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March 31, 2006
New 2006 Polling
Zogby has their full slate of election numbers online again. I am not sure how much faith I put in the results, as it is internet polling and the book is still out the methodology. That said, I consider the results to be somewhere in between credible and nothing more than a "Friday Fun Tyme!" poll. Regardless of any information gleaned from these results or others, simply allowing the Republican Party to implode from the inside and self-destruct isn't going to get the job done. That's why it's so important that you participate in the 50 State Canvass April 29th, to help spread the Democratic message in 2006. That said, here a are a few of the more interesting results:
OH-Sen: Sherrod Brown 45.9% (D) vs. Mike DeWine (R) 37%
PA-Sen: Casey Jr. 47.4% (D) vs. Santorum (R) 39.4%
AZ-Sen: Kyl 47.1% (R) vs. Pederson (D) 42.1%
MN-Sen: Klobuchar 49.2% (D) vs. Kennedy (R) 41.4%
OH-Gov: Strickland 46.6% (D) vs. Blackwell (R) 40.6%
CO-Gov: Beauprez 39.9% (R) vs. Ritter (D) 38.1%
MN-Gov: Pawlenty 43.5% (R) vs. Hatch (D) 42.6%
MD-Gov: O'Malley 48.1% (D) vs. Erlich (R) 42.9%
Full results can be found here.
Posted by at 10:08 AM | Comments (18)
Open Thread
Have at it. Happy Friday.
Posted by at 10:06 AM | Comments (350)
March 30, 2006
Open Thread
Anyone else get a real sweet deal on a house lately?
Posted by at 5:42 PM | Comments (181)
IA-Gov: State Ethics Board to Investigate Nussle
From an Iowa Democratic Party press release:
The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board voted today to investigate gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle's campaign for potentially violating state campaign finance compliance laws."We applaud the Ethics Board's decision to investigate the campaign filings of Jim Nussle. The board has confirmed our belief that the Nussle campaign engaged in potentially unscrupulous financial activities that misled Iowans. Iowa's campaign finance reporting laws were established to shine a light on the financial activities of candidates for public office, and this investigation will do just that," said Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Mike Milligan.
Last month, the Iowa Democratic Party filed a formal ethics complaint against the Nussle campaign with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. There are three areas of concern that warrant an investigation into ethics violations:
1) Mr. Nussle’s state finance report fails to show any in-kind donations from the federal "Nussle for Congress Committee," while six individuals were simultaneously paid out of both accounts.
2) The development costs of Nussle's gubernatorial campaign website may have been paid for by the congressional campaign account, with no record of an in-kind donation to the gubernatorial campaign account.
3) Three congressional campaign expenditures, totaling $33,839.69 for media-production, were made to McCarthy Marcus Hennings in 2005. The official announcement tour of his bid for Governor was accompanied by a video. However, in the gubernatorial campaign state report there is no report of video or media production expenses to McCarthy Marcus Hennings until two months after his announcement.
The most recent Rasmussen Reports polling on the race shows Nussle trailing Chet Culver (D) but in a close contest with other potential Democratic nominees.
Posted by at 4:35 PM | Comments (8)
Arizona Dems Launch New Website
Wanted to make sure that everyone (and specifically those in Arizona) saw the new web initiative launched by the Arizona Democratic Party. Just click on the image below to visit.
Posted by at 1:54 PM | Comments (8)
Unprecedented Fifty-State Canvass
Governor Dean sent this message to Democrats across the country this morning.
Dear Fellow Democrat,
Are you ready to make history?
Thanks to the overwhelming support from thousands of Democrats, who donated to get the literature for the canvass printed and shipped, we're on schedule and gearing up for the unprecedented Neighbor-to-Neighbor Organizing Day on April 29th.
On that Saturday, thousands of volunteers will recruit hundreds of thousands more Americans committed to changing the status quo this year during door-knocking events in communities across America.
Democrats have a clear vision for America, and we're going to get the word out by making personal contact with our neighbors. And along the way we will build new relationships among volunteers on the ground, a network that will have an impact beyond a single day.
Whether you've never volunteered or you're a seasoned door-knocking veteran, it is crucial that you take part in this historic organizing push.
Please RSVP for an event near you:
http://www.democrats.org/50statecanvass/find
In many states, Democratic Party staff on the ground have already put together staging areas for massive voter contact events on the 29th. Thanks to donations from people like you, hundreds of thousands of pieces of literature are being printed and shipping in bulk to those locations right now.
If there isn't an event near you, don't worry. Some state parties will have canvassing events on alternate dates, or have other important events that planned for that weekend.
You can still plan your own canvass in your community. Our online tool makes the planning process easy, and if you create your event before April 10th, we will get doorhangers to you in time for your canvass on the 29th.
You can create your own event here:
http://www.democrats.org/50statecanvass/create
Whether you're attending an event or hosting your own, we have also put together materials on the web to help you make your canvass as effective as possible.
The online package includes tips on canvassing, a suggested script for when you get to the door, and the doorhanger itself in various formats for you to print extras on your own.
Here is the online resource center:
http://www.democrats.org/50statecanvass
Two-thirds of Americans reject this president and the Republican leadership -- and they are waiting to hear from us.
We are all members of one American community and it's up to us to make sure that our country has a government as good as its people.
Democrats have a big task in November. We will only win if every one of us takes responsibility for the outcome of the election now -- while there is still time to build our operation.
Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary grassroots push.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Posted by at 10:16 AM | Comments (65)
Thursday Morning Open Thread
Happy Morning.
Posted by at 8:42 AM | Comments (176)
March 29, 2006
Open Thread
How could I have forgotten this candidate George Allen gem earlier today?
"When I observed her on videotapes, clearly [she] is conscious and has the ability to feel," Allen concurred, although he has no medical background.
Must be something about Republican presidential candidates that makes them think they can diagnose people hundreds of miles away over video tape. Either that, or he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express the night before.
Posted by at 10:48 PM | Comments (68)
"Tired Concepts"
That's what the RNC thinks of...
