2/1: Keeping Their Powder Dry

The Blogometer has noted before the netroots apparent capacity for patience when it comes to expecting actual results from congressional Dems in affecting U.S. Iraq policy. For now, they appear to be satiated by non-binding resolutions (Biden/Levin) and calls for a gradual withdrawal of troops (like Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) plan), viewing them as a first step towards "future actions to stop the war." But some time in the next couple of months, Pres. Bush is going to have to come to the Dem Congress for a supplemental appropriation on the war. As one lefty blogger puts it, that's when "the rubber will actually hit the road" on Dem resolve to end the war sooner rather than later.

IRAQ: Preludes To War

Daily Kos' Mcjoan posts video of Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-WI) hearing on congressional war powers and writes: "Non-binding resolutions stating the political opposition to escalation ... are politically important, but won't end the war. The only way that this president can be forced to end this war is if the Congress refuses to fund it." Mcjoan urges readers to join MoveOn's "virtual march to end the war tomorrow" which aims to send 1 mil. messages telling Congress "that the Senate has to oppose the president's plan to escalate the war and that we're counting on them to block it." Mcjoan argues that bipartisan resolutions opposing the escalation "will give our leaders in Washington the support they need to take future actions to stop the war."

Also at Daily Kos, founder Markos Moulitsas urges Dems against accepting WH invitations to form a bipartisan advisory group on Iraq. Kos writes: "If that "bipartisan advisory group" wants to recommend ways that Bush can get our troops out by early next year, than I'm all for it. But somehow, I doubt it. Watch Republicans try to use this "bipartisan" group to try and share the Iraq blame across the aisle."

At The Huffington PostChris Weigant warns that the real fight over Iraq won't start for a couple of months when Pres. Bush is forced to come back to Congress with a supplemental appropriation request for the war. Weigant warns his "friends on the left" that out come of the battle in Congress "is going to enrage the anti-war folks." Weigant reasons: "The anti-war groups on the left are going to loudly demand a cutoff of all funds, immediately. ... But Congress is just not going to cut off all funding at this point. Democrats will be so terrified of the "you aren't supporting the troops in the field" mantra from the right, that they will vote more money for Iraq."

Weigant urges "the anti-war folks" to channel their anger over the failure to cut off funds for the surge into "[m]arches, rallies, petitions, TV appearances, anything they can muster." Weigant concludes: "Keep Congress' feet to the fire! Show the growing public support for withdrawal in every way you can."

Matthew Yglesias is similarly dismissive of debates over differences in current Dem approaches to the war. He writes: "There simply isn't an important practical difference between the different degrees of anti-warness that various politicians have staked out at this point." Yglesias also argues that "[t]he place where the rubber will actually hit the road here is when Bush comes to congress asking for a supplemental appropriation for Iraq." That, according to Yglesias, is "the time to start really worrying about what people are up to."

Down with Tyranny (who apparently didn't get the 'newly elected' memo) is tracking "freshman" support for the "gold standards" in Iraq war opposition H.J. Res. 18 (Rep. John Murtha's (D-PA) bill) and H.R. 508 (Rep. Lynn Woolsey's (D-CA) bill). DWT comments: "Neither of these bills is non-binding and neither is symbolic. These are the real deal."

Meanwhile, Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall links to APreports of U.S. military officials' worries that "behind-the-scenes struggle[s]" between the Iran and the U.S. "could explode into open warfare" and comments: "This is the preeminent, really the only question in American politics today: Do we want to go to war with Iran or not? ... The debate over the 'surge' of US troops into Baghdad is significant in its own way, but it pales in comparison to this one."

IRAQ II: Death Wish II?

Linking to Hugh Hewitt worries of a "Collapse of the Congressional Republicans" over "benchmark" legislation for the war, Instapundit wonders if GOPers are suffering from sort of bizarre death wish" and posts reader email:

The Repubs are on very dangerous ground here I think. Any Sox fan can tell you this. It is very easy to really, really hate people you once loved when you feel they have betrayed you. (Think Roger Clemens, Sox fans) The Republican base isn't going to get over this, I don't think...not ever.

Every righty blogger under the sun is also attacking Washington Post national security reporter William Arkin for a blog post equating U.S. troops with mercenaries. Power Line's John Hinderaker suggests the post shows the dangers of newspaper's allowing reporters to blog without an editor and is one of many on the right to link Arkin's thoughts to DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas feelings on mercenaries in Iraq: "I feel nothing over the death of mercenaries. They aren't in Iraq because of orders, or because they are there trying to help the people make Iraq a better place. They are there to wage war for profit. Screw them."

