August 30, 2007
NJ Insiders Poll, Part II: Hail! To Michigan
Looking toward the prospects that Michigan may adopt an early presidential primary date (1/15), a large plurality of Democratic Insiders—44 percent—said that would benefit their frontrunner, Hillary Rodham Clinton . Some of those Insiders reasoned that as the candidate with the most extensive organization and broad support from the Democratic political establishment she was best equipped to handle the challenge of another early contest. Coming in second with 20 percent was Barack Obama. John Edwards, whose ties to labor would theoretically make him a stronger caucus candidate, took just 13 percent.
A clear majority of Republican Insiders—60 percent—said that Mitt Romney would be the biggest winner on the GOP side. Most cited his roots in the state and the fact that his father, a one time presidential candidate himself, had been governor there in the 1960s. Rudy Giuliani came in a distant second at 19 percent.
Posted 08.30.07 03:43 PM | Comments (0)
NJ's Political Insiders Poll: Even They Can't Agree on Iraq
National Journal’s Political Insiders were divided as to how recent developments in the war would affect the political equation at home. A hefty majority of Republicans—71 percent—thought the military progress reported so far would strengthen President Bush’s hand. As one GOP Insider put it: “Now he has an argument.”
Democrats were more uncertain, with a plurality—45 percent—saying that the developments pro and con had not had significant impact on the overall debate. Even so, you don’t get the sense that Democrats who feel that way are worried that they are particularly vulnerable. As one Democratic Insider who said that the developments in Iraq had not yielded a significant impact said:: “It will take far more dramatic improvements than the current incremental progress to change the American people’s strong anti-war views."
Posted 08.30.07 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"The difference is, Idaho has a Republican governor."
-- Paul Begala, on the difference between Sens. Larry Craig (R-ID) and David Vitter (R-LA), "Situation Room," CNN, 8/29
Posted 08.30.07 12:46 PM | Comments (3)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.30.07 10:10 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Craig's List
Still lots of Larry Craig talk last night:
CNN's Bash: "Privately, influential Idaho Republicans tell CNN they think Craig will be forced to step down. ... Several Idaho Republican sources say Craig's problems here are compounded because many supporters are already angry about his stance on immigration" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 8/29).
ABC's Stephanopoulos: "No one I spoke to in Washington today thinks Senator Craig can survive this. The top Republican leaders have decided he just has to go. They don't want another scandal" ("World News," 8/29).
NBC's Myers: "Republicans clearly are trying to force Senator Craig out of the Senate. The leadership has stripped of his committee assignment and Republican colleagues are now demanding his resignation" ("Nightly News," 8/29).
MSNBC's Olbermann: "Larry Craig last night endured a fate politically worse than becoming a convict. He became a punch line" ("Countdown," 8/29).
NBC's Viqueira: "Someone's going to come forward angered by Craig's denial and say I have had sexual relations with this man, if, in fact, he's lying. I'm not saying he is or isn't. But rumors being what they are, that's the fear here among Republicans" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 8/29).
Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), asked if Craig should resign: "I think we have done so far what's appropriate. I don't we know all of the details. I saw Senator Craig yesterday say that he had not done anything wrong and that he shouldn't have pleaded guilty to resisting arrest. The leadership team has already called on this matter to be sent to the Ethics Committee to clear up what has actually occurred. And also today we did ask that he step aside from his ranking committee positions while this is being resolved. And I think based on what we know now that is appropriate. It's s very unfortunate situation, very sad and very serious. And I think we had to pay very close attention to it as we work on finding out what really went on."
More Lott: "I am shocked and I am disappointed at ... this turn of events ... but I also have learned the hard way that before you jump to conclusions or call on people to do one thing or another at least know all of the facts and ... take advantage of an opportunity to hear what ... really happened" ("Money & Politics," Bloomberg, 8/29).
CALLING FOR CRAIG TO RESIGN
John McCain sat down with CNN's J. King:
Asked if his new ad is saying the others aren't fit to be commander-in-chief: "No. ... But the fact is that I think that I am the most experienced and the most prepared. And my family, long generations of service to this country. And I'm proud of that. But I am the most prepared and most experienced and ready to serve."
Asked about John Warner's idea to start with drawing troops: "It is a bad idea, a terrible idea. And I will fight it every step of the way. John Warner and I are very close friends, but that sends the signal to al Qaeda and the bad people in Iran -- in the neighbor -- in the region that we are leaving. And that is not our position. Our position is we are going to succeed."
On Larry Craig: "I believe that he pled guilty and he had the opportunity to plead innocent. So I think he should resign." More: "My opinion is that when you plead guilty to a crime then you shouldn't serve. And that is not a moral stand. That is not a holier-than-thou. It is just a factual situation. I don't try to judge people. But in this case it is clear that it was disgraceful."
Asked if he'll take matching funds: "If we make that decision -- and I guess we will have to fairly soon, I have never won a campaign on the basis of money. I've won campaigns because I can out campaign everybody else. And I can do that in the nomination and I can do that in the general election. You get coverage and earn media by going out there and working on a campaign, having the town halls meetings, doing the kind of things that are necessary to win campaigns. So it's not going to be money that win or loses any campaign of mine" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/29).
ALSO GETTING THE CRAIG QUESTION
And Chris Dodd was in the "Situation Room":
On Larry Craig: "I've never agreed with Larry Craig on much. I mean, we don't serve on any committees together. I don't know him terribly well. But I must say -- I think the Republican leadership obviously has to fulfill its own responsibilities, but I at least want to give him a chance to hear his side of the story here. I don't know all the facts here. I've been reading a bit about it, not that much. I'd like to see all the information come out before deciding you're going to absolutely believe one side of this. Again, I'm a Democrat. He's a very conservative Republican. We don't agree on much, but give him a little space here to defend himself -- that's my reaction to it."
On Edwards saying Congress shouldn't fund Iraq without a timetable: "I wish John were back in the Senate here to be of some help to us on these issues here. And it's sort of easy to sit out in the country here making these pronouncements."
On the firefighters endorsement: "I think it's both past and future. I've worked with them. ... These are great people. The firefighters are probably the most respected public servants in America. They're trusted. They're people of deep values. They serve their communities well. And I'm deeply honored to be associated with them. ... But also something else about them here. They didn't sit around and decide that whoever was winning today was going to be their choice. They said, it's not about who's winning today, but who ought to win. It's not about who is leading in the polls today, but who should be leading our country. And so they're not motivated by polls. They weren't four years ago with John Kerry. He was at four percent in the polls."
More: "When are the national media going to start recognizing that winning the poll in August does not guarantee what's going to happen in January or February?" (CNN, 8/29). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 08.30.07 09:15 AM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"Washington would probably be a better place if more people took a moment to think before they spoke."
-- Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), on his slowed speech, AP, 8/29
Posted 08.29.07 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.29.07 10:42 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- A Tale Of Two Senators
ABC's Woodruff reported on Sen. Ted Johnson's (D-SD) recovery for "Nightline":
Johnson, on the day of his stroke: "I remember that time, and all the way to the emergency room -- ambulance ride, the emergency room. And then I become vaguer. I don't remember anymore."
Woodruff: "Johnson was unaware that the scene outside George Washington Hospital quickly became a media circus, much to the dismay of his worried family and staff inside."
