July 31, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"By any standard, it's a big deal for FBI agents to search the home of a United States senator."
-- NBC's Lisa Myers, "Today," 7/31
Posted 07.31.07 12:40 PM | Comments (1)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.31.07 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- The Doctor Is In
Lots of '08ers on TV last night:
Mike Huckabee and Bill Richardson were in the "Situation Room" for a joint interview:
Huckabee, asked if troops could be out of Iraq by the end of the year: "First of all, even if we made the decision today, I don't think there's a plan in place. We couldn't get them out that soon."
Richardson: "What I believe needs to happen is a six-month withdrawal. If it takes another month, it's important that we make that happen, because, otherwise, our troops have become targets."
Huckabee: "I don't want us to end up having to do over what we didn't do right, and that's why we have got to stay until the job is done. General Petraeus was given until September. It is incredibly to me inappropriate for to us be talking about withdrawing before he's even had a chance to put the surge into place."
Richardson: "Every month that goes by is over 100 of Americans soldiers die; 25,000 are wounded. This is not working. This surge is not working. You can see it every day with violence increasing, but also instability in the region. Here's my point. We have a major war against al Qaeda. We have to fight it. But diverting our resources in Iraq, in a war that is not working, takes us away from the real focus of our national security interests, fighting international terrorism, nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation, a world that is very dangerous and unstable. And perpetuating our policy in Iraq is part of the national security problem that we're in today."
Huckabee: "If we pull out prematurely, the one thing we won't have is stability. And I think that's why many of us believe that, as painful as it is to stay, it's more painful to disappear, lose any chance of stability" (CNN, 7/30).
THE HUNT IS ON
Duncan Hunter played "Hardball" last night:
On Iraq: "All of us, Republicans and Democrats, have been with this operation for the last four years, and I think that we should see it through. I think we should accomplish this mission, finish this mission."
Asked about Gonzales: "I haven't been reading the transcripts, watching the hearings, so I don't want to disserve him by just repeating the headlines and statements by senators. So unless I was in those hearings and had a chance to really examine the record, I don't want to trash Attorney General Gonzales. I would say that the Democrats have a major responsibility here under the so-called FISA legislation. According to our intelligence people, we have a major gap in intelligence reporting because terrorist communicators who are outside the United States but who make a communication that goes through the United States, through our communication apparatus, we are now barred from wiretapping those particular communications. And that is depriving us of essential information for the security of this country. I think that's more
important than what happens to Mr. Gonzales" (MSNBC, 7/30).
ANOTHER SCANDAL FOR THE MEDIA TO LOVE
There was also late-breaking news on Sen. Stevens:
CNN's Johns: "The feds have been eying the Stevens' house for some time. Back in 2000, the senator and his wife commissioned extensive renovations, doubling the size of the place. Stevens insists he paid for the remodeling out of his own pocket, but the feds are looking into whether an Alaska oil company called VECO could have helped foot the bill" ("AC 360," 7/30).
MSNBC's Olbermann: "Senator Stevens this evening resorting to the same tactic the administration used for Scooter Libby, saying in statement: 'I will continue my policy of not commenting on this investigation until it has concluded'" ("Countdown," 7/30).
CNN's Toobin: "The U.S. attorney in Alaska did not make this decision alone. To seek and obtain a search warrant against any member of Congress, but especially someone who has been in the U.S. Senate since 1968, is of enormous significance and it certainly had to go to the top of the Justice Department, Alberto Gonzales had to approve it or his designee, the director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, had to approve it. They would not have taken such an extreme step without approval all the way up the chain of the command, and one has to conclude, without a serious reason for doing it" ("Situation Room," 7/30).
PLAYING DOCTOR
And there was talk on SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts health:
NBC's P. Williams: "None of this came up in his confirmation hearings" ("Nightly News," 7/30).
CNN's Toobin: "From a historical perspective, there have been 43 presidents of the United States and only 17 chief justices of the United States. So, that gives you an idea of how important a position this is. What makes this especially shocking is that of the nine justices, John Roberts is the youngest. He's 52 years old, 35 years younger than John Paul Stevens, the senior in age member of the court. So to say that a health problem in John Roberts is a surprise is really an understatement" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/30). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.31.07 09:11 AM | Comments (0)
July 30, 2007
On The Download: Million Dollar Web Campaigns
It's time to welcome Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney to the million-dollar club, as both presidential candidates have now spent at least $1 million on their Internet operations so far this year.
A survey of Federal Election Commission records compiled by PoliticalMoneyLine.com also showed that Rudy Giuliani spent at least $782,205, John McCain spent at least $646,601, and Barack Obama spent at least $485,400.
But a single number does not tell the full story about a campaign's online operation -- even if that number follows a dollar sign. One of the biggest trends to come out of these reports is the blurring line between an Internet team, a communications shop and the rest of the campaign, as many staffers do double duty and grassroots fundraising becomes almost synonymous with online fundraising.
Many political Internet experts say that by the 2009-2010 election cycle, there no longer will be Internet departments because Web staffers will be fully integrated into every other section of the campaign war room.
Below are the details on how much the presidential campaigns of 2008 have spent on their online operations in the first two financial-reporting quarters, according to FEC records compiled by PoliticalMoneyLine.com. The list is organized from the most expenditures to the least.
(A single asterisk notes that despite a request for more information, the information could not be confirmed, though at least one source with knowledge of the staffers confirmed their status. A double asterisk notes that the person or company is known to no longer be on the campaign's payroll.) [SHIRA TOEPLITZ]
Joe Biden
Firms ($64,076 total): NGP Software, Inc. ($33,697), GetActive Software Inc. ($12,945), Advocacy Inc. ($9,965), Articulated Man Inc. ($7,469).
Staff ($50,137 total): Eric Carbone, Joel Meister, Timothy Westmyer.
Minimum total spent on internet-related expenditures: $114,213.
Hillary Clinton
Firms ($1,207,730 total): NGP Software, Inc ($700,725), Mayfield Strategies ($507,005).
Staff ($178,400 total): Jesse Berney, Peter Daou, Nancy Eiring, Sarah Foy*, Recardo Gibson*, Jess O'Connell*, Crystal Patterson, Kevin Thurman.
Minimum total: $1,386,130.
Chris Dodd
Firms ($4,384 total): Wired for Change ($2,800), Pair Networks ($1,584).
Staff ($65,529 total): Tim Cullen, Matt Browner-Hamlin, Erik Moe, Tim Tagaris.
Minimum total: $69,913.
John Edwards*
Firms ($312,607 total): Plus Three, LP ($167,214), NGP Software, Inc. ($69,393), Matthew Gross Communications ($45,000), Advocacy Inc ($18,600), Care2.com Inc ($10,000), Advomatic LLC ($2,400).
