August 01, 2007

8/1: An Accountability Moment Indeed

Any claims that Daily Kos is a "hate site," especially from Bill O'Reilly, are just plain silly. Yes commentators sometimes have potty mouths and less than nice things get said. However, unlike Barack Obama, we are pleasantly surprised by some of the quality analysis we read at Daily Kos everyday. And as Liberal Oasis, Bill Scher points out, they have clearly made positive contributions to Dems. That said there are certain elements in the community that we believe should worry Dems. Mike Stark and his 7/31 incident at O'Reilly's home ought to keep netroots leaders up at night.

Stark's actions are not just comments in some diary. Stark has an established history of intentionally provoking physical confrontations. He is the same blogger that was involved in an altercation with ex-Sen. George Allen's '06 campaign staff. Many in the Daily Kos community seem to believe they can distance themselves from Stark by simply pointing out he doesn't 'officially' represent the site. This distinction is not gonna fly in mainstream public opinion, nor should it. Stark receives both community affirmation and financial support from Daily Kos' commenters. But for the community, he would not be acting out in this way. Unless Stark is reigned in his antics will continue during the general election season and now is the time for the netroots to decide if he is really an asset or not.

BLOGGERS VS. MSM: Oh This Is Gonna End Beautifully

Daily Kos diarist Mike Stark took the Daily Kos/Bill O'Reilly feud to another level 7/31 posting pictures of his trip to O'Reilly's house where he confronted O'Reilly in his driveway while he retrieved his morning paper, delivered copies of O'Reilly's sexual harrassment lawsuit to all his neighbors, and plastered O'Reilly's neighborhood with signs with statements like "Bill O'Reilly: PERVERT."

Stark explains his actions: "After O'Reilly provided an "accountability moment" to the JetBlue CEO at his home, I decided to provide O'Reilly with his own accountability moment at his home." Later Stark pitches: "One last thing. This project cost me a weeks time and hundreds of dollars. If you're inclined to support good behaviour, I've got a PayPal link up at CallingAllWingnuts.com. See y'all at YearlyKos!!"

There has been no official reaction from DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas or any of the editorial dKos staff, and community response has been mixed (one poll diary showed 40% of Kossacks thought Stark's actions were "a good idea" while 60% thought it was "a bad idea"). Community sentiments supporting Stark include:

• Bravo, Mike!Anybody who traffics in the "politics of personal destruction" ought to get a generous helping of his own dish served up to him. If O'Reilly thinks we're a hate site, he ain't seen nothing yet.
• Mike Stark did a hilarious act that showed someone how it feels to be confronted like he enjoys doing to many other people. I would have been proud to be affiliated with an act like that. Keep up the good, and sometimes funny, work, Mike.
• I sent $100 to you and I've got value from it every time you've posted something to make me laugh since then. I'd rather fund you than any politician any day.
• Crooks and LiarsSilentPatriot: "It's about time someone pulled this crap on O'Reilly."
• You are relentless. And that's why we all love you so much.
• I've read all the concerns from other members commenting here about us sinking to his level, and this situation is different.It's one thing if an honorable opponent states his case and you disagree with it and counter with your own. But nothing about Billo is honorable.
• Listen up people and yes I will take a tone with you if you don't mind. Where have you been for the last seven years? Maybe you haven't figured it out yet but this is a fight to the death. Maybe they don't want us literally 'dead' but they want us silenced, they want us powerless, they want us afraid. And I for one refuse. So congrats Mike Stark, keep up the good work.

Arguments against Stark's behaviour include:

• Now, we all dislike Bill O'Reilly. The man is as big of an asshat as they come. But, knocking on his neighbor's doors to hand out copies of his sexually charged testimony? Standing in his drive-away ambushing him as he comes out for the paper? I'm sorry, but I believe this is flat out wrong. It makes us all look exactly like the "wingnuts" that Mike says he's going to bring down.
• This gives me a similar sinking feeling that I get when I see coverage of protestors picketing the homes of abortion providers. The stalkers feel eminently justified...It's not exactly the same, of course, revealing the address or not makes a difference, but it's WAY too close for comfort.
• I've supported Mike in the past. I'm not with him on this one. Period.
• I don't like the idea of using piss poor and obnoxious tactics to prove that piss poor and obnoxious tactics are wrong. It never ends well.
• Had Mike Stark gone to O'Reilly's house and just attempted to do an interview, that would have been justifiable and defensible. But he chose to harass O'Reilly's neighbors, and fill the whole block with offensive and near-pornographic material (no matter that O'Reilly originated this material).What Mike Stark did to O'Reilly's neighbors was wrong.
• I get outraged when people go to abortion docs houses. I feel outraged when people like Michael Shiavo were accosted at their houses. If anyone showed up at my house for any reason, I'd be over the moon livid. Even the mafia don't harass each other's families. I do believe we should respect the sanctity of each other's "safe zones." Our homes, our gynecologist's offices, whatever.
• Mike is being applauded? By some, yes. By others, he's being castigated. That's the larger point here, that Mike DOESN'T speak for DKos, and the reaction around here couldn't be a clearer indication of that. However Billo chooses to depict things tonight, the truth is the truth. The DKos community is hardly of a single mind in all this.

GOP FIELD: GOP To Bush ... Drop Dead

Responding to Larry Kudlow reporting on Karl Rove predictions that economic populism will dominate '08, The Corner's Andrew Stuttaford comments: "You say that Mr. Rove's suggestion in response to this is that Republican candidates "sharply contrast" GOP plans with those of their opponents. Fair enough, I suppose, but it would be interesting to know where he thinks that immigration falls into this equation. It's worth remembering that a relaxed attitude to mass immigration is widely seen as something that has hit blue collar wages. What then would Mr. Rove advise in that respect?"

Also talking immigration at The Corner, under the header "State GOPs to Bush: Drop Dead" Mark Krikorian covers a RNC "resolution rejecting the president's legalization approach to immigration.' Krikorian quotes an unidentified RNC committeeman: ""If some see in this that we aren't toeing the line 100 percent, then so be it." Krikorian comments: "which is pretty close to "drop dead" coming from a "normally reliable ally" of the president."

GOP FIELD II: You're Either With Them, Or You're With The IRS

AmSpec Blog's Jennifer Rubin advises GOP '08ers to better prepare for the Americans for Fair Taxation group that id testing GOPers at major campaign spots. Rubin explains their mission: "The Fair Tax advocates have been doggedly following candidates and trying to get their "Fair Tax" pledge which envisions throwing out the entire IRS code and replacing it with a single rate sales tax." Rubin then tracks John McCain's and Fred Thompson's responses to the fair taxers and concludes: "The Fair Tax folks are extremely well organized, plan to bird dog candidates throughout the campaign and will be holding a large rally in Ames before the straw poll. So candidates be warned: have your answer ready when they show up at your next event."

GOP FIELD III: Shootin' The Moon

NRO's Jim Geraghty weighs in on the ongoing dispute over GOP '08ers should participate in a CNN/YouTube debate, countering Hugh Hewitt worries that CNN will select unfair video questions: "[W]here [Hewitt] sees risk, I see opportunity. Wouldn't we love to see a Republican candidate respond to a 9/11 "Truth"er? I suspect if Anderson Cooper tried the usual "your questioner was in the audience here tonight" schtick with that question on Rudy Giuliani, Rudy would jump into the audience and kick his ass himself. ... I think almost all of the candidates could take a ridiculous question from Moonbat America and handle them with ease."

Also, Big Head DC passes on rumors that FL FOP chair Jim Greer's "apparent man-crush on Anderson Cooper" may be responsible for some of the scheduling conflicts top tier GOPers are citing for reason's they can't attend the originally scheduled CNN/YouTube debate: "According to insiders involved in the Florida debate, "Greedy Greer" conveniently forgot that the GOP made an agreement with FOX News Channel to have FNC's debate in October serve as the first debate in the state for the 2008 race. Greer, who has yet to pass up a media opportunity, heard rumblings that CNN wanted to bring its YouTube debate to Florida for GOP candidates."

GIULIANI: Will Rudy Handle Moore As Well As Fred Did?

