Thursday’s political round-up

September 20, 2007

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* John Edwards suffered a minor campaign setback yesterday when the SEIU said it would not offer any presidential endorsement, at least right now. Apparently, it looked like Edwards had the support to get the nod, but big locals based in New York and Chicago scuttled the endorsement.

* For reasons that I still don’t entirely understand, Rudy Giuliani’s scandalous personal life hasn’t played much of a role in the campaign, but it’s possible the issue is just now starting to percolate. In a televised interview, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D), a major Hillary Clinton backer, noted that Giuliani has “lots of issues” voters may not know about — yet. “I can’t even get into the number of marriages, [and] the relationship he has with his children,” Vilsack said on New York 1, describing the ex-mayor’s past as “interesting.”

* Mitt Romney has a new ad on the air in New Hampshire in which he takes his own party to task for abandoning its principles. “If we’re going to change Washington, Republicans have to put our own house in order,” Romney says in the ad, speaking directly to the camera, ticking off a list of transgressions. “When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses. It’s time for Republicans to start acting like Republicans. It’s time for a change, and change begins with us.”

* The GOP caucus’ retirement troubles got worse yesterday when Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) indicated that he will not seek re-election next year. Weller has been the subject of considerable scrutiny lately after a series of controversial Latin American land deals.

* John Edwards agreed to be the first candidate to participate in a new kind of online forum, sponsored by MTV and MySpace. Apparently, “as the candidates answer questions, online viewers will be able to register their opinions in real time with choices of ‘I agree,’ ‘I disagree,’ and an unorthodox ‘Full of bull’ just in case the politician sounds a little too pandering or nonsensical. The votes will then be displayed live, as the interview is progressing.” Edwards is taking a bit of a chance by being the guinea pig for this.

* And finally, Barack Obama has a new ad in Iowa that’s worth watching because of how different it is from his other ads. Note his emphasis on “experience” and “20 years of public service” — suggesting his polls are probably telling him that’s his biggest hurdle right now.

That Willard M. cracks me up. How DOES he keep a straight face?

  • Romney says: “When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses. It’s time for Republicans to start acting like Republicans. It’s time for a change, and change begins with us.”

    This may be the funniest thing I’ve read all day…

    When Romney wanted to be governor of Massachusetts, he seemed to do pretty well acting like a Democrat, but I guess he’s forgotten all of that.

    But…if change is what you want, Romney will deliver a change of position as often as he needs to, so I guess he does know somethng about change; I can’t imagine that he has a clue what a “real” Republican is.

    What a piece of work…

  • Anne – what IS a “real Republican”?
    Theocrat?
    Small government libertarian?
    Confederate (barely concealed) racist?
    Stooge for the “haves and have mores”?
    Or radical authoritrian?

    While the noises & dog whistles have fooled enough of the first 3 groups to vote R, the actions betray that the 3rd & 4th is the reality.

  • I’m unable to decide whether I want to see Rudy or Mitt to get the nomination;

    With Rudy, we get to talk about his marriage to his cousin, and many other people and his crossdressing.

    And if it’s Mitt, where do you start – I would begin with that video clip where he states in the snarkiest way that he was the governor of Mass. It struck me as the most disrespectful thing a politician could say about the people who elected him and he said it out loud.

  • “When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses. It’s time for Republicans to start acting like Republicans. It’s time for a change, and change begins with us.” — Romney

    Where to begin. How about a cheap political shot to demonize the opposing party. As for the rest, Romney makes no sense at all.

    How can Republicans not act like Republicans when they are Republicans. If they were to change, would they still be Republicans? Or are they not Republicans now?

    By their acts you shall know them.

  • Did you report above that the rank and file of SEIU nationwide would have supported Edwards, but they were blocked by the big fish in NYC (Clinton D-NY) and Chicago (Obama D-IL)?

    Shouldn’t that be the story? Hopefully, Edwards can turn it into a narrative of the elite blocking real change…..

  • The funny thing about Romney making that statement about Republicans acting like Republicans is that he never defines what a “real” Republican is – so that the theocrat can believe he’s talking about incorporating religion into the government, the “best government is no government” types can believe he will continue the dismantling of those parts of the government that actually help people, the Confederate will believe that he will do everything he can to make sure the country is as white and Christian as possible, and so on.

    As for what is a real Republican, I think you’d have to go back quite a few years to find an example, and I don’t see things as they are today swinging back in that diorection.

  • “When Republicans act like Fascists, America loses. It’s time for Republicans to start acting like human beings. It’s time for a change, and change begins with someone else.”

    There, fixed.

  • The behavior of Reskunklicans is grossly offensive to Democrats—and Mitt knows it. He’s just auditioning for his future with Rupert, once his waning political career does one of those “Hindenburg” crash-n-burn thingies.

    That is, if Rupert and his FraudNews charade even exists at the end of ’08….

  • “When Republicans act like Democrats, […] — Romney

    And when you start from a false — indeed, fantastical — premise, you’re unable to construct a logical proof. Mittens, for goodness sake, where’s your vaunted commonsense? Gone a-begging?

  • “For reasons that I still don’t entirely understand, Rudy Giuliani’s scandalous personal life hasn’t played much of a role in the campaign”

    Should it play a role?

  • Barack Obama has a new ad in Iowa that’s worth watching because of how different it is from his other ads.

    that is one good ad. I like it.

    JRS Jr.,

    Should it play a role?

    Should it have played a role when Gary Hart was vying for the Dem nomination in 1988?

    Should it have played a role in the Clinton Administration, most specifically the House impeachment?

  • “Should it have played a role when Gary Hart was vying for the Dem nomination in 1988?”

    No.

    “Should it have played a role in the Clinton Administration, most specifically the House impeachment?”

    No, but he then lied about it under oath, so yes.

    I guess a few wrongs make it right these days, Edo?

  • “When Republicans act like Fascists, America loses. It’s time for Republicans to start acting like human beings. It’s time for a change, and change begins with someone else.”

    There, fixed. -Jkap

    “When Republicans act like Fascists, America loses. It’s time for Republicans to retire and disappear. It’s time for a change, and change begins with someone else.”

    Further fixed.

  • JRS Jr.,

    I guess a few wrongs make it right these days, Edo?

    No, but I just wanted to see where you’d come out on that. At least you are consistent, I’ll give you that. Too bad the rest of your party isn’t.

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