April 26, 2007

4/26: The Next Reagan?

The Blogometer would not be the first to compare Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to Ronald Reagan, and if Obama continues to warm even conservative critics, we won't be the last. As gifted a politician as Obama may be, however, there's still room for improvement. And the netroots just may be the folks who help him get there. Following Rudy Giuliani's claim that "America will be safer with a Republican president," Obama chastised Rudy for taking "the politics of fear to a new low" and claiming, "America's mayor should know that when it comes to 9/11 and fighting terrorists, America is united." The netroots liked that Obama hit back at Giuliani quick, but they wish he would have been more combative: stressing how Dems would protect America better instead of focussing on 'unity.'

Reagan may have benefitted from a sunny optimism, but he also never missed a chance to remind Americans he'd better protect them than Jimmy Carter or Walter Mondale. Maybe Obama can take a suggestion from the netroots and move past his 'new politics' to make the argument that he's the candidate who can best secure the country.

DEM FIELD: Trending Towards A Big Three?

MyDD's Chris Bowers posts his most recent Dem primary polling average:

Date Clinton Obama Edwards Others / Unsure
Apr 24 35.7% 28.4% 17.6% 18.3%

Bowers comments: "One thing I will note is how Edwards and Obama were stuck at a combined 38.3%--41.6% for a long time. However, over the last ten days, they have quickly risen to a combined 46.0%, mainly at the expense of others/unsure, but also, to a lesser extent, at the expense of Clinton. That strikes me as a particularly important trend in the campaign, one that is an entirely new development and that impacts every single announced candidate."

CLINTON: The Price Of Endorsing HRC

CaliticsBrian Leubitz hits CA Ass. Speaker Fabian Nunez (D) for endorsing Hillary Clinton: "HRC refuses to admit that she was wrong to vote Yes for Iraq, and that will be her albatross as the war gets even worse. ... To me, this endorsement gives a big middle finger to the grassroots and especially the netroots. So, will it work? Ultimately, I doubt quite seriously that this changes more than a handful of votes. ... If she wins, maybe such an early endorsement from Nunez gets him a swank job if the term limits deal goes down."

At MyDD a diarist notes the Intrade betters have lowered HRC's chances of winning the Dem nod by 6 points "mostly to [Barack] Obama's gain."

DODD: First In Cool

MyDD's Matt Stoller again promotes Chris Dodd's call for a carbon tax, this time forwarding MoveOn.org's call for all WH '08ers to support a similar plan. Stoller writes: "A carbon tax is a way of pricing this ability appropriately. It's a useful and important tool that we need to begin discussing to seriously deal with the problem."

Looking ahead to 4/26's NBC debate, Mike at Blue Hampshire promotes the Dodd campaign's real time live-stream from inside the debate war room which allows bloggers to embed a stream on their blog just like a youtube clip. Mike comments: "So we're going to do this, because it's frankly one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a while. For a future debate, I could imagine we'd have multiple diaries where you could wander into different candidates war rooms during the debate. But for tonight, it's Dodd, because it's his team that grabbed the brass ring here and rethunk it."

EDWARDS: Plain John

MyDD commentator Sarah Lane explains why she thinks "Edwards Can Seal the Deal" after listening to him and Elizabeth on the Ed Schultz Show:

Edwards can explain complicated policy proposals with ease. Edwards can talk about his bold, progressive policy proposals without coming off as a socialist. He can talk about Universal Health Care without putting people off. ... He doesn't over explain his ideas and he doesn't gloss things over with fancy adjectives. He tells it like it is, simply and plainly.

OBAMA: Don't Reject That Kind Of Politics

Barack Obama received mostly high marks for his attack on Rudy Giuliani's claim that "America will be safer with a Republican president." The Carpetbagger Report's Steve Benen quotes Obama: "Rudy Giuliani today has taken the politics of fear to a new low and I believe Americans are ready to reject those kind of politics. America's mayor should know that when it comes to 9/11 and fighting terrorists, America is united. ... The threat we face is real, and deserves better than to be the punchline of another political attack."

