November 05, 2007

11/5: Tenacious D

We often get calls from MSMers asking for examples of how Hillary Clinton has successfully managed netroots opinion during the Dem primary. This weekend was a classic example. In light of a New York Times Magazine article claiming the "vast majority" of people "who think about foreign policy for a living" support Obama, Netroots fav./HRC endorsee/fmr. Amb. Joe Wilson took to The Huffington Post 11/4 as surrogate hatchet man. Wilson says Obama's approach to Iran "seems to me to misunderstand diplomacy" and appears "to be based more on the politics than the substance."

Wilson's Obama take down is not the nail in Obama's coffin, but is just the latest example of an ever vigilant Team Clinton countering any anti-HRC narrative at every turn.

CLINTON: She's Got Mad Skills

The netroots have noticed recentpolling shows Hillary Clinton actually improved her numbers against her Dem rivals despite what many in the MSM billed as a rough debate performance 10/30. The Left Coaster's Steve Soto blogs: "Hillary had an off night in Philly, and guess what? No one noticed or cared. She is still rising within her party at a time when Rudy is dealing with a demoralized party that isn't wild about him. She is seen as more and more electable by her own party, and she does better and better against her rivals as time goes on."

Open Left's Matt Stoller voices frustration over the way Dems attacked HRC: "There's a large untapped group of people who believe that the Republican Party leadership is a gang of criminals and that the Democrats need to stop them and haven't. No one is talking to this group of people. Instead, the arguments at the debate centered on attacking illegal immigrants, going after a Clinton for spinning, and attacking Hillary Clinton for being a political woman. Yeah, ok, these are great arguments to use in a Democratic primary. ... I don't want Clinton to win. ... But I'm not a fool ... Clinton is a bad candidate, but there's very little difference between Obama, Edwards, and Clinton, except that Clinton is a more skilled politician."

Less impressed with Clinton's skills, The Huffington Post's Steve Rosenbaum announces his decision to release his documentary on the '04 John Kerry campaign: "I spent the better part of 2004 directing a documentary about the Kerry campaign that you haven't seen. ... What we saw, and videotaped, was deeply troubling. ... I was afraid that releasing it would somehow be unfair. Like kicking a guy when he's down. But in the past few weeks - something happened. ... My phone started ringing. ... They were scared. They had a desperate feeling that it was groundhog day. That increasing the Clinton campaign had shifted from a candidacy of ideas to a platform of platitudes. It came home to roost when Hilllary did what is fast becoming her 'double flip flop' - at first supporting drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, then didn't, and then wasn't sure. ... It's time to show the film."

OBAMA: The Choice Of A New Generation

James Traub's 11/4 New York Times Magazine article "Is (His) Biography (Our) Destiny?" on Barack Obama drew wide netroots discussion. The article describes Obama as "the true bearer" of a "post-post-9/11 strategy" that offers "different tools for different situations, rather than only the sharp edge of a blade" and is supported by the "vast majority" of people "who think about foreign policy for a living." Harvard prof. Joseph Nye is quoted saying Obama's biography, "would do more for America's soft power around the world than anything else we could do." Reactions include:

• Matthew Yglesias: "Traub really nails the difference between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in terms of their supporters in the world of foreign policy ... Back in 2002 the conventional wisdom said that anyone who wanted to be elected president had to back [the war]. ... Obama represents a break from that; a turn toward people who think a different way, who probably aren't as famous but just might know what they're talking about, and perhaps even more important than that to people whose thinking isn't hobbled by an unwillingness to break with past positions."
• Ezra Klein: "If I were going to decide on Obama, this is exactly why. Insofar as there's a real hope for a new foreign policy, I think it lies with Obama. That's not to say Edwards' policies on this are bad, but what moves him is, as far as I can tell, economic injustice at home, so I think his foreign policy would be a bit secondary."
• Open Left's Chris Bowers: "For the rank and file of professional, progressive foreign policy types who were opposed to the Iraq war from the start, the Obama campaign is the equivalent of the 2002 Nancy Pelosi leadership, 2003 Howard Dean presidential, and 2006 Ned Lamont Senate campaigns were for much of the activist rank and file. However ... the cultural gap between wonks and hacks, between insiders and outsiders, and between professionals and the grassroots have prevented it from gaining the same traction as those earlier campaigns."
• Open Left's Paul Rosenberg: "There is, however, something more that's missing. Quite simply, Obama is missing a counter-hegemonic position that challenges the "war on terror" narrative. He is not the leader here. Edwards was the leader in challenging the narrative frame, and Richardson was the leader in making a decisive commitment to withdraw from Iraq. This is not a minor matter."

