding but troop levels, and it has the power to order the Pentagon to plan and execute a withdrawal. Congress's inability to control operations in detail stems from its lack of capacity, not any Constitutional limitation. That's the brilliance of the Obama plan: it puts the operational responsibility where it belongs, but it dictates an endpoint."

OBAMA II: Black Like Who?

At The Huffington Post, GMU ass't. prof. Michael Fauntroy looks at "the latest turn in the Barack Obama for president circus ... how well he will do with African American voters." Fauntroy writes: "While the "Black enough" question is silly and can be seen as an insult to African Americans because it suggests that only certain kinds of Blacks can represent other African Americans, the truth is that it may be a legitimate concern for the top tier Democratic candidates. If Obama can't nail down his "base," then he can't be a serious contender."

Fauntroy reminds readers: "This isn't the first time Obama has had to deal with questions about his political-racial purity. During his first run for Congress in 2000, his opponent, incumbent Representative Bobby Rush, employed a well-worn tactic among entrenched Black incumbents: He suggested that his opponent wasn't "Black enough" to represent the voters of the district. Rush won and Obama continued to serve in the state senate."

TAPPED's Mark Schmitt looks back further into Obama's Chicago days. Schmitt links to a '95 Chicago Reader article on Obama's days as a community organizer following first black mayor Harold Washington's tragic death. Schmitt concludes: "Anyone who argues that Obama is somehow not "really" black or properly connected to traditional black politics should try to think of him in the context of post-Washington Chicago. ... We've never had a major political leader who struggled with those challenges -- not just of how to get elected but the more fundamental question of how to make a difference."

Also looking at Obama, Kos links to an Upright Citizen's Brigade video of Obama choosing a campaign poster. It's long, but the Obama character finally settles on: "Barack Obama: the non-threatening well-spoken but with a streetwise edge black guy; his mother's white so he's not black black." The Obama character then adds: "get your bumpersticker today...this will go great on a hybrid...I have a position on that too."

CLINTON: Not Your Average JoeMentum

MyDD's Chris Bowers wants to dissuade readers of any notion that Hillary Clinton's current lead in polls is "a figment of name recognition" similar to Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) lead in similar polls at the same point four years ago. Bowers compares national name recognition and trial heat numbers from 2/03 and 1/07 and concludes: "If you think all other candidates need to do is introduce themselves, then you are just wrong. ... While not insurmountable, Clinton's national lead over everyone not named Obama is far more significant than Lieberman's lead was in early 2003, and as such will be far more difficult for other candidates to overcome."

Also at MyDDMatt Stoller marvels at "the most right-wing candidate" in the field's ability to "manipulat[e] the local press into giving her headlines" like: "Clinton Campaigns Against Troop Surge."

EDWARDS: For Withdrawal Before It Was Cool

Netroot's dissatisfaction with John Edwards foreign policy positioning continues to grow following his 1/22 statement that "All the options are on the table to ensure that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon." A 1/31 Daily Kos diary titled "The Common Thread of Edwards on Iraq" concludes: "I have other reservations about Edwards but right now this is the biggest one: can he take an unpopular opinion and stick to it?"

Following the introduction of Obama's troop withdrawal legislation Team Edwards phoned Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall to make sure the influential blogger knew Edwards had been "calling for complete withdrawal of all combat troops for more than a year."

Pandagon contributor Amanda Marcotte announced 1/30 she will be joining the Edwards campaign. Marcotte explains her choice in candidates: "Two major reasons. ... He's the only candidate that isn't falling for the same tired line about moving to the center and is actually talking about issues that matter, like poverty. ... The other reason I'm joining the campaign is because I think that they really understand the growing importance of the internet in politics."

BROWNBACK: Gone Left

Linking to Politico analysis of GOP unhappiness with the current crop of '08 hope fulls IA's Caucus Cooler takes issue with the suggestion that Sam Brownback could emerge as the "credible conservative alternative." CC comments: "But the problem with Brownback is that he's gone left on the War and already held the pro-amnesty position on immigration."

GIULIANI: Are The Cornerites Changing Horses?

"For what it's worth" the Corner's Rich Lowry shares ex-Rep. Jim Nussle's reasons for supporting Rudy Giuliani, including: "Perfect" has become the enemy of the "good", and we saw that borne out during this past November's elections. ...I have chosen to support Mayor Giuliani because I believe we need to embrace the ideals and the values that unite us. ... Rudy Giuliani is the results Republican our country needs."

Also at the Corner, Kathryn Jean Lopez shares pro-Rudy thoughts from a "rare pro-life, Hollywood hawk" following a Los Angeles, CA fundraiser: "When he talks about the war on terror he does so more clearly than anyone I have heard including the President. ... Rudy did an immigration bit that was "to the right of everyone else except maybe Tancredo. He talked about immigration in terms of national security. ... If he says that he would appoint judges of like mind then I think he can skate on the abortion issue because it does come down to the judges."

HUCKABEE: A Few Tools Short Of A Full Skill Set

The Brody File worked the phones to get "reaction within Evangelical circles" on Mike Huckabee. The reviews from one "mover and a shaker" are not encouraging: "Mike is a wonderful guy. I am personally friends with him. Having said that, the nature of the global issues facing the next President are such that a unique skill set is needed. One that includes broad international experience. I am not sure Mike has the experience."

MCCAIN: Not The McCain He Was Hoping For

TAPPED's Garance Franke-Ruta sites the departure of ex-Howard Dean webmaster Nicco Mele from John McCain's campaign as just the "latest evidence of [McCain's] dwindling bipartisan appeal." Franke-Ruta explains: "Turns out the McCain Mele knew and admired from his pre-Dean Common Cause days wasn't the one running this go-around."

Back in IA, Krusty Konservative explains that the "conservative heartburn" of GOP caucus goers caused by the mere mention of McCain-Feingold or the Gang of 14 has just one solution: Iraq. KK writes: "While everyone seems to be running away from Iraq, McCain is embracing it. ... The media always seems to think that [c]onservative voters are only [c]oncerned with judges, abortion and gay marriage. While those issues are extremely important, they also care about illegal immigration, and national security. In fact, I'd bet that most pro-life, pro-traditional marriage men, also support the war in Iraq."

Sounding a similar note, The Brody File reports a "a very influential social conservative leader in Iowa that has joined the McCain team" tells him McCain plan to win over social conservatives by showing "he's been solidly pro-life, strong on the war on terror and tough on wasteful spending."

ROMNEY: A Buiness Conservative?

Admitting that NRI summit goers needed "more than what they got" from Mitt Romney on Iraq, the Corner'sKathryn Jean Lopez says Romney came off as "a smart business guy who may be conservative." Lopez concludes: "It's going to take some consistent confidently conservative rallying. I (as you might imagine) think he's capable of it - and not just because he's a smart businessman - but time will tell."

Romney's pro-life conversion story also drew Corner attention. One K-Lo reader was not impressed: "I'm a Mormon, so I should be Romney's natural constituency, but that speech just didn't sit well with me. It never came together. It was recipe conservatism, not conviction conservatism. ... The part about his conversion to pro-life causes was particularly unconvincing."

A Rich Lowryreader , however, found Romney's account persuasive: "Pro-lifers greatly enjoy learning about that moment when it clicked for pro-life converts. Each pro-life convert has his or her own story about what it was that caused them to see the light. Governor Romney's account makes perfect sense."

HAGEL: Anti-War First, Or Anti-War Too

Chuck Hagel continues to find few friends on either side of the blogosphere aisle. Kausfiles muses that Hagel "didn't start making quite so much noise about the war until after Sam Brownback came out against the surge, putting Hagel's position as the only 2008 antiwar GOP candidate in jeopardy."

Further to the left, Down With Tyranny says Hagel "is a far right Republican who has rubber stamped virtually every stinking turd the Bush Regime has sent careening down the pike." DWT also reminds readers: "Many have forgotten that Hagel's first senate election was a dress rehearsal for GOP vote theft on a grand scale."

And The Huffington Post's Cenk Uygur wants to know "Who is Chuck Hagel?" although he seems to be pretty sure he knows already: "He voted for the Military Commissions Act that stripped legal residents and very possibly all United States citizens of habeas corpus rights, allowed for secret trials that do not conform to our military code of justice and let the president define torture. The worst bill for civil liberties in our lifetimes."

IRAQ: Locking Up The Benchmarks

A 1/26 NBC Nightly news segment on troops in Iraq saying they are "increasingly frustrated by American criticism of the war" is on virtually every righty blog the Blogometer covers. RedState has the video at the top of every blog post under the header: "Senator Hagel Needs To Watch This (So Do You)." RS's California Yankee writes: "NBC reports on how some troops react to criticism of the war. I can't fault their logic when they complain that you can't support the troops if you don't support the mission."

Outside the Beltway's James Joyner "understand[s] the frustrations" of young soldiers but offers a minority opinion on the right: "Some wars are controversial and it's a vital part of our political process that debate not be stifled."

At Townhall, Hugh Hewitt is still smarting over GOP insistence on benchmarks for Iraq. Hewitt writes: "The Congressional Republicans' demand for "benchmarks" is becoming the GOP's equivalent of Al Gore's demand years ago for "lockboxes," --an empty term originally intended to convey seriousness of purpose while disguising empty policy prescriptions, but which, by the sheer implausibility of the pose, became a term attracting deserved disdain."

Fellow TownhallerMatt Lewis responds: "But it is important to distinguish between Sen. John McCain's proposed resolution and the proposals of Sens. Biden and Warner. In fact, McCain's draft resolution is a powerful defense of the surge. ... I wonder what Hugh would make of the fact that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney advocated for benchmarks and a timeline on the Northern Alliance Radio Network just this weekend."

IRAN: Bogus Or Belli?

Captain's Quarters notes CNNcoverage of possible Iran involvement in the recent attack on U.S. forces in Karbala and comments: "What happens if the US concludes that Iran did indeed conduct this mission against American servicemen? It would be an act of war ... The Bush administration might be tempted to retaliate with some air strikes, perhaps selected especially for the nuclear program Iran seems keen to pursue at all costs."

Earlier Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall asked: "When the bogus 'Iran incident' happens that becomes the predicate for a military attack on Iran, what will it look like?" Later linking to the same CNN item, Marshall adds: "[E]ven our feeble knowledge here at TPM is enough to tell us that when we start hearing catch-alls like 'Iranian-trained' for anything that happened in southern Iraq, we're dealing with meaninglessly vague words meant to bamboozle and hoodwink. Remember too this incident occurred in Karbala, where the Badr Brigade is headquartered."

In related news, TPMmuckraker posts Sen. Jim Webb's (D-VA) 1/29 letter to Sec/State Condoleeza Rice asking for a 'yes' or 'no' answer to his 1/11 Senate For. Rel. Cmt. question to her: "Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Iran, in the absence of a direct threat, without congressional approval?"

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: He Who Builds On The People, Builds On The Mud

Under the header "Electorate Hungry For Vague Aphorisms" MyDD's Chris Bowers links to Pew polling showing "between 46% and 67% of the electorate wants politicians who both "are willing to compromise" and "are willing to stick with positions, even if unpopular." Bowers comments:

Huge percentages of the country also want to see compromise in general, but don't want to see compromise on specific issues. The next time the public doesn't like someone because s/he or is a "flip flopper," perhaps they should look themselves in the mirror. More importantly, the next time a pundit or reporter states that the country is looking for compromise and bipartisanship, they should note that the country doesn't know what exactly it wants compromise on, and that they also like leaders who stand on principle.

LEST WE FORGET: Probably Not The Only Consultant Who's Had Similar Thoughts

Dem consultant Garry South stopped by Calitics to respond to blogger Brian Leubitz suggestion that '08 Dem hopefuls should avoid the veteran strategist. South writes:

Your rantings and ravings are those of a petulant child and a political zealot, Brian. I see you were at the Berkeley Seminar but didn't have the cojones to come up and introduce yourself and confront me with your fantastical charges during the entire two days. I guess you prefer to slink around and hide behind the Internet.

Here's my final word: When you have actually run and won a campaign electing a Democrat to any office at any level, instead of just sitting at your computer composing bile and bilge and hitting "send," come back and talk to me. Until then, you can kiss my . . . baby.

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:44 PM

January 30, 2007

1/30: Playing The Dark Horse The Old Fashioned Way

In yet another sign that conservative bloggers aren't nearly as socially conservative as the GOP base, ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) continue to receive chilly online receptions. Neither candidate does well in online straw polls (see Pajamas Media's new straw poll and GOP Bloggers straw polls). Righty bloggers are particularly turned off by Huckabee's "big government" conservatism. It's worth keeping in mind that few on the right ever really liked Pres. Bush's 'compassionate conservatism' either. If either Brownback or Huckabee catch on in IA, it's going to have to be face-to-face in diners and auditoriums, not online through pixels and video.

GOP FIELD: Ron Paul Is Bigger Than McCain!

With 999 votes for GOP nominees Pajamas Media wrapped up their first week of straw polling with the top five vote getters finishing:

Mitt Romney 36.8%
Rudy Giuliani 22.3%
Newt Gingrich 17.1%
Ron Paul 4.2%
Tom Tancredo 4.2%

GOP FIELD: Letting McCain Do The Heavy Lifting?

Linking to "Iowa veteran" David Elwell's recent support for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) IA's Caucus Cooler asks: "It will be interesting to see how much the surge defines the GOP's nominating process with Brownback, Pataki, and Hagel all opposed. Will Romney, Giuliani, and Huckabee be forced to be more vocal on the war by editorials like these? Or, does it play to their advantage to sit on the sidelines and watch McCain be the sole advocate for an Iraq strategy that even its most vocal supporters have called challenging and uncertain to succeed?"

BROWNBACK: Not One Of The Cool Kids

Students for Brownback Chair Billy Valentine claims National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez invited Sam Brownback to address the NRI Conservative Summit "only to then dis-invite him." Valentine expresses "shock" that the man who "single-handedly tore down the abysmal nomination of Harriet Miers" was not allowed to speak at the summit. Valentine goes on to "attack" ex-MA. Gov. Mitt Romney for having "a pro-abortion past" just like Miers.

K-Lo tells Hotline: "Feelers were put out in December as the agenda was being put together and Senator Brownback was asked about a possible debate with former senator Jack Danforth. With a negative answer from Senator Danforth and without an acceptance from Senator Brownback, a young writer was tapped to make the Danforth argument and we no longer had the matched stature of two senators facing off. In the final weeks before the summit, with Senator Brownback and former Governor Huckabee announcing or about to announce, room was made on the crowded schedule for both to address the gathering. Gov. Huckabee accepted and Senator Brownback declined."

GINGRICH: Nothing Amuses Conservatives Like Desalinization Humor

Draft Newt '08 debuted 1/29 with campaign founder David Kralik writing: "Today, we are launching a major nationwide grassroots presidential draft effort, in the spirit of Reagan and Goldwater, to urge Newt Gingrich to run for the Republican Presidential nomination."

Rave reviews of Gingrich's NRI summit performance continue to trickle in. The Corner's Rich Lowry describes Gingrich as "a balm at a time when the GOP seems bereft of ideas and principles" and shares: "He delivered a riff about de-salinization, desertification and environmentalism at the end of the Q&A that was brilliant, hilarious, and could not possibly have been delivered by any other politician in the United States."

Power Line's Scott Johnson posts text of Newt's address and adds: "Newt's well received speech at the NR Summit over the weekend followed Chuck Norris's expression of support for Newt last week on Hannity and Colmes. Filling in for Sean Hannity, Norris endorsed Newt "Graingrich" for president. Fortunately, Chuck nailed the first name so that viewers could not mistake whom he was referring to."

HUCKABEE: "Very Talented," But "Slightly Nutty"

While The Corner's Rich Lowry describes Mike Huckabee as "obviously a very talented speaker" who "conservatives are going to like and enjoy" the rest of the righty blogosphere continues to be tough on the former AR gov. The Corner's Mark Steyn found the closing of his NRI address "not so much canned as slightly nutty," The Right Angle's Ivy Sellers argues Huckabee's "push for big government spending -- especially when it comes to education -- might make him insupportable for true conservatives."

Townhall's Matt Lewis shares a reader email calling Huckabee's message "the most dangerous thing to hit the Conservative movement since Rockafeller." The emailer blames GOP leadership for "thinking all they have to do is stick a gay marriage amendment on the ballot to drive turnout" instead of explaining "the importance of supply-side economics to the health and well being of our country." The email concludes: "Instead, Rick Warren and his ilk have us thinking that the solution to all of humanities problems is further forced redistribution of wealth, as long as it is directed to issues of high moral importance (like AIDS, Africa, and other stuff). People are lapping this stuff up."

Lewis also links to The Club for Growth's first Presidential White Paper: A Report on Mike Huckabee's Fiscal Record.

Less harsh on Huckabee, IA's Krusty Konservative explains Huckabee is his '07 "breakout" candidate because ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney was already the '06 breakout candidate and Huckabee "is the only [c]onservative [c]andidate with gravitas." The Brody File reports that "Evangelical leaders" are still in ""analyze mode right now" and that so far nobody in the race screams "He's the guy".

MCCAIN: No Charm City

RedState's Rob Bluey hits John McCain for his failure to attend the annual Republican Study Committee retreat, sponsored by the Heritage Foundation. Bluey writes: "One has to wonder why McCain is avoiding House conservatives, especially at a meeting he could use to improve his image. Instead, the Arizona senator once again befuddles the very people he needs most to win the GOP nomination."

The Right Angle's John Gizzi reports that Randy Pullen strong anti-guest worker stance secured his victory over McCain's favored candidate for AZ RNC Committeeman, Lisa James. Gizzi adds: "Before the vote, the Phoenix businessman told me he also disagreed with McCain on his '03 campaign finance measure that has increased reporting and limited so-called "soft money" in federal campaigns and national party organizations."

Right Wing News posts video from lefty blog The Real McCain as his "Video Of The Day."

ROMNEY: The Hits Just Keep On Comin'

The Corner's Rich Lowry hit Mitt Romney hard for his 1/27 NRI address including: "Put aside how rambling and unfocused it was ... to speak for 50 minutes or so and not to talk about the Iraq war before a conservative audience at a crucial moment in that war is bizarre and just wrong and almost offensive in my view. ... His account of how he came to change his view on abortion -- through the issue of stem-cell research -- isn't very compelling and he would probably be better off not talking about it at all. Fairly or not, people aren't going to believe it."

Responding to Lowry Ankle Biting Pundit's McCain aide Patrick Hynes takes the opportunity to engage in some Cornerology: "I find it refreshing that there is an adult in the crowd over there who has not yet guzzled the Kool-Aid. ... I have also noticed a marked reduction in Kathryn Lopez's gushing for Romney. How much of this is cosmetic and how much reflects an actual enhancement of her critical thinking skills is yet to be determined."

Townhall's Matt Lewis says "the hits keep on coming" as he links to a Weekly Standardcolumn "that further damages Romney's attempts to run as the conservative alternative to John McCain." The article highlights Romney's answers to a 2002 Planned Parenthood questionnaire including a 'Yes' answer to the question: "Do you support the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade?"

HAGEL: Profiles In Opportunism

RedState's Jeff Emanuel notes Truthout is labeling Chuck Hagel's new GQ profile "Hagel Interview More Anti-War Than Most Dems" while fellow RedStaterMark Kilmer wants to break "Reagan's 11th Commandment over Chuck Hagel's head."

Kausfiles asks: "Why, exactly, is Sen. Chuck Hagel showing "courage" in conspicuously denouncing the Iraq War now that virtually the entire American establishment has reached that same conclusion?" Kaus continues: "OK, maybe Hagel's not so courageous. Maybe he's just right. Except that he chose, as the moment to make his flamboyant speech, not the vote on the imprudent war itself--he voted for it--but a vote to withdraw support for a last-ditch surge strategy that even the NYT's estimable, on-the-scene pessimist Sabrina Tavernesethinks "may have a chance to work." Was this the right time--it certainly wasn't the courageous time--for a speech like Hagel's? Was he serving the nation or himself?"

DEM FIELD: If You Want A Clinton-Richardson Ticket, Just Come Out And Say It

Writing that Dems need a "winning Team" that "can begin to rebuild the world's confidence in our country" The Huffington Post's Michelle Kraus and Dave Johnson explain the "regional stabilization of Iraq" will be "[t]he number one issue for this Presidential cycle." As a result Kraus and Johnson want: "new leadership with knowledge, experience and diplomacy at the top of the list of skills. ... a "bullet-proof" Team - one that knows foreign relations, has deep knowledge of global politics and can be respected by both the American people and this volatile region."

TAPPED's Sam Rosenfeld understands Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is just trying to sell books when he says Iraq will recede as an issue in '08 but still calls the line "dangerously wrong, and worth calling out every time it surfaces."

Also at TAPPEDGarance Franke-Ruta warns readers that congressional Dem embrace of PAYGO is going to rule out any "major new health insurance programs or major reforms" over the next to years and advises reader to take this "into account when evaluating [WH '08 candidate] health care proposals, both for this Congress and for future ones."

CLINTON: Not How The Blogometer Would Have Ranked Them

Plenty of left and right blogger reaction to Hillary Clinton's "evil men" line (most of it harsh on the MSM), but Atrios draws a larger conclusion about HRC: "For my own personal irrelevant reasons I've always hoped she wouldn't run, because when it comes to the Clintons members are the press literally live in a different universe, they feel entitled to say anything, and this drives me crazy. Can you imagine any other politician being asked if they thought their spouse was evil?"

And from across the pond, Times Online's Daniel Finkelstein names "The 10 bloggers who can make or break Hillary," including:

• 10. Matt Drudge: It's hard to imagine a Clinton campaign without at least one scandal or pseudo-scandal. And Drudge seems the likeliest route.
• 9. Duncan Black: His Atrios blog has a huge left-wing readership. But that's not all. His speciality is scrutinizing the mainstream media for bias against liberals. ... He could be the anti-Drudge.
• 8. Arianna Huffington: In the top ten because she's hard to ignore. ... Writes for the moneyed establishment so her view could impact the race for cash.
• 6=.Jay Cost: One of Hillary's biggest problem is that Democrats fear that if nominated she will lose, or worse, that she simply can't win the presidency. ... His speciality is using polling to produce probabilities of different results.
• 6=. Mark Blumenthal: The Mystery Pollster is one of the most respected sources of polling analysis on the web ... He may help her puncture the idea that she can't win.
• 5. Joshua Micah Marshall: his quiet influence will help the undecided Democrats work out whether to go with Hillary or Obama.
• 4. Andrew Sullivan: The classic swing-vote blog. He voted for Bill and also for George W. first time out. ... If Hillary can't keep him, that suggests she can't hold together the coalition that produced the mid-term victory.
• 2=. Markos Moulitsas Zuniga: Has a reasonable record of endorsing candidates who win primaries although some, like Ned Lamont, fall at the general election.
• 2=. Jerome Armstrong: All in all Hillary would probably prefer the netroot campaigners to disappear into a big hole. If they don't, she's in trouble.
• 1. Mickey Kaus: Is Hillary a new Dem or a traditional liberal? ... If she is going to win the swing states, she needs to take the Mickey. ... I think confusing the liberal bloggers with the base is the worst possible error a candidate could make. So Kaus is number one.

DODD: Against Insanity

The Huffington Post's Bob Geiger posts excerpts of Chris Dodd's comments to the senate after learning that a Army Captain he met well in Iraq last month lost his life in a mortar and small arms attack 1/20. Geiger adds: "Dodd went on to express his profound opposition to the Bush-McCain Doctrine of escalating the Iraq war and said that "I think most of us here want to responsibly end our involvement after 4 painful years that have taken a tragic toll on our country. ... I say to them and others that in this body we will stand up in the coming days and bring an end to this insanity."

EDWARDS: Taking MySpace Seriously

MyDD's Chris Bowers is surprised by John Edwards poor showing on MySpace "despite raising a lot of money on Act Blue, despite leading Dailykos straw polls, and despite, from what I hear, hiring a lot of internet staff." Bowers adds: "Even if it is "only" MySpace, it is still an emerging netroots center, and as such it should be taken seriously by anyone who wants to carry the mantle of the progressive movement."

OBAMA: Not The Only Silver-Tongued Candidate

The Huffington Post's David Mills responds to some "on the black side of the blogosphere" who are complaining the MSM descriptions of Barack Obama as "articulate" are condescending. Mills writes: "There's just one problem with this line of complaint. The media do use the word "articulate" to describe white guys too. ... I speak of John Edwards. Check out what people were saying - and still say - about that silver-tongued devil ... You know what? I don't think John Edwards and his supporters consider it an insult that he keeps being called "articulate."

IRAQ: It's Getting Hot In Here

House Min. Leader John Boehner's (R-OH) insistence on legislation calling for benchmarks in Iraq made smoke pour from Hugh Hewitt's ears 1/29. Hewitt writes at Townhall: "I think the Minority Leader is a fine guy and a conservative ... They need to be defending the war, and the troops and General Petraeus, not searching for political cover."

Also at Townhall, thanks Daily Kos for noting that all five of the senate's Warner Resolution supporters are up for re-election in '08. Barnett reasons: "The fact that only Senators who are up for reelection in '08 speaks volumes about what these guys (and gal) are up to." Power Line's Scott Johnson disagrees: "One might conclude that voting for the Warner resolution or its ilk is sufficiently misguided on a matter of sufficient importance to justify throwing Senator Coleman, for example, under the bus. But, regardless of how he votes, I intend to keep open my option to lend financial support to Coleman when he runs against Al Franken or whichever liberal Democrat he faces."

SCOOTER: Suck Up

Firedoglake's Jeralyn Merritt is one of many bloggers live-blogging VP Dick Cheney aide Scooter Libby's obstruction of justice trial. Commenting on Ari Fleischer's testimony Merritt writes:

Ari was a polished pro. Rather than directing his answers to [the lawyers], he turned to the jury and spoke to them directly, gesturing with his hands. This is a trick FBI agents use. When it happens in my trials, I ask the judge to instruct the witness not to direct his answers to the jury, but to the lawyer asking the questions. Either Judge Walton would not have entertained such a motion, or Team Libby didn't think of it. After a while, it got obnoxious watching Fleischer suck up to the jury.

As part of an effort "to shine some light into one of the darkest corners of the Bush administration" Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall is linking to TPMmuckraker efforts to identify "the entire staff of Vice President Dick Cheney's Senate office" and locate the WH Phone Directory.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Mind The Gap

The Huffington Post's Blake Fleetwood links to new Nielsen Ratings findings showing "66% of Blog Newspaper Traffic is Male and Gap is Widening". Fleetwood explains: "Male traffic to blogs grew by 226% Year over Year in December, while female traffic to blogs grew by 183%." Fleetwood concludes Nielson:

The implication from the data seems to be that the Internet audience is searching for meaning and analysis and a point of view, as opposed to mere breaking news. Whether newspaper blogs, with restricted access, will substantially BIGFOOT and drive out the independent - more inclusive and diverse - blogs is a question that the market will answer in time.

LEST WE FORGET: If The Bears Lose Sunday, Blame The Media

Ex-Chicago resident and DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas is taking support of his Bears as seriously as he does politics. First kos asks if Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy "is supporting a radical anti-gay organization?"

Later kos tackles Rex Grossman bashers by linking to a blog post showing that Grossman's 73.9 passer rating is higher than many SB QBs heading into a SB including winners Bart Starr (64.4 rating before SB II), Joe Namath (72.1 rating before SB III), and Jim Plunkett (72.9 rating before SB XV). Kos concludes: "I'm fascinated at the crazy, fact-free narratives formed around Grossman's "problems". It's not unlike politics. Once the media has latched on to its narrative, it seems nothing will shake it loose. Nothing, that is, until Grossman leads the Bears to a Super Bowl victory. At that point, they can put the "Grossman sucks" narrative on hiatus until training camp this fall."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:19 PM

January 29, 2007

1/29: Results Unclear

Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) internet director, Peter Daou sent out a press release 1/26 trumpeting HRC's "Internet Strategy & Initial Results." Daou writes: "One of the lessons learned from recent campaigns is that the candidate who makes smart use of the Internet in 2008 will have a decided edge. Just one week into our campaign, Hillary for President has used the web to announce Hillary's candidacy. ... The result thus far has been this: Supporters are flocking to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign website at an historic rate. All told, over 200,000 people have participated in the conversation in the first week."

Basd on publicly available information, it's impossible to compare the 200K "people [who] have participated in the conversation" with other campaign's online efforts. But what is available suggests that HRC is outpacing her competitors in online communication. According to web traffic tracker Alexa HRC's official site recently crested at 39M daily page views (compared to a 13M high for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and 11M for John Edwards), and is currently at 9 daily page views (1M for Obama and 2M for Edwards).

But more importantly, notice what Daou does not claim. He writes: "Blog and Online Community Response: Hillary received positive coverage on blogs, message boards, and other online forums, and the campaign placed Blogads on hundreds of blogs from across the political spectrum." This is all true; positive things have been said about HRC. However, Daou does not mention if there were any negative HRC blog reaction, or if the good responses outnumbered the positive. Team Clinton's online strategy has indeed been 'clever' but it has had little effect on solid negative opinions of her held by established lefty bloggers. Whether her online efforts can positively influence the less engaged remains to be seen. But so far her message is definitely getting out there.

CLINTON: Getting The Band Back Together

Despite some praise for Hillary Clinton's 1/28 call for Pres. Bush "to extricate our country from [Iraq] before he leaves office," left-leaning bloggers are still highly critical of HRC's handling of the issue. Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher compares HRC to a "weather vane" while Matthew Yglesias worries Clinton will be easily pegged as a "flip-flopper." More importantly to Yglesias though: "I don't take it as a good sign that she seems determined to position herself as the "most hawkish" of the major contenders in the race. A reflexive desire to appear tough was, pretty clearly, a major factor in the mistakes of the past . . . I'd like to see a president who's over that."

More towards the center, an Andrew Sullivan/'GOP voters open to voting for HRC "given her hawkish foreign policy positions and her DLC-style fiscally prudent, socially tolerant domestic policy" nevertheless was turned off by her recent 'conversation' videos: "In a rush of nostalgic animosity, the visceral distaste for Hillary Rodham that I cultivated during the '90s when coming of age politically as a libertarian-style conservative returned. If anyone could "get the band back together" on the right for just one more election, it's her."

Finally, Buzz Machine praises Team Clinton's 'clever' use of Yahoo Answers to discuss health care policy, noting 'more 37,000' posts were made to the forum and commenting: "Of course, she could have done this on her own site. But by going elsewhere - by being a distributed candidate - she gets more people, more attention."

EDWARDS: Neocons Claim Another Victim

The Left Coaster's Steve Soto shared his opinion on two anti-John Edwards entries, buzzing "inside the center-left blogosphere." Soto could care less about news of Edwards new "big house" but was troubled by Edwards "recent pandering (my choice of words) to the Jewish lobby." Soto links to reports where "Edwards ridiculously said that a nuclear Iran is the biggest challenge in our generation" and responds: "This is utter bullsh*t and reveals a serious lack of proportion and judgment. ... For Edwards to swallow the NeoCon Kool-Aid on Iran to prove his bona fides to the Jewish lobby only shows he isn't ready for prime time."

MyDD's Matt Stoller hits Edwards on both the house and the Iran issue, but then backtracks both criticisms. On the house issue: "You see, criticizing a candidate, one of ours, who has legally made a lot of money and lives in a nice home for some sort of hypocrisy is a baseless character attack, and I'm ashamed that I reiterated it." On Iran: "I get that some rhetorical heat is necessary, but Edwards attended a very neocon conference while other Democrats did not, and spoke aggressively about Iran. This is going to happen. There are going to be places our candidates are going to feel the need to make compromises, compromises that we might find abhorrent. The right capitalizes on this."

South Carolina '08's Laurin Manning reports switching the first 'i' and 'u' when trying to reach rudygiuliani.com redirects readers to www.JohnEdwards.com. Manning identifies MD Dem Steve Silverman as the "wily Democratic operative" behind the effort and comments: "This kinda stunt is bush-league. Edwards' campaign ought to order the owner of the deceptive URL to break the forwarding to Edwards' site."

Finally, Elizabeth Edwards tells official John Edwards blog readers: "We built a highly energy efficient house. In fact, our home is Energy-Star rated."

SEBELIUS: Keeping A Woman On The Ticket

DailyKos' Devilstower finds KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) "Funny, sharp-witted, and quick on her feet" snd suggests "she could turn out to be the ideal VP for anyone at the top of the ticket" but especially "should John Edwards grab the nomination" since "after a season in which minority candidates and a prominent female candidate have dominated the news, a final ticket that looks just like every other ticket (save one) might prove not just disappointing, but disaffecting."

GOP FIELD: Isn't This Kos' Position?

Noting early pressure on bloggers to endorse an '08 choice Captain's Quarters advises his blogger brethren "to refrain from identifying with any one candidate until we get much closer to the primaries." CQ reasons: "Perhaps the greatest reason for restraint is to make sure that our voices are heard on the issues rather than the candidates. Affiliated blogs will find themselves with less influence among other candidates, and for me, I'm more interested in the policies than I am in the personalities."

RedState's Moe Lane seconds CQ's suggestion: "Right now I think it makes a good deal more sense for all of us to first decide what it is that we want in a candidate - and what we can live with, and what we can't - and then start measuring our candidates and see whether or not they fit."

BUSH: The Conservative Bush

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez describes her lunch with ex-FL Gov. Jeb Bush at the NRI Conservative Summit as a "lunch with a conservative Bush" writing: "and that means limited government, and that is how he governed Florida." RedState's Pejman Yousefzadeh wishes Jeb had been the '00 GOP nominee explaining that then conservatives "wouldn't have to suffer through the indignity of watching a Republican President dramatically increase the size of government past Johnsonian levels."

Bloggers weren't the only one taking shots at the current administration. K-Lo quotes Jeb: "I'm not going to criticize the president of the United States. ... I like Justice Roberts. I like Justice Alito"

GINGRICH: Desperately Seeking Someone

Calling Newt Gingrich "an ideas man with a real endearing wonky sense about him" K-Loreports Gingrich told those NRI summit goers asking him to run, "If you're so desperate for someone ... find someone." Video here.

GIULIANI: Willing The Case For Rudy

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) aide Patrick Hynes at Ankle Biting Pundits posts video of Rudy Giuliani speaking in NH 1/27 and comments: "His speech was a little too broad and general in scope, but given that at present he is only exploring a run for the presidency, I suppose he deserves a pass for now. Overall, his speech was pretty good, I thought. And the crowd really enjoyed him."

Instapundit links to Giuliani aide Patrick Ruffini fed video of George Will making "the conservative case for Giuliani."

HUCKABEE: Nanny Statist In Chief

Ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee received a very chilly reception for conservative bloggers following his 1/28 Meet The Press announcement. Next to a photo of Richard SimmonsRedState 's Erick Erickson says "This One Sucks More Than Most" and explains his displeasure with Huckabee: "You too can support a guy who has no problem raising taxes, hiking the minimum wage, spends his time doing rice commercials, called No Child Left Behind the greatest education reform in his lifetime, wants to ban trans fats, thinks the government needs to up the funding of Phys. Ed. classes, and has a host of other nanny-statist ideas."

Townhall's Matt Lewis is also not impressed: "Personally, I've had enough of this country fried, mega-church conservatism, mixed with good 'ol boy populist imagery, and a pinch of preachy-ness, to last a lifetime. But that's just me." Back at RedStateRob Bluey pressed Huckabee on taxes at the NRI summit, but Huckabee refused to take an anti-tax pledge.

