August 16, 2007

8/16: Treat Me Nice

In discussing Barack Obama's 8/15 interview with the Washington Post, Marc Ambinder crystallizes Obama's message: "Obama wants to remind Democrats of the feeling they get when they're at a ball game and the national anthem is played -- a post (or pre) partisan, transhistorical patriotism that is then channeled into the political system as the ultimate expression of Democratic ideals. It's a complex argument, easily and reductively characterized as 'Obama versus the System.'"

Some elements of the message strongly appeal to the netroots, some don't. The part that does is evidenced by DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas recent media tour (including Meet the Press, Charlie Rose, and The Colbert Report). On his tour Markos stresses that Daily Kos and the netroots are not left or liberal, but mainstream ... that they better represent American consensus than traditional media, the Beltway, and definitely GOPers.

The part that doesn't is Obama's 'post (or pre) partisan' style. The netroots do not believe that political power is attained in this country by holding hands around the campfire and singing kumbaya. They believe that sharp distinctions must be drawn with GOPers, and that every attack must be answered. But Obama's partisanship style may be evolving. Remember he has never been in a competitive partisan election (beating Alan Keyes does not count). His negatives may be low now, but no one has ever aired a negative ad against him. As Obama becomes more familiar with being a partisan target (something no one can/need teach Hillary Clinton about) we'll see if he adopts a more netroots line of thinking.

DODD: An Accidental Favorite

Chris Dodd's thoughts on US policy towards Cuba was warmly welcomed. Dodd blogged: "I want to see the peaceful transition to democracy occur on the Island of Cuba in my life time. That isn't going to happen if we continue the misguided policies of the last forty-six years." The Washington Note's Steve Clemons comments: "I view this statement as the kind of truth-telling and honest candor that aspirants to the White House should exhibit in all of their foreign policy and national security commentary. I could not agree more with Senator Dodd's views." Matthew Yglesias is also a fan: "Not that it's going to make him president, but Chris Dodd is making sense."

At Talk Left, Big Tent Democrat explains why he is actively supporting Dodd: "I never expected to be supporting any of our fine Democratic candidates for President at this point, much less Chris Dodd ... I was not shopping for candidates. Indeed, I insisted that the Netroots has spent 2007 too focused on the 2008 horserace instead of being focused on the pressing issues of today, especially the Iraq issue. ... But that actually explains how Chris Dodd won my support. Chris Dodd is leading on the issues of today as well as discussing his vision for the issues of tomorrow."

EDWARDS: The Clinton's II

Elizabeth Edwards chatted with Kossacks from the road in IA 8/15. She starts the conversation: "In just the last two and a half days we have already covered a lot of ground and spoken to a lot of wonderful people as we've traveled from town to town. ... If you cannot make it out to see us in person, you can follow the tour online at johnedwards.com/iowa, but for now, let's just chat."

Reacting to a 8/14 Washington Postarticle on Elizabeth, TAPPED's Kay Steiger blogs: "Elizabeth Edwards reminds me of the kind of active campaigner that Hillary Clinton was in the early '90s -- taking strong stances on the issues, launching attacks on other candidates, and even representing her husband at events targeted at women voters. Obviously, Elizabeth Edwards isn't running for president. John is. But I seem to recall that this model of campaign team worked very well for the Clintons in the '90s."

Open Left's Chris Bowers was more a fan of Edwards new Foreign policy article: "In a lengthy article just published in the journal Foreign Policy, John Edwards really opens up against the "war on terror" frame ... This is the sort of thinking I have been looking for from Democratic politicians on this issue for several years now. Bravo, Senator Edwards."

OBAMA: Pure Foolishness? Jujitsu Master? Or Complete Sweetness And Light?