Staff ($135,398 total): Ryan Alexander**, Ben Brandzel, Amanda Marcotte**, Melissa McEwan **, Aaron Myers, Amy Rubin, Tracy Russo, George Stern.
Other: Auburn Quad ($40,130).
Minimum total: $448,005.
Dennis Kucinich
Staff ($138,375 total): Michael Criscione, Chad Ely, Karen Kilroy.
Other internet-related expenses ($679): ActBlue.
Minimum total: $139,054.
Barack Obama
Firms ($223,802 total): NGP Software, Inc. ($97,039), Brightcove ($67,168), Blue State Digital ($59,595).
Staff ($155,767 total): Scott Goodstein, Sam Graham-Felson, Chris Hughes, Jon Jones, Chris Northcross, Josh Orton, Luke Peterson, Udai Rohhegi, Joe Rospars, Jessica Slider.
Other internet-related expenses ($105,831 total): Auburn Quad ($61,608), Google Adwords ($23,229), Hitwise ($13,000), Webster Strategies ($7,994).
Minimum total: $485,400.
Bill Richardson
Firms ($135,848 total): Articulated Man ($36,455), Blue State Digital ($26,230), Rock Coast Media ($25,000), NGP Software, Inc. ($24,100), Care2.com Inc ($17,500), Anne Lewis Strategies LLC ($6,563).
Staff ($28,368 total): Joaquin Guerra, Andrea Johnson, Seth Tanner.
Other internet-related expenses: Auburn Quad ($10,467).
Minimum total: $164,216.
Sam Brownback
Firms ($119,627 total): ElectionEdge US ($72,000), Aristotle International ($47,627).
Staff ($5,500 total): Leon Wolf.
Minimum total: $125,127.
Rudy Giuliani
Firms ($741,727): Opera New Media LLC
Staff ($40,478): Kathryn Harbath, Ted Jarrett, Patrick Ruffini**.
Minimum total: $782,205.
Mike Huckabee
Firms ($34,314): LCM Strategies ($20,488), GSL Solutions, Inc (13,826)**,
Staff ($3,615 total): Vincent Harris, Zach Taylor.
Minimum total: $37,929.
Duncan Hunter
Firms ($70,231 total): ElectionMall Technologies ($34,983), TCV Media ($26,500), Aristotle Intl ($8,748).
Staff ($2,841 total): John Hawkins, Sam Hunter.
Minimum total: $73,072.
John McCain*
Firms ($456,529 total): 3EDC ($339,940), Campaign Solutions ($86,589), New Media Strategics ($30,000).
Staff ($38,844 total): Christian Ferry.
Other: EDonation.com ($151,228). McCain's campaign also reported a debt of $721,066 to 3EDC.
Minimum total: $646,601
Ron Paul
Firms ($53,434 total): Bill Dumas Productions ($50,284), Terra Eclipse Media Design ($3,150).
Staff ($14,688 total): Justine Lam.
Minimum total: $68,122.
Mitt Romney
Firms ($1,305,019 total): Molecular ($803,523), Salesforce.com ($345,268), MediaForge ($109,000), Diginovations ($47,228)
Staff ($98,055 total): Abby Brack, Gary Coby, Mindy Finn, Andrew Goodrich, Larry Simmons, Stephen Smith.
Minimum total: $1,403,074.
Tom Tancredo
Firms ($71,119): Aristotle International Inc ($70,219), Six Apart ($900).
Staff ($2,974): Mike Tate.
Minimum total: $74,093.
Tommy Thompson*
Firms ($22,466 total): Maelstrom Solutions ($14,466), Aristotle Inc ($8,000).
Minimum total: $22,466.
Posted 07.30.07 03:46 PM | Comments (7)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"It will come back to them."
-- John Edwards, on reminding voters of his '04 SC win, Columbia State, 7/30
Posted 07.30.07 12:45 PM | Comments (0)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.30.07 11:00 AM | Comments (0)
July 27, 2007
Smile for The Camera
Part of what has made the recent Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama feud so noteworthy was that the two candidates went on camera to talk about it. Obama was the first, speaking to NBC News on Wednesday. The next day Clinton spoke with CNN. But, for the last two months, the two have been nearly invisible when it comes to face time on the tube.
In June, according to Hotline TV tracking, Clinton and Obama didn't do a single TV interview. This month, before the "dictator dust-up", each gave CNN's John Roberts a minute (literally, one minute) of camera time during the festivities for the CNN/YouTube debate in Charleston. Before that, the only other appearance was an Obama stop- by on the "Today" show after the Senate's all-nighter on Iraq.
The top-tier presidential candidates rarely go on television themselves, preferring to let their surrogates speak for them. In the spin rooms after the debates you won't spot Clinton, Obama or John Edwards. It's their campaign managers, strategists or spokespersons that do the talking.
So for the two of them to go on the record, on camera themselves made what could have been a one-day story last out the week. And it gave television something to air over and over again. [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.27.07 03:43 PM | Comments (0)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"I got my trophy wife the first time."
-- MS Gov. Haley Barbour (R), on his Dem foe, Jackson Clarion Ledger, 7/27
Posted 07.27.07 12:38 PM | Comments (2)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.27.07 11:09 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Clash of the Titans
Lots of good TV last night:
Two days ago NBC cameras caught up with Barack Obama. Yesterday, CNN cameras happen to catch up with Hillary Clinton:
Clinton: "This is getting kind of silly. You know, I've been called a lot of things in my life, but I've never been called George Bush or Dick Cheney, certainly. You know, you have to ask, whatever has happened to the politics of hope?" ("Situation Room," 7/26).
MARCH OF THE ADVISERS
HRC adviser Howard Wolfson and Obama adviser David Axelrod made the TV rounds to battle it out:
Wolfson: "Senator Obama referred to Senator Clinton as Bush-lite. Six months ago, he entered the race promising to elevate our politics. And I just want to know and Senator Clinton asked today, what happened to the politics of hope, David?"
Axelrod: "I say to Howard that the politics of hope is ending a foreign policy that has been predicated on the notion that somehow we make advances as a country by not engaging our adversaries."
CNN's Blitzer: "He's not backing away. I didn't hear him backing away from the Bush/Cheney-lite comment, Howard."
Wolfson: "Well, I think that's unfortunate. It certainly doesn't represent the politics of hope. I don't what kind of politics it represents, but I don't think it's what Democratic primary voters are looking for" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/26).
MSNBC's Matthews: "Hillary Clinton, in that debate -- and I want to get the word right -- correct me if I'm wrong -- didn't she say that Obama was naive on foreign policy?"
Wolfson: "She didn't say that in the debate. She said that after the debate."