Electability was a focus for Rudy Giuliani blogging 7/31. AmSpec Blog's Philip Klein cites new Gallup data showing Americans "trusted Rudy Giuliani and John McCain to handle the Iraq War slightly better than any of the leading Democrats." Klein comments: "To me, this poll also reinforces the electability case for Giuliani. If Republicans have any chance of winning in 2008, they have to choose a candidate whose own brand transcends the Republican brand, which is badly damaged. The public's trust in Giuliani extends beyond his signature issue of terrorism (in which 69 percent trust him, more than any candidate on any issue)."

NRO's Jim Geraghty, however, was less impressed with suggestions that endorsements from Reps. Jim Geralich (R-PA) and Phil English (R-PA) showed Rudy could be competitive in the Northeast: "Yesterday a Rudy supporter from the NYC tri-state area tried to persuade me that Rudy would carry New Jersey, as he is loved by all those who left during the Dinkins, Koch, and earlier eras of out-of-control crime, drugs, corruption, and dysfunction. (See The Bronx is Burning on ESPN.) It's a tempting thought, but I've seen Republicans fall short too many times in the Garden State to ever get my hopes up again."

Finally, challenges Giuliani "Could You Please Help Our 9/11 Heroes" at The Huffington Post.

HUNTER: Fun While It Lasted

Right Wing News' John Hawkins announced his consultant relationship with Duncan Hunter is over 7/31. Hawkins explains: "[I]t's worth noting that it was a friendly, planned exit. In fact, I put in my notice roughly 30 days ago. As to why, well you have to understand: when I started, I only intended to work for 90 days. ... It was a great experience, I enjoyed it a lot, and now, more than ever, I am convinced that Duncan Hunter would be the best candidate that the GOP could run in 2008."

MCCAIN: Let The Re-Branding Begin!

Kausfiles notes that Thomas Edsall's advice on how John McCain should change his message sounds an awful like his new employer, Arianna Huffington, might want McCain to sound. Instead of turning on Pres. Bush as Edsall advises, Kaus posts a McCain friends advice to run against the media. McCain should say:

A fan of McCain's current messaging, The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez like what she says at McCain's official website: "I just happened upon John McCain's website and "war leader" jumps out as what he's running for right away. He even uses the I-word. By contrast, Rudy and Mitt are all smiles. I know everyone wants to do morning in America (and Senator Gathering Storm certainly did not help himself with his doom-and-gloom approach), but we do have to defeat some evil here."

PAUL: Keeping It Real

The Corner's Lisa Schiffren thanks Ron Paul for livening up the GOP field: "I certainly understand the temptation of supporting Ron Paul. That pure, small government, libertarian world view is wonderful -- and it is what drew so many Reaganites to politics in the 1970s and 80s, when big government ideology was entirely dominant. ... The real problem with Paul, as a political actor, is not that he isn't doing well in this race. It is that he has maintained such ideological purity in his years in office that he has been consistently ineffective. ... Still, it is good to have his voice in the debates, reminding the GOP what the real standards are, or should be, at a time when so many of our political leaders believe in the chimera of a large conservative government."

ROMNEY: Always And Forever

NRO's Jim Geraghty has some criticisms of Mitt Romney's new ad touting his immigration record in IA and NH: "I'm finding the timing curious - not wrong, just curious - wouldn't this ad have been more effective during the whole immigration deal debate? Doesn't this seem a little after-the-fact?" Geraghty later updates with a response from Team Romney: "We did air an earlier immigration ad in Iowa and New Hampshire during the middle of the immigration debate. And in Iowa particularly, immigration is a huge issue then, now and tomorrow."

John McCain aide Patrick Hynes posts video of ex-NH speaker/Romney NH co-chair Donna Sytek admitting Romney will have trouble winning NH in the general election.

F. THOMPSON: Southern Pol Receives Most Of Money From ... The South!

The Corner's Byron York singles out some noteworthy names from Fred Thompson's IRS filing, including: John McLaughlin; Swift Boat Veterans for Truth leader John O'Neill; Doug Feith; AEI chief Chris Demuth; ex-Sens. Howard Baker, Bill Frist, and Alfonse D'Amato; John Dowd; George Terwilliger; Peyton Manning; and Eugene Volokh. AmSpec Blog's Jennifer Rubin notes: "On the donor side, so far he seems to have regional appeal largely limited to the South. By rough tabulation $2.68M --roughly 79%-- came from states in his regional backyard (Tenn. with $1.67M; Texas, VA, FL, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, NC and Alabama comprising the rest). More details as we continue to read on."