Barbara Johnson: "To look outside your hospital window and see five or six satellite trucks lined up and 60 or 70 members of the press -- God bless you for what you do -- but it was just overwhelming." More Barbara Johnson: "One of our oldest sons said it best, he said, 'It's like our dad is a poker chip.' And The control of the Senate rested on him."
Woodruff: "Johnson had brain surgery that night, and what doctors found was not the effects of a stroke, but rather an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM. ... An estimated 300,000 Americans are born with AVM. Most go through life never knowing they have it, but for those who suffer a bleed, the effects can be devastating. Johnson was fortunate that he got to the hospital so quickly, and that once there the neurosurgeon on duty just happened to be an AVM expert."
Johnson, on how he's improved: "Across every dimension, my right leg, my right arm, my speech, is all improved. Not, not much, but, all improved."
Barbara Johnson: "I thought we would be much further along than we were today. ... The brain heals slowly, at its own pace."
Johnson therapist Paul Rao: "He's ready to return to the Senate." More: "He is a functional senator." Rao: "His comprehension is virtually intact. When he has complex sentences or paragraphs, sometimes a challenge. But in terms of day-to-day conversation and communication, he's 100 percent."
Johnson: "You constantly improve. Bit by bit, but constantly improve."
Johnson, on the '08 election: "I plan on it." More: "I expect to run and to win" (ABC, 8/28).
THANK YOU FOR A BEING A FRIEND
John McCain was on the "Tonight Show" last night:
Asked if he has a tattoo: "I almost wish I did."
On Gonzales resignation: "It should have happened long ago." More: "Well, when you're hurting the person you're supposed to be loyal to, then obviously I think it's up to you to leave. And I don't know why he waited."
On Larry Craig: "I don't know, except that it's disgraceful. ... It's great fodder. I've enjoyed your opening comments, but it harms our reputation with the American people, which is also -- already badly tarnished. I don't know if you saw a poll lately. It showed the approval rating of Congress was at 18, I think an historic low since Gallup has been taking polls. You get down that low, you're down to paid staffers and blood relatives. You can't get much lower than that."
More: "You know, Senators, believe it or not, do not socialize much. We're gone on the weekends. Usually we only work three days a week when we're not voting ourselves a pay raise."
Jay Leno: "So the only chance to meet people is in the men's room at the airport?"
McCain: "No, ... I have friends in the Senate, but they don't have the kind of club that they're used to be when they would all stay in Washington and socialize on the weekends. It's just not like that anymore."
McCain, on his campaign: "Well, we're doing so poorly, I thought maybe I would announce on this show that I'm running for president of the United States. But I love being the underdog. I have been all my life. We have, obviously, made mistakes, but I'm very enthusiastic."
Leno: "Do you think that Fred Thompson will get into the race before Election Day?"
McCain: "Maybe Fred shouldn't have to because he's already been president two or three times, as you know. He's been head of the CIA. He's been an admiral. He's been a president." More: "Fred's a good friend of mine, and he's a fine guy. And I sat next to him in the Senate, and I wish him will. He's a great guy, and he's a very attractive, articulate person."
Asked how important the internet is to a campaign: "I think every politician's worst nightmare is YouTube."
Leno: "Will there be a McCain Girl?"
McCain: "Bea Arthur" (NBC, 8/28).
CALLING WASHINGTON "DISGUSTING"?
Mitt Romney was on "Kudlow & Company" last night:
On Larry Craig: "Well, very disappointing. Once again, we've found people in Washington have not lived up to the level of respect and dignity that we would expect for somebody that gets elected to a position of high influence. Very disappointing. He's no longer associated with my campaign, as you can imagine. He resigned just today. And you know, he was one of those who was helping my effort, and I'm sorry to see that he has fallen short."
Asked if he'll call on Craig to resign: "You know, I haven't made a call on that at this stage. You know, I haven't seen the allegations yet, I just heard that there was a guilty plea and he submitted a resignation as my liaison in the Senate. And you know, I'm very disappointed that he's disappointed the American people."
More: "I think it reminds us of Mark Foley and Bill Clinton. I think it reminds us of the fact that people who are elected to public office continue to disappoint, and they somehow think that if they vote the right way on issues of significance or they can speak a good game, that we'll just forgive and forget. And the truth of the matter is, the most important thing we expect from an elected official is a level of dignity and character that we can point to for our kids and our grandkids, and say, 'Hey, someday I hope you grow up and you're someone like that person.' And we've seen disappointment in the White House, we've seen it in the Senate, we've seen it in Congress. And frankly, it's disgusting."
Asked why he's not calling on Craig to resign then: "I don't know the circumstances right now of his setting, and so I really can't call without having reviewed it. ... I will review that, and we'll give you a call on that. I certainly felt that Bill Clinton shouldn't have stayed in office. But you know, with regards to this setting, why, we'll take a close look at it."
More: "Expecting people to live a life consistent with the dignity of the office to which they're elected is something which the American people should be able to count on" (CNBC, 8/28).
THIS STORY'S GOING TO BE GETTING LOTS OF TV TIME
And there was plenty of talk on Sen. Larry Craig's (R-ID) presser and whether or not he will resign:
ABC's Stephanopoulos: "Every Republican in Washington is hoping he'll decide not to run again. Idaho is one of the reddest of red states. If Craig decides not to run again he'll certainly be replaced by a Republican who can win. If he tries to hang in there, Democrats could make this race" ("World News," 8/28).
NBC's Russert: "Republicans ... have a simple answer -- they just want Senator Craig to exit, to leave. Why? Because they believe the Senate seat in Idaho is a safe, Republican seat. ... Any Republican can hold on to it except maybe Senator Craig" ("Nightly News," 8/28).
WashingtonPost.com's Cillizza: "I think he's leaving the Senate one way or another. I think this issue is, is it on his own terms in terms of a retirement or is it on someone else's terms, in terms of a resignation?" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 8/28).
Washington Times' Sammon: "I do not know whether or he is gay or not, but I think he is guilty of this crime, and I think I think they are going to hound him until he leaves office ultimately" ("Special Report," FNC, 8/28).
CNN's Toobin: "The circumstances when you can withdraw a guilty plea are extremely narrow: You were on drugs and didn't understand what you were doing. You didn't speak English. You were being physically coerced, threatened with death or if you didn't plead guilty. This situation, where you have a highly educated, highly sophisticated United States senator making a conscious decision to waive an attorney and plead guilty, I don't see any circumstances where the Minnesota courts will allow him to withdraw this guilty plea" ("AC 360," 8/28). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 08.29.07 07:24 AM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"You know what my goal is? Not for universal agreement. But for a little bit of respect."
-- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), being heckled on immigration, Columbia State, 8/28
Posted 08.28.07 12:50 PM | Comments (1)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.28.07 10:09 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Special Resignation Edition
Talk of AG Alberto Gonzales' resignation dominated the airwaves last night.
CBS' Schieffer, on who will be the next AG: "No decisions have been made. It may take them two weeks to come up with a successor" ("Evening News," 8/27).
FNC's Baier: "Senior aides tell FOX a nomination will likely not be announced before Labor Day, and this White House is preparing for yet another confirmation battle no matter who the nominee is, simply because of the political environment" ("Special Report," 8/27).