- Eliminating Osama bin Laden
- Providing our troops with the necessary armor in Iraq
- Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations
- Transitioning full sovereignty in Iraq to the Iraqi people
- Inspecting 100% of inbound cargo
- Energy Independence
- Securing loose nukes
That's the big difference between the Republican and Democratic parties. On the other side of the aisle, these are "tired concepts" that are only important when promised during a campaign cycle. No need to actually implement them when they control the executive and legislative branches of government ... claiming you we'll get Osama bin Laden "dead or alive" is only good for a boost in approval ratings. When it comes time to govern, priorities quickly shift to providing no-bid contracts to friends of the adminstration, building a wall on our southern border, and securing a place or residence in the bedrooms of families across the country.
These aren't tired concepts. These are goals that that a responsible party in power during a "post 9/11 world" would be striving to accomplish. Fact is, the current adminstration and its rubber stamp Republican controlled congress has presided over a spectacular weakening of national security -- quick to sell our safety down the river to the highest bidder. Osama bin Laden is still on the loose, the Middle East threatens to become a mass of instability, North Korea's nuclear ambitions remain a serious threat to our safety, and our pourous borders remain vulnerable to terrorist and WMD infiltration. And the list goes on. And on. And on and on and on and on and on and on.
If there is an executive branch willing to take security seriously instead of playing politics at every turn, this is what we will accomplish with a Democratic congress in 2006. Real Security.
Posted by at 4:11 PM | Comments (18)
A Real Security Agenda
The men and women of America’s armed forces and those on the front lines here at home have met every challenge with skill, bravery, and selfless dedication. They, along with veterans, military retirees and the families of those who have given their lives or have been wounded in defense of our country, deserve the gratitude and support of the American people. We will always honor their service and fulfill our promises to them.
Posted by at 2:18 PM | Comments (22)
Five Years &10 Months
Posted by at 2:02 PM | Comments (6)
Real Security
The American people have a choice in 2006. They can stick with the status quo of "stay the course" put forth by a Republican controlled rubber stamp congress led by President Bush. Or we can change the course and provide Real Security, a plan put forth by the Democratic Party.
We've repeatedly seen what "stay the course" gets us: An Iraq teetering on the brink of civil war -- A proposal to allow foreign, state owned corporations with ties to Al Qaeda and the Taliban the ability to control security at six of our nations largest ports -- Five percent of incoming cargo inspected at our ports -- Scathing rebukes and failing grades from the 9/11 Commission (.pdf) in regards to the implementation of their proposals to keep America safe in a "post 9/11 world." -- Osama bin Laden still on the loose and producing enough videos to start his own cable network. -- Instability in the Middle East including, but obviously not limited to, the prospect of a nuclear Iran. -- Government sponsored domestic spying -- And secret energy commission meetings, oft repeated empty slogans about oil addiction, and a president who was only kidding in the State of the Union about his promise to make us energy Independent.
We can stay that course ... or Americans can opt for Real Security this November and beyond.
Real Security will immediately implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that includes securig our borders, ports, airports, and mass transit systems.
Real Security will screen 100% of containers and cargo bound for the U.S.
Real Security will prevent outsourcing of critical components of our national security infrastructure -- such as ports, airports, and mass transit.
Real Security will provide our first responders the technology they need.
Real Security will protect America from bio terrorism and pandemics, including the Avian Flu.
Real Security will ensure that 2006 is a year of transition to full Iraqi sovereignty in Iraq.
And Real Security will eliminate Osama bin Laden.
Your call. But that's just the beginning of the Democratic plan to provide Real Security for all Americans in 2006, 2007, and beyond. You can read the full plan, here.
Posted by at 11:02 AM | Comments (12)
More George Allen -- Greatest Misses
Watching Senator Allen on CNN this morning reminded me of two recent quotes (and a bonus third just found today) that I felt needed redistribution at a time like this. First, the Senator on Ben Bernanke to replace Alan Greenspan:
Senator George Allen of Virginia, who is considering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, said when asked his opinion of the Bernanke nomination."For what?"
Told that Mr. Bernanke was up for the Fed chairman's job, Mr. Allen hedged a little, said he had not been focused on it, and wondered aloud when the hearings would be. Told that the Senate Banking Committee hearings had concluded in November, the senator responded: "You mean I missed them all? I paid no attention to them."
The second is comes from candidate for re-election to the U.S. Senate in Virginia, George Allen:
George Allen makes little secret that he is bored with life in the Senate."I made more decisions in half a day as governor than you can make in a whole week in the Senate," Senator Allen said earlier this month as he dashed into a recent Republican fund-raiser in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Over eggs and hash browns with a Republican crowd in Davenport, he lamented about being in the Senate, "It's too slow for me."
And TODAY, the DSCC finds a nice little video clip of candidate for re-election to the U.S. Senate in Virginia, George Allen, publicly wishing he was born in Iowa. At this point, why even run for re-election to the U.S. Senate if you are George Allen? He has absolutely no interest in holding on to his seat, it bores him, and only his presidential ambitions seem to keep him motivated.
Posted by at 9:47 AM | Comments (2)
Quote of the Day
Senator/Presidential Candidate George Allen:
I think if you reward illegal behavior, you'll get more illegal behavior," said Sen. George Allen, a Virginia Republican.
Flashback: Senator Allen defending the president's domestic spying program in December of 2005.
Posted by at 9:36 AM | Comments (8)
Open Thread
Happy Wednesday.
Posted by at 9:03 AM | Comments (284)
March 28, 2006
Insufferable
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the very serious, and dangerous, Republican candidate for President of the United States, Tom Tancredo.
Photo Credit: Colorado Political News
For Tancredo's money, anyone that arrived in the United States more than 48 hours after his final relative, America is full. And not only is it full, but anyone found helping an illegal immigrant in any way, even a church ministering aid, could literally be convicted of a crime. He wants to separate millions of children, American citzens, from their parents who might be illegal immigrants -- either that, or just ship those legal citizens from where their parents came. There is no humanity in Tancredo's proposals, let alone anything that resembles a realistic plan for the future. Tancredo is busy playing a game of checkers while serious legislators are contemplating the next move in a very serious chess match.
In case you need more evidence of just how unhinged Tancredo is, in a symbol of America's commitment to freedom, liberty, and tolerance, he wants to build a wall along the US/Mexican border. I was telling one of my friends about this the other night, and she thought I was kidding. "A wall?" "Yup, a giant wall along the border." "You're not serious," she asked. "Dead serious, they think that's the answer, a wall."