In other Thompson blogging, The Brody File readers defend Jeri Thompson, SC's The Shot is not impressed with Thompson's maneuvering on the Fair Tax, and Race 4 '08s Jason Bonham explains what he sees wrong with the Thompson campaign: "1. His supporters have made Fred the God of all things conservative2008, and he gladly accepts it; 2. His lack of an official campaign gives some credence to the laziness charge, but more importantly it has turned him into a paper tiger."

CLINTON: Battered Candidate Syndrome

Previously established Hillary Clinton doubter Andrew Sullivan explains why he supports Barack Obama over HRC: "Clinton has internalized to her bones the 1990s sense that conservatism is ascendant, that what she really believes is unpopular, that the Republicans have structural, latent power of having a majority of Americans on their side. Hence the fact that she reeks of fear, of calculation, of focus groups, of triangulation. ... Obama is different. He wasn't mugged by the 1980s and 1990s as Clinton was. He doesn't carry within him the liberal self-hatred and self-doubt that Clinton does. ... The choice between Clinton and Obama is the choice between a defensive crouch and a confident engagement.

TAPPED's Ezra Klein links and seconds Sullivan's conclusion: "You don't live through such experiences without scars, without lessons. Some say those lessons will make her more effective in office. Possibly true. But there's also an argument to be made that those were the wrong lessons ... Her actions are not those of someone who trusts in her capacity -- or even sees it as her goal -- to change the ideological tenor of the country. There's an argument to be made that she's right. I'm just not convinced."

EDWARDS: Conservatives Not The Only Ones Feminizing John

TAPPED's Dana Goldstein accuses John Edwards of "hiding behind his wife" arguing: "Most people who meet Elizabeth feel overwhelming respect for such an intelligent, witty, well-spoken woman who refuses to let cancer take over her life. But let's be honest. Elizabeth isn't running for president, John is. ... Is this a successful campaign strategy for John? Yes, because his wife is likable and eloquent. She helps the Edwards campaign neutralize the threat of another, equally compelling candidate spouse. But I can't help thinking that there's something a bit disingenuous about the idea that we elect a couple to the White House instead of an individual."

TAPPED's Steven White respond: "The main point of Dana's post -- that John Edwards is hiding behind Elizabeth on certain controversial issues -- is certainly true. He shouldn't get a pass on bad positions just because his wife is more progressive. But the examples Dana uses to critique John are slightly unfair, as some commenters have pointed out. Elizabeth's support for marriage equality doesn't undo John's quibbling." Fair enough. But Obama and Clinton also oppose gay marriage, so it looks like the Democratic frontrunners are each quibbling on gay rights in their own individual ways."

OBAMA vs EDWARDS: A Cleavage-Free Zone

TAPPED's Ezra Klein recommends David Brookslatest column comparing John Edwards and Barack Obama's poverty policies. Key Brooks graph: "Edwards emphasizes programs that help people escape from concentrated poverty. Obama emphasizes programs that fix inner-city neighborhoods. One helps people find better environments, the other seeks to strengthen the environment they are already in."

Klein concludes: "In this case, Brooks' description of the research is accurate The largest experimental demonstration of economic integration was the Moving to Opportunity Program ... Their outcomes were closely tracked and the results were tremendously disappointing." More Klein: "What I don't really understand is Brooks' preference for the Obama model. The Harlem Childrens' Zone, as Brooks points out, hasn't generated any conclusive data yet, and, more importantly, "there are 4,000 community development corporations around the country and they have not lifted residents out of poverty." So that seems like a fairly untested approach, too."

