FLORIDA:
GOP GOV CONTEST GETS REALLY DIRTY.
A very
nasty -- and anonymous -- SorryCharlie.com
site went online this week blasting Attorney General Charlie Crist,
a leading GOP gubernatorial candidate. This site is professionally
produced, features animated graphics reminiscent of the humorous
JibJab videos from the 2004 race, and carries no disclaimers of
ownership. It is also hosted by an ISP in Arizona known for shielding
the identity of site owners. In fact, "Your identity is nobody's
business but ours" is the ISP's advertising slogan. The SorryCharlie.com
site overtly attacks Crist as being a liberal, but contains repeated
veiled references to the rumors that Crist is a closeted gay man.
"Needless to say we had nothing to do with that. We are wondering
who did it," said a spokesman for State CFO Tom Gallagher,
Crist's rival for the GOP nomination. "Gallagher has previously
denounced anonymous political attacks but isn't going to call
for whoever owns the site to shut it down," reported the
Tampa Tribune. The Crist campaign gave a dignified but surprisingly
mute response: "It's the political season, and unfortunately
these negative attacks are all too common."
With the Republican primary fight turning this nasty this early,
Democrats Jim Davis and Rod Smith must be gloating that this mudslinging
only can help them in November.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.28.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS:
HAPPY ENDING FOR THE LOBBYING SCANDAL?
This one comes from the Wall Street Journal:
"Federal prosecutors are investigating whether two contractors
implicated in the bribery of former Rep. Randall 'Duke' Cunningham
supplied him with prostitutes and free use of a limousine and
hotel suites, pursuing evidence that could broaden their long-running
inquiry. Besides scrutinizing the prostitution scheme for evidence
that might implicate contractor Brent Wilkes, investigators are
focusing on whether any other members of Congress, or their staffs,
may also have used the same free services, though it isn't clear
whether investigators have turned up anything to implicate others.
In recent weeks, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have fanned
out across Washington, interviewing women from escort services,
potential witnesses and others who may have been involved in the
arrangement." Hmmm. This could get interesting. Stay tuned.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.28.06 | Permalink
|
CALIFORNIA:
BILBRAY LIKELY TO FACE TWO-FRONT CHALLENGE.
According to the House Race Hotline, wealthy businessman
Eric
Roach (R) appears to ve preparing to continue his fight against
former Congressman Brian Bilbray (R) in the CD-50 GOP primary.
Roach finished a close second behind Bilbray in the CD-50 special
election earlier this month, and has continued to run radio ads
and send mailings since then. That means on June 6 Bilbray will
face-off with college professor Francine Busby (D) in the CD-50
special general election and face Roach in the GOP primary for
the full term. "If I don't run, [Bilbray] is going to for
sure lose" in November, said Roach. In case you forgot, the
primary results were: Busby-44%, Bilbray-15%, Roach-14.5%, former
State Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian (R)-7.5%. However, the heavy
GOP advantage in the district now favors Bilbray in the run-off.
This week Kaloogian, a favorite among hardcore social conservatives,
endorsed Roach in the June 6 contest. Conservatives deride Bilbray
as a RINO. "If Roach runs, will the NRCC spend money to bolster
Bilbray on an intraparty skirmish they thought was over? Will
the DCCC, which slowed its financial support to Busby, now spend
to exploit the GOP's internal divisions? And will the conservative
interest groups (Club for Growth, NRA) that stayed on the sidelines
in the special take sides," asks HRH.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.28.06 | Permalink
|
MINNESOTA:
FORMER US SENATOR WANTS COMEBACK.
Former US Senator Rod Grams (R) told the Duluth News-Tribune
he is "seriously considering" running against 15-term
Congressman Jim Oberstar (D). Grams served in the US House from
1993-95, and in the US Senate from his election in 1994 until
his defeat in 2000. "I haven't decided completely yet, but
I'm really considering it and will make up my mind in the next
week or two ... I consider Jim a friend, and this would be nothing
personal against him. Jim has done a great job, so this isn't
really about Jim. Bottom line, I could do a better job in the
majority [party]," said Grams. Grams and Oberstar are both
pro-life and pro-gun rights. The district is reliably Democratic,
and the incumbent is popular, so Oberstar would start as a heavy
favorite. Yet, Grams is a credible candidate who could make a
competitive run. Grams last year toyed with seeking his old Senate
seat before bowing out in favor of Congressman Mark Kennedy (R).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.28.06 | Permalink
|
RHODE
ISLAND: CHAFEE HOLDS WIDE LEAD.
The latest Rhode Island College poll shows centrist US
Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) holding solids leads in his primary
and general election contests. Conservative Cranston Mayor Steve
Laffey trails Chafee by a 50% to 27% vote in the GOP primary.
Chafee also leads former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D)
by a 51% to 32% vote.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.28.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is Campaign
for America's Future -- a progressive site that effectively
uses the internet to both convey news and to mobilize the masses.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.28.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Just a reminder that April 30 is the Save
Darfur: Rally to Stop Genocide in DC and other cities around
the United States. The event demands international intervention
to end the ongoing genocide campaign in the Sudan.
As a child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors (and a great-grandchild
of Holocaust victims), this is a cause I very much support.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.28.06 | Permalink
|
THURSDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
RHODE
ISLAND: DEMS UNITE IN US SENATE RACE.
Secretary of State Matt Brown (D) unexpectedly ended his
run for US Senate on Wednesday. "These days, it takes an
enormous amount of money to run a Senate campaign, and I simply
will not have the resources in the final stretch to run successfully,"
explained Brown in his withdrawal message. Brown had jumped into
the contest against US Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) first, and positioned
himself as the more liberal of the leading Democrats. However,
embarrassing and questionable fundraising methods in recent months
crippled his effort. In withdrawing, Brown endorsed former Attorney
General Sheldon Whitehouse (D) for the Senate seat: "Sheldon
is a good man, who loves his family and his state, is deeply committed
to public service and will do the right thing for Rhode Islanders.
I will do everything I can to help elect him." Brown's statement
also implied he will not jump back into the open seat contest
for Secretary of State. With Brown out of the race, Whitehouse
will cruise to an easy primary win. Meanwhile, Chafee will have
to fend off a very aggressive GOP primary challenge from conservative
Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey -- although recent independent polls
show Chafee holding a comfortable lead.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.27.06 | Permalink
|
TEXAS:
INDY CANDIDATES RUN STRONG FOR GOV.
A new SurveyUSA/KEYE-TV poll shows Governor Rick Perry
(R) continuing to hold a strong lead in his race for Governor.
The results: Perry-39%, State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorne
(Independent)-25%, singer/author Kinky Friedman (Independent)-16%,
former Congressman Chris Bell (D)-15%. However, Perry could
be in for some problems -- do the math here -- but only if the
opposition united behind one main candidate. I don't see that
happening, but Strayhorne + Friedman + Bell = 56% in this poll.
With "no candidate polling over 40%, the race must be regarded
as wide open. If one of the Independents, Strayhorn or Friedman,
cannot maintain support through a long campaign, then Bell or
the other Independent may pick up enough votes to threaten Perry,"
opined the pollster.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.27.06 | Permalink
|
ARIZONA:
PEDERSON STARTS TO NARROW GAP ON KYL.