Matthews: "How would you describe her position in voting to authorize the war in Iraq, believing we weren't going to war, that Bush really didn't intend to go to war? Was that naive?"
Wolfson: "Look, she has taken responsibility for the vote. She has been asked about this."
Matthews: "But wouldn't you call that naive, to believe that we weren't going to war, when everybody thought we were going to war?"
Wolfson: "No."
Matthews: "I knew we were going to war."
Wolfson: "I guess 80 percent of the country was naive, then."
Axelrod: "Barack Obama stood up in 2002 and he said we should not go to war because we are going to get mired in a civil war with ancient ethnic rivalries that would be of undetermined length, cost, consequences. And he said it would distract us from al Qaeda and the real mission in Afghanistan. ... That is leadership, standing up when it is hard, not when it's easy, not waiting for 80 percent."
Wolfson: "Senator Obama represented one of the most liberal state Senate districts in the country. You're telling me that it took courage from Hyde Park to be against the Iraq war? Please."
Axelrod: "He was running for the United States Senate." More: "The point is that he got it right, that he analyzed what was available, and he got it right."
Wolfson: "If David Axelrod and the Obama campaign want this election to be about strength and experience, bring it on. We're up for it" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/26).
RIGHT SAID FRED
Fred Thompson was on "Hannity & Colmes":
Asked if he's planning to make an announcement soon: "August is kind of a down month, not much going on, so it wouldn't make sense to do it in August, but clearly, I think you know the direction I'm headed in. A final decision will be made soon, and I'm just urging my friends to keep their powder dry."
FNC's Hannity: "The Washington Post is attacking every client that you represented as if those were your views. Do you want to respond to any of that?"
Thompson: "No, not really. I mean, they're a little bit upset I'm not playing by their rules. You know, everybody announced earlier this year." More: "But I'm doing it at my own pace, and they want to make sure that I don't get all the benefit from it, because I seem to be doing OK without announcing yet, and none of the detriment, so they're making sure I get some detriment. So I'm getting a lot of attention from the Democratic National Committee and even Senator Clinton the other day, and Michael Moore, and a few other folks. We can live with that" (FNC, 7/26). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.27.07 08:59 AM | Comments (8)
July 26, 2007
Bring it on!
According to tomorrow’s National Journal Insiders Poll, a whopping 83 percent of the GOP Political Insiders say that a Senate vote on Sen. Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) proposal to censure Bush, Cheney & Co., for their “misconduct” relating to the war in Iraq and other “assaults on the rule of law,” will end up helping the Republican Party, while only 13 percent think it will hurt.
While Republicans acknowledge that there’s plenty of antipathy within the party towards the White House these days, they think a fight over Feingold will on end up rallying GOP Senators and as well as the rank-and-file to the President’s defense. As one Republican Insider put it: “This is the real slam dunk—exact tonic for an ailing GOP base.”
Other Republican Insiders thought the Democrats would look like they’re catering to the anti-war left at the expense of trying to find a substantive solution to the war. And then there’s the politics of personal destruction. One Republican Insider asked: “Did impeachment of Clinton help the GOP?”
This looks less like a dare from the Republicans when you consider that 70 percent of the Democratic Insiders say that a vote on the Feingold measure would hurt their party. While Feingold was something of a prophet on proposing timetables for withdrawing troop from Iraq, only 28 percent of the Democratic Insiders believe that a vote on his censure motion would help their party.
Many Democrats worry that the measure would look more like an empty gesture and just feed the perception that the Democrats can’t stop the war or make progress on other issues. “Pass some meaningful legislation first to show people you are delivering on their needs before you are seen as playing politics,” said one Democratic Insider. But others assert that the more they talk about Iraq, the better the party’s political prospects.
The Political Insiders were also asked this week whether it would be smart for their own party’s presumptive presidential frontrunner, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rudy Giuliani, to agree to participate in debates for just the top-tier candidates. And here the Democratic and Republican Insiders were also in agreement: For Hillary and Rudy, the more (candidates) the merrier. An overwhelming 88 percent of the Democratic Insiders say it would not be smart for Clinton to engage in a debate with just her top rivals and a hefty 75 percent of the Republican Insiders say Giuliani would make a mistake to debate only the top tier of his competitors. Insider sentiment in both parties is that Hillary and Rudy are already dominating their respective debate matches and why try to fix what isn’t broken? The Insiders also note that it could look a bit arrogant for the two frontrunners to appear to be dictating who “belongs” in a debate and it would be more than a tad stupid to give their chief opponents more air time and opportunities to draw a bead on them. [JIM BARNES]
Posted 07.26.07 04:59 PM | Comments (2)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"We all hoped it wouldn't come to this."
-- Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), calling for an investigation of AG Gonzales, CNN, 7/26
Posted 07.26.07 12:46 PM | Comments (1)
Pre-fix This
Barack Obama continued to frame his dispute with Hillary Clinton this a.m. as old thinking versus a new approach. He said Clinton's views mirror those of the Bush admin.-- to meet with enemy leaders only after they met a set of preconditions. Obama said he's willing to meet them w/o preconditions, but not w/o preparation (and again, not just for coffee).
Engaging our adversaries "allows us to send a message to the rest of the world," he said, which "increases our leverage" in trying to deal with other problems. Obama also challenged reporters to question Clinton's campaign about whether they "are walking back" her statements on the issue.
Obama's comments came during a conference call with Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH), who has endorsed him and will serve as a national co-chair.
"Paul I think overcame a lot of the predictions that he couldn't beat an incumbent several years ago because he was a fresh new voice and spoke the truth," Obama said. "For him to be a part of this campaign gives us an enormous boost."
Hodes said that during his campaigns, he sensed "a deep desire in this country and in New Hampshire for a new direction and for changing the way politics is done." He sees endorsing Obama as a way to "complete his mission," saying the Illinois senator "has the skills, the talent, the ability and the strength to lead this country in a new direction in a new century" [MIKE MEMOLI].
Posted 07.26.07 11:11 AM | Comments (7)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.26.07 11:00 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Special Stake Out Edition
NBC News caught up with Barack Obama for an on-camera interview about his spat with Hillary Clinton. NBC's Mitchell: "He's taken their fight to a new level."
Obama: "What is irresponsible and naive is to have authorized a war without asking how we were going to get out -- and you know I think Senator Clinton hasn't fully answered that issue."
More Mitchell: "Clearly stunned, Obama is now taking her on."
Obama: "If we are laying out preconditions that prevents us from speaking frankly to these folks, then we are continuing with Bush-Cheney policies, and I am not interested in continuing that" ("Nightly News," 7/25).
NBC has put a transcript of the entire interview on "First Read."