Benen then gives Obama a B+ for his words, commenting: "This didn't strike me as whining; it seemed rather on-point - Rudy's wrong, here's what I would do differently. It could have hit Giuliani harder, but not bad." Talk Left's Big Tent Democrat ("This reaction from Obama is noteworthy to me because he may finally be learning that playing nice with Republicans gets you nowhere.") and TPM's Greg Sargent ("It's worth pointing out that Obama deserves much credit for going after Rudy first and getting this whole thing rolling. There's way too much tiptoeing around Rudy out there, and such timidity only serves to allow his 9/11 halo to keep on gleaming.") were also impressed.

Some on the left thought Obama didn't hit back hard enough, though, arguing he should have made a case that America would be safer with a Dem president instead. The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum writes: "So instead of complaining about how mean Giuliani is, why can't Obama and Clinton just tell us what they'd do? ... Whining just reinforces the message that Democrats are wimps. The real way to be "hard hitting" is to explain why Giuliani is wrong and what Democrats would do instead - and why the average Joe and Jane would be safer and better off without guys like Giuliani bumbling recklessly around the globe leaving a stronger al-Qaeda and a weaker America in their wake."

The Plank's Isaac Choitner argues there is a real opportunity for debate on the point: "Terrorism is an important issue, and politicians can and should be arguing about which/whose strategies will keep America more secure. Every time Republicans mention how much more they "get" terrorism than the Democrats, well, they may be wrong, but they are by no means out of bounds. Democrats have been saying for a good four years now that Iraq has made America less safe. This is the debate we should be having."

OBAMA II: No Dove

As bloggers continue to chew on Obama's 4/22 foreign policy address, the more hawkish it sounds to them, with the usual suspects liking the speach more or less accordingly.

The Plank's Jonathan Chait points out that Obama's anti-war stance differs from some liberals who emphasized process ("it would be okay to invade Iraq, but only if we obtained the consent of the UN") and instead criticizes the war "as a strategic misallocation of resources." Chait writes: "Obama positioned himself between the neoconservative idea that anti-Americanism is not a problem and the left-liberal idea that the United States has no right to flout world opinion ... Obama was not consenting to the principle of a UN veto, so it shouldn't be surprising that he disavowed that idea yesterday."

More critical of Obama, Brian Beutler and Matthew Yglesias both came out against his call for an increase in the number of soldiers in the armed forces. Beutler: "I've long believed that our military and our military budget are dangerously oversized and that the fact of that enormity has been a dangerous recipe for a violent American foreign policy. And I believe that if, after pulling out of Iraq, Obama adds 100,000 servicemen to our military, even if Obama uses that military wisely and morally for his four or eight years, it will eventually aggravate that phenomenon."

Yglesias in agreement: "The more I think about this idea, the less I like it. I could imagine forms in which I'd support something along these lines, but the budgetary costs involved are staggering and the strategic rationale is thin. The political rationale, by contrast, is clear but also kind of tawdry and misguided. I don't think you're ever going to convince voters that the Democrats are the authentic party of militaristic nationalism."

OBAMA III: Black Like Reagan

Obama continues to receive positive comparisons in conservative circles to Ronald Reagan. At TCS DailySean Higgins writes:

It has been clear ever since Barack Obama's star-making speech at the Democrats' 2004 convention that he has a unique ability to move the party faithful. What is it? I think the answer is this: Obama is the black Ronald Reagan. Given Obama's liberal political views, I realize this claim will prompt guffaws from many Reagan fans. But hang with me on this. ... Of all the candidates running, only Obama truly exemplifies one of Reagan's most popular characteristics: his sunny optimism. Reagan rarely spoke in terms of despair or defeat and instead argued that things can be better. ... And this is what helps distinguish Obama from other Democrats: the relative absence of anger, resentment, and bitterness in his rhetoric.

GOP FIELD: Briar Patch Time

Townhall's Dean Barnett makes the case GOPers should take up Arianna Huffington's offer to host an 'internet debate' hosted by Charlie Rose:

I think the Republican candidates should seize the opportunity to address Arianna's collection of misfits and outcasts. ... Such a forum would provide a priceless opportunity for the Republican candidates to seize the high ground and look big as they scold their critics who would look (and in truth are) juvenile and small. ... Additionally, the more prominent the Netroots become, the better it is for the Republican Party. What happens in the Netroots would disgust most Americans. ... The Republican candidates have the chance to confer a new level of legitimacy and prominence to the Netroots. They should seize it."