MCCAIN: That Lefty Sam Brownback

After asking John McCain if the 21K troops slated for Iraq would be more effective if deployed in Afghanistan Arianna Huffington reports McCain "equated those opposing his position with 'the far left.'" Arianna shot back in front of the Davos, Switzerland audience: "Do you consider Sam Brownback part of the far left?" McCain declined to answer saying "a civil discussion" was only possible if Arianna would stop interrupting.

Back in the states, McCain IA Coalitions Dir. Marlys Popma answered questions from Race4'08 including:

• What specifically led you to join Senator McCain's campaign?
• I based my decision on the following factors: willingness to sign pro-life legislation; a belief that marriage is between one man and one woman; electability; honesty/consistency on the issues; fiscal discipline; foreign policy experience necessary to fight the War on Terror; and most importantly the conviction to appoint justices to all levels of the judiciary who will understand that it is their duty to interpret the Constitution - not to legislate from the bench. Based on these factors, I knew that Senator McCain was the clear choice."
• Can you give us some insight into how you plan to make inroads with Iowa So-Cons?
• The first thing we must do is to "introduce" social conservatives to John McCain, the real John McCain, not the one they think they know.

On the left, Dem consultant Cliff Schecterunveiled "a new blog called The Real McCain. It will keep track of the good senator's many prevarications, flip-flops and Bush-hugging. Go have a looksy if you will." And Laurin Manning notes McCain supporter Facebook efforts have not been nearly as successful as Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

ROMNEY: Swing And A Miss In DC, But A Home Run In Dubuque

Unabashed Mitt Romney fan Kathryn Jean Lopezadmits Romney "missed an opportunity" with his 1/27 address to NRI's Conservative Summit. K-Lo explains: "He said a lot of great things, but in a long and at times wonky speech ... in a dinner speech that mentioned bond caps, he didn't make the case for Romney 2008 in a rallying way. It was off the cuff - which gave it some authenticity, but no structure." Video of Romney at NRI here.

Power Line's Paul Mirengoff had a similar reaction: "Romney spoke well. He was likeable throughout and dynamic at times. During his best moments, he almost sounded Reaganesque. ... However, the speech struck me (and some of our readers to whom I spoke afterwards) as too long and a bit rambling. Moreover, the best bits -- his powerful recitation of our strengths as a people, his strong explication of jihadism -- came late." On the other hand RedState's Haystack was not impressed but left his reasons why to "a subsequent article."

IA's conservative blogs had nothing but good things to say about Romney's showing in Waterloo, IA and Dubuque, IA. Caucus Cooler writes: "We can't conceive of a situation where any of the other non-celebrity (McCain/Rudy/Obama/Clinton) candidates could have achieved that goal. Romney's team in Iowa continues to reinforce their organization strength and we will continue to monitor whether or not he can keep up this torrid pace." Krusty Konservative adds: "The Romney campaign continues to do all the right things. While McCain and Rudy are better known, Romney's aggressive approach in Iowa should pay off."

HAGEL: No Movement Here

Linking to a Newsweekprofile of Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) Captain's Quarters labels Hagel "The New McCain" and writes: "he's an almost perfect replacement for McCain. He's McCain, but against the war -- a candidate on whom the media can shower all of the affection they used to have for McCain." CQ explains he is no fan though: "I'm actually not a Hagel hater. ... Quite frankly, the sudden media love affair makes Hagel look like a grandstander, and given his efforts to form a presidential campaign, somewhat of an opportunist."

The Huffington Post's Ari Melber takes the Washington Post to task for reporting "An Internet "draft Hagel" movement has formed." Melber refutes: "But the article's only evidence for this Internet "movement" is a pro-Hagel column by esteemed liberal journalist Robert Scheer, posted at the web magazine Truthdig.com. ... So why was a project with no dedicated website, no supporter lists and no organizing events declared an Internet movement on the front page of the most important political newspaper in the country?"

IRAQ: Kucinich's Crowd

Plenty of lefty bloggers turned out to cover 1/27's anti-Iraq war march. Reports include:

• DailyKos' Timroff: "Why on earth do we let celebrities open their mouths? Sure, it's important to know that famous people support what we're doing, but don't give them the mike. They just sound stupid."
• AMERICAblog's John Aravosis: "Turnout was very good. I don't buy "a quarter of a million," but 50,000 yes. this was clearly an anti-war crowd rather than an anti-Iraq-war crowd (I consider myself among the latter)."
• MyDD's Adam Connor: "It seemed like really good turnout and it was a beautiful day. Jerome noted the other day that Sam Brownback was king of the Pro-Life March in DC the other day and in a corollary to that, I saw a lot of Kucinich 2008 posters around (he spoke earlier in the day)."
• DailyKos' Theatides101: "From uniformed marching bands to Hip-Hoppers against the war, to people on stilts and old ladies in wheelchairs, from "Republicans Against The War" to "Socialists Against Corporate Imperialism", from every section of the political spectrum we were there in force."
• Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher: "Don't get me wrong, I admire all of those who showed up who were willing to publicly speak out against the war, and believe that their willingness to do so despite knowing that they will be demonized by the right wing noise machine is extremely admirable. But with a war opposed now by some 75% of the country, I'm not sure having it promoted as a "fringe left" cause was the absolute best plan."

IRAQ II: 27,500 GOPers Can't Be Wrong

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt reports 27.5K GOP activists have signed a pledge not to support GOP senators voting against an Iraq surge. Hewitt quotes a reader explaining why it is not good politics to join Dems on the war now:

Republicans as a whole --- not just "the base" --- overwhelming favor the President's approach. So I am utterly baffled why the leadership thinks it is politically wise to pursue a strategy of undermining the effort. If they think that the Democrats and Independents who oppose the war are suddenly going to look at a Republican who supported it for three years and then voted for a weasely non-binding resolution second-guessing the President's strategy and say "Oh! He's seen the light, I'll vote for him now instead of that Democrat who's agreed with me all along on the war" --- they're delusional.

Hewitt closes with a call for readers to "call, fax, or write Senators McConnell, Lott, Kyl, Ensign, McCain, Warner, and Cornyn --the seven senators at the center of the debate, and Senators Gordon Smith of Oregon and Norm Coleman of Minnesota" and "[u]rge them to refuse cloture on all resolutions. Urge them as well to enter this week's debate demanding support for the troops and a rejection of the resolution dance that, according to General Petraeus and Secretary Gates, encourages the enemy."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Weapons Of Search Engine Distortion

MyDD's Chris Bowers links to Google Webmaster promises to improve their analytic tools to minimize "the impact of many Googlebombs" and admits "it appears that the search engine optimization techniques that I employed in those actions do actually fit the definition of a Googlebomb."

Despite Google's efforts however, Bowers promises to continue his search engine optimization programs: "Given that Internet searches for candidate information remain the most common form of political action taken online, it will remain crucially important for campaigns and activists alike to continuously be developing new strategies that will allow them to take advantage of online searches. Rest assured that I will do whatever I can to constantly be developing new techniques in this area myself."

LEST WE FORGET: Does Illinois Even Want Gary?

Tired of typical politician sporting bets, The Extrapolter proposes some "wager[s] with teeth" including:

• If the Bears win, the Governor of Indiana will officially cede any claim to the disputed territory of Gary, Indiana.
• If the Colts win, Illinois will officially cede the border town of Carmi, and the world-famous statue of Big John.
• If Chicago wins, the Bears will pay travel, meal, and accommodation expenses for Mayor of Indianapolis to attend the Oprah Winfrey Show on Makeover day.
• If Indianapolis wins, the Chicago Tourism Commission will give Colts players, coaches, and front-office members the Ferris Bueller tour of Chicago, including a free Abe Froman sausage platter to take home.

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:24 PM

January 26, 2007

1/26: Turning Faces Into Votes

The grassroots effort creating a million-member Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) Facebook group is ambitious, and the group's success at garnering more than 100K members already is impressive. But what does it all mean? Along with the high Digg interest in Obama, it definitely establishes that there is a high level of interest in Obama's candidacy, but will that initial interest turn into support? MyDD's Chris Bowers and Matt Stoller both question whether candidates can turn their social networking armies into actual votes. Stoller concludes: "It's up to Barack Obama and the Democratic Party to become service bureaus to this army, to create action items that are fun and portable around the web, but also focused to build political power."

DEM FIELD: Do You Like Like Him, Or Just Like Him?

Linking to a Micah SifryPersonal Democracy post on the absence of GOP efforts on social networking sites Facebook, MySpace, and FlickrMyDD 's Chris Bowers argues "it isn't just about how many online supporters you have--it is just as important to have supporters who are engaged, hardcore, active and effective." Bowers then admits that while he is currently voting for John Edwards in MyDD straw polls he is not yet committed enough to be an activist for him. Bowers then asks MyDD readers how many of them just prefer their chosen candidate as opposed to being "ready to be an activist" for:

For Clark, but not enough to become an activist 3 %
For Clark, and ready to be an activist 13 %
For Edwards, but not enough to become an activist 20 %
For Edwards, and ready to be an activist 21 %
For Obama, but not enough to become an activist 10 %
For Obama, and ready to become an activist 10 %
For someone else, but not activist 7 %
For someone else, and ready to be an activist 9 %

CLINTON: The "Shock and Awe" Candidate

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas tracks down the pressreleases behind a Wall Street Journalarticle claiming Hillary Clinton "had scored significant victories in the netroots primary" and again notes that Clinton finishes 5th with 4% in the latest Daily Kos straw poll. Kos adds:

Here's what I think -- Hillary has no interest in truly making up ground in the netroots. Rather, she sees it as a place to make a good show, and then sell that to the traditional media. It's her campaign's version of "Shock and Awe". Lots of noise. Lots of flashing lights. Lots of smoke. But it's all for show. ... If she was serious about earning netroots support, the campaign would've looked at that four percent and created a strategy to pump it up in the following months. But out of the gate, her campaign has taken to misrepresenting online sentiment for the benefit of traditional media reporters who don't know any better.

DODD: He Hires Great People

Firedoglake's Howie Klein thanks Chris Dodd for finding the time to finish up his online chat after the originally scheduled one ended prematurely. Klein praises Dodd's communications teams and writes: "You can tell a lot about a public official from the kind of people he hires to work for him. ... There's a lot about Senator Dodd's record we like, a lot about his courage for standing up for his convictions and for representing the American people over the Insider interests that permeate Washington politics. We look forward to continuing the conversation with him over the course of the campaign."

DailyKos' MissLaura says "t here's nothing wrong with being a longshot candidate for president" as long as you can "give a convincing answer to why you're in the race." After watching Dodd in action however, ML concludes: "while Chris Dodd seems like an effective legislator and someone who would be a principled, capable, and competent president, I still came away from hearing him speak and answer questions at Dartmouth College on sunday wondering exactly why he was running."

OBAMA: The Million Obamaniac March

MyDD's Matt Stoller shares the story of former Missouri Western State University student body pres. Farouk Olu Aregbe who, while currently pursuing an MBA, launched the Barack Obama (One Million Strong for Barack) Facebook group 1/16. At deadline the group has 108,265 members (they plan to get 1 mil by 2/5). After listening in on a conference call with group members Stoller writes:

But will these kids vote? Organize? Is this phenomenon real? Of course it's real. It's also very social. People want to be members of the largest Facebook group there is, and they want to get to one thousand, one hundred thousand, one million. It's not though as 'heavy' as an email list. I doubt you could raise a lot of money off of this group, or turn lots of people out to organize at this point. These young people have taken the first step towards being political actors, and they want to do more, but I didn't get the sense of intense commitment yet.

Stoller concludes with a call to action: "It's up to Barack Obama and the Democratic Party to become service bureaus to this army, to create action items that are fun and portable around the web, but also focused to build political power. Molding the path to turn this army into a group of loyal activists, while also listening intently and ensuring that you are promoting and retaining the leaders, is key."

Obama's 1/25 health care speech drew wide lefty-wonk-blogger reaction, most of it pleased with his 'universal coverage' rhetoric, but disappointed in a lack of substance behind it:

• The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum: "The cheap rhetoric was fine. I'm all for it. And if he didn't want to get into details right now, that's no problem. But as it happens, he did get into details, and his details turned out to be pretty timid.:
• Atrios: "Yes, I'd like to know that Barack Obama was truly committed to a health care plan which matched his rhetoric on the subject, but presidential campaigns, especially this far out, aren't won on policy documents."
• TAPPED's Ezra Klein: "This is my long-standing concern with Obama: That he's trapped by his own popularity. ... Obama's themes are more liberal than his policy. You might expect lefty proposals snuck in beneath the cover of moderate rhetoric, but that's not the strategy here. So some use this as evidence that his instincts are progressive, and observers need merely give him time."
• The Reality Based Community: "If I seem to be picking on Obama for making a no-worse-than-usual politician's speech about health care finance policy, it's because I hold him to a higher-than-average standard."

Finally, TPMCafe's Jeremy Cluchey disputes the anti-Obama claims of ObamaTruth.org with help from Obamarama.org.

GOP FIELD: Likes and Dislikes

Right Wing News emailed "more than 230 right-of-center bloggers" for their top five 'Most' and 'Least' desired '08 GOP nominees. The top five 'Most Desired' were: 1) Newt Gingrich; 2) Rudy Giuliani; 3) Mitt Romney; 4) Duncan Hunter; and 5) Tom Tancredo. The top five 'Least Desired' were: 1) Chuck Hagel; 2) John McCain; 3) George Pataki; 4) Tom Tancredo; and 5) Sam Brownback.

GOP FIELD II: Some Of Newts Ideas Are Even Good

Responding to RedState complaints about the current GOP field, National Review's Jim Geraghty defended some of the candidates including:

• John McCain: "Whatever his flaws, McCain has been tested, and demonstrated his love and unbreakable loyalty to this country in a way that few of us can imagine."
• Rudy Giuliani: "Okay, look, did you live anywhere near New York City in the 1980s and early 1990s? ... month by month, year by year, the city's problems that seemed insurmountable start[ed] being fixed."
• Mitt Romney: "He can handle a crisis, he's at ease in a position of leadership, he can bring together a lot of squabbling voices and get them focused on the big picture, even when time is short. Not a bad bunch of traits to have in a commander-in-chief."
• Newt Gingrich: Newt seems like the kind of guy who has twelve ideas before breakfast every morning, and at least some of them are likely to be good ones."

GOP FIELD III: Apparently Romney And Giuliani Have No Friends

Personal Democracy's Micah Sifry says "Compared to the Democratic presidential field ... the Republican contenders are playing bush league ball online. Not even Triple A." Sifry explains: "To give you just one example, if you add up all the friends all the Republican candidates have on their MySpace pages, and compare it to all the friends the Ds have, the totals will amaze you: 4,007 to 51,471. ... Here's how it breaks down: In MySpace, Ron Paul has 1,449 friends; John McCain 1,052; Tom Tancredo 728; and Sam Brownback 452 friends on an unofficial page. None of the others topped 200."

BROWNBACK: Riding The Anti-Surge

Under the header "Evangelicals Turn" Andrew Sullivan writes "[Sam] Brownback is onto something ... white evangelical opposition to the war in Iraq could be about to crest." Sullivan links to a David Kuoblog post about Christian Broadcasting Network message boards showing evangelicals supporting the surge are a minority. Kuo concludes: "[E]vangelicals supported Bush so blindly because his team seduced them into thinking he was a good Christian and that was all that was important. Now? Not only are his policies terrifying, but the name of Jesus has been corrupted in the process because Jesus' name is now so identified with Republican politics. A bad trade across the board."

Over at RedStateLeon Wolf defends Brownback from "online supporters of Mitt Romney" who are "retread[ing] an old TNR attempted smear job which purported to show that Sam Brownback also changed his abortion position in 1994." RedState's jbonham76 fires back: "The problem here ... isn't Brownback's Conversion as a social conservative myself I am more than happy to see a new face in the crowd - it's the inherent hypocrisy of his past when coupled with the recent statement by Brownback concerning Romney's conversion."

MCCAIN: Lessons From Lamont

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt claims "McCain Campaign On The Rocks" after posting reader email reaction to John McCain's calls for 'Benchmark' legislation for the Iraq war. Hewitt urges readers to "send an e-mail to the senator urging him to break off negotiations" with Levin and to stand in the front rank of senators demanding victory."

Later Hewitt urges McCain to "lead the GOP opposition to any resolution except one clearly proclaiming confidence in the troops." Hewitt writes: "[T]he country did not embrace defeat, though the Democrats most certainly did. Ned Lamont, recall, lost. The center held in a blue state, and it can hold across the country if the Republicans will just say "Not now, not ever, never will we vote to encourage the enemy."

ROMNEY: White Elephants Not Wanted

Reviewing Mitt Romney's recent Instapundit podcastRiehl World View welcomes Romneys communications skills considering: "Without wanting to pile on Bush, I do believe that short-comings with the current President's individual, as well as his administration's, ability to communicate effectively is the white elephant in the room of the Bush presidency."

Riehl admits to being purposefully vague about his overall opinion of Romney but does allow: "So far I can at least say I don't dislike what I've seen."

IRAQ: Not As Annoying As A PBS Pledge Drive

Hugh Hewitt's campaign to get GOP activists to sign a pledge not to support the re-election campaigns of any GOP senator who votes for anti-surge legislation (and not to support the NRSC unless they promise not to support any such senators) gained more than 14,000 people as of 11:30 pm 1/25. Those targeted by Hewitt: Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Gordon Smith (R-OR), and George Voinovich (R-OH).

Townhall's Dean Barnett defends the pledge writing: "It is not a loyalty oath. Nothing like it. The pledge rests on the premise that Republicans who are supporting the anti-surge resolution are doing so as a craven political play. The pledge is merely a way of showing them that it is an extremely poor political play. And since political advantage is the coin of their realm, we think it may serve to change their hearts and minds."

Normally good friends of Hewitt not supporting the pledge include all three Power Linebloggers as well as Right Wing News. RWN writes: "[I]f this catches on or even just makes a really big splash, you're going to have people trying to do the exact same thing on amnesty, embryonic stem cells, and who knows what other issues over the next two years. There are a myriad of different issues that could draw in thousands of people to sign a pledge like this."

Not a friend of Hewitt, Andrew Sullivan comments: "If your goal is Republican purity, it makes some sense, even though it would also mean the loss of several Republican Senate seats, if played out fully. Nevertheless, I wouldn't sign it because it assumes good faith on the part of the president (after the last four years, who can still believe that?) and assumes that Plus Up is in any serious way a solution to our problem (it isn't, I'm afraid)."

IRAQ II: Iraq Now, Iraq Tomorrow, Iraq Forever

MyDD's Jonathan Singer notes Ben Smith's interview with Sen. Chuck Schumer and disagrees strongly with the DSCC chief on the centrality of Iraq in '08: "Iraq is the schism within the electorate today." More: "It's difficult to envision Iraq not being the issue come November 2008. Public sentiments do change over time. But in the absence of some radical change on the ground -- either all of the sectarian violence suddenly disappearing or, say, the President pulling up all stakes in the country -- Americans aren't going to simply stop caring about Iraq any time in the next two years." Atrios is similarly subtle: "Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Iraq will certainly be the central issue of the 2008 election." Kevin Drum agrees.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: They Did Get Rumsfeld Right

Comedy Central Insider reminds readers their election night rumor Donald Rumsfeld "would resign the following day" turned out to be true and reports: "The CC Insider/InDecider has just heard more rumors (see earlier posts) from a SECOND reliable source that Dick Cheney will be stepping down as Vice President and will be replaced as Vice President by Condoleezza Rice. And now we're hearing that she would like to be on the ticket as the GOP VP candidate in '08."

LEST WE FORGET: Can Stop Lovin' You

Ankle Biting PunditsBull Dog Pundit is not excited about news "Van Halen is kicking off a reunion tour in Vegas with David Lee Roth on vocals." BDP writes: "Now no one loved VH more than me back in the day. ... But to have this reunion now would be a shame too see. They quit drinking (which for musicians inevitably leads to creative death), one has an artificial hip, they kicked out Michael Anthony (and his bottle of Jack Daniels) in favor of Eddie's son Wolfgang, and David Lee Roth hasn't sung in years. Now they're just a bunch of old geezers looking of a payday - with freaking Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. I don't care what his last name is - without Michael Anthony it's not "Van Halen". And isn't Wolfie's presence going to crimp Dad's ability to get groupies after the show? Oh, that's right, Dad is like 50 and probably has to get his Cialis or Viagra first."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:17 PM

January 25, 2007

1/25: Flexing Their Muscle?

Pressed on their relevance, conservative bloggers are to point to their roles in Rathergate and the Swift Boating/Kerry-in-Cambodia-on-Christmas stories to demonstrate their impact on elections. More recently though, the conservative blogging community looked substantially weaker when almost all of their chosen candidates in GOP cong. leadership elections lost. Now, led by Hugh Hewitt, many on the right are joining a new campaign to influence GOP senators to oppose anti-surge legislation. They already are claiming Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) as a recent convert. How many will follow?

GOP FIELD: Embracing The Suck

In a post The Corner's John Podhoretz calls "Right-Wing Crack-Up, Sign 8,437" RedState's Erick Erickson writes about the entire GOP field: "They all suck. Let's just admit it."

Erickson continues: "From the lecherous adulterer to the egomaniacal nut job to the flip-flopping opportunist with the perfect hair to the guy who hates brown people to the guy we've never heard of to the guy who has a better chance of getting hit by a meteor while being consumed by a blue whale being struck by lightening. They all suck. (Well, okay, Brownback doesn't suck at all, but I perceive no viability for his candidacy.)

BROWNBACK: Everybody's Got A Past

Responding to Sam Brownback's recent questioning of ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney's past positions on abortion Townhall's Matt Lewis suggests that Brownback might not always have "been 100 percent solid on the Life issue" and goes on to cite a New Republicarticle on suggesting "Brownback co-opted his conservative opponents' pro-Life stance, in order to win his the Congressional primary in '94."

Christian Broadcasting Network's The Brody File posts video of Brownback addressing his pro-life position in the '94 race.

GINGRICH: Can Wonkdom Go Mainstream?

Intrigued by Fortune's Newt GingrichprofileDaniel Drezner explains: "He's far more complex and interesting a thinker than the nineties stereotype of him suggested." Drezner is not, however, optimistic about Gingrich's chances: "However, I can't shake the feeling that because I'm so interested in a Gingrich, he's doomed to fail. Can someone who scores well in the blogger wonk demographic really develop mainstream appeal?"

GIULIANI: Conservative Enough For Some

Power Line's Scott Johnson thanks City Journal for their Rudy Giulianiprofile arguing that the ex-NY mayor is an electable conservative in the GOP field. Captain's Quarters picks up on the same piece and touts Giuliani as having "the most consistent public record of accomplishment." CQ adds: "Given his history of turnaround in New York, his executive experience outweighs anything offered by Mitt Romney and especially John McCain."

Addressing concerns about Giuliani's social conservative credentials CQ concludes: "Those positions rightly make conservatives worry about what a President Giuliani would do once in office. However, he has also consistently spoken against judicial activism, and as a former federal prosecutor, knows first-hand the damage it does."

IA's Caucus Cooler is now "quite confident" that Jim Nussle political director Andrew Dorr "will in fact head-up Rudy's fledgling Iowa organization."

MCCAIN: Eyes Wide Open

Screen shots of John McCain looking as though he had fallen sleep during the SOTU were widely discussed in righty circles. The Corner's John Podhoretz admits "This Is Not Good for McCain" and Right Wing News asks "Is he really still energetic enough to handle a job as important and demanding as the Presidency?"

No fan of McCain, RedState's Erick Erickson, quickly sought to "Kill This Urban Legend In The Crib" writing: "this whole 'he fell asleep at the SOTU is garbage."

ROMNEY: Live, From Israel ...

RedState's streiff gives Mitt Romney's Five Step Plan of Action to Prevent a Nuclear Iran a 'C' writing: "How many times is Israel mentioned this proposal? How much sense do you think it makes to advertise that you are getting your ideas on sanctions from a meeting in Israel and that you want Arab states to make peace with Israel to prevent Iran from getting nukes?" Streiff also lists all of Romney's foreign policy advisors including: Weekly Standard editor William Kristol, ret.-Gen. Barry McCaffrey, ret.-Gen. Anthony Zinni, Amb. Paul Bremer, and ex-SoS Henry Kissinger.

Dem Field: Maybe Why Kerry And Gore Aren't Running

Pollster.com's Mark Blumenthal uses recent CNN survey data to debunk suggestions "a larger number of Democrats" would prefer an "anybody-but-[Hillary] Clinton" WH '08 candidate: "Notice that Clinton is the second choice of roughly a third of those who initially support [John] Kerry, [Al] Gore, [Barack] Obama and [John] Edwards. So, for the moment, should other candidates drop out, her share of the vote will increase. ... The CNN survey also includes some questions that test the "anybody but" theories directly. When asked about Clinton, 75% would like to see her run, 23% would not. The "anybody but" sentiment looks to be more pronounced for Kerry (51% would not like him to run) and Gore (40% would not)."

Dem Field II: Whistling Past Gary

CaliticsBrian Leubitz implores Dem WH '08ers "to stay away from [Gary] South" since CA voters are "sick of his apparent disdain for the base of the Democratic party." Leubitz does not want "to make idle threats" but warns "there is no surer way to writing off the support of the netroots in California than hiring Garry South."

CLINTON: An Online Also-Ran

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas wants to make sure the world knows Hillary Clinton campaign aide suggestions in the Wall Street Journal that she has won "the Netroots Primary" are completely unfounded. Kos links to a 1/17 Daily Kos straw poll showing Clinton running 5th with only 4% of the vote and writes: "Daily Kos isn't the entire netroots, and sure, it's still early. ... But Clinton isn't by any stretch of the imagination scoring the early points online. In this world, she's an also-ran."

At MyDDMatt Stoller also hits Clinton, this time for telling the New York Times: "We know that we're not likely to stop this escalation. But we are going to do everything we can to send a message to our government and the Iraqi government that they had better change, because the enemy we are confronting is adaptable." Stoller calls the position "pathetic" and writes: "Progressives know she hasn't dealt with Iraq, and will cripple the Democratic Party badly as Iraq gets worse in 2007 and 2008."

Clinton blog advisor Peter Daou tells Blog P.I. their initial blog ad buy "was for the webcasts" while their "second round" buy "was for inviting supporters and potential supporters to submit guest blog posts." BPI reports: "According to Daou, future buys will focus on particular issues Sen. Clinton wants to highlight, and in states and regions where she will be traveling." Blog PI also details other lefty bloggers who were not included in HRC's original buy, but now all feature HRC ads.

EDWARDS: He Was For Bombing Iran Before He Was Against It

John Edwards is taking netroots heat for telling a conference in Herzliya, Israel "ALL options must remain on the table" when confronting Iran on their nuclear program. MyDD's Matt Stoller satirically titles his post "John Edwards in 2011: "I'm Sorry for My Vote on Iran" and writes: "The issue for John Edwards has always been credibility. Why should we trust a man who sold us out on the war vote? His answer is that he's changed. But has he? It's hard to say. I mean it's a really bad idea to pretend like attacking Iran is a viable option. It's not. It's a horrible, horrible idea, and it's what we shouldn't let Edwards get away with."

Matthew Yglesias also questions Edwards sincerity: "It's not quite as bad a talk as I was initially led to believe. That said, with the United States and Israel drifting in the direction of a disastrous Iran policy Edwards is rather clearly choosing not to push against the drift. How much of this is political expediency and how much is convictions?

WEBB: A Proud People Person

Sen. Jim Webb's (D-VA) SOTU response continued to draw significant netroots attention. TAPPED's Mike Tomasky suggests Webb would make a great Dem VP choice. The Huffington Post's Al Eisle argues the top of the ticket would be an even better spot for Webb, and MyDD's Matt Stoller claims Webb's two central themes "inequality and Iraq" could make '08 "the reverse Reagan for us" ushering in a new progressive era.

As far as the VP nod goes, The Plank's Jason Zengerle sees Webb's appeal as "a proud Scots-Irish white guy" broadening a Dem ticket's appeal under Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, but argues Webb's populism would better fit on an John Edwards campaign.

TAPPED's Ezra Klein begs to differ arguing Webb's "evident sense of conviction, damn-the-torpedoes plain-spokenness, clear beliefs about the state of the world, willingness to state unpopular political truths, etc -- make him almost uniquely unsuitable for the second-banana slot." Specifically Klein claims Webb "deep ideas about economic fairness that veer far more towards protectionism than any major Democrat is comfortable with, and that includes Edwards, who occasionally flirts with the rhetoric without substantively embracing the policy platform."

Finally, in a "memo to the media" DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas reminds the MSM it was "bloggers like Daily Kos, Raising Kaine" that "dragged [Webb} into the race." Kos continues: "Jim Webb is a people-powered candidate. He's one of ours. He's not a product of the political or media establishments, but of the people. It's something of which Webb himself is quite proud."

IRAQ: Pledge Or Die

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt is spearheading a right blogger effort encouraging readers to pledge not to support any GOP senator who votes to oppose the surge. Hewitt explains: "Yesterday General Petraeus testified that the Biden/Warner resolutions and those like them encourage the enemy. What does it mean, "to encourage the enemy?" It means that the enemy gathers will and strength from the prospect of a collapsing political will to seek victory in Iraq and stability in the region. ... In short, it means that more Americans will die." The full text of the pledge can be read here.

Captain's Quarters supports the pledge writing: "If Congress really wanted to stop the surge, they would defund the war. Congress has that power. ... Instead, the Senators involved in these resolutions seem content to indulge in ankle-biting without bothering to provide any useful alternatives other than capitulation and defeat, and studiously ignore the leading American expert on counterinsurgency. That's why I'm supporting the pledge."

Instapundit "think[s] that Hugh's right to start this drive" and describes GOP opposition to the surge as "political suicide for the Republicans."

In other righty-Iraq news, Michelle Malkinvideoblogs from the streets of northern Baghdad with the Dagger Brigade" and Corner readers dispute Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) claims that "the majority of our military" does not support "the way this war is being fought" noting the same poll of military service members that shows while "only 35 percent of the military members polled this year said they approve of the way President Bush is handling the war, "only 13 percent said we should have no troops in Iraq."

IRAQ II: Who "Owns" Iraq?

Under the header "Ensuring the GOP owns Iraq" DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas links to a Salonarticle on the Vietnam War and writes: "It's frustrating that despite the lessons of history and the GOP's own actions, so many Democrats are still afraid to actually lead on Iraq. They couch their "opposition" to Iraq in so many layers of caveats and rhetorical fluff that clarity and force of conviction are sacrificed."

Kos then praises Webb's SOTU response and concludes: "The contradiction between the parties is stark -- one wants to end the war in Iraq and focus on truly battling international terrorism, the other doesn't. We want out, they want to escalate. ... As such, they own the war. Our side can focus on doing everything to end it. It's a moral imperative that also, fortunately, happens to be good politics as well."

Atrios sees it a little differently: "Kos has some discussion of Republican attempts to make this a bipartisan war. I think they all missed something. Bush doesn't want to share his war. It's his war. His baby, his mission, his quest."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Apparently, Harvard Is Liberal

The Corner's Jonah Goldberg does not draw any conclusions but does share the political leanings of his academic email correspondents:

Of all the email I receive from elite university addresses, I'd say the email from MIT is the most conservative (Princeton and Cornell are close with Columbia and Penn following behind) while Harvard is the most liberal. I get very, very, little from Brown, and with one or two exceptions the stuff I get from U. Chicago is pretty mushy middle of the road. Most of the email is from grad students and academics, which may completely screw-up the sample. This is all extremely impressionistic. But I think it's mildly interesting.

LEST WE FORGET: The Blogometer Has No Self-Respect

Deadspin points us to a blog dedicated just to 'round mound of rebound' Charles Barkley quotes including:

• "I can be bought. If they paid me enough, I'd work for the Klan."
• "If push came to shove, I could lose all self-respect and become a reporter."
• "I don't create controversies. They're there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention."
• Charles Barkley on his thoughts about retiring before the season: "I remember sitting down with the Rockets and saying, 'Yeah. I'm going to retire.' They said, 'Well, we'll give you $9 million.' And I said, 'You got a pen on you?'"
• "You can talk without saying a thing. I don't ever want to be that type of person."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:33 PM

January 24, 2007

1/24: The Next TR?

Things may change by the time a Dem nominee is chosen, but for now the netroots are not terribly excited about their top two WH '08 options Sens. Hillary Clinton (NY) and Barack Obama (IL) (they are decidedly more enthused about John Edwards' candidacy however). If either Clinton or Obama does prevail in the primaries, a VP choice sure to energize Dem blogging roots would be Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). There simply is no Dem out there today that better encapsulates the anti-Iraq war, pro-economic populist, hard-hitting political spirit of the netroots than Webb. Webb will not quite have two years as senator under his belt by the time '08 rolls around, but supporters are already noting that Webb hero Teddy Roosevelt only had two years as NY governor before he joined the McKinley ticket in 1900.

WEBB: Bigger Than Obama?

Sen. Jim Webb's (D-VA) SOTU response drew wide lefty blogger praise and even somecalls for a VP nod. Positive Webb reacts include:

• TAPPED's Ezra Klein: "Webb's response ... was strong, clear and just. His voice vibrated with outrage and urgency, and his speech laid out Democratic principles with a confident, spare, eloquence. By far the best SOTU response I've seen.
• The Plank's Michael Crowley: "Boy, was he good. That response could do for Webb something akin to what Barack Obama's 2004 convention speech did for the Illinois senator. ... Even Brit Hume and Fred Barnes on Fox were praising it.
• Daily Kos' VirginiaDem: "Listening to him describe economic inequality (a topic rarely discussed by any politician) and taking it to Bush on the war (something he's done since 2003), I couldn't help thinking about the monumental decision from leaving his comfortable private life to serve the American people again."
• Atrios' Thers: "[I]f what it takes is for the Democratic party to find a Manly Ideal like Webb to articulate simple common sense for the Punditry to get on board with coming out against a hideously stupid meatgrinder foreign policy, then, so be it.
• Daily Kos' Lucky Ducky: "The new breed of conservative Dems, huh? ... Things are looking up.

More towards the center, Andrew Sullivan was also impressed: "It was, I think, the most effective Democratic response in the Bush years. He managed to bridge economic populism with military service and pride: a very potent combination."

The Webb praise was not unanimous however, Daily Kos' HarveyMilk did not like Webb's bringing the war to a "proper conclusion that will also allow us to continue to fight the war against international terrorism." HM writes: "That could mean a lot of things. It could be meaningless, on its face. It also could have been a quote from Joe Lieberman."

An Andrew Sullivan reader also had problems with Webb's Iraq thoughts: "Jim Webb, while speaking very eloquently and forcefully, contradicted himself by first saying that America would not precipitously withdraw from Iraq, but then later saying we should responsibly redeploy so that American troops would be out of Iraq "in short order". Maybe it's me, but one sounds like the other."

DEM FIELD: Iraq is Not Enough

TPM Cafe's Ernest Wilson wants to describe the foreign policy priorities of the Dem WH '08 field, but he can't because he doesn't know what they are. Wilson writes: "We know where the candidates stand on a small handful of Iraq-related issues - when to exit; whether they support the Baker/Hamilton report. But sitting in the Oval office requires more than a position on withdrawing American troops from Baghdad. Just doing Iraq isn't enough." Wilson urges readers to press the candidates "about the progressive values that will support their progressive foreign policy. The country and maybe even the candidates will be better for it."