THE HOUSE GETTING ITSELF IN ORDER
There was also a lot of talk last night about the House Jud Cmte's decision to hold two WH aides in contempt of Congress:
FNC's Baier: "The House Judiciary Committee today took another step towards a constitutional showdown with the White House in the investigation over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys" ("Special Report," 7/25).
CNN's Bash: "The Democrats here came one step closer to a constitutional showdown with the White House. And, right now, neither side is showing any sign of blinking." More Bash: "The next step here is a vote by the entire House of Representatives, but a Democratic leadership aide said that it's unlikely to happen until Congress returns from its month-long August recess" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 7/25).
CNN's Malveaux: "The tone and the message was very clear from the White House, and that is essentially, bring it on. They really feel invigorated and engaged by this confrontation" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 7/25).
MSNBC's Shuster: "This is a really, really big deal and a big problem for Gonzales. ... Just based on the documentary evidence that might exist, which we now know does exist, this is a clear case of perjury. ... And so now the question is whether Democrats want to call for a special prosecutor and say, look, a U.S. attorney needs to bring this to a grand jury, seek an indictment. ... But the question is, will Democrats demand a special prosecutor at this point?" ("countdown," 7/25).
NOTHING BUT NEWT
Newt Gingrich appeared on "Hannity & Colmes" last night:
On his "pygmies" comment: "The point I made was trying to make even though Mayor Giuliani, Governor Romney, Senator Fred Thompson are terrific people, the process by which we are currently trying to pick a president inevitably reduces them in stature and inevitably, I think, limits their ability to have a serious dialogue."
On Obama saying he would meet with world leaders: "I think Senator Obama is an authentic voice of the left. I think meeting with Fidel Castro makes perfect sense if you come from the American left because the American left fears the U.S. military. They fear the CIA. They fear the American government. They never fear our enemies. It would make perfect sense for him to openly announce he will visit with virtually any dictator in the planet who would be willing to have him" (FNC, 7/25). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.26.07 08:46 AM | Comments (16)
July 25, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"It's almost as if the man and the moment met."
-- Southern Baptists Convention's Richard Land, on Fred Thompson, Boston Globe, 7/25
Posted 07.25.07 12:36 PM | Comments (1)
Research Dir. No Longer "With Fred"
The Atlantic's Ambinder reports this a.m. that Fred Thompson's research director, J.T. Mastriandi, has resigned.
Mastriandi's resignation comes on the heals of other personnel moves within the campaign, most notably bringing on ex-Energy Sec./ex-Sen. Spencer Abraham as campaign mgr. and FL GOP strategist Randy Enright. Current active campaign manager Tom Collamore has moved into an advisory role, Thompson spokesperson Linda Rozett told the AP.
For more on the Thompson staff shake-up, check out today's Hotline.
Posted 07.25.07 10:27 AM | Comments (2)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.25.07 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Ladies Night
We'll spare you the details of Lindsay Lohan's arrest, but we will give you the highlights of Chris Matthew's interviews with the Obama Girl Amber Lee Ettinger, Hot4Hill Girl Taryn Southern, and Giuliani Girl Adolina Kristina:
Ettinger, on why she did the video: "I am 25, but that is not the whole reason why I did the video. ... I do modeling and acting full time, and Ben Relles, the creator, approached me with the idea and I thought it was going to be a funny great project."
Southern: "I saw Miss Amber strutting her stuff in the Obama Girl video a couple weeks ago, thought it was great, and really funny, and wanted to put together my own spoof version."
Kristina: "I really like what he did for New York City and how he cleaned up the crime."
Matthews: "You are doing it. You are flashing your incredible eyebrows at me. Look at that. It's awful what you're doing. Look, do you think this will affect the elections? Doesn't it scare you if it does, Taryn?"
Southern: "At first I thought that it just seems ludicrous that me shaking my booty in a bikini is going to impact the election. But I guess from a broader scale, we're getting young people more interested in politics. They're going on Youtube and they're at least thinking about the election. I don't think we'll sway votes either way. I hope not."
Matthews: "I feel like Larry King tonight" (MSNBC, 7/24).
FINALLY, A RACE TO REPORT!
And there was a lot of talk about the Hillary Clinton/Barack Obama back-and-forth:
MSNBC's Carlson: "The most substantial development in last night's Democratic debate was some long-awaited conflict between the two front runners on the Democratic side, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton" ("Tucker," 7/24).
CNN's Crowley: "You can expect that this will ratchet up, particularly since Obama has the money to go toe to toe with Hillary Clinton. She's got the poll numbers. So, you have what really is a titanic struggle, at least politically, and then you have John Edwards who is looking for a little running room between the two with his sort of populist approach to a number of things. ... So, you know, it is a real race going on here. And it is only likely to get livelier" ("PZ Now," 7/24).
WashingtonPost.com's Cillizza: "It shows you how desperate for news, frankly, sometimes we are, that a thing like this, which happened in a 15 second span of a two-hour debate, became a huge controversy today" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 7/24).[EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.25.07 08:23 AM | Comments (1)
July 24, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"I don't trust you. "
-- Senate Jud Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to AG Alberto Gonzales, AP, 7/24
Posted 07.24.07 12:50 PM | Comments (1)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.24.07 11:01 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Will Video Kill The Anchor Star?
The first DNC-sanction debate was last night:
CNN's Cooper: "YouTube got nearly 3,000 video clips. Thirty-nine of them actually made it into the debate" ("AC 360," 7/23).
FNC's Cameron: "This was supposed to be the intersection, the debate in which new and old media got it together. ... We had at one point a video where a snowman was asking about global warming" ("Hannity & Colmes," 7/23).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "The clear winner tonight was this format, because the questions were fresh." More Gergen: "The overall impact of tonight's debate was there was no clear winner, and even though the rest of the candidates were better, the fact that Hillary Clinton continues to deliver a superior performance I think is really beginning to set in now an making it much tougher to beat her" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/23).
CNN's Crowley: "No open warfare, but the two leading Democratic contenders circled each other time and again." More Crowley: "I really think the stars of this show at this point were the questioners. I really think they did bring out something a little different in these candidates. I thought the variety of the questions gave us new looks at not just the top tier, but the lower tier, as well" ("AC 360," 7/23).
Dick Morris: "I thought that CNN has at least solved its big problem, which is really boring anchors" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/23).
GOP pollster Frank Luntz, on the reax of his focus group: "It was a good night for Joe Biden and good night for Senator Obama" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/23).
