SEVEN (OF) ELEVEN; BLOOMBERG LAUNCHES; BEHIND THE WHEEL; FL SANCTIONS; NADER ENDORSES
May 10th, 2007
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE.SEVEN (OF) ELEVEN; BLOOMBERG LAUNCHES; CAR ENDORSEMENTS; FL SANCTIONS; NADER.
IRAQ: Okay, we now know the names of seven of the eleven centrist GOP Congressmen who met with President Bush in private on Tuesday to demand he make changes to his Iraq War policy. The seven names: Mark Kirk (R-IL), Charlie Dent (R-PA), Tom Davis (R-VA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Todd Platts (R-PA), Mike Castle (R-DE) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN). Davis is the former NRCC Chair. The eleven reportedly pledged to stay loyal to the President's current Iraq agenda, but only until September. According to MSNBC's Chris Mathews, the group told the President his uncompromising support for continuing the Iraq War was risking "the death of the Republican Party." In response, President Bush indicated Thursday he is now will to "accept benchmarks" pegged to Iraq War funding -- although it's anyone's guess as to what he meant by "accept." We'll let you know when we learn the names of the other four attendees. In related news, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) broke with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and joined with Republicans on Thursday night in voting against the bill to begin redeploying US troops out from Iraq within 90 days. The bill failed by a vote of 171-255. Congressmen Ron Paul (R-TX) and Jimmy Duncan (R-TN) were the only Republicans to support the proposal, versus 59 House Dems who voted against it. A short time later, the House approved by a 221-205 vote a $96 billion war spending bill that makes continued funding of the Iraq War dependent on a July progress report. President Bush has vowed to veto the measure, saying he wants guaranteed war funding with no strings attached through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.
BLOOMBERG: Talk about mixed signals, but NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg relaunched his campaign site Thursday only hours after says he still is "most likely" to not run for President. This is especially interesting as the billionaire Bloomberg is term-limited as Mayor and already "categorically" stated he will not run for NY Governor in 2010. So, why the relaunch of Bloomberg's political site? Bloomberg told reporters he was "dusting off his old campaign website ... This new web site is the single place where people can go to find out what I've done not only in government, but in business and philanthropy as well." Also worth noting: the "Mike Bloomberg in the News" section contains links to various stories, including many that speculate about him making an '08 Indy run for President. The New York Sun wrote they found Bloomberg's actions "puzzling" because "Bloomberg's daily news conferences and statements are all posted on the city's official [mayoral] home page" if this was merely about wanting an outlet for his public comments. For someone who claims he isn't running for President, the site interestingly touts Bloomberg's "efforts to build affordable housing, strengthen our economy, protect our environment, and reduce poverty." Hmm ... sounds like a nascent 2008 campaign site to me. Check it out and see if you think Bloomberg's site signals his likely intent.
HYBRIDS: The AP asked the leading Presidential candidates "What car or cars do you drive?" The answers showed a surprising number of hopefuls in both parties said they drove hybrids as their personal vehicles. The hybrid drivers: Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Sam Brownback and Tom Tancredo. Dennis Kucinich drives a compact, but not a hybrid one. Joe Biden drives a classic 1967 Corvette. Mitt Romney prefers a Ford Mustang convertible. Bill Richardson drives a Jeep. Mike Huckabee and Duncan Hunter prefer large SUVs. John McCain and Barack Obama drive luxury sedans. The most surprising answer came from Rudy Giuliani: "I don't drive." No answers were reported from the other hopefuls.
FLORIDA: Florida Democrats are considering a proposal to make the January 29 primary non-binding and instead select convention delegates in a mid-February caucus. That would ensure no DNC sanctions against the state. DNC Chair Howard Dean has threatened to strip the state of nearly all its delegates, and bar any delegates from being awarded to candidates who campaign in the state's primary. US Senator Bill Nelson, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and several other prominent Dems -- plus various newspaper editorials around the state -- oppose the caucus idea. They say the DNC must find a compromise to allow the primary to go forward on January 29, allow delegates to be awarded from it, and impose less severe sanctions against the state. Otherwise, they warn, the DNC risks dangerously alienating some of the party's biggest national donors, key activists and voters in a battleground swing state. RNC Chair and US Senator Mel Martinez, meanwhile, told the Palm Beach Post that "as a Floridian" he was "perfectly fine" with his homestate defying the RNC and advanced the primary to January 29 because it "makes Florida more relevant." Martinez said he can live with the sanctions he already announced on behalf of the RNC -- that the Florida Republicans will see their convention delegate total halved -- and that no further sanctions would be imposed. The Florida Republican Party "knows what the consequences of doing it are and they're OK with it," explaind Martinez. Clinton, Obama, Romney and McCain have already announced they plan to campaign in Florida's January 29 primary. Perhaps the DNC, as a face-saving compromise, should simply follow the RNC's lead and impose identical sanctions.
