March 29, 2007

3/29: Last Man Standing?

In a definite change of pace from typical conservative blogging on John McCain, the AZ senator came off as funny, engaged, and insightful to those on a 3/28 blogger conf. call. McCain followed up the charm offensive with an online petition called Surrender Is Not an Option, reminding bloggers: "Success or failure in Iraq is the transcendent issue for our foreign policy and our national security." This is exactly the way the vast majority of conservative bloggers feel about the issue that is most important to them (one was moved to compare McCain to Lincoln). If GOP bloggers continue their whack-a-mole approach to frontrunners, might they all just fall in line for McCain in the end?

PROSECUTOR PURGE: They Say 'Political' Like Its A Bad Thing

Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall readies readers for ex-AG CoS Kyle Sampson testimony before 3/29's US Attorney firings hearing by clearing "one big chunk of administration bamboozlement out of the way." Marshall links to Sampson's prepared remarks and quotes: "The distinction between 'political' and 'performance-related' reasons for removing a United States attorney is, in my view, largely artificial."

Marshall is having none of it: "This use of the word 'political' is at the heart of Sampson's and others effort to lie their way out of what happened here. ... 'Political' can mean many things in different contexts. ... The charge against Sampson and crew is not that they fired them for 'political' reasons. The charge is that they fired these prosecutors for not using their law enforcement powers to help the Republican party." Marshall concludes: "So, have your eyes out for Sampson's word play and games. This investigation is about whether Sampson and his crew corrupted the justice system by purging US Attorneys who wouldn't use their prosecutorial powers to help the Republican party."

Marshall also flags analysis from Paul Kiel showing that "Sampson attempted to mislead Congress by proxy -- that is to say, he gave false information to DOJ officials who were preparing to provide information to Congress." Kiel links to a DoJ letter claiming Karl Rove had no role in appointing Rove aide Tim Griffin to his USA spot, and then follows up with a link to an email Sampson wrote WH ass. counsel Christopher Oprison claiming Griffin's appointment was "important to Harriet, Karl, etc."

Daily Kos' Hunter updates: "Oprison also was the White House lawyer who vetted the opening statements Deputy Attorney General William Moschella made in front of the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month -- statements later determined to have been grossly misleading."

PROSECUTOR PURGE II: More Politics

Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall has background on the chairman of New Mexicans for Honest Courts, Linda Chavez Krumland, the group that is currently running an anti-David Iglesiasradio ad in NM, including: "Krumland was an at-large delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention. ... FEC records show, not surprisingly, that Krumland is a major contributor to Republican candidates in New Mexico. And she lists her business as Roswell Toyota. ... A year ago, Krumland's husband Tom -- also a 2004 RNC delegate -- in a heap of trouble after he and state Rep. Dan Foley tricked the New Mexico state National Guard into arranging an F-16 flyover to mark the opening of his new dealership."

Marshall concludes: "As I said, the depth of the moral corruption of the GOP at the moment is profound. And it shows itself in both the contemporary (bribery and self-dealing) and Early Modern (bodily and moral decay) senses of the word."

PROSECUTOR PURGE III: Heckuva Job, Gonzo!

National Review's call for AG Alberto Gonzales' resignation was met with mild to enthusiastic approval. Reactions include:

• NRO's Ed Whelan: "Much as I have struggled to resist the conclusion, I find myself in reluctant agreement with NRO's house editorial today ("Time to Go") stating that Attorney General Gonzales should resign. ... it is Gonzales's astonishing fecklessness in refuting such assertions that convinces me that he has to go.
• The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez: "Laura Ingraham ... on her show this morning threw out "Good job, Brownie." She ain't Bill Maher, ya know? In the spirit of the editorial this morning: It's going to be a long two years if we don't get some fresh air, and fast."
• The Corner's Andy McCarthy: "One of the most striking things about Byron's important article this morning is the apparent lack of direct communication between Main Justice in DC and the office of (the now-fired) U.S. attorney Carol Lam in San Diego. As Ed Whelan and I found yesterday in a Federalist Society panel on the current controversy, it is a lot easier to argue for upholding the administration's legal rights than to defend DOJ's management."
• A Corner reader: "You are not surrendering in the face of difficulties. You are recognizing truth, even though it may benefit your opponents. It speaks to a core difference between the Democrats' and Republicans' core constituencies.
• Power Line's Paul Mirengoff: "Gonzales' management style is not what I want to see from the Attorney General. But Gonzales reports to President Bush, not conservative writers.

Right Wing NewsJohn Hawkins, however, wants to go on the offenseive, sensing scandal in Sen. Diane Feinstein's (D-CA) resignation from the Mil. Const. Apps. Subcmt. Hawkins writes: "Republicans should be doing exactly what the Democrats would be doing right now if the situation were reversed: Screaming about how corrupt the Democrats are and urging Diane Feinstein to resign from the Senate over her lapse in ethics."