SORRY ABOUT THAT
And on "Countdown" last night, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann apologized to Wendy Vitter:
Olbermann: "We owe an apology for something that happened on this newscast on a night I was off last week and we offer it fully and unreservedly. It is to Mrs. Wendy Vitter, wife of the senator from Louisiana who has been caught up in the DC madam scandal. Last Tuesday this program aired a segment about her attire and her demeanor at their joint news conference. Not only was a series of unfortunate and inappropriate terms used, there was no justification for such a segment about what a woman, a victim of her husband's inappropriate behavior was wearing in public. The story should not have aired, it should not have been couched in the terms used, it should not have happened, and it won't happen again. So to Mrs. Vitter and to you, the viewer, I once again apologize" (7/23). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.24.07 08:27 AM | Comments (2)
July 23, 2007
In The Future, Everyone Gets Their Thirty Seconds
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Steve Peterson described how he received an e-mail from YouTube at 2 AM last week asking him if he would come to South Carolina to have his questions featured on tonight's debate. He was one of about a dozen or so YouTube users asked to be in the audience and have the opportunity to ask their questions of the candidates live and in person.
Peterson is no stranger to Internet politics -- he works for The Bivings Group which consults for Fred Thompson. He wanted to ask the candidates where they got their news and information from and why do they trust those sources. Less than half of the YouTube users brought to Charleston this evening had their questions answered -- and Peterson's video didn't make the cut.
But his trip hasn't been anything close to a waste for Peterson. YouTube let these dozen or so users -- and only these users -- be the only people in the debate room with personal video cameras. While they weren't allowed to use the cameras during the debate, they've spent their last day or so vlogging their time in Charleston. Besides, he says, his most memorable moment was when Anderson Cooper asked him jokingly how he was doing in the debates so far:
"I think you're having fun up there," Peterson said in response.
Posted 07.23.07 10:05 PM | Comments (0)
Who's Surprised....
... that there have been no technical glitches as we approach the final few minutes of the debate. You might recall in New Hampshire that Rudy Giuliani was interuppted by static when he answered a question on religion. Tonight's technology made that debate look like Nixon vs. Kennedy. YouTube executives said they had a couple of contingency plans if the small monitors on the candidates' stands didn't work, but it **seems** like those plans weren't even necessary.
Posted 07.23.07 08:52 PM | Comments (1)
30 Second Updates, Part II
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Bill Richardson stays on message with his job interview commercial series. It's nothing new, but as a second tier candidate he needs to keep running this kind of message especially on a national platform like this. Mike Gravel takes an issue-based approach to talk about his candidacy, ending his 30 seconds with his trademark water ripples. Joe Biden goes with a clean cut film that asks people what they would do if they were trapped in a room with politicians and had to make do.
These three videos bring up the question of just how professional these 30 second videos should look. Should they look like a campaign commercial? Should they use humor? Time for a soap box? Reinforce their campaign message? Is creative freedom really a burden? Above all, these candidates should do whatever that particular candidate needs to do to be memorable.
UPDATE ON THE UPDATE: Barack Obama also used his 30 seconds to advertise his text messaging campaign. So far campaigns are still figuring out how to use text messaging in an inexpensive and effective way. Let's see how well text messaging works when it's been integrated into a larger media campaign.
Posted 07.23.07 08:38 PM | Comments (0)
Just Sayin'
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- So far On Call has counted 26 videos aired tonight. Of those videos so far, six were recorded by women and at least 17 were recorded by men.
And a couple videos were either mixed or from non-gender entities. You know, like an animated snowman asking about global warming.
Posted 07.23.07 08:30 PM | Comments (0)
Okay, Personal In A Different Way Now
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A user asks whether the candidates have or would send their children to public or private school. A rundown of their answers:
John Edwards said his children go to public school. Hillary Clinton said her daughter went to public school in Arkansas, but went to private school for high school when they came to Washington. Barack Obama said his children go to private school at the U of Chicago where he used to teach. Joe Biden said his two sons went to private school after his wife died in a car crash. Dennis Kucinch said his daughter went to public schools in Cleveland. Mike Gravel said his children went to both public and private schools. Chris Dodd said his young children go to public preschool. Bill Richardson does not have any children.
In a semi-unrelated observation, the camera has flashed to Elizabeth Edwards at least twice if not three times when her husband has referenced her.
Posted 07.23.07 08:20 PM | Comments (1)
Now It Gets Personal
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- It's the first emotional appeal about Iraq: A man, a camera and the flags that draped his family members' coffins. The YouTube user asks pointedly when the candidates can get the troops out and how many family members they have who have served.
Chris Dodd starts out by saying he can get the troops on their way out by next April and then lists his family members who have served the country. Bill Richardson comments that he doesn't have any troops left in his national guard. Joe Biden attacks on the aforementioned candidates for not being able to get the troops out when they say they can.
When Clinton starts to answer this question, she looks to the big screen to address the questioner, then looks away. This might be the first example of how this debate format proves it's hard to relate to such an emotional request when the questioner isn't even in the room.
Posted 07.23.07 08:03 PM | Comments (0)
You Have 30 Seconds To Make Your Case
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- So far three candidates have presented their 30-second clips sprinkled around the commercial breaks. Two of the candidates -- Chris Dodd and John Edwards -- made jokes about their hair (hare?), while Hillary Clinton was a little more serious.
Clinton's campaign sponsored an initiative to use her 30-seconds for another user-submitted video that best states why she should be president. Internet experts for the most part hailed Clinton's initiative to put more user-generated content in her e-campaign, but now she'll probably get some slack for putting up a video that is so on message. It might be user-generated content, but it's also supporter-generated content.
Posted 07.23.07 07:47 PM | Comments (1)
Surprise! He's In The Audience!
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Rev. Reggie Longcrier from North Carolina was the first of ten YouTube users flown in to town to ask their question in person to the candidates. That's the first surprise. The second surprise was the Reverend's reaction when Anderson Cooper asked him if he thought John Edwards answered his question. The Rev. didn't think so -- but that's because he said he couldn't hear Edwards answer. A technical glitch? Or is the American voter still not paying attention?
By the way, not all of the ten YouTubers will necessarily be able to ask their questions tonight, but they are all equipped with cameras to record their experiences for YouTube.
Posted 07.23.07 07:37 PM | Comments (0)
Don't Look At Us, We Didn't Write The Questions
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A YouTube user asks both Clinton and Obama to confront their critics who say gender and race still play a roll in politics. As one reporter put it to me today at lunch, is CNN using the YouTube users to ask the questions they don't want to take responsibility for asking? Probably not, because CNN gets lots of second-wave press for asking controversial questions. But it's worth asking because this might be one of the first times both Clinton and Obama confronted the issue in the same room.
Posted 07.23.07 07:32 PM | Comments (0)
Opening Shot: What Makes You Any Different?
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Chris Dodd gets the first shot at this one -- he deserves it after getting much less times that the first tier candidates in the last couple of debates.