Wealthy developer and former State Democratic Chair Jim
Pederson has started to gain on US Senator Jon Kyl (R). While
Pederson trailed Kyl by 22-points three months ago in the Arizona
State University/KAET-TV poll, he already managed to cut the gap
into half. Now, the same poll shows Kyl leading Pederson by a
42% to 31% vote.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.27.06 | Permalink
|
A
CYNICAL, SARDONIC EDITORIAL: GOOD TIMING ON LEAK AMENDMENT.
A press release today issued by House Majority Leader
John Boehner (R-OH) was headlined
"ILLEGAL LEAKS UNDERMINE NATIONAL SECURITY." The release
went on to state: "Today the House is considering the FY
2007 Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 5020), part of House
Republicans' ongoing effort to secure America's communities by
strengthening our intelligence capabilities. During debate, the
House will consider an amendment by Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) expressing
the sense of Congress that illegal leaks of classified information
must not be tolerated." A short time after Boehner's office
issued the statement, the slug for CNN.com's top story read: "Deputy
White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove testified today before a
grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA operative's identity,
his attorney said. Testimony from reporters has implicated Rove,
credited by President Bush as the architect of his 2004 election
victory, in the leak." In light of for VP Chief of Staff
Scooter Libby's recently raised Nixonian defense -- i.e., it wasn't
an illegal leak of classified info if the President told me to
leak it -- this Renzi amendment will likely need to be crafted
in a manner to only prohibit leaks by Democrats and other Bush
Administration critics.
Fortunately
for the Republicans, I'm willing to put aside my partisan differences
and help Congressman Renzi more finely tailor his amendment. Here
are my suggested edits (in red)
1. The Supreme Court has unequivocally recognized that the
Constitution vests the President with the authority to protect
national security information as head of the Executive Branch
and as Commander-in-Chief;
2. The Supreme Court has recognized a compelling government
interest in withholding national security information from unauthorized
persons (unless it could embarrass Ambassador
Joe Wilson or his wife);
3. The Supreme Court has recognized that secrecy agreements
for government employees are a reasonable means for protecting
this vital interest;
4. The Supreme Court has noted that "It should be obvious that
no one Administration
critic has a 'right' to a security clearance";
5. Unauthorized disclosures (except those
benefiting the President or undermining GOP critics)
are most damaging when they have the potential to compromise
intelligence sources (except for Ambassador
Wilson's wife) and methods and ongoing intelligence operations;
6. Potential unauthorized disclosures of
classified information that
we apparently use secret prisons in Eastern Europe for torturing
terrorism suspects have impeded relationships with foreign
intelligence services who want to help
us by torturing our prisoners and the effectiveness of
the Global War on Terrorism;
7. Media Corporations and Journalists (except
those great patriots at Fox News) have improperly profited
financially from publishing purported unauthorized disclosures
of classified information (note: but excluding
those wonderful disclosures that could embarrass Ambassador
Joe Wilson or his wife);
Therefore, it is the Sense of Congress that the President should
utilize his constitutional authority to the fullest practicable
extent, where appropriate, to classify and protect national
security information, unless it undermines
the Democrats, and to take effective action against persons
Democrats who commit unauthorized disclosures of classified
information contrary to law and voluntary secrecy agreements.
It is further the sense of Congress that
individuals who leak information damaging to Democrats, or who
do so at the request of the President or Vice President, should
be deemed true American patriots worthy of the Congressional
Medal of Freedom..
See,
wasn't that helpful!
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.27.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is WrongAgainKen.com
(Jim Petro for Ohio Governor - R) -- a clever attack site against
Petro's
GOP primary rival.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.27.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Tony Snow. Gas prices. Whatever.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.27.06 | Permalink
|
WEDNESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
WEST
VIRGINIA: MOLLOHAN ETHICS PROBLEMS GROW.
New ethics allegations against Congressman
Alan Mollohan (D) have the potential to take what was a safe race
for re-election and turn it into a competitive contest. Already
reportedly the target of a federal corruption investigation for
allegedly providing legislative appropriation earmarks for companies
and individuals who helped Mollohan's assets grow from $562,000
to at least $6.3 million during a four-year period. The new allegations
are that Mollohan and defense contractor Dale McBride last year
jointly purchased a 300-acre farm in West Virginia for $900,000
shortly after Mollohan inserted a $2.1M contract for McBride into
a 2005 appropriations bill. "I know perception becomes reality
at the end of the day, but it's not always fair," said McBride
to the Wall Street Journal. McBride said the purchase
was an honest, "50-50 deal" with the two men co-signing
an $800,000 mortgage. Mollohan said the two are "childhood
friends" State Delegate Chris Wakim (R) is challenging Mollohan,
and he'll surely benefit from these on going news reports. Race
rating: Dem Favored (but edging towards Leans Dem).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.26.06 | Permalink
|
FLORIDA:
HARRIS MAY DRAW A REAL PRIMARY CHALLENGE.
State House Speaker Allan Bense sounds like he's edging
closer towards a making a GOP primary run at Congresswoman Katherine
Harris in the US Senate race. He told the St. Petersburg Times
the Senate race was interesting "because all my life I've
loved a good challenge ... I'm thinking about it but I'm focused
on what I'm doing now." The annual state legislative sessions
ends May 5th and candidate filing in the state for federal
races closes on May 12. However, Bense gave mixed signals to the
Times: "She's currently the candidate and I'm a nobody.
Beyond these four blocks [around the State Capitol], I'm a nobody.
I understand that." Bense is also rumored to be a possible
Lieutenant Governor contender this year.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.26.06 | Permalink
|
OHIO:
NEW NUMBERS AS PRIMARY NEARS.
With less than a week until the primary, SurveyUSA is
out with new poll numbers on the gubernatorial primary. On the
GOP side -- with the tenor of the rhetoric and TV spots growing
nastier by the day -- Secretary of State Ken Blackwell leads Attorney
General Jim Petro by a 46% to 34% vote. On the Democratic side,
Congressman Ted Strickland is destroying former State Representative
Bryan Flannery by a 61% to 18% vote. Those numbers indicate little
change in either contest since the last poll. However, based upon
the current primaries, it appears Strickland will head into the
general election with nearly all his money still in the bank.
By contrast, Blackwell and Petro have spent nearly everything
they've each raised. The GOP nominee (likely Blackwell) will have
to start fundraising from scratch.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.26.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is Tom
Kean for US Senate (R-NJ) -- a great multimedia site
and
(like the Bernie Sanders campaign blog we recently recognized)
Kean's blog site isn't afraid to allow folks to post both pro
and anti comments about Kean. Nice site.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.26.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Even though nearly all of y'all are unanimous that my Monday prediction
of Ray Nagin winning re-election as New Orlean Mayor next month
is wrong, I'm apparently not the only one who thinks Nagin can
win this election. Click
here for a story from a respected Louisiana political site
that seems to reach the same conclusion as me.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.26.06 | Permalink
|
TUESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
QUICK-TAKES.
Another very long day at the office so, my apologies, it
will be a short night of writing updates ... MONTANA:
Yet another
scandal erupts in Montana newspapers concerning already-embattled
US Senator Conrad Burns (R). Click
here to read the story. Burns problems continue to generate
a greater stream of bad press in the state than does the embarrassing
sex
scandal swirling around State Auditor John Morrison (D). State
Senate President Jon Tester (D) is obviously the one gaining the
most from these stories trashing both Burns and Morrison ... MINNESOTA:
Retiring US Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) told a group of high school
students he was a failure as a Senator. He told the students he'd
give himself a grade of "F" for his performance, said
he was "definitely not" satisfied with his accomplishments,
and said he was "frustrated" with his inability to bring
about change. The country "is going in the wrong direction.