GOP FIELD: But Are They 'Clean'?

IA's Caucus Cooler's analyses recent Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and ex-Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) coverage writing: "The most interesting thing about the coverage is that both candidates portrayed themselves as mainstream, neither seems satisfied to pander to the Keyes/Bauer wing of the party alone. BOTH the Cedar Rapids Gazette's article and the Des Moines Register's article about Brownback had the word "consensus" in the headline. ... The Huckabee Registerheadline included the words "Health, Music, and art in schools." Not exactly God, gays, and guns."

CC concludes: "Both of these gentleman are selling themselves as compassionate conservatives without using that term. They are both campaigning in the "Purpose Driven Life" mold of being Christian means more than being pro-life (but don't forget we're pro-life!!!)" The Brody File adds reaction from "another prominent Evangelical leader" on Huckabee and Brownback: "Huckabee has potential. With his chief executive experience, if he can show the ability to raise money he could quickly move ahead of [Brownback]. He is very good in his presentation."

NH's Granite Grok refuses to endorse a candidate this early but does write "about each candidate in a way that clearly identifies my more favored at this point." Reading tea leaves GG prefers: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), "For me as a conservative, McCain is the one guy that is most easy to write off at first blush. ... But then there's the war. That's the thing that matters most above all else to me..." and ex-NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani: "we can't allow a second Clinton Administration. The stakes are too high. ... His visit to NH last weekend was a huge hit, and he resonates with so-called "independents."

GIULIANI: Gunning For Rudy

Mets fan and RedState contributor, Baseball Crank announced his "current support" for Rudy Giuliani 1/31 identifying four reasons for his decision: 1. We Need To Win The War; 2. We Need To Win The Election; 3. Leadership Matters; and 4. We Can Hold The Line In The Courts.

While Giuliani continues to receive high marks for his "star power" Instapundit suggests he has "a big vulnerability" on "the gun issue." The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez thinks rudy can get a pass on the issue but fellow CorneriteRick Brookhiser disagrees. Later a reader tries to set K-Lo straight on Rudy, the GOP, and guns: "I'm 42, a reservist just back from Afghanistan, and started reading NR in junior high school. If the Republicans nominate a candidate that views me as a subject and not a citizen with respect to firearms, I'll vote for my wife - just like I did in November when the "Republican" candidate for Senate in Ohio was Mike DeWine."

MCCAIN: Strong Palmetto Roots

No John McCain fan, RedState's Erick Erickson is still impressed with the "ground work" McCain has laid in South Carolina. Erickson posts video from a press conference from Columbia, SC, and writing that with forty state legislators along with two U.S. Senators McCain has "the makings of a solid South Carolina team. And yes, forty state legislators is a good majority of the Republican caucus down there."

ROMNEY: He's Like Magic Johnson, But Different

Mitt Romney had a good run with pro-life bloggers 1/31. The Corner's Mark Steyn seconds suggestions that a "pro-life candidate who was previously pro-choice could be a great asset and a better sell than someone who's been pro-life all along." The Christian Broadcasting Network's The Brody File explains the significance of Romney's recent endorsement from National Right to Life Committee general counsel Jim Bopp through sports analogy: "This is a big deal folks. ... It's like if you were competing against a half dozen players to become the starting point guard on your college basketball team ( read: President of the United States) and Magic Johnson came out and said "I want this guy as my starting point guard."

The Brody File also, probably for the first time ever, points readers to The American Prospect for an article titled "What Evangelical Problem?" TBF comments: "I interviewed Romney in June and he told me then that he didn't think his Mormon beliefs were going to be that big a deal with Evangelicals. He has always said that if he's right on the issues (courts, life, marriage, etc) then Evangelicals, for the most support, will hopefully support him. This article tends to come to the same conclusion."

BIDEN: Knowledgeable Dems Wanted

In non-clean Joe Biden blog reaction Atrios doubts Biden's "extremely knowledgeable on foreign policy" reputation: "I'm not sure about the reflexive "extremely knowledgeable on foreign policy" praise as it seems like everyone who is "extremely knowledgeable on foreign policy" seems to get everything wrong these days."

Matt Yglesias also hopes Dems find a new crop of foreign policy minds: "It's really too early to tell at this point, but for me one of the major questions looking at the primaries is going to be what indication we have of whether or not any of our presidential contenders is likely to find the Democratic Party a better group of "knowledgeable about foreign policy" people instead of relying on the same old strategic class types. If not, the wide open road of the future starts looking pretty narrow."

CLARK: But What Does His Arenas Source Say?