"The question hit the nail on the head," Obama says when he's asked the same question.
So far the candidates aren't trying to talk back to the big, swimming-pool size screen on which the YouTube videos are shown. They're talking to Anderson Cooper and the audience. Is a YouTube debate so different after all if the candidates aren't answering the questions any differently?
Posted 07.23.07 06:59 PM | Comments (1)
Life on the Big, Big, Big, Screen
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Live blogging will commence with the debates, but first a quick note about another technology candidates are using today. Barack Obama and John Edwards both sent out text messages to their SMS list in the hours before the debate.
Sent via SMS from Edwards from 5:07pm EST: "During tonight's debate @ 7pmET you can send John Edwards your questions. Repuly to this txt with your question and watch his response on JohnEdwards.com at 9:15."
Vis SMS from Obama circa 3:31 pm EST: "Watch Barack debate tonight live on CNN 7pm EDT. REPLY back with your name and your thouts during & after the debate. We will post to our blog & discuss."
UPDATE: We forgot Dennis Kucinich's text PEACE (73223) for more information. And he gets extra bonus points for using his 30-second spotlight to advertise his SMS initiative.
And now check out the debate hall:
Posted 07.23.07 06:54 PM | Comments (0)
This Is What An Empty Spin Room Looks Like
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- This is the spin room, located in the press filing center across the green and grassy quad from the debate hall. And yes, those are mutli-colored bean bag chairs on the stage.
Posted 07.23.07 05:06 PM | Comments (1)
Press Perks, Google Style
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- If you've ever read anything about Google's Mountain View headquarters, you know the company has a reputation for treating its employees well. There are a couple four-star restaurants on campus, massage chairs available for general use and a volleyball court -- just because. While the Google offices in Washington, D.C. are still transitioning to their swanky new space downtown, the New York offices emulate Google's colorful attitude towards work, play and everything in between.
Accordingly, one might understand why Google and YouTube would want to make a good first impression as the National Press corps descends on this traditional southern town. First there was a semi-exclusive reporters/bloggers lunch with Google's policy/politics shop, YouTube executives and founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen at High Cotton. Over choice of salmon over cous cous, bouborn glazed pork or tenderloin au poivre, about 35 media heard Hurley, Chen and YouTube News and Politics Editor Steve Grove talk about tonight's debates.
YouTube stopped accepting videos lat night, but Grove said there were about 2,981 videos submitted to candidates over YouTube. CNN Washington Bureau Chief David Bohrman and his team sifted through to find the final couple of dozen videos for tonight's debate, a decision that's been pinned as controversial because users can't choose which videos get asked.
"The real reason right now is we didn't want to give a heads up (to the candidates)...," said Hurley. "In the future we're always about making our platform truly democratic. I think that's how we became so popular." Hurley, by the way, maxed out to Barack Obama in Q1, according to FEC records. He confirmed this at lunch today, but noted tonight isn't about his personal politics.
Both Chen and Hurley seemed almost captivated by what their young, multi-billion dollar project has become over the past couple of years. Chen said he was up until 5 AM last night watching video submissions. "You don't have to be in New Hampshire, you don't have to be in Iowa to present a question..." remarked Chen.
But for the most part, the Google/YouTube executives at the lunch said they had very little or no knowledge of which videos will be aired tonight. They've (gladly?) left that responsiblity up to Bohrman. Hurley even declined to tell us which user-submitted question was his favorite.
Meanwhile back at the Citadel, Google also outfitted a playful lounge for reporters with the typical fare that their employees have come to expect. Check out the sweet snacks (organic yogurt-covered pretzels!!), vitamin water and colorful couches. And you can't see it by the photos, but there's a pool table in back [SHIRA TOEPLITZ].
Check out the movie after the jump....
Posted 07.23.07 02:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"We don't want it to be a joke."
-- CNN Sr. VP David Bohrman, on tonight's debate, "Reliable Sources," 7/22
Posted 07.23.07 12:47 PM | Comments (0)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.23.07 11:12 AM | Comments (1)
Sunday Snapshot
Sen. Russ Feingold was on "Meet the Press" where he announced he plans a resolution to censure Pres. Bush:
Feingold: "I'm shocked by the administration, in particular the president's response to the November election. Usually, when presidents are repudiated in elections, they say, 'Well, maybe I ought to reassess.' Instead, he did just the opposite. He did this surge, which went contrary to the will of the American people. I think we need to do something serious in terms of accountability. And that's why I will be shortly introducing a censure resolution of the president and the administration."
Asked if he will censure anyone else: "Potentially yes. I think when it comes to Iraq, obviously the vice president. Vice President Cheney has been one of the worst actors in American history in this situation. There may be others."
NBC's Russert: "Do you think the American people will look on this saying, 'Here go the Democrats just trying to create something sensational by censuring the president rather than trying to solve the problem of Iraq?'"
Feingold: "What I am proposing is a moderate course, not tying up the Senate and the House with an impeachment trial, but simply passing resolutions that make sure that the historical record shows the way they have weakened our country, weakened our country militarily and against al Qaeda, and weakened our country's fundamental document, the Constitution. I think that's a reasonable course and does not get in the way of our normal work."
Asked if he's talked to the Dem leadership about this: "I have."
Asked if they're supportive: "We haven't drafted it yet. We're going to work cooperatively with whoever wants to work with me."
Asked if he has GOP support: "We'll find out."
Asked when he'll be introducing it: "Shortly. In a few days" (NBC, 7/22).
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL): "It's appropriate for us to take the censure resolution up. It is short of impeachment, but it's an important debate" ("Late Edition," CNN, 7/22).
HARRY REALLY DOESN'T NEED THIS HEADACHE
Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid was on "Face the Nation":
Reid: "The war in Iraq is the most serious issue facing the American people. The soldiers have done their job. ... It's time to bring them home now. ... That's what the debate was all about, and the Republicans blocked that. I have to say this ... there were a number of valiant Republicans. Olympia Snowe is going to be on your show later. I admire and respect her so much because she broke from the pack and voted with us as did a number of senators. We need more Olympia Snowes, people who are willing to do the right thing."
More: "I offered on many occasions, not one, two, three, four occasions, many occasions said, let's vote on all the Iraq amendments, all of them, and have a simple majority for them. The Republicans wouldn't let us. ... It's one of the myths that's been established by this Republican spin machine and coming from the White House that we wouldn't allow votes on this. We wanted votes on this, every one of them."
On Feingold's proposal to censure Bush: "I'm sure Russ Feingold will try to find a way to offer that amendment. The Republicans won't let us vote on it. They'll block it."