I can't do anything about that and it bothers me," said Dayton,
according to the AP ... MINNESOTA: Bar owner
and "smokers rights" advocate Sue Jeffers (Libertarian-MN)
announced plans to also challenge Governor Tim Pawlenty for the
GOP
nomination. State GOP leaders say Jeffers is not a real Republican
and they will not provide her with the contact list of 1,500 delegates.
While Jeffers says she is making the Republican bid to highlight
Pawlenty's failure to be a fiscal conservative, the more likely
reason is that it is earning her free press in the state ... NEBRASKA:
Governor Dave Heineman (R) scored the influential endorsement
of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, while opponent Congressman Tom Osborne
picked up the endorsements of the Carpenters and Fire Fighters
unions ... OHIO: In the GOP gubernatorial primary,
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell was endorsed by the Cincinnati
Enquirer. However, Attorney General Jim Petro picked up the
endorsements of the Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository,
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, Dayton Daily
News and Youngstown Vindicator ... LOUISIANA:
In New Orleans, third-place mayoral finisher Ron Forman endorsed
Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu in the run-off ... CIA
LEAKS & SECRET PRISONS: The buzz about the firing
of a senior CIA officer in the case related to the leak of info
on secret CIA prisons hidden in Eastern Europe seems to me misplaced.
Yes, the leak was significant -- but it seems much more significant
to me that the US was operating super-secret prisons in nations
that seemingly allow the use of some torture. C'mon, it's pretty
apparent which of the two is a greater evil.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.25.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
The place for your daily pontificating.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.25.06 | Permalink
|
MONDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
NEW
ORLEANS: NAGIN, LANDRIEU HEAD TO RUN-OFF.
In a surprise that defied recent independent polls, embattled
Mayor Ray Nagin (D) scored a strong first-place finish with 38%
in Saturday's non-partisan mayoral primary. Lieutenant
Governor Mitch Landrieu (D) was second with 29%, Audubon Nature
Institute President Ron Forman (D) was next with 17%, followed
by businessman Rob Couhig (R) at 10%, and eighteen others trailed
far behind. While many displaced voters cast absentee ballots
or drove back to the city to cast ballots in person, city residents
from the wards less damaged by the post-Katrina flooding turned
out in much higher numbers. Overall, approximately 40% of Big
Easy voters cast ballots. In addition to Nagin's first place win,
the other surprises were Forman's poor performance and Couhig's
surprisingly strong numbers. Forman -- a Republican who changed
parties to make the race -- was initially seen as very viable,
although he blew his opportunity by running a hyper-safe effort
that merely made vague promises to do things like "dream
big" if elected. Couhig, who was the most vocal conservative
in the race, apparently scored his numbers at Forman's expense.
Nagin is also a former Republican businessman who switched parties
when he ran for Mayor in 2002. Landrieu is a lifelong Dem, brother
of US Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and son of former New Orleans
Mayor Moon Landrieu. In a total reversal from his first election
four years ago, Nagin ran strong with black voters but did poorly
with whites. However, conservatives have traditionally disliked
the Landrieu family -- but they also abandoned Nagin on Saturday.
At this point, Nagin appears fairly well positioned to win a second
term by a relatively competitive margin.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.24.06 | Permalink
|
FLORIDA:
HARRIS CAMPAIGN GETS EVEN MORE BIZARRE.
Former defense contractor Mitchell Wade -- who already
pled guilty to bribing Congressman Duke Cunningham (R-CA) -- picked
up the $2,800 tab for a dinner he had with Congresswoman Katherine
Harris (R) at an exclusive DC restaurant last year. The value
of the unreported dinner far exceeded the $50 congressional gift
limits, and was intended to get Harris to help Wade land a $10
million contract. So,
who spilled the beans about this to the Orlando Sentinel?
The answer: veteran GOP political strategist Ed Rollins, who had
worked on Harris' campaign until he and the rest of the staff
quit two weeks ago. "Rollins said he and Harris discussed
the meal and its cost early this year after Wade" pled guilty
to corruption charges, reported the newspaper. The price of the
dinner was "news to me," Harris told the newspaper.
She also said "her campaign had, at some point, 'reimbursed' the
restaurant. When asked how she could have reimbursed a business
that was owed no money -- Wade paid the bill that evening -- she
abruptly ended the interview and walked off." A Harris staffer
later called the Sentinel and begged them to not quote anything
Harris said in the phone interview. The next day, Harris changed
her story: "I have donated to a local Florida charity $100
which will more than adequately compensate for the cost of my
beverage and appetizer." Harris said she thought the bill
was so high because Wade may have ordered expensive wines and
also brought some bottles home uncorked. As was previously reported,
Harris received over $32,000 in illegal campaigns contributions
from Wade -- more than any other member of Congress. After Wade
pled guilty, Harris later donated an equal amount of money to
charities. With stories like this continuing to appear, it is
only a matter of time before some other Republican steps forward
to challenge Harris in the primary. A statewide poll conducted
last week -- for which no one claimed responsibility -- reportedly
tested House Speaker Allan Bense in a possible primary contest
against Harris. If Harris is the GOP nominee, move incumbent Bill
Nelson (D) to the safe column.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.24.06 | Permalink
|
KENTUCKY:
FLETCHER
ANNOUNCES FOR '07 RE-ELECTION.
Today's theme -- at least for these first three postings
-- is apparently embattled politicians who charging forward into
their next campaigns. Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) has faced an
aggressive criminal investigation from rival Attorney General
Greg Stumbo (D) for illegal patronage practices. Fletcher put
an end to speculation about the demise of his political career.
"Let me allay anybody's concern. We've come through some
difficult times ... but please know that I have no intention of
stepping out of the governor's office in 2007. We are running,"
said Fletcher to a state party fundraising event crowd at the
Summit Hills Country Club. He blamed his problems on butting heads
with the entrenched Democratic establishment who set "the
culture and the values" in the state capitol for over three
decades before his 2003 election. Fletcher is likely to face serious
challenges from prominent Republicans and Democrats in the '07
contest.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.24.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is SaveTheInternet.com
-- a site for a very important cause. Just like the "Stop
the FEC from regulating blogs out of existence" fight (which
we won), this is another one equally important to everyone --
regardless of ideology -- if you value Internet freedom, open
access and fairness. Please visit the site and send emails to
protect "network neutrality" for the Internet.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.24.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Your turn.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.24.06 | Permalink
|
FRIDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
NORTH
CAROLINA: TAYLOR LINKED TO ABRAMOFF SCANDAL.
Congressman Charlie Taylor (R) -- who
was already facing a competitive challenge from businessman and
former pro football quarterback Heath Shuler (D) -- now must deal
with news
stories in his district linking him to the Jack Abramoff lobbying
scandal. Taylor admits he met with Abramoff and his colleagues
at a DC lunch in 2003 -- but doesn't recall what was discussed.
However, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports Taylor received
"thousands of dollars in contributions from Abramoff associates"
at the lunch. "I had no knowledge that those people were
going to give cash right there," said Taylor, who said he
thinks they gave him the campaign donations at an evening fundraiser
a few days later. However, just a month later, Taylor wrote "a
letter that would potentially net more than $3 million for [Abramoff's]
client." Taylor's response: "We did not accept any money
for any type of action on my part. We have never done that."
Editor's note: Why is Taylor now speaking of himself in the royal
"we" form? Race rating: Leans GOP.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.21.06 | Permalink
|
NEW
ORLEANS: NAGIN TRAILS IN MAYORAL PRIMARY.