CNN's Bash: "What lawmakers are looking for on both sides of the aisle is someone with impeccable legal credentials" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 8/27).
CBS' Plante, on what the admin is looking for in the next AG: "Someone with credibility to spare and who can be confirmed quickly" ("Evening News," 8/27).
NBC's O'Donnell: "Advisers that I've been talking to say they have a list that is working right now. They say it numbers more than two, fewer than five. And there are names being floated about, but at this point they say that the president has not been given any recommendations from his top advisers" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 8/27).
WH counselor Ed Gillespie: "The president is going to put forward a nominee who is consistent in his views about the policies of the Department of Justice. ... I don't think the Democrats would want to stall the confirmation of a qualified nominee just because that person doesn't agree with Ted Kennedy" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 8/27).
More Gillespie: "We are taking calls. We are making calls here. Both sides of the aisle, on and off the judiciary committee, in the leadership hearing from people about ideas of who would be a good potential nominee. We'll weigh those and pair down the list the president will consider and hopefully have a nominee soon for consideration that we get in place for the rest of the term. ... I don't think months. I don't think days. You know, somewhere in between days and months" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/27).
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): "Clearly the next move that he makes should not be bringing in another Bush loyalist. An example that I would use is, the name of Secretary Chertoff has been thrown around today, which is particularly egregious on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. This is not a person who did a stellar job in the aftermath of that tragedy, and having him step in and add insult to injury would not be the best move that the president could make" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 8/27).
CRAIG'S LIST
The Larry Craig story broke late enough to garner a mention on all the network newscasts but the anchors merely read the Roll Call report. That was the similar situation on most of the cable shows but there were some new details:
Roll Call's McArdle was on MSNBC to respond to Craig's statement: "The incident happened on June 11th, and he pled guilty on August 8th. So he had some time to think about this, and he said that he should have had the advice of a lawyer. But 11 days after this incident occurred on June 11th, on the 22nd, according to the police documents again from the airport, he goes back to the airport, to the police office, and said he needs somebody to contact about the incident so that he can give the contact information to his lawyer" ("Live with Dan Abrams," MSNBC, 8/27).
Idaho Statesman's Barker, on allegations against Craig last year involving other inappropriate behavior: "At the time, a liberal gay activist guy by the name of Mike Rogers came out and outed Senator Craig, said that he knew that Senator Craig was gay. And several newspapers and other publications followed his allegations and Senator Craig at the time flatly denied it. Our newspaper did not run even the allegations and instead began an extensive investigation" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/27).
CNN's Toobin: "My sense is, this was more a political judgment by Senator Craig than a legal one, hoping that he could get rid of it in Minneapolis, no one would ever find out. Obviously, if he went to trial, he would have exposed the accusation. Now he's got the worst of both worlds. He's got the accusations but he pled guilty to it. ... I think he miscalculated, to put it mildly" ("Situation Room," 8/27).
CNN's Tatton, on a video of Craig posted on Mitt Romney's website: "Senator Larry Craig shares thoughts on Mitt Romney, but you can't get to it. It was posted five months ago. ... It had disappeared. ... Craig in May was named by Romney a state co-chair by his Idaho leadership team. We got a response about what had happened there from the Romney campaign. This is from Matt Rhodes, the communications director of the Romney campaign. 'Senator Craig has stepped down from his role with the campaign. He did not want to be a distraction and we accept his decision'" ("Situation Room," 8/27). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 08.28.07 09:10 AM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"His good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons."
-- Pres. Bush, on outgoing AG Alberto Gonzales, mult, 8/27
Posted 08.27.07 12:47 PM | Comments (5)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.27.07 11:03 AM | Comments (0)
Sunday Snapshot
John and Elizabeth Edwards were on "Face the Nation":
Edwards, on saying HRC was making a political calculation about terrorism: "I don't agree that the Republicans would have an advantage. I would never cede that. ... I think we're less safe, not more safe. We have fewer allies and, according to Bush's own State Department, there are more terrorists in the world. So I think we are not safer than we were when George Bush took office or just prior to September 11. And the second issue is, I think when you're talking about something as serious as an attack on the United States of America, particularly if you're a presidential candidate or a president, the focus should not be on politics and on votes. The focus should be on what's going to have to be done to unite America and keep the American people safe. So that's what I was talking about."
Asked if Maliki should resign as PM of Iraq, Edwards: "That's something for them to decide, not for us to decide. But at the end of the day, the real test is, are they moving toward a political compromise? Because there cannot be stability in Iraq without it."
Edwards, on what action cong. Dems should take on Iraq: "They should not submit a single funding bill to the president for the war that doesn't have a timetable for withdrawal. And I think they should use whatever legislative tool is available to them, including a filibuster ... to do everything -- this is not politics. This is about life and death."
E. Edwards: "I have been pretty disturbed about the trend in the political dialogue. If we are arguing about policy and I am saying somebody's health care policy doesn't do this and John's does do what is missing, that's different than the name calling, and that denigrates the whole process, turns people off. We have less people voting, and it's very important to get those people engaged."
Edwards, on what role Elizabeth would play in the WH: "The way we do things and the way we interact is so natural that I would not want to change that. I think titles and specific charges is not the way that we do things together, and I think because of that it doesn't make sense."
E. Edwards: "I presently respect the way things are done, and John has people who speak for him and I'm really supposed to be just a mirror for people to see him. And what I have to say about it honestly is not very important. People will be voting for John. The extent to which I can shed a light on who he is as a person, that's great. I never practiced law with him, partly for some of the reasons that you mentioned, but it doesn't mean that he didn't talk to me about his cases. He always did. I think that the first lady gets a megaphone. She doesn't get a job; she gets a megaphone to talk about the things she cares about. I care about veterans' issues. ... I care about after-school programs. ... I care a great deal about what happens with respect to breast cancer and treatment and research. So I mean, I have a lot, and that doesn't even mention a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old at home."
Asked about a Cabinet post, E. Edwards: "Not only -- I will not accept nor will I ..." (CBS, 8/26).
HOPING FOR A HOT SUMMER
Mike Huckabee was on "Fox News Sunday":
Asked how much money he's raised since Ames: "Three point two million hits to the website. We've scheduled fundraisers in about 16 states now through the middle and end of October. ... I don't know the exact figures and, of course, if I told you, I'd have to take your life, so I couldn't give you that, but it's substantially more. And I think the thing for us is we're seeing a momentum that we just weren't seeing before, people sort of holding back, wondering did we have the traction. And now they have truly begun to understand that our campaign, even with limited resources, had a spectacular showing in Iowa. And they know that with resources there's no reason we couldn't catapult to the front."
Asked why he's still down in the polls: "So far, we've been everything from no shot to long shot now to slingshot. And I think we're at a point where as we look for the next level, is our message is connecting, and it is. The polls really don't reflect the core voters. It reflects name identification, which improves with each debate. It improves with each showing, like Iowa. But what really is showing up -- when we were in New Hampshire last week, everywhere we went we were expecting certain numbers of crowds, maybe 50 people. We'd have 200. So we're seeing anywhere from two to four times the number of people come out and enthusiastically receiving the message that I'm giving."