There was a pretty good op-ed in the Chicago Tribune this morning by Jesse Jackson. The thesis, and title, of the piece was it's time to wage war on povery, not immigrants ... and that war takes place on both sides of our borders. Until we get serious about that, the McCain-Kennedy Act is a good first step. The act "provides for meaningful comprehensive reform through measures to strengthen border security, crack down on businesses that hire undocumented workers, provide a path for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to move out of the shadows and earn citizenship, and provide additional work visas for those seeking to enter the U.S."
Posted by at 3:06 PM | Comments (131)
Who Knew?
Yes, who knew you too could "celebrate spring" for the small price of $1,000? And while most of us do know the price of coffee is getting a bit extreme, but 1k to take a break and have a cup with Heather Wilson? It's time for another journey into the soul sucking site that is the National Republican Congressional Commitee webpage.
Celebrate Spring with Congressman Jeff MillerThe Madison House, 201 C Street SE, Washington DC
Suggested Contribution: $1000
Take a coffee break with Congresswoman Heather WilsonStarbucks Coffee 237 Pennsylvania Ave, SE Upper Level Washington, DC
Suggested Contribution $1,000
Congressman Todd Tiahrt Invites You to Join Him for the 2nd Annual Todd Tiahrt European Driven Pheasant HuntThe Flint Oak Hunting Resort in Kansas
$2,500 per PAC/Individual benefiting HEART PAC
No word yet on whether or not the vice president will attend Congressman Tiahrt event. And for the most shameless invitation of the lot, the award goes to... Congressman Scott Garrett!
Please Join CONGRESSMAN SCOTT GARRETT, Republican, Fifth Congressional District of New Jersey; Member, House Financial Services Committee, For A Fundraising Reception With Very Special Guest HON. RODNEY FRELINGHUYSEN, Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee; Vice-Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense; Member, Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development
Look at all the committee access one fundraiser can get you! What a bargain. [puke]
Posted by at 11:36 AM | Comments (5)
Karl and Josh, Sitting in a Tree
So the "shakeup at top levels" of the Bush Adminstration finally happened. This morning, President Bush accepted the resignation of Chief of Staff Andrew Card and appointed Josh Bolten. This replacement, friends, a shakeup does not make. What's the difference? I suppose they are hoping to send the country sprialing down the wrong track with greater efficiency now. Either way, you know Karl Rove is pleased ... he apparently has a bit of a man-crush on Josh Bolten (.pdf).
"He's soft-spoken but very clear thinking," said Karl Rove, Bush's chief political adviser. "I love him in an entirely appropriate way."
Aside from the obvious humor that is Karl Rove feeling he has to provide a disclaimer while expressing his admiration for Bolten, the truth is that this appointment is meaningless. And if you are a fan of absolute secrecy and business-as-usual in the White House, than Josh Bolten is your man:
"Bolten operates with two guiding principles: absolute loyalty to the boss and absolutely no attention to himself. Indeed, his penchant for secrecy befits the son of a career CIA officer. One White House colleague notes that Bolten for months had a sign on his desk declaring: 'Who else needs to know?'"
This is not the hiring of an "adult" willing to question the president and his failed policies ... this is another man willing to sit back and aid the president in his quest to stay the course.
Posted by at 11:03 AM | Comments (4)
FL-Sen: Congrats Katherine Harris Loses ANOTHER Staffer
I was about to congratulate Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida Katherine Harris for going several days in a row without one of her senior staffers leaving the campaign, but then I read the Sarasota Herald Tribune this morning:
Katherine Harris' Senate campaign has been losing key campaign workers for months.But when Tampa-based political consultant Adam Goodman announced he had left her staff on Monday, she lost more than just another hired gun trying to help her win a seat in the Senate.
Harris lost a piece of her history, someone who started working for her on her first campaign in 1994.
Even the most loyal supporters are jumping ship. I guess the realization that you can't fund a serious campaign by pawning posessions on Ebay is hitting close to home.
Posted by at 10:40 AM | Comments (2)
John McCain [Hearts] Jerry Falwell
The two-faces of candidate McCain:
U.S. Sen. John McCain - a likely 2008 presidential candidate who once labeled the Rev. Jerry Falwell an "agent of intolerance" - will be Liberty University’s graduation speaker on May 13."I was in Washington with him about three months ago," Falwell said. "We dealt with every difference we have. There are no deal breakers now.
That's cute, they solved every difference they have. Does this mean candidate McCain identifies Falwell's belief that femininsts, the ACLU, gays and lesbians were responsible for September 11th?
PAT ROBERTSON: Jerry, that's my feeling. I think we've just seen the antechamber to terror. We haven't even begun to see what they can do to the major population.JERRY FALWELL: The ACLU's got to take a lot of blame for this.
PAT ROBERTSON: Well, yes.
JERRY FALWELL: And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say "you
helped this happen."
Hey, if Tim Russert can ask Senator Obama about something Harry Belafonte said from another country, is this not a fair question to ask a man actively and publicly courting the support of Jerry Falwell in his presidential campaign?
Posted by at 10:24 AM | Comments (9)
Open Thread
One of the esteemed members of the "Filthy Four" gets sentenced today, take a guess which one:
Bill Frist
Vice President Cheney
Jack Abramoff
Bob Ney
If you guessed Jack Abramoff, you're right! I gotta be honest with everyone, and the same thing happened for me when I watched Duke Cunningham's tear-soaked speech a few weeks ago ... today, I feel sorry for Abramoff's family, and even a bit for the man himself. Jack Abramoff is essentially broke, and now his wife and large family are left behind to fend for themselves. And while I am sure that is something Abramoff can consider will paying his penance in the penitentiary, you really can't help but feel for his wife and children. As the sentence is read, it also really saddens me that we live in a country where many of our leaders are guided not by a passion for progress, but power. That's what makes the existence of people like Jack Abramoff and the role he played in the Republican culture of corruption possible.
Posted by at 9:31 AM | Comments (313)
March 27, 2006
Open Thread
For the night...
Posted by Josh McConaha at 6:25 PM | Comments (348)
OH-Gov: Republican Primary Heats Up
The Columbus Dispatch released a poll over the weekend showing J. Kenneth Blackwell on his way towards taking on Ted Strickland this November in Ohio's gubernatorial contest.
Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell holds a double-digit lead in Ohio’s GOP gubernatorial primary race in the first Dispatch Poll before the May 2 election.While Attorney General Jim Petro trails by 11 points, nearly a third of Republican voters remain undecided.
In other news relevant to the race, Ken Blackwell has decided against debating Jim Petro during the primary. Next, the Cleveland Plain Dealer argued that Ken Blackwell is the most "political secretary of state in Ohio history - perhaps American history." And finally, Jim Petro had the audacity to release a new campaign ad titled, "Integrity." In the ad, he looks point blank into the camera and says, "I've tried in every sense to have that reputation that is so important to me, of absolute integrity." Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating whether or not Attorney General Petro participating in acts of retribution against lawyers/firms refusing to contribute to his 2002 campaign. Quite a choice for Republican primary voters this May.
Posted by at 1:56 PM | Comments (6)
The Filthy Four
After a weekend of buzzer beaters, blowouts, heartbreak, and euphoria, the "Unsweet Sixteen" has been whittled down to the "Filthy Four." There are no feel good cindarella stories in the field, just a collection of the corrupt. Here are the finalists and how they got there.
For a refresher, here are the original brackets. You can also find the pre-game analysis here and here.
The Bush Adminstration Bracket
Because these games were played in secret location and without oversight of any kind, it's very difficult to report on how Vice President Dick Cheney emerged from the high-powered field. Cheney's the kind of player that won't give up even when the world is telling him he just can't go on. His early training at Halliburton--a company that did business with Iraq when he was CEO and was investigated for their ties to Iran in 2004--created the take-no-prisoners attitude that's made him such an asset to the Bush Administration. And after a series of failed predictions that would have stopped more seasoned players in their tracks, Cheney just keeps moving forward. He led his teammates in a pre-war game plan that was breathtaking in its brazenness, but fell apart when it came time to implement it. He said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction--when he didn't. He said that Al Qaeda was linked to Iraq--when they weren't. Just nine months after he said the Iraqi insurgents were "in their last throes" the country teeters on the brink of civil war. And now, even though the Iraqi police have been infiltrated by the very insurgent forces they are trying to control, Cheney continues to see victory within his grasp.
The House Bracket
Just as Josh and I predicted, Bob Ney came out of Ohio to upset some bigger names in the House bracket, including Tom DeLay and Duke Cunningham. Ney was known as the "Mayor of Capitol Hill," until he was forced to step down after being identified as Representative #1 in Jack Abramoff's Federal plea bargain. Ney is comfortable playing on the road as well--he to play his first round game in a federal prison to accomodate the Duke-Stir's travel "limitations," and he's traveled to Scotland with Jack Abramoff and sent his staff to the Marianas Islands. Whether he's granting federal contracts to the clients of his political patrons or using the congressional floor as a commercial for Jack Abramoff's casino cruise line, Ney is well recognized as a power player who relentlessly uses his position to box out the competition. The fact that Ney has been able to keep it together and is even running for reelection despite the steadily closing net of a Federal investigation has shocked political insiders.
Senate Bracket
Don't let his cool demeanor fool you, Bill Frist is a serious competitor whose killer instincts were honed during his early days in medical school, when he repeatedly adopted cats from local animal shelters, pretended to give them homes, and then used them to practice his surgical skills. But there's no question that despite the ice water in his veins, Frist has repeatedly choked when it counted as Senate Majority Leader. He failed to get the job done for Bush on the Dubai Ports World deal; he failed to pass asbestos reform after declaring it to be the Senate's "top priority"; he couldn't block the extension of the Patriot Act, open up ANWR to drilling, or get Harriet Miers confirmed; and his efforts to ensure he could limit debate on judicial nominations were thwarted by members of his own party. Of course, his recent failure to focus on his long game may be because he's distracted by the ballooning investigation into his recent sale of $10 to $30 million of HCA stock--a sale of stock that he didn't know he had to prevent a conflict of interest he previously said didn't exist.
Pioneers and Rangers Bracket
The early favorite of the corruption tournament, Jack Abramoff, is a strong inside player (with at least a few Republican Members of Congress, and a certain President) who uses his domination of the paint to get what he wants for his lobbying clients--after keeping a bit for himself, of course. Abramoff has spent 20 years working in Republican politics preparing for this tournament--though some whisper behind closed doors that he paid his way into the tournament, much like he paid his way into the White House. Abramoff might be a bit distracted since he is busy cooperating with the FBI, but since he just got his sentencing postponed in his Florida fraud case, so there's no reason he shouldn't be fresh for the tournament. With the $20 million he bilked from Indian tribes, the $3.41 million he invested in campaign contributions for Republican Congressman and Senators, the quality time he spent on overseas trips with Congressmen and their staff, and the clandestine White House meetings with President Bush and Karl Rove, there's no question that Abramoff can dominate this tournament. If Abramoff brings his A game, everyone else might be playing for second place.
Posted by at 11:48 AM | Comments (25)
GA-Gov: Democrats Making Gains on the Back of Ralph Reed
Rasmussen. 500 Likely Voters. March 15, 2006. MoE +/- 4.5%
Sonny Perdue (R): 49%
Cathy Cox (D): 41%
Sonny Perdue (R): 51%
Mark Taylor (D): 41%
These numbers are in stark contrast to the last time Rasmussen put a poll in the field for this race early February. Back then, Perdue led both challengers by twenty percentage points. Much as the president is dragging down the national Republican Party, it could very well be the poor press and air of corruption surrounding GOP "Golden Boy," candidate for Lt. Governor, and Jack Abramoff BFF, Ralph Reed, dragging down the incumbent governor in Georgia. Reed is quick to point the finger at the "radical left" and the liberal media for his woes ... wahhhhh! We've never heard that stale excuse before. Unfortunately for him, it's pretty tough to run from this record:
"Former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed claimed in a 2001 e-mail to [Jack Abramoff] that he choreographed John Cornyn's efforts as Texas attorney general to shut down an East Texas Indian tribe’s casino." Reed, "an avowed foe of gambling," was "paid $4.2 million by Abramoff and Scanlon for his work opposing several tribal casinos in southern states from 2001 to 2003, government sources said."
Hopefully Reed stays on the ticket through November. An Atlanta Journal Constitution poll showed a plurality of Georgians would be LESS likely to vote for Sonny Perdue should the "Golden Boy" stick around.