Parsing the DNC winter meeting schedule MyDD's Chris Bowers is convinced Wesley Clark since his speaking slot is surrounded by other declared candidates. Daily Kos's djm4america reports his "Platinum source" has confirmed Clark is running.

GORE: Apparently, We're Not All Monsters After All

Writing, "there aren't many things that make me proud to be an American these days," Daily Kos' Shpilk finds solace in Norwegian parliament members Borge Brende's and Heidi Sorensen's nomination of Al Gore for the Nobel Peace Prize. Shpilk writes: "Thank you Al Gore, for showing the world that perhaps we Americans are not all monsters, after all. This can only help to provide even more of a bully pulpit for Al to put forth his message about global warming."

OBAMA: Scoring Big Points With Partisans

Barack Obama further solidified his netroot street cred with his 1/31 freezing out of Fox News over its recent madrassa story blunder. Kos writes: "This is how you deal with Fox propaganda. You marginalize them. ... In fact, Obama could continue to earn huge points with Democratic partisans if he continues to show Fox News the contempt and scorn it has so deservedly earned."

Eric Alterman has similar thoughts: "Good for Obama for freezing out Fox. It's not a news organization; it's a propaganda outfit. Would that his contenders went along, we might teach them a lesson about the meaning of honest journalism." and MyDD's Jonathan Singer is on the same page: "This is exactly what you do when a propaganda outfit posing as a news organization smears you with demonstrably false accusations ... All too often in the past Democratic candidates have been willing to just sit back and take hits."

DEMS: Out Of The Shadows

A new Gallup Poll shows that Dems are gaining an edge in nat'l party self-ID. Since '04, Dems have gone from a -0.6 to +3.9. Gallup notes that the Dem gain is "mainly due to declining Republican identification, rather than increasing Democratic identification." Reaction from the usual suspects:

Chris Bowers sees movement from GOP to Indies, and Indies to Dems. "While Democrats have gained, it is not yet a realignment. We will have achieved realignment-level success when this movement within the Independent pool moves all the way toward more people identifying as Democrats.

Kos looks at the data state-by-state, and learns that 33 states now "show clear Democratic advantages," while "just six show a Republican advantage." CO still ranks as one of the more-GOP states, so "I'm even more impressed at the Democratic performance the past two cycles. ... I can't wait to celebrate the Democratic convention in Denver next year."

Separately, Kos does some number crunching in close races from '06, and says "one of the under-reported factors" in Dem victories was the "spoiler effect that the Libertarian Party played." In MO SEN and MT SEN, the Libertarian vote was larger than the Dem margin of victory. "That's control of the Senate right there. ... The theocon and neocon takeover of the Republican Party has left many of its more Libertarian members adrift with few alternatives."

On a similar note, Andrew Sullivan plugs Cato's study of the Libertarian vote. "In general, the libertarian move away from Christianist big government Republicanism has been intense these past six years of Bush. Cato argues that the libertarian vote is about as large as the Christianist vote, and subject to swings three times as powerful."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: An Inconceivable Source?

Freakonomics Blog contributor Stephen Dubner thinks he knows why the "media is brimming with global warming stories every day." Kids:

One theory came to mind the other day when I was looking over a list of the most profitable worldwide movie releases of 2006. No. 1 on the list was Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, an animated - and apocalyptic - kids' movie, which took in just over $1 billion at the box office. And as you can see here, the animated kids' movie Happy Feet has also been huge, with over $350 million worldwide, and counting. While Happy Feet isn't quite about global warming, it is about mankind's disastrous overreach into nature. (In order to appreciate the reach of these kids' movies, consider that Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, a global warming jeremiad, has done $42 million worldwide, a huge figure for a documentary but a drop in the bucket compared to the animated blockbusters.)

Dubner concludes: "I am not saying that global warming hasn't become front-page news for a host of other reasons; but I do wonder if its recent prominence may have come about through a channel that no one was expecting."

LEST WE FORGET: Crouching Blogometer, Hidden Hotline

Noting that imperfect translations often cause "random combinations of words like 'Shaolin', 'Fist', 'Eagle', and 'Bruce'" in Hong Kong and Taiwan martial arts titles, Karate Party still manages to put together a list of the "100 worst martial arts movie names in existence" including:

• Against Rascals with Kung Fu ... Do the rascals have Kung Fu, or does our hero fight them with his/her Kung Fu?
• Ninja Black List ... Does it mean they kill you or stop hiring you?
• Mean Streets of Kung Fu ... As far as I know, Kung Fu isn't a place
• The Hung Boxing Kid ... Effect of title probably unintentional.
• When Taekwondo Strikes ... Taekwondo doesn't strike people...people strike people. Stop blaming Taekwondo!