Friday’s political round-up

July 27, 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:

* Former Sen. Fred Thompson’s staffing trouble got worse yesterday when his lead political advance operative resigned unexpectedly. The staffer, Sam LeBlond, who is George W. Bush’s nephew, joined Thompson’s campaign committee less than two weeks ago. The news came just as Thompson’s fundraising was reportedly coming up short.

* And speaking of Thompson, is he ever going to actually announce he’s running for president? The former senator told Hannity last night that he’ll probably kick things off in September. “August is kind of a down month, not much going on, so it wouldn’t make sense to do it in August,” Thompson said.

* Chris Dodd unveiled his universal healthcare plan yesterday. “The pillars of his plan are: 1) creating a heath insurance marketplace called Universal HealthMart, based on the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan; 2) basing individual and business contributions to the Universal HealthMart on their ability to pay; 3) driving down premiums by leveraging negotiating power and reducing costs; and 4) making coverage portable — that is, insurance would follow individuals, not jobs.” The plan is estimated to cost between $40-$70 billion a year over the first four years.

* Mitt Romney started hitting Rudy Giuliani where he’s vulnerable yesterday. “I think we can’t win the presidency without a pro-life, pro-family Republican,” Romney said, referring to the former mayor. Asked to respond, Giuliani adviser Jim Dyke said, “cleaning up Times Square porn and prostitution, making the streets safe, leaving more money for the family budget by cutting taxes, moving people from welfare to work — sounds pretty pro-family to me.”

* In a setback for the NRCC, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) announced today that he will not seek re-election next year.

* And former Speaker Newt Gingrich said yesterday he’s far less likely to run for president if Fred Thompson does. The Politico reported, “Publicly, Gingrich has been sending signals making clear that a presidential candidacy for him is becoming less likely. Privately, he and some of his closest advisers have been meeting with — and, in at least one prominent case, going to work for — the lobbyist-actor and former Tennessee senator.”

Former Sen. Fred Thompson’s staffing trouble got worse yesterday when his lead political advance operative resigned unexpectedly. The staffer, Sam LeBlond, who is George W. Bush’s nephew, joined Thompson’s campaign committee less than two weeks ago.

No problem, LeBlondie, you’ll have plenty of work at Foecks New calling the Presidential election in 2008 before the polls close (if there is one).

  • So is Fred’s inability to raise funds because of questions from the religious right folks, his own campaign’s deficiencies, or a lack of support for Republicans in general?

    I hope everyone of the Republican Congressional cowards lose their jobs. If they can’t stand up for the Constitution and the well being of our country, they don’t deserve a pay check from us.

  • “August is kind of a down month, not much going on, so it wouldn’t make sense to do it in August,” Thompson said.
     Is he afraid that people might look at him (or more importantly, his history)? If that’s the case, it makes more sense for him to jump in come Sept. With all the fireworks in store after the congressional recess, he could easily sneak in the back door unnoticed.

  • “…basing individual and business contributions to the Universal HealthMart on their ability to pay..driving down premiums…”

    No no no. Fuck “contributions!!!” Fuck “premiums!!!” We want FREE UNIVERSAL healthcare for ALL. Period. SINGLE PAYER- The federal government. THAT’S IT!

    Don’t make me destroy you, Dodd.

  • I entertained the thought that maybe Fredderick of Hollywood (l like that too) was a serious statesman who became an actor who played someone much like himself. But as he is making his political comeback I see that he is a lightweight and probably always has been.

    I try to resist putting too much stock in images without content, but looking at rubber-lips Fred and his tight little wife, knowing that she is in charge of hiring and firing in his campaign is just so stereotypical that it’s practically archtypal…and not in a good way.

  • Haik yells: …We want FREE UNIVERSAL healthcare for ALL. Period…

    Haik, you’re setting the idea up for failure. You and I and everyone who pays taxes will pay for it. Anyone who says that it will be “Free” is only going to lower their credibility.

    I think we could come up with a great universal health care system, by studying the experiences of all the major countries who have tried their own versions of universal health care. We could easily create a system that uses the best of all their worlds.

    But it won’t be “free”.

  • Haik –

    Any universal healthplan is going to require contribution from individuals. Either in the form of premiums or taxes. There’s no other way to pay for it. Some may pay more than others (and the poorest will most likely pay nothing) but the money has to come from somewhere. And as Wisconsin is learning, it will be very costly. They would be looking at a 14.5% payroll tax to raise the $15 billion dollars it would cost to provide “FREE” healthcare.

  • Q: What does it tell you when Dems refuse to take questions from FOX, and the GOP refuses to take questions from the American People?

    A: No politician willingly places themselves at the mercy of the enemy.

  • LaHood not running for re-election might explain why he was able to tell the truth about congress passing bills in this session. Maybe now he’ll start telling the truth about the war, environment etc.

  • JKap, @1,

    Out of curiosity… Is the “oe” in “Foecks New” German (way of spelling ö), or Dutch?

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