CLINTON: A Conversation Has Begun

Taylor Marsh is still not satisfied with Hillary Clinton's web ad buy, and is now weaving the dispute into a larger Clinton-out-of-touch-with-base narrative. After researching her BlogAd account "thoroughly and completely" Marsh is disputing claims made by Clinton aide Peter Daou that Marsh's blog was included in the ad buy. Marsh writes: "I was never included in Clinton's very large ad buy and there were no rejections of any ads anywhere in my account. Period."

Marsh begins her post on the situation by linking to a Raw Story account of similar HRC complaints from progressive talk-radio host Ed Schultz who told audiences 1/23: "I want you to know our producer James Holm tirelessly works the contacts and has repeatedly tried to connect with Clinton's people. Cutting to the chase, Hillary's people treat us like "dirt." We are constantly disregarded, told things that aren't true..."

Marsh adds to Schultz complaints: "Can you imagine anyone in the Republican Party treating their right-wing hosts like this? Not. Going. To. Happen. ... I really had no feelings whatsoever about Hillary one way or the other from the start. ... But I have to tell you that after the last few days or so I've moved into the camp that is not impressed at all with Clinton and the team she has around her, who seem not only arrogant, but possessing a queen fetish." MyDD's Texas Nate also is claiming HRC missed some important lefty blogs out of her ad buy.

For what it's worth, HRC's outreach to more conservative bloggers is scoring her positive words in righty circles. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) aide and Ankle Biting Pundits blogger Patrick Hynes tips his hat to Clinton for credentialing him for a Nashua, NH 100 Club fund-raising 3/10. Hynes explains: "I was very forthright about who I am and what my deal is. ... Maybe she really does want to have a conversation. ... Sen. Clinton's openness to a guy like me puts her in sharp contrast to Sen. Barack Obama's team who denied me a credential during the Illinois Senator's recent "book signing trip" to New Hampshire."

Back on the left, Prairie State Blue hits Clinton for opting out of matching funds and MyDD's Matt Stoller tells readers to expect many "waffling" attacks on HRC since "Clinton is running a campaign that is almost exactly like Kerry's, because she didn't and doesn't want to deal with Iraq."

Atrios' Thers, on the other hand, is impressed with Clinton aide Terry McAuliffe's telling Daily Show host Jon Stewart: "hit us, hit Hillary, we'll hit back harder."

DODD: No Symbolism Here

Introducing Chris Dodd to Firedoglake readers before his 1/23 chat FDL's Howie Klein writes: "This community has been especially interested in Senator Dodd's firm stand against the Bush/McCain escalation plans in Iraq and in his alternative (S. 308) to the nonbinding symbolic resolutions that Bush has already announced he will ignore."

EDWARDS: Not Afraid

Daily Kos diarist Progressive America thanked John Edwards for his SOTU blog response writing: "What Edwards has shown again is that he has a clear vision for this country. ... On Iraq, Edwards says escalation is wrong, just as our military generals have said. Instead, he would withdraw 50,000 troops immediately and send the message to the Iraqis that they have a responsibility in their country. ... Edwards right now is stepping up and not being afraid. He is offering bold solutions for progress again in the country."

BROWNBACK: Racing To The Right

Christian Broadcasting Network's The Brody File has audio titled "[Sam] Brownback on whether Mitt Romney is a reliable social conservative" from Brody's 20 minute interview with Brownback 1/23. Brody explains: "Clearly, he wants to be the 'Reagan social conservative' candidate who will sit to the right of John McCain."

In a separate post Brody links to YouTube from 1/22 March for Life rally and describes: "It's another YouTube moment where a guy with a home video camera captures some pro-lifers protesting the Presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney. Then, a Brownback supporter shows up and gives his endorsement." Brody adds: "I show this only to make this point: among the grassroots, a battle is already ensuing. You have the Brownback supporters who say he's the true social conservative champion. Yet, you have Romney on the other side who can argue his conservative credentials, too."

SCOOTER: All About Rove

Firedoglake is leading the league in coverage of Scooter Libby's obstruction of justice trial. FDL's Christy Hardin Smith reports Libby lawyer Ted Wills' opening argument makes it clear Libby's defense will center around portraying Karl Rove as "a man who had to be protected at all costs." Smith adds: "it will certainly be interesting to see them try to repeatedly throw Karl Rove under a bus in open court..." The FDL crew also videologs the days events for PoliticsTV.

Talking Point Memo's Josh Marshall forwards the thoughts of a "Republican pal": the key is that Libby has decided to base his defense in large part on an attack on the White House -- specifically on Karl Rove ... The logical inference from that decision is that Libby and his lawyers have decided that President Bush will not pardon their client. ... In a narrow political sense, Rove's guilt wouldn't exculpate Libby. And taking the rap for other guilty parties wouldn't absolve him either. Perhaps they're angling for some sort of politically-tinged jury nullification."

On the right, Outside the Beltway is also live blogging the trial.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The State Of The Progressive Union Is Underfunded

Seeing as how it seems to be that time of year, MyDD's Matt Stoller offers his "The State of the Progressive Movement," noting: "The right has a well-developed infrastructure, and that's why they tend to win. They take care of their people. To illustrate his point, Stoller examines the case of Lane Hudson, "the person who moved Mark Foley's scandalous behavior into the national discourse on a blog called Stop Sex Predators." Before asking readers to support Blogpac so MyDD can support more Lane Hudsons Stoller explains:

When it was discovered that he was responsible for pushing Foley into the national news, Lane was fired without severance from his position at the gay rights group where he worked, the Human Rights Campaign. Were Lane on the right, he would be taken care of and put into a think tank, corporate job, or consulting shop, simply because he had proved that he is an incredibly valuable asset to the movement. But on our side, though Lane arguably delivered Democrats control of Congress, he is unemployed and struggling to pay his rent. I don't really need to point out that this is no way to run a movement.

LEST WE FORGET: Who Doesn't Want More WH Correspondents Dinners?

The Corner's John Podhoretz worries the SOTU is turning into "a tearjerking version of the White House Correspondent's Dinner." JPod explains:

Now it's not only the president who is bringing "heroes" and "ordinary people with extraordinary stories" into the chamber, but members of Congress, presidential candidates, and press hogs in general. Hillary Clinton is showing up with the son of a 9/11 rescue worker, while Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is bringing the wife of an imprisoned Border Patrol officer. Next year watch for Joe Biden to bring someone in a wheelchair, Sam Brownback to bring a snowflake baby, and Chris Dodd to bring the entire nation of Botswana.

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:46 PM

1/24: The SOTU Edition

The Soft Bigotry Of Low Expectations In Action

Despite widespread pessimism heading into the SOTU, most conservative bloggers ended up praising Pres. Bush's efforts. The Corner's John Podhoretz writes: "Admit it, It was a much better speech than anyone expected." Bush's most popular line by far for the right: "Whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure." More righty reax:

• The Corner's Peter Robinson: "The best statement of his case since his speech to the nation on September 20, 2001. ... He explained how we reached this point, what we face now-and what he intends to do about it.
• Townhall's Dean Barnett: "A very pleasant surprise. A strong effort, especially the foreign policy stuff which actually did put the Iraq war in context."
• Power Line's John Hinderaker: "I thought President Bush was back on his game tonight. The speech was a reminder that it's a good thing to be President. When he offered a sentence about Iraq that ended with the word "victory," the Democrats had no alternative but to stand up and cheer."
• RedState's Erick Erickson: "I liked the speech. I say this as someone who has Bush fatigue. ... I think the strongest signals were that domestically the President recognizes he must work with the Democrats and in foreign policy he will lead the country and dare the Democrats to retreat."
• Mark at RedState: "I have to say, overall, I was pleasantly surprised. ... My immediate reaction after the speech was that the section on Iraq and the war on terror was the clearest and most compelling case the president has yet made.
• Vodkapundit: "I've been (more or less) drunkblogging these things for five years now, and they've almost always left a bad taste in my mouth. ... Overall tonight's SOTU was Bush's best."

Where Bush was criticized from the right, it was on domestic policy. RedState's Haystack says he never considered Bush a conservative and hits Bush on farm subsidies, No Child Left Behind and immigration. The Corner's Jonathan Adler warns Bush mandatory fuel standards will mean higher gas prices for consumer, and also at the Corner, John Derbyshire calls NCLB "stupid" and says Bush is "still weaseling" on immigration.

Those live-blogging the event include:

• Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham: "Without animosity and without amnesty." Sounds like a tag for a really tony cereal brand. "Mmmm, Immigratios! Without animosity and without amnesty."
• Instapundit: "He does a good job of spelling out the consequences of losing in Iraq. Cut to shot of Joe Biden looking bored. (Who's picking these crowd shots -- I'm watching ABC -- Karl Rove?) Unfortunate Bush smirk during applause."
• Captain's Quarters: "The 20% reduction in gasoline consumption in 10 years should have gotten more of an emphasis on the national-security aspect of oil imports. He didn't even mention it ... Good luck on this without a Republican majority."
• Right Wing News: "Reduce gas by 20% in the next 10 years. ... They always say this stuff, hippy fuels (which don't work) and clean coal and nuclear which Democrats oppose."

'Tic'ing Off The Opposition

Talking Points MemoJosh Marshall and The Huffington Post's Bob Cesca both took umbrage with Bush chosen modifier. Marshall writes: "After disarmingly gracious opening remarks about Nancy Pelosi's speakership, the president congratulates the 'Democrat majority -- words most every Democrat takes as a calculated insult. The prepared remarks say "Democratic majority". But apparently he couldn't help himself." Cesca also identifies some mossing subjects from the address: "The words "middle class" and "New Orleans." But we did hear the words "Baby Einsteins", "Disney" and "NBA," which was awesome and made up for the oversight."

Others on the left downplayed the evening. TAPPED's Ezra Klein admits: "I found myself curiously detached from the whole affair. The Democratic Majority robbed the threat of action from Bush's rhetoric. His cruel health plan and Social Security fear mongering are evanescent annoyances, not upcoming agenda items. He's weak, and you sense he knows it." AMERICAblog's John Aravosis writes: "[Man] did that speech suck. Boring. I was bored. The audience was bored. Hell, even Bush looked bored."

Skipping the MSM, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) took his response to Daily Kos writing: "The American people want change but the President still offers many of the same ideas he's been pushing for the last six years." Daily Kos diarist NYPopulist thanked him for his efforts: "Perhaps the Presidential hopefuls who have posted here (and those that don't even do that and instead try to wow us with sidebar ads) should take a lesson or two from you. Be honest, don't take us for granted, and for the love of God, don't use us for your political gain."

With help from Click.TV, Think Progress synchronized their SOTU "rapid response with the complete video of President Bush's speech." Talking Points Memo set up a YouTube user group to house reader responses to Bush.

Firedoglake's TRex tried to live blog the evening: "Crap. Who am I kidding? I can't stand to do this. Someone else will do a better job live-blogging this speech, surely. I'm going out on the porch for a cigarette." More to the right, Andrew Sullivan had many thoughts including: "I like the energy stuff. I have no idea if it's serious, but I like it - and the connection the president made to national security. ... The NBA dude is next to the Asian heroine or whoever. There's around six feet between his head and hers. Best shot of the night."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:43 PM

January 23, 2007

1/23: 'Cause That's Where The Activists Are

Perhaps drawn online for the same reason that Willie Sutton robbed banks, bloggers are noticing that '08 Dem candidates are more internet savvy than their GOP counterparts (perhaps too much so). While plenty of pro-life bloggers did show up to blog 1/22's March for Life in DC, leading conservatives admit that the right is just not as developed online as the left. Maybe conservative bloggers are going to have to post some Lieberman-like victories (or significantly out raise their lefty counterparts) before WH GOPers engage the medium as well as Dems do.

CLINTON: Ceding Small Businesses?

Lefty bloggers are raising questions about the strategy behind Hillary Clinton's blog banner ad buy. MyDD's Matt Stoller notes HRC's "conversation extends to the right-wing blogosphere, including Power Line and Captain's Quarters." [ed note: and at Townhall too]. Stoller finishes: "Why do people like HRC, no matter how often it becomes clear that wingnuts hate us, seek approval from wingnuts?"

After watching HRC's 1/22 chat, Taylor Marsh notes "sole proprietor blogs are small businesses" and goes on to criticize Team Hillary's ad buy for choosing only "the heaviest hitters" while ignoring "small business blogs." Marsh says the move contradicts HRC's rhetoric "which will become policy if elected" and that the issue was important "because I depend on my readers to help me pay the bills." More Marsh: "John Edwards didn't play it like Clinton when he announced. He advertised on small business, single proprietor blogs like mine as well. He gets "need" to his core."[ed. note: Peter Daou tells Hotline HRC did buy ads at Marsh's site, but was told by the vendor her ad space was full. HRC ads shoud be appearing on her site soon.]

Contacted about the buy, Clinton nat'l spokesman Phil Singer tells Hotline: "We're on some conservative sites because we're not ceding any territory. We take nothing for granted."

Earlier 1/22 Stoller also told readers Clinton "failed her most significant test as a Senator. ... And she failed it for the next five years, until her Presidential campaign started, and she realized Iraq would still be on the table." Stoller says he was surprised Clinton chose to "gloss" over Iraq in her announcement and then closes by asking "anti-Clinton" readers what she could do to gain their support. An apology straightforward apology seemed to be the consensus.

Lefty bloggers had mixed reactions to HRC pollster Mark Penn suggestions that Clinton is the only Dem "tough enough to beat back" GOPers. Taylor Marsh argued "Clinton's team does have a valid point," adding that "if Clinton is the nominee ... you can bet Hillary Clinton can withstand anything and give back just as good. That's going to matter." MyDD's Chris Bowers strongly disagreed writing: "One of my goals is to help diffuse the Democratic obsession with electability, which I believe is extremely damaging to the party around the country. It makes Democrats appear pandering, out of touch and dishonest. ... It is sad to see the Clinton camp to play the electability card so early in the process, even if it isn't entirely surprisingly that it was DLC-nexus uber-pollster Mark Penn who did it."

RICHARDSON: Bonhomie In Short Supply

TAPPED's Sam Rosenfeld admits he doesn't "actually know a great deal of specifics about" Bill Richardson, and so asks: "Is he, on the substantive merits, worthy of serious consideration by liberals?"

TAPPED's Ezra Klein responds, writing about a recent breakfast where Richardson touted his tax cuts and expressed excitement about Mars to a roomful of progressives. Klein concludes: "Richardson's legendarily kinetic bonhomie was on short supply; instead, we got an understated technocrat muttering about growth. His governance of New Mexico has been capable, though not particularly distinguished in any one area, and his record as Energy Secretary would make for some nasty negative ads."

GOP FIELD: Revless

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez posts Rush Limbaugh's thoughts on the GOP field so far: "To be honest with you, there's nobody out there that revs me up, so why should I pretend that there is?" Instapundit also linked and added: "[i]f Limbaugh can't get excited about their field, who will?"

The Right Angle's Ivy Sellers sat down with National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru who said he trusted Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) "all to veto non-pro-life legislation and to appoint judges who would vote on the right side of Roe v. Wade." Ponnuru refused to endorse Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) or ex-NY mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) "as safekeepers of the pro-life cause."

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt seconded Amy Schatz' Wall Street Journalarticle observations "on the indifference to new media on the GOP side (with the exception being Governor Romney) which contrasts sharply with the rush to link up with the left's netroots on the part of all of the major Democratic contenders." Hewitt theorizes that GOP online shortcomings stem from electoral strength that has left "certain political muscles undeveloped." Hewitt then singles at McCain as "hostile to new media" since he is "a candidate who has been so warmly embraced by old media in years past. It is like asking a Cardinal in line for the papacy at the time of the Reformation what he thought of Luther."

Ankle Biting Pundit's Bull Dog Pundit took exception to Hewitt's labeling him a "hired hand" of McCain and demanded a correction from Hewitt.

BROWNBACK: Hybrid Driver

Townhall's Katie Favazza reports Sam Brownback's 1/21 speech to Catholic U. College GOPers focussed on the "growing concern amongst the pro-life community" on the effect of prenatal diagnoses on down syndrome births. Brownback "minded the audience that despite this growing cultural shift to eliminate disabled persons from our community, "There is a waiting list in this country to adopt Down Syndrome children." Favazza adds: "The senator drives a hybrid Honda Civic, in case any of you were wondering."

At 1/22 March for Life rally, The Right Angle's Ivy Sellers reports Brownback touched on down syndrome again and also highlighted his sponsorship of the Unborn Pain Awareness Act which "requires that mothers be informed of the "extreme" pain their unborn child will experience during and abortion and be offered anesthesia for the child."

Not at the March for Life rally, Instapundit posts the following exchange from Rush Limbaugh on Brownback:

CALLER: What do you think about Brownback's chances?
RUSH: (Laughs.)

GIULIANI: "Might Actually Be Serious"

Rudy Giuliani received wide blogger praise for his Bush '04 adviser Patrick Ruffini hire. Hugh Hewitt writes, "Rudy Gets It," and Instapundit calls it a "good hire."

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez says the move is "another hint that he might really actually be serious about this presidential thing" and predicts Giuliani "could very well wind up being the guy to beat on the Republican side, flaws and all."

ROMNEY: Rapid Response, Romney Style

GOPProgress' Liz Mair obtained a copy of material attacking Mitt Romney from 1/22's March for Life rally. The flier is headed "ROMNEY ON ABORTION" and tells readers: "Romney Was Pro-Choice, Supported Roe V. Wade, Taxpayer Funding Of Abortions, Morning-After Pill." Hugh Hewitt asks: "Assuming this report is accurate, you have to wonder if this flier is being put out by one of Romney's opponents -- or if is a true grassroots effort."

At first the flier had RedState's Erick Erickson questioning his support for Romney, but Erickson was quickly reassured due to the "excellent work" done by Romney's campaign responding to the charge. Erickson describes the whole flier as "misleading: and then muses: "I wonder if Mr. Weaver is involved in this."

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: Club For Us

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas celebrated the unveiling of They Work For Us, a PAC led by Steve Rosenthal with members including the SEIU, the United Steelworkers, MoveOn, the American Association for Justice (formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association), and Daily Kos.

Kos then identifies the PAC's first three targets Reps. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Al Wynn (D-MD), Henry Cuellar (D-TX). Kos explains: "This is a potent alliance, and one that will have real muscle as we look to target not "conservative" Democrats, but Democrats who are out of step with their districts (a key and important distinction). This is no lame-brained Club for Growth clone -- an operation obsessed with ideological purity without regard to electoral realities."

MyDD's Matt Stoller explains how TWFU "is going to be much more powerful" than Club for Growth since it is "people-powered," "mainstream," and, "faster." Also at MyDDChris Bowers explains why the group will also be targeting GOP "wingnut incumbents." The Plank's John Judis is not impressed with the idea arguing Ned Lamont's candidacy cost the Dems at one House seat in CT thus undermining the groups stated goals.

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY II: Bushless

1/22's March for Life was heavily blogged by left and right. The Right Angle's Ivy Sellers reports "the streets were filled with pro-lifers, young and old, male and female, black, white and brown." Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham links to photo albums here and here. MyManMitt, LaShawn Barber and Katie Favazza also blogged the march. The Right Angle's Tim Carney notes: "President Bush, for the sixth straight year, couldn't make it to the March for Life. Quite an unfortunate coincidence, for sure."

Blogs for Life held a blogger conference 1/22. Townhall's Katie Favazzaliveblogged the proceedings. LaShawn Barber writes: "The panel went well. The discussion focused on blogging in general rather than pro-life blogging in particular. Reminded me that I need to do more pro-life blogging."

Sellers later summarized Human Event's Online editor Robert Bluey's remarks to the conference: "Left-wing blogosphere is more developed than that of the right. They bring in more money and seem to be more together on messaging. Blogging is exciting right now though. Now is the time to jump in. Stop thinking about it and do it -- it's not that hard."

The day did not go unnoticed by lefty blogs as Unfogged's Lizardbreadth thoughts on her own abortion were widely linked to. LB explains continuing her pregnancy "wouldn't have been an epic tragedy for me" and that "the only thing being able to get an abortion did for me was give me some control over the course of the entire rest of my life." LB goes on: "So, politically useful as it is, I get a little edgy about rhetoric that stipulates that abortion is always a strongly morally weighted decision."

The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum agrees explaining "Paying obeisance to the view that abortion is an overwhelming emotional and moral decision is politically useful," but "there's also a real downside to the constant repetition of this kind of rhetoric since it serves to confirm that abortion should be an emotional rollercoaster, which in turn suggests that unborn fetuses really do have a morally ambiguous status. Pro-choice politicians ought to keep this in mind too."

Atrios adds: "I'm sure plenty find it traumatic and I'm sure plenty have regrets for various reasons. There's no one way individual women should be expected to feel about abortion. If you don't think 3 month old fetuses are people, then it might not trouble you all that much."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Born-Again Atheist?

Blog P.I. is continues tracking Sen. James Webb's (D-VA) facebook profile writing: "I do wonder what is the point of a politician (not seeking national office) devoting staff time to a gimmick like Facebook. It won't raise money, it won't get his message out, and even if it does, almost certainly not to his constituents (and certainly not those who actually vote). Perhaps this is his last update until 2012, or at least until the next recess. Meantime, he'd be much better advised to take his official blog off hiatus."

BPI goes on to "caution against reading too much of anything into anything that happens with a politician's social networking page" but then does not that Webb recently removed "Faith" from his "Favorite Activities" list. BPI quips: "That doesn't make him the first born-again atheist senator, does it?"

LEST WE FORGET: Dilbert Fans Are Moving To Iraq

The Dilbert Blog can't help commenting on news that Shiite Muslims in Iraq are stepping up their practice of "temporary marriage." Adams explains: "A Shiite man can have more than one wife, so whether he is married or single, if he wants to buy some sex, he arranges a secret and temporary marriage. It could last for a few hours or a few years. Some Shiites believe it's all sanctioned by Islamic law. Among its many benefits, it is seen as a humane way to care for widows. I think it's obvious that God would support this concept. I can't think of a more humane way to take care of a widow than to turn her into a whore."

Adams adds: "According to the Washington Post story, a temporary wife only costs $4 per month plus living expenses. I hesitate to mention this because I know that some of my frugal male readers are already considering converting to Islam and moving to Iraq: "On one hand, there's an 80% chance of being killed within a week. On the other hand, those are VERY reasonable prices."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:16 PM

January 22, 2007

1/22: Not Their First Choice

Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) 1/20 "I'm in" announcement drew heavy blog attention but few commitments of support. Few bloggers directly criticized HRC, but the best words she did receive were either for the professionalism of her online operation or a stated openness to her candidacy. HRC criticisms centered on "credibility" and "authenticity."

CLINTON: Net-Friendly

Those welcoming HRC into the race include:

• Daily Kos' Devilstower: "Is Hillary Clinton my first choice for president? She is not. In fact, I don't think she'd make my top ten. But I'm very glad to see her in the race. Yes, it's a sexist thing: I'm overjoyed to see a woman running.
• Talk Left's Jeralyn Merritt: "It is exciting to have a serious female candidate for President. I'll be anxiously awaiting her position on issues to see if she's the candidate for me."
• The Huffington Post's Mona Gable: "What I actually told [my daughter] was that the idea of having either a black or a woman president is so thrilling and wildly unexpected given the right-wing hold on this country the last six years that I couldn't begin to pick one over the other."
• DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas: "By all measures she's been a great Senator. She's got a great "story", and has taken more shit from the Right than any other Democrat in existence (besting husband Bill by a longshot). She's a tough one. And really, while Republicans may talk about swiftboating her, is there anything left for them to hurl at her?"

HRC's team also came in for praise for the online announcement roll-out. The Left Coaster writes: "Hillary is announcing her exploratory committee this weekend, using her website and an online live video webcast Q and A with the public rather than a big press conference. Props to Peter Daou, Jesse Berney, Judd Legum, and Crystal Patterson for steering the campaign towards this type of net-friendly launch." MyDD's Jerome Armstrong adds: "And as blogger savvy as John Edwards was in outreach, Clinton internet team had the email's of bloggers to notify them separate from the press (no such outreach from the Obama camp). The website has the clean, Kerry-2004 look about it. A smart "write our first post" call to action on the website."

The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum has four reasons HRC will probably win including: "She has nowhere to go but up. Seriously." Drum also links to past TWM pro and con HRC articles.

Being HRC, however, there were some negative takes as well, including:

• Kos: "Hillary would be a drag on races lower on the ballot. In fact, her potential nomination is already creating all sorts of headaches for Senate and House recruitment efforts in tough states and districts."
• TAPPED's Ben Adler: "female politicians like Hillary and Nancy Pelosi may actually pay a price for presenting themselves as mothers, as on the cover of Hillary's recently re-released book It Takes a Village. ... voters currently rate terrorism, Iraq and the economy as primary concerns. Would they entrust a person who claims caring for children is one of their primary achievements, as opposed to, say, winning a war, with the presidency at a time like that?"
• The Huffington Post's Jayne Lyn Stahl: "What she lacks is credibility. Importantly, not only did Clinton vote in favor of the war, but she was as close to a hawk as any Democrat has been since Lyndon Johnson. ... I don't question the senator's change of heart on Iraq, I would like to see more change of heart on other matters like global warming, censorship, torture, and the illegal detention of so-called "enemy combatants" at Guantanamo, and elsewhere in the world.While we've had enough preemption for at least another millennium, it would be refreshing to see a proactive, instead of reactive approach to both foreign and domestic policy."
• The Huffington Post's Steve Rosenbaum: "Hillary is struggling with words that are not her own. You can practically see the tele-prompter reflected in her eyes. Every word has been word smithed, every phrase looked at by a team of consultants. Even the subject line of the email - "I'm in. And I'm in to win"- seems to respond to some unspoken marketing concern about her candidacy."

Pollster.com's Charles Franklin tells readers HRC "has one of the longest polling records in American politics, going back over 13 years to the beginning of her time as First Lady in 1993. No other Presidential contender has this long a track record of public opinion readings." After examining the numbers Franklin concludes: "The bottom line of these data is that Senator Clinton remains a public figure who has both a large following of supporters and one who suffers from a substantial antipathy. At the moment, the Senator enjoys more supporters than opponents."

Finally, many righty blogs are linking to Hot Air's posting of SNL's opening bit featuring Amy Poehler as HRC on Chris Matthews Hardball. Allahpundit writes: "Lieberman and a precious few others aside, their "hawks" are opportunistic liars who only supported the war initially because it was politically expedient to do so. We've always known that."

DODD: Waiting To Inhale

Blue Hampshire's Dean has a rough transcript of Chris Dodd's 1/21 remarks at the home of NH state Sen. Peter Burling (D): "I think people expect us to do more than just express our opposition to the surge or the escalation in Iraq. ... And I think that people who voted for change about 8 weeks ago in this country, in this state, in mine, and all across the country, are going to be terribly disappointed in Democrats that can't do a better job than just a resolution of disapproval. I think we ought to have an actual vote, up and down, on whether we think this ought to move forward. And we'd better do it soon."

Dean adds: "Oh, and Dodd the candidate? Smart, often funny, a good talker, and a better storyteller. He hit the right notes on a number of issues. He's been in the military, and the Peace Corps, the House and the Senate. He authored the Family Medical Leave Act. But only time will tell if he can work enough living rooms and debate halls to share some oxygen with the media darlings."

Firedoglake's Howie Klein is "very proud to announce" Dodd will be chatting at FDL 1/23 at 4:15 EST.

EDWARDS: Does Not Play Well With Others

MyDD's Matt Stoller offered up some bracing constructive criticism of John Edwards campaign operation: "Though I'd probably back Edwards if you forced me to pick someone, the Edwards team is just not competent. They don't return calls. Despite being very good listeners, they don't play well with others, they are quite ineffective at coalition work, they are very top-down, and they are slow."

Illustrating, Stoller shares: " I have a well-placed friend today, a state operative not in a primary state, who got a call from a top Clinton strategist to tell him that Senator Clinton was going to call him in the next few days. Meanwhile, he can't get a call returned from either the Edwards or the Dodd camp despite having closer ties with both. This is consistent with what I know of the various operations."

Calling Edwards "The sharpest voice in the race" who "also has the best developed philosophical narrative for his run (the Two Americas)" DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas also identifies some shortcomings: "Then again, that "experience" thing hovers over him. I wonder if he'd been better served running for governor (NC has an open seat in 2008), setting himself up for that presidential bid with a bit more heft in his resume. ... Edwards also fails the "coattails" test. His Senate seat was taken by a Republican. And the Kerry/Edwards ticket failed to carry North Carolina (or any southern state, for that matter)."

Auros of Calitics gets early word out on a 2/15 "high-dollar fundraiser" for Edwards and tells readers a "short public rally" is in the works for that day in Woodside, CA. Auros writes of Edwards: "I'm not 100% committed behind Edwards yet ... But I definitely think he's the most promising of the candidates who has announced thus far."

OBAMA: Oprah Matters

Continuing his run through WH '08 Dems DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas calls Barack Obama "the best orator in the field," who is generating excitement that he "can't just make history, but he can radically change it." Before moving to his negatives, Markos adds: "He's got powerful friends like Oprah (and yes, that matters).

Kos' case against Obama includes: "e failed the "coattail" test in his home state, with Democrats losing both serious challenges to Republican districts -- the Dan Seals and Tammy Duckworth races. ... He's never had to run a competitive general election. And no, Alan Keyes doesn't count. ... But my biggest knock on Obama is that he's yet to take a high-profile leadership role on a controversial issue. It's a political advantage to be a cipher, and it should serve him well in a potential general election matchup, but it won't get me excited and eager to jump on his bandwagon during the primary."

TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent offers a glimpse of Obama's fundraising push, sharing the thoughts of "a top Democratic donor" on Team Obama's "light touch." The donor shares: "His people are being very respectful, very low key ... The Hillary camp's message is, `I'm on my way to winning the nomination, line up with me.' Obama's is, `Hey, look, I'm the future, line up with me.' Obama's is more like, `Hey, we want you to be involved, not just to be an ATM machine.'"

Lefty bloggers are still smarting over Insight magazine's story on Obama's childhood attendance of a madrassa in Indonesia. The Huffington Post's Karen Russell writes: "The fact that Obama attended both a Catholic and a Muslim school in Indonesia is hardly a secret since Obama wrote about it in his best seller Audacity of Hope. The fact that he was SIX at the time makes this smear a total joke. Plus, Obama is Christian." Daily Kos' Kimball Cross tracks down the origins of the story to a 8/10/04 FreeRepublic posting "by a certain Andy Martin."

RICHARDSON: He Feels More Than Your Pain

"[A]s someone who worked with Bill Richardson's staff closely when he was in the House" The Washington Note's Steve Clemons asks Richardson: "Have you behaved inappropriately or not in public settings with female members of your government administration, jokingly or not? Have you gestured to female public servants and political appointees -- who work as colleagues with you -- and made lewd gestures, specifically pointing to them and then pointing at your crotch with a room full of media and other politicos there in the room?"

Clemons explains: "I ask it because I was not in the room when this particular incident occurred but many others were -- and rumors have long swept around Santa Fe that Bill Richardson makes a constant festive joke out of demeaning women. These incidents don't have to do with the comments by Lt. Governor Diane Denish that Richardson is a "touchy" and "feely" Governor. They have to do with questions about a far more crude kind of gesture that demeans professional women."

Markos has similar worries about Richardson writing: "And his private life is the subject of -- how should I delicately put it? -- Clintonian rumors." But overall kos is much more positive about the Richardson: "I'm eager for a serious Latino candidate. It's time my people rose to the top of the political heap. He's bilingual. I dig his resume. Rather than talk about Darfur, he got his ass over there and brokered a cease fire, and that's on top of high-profile diplomatic missions all over the world, including places like North Korea. His resume is the strongest of any of the candidates."

MyDD's Chris Bowers is also a Richardson-resume fan: "Richardson is definitely the resume, experience and accomplishment candidate. His extensive experience in foreign relations (frequent high level diplomatic envoy and Ambassador to the UN), as Governor of New Mexico (chair of the DGA, no less), and as a member of Clinton's cabinet (Energy secretary) is impressive to the point of bordering on dreamy."

Daily Kos's Devilstower links to Richardson's YouTube announcement and official campaign site.

BROWNBACK: Wonder Which Oz Character The Corner Thinks Brownback Is?

Sam Brownback's 1/20 announcement was greeted with derision at The Corner. Mark Steyn says "He's Off to Be the Wizard!" knocking Brownback's "the yellow brick road to the White House," as well as Brownback's desire to make compassionate conservatism a reality. Both Kate O'Beirne and Kathryn Jean Lopez note Brownback failed to mention terrorism at all in his announcement remarks.

Lopez adds insult to injury posting a picture of Brownback with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) writing: "Picture is from another day, when they worked together against violence in video games." O'Beirne observes: "Senator Brownback explained that we need bipartisan support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Why didn't my smarty-pants colleagues around here figure that out?"

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) advisor Patrick Hynes at Ankle Biting Pundits argues "the shabby treatment Sen. Brownback has received from National Review and at Hugh Hewitt.com" is indicative of conservatism's degeneration from a movement to an identity group."

The Brody File tells Christian Broadcasting Network readers Brownback is "the guy with no chance but social conservatives love him type candidate." Brody adds: "[I]t's amazing to watch social conservative groups stay relatively silent on Brownback's campaign so far. I'm not talking about the local grassroots. I'm talking about the national big boys like Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and other major players within D.C. Where are their voices for Brownback? ... I think they're waiting to see whether Romney gets solid traction because if he does, Romney may be their winning ticket to access and power in 2009."

MCCAIN: A Thin Red Line?

Townhall's Matt Lewis is still "certainly not prepared to endorse him" but does argue that John McCain's "voting record clearly demonstrates that he is a conservative on the issues that conservatives should care about." Barnett describes McCain as "a proven hawk who has stood with President Bush on Iraq" and "is also a budget hawk" who "has been reliably pro-life." Barnett concludes: "The bottom line is that if history is the best predictor of the future, John McCain will win the GOP nomination. ... And if McCain should win the nomination, it will be interesting to see what his conservative enemies say when he's the only person standing between us and Hillary Clinton."

Also at Townhall, Hugh Hewitt calls the upcoming non-binding Iraq resolution "McCain's Moment" and advises: "John McCain has got to publicly go after his GOP colleagues who are developing round heels, and to swing away as well as the defeatists on the other side. He should be on the Sunday shows and in print making this case, and in terms that leave no doubt about the seriousness of the moment."

ROMNEY: 44 Pro-Family Leaders Can't Be Wrong

The Right Angle's Matt Naugle forwards reports of a letter signed by "44 pro-family leaders" which "makes a convincing argument that [Mitt] Romney overstepped his role as Governor by ordering same sex marriages." Naugle notes "the letter is hosted at the website for the organization run by Brian Camenker. Camenker is the same conservative activist ... that was attacked by the Romney campaign in a very un-Presidential fashion."

WH '08 FIELD: Vote Early And Often!

Pajamas Media unveiled its "rolling" WH '08 straw which allows each person "to vote for one candidate in each party once a week." The poll intends to track "undoubtedly" changing minds "with the growing online electorate." The current GOP top five include:

Rudy Giuliani 37%
Newt Gingrich 29%
Mitt Romney 17%
John McCain 5%
Tom Tancredo 4%

The Dem top 5:

Barack Obama 44%
Bill Richardson 18%
Dennis Kucinich 12%
Hillary Clinton 8%
Tom Vilsack 5%

IRAQ: Towards Better Liberals

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman took heavy lefty blogger criticism for his 1/18 NPR appearance where, as Think Progress reports, Friedman "sarcastically said that next time, he'll "be a better liberal" and "will view the prospect of Arabs forging a democracy as utterly impossible. They're incapable of democracy."