Posted by at 11:10 AM | Comments (9)
New Numbers
A few interesting notes from Time Magazine's most recent profile of the 2006 midterm election landscape. First, there are the numbers:
Time. 1,003 Adult Americans. March 22-23, 2006. MoE +/- 3%
Which party would do a better job of rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast?
Democrats: 48%
Republicans: 21%
Standing up to special interests?
Democrats: 40%
Republicans: 22%
Managing government spending?
Democrats: 46%
Republicans: 31%
Dealing with corruption?
Democrats: 39%
Republicans: 25%
Protecting the rights of Americans:
Democrats: 48%
Republicans: 35%
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the poll also shows that a majority of Americans believe the Republican Party does not have a clear set of policies for the country. Of course, the Democratic Party does have a clear plan:
1. American jobs that will stay in America, using energy independence to generate those jobs.
2. A strong national defense based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers and our allies.
3. Honesty and integrity to be restored to government.
4. A health care system that works for everybody just like they have in 36 other countries.
5. A strong public education system so we can have optimism and opportunity back in America.
The article also talks about something we discussed late last week, Republicans fleeing from the adminstration on it's course, but quickly embracing the president for his ability to raise cash. Not much new here, just a few funny quotes:
Considering that Vice President Dick Cheney had come a long way to help Florida Congressman Ric Keller raise $250,000 last week, the reception he got in the Sunshine State could have been a bit warmer. After extolling Cheney as "one of the most effective Vice Presidents in the history of the U.S.," Keller launched into all the times he had recently opposed the Bush Administration, including the deal to allow a Dubai company to manage operations at several U.S. ports. And then Keller went right for the punch line: "'Don't be too hasty,'" he claimed the Vice President had pleaded with him. "'Let's go hunting. We'll talk about it.'"
The Vice President might have no business on American Idol, but maybe an evening at the Improv would suit him better.
Posted by at 10:18 AM | Comments (8)
Open Thread
Start talking.
Posted by at 9:48 AM | Comments (76)
March 26, 2006
Legislative Branch Need Not Apply
When President Bush signed the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act this month, he included an addendum saying that he did not feel obliged to obey requirements that he inform Congress about how the FBI was using the act's expanded police powers. The bill contained several oversight provisions intended to make sure the FBI did not abuse the special terrorism-related powers to search homes and secretly seize papers.
This is why it's so important to elect a Democratic Congress in 2006. This is why all calls for oversight before the passage of the Patriot Act were meaningless. It's why you can't trust President Bush in a speech when he says:
Congress also oversees the application of the Patriot Act. Congress has recently created a federal board to ensure that the Patriot Act and other laws respect privacy and civil liberties. And I'll soon name five talented Americans to serve on that board. Attorney General Gonzales delivers regular reports on the Patriot Act to the House and the Senate, and the Department of Justice has answered hundreds of questions from members of Congress.
This adminstration, aided and abetted by a Republican controlled congress, has little regard for the system of checks-and-balances so important in the face of an executive branch drunk with power.
Posted by at 1:43 PM | Comments (15)
March 25, 2006
Open Thread
Lo Siento, was out all day. And if you happen to be a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New York, watch out for the helicopters flying over your home.
Posted by at 9:47 PM | Comments (158)
March 24, 2006
FL-Sen: Another Harris Staffer Calls it Quits
The St. Petersburg Times Blog:
It seems like Buzz writes this one once a week. Here we go again...Another high-level staffer is leaving Rep. Katherine Harris' House office. Deputy Chief of Staff Peggy Evans' last day is Friday. Evans is one of Harris' longest serving staffers, working for her for about two years.
We used to keep a running tab on the exact number of employees that have come and gone from Harris' congressional and U.S. Senate campaign offices but we've lost count. Let's just say dozens.
It is most often the rule, not the exception, that campaign staffers are willing to stick around in difficult situations because they either believe in the candidate or their message. It says an awful lot that such a large number of defectors from the Harris campaign were not "willing to risk it all" for that "pearl of great price."
Posted by at 12:16 PM | Comments (13)
Gimme the Loot
As he stood surrounded by supporters at his Green Tree campaign office yesterday, Mr. Santorum predicted that the event would add more than $500,000 to the war chest he brings to his anticipated challenge from Democratic Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. The cash will be a welcome boost to what is expected to be one of the most expensive Senate races in the country this year. [...]Mr. Santorum said of the president, that rather than standing side-by-side at more public rallies, "the best use of his time for me is to help us raise money."
Posted by at 11:49 AM | Comments (4)
Gotta Love the Principle
With the president and vice president's approval ratings in the tank all across the United States, Republican candidates across the country find themselves in a delicate dance distancing their campaigns from the course, but not the cash. Mike DeWine's (R-OH) Senate campaign is one of the best, most recent examples of the trend.
When a president's popularity plummets as Bush's has, other politicians often avoid public appearances with them. Prominent Ohio Republicans including Sen. Mike DeWine, Sen. George Voinovich and Rep. Steve LaTourette say they're skipping Bush's speech because of prior commitments.
Of course, DeWine welcomed him to Cincinnati weeks earlier.
President Bush was on the ground in Cincinnati less than three hours Thursday, but his presence at a fundraiser in an Indian Hill home put $1.1 million in the campaign account of Sen. Mike DeWine.
You can use the script above to re-write Tom Kean Jr. and the Vice President in New Jersey, although Kean didn't even attend the fundraiser held on his behalf. ABC has the national scoop.
Many worried Republicans on the ballot in November have been pushing away from the White House, not wanting to be dragged under by President Bush's sinking approval ratings and growing anxiety over Iraq. That doesn't mean they're also fleeing his cash offerings, however.Despite approval ratings in the mid-to-upper 30s, Bush remains the nation's most successful fundraiser. Vice President Dick Cheney, whose poll numbers are even lower than Bush's, is not far behind. Both have raised tens of millions of dollars for GOP congressional and gubernatorial candidates running in this year's midterm elections.
Even as some Republicans are becoming increasingly defiant on a range of issues, they're still lining up dutifully for the president's campaign dollars.
Fact is, these visits cannot be separated from the loyal support of the president by candidates like DeWine. It was indeed Senator DeWine first in line offering to rewrite the law making President Bush's domestic spying program legal.