Also talking Obama v. Edwards, David Sirota blogs: "For a while now, I've told reporters, political operatives and friends that I talk politics with that the most interesting fault line in the Democratic presidential primary will be between Edwards and Obama. The former has created a gravitational pull in the race to become the change candidate juxtaposed against the Establishment candidacy of Hillary Clinton and her Washington machine. ... now, Obama is taking Edwards more seriously, trying to match -- if not one-up -- Edwards in the race for the populist mantle."

Sirota then links to news the AFL-CIO will not be endorsing and comments: "Labor's decision to withhold its endorsement to this point has been very smart. Letting the candidates prove themselves ... has impacted the overall presidential debate, which has impacted the broader national political conversation. ... But that shrewd decision and the potential for labor to more permanently instill populist economics into Democratic presidential politics will be lost if labor goes down the path it now seems to be headed."

OBAMA: They Don't Know How Cars Work, But They Know Yours Is Broken, And They Want You To Let Them Fix It

TPM Cafe's Greg Sargent posts the key line from Barack Obama's new 'Take It Back' ad running in IA and NH: "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change." Sargent then compares it to a similar line from John Edwards circa '03: "I haven't spent most of my life in politics, which most of you know, but I have spent enough time in Washington to know how much we need to change Washington."

Sargent then explains why the lines are so similar: "David Axelrod was Edwards' media adviser then, and he's advising Obama now."

Bleeding Heartland's Chris Woods isn't sure if ethics will resonate with IA voters, but does like the ad personally: "Maybe I'm just naive or way to focused on other issues like Iraq but to me the clean campaign Obama is running just makes logical sense and should be what all the campaigns are doing, and then other issues should become the real focus. Either way, it is just a TV ad, and a good one."

OBAMA II: Pro-Sanity

NV assemblywoman Sheila Leslie (D) tells Reno and Its DiscontentsMyrna the Minx why she endorsed Obama: "Stopping the insanity in Iraq is my personal top priority in selecting the next president. I believe Obama is the strongest candidate in that area and that counted for a lot with me. ... Young people are excited about him, and if he engages our youth, well, that itself is reason to vote for him. On Clinton; I worry still about her electability, and as far as Edwards is concerned, I've been somewhat concerned about his campaign so far."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Can Big Green Help Us All Be Greener?

The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum excerpts from a Amory Levinsinterview :

About a third of our army's wartime fuel use is for generator sets, and nearly all of that electricity is used to air-condition tents in the desert, known as "space cooling by cooling outer space." We recently had a two-star Marine general commanding in western Iraq begging for efficiency and renewables to untether him from fuel convoys, so he could carry out his more important missions. This is a very teachable moment for the military. The costs, risks, and distractions of fuel convoys and power supplies in theater have focused a great deal of senior military attention on the need for not dragging around this fat fuel-logistics tail - therefore for making military equipment and operations several-fold more energy efficient.

Drum comments: "The Apollo program gave us Tang, so why can't the Iraq war give us fuel-efficient vehicles? It would be nice to get some benefit out of it, after all."

LEST WE FORGET: Go Niners!

With the NFL and WH '08 heating up Tethered Swimming compares some WH '08 campaigns to NFL franchises including:

• Sam Brownback - Cleveland Browns - He's a grand old conservative the same way the Browns are a grand old football franchise. The locals love him but nobody else cares about him at all and that, in a nutshell, is the problem. At least no one thinks he moved to Baltimore.
• Rudy Giuliani - Cincinnati Bengals - His offensive capabilities are vast and proven, but too many of his teammates run afoul of the law in embarrassing and distracting ways. The money and the prestige make him a tempting pick but he's got a lot of baggage. That baggage, and the distractions that come with it, will be a lot harder to carry come January.
• Mitt Romney - San Diego Chargers - Top to bottom he might be the most complete candidate in the field and they might be the most complete team in the conference. Nevertheless, a spectacular, fiery defeat lurks on even the brightest day, whether you are a Mormon or Marty Schottenheimer.
• Barack Obama - New Orleans Saints - He and they are both new, flashy, out-of-nowhere media darlings. That's all well and good, but they're in the big game now and it's time to prove that the Cinderella stories can stand up to tougher competition. Obama and the Saints have the tools and the talent, but now it's showtime.

Posted by Conn Carroll at August 1, 2007 12:37 PM