On where the Club for Growth got their info to run ads against him: "I have to think it may be one of the other candidates. I don't know who and I don't even know why." More: "They essentially operate when people give them money specifically targeted toward someone that they want to take out. They hide behind the anonymity of the organization."
On Fred Thompson: "Let's just hope Fred decides it's just too hot this summer to even do this. Maybe he won't get in. But if he does, I think he's going to suck a lot of the oxygen out of the room when he first comes in. But I'm not sure I'd want to be in his position where the expectations are simply just sky-high for him to be able to perform. You know, I'd rather be in a position to over perform than to get in and then underperform the expectations. And so far, that's what we've done. No one expected us to do as well in Iowa. We've done it. No one was expecting us to draw the kind of crowds and momentum in New Hampshire. We're doing it. People are expecting him to basically come in and be the fifth head on Mount Rushmore. Whether he can live up to that -- I think there's a real challenge for anybody to live up to that, including if Ronald Reagan were to come back. I'm not sure he could live up to Ronald Reagan's persona and image at this stage."
Asked about the VP slot: "I'd like to think I'm presidential material. You know, the point is I've never seen a guy say, 'I'm going to the Olympics and, man, my goal is to be the silver medalist.' Nobody says, 'That's what, you know, I spent my whole life working toward, is being number two.' So, no, I'm not sitting around thinking about, 'Gosh, what if I could be vice president?' I'm thinking about, 'What would happen if I could become president,' how I would lead this country, what I would do to reform taxes, what I would do to try to bring a domestic agenda that builds this country back so we have some strength. And I think the voters are still going to respond to me when they get a chance to hear the message. That's what we're saying and that's what I'm confident they're going to continue to see" ("Fox News Sunday," 8/26).
AGREEING TO DISAGREE
Bill Richardson was on "Late Edition":
On Iraq: "You cannot start a peace process, a reconciliation, a peacekeeping force in Iraq that rebuilds the country without getting all of our troops out with no residual forces."
More: "The Maliki government is falling apart. They're doing very little about bringing reconciliation. The training of the Iraqi troops is at an alarmingly slow pace. You've got Maliki flirting with Iran right now. I mean, is this guy our ally? This is an incompetent government, and now we're starting to shift the blame to the Maliki government. So I believe the best step is a withdrawal, but with a diplomatic plan that brings the three Iraqi entities together in a possible partition, in an all-Muslim peacekeeping force, in division of oil revenues, a sharing of power. The Maliki government is doing nothing, and we are increasing the violence there, making our troops the top targets. This is making no sense."
On HRC saying the surge is working in some areas: "I totally disagree with her. I don't see how she can say that, because the level of violence has increased, particularly in the northern provinces. The number of Iraqi deaths has doubled, almost 62 per day. This has been the deadliest summer on record for U.S. troops. The Maliki government is falling apart.I don't see how she can say that" (CNN, 8/26).
OH THAT ROMNEY
Sam Brownback was also on "Late Edition":
On Iraq: "What you're going to see out of General Petraeus' report middle of September is that there's been very good military progress and little to no political progress. And it's now time, it's past time, that we need to take advantage of the military situation for a political surge and deals to be made in Iraq for stability."
More: "Maliki is a product of the system. I think you've got to look at that systems change is really the key here for us to look forward to the future, get something that's more durable."
Asked what he thinks of the late "nuance" in Romney's abortion position: "I'm not sure what to really make of it. I'm appreciative of his changes on life issues. My point of view has been ... that it's hard to lead a nation on such a tough social issue, moral issue, if you don't have conviction on it yourself" (CNN, 8/26).
SOON TO BE SEPTEMBER
Sen. John Warner (R-VA): "I put this out as a suggestion and put it in the public domain. It's drawn a lot of controversy, I recognize that. But this will help the American people better understand the complexity of the many issues that are going to be brought up to the president first by the ambassador, a very able man, coming back from Iraq; General Petraeus, the overall on-scene commander; General Jones, who is preparing a special report on the status of the security forces; and, indeed, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is going to come forward with his views."
More: "What I'm trying to do ... is to get the attention of our president, those making a decision and, indeed, the American public of the necessity to bring some type of decisive pressure upon this government to deliver on the reconciliation. Reconciliation ... can bring about a greater cessation, a greater stability .... throughout Iraq, than all the bullets and the arms together."
Asked if Bush does not set a timetable, if he'll break with him and begin to set one: "I'm going to have to evaluate it and then, as all other senators -- we're an independent branch of our government, co-equal in many respects with authority and responsibility -- we'll have to make our decision as to what we'll do."
More: "I don't say that as a threat, but I say that is an option we all have to consider."
Asked if Sens are worried about Iraq and '08: "Every one of those senators is worried. ... Now, we will see, after we get back in September and we get together in groups and talk amongst each other, we'll have a consensus. ... Maybe others will speak out, as I have done, on options. But we should wait till the president speaks. After he speaks, then we'll have to make our own assessment."
Asked if Bush recommends a status quo in Iraq, if Senate GOPers will rebel: "I'm not going to bite on that one" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 8/26).
Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell: "I think the big news in August, frankly, is that the critics of the surge are now going to Iraq over this past month and admitting that the surge is working. So we've had military progress. There's no question about that. ... The Iraqi government is still pretty much a disaster. I mean, they haven't done any of the things at the central government level that we had anticipated."
More: "Senator Warner called me Friday afternoon to underscore that he still supports the president, that he is not in favor of a surrender date. And even though he made a recommendation that we begin to draw down some level of troops, frankly, I think a lot of my members would be surprised if there was not some level of draw down over the next coming months. So I didn't find that all that newsworthy" ("Fox News Sunday," 8/26).
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), on Warner: "I think that this was a bold step forward, and he's trying to send the same signal that ... you can't rely on us forever. We need American combat troops off the streets in Iraq, and we need Iraqis to replace them" ("This Week," ABC, 8/26).
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): "I support the surge because I believe the surge is helping to make us safer, given us a chance of success rather than a guaranteed failure which a rapid redeployment or withdrawal would guarantee" ("This Week," ABC, 8/26).
TURNING THE TABLES ON RUSSERT
Warner also discussed whether he's going to run for re-election:
Asked if he's going to run for re-election, Warner: "Well, what do you think I should do?" More: "Yeah, how about that? Come on. You put yourself up as the number one nation's political pundit."
NBC's Russert: "Never do."
Warner: "What would you do if you were 80 years old?"
Russert: "I just ask the questions."
Warner: "You do? Well, I'll give you the answer. Wait till September."
Russert: "That's five days away."
Warner: "That's all right. Wait till September."
More: "I made a commitment. This is serious business. ... Five terms, the people of Virginia have stood with me strongly. Now I've got to go out and assess, and each day for six months, I've kept a little diary. I feel this way -- not physically, but mentally -- should I stay, should I not. But the Senate requires you to go full-bore six or seven days a week, tremendous energy. Go to Iraq, jump in and out of helicopters, get on the cargo planes, no sleep. And that's in different things we've got to do all around. And I've got to assess at this age whether it is fair to Virginia to ask for a contract for another six years."
Russert: "That sounds like a lot to ask a man between the ages of 80 and 86."