Posted by at 10:39 AM | Comments (7)
Open Thread
A pair of unbelievable finishes in the last college basketball games yesterday. Can't help but feel sad when someone who has had the career of Adam Morisson walks around the court on the brink of tears with two seconds left on the clock. Four more tonight, and we all know Pam B. is excited to watch her Huskies of UConn take on the, well, the Huskies of Washington.
Posted by at 9:30 AM | Comments (414)
March 23, 2006
Open Thread
Who are you cheering for tonight?
Posted by at 5:59 PM | Comments (181)
The 2006 Unsweet 16 ... Continued
UPDATE: To vote in the 2007 Unsweet Sixteen
click right here
College basketball's Sweet Sixteen begins tonight, and despite my poor advice in round one, I'll try again tonight. Personally, I'm pulling for Bradley over the one-seed Memphis (Go Missouri Valley Conference) and UCLA in one of the two late games. But while the sweet sixteen gets widdled down to the final four by the end of the weekend, the "Unsweet Sixteen" has raged on for about five years now. Unfortunately for all Americans, we'll have to wait until November to start knocking competitors out of the tournament (or they end up in jail, whatever happens first). Josh and I reviewed half of the brackets last week, and will run down another one right now ... the House bracket.
Tim: We'll start in the House bracket, where Mitchell Wade has a serious rooting interest in both of the matchups. One of the GOP's favorite congresswomen from Florida, Katherine Harris, is taking on Tom "the exterminator" DeLay.
Josh: How corrupt do you have to be to get awarded a higher seed than Duke Cunningham in this bracket?
Tim: I think this bracket is probably the toughest of the lot, you really gotta be something special to make your way into the final four among this group.
Josh: I disagree, totally. I mean, look over at the "Pioneers and Rangers" bracket... Two of the four have either been convicted/confessed to crimes and/or awaiting their prison sentences. And the third, Tom Noe, is facing fifty-three felony counts that could carry up to 175 years in prison. That's to take nothing away from the astonishing level of corruption among the group in the House bracket... it's just, they are like "futures stars" to a group of Hall of Famers in the Pioneer bracket.
Tim: Alright, back to the games. DeLay vs. Harris
Josh: DeLay, in a rout. Tough to beat "48 visits to golf clubs and resorts with lush fairways; 100 flights aboard company planes; 200 stays at hotels, many world-class; and 500 meals at restaurants, some averaging nearly $200 for a dinner for two."
Tim: That is tough to beat. Harris is trying her best though, vowing to sell off all of her earthly posessions to fund a Senate bid in Florida, and then comparing herself to various characters in the Bible.
Josh: Yeah, but that's not corrupt, that's just ridiculous.
Tim: Well, I didn't mention the fact that she received illegal campaign contributions from Mitchell Wade and then attempted to get him earmarks while a member of the House.
Josh: But still, it's no Tom DeLay.
Tim: Indeed. DeLay moves on.
Tim: The second matchup pits the Duke Cunningham against Ohio's Bob Ney. This game was originally scheduled to be played at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse but had to be moved to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego California, outdoor court #3, in order to accomodate Cunningham.
Josh: I thought you said that if you were in jail, that was the end of your tournament run?
Tim: Well, I guess the selection committee thought Duke's corruption is so prolific, they let him in as a legacy ... almost like a lifetime achievement award.
Josh: If anyone deserves it, it's Duke. Credit where credit is due for his "bribery menu."
Tim: Tough draw though for the convicted criminal, he gets Bob Ney, AKA "Representative #1."
Josh: And maybe Ney can conjure up the same kind of luck he had in a London casino when he turned $100 into $34,000 during two hands of a "three card game of chance."
Tim: What are the odds of that actually happening?
Josh: At best, about 550 to 1. Ironically, that's about the likelihood of his story being true.
Tim: You know, despite the heavy odds against Ney and home court advantage for Cunningham, I am kind of leaning towards Reprsentative #1 in this game.
Josh: Me too, I'm not convinced that Cunningham will be emotionally ready to take the floor tonight after watching all his goodies auctioned off by the government yesterday.
Tim: And again, who can forget Ney's golf trips to Scottland.
Josh: Yeah, but he says he was "duped" by Abramoff.
Tim: Again, about as likely as him winning $34,000 in two hands. Besides, how can you not rally behind a congressman celebrated in an email from Jack Abramoff to Mike Scanlon that read, "Just met with Ney!!! We're f'ing gold!!!! He's going to do Tigua."
Josh: I can't believe I am about to say this, but yea for Ney. I think he'll advance.
Tim: I'm with you. Plus that alleviates the headache of having to host two rounds in a federal prison.
Tim: Alright, one more bracket to go, but those games are played tomorrow night. We'll have the rundown before then.
Posted by at 2:47 PM | Comments (1)
Talking Straight But Acting Crooked
Who knew the mythical "Straight Talk Express" was powered by a bunch of hot air from the candidate himself? Republican presidential contender John McCain found himself confronted with the tough questions regarding his recent hire of "strategist" Terry Nelson (that, inexplicably, no one had asked yet) on The John Carlson Show in Seattle.
CALLER: For a reformer, I'm kind of curious why he would hire a guy like Terry Nelson as a senior advisor.Here's a guy who was actually in the indictment of DeLay on his money laundering charges. When he was at the RNC, he agreed to take the corporate contributions from DeLay's PAC and then recycle them back into the Republican congressional races.
And he was also, this guy Nelson was also the supervisor of James Tobin, who was the guy convicted last year for helping jam the Democratic get-out-the-vote lines in New England a couple years ago.
So I'm curious why would you hire someone with such a shady background?
MCCAIN: None of those charges are true.
CALLER: You don't believe what was actually written in the indictment from Texas?
MCCAIN: No.
CARLSON: All right.
MCCAIN: I will check it out. But I've never heard of such a thing. I know that he was a grassroots organizer for President Bush year 2000 and 2004, and had a very important job in the Bush campaign as late as 2004, but the other charges I will go and look and see if any of them are true, but I've never heard of them before.
Here's the audio (and transcript) courtesy of Talking Points Memo.
Posted by at 2:00 PM | Comments (9)
Governor Dean on CNN This Morning
Governor Dean appeared on CNN's "American Morning" earlier today and discussed President Bush's permanent commitment to a failed strategy in Iraq and the Democratic Party's agenda going into the 2006 elections.