Atrios awarded Friedman his coveted "Wanker of the Day" honors and Daily Kos' Hunter writes: "Estimates put the number of Iraqi dead above half a million people. Even the most conservative (cough) estimates confess the number to be in the multiple tens of thousands. ... That's more people than Thomas Friedman will ever shake hands with in his entire life. ... They're dead because Thomas Friedman and people like him thought they had a great idea, and wouldn't listen to any of the experts telling them they were wrong. ... What a wretch of a man. Honestly, what a foul wretch of a man."

Admitting in his first ever post at The Huffington Post that he is "not in the habit of offering partisan linguistic advice to Democrats," Frank Luntz offers advice to "still-euphoric faces of Democrat activists ... Don't twist the knife." Luntz continues: "The blogs from the Left and the Right be damned, the real center of America is upset but not bitter, anxious but not fearful, restless but not unforgiving. ... Senator Barbara Boxer can't really believe that a single woman without children is totally incapable of feeling emotional loss just because she hasn't had any children in combat, can she? Yet that's exactly what she said to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice."

Luntz concludes: "If Democrats believe so passionately that President Bush has made it wrong - and you can't really blame them - why don't they tell us how to make it right? It's as simple as that. And getting it right might actually save some lives and political careers in the effort."

DEMS: Detroit Dinosaurs Doomed

Blue Mass Groups' Charley writes it is "excellent news" that Speaker Pelosi has appointed Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) to head the new Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Charley writes: "Throughout the years, one of the main obstacles to Democratic action on energy independence has been midwestern Democrats, especially those representing the interests of the Detroit Dinosaurs, the auto industry. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), for instance, has opposed mandatory increases in auto efficiency standards, while remaining a fairly reliable liberal Dem in other regards. And Rep. John Dingell sounds pretty much like a global-warming skeptic."

MyDD's Nancy Scola catalogues Dingell's connections to the auto industry, noting "Pelosi backed Dingell's primary challenger Lynne Rivers in 2002. Charly concludes: "This shows urgency, guts and vision from Speaker Pelosi. She is plainly not just going back to pre-1994 business as usual from the Democrats. Great job! And Mr. Markey -- let us know what we can do to help. We've got your back."

NC SEN: Gymnast To Face Challenge

Under the header "Another 2008 Senator wavers on Iraq" DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas links to a Charlotte Observerarticle on Sen. Liddy Dole's (R-NC) evolving Iraq position and writes: "Liddy Dole may not have a Democratic challenger yet (she will), but she's clearly already feeling the heat. ... Dole ... will have to perform rhetorical gymnastics to buck the growing anti-Bush and anti-war sentiment in her state despite being one of Bush's most loyal lieutenants."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: An Early Warning Device

MyDD's Nancy Scola links to the "senior-thesis-turned-IPDI-study by T. Neil Sroka about the consumption of political blogs on Capitol Hill." Scola explains: "Over a period of three months ending last March, Sroka surveyed House and Senate communications staffers about who in their offices are reading blogs, and what blogs they're reading." Sroka writes: "blogs might be used as a sort of issue 'radar,' an early warning device which prepares offices and senior staffers, in particular, about the issues and stories coming down the pipe."

Beltway Blogroll also links and provides a top ten favorite blogs of Capitol Hill:

10) Eschaton, Instapundit, Power Line, Salon.com, The Washington Note
9) The Raw Story
8) MyDD
7) The Corner, The Fix
6) The Note, RedState
5) Hotline On Call
4) Drudge Report, The Huffington Post
3) Talking Points Memo
2) Wonkette
1) Daily Kos

LEST WE FORGET: Basics First

Get a First Life: A One Page Satire of of Second Life advises readers: "Go Outside Membership is free ... First Life is a 3D analog world where server lag does not exist." In a special message to teens the site explains: "America's teens, your First Life dream world awaits. Hang out at the mall! Embarrass yourself in gym class! Get acne! Experiment with mind-altering recreational drugs! The First Life world is your oyster."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:39 PM

January 19, 2007

1/19: A Twofer

As a general rule, the Blogometer does not report what each side says about the other's primary candidates, but we do track who they are attacking as a general measure of whom each side truly fears in the general. By far, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) receives the most negative lefty attention and that's on full display 1/18 as MyDD updates their readers on Day 6 of their anti-McCain Googlebomb efforts. The right has long targeted Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) going back to her WH days. But negative posts on Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) are rapidly rising. Kudos to Insight magazine, therefore, for coming out with an article that both hits Obama for attending a Madrassa in Indonesia as a child and then blaming Team Clinton for raising the issue.

DEMS: A Gutsy New Direction

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) opened her post-100 hour Huffington Post entry with a quote from Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ): "Bully for the Democrats. ... They did what we didn't have the guts to do when it matters." Pelosi explained: "That is what one of my Republican colleagues had to say about the first act of the Democratic majority, clamping down on corruption, lobbying, and earmarks. His sentiment was echoed in editorial pages across the country, along with many Republicans and millions of Americans, who are fully awakening to the optimism and possibility of a new direction in our government."

The netroots were full of praise for the speaker, including DailyKos' Mcjoan, "To recap the first 100 hours, in addition to today's action the House passed bills to Implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, increase the minimum wage, expand stem cell research, lower prescription drug costs, and cut student loan interest rates. Speaker Pelosi, take a bow," and AMERICAblog's Joe in DC, "The House Democrats finished the First 100 Hours agenda in just over 40 hours. Nice work. They did more for the American people in a matter of hours then the GOP did in 12 years. Elections matter. A lot."

GOP: Thank Blog For Small Victories

Righty bloggers were not left out of the victory circle 1/18. Townhall's Matt Lewis urged readers to call their Senators to protest sec. 220 of the ethics bill which American Center for Law and Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow described as "[s]o draconian ... that it would actually impose registration and reporting requirements on churches and other nonprofit organizations." The Right Angle's Amanda Carpenter reports Sen. Jim Demint (R-SC) told bloggers in a conference call that the section "would make just about everyone a lobbyist, including people who wrote their senators a couple of times. The penalties would be enormous, $100,000 fine and 10 years in prison, and that could affect bloggers urging people to call their congressman."

Instapundit, however, linked to the doubts of UCLA law professor Stephen Bainbridge including: "Section 220 probably was a bad idea and the effort to remove it from the bill is probably a good idea, but treating Section 220 as a "measure to silence any critics of the government, like us and other bloggers," undermines the blogosphere's credibility when it comes to real efforts to do so." RedState's Brad Smith responded to similar arguments: "The bottom line really is this: should any citizen have to register with the U.S. government before communicating with other citizens about public issues, and then report to the government about their activities?"

When section 220 was finally stripped from the bill, RedState's Erick Erickson described the effort as "a victory for the grassroots."

No one on the right, however, was happy with WaPo coverage of the bill's passage. Redstate's Erickson called Jonathan Weisman's article "obnoxiously partisan" for buying into Dem talking points that the legislation was "bipartisan" but was being held up by GOP demands for a vote on "an unrelated measure." Power Line's Paul Mirengoff sasy the story "might as well have been written by Harry Reid's staff."

CLINTON: Experts Love Hillary

TPMCafe's Eric Kleefeld reports "expert on government" Professor Stephen Wayne of Georgetown thinks Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) "Iraq Proposal Is Good Politics." Wayne explains: ""I think in the short run, there isn't a whole lot Congress can do ... You can do position taking, which they're doing now. You can force some of the Republicans to go on the record, as they're doing now."

Further toward the center, Andrew Sullivan continued to signal his openness to supporting an HRC picking up on the New York Timesquoting HRC: "I am cursed with the responsibility gene." Sullivan riffs: "I've followed Senator Clinton's positions on the war these past few years and since they've pretty closely tracked my own, I'm not going to attack her for caution and prudence. ... Americans often pick a president repairing the glaring flaw in the last one. The most powerful theme of Bush's presidency has been wanton irresponsibility ... If Hillary frames herself as the school-marm disciplinarian, she'll find an opening. It's also an image more suited to her actual personality than anything resembling charisma."

EDWARDS: Trying A Little Too Hard

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas issued a warning to overzealous John Edwards supporters 1/18. Admitting "there will always be a number of people who aren't happy that I don't worship at the altar of their favorite candidate" kos bemoans "every election there's a crew that screams about biases and the like."

Kos continues: "In 2008, the prize for "most annoying" is a close race between the "Talk about Gore running even though he's said he's not running!" crowd and the "Why is everyone always dumping on John Edwards?" crew." Kos admonishes: "those people aren't doing their candidates any favors. Being obnoxious, whiny, and wearing tin foil hats don't reflect well on the object of their adoration. ... Really, all the whining does neither you, nor your favorite guy any favors. It does the opposite -- it turns people off from your guy."

OBAMA: Narcissists Named Barry For A Hundred Alex

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas may not have a favorite WH '08er yet, but he is a fan of Sen. "Barry" Obama's (D-IL) high school senior page. Kos comments: "Nice 'do. (Really.)"

In less laudatory netroots Obama related musings, Firedoglake's Swopa is less than pleased with the observation that Obama's 1/16 video announcement did not include the word "Democrat" once. Swopa writes: "Ummmm which party's nomination for the White House is he hoping to win? I think someone's been spending too much time with Joe Lieberman and Bob Kerrey ... learning how to campaign for the not-so-coveted narcissist-American vote." Also, Talk Left's Big Tent Democrat reiterates his doubts as to whether Obama can influence the withdrawal "phased or immediate" of troops from Iraq.

The Plank's Jason Zengrle picks up on righty efforts to "shamelessly smear Barack Obama and then blame the smearing on Hillary Clinton" noting an Insight article linked from the Corner asking: "Are the American people ready for an elected president who was educated in a Madrassa as a young boy and has not been forthcoming about his Muslim heritage?"

Zengrle expands: "The attribution on all this is broad enough ("political opponents within the Democratic Party"; "researchers connected to Senator Clinton") that I suppose this information about Obama could have originated with people in Clinton's orbit. But let's not forget where this information appeared. And let's be on the lookout for who goes on the cable shows and wonders whether "Barrack Hussein Obama" is "The Manchurian Madrassa Candidate." Something tells me it isn't going to be Hillary, or any liberal for that matter."

Also more towards the center, Andrew Sullivan asks "Does he have a James Frey problem?" and links to a Blotter post quoting a '04 Lynn Sweet column titled "Obama's Book: What's Real, What's Not." Sweet wrote: "I was dismayed ... at what I found when I read Dreams from My Father. Composite characters. Changed names...Except for public figures and his family, it is impossible to know who is real and who is not."

Finally Right Wing News posts PTI video of ex-Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints head coach Mike Ditka on Obama.

HUNTER: Terri Schiavo II

Right Wing News posts a Duncan Hunter press release announcing the introduction of legislation pardoning two CBP agents for convictions "deriv[ing] from an incident involving their efforts to apprehend a drug smuggler on the international border with Mexico."

RWN comments: "Wow. Can they do this? ... You could also certainly make a case against this bill along Terri Schiavo lines, "Right, wrong, whatever, Congress shouldn't be involved." Of course, I was for intervening in the Terri Schiavo case and I'm for intervening in this case, too."

MCCAIN: Googlebomb Target Number One

Christian Broadcasting Network's Brody File reports John McCain "just scored some brownie points" in his effort to win Evangelicals for the GOP nomination. BF explains: "In a major reversal, he came down on the side of conservative grassroots groups like Focus on the Family when he said he would support an amendment to the Senate Ethics bill that strips out language unfavorable to these groups. ... In the last Congress, McCain supported this type of language. Not now. He needs James Dobson and his millions of listeners. This would seem to indicated a step in the "right" direction for a guy who plays down the middle pretty well."

On the left, Chris Bowers updates MyDD readers on progress six days into his anti-McCain Googlebomb campaign: "The targeted article from CBS News, John McCain, is now 11th on Google searches for John McCain. Six days ago it was not in the top 100."

ROMNEY: Gentle Mitt

The Brody File tells Christian Broadcasting Network readers Mitt Romney is the "buzz" candidate after talking to "in the know staffers who are handling 2008 Presidential candidates." Brody reports: "They point out how he's at ease when he talks, gentle on the eyes, has a great staff working for him and is already seems very presidential in the way he acts and talks. And this talk is coming from rival campaigns!"

RNC: It's 80 Degrees in Miami Today

The Right Angle's John Gizzi looks at the competing efforts of MI RNC member Chuck Yob and MA RNC member Ron Kaufman on behalf of their chosen WH '08 candidates during the RNC winter meetings (Yob for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Kaufman for ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R)). Gizzi also reports that ex-MD LG Michael Steele is still undecided in the race despite "severe doubts about McCain's campaign-finance legislation that limited the amount and shape of money in national campaigns and in the national Republican Party."

In RNC chair election news, Gizzi reports NC state chair Linda Daves will not be voting for Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) and quotes another undecided member: "I want a full-time senator from my state and devoting time to the chairmanship means you don't have a full-time senator. Besides, as a senator, Mel Martinez can already go on the Sunday talk shows without having to be party chairman as well."

Not at the meeting, Townhall's Hugh Hewitt offers: "I think Senator Mel Martinez will be a fine RNC chair, but an inspired choice would have been Newt."

HOUSE '06: PACless GOP?

James at Swing State Project continues his analysis of '06 House spending this time looking at "the 22 races where a Democratic challenger beat a Republican incumbent." SSP notes: "total expenditures from all sources gave the Republicans a nearly $20 million edge ($89M to $69M) in these 21 districts. Also note how the mediocre fundraising of former New Hampshire Reps. Bass ($1.2M) and Bradley ($0.86M) foreshadowed their surprise defeats last November. Another interesting fact: in this top tier of House races, Republican-allied PACs were almost nowhere to be found--in fact, if it weren't for the $1 million spent by the National Association of Realtors PAC in support of Anne Northup (KY-03), Democrats would've enjoyed a 7-to-1 non-party IE advantage in these districts. Instead, they settled for 7-to-2."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Myth Busted

Blog P.I. follows up on the purported suicide of the American Airlines agent that checked in Mohammed Atta on 9/11. The Oprah Winfrey Show assertion by US Airways employee Michael Tuohey that the suicide happened had been the, basis for an '06 dust up between lefty Brendan Nyhan and Atrios.

Blog P.I. didn't buy the story from the beginning and scoured Nexis looking for confirmation but all signs pointed back to the Tuohey Oprah appearance. Blog P.I. admitted his absence of evidence was not strong evidence Tuohey made the story up, but on 1/18 an American Airlines spokesman emailed Blog PI after stumbling across the blog and wrote in: " Because of privacy policies, I can't give you a ton of information. However, I can tell you that the American Airlines agent who checked in Mohammed Atta is alive."

Blog P.I. concludes: "Despite his first writing that Tuohey "fabricated the rumor" as mentioned above, he doesn't know what Tuohey's motivations were for telling this story about Atta's alleged suicidal ticket agent. One would have to ask Tuohey. ... So, I still don't know whether to properly categorize this as "urban legend, hoax or mistake," but now I do know it is one of the above."

LEST WE FORGET: Everyone's A Comedian

Emptying his inbox of the usual "less than complimentary" emails all popular bloggers receive, Pollster.com's Mark Blumenthal copies a publication we know and love:

A shot ...

Who are you polling? The bush family. If you are, you aren't asking George W because that idiot would not have a clue how to respond. Maybe you are polling retarded people like yourself, or those in mental institutions, like your inbred family, who can't respond on their own. -- Charming email from a "reader," January 12, 2007

And a chaser...

If you were to take it and put me in an opinion poll and said do I approve of Iraq, I'd be one of those that said, no, I don't approve of what's taking place in Iraq. -- President George W. Bush, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, January 16, 2007

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:12 PM

January 18, 2007

1/18: Obama's First Test?

It's hardly news that lefty bloggers are unhappy with Sen. Hillary Clinton's Iraq legislation (for the record, it does not go far enough cutting off funds or setting dates for withdrawal/redeployment). More noteworthy is Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) continued ability to stay vague enough on his Iraq war plans so that DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas can still say "[h]e's hitting the right notes on Iraq and the escalation" while he avoids committing to full-out call for cutting off funds like John Edwards. We'll soon see if the specifics of Obama's legislation, in which he proposes "begin[ning] the phased redeployment I called for two months ago," is closer to the HRC or Edwards position.

DEM FIELD: The Rapidly Shrinking General

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas served up his latest "Cattle Call" 1/17 reminding readers "this isn't a list of my favorite or preferred candidates ... It's my take on where these candidates sit in the race today." His thoughts on the top five candidates in the race include:

• 1. Barack Obama: He's hitting the right notes on Iraq and the escalation. He's getting some flack from some bloggers for being "Liebermanesque" in his language, but unlike Lieberman, Obama has a strong base of support in the netroots. And he hasn't even put together a netroots operation yet.
• 2. John Edwards: Edwards got a bunch of flack from pundits for announcing his campaign in New Orleans during the Christmas holidays. ... In the dKos straw poll, Edwards went from being tied 28-28 with Obama, to a 35-28 lead (almost all at the expense of Wesley Clark). ... Edwards is in a good spot -- the most popular netroots candidate, and well positioned in the offline world as well.
• 3. Hillary Clinton: Hillary is the Lieberman of 2008 -- running strong early on name recognition and star power. ... There are plenty of people out in the states who like her well enough, and wouldn't mind supporting her, but they fear that she'll tank our Senate, House, and state candidates down the ballot. This concerns is pervasive everywhere west of the Mississippi and south of Ohio.
• 4. Bill Richardson: Can Richardson get respect? I mean, the dude just brokered a peace treaty in Darfur.
• 5. Wesley Clark: The more he waits to make a decision, the more his supporters seem to be finding John Edwards.

Kos also added these thoughts on the final results of the WH '08 dKos straw poll: "What I didn't expect was the sharp drop in Clark support. It looks like many of his supporters are getting tired of waiting for a decision, and Edwards is scooping them up."

CLINTON: A Position Only The DLC Could Love

The Left Coaster is not impressed with Hillary Clinton's 1/17 call for capping the number of troops Pres. Bush can deploy to Iraq since it does not withold funds for the surge or set a withdrawal deadline. TLC describes HRC's position as "the status quo" noting "in other words, as long as Bush keeps the troop levels underneath Hillary's limits, he can keep doing pretty much whatever the hell he wants." TLC concludes: "It's a position that only the DLC could love, and which cedes almost the entire party to John Edwards and Barack Obama, while making Hillary look like someone afraid of taking on the White House. ... And it took her weeks to come up with this? She's closer to McCain and Lieberman than she is to Chuck Hagel.

EDWARDS: Pro-Purse Power

DailyKos diarist a gnostic is fired up over John Edwards' manager David Bonior's statement that: "This weekend, President Bush claimed on national TV that Congress does not have the power to stop his proposed escalation of the war in Iraq. That's bull. I served in Congress for 26 years, and I can assure you that Congress does have the power to stop this escalation -- and it has used that power many times before, including in Vietnam, Lebanon, Nicaragua and Colombia."

Gnostic urges readers to sign Edwards petition demanding "that this Congress use its power of the purse to stop this president from escalating the war in Iraq." Gnostic concludes: "At least one of the Democratic presidential candidates is saying what we've all been saying since this latest George Bush scheme was announced...the escalation and the meek response from Congress is a steaming load of you know what...The silence is deafening from the rest of them."

BROWNBACK: Gettin' His Heine In Gear

IA's Caucus Cooler notes Sam Brownback hired Sen. John Thune (R-SD) campaign aide Jay Heine as his IA political director. Heine is also described as a "longtime advisor to Bob Vander Plaats gubernatorial campaigns" and CC adds: "As we reported yesterday Brownback was in town this week meeting with operatives and activists, they've brought on at least 1 field staffer as well to our knowledge."

BUSH: When A Cornerite Loves You, They Really Love You

The Corner's Peter Robinson continued his one-man-band draft Jeb Bush movement 1/17. Robinson fired back at Cornerites hitting Bush on immigration: " Can anyone yet state with certainty and concision-alloting, say, two or three sentences to each candidate-the immigration policies of McCain, Giuliani and Romney? If an enterprising reader would care to prepare a spreadsheet, permitting easy comparison of the policies of these three with those of Jeb, I would be only too happy to post it."

Robinson also shared a semi-Bush endorsement from Newt Gingrich who praised Bush's FloridaCompareCare.gov and MyFloridaRx.com initiatives as "glimpses of the future" and "extraordinarily useful."

Finally, Robinson shared a note from a reader "proving" his Bush-love was shared: "It's time for Republicans to throw aside this inane Bush name business in our discussion of Presidential contenders."

FRIST: Apparently, Frist Was Once Majority Leader

Righty bloggers, picking up on reports of Bill Frist plans to run for TN GOV in '10, see the move as groundwork for an WH '12 run. Influence Peddlar writes: "The Senator seems to be taking the long view on this. He's probably more popular in Tennessee than he is on the national stage. And if he has a good run as Governor, no one will remember the disappointment of his tenure as Majority Leader 10 years from now." RedState's FirstState adds: "Have we come to that point, that executive experience is so important that someone like Frist would go from the height of power in the Senate to the governorship of a state in order to have it on his resume?"

HUNTER: Not As Excited As After Staying At A Holiday Express

Right Wing News posts Duncan Hunter's latest commercial "The Border Fence" as his "Video of the Day." Hunter closes the ad saying: "Let's make sure Homeland Security builds the border fence. It works and its the law."

Extreme Mortman, however, is not impressed with Hunter's Spartanburg Marriott choice as venue for his 1/25 WH '08 announcement. Mortman writes: "How excited can anyone truly get when eating breakfast at a Marriott?"

MCCAIN: Sieleman Trumps Dobson?

IA's Caucus Cooler explains the significance of John McCain's recent hiring of Concerned Women for America IA chapter founder Maxine Sieleman: "Maxine also has a morning talk show on Christian radio in Des Moines. ... These endorsements are significant for McCain especially given the recent comments made by Focus on the Families' James Dobson." CC also notes Sielman's digs at ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and ex-NY mayor Rudy Giuliani (R): "McCain is the one candidate who has a consistent record of supporting pro-life, pro-family legislation."

In a separate post the Cooler includes video of MoveOn's anti-McCain ad airing "in Iowa and other early caucus states."

TANCREDO: Immigration Hard-Liner Foil?

RCP Blog's Tom Bevan and Captain's Quarters are not impressed with Tom Tancredo's WH '08 bid. Reacting to suggestions Tancredo has "articulate" views, Bevan responds: "Are we talking about the same man who suggested during a July 2005 radio interview that we should "take out" the holiest city in Islam in response to possible nuke attacks on the United States by terrorists? Or the one who made news last November by referring to Miami as a "third world country?" ... Whatever you think of the merits of either of those views, "thoughtfully articulate" is not a phrase that springs to mind to describe them."

CQ is just amused by the spectacle: "One of the more amusing aspects of any presidential campaign is the people who believe they have a chance to win the nomination. ... And for Tancredo's fans, consider what a disaster a Tancredo campaign could be for hard-liners on immigration. Since he has no real national standing on any other issue, the lack of support that Tancredo will suffer will reflect directly on immigration reform. It will be much easier for moderates and liberals to show that the hard-liners on immigration are marginal at best if Tancredo runs against McCain and Giuliani and flops."

IRAQ: No Way To Triangulate Out Of This

TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent identifies the "key quote" from Barack Obama's statement announcing he would be introducing legislation on Iraq: "That is why I not only favor capping the number U.S. troops in Iraq, but believe it's imperative that we begin the phased redeployment I called for two months ago, and intend to introduce legislation that does just that." Sargent explains: "Given what Clinton said today about a troop cap, it's hard not to notice Obama's "I not only favor capping" line."

The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum notes the similarities between Sen. Chris Dodd's (D-CT) and HRC's troop legislation and responds: "I'm opposed to the escalation too, but these moves by Dodd and Clinton actually strike me as the worst of all possible worlds. ... If there's anything we can be absolutely sure of, it's the fact that the status quo isn't working. Democrats should either go the political route and pass a nonbinding resolution, or they should pull up their socks and support legislation that defunds the war and sets a timetable for withdrawal. There's really no way to triangulate out of this."

Talk Left's Big Tent Democrat is also no fan of the Dodd plan: "Well, I do not think this is Constitutional or practical. I also do not think it is good politics or policy. For those who wonder, my plan is to set a date when funding ends, say October 30, 2007. Announce it NOW. Vote on it NOW. Then it is up to Bush to have the troops out by then. If he does not, then he is the one endangering the troops. He has 9 months to get them out.

Atrios takes a longer view on the specifics of Dem/Iraq legislative efforts: "I suppose it's progress that major Democrats are trying to one-up each other on legislation-about-Iraq-that-won't pass. Still, now that they have a majority and seem to generally agree that ending the war is the right thing to do I'd prefer it if they got into a room and found something they could all get behind which would be an attempt to end this thing."

On the House side, CaliticsTodd Beeton thanks CA Dem Reps. Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, and Maxine Waters for introducing he Bring Our Troops Home and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act which Woolsey outlines in a DailyKos diary including:

• Withdraw all U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq within six months from date of enactment.
• Prohibit any further funding to deploy, or continue to deploy U.S. troops in Iraq. The bill does, however, allow for funding to be used, as needed, to ensure a safe withdrawal of all US military personnel and contractors, diplomatic consultations. Funding may also be used for the increased training and equipping of Iraqi and international security forces.
• Finally, we believe that Iraqi oil belongs to the Iraqis. Once the oil is in the international market, the U.S. will certainly have access to our share. That's why our bill ensures that the U.S. has no long-term control over Iraqi oil.

In non-congressional action, The Huffington Post's David Sirota promotes the 50-State Anti-Escalation Campaign in conjunction with the Progressive States Network and Moveon.org. According to Sirota the campaign seeks "to have state legislatures take up resolutions demanding Congress use its power to prevent President Bush's efforts to militarily escalate the Iraq War."

RNC CHAIR: GOPers Don't Like Communism

The Right Angle's John Gizzi forwards the grumblings of one RNC cmt. mem. on the election of Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) as RNC general chair: "We're like the Politburo in the old Soviet Union. We go along with what the White House wants when there's a Republican living there. But that doesn't mean we like it."

Gizzi later quotes MI state chair Saul Anuzis on member worries: "Criticism is over three basic points: there are some that don't believe that the general chairman model-tried with Kansas Sen. Bob Dole in the early 1970's and then with Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt during the Reagan presidency-is a good model; second, there are those opposed to Sen. Martinez's position on immigration, believing that such a strong supporter of an 'amnesty' program is a concern for the party's image; and third, the process."

Right Wing News worries "other than being generally supportive of the people trying to block Martinez, I don't know that there's much blogs like RWN can do." RWN adds: "In any case, I think this is just another example of how George Bush has allowed an antagonistic relationship to develop between him and the people who should be his big supporters. Once George Bush got to the big dance, he acted as if he didn't need the support of the people who brought him there anymore and he, along with the rest of the Republican Party, are paying one hell of a price for it."

GOP: No '80s Rhetoric Left Behind

RedState's rhatican quotes from Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address (including, " It is time to check and reverse the growth of government which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed") and urges House Min. Leader John Boehner to lead GOPers "on the basis of those things the crazy old Californian said long ago" in "categorically opposing the reauthorization of" No Child Left Behind.

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: As Trent Lott Goes, So Instapundit Does Not

Righty Bloggers are buzzing over Sen. Judd Gregg's (R-NH) amendment mucking up Dem ethics legislation in the senate. Under the header "Reid Again Stands in the Way of Reform" The Right Angle's Robert Bluey writes: "Gregg wants the Senate to have an up-or-down vote on his proposal to reduce wasteful spending. Reid wants nothing to do with it." The Club for Growth and the National Taxpayers Union also have thoughts while Instapundit isn't sold on the substance of Gregg's legislation: "I regard the line-item veto as a gimmick, and during the brief period when Clinton had one it didn't accomplish much. I'm not sure if this is different, though the extent of the opposition from porkmeisters like Reid and Durbin suggests to me that it might be. How's Trent Lott voting?"

POLICE LOG: Only 88 Accounting Days Left!

The Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Courier-Journal are both reporting that BluegrassReport founder Mark Nickolas has been indicted for willfully failing to file state income tax returns for 2003, 2004 and 2005. According to the Herald Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland claims the indictments were sought by the Kentucky Department of Revenue. The Courier notes BluegrassReport "often criticizes [KY] Gov. Ernie Fletcher" and the Herald reminds readers that Nickolas has "a lawsuit pending in federal court that alleges the Fletcher administration illegally blocks state workers from viewing his site."

Nickolas took responsibility on his blog 1/17: "I made a mistake by not filing my state taxes promptly. Period. I am alone responsible and I feel awful. I'm not going to offer any excuses." Nickolas' attorney says, he mailed Nickolas' tax returns for the years in question to the Revenue Department on Dec. 18. He said the checks cleared on Dec. 28.

The Herald concludes its story: "Another Nickolas fan, Democratic state Rep. Kathy Stein of Lexington, called the Revenue Department's failure to tell a prosecutor that Nickolas had made belated tax payments "very interesting." Still, she said "it was a pretty foolish mistake" for someone so "highly visible and critical" of Fletcher to not pay taxes for three years."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Some Of My Best Friends Are Bloggers ...

Buzz Machine's Jeff Jarvis picks up on Market Watch reports "that while the unique audience to online newspapers grew 9% from December 2005 to December 2006, the number of visitors to blog pages at the top newspapers skyrocketed and accounted for 13% of the parent sites' total traffic." Market Watch includes a list of the top five "online newspaper blogs and their estimated December audiences:"

• USATODAY.com blogs, 1.239 million
• The New York Times' blogs, 1.173 million
• SFGate blogs, 515,000
• Washingtonpost.com blogs, 433,000
• Boston.com blogs, 388,000

Jarvis concludes: "Note also that the definition of blogs is up for grabs. Many times, newspapers use blogging software as a means to get up news updates and such; it is the world's lightest, easiest, cheapest content management system and it's a smart use. But not all these blogs link out in conversation. Still, I'll bet this helps take the cooties off the word 'blog' in newsrooms."

LEST WE FORGET: Obama Can Cop To Drug Use But American Idol Contestants Can't?

While watching the season premiere of season 6 of American Idol Death By Camera realized that "in this day and age, almost anything can be found on the internet," and tracked down eleven MySpace profiles of Idol contestants. DBC writes up Hollywood bound Michelle Steingas' profile:

Age: 20
Myspace nickname: ultichica11
Bonus points: Long ass survey on her myspace.
Most unbelievable: Who the f--k doesn't have instant message? Maybe 
someone who calls it "instant message."
Top qualities: Underage drinker, shoplifter, skinny dipper, and the 
mysterious number of drugs taken ... 1. but which 1?
Disqualifying factor: Public admission on your myspace of taking drugs
Myspace: www.myspace.com/ultichica11
UPDATE: Less than 24 hours after appearing on American Idol, it looks 
like Michelle has done some damage control and deleted the 
incriminating survey from her myspace. I'm kicking myself for not 
taking screenshots of the thing.

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:28 PM

January 17, 2007

1/17: Diggers Vs. Bloggers

Sen. Barack Obama's 1/16 WH announcement is still by far the most popular story on the community-based, news-filtering website, Digg. Like bloggers, Digg readers and promoters seek to bypass more traditional hierarchical news delivery systems (read MSM) to better distribute news that people care about. One might think that the political tastes of the tech savvy Digg readership would match up well with those of lefty blogs, but the Obama phenomenon suggests that is not the case. While John Edwards still tops recent DailyKos WH '08 straw polls he has never garnered nearly as much Digg attention as Obama did.

OBAMA: Face It, They're Just Not That Into You

While the Digg crowd is highly interested in Sen. Barack Obama's 1/16 WH '08 announcement, the bloggers that make up the netroots community, while open to Obama, still voice uneasiness about the freshman senator's "lack of a clear stance on critical issues" and centrist rhetoric. The Huffington Post's RJ Eskow links to past David Sirota cases against Obama here and here and adds: "The left is disappointed with ... his votes for Condi Rice's confirmation and a usurious bankruptcy bill, and his use of religion to separate himself from other Dems (thereby reinforcing the impression that Democrats are too secular for America)." As for Obama's rhetoric, Eskow comments: "I think I understand what he's trying to accomplish, but he's so intent on not being labeled that he risks getting the label he least wants: that of an evasive man, a holographic candidate designed to change in appearance depending on where the viewer stands."

Other reactions include:

• The Left Coaster: "I am getting tired of this ongoing Liebermanesque "different kind of politics" canard. This country has been driven into a ditch, and is being led towards another war in Iran, yet what we get from Lieberman and perhaps now Obama is the salve of a bipartisan "let's just all get along" campfire sing-a-long."
• FiredoglakeTaylor Marsh: "Barack Obama has not been nearly as strong on the escalation, evidently preferring "symbolism" to action, or confusing one as being as strong as the other. (I won't say "I told you so," but I did warn you.) But Obama did strongly push back against escalation after Mr. Bush's speech last week. Certainly the fact that Obama was against the Iraq war from the start helps, but he wasn't in the Senate, so it's difficult to know what he'd have done if he were."
• MyDD diarist TarHeel: "At the risk of inflaming half the audience here and seeing whether I am imagining things, am I the only one who thinks some of the word choice and framing has similarity between Obama and Lieberman? NOT the message or ideology, just the buzz words."
• AMERICAblog's John Aravosis: "One bit of advice for the Obama crowd. Teach your boss to use the word "I." Obama ... kept talking about (and I paraphrase) how "our office was considering that" or how "my staff is looking at that" or how "we are certainly thinking about that." It's no your office, it's not your staff, and it's not we. It's you. It's I.

MyDD's Chris Bowers notes "the first major 2008 candidate forum will be held by AFSCME on February 21" and wonders how any other WH hopeful could steal coverage away from Obama between now and then.

DEM FIELD: Surprisingly, Biden Is High

DailyKos hosted a WH '08 straw poll 1/16. Dems with more than 1% of the 21715 votes cast:

John Edwards 35 %
Barack Obama 28 %
Wesley Clark 17 %
Bill Richardson 5 %
Dennis Kucinich 4 %
Hillary Clinton 4 %

MyDD's Chris Bowers tracks the number of Google News results for the Dem field and comments: "the results seem to fairly clearly indicate that Obama is the buzz leader in both categories, with Clinton and Edwards easily in contention, and Biden surprisingly high."

GORE: Elite Footsie Player

MyDD's Matt Stoller notes that "[w]hile the progressive economy, that of Apple, Microsoft and Google, is a nicer place than, say, Exxon, the elites in those worlds are not held accountable for their behavior anymore than elites in any other part of American society." Stoller reasons Al Gore's "playing footsie with the progressive corporate elite" shows he will not be running for president.

BLOOMBERG: NYC's Only 11th?

RCP Blog's Tom Bevan admits Michael Bloomberg WH '08 rumors are percolating "at a fairly low level," but he still finds the mayor's new $1 billion tax cut "a pretty good idea" for "a moderate, business savvy problem solver who has done an effective job of managing a city with a population equivalent to the 11th largest state in America."

BROWNBACK: Blogs4SocialConservativeAlternative

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez tells readers to expect Sam Brownback and Duncan Hunter at 3/22's "Blogs4Life" conference at the Family Research Council.

BUSH: Bush Brand Barren

The Corner's Peter Robinson celebrates Jeb Bush's tax-reducing, education- and health care-reforming, crisis-handling tenure as FL gov and identifies the only stumbling block between Jeb and the WH: "His name." Robinson advises: "Bush can change his name to 'Humperdinck,' or we conservatives can start a petition to let him know we'll support him no matter what he calls himself."

