4/13: The Never Ending Story?

Unfired WI US Atty Steve Biskupic is just the latest focal point of netroots blogging on the Prosecutor Purge story. Bloggers are making the case that the recent forceful reversal of a Biskupic-won voter-fraud conviction by an appeals court, best encapsulates what is at the heart of the story: Bush admin. pursuit of frivolous voter-fraud claims for narrow partisan gain at the cost of prosecutorial resources better spent addressing real crimes.

Since MSM coverage of admin. 'scandal' is normally driven by illegality, the Blogometer doubts this story would ever have gotten this far without the resources devoted to it by the netroots. While there still is no evidence, and even few suggestions for that matter, that anything illegal was actually done, DOJ's management competence a completely valid political issue. However, since Pres. Bush won't be on the '08 ballot, the netroots will have to find ways to connect the story to the eventual GOP candidate. TPM's Josh Marshall has repeatedly urged MSMers to ask former US Attorney Rudy Giuliani how he feels about the issue. So far the Blogometer has not seen any takers.

PROSECUTOR PURGE: Might It Be Easier For Waxman To Just Work Out Of 310 First Street?

Following news that the WH may have 'lost' up to 5M emails between '03 and '05, and that counter to Patrick Fitzgerald's order, Karl Rove continued deleting his own RNC well into '05, the netroots are calling on House Dems to go beyond their recent requests for federal agencies to preserve email from RNC accounts.

House Gov. Reform and Oversight Chair Henry Waxmanhas directed gov't agencies "to preserve e-mails received from or sent to non-governmental e-mail accounts used by White House staffers" and "provide an inventory of all e-mails involving these accounts." Bloggers fear that these efforts will not be enough to uncover GOP underhandedness and are urging House Dems to subpoena the entire RNC computer system. AMERICAblog's John Aravosis writes: "They've deleted countless emails to and from senior White House staff in order to hide the evidence of any wrongdoing, and in clear violation of federal law. ... The Hill needs to subpoena the Republican National Committee computer systems, now (it was the RNC that provided the senior White House staff with the emails and blackberrys they used to skirt the law). And then the Congress ought to hit any outside email services used by senior White House staff, in clear violation of White House police and federal law, with more subpoenas."

The Reality Based Community's Mark Kleiman agrees: "There is every reason for the Congress to act to secure those computers immediately and protect the data on them. By the same token, it is urgent to get Rove and his colleagues on record under oath right now, before they know what will and won't prove to be recoverable. Obviously, the Justice Department is not going to investigate this matter, and there is no longer a Special Prosecutor statute. That leaves only the Congress, "the grand inquest of the nation," to uncover the facts."

GIULIANI: A Wink Is Not Enough

Rudy Giuliani's blogging star may be fading as conservatives grow tired of equivocations and start to demand more a definitive defense of their beliefs from Rudy. A Hotline On Call item on Giuliani using federalism to dodge important issues to conservatives drew some defenses of Giuliani but some agreement as well. AmSpec Blog's Philip Klein defends: "I [] think that Giuliani is absolutely right by saying these issues should be left to the states. For instance, I personally find the confederate flag to be offensive because I associate it with slavery, which will forever be the greatest stain on this nation's history. But I understand that that the flag has different meanings for different people, and in no way do I think that the president should have any role in determining whether or not individual states should fly the flag."

But also at AmSpec, Dave Holman agrees with On Call's conclusions, if not their reasoning: "Giuliani's federalism isn't weak for the reasons [On Call] gives. It is fake because it contradicts his support for Roe. By touting federalism, pro-lifers are supposed to take heart that he would promote policies or legal interpretations that would enable some states to restrict abortion. But if he still supports Roe, or at least think it is a legitimate conclusion under any theory of robust federalism, his federalism rings hollow. His continued support for Roe and federal funding of abortion reveals his "federalism" talk as a wink and a nod."

Race 4 '08s Republius also is no fan of "this federalism dodge" since it is "a disingenuous pouring of fuel on the fire." Instead, Republius advises: " The answer isn't to go from the extreme of off the cuff to the other of punting; the answer is to take private time to lay out, important issue by important issue, a comprehensive, coherent, and consistent position in every area before hitting the hustings."

Not on federalism, The Corner's Rich Lowry shares reader email doubting Giuliani's commitment to the war in Iraq, specifically in comparison to John McCain's 4/11 VMI speech: "in discussing the deployment of more troops, Mr.Giuliani has been alone in saying that such a strategy may not succeed, potentially providing him cover should the situation in Iraq deteriorate further. ... In California a few days later, speaking of "the danger of focusing on Iraq too much," he said that complete success there would not win the fight against terrorism, and that failure there would not lose it. Giuliani has a hawkish image which does not seem to be entirely deserved." Lowry comments: "Well, nothing Giuliani said is necessarily objectionable on the merits, but I take your point: he is providing himself more wiggle room than McCain."

MCCAIN: Don't Call It A Comeback

Responding to LA Times new poll showing John McCain falling to 3rd behind Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, The Corner's Rich Lowry wonders if McCain "has gotten himself back where he is psychologically most comfortable-as an underdog, fighting a tough up-hill battle. I hope-at least temperamentally-it liberates McCain and he becomes the "give 'em hell" candidate. "

Lowry explains why he welcomes the new McCain: "I was struck last week in New Hampshire how cheerful and upbeat both Romney and Giuliani were. I don't think that's where the conservative mood is. It's getting more mad and disgusted by the hour (at and with the Democrats, the drift of events in the world, the failures of the Bush administration). That's the sentiment a "give 'em hell" McCain could tap into, and he had an excellent start with his VMI speech yesterday."

Lowry also posts reader email noting that 'McCain's Divorce' from the MSM will make a general election victory more difficult for McCain: "The Media Divorce has huge political implications. McCain's appeal to the center was always built on a media created halo. ... Now that McCain is acting on clear and admirable principle, the halo is being stripped from him, which greatly complicates his appeal to swing voters. Whereas McCain's zealous rhetorical excesses were once lauded as straight-talk, now they are nit-picked."

ROMNEY: The Challenger

Thanks to YouTube's new feature "You Choose '08 Spotlight" Mitt Romney currently has the 3rd most viewed video. YouTube's 'Spotlight' will showcase one WH '08er per week asking YouTubers to answer a specific question. In turn, users can submit video responses to the candidates questions.

Romney asks users: "What do you believe is America's single greatest challenge and what would you do to address it?" You can see user answers here.

TANCREDO: Asked And Answered

The Corner's John Derbyshire asks why "The Corner a Tancredo-free zone?" since "Tom has been a solid conservative for ever. (Ninety-eight percent lifetime rating from American Conservative Union.) He is sound as a bell on every conservative issue you can name, and always has been."

K-Lo responds: "I was at the CPAC speech and recall cringing quite a few times. Tone is not nothing and I'm sorry, but Tancredo can't be - and won't - be the voice of the Republican party or conservatives. "

THOMPSON: No Candidate Turns Down Free Media

Corner readers throw water on Kausfile's rumors that Fred Thompson will announce 5/4: "No way Thompson announces in early May. He has a big movie playing in May on HBO - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - in which he plays the President. If he announced before it airs, 1) the network would almost certainly have to pull the movie and 2) he would lose tons of associated free media."

CLINTON: The Committed Are Uncommitted

Noting that the LA Times new poll interviewed "registered voters" without "making any attempt to actually try and poll anything resembling an accurate makeup of the Democratic primary and caucus electorate nationwide," MyDD's Chris Bowers argues that Hillary Clinton's lead is inflated. Bowers explains: "I bet not a single one of these polls makes any attempts to adjust for the primary / caucus rules specific to the state where people are being polled. ... Again, Clinton is weaker among high-information Democrats who are more likely to vote in Democratic primaries than she is among all self-identified Democrats."

DODD: A Late Hour Call

Daily Kos's mcjoan asks if Sens. Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama will "step up" to Chris Dodd's call for them to join him "standing up to the president once and for all by stating their support for the Feingold-Reid legislation that sets a firm timetable to end this war by March 31st, 2008." More Dodd: "After more than 3,200 lives lost, tens of thousands wounded and $400 billion spent, it is time to bring an end to a war that at every turn has failed to make America safer. The hour is late. It is time to begin putting our country on a more secure path."

EDWARDS: No Fluff Here

Despite some minor complaints, bloggers continue to note John Edwards' recent rising fortunes. In the complaint department, TAPPED's Garance Franke-Ruta hits Edwards for his "weak, cautious response" to the Don Imus affair. She blogs: "Edwards missed an important opportunity to show solidarity with the women's and African-American groups that were calling for Imus's ouster -- alliances that he'll need if he makes it to the South Carolina primary and wants to do more than make an appeal to the few white guys who still vote Democratic in that state."

A MyDD commentator took issue with Elizabeth Edwards for her characterization of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton supporters as "suffering from Cult of Personality." The commenter fire back: "What on earth does she think her supporters suffer from?" From Edwards: "Maybe this is the warm-up period where we allow ourselves a little fluff and frivolity."

In positive Edwards blogging, Matthew Yglesias makes his case for the inevitability of an Edwards victory: "If I had a choice between leading in national polls (Clinton), leading in fundraising (Obama), or leading in Iowa (Edwards) I'd take leading in Iowa. Money has diminishing marginal returns and Edwards has "enough" fundraising to keep running a major campaign. ... Last, the emerging Obama-Clinton dynamic is making it very likely that Edwards can keep plugging away for the next six months and become everyone's second choice."