GSA: Brown-Bagging It

Video of GSA Administrator Lurita Alexis Doan "humiliating herself" while testifying about a PowerPoint presentation given by White House Deputy Political Director Scott Jennings at a GSA "team building" bag lunch is all over lefty blogs. Carpetbagger Report's Steve Benen writes: "As one might imagine, Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee had a few concerns about this, and called Doan to testify under oath in an open hearing today. It really didn't go well for the administration - Doan probably would have been better off resigning instead of humiliating herself the way she did today."

Firedoglake's Christy Hardin Smith live -blogged the event.

GIULIANI: End Run Around SoCons?

Rudy Giuliani received wide blogger praise for landing Steve Forbes' endorsement:

• Hit and Run's David Weigel: "Today we find out that Steve Forbes is signing on to Giuliani's campaign. So is Rudy carving out a niche as the fiscal conservative candidate who'll govern like Reagan without the speeches to the March for Life?"
• Townhall's Matt Lewis: "In 2000, Forbes was also endorsed by movement conservative giants like Phyllis Schlafly, Morton Blackwell, and Paul Weyrich. These are the same conservative leaders who ... have tended to have a rocky relationship with John McCain ... By securing Forbes' endorsement, could Rudy be simultaneously making a move in New Hampshire -- and making a play for the support of conservative leaders?"
• Captain Quarters: "Rudy Hits A Homer ... Giuliani has tried to sell himself to conservatives as a member of the national-security, low-taxes Right while acknowledging the differences on social issues. ... In order to make that sale, though, he needed more credibility on economics and fiscal policy. Steve Forbes delivers that credibility."

The Corner's Ramesh Ponnuru identifies past Giuliani statements against Forbes' flat-tax idea and blogs: "The tone of his remarks suggests that he has come around on these issues, which is great. But there are plenty of reporters who scourge flip-floppers, and I can't wait to see what they have to say about this."

Also worrying past statements may catch up to Giuliani, The Brody File posts past Rudy quotes on partial birth abortion and parental notification and then advises: "Rudy needs to be careful. Part of his charm is that his supporters like the way he is straight shooter. He doesn't want to be seen as someone who is playing both sides." TBF also warns of "plotting going among grassroots religious conservatives in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and many other states" threatening to "work 40 hours a week ... to destroy his candidacy for President" if he receives the nomination.

MCCAIN: Jerks Wanted

A John McCain netted some rare conservative blogger praise from a 3/28 conference call. The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez shares these nuggets:

• On Potential for Compromise on Iraq in Washington - "I don't know where the compromise is between withdrawal and non-withdrawal?" and "The battle is going to be won or lost on public opinion."
• On Democrats - "Are being driven by moveon.org"
• On Why Conservatives Don't Seem to be Rallied by Him - "Because life isn't fair" and "I am happy with where we are ... I'm unhappy with my performance in fundraising ... my fault ... I kinda view this as a spring-training"
• On Fred Thompson's Polling - "Of course his approval ratings are so high. Why wouldn't they be? He's already been president at least three or four times that I know of."

More McCain from David All's live-blogging: "We'll do these calls regularly and I invite you jerks to come on the bus with us and we'll have some fun." Also on the call, RedState's Erick Erickson shares a "great idea" of McCain's: "He suggested that when the President vetoes the legislation, the President should hold a press conference and read all the bribes in the bill -- every earmark the Democrats attached to the supplemental funding."

In other positive McCain blogging, K-Lo notes that Bill Bennett and Laura Ingraham both attacked CNN's Michael Ware on their radio shows for Ware's suggestion the McCain had no "credibility" on the situation in Iraq. Power Line's John Hinderaker was moved to ask if McCain is "the Lincoln of our time?"

MCCAIN II: No Dice

Conservative bloggers are not buying The Hill reports that McCain sought to switch parties in early '01. Captain's Quarters blogs: "If true, this would effectively end McCain's presidential bid. ... The principals tell completely conflicting stories, and the nature of the issue almost ensures that no independent proof one way or the other could exist. I'm betting this is nonsense."

ROMNEY: Google Powered Oppo

Evangelicals 4 Mitt's David French responded to AmSpec Blog accusations that E4M has "been using opposition research provided by the Romney campaign" and accepts "funds from donors steered to the site by the Romney camp." French writes: "Good grief. It really would be difficult for this story to be more wrong. Apparently, the "Prowler" took his or her own speculations about E4M and just spewed them out on the screen--all without taking the time to take care of such minor details as, say, talking to us."

More French: "Since the Governor announced his candidacy, we have completely shut down any monetary expenditures ... other than maintaining this blog site, and I don't think that's cost us anything this year. My favorite allegation in the "Prowler" piece is that we have been using "opposition research" provided by the Romney campaign. Honestly, I was unaware that the Romney campaign owned Google."

THOMPSON: Onward, Christian Soldiers

James Dobson's decision to tell US News that he doesn't think Fred Thompson is "a Christian" allowed conservative bloggers to distance themselves from the Focus on the Family founder. Reactions include:

• Instapundit: "Another reason to like Fred Thompson: James Dobson doesn't like him."
• Outside the Beltway's James Joyner: "The great irony is that Dobson goes on to heap lavish praise on that paragon of moral virtue Newt Gingrich. The whole thing is quite odd. Dobson strikes me as something of a kook, but then again so do all the post-Billy Graham teevee preachers.
• Ankle Biting Pundit's Bull Dog Pundit: "Look, Dobson is flat out wrong. Thompson is indeed a Christian by the religious definition. ... Can someone please tell me what "committed Christian" means?
• AmSpec Blog's Dave Holman: "Dobson's arrogance in this situation is shocking. ... I mean his presumption to judge Thompson's Christianity in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
• Virginia Virtucon: "Who Died and Made James Dobson the Arbiter of "Good Christians"? This sort of nonsense that Dobson is spewing is what too often turns the average voter off from the GOP, just as MoveOn.org and DailyKos turns them off from the Dems.
• Race 4 '08's DaveG: "If Dr. Dobson is going to continue to try and influence Republican and conservative politics, he needs to do so in a responsible, inclusive, and far more politically savvy manner ... either conservatism and the Republican Party will be destroyed, or James Dobson will be directed towards the nearest exit.

DEM FIELD: Leave No Trainer Behind

The Nation's Ari Melber promotes MoveOn's announced "three 'virtual town hall meetings' for 2008 presidential candidates to discuss Iraq, health care and energy policy." Melber reports: "The meetings will be organized from the bottom up: MoveOn members choose the candidates and questions, and then vote for their favorite. The first topic is Iraq, and MoveOn says it will encourage its members to support and donate money for the candidate 'they believe will do the best job of leading us out of the war in Iraq.'"

MyDD's Matt Stoller comments: "This is a big deal, because it's the first time that various political candidates are going to hear from activists on Iraq, and be held accountable for their positions. It's important at this point for people knowledgeable in the issue to explore the various candidate plans and track records, and begin to equip activists with useful questions."

Also focussing on Iraq, MyDD's Chris Bowers links to reports "a viable GOP candidate could criticize the management of the war, but not the need for the war" and goes on to make a similar litmus test for the Dem nominee: "In order to win the 2008 election, every Democratic contender does not need to do much more than pledge to withdraw all troops--including "trainers"--from Iraq within six months of taking office. Who is willing to do that? Who has done that? The only candidates who can truly consider themselves "electable" are candidates who can answer "I have" to both of those questions."

DODD: The All Powerful Tim

Chris Dodd received a round of netroots thanks for his involvement in scuttling Swift-Boat funder Sam Fox' nomination to become Ambassador to Belgium. Atrios calls Dodd "All Powerful" and MyDD's Jerome Armstrong plays the story this way: "The White House quickly buckles to the pressure brought on by Tim Tagaris (on behalf of Chris Dodd) --and many others fighting against the nomination over the past couple of weeks." Bob Geiger and Crooks and Liars also thank Dodd.

EDWARDS: More Than Sympathetic

Linking to a past John Edwards interview about faith with David Kuo, TAPPED 's Paul Waldman marvels at John Edwards character: "In the interview, Edwards says that after their son Wade was killed in a car accident in 1996, 'my faith came roaring back and has stayed with me since that time.' ... So while Edwards is right that no one should vote for him simply out of sympathy for his family's struggle, there's nothing wrong with watching how he deals with that struggle and making some reasonable conclusions about what it says about the kind of person he is. It may be an imperfect means to assess how he would deal with the unique challenges a president faces, but at least it's something."

OBAMA: People-Power Metrics

MyDD's Jerome Armstrong is impressed that Barack Obama's campaign is showcasing "the number of people that have contributed to the campaign" not just the financial totals. Armstrong argues: "What Obama is doing with this metric that's smart is setting it up as a parallel process number to the total amount raised in the quarter. They know that Clinton is likely to raise a lot more money than Obama will, perhaps $40 Million? So even if Obama gets half that, he has the number of contributors to point toward as a people-powered marker in the process."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Yeah!!!! McCain-Feingold!

Blog PI's Not Paul Begala looks at Americans United for Change efforts to unseat "one of the smartest elected GOP political minds and he can easily raise money, Min. leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and claims defeating McConnell is not the point of their ads: "Campaigning has grown into something completely different than winning and losing single elections: It's now almost sport." NPB continues:

Back in 2002 a group of rich Democrats and consultants got together and said to themselves, "we want influence." They created this 527, originally, to protect Social Security from the Republicans' "privatization." Now, they still have this 527 and still continue to have influence with their money and with their consultants. And that's the beauty of this for people like me. No candidate, no pressure to win the race, no worry about the candidate's wife or best friend telling me how to do my job, no grueling travel days and no limiting contact with pesky reporters. Just a bunch of paid professionals sitting around a table making a couple of rich dudes happy.

LEST WE FORGET: Not For The Feint Of Heart

Crooks and Liars SilentPatriot posts video of Karl Rove rapping at the annual Radio/Television Correspondents' Association Dinner 3/28 and comments: "Not as good as Colbert's roast of President Bush last year, but it's pretty damn funny to see Karl try to get down with his bad self."

Posted by Conn Carroll at March 29, 2007 12:35 PM