OBAMA II: Sometimes, 80 Percent Of Politics Is Knowing When Not To Show Up

Barack Obama doubters and Hillary Clinton netroots assets are actively pushing back against Obama messaging on HRC's Kyl-Lieberman Iran amendment. Netroots fav./HRC endorsee/fmr. Amb. Joe Wilson blogs at The Huffington Post:

Senator Barack Obama was absent when the vote on Kyl-Lieberman was taken, though that has not prevented him from criticizing colleagues who participated in the debate and voted for it. He has also opted not to sign the letter to the president. ... Rather than reinforcing diplomatic options, his actions have the effect of eschewing diplomatic efforts to bring the Revolutionary Guard to heel, while placing all his bets for peaceful coexistence with Iran in the future on his own charisma and charm. ... As one who practiced diplomacy on behalf of our country for decades, including as the acting ambassador in Iraq during Desert Shield, where I personally confronted Saddam Hussein and his henchmen, Senator Obama's approach seems to me to misunderstand diplomacy.

Senator Obama's criticism of the vote and refusal to join with his Democratic colleagues on the letter to the president appear to be based more on the politics than the substance. The entire Senate was notified a day beforehand about the vote on the Kyl-Lieberman resolution. If he truly had a sense of urgency on the issue he should have made a point of participating in the debate and voting, when he would have had the opportunity at the time to air his substantive disagreement with his home state colleague Senator Durbin, rather than waiting to raise the issue afterwards in a purely political context and using it as a campaign tactic.

Talk Left's Big Tent Democrat hits on a similar theme responding to Frank Rich's 11/4 criticism of HRC's vote: "Senator Barack Obama, despite being informed that K-L would be brought up for a vote, left Washington for a trip to New Hampshire. IF K-L is all Mr. Rich is cracking it up to be, then Barack Obama has a similar problem. ... One assumes, if Rich REALLY believes what he wrote (as opposed to just doing a Hillary hit piece) - he has to have reached a similar disqualification of BOTH Clinton and Obama. Maybe there was not enough space for the Obama section of his piece."

ROMNEY: Only Conservative Mormons Need Not Apply

The Corner's Ramesh Ponnuru posts a reader's email addressing Mitt Romney's general election viability in light of his Morman faith: "[I]t wasn't a problem when he was elected governor of MA. If left-liberals are the most hostile anti-Mormons in the country, and if they elected Romney Governor even after having just had three prior controversial GOP governors, I'd say that it isn't really that potent a factor.

Ponnuru responds: "I suspect that it is true that liberals react more negatively to Mormonism when it is attached to a socially conservative candidate, such as Romney today, than to a socially liberal one, such as Romney in 2002. (That is to say, I suspect that liberals would react more negatively to a pro-life Mormon than to a pro-life Episcopalian.)"

THOMPSON: Not The Dream Boat SoCons Thought He'd Be

The balance of conservative opinion on Fred Thompson's 11/4 Meet The Press performance is best summed up by NRO's Jim Geraghty: "A ground rule double." Thompson exceeded expectation with his command of the issues, but have done some lasting damage among social conservatives with his refusal to support the Human Life Amendment. Reactions include:

• The Brody File: "Fred Thompson came into this presidential race as the one candidate social conservatives may be able to embrace. It hasn't quite worked out that way. First there were problems with his position on the federal marriage amendment. ... Then he ran into problems about his Church attendance and now he doesn't support this human life amendment that is part of the GOP platform. ... The marriage issue hurt him and the human life amendment could too."
• Townhall's Hugh Hewitt: "Senator Thompson hit exactly the right note on Iran on this morning's Meet The Press, and Tim Russert did a great job in giving the looming confrontation with Iran the time it deserves."
• Campaign Standard's Richelieu: "Measured by the traditional standards of Sunday morning political theater, it was an uneven performance. ... His answer on abortion in particular will come as an uncomfortable revelation to some of his more conservative supporters. ... To my ear it sounds like a pro-life manifesto written by a joint committee of conservative constitutional lawyers and the board of NARAL. ... But I left the interview feeling entirely comfortable with the idea of Fred Thompson being president of the United States. He is informed, thoughtful, and struck me as a decent man trying to navigate the increasingly ridiculous idiom of American politics with all of its trapdoors, over-simplification, and litmus-mania."
• NRO's Geraghty: "Every once in a while Thompson slipped up but overall, Thompson was measured, modest, serious, and completely at ease. After a couple of debates, it's odd to watch a man not trying to squeeze his talking points into an answer, and instead speaking in paragraphs, conversational and informed."
• AmSpec's Jennifer Rubin: "Those looking for a smash performance will likely be disappointed but neither was there a wipe out."
• Right Wing News: "Anyone who has ever read RWN knows that I am adamantly pro-life. ... I would not mind seeing a Constitutional Amendment passed that banned abortion except in the case of the mother's life being endangered. However, as I've written before, that's simply not going to happen ... That's why I don't find Thompson's position on this issue to be troubling. To the contrary, it's actually a little reassuring in a roundabout way."
• Bryan at Hot Air: "Clintons take note, had to answer some tough questions asked by host Tim Russert. ... Fred is falling back on federalist principles to arrive at the point of being pro-life but not supporting the HLA. The question is, will this become a problem with social conservatives?"