On President Bush's Failed Iraq Policies:
"We don't believe as the President said that we ought to leave this to the next president. The President got us into this. He needs to plan to get us out of it. We do believe that we can't withdraw immediately. That's not going to stabilize this dreadful situation, which the President has caused by his brash actions and because he did not listen to the military when we went in.
"Our plan is clear. The United States Senate has adopted our plan, which is: 2006 has to be a transition year. That the Iraqis have to take responsibility now for what's going on. We were the ones that suggested, which is now being adopted by Republicans, that the Iraqis be required to have unity government based on this election. They need to take responsibility for this. We need over the next couple of years to bring our folks home. ...
"We need to deal with Iraq right now, in a thoughtful and sensible way. and we need to listen to the military, not just talk about listening to the military, which is what the President's doing."
On The 2006 Midterm Elections:
"Do you want more of the same or a real change? We're going to give you a real change. We'll bring honesty and openness back to our government again, and create American jobs that will stay in America. We want a health care system that works for everybody. Look what the President did. The President didn't tell us the truth about Medicare Part D, this ridiculous drug program he has for Medicare, which is driving seniors crazy. We need a President who just tells us the truth."
Posted by at 1:39 PM | Comments (16)
Where's the Compassionate Conservatism?
(The following entry was submitted by Christy Agner, Director of the Women's Vote Center at the DNC. It's also important to note that since Governor Rounds signed the anti-choice bill into law, his approval ratings in South Dakota have plummeted -- Tim)
Now that South Dakota Republican Governor Mike Rounds has signed legislation to prevent women from making their own decisions about their reproduction health, America's women are wondering what's next? If a challenge to this legislation were to make it to the Supreme Court, as many observers suggest, the likely timing would place the debate squarely before the next Presidential election in 2008.
South Dakota is not the only state to debate prohibition of virtually all abortions, ignoring dangers to women's health or pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. And if the Supreme Court reverses or modifies Roe v. Wade, states could have even more latitude to regulate the private decisions of Americans.
Democrats know this debate stirs strong feelings for our members: We are the Party that stands not only for a woman's right to privacy and choice in reproductive health care, but also the Party that fights for programs and policies that will prevent unwanted pregnancies, in turn reducing abortions; that fights to increase economic and educational opportunities for women and girls; and that fights to make sure every child has access to the building blocks needed to secure bright and prosperous futures.
On the other hand, the approach followed in South Dakota and advocated by many who oppose women's freedom to make their own health care decisions is anti-family and anti-child. According to the South Dakota affiliate of Planned Parenthood, at the same time the state imposed extreme restrictions on women's rights to make decisions about their reproductive health, the legislature allowed bills that could have helped men and women PREVENT unwanted pregnancies to dwindle and die in committee. These included measures requiring hospitals to make women aware that emergency contraception is available, insurance companies to cover contraceptive drugs if they cover other prescription drugs, and school districts to offer sex education.
So women - and men - who lack access to safe and affordable contraception, or who have no medically accurate sexual education information, or who are not informed of available emergency contraception even in the case of rape or incest are left to ponder... Just where is the compassionate conservatism?
Posted by at 11:43 AM | Comments (13)
Humane Approach to Immigration Reform
(The following entry was sumbitted by Albert Morales of the American Majority Project. Albert also runs the DNC's Blog/Foro Latino, "No Room at the Inn." -- Tim)
This week a group of Evangelical Hispanic Clergy traveled to Washington DC to press for a comprehensive and humane approach to immigration reform. The clergy are dismayed and disappointed with the President's endorsement of the Sensenbrenner immigration reform bill (HR 4437). One provision of the bill would require fines or imprisonment of anyone, including clergy, for up to five years if they provide spiritual counsel or humanitarian aid--or possibly, even communion--to undocumented immigrants.
The clergy joined Gov. Dean and DNC staff for breakfast this morning. Gov. Dean has just delivered a message of hope and faith that working together, people of good will can defeat any legislation that seeks to undermine and criminalize acts of charity by people of faith. As Cardinal Mahony wrote in the New York Times yesterday, "current law does not require social service agencies to obtain evidence of legal status before rendering aid, nor should it. Denying aid to a fellow human being violates a law with a higher authority than Congress - the law of God." (You can view Cardinal Mahony's commentary at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/22/opinion/22mahony.html?hp)
Democrats are united in opposing attempts by the far-right to criminalize the good works of men and women, like the ministers who have traveled to Washington from all across America to make the case for compassionate and comprehensive reform. We have to protect our borders, but scapegoating immigrants is not the way to do it. It is time for the president to call off the dogs...
Posted by at 11:11 AM | Comments (77)
Your Fifty State Strategy Stories
Of course, the flip-side to the fifty state strategy is the Democracy Bonds Community. On that end, it's you getting the job done. In order to put organizers on the ground in every state and build a permanent party infrastructure where there hasn't been one for decades, it takes sound financial planning and a sustained commitment of resources. We can't afford to have a boom-and-bust operation that pops up every two or four years in a few key states. We have to build a permanent presence everywhere, and Democracy Bonds make that possible. Start your own personal fundraising page today.
Princeton, New Jersey
The Democratic party in Princeton, NJ has been revived. We used to have a very undemocratic election process that kept people from participating. We bucked that system by actually running a challenger (for the first time in recent memory). Turnout was HUGE - several hundred people turned out for the election - way more than expected and we ran out of chairs for people - and the result was a landslide in favor of an open democratic party.
Miami County, Ohio
Excellent turnout for the Miami County "Spring Fling" dinner a few Saturdays back. Guessing about 120 or so. Usually about a dozen people at the monthly meetings at the libe. Was delighted to see so many Dems gathered.
Speakers included Sherrod Brown, Tom Roberts, state senator, Dave Fisher, state rep candidate, Mort Meier, U.S. Congressional candidate, plus other state and local candidates. Thrilling that they would travel to our neck of the woods where the voting is 70R/30D. Hope this is a sign of good things to come.
Bouler County, Colorado
Here in royal blue Boulder County, we have several contested primary races for the first time I can recall, including one for the incumbent County Clerk. All these feature solid Democrats running against solid Democrats. So, yes, I'm seeing increased participation -- at least at the candidate level.
As a side note, our precinct caucuses are next week, and a typical venue will host 8-10 precincts. I was looking over the list of the chairs to run the multi-caucus meetings, and it was like a who's who of the 2003/4 Dean campaign. Sure, a lot of folks who attended the meetups have drifted off, back to their less-involved lives, but the core group is still hard at work. And I'm proud to work with them.