With voters set to cast primary ballots on Saturday, embattled
incumbent New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is trailing in his race
for re-election. The election, delayed once already because of
the extensive damage the city weathered last year from deadly
Hurricane Katrina, is already a controversial affair with so many
city residents displaced to Texas and elsewhere. Civil rights
activists unsuccessfully urged a further delay because many black
residents are still unable to return to the poorer, uninhabitable
neighborhoods and will not likely vote. A new Tulane University
poll shows Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu first with 26%,
followed by Nagin at 21%, Audubon Nature Institute President Ron
Forman at 18%, twenty other hopefuls had a combined total of 18%,
and 17% were still undecided. All three frontrunners in the race
are Democrats. Forman and Landrieu have also both substantially
out-raised Nagin in campaign dollars. The top two finishers will
meet in a May 20 runoff.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.21.06 | Permalink
|
COLORADO:
GOP GUV FIGHT GROWS NASTIER.
The growing rift among the two GOP gubernatorial candidates
widened this week, as wealthy former university president Marc
Holtzman threatened to skip the convention process and petition
his way onto the primary ballot. The Denver Post reported
Holtzman "sent GOP party chair Bob Martinez a letter citing
'grave concerns' over the 'potential for widespread fraud and
manipulation' at the state convention next month." Holtzman
demanded ten election process conditions for him to participate
at the GOP convention. "By law it is our option to petition
on [the primary ballot[ and if we don't get a process that is
fair to Marc Holtzman and fair to all the people that support
us across the state, we are prepared to do that," said Holtzman's
spokesman. Holtzman has repeatedly accused state GOP leaders of
backing Congressman Bob Beauprez against him in the gubernatorial
race. Beauprez's campaign quickly agreed to all ten of Holtzman's
conditions -- and said they'll agree to whatever other terms Holtzman
demands. "We'll meet in the street at high noon [if Holtzman
wants]," joked Beauprez's spokesman. Beauprez obviously believes
he will win the convention endorsement by a wide margin, and possible
even deny Holtzman the percentage of delegate support needed to
qualify for the primary ballot. Problems flared at the 2004 GOP
convention in the US Senate fight between Pete Coors and Bob Schaffer,
when there were more votes counted than there were delegates present.
Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter is unopposed for the
Democratic nomination.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.21.06 | Permalink
|
NEVADA:
GOODMAN OUT, SO CARTER IS LIKELY DEM NOMINEE.
Despite some heavy courting from the DSCC, Las Vegas Mayor
Oscar Goodman (D) said this week he will not run against US Senator
John Ensign (R). With Goodman's announcement, businessman and
Presidential scion Jack Carter is certain to be the Democratic
nominee. State Libertarian Party Chairman Brendan Trainor is also
running. Race Rating: GOP Favored.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.21.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is Ben
Cardin for US Senate (D-MD) -- a really nicely-designed
campaign site, rich in content.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.21.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
I attended law school in Vermont, a state that entirely banned
billboards because of the unpleasant "visual pollution"
of boards
blocking the scenic view of trees. Contrast that with what is
going on right now here in the Florida legislature: a bill is
rapidly speeding towards passage, with little opposition, that
would prohibit state and local governments from planting any trees
in right-of-ways within 500 feet of billboards if the trees would
obstruct the view of the signs. WTF??
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.21.06 | Permalink
|
AN
OPEN LETTER OF THANKS TO POLITICS1 READERS
We received this email from high school teacher Barry Bradford:
"On Wednesday, Politics1 named clydekennard.org
as the Site of the Day. Clyde Kennard was an African-American
Korean War veteran who was framed for a crime and sent to prison
in 1960 Mississippi because he attempted to integrate the University
Of Southern Mississippi. Three of my high school students and
I are spearheading a movement to convince Gov. Haley Barbour to
pardon Kennard and expunge his record. Our website has a very
fast way to send a prewritten email to Gov. Barbour advocating
the pardon. Our site had been averaging about 30 hits per day.
In 24 hours, we counted 429 hits as a direct result of Politics1.
Mr. Kennard's surviving family members asked me to specifically
thank the readers of Politics1 for their compassion and interest.
They are a family without great wealth or influence, but the 'people
power' of the Politics1 readers has given them renewed hope and
demonstrated that a desire for justice is neither conservative
nor liberal, Democratic nor Republican. Thank you all."
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.21.06 | Permalink
|
THURSDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Just doing the quick-take thing today. Ascribe it to me
being tired, lazy, uninspired, or whatever tonight ... The White
House rumors proved true as Presidential Press Secretary Scott
McClellan announced his resignation, and Karl Rove was demoted
in authority (although not in title) ... For the rest, you guys
can take the lead in today's thread.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.20.06 | Permalink
|
WEDNESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
P2008:
GIULIANI FOLLOWS McCAIN'S EXAMPLE WITH RELIGIOUS RIGHT.
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) -- apparently in his desire
to win the GOP Presidential nomination in 2008 -- ended his long-running,
open feud with Jerry Falwell. The move dismayed many of his centrist
supporters who were drawn to him during his 2000 White House campaign.
McCain is the upcoming commencement speaker next month at Falwell's
Liberty University. Now comes news that former NYC Mayor Rudy
Giuliani -- staunchly pro-choice and pro-gay rights -- will be
the featured speaker at a fundraiser on May 18 in Atlanta for
former Christian Coalition Executive Director Ralph Reed's campaign
for Georgia Lieutenant Governor.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.19.06 | Permalink
|
CA-50:
KALOOGIAN OUT, ROACH STILL PONDERING BILBRAY REMATCH IN JUNE.
God (or, for cynics, political reality) has apparently
spoken to former State Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian (R). Last
week after placing third among Republicans in the CD-50 special
election, Kaloogian emailed supporters that he "will walk
through the door God opens for me in the future." Less than
a week later, Kaloogian announced he is withdrawing from the June
6 GOP primary -- although he stopped well short of endorsing GOP
special election nominee Brian Bilbray for the June 6 primary
for the full term. Kaloogian said he believes GOP social conservatives
would like an alternative to the more centrist Bilbray in the
primary. Wealthy businessman Eric Roach is still pondering whether
he will continue his campaign against Bilbray into the June 6
contest -- but he continues to run his radio spots while he contemplates
his next move. Roach promises a decision "within a few weeks."
Several of the other minor GOP contenders from last week's special
election primary have also withdrawn from the upcoming primary.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.19.06 | Permalink
|
FLORIDA:
MORE SIGNS THIS IS A TOP-TIER HOUSE CONTEST.
Congressman Clay Shaw (R-FL) brought Vice President Dick
Cheney down for a fundraiser earlier this year and raised over
$350,000 at the event. The Dems are countering by dispatching
US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) to a fundraiser this week in CD-22
for challenger State Senator Ron Klein (D). Not to be outdone,
the Shaw campaign just announced President Bush will headline
a fundraiser next month. Shaw has $2 million cash on hand and
Klein has over $1.5 million cash on hand as of the FEC figures
released this week. Also important to note: Shaw's CD-22 voted
for Kerry over Bush in the last election. Race Rating: Leans GOP.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.19.06 | Permalink
|
BUSH
ADMINISTRATION: NEW BUDGET DIRECTOR & NEW TRADE REP.