Warner: "That is correct." More: "But anyway, I'm going to make that decision, and I'm going to do what's right for my state and my country in terms of running again. I'm confident that I can run a good, strong campaign. But then I've got to also say to Virginia, 'On the eve of my 88th birthday, I'm still going seven days, seven nights with full steam.' I might be able to do it" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 8/26).
ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP
The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed WH '08 and Iraq.
The "Meet the Press" roundtable discussed the situation in the Middle East.
The "Late Edition" roundtable discussed WH '08.
The "This Week" roundtable discussed the situation in Iraq and WH '08.
Posted 08.27.07 09:08 AM | Comments (2)
August 24, 2007
The Governator Doesn't Like It
LOS ANGELES - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday expressed distaste for a Republican-friendly ballot initiative created by two of his former advisers who want to alter the state's electoral voting process.
"In principle, I don't like to change the rules in the middle of the game," Schwarzenegger said about "The Presidential Election Reform Act."
Created by the governor's former attorney Thomas Hiltachk and ex-advisor Marty Wilson, the '08 ballot measure would move the state's electoral votes from winner-take-all to allocation by congressional district plus two statewide votes.
The governor's comment came two days after Dems submitted paperwork in Sacramento for their "National Popular Vote" counter-initiative, which would have the state's electoral votes go to whoever wins the national popular vote.
The dueling electoral vote initiatives, both aiming for the 6/08 state primary, now must compete also with Schwarzenegger's renewed interest in reforming California's selection of state and federal legislators. The governor may push his own ballot proposal for the 2/5 presidential primary to create an independent commission to draw up fresh district boundaries.
Without such reform, "there's no competition," Schwarzenegger said at a Los Angeles press conference with former CA GOP Gov. Pete Wilson and ex-CA Dem Gov. Gray Davis, whom the actor ousted from office in a 2003 recall.
Schwarzenegger's remark could hinder his two ex-advisors in their current attempts to raise $2 million for the initiative's ad budget. However, the authoritative Field Poll this week said that 47% of Californians polled support the initiative's district-based electoral vote counting over winner-take-all, with 35% opposing such a change.
If their initiative passes next June, Republicans could secure between 19 and 22 electoral votes since 19 of California's 53 congressional seats usually vote red. Maine and Nebraska (with a combined 9 electoral college votes) are the only other states to do proportional allocation.
Dems are attacking early here to quash a measure which might swing a national election.
"It's much better to be on the offensive and deal with this from the front end and hopefully stop it from even getting off the ground," said Dem initiative spokesman Chris Lehane, an early Kerry '04 communications director/Gore '00 press secretary. His group, Californians for Fair Election Reform, competes against the GOP-driven Californians for Equal Representation.
The Republican proposal's qualifying petitions could start circulating after the state attorney general gives it a ballot title and summary on Sept. 5. Opposition funding is expected from San Francisco hedge fund master Tom Steyer and Hollywood millionaire movie producer Steve Bing, ex-boyfriend of English rose Elizabeth Hurley. In 2005, more than $4 million from Bing helped Cal Dems defeat Schwarzenegger's redistricting initiative.
GOP initiative spokesman Kevin Eckery - a onetime Pete Wilson press secretary - is nonchalant about Dem attacks since so many states must pass their popular vote measure for the idea to work nationally. "The small states will never turn their back on the electoral college," he said. "So you might as well make the electoral college work better. It's not going anywhere." [DAVID FINNIGAN]
Posted 08.24.07 09:26 AM | Comments (3)
August 23, 2007
Do As I Say ...
As of recently, Barack Obama's rhetoric has been hovering dangerously close to that of John Edwards on various issues, including org. labor and lobbyist campaign contributions.
In the Aug. issue of Progressive magazine Elizabeth Edwards goes so far as to call Obama an outright copycat, accusing him of "lifting her husband's best lines." E. Edwards: "You listen to the language of what people say, particularly Obama, who seems to be using a lot of John's 2004 language, which is maybe not surprising since one of his speechwriters was one of our speechwriters, his media guy was our media guy. These people know John's mantra as well as anybody could know it. They've moved from 'hope is on the way' to 'the audacity of hope.' I'm constantly hearing things in a familiar tone."
We still weren't convinced. But last weekend's AFL-CIO labor forum in Cedar Rapids, IA, 8/18 p.m. changed that.
As expected, Edwards made his now very familiar criticism of WH Dems who accept donations from lobbyists (namely, Hillary Clinton). Edwards: "We are not the party of Washington insiders. We are the party of the people, and so from this day forward we say no -- no forever to the money from Washington lobbyists."
The only difference -- Obama beat him to it that day, towing the same anti-lobbyist line at an earlier event that day in central Iowa. Obama: "We've got to have a president in the White House who sets bold targets and sets broad goals and isn't intimidated by the barriers and the roadblocks and isn't driven by those who already have an investment in the status quo - somebody who can overcome the lobby-driven, divisive politics that characterizes this issue."
Meanwhile, back at the labor forum, Obama used another token Edwardian statement: "We need a president…who is not afraid to mention unions."
Armed with his strong anti-lobbyist and pro-union message, Edwards continues to fall in 3rd place in nat'l polls of the Dem race. So, one wonders why Obama would want to adopt his mantra in the first place. Does Obama think he can carry the Edwardian message in a way that can tackle frontrunner Hillary?
Time will tell. But, for now, Obama's flattery through imitation only further proves that Edwards has significantly shaped the Dem debate thus far [AMY DUDLEY].
Posted 08.23.07 04:01 PM | Comments (7)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"She said all the men just put down their guns and stood back."
-- AR AG Dustin McDaniel, on HRC's duck-hunting experience, Arkansas News, 8/23
Posted 08.23.07 12:48 PM | Comments (1)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.23.07 10:05 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Politics And Religion -- It's All TV Needs
Barack Obama appeared on the "Daily Show" last night:
Asked if the "insanity" of the process has sunk in yet: "Every day it reveals itself in new way. I think that's part of what people are looking at our campaign to see, just some normalcy and some common sense. ... We had an 8 o'clock in the morning debate in Iowa. ... It's always a shock to the system when Sunday morning you wake up and you're face to face with Mike Gravel. ... So we're preparing and one of my staff said, 'The thing you've got to understand is, this isn't on the level.' And I think that really strikes to what people are frustrated with in politics, is that so much of what we talk about, so much of what we say, it's not true, people know it's not true, all the insiders understand that we're just game-playing -- and in the meantime you've got these hugely serious problems, which are true."
Jon Stewart: "With the experience thing, have you thought about running a smaller country first?"
Obama: "What I did think about, though, was invading a smaller country. ... Grenada."
Stewart: "That's a gaff."
Asked if it's hard to run as a SEN, Obama: "It's paralyzed and it's designed for you take bad votes. A governor is more likely to be able to set the terms of the debate. They can give a speech, they can say, 'This is my initiative, this is my proposal. I won't sign it unless I agree with it.' You know, with senators, you end up, you know, having to actually vote on stuff that has no relevance whatsoever but can be used later on to attack you."
Stewart: "Where's the whole meaning that Hillary Clinton is very experienced? She's been in the Senate a few years longer than you and then she was the first lady. Are they counting that? Does that going on the resume?"