THOMPSON II: What Is Old Is New Again

Conservatives were eager to push back against The Washington Post's front page story on Thompson "close advisor" Philip Martin's 24 year-old criminal history. Most offensive to conservatives was WaPo's above the fold comparison of Martin to Hillary Clinton tied fundraiser/criminal Norman Hsu. Jules Crittenden blogs: "Martin has a criminal past. Hsu's is a criminal present. Can't get good copy-editing help these days."

Captain's Quarters adds: "Front Page News: 24 Years Ago ... There's a rather large difference between a man who did his probation, cleaned up his act, and contributes positively to his community, and a man who runs $60 million Ponzi schemes to funnel money into the Democratic Party while remaining a fugitive from his first conviction."

MD 04: Fall House Cleaning

As of 1 PM 11/3, the netroots had taken over $70K through Act Blue for Donna Edwards. The fundraising drive came in response to an 11/3 fundraising event for Rep. Al Wynn (D) hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Fire Dog Lake's Jane Hamsher pitches for the last $30K: "If anyone needs more convincing, please watch the above video as Donna eloquently decimates Al Wynn over Iraq, the repeal of the estate tax, bankruptcy, Schaivo, protecting oil and gas companies and other regressive votes that have supported George Bush and kept ordinary Americans from getting health care."

Open Left's Matt Stoller drives home the importance of Edwards 11/3 endorsement from EMILY's List: "This is a big and welcome development for both Donna and Emily's List, which did not back her last cycle. Emily's List has been a bit skittish about taking on establishment power since backing Nancy Kaszak against Rahm Emanuel in 2002 in the Democratic primary, so it's wonderful that they decided to back Donna against Al Wynn. It's unusual for this group to take on a sitting incumbent, and it is wonderful news."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas reports that Progressive Maryland "which waged a successful living wage campaign in Maryland despite Al Wynn's opposition" also endorsed Edwards. Kos adds: "Donna Edwards is building a true movement, despite the efforts of Al Wynn, Nancy Pelosi, AFSCME and others to protect the prerogatives of the establishment elite. We don't just need more Democrats, but we also need better Democrats. So join this movement and let's start cleaning house!"

NM SEN: All Signals Go

In light of news Rep. Tom Udall (D) is reconsidering his decision not to run for ret. Sen. Pete Domenici's (D-NM) seat, MyDD's Jonathan Singer urges readers to check out the new Draft Udall site: "[I]t really looks cool. ... this relaunch from DraftUdall.com provides a good opportunity to remind folks that now's the time to send Congressman Udall a clear signal that we think he should run by making a small, but meaningful $5 contribution to his campaign through ActBlue and signing the petition asking him to run."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Macroeconomists Just Make Stuff Up

Tyler Cowen blogs: "The housing sector is down twenty percent and the price of oil is flirting with $90 a barrel, maybe $100 to come. Yet the quarterly growth rate was just reported at 3.9%, led by surges in consumer spending and exports. It is wrong to think we have turned the corner, but it is also wrong to think the doomsayers have been giving accurate predictions."

LEST WE FORGET: Do Keep Us Updated On The IRS' Response

Daily Kos contributing editor Meteor Blades blogs: "Since Congress, particularly the congressional leadership, refuses to do so, my wife and I are personally defunding the war and occupation of Iraq. We refuse for the foreseeable future to surrender the portion of our taxes that pays for U.S. imperialism and the militarization which backs it up. ... We will, as we always have, file our 1040s. But we will refuse to pay 15% of what Washington says we owe it. We do this not because we have any illusion that two citizens holding back a few dollars will stop the war, the building of empire, the commission of atrocities. We do it because we cannot hold up our heads and continue to be accomplices in the schemes of those for whom "democracy" and "freedom" are buzzwords and "liberation" is a cruel and perverted joke."

Posted by Conn Carroll at November 5, 2007 12:52 PM