President Bush filled two Cabinet-level vacancies in his
Administration on Tuesday. US Trade Representative Rob Portman
-- a former Congressman from Ohio and a trusted Bush loyalist
-- was named as the new Director of the Office of Management &
Budget. Portman was respected during his days on Capitol Hill
for his knowledge of budget matters. President Bush also elevated
Deputy US Trade Representative Susan Schwab to the lead post of
US Trade Representative. Both are expected to have easy Senate
confirmations. The Washington Post and other media sources
report White House spokesman Scott McClellan is a likely target
to be pushed out within the next few weeks as new Chief of Staff
Josh Bolten makes personnel changes. "Two years in this position
is a long time -- I'm very mindful of that," said McClellan
on Tuesday.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.19.06 | Permalink
|
BUSH
ADMINISTRATION:
BUT NO NEW DEFENSE SECRETARY.
President Bush expressed his strong support this week
to CNN for keeping Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld on the job:
"Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job ... I have strong confidence
in Don Rumsfeld ... and what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain
as the Secretary of Defense." In a Tuesday press conference,
Rumsfeld told reporters he understands "there are no indispensable
men" -- but that he has no plans to resign. A growing group
of retired Amry and Marine Corps generals -- including several
who had been involved in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- have called for the President to fire Rumsfeld. He previously
attempted to resign twice in 2004 -- over the Abu Ghraib prison
abuse scandal -- but Bush rejected Rumsfeld's
offers to quit.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.19.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is ClydeKennard.org
-- a high school class-created
project seeking a posthumous pardon for this martyr of the civil
rights movement. Worth a visit, as these folks understand how
to effectively use the net for political purposes.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.19.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Latest round of 50-state polling by SurveyUSA shows President
Bush now has a positive net approval rating in only four states:
Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Nebraska. In one state, the approval
and disapproval numbers are equal.
Voters in the remaining 45 states disapprove overall of the job
the President is doing. The numbers also indicate a 7-point drop
in approval nationwide since last month.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.19.06 | Permalink
|
TUESDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
ALABAMA:
GOVERNOR RILEY REMAINS STRONG.
The most recent round of independent polls confirms Governor
Bob Riley (R) remains in good shape in his race for re-election.
The Mobile Register/University of South Alabama poll
shows Riley leading ousted former State Supreme Court Chief Justice
Roy Moore in the GOP primary by a landslide vote of 64% to 20%.
"Moore's campaign has pretty well tanked," said the
university's polling director. A new round of Rasmussen Reports
polling also shows Riley leading either of the two Democratic
frontrunners. Riley led Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley (D) by
a 47% to 40% vote. Riley led former Governor Don Siegelman (D)
by a more lopsided 55% to 38% vote.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.18.06 | Permalink
|
NEW
YORK: PRIMARY COULD BE EMBARRASSING FOR THE NYS GOP.
The leaders of the New York State Republican Party have
all rallied behind the US Senate candidacy of former Yonkers Mayor
John Spencer (R). Albeit, it was a delayed coupling -- coming
after their first choice Jeanine Pirro quit the contest. That's
why a new Sienna College poll on the race looks pretty bad for
the party leaders. The poll shows former Defense Department official
Kathleen Troia "K.T." McFarland leading Spencer by a
20% to 18% vote in the GOP primary. Spencer is already guaranteed
the nomination of the Conservative Party. His campaign aides have
alleged they believe McFarland is a Hillary Clinton plant in the
GOP contest. Sienna also polled the gubernatorial primary contests.
On the GOP side, former State Assembly Minority Leader John Faso
leads former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld by an 18% to 15%
vote. On the Dem side, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer destroys
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi in a 72% to 11% landslide.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.18.06 | Permalink
|
VIRGINIA:
CONGRESSMAN DAVIS WANTS '08 SENATE SEAT.
According to Congressional Quarterly, centrist
Congressman Tom Davis (R) is preparing to run for US Senate in
2008. Davis, of course, is presuming five-term incumbent John
Warner (R) will retire. CQ's proof of Davis' interest: he's aggressively
raising funds, already has nearly $1.8 million cash-on-hand, and
yet is facing relatively minor opposition this year. Davis is
the former Chair of the NRCC.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.18.06 | Permalink
|
KANSAS:
HE MAYBE SHOULD HAVE ASKED HIS RUNNINGMATE ABOUT IT FIRST.
According to the Lawrence Journal-World, State
Senator Jim Barnett (R) "blasted" his opponent -- Governor
Kathleen Sebelius (D) -- for having supported a 2004 law that
allows the children of illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state
tuition at public universities. Bennett said the law promoted
"an influx of more undocumented workers" into the state.
Perhaps he should have discussed this issue first with his own
Lieutenant Governor runningmate -- State Senator Susan Wagle --
because she also voted for the law. "I'm going to vote for
this bill because I think this is the right thing to do. I think
we're called to help other people," said Wagle during the
'04 debate. When the newspaper told Bennett of Wagle's position,
he tartly responded: "That doesn't change my position nor
the position of the ticket." Polls continue to show Sebelius
holding a comfortable lead over any of her rivals.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.18.06 | Permalink
|
CALIFORNIA:
AS IF THE ABRAMOFF TIES WEREN'T ENOUGH BAD PUBLICITY.
The Washington Post reported that Congressman
John Doolittle's
(R-CA) campaign committee and his leadership PAC have both retained
Sierra Dominion Financial Services for fundraising services. The
company continues to be paid 15% of everything Doolittle's two
committees collect. Who owns Sierra Dominion? Doolittle's wife:
Julie Doolittle. That's right: the Post reports Julie
"gets 15 cents of every dollar raised by her husband's political
committees." The grand jury investigating Abramoff's activities
already subpoenaed extensive records from Julie Doolittle and
her husband. Abramoff, his associates and clients gave over $140,000
to Doolittle's campaign and PAC -- and the Congressman consistently
voted in support of Abramoff's clients. This also means at least
$21,000 of Abramoff's money went directly into the Doolittles'
personal bank account in the form of a fundraising commission.
Auburn Vice Mayor and Navy veteran Mike Holmes is challenging
Doolittle in the GOP primary.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.18.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is ProgressiveAmerica.us
(Official Blog of the Bernie Sanders for US Senate campaign).
Yeah, I know I already named Bernie's official site as our Site
of the Day a while back, but now I'm going with his blog site.
Why? Because Bernie is one of the only candidates who has the
guts to allow blog commenting without any real censorship. Even
when supporters of his leading GOP rival flood his comments section
with nasty, anti-Bernie remarks, the campaign leaves them all
online for all to read. Bernie gets major points in my book for
not being afraid of allowing a free exchange of ideas (and it
makes him the only two-time winner of our award).
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.18.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Former Illinois Governor George Ryan (R) was convicted Monday
on racketeering and 21 other federal corruption charges.
Expect the judge to impose a well-deserved and lengthy prison
sentence.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.18.06 | Permalink
|
MONDAY
NEWS UPDATE.
P2008:
AN INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKE GRAVEL.
Former Alaska US Senator Mike
Gravel (D) is set to officially launch his long-shot Presidential
campaign at the National Press Club in DC on Monday. Gravel truly
burst onto the national stage in 1971 when he read into the official
record at a Senate sub-committee hearing the confidential "Pentagon
Papers" detailing the secret history of US military involvement
in Vietnam.
His one-man filibuster the same year was almost solely responsible
for forcing the compromise with the White House that ended the
military draft. However, Gravel's political career came to an
abrupt, crashing end in 1980 when he lost his primary for renomination
to the grandson of the incumbent he had defeated in 1970. Now,
over 25 years after his defeat, the 75-year-old Gravel is seeking
a return to elective politics. Politics1 had an opportunity to
speak with Gravel on Friday evening.
