Monday’s political round-up

May 7, 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:

* Fred Thompson, the Republican lobbyist/senator/actor weighing a possible presidential bid, appeared at the Lincoln Club of Orange County Dinner on Friday night, with high expectations. A packed crowd thought Thompson might even declare his candidacy. According to Bob Novak, the event was a “letdown,” that disappointed the audience. Novak quoted attendees describing Thompson’s half-hour speech as “not Reaganesque,” having “no red meat,” and being “too low key.”

* Rudy Giuliani told Iowa Republicans over the weekend that he believes George W. Bush “will be viewed by history for this one decision [launching a war on terrorism] as being a great president.” Should Giuliani somehow get the GOP nomination, expect this quote to appear quite a bit in 2008 Democratic advertising.

* David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, one the country’s largest far-right lobbying groups, said John McCain’s presidential campaign has “fatal problems.” Keene added, “I can be proven wrong, but McCain is dying a slow political death right now…. There are a number of reasons for that. On the right, he’s simply not trusted, doesn’t have credibility. He is not a small government conservative, and that’s the basic underlying problem.”

* CNN’s upcoming presidential debates (Dems on June 3, GOP on June 5) in New Hampshire will be made available to the public without restrictions, unlike MSNBC. Good for CNN.

* Barack Obama was asked about Rush Limbaugh’s “Barack the Magic Negro” song. “You know, I have not heard it but I’ve heard of it,” Obama said. “I confess that I don’t listen to Rush on a daily basis. On the other hand, I’m not one of these people who, who takes myself so seriously that I get offended by — by every — every comment made about me. You know, the — you know, what Rush does is entertainment, and although it’s probably not something that I listen to much, I don’t — mind folks poking fun at me.”

* And in Florida, which caused a stir last week when the state legislature moved its primary to late January, state Democratic leaders are reportedly working behind the scenes with Howard Dean to choose a later date for their nominating contest.

When a conservative activist laments that McCain isn’t a “small government conservative” are we supposed to take that as meaning McCain is too much like Bush, or not enough like him?

Because Bush pays lip service to small government the way Randall Tobias pays lip service to monogamy.

(though I suppose that contorts the natural order of the words “Tobias” “pays” and “service”)

(also, can Obama find a way to react to conservative slurs and insults that *don’t* play into the Democrat=wuss frame? I don’t know if sarcasm – e.g., saying something like “I’m glad Rush Limbaugh has volunteered to contribute his rhetorical sophistication to our national discussion about racial identity issues and politics, because the perspectives of conservative rich old white guys are dramatically underrepresented in American culture.” – would be the best reaction, but the nervous laughter followed by, “Yeah, sometimes people make fun of me, even using racism, and I probably just ought to ignore it.” seems, um, sort of unsatisfying on a number of levels. Not unlike Harold Ford’s “That was a racist attack against me? I couldn’t tell” reaction – and similarly likely to be politically effective.)

  • “No, those jokes don’t bother me any more than jokes about Rush’s weight and drug habits bother him.” Ahh, to dream.

  • Regarding the Thompson “disappointment”, doesn’t it seem odd, ironic and hypocritical that the GOP constantly hammers away at the talking point that the left is controlled by “Hollywood liberals”?

    After all, wasn’t it them that elected, idolize and worship the only Hollywood actor to become President (mentioned 30+ times in the debate and held at his library) and have extremely high hopes for another actor to run for President?

    And, they’re disappointed that his speech was no “Reaganesque”?

    Then again, nothing the thugs do surprises me anymore.

  • I think Obama’s response was right on. People only have power because you give it to them. Pitching a hissy fit, calling Rush a racist ect… is too Al sharpton. The only answer that would have been better is “Rush who?”

  • Rush is perfectly named both for the thrill of drug high and a strategy of impulsive reckless action. Obama has class which is the perfect Limbaugh repellent. No need for Barack to climb in the mud with a pig.

  • Agree with 4 and 5. Frankly, the people I’m disappointed in is everyone else in the country who should have publicly jumped down Rush’s throat and demanded he be removed from the airways just like they did with Imus.

    Once again the teflon shield surrounding every right wing extremist has been proven to be working at full strength.

  • If only Fred Thompson was Spider-Man. Then, he could still be a “letdown” and still rake in $150 Million over the weekend.

    …expect this quote to appear quite a bit in 2008 Democratic advertising.

    I’ll expect no such thing. I’ve never seen a Dem ad that clever. But, oh, would it be clever! “Rudy Giuliani says George W. Bush will be viewed by history as being a great president. What is Giuliani planning to do that would make the last eight years look good by comparison??”

    As for Barack Obama, I haven’t heard the Rush Limbaugh song either, but from what I heard of it, it wasn’t “poking fun” at the senator himself, but at all hyper-melanic peoples.

  • Say, here’s another item of interest to political observers.

    In Alaska, one current and two former members of the state House were arrested Friday and face felony bribery charges. They pleaded not guilty.

    Unfortunately for them, this morning the guy caught on tape literally quoting prices for votes pleaded guilty to giving them bribes. They’d better hope they can convince a jury that bribery is a one-way street.

    Oh, Republicans. All of them.

  • Nixon will one day be seen as a great president for the one decision to re-establish ties with China.

    Just wait….
    It’s coming….
    Any day now….
    Great. GREAT, I tell you….

    Mmmmmm, Rudy? Not so much.

    • Comments are closed.