Obama: "She's a very capable senator. She's very smart. I think people rightly give her credit for having been a participant in the Clinton administration, and that she was doing some heavy lifting on issues. I do think that, increasingly, what Americans are looking for is not Washington experience, but do you have life experience that is gonna lead you to make good decisions, and are you in touch with what's happening on the ground."
Asked if he admires any of his GOP opponents: "I think some of these folks are decent people. ... I think there are guys like Huckabee, who, I think are sincere and decent" (Comedy Central, 8/22).
JINDAL FIGHTS BACK
And LA GOV candidate Bobby Jindal (R) was on "Hannity & Colmes" to talk about a Dem campaign ad claiming he's insulted LA Protestants via articles he wrote in the '90s describing his conversion to Catholicism:
Jindal: "I thought I'd seen every dirty trick in Louisiana politics. To attack me for being a Christian is ridiculous. I actually became a Christian in a nondenominational church, later became Catholic. You actually look at the writings, they actually have just made up these allegations. The only time I talk about other denominations, I talk about what my own church could learn from those denominations. What I talk about is the fact that we, as Christians, are united in the belief in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the truth of the Bible. What's amazing to me -- it's no coincidence. We're ahead in the polls. We've put out a detailed policy on how we can end corruption in Louisiana. They're trying to distract the voters. It's ridiculous they would do this."
More: "We've called on the state Democratic Party to pull down this ad. Our lawyer have sent letters to the stations running this ad. ... I'm proud of my Christian faith. I've got nothing to hide. I've talked to hundreds of congregations about my personal decision to become a Christian, to accept Christ. Ironically, the church founded by a Billy Graham disciple. I've got nothing to hide. I'm not embarrassed. If they would simply tell the truth, I'd be proud."
Asked about reports John Edwards is invested in companies who are foreclosing on people in New Orleans: "You know, on one hand, I'm glad he's focusing attention on New Orleans and Louisiana. We need the attention as we rebuild. ... But for having invested in these firms that may have engaged in predatory loan practices, I think the reason he gets into so much trouble is the hypocrisy. On one hand, here he is, trying to say we should act and be better. And he holds himself up as an example. I'm grateful he's focusing attention on Louisiana. Don't get me wrong. But the hypocrisy, I think, is what is so offensive" (FNC, 8/22). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 08.23.07 09:05 AM | Comments (1)
August 22, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"Maybe it's even more important than legislation."
-- House Oversight Chair Henry Waxman (D-CA), on Congress' investigative powers, AP, 8/22
Posted 08.22.07 12:30 PM | Comments (0)
Karl Rove Tea Leaves
How heavily will Karl Rove play in WH '08? Consider this tea leaf. Or, to be more precise, this postage stamp.
Shortly after announcing his WH resignation, Rove penned a quick letter to his old nemesis, Gore '00 camp. mgr Donna Brazile. "I love Karl, because when you receive a letter from Karl, you don't automatically go and read the letter," Brazile said. "You look at the stamps."
On the corner of Rove's envelope: a 15-cent stamp with the words "We've just begun to fight."
"I love that man," Brazile said, "because he knows how to fight."
Posted 08.22.07 09:51 AM | Comments (1)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.22.07 09:42 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Your Money Edition
Lots of '08 talk last night:
Chris Dodd played "Hardball":
On Iraq: "Whether it's Prime Minister Maliki or someone else, you need leadership in the country that has the capacity, both religious and political leaders, to bring these elements together. I'm not confident that's ever going to happen, but certainly, under this administration of Prime Minister Maliki it's been very anemic, at best."
On his meeting with the Fed: "That's my major concern today, that we keep people in their homes here. I was pleased to see Hank Paulson say the president cares about that. That's the first time I've heard that statement come out of anyone in the administration. But that ought to be a major focus of our attention, getting these lenders -- which they can do, by the way -- to rework these loans in a way so that people can stay in their houses. That ought to be our primary responsibility right now" (MSNBC, 8/21).
He was also on "Money & Politics":
Asked if he felt reassured after his meeting with his Fed: "I felt sort of mixed emotions. ... And while I have been vocally critical of the Fed not responding as early as they should of regarding the regulatory arm here, they are now doing that. My hope is that they will continue to move at a fast a pace as you might expect the Fed to move in dealing with some of the underling causes that have created this problem. I was less enthusiastic with the administration's response."
Asked if there's a risk of recession: "I wouldn't go that far at this point at all."
More: "I have confidence in Ben Bernanke. ... He's new at the job so I'm going to give him more of an opportunity here" (Bloomberg, 8/21).
ALL ABOUT OBAMA
There was a lot of talk about various developments in the Barack Obama campaign:
Dem strategist Donna Brazile, on if Michelle Obama was taking a swipe at Hillary Clinton: "I don't think ... she was taking a swipe at the Clintons or Giuliani or anyone else. She was trying to establish his credentials as a family person. ... Look, she is a straight-talking person. She's very smart, very articulate. She's an asset to the campaign. And I think, if she wanted to take a swipe at somebody, she would not hide words. Michelle Obama would come out and say it" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/21).
CNN's J. King, on Obama's Miami Herald op-ed: "By writing that op-ed, Senator Obama is stirring up a debate that has faced every president and every presidential candidate since Dwight Eisenhower." More: "Most interested in this debate is a tiny slice of the electorate. Cuban-Americans amount to less than 1 percent of the U.S. population, but they are heavily concentrated in a critical presidential battleground, Florida, adding up to about 8 percent of the electorate in a state decided by just 537 votes in campaign 2000. Cuban-Americans are the most reliably Republican of the nation's Latino voters, leaving many to wonder why Obama would want to stir up such an emotional debate. ... Some of his rivals, though, suggest that Senator Obama might be trying to shift attention from that debate controversy over his statement that he would meet with Fidel Castro and other leaders of so-called rogue nations in his first year in office" ("Situation Room," 8/21).
Al Sharpton, on Obama's claim he will increase African American turnout: "If he were the nominee, he probably would get a huge turnout among African-American voters, because of the history of it, in him being the first nominee of a major party, African-American. I think that the challenge will be the turn out to get to be the nominee. I think that other campaigns would argue -- I'm sure Mrs. Clinton would argue that if she were the nominee, she would get a huge women turnout because she would be the first woman nominee, or Governor Richardson the first Mexican American. So I don't think that his statement is an outrageous statement at all" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 8/21).
STILL WAITING FOR FRED
And there was also a lot of talk about Fred Thompson's not-quite-official campaign:
FNC's Brown, on Thompson's speech at the VFW: "While Thompson said things most of the vets wanted to hear about soldiering on in Iraq, the former U.S. senator seemed to struggle at times delivering his speech. ... Thompson seemed unfamiliar with the applause lines in his own speech" ("Special Report," 8/21).
NBC's Todd, on the lawsuit against Thompson: "Any citizen can file a claim like this with the SEC. It didn't get it done. The good news for Fred Thompson, the SEC will probably rule on this sometime in 2020. If he makes it to the White House, it will be four years after his two terms. The bad news is it piles on this stumbling and bumbling launch that the Thompson campaign has been about. They have had three campaign managers, by the way, and they've yet to announce" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 8/21).