A
POLITICAL RETURN. Six Presidential elections have come
and gone since Gravel left the US Senate, yet he waited until
the 2008 elections to seek a political comeback. For many years
after his 1980 defeat, Gravel said he was not even ready to
consider another campaign. "I had lost my career. I lost
my marriage. I was in the doldrums for ten years after my defeat,"
he explained. Gravel then settled in Virginia and aggressively
threw himself into promoting his National
Initiative for Democracy concept. "People should make
the laws ... not the politicians in Washington. The people would
certainly do a better job of it than the politicians have done
... I've impoverished myself for this [cause over the past 10
years]," he added. After many years of tirelessly promoting
the concept but garnering very little attention, Gravel's organization
was left nearly penniless. "We need to make sure we have
enough money for me to travel and speak [about the National
Initiative] and there wasn't a lot of money. As I said, I impoverished
myself over this," said Gravel. "If I didn't do something
unusual to bring attention to the National Initiative ... If
I'm going to see it happen in my lifetime, I had to run for
President."
AN
"ANTI-HILLARY" AND ANTI-CONGRESS DEMOCRAT.
Gravel quickly added his campaign will also focus on other issues
like his opposition to the Iraq War and his support for a national
sales "Fair Tax" instead of the current federal income
tax system. "I'm running to win," insists Gravel.
He pointedly notes his sharp differences with Hillary Clinton
on the Iraq War and views himself as the best "alternative
to Hillary." Gravel also doesn't think much of the other
potential Democratic hopefuls: "I've listened to Bayh,
Warner, Biden, Kerry and the rest and none of them are saying
anything. Because of that, I believe I have a chance."
When asked if he's listened to any of Senator Feingold's comments
on Iraq and political reform, Gravel claimed Feingold's anti-war
stance "isn't real." Gravel said that "if Feingold
really opposed the war, he'd have voted against" the final
budget reconciliation bill "because it contains the funding
for the war." Besides, Gravel added, nearly everyone in
Congress is fixated on getting expensive federal projects into
their homestates. "They call it pork these days. When I
was there we called them boondoggles. It's a bribery process,"
he railed, in that incumbents "bribe" the public with
federal dollars in exchange for their votes. "I know what
I'm talking about because I used to play that game, too."
In another jab at Congressional incumbents, Gravel added: "The
Republicans in Congress are screwing-up worse than the Democrats
did -- but the Democrats have nothing to be proud of."
LIFE
OR DEATH? At times, Gravel's comments were a bit overblown.
"I'm putting my life on the line for this [Presidential
campaign]. I've done it before with the Pentagon Papers and
the [Alaska] oil pipeline ... and I'm doing it again now."
While Gravel certainly risked criminal prosecution by the Nixon
Administration's Justice Department for his bold involvement
in getting the top-secret Pentagon Papers into print -- and
earned the enmity of the oil companies over the pipeline fight
-- it is hard to see what personal risk if any Gravel faces
by waging a 2008 White House campaign. Gravel also makes other
unconventional comments: "We need some degree of global
governance if we want to see peace ... If I become President,
there will be peace in the Middle East. It will require a peace
for land deal ... I've been to Israel 3 or 4 times. Israel is
a great country, but they've developed a bunker mentality. It's
somewhat understandable with the suicide bombers and so on they
deal with, but I'm serious: I can bring peace to the Middle
East." Gravel added: "My voting record in the Senate
[on Israel] was the same as [Jewish US Senators] Abe Ribicoff
(D-CT) and Jack Javits (R-NY)."
NATIONAL
SALES TAX. Gravel is very serious about his call to
eliminate the current federal income tax system in favor of
a 23% national sales tax. The plan, touted as the "Fair
Tax" -- is supported by approximately 60 Republican congressmen.
"An economic crash is coming," warns Gravel, "because
Americans are spending too much and saving too little."
The national sales tax, says Gravel, will force Americans to
save money. It also links to an idea he's advocated since the
early 1970s: a guaranteed national income for every American.
Only, these days, he no longer calls it a "national income"
payment. Now he calls the guaranteed payment a "pre-bate"
-- as in a pre-paid rebate on the 23% sales tax to help defer
costs of medicine, food, etc. "Everyone, from the poorest
person up to Bill Gates will get a check [of the same amount]
from the government every year," explained Gravel.
THE
2003 SPEECH TO A HOLOCAUST-DENIAL GROUP. In 2003, ultra-right
newspaper publisher Willis
Carto -- a leading Holocaust "revisionist" who
publishes a combination of radical right and neo-nazi newspapers
-- contacted Gravel. Carto is vocal in espousing the view that
the Holocaust never took place. In fact, Carto founded the Institute
for Historical Review to "prove" the Nazi murder of
six million Jews was "a hoax" invented "by Zionists"
to make people feel sorry for Jews -- and that the famous death
camp liberation documentary films were merely "special
effects" created by the Jews in Hollywood. Gravel said
"I knew his history with the Liberty Lobby" -- the
ultra-right group Carto led while Gravel served in the Senate
-- "But, here he's trying to support the National Initiative.
I wasn't supporting him. He was showing support for it."
At one point, Gravel referred to Carto as "a charming guy"
but "pretty extreme" in his views. Gravel also said
that "kooks" -- like Carto and his followers -- should
support the National Initiative because they, just like mainstream
citizens, "are disgusted with our government" and
feel it doesn't serve their interests. "Kooks feel even
more disconnected" with the political process. "With
the National Initiative, everyone gets a voice in government,"
he added.
At
first, Carto simply wanted to interview Gravel about the National
Initiative for Carto's radical American Free Press
newspaper. "He liked the idea of the National Initiative
... I figured it was an opportunity to discuss it. Whether it
is the far right, far left, whatever, I'll make my pitch to
them," said Gravel. "They gave me a free subscription
to American Free Press -- they still send it to me
today -- and I flip through it sometimes. It has some extreme
views -- and a lot of the ads in it are even more extreme and
make me want to upchuck ... Anyways, sometime later, Carto contacted
me to speak at that Barnes Review Conference. I had never heard
of the Barnes Review, didn't know anything about it or what
they stood for. I was just coming to give a presentation about
the National Initiative. I was there maybe 30 minutes. I could
tell from the people in the room -- mainly some very old men
-- that they were pretty extreme. I gave my speech, answered
some questions and left. I never saw the agenda for the day
or listened to any of the other presentations." The Barnes
Review Conference is an annual Holocaust denial gathering. At
the 2003 event attended by Gravel, the later sessions included
a "Holocaust Revisionism Panel" and a presentation
on the glory days of the Nazi Luftwaffe. You can see more about
the event here
and here
(note: both are links to Holocaust denial groups).
"You
better believe I know that six million Jews were killed. I've
been to the Holocaust Museum. I've seen the footage of General
Eisenhower touring one of the camps ... They're nutty as loons
if they [Carto's group] don't think it happened ... Anyone who
denies the Holocaust is patently off their rocker -- it's a
ridiculous position ... and the idea that the [documentary]
films were a hoax is just bullshit," insisted Gravel. He
said he never renounced the group after he learned of what it
stood for simply because "I'm not in the business of denouncing
anyone. I'm in the business of promoting the National Initiative."