More: "Frankly, we have so many other things to do. The president already has the mark of the American people that he's the worst president we've ever had, and I don't think we need a censure resolution in the Senate to prove that. ... At this stage, Russ is going to have to make his case as to why we should do that rather than do our appropriation bills, finish the defense authorization bill, Homeland Security appropriation bill" (CBS, 7/22).
BUT McCONNELL IS ENJOYING THE CHANGE IN SUBJECT
Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell was on "Late Edition":
On Feingold's censure proposal: "Today marks the 200th day of the new Congress. And I'm kind of stunned that Senator Feingold just recommended on the heels of the all-night theater of Tuesday night gives you a sense ... of why this Congress now has a 14 percent approval rating. We think it's the lowest in the history of polling. All they do is have Iraq votes and investigations. On the legislative side about all we've been able to accomplish is to keep the lights on in the Capitol, 19 or 20 post office renamings, and we have passed a very important troop funding bill, thank goodness. ... Senator Feingold's suggestions are right in league with the all-night session the other night, which the American people are looking at with disbelief."
On Iraq: "Most of the Democrats, regretfully, have already made up their mind. They're not going to pay any attention to General Petraeus's report. They want us to leave tomorrow with all the dangers that that envisions. ... We know, the one thing we know for sure, is the decision to get on offense in the war on terror, to go into Afghanistan, to go onto Iraq, has protected the homeland, the United States of America for almost six years. That part we know has been a huge success" (CNN, 7/22).
WHERE'S JACK BAUER WHEN YOU NEED HIM?
DNI Mike McConnell was on "Meet the Press":
Asked the most serious facing the U.S.: "The most serious threat is that the plotters that are being observed will be successful in penetrating our defenses and conducting an attack that would result in mass casualties. Their intent is to effect an attack with mass casualties. A secondary attempt, attempt would be political or infrastructure targets to even include economic targets that would have long-lasting impact."
Asked if they have nuclear capability: "They have not achieved nuclear, based on our current understanding. The intent is either chemical, biological, nuclear radiological or even nuclear to include a nuclear yield. I would add what we see currently is primarily a focus on explosives, explosives that can generate a large explosion but they're put together with commercially available material."
More: "There are sleeper cells tied directly to al Qaeda inside the United States. So we have the strategic warning, not the specific tactical warning, but we know their intent" (NBC, 7/22).
WH Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend made the Sunday show rounds:
Asked her gut feeling on the state of things: "We don't have to rely on my gut feeling or my intuition or anybody else's. We have men and women around the world collecting the intelligence we need in a very focused way to allow us then to take targeted action to defeat those threats. And so while I'm sympathetic -- I think what Secretary Chertoff was trying to do was communicate that, without revealing sources and methods -- it may have been an unartful way of saying it, but what he was talking about is what you see in the NIE, and that is we're in this heightened period of threat" ("Late Edition," CNN, 7/22).
On al Qaeda in Iraq: "Al Qaeda in Iraq is not a distraction. ... It's actually a critical enabler. ... This is part of bin Laden's plan to try and extend the influence of al Qaeda" ("Fox News Sunday," 7/22).
BEST OF THE REST
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN): "We need a middle ground where we keep enough forces there to fight al Qaeda but to begin to draw back so they can't use us as a recruiting post around the Islamic world, they don't use us to undermine moderate Arab regimes that we have to rely on, and that we do a better, more effective job in focusing on those areas that are the central front, Afghanistan and Pakistan" ("Fox News Sunday," 7/22).
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME): "Both leaders have to come together to resolve these questions so that it doesn't look like the United States Senate simply is a matter of process and procedures and partisanship and politics to no end."
More: "I would hope that the Senate could come together in this question, look at the various issues. And in addition to that, the president needs to understand that September 15 is going to be a serious deadline for change in our mission in Iraq. Frankly, I think the leaders, both the houses and both branches, should sit down and begin to negotiate a resolution and a compromise in anticipation to General Petraeus' report on September 15" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 7/22).
ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP
The "Meet the Press" roundtable discussed Feingold's censure resolution and the war in Iraq.
The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed WH '08 and the Senate's all-nighter:
Weekly Standard's Kristol: "Elizabeth Edwards is more interesting than her husband. Bill Clinton, with all due respect to Senator Clinton, is more interesting than Hillary Clinton. And I am a fan of Michelle Obama. So you know, you guys should host that ... the Democratic spouses debate. Mrs. Kucinich would be excellent."
FNC's Hume, on F. Thompson's abortion lobbying work: "This is not abortion scandal, in my view. This is a billing scandal. And what I think this tells us is the extent ... to which clients are sometimes billed for work done by the people they engage -- lawyers, lobbyists and the rest -- that is so insignificant to the person doing it that they don't even remember. I believe Thompson didn't remember this. And I don't believe he did very much for that abortion group."
The "Late Edition" roundtable talked about the Senate all-nighter and WH '08 [EMILY GOODIN].
Posted 07.23.07 08:30 AM | Comments (3)
July 22, 2007
The YouTube/CNN Pre-Game Show
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The first in a series of six DNC sanction debates is supposed to be different from any other one of its kind in political history. In what has often been billed the future of political discourse, this debate is the first to use questions submitted via YouTube for the candidates.
Over the past few weeks, a team of CNN and YouTube employees have looked through all the videos to determine which ones will be used in tonight’s first DNC sanctioned debate. Each candidate will get 30 seconds to make their case to both the virtual and real life audience before moderator Anderson Cooper will let the videos roll. Additionally, a few lucky YouTube users have been flown into South Carolina to ask their questions of the candidates to the candidates in person.
In preparation for tonight, campaigns have to count on doing some things a little differently. How do you express empathy to a video tape? How do you react when a voter shows you their hurricane-ravaged home on a screen? How tersely do you respond to a pointed question when the questioner isn’t even in the room? Although the Democratic campaigns have been unsurprisingly mum on how they prep the candidates for this debate, a few of the campaigns have planned online activities (read: try to get the media’s attention) in preparation for the big event. Here’s a quick survey of what the campaigns have done and plan to do for the CNN/YouTube debates [SHIRA TOEPLITZ]:
JOE BIDEN launched an online effort late last week that aims to challenge other WH ’08 Dems to answer what they would do after they ended the war in Iraq. The goal is to get enough users to submit the same question so that CNN/YouTube will take notice.
HILLARY CLINTON is using her opening statement to feature a lucky supporter who will describe their support for her candidacy in 30 seconds or less. The campaign gave YouTube users almost two weeks submit a video that will premiere tonight.
CHRIS DODD's campaign has become known in political technology circles (okay, it’s a very small circle) for doing creative debate coverage. Internet Director Tim Tagaris said the Senator will be again answering questions after the debate on a live chat with Internet users and they’ll stream live from the spin room.