Kentucky
We have no less than three of the fighting dems running in 2006:
KY-01: Eric Streit
KY-02: Mike Weaver
KY-03: Andrew Horne
*****************************
We just had a 'special state" election in one district, one House Dem ran and won Senate chair, one Democratic Louisville City Council member ran and won the House vacated seat, another Democratic city council member ran and replaced the .... We're having a March 18 Peace Demostration here this weekend--moving on!
Wake County, North Carolina
After 5 years in Wake County NC, and every one of them as a registered Democrat, only last month did I get a telephone invitation to a precinct meeting. I couldn't go, but they scheduled a makeup day the following Saturday afternoon, and I had plans for that day (Medical appointment) too. Arrgh!
The point is, nobody ever invited me to a precinct meeting until Howard Dean got involved. I now keep up with my party's county organization through its regularly updated web site, which rapidly posted the results of the precinct meetings.
Pennsylvania
A few of us had dinner last month with Don Morabito and I asked him straight out about this. He said they have hired three grassroots organizers for the state via the DNC. This is great progress.
Hillsborough and Pasco, FL
Many of our DFA members have joined our local Democratic Executive Committee and become Precinctmen and women. After a few of our members attended a DFA training in Gainesville last October, our local Dem district leaders asked us to put together a training program for precinct workers in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. We have hosted several house parties and are busy getting people in place for every precinct in our two counties and our training program is almost ready to go.
We put together our program using materials we gathered from the 50 State Strategy PowerPoint, DFA Training, our local Democratic Party, Camp Wellstone, Southwest Florida Democratic training program, and a great website called GROWDems.
We're working together with other local Dem clubs and organizations (GLBT, Black Caucus, etc.) and have had great visibility at the Florida State Fair and local Chamber of Commerce events. Our State Party has shown amazing change under the leadership of Karen Thurman and is bringing in more money than they have for years.
This probably sounds disjointed, but things are moving forward on many fronts and it's hard to keep track of them all. Thanks to you and everyone else at the DNC (especially my hero Howard Dean) for getting this ball rolling, and for being responsive when we call Washington for help and support.
Kansas
Here in Kansas the 50 state strategy has put a full time organizer in each congressional district. These organizers have been focused on building the voter file and organizing volunteers.
This will pay dividends for regional and statewide candidates.
In the future, they will be our Congresspersons and Senators. They will be elected Governor or Attorney General. They are our farm team, and thanks to the DNC they now have the resources they need to win.
Posted by at 10:02 AM | Comments (9)
Open Thread
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.
Posted by at 9:36 AM | Comments (181)
March 22, 2006
Speaking of Auctions
Segue ... Speaking of auctions held by people who received contributions from Mitchell Wade and susequently attempted to win defense contracts for MZM Incorporated, there's another firesale of personal property taking place today.
Silver-plated candelabras. A cedar-lined lingerie cabinet. Persian rugs. An oak hutch carved with lions' heads, tree limbs and acorns.The spoils from former Rep. Randy ''Duke'' Cunningham's bribery scheme -- a household of valuable antiques, rugs and home furnishings -- will be auctioned off by the government Thursday to help cover the back taxes and restitution he owes.
The public was given a preview Tuesday of the loot, which was laid out in orderly rows in a warehouse near Los Angeles.
Cunningham, who was sentenced earlier this month to more than eight years in prison for taking $2.4 million in bribes, received the items from defense contractors in exchange for helping them win government contracts.
I had no idea, but a candelabra is apparently another name for a candlestick and a hutch is a "cupboard with drawers for storage and usually open shelves on top, often used for dishes." For some reason I don't think many of our candelabras or hutches quite measure up to the Duke-Stir's though. One person who perused the inventory described it as "lavish." These folks who immerse themselves in the Republican culture of corruption really do know how to extract a nice return in exchange for selling our democracy up the river. There's Bob Ney's Golf trips to Scottland. Tom DeLay's "48 visits to golf clubs and resorts with lush fairways; 100 flights aboard company planes; 200 stays at hotels, many world-class; and 500 meals at restaurants, some averaging nearly $200 for a dinner for two." And who can forget Conrad Burns' trip to the Super Bowl on a luxurious corporate jet?
Posted by at 4:11 PM | Comments (12)
FL-Sen: Might I Suggest Ebay?
U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris continued her attempt to take her campaign to national television and to add religious overtones to her quest for a U.S. Senate seat with an appearance on ABC News "Nightline" Tuesday. Harris told John Donvan, of "Nightline," that she intends to sell all her personal assets to fund the race. "My husband has real estate, but I will not own anything." [...]"I am willing to take this widow's mite, this pearl of great price, and put everything on the line," she told Donvan. "No matter how much you have, are you willing to take what you have and sell it all for a great price?"
Not exactly a model of fiscal responsibility, but alright. And if all else fails, she could tour the country visiting her possesions and write about a book about it... but that's already been done. As for the "widows mite" and "pearl of great price" quotes, the article also notes that those are biblical references to individuals who gave much, or everything they owned, for the church. Quite a comparsison, especially when you consider her current husband is no pauper; together, their wealth is measured up to $36.9 million.
Posted by at 3:19 PM | Comments (6)
OH-18: Who Knew?
The Hill burries the lead:
The Ohio Republican Party tried and failed to find a credible candidate to challenge Ney by the Feb. 16 filing deadline.
There was certainly contention between GOP State Party Chair Bob Bennett and Bob Ney, but I had no idea there was an active effort afoot to recruit a viable Republican primary opponent to Ney.
Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett said Thursday that he'd ask Rep. Bob Ney to resign from Congress if he were indicted on felony charges. [...]Asked if Ney planned to step down if Bennett urged him to do so, Ney said: "I would say if he asked me to step down that he'd better look in the mirror because glass houses break easily."
Either way, Ney has landed what many consider to be a less than viable opponent this May, but a creative on none the less.
Posted by at 1:37 PM | Comments (6)
Democratic Law Students Get Their Act Together
(The following is a post submitted by Eric Haren, VP of the Harvard Law School Dems, about the launch of the National Democratic Law Students Council -- Tim)
This past weekend, from March 17-19, 2006, Democr