Fellow CorneriteKathryn Jean Lopez chips in: "I do have to say that I am simply fascinated that Jeb is speaking at the NRI Conservative Summit. I'm looking forward to what he has to say, for sure. But I'm even more interested in why! Maybe he doesn't just look at the White House as a place his dad and brother lived but somewhere he could....?"

GIULIANI: Can't Buy Him Love

IA's Caucus Cooler rubs Mitt Romney's nose in news ex-Rep./'06 IA GOV nominee Jim Nussle signed with Rudy Giuliani noting the Romney-led RGA gave over $1.2M to Nussle's campaign and "Romney's PAC gave over 100K to Nussle, making him the single largest PAC contributor to the Nussle campaign." CC adds: "Given those facts, doesn't this Giuliani coup sting a little bit for Romney? You'd think all of that $$$ might have gotten him a little farther."

TANCREDO: He's Got Fleas

RedState's Leon Wolf highlights a American Spectatorarticle examining Tom Tancredo's "financial backers," including the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). AmSpec reminds readers of "the group's pro-abortion and pro-eugenics roots." Wolf adds: "Tancredo clearly aims to take the majority of his support from social conservatives in the upcoming 2008 race. ... he's apparently been laying down with Margaret Sanger types for a very long time, and nevermind the fleas."

RNC CHAIR: Apparently, Corner Readers Don't Like John McCain

Readers of conservative blog fave The Corner can't miss the blaring top banner ad: "StopMartinez.com" The site is sponsored by "English First" and includes a list of "five good reasons why Republican Party National Committeemen and Committeewomen should reject the [Mel] Martinez nomination."

• Reason One: The RNC Chairman should unite the Republican Party. Mel Martinez divides the GOP.
• Reason Two: Mel Martinez's impressive personal story as a Cuban immigrant will not attract other Hispanic voters to the GOP.
• Reason Three: Mel Martinez is part of John McCain's kitchen cabinet.
• Reason Four: The main jobs of the RNC Chairman are to win elections for the GOP and raise money. The Martinez record is less than impressive in both of these categories.
• Reason 5: The General Chairman of the Republican National Committee faces an extremely busy 2007 and 2008.

NRSC: We Want Elway!

NRSC Chair John Ensign (R-NV) appeared on Hugh Hewitt's radio show 1/16. According to Hewitt, Ensign "reported that recruitment efforts in the five targeted states where Dems hold the chair -- Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas, and Louisiana -- are going well, and that the GOP senators targeted by the Dems, including [Gordon] Smith in Oregon, [Norm] Coleman in Minnesota, and [John] Sununu in New Hampshire, are already hard at work raising the funds and assembling the volunteer networks they will need. The open seat in Colorado has a number of excellent candidates looking at making the race."

HOUSE '08: Blogger See, Blogger Do

Reminding readers that part of RedState's mission is "to take the fight to the left" Erick Erickson premiered a new "Freshman Targets" "subcategory" of RedState that will "start posting on various freshman Democrats who are in Republican leaning districts."

First up: "Dr. Millionaire," freshman Dem Steve Kagan." Erickson explains: "Mr. Kagan claimed last week to have gone to a White House party only to confront Karl Rove in the bathroom, slam Vice President Cheney, and insult Laura Bush in front of her and her husband as a way to hack off the President. ... Mr. Kagan should remember that his district leans Republican and his behavior, coupled with his votes this past week for America's Mother-in-Law's lefty agenda will win him few friends in his district."

HOUSE '06: Robust Dems Beat Dropped-Off GOP

James at Swing State Project tabulates the top ten non-party independent expenditure's on the GOP side and notes: "Aside from a few big players (most notably the National Realtors PAC, ...), there is a steep drop-off on the Republican side in terms of the number and quality of IEs relative to the robust and broadly-focused expenditures made by Democratic-allied PACs. ... Another thing to note is that these Republican expenditures are listed as disproportionately positive, while the Democratic expenditures were disproportionately classified as negative expenditures."

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: Where Were You '02?

Linking to a 1/12 Matt Stollerpost on the need for public financing of elections, DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas tells readers it's "time to revisit CFR" explaining he's "tired of 70's-style solutions to the problems of today's world." Kos goes on to explain "the problem" with the "reformer groups" in DC: "In their minds, money is inherently evil. Their efforts are predicated on the impossible -- getting money out of politics. But as Stoller notes, that just ain't gonna happen, Buckley or not. All speech costs money of some sort these days. Even getting yourself to a street protest costs money (gas or transit)."

Kos concludes: "I would argue that the problem is when money is used to drown out competing voices. ... I'm not advocating anything (yet) except a restatement of why we should regulate campaign finance, and from there, a rewrite of regulations that are internally consistent, pass the common sense test, allow maximum participation in the political process without an army of lawyers and consultants, and maximize the free speech rights we are guaranteed under the Constitution."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of YouTube

Buzz Machine's Jeff Jarvis has a request for World Economic Forum attendees in Davos, Switzerland in '07: "I hope that many of you will record video questions and thoughts to send to Davos, putting them up on YouTube tagged "davos07." Jarvis explains: "This is part of the World Economic Forum's attempt to open the conversation from Davos to the world and vice versa. I also think it's a good opportunity to bring together more voices and viewpoints in a sort of virtual Davos on YouTube. ... I want to hear more voices down from the mountains of Davos, voices from around the world. And I think video is a very powerful means to deliver these questions and messages: questions, comments, ideas, pleas."

LEST WE FORGET: Another SNL Spin-Off

Comedy Central Insider intros a video compilation of CSI one-liners reminding readers old enough to remember of a 1990 SNL sketch featuring Jimmy Smits as "a cop who reversed everything his partner said to sound smart and suspicious" and offers this example:

Partner: Well, anyway, we solved the case. I guess that's what really matters.

Smits: Well.. did we solve the case? Or.. did the case solve us?

CCI concludes: "Anyway, a decade and some change went by and some smarty-pants at CBS decided to rip that sketch off and turn it into the most watched TV show in the entire world."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:15 PM

January 16, 2007

Blogometer Update

Every time you here someone refer to Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) as a ‘media darling’ the next few weeks, please keep in mind they are only referring to the MSM. The new media/bloggers just aren’t that into him.

A DailyKos straw poll shows shows Kossacks prefer John Edwards 37% to Obama’s 27% with Wesley Clark a distant third at 14% (the Blogometer has checked these numbers at 6K, 13K ,and 16K votes and there has been no change in the %s).

Netroots ambivalence towards Obama’s candidacy seems to stem from two related sources: 1) his perceived centrist/Liebermanesque/DLC rhetoric; 2) and his inability/refusal to lead take the lead on a major progressive issue (especially the war).

Netroots reactions include:

• The Left Coaster: “I am getting tired of this ongoing Liebermanesque "different kind of politics" canard. This country has been driven into a ditch, and is being led towards another war in Iran, yet what we get from Lieberman and perhaps now Obama is the salve of a bipartisan "let's just all get along" campfire sing-a-long.”
• Firedoglake Taylor Marsh: “Barack Obama has not been nearly as strong on the escalation, evidently preferring "symbolism" to action, or confusing one as being as strong as the other. (I won't say "I told you so," but I did warn you.) But Obama did strongly push back against escalation after Mr. Bush's speech last week. Certainly the fact that Obama was against the Iraq war from the start helps, but he wasn't in the Senate, so it's difficult to know what he'd have done if he were.”
• MyDD commenter MNPundit: “This is a bit worrying if Obama turns out to be a DLC type because that will mean he not only hurts our movement but is good at it which most DLC types... aren't.”

Posted by Conn Carroll at 04:50 PM

1/16: Romney Rising

While Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) refusal to come out strongly against Pres. Bush's Iraq surge continues to allow John Edwards to shore up netroots support, MA Gov. Mitt Romney's continued rise in righty blogger straw polls mysteriously impresses. Romney has received praise for reaching out to conservative bloggers, but there is no signature issue or event to point to that can explain his steady online rise. If anything, 12/06 was his toughest month so far with repeated revelations of past statements and positions that many righty bloggers admitted troubled them. Romney's new lead is by no means large. But after looking at last month, what would it take to derail him as a blogger favorite?

GOP FIELD: Number One ...

GOP Bloggers wrapped up their 1/07 Primary Straw Poll 1/14 and MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) took first place for the first time in the monthly poll's history. Via The Right Angle's Robert Bluey, Romney Online Comm. Dir. Stephen Smith adds: "Governor Romney leads 'first choice' at all levels of vote certainty; Governor Romney leads 'first choice' at all levels of blog readership; Governor Romney comes in the top three in 'first choice' and 'candidacy acceptability' at each of the top eight participating blogs." Straw poll results include:

Mitt Romney 28%
Newt Gingrich 24%
Rudy Giuliani 21%
Tom Tancredo 6%
John McCain 4%
Sam Brownback 4%
Duncan Hunter 3%
Mike Huckabee 2%
Chuck Hagel 1%
Jim Gilmore 1%
Tommy Thompson 1%
George Pataki 0%

Right Wing News analyzes: "Mitt Romney has really rocketed up the charts in the last few months. For example, if you look back to July of last year, he was sitting at only 17.9%. ... After [George] Allen went down in flames, it looks as if most of his support went to Romney with a little spillover going to [Newt] Gingrich while Rudy [Giuliani] has stayed in about the same spot (he was +30.6% back then). ... On the other hand, Gingrich is not only just a hair behind Romney's poll, he's beating the pants off him in state by state polling. This suggests that Newt has the support not just of the average Republicans, but of the online activists, which means he has a real shot to win this thing if he wants to try to grab the brass ring."

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez points readers to a Maricopa County GOP straw poll posted by Sonoran Alliance showing Duncan Hunter leading the GOP field followed by Romney, Gingrich, and then Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Unfortunately for McCain, he also heads up the list of "Unacceptable Presidential Candidates" in the same straw poll followed by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and ex-NY Gov. George Pataki (R).

Finally, McCain advisor Patrick Hynes of Ankle Biting Pundits notes positive reactions to appearances by McCain and Romney on the Glenn and Helen Show and asks: "The Road to the White House Passes Through ... Knoxville, TN?" Hynes explains: "Up here in New Hampshire we like to think we have a special role in the presidential nomination selection process. But increasingly, if a candidate wants to communicate with today's citizen activists, they have as much need to call into the Glenn and Helen Show as to make a trip to Dixville Notch."

ROMNEY: ... With A Bullet

Despite leading the most recent GOP Bloggers poll, Mitt Romney is still taking plenty of blogger criticism. Both Right Angle's Robert Bluey and Townhall's Matt Lewis argue Romney's recent release of a "706-word" "take down" of MA social conservative activist Brian Camenker was heavy handed. Bluey called the research briefing's release "un-presidential" and Lewis quotes a source close to a potential rival: "This is the dumbest stunt by a tier one presidential candidate since George Romney claimed he had been brainwashed by the generals and diplomats."

In other Romney-hating, NH's GraniteGrok doesn't want "to be that guy in NH that keeps bashin' Romney," but goes on to follow the Boston Globelead noting differences between Romney's position on gun control now and when he ran against Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in '94. GG also links to a YouTube of Romney distancing himself from Ronald Reagan during a debate in that same '94 race and comments: "Watching the old footage of Mitt badmouthing the Reagan presidential era during his debate with Ted Kennedy was almost shocking to behold, given his supposed "conservatism."

On 1/15 Townhall's Hugh Hewitt briefly interviewed Romney. Hewitt highlights Romney's concerns on Iran: "I'd also note that I agree that the President is not opening up a new front against Iran, and I've heard that there have been people who've said oh, I think he's opening the door to go into Iran. That is not what we're doing as a country. We are doing our very best to bring stability to Iraq. But of course, if there are other parties like Iran that are in Iraq, then individuals firing on us will receive return fire."

Later Romney also commented on Pres. Bush's call for more troops: "The President's right on this. There's no question this is going to be a very difficult course for our nation to follow. And this effort, surging our troops there, may not solve the problem. There's no guarantee that this will work. But one thing I think is quite clear, and that is that this is the next right step, it is the right sequential step."

MCCAIN: Pawlenty Of Praise, Criticism, And Advice

Power Line's Scott Johnson thanked Bill Bennett "and his colleagues" for allowing Power Line "to be among the first news outlets reporting" MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be the national co-chair of John McCain's WH '08 bid. The Right Angle's Amanda Carpenter highlights the announcement: "This endorsement is particularly significant because the Republican National Convention will be held in Minneapolis. Pawlenty, who is one of the few Republican governor's to survive the 2008 midterm elections, is also expected to become chairman of the National Governors Association this summer."

Also at Right Angle, Matt Naugle explains Dr. James Dobson's refusal to support McCain ""under any circumstances" are unlike the comments made by Rev. Jerry Falwell: "Dobson is upset with Senator McCain's cloudy position on gay marriage and McCain's support of Democrat legislation that would create new obstacles for grassroots organizations ... The legislation Dobson is referring to is Section 220 of Senate Bill 1, which would add a load of bureaucratic red tape to any group taking part in grassroots communications which has expenses of $25,000 or more. ... The Hill reported that The Free Speech Coalition, lead by prominent conservatives such as Richard Viguerie and Paul Weyrich, is vigorously campaigning against this assault by Senate Democrats (and John McCain) on the 1st Amendment."

Right Angle'z, Robert Bluey advises: "Sen. John McCain is losing ground. Romney's decision to invest heavily in his online operation should send McCain a message: It's time to overhaul the black-and-white website with something more substantive and hire a full-time person to deal with bloggers."

EDWARDS: Surging Ahead

John Edwards 1/15 address at NY's Riverside Church drew wide lefty blogger praise. TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent describes the venue as "Hillary's Turf" and reminds readers the church is "where Martin Luther King delivered an oration against the Vietnam war 40 years ago." Sargent adds: "Edwards -- who's seeking to distinguish himself as the most forcefully antiwar Dem candidate -- plans to reach for King's antiwar mantle as he calls for an end to the current conflict."

The Nation's Ari Melber, Atrios, The Left Coaster, and Firedoglake's Pachacutec all praised Edwards words. The Left Coaster writes: "Edwards knows that he can maneuver around both the too-cautious Hillary and Obama on the issue of the surge. He apparently has read the same polls, knowing that if he gets out in front of a "no funds for the surge" movement, he will not only grab the party's base but also a large portion of independent voters as well."

CLINTON: Time To Repent?

MyDD's Matt Stoller picks up on Hillary Clinton aide Howard Wolfson's "John Edwards used to constantly brag about running a positive campaign" comments and replies: "Senator Clinton might or might not come around to the 'right' position on Iraq, but her timing on the issue is as revealing of her character and priorities as the position itself. Wolfson is speaking to the press and saying that Edwards is being too mean and not like his happy talk self in 2004. Journalists might care about such 'attacks', but they ring hollow out here, where Google has memory of Senator Clinton's complicity from 2002-2007. Her lack of action has allowed this war to go on as long as it has, and that's a sin she ought to acknowledge and work to make up for."

GORE: Draft Gore Drifting Away?

MyDD's Jerome Armstrong takes Reuters to task for a story on Al Gore speaking in Japan titled: "Al Gore: I'm Not Running for President." Armstrong argues: "The story in question has a single quote that doesn't say anything. In fact, in NewsMax, the Reuters wire story has the quote "I'm involved in a different kind of campaign", and on Reuters website says, 'involved in "a different kind of campaign."' Shoddy."

Fellow MyDDer Chris Bowers adds: "If people think the Reuters story is bogus, then they should ask Reuters to either produce a quote, or post a retraction. It would be a big story either way, so this is something that needs to be done. I think that would be a more than reasonable action for any Draft Gore movement to take. In fact, if it didn't take this action, can we put any faith in the Draft Gore movement at all?"

OBAMA: Fine, But Not Fine

Writing before news of Barack Obama's official announcement, Atrios is not satisfied with Obama's 1/14 Face the Nationstatements on Iraq. Atrios quotes Obama, "If there are ways that we can constrain and condition what the president is doing, so that four to six months from now we are considering a phased withdrawal, that is the area that I am most interested in supporting," and then reposts a similar 11/20 criticism of Obama on the war: "The basic content of what Obama is saying, divorced from the larger debate, is fine, but as to how it plays in the current debate it's not fine. ... The thing is that "bring them home now" doesn't really mean now. It doesn't mean that thousands of troops start boarding transport planes for the trip home. It just means that the focus shifts from staying to leaving, and the latter slowly begins to happen. Every time someone punts that action for yet another Friedman [six months], it helps to ensure that the end of the war will always be a Friedman away."

CO SEN: Quacks Like An Allard

Picking up reports that Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) won't seek a 3rd term, lefties are rejoicing: "Colorado was already the Democrats' top pickup opportunity," says Kos. "Senate Republicans are weeping today." MyDD's Jonathan Singer notes that likely Dem nominee/Rep. Mark Udall has $1.3M in the bank and concludes: "Given that Colorado Democrats, in the past two cycles, have picked up the governorship, both chambers of the state legislature, a Senate seat and two Congressional seats, and that the Democratic Party has selected Denver to house its nominating convention in 2008, there is no doubt that this will be one of the top targets for the strategists and activists trying to extend the Democratic majority in the United States Senate."

John McIntyre at Real Clear Politics thinks Allard wasn't the best candidate for the GOP anyway, making his retirement a net gain for the party: "Allard would have faced an uphill battle" against Udall. "If former two-term Governor Bill Owens were to throw his hat in the ring, Republicans would probably be favored to hold the seat. The other prominent names mentioned on the GOP side at this early stage would likely be considered slight underdogs against Udall." John J. Miller is also holding his breath for an Owens bid.

NH SEN: $8.93 For Sununu

In the Granite State, Blue Hampshire's Mike is sick of Simon Gift Cards with just a few dollars left on them. So he proposes "Gift Cards for a Blue America," asking readers to use the balance of their gift cards to donate to ActBlue's NH Sen '08 page.

DCCC: Target Red

Howie Klein again takes on the DCCC for recruiting "the least progressive, most pro-corporate end of the Democratic caucus and is firmly under the control of ... Rahm Emanuel." Klein further breaks down the DCCC's recruitment cmte: "The members of the committee are Artur Davis (AL-07), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Mike Doyle (PA-14), Rahm Emanuel (IL-05), Steve Israel (NY-02), Ron Kind (WI-03), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Mike Ross (AR-04), Tim Ryan (OH-17), Adam Schiff (CA-29), Hilda Solis (CA-32) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20). The Committee is far more in the Emanuel-Hoyer camp than in the Pelosi camp and even among the 3 token liberals on the committee - Hilda Solis, Betty McCollum and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz - one in a complete Emanuel puppet (Wasserman-Schultz), who has already proven herself ready and willing to backstab grassroots candidates when Hoyer or Emanuel tell her to."

Further, Klein promises a netroots effort against Reps. Tim Murphy (R-PA), Gary Miller (R-CA), Rick Renzi (R-AZ), John Doolittle (R-CA), Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and Vito Fossella (R-NY).

IRAQ: Micromanagers Not Wanted

Righty blogger reaction to Pres. Bush's 1/10 call for more troops in Iraq continues to be mixed. Red State's Jeff Emanuel found the speach "and the strategy it laid out - rang disappointingly hollow." Townhall's Dean Barnett supports the new policy but argues Bush is not capable of convincing the nation: "After six years, the country has tired of his shtick. ... That's the state of things, and the president won't be able to convince a single American of that reality who doesn't already know it. Which means the rest of us will have to do it for him."

Among those trying to convince Americans to support the surge, Captain's Quarters posts his interview with surge-doubter Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN). CQ writes: "As always, Senator Coleman made his point with eloquence and careful thought -- but I'm still in disagreement with him. Listen to bothportions and decide for yourself."

Over at the CornerAndy McCarthy praises 1/16's WaPo op-ed by David Rivkin and Lee Casey on the constitutional limits of congressional conditions on executive war powers. McCarthy comments: "You oppose the war? Fine. Then have the courage of your convictions: Cut off funding and be politically accountable - and live with responsibility for the ensuing disaster that withdrawing while al Qaeda is still on the battlefield would be. ... But if you're not willing to end the fighting - which it is within your power to do - you don't get to micromanage the fighting."

Finally, Andrew Sullivan notes evangelicals have flipped on the war. Sullivan links to The Plank citing new AP/Ipsospoll numbers showing: "While 52 percent of Republicans support the surge according to a just-released AP/Ipsos poll, some 60 percent of white evangelicals oppose it, as do 56 percent of self-described conservatives." Sullivan reasons: "So we have the beginnings of what I referred to today on the Chris Matthews' Show: an anti-war, socially conservative surge in the Republican party. Now all you have to do is add economic populism to that mix, and you've got yourself a powerful electoral combination. Is this the horse Sam Brownback plans to ride in on? Someone surely will."

IRAQ II: It Sure Didn't Help The First Bush

Noting that the first Gulf War was "a lot less unpleasant than the current one" Atrios wonders how it became "universally thought of as The Good War." Atrios argues "that taking the longer view it's not clear what the Great and Glorious First Gulf War actually accomplished that was positive. ... Through the narrow lens of American politics it's true that politicians didn't pay a price of supporting it, though I'm not really sure anyone paid the price for opposing it either, but that really has little to do with whether from a broader perspective it was a sensible thing to do, even without pointing out that maybe there was a way to stop Hussein from invading Kuwait before he did so which didn't involve military force.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Merciless

Describing ex-Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson as "critical" to understanding "how George W. Bush destroyed conservatism as a coherent governing philosophy" Andrew Sullivan quotes from Gerson's recent Newsweekarticle : "Campaigning on the size of government in 2008, while opponents talk about health care, education and poverty, will seem, and be, procedural, small-minded, cold and uninspired. ... What does antigovernment conservatism offer to inner-city neighborhoods where violence is common and families are rare? Nothing. ... Anti-government conservatism turns out to be a strange kind of idealism - an idealism that strangles mercy."

Sullivan responds: "If you don't believe big government is the answer to the problems of poverty, you have no mercy? Suddenly, Bush's attack on the conservative soul becomes more comprehensible."

LEST WE FORGET: Swimming With Dolphins

The Pop Culture Addict takes us to a meeting of the Teen Titans to illustrate why Aqualad tops his list of "Top Ten Lamest Superheroes Of All Time."

Robin: Okay everybody - how was your week this week? This week Batman and I stopped the Joker from causing mass genocide! What did you do this week Speedy?

Speedy: This week Green Arrow and I shook down some crooked politicians, joined a peace rally, stopped some racist cops and fed the homeless some of Green Arrow's famous chili - how about you Donna?

Wonder Girl: Wow -- me and Wonder Woman flew to Mount Olympus in her invisible jet and had a special meeting with Zeus and the other gods of Mount Olympus... how about you Aqualad?

Aqualad: Ummmm ... me and Aquaman stopped some dolphins from going into a hydro dam!

Kid Flash: Wow - you suck Aqualad.

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:37 PM

January 12, 2007

1/12: Trend-Spotting

We used this space 1/10 to note that public figures are increasingly taking the blogosphere seriously. On that day, 3 top Sens guest-posted at blogs of their choice. Today, the blogosphere tries to be more than just a well-read opinion page by breaking and making some news.

Righties are calling for ex-Sen. Fred Thompson (R-NBC Tuesdays at 8) to make a bid for the WH. Lefties are reporting on an apparent attack email aimed at discrediting Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). Chris Bowers and Jonathan Singer continue to write election analysis for every race they can think of, and though the slant is more likely to be found in a DNC press release than on the pages of a paper, they back up their claims with a significant amount of data. RedState reports on the flip of a legislative chamber in MS. And, in the big buzz of the day, some are out front on claims that the Bush admin is preparing -- and may have already begun -- secret wars against Syria and Iran.

The blogosphere will, and already has, changed the approach the MSM takes to reporting and covering the news. But can both the left and the right -- at least the reputable writers out there -- transcend the shouting matches and actually start replacing some MSM outlets in non-bloggers' reading preferences?

BUSH: Prepared To Define "Damasectomy"

"We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We'll interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq." With those words, spoken during his 1/9 speech to the nation, Pres. Bush incited fear in the lefty blogosphere that a secret war with Iran and Syria is already under way. Many cite Steve Clemons as an expert on the matter: "Washington intelligence, military and foreign policy circles are abuzz today with speculation that the President, yesterday or in recent days, sent a secret Executive Order to the Secretary of Defense and to the Director of the CIA to launch military operations against Syria and Iran. The President may have started a new secret, informal war against Syria and Iran without the consent of Congress or any broad discussion with the country." Josh Marshall must have some similarly worried sources.

The Agonist pieces together some circumstantial evidence: "the new military leader in charge of the area, Adm. William Fallon, is a naval aviator - that's not who you'd put in charge of the war in Iraq, which is a ground op, but a strike on Iran will be an air and naval operation, especially once Iran retaliates by trying to shut the straight of Hormuz." Slightly righty Counterterrorism Blog delves into the language Bush used, noting that the pres. said Iran was providing "material support" to the insurgency, which makes Iran's actions counter to US criminal law.

Most who blog on the subject point to a 1/10 raid conducted by US forces against the Iranian consulate in the Kurdish North as the beginning of a wider operation. Majikthise, typical of those focusing on the raid: "Yesterday's raid on an Iranian consulate inside Iraq was not an encouraging sign. The United States appears to be deliberately and precipitously escalating tensions with Iran." == Others point to the 1/10 testimony by Sec/State Condoleezza Rice in front of the Sen Foreign Relations Cmte and concerns about admin plans raised by Sen./Cmte chair Joe Biden (D-DE), including Tennessee Guerilla Women.

Joe Gandelman: "If this happens fasten your safety belts. It would be a rejection not only of the concept of the executive branch even partially consulting with the legislative branch, but be a virtual repudiation of the Jim Baker-headed Iraq Study Group that advocated talking with Iran and Syria versus engaging them militarily and more than ever Bush would be governing with the support of his now-smaller partisan base."

Cannonfire makes the case based on a year's worth of news reports. == No More Mister Nice Blog: "The fact that Bush is trying to gin up a war with Iran and/or Syria is now obvious to anyone who's paying any attention at all." == Along with many others, DownWithTyrannyat-Largely are talking about impeachment all over again.

From the right, Iowa Voice cites the same passage and comes up with a much different conclusion: "It was great that the President called a spade a spade and pointed out that we know what Iran and Syria are doing and that we won't put up with it." Ace of Spades isn't buying it and mocks the left as much as possible, while John Hawkins rounds up righty blogger reax to the speech.

Back to the left, Taylor Marsh devoted part of the radio show to the subject. Prairie Weather, Democratic Daily, Hullabaloo, Whiskey Fire, Tom Hilton, Michael at Discourse.net, Suburban Guerrilla and Echidne comment, and Atrios links.

First Draft notes news reports stating that the 24-month active duty limit for Nat'l Guard troops and Reserve troops has been waived, and that, according to statements made by the Army Reserve chief, only a pres. can deliver such an order.

Meanwhile, Pres. Bush got at least some Dem support 1/10 when Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA) told MSNBC that he supported most of the plan to increase troops in Baghdad. Righty Blue Crab Boulevard: "His position cannot be endearing him to Nancy Pelosi, but Tom Curry, the author of the story, is absolutely right. She really should listen to people like Marshall unless she's willing to see the House change hands again in 2008. (Not that I believe she will, but that's another story.)" Wake up America points to Marshall's interview and support from Sen. Joe Lieberman (I/D-CT). == On the other side, Chris Bowers tracks a dozen GOP Sens opposed to the plan.

Finally, Sen. Min. Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) held a conference call with righty bloggers 1/10 a.m. to discuss Bush's Iraq speech. California Yankee, Paul Mirengoff and John Hawkins have reports.

BROWNBACK: Gutsy Move

TNR's Noam Scheiber blogs at The Plank, calling Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-KS) opposition "probably the most interesting surge-related development." More: "So what is Brownback up to? On one level it's pretty obvious. John McCain and, to varying degrees, the rest of the GOP field have cast their lot with Bush and the surge. There's nothing for a longshot like Brownback to gain by falling in line behind them, and plenty to gain by distinguishing himself on the issue. That's particularly true given the exceedingly likely possibility that the surge will fail, at which point Brownback will look somewhere between sober and prophetic."

MCCAIN: Pat Toomey At 15 Minutes Yet?

Ryan Sager said "some early results" from a survey of Club For Growth members reveal a lack of support for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). When members were asked "whom they would not like to see" as the GOP presidential nominee, McCain ranked "at the top." CfG Pres. Pat Toomey "offered a rather bleak assessment of McCain's chances at wooing fiscal conservatives" in the '08 GOP primary. Sager: "The vehemence of the opposition to the purported GOP frontrunner by the leadership and membership of the Club For Growth is pretty striking this early in the game."

OBAMA: Anon. Attacks Come From The Blogosphere

Sandwalk Path sums up an e-mail circulating about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) as "false." The e-mail allegedly suggests Obama was educated as a Muslim at a Muslim school in Indonesia, explaining he was raised "in the Muslim tradition," by his Muslim step-father. Yet "the truth is that Obama's mother was an atheist and so was his biological father" and that his step-father was "a non-practicing Muslim."

Although the e-mail noted Obama "joined the United Church of Christ," it also called him "still an ideological Muslim." If "this is the sort of thing that's going to come out during the presidential campaign," reactions to the e-mail are "worth reading."

ROMNEY: Play Of The Day

Betsy's Page picks up the "interesting little interplay on the Internet" 1/11 over what Romney said in a '94 debate with Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA). At Ankle Biting Pundits, "McCain supporter" Patrick Hynes "happily" posted a link to a YouTube video of the debate featuring Romney trying "to separate himself from Ronald Reagan." Watching the video, you could... see Romney's hopes of winning conservative votes in the primary go down the youtubes."

THOMPSON: Seeking Support From Sam Watterson

Righty Stephen Bainbridge writes: "I keep thinking: the GOP did pretty well the last time it chose an actor to run for President. Why not go back to that well and draft [ex-Sen./actor Fred] Thompson (R-TN)?" His commenters mostly agree with the sentiment. Meanwhile, Thompson commented on Bush's Iraq speech at NRO. Jeffrey Weaver rejoices: "I am now not alone in wanting Fred Tompson to be our next President." The Influence Peddler peddles an open letter to the former "Hunt for Red October" star. Appalachian Scribe is also on board.

DEMOCRATS: Coors On Draught

TPM Cafe's Reed Hunt is very pleased with the DNC's selection of Denver as the host city for the '08 convention: "Our nominee will be celebrated in Mountain Time and we will have a strategy focussed on Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and even (watch out John) Arizona. My land, this will be grand: call us America's party!" Californian in Texas is similarly excited.

By the way, did anyone notice that the Libertarian Party will also hold its convention in Denver? Libertarian Party of Colorado not only posts the release, but had a previous post about it last week that they leaked before the nat'l party announced. Walter in Denver thinks both will be good times.

Chris Bowers, while he's at it, sums up the state of the Dem WH '08 field and thinks the netroots will have a big say in the nomination: "Ever since Feingold declared he wouldn't run, I have assumed that the netroots community would be significantly more divided in 2008 than we were in 2004. During the last primary season, Dean and Clark sucked up most of the oxygen online, but this time around it seemed possible that several candidates were positioned to have strong support online. However, especially if Clark and Gore do not run, they would join Warner and Feingold among the potentially strong netroots candidates who decided against running for President. Barring the strong online emergence of other candidates, that would leave pretty much just Edwards and Obama, not entirely unlike Dean and Clark."

REPUBLICANS: Pataki Pooh-Poohs Poll, Presses Prez Possibility

At Right Wing News, it's straw-poll time, and as of this a.m., ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani was edging out ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney and ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich with 28% to Romney's 24% and Gingrich's 23%. Gingrich is the most-favored candidate, while ex-NY Gov. George Pataki comes in last, with a net 50% negative rating.

Straight off 1/10's question about whether to support Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) in the aftermath of his opposition to the proposed increase in troop strength in Baghdad, Oak Leaf turns his guns on Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL), who also disagrees with the "surge" policy. From the post: "Support him because the GOP needs 218 House seats? Shun him because he is abandoning President Bush?" Commenters are much less willing to attack Keller than they were Coleman.

Finally, Race42008 takes a look at the impact of a possible increase in troop levels in Baghdad on each of the top WH '08 GOPers. Lefty There Is No Blog makes an observation: "Who ... still supports Bush's plan? Who would be that crazy and politically naive? Only ALL THREE REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNERS FOR THE PRESIDENCY."

NH SEN: We Like Boysenberry

Sen. John Sununu (R-NH), a vulnerable Northeastern GOPer, may be challenged in '08 by Stonyfield Yogurt CEO Gary Hirshberg. Jonathan Singer checks out the state's landscape and runs down other possible candidates: "Trends within both the region, broadly, and the state, specifically, bode well for the Democrats; Republican Congressional candidates performed miserably in New England in 2006, including in New Hampshire, and New Hampshire Dems retook control over both chambers of the state legislature for the first time in 132 years -- and reelected a Democratic Governor with 74 percent of the vote to boot."

TX 14: Will He Vote Against Himself?

Jonathan Singer picks up a Hotline OnCall report, via a Quorum Report flash (under "Daily Buzz"), reporting that Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) has filed papers to open an exploratory cmte. That means his TX-14 seat may be open, and businessman Mark Henry (R) is already making calls. Singer: "Texas-14, which Paul represents, has a PVI of R+14, meaning that it tends to vote 14 points more Republican than the nation as a whole in presidential elections. For reference, two Democrats in Texas alone -- Chet Edwards and Nick Lampson -- won races in districts with a PVI in excess of R+14." Even if Dems aren't successful, forcing the GOP to defend their seats, says Singer, could lead to a depleted party. He notes that the GOP and Club for Growth spent over $1M to defend ID-01 and $150K on CO-05.

IN THE STATES: Ole Miss? New Miss.

RedState's Adam C notes that, thanks to a party-switcher and a GOP LG, the MS State Sen is now controlled by GOPers.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Deadline's Not 'Til August

Noting Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I/D-CT) stated support for a temporary increase in troop strength in Iraq and Sen. Chuck Hagel's (R-NE) opposition to same, lefty Michael J.W. Stickings asks: "I'll take Hagel over Lieberman any day. Do you think they could work out a trade?"

LEST WE FORGET: Friday Funnies

In light of WMATA's recent mishap on the Green and Yellow lines at Mt. Vernon Square, we're reminded that strange things happen togood machines . We still have no idea why these make us laugh so much. Oh, and THAT's what happened to all those Christmas presents we were supposed to get.

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:21 PM

January 11, 2007

1/11: Chowing Down

Pres. Bush's speech was full of admission. He took responsibility, accepted that some of his policies hadn't panned out, and he started over to address the next phase, his planned increase of troops in Baghdad. That let-down of the usual Bush confidence seemed to grant permission to normally supportive righty bloggers to air their own concerns. Those concerns, subdued and more curious than anything else, were couched in supportive language, but the message is unmistakable: Even GOPers fear the war isn't going as planned.

Lefties, meanwhile, seem to have no trouble with criticism. They can criticize the Bush admin -- and they're good at it, with 6 years of practice -- just as easily as they cannibalize their own. Just check out the nasty comments made by multiple high-profile liberal bloggers towards the DLC, members of the party they're openly rooting for. But what's this? Could the right be catching on? One righty blogger wants to know whether the GOP should evict Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) for his opposition to Bush's "surge" plan, or stick with him because of the general rough time GOPers will have in '08. Could the righties be learning to eat their own?