MCCAIN: Just An Old Hobbyhorse

Many bloggers listening to John McCain's 4/25 WH '08 announcement thought the following passage was an attack on Rudy Giuliani:

When Americans confront a catastrophe, natural or man-made, they have a right to expect basic competence from their government. They won't accept that firemen and policemen are unable to communicate with each other in an emergency because they don't have the same radio frequency.

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez responded: "I'm surprised he went right for Rudy in his official announcement. But, of course, I'm not surprised he'd want to get Rudy out of the way - and making his 9/11 image less untouchable by hitting it from the get-go is one way to start working on that." NY Sun's Ryan Sager added: "As I've mentioned before, I don't think much of these 9/11 families who have it in for Rudy Giuliani and their wildly unfair attacks on the former mayor. Frankly, it's a little disappointing that Mr. McCain is picking up this line of attack."

K-Lo later posts a denial of an attack on Rudy from "a Senate staffer with ties to McCain" who wrote: "this issue of communication between law enforcement, etc. on 9/11 is an OLD hobbyhorse of his, dating to his time as Chairman of the Commerce Committee. That problem is not a Rudy problem...the problem was caused by the availability of federal spectrum. Given he follows this criticism with similar challenges to the federal government's incompetence on both Katrina and Walter Reed, as well as his past history on the issue, I don't think it is entirely fair to read this as a slam at Rudy."

Otherwise, reactions were positive, including from Power Line's John Hinderaker: "McCain's speech tries to be both somber and optimistic. Again, I think that will be the tone of his campaign as well. I don't doubt that McCain can do somber; it remains to be seen whether he can convince Republican voters that his is the positive vision of the future that they are looking for."

ROMNEY: We Guess That's Kinds Better

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez sheds light on Jason Roe's departure from Mitt Romney's campaign: "Roe ... was previously Tom Feeney's chief of staff. Tom Feeney has come up this week from the FBI. Roe's wife works for Rick Renzi, who yesterday resigned from all his House committee assignments. So evidently Roe has a few things other than Romney to worry about."

At Townhall, Matt Lewis hits Romney twice. First Lewis suggests Romney's recent nuclear trafficking speech may be too similar to a recent WaPo op-ed; and later Lewis doubts Romney's recent conversion to the free speech cause: "Ultimately, I guess, the real question comes down to whether or not you believe Mitt Romney has legitimately changed his mind on issues like abortion and campaign finance reform -- or if this is the case of a very good business man who has adapted his positions to fit his audience ..."

THOMPSON: A Celebrity With Dignity

Townhall's Matt Lewis argues the only thing fueling Fred Thompson's campaign is his 'style' since: "1. His popularity has more to do with discontent over the current crop of GOP candidates than with him, and 2. His record, while fine, is not substantially more conservative than the other candidates." Lewis concludes: "In short, while that "tough guy" schtick may have worked in the past, I'm just not sure it will sell in today's world."

The Corner's Ramesh Ponnuru responds with a limited defense of Thompson: "[Lewis] gives, I think, short shrift to the way Thompson has managed to become a celebrity without losing his dignity. In our culture, that should count as an accomplishment."

Lewis then follows up with reader email: "I totally agree with your take on Thompson. The last candidate with a resume this thin was John Edwards. Although a lawyer Thompson tends to get every legal issue wrong-campaign finance reform, affirmative action, tort reform, etc. He was entirely AWOL over the last few years when others have been fighting for party and country."

PROSECUTOR PURGE: Connect The Dots

Responding to reader queries on why the sudden explosion in Jack Abramoff related raids, TPM's Josh Marshall makes the case for a connection to the US Attorney firings:

I think it's now quite reasonable to conclude that the turnaround is related to the fact that Gonzales and his crew are flat on their backs and aren't able to block them any more. ... It may seem like a leap. But there's more circumstantial evidence for it than you might think.