JOHN EDWARDS’ campaign announced on James Kotecki’s video blog that he’ll continue to take questions after the debate ends. Voters can submit follow up questions during the debate via text message, IM, facebook, MySpace, etc.. Campaign staffers will sift through those questions and feed them to the Senator, who will stream his answers live for an additional 30 minutes online after the debates. Edwards will also answer the top two questions with the most votes submitted through CommunityCounts.us
BARACK OBAMA has not launched any kind of special online initiative for the debates. But if you have an extra ten minutes, the campaign did release a video from his dinner with four supporters. Warning: It’s not that flashy or exciting, but it’s pretty real and honest for a campaign video.
BILL RICHARDSON is finishing up their YouTube week in the spotlight by asking users about their plans to curtail energy use in this country. Richardson says in the video that he plans to visit the person who his campaign decides has the best idea to start a new energy revolution. But for tonight’s debate, the campaign says they are planning to have staffers answer questions via online chat.
Both MIKE GRAVEL and DENNIS KUCINICH’S campaigns did not respond to a request for information about their plans to prepare for tonight’s debate [SHIRA TOEPLITZ].
Posted 07.22.07 11:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"You know, in the horror movie you kill the monster, and the hand re-emerges. And if you're not looking, the hand grows back and then the monster's there again. That cannot be allowed to happen."
-- Rudy Giuliani, USA Today, 7/20
Posted 07.20.07 12:38 PM | Comments (4)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.20.07 11:15 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- No Harry Potter Spoilers Here
Iraq continues to dominate the cable news, with most of the discussion being about the Pentagon briefing and Amb. Crocker's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Cmte:
CNN's McIntyre: "Two things seem increasingly clear from today's developments. Congress is losing patience with the war, and the U.S. military has no plans to end the surge in September" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 7/19).
CNN's Bash: "The U.S. ambassador to Iraq downplayed the importance of benchmarks, devised by his own administration as a reliable way to judge the Iraqi government success. His public testimony came after privately warning lawmakers, CNN is told, that the Iraqi government will have difficulty meeting those benchmarks by September" ("Situation Room," 7/19).
FNC's Griffin, on the Pentagon briefing: "General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker answered their questions from Baghdad. Notably absent, however, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Chuck Hagel, who are all pushing for a troop withdrawal" ("Special Report," 7/19).
Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT), on the briefing: "I didn't leave it less optimistic, because I haven't been all that optimistic in the last few weeks. But the bottom line for me is this: we do not have the force structure to maintain the level of troops we have in Iraq now, and certainly to increase them. So, whatever General Petraeus tells us in September, we are still going to have to reduce the number of troops in Iraq. And that's why I think it would be wise to let the Iraqis know that now, that there will be a gradual reduction in troops" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/19).
Bill Press, asked why most members did not attend the briefing: "To get 50 members of the House and 40 members of the United States Senate to go to Virginia, to cross the river, is a phenomenal feet. You can't get 90 members of Congress for free drinks in this building if you invited them. I think it was a very good turnout. ... If you want the leadership of the Senate and the House at an event, the White House knows how to reach them. .. They just didn't do a good job of it" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 7/19).
PLAME OUT
CNN's Todd: "Two and a half weeks after Scooter Libby's sentence was commuted, more bad news for Joe and Valerie Wilson" ("Situation Room," 7/19).
MSNBC's Shuster: "The ruling today was far more critical of how Congress wrote a particular law than whether Valerie Wilson deserves money for having her cover blown" ("Countdown," 7/19).
NOT DEF TO THE POLITICAL SCENE
Russell Simmons was in the "Situation Room" and asked which '08er would lead in the African-American vote:
Simmons: "Whoever is going to look to change the condition of suffering of many in our communities is the leader. In other words, those who want to fight poverty and ignorance and those who want to get equal high-quality education, those who might want to really address poverty in a meaningful way, for me, that's the concern. Senator Obama has talked a great deal about poverty, for that, I applaud him. John Edwards has said a lot of very important things about poverty. So it's important that we talk about lifting people up" (CNN, 7/19). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.20.07 08:33 AM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"At my age, any scream is a good scream."
-- Ex-Pres. Clinton, on an Iowa woman mistaking him for Bob Barker, "GMA," ABC, 7/19
Posted 07.19.07 12:42 PM | Comments (0)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
Arizona -- AZ Political News
Posted 07.19.07 10:45 AM | Comments (1)
Hotline After Dark -- Iraq Still TV's Favorite Topic
Joe Biden was on the "NewsHour" to discuss the situation in Iraq:
Asked how he'd decide whether or not to leave troops there: "If there's a political settlement and the international community's imperator is on it, and it's real, I leave troops there. If there is no political settlement, all the king's horses and all of king's men can't put Iraq together. My son, whose likely to be going over there with his unit next year, they've gotten the notification as a captain, I don't want him going. But guess what? I don't want my grandson going 15 years from now. And how we leave, what we leave behind will determine whether our grandkids go. But we'll have no choice, in my view, absent a political settlement, no choice but ultimately completely leave Iraq."
More: "One thing the American people won't tolerate ... they will not tolerate losing their sons and daughters just to keep things from getting worse. They'll tolerate losing their sons and daughters if you're making things considerably better and safer for America and the region in the long run."
Biden: "For this president, information is like the pupil of the eye. The more information you give it, the more tightly he rejects it. He is living in an unrealistic fantasyland about the state of affairs on the ground in Iraq" (PBS, 7/18).
SENATORS STILL SLEEPY
Iraq and the Senate's all-nighter remained big TV topics last night:
MSNBC's Carlson: "Most of us have pulled the occasional all nighter, always out of desperation or foolishness. And for our sleeplessness, we have almost always wound up with a decent five page paper or a with a passing grade a wild story to tell our friends. The Democrats in the Senate pulled an all nighter last night to debate the Iraq war most certainly out of desperation and maybe foolishly. For their sleeplessness, the Democrats saw their proposal to withdraw American troops from Iraq voted down this morning by bleary eyed Republicans who were more annoyed than convinced. No five page paper, no passing grade, no wild story; nothing for the sixth time on this issue" ("Tucker," 7/18).
Newsweek's Alter: "Everybody is arguing over nothing, because in order to preserve the Republican party, Bush will start to draw down in the next six months to a year. There's no question about it. Otherwise, the Republicans will lose so badly in 2008" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 7/18).
FNC's Garrett: "Even though Republicans prevailed, anxiety runs high in leadership circles that as many as a dozen Republicans could in the months ahead embrace a mandatory troop withdrawal timeline" ("Special Report," 7/18).
CNN's Koppel: "It is entirely possible that there may not be another vote on Iraq until September" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 7/18). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 07.19.07