Barack Obama's 8/14 Washington Postinterview drew mixed reactions from the netroots. Two quotes stood out. First: "Her argument is going to be that 'I'm the experienced Washington hand,' and my argument is going to be that we need to change the ways of Washington." Reactions include:

• TPM Cafe's Max Sawicky: "Today in the Post we find Obama claiming an advantage over Clinton by virtue of his capacity to unify the country. The last thing we need, at a point where the Democrats can establish a decisive margin of political power, is somebody out to unify the country. I fear that Senator Obama is turning into the DLC candidate, in all but name."
• TAPPED's Paul Waldman: "But what Max seems to be missing is that Obama isn't saying he'll unite the country by offering a centrist policy agenda, or acting like he's ashamed to be a Democrat, which would make him the DLC candidate. Obama's unity is not about triangulation. The uncharitable interpretation is that it's all talk, just vague encomia to buying the world a Coke, smilin' on your brother, and so on. The more charitable interpretation is that it's an extremely deft kind of political jujitsu."
• Talk Left's Big Tent Democrat: "Obama's problem is the notion that he will be the first politican in history who can lead his political party to success while not engaging in partisanship. It is pure foolishness. But what is especially galling is Obama's willingess to be divisive among Democrats while promising to not be divisive with Republicans. It is simply political madness."
• Open Left's Chris Bowers: "However it was intended, "ideological gridlock" sounds very centrist, and very non-partisan. This, I think, presents a huge opening for the Clinton campaign. Instead of talking about ideological gridlock and post-partisanship, Clinton could emphasize her progressivism and Democratic partisanship, and actually come at Obama from the left."

The second Obama quote drawing attention: "I think it is fair to say that I believe I can bring the country together more effectively than she can ... I will add, by the way, that is not entirely a problem of her making. Some of those battles in the '90s that she went through were the result of some pretty unfair attacks on the Clintons. But that history exists ..." Reactions include:

• John Campanelli at Daily Kos: "Keith Olbermann ... questioned whether the following passage ... bolsters Obama's claim of being a uniter or, in fact a divider...of his own party ... Obama concedes that Hillary's reputation for being polarizing results from the unending, well-financed attacks from the Right Wing Noise Machine. ... Despite well documented evidence of such lies and distortions by the Right that has led to the meme that Hillary Clinton is supposedly "polarizing," Obama perpetuates this label."
• a Daily Kos commenter: "The above comment by Obama seems pretty judicious and fair. So, if Hillary camp is indeed reacting to Obama's above comment there characterization of Obama people as Karl Rove seems pretty harsh."
• Andrew Sullivan calls Clinton's Rove-Obama comparison "A New Clinton Low" and blogs: "I'm sure Karl Rove will have plenty of his own talking points next year, if Hillary is the nominee. Clinton's current negative rating is 43 percent. Obama's is 22."
• The Plank's Jason Zengerle: "I guess the Clinton people think Obama has painted himself into a corner with this "politics of hope" thing--and that if he does anything that isn't completely sweetness and light, the Clinton campaign can paint him as a hypocrite. But I think that's a dangerous bet and the sort of hair-trigger response demonstrated by Wolfson serves only to strengthen Obama's original point about Clinton being something of a divisive figure."

OBAMA II: Progressives For For Unilateral Action In Pakistan And Maintaining Crack Cocaine Penalties

Conservative talk show host Michael Smerconish thanks Obama for his unilateral military action in Pakistan comments at The Huffington Post: "Thank you, Sen. Barack Obama. Yours truly, a two-time, Bush 43-supporting political pundit who worked in an appointed capacity in the administration of Bush 41, offers you his gratitude for being the first among A-level presidential aspirants willing to say something substantive about our failure to find Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. We're just weeks removed from the six-year anniversary of Sept. 11, and I, for one, am sick and tired of being fed the same old spin about how the search is nuanced, and sooner or later we will bring him to justice."

Back on the left, two MyDD diarists explain why they are voting for Obama. From Max Fletcher: "It is from my experiences volunteering in low-income neighborhoods, studying theories of community development and social policy, and talking to hundreds of voters in small-town Minnesota and suburban Chicago that I have drawn the conclusion that Barack Obama is the best candidate to lead the Democratic Party and the country in the post-Bush years." The other MyDDer blogs: "Obama's argument is that without reaching out to new voters, without building new coalitions, you might be able to eke out a victory for the presidency, but you will never be able to create change. ... Obama is not advocating a grand compromise with the right, as is often suggested, rather he envisions a working progressive majority, a realignment of political life along progressive values."

Also voting for Obama, The Huffington Post's Trey Ellis explains why he can 'guarantee' the 'black vote' for a Obama will be a landslide: "If the majority of black folks swore O.J. was innocent just because of the color of his skin, the majority of us, when we're alone in that ballot booth, will pull the lever for brother Obama."