However, he quickly added that if he had to do it again, he
doesn't know whether he would skip the event or attend and "speak
on the National Initiative and how they're dead wrong on the
Holocaust. Their views are just lunacy. But I don't think I'd
bother to go."
ENDING
GENOCIDE ... AND FAULTY MEMORIES. Gravel used the topic
of the Holocaust to discuss the role the US should play in ending
genocide anywhere in the world. He discussed the tragedies of
the Armenian holocaust, the Jewish holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia,
Rwanda and Darfur.
"We're not doing anything about Darfur [Sudan] and that's
wrong," said Gravel. When asked if he has any regrets for
the lack of US action during the genocide that happened while
he was in the US Senate -- Pol Pot's murderous rule in which
21% of the entire population of Cambodia was murdered -- Gravel
mistakenly said: "That didn't happen when I was there.
That was later ... It was in the 1980s." Actually, Senator,
Cambodia's genocide
took place in 1977-79 and US Senator George McGovern (D-SD)
was the lone voice then calling for the US to intervene to end
the killing. "I don't know what George would have been
talking about. I'm pretty sure it happened in the 1980s after
I left the Senate," insisted Gravel.
A
VERY UPHILL CAMPAIGN. Gravel is certain they'll let
him participate in the primary debates. "They let former
Senator Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton in the debates last
time, so they've got to let me in this time." As the interview
was winding down, Gravel has a request: "If there are any
groups down where you live that would like me to speak, just
let me know. I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss my campaign,"
said Gravel. "Let them know that if they'll just pay the
travel costs, I'll be there ... Remember, I impoverished myself
for the National Initiative, so I'll need to raise some money.
But I know it won't be as easy for me as it was back when I
was in the Senate," and then he chuckled over the thought.
Sounds
like Mike Gravel has a very lonely, quixotic fight ahead. Then
again, his campaign seems more about generating a public debate
on his beloved National Initiative proposal than winning the nomination.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.17.06 | Permalink
|
CONGRESS:
ABRAMOFF CORRUPTION SCANDAL.
US Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) told a town hall meeting on
Friday he expects at least seven current federal legislators will
be sent to prison over the Abramoff lobbying scandal. According
to the Tulsa World, Coburn said that six US House members
and one US Senator will eventually be convicted of felonies arising
from the scandal. "If you've been keeping up with things,
you've got a pretty good idea" who the seven are, said Coburn.
He also complained the lobbying reform bill passed in the Senate
last month does not go far enough to cure the Abramoff-style problems.
"Earmark abuse was at the center of the Jack Abramoff and
Duke Cunningham scandals yet the Senate failed to clamp down on
what Abramoff described as the 'earmark favor factory' in Congress.
This bill will not change how members of Congress and lobbyists
interact," said Coburn.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.17.06 | Permalink
|
US
SENATE: TIME MAGAZINE NAMES THE TEN BEST, FIVE WORST SENATORS.
The new issues of Time magazine names the ten best and
five worst US Senators. The magazine contacted "dozens of
academics, political scientists and current and former US Senators"
to compile the rankings. The ten best: Senators John McCain (R-AZ),
Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dick Lugar (R-IN), Olympia
Snowe (R-ME), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Thad Cochran
(R-MS), Kent Conrad (D-ND), and Arlen Specter (R-PA). The five
worst: Wayne Allard (R-CO), Dan Akaka (D-HI), Jim Bunning (R-KY),
Mark Dayton (D-MN) and Conrad Burns (R-MT). Finally, the five
"up-and-coming" freshmen: Mark Pryor (D-AR), Barack
Obama (D-IL), John Sununu (R-NH), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and
Lindsey Graham (R-SC). As for those on the "five worst"
list, you better believe that Akaka and Burns -- the two facing
voters in November -- are going to have it thrown back at them
in TV attack ads later this year. Click
here to read Time's article.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.17.06 | Permalink
|
SITE
OF THE DAY. Our Politics1 Site of the Day winner is Bob
Fitrakis for Ohio Governor (Green). Informative,
good use of online organizing tools, and a decent blog.
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.17.06 | Permalink
|
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
Anything else?
Posted
by Ron Gunzburger - 04.17.06 | Permalink
|
very
nasty -- and anonymous -- 
Eric
Roach (R) appears to ve preparing to continue his fight against
former Congressman Brian Bilbray (R) in the CD-50 GOP primary.
Roach finished a close second behind Bilbray in the CD-50 special
election earlier this month, and has continued to run radio ads
and send mailings since then. That means on June 6 Bilbray will
face-off with college professor Francine Busby (D) in the CD-50
special general election and face Roach in the GOP primary for
the full term. "If I don't run, [Bilbray] is going to for
sure lose" in November, said Roach. In case you forgot, the
primary results were: Busby-44%, Bilbray-15%, Roach-14.5%, former
State Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian (R)-7.5%. However, the heavy
GOP advantage in the district now favors Bilbray in the run-off.
This week Kaloogian, a favorite among hardcore social conservatives,
endorsed Roach in the June 6 contest. Conservatives deride Bilbray
as a RINO. "If Roach runs, will the NRCC spend money to bolster
Bilbray on an intraparty skirmish they thought was over? Will
the DCCC, which slowed its financial support to Busby, now spend
to exploit the GOP's internal divisions? And will the conservative
interest groups (Club for Growth, NRA) that stayed on the sidelines
in the special take sides," asks HRH.
TEXAS:
INDY CANDIDATES RUN STRONG FOR GOV.
election
victory, in the leak." In light of for VP Chief of Staff
Scooter Libby's recently raised Nixonian defense -- i.e., it wasn't
an illegal leak of classified info if the President told me to
leak it -- this Renzi amendment will likely need to be crafted
in a manner to only prohibit leaks by Democrats and other Bush
Administration critics. 
Congressman
Alan Mollohan (D) have the potential to take what was a safe race
for re-election and turn it into a competitive contest. Already
reportedly the target of a federal corruption investigation for
allegedly providing legislative appropriation earmarks for companies
and individuals who helped Mollohan's assets grow from $562,000
to at least $6.3 million during a four-year period. The new allegations
are that Mollohan and defense contractor Dale McBride last year
jointly purchased a 300-acre farm in West Virginia for $900,000
shortly after Mollohan inserted a $2.1M contract for McBride into
a 2005 appropriations bill. "I know perception becomes reality
at the end of the day, but it's not always fair," said McBride
to the Wall Street Journal. McBride said the purchase
was an honest, "50-50 deal" with the two men co-signing
an $800,000 mortgage. Mollohan said the two are "childhood
friends" State Delegate Chris Wakim (R) is challenging Mollohan,
and he'll surely benefit from these on going news reports. Race
rating: Dem Favored (but edging towards Leans Dem).
another
scandal erupts in Montana newspapers concerning already-embattled
US Senator Conrad Burns (R). 
GOP
nomination. State GOP leaders say Jeffers is not a real Republican
and they will not provide her with the contact list of 1,500 delegates.
While Jeffers says she is making the Republican bid to highlight
Pawlenty's failure to be a fiscal conservative, the more likely
reason is that it is earning her free press in the state ... NEBRASKA:
Governor Dave Heineman (R) scored the influential endorsement
of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, while opponent Congressman Tom Osborne
picked up the endorsements of the Carpenters and Fire Fighters
unions ... OHIO: In the GOP gubernatorial primary,
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell was endorsed by the Cincinnati
Enquirer. However, Attorney General Jim Petro picked up the
endorsements of the Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository,
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, Dayton Daily
News and Youngstown Vindicator ... LOUISIANA:
In New Orleans, third-place mayoral finisher Ron Forman endorsed
Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu in the run-off ... CIA
LEAKS & SECRET PRISONS: The buzz about the firing
of a senior CIA officer in the case related to the leak of info
on secret CIA prisons hidden in Eastern Europe seems to me misplaced.