BUSH: Speechifying

Last night's speech, in which Pres. Bush outlined his plans for an increased commitment of troops to Iraq (full text here) produced most of what bloggers are arguing about today. In fact, as Outside the Beltway reports, the WH took a special interest in getting righty bloggers involved by holding a special teleconference before the speech with WH Press Sec. Tony Snow and NSA Iraq dir. Brett McGurk.

The news in the blogosphere comes from the right. Their reaction isn't as full-throated as it once was. Righty Don Surber offers translations of key phrases and this critique of the performance: "Bush's style was Jerry Fordish. He looked sincere but occasionally stumbled. His subliminal message: Being president is a tough gig." == Pejman Yousefzadeh thought the speech was good, but found a major point of contradiction even he felt the need to point out: "First, we are told (correctly) that we cannot afford to fail in Iraq. Now we are told that we will indeed pull up stakes and leave at some point? Don't these statements ... you know ... contradict one another?" Instapundit comments on Bush's proposed oil trust: "A bit late, but perhaps not quite too late." Jay Reding: "Bush has the most difficult challenge of his Presidency ahead. He's lost the American people on Iraq, even those who normally support him. We cannot afford failure in Iraq, but the President has to convince the American people that he has a plan that will restore some semblance of order to the ravaged nation. That will be a rather tall order." QandO: "Let's just say I want to believe it because, as mentioned, I want to see success in Iraq. I'm just not ready, even after his speech, to buy completely into this surge." At The Corner, John Derbyshire isn't buying it either: The speech "struck me as a snow job, from an administration that -- pretty much like the rest of us -- has no clue where to go from here."

Others on the right are more friendly to the admin. Blue Crab Boulevard thought it was a good speech that would hamper Dems: "Overall probably a B+." Right Wing News also gives it a B-plus in his post-speech analysis, but reading his line-by-line liveblog, it's hard to see how he arrived at that grade. Sister Toldjah: "It was the speech he needed to give." Flopping Aces called it "a wonderful speech." Oak Leaf is generally supportive ("The President's Address was well presented") but sees a difficult time ahead: "In two years, it will be time to rebuild the United States Army. It will take a lot of hard work to pick up all the pieces." Tammy Bruce: "[Bush] was more comfortable than I've seen him before, and void of a sort of insecurity I've seen him exhibit in the past. It is this sort of speech, and his general attitude, which reminds me why I care about the president and support him." AllahPundit rounds up Dem reaction, of which he's mostly not a fan, save the reaction of Sen. Joe Lieberman (I/D-CT).

Macsmind thinks the speech indicated broader military action to come: "I wouldn't be surprised to see [a pre-emptive strike on Iran] happen in the next few weeks as this appeared to be a signal. We are even now positioning ourself not only with carriers but other support to take Iran to the woodshed if need be. Iran's support of the insurgency in Iraq has not gone unnoticed or un-acted upon." Blogs for Bush is close to agreeing: "It is clear that President Bush is not going to allow concerns about the diplomatic niceties to interfere with victory in Iraq and the larger War on Terrorism - Iran and Syria are responsible for the lion's share of the trouble in Iraq, and we're not going to allow them safe haven anymore." Doug Ross highlights others who think Iran should watch its back. == Daimian blames the Iraqi gov't and Captain Ed thinks Shi'ites simply want the US out.

Instead of responding to the speech, some chose to reexamine other facets of the war. Lawhawk thinks the answer lies in changing some rules of engagement. == The American Mind praises the speech and criticizes several Dem responses: "Reading between the lines from President Bush's speech you have to gather this is Iraq's last chance." Dan Riehl also thinks the speech was a warning to Iraq.

Wizbang was also on the righty bloggers' conference call with the WH, and is apparently good friends with "Tony." The full call can be heard here.

Among the many who live-blogged the speech, Steven Taylor is critical: "I must confess, the rhetoric is tired at this point." Captain Ed live-blogged as well: "Bush and his team spent quite a bit of time on the address. They included several elements to bridge political differences. His assumption of responsibility for the failure to quell the violence in Baghdad is the one element that had been missing until now, and it may help take the edge off of some of the criticism."

From the left, Matthew Yglesias thinks Bush may be planning a few new wars, though he, like many, doesn't see any new developments coming from the speech. Sean Aqui: "So what's new? Not much. ... We are in trouble." Arianna Huffington calls the speech "shocking in its banality." To Bush's assertion that Sec/State Condoleezza Rice will soon appoint a reconstruction coordinator, The American Street asks: "Isn't Brownie available?" == Brilliant at Breakfast is apoplectic: "If you want to talk about instituting a military draft, rescinding the tax cuts, rationing gasoline and sending an additional 150,000 troops, then maybe we can talk about making a last push to salvage something about the biggest ****up in George W. Bush's lifetime of ****ups." Kos' BarbinMD highlights what she says is the only difference between this speech and a 10/06 statement from the WH: Bush didn't say "absolutely, we're winning" this time around. == Left I on the News and State of the Day agree with the righties who think Iran and Syria are next and posts links to demonstrations planned for today. And after Bush said "the year ahead" will demand sacrifices, Bill Quick finds something to be optimistic about: "I think you have just been given the departure date for US forces - January, 2008."

TalkLeft, Jane Hamsher, Donklephant ("No need to watch the speech tonight. We're already going through with the plan") point out that troop escalation has already started.

ROMNEY: Theory Of Evolution

Responding to a YouTube video of his '94 debate with Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in which ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) expressed some pro-choice views, (see Hotline OnCall) Romney appeared on the Glenn Reynolds and Helen Smith show to explain himself. The Reynolds' Instapundit posts show highlights. The debate, says Romney, "shows what 13 years will do. I'm grayer. I'm a little heavier. And I hope I've grown a bit wiser as well."

Hugh Hewitt sees a preview of Romney's '08 strategy in the rapid response, which "means an entire news cycle on a somewhat significant story has played out before even one newspaper reported it, with the anti-Romney forces (clearly worried about the big $ Monday and the deMint Tuesday) trying to put a stick in the spokes, and Romney's team finding a way to knock it down in the same cycle. That's a preview of what it will be like all year." John Hinderaker is also impressed with the response: "Nothing about this is a deal-maker or deal-breaker for me. To the extent that I am interested in Romney as a candidate -- and I am -- I'm mostly happy to see him handling [social issues] skillfully." Dean Barnett: "This is not only rapid response, but intelligent response. You'll be saying it too by the end of the campaign -- Romney is Smarter Than The Average Bear." Suitably Flip: "If we dismissed every reasoned and deliberate rightward shift of Presidential candidates on the abortion issue, the Gipper never could've won. There's an uncanny symmetry to the fact that 13 years also separated Reagan signing into law California's liberal abortion rights bill and publishing the pro-life tome Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation." Ace of Spades defends Romney further: "We have a word for people who care about everything passionately. We call them 'maniacs.'"

AllahPundit, though, is not impressed by Romney's tap act: "Handsome, poised, eloquent: he's another George Clooney. If Clooney were slightly further to the left." Political Pit Bull is similarly unimpressed: "I don't know how Romney's going to explain the drastic shift that he's made from '94 to the present day on this issue, but it's going to have to be done carefully and with candor. Unless of course he just blames it on an infection from the Christianist plague."

To BuzzMachine, it's a sign of the YouTube times: "This is amazing on so many levels: YouTube allows an opponent to find a candidate's words and play them again. But Romney chose to use podcasts and YouTube to respond. And big media has to pick that up." Captain Ed agrees: "The upcoming presidential election will hinge on the use of technology and the rapid response to potentially damaging imagery." Blog consultant/ex-Hill aide David All provides running commentary on the back and forth YouTubing.

BROWNBACK: Baghdad Nights, The Ballad Of Sammy Whitehouse

At Town Hall, Hugh Hewitt takes a look at Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-KS) new position on Iraq and Pres. Bush's proposed troop increase. Hewitt: "This is, at best, confusing. And it is most definitely not the way to the Republican nomination. I hope the senator will reconsider."

DODD: Back Of The Pack?

MyDD's Jerome Armstrong, responding to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) on Imus 1/10: "Dodd acknowledges himself as a 'darkhorse' candidate; but it's tough to see how he breaks from that mold." Even if Dodd believes his congressional experience matters, "it's gonna take something very surprising to take Dodd out of the back of the pack."

GIULIANI: Room Enough For Rudy

Krusty Konservative seems to believe ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) has the best chance at winning the IA Caucus. As McCain attacks Romney, Romney "will likely attack back," creating room in IA for "an alternative kandidate to emerge." There is a "huge void for a kredible konservative kandidate," so now could be the time for Giuliani "to make a foray" into IA.

Even if Giuliani faces many of the same obstacles as McCain, what makes him different "is he does have a silver bullet, star power." At least "when it comes to leadership and toughness he is off the charts." What's more, if success for McCain and Giuliani rests "on their ability to motivate people who don't normally attend a caucus... Giuliani would be more successful at that than McCain."

EDWARDS: No Such Thing As A Smooth Sail

At Daily Kos, Mark 27 surmises that while the addition of NV to the early presidential primary caucus schedule "seems beneficial" to John Edwards' presidential candidacy, due to NV's "large bloc of service worker union members potentially giving Edwards back-to-back victories," immigration still remains "the one issue that could take the wind out of Edwards' sail in the next 12 months." So far, "I have yet to hear Edwards' position on recent immigration reform proposals, and expect him to lose credibility with factions of his base whichever side he chooses."

MCCAIN: Singled Out

American Spectator's Phillip Klein wonders why Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) "was singled out" in Bush's speech, while John McCain "was not mentioned. Although "Conservatives like to beat up on on McCain," Klein says "anyone who supports the surge has to give credit to McCain for the political courage he showed by speaking so forcefully over the years, and particularly over the pass few months, for adding more troops."

OBAMA: If Only He'd Elaborate

At Spin Cycle, Newsday.com's Glenn Thrush wonders what Barack Obama did not say on CNN 1/10 about his recent meeting with Sec/state Condoleeza Rice. Although Obama explained "he wants to put numerous 'conditions'" on Bush's call to send more troops to Iraq, he "didn't say" what the conditions would be and "also hasn't said if he'd support efforts to pass legislation de-funding the surge."

VILSACK: An Arithmetic Problem?

PBlakeney.com wonders whether Tom Vilsack "can't add - or is just plain lying." When Vilsack appeared on Fox News' Hannity and Colmes 1/10, he "kept saying that 'we've been in Iraq for 5 and a half years." Was "this a lie, or can't he add?" If the U.S. went into Iraq 3/03, "that's less than 4 years ago."

Radio Iowa notes that although Vilsack's schedule noted his "final weekly news conference" 1/10 at the IA statehouse, "reporters were giggling at the use of the word 'weekly.'" A recent "review of records show Vilsack did not hold a news conference" in December and for many Iowans, Vilsack, despite his presidential ambitions, "is a blank slate."

MN SEN: Out, Out Damned Spot!

Responding to Sen. Norm Coleman's (R) opposition to Pres. Bush's increase in troop strength in Iraq, PoliPundit wonders: "If things go too bad in 2008, Democrats will have 61 votes and a Republican filibuster will just be a dream. Support him because we are screwed royally if democrats have 61 seats? Shun him because we stand on 'principle?'" Some commenters favor Coleman's approach ("If we shun him on 'principle', can someone please articulate that principle?"), though a majority want him gone, and not just for his opposition to the surge ("He is pro abortion. anti ANWR, anti tax cuts, pro minimum wage.")

DLC: Fording The Potomac

Radar's Fresh Intelligence reports that ex-Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN) has been offered the position of chairman of the DLC. He would replace ex-IA Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) to lead the centrist Dem organization. Radar posts a memo Ford wrote to DLC leaders in which he "seemed to eagerly anticipate the prospect" of becoming chairman.

More, from the memo: "I assume there will be an effort to help" Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) "campaign and I would support such an effort." Kos, not a fan of the DLC, notes: "Poor Vilsack. Not even the organization he currently heads plans on giving him any respect or support. Makes him look weaker than he already looks. And yeah, the DLC will be a Hillary vehicle. Any of the other candidates would be insane to pay even lip service to that operation. Somehow, I suspect few will."

In more DLC-bashing news, Kos blogger Kagro X takes a look at a split among the group's heavy hitters on Bush's proposal to increase troops in Iraq, and Atrios thinks DLC-affiliated PPI head Will Marshall is calling Vilsack "out of step." Marshall, by the way, gets Atrios' coveted "Wanker of the Day" award.

DEMOCRATS: The Young And The Restless

At MyDD, Jonathan Singer thinks Gen NeXters' big support for Dems in '06 (an election in which they took 60% of that subgroup's votes) bodes well for the party in the long run. His conclusions: "Opinions can be fleeting, and the Democrats can quickly lose the support of these voters. Moreover, although people's voting patterns tend to solidify once they have supported one party or the other in a number of consecutive elections, new cleavages within the electorate can emerge rather quickly that reshape the partisan playing field. That all said, the Democrats do have a chance to tap this generation for support -- perhaps like none other in recent memory."

Meanwhile, Chris Bowers posts thoughts on Dems' '08 primary calendar. Noting early caucuses in IA, AR, DE, NM and NC -- all states from which major candidates hail -- Bowers believes it could be a drawn-out primary: "All of these early home states have the potential of keeping a number of candidates afloat after February 5th. After all, it takes only one victory to release federal matching funds (that is, if anyone uses them). ... maybe, just maybe, the cards will fall into place and 2008 will be the most rollicking, up and down Democratic primary season in decades. I certainly hope so."

REPUBLICANS: Throwing It

Jay Nordlinger at National Review writes this a.m.: "I have a friend who, in a phone conversation last weekend, said the unsayable. ... He said, 'The Democrats have to win in 2008 -- I mean, the whole enchilada: House, Senate, and presidency.' You ought to know that my friend is a staunch conservative Republican. ... 'Because that's the only way they will be fully onboard the War on Terror. They won't fully support it otherwise, because they will always be trying to trip up the Republicans. If you want the Democrats onboard the War on Terror, they have to be in charge. Period.'"

Powerline's Scott Johnson: "I think both John Hinderaker and I are almost entirely convinced of [the argument's] rightness."

BLOGGERS VS. THE MSM: Court's In Session

When the Scooter Libby trial begins later this month, 100 seats in the courtroom will be set aside for journalists. And the Washington Post reports today that 2 seats will be set aside for bloggers, thanks to an agreement between the Media Bloggers Assn and the US District Court in DC. The article cites UMD Prof. Thomas Kunkel talking about concerns that bloggers have lower standards than journalists. Romenesko offers his own coverage.

One of the 2 bloggers who will be present at the trial, Outside the Beltway responds to Kunkel: "What utter rubbish. These journalistic standards have mostly been honored in the breach by the press throughout the ages. From the days of Yellow Journalism through today's tabloid dailies, the business side of media has always trumped the theoretical professionalism. Innuendo and rumor from unattributed sources are front page news even at such august institutions as the Post and the New York Times. Since the advent of 24/7 cable news, editorial control and verification have gone by the wayside. And the Post even has blogs of its own these days. To say that people can't distinguish credible blogs from bad is to give too little credit. Can people not tell the New York Post or New York Daily News from the New York Times?"

Awe and joy show up in other blogs devoting space to the news. TalkLeft: "This is big progress for bloggers, and I hope we see more of it in the future." Blue Crab Boulevard: "This is quite a coup for bloggers and the media isn't particularly happy about it."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: An Inconvenient Whopper

Via the blog A Hamburger Today, we learn that someone has determined the carbon footprint of a cheeseburger and determined that the greenhouse emissions related to the delicious products "roughly equal the greenhouse output of 100,000 SUVs." AHT: "Well, that's depressing. Of course, there are well over 100,000 SUVs on the road, so if we could just convince 100k SUV-owners to use public transportation then we can eat with a clear conscience."

LEST WE FORGET: Beat The Devil

Yes, we all found it highly ironic that the Blogometer forgot yesterday's "Lest We Forget," but that's what you get when the regular Blogometer writer is on vacation in a far warmer and sunnier place that the current, freezing and very jealous temporary replacement.

Meanwhile, with the passing of Godfather of Soul James Brown, we were reminded of a great episode in the old BMW Films series, in which Brown and his driver, Clive Owen, face off with the devil, aptly played by Gary Oldman. "It ain't easy to be James Brown and scare the kids." Ow!

And over at Advertising Age, "Media Guy" Simon Dumenco provides "A guide to help you stop talking like such a Zune." Our favorite: "Wiki: Hawaiian for 'Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?' See also: user-generated content."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 01:13 PM

January 10, 2007

1/10: Maybe This Thing Is Catching On

The explosive blogswarm over Pres. Bush's speech on Iraq says something about the state of the blogosphere today: It's huge, and at least some pretty high-up strategists think it's important enough to make their clients -- some of the most powerful people in America -- take the time to do a little kowtowing.

Both Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ) have injected themselves into the debate -- Kennedy with a speech 1/9 at the Nat'l Press Club and McCain, somewhat less willingly, perhaps, thanks to his initial call for more troops. In defense of their positions, each takes to the blogosphere, as McCain guest-posts at PowerLine and Kennedy makes appearances at DailyKos, Blue Mass Group and Huffington Post. That's not all -- Senate Maj. Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) took time not only to post at Kos, but to answer questions. Then he came back a 3rd time 45 minutes later to clarify a thought and move the discussion to his website.

Three sens, two of whom are almost household names and the third no slouch as a member of Dem leadership, used the blogosphere to further their positions. With that kind of attention, we can only imagine where the future of the 'sphere will lead.

IRAQ I: Make Or Break?

Tonight's the night, and as Pres. Bush warms up his singing voice for his speech, bloggers are setting expectations. MSNBC reports the first troops will be in Iraq 1/31.

Michael J.W. Stickings sums up the left's general feelings about a surge: "The Iraq War has been a disaster. That isn't about to change no matter what Bush says tomorrow night. Does anyone actually believe that Bush and the warmongers will get this right after all they have gotten wrong?"

No one on the left expects much news from tonight's speech. State of the Day: "The president's 'new way backward' has pretty much been leaked to death by the administration, so there should be no real surprises as far as the details go. ... The real story of the president's speech will be the aftermath. The story will be the spin and the people's reaction to it. And, thankfully, if the polls, and our recent change-the-course elections, are any indication, the people have already tuned out the president." He suggests alternate programing, noting the Sopranos premiere tonight and a "Full House" re-run on TBS. == Chris Bowers thinks Dems have an opportunity to boost their advantage over GOPers even higher, comparing the unpopularity of the war and any escalation to the 109th Congress' fight over Social Security. Joe Gandelman: "If after the speech tonight the selling of the plan turns into going after and discrediting those who question it, then Bush will likely be political toast, and increasingly ineffective on other fronts since poll numbers do translate into political clout. Even an all powerful executive branch needs political support in Congress and among a sizeable chunk of the American public."

Red State has a list of speech "prebuttals." Some of the titles:

• A wish list.
• Make It Open Ended.
• America will fight.
• Get Specific.
• Make a clear, forceful case.
• Moving forward together toward victory.
• Ignore the defeatists, and speak to the war.
• Reinforce the objectives, move forward to victory.
• Get back to basics.

From the right, Kim Priestap isn't as enthusiastic in her position as lefties are in theirs: "I'm for a troop increase but they and the troops who are already [there] must be allowed to do what they've been trained to do: to aggressively seek out and destroy al Qaeda and other terrorist insurgents in Iraq. At this moment, our troops are in a terrible situation because they can not do their jobs for fear of the media, which is enthusiastically ready to pounce on any event that they think is ugly." Blogs of War's John Little: "The media and politicians are focusing on these miniscule numbers (20,000 troops) as if additional troops alone will make a difference when we really need bold shifts in both strategy and rules of engagement."

Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) guest-posts at Power Line on the importance of a surge. Commenters seem to generally respect McCain (there are glaring exceptions) but few show support and many say they won't be voting his way come '08.

Dems, according to the New York Times, are planning symbolic but non-binding votes on the surge. Liberal Oasis thinks Dems should be careful: "There's a danger here in getting bogged down in tactics, instead of articulating alternative strategic goals for the entire region." Matthew O'Keefe, though, thinks Dems "are using the same Republican tactics that were used on flag burning and gay marriage and every other issue that places you in your category and box on the voting ticket."

IraqSlogger has a round-up of today's news on Iraq, most of which are concerned with tonight's speech. Meanwhile, TPMCafe's Greg Sargent cites an NYT item noting that at least 10 GOP Sens are expected to oppose the Bush plan.

Some on the right take time to sample a USA Today/Gallup poll out 1/9 (see 1/9 Hotline). The poll might show slim support for the war, but Dan Riehl spins what he can. Allahpundit: "If you squint, you can make out some good-ish news." Righty Outside the Beltway isn't as optimistic as Riehl or Allahpundit: "The bully pulpit is arguably the most potent tool in any president's arsenal. Unfortunately for Bush, he is quite possibly the least talented public speaker to hold the office in the television era. And I'm not sure even someone with the oratorical skills of a Ronald Reagan or John Kennedy could persuade the public that Iraq is winnable at this stage of the game." SevenStripes also weighs in. == The Corner's John Podhoretz: "If tonight's speech doesn't herald the beginning of a serious turnaround in Iraq that is plain to see by spring of next year, the Risen Christ could be the Republican nominee in 2008 and He wouldn't be able to win against Al Sharpton."

Speaking of the Gallup poll, David Sirota is tired of voices like the DLC's when it comes to troop levels, contrasting a Los Angeles Times quote that the "activist left is out of sync with the American public" vs. the survey, which shows only 10% of Americans favor increasing troops. "Someone please tell me why the media continues to quote people like Will Marshall as a credible voice with a credible perspective? I mean, honestly -- what point, what level of sheer, unadulterated dishonesty disqualifies you from being quoted in major newspapers?"

At AntiWar.com, syndicated columnist/ex-Reagan official Paul Craig Robertswrites : "Bush is like Hitler. He blames defeats on his military commanders, not on his own insane policy. Like Hitler, he protects himself from reality with delusion." DownWithTyranny says Roberts is "saying stuff no Democrat would dare say ... aloud."

IRAQ II: Ted Kennedy, The Ultimate Elicitor Of Strong Emotions

Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-MA) 1/9 speech at the Nat'l Press Club and his bill to limit the ability of Bush to fund the war or move troops without the consent of Congress is the talk of the town today, as bloggers on both sides sieze on his assertion that Iraq is Bush's Vietnam. New York Times' "The Caucus" has the full text of the speech. Video of the speech and further justification is posted under Kennedy's name at The Huffington Post, and Crooks and Liars has downloadable clips. Kennedy also posts at DailyKos and Blue Mass Group. The bill he dropped is here [PDF].

The right, needless to say, is pretty unhappy with Kennedy's comparison. QandO thinks Kennedy's bill would result in "the caterwalling of a frustrated Commander-in-Chief who's [sic] only command would be, of course, 'get out of Dodge and get out now'. Of course this isn't going to fly, but it is instructive." Blue Crab Boulevard says Sen Dems won't go along with Kennedy's plan, and that after his proposals, "Senate leaders promptly kicked Teddy under the carpet and introduced a non-binding resolution which will not try to limit funds." == Riehl World View highlights scenes from "The Killing Fields." From his post: "Imagine if we followed the Kennedy line on Iraq and pulled out leaving sectarian and terrorist groups behind to slaughter large numbers of people. THAT would be our fault, as we invaded Iraq." == Stop the ACLU thinks Kennedy's wasting his breath: "Whether you think this is the right strategy or not, its gonna happen so you might as well get behind our troops and start cheering for victory."

Moderate Voice's Schulman criticizes Kennedy's plan to introduce legislation requiring Pres. Bush to get the approval of Congress before any additional funding or troop increases occur. "The idea of having Congress micromanage this war -- or any war -- is enough to make me shiver." == Decision '08 sticks to the politics of the matter: "The Democrats have as commanding a position as they've had since the pre-Monica Clinton years (better, actually). If they throw it away with a futile gesture that is so easily portrayed, rightly or wrongly, as harmful to our troops ... well, if it wasn't so bad for the country, I'd be tempted to say their funeral ... but we need Democratic support, so I hope Bush will resist calls to stick it to the Democrats making these noises, and make an earnest attempt to win, if not their enthusiastic support, then their tepid acquiescence." Dr. Steven Taylor takes a look at the political and constitutional chances of Kennedy's proposal. The American Constitution Society gives a brief run-down of some relevant SCOTUS cases.

As is usual for a controversy involving MA's senior Sen, comments get personal and a lot of history comes up again. Don Surber: "Jack Kennedy's America had to bear the burden of protecting Western Europe AND North America AND South America AND Japan AND South Korea AND the rest of Southeast Asia. Alone. 46 years later, the kid brother is whining about having to protect one little Iraq? 21st century Americans do not realize how lucky they have it. We used to have to make real sacrifices." Boston Herald editor Jules Crittenden is no fan either: "As a reporter and now an editor in Massachusetts for more than 20 years, I've had periodic dealings with Kennedy and his staff. The disregard in which I hold him has only plummeted with his antics and bizarre statements in the course of the Iraq war. Now, he wants to provoke a constitutional crisis, on top of a disastrous and massively deadly abandonment of Iraq." Glenn Greenwald gets slightly sarcastic with Crittenden. == Wake up America takes some pot shots at Kennedy but rounds up some righty reaction. == Other righties weighing in: Macsmind, Argghhh! (motto: Mebbe it's just clobbering time), the Amboy Times, the Uncooperative Blogger and Captain Ed.

From the left, some of Kennedy's fans rally. Michael J.W. Stickings, on Kennedy: "He's absolutely right." Impolitic loves Kennedy, and thinks his post at HuffPo is indicative of the '08 race. Big Tent Democrat takes a look at whether Kennedy's bill could pass constitutional muster. == Echidne of the Snakes thinks those disagreeing with Kennedy need to straighten out their facts. == More lefties agreeing with Kennedy: Liberty Street, David Sirota, Democratic Daily, Bill in Portland, Maine and the Mahablog.

GILMORE: Not Many Righty Responses To His Entry

Ex-VA Gov. Jim Gilmore (R) filed papers 1/9 to form an exploratory cmte for a possible WH bid. AP has details. PoliPundit asks: "An option perhaps?"

The Carpetbagger Report: "I lived in DC's Virginia suburbs through Gilmore's term as the state's governor, and I think it's entirely fair to say -- in an objective, non-partisan fashion -- that the guy was among the worst governors in modern history. I can't begin to imagine what he's thinking now. ... Gilmore has an abysmal record and a dull personality. If he comes in seventh in Iowa, I'll be very impressed." Of the post, Michael J.W. Stickings writes: "Sounds perfect. For now, I support Jim Gilmore to be the Republican nominee for president in 2008." == DownWithTyranny cites a recent Dick Morris column bemoaning the lack of conservatives. After taking shots at Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), the blogger says Gilmore and Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) aren't even worth commenting on.

ROMNEY: A Position? No, A Press Release

RedState's Dan McLaughlin says that Mitt Romney's statement on Iraq "mostly hits the right notes ... although you can see him straining to both embrace and distance himself from the Bush Administration from the opening line. ... 'I agree with the President: Our strategy in Iraq must change.'"

Democratic Daily's Pamela Leavey knew this one was coming.

DEMOCRATS: You've Come A Long Way, Blogosphere

As DailyKos, Sen. Maj. Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) wants kossacks to "help me set the Senate's agenda," listing the first 10 bills the chamber will vote on. Righty Swords Crossed dissects the proposals one by one, and AllahPundit finds it ironic that Durbin is posting on a site that once told him to do something anatomically impossible.

At MyDD, Jonathan Singer takes a look at some recent stories suggesting '10's reapportionment could hurt Dems, by virtue of high growth in southern Red states and low growth or stagnation in Dem base areas. Singer's conclusion: "These population shifts, both in and of themselves but also taken in combination with other political changes around the country, should not necessarily worry Democrats about their future in the next decade. Rather in some ways, they present the Democrats with new opportunities to reshape the electoral map in their own favor to perhaps help them achieve a new political reality in the country."

Lpackard, meanwhile, announces the formation of a 50-state blog network. "Blogs like Raising Kaine in Virginia helped make the difference for Senator Webb and others this past election. ... But what about all the states that don't have a state-based community blog yet? How can a community blog reach a larger audience when they have a big story? Can we help each other to grow?" The network will be organized through BlogPAC.

IN THE STATES

Ezra Klein praises CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) "Cyborg Health Plan From The Future!" "[It] is more ambitious than anything a Democrat has been able to seriously propose in over a decade." And speaking of cyborgs, Klein wonders what Apple is thinking when it limits its new iPhone service to Cingular.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Lefty Bias

Blogometer creator-turned-Blog P.I. author Bill Beutler makes an interesting observation about the power of netroots on both sides of the aisle heading into '08. Pitting the Dem Act Blue machine against the GOP's answer, ABC PAC and Rightroots. "The top 5 presidential candidates on ActBlue have received about $434,000, while all candidates on ABC PAC have collected exactly $298. ... As of now, putting ABC and ActBlue side by side is like comparing the Wii to a Tiger Electronics handheld. ABC isn't even playing the same game as ActBlue, and it is far from clear that it ever will."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 02:00 PM

January 09, 2007

1/9: Old Favorites

The lefty blogosphere sees the Bush admin's proposed troop "surge" as more of the same, and they're not fans of the same. Some seem nearly apoplectic or incredulous that sending more troops into Baghdad is even being considered. Yet because there are few new stallions of the neocon right to beat up, the left is forced to turn back to beating a dead horse. Take that, again, Sen. Lieberman!

While most of the righties are busy following 1/8's airstrikes in Somalia, some have turned their attention to a well-known inside-the-beltway power player who was tapped yesterday to replace outgoing WH counsel Harriet Miers. The left talks much about his ties to Watergate. But, according to many on the right, that's just what the WH needs when faced with a Congress with an itchy subpoena finger.

Speaking of old favorites, remember Jack Abramoff?

IRAQ: No Surge Protectors

AP's Espo reports that Sen. Maj. Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will "look at everything" in order to "wind down the war in Iraq, short of cutting off funding for troops already deployed." The New York Times, meanwhile, says Dems are "divided over how to assert" their power on Iraq. Bloggers on the right took the bait. The Political Pit Bull disagrees with the Dem strategy: "For all the pissing and moaning from Congressional Democrats about how irresponsibly this war has been managed by the Bush administration, isn't it the most irresponsible thing of all not to offer any alternatives whatsoever?" Marty Lederman thinks it's ironic that, after an election seen as a referendum on Iraq, "the Democratic majorities actually chosen in that referendum are now unwilling ... to do anything about that war other than to cajole and plead with the President and to hope that the Republican minority convinces the President to change course."

Jules Crittenden also comments.

Crooks and Liars checks in on a 1/5 Oliver Northpiece at Human Events, in which North decries a surge. C&L's John Amato: "Even the wicked can be right twice a year. Or is that only about clocks?"

Finally, noting the latest USA Today/Gallup poll (see today's Hotline for full results), The Moderate Voice's Gandelman thinks "the general public (which excludes Rush and Sean) is willing to give the benefit of the doubt now to what the Democrats say about the war, back their demands for reasonable questions about policy, and give a serious hearing to what they propose. Bush & Co. finding a new twist to a 'cut and run' charge won't do." The Democratic Daily also parses the results.

IRAQ II: Say It Ain't Joe

Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I/D-CT) remains a favored whipping boy of the lefty blogosphere. A weekend forum at the AEI, covered by C-SPAN, drove many to begin again their criticism of the oft-maligned Nutmegger (video at Crooks and Liars). At the forum, Lieberman reportedly suggested that "the worst that could happen" is the so-called surge becoming a partisan issue in DC. Rolling Stone's Tim Dickinson: "Ahem. I believe, senator, that the 'worst that could happen' is that a significant number of the 20,000-30,000 troops we send to police the hornets' nest of Baghdad could come home in body bags." David Sirota: "Joe has lost the ability to care about minor things like mass casualties, death and people coming home without limbs. In his world, the 'worst thing that could happen' is the President of the United States and Establishment Washington being mad at him." Shakespeare's Sister, Atrios, mcjoan and My Left Nutmeg pile on.

Michael J.W. Stickings thinks Lieberman's power lies in a 51-49 Senate: "What makes Lieberman a dangerous idiot as opposed to any other idiot who thinks Bush is a "great leader" is that he holds so much power in the Senate. He's still a Democrat, but that only means he still has his seniority, the ability to wreak havoc against the interests of his own party. But for how much longer? He'll either continue to cozy up to Bush and the Republicans, perhaps with dreams of a high-ranking post in his desired McCain Administration, or he'll roll over and turn Republican altogether." == Suburban Guerrilla: "Through rigorous and exhaustive testing, I've come to the firm conclusion that the human body simply can't consume enough alcohol to make right all that is so very wrong with Willie from Alf Joe Lieberman." Liberty Street rounds up coverage of the Lieberman affair.

ABRAMOFF: The Connection!

The Huffington Post and Daily Kos have the photo of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff chumming up to Pres. Bush - courtesy of CREW. According to CREW, the photo was taken at a campaign fundraiser in 12/03.

The Huffington Post thanks CREW for "uncovering a smoking gun" and suggests "perhaps Bush can do a Ford - and grant Abramoff a full pardon." The Post also invites readers to participate in their "First Caption Contest of 2007!"

ROMNEY: Wait, He Raised HOW Much?

Hotline On Call reports on ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) first day of fundraising and his shocking $6.5M raised. New York Times' The CaucusWashington Post 's The Fix and AP's Johnson also offer their takes. My Man Mitt liveblogged the event. Romney fan Jbonham76 at RedState sees an interesting, if rose-colored, twist: "As he contiues to lead the way the burden will fall onto [Sen. John] McCain (R-AZ) to see if he can keep up. The near impossible feat will be for the smaller candidates like [Sen. Sam] Brownback and [Rep. Duncan] Hunter to somehow remain relevant."

Without offering comment on Romney, Patrick Ruffini thinks the technology he used is a big plus: "If something like this allows a campaign to shave a few fundraising events off the schedule, giving the candidate the opportunity to spend more time with the voters, then campaigns will have taken a significant step into the 21st century." == Others offering comment include Paul Mirengoff

National Review's David Frum reposts a weekend article on why he thinks it's Romney's to lose.

And, noting a Boston Globe piece on ex-MA Gov. Bill Weld's (R) support for Romney, Romney fan Kathryn Jean Lopez asks: "Can't he make friends with, like, Phyllis Schafly instead?" == Romney did pick up one big endorsement, from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC). Hugh Hewitt posts DeMint's fundraising letter on Romney's behalf.

BROWNBACK: Raining On Parades

Mary Katharine Ham reflects on Romney's fundraising success, but she notes Brownback's release of 7 high-profile conservative supporters from MA "messed with Mitt's party big time." Over at The Corner, KLo posts Brownback's release.

BIDEN: Yes You Can

Many on the left were upset with Sen. Joe Biden's (D-DE) 1/7 appearance on Meet the Press 1/7. Taylor Marsh writes, at The Huffington Post: "Biden is absolutely wrong about Congress's authority to stop Mr. Bush on escalation." Marsh links to another post: "Biden is reliving Vietnam choices": "Biden's capitulation that 'there's nothing we can do to stop you' ... begs the question. If Senate Democrats, as well as some in the House, truly believe they cannot do anything to stop Mr. Bush from escalating the war in Iraq, why did we work so hard to win seats in the 2007 [sic] election? Was it all about investigations and oversight? Stop abdicating authority won, and start pushing back."

A Mahablog post discusses the Constitutional question as well as the wisdom of Biden's WH '08 strategy: "I think Biden is hiding behind the Constitution to avoid the political risk of confronting Bush directly. Personally, I think he's taking the greater political risk by being a wuss. ...Does he seriously think he's going to survive the primaries by being a Bush appeaser?"