We already know, for instance, that Main Justice made Carol Lam wait months for permission to issue indictments against the crooks and bribers in the Cunningham investigation. Today we learned that DOJ sources are coming forward to say that Main Justice was playing a very similar game in Arizona with the Renzi investigation. And remember, that US Attorney, Paul Charlton, got canned just like Lam.

We now have some good evidence of a pattern of 'soft' obstruction of Republican corruption investigations by officials at Main Justice -- in the Cunningham-Lewis-Wilkes-Foggo investigation and the Renzi probe. If that's their MO, it shouldn't surprise us to learn they've done the same in the Abramoff probe.

The Corner's Byron York responded to Marshall's earlier suggestions that the Purge and Abramoff scandals are connected, essentially arguing, "It's a complicated case, and complicated cases take a long time."

IRAQ: On Broder, Reid, Evil, Patraeus, And Trump Cards

The netroots continued their full throated defense of Maj. Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) recent comments that the "war is lost." MyDD's Jonathan Singer cites poll data showing the Americans agree with Reid and firedoglake's Jane Hamsher notes that Reid has a 90% approval rating among Daily Kos readers.

Also on the left, David Broder is being savaged for his 4/26 op-ed labeling Reid "The Democrats' Gonzales." TPM's Josh Marshall writes: "I really don't know whether I find it more painful or amusing to watch David Broder's quickening decline. But I'm going to go with amusing. Because clearly there's some deep streak of evil within me that gets a kick out of watching one man struggle so desperately for relevance and even coherence."

On the right, Captain's Quarters is 'fact checking' myths floating around the blogosphere including:

• MYTH #1: General Petraeus Says The War Is A "Lost Cause" - FACT: General Petraeus Sees "Positive" Signs in Iraq
• MYTH #2: General Petraeus Does Not Know What Is Happening In Iraq - FACT: David H. Petraeus:Four-Star General, Commander, Multinational Forces-Iraq
• MYTH #3: General Petraeus Says There Is No Military Solution - FACT: General Petraeus Believes "Improv[ing] The Security" With "Additional Forces" Is Necessary To Achieve A Political Solution
• MYTH #4: General Petraeus Does Not Support the Surge - FACT: General Petraeus Testified In His Confirmation Hearing That 'The Additional Forces' For The Surge Were 'Essential'
• MYTH #5: General Petraeus Does Not Need Immediate Funding - FACT: The Army Chief Of Staff Stated 'Draconian Measures' Will Begin Without Funds In April

Back on the left, Arianna Huffington is sick and tired of Petraues being used as an Iraq debate trump card: "As soon as you mention Petraeus, it's game over. Why continue talking? He's a one-man cavalry, riding to the rescue armed with a Princeton PhD and a successful stint in Mosul. The pro-war crowd's olive drab savior -- able to confer military absolution on America's greatest foreign policy disaster with the wave of his hand."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Declare Victory And Go Home?

Seeing the Forest's Dave Johnson wants to know, "What Does 'Win' Mean In Iraq?" Johnson continues: "Bush says we need to 'win' the Iraq war. Can someone explain what that means? Didn't we 'win' on 2003 when Saddam Hussein was overthrown as the president of Iraq? If we 'win' who surrenders? If we 'win' who 'loses?' Who are we fighting 'against' in Iraq? Can anyone answer these questions?"

LEST WE FORGET: Rove And Cheney Are So Hard Core

MyDD's Matt Stoller points to Davey D's MySpace page defending Cam'ron and his 'Stop Snitching' ethos which led Busta Rhymes' to not cooperate with police investigations into the killing of his own bodyguard. Davey D admits "Hip Hop came off looking pretty bad" but then turns his guns on DC:

Also we didn't hear about the No Snitching ethos that seems to be practiced by our very secretive Vice President Dick Cheney and Presidential aid Karl Rove. We can talk about the lack of snitching around important issues like the War in Iraq, the firing of Federal Judges. Hell let's look at 9-11. Also we shouldn't forget how Cheney went into Stop Snitching mode after he shot his homeboy in the face. The Cheney bunch are the epitome of 'Stop Snitching' . They hold that position much harder then Cam'ron or any other rapper. And yeah try getting too deep into some of these guy's illegal business and you might wind up missing like anyone else.

Posted by Conn Carroll at April 26, 2007 12:48 PM