Monday’s political round-up

December 17, 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:

* Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), one of Congress’ most right-wing members, endorsed Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign. It gives Thompson a much-needed boost in Iowa, where he’s been running fourth. (Apparently, there was some confusion in the initial reports, because King was expected to endorse Romney.)

* Speaking of endorsements from Iowa lawmakers, Barack Obama will get a similar boost today, earning the support of Rep. David Loebsack (D-Iowa). As the Des Moines Register noted, “His decision means all three of Iowa’s Democratic congressmen have endorsed a presidential candidate, and all have chosen a different one. Rep. Leonard Boswell has endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, while Rep. Bruce Braley has backed former Sen. John Edwards.”

* Ron Paul fans organized another massive fundraising initiative yesterday, and exceeded their previous highs. Paul took in an amazing $6 million on Sunday, apparently the most ever raised by one candidate in one day. The Politico added that the haul will probably help Paul raise more money than any other Republican candidate in the fourth quarter.

* Mitt Romney didn’t generate too much news in his first “Meet the Press” appearance yesterday, though it was interesting to see him concede that non-believers can be moral people. The interview was not, however, without controversy: Romney claimed to have the NRA’s backing during his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, which is not true.

* Confident that Mitt Romney will no longer run the table in the first three contests, Rudy Giuliani is apparently giving up on New Hampshire, and redirected resources into his campaign’s Feb. 5th strategy.

* Bill Clinton went after Barack Obama quite aggressively over the weekend, telling PBS’s Charlie Rose that electing the senator would be a “risk,” and dismissing him as “a gifted television commentator.”

* Over the weekend, Mitt Romney picked up support from right-wing judge Robert Bork, who said, “No other candidate will do more to advance the conservative judicial movement than Governor Mitt Romney.”

* Mike Huckabee’s decision to criticize Bush’s handling of Iraq has drawn fire from former Bushie Ari Fleischer, who said the former governor “will serve Republican primary voters, and our nation, better if he focused his criticisms on the Democrats who will run against our eventual nominee and not on the President who has kept us safe.”

* And speaking of Huckabee, what’s the secret of his success? By one estimation, evangelical home-schoolers.

* Saturday, the Boston Globe, which is widely read in New Hampshire, endorsed Obama and McCain.

* And presidential candidates are still figuring out exactly how they’ll campaign in Iowa around Christmas — without annoying voters. “The general consensus among political operatives is that on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, telephone banks will be quiet. Door-knocking will cease. And campaign events to build support will not be scheduled. The television commercials, though, will go on.”

There was one more high-profile (and somewhat unexpected) endorsement in Iowa: Mari Culver, the First Lady, is endorsing John Edwards.

The combination of this endorsement and Braley should help get him one last look by voters before the caucus.

Oh, and Bork’s endorsement should be a good enough reason for anyone to vote against someone.

  • Mitt Romney didn’t generate too much news in his first “Meet the Press” appearance yesterday, though it was interesting to see him concede that non-believers can be moral people.

    I think we’re so used to seeing them playing hard to the right in recent years that we can be surprised by what they’ll do to cover their asses during primary season so they don’t get nipped with things that could hurt them in the general– but we shouldn’t be. It’s just a smart move that will help to deflect the most pointed of liberal/Democratic criticism. Surely Romney is smart enough about how he portrays himself to think of this (and he’s got a whole campaign staff to cover thinking about stuff like that for him all day, every day, too).

  • I have this weird feeling that Edwards is going to win Iowa and throw the whole thing into chaos. His ground game is supposed to be the best of the three, he has to be benefitting from the escalating Clinton/Obama war, and if this really is a “change” election, his unapologetic populism probably plays better than Clinton’s establishmentarianism or Obama’s commitment to consensus-building.

    Though Obama remains my preference, I’d very happily support Edwards, and I do have a sense that he might be better suited for this political moment–I just have less confidence in his ability to force change than I do Obama’s.

  • I agree with Zeitgeist. If Romney is the guy to advance Bork’s vision of the judiciary, no same person should want anything to do with him.

    But I’m surprised by Bork’s endorsement of Romney. I would have considered Romney to be the most moