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."