Finally, Talk Left's Jeralyn Merritt summarizes Derrick Jackson's Boston Globecolumn on Obama's record on drug sentencing: "He used to be against the harsh crack cocaine penalties but now won't commit to doing anything to fix them. It may not be worth the "political capital" it would take."

RICHARDSON: But Does His Blood Boil When You Ask Him If Homosexuality Is A Choice?

From the Wells Fargo campus in West Des Moines, IA, TAPPED's Garance Franke-Ruta quotes Bill Richardson on immigration: "I don't like the immigration debate. ... My blood boils when I get these questions. Deport them. Get them out of here. ... What we have seen is some ugly threads."

GIULIANI: Funny How Time Slips Away

A Talking Points Memovideo contrasting Rudy Giuliani immigration statements circa '96 with statements circa '07 spurred conservative discussion. The '96 comments include: "We're never, ever going to be able to totally control immigration to a country that is as large as ours." The '07 comments: "We can end illegal immigration. I promise you, we can end illegal immigration." Reactions include:

• The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez: "Why did the Giuliani campaign have campaign adviser Stewart Verdery on Bill Bennett this morning arguing that Giuliani has not changed his views on immigration? Toward the end of the interview this morning Stewart made perfect sense: It's a different world now, no one can look at the world through a 1996 lens. But suggesting Rudy hasn't changed his views seems ridiculous - at least if Giuliani means his more recent tough talk."
• Townhall's Hugh Hewitt quoting NR's John Podhoretz: "[L]ook, basically, the situation is when he said whatever it was that he said that people don't like about illegals, it was 1995, 1996, something like that. I mean, you know, the influx of 12 million had not yet happened. So to be fair, these are different times. Different opinions can be expressed in different times."
• NRO's Jim Geraghty: "It won't make a huge difference in the discussion of immigration, but I like the point - that since we can't deport every illegal immigrant immediately, then let's prioritize, and get the worst of 'em out first."
• Hot Air: "Giuliani's camp is pretty fast about responding these things, which bodes well for the general if he makes it that far. I think this is a dodge - the best barrier to illegal immigration now as in 1996 has been a fence and more BP agents."
• Ace of Spades: "It should be counted in any politician's credit if he can take a position which he knows is right even when public opinion is arrayed against him. And we can't be entirely sure that a Rudy-Come-Lately to the security-first position isn't simply disingenuously pandering on the issue. We don't know how Rudy will act in the future. We know what he's said before and we know what he's saying now; we don't know what his real stance will end up being."

From the trail in IA, Cyclone Conservative reports on how crowds are reacting to Giuliani on the issue: "He talked about immigration and said that he'd end illegal immigration and expand legal immigration and said that immigrants must assimilate and learn English. Anything Giuliani said about immigration received loud applause from the hundreds who gathered to hear him speak."

HUCKABEE: Was The True Conservative Under Their Noses the Whole Time?

AmSpec Blog's Philip Klein sums up a session Mike Huckabee held with reporters: "Perhaps most interesting is that Huckabee made it clear that he was running as a populist and directly against the business wing of the Republican Party. ... He referred to the group as the "Club for Greed" and rejected their portrayal of his record ... In my view, his populist strategy may make some waves ... But ultimately, taking on the small government, pro-business wing of the Republican Party ... is not the pathway to the nomination."

SC's Daily Shot contrasts Huckabee's winning style with the sinking Sam Brownback: "Sam Brownback's holier-than-thou attitude is the embodiment of everything that drives people away from values positions. ... Instead of welcoming converts and folks who are more with you than not, Brownback's team chastises every candidate who isn't 100% with him. ... That message isn't resonating and the best its doing is providing good ammo for Obama or Clinton."

Townhall's Jonathan Garthwaite links to Michael Medved's positive take on Huckabee and warns: "If Fred Thompson wants to win this race, he better get in before Mike becomes the new Fred."

ROMNEY: One Flip Flop Even Mitt Couldn't Survive

Power Line's John Hinderaker isn't impressed with ABC News reports that "Romney in Stem Cell Biz, Despite Political Opposition." Hinderaker blogs: "Mitt is in the "stem cell biz"? Sounds like he's carrying out experiments in his garage. Well, not exactly. It turns out that something less than one one-thousandth of Romney's fortune is invested in a company called Novo Nordisk, which carries out some kind of stem cell research."