Yes, the leak was significant -- but it seems much more significant
to me that the US was operating super-secret prisons in nations
that seemingly allow the use of some torture. C'mon, it's pretty
apparent which of the two is a greater evil.
Lieutenant
Governor Mitch Landrieu (D) was second with 29%, Audubon Nature
Institute President Ron Forman (D) was next with 17%, followed
by businessman Rob Couhig (R) at 10%, and eighteen others trailed
far behind. While many displaced voters cast absentee ballots
or drove back to the city to cast ballots in person, city residents
from the wards less damaged by the post-Katrina flooding turned
out in much higher numbers. Overall, approximately 40% of Big
Easy voters cast ballots. In addition to Nagin's first place win,
the other surprises were Forman's poor performance and Couhig's
surprisingly strong numbers. Forman -- a Republican who changed
parties to make the race -- was initially seen as very viable,
although he blew his opportunity by running a hyper-safe effort
that merely made vague promises to do things like "dream
big" if elected. Couhig, who was the most vocal conservative
in the race, apparently scored his numbers at Forman's expense.
Nagin is also a former Republican businessman who switched parties
when he ran for Mayor in 2002. Landrieu is a lifelong Dem, brother
of US Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and son of former New Orleans
Mayor Moon Landrieu. In a total reversal from his first election
four years ago, Nagin ran strong with black voters but did poorly
with whites. However, conservatives have traditionally disliked
the Landrieu family -- but they also abandoned Nagin on Saturday.
At this point, Nagin appears fairly well positioned to win a second
term by a relatively competitive margin.
So,
who spilled the beans about this to the Orlando Sentinel?
The answer: veteran GOP political strategist Ed Rollins, who had
worked on Harris' campaign until he and the rest of the staff
quit two weeks ago. "Rollins said he and Harris discussed
the meal and its cost early this year after Wade" pled guilty
to corruption charges, reported the newspaper. The price of the
dinner was "news to me," Harris told the newspaper.
She also said "her campaign had, at some point, 'reimbursed' the
restaurant. When asked how she could have reimbursed a business
that was owed no money -- Wade paid the bill that evening -- she
abruptly ended the interview and walked off." A Harris staffer
later called the Sentinel and begged them to not quote anything
Harris said in the phone interview. The next day, Harris changed
her story: "I have donated to a local Florida charity $100
which will more than adequately compensate for the cost of my
beverage and appetizer." Harris said she thought the bill
was so high because Wade may have ordered expensive wines and
also brought some bottles home uncorked. As was previously reported,
Harris received over $32,000 in illegal campaigns contributions
from Wade -- more than any other member of Congress. After Wade
pled guilty, Harris later donated an equal amount of money to
charities. With stories like this continuing to appear, it is
only a matter of time before some other Republican steps forward
to challenge Harris in the primary. A statewide poll conducted
last week -- for which no one claimed responsibility -- reportedly
tested House Speaker Allan Bense in a possible primary contest
against Harris. If Harris is the GOP nominee, move incumbent Bill
Nelson (D) to the safe column.
FLETCHER
ANNOUNCES FOR '07 RE-ELECTION.
who
was already facing a competitive challenge from businessman and
former pro football quarterback Heath Shuler (D) -- now must deal
with 
candidates
widened this week, as wealthy former university president Marc
Holtzman threatened to skip the convention process and petition
his way onto the primary ballot. The Denver Post reported
Holtzman "sent GOP party chair Bob Martinez a letter citing
'grave concerns' over the 'potential for widespread fraud and
manipulation' at the state convention next month." Holtzman
demanded ten election process conditions for him to participate
at the GOP convention. "By law it is our option to petition
on [the primary ballot[ and if we don't get a process that is
fair to Marc Holtzman and fair to all the people that support
us across the state, we are prepared to do that," said Holtzman's
spokesman. Holtzman has repeatedly accused state GOP leaders of
backing Congressman Bob Beauprez against him in the gubernatorial
race. Beauprez's campaign quickly agreed to all ten of Holtzman's
conditions -- and said they'll agree to whatever other terms Holtzman
demands. "We'll meet in the street at high noon [if Holtzman
wants]," joked Beauprez's spokesman. Beauprez obviously believes
he will win the convention endorsement by a wide margin, and possible
even deny Holtzman the percentage of delegate support needed to
qualify for the primary ballot. Problems flared at the 2004 GOP
convention in the US Senate fight between Pete Coors and Bob Schaffer,
when there were more votes counted than there were delegates present.
Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter is unopposed for the
Democratic nomination. 
FREE
SPEECH ZONE.
FLORIDA:
MORE SIGNS THIS IS A TOP-TIER HOUSE CONTEST.
ADMINISTRATION:
BUT NO NEW DEFENSE SECRETARY.
Governor
Bob Riley (R) remains in good shape in his race for re-election.
The Mobile Register/University of South Alabama poll
shows Riley leading ousted former State Supreme Court Chief Justice
Roy Moore in the GOP primary by a landslide vote of 64% to 20%.
"Moore's campaign has pretty well tanked," said the
university's polling director. A new round of Rasmussen Reports
polling also shows Riley leading either of the two Democratic
frontrunners. Riley led Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley (D) by
a 47% to 40% vote. Riley led former Governor Don Siegelman (D)
by a more lopsided 55% to 38% vote.
Doolittle's
(R-CA) campaign committee and his leadership PAC have both retained
Sierra Dominion Financial Services for fundraising services. The
company continues to be paid 15% of everything Doolittle's two
committees collect. Who owns Sierra Dominion? Doolittle's wife:
Julie Doolittle. That's right: the Post reports Julie
"gets 15 cents of every dollar raised by her husband's political
committees." The grand jury investigating Abramoff's activities
already subpoenaed extensive records from Julie Doolittle and
her husband. Abramoff, his associates and clients gave over $140,000
to Doolittle's campaign and PAC -- and the Congressman consistently
voted in support of Abramoff's clients. This also means at least
$21,000 of Abramoff's money went directly into the Doolittles'
personal bank account in the form of a fundraising commission.
Auburn Vice Mayor and Navy veteran Mike Holmes is challenging
Doolittle in the GOP primary. 
His one-man filibuster the same year was almost solely responsible
for forcing the compromise with the White House that ended the
military draft. However, Gravel's political career came to an
abrupt, crashing end in 1980 when he lost his primary for renomination
to the grandson of the incumbent he had defeated in 1970. Now,
over 25 years after his defeat, the 75-year-old Gravel is seeking
a return to elective politics. Politics1 had an opportunity to
speak with Gravel on Friday evening.
Senate
-- "But, here he's trying to support the National Initiative.
I wasn't supporting him. He was showing support for it."
At one point, Gravel referred to Carto as "a charming guy"
but "pretty extreme" in his views. Gravel also said
that "kooks" -- like Carto and his followers -- should
support the National Initiative because they, just like mainstream
citizens, "are disgusted with our government" and
feel it doesn't serve their interests. "Kooks feel even
more disconnected" with the political process. "With
the National Initiative, everyone gets a voice in government,"
he added.
US
SENATE: TIME MAGAZINE NAMES THE TEN BEST, FIVE WORST SENATORS.