USA Today's Page, on Thompson: "His biggest strength is unhappiness with the field that is out there right now." On his weaknesses: "He hasn't run in a while. He isn't particularly well known. ... He's not as well known as you might think. ... Campaigning for president is hard to do and he hasn't been out there. ... In a state like Iowa ... that's a very organization intense-like process and he does not have that kind of structure in place" ("NewsHour," PBS, 8/21).[EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 08.22.07 08:58 AM | Comments (1)
On The Left Coast, Laura Coasts
Barely 8% of registered voters bothered showing up for the 8/21 election to replace the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA 37). But it still counts, and state Assemb. Laura Richardson (D) is CA-37’s new congresswoman. The results, with 100% of the precincts reporting:
Laura Richardson (D): 67%
John Kanaley (R): 25%
Daniel Brezenoff (I): 5%
Herb Peters (L): 2%
Richardson’s general election win was a foregone conclusion in a CD where Dems have a 58%-20% registration edge. The toughest race for Richardson was the 6/26 blanket primary, when she defeated state Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D) and nine others for the right to move onto the general. Richardson will be sworn in 9/4. [TIM SAHD].
Posted 08.22.07 06:55 AM | Comments (0)
August 21, 2007
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"I guarantee you African-American turnout, if I'm the nominee, goes up 30 percent around the country, minimum."
-- Barack Obama, AP, 8/20
Posted 08.21.07 12:43 PM | Comments (3)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.21.07 09:42 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Hurricane A Coming
Hurricane Dean dominated TV news last night but there was still some political talk -- a bit on the 8/19 Dem debate in IA and on Karl Rove's obsession with Hillary Clinton:
Newsweek's Alter, on Rove attacking HRC: "He knows exactly what he is doing. You know, this was what they did in 2004 with John Kerry. They were very afraid that John Edwards would be the nominee and that he would have a much better shot of unseating President Bush. They were less worried about Kerry. So, in the primaries, the Republicans turned their firepower on John Kerry, knowing that that would create a reaction where people rally around him and he went on to win the nomination, just as they hoped."
More: "If Hillary is not the nominee, those Republicans don't have nearly as much to work with. She is the playbook that they know and they are prepared to run against. The other candidates are blank slates. They'd have to go back to the drawing board. With Hillary Clinton, they know exactly what to do, exactly how to take her apart. And those are factors that Democrats have to consider" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 8/20).
THE DEMS MAN IN NEVADA
And FNC's Vogel profiled NV Assmb. Ruben Kihuen:
Vogel: He's "the one Nevadan every Democratic presidential candidate wants to talk to." More: "Kihuen got into politics just last year. ... He went door to door in his tiny Las Vegas district and sent thank you notes to every one who gave him five minutes. He unseated the incumbent and tripled Hispanic turnout. Now party leaders want his endorsement, because they believe the first-term assemblyman holds the key to the Hispanic vote."
Kihuen: "It is nice to get all these headlines, being called the king maker. But at the end of the day, the most important thing is that I'm going to have to get people out to vote."
Vogel: "And that's what makes Ruben Kihuen so important. His demonstrated ability not only to reach his Hispanic voters, but to get them to the polls. ... Kiheun has yet to make his choice. And Obama, Edwards and Richardson are hoping he'll endorse one of them, turning January's Nevada caucus into a horse race" ("Special Report," FNC, 8/20). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 08.21.07 08:34 AM | Comments (3)
August 20, 2007
Laugh, And the World Laughs With You....
Late night TV may be fun for the audience but when it comes to the race for the WH, it's not always a laughing matter. Take then-Gov. George W. Bush's infamous March 1, 2000, appearance on CBS' "Late Show." Bush appeared via satellite from St. Louis and the slight time delay made him look slow on the uptake. And his one-word answers to host David Letterman's questions didn't show off his sense of humor.
This cycle, most WH '08ers have decided that it's worth the potential pitfall. In fact, with the exceptions of Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo, who have not appeared on a late night talk show during their campaign run, all the other declared '08ers will have been on. Hillary Clinton, who last appeared as a late night guest in '04, is scheduled to appear on the "Late Show" on August 30th.
The "Daily Show" has been the most prolific in inviting '08ers to the interview couch. The only major '08er not appearing there is Mitt Romney. NBC's "Tonight Show" is next in candidate invites. Only Rudy Giuliani hasn't been on. CBS' "Late Show" has had on all the major contenders except for Romney. In fact, Romney has been the most late-night shy, appearing only on the "Tonight Show."
[EMILY GOODIN]
Posted 08.20.07 03:01 PM | Comments (0)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"Well, somebody else made the decision for me, and I'm just doing what I was instructed to do."
-- Karl Rove, on making the Sunday show rounds, "Face," CBS, 8/19
Posted 08.20.07 12:50 PM | Comments (2)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates -- Updated 24/7
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
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 York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 08.20.07 10:21 AM | Comments (0)
Sunday Snapshot
Karl Rove made the Sunday show rounds in order to say his goodbyes:
On why he's making the rounds: "Well, somebody else made the decision for me, and I'm just doing what I was instructed to do."
To Bob Schieffer: "How can one leave the White House without saying goodbye to you?"
On elections: "You cannot win elections with your people only. You've got to get your share of the independents. You've got to get your share of the other side's party. You've got to grab some of those people who might be inclined to have a D behind their name if you're a Republican candidate or an R behind their name if you're a Democrat candidate. And you've also got to get people energized into the system who've never participated."
Asked why Bush is so unpopular: "I don't think he has wound up being so unpopular. We'll see at the end of the day. We've got 17 months, and I've known him for 34 years. He's a competitive person. He didn't come here simply to hold the office. He's going to continue to pursue a bold agenda at home and abroad. And he's got 17 months to get a lot of things done. He's going to be using every lever available to the president, which is considerable, to get things done right up to the end."
On the GOP WH field: "The key is to have positive, forward-looking, optimistic agenda for the future of the country. .... We've got at least four big ones and maybe others. Senator McCain, Mayor Giuliani, Senator Thompson, Governor Romney -- these men will be able to articulate that message. And, look, it's going to be an exciting message to watch because the outcome is not foreordained. But I feel good about these men. I feel good about their message."
Asked if he knows who the GOP nominee will be: "If I did, I wouldn't tell you. And, frankly, I have been focused too much on my duties at the White House to give that much contemplation" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 8/19).
Rove: "Is the Republican Party a little bit behind the curve? You bet. ... Because we're in an unpopular war and because we got defeated in the last elections. ... You know what the number one issue was in the last election for people who voted Democrat in '06 and voted Republican in ‘'04? It was corruption. They looked at what we did in Congress, they looked at all the scandals."
On WH '08: "All of our major candidates get it, that the election has got to be about the future. Democrats want to make it about the past. The Republicans want to make it about the future."
More: "It's going to be a tough, contentious election year. It's going to be tough for a Democrat or a Republican to win. One of them will win, but only after a very tough, long time."
On Valerie Plame: "There is a civil lawsuit filed by Mr. Wilson and Ms. Plame. It has been tossed out at the district court level. They've announced their intention to appeal. I think it is better that I not add anything beyond what is already in the public record until that suit is resolved."