Meanwhile, MyDD's Chris Bowers sees "a big opening for a primary challenge if Biden is running for President while also running for Senate" since "it was doing just that in 2000 that helped fuel the early stages of anti-Lieberman resentment" in CT. "Given his position as the chair of the foreign relations committee, he better not screw up or simply tip-toe around the edges of his Iraq oversight mandate if he wants to avoid a serious challenge."

CLARK: Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!

Power Line's Scott Johnson takes issue with Wesley Clark's statement (as recounted by Ariana Huffington) that "The Jewish community is divided but there is so much pressure being channeled from the New York money people to the office seekers."

WSJ.com's James Taranto criticizes Clark's assumption that Bush's Iran policies are due to the influence of the "'New York money people' - i.e. rich Jews" while USNews.com's Michael Barone reads Clark's comments as "a sign that pro-Israel sentiment is not as strong in Democratic politics as it used to be." But Johnson believes "something more is called for" beyond Taranto and Barone's criticisms of Clark's comments as "simply anti-Israel." He asks, "Is it only a matter of parochial concern to American Jews that they are now to be stigmatized without consequence in the traditional disgusting terms ... by a major figure in the Democratic Party? Is there no one in the major media interested in what [other WH '08ers] think of Clark's comment?"

WH '08: Bayh Bayh, Ballot Stuffers

In their 1/07 straw poll, launched this a.m., MyDD's Bowers thinks they've eliminated ballot stuffers, thanks to Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-IN) exit from the race. Has anyone noticed that MyDD uses instant runoff voting? By the way, ex-Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) leads all comers with about 43% as of 10 a.m. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) shows up in 2nd place with 22%, and ex-IA Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) is edged in the first round with 3 votes to ex-Sen. Mike Gravel's (D-AK) 4 votes.

SENATE '08: Raising Expectations

DSCC chair Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) confidence in having the assurances of 11 of 12 Dems up in '08 that they'll run for re-election caught Jonathan Singer's notice 1/8. Dems, Singer says, "have more prime targets than their Republican colleagues," including CO, NH and MN, which Schumer cited as his top 3 targets, as well as OR and ME ("blue states with supposedly moderate Republican sophomores") and MS, NC and NM ("red states in which the GOP incumbent is or may be contemplating retirement"). Finally, noting Sen. John Kerry's 37% performance in AL in '04, Singer thinks Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) could be vulnerable: "Kerry ran only two points stronger in Montana in November 2004, and we all know how the Senate election in that state turned out last fall." Still at MyDD, Chris Bowers parses the news.

RedState's Adam C, noting that Schumer said only Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) remained uncommitted to seeking another term, thinks the media's missing something in assuming a commitment from hospitalized Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) still stands: "I'm surprised the media hasn't quizzed Sen. Schumer a bit more about that commitment. Even if Sen. Johnson recovers more fully by election time, it is unlikely he will run for re-election. Rep. [Stephanie] Herseth (D-SD) and Gov. [Mike] Rounds (R-SD) are the most likely candidates in a clash of the South Dakota titans." == The post also rounds up '08 news in AL, IL and MT Sen races.

BUSH: What's Old Is New

The Bush admin will name ex-Reagan Admin atty Fred Fielding as their new WH counsel, replacing Harriet Miers, who will leave effective 1/31, per Time Magazine. The right loves the choice. Orin Kerr calls it "an excellent pick. ... This reminds me of Clinton's naming Lloyd Cutler to serve as his Counsel when the Whitewater situation was heating up. Like Fielding, Cutler was a major figure who had served as White House Counsel in a previous administation and was a name partner of a large DC law firm." But his first commentor, hopefully kidding, says: "I thought he was dead."

John Miller notes that, with a Congress getting itchy to investigate, Fielding is the right guy for the job: "Fred Fielding held one of the most important jobs on the Bush transition team of 2000-01. He was the guy who met with potential cabinet nominees one-on-one, in a locked room with the windowshades drawn, and asked what was potentially a very sensitive question: 'Anything in your background that might embarass the president?' The guy is presumably a world-class keeper of secrets."

But the left shoots down Fielding's credentials. TPMmuckraker notes that Fielding is a registered lobbyist, while Middle Earth Journal takes on his resume, almost line-by-line. Dday, meanwhile, thinks Time's report could use some more work.

The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" notes that Fielding was once in the running as a potential candidate for the man behind the Deep Throat pseudonym.

DEMS: Well, You Know What Hoyer Says About Shuler...

TAPPED's Sam Rosenfeld offers reasons why Ryan Lizza's New York Times Week in Review article on "the return of the Alpha Male Democrat" is inaccurate. "I remain a bit skeptical that there's any real trend to speak of here ... This strikes me as another example of folks making poor [Rep.] Heath Shuler (D-NC) bear more weight of representation and significance on his shoulders than is really warranted ... the evidence for any serious dynamic here one way or another is skimpy."

CONGRESS: No Such Number, No Such Zone

Swing State Project's DavidNYC was poking around the House Gov't Reform Cmte website last night when he tried to see what the GOP minority's site looked like. "How fitting," says his first commenter.

Speaking of Congressional websites, it looks like freshman Rep. Steve Kagen (D-WI) liked the look of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's (R-NE) website so much that Kevin at Lakeshore Laments thinks he ripped it off. From Kagen's website: "If you are a resident of Nebraska's First Congressional District, you may purchase a U.S. flag from the office of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry." Oops.

Meanwhile, down on The Corner, Larry Kudlow and John Podhoretz debate the Alternative Minimum Tax. Awesome.

BLOGGER VS. BLOGGER: Zing!

The left and the right, taking on each other. First, Right Wing News compiles what they call the worst quotes of the year from DailyKos, "America's biggest, most influential, and kookiest blog." Then Eric Boehlert writes a nice obituary to Michelle Malkin's credibility: " Malkin's already-thin credibility ... has expired."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Though This Be Madness, Yet There Is Method In 'T

Huffington Post's Bill Robinson remembers last summer, when the WH released Pres. Bush's reading list: "The last book on it is particularly disturbing. And not just because you're wondering, 'Who the hell reads Hamlet for the first time at age 60?'"

Robinson suggests that summer reading is where Bush got his idea for a 20K-strong "surge":

How all occasions do inform against me,
And spur my dull revenge! ...
How stand I then,
That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd,
Excitements of my reason and my blood,
And let all sleep? while, to my shame, I see
The imminent death of twenty thousand men,
That, for a fantasy and trick of fame,
Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot
Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,
Which is not tomb enough and continent
To hide the slain? O, from this time forth,
My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!

"Of course, there is hope he read the stage direction that immediately follows: Exit."

LEST WE FORGET: Poor Obama

First, he's confused with Osama bin Laden. Then, everyone wants to know about his middle name. Now, apparently, Yahoo's at it again, insulting Barack Obama. The Corner's KLoposts a screen shot of Yahoo News' picture of "Barack Obama." Who knew he looked so much like Sen. John Kerry?

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:23 PM

January 08, 2007

1/8: All Quiet On The Blogging Front

If you're looking for netroots pressure for an immediate end to the Iraq war (or even a timetable for troop withdrawal) now that Dems control Congress, don't hold your breath. It might seem anathema to some, but if the Blogometer was going to pick one word to describe netroots attitudes towards congressional action on Iraq it would be "patient." DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas in particular is stressing how little Dems can do now, and instead focussing on how Dems can use GOP weakness on the war to assume complete control in '09.

IRAQ: Give Peace A Chance ... In '09

Reminding netroots readers "in many households, it's the mommy who gets the discipline done, while the daddy is really the softy," Taylor Marsh says Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) "has it right" when demanding justification from Pres. Bush before funding more troops for Iraq. MyDD's Matt Stoller also posts video of Pelosi from 1/7's Face the Nation and writes: "Pelosi is standing firmly with the public in rejecting escalation, and bringing up the specter of cutting off funds. There are going to be right-wing attacks on her, some coming from within the Democratic family. But this is the right thing to do. Stop Bush on Iraq."

Also at MyDD, Jonathan Singer links to a Center for American Progress memo explaining "Congress indeed does have the power to force the President's hand" on Iraq troop funding. The memo says Congress can "place an amendment on the supplemental funding bill that states that if the administration wants to increase the number of troops in Iraq above 150,000, it must provide a plan for their purpose and require an up or down vote on exceeding that number." Singer adds: "Accordingly, it is incumbent upon Democrats on Capitol Hill to exert what power they have to stop the President from making this move or at least force him to make his case in the committee rooms."

Noting "short of pulling funding -- which would get more people killed -- there's little that Congress can actually do," DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas takes a decidedly longer term view on how Dems can influence Iraq policy: "What Democrats in Congress will have to do (and already plan on doing) is use their bully pulpit to amplify the overwhelming public opposition to the war. ... But the bigger the mess Republicans make of the war, the bigger our victories in 2008. And if we make those big gains in Congress and the White House, ending this war will be tops on our 2009 agenda."

On the right, RedState's Moe Lane first documents that both Senate For. Rel. Chair Joe Biden (D-DE) and Speaker Pelosi disavowed "defunding existing troops in Iraq," and then emphasizes the differing views the Dems have on congressional power to influence Iraq war funding (Biden calling legislation capping troop numbers "constitutionally questionable" while Pelosi demands a "distinction" between current and additional troop funding): "Either Speaker Pelosi is correct, which means that Senator Biden is lecturing on Constitutional law from his nether regions; or else Senator Biden is correct, which means that Speaker Pelosi is committing her Party to a policy which it cannot, in point of fact, implement. Put another way: at least one of these two people is in over his or her head."

BIDEN: Articulater Wanted

Talking Points Memo's David Kurtz says Joe Biden was his "his reliably muddle-headed self" when saying on 1/7's Meet the Press "I think it is unconstitutional to say, "We're going to tell you you can go, but we're going to micromanage the war." Kurtz responds: "Giving Biden the benefit of the doubt, what I think he is trying to say is that it would be utterly unproductive for Democrats in Congress to get bogged down in the tactical minutia of our Iraq policy. I completely agree. To surge or not to surge is really not the issue. But it would be nice to see a Democratic presidential contender better able to articulate that notion."

GORE: Coming Soon To A PC Near You

Just back from Session 3 of Al Gore's Climate Project in Nashville, TN, The Huffington Post's Nick Seaver advises HuffPo reader to "do it." Seaver explains: "The trainees have committed to fan out across the country and give their personalized, updated version of the presentation to at least 10 audiences over the coming year, in the hope of reaching hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of people. ... Gore spent a day and a half taking us through an updated version of the lecture slide-by-slide, fielding questions and digging into background science and personal anecdotes. Other lecturers focused on attitudinal research around climate change (sobering), a discussion of solutions (inspiring) and a whole series of practice runs and exercises to help us give our presentations (invigorating - and, yes, a bit scary). ... Trainees came from all fifty states and beyond. ... And yes, a smattering of celebrities, including John Doerr and Cameron Diaz."

The Moderate Voice, however, is worried that Gore is starting to act like Pres. Bush. TMV notes Gore is banning press from a 1/23 address to Augstana College in Sioux Falls, SD. TMV complains: "it's the same image that George W. Bush and his entourage have been transmitting for years now ... of a leader and group around him who are trying to clamp down on coverage of what he says to partisans when no one is around to either question it or report it. ... Perhaps Gore isn't thinking of running for President after all."

OBAMA: Still Not Winning Over Many Netrooters

MyDD's Matt Stoller is "confused" by Barack Obama's telling Newsweek's Howard Fineman, "To anticipate your question, is Congress going to be willing to exercise its control over the purse strings to affect White House policy? I am doubtful that that is something we are willing to do in the first year." Stoller's worries include:

• Obama validates the false frame that cutting off funding for escalation equals not supporting the troops that are there.
• Obama is answering a hypothetical in his statement that the Democrats probably won't do anything to stop Bush. In doing so, he makes that terrible scenario more likely, undercutting Pelosi and Murtha's move to fence off funding and stop the war.
• By speaking for the entire caucus and suggesting that Democrats won't put pressure on Bush, he is removing pressure from every Republican up for reelection in 2008. They are the ones who would have to validate a policy that has 11% public support, not Democrats.

GOP FIELD: Base Cleanser

Reacting to a Christian Science Monitor article on WH '08 Outside the Beltway reminds readers "Giuliani is my favorite" and adds: "I continue to think Gingrich the least plausible of the major candidates, despite being the most energizing speaker and innovative thinker in the field. ... McCain has the additional problem of being too old; he’d almost certainly be a one termer. ... Romney’s Mormonism, as I’ve noted previously, is highly problematic. ... Ultimately, I think 9/11 inoculates Giuliani from many of his problems with the base. To some degree, everything that happened before has been cleansed by the perception that he was a heroic leader in the aftermath."

RCP Blog's Tom Bevan picks up on Desert News reports on senior Romney finance "heavy-hitter" Jon Huntsman Sr. and remindsa readers: "Huntsman's son, the Governor of Utah, is backing John McCain."

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez announces former FL Gov. Jeb Bush (R) will speak at the 1/26-28 National Review Institute Conservative Summit along with Romney, Gingrich, and former UN Ambassador John Bolton.

BROWNBACK: Uniquely Suited For Small Groups

RedState's Leon Wolf links to news Sam Brownback will be announcing his WH '08 bid 1/20 and comments: "The key to Brownback's success will be his early efforts in Iowa, a state whose caucus system is uniquely suited as an upset ground for a candidate like Brownback, who will be comptively short on money, but whose strength is communication to small groups."

MCCAIN:

John McCain visited Bill Bennett's radio show 1/5 and offered an explanation for his Vanity Fair profile comments on a border fence ("I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the goddamned fence if they want it.") that many righty bloggers found offensive:

My view is that obviously, we have to secure the border first, but the fence isn’t the only part of the answer. ... In populated areas, fences are important. In unpopulated areas, rather than spending billions on building a fence, you can use UAV’s, you can use virtual fences, you can use sensors, you can use a whole lot of other high tech devices that will be far more effective than just building a wall across it. Now building walls, you have to then man those walls. ... So my point was, and again, it was taken out of context as was some of the other statements that I was quoted in, in the article, but look, I’m a big boy. Life isn’t fair, Kennedy said. But the fact is, I have said repeatedly, we must secure our borders first.

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt found McCain's fence story "wholly unpersuasive" but said McCain "shine[d] as usual on the war."

Right Wing News, however, is beginning to wonder just how much credit McCain should be getting from his war stance: "If you're taking a "courageous political stand" while obviously hoping that it benefits you politically, is it really a "courageous political stand?" ... With a guy like McCain, who's not a great respecter of the Constitution or conservative principles, but who does often seem to do things simply for the sake of getting favorable press, you can't be sure if he's acting from conviction or whether this is part of a very calculated decision to go against the grain for purely political purposes."

McCain advisor Patrick Hynes of Ankle Biting Pundits posts video of McCain's 1/5 presentention calling for mor troops in Iraq at the American Enterprise Institute. Hynes can't resist a dig on MA Gov. Mitt Romney as long as he's on the subject: "Compare this with Mitt Romney’s position on the same issue, as expressed in his interview with Human Events: “I’m not going to weigh in.” Well, at least he has a single position on this issue."

ROMNEY: Come On And Take A Free Ride

Looking to quell social conservative doubts about Mitt Romney's past "more liberal social positions" Evangelicals for Mitt asked former state Rep. Steve Baldwin (R-CA), to articualte his concerns. Baldwin wrote: "He first came on my radar screen a few years ago when I found out that his Education Department sent gay activists to California to appear in hearings before a committee of the California Legislature, a body I used to serve in. ... Most of these programs were carried out under the auspices of the "Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Affairs" an agency Romney inherited and then doubled in size. ... Conservatives have been taken for a ride once too many times my friends. But not this time."

EFM responded: "Governor Romney inherited the commission--it had existed for 10 years before he became governor--and there is no indication that he knew about the full extent of its activities until much later in his administration. ... Finally--and this is important--the Governor actually abolished the commission last summer."

Unhappy with EFM explanation of events, Eyeon08 first attacks EFM's founders and then tracks Boston Globe coverage of the commission, concluding: "So Romney doubled the budget (flip), then tried to abolish it (flop), backtracked (flip), and abolished only after he lost because the legislature made something more powerful (flop)."

ROMNEY II: Nothing If Not Thorough

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt reports "less than four days after Mitt Romney's announcement of an exploratory committee, two "captains" in the Romney fund-raising network independently contacted me to ask me to contribute to the governor." Hewitt clarifies, "These "asks" are from people I have known for years, and not because of the book I am finishing," before concluding: "There is a dynamic in politics that always sees money follow momentum. Don't be surprised if the early money breaks to Romney as smart money likes to be with the eventual nominee early, and also to be part of the team from its first days."

Truth Caucus goes through Commonwealth PAC finance reports and discovers "John McCain isn’t the only 2008 candidate cutting checks to College Republican organizations. So is Mitt Romney!" IA State and Northern IA both got $1K but TC asks: "What, the University of Iowa CRs only get $750?"

Ankle Biting Pundits notes that Power Line exhibited some strange behavior over the weekend at one point featuring a post reading:

mitt romneyJmitt romneyemitt romneyrmitt romneyrmitt romneyymitt romney mitt romneyFmitt romneyomitt romneyrmitt romneydmitt romney’mitt romneysmitt romney mitt romneylmitt romneyamitt romneysmitt romneytmitt romney mitt romneylmitt romneyamitt romneyumitt romneygmitt romneyhmitt romney

Turns out Power Line's Paul Mirengoff was the "idiot hacker" responsible for the entry.

DEMS: Still Goo-Goo For Nancy

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas calls Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) chairman term limits implementation her "best move yet" adding: "This move, more than any other, suggests that Pelosi is serious about reforming the House and avoiding many of the pitfalls that created the corrupt environment that propelled House Republicans to their 1994 majorities."

Ezra Klein isn't sold on the idea and asks "goo-goos" to explain why moving experienced Congressman out of their areas of expertise is a good thing. Matt Yglesias responds: "I don't think such limits are optimal policy. They are, however, superior to the leading alternative -- strict seniority. The main impact of term limits is to enhance the power of the congressional leadership vis-a-vis committee chairs." Yglesias concludes empowering leadership over committee chairs is good sense it increases the chance "popular general-interest legislation" can get passed.

Meanwhile, Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher argues Rep. Henry Waxman's (D-CA) chairmanship of Gov't Reform Cmt. should end "the whole "tax and spend Democrats" meme" by exposing "the GOP running the government like a bunch of drunken sailors on shore leave."

Also from CA, Calitics posts a photo of "about 1200 souls" forming "IMPEACH!" on Ocean Beach in San Francisco 1/6. "San Francisco values I suppose." Calitics quips.

GOP: GWOT Still Number One

Responding to Bill Bennett's 15 point "Proposed 2008 Platform" (including: 1. Global War Against Islamic Terror--call the war right and fight it right; 2. Publicly commit to regime change in Iran; 5. Explore new and alternative sources of energy; reward hybrid technology...) Right Wing News names his top 21 agenda items with a top five of:

• 1) Aggressively fight the war on terrorism which includes stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons by any means necessary.
• 2) A Balanced Budget Amendment with an out for national security spending if need-be. ... A sunshine rule for earmarks.
• 3) Get Tough On Illegal Immigration: Secure the border, ban all illegal immigrants from becoming citizens or guest workers, impose gargantuan fines on businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens.
• 4) Taxes: Make the tax cuts permanent, flatten the tax cut, oppose taxes on the internet, work to end the death tax. Require a 2/3rds majority to raise taxes.
• 5) Health Care: Tort reform, which will reduce not only costs paid out in lawsuits, but the cost of "defensive medicine." Streamlining the regulations that make bringing a new drug to market so slow and expensive. Health care savings accounts. Allowing health insurance companies from anywhere in America to compete for business in any state.

CA 10: Testing Tauscher

Caliticsblogswarm looks back at the netroots eventual defeat in OH-02 and concludes the race demonstrates exactly why bloggers should challenge Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) in '08: "So we fought and learned a great deal. Not only did we fight, but we played the expectations game so effectively that our loss dominated the national media as a win. ... But nationally, many of the tactics refined during the Ohio 2005 Special Election were used successfully across the country during the 2006 general election. I would suggest that we think of the inevitable primary in California's 10th district along the same lines. ... The netroots may win or may lose, but because of the support the local blogs will receive from national supporters, we will be able to test and pioneer new tactics that Democrats everywhere can re-deploy against Republicans in the general election."

Anticipating an upcoming fight, blogswarm later links to a 12/21 story on Tauscher's support for an "increase the "end strength" size of both the Army and the Marines" and describes the legislation as "the necessary mechanics" for Pres. Bush's escalation of troops in Iraq. After commenters point to a official Tauscher statement not supporting "any more troops for the President's failed policy" blogswarm asks: "But what will she do if her bill becomes the vehicle the neocons use to enable escalation?"

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Doesn't DC Have A Smoking Ban Now?

The Corner's Andrew Stuttaford links to Scottish blogger Mr. Eugenides thoughts on smoking bans:

A study by the International Epidemiological Association has found that the smoking ban in Scotland has, as predicted by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association and consistently denied by the Executive, led to a fall in both revenues and customers in Scottish pubs...Before the ban was brought in, ministers flatly denied that the ban would hit trade; indeed, they argued that the ban would actually benefit business, as the smoke-free atmosphere would draw in people who had previously avoided them. Now that the licensed trade's gloomy predictions are beginning to be backed up with hard facts, the politicos are changing tack; OK, so it is hurting business after all, they admit - but we don't give a s**t.

LEST WE FORGET: But It Does Look Kinda Cool

Dilbert blog is particularly unimpressed with GM's new electric concept car, the Chevrolet Volt. Scott Adams cuts through GM's fluff and summarizes:

Someday GM hopes to figure out how to make a big honkin' car battery, and figure out how to do it economically, and hope the whole project ends up saving more energy than it consumes, or failing in that, hope no one asks how much energy it takes to build the cars. It's called a "concept car" because that sounds better than "something we pulled out of our a** and hope to someday shove up yours."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:13 PM

January 05, 2007

1/5: To The Victors Goes The Intra-Party Harmony

While possible tensions over Iraq bubble over the horizon, lefty bloggers maintained a genuinely optimistic and celebratory mood 1/4 throughout the swearing-in ceremonies. No one on the left particularly enjoys the bipartisan rhetoric coming from some Dems, but the netroots are willing to be patient to see what results their leaders produce. Meanwhile on the right, Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell's first blogger outreach effort hits bumps over immigration and earmarks.

DEMS: Party Like It's 1992

Bloggers in attendance for the swearing-in of first-ever-woman-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) found the occasion "momentous" and "monumental" 1/4. Pelosi took special care of her netroots friends, setting them up in Room H-122 and providing free lunch. As if food wasn't enough, prominent Dems dropped by for interviews with those present throughout the day. Visitors included: DNC Chair Howard Dean and Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME) (Joe in DC adds: "we'll all be hearing a lot about him as the 2008 Senate race in Maine starts to gear up"), DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Financial Servicers Chair Barney Frank (D-MA) (who described Hurricane Katrina as "ethnic cleansing through inaction.")

On the right, The Corner's Rich Lowry offered a "superficial observation" from the male perspective on Pelosi: "She looks great." Fellow CorneriteKathryn Jean Lopez offered the conservative women's perspective: "Madame Speaker, I'm sorry. I'm just not feeling empowered. I'm just not." And back to Lowry for what is probably every conservative's thought on Pelosi's 'Let's hear it for the children' line: "Oh, please."

DEMS II: If You Can't Beat 'Em ...

Taking a break from their swearing-in festivities, some Dem office-holders posted entries at The Huffington Post including:

• Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA): "Our bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour will benefit almost 13 million Americans. It will help more than 6 million children whose parents will receive a raise. ... Minimum-wage workers are men and women of dignity, and they deserve a fair wage that respects the dignity of their work. It's long past time to give them a raise.
• Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): "It now seems that the President will move forward with sending more troops. An escalation in the war, particularly with no change in strategy, makes no sense. ... Both the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committee will convene hearings next week to help create a change of strategy."
• Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA): "[O]ne of the first ten bills introduced by Congress today is legislation that will lift the President's restrictions on stem cell research. ... This issue is very important to me and millions of Americans because stem cell research offers hope."
• Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA): "The White House will soon ask for over $100 billion in new emergency war spending, Adjusted for inflation, that is more than we spent in 1968, the most expensive year of the war in Vietnam. And the lion's share of that funding was done through the regular process. ... There must be no more blank checks for this President, and I predict this will be the last "emergency" supplemental in the new Democrat-controlled Congress.

DEMS III: Where "Bi" Is Still A Dirty Word

Explaining, "Perhaps because some of my clearest memories in Washington come from attending protest marches here," MyDD's Chris Bowers declares: "I don't share the same longing for the lost paradise of bi-partisanship that I keep hearing about these days." Bowers illustrates: "The last major piece of bi-partisan legislation that was passed during a time of split government was the October 2002 authorization of force in Iraq--the very piece of legislation that I repeatedly came to D.C. to protest. ... NAFTA is another good example of now unpopular bi-partisan legislation."

David Sirota is also unimpressed with the "bipartisanship" rhetoric from 1/4: "We may recall that some of the worst policies in American history were passed with broad bipartisan support. These include, just to name a few, the Iraq War Resolution, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, NAFTA, China PNTR, the Bankruptcy Bill, the Bush Energy Bill and the recent tax cut for corporate outsourcers. ... I'm not saying bipartisanship is necessarily bad. But I'm also not saying it is automatically good."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas, on the other hand, urges readers not "to freak out" when "Chuck Rangel says nice things about Republicans to the press ("blah blah blah working together blah blah blah bipartisanship blah blah blah")" but instead to celebrate when Rangel is "sticking it to them in committee." Kos concludes: "As we pass judgment on the effectiveness of our gals and guys, we should look at the totality of their actions and words. That'll be far more instructive than just rhetoric alone."

IRAQ: Don't Fence Them In

Arianna Huffington was reporting from Capitol Hill all 1/4 including an items on Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) promising Dems will "fence the funding" in order to deny "the president the resources to escalate the war." Murtha will instead use "the money to take care of the soldiers as we bring them home from Iraq "as soon as we can." Huffington also notes 1/5 that: "Democratic Congressional leaders will come out with a strong statement on troop escalation, laying down a marker and establishing the Democratic position on what has become the first critical decision on the war in Iraq facing the 110th Congress."

Reacting to Murtha, MyDD's Matt Stoller writes: "This is good. People were ready to give Bush one last blank check, but the escalation has allowed progressives the opportunity to push back. Bush overreached and is out of control, and it looks like the Democrats might stand up to him on the funding piece. That's the last taboo for Congress, and it's one that should have dissipated long ago." David Sirota adds: "I'm looking forward to watching D.C.'s chickenhawk pundit class lecture a Marine veteran and Vietnam war hero about why we should not prevent a military escalation that troops on the ground say they don't want and instead better fund health care for soldiers wounded in battle."

In related news, Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall notes a CBSpoll showing 45% of Americans view Iraq as the top priority of the 110th, with economy and health care tied for 2nd at 7%. Marshall asks: "Perhaps some of my public opinion analyst friends will chime in on this. But I'm not sure I remember ever seeing such a stark number on public priorities on a question like this."

Finally, the Left Coaster acknowledged Cindy Sheehan's existence: "I know many of you support Sheehan and may want the Democrats to focus immediately on shutting down this war or impeaching Bush. Please, let the Democrats demonstrate they can govern and be a real counterweight to Bush, and let them fulfill the agenda they ran on, which has large public support before demanding they rush headlong into actions that will cripple the leadership before it can establish itself. ... If three months from now the Democrats have rubber-stamped an escalation and caved in, then Sheehan should storm Washington with thousands of supporters. ... Please put a sock in it Cindy, at least for now."

GOP FIELD: The Least Problematic

Conservative author Mark Steyn offered his take on the GOP field 1/4 while discussing the GWOT on the Hugh Hewitt Show:

Well, there's Newt Gingrich, who everybody says, and I think they're right, has been making terrific speeches on terror. He gave a terrific appearance in New Hampshire, in which he called, he said that those six imams in Minneapolis causing the trouble on the plane should actually have been arrested. He's absolutely terrific, but he carries way too much personal baggage. And all four of these candidates, I think, are defective in some ways. Mitt Romney I like, but in many ways, because I think his kind of Mormonism is the least problematic baggage of the major candidates.

In IA, Krusty Konservative offers his lightning summary "second tier" candidates: "Brownback has had the best start. Thompson has the better Iowa consultant. Huckabee has the most potential."

BROWNBACK: Get On The Phone!!!

Noting Sam Brownback's hiring of IA Right to Life dir. Kim Lehman, RedState's Leon Wolf comments: "At this point, the buzz about Brownback among conservatives is that he is easily the candidate most closely aligned with conservative interests, but he doesn't deserve any support because "he can't win." If Brownback can successfully manage a top-3 finish in Iowa and New Hampshire, this conventional wisdom may have to be revised somewhat going forward."

The Right Angle's Matt Lewis also calls the hire big news, but still is not convinced Brownback can raise the funds to be credible. Lewis advises: "1. Hire a top-notch political fundraiser ... immediately. 2. Next, personally ASK every proven political donor you can find for money. (You should spend AT LEAST 50 percent of your time raising money). 3. Repeat step 2."

GIULIANI: The Plan Had No Plan

Taking a belated look at the leaked Rudy Giuliani campaign plan, The Corner's Ramesh Ponnuru writes: "But the thing that strikes me, from reading the newspaper accounts of the memo, is how unprepared for 2008 Giuliani seems. ... Maybe Giuliani should take the advice supporters such as Deroy Murdock have given, and move right on some of those social issues. Or maybe he should court some social-conservative figures, or signal his sympathy for their concerns. But you would expect him to have a strategy."

MCCAIN: A Slow-Motion Roger Mudd Moment

Righty bloggers continued to hit John McCain hard over quotes and revelations included in Todd Purdum's Vanity Fair profile. Bloggers are must upset with McCain's thoughts on immigration and the GOP: ""I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the goddamned fence if they want it." Townhall's Hugh Hewitt calls the article "a sort of slow-motion Roger Mudd moment" comments:

Senator McCain still doesn't understand the fence. He still doesn't understand that the vast majority of people believe the 700 miles of fencing will in fact be effective, and that the anger over it from amnesty proponents and the Mexican government proves the point. He also still fails to realize that regularization of the 14 million illegals begins with the fence construction, not with McCain-Kennedy and social security benefits for years worked following an illegal entry.

Power Line's Paul Mirengoff quotes Mark Steyn's reaction to the line from the Hugh Hewitt show: "[F]rom McCain's point of view, that sounds great, because the press liked that kind of talk, because it has a kind of cynicism to it, and a contempt for the conservative base. ... So that line, you know, when he delivers a line like that, you can more or less hear, see the eyes of the Washington Post and New York Times guys light up. That's what they like about him." Mirengoff argues the statement shows McCain "may be too thin-skinned and, frankly, too old and cranky to make it through almost two years of campaigning" and also questions whether McCain's toughness on Iraq will ultimately cost him if the situation deteriorates further.

ROMNEY: "Pro-Abortion" GOPers Need Not Apply

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt reports outgoing CO Gov. Bill Owens (R) "bluntly announced that he is for Romney" on Hewitt's radio show 1/4.

AmSpec Blog's The Washington Prowler explains Romney may have a "Video Problem" after So. Cal. businessman Mark Chapin Johnson sent a DVD "of an hour-long CSPAN interview with Romney" mailed to potential supporters. WP explains "it doesn't appear from the materials that reproduction of the interview was ever cleared with CSPAN." More importantly for WP though, Johnson has been "identified in the past as a "pro-abortion Republican." WP argues: "given that Romney has so clearly flip-flopped on abortion and other life issues over the years, it's surprising that he would associate himself so closely with a supporter well known in California political circles for trying to push the Republican Party to the center on abortion and other social issues."

GOP: Good Pork, Bad Pork

Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell introduced himself to bloggers 1/4 with a brief Q and A set up by McConnell new-media director Jon Henke.

RedState's California Yankee says McConnell claimed "this is traditionally a time to employ civility, but not capitulation" but also "drew a line in the sand saying two things were not negotiable." Those items: "1. Raising taxes -The minority won't put the economy at risk by allowing taxes to be increased. 2. Staying on offense in the War - The country has not suffered a terrorist attack since 9/11 because we have been on the offensive, taking the fight to our enemies."

Right Wing News asked McConnell about immigration and summarized McConnell's response: "You probably don't agree with this, but I support a comprehensive bill. I support a guest worker program. I am opposed to allowing any preferential treatment for people here illegally to being citizens. I don't think a guest worker program and ultimately becoming a citizen necessarily have to be related."

Ankle Biting PunditsPatrick Hynes adds: "I almost dropped my phone and choked on my coffee when ... Sen. McConnell said, "Some earmarks are actually a good idea." The Senator drew a distinction between good pork, such as a cancer hospital (which he is trying to get built in his home state of Kentucky) and bad pork such as the infamous Bridge to Nowhere."

BLOGGERS VS. BLOGGERS: Existence Is Half The Battle...

Righty bloggers were undeterred by AP reports confirming the existence of Iraqi police officer/AP news source Capt. Jamil Hussein. The blogger/AP dispute began after the AP used Hussein as the only source for a 11/24 story on the killing of six Sunnis by Iraqi Shittes. Reactions include:

• Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham: "The fact remains that the "four burned mosques" story was changed to a "one burned mosque" story without any clarification or correction, and the "burning Sunnis" story still sounds iffy, given that there was no Sunni outcry. And, then there are the 40 stories Hussein has given AP, none of which have been corroborated by other news agencies."
• Captain's Quarters: "Whether Jamil Hussein actually exists is really a secondary issue. The fact that the AP used a single source for dozens of inflammatory stories about atrocities in Iraq that still have yet to find any confirmation is almost as disturbing as making the source up."
• Riehl World View: "But let me be the first to say to the Left, before they lose themselves in glee, I don't see that bloggers have anything to apologize for, nor do I see this story being at an end. The ultimate question is what happened in Hurriya the day six Sunnis were claimed to have been burned alive?"
• Kausfiles: "Capt. Jamil Hussein, controversial AP source, seems to exist. That's one important component of credibility!"

The left had a decidedly different reaction. DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas asks: "Are the wingers ever right about anything?" Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher adds: "They can't raise money. They can't organize. They can't even acknowledge that they've been beating a dead story into the ground because like their fearless leader, they equate admitting they are wrong with failure. Yet they are wrong, almost all the time and about almost everything."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: At Least Everyone Knows Why They Hate Bush

Reacting to a TNRarticle on Ronald Reagan's "conversion from liberal to conservative" TAPPED's Ezra Klein writes

I'm always fascinated by tales like this, and the history of the conservative movement is rife with them. A simply stunning number of institutions arose in the 40s and 50s that did nothing but disseminate and popularize books setting out the conservative economic worldview to the country. The focus was, quite literally, on creating conservatives. Not Republicans, not GOP voters, but ideologues of a certain brand and style, whose foundational world view, rather than mere partisan allegiance, would be aligned with the movement.

Liberals in this day and age, despite facing a moment not altogether dissimilar from mid-century conservatives, have not embarked on on similar educational strategy. Indeed, the books most likely to be publicized by progressives are partisan tracts laying out the case against the Bush administration or the Republican Party, not explications of the liberal worldview and persuasive literature arguing for its adoption. I can't even think of many books written for popular consumption that attempt to provide such a rigorous education. So what we've got, particularly right now, is a lot of people who understand why they hate Bush without knowing precisely why the progressive outlook is a stronger, more durable, more effective ideology than its competitors. So what you get -- best case -- are partisan victories, not movement triumphs.