Much, much more worrisome, NY Sun's Ryan Sager notes the former MA governor also owns some stock in ... the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) network.

THOMPSON: John McCain II?

The Corner's David Freddoso posts excerpts from Fred Thompson's letter to FairTax.org and comments: "Thompson Backs the Fair Tax - Sort Of ... As Ken Hoagland, spokesman for Americans for Fair Taxation remarked to me on Monday, the first attempt to exempt something from the tax (he used bread as an example) will result in 'the tax lobbyists being let back in.'"

Townhall's Hugh Hewitt supports Thompson's refusal to back the group reasoning: "a plan that begins with abolishing the mortgage interest deduction and the charitable deduction will not pass the Congress any time soon."

Finally, Soren Dayton reads David Broder's column on Thompson and concludes he is little more than a warmed over John McCain: "I am convinced that Thompson is not the person that conservative activists fantasize him to be. This seems like supporting evidence."

BLOGGERS VS BLOGGERS: How About 'Corporate Truthtellers'?

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas, at both his own site, and The Huffington Post, tries to convince his fellow bloggers to drop the "mainstream media"/"MSM" label since it began as a "right-wing" acronym. Markos blogs: "[I]t's a right-wing pejorative, and I'd rather we not adopt their language and frames. But more importantly, by calling them "mainstream media", we are saying that we ourselves aren't mainstream, and that's not something I'm willing to concede. ... So if not "MSM" (god, that word is like nails on a chalkboard to me!), then what? ... "Corporate media" can work. But my preferred term is "traditional media" -- a nice, neutral, non-negative way to differentiate old media versus the newfangled stuff."

More kos: "But wait, say some, why do we want a "nice" and "neutral" term for those newspaper and television guys? Aren't we supposed to hate them? Absolutely not. We need an effective media, one that reports the truth, whatever it may be."

BLOGGERS VS BELTWAY: Building From The Pixel On Up

Open Left's Chris Bowers announced the five winners of BlogPac's grassroots infrastructure project grants. And the winners are:

• Precinct Map and Voting History Online Application - This is a project to map every precinct in the state of Washington, along with providing information on how each precinct voted in key elections. Over time, this project has a goal of expanding across the entire nation.
• The Candidate Source internet video project - Candidate Source is a project to transcribe and catalog political content found on video sharing sites like YouTube, including stump speeches, debates, and interviews.
• Black Agenda Report - The Black Agenda Report is a weekly magazine that turns a critical eye on African-American institutions, and also one of the centers of the emerging African-American blogosphere.
• Blogging the Statehouse - Blue Jersey pays Jay Lassiter to directly cover political happenings in the state legislature in Trenton. ... The BlogPac grant will allow this position to become sustainable over the long-term.
• BlogsUnited - We exist to provide a useful and relevant source of information and communication for progressive bloggers working locally. ... We currently do this through a Wiki, a Google Group, social networking nodes on Facebook, DFA link, and a nascent Soapblox Blog.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Save The Nation

Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall excerpts the following from a David Corn email: "Postal regulators have accepted a scheme designed in part by lobbyists for the Time-Warner media conglomerate. In short, mailing costs for mega-magazines like Time-Warner's own Time, People and Sports Illustrated will go up less than other magazines or even decrease. But smaller publications like The Nation will be hit by an enormous rate increase of half a million dollars a year."

Marshall comments: "For two hundred years US postal rate has been geared to support independent media and political discourse. It's something small magazine publishes and press theory types understand very well but it's not that widely understood in the general public. If that comes to an end it will be a very big deal."

LEST WE FORGET: A Convenient Truth

Matthew Yglesias makes light of Michael Gerson's recent conversion to green activism: "Gerson somehow manages to parcel blame out evenly between conservative Republicans like Gerson, Gerson's boss, every boss Gerson has ever had in his career, Gerson's colleagues, and Gerson's subordinates all of whom have been fighting serious action on global warming tooth-and-nail and unspecified liberals whose unspecified "hysteria" has contributed to the problem in an unspecified way. ... I, too, believe all that stuff. Inconveniently for me, I've never been a top aide to the President of the United States, which is always a good situation to be in when you'd like to see action taken on a cause."

Posted by Conn Carroll at August 16, 2007 12:40 PM