More: "My recollection is, 'I've heard that, too.' But the point is, if a journalist had said to me, 'I'd like you to confirm this,' my answer would have been, 'I can't. I don't know. I've heard that, too.'"
Asked if he owes Plame an apology: "No."
Asked how HRC is "fatally flawed": "She enters the general election campaign with the highest negatives of any candidate in the history of the Gallup Poll."
Asked how that hurts her: "Well, it just says people have made an opinion about her. It's hard to change opinions once you've been a high profile person in the public eye, as she has, for 16 or 17 years."
Asked if she's the Dem nominee GOPers want: "I'm just responding from questions to journalists. Don't ask me, don't blame it on me. It's you guys' fault."
On HRC's ad: "First of all, it's laughable that this president does not have a strong relationship with the military and military families. Most of the ad was devoted to health care, which really to me was a sign of defensiveness. She understands she's got a weakness on this."
Asked if Obama has measured up to the hype: "You know what? ... You've got an excellent panel coming on, I think, later in the program. Why don't you ask them this question."
NBC's Gregory: "You haven't shied away from talking about Hillary Clinton."
Rove: "I've said enough. I've got to save a little bit more for later."
Gregory: "Do you really fear Barack Obama? That's why you're spending all this time attacking Hillary Clinton?"
Rove: "I read that in the LA Times this morning. Those guys really out in LA have got to get clued in. I mean, come on" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 8/19).
On the '06 election: "The 2006 election was a normal off-year election. If you look at the sweep of American history, the White House party in its second term, off-year election, has lost an average of 28 seats in the House and five seats in the Senate. We lost 30 in the House and six in the Senate, and it was a very close election. The House of Representatives was decided by 85,000 votes out of 82 million cast."
FNC's Wallace: "You sound like John Kerry complaining about Ohio."
Rove: "Well, no, no, we lost. I mean, there's no doubt about it."
On why he won't testify before Congress about the firing of the U.S. attys: "Because of the Constitution of the United States. We have a constitutional separation of powers."
Wallace: "The Constitution does not prevent you from speaking to me so, in fact, I'll ask you some questions. Why did you push to fire some U.S. attorneys in the president's second term?"
Rove: "Nice try. The president has prerogatives that stand up not only to Congress, but also to you."
Wallace: "I mean, executive privilege involves the separation of powers with Congress. It doesn't involve what you talk to me about."
Rove: "It involves the right of a president to receive candid advice from his aides without being subjected to -- called by the Congress to come up and testify. I know you don't understand you're being an agent of Congress when you ask me that question, but you are. I'm going to stand and protect the Constitution and the right of a president, which is absolutely vital, to receive unvarnished, direct and candid advice from his aides."
Wallace: "I like to think I'm an agent of the public, not the Congress."
Rove: "Well, in this instance, you're an agent of Senator Leahy and Congressman Waxman."
Asked if the GOP would ever nominate someone who is pro-choice: "Our party is a pro-life party. I do think people are accepting of candidates who, you know, may have a slightly different label or may have a slightly different attitude, as long as people respect and understand the essential core of that, which is what do we need to do in order to make abortion less prevalent in America. And appointing conservative judges, encouraging adoptions, standing for the restrictions that we have in current law so there's no federal funding -- I find a lot of people who are pro-life are willing to take a candidate who will carry that standard."
More: "That's one of the issues that will be decided in the primary. And the question is, you know, people who enter politics, when they first enter politics, tend to sort of want everything very quickly. And as time goes on, they mature and they get a more mature understanding of politics and say, 'You know what? I want somebody who is with me, you know, 80 percent or 90 percent of the time and may take longer to get where I want to go.' And that's a natural thing in politics."
On the '08 campaign: "I don't anticipate taking any kind of formal role. ... I mean, I'm in my eleventh year of this. So, no. My wife would kill me."
More: "I mean, I've got friends in all four of the major camps. I'm an opinionated kind of guy. And I hope to think I'm sort of discreet. And so if people call me, I'm happy to give them what I think."
On what Bush said to him after the MC Rove dance: "He said, 'You're fired'" ("Fox News Sunday," 8/19).
ALL IMMIGRATION'S FAULT
John McCain was on "Face the Nation":
Asked if he thinks it's his support for the war that has cost him his position in the '08 campaign: "No. I think first of all, we're in good shape and I'm happy where we are. ... We're going to be just fine in my campaign. And every campaign has its ups and downs. I think, frankly, the immigration issue has caused me some difficulties with our base, because I think we failed to convince the American people that we're serious about securing our borders. They don't have confidence in us anymore, because of our failure of handling Katrina, corruption and spending, and failure in the war. ... I made mistakes in the past, but on Iraq, immigration, other issues, I have to do what I think is best for this nation, and I'm proud to do so."
Asked if he agrees with Rove that HRC will be the Dem nominee: "No, I think she has been very effective in the Senate. I don't know the Democratic politics, but I see her in a frontrunner status right now. I have worked with her on many issues. But again, she is a liberal Democrat; I'm a conservative Republican. I look forward to that debate. This debate should be about issues. I have seen her shift on her position on Iraq, from basically supporting to now seeking withdrawal dates, I don't know when. And so, I will be glad to have that debate with her, but I think we should have a respectful campaign with lots of debates."
Asked who his main '08 competition is: "I don't know. I see it kind of evolving, and some people are up and some are down, and that's our favorite game here in Washington. I'm sticking on my message."
Asked what Gen. Petraeus' report will say: "I believe that he's going to depict what I think are the facts on the ground and I am in close enough contact with people to think it's pretty accurate. Militarily, we are succeeding. Politically, we have some difficulties, although there's progress on the local levels on the basic lefts on the ground in Iraq. We are going to be able to move our troops from some areas to others. And eventually -- and I say eventually -- we will be able to withdraw not only to bases, but withdraw completely. But it's going to take a while" (CBS, 8/19).
ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP
The "Meet the Press" roundtable discussed Rove and WH '08:
Los Angeles Times' Brownstein: "They've become more of a regional party under Karl Rove. They're strong in the culturally conservative parts of the country, but in the Northeast and the West Coast, they've lost a lot of ground."
The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed the financial markets and Rove:
Weekly Standard's Kristol: "Well, it depends if we win the war in Iraq and if a Republican gets elected in 2008. I think both are pretty likely, actually. And in that case, Rove's legacy will be pretty impressive."
FNC's Barnes: "To think that he could guarantee a Republican realignment, or that he could be someone who had some secret strategy that could get immigration reform passed and Social Security reform passed, just ignores how much or how little a political strategist can really affect things."
The "Late Edition" roundtable discussed WH '08 and Rove:
CNN's Preston: "There were really no winners today in today's debate. But Barack Obama was clearly trying to send a message, look, don't criticize me for things that I've said in the past. Your experience has gotten us into the Iraq war. My judgment would have not put us there."
Posted 08.20.07 09:00 AM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2007
Revisiting Rove
Check out Carl Cannon's web exclusive piece on Karl Rove, which tries to put the Boy Genius in some rational perspective.
Posted 08.16.07 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"I called my wife this morning and I said I've never seen more corn in my life."
-- Rudy Giuliani, on Iowa, Des Moines Register, 8/16
Posted 08.16.07 12:39 PM | Comments (4)
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