NADER: Four-time Presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader penned a column this week for CommonDreams.org that reads like an endorsement of ... former US Senator Mike Gravel (D) for President. Nader wrote that the curmudgeonly Gravel was "a fresh wind coming down from Alaska ... determined to start a debate about the fundamentals of democracy ... no ordinary dark horse politician ... he really believes in a government of, by and for the people." Of course, Gravel is the perfect candidate for the cantankerous Nader to back. Why? Because once Gravel is knocked out of the race after the early Dem primaries, Nader would have a reason to feign reluctance yet again mount another independent White House run.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 05.11.07 | Permalink | postCount('051107a');
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Your daily open thread.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 05.11.07 | Permalink | postCount('051107B');
WANNA TRADE?
I'm interested in building up my collection of Canadian campaign buttons. If you've got Canadian political buttons to trade (both federal and provincial), I'm interesting in swapping with you (and will also trade your Canadian buttons for some of my great US pins). Please drop me a note! Also interested in buying Canadian pins, if you're not interested in trading.
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE.
GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND IRAQ POLICY CHANGE; TAKE TWO; WARNER'S MIXED SIGNALS.
IRAQ: A group of eleven GOP Congressmen -- led by Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Charlie Dent (R-PA) -- met secretly Tuesday with President Bush to candidly voice their concerns about the Iraq War. According to NBC News, the group urged the President to "change direction" in Iraq. The meeting was held in the private residential quarters of the White House, lasted 75 minutes, and was also attended by Secretary of State Condi Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, political adviser Karl Rove and press secretary Tony Snow. And, as NBC had detailed info about the private meeting, news of what happened was clearly leaked by some of the GOP Congressmen. One legislator told the President his district was prepared for defeat in Iraq and wanted a change of direction in policy. Another told the President that "the word about the war and its progress cannot come from the White House or even you, Mr. President, [as] there is no longer any credibility. It has to come from General Petraeus." The President responded to the blunt criticism by explaining "I don't want to pass this off to another President. I don't want to pass this off, particularly, to a Democratic President." Reportedly, the group consisted almost entirely of mainstream Republicans from potentially swing districts who are worried about the President's Iraq policy and the impact it could have on the 2008 elections. They reportedly support the concept of a timeline or benchmarks for US withdrawal from Iraq.
THOMPSON: Based upon his work as an actor, think of former US Senator Fred Thompson's speech this coming weekend as "Take Two." After bombing on his debut P2008 campaign stump speech last week in California, The Politico reports Thompson is quickly retooling his message for a Saturday speech in Virginia. Thompson acknowledged his California speech "didn't live up to expectations," but vowed that his next speech with be "a tighter and sharper message" focused on "values."
MAINE: Hours after Congressman Tom Allen (D) announced he will run next year against US Senator Susan Collins (R), Collins has shifted her Iraq stance to supporting a possible fall withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Allen launched his campaign with an attack on Collins for her support of the war. "I do believe that there comes a point in September where if it's evident that the new [surge] strategy is not successful and it's not going to succeed, that we do have to change course, and that means looking at all the options, including a plan for withdrawing," said Collins to CNN on Tuesday night.
VIRGINIA: US Senator John Warner (R-VA) is continuing to give mixed signals about whether he will seek re-election in 2008. This week he told reporters he is "still very interested in staying in the Senate" and "leaning" towards running again. Contrast this with this: earlier this year he said he'd announce his re-election plans around the time of his scheduled June golf outing fundraiser -- but this week Warner announced he is delaying until September making any announcement of his 2008 plans. Further, the Richmond Times-Dispatch noted Warner's Chief of Staff is departing the Hill this week to become a lobbyist. What does all this mean? Your guess is as good as mine.
WEST VIRGINIA: Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R) told GOP leaders this week she is not interested in challenging US Senator Jay Rockefeller (D) next year, according to The Hill. Capito was the NRSC's top choice for the race. The NRSC is now reportedly interested in recruiting Secretary of State Betty Ireland (R) to run. "She has not made any plans for any future race at this point. All doors are open, and she never closes any door," said Ireland's spokesman. Wealthy businessman John Raese -- who lost by 30-points in his 2006 race against US Senator Robert C. Byrd (D) -- is reportedly interested in running. Rockefeller was seemingly safe before Capito's announcement, but her decision locks in an easy '08 run for Rockefeller in this purple state.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 05.10.07 | Permalink | postCount('051007a');
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Your daily open thread.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 05.10.07 | Permalink | postCount('051007B');
WANNA TRADE?
I'm interested in building up my collection of Canadian campaign buttons. If you've got Canadian political buttons to trade (both federal and provincial), I'm interesting in swapping with you (and will also trade your Canadian buttons for some of my great US pins). Please drop me a note! Also interested in buying Canadian pins, if you're not interested in trading.
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