LEST WE FORGET: We Didn't Know Funerals Could Be Unconstitutional

Power Line's Paul Mirengoff points readers to a National Review Online article arguing that under the "radically secularist establishment clause jurisprudence of lone ex-Pres. Gerald Ford SCOTUS appointment Justice John Paul Stevens, Ford's burial service at the National Cathedral would have to be considered unconstitutional. For NRO Ed Whelan writes:

Ford's state funeral is impossible to reconcile with Stevens' extremist views of the establishment clause. Most conspicuously, members of the United States military played a prominent role in the pervasively religious ceremony, both as pallbearers and as musical performers. The United States Marine Orchestra and the Armed Forces Chorus not only performed; they sang explicitly Christian hymns. ...

Moreover, the very existence of the National Cathedral ought to be constitutionally objectionable in Stevens's eyes. The National Cathedral is part of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which was chartered by an Act of Congress, signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1893, "for the promotion of religion and education and charity."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:27 PM

January 04, 2007

1/4: Cindy Who?

At the height of Cindy Sheehan's 8/05 camping expedition leftyblogscouldn't get enough of her. Now that she's interrupting Dem press conferences it's as if she doesn't exist. While righty bloggers were all over the story, only The Plank (hardly a friend of the netroots) noted the event on the left. Now that Dems have the power to affect Iraq policy (the purse is blunt but effective), does Sheehan still exist in lefty blogger circles?

DEMS: Foreplay Wanted

Still celebrating their contribution to Dem victory 11/7, netrooters are also turning their attention to the Dems' first "100 hours" and beyond. Buoyed by CNNpolling showing "nine out of eleven" Dem agenda items have "more than 2:1 public support," MyDD's Matt Stoller writes: "In other words, the arguments about bipartisanship put out by Bush, business lobbyists, insiders, and the pundits are just an excuse to ignore the public."

Also at MyDD, Chris Bowers "worries" the 100-hour agenda is just "a laundry list of Dubai ports deals" that cuts "around the edges of the most important issue of our time." Bowers warns, Dems "cannot hope to govern like this indefinitely. Eventually, we will run out of Dubai port deals." Bowers advises: "At some point very soon, we need to move beyond small, popular legislation and into a direct confrontational mode with Bush and congressional Republicans on the most important issue of the day: Iraq. Failure to do so will quickly result in our current 60% approval ratings falling into the same toilet Republicans found themselves in during the past two years."

The Huffington Post's Bill Scher lauds the 100-hour agenda as "the right initial step" but also concentrates on what comes next: "After that, the need to articulate a clear vision will become increasingly urgent. Without a vision that explains where Democrats want to take our country, conservatives will be able to distort the underlying motivation behind Democratic proposals, and promising ideas to tackle big problems will never get debated on their merits."

Also at The Huffington Post, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) promises readers "extensive hearings starting" 1/17 "that will address accountability, military readiness, intelligence oversight and the activities of private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan." But at TPMmuckrakerJustin Rood quotes a Dem Hill insider: "People shouldn't expect oversight hearings right out of the gate." Rood cites budgeting and staff decisions as sources of delay but also includes the "D.C. watchdogger" nugget on the pace of investigations: "You need a little foreplay."

At TAPPED, Mark Schmitt is in a celebrating mood and plans to offer this toast at a Senate swearing in party: "Here's to the first Democratic majority -- ever -- that is not dependent on support from southern racists."

DEMS II: The Socialists Are Coming! The Socialists Are Coming!

Righty bloggers are more than eager to rain on the Dem swearing in parade, mostly focussing on alleged hypocrisy. RedState welcomes Dems to DC under the header "Democrats + Socialist = Majority" and goes on to hope: "It should benefit Republicans that Democrats, though they say they have learned their lessons, have so far acted as if they haven't. ... Democrats have failed to censure William Jefferson of Louisiana and have seen their own Speaker push corrupt Democrats like John Murtha to the forefront of leadership. They have talked a tough game on earmarks, but are already out demanding $1000 contributions from lobbyists to "welcome" Nancy Pelosi to the Speaker's chair."

In a similar vein The Right Angle's Robert Bluey picks up on a GovExec article on Dems and earmarks and notes strong similarities between House Maj. Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) defense of the practice and ex-Maj. Leader Tom DeLay's (R) recent thoughts on the subject.

On a lighter note, the Influence Peddlar pokes fun at the elasticity of the Dems interpretation of 100 hours: "And isn't it a little ironic that the Democrats do not intend to count this stuff toward the first 100 hours - but include in it a measure to prevent leadership from stopping the House clock in order to hold votes open? This is different how, exactly? Do you suppose I could promise fidelity in my marriage, but 'not count' the hours between 9:00pm and 3:00am?"

IRAQ: It's Like Deja Vu All Over Again

Cindy Sheehan's disruption of Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel's (D-IL) ethics press conference with shouts of "chanted "De-escalate, investigate, troops home now" (video) 1/3 drew wide righty blogger reaction including:

• Power Line's John Hinderaker: "I think you had to be there in the 60s and early 70s to fully appreciate the damage the antiwar movement did to the Democratic Party. ... Recalling that history, Democrats who watch Emanuel Rahm in this video can only shudder. Rather than deal forcefully with the protestors, Rahm yielded the field to them and retreated inside the building.
• Instapundit: "The antiwar crowd destroyed the Democrats once; they're set to do it again."
• RedState's Mason Conservative: "Being in the majority isn't so easy, is it?"
• Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham: "Presumably, Sheehan would like a little more "truth to power" in the discussion of accountability and transparency in earmarks. So, she brought it, baby. And, Democratic leadership was forced to, err, redeploy in the face of her vicious, barely-rhyming chants."
• Ankle Biting PunditsB.T. noted House Judiciary chair John Conyers (D-MI) hugged Sheehan before the disruption and comments: "Boy, wouldn't it be grand to see the kook moonbat fringe of the democrat party stir up some infighting with the party leaders who are trying to put a more moderate face on their policies. But Cindy Sheehan is a creation of their own making, so they will have to find some way to keep her and her fellow whackjobs quiet, lest they find a way to embarrass Madam Speaker."

IRAQ II: Heckuva Job, Ellen?

Picking up on Steve Benenworries that Asst Sec/State Ellen Sauerbrey's lack of experience could lead to another "Brownie/FEMA story" while dealing with Iraq's refugee crisis, TAPPED's Garance Franke-Ruta writes: "Unsurprisingly, Sauerbrey has failed to prevent the refugee crisis that's developing in and around Iraq, despite her understanding of democracy, and has yet to take a leadership role with the international community to come up with a more hands-on, first-responder type of plan."

Also at TAPPED, Greg Sargent argues he has caught Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) in a lie over his claim that commanders in Iraq are asking for more troops in private discussions. Sargent points to a advance copy of a Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) column that Sargent summarizes as follows: "Okay, so the British commanders told Collins that their presence was "less and less tolerated." One American commander said outright that a "surge" wouldn't do any good. And only one American commander said an increase might help -- a small increase that could be solved by a reallocation. According to Collins' account, then, not a single commander came anywhere near saying anything that could be construed as desiring -- or even supporting -- any kind of large scale increase."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas adds: "Collins is no saint, and she'll get the Lincoln Chafee treatment in 2008. ... But on the bigger picture, of whether generals are really asking to escalate the conflict, the evidence is firmly with the "hell no!" side. And Lieberman's assertions to the contrary are more of the what we've come to expect from a man who will say and do anything to promote himself and his pet causes, no matter who else must be hurt or die in the process."

Also on a Lieberman watch, Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall invites readers in DC to join MoveOn.org protests of a joint Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) Lieberman appearance at American Enterprise Institute 1/5: "So if you're going to be in DC, stop by. It's right near the corner of 17th & M."

IRAQ III: Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To War She Goes

Michelle Malkin announced 1/4 she will be going to Iraq to embed with US troops. Malkin had first been invited to Iraq by ex-CNN newsman Eason Jordan to investigate the AP's use of suspected fictitious source Jamil Hussein. Since Malkin is now travelling with the US Armed Services, she suggested Jordan offer the resources he had planned for Malkin to AP's Kathleen Carroll "who derided bloggers for sitting at home instead of traveling abroad to do their own reporting during the fauxtography debacle last summer."

Besides embarrassing the AP, Malkin describes her trip's purpose as two-fold: "1) to report on how the troops perceive mainstream media coverage of the war (with a particular focus on the wire services relying on local stringers); and 2) to report on progress and interaction between U.S. troops and Iraqi Army trainees."

Malkin received many well wishes and praise from righty bloggers and decidedly the opposite from her lefty counterparts. Firedoglake's TRex writes: " Expect dangerous levels of "Truth" to start emanating from that troubled nation forthwith with an intrepid Citizen Journo like Michelle on the job. Now, maybe we'll find out what's really going on over there, outside the America-hating, censored and sanitized world of the Liberal Media. We know all those Righty bloggers are tireless crusaders for the truth and will put their infinite expertise in combat reporting to work as soon as they land."

ROMNEY: "Something Positive To Talk About"

Mitt Romney-blog-fan-in-chief Kathryn Jean Lopez announced it was official 12/3: "The former Massachusetts governor (he just left the statehouse for the last time as chief exec) is exploring a presidential run - www.mittromney.com."

The Right Angle's Rob Bluey reports his inbox was instantly under assault after the announcement including this message from Romney aide Spencer Zwick: "Because these papers have been filed, we may now begin accepting donations. Should you like to make a contribution today, the fastest and easiest way is to contribute online at www.mittromney.com."

Bluey adds: "Meanwhile, as Romney leaves office, he finds himself the beneficiary of some good news. Yesterday, Massachusetts lawmakers took the first step to put before voters the question of gay marriage. Given the tone of the e-mails that flooded my inbox after I interviewed Romney last week, it's doubtful he'll ever completely recover from his 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans. However, Tuesday's vote at least gives Romney something positive to talk about."

Reacting to the announcement Power Line's John Hinderaker reminds readers he prefers Romney to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and ex-NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) but still sees "space in the race for a well known candidate with a longer and deeper conservative track record."

Meanwhile, Damon Linker's New Republic Mormon article drew harsher reviews from all quarters. At TNR Columbia U. scholar Richard Bushman writes to Linker: "You are caught in the dilemma that ensnares everyone preoccupied with fanaticism. You describe Mormonism in a way that makes perfect sense to non-Mormons and no sense to Mormons themselves. This means, to me, that you are describing the inside of your own mind as much as the reality of Mormonism. Mormons will hear a lot of this so long as Romney is in the race, and it will baffle them every time." Linker responds here.

The Corner's Rich Lowry adds: "Just read that Linker piece in The New Republic. How shabby. If this is the best they can come up with, liberals are truly going to disgrace themselves over the Mormon question and do Romney a favor by making him seem the subject of unfair, "below the belt" (David Gergen's words last night) attacks. ... Anyway, the more hit pieces like this, and the earlier they come, the better off Romney will be in the long run."

GOP FIELD: Causes For Concern

Romney's 12/3 announcement got RedState's AcademicElephant critiquing the while GOP field: "I'm not dead set against any of them, but none of them have given me a compelling reason to support them and they all have given me cause for concern. ... I don't think [Romney]'s done a particularly good job at being governor of Massachusetts and I'm not sure running the Olympics is the best preparation for taking on Islamo-facism. ... Giuliani is compelling ... but let's face it, his personal life is a mess and he's pretty far to the left on social issues. McCain has the strongest track record on my hot-button issue ... but I don't agree with all of his strategic recommendations, McCain-Feingold is an abomination and personally he makes me nervous. In the second tier, I'm not finding anything amongst the Gingrichs, Brownbacks, Huckabees, etc. to excite me."

Pollster.com's Charles Franklin compiles results from 12/06 American Research Group polling in IA, NH, NV, and SC and notes:

• Giuliani and McCain each lead in two states. Giuliani leads in Iowa (28-26) and Nevada (31-25) while McCain leads in New Hampshire (29-25) and South Carolina (35-28).
• While Gingrich trails the top two by a substantial margin, he has significant support (14%-22%) in all four states.
• Romney is far back, above the "zeros" but well short of even Gingrich's status. But Romney has the advantage of being a new face who may yet mobilize support among those Republicans who distrust McCain and may come to weigh Giuliani's more liberal social issue positions.
• The strikingly obvious result is that none of the candidates outside the top four have any traction at this point. While there is time yet to "emerge", Brownback, Gilmore, Hagel, Huckabee, Hunter, Pataki and Thompson have a long way to go.

GIULIANI: Connect The Dots ...

IA's Caucus Cooler notes WaPoreports that Mitt Romney hired ex-Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) staffer Carolyn Weyforth and remembers that it was rumored a likely candidate for the job was former Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) aide Maria Comella. CC speculates that Comella might just follow fellow former Nussle aide Andrew Dorr to Rudy Giuliani.

MCCAIN: "Just Some Old Guy Running For President"

Todd Purdam's Vanity Fairprofile of John McCain is not winning McCain any friends in the blogosphere. Hot Air's Allahpundit writes: "What doth it profit a man to gain the Oval Office, asks author Todd Purdum, if he should lose his soul to Bush's theocrat war machine? You know what, Todd? You can have him."

Right Wing News picks out an offensive McCain quote: "By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the godd*mned fence if they want it." RWN comments: "Every time you think it's almost impossible to like the guy any less, he steps up and surprises you with something new." Earlier, RWN topped his "The Most Annoying People On The Right In 2006" with McCain.

IA's Krusty Konservative digs into his archives and pulls out a 8/15/1999 McCain slam on the IA straw poll. KK comments: "So I have to wonder if Senator McCain still feels the same way about the Straw Poll. ... Am I the only one who thinks the McCain of 2000 and the McCain of 2008 wouldn't know each other if they ran into each other on the street? I think the New McCain is going to find it difficult to excite Iowans about his campaign, because the New McCain is just some old guy running for president.

DEM FIELD: ARG's Frontrunner

Looking at the same ARG numbers from IA, NV, NH, and SC mentioned above, Pollster.com observes the following about the Dem field:

• Clinton continues to lead the field in each state, so the question remains who will become her primary challenger. In these data, John Edwards and Barack Obama each finish second in two states. Edwards leads Obama in Iowa (20-10) and South Carolina (31-10). Obama leads in New Hampshire (21-18) and Nevada (12-8).
• Vilsack does pretty well in his home state of Iowa, but has yet to gain any support elsewhere. And Kerry does poorly for a past winner in Iowa and New Hampshire.
• Biden, Clark, Dodd, Gravel and Richardson are all under 5% everywhere. Kucinich is slightly stronger, hitting 5% in Iowa, but below that in the other states.

OBAMA: The End, Or Just The Beginning Of These Kind Of Errors?

TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent continues to track media confusion of Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden noting that Yahoo News as now just as guilty as CNN for mix ups. Sargent reports: "On their photo page, the caption on their photo of Obama reads, "Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida." ... The subject heading above the photo of Obama is still "Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida" -- which is pretty funny, especially considering that off to the right, you can see a link to a story about CNN making the same mistake. But hey, at least on this one they got the caption right."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Understatement Of The Century

Commenting on Defense Tech musings on nuclear winter TAPPED's Robert Farley writes:

A large nuclear exchange between the U.S. and Russia would almost certainly have significant and long-lasting global cooling effects, while a regional conflict could result in a drop of 1-4 degrees Fahrenheit over time. Unfortunately, the cooling effects only work if the nukes are used on cities, as cities are the only targets that will burn long enough to release enough smoke particles into the air to precipitate the cooling. The policy of destroying cities carries a set of negative externalities that make nuclear war an impractical solution to the problem of global warming...

LEST WE FORGET: Somebody Has To Make Katie Look Good

The Corner's Tim Graham wants to strap any liberal claiming FNC is a publicity arm of the RNC into a chair and force them to watch CNN's 1/3 piece on Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "His nickname was Pinky? And he loves People magazine? And he has the Cowboy Junkies on his iPod? Dana Bash's story makes Katie Couric look like Christiane Amanpour."

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:36 PM

January 03, 2007

Dean's Heir Apparent?

While some netrooters claim the progressive movement has no standard bearer in '08 (unlike '04, with DNC Chair Howard Dean), both his rhetoric and tactics suggest John Edwards will attempt to claim that mantle. Tactically, Edwards coupled his 12/28 New Orleans announcement with a Daily Kos diary seeking Kossack "thoughts and reactions," and a thorough lefty blog-banner ad buy. On the trail, local lefty bloggers are swooning over his embrace of Dean-like rhetoric and his challenge to Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) message of hope. We're still far from netroots unanimity on a "movement" candidate. But so far, Edwards is in the lead.

DEM FIELD: A Nightmare

Mystery Pollster looks at "the pollster's nightmare: The Iowa Caucuses" after Research 2000 and American Research Group released polls both showing John Edwards with between 20-22% of likely caucus vote but with Research 2000 showing Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) at 31% to Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) 10% while ARG had Obama tied with Edwards at 22% and Clinton at 10%.

MP notes minor differences in the times the polls were in the field, their screening of respondents, and the potential candidates offered but then concludes: "Whenever very small differences in methodology make for huge differences in results, it suggests that voters are not yet engaged in the race enough to have strong allegiances. Put another way, while each poll may have a candidate running in front, in Iowa at least, there is not yet a true "frontrunner."

Kausfiles, on the other hand, offers plenty of possible explanations: "There's a big difference between 1) asking voters if they "definitely plan" to go to the caucuses, and 2) asking voters if they actually participated in the 2004 caucuses. Lots of people say they "plan" to attend. That's normal! ... In this case, the merely aspirational caucus goers pick Clinton, while the hard core goes for Obama--a result consistent with the idea that Obama is capturing those who think a lot about politics, while those who don't think as much about politics haven't yet been hit by the wave."

EDWARDS: He Is More Movement Now Than Man

Citing a "major multimedia rollout" that included a brief Daily Kos diary and "a big netroots ad buy" (the Blogometer has yet to come across a big league lefty site without an Edwards banner ad), Daily Kos ' BooMan23 labels John Edwards the "emerging...netroots candidate of 2008." BooMan goes on to celebrate Edwards call for an "immediate[] pull out 40-50 thousand troops" and his "emphasizing progressive issues, including rolling back Bush's tax cuts, dramatically increasing taxes on oil companies, expanding health care, and tackling poverty."

The banner ad running on most lefty blogs reads: "Ready To Change America? Join Us. John Edwards08." The ad allows readers to directly link to items including: "1. Watch the video message from New Orleans. 2. Join the Campaign. 3. Spread the Word. 4. Join One Corps."

Noting that Edwards "is going for [Howard] Dean support" MyDD's Matt Stoller asks Dean '04 supporters: "Who are you leaning towards in 2008?" Edwards holds a commanding lead:

John Edwards 52% 124 votes
Barack Obama 17% 41 votes
Other 13% 32 votes
Hillary Clinton 1% 4 votes
Chris Dodd 0% 2 votes
John Kerry 0% 1 vote

Reacting to Edwards' appearances on the trail, a theme emerged:

• Ezra Klein: "His campaign would certainly like to lead in the polls, but Edwards seemed more interested in leading a movement. The virtue of the message is obvious, but its magnetism, urgency, and electoral efficacy are less so."
• MyDD's Nancy Scola: "I had convinced myself before joining up with Mark Warner that it's okay -- healthy even -- for us to end up with a Democratic presidential nominee who was not also at the head of a larger (progressive) movement. I think I largely still think that's true. But Edwards is confusing me because it seems like the latter might be the job that he's auditioning for."
• Blue Hampshire's Mike Caulfield: "You want to know what a preemptive strike on the Obama candidacy looks like? Here is it is, textbook perfect, from John Edwards himself ... "Identifying the problem and talking about hope is waiting for tomorrow." ... he began to weave a theme into the rest of the remarks: There's hope, and there's action. I'm action. ... Edwards, in an unorthodox move, is not asking you to join a campaign. He is asking you to join a movement.

After seeing Edwards in NH, Below Boston also saw Edwards embracing Dean's vision for Dems: "I am in no doubt that John Edwards has been heavily influenced by Howard Dean's unsuccessful run for the Presidency in 2004, Dean's 50-state strategy as head of the DNC, Al Gore's Moveon speeches, and his own unsuccessful run for President and Vice President."

Reporting from IA after a "Townhall thing," TAPPED's Klein "couldn't find a member of the crowd ... who wasn't now supporting Edwards in 2008." Klein was particularly impressed with Edwards willingness to identify health care and global warming as "higher priorities to [Edwards] than the elimination of the deficit."

Edwards did not escape the week unscathed however. The Huffington Post's John Bohrer finds Edwards refusal to endorse gay marriage "frustrating" and urges him to change his position. In more biting criticism Daily Kos' Cheesefire is not impressed with Edwards explanation of how he would have handled Hurricane Katrina differently than Pres. Bush.

EDWARDS II: The Framer

Edwards 12/31 labeling of a U.S. troop increase in Iraq "the McCain doctrine," drew wide lefty blogger praise. DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas calls the development "very good" and The Left Coaster thanks Edwards for his "brilliant framing." TAPPED's Tom Schaller suggests the statement shows Edwards has "guts" and adds: "Full credit to Edwards for pointing out that McCain is one of the big losers of the 2006 midterms, and for (finally) attempting to make his former fellow senator pay for it in terms of long-overdue reputational damage."

GORE: A Bad Apple?

The Left Coaster's Paradox is "uncomfortable" with news that "almost mythical demi-god" and Apple board member Al Gore signed off on Steve Jobs' "fraud and lying" over stock option post dating. Paradox writes: "My hero of all time, Al Gore, however, says all is well. I think he's wrong, so the mythical hero worship status he holds in my mind is up for some serious re-examination. Just the thought of this surprisingly hurts, however, and gives me a glimmer to the pain I caused for the obvious (likely justified) hero status many hold for Steve Jobs. I'm sorry about that, man."

GIULIANI: In It To Win It?

New York Daily News' Rudy Giuliani campaign plan revelations drew mostly yawns from conservative bloggers. Those unimpressed with the story include: "

• RCP Blog's Tom Bevan: "The document is a bit of an embarrassment for Giuliani, but Smith overhypes it by characterizing it as a "potentially disastrous blunder." After all, the four issues cited in the memo as potential problem points for Rudy's candidacy (his private business, his relationship with Bernie Kerik, his third-wife, and his liberal positions on "social issues") are hardly surprising."
• Outside the Beltway: "Aside from listing the people Giuliani plans to target to handle key organizational roles-which gives a heads up to rivals and creates potential embarrassment if he is unsuccessful at bringing them on board-this doesn't seem like that big of a deal. That those bullet points are key vulnerabilities is common knowledge, as is the need to raise oodles of money. Still, if your chief selling point is executive competence, such stumbles aren't good."
• Eyeon08: "The effect of all of this is that Giuliani has to redouble. We now have a plan to measure him by that he is already behind on. If he can't raise the money or hire the staff or build the donor base, we will all know it. It could make it harder for Giuliani."

Ankle Biting Pundit's Bull Dog Pundit, however, identified one potentially harmful nugget: "But there is one item in there that will spook potential political and financial supporters: The author of the document seems to reference concerns that Rudy might not see the race through because of these vulnerabilities. ... Me thinks that Rudy is going to have to come out quickly and let these potential donors and supporters know that he's in it for the long haul."

Back in IA, the Caucus Cooler posts less than confirmed news that Rep./'06 IA Gov. nom. Jim Nussle (R) aide Andrew Dorr "has apparently been tapped to lead Rudy Giuliani's Iowa efforts." CC adds: "The Cooler has been saying for months that Rudy would play in Iowa, those that think he's going to skip it -- we believe are mistaken. Giuliani has said he would announce an Iowa staff after the New Year, if Dorr is going to be running the ship, that would make for a good start."

HUCKABEE: Kfire Khazard

IA's Krusty Konservative fingers Mike Huckabee as his "breakout presidential keynote for 2007," writing: "any caucus vet ... will tell you that there is always a konservative kandidate who will catch on fire and make a lot of noise in Iowa. After looking at the potential Republican field, I think Mike Huckabee is the kandidate who is primed for a big year." KK concludes: "I think Mike Huckabee is primed for a great year. It is important to note that this is not an endorsement of Mike Huckabee. It is just my gut feeling that Mike Huckabee will emerge as the konservative kandidate in Iowa."

IA's Caucus Cooler reiterates their "Huckleberry" doubts: "The thing is, while Huckabee has been deafeningly silent over the past few months other candidates, Sam Brownback and Jim Gilmore, are taking the juice out of his "credible social konservative kandidate." Not to mention that Huckabee isn't exactly a flawless right-winger himself (taxes, immigration). So that's why we've been poo-pooing his campaign of late."

ROMNEY: Apparently, He's Running

The long expected news that Mitt Romney plans to form a presidential exploratory committee drew little blogger reaction (The Corner's John Podhoretz labels the item his "Shock News of the Year!"). Ankle Biting Pundit's B.T. was particularly unimpressed: "I believe Romney has about as much chance of winning in '08 as a snowball does in a forest fire. No one that let's their state's supreme court run roughshod over the separation of powers deserves to hold high office where such shenanegans have greater impact on average citizens."

RedState CEO Erick Erickson did offer a lukewarm endorsement of Romney: "Were the Presidential Preference Primary held today, I'd be voting for Mitt Romney. ... My preference is Rudy [Giuliani], but his positions on social matters prevent me from voting for him." Erickson adds: "I want to also admit that I am one of those southern evangelicals who has deep qualms with Mitt Romney being a Mormon. I know I shouldn't, but I do. And while everyone is talking about whether it will matter or not, I think I should chime in and say that yes it will, but no it shouldn't."

IA's Krusty Konservative is no Romney fan, but is impressed that "most, if not all of their campaign staff [is] in place during the first week of January, a full year before the caucus." KK details:

Campaign Manager: Gentry Collins
Iowa Chairman: Doug Gross
Political Director: Jill Latham
Field Staff - Chad Airhart, Marcus Branstad,
Sarah Craig, Derek Flowers,
Tim Moran, and Candace Turitto
Event Planning - Straw Poll Coordinator: Nicole Schlinger
Iowa Consultant: David Kochel
Consultant: Brian Kennedy

KK then advises: "Romney lacks a social conservative grassroots organizer on his Iowa Team. The problem for Romney is there is not an abundance of them in the state, so they are difficult to get. ... This is an area where Romney will have to be creative and find someone with the right connections to make inroads with Iowa's social conservatives. Romney will have to aggressively court them if he wants to win the caucus."

Continuing his righty blogger charm offensive Mitt Romney sat for a phone interview with The Right Angle's Robert Bluey 12/27 including:

• On more troops for Iraq: "I'm not going to weigh in. I'm still a governor. I'm not running for national office at this stage."
• On his pro-life record: "Conservatives, of course, can make their own assessment. But the great thing is people don't have to look at what people say, they can look at what they do. ... So talk is cheap, but action is real. And people can now look at my record."
• On gay marriage: "my view on marriage has been entirely consistent over my political career. And that is that I oppose same-sex marriage. I also oppose civil unions. There are some people who feel that is inconsistent with also encouraging the elimination of discrimination against gay people as well as others of differences. I'm very much opposed to discrimination. I also recognize that it's not wise to create a special class and establish new rights for any particular group. But I'm opposed to discrimination.

ROMNEY II: A Cafeteria Mormon?

The New Republic's 1/15 issue piece on Romney and Mormonism comes in for some righty blogger criticism but also some agreement on how Romney ought to address the issue. The Corner's Byron York argues that while TNR does take some "standard-issue jab[s] at the right" if Romney does appeal to voters with his faith then TNR is correct when suggesting "people will want to know more about that faith."

Fellow CorneriteRamesh Ponnuru was less impressed with the analysis: "Romney might try to appeal to religious-conservative voters not on the basis of his religious faith but on the basis of his agreement with them on the public-policy issues that most concern them. Linker, toward the end of his piece, signals that he doesn't see the distinction, but I think that says more about his own embrace of liberalism than about the possible alternatives available." Evangelicals for Mitt makes a similar argument.

Outside the Beltway, however, posts video of the end of South Park's Mormon episode and comments: "If that's Romney's interpretation-that he's a "cafeteria Mormon," if such a thing can be said to exist-then he'll get a pass from me on his theology. If he actually believes in the literal truth of LDS teachings, though, I'll dismiss him as a nut."

SEN LANDSCAPE: The Fab Five

MyDD's Jonathan Singer pairs "Presidential Support Score" numbers ("the percentage of roll call votes in which a given member of Congress supported the publicly-held position of the White House") with Cook Political Report Senate Race Ratings to identify potential '08 netroots targets. Those mentioned include: Sens. John Sununu (R-NH), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Norm Coleman (R-MN), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

NE SEN: Another One Bites The Dust?

A 12/29 Leavenworth Street post forwarding KMTV Omaha reports that two Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) "insiders" claim Hagel will not run for re-election drew interest from Daily Kos diarist Kagro X: "If the reports pan out, what are we witnessing here? ... are we seeing a collapse of the Republican Rubber Stamp bulwark upon which the foundations of the White House's bunker mentality has rested? Merely a fraying around the edges? Or just another round of Republican casualties of the failed Bush agenda?"

Swing State Project commenters seem to prefer rancher Scott Kleeb (D) for the Dem nod.

VA SEN: The Legend Of Macaca Continues

American Spectator's 1/2 article on Sen. John Warner's (R) '08 deliberations is prompting netroots crowing over an anonymous GOP consultant quoted: "The far-left wing of the party was so aggressive in Virginia with guerrilla tactics, Web attack ads and blog posts, that Warner has to look at all that and wonder if it's worth that kind of fight."

Raising Kaine founder and Sen.-elect James Webb (D) netroots coordinator Lowell Feld comments: "Translation of "far-left-wing?" Uh, I think they're talking about us, the Virginia Progressive blogger community. Ha."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas chimes in: "Here's a promise to the Republican Warner -- the Virginia and national blogospheres will be even more sophisticated, bigger, and aggressive than we were in 2006. If John Warner wants to avoid the Allen treatment, then a nice, cushy, comfortable retirement is a great option."

NY 19: Who Would Want Their Children To Grow Up Redskins Fans?

The Right Angle's John Gizzi reports ex-WH press sec. Ari Fleischer will not seek the GOP nod to challenge Rep. John Hall (D-19) in '08. Fleischer explained: "I don't want my children to grow up to be Redskins fans!"

IRAQ: The Times They Are A-Changin'

A 12/29 Military Timespoll showing the "American military ... has grown increasingly pessimistic about chances for victory" is generating lefty blogger excitement. TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent first picked up on the story noting that while only 38% of the 6K Armed Forces members polled "think there should be more troops [in Iraq] than there are now" while 39% "think there should be the same number or less than there are now." Sargent adds: "For the first time, more respondents disapprove of Bush's handling of the Iraq war than approve of it. ... And only half think success in Iraq is likely -- down from 83 percent two years ago."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas highlights the pollsters description of the sample: "the survey's respondents are on average older, more experienced, more likely to be officers and more career-oriented than the overall military population." Kos comments: "In other words, we're talking about the most conservative segment of the military. These are lifers. (The enlisted ranks are far more liberal, drawn mostly from poor African American, Latino, and Anglo demographics, though also young thus politically disengaged.)"

Following the story through 1/2 Sargent and Washington Monthly guest poster Steve Benen wonder why more MSM outlets have not picked up on the story. Benen writes: "For reasons that are unclear, the media seems to have missed the poll entirely. In terms of newspapers, the San Jose Mercury News and the Seattle Times were the only U.S. papers to run stories of their own. Reuters and UPI mentioned the poll in wire stories, which were not widely picked up. That's it. That's all the print coverage the poll received."

IRAQ II: Spontaneous Combustion

While more than disappointed by Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) 12/28 WaPoop-ed supporting more troops for Iraq, Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher was buoyed by the "37 pages of negative responses" in the WaPo comments section. Hamsher was not just impressed with the number of voices agreeing with her, but also by the fact she "didn't recognize a one." Hamsher writes: "No, people just spontaneously showed up and were appalled that anyone could be promoting this kind of lunacy. The response to Lieberman's call for escalation in the war was loud, forthright and agressive - no more."

Atrios echoed Hamsher's sentiments: "Once upon a time it took a concerted effort by whatever large liberal internet forces existed to make any kind of blip. Now these things happen without any of the big traffic generators trying to make it happen."

In other blogger/Iraq news, Andrew Sullivan officially came out in favor of withdrawal: "But my view right now is that we should withdraw most combat troops by the middle of this year; and leave a remaining force in the Kurdish region and along the Iraq-Turkey border."

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: Everybody Loves Henke

Incoming Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) hiring of QandO blogger Jon Henke as his New Media Director drew wide blogger attention. Instapundit and The Right Angle's Robert Bluey both celebrate the hiring with Instapundit adding: "And he's right to say with regard to the blogosphere, "the Republicans are getting into the game a bit late."

Power Line's contributors had a more mixed reaction. Paul Mirengoff notes Henke "is no friend of Power Line" but does wish him well, while Scott Johnson "thought he did a good job under unexpectedly difficult circumstances for Senator Allen."

The hire even draw measured praise from the competition. MyDD's Matt Stoller writes: "Henke is smart and got an up front view of the Allen debacle as Allen's blogger. Unlike most of the wingnutosphere, Henke is a genuine strategic thinker who understands the dynamics of internet politics and the game of modern communications. He's not inward looking and he gets that the right has to seriously invest and change their institutional framework to catch up to us. This is an excellent hire by McConnell, and it suggests he will be a very formidable leader."

THOUGHTS OF '06: Lover Him Or Hate Him, Olbermann's No. 1

The left's Brilliant at Breakfast names their "Brilliant 20 of 2006" including:

• 1. Keith Olbermann. Perhaps no one was more instrumental in tearing down the wall of delusion that the mainstream media had built around George W. Bush than the former ESPN sportscaster.
• 2. Michael J. Fox. If Keith Olbermann began tearing down the wall around George W. Bush, Michael J. Fox exposed the gargoyle behind even the lame mask of Rush Limbaugh.
• 3. S.R. Sidarth. Every now and then, someone's fifteen minutes of fame changes the course of history. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, the effect can be cataclysmic.
• 4. Stephen Colbert. The gasbags of the media right give lip service to courage while safely ensconced in their studios. ... This year, the pre-eminent fake right wing personality entered the belly of the beast and promptly laid a lovely 24-karat gold turd in the punchbowl.
• 5. Howard Dean. ...it was the 50 state strategy, which sought to build Democratic organizations and field candidates in every state, in every district, which brought the results.

On the right, Right Wing News names his "Twenty Most Annoying Liberals In The United States: The 2006 Edition" including:

• 16) Andrew Sullivan
• 9) Markos Moulitsas Zuniga
• 3) The New York Times
• 2) Jimmy Carter
• 1) Keith Olbermann

LEST WE FORGET: If Only We Could Make Others' Resolutions

Arianna Huffington comes up with many 2007 New Year's resolutions she'd "like to hear," including:

• "I will run for president of the United States." -- Sen. Barack Obama
• "I will not take SNL's 'Dick in a Box' video as a gift-giving primer." -- Bill Clinton
• "I will not grant interviews about important issues after 5 p.m. -- or anytime I don't know what the hell I'm talking about." -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), incoming chair of the House Intelligence Committee
• "I will pick a party and stick with it." -- Sen. Joe Lieberman
• "Panty check. Every day." -- Britney Spears

Posted by Conn Carroll at 12:17 PM

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