At MyDD, Jerome Armstrong notes that recent SRBI polling shows that Al Gore's absence from the race will help Edwards: "The movement of Gore supporters to their number two choice of Edwards is making this a three-way race."

OBAMA: Giving Blogging A Bad Name

Netroots pressure on Barack Obama over Iraq is not fading. MyDD's Matt Stoller hits Obama for ending his 'freeze-out' of Fox News by praising John McCain. MyDD's aiko, however,forcefully defends Obama: "Obama answered questions today before a group of reporters. Brit Hume of Fox News was in the gaggle of reporters and asked a question. Obama answered Hume's question. ... But what really galls me is the rush to judgement. Why the rush to condemn him? ... Obama is going to make mistakes but this crowd is laying in wait. You guys are gunning for him. It is stuff like this that gives blogging a bad name."

While aiko may have put out that fire, others were brewing over Obama's words to CNN: "I am not yet at the point where I am prepared to say that I am going to cut off funding, partly because I spent a lot of time in Iowa, in Illinois, in small communities where every town hall meeting I have I meet with a mother whose son or daughter is in Iraq and they are concerned not only about getting them home but also concerned about getting them home safely and making sure they've got the night vision goggles and the armor and so forth."

MyDD's Vox Populi responds: "What Senator Obama is saying is that it is irresponsible to withdraw funding for the war. He is implying that Democrats who support defunding are not giving proper body armor and equipment to the soldiers on the ground."

Daily Kos' Georgia10 also hits Obama for the CNN interview and adds: "For all his talk of leadership ("I'm committed to finding the 67 votes we need to override this veto"), one would think that Obama would be the first to sign on as a co-sponsor to Feingold-Reid. ... Either you want the war to end in March 2008 (as so many of their bills claim), or you don't. It is fundamentally inconsistent--and frankly, disrespectful to the American voter--to on the one hand boldly proclaim that it should be the policy of the United States to have all or most troops out of Iraq by March 2008, but then refuse to sign on to legislation that would truly effectuate that policy."

IRAQ: We Love Rahm!!!

Dem Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel won a rare round of netroots praise for his memo urging Dems to "remain resolute" behind their Iraq supplemental funding legislation. Daily Kos' mcjoan says Emanuel 'gets it' and The Carpetbagger Report's Steve Benen writes: "This is the right message at the right time. ... There are probably some Dems on the Hill who are wavering, worried that they'll lose a showdown over war funding with Bush. Emanuel is reminding them that this is no time for backing down - Dems are pushing the right policy and have the country behind them."

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: We Hate Jenni!!!

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas agrees with Boing Boing's analysis that the DNC could have done a lot better in their choice for Deputy CEO for Public Affairs for the convention than RIAA's Jenni Engebretsen. Kos quotes Boing Boing: "

The liberal blogosophere is united on many fronts -- not just disliking US foreign policy. We also hate the RIAA -- for suing our friends, for lobbying for laws that suspend due process rights of the accused (the RIAA's favorite law, the DMCA, was used by Diebold to suppress information about failures in its voting machines), and for demanding the right to "pretext" (commit wire fraud) in order to catch "pirates." Worse still, the RIAA are part of the initiative to corrupt net neutrality, imposing centralized controls on the transmission of information across the network.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Is This Story Over Yet?

Kansas City Star sports columnist Jason Whitlock on recent events:

I watched the Rutgers news conference and was ashamed. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke for eight minutes in 1963 at the March on Washington. At the time, black people could be lynched and denied fundamental rights with little thought. With the comments of a talk-show host most of her players had never heard of before last week serving as her excuse, Vivian Stringer rambled on for 30 minutes about the amazing season her team had.

Somehow, we're supposed to believe that the comments of a man with virtually no connection to the sports world ruined Rutgers' wonderful season. Had a broadcaster with credibility and a platform in the sports world uttered the words Imus did, I could understand a level of outrage. But an hourlong press conference over a man who has already apologized, already been suspended and is already insignificant is just plain intellectually dishonest. This is opportunism. This is a distraction.

LEST WE FORGET: The Blogometer Will See Any Movie With Christopher Walken In It

Can't get enough over the top physical comedy? Then check out College Humor's Will Ferrell Movie Generator which spits out Ferrell movie ideas, like the one below, until you find one you like:

Will Ferrell

plays Norbit Schipper, an egotistical, obnoxious dog trainer at the top of his profession. He and his sidekick, played by Chris Parnell, seem invincible until their dominance is threatened by a new rival. Norbit Schipper's excessive pride causes him to spiral downward to comical lows. When he is at the depths of despair, he removes his shirt and bellows,

Your corn-cob pipe is a stallion, a deviant stallion!

After a wacky training process featuring a surprise cameo by Christopher Walken and a marginally-developed romantic subplot, he enters into a climactic showdown with his rival and emerges victorious - but not without learning a thing or two about friendship.

Estimated Opening Weekend Box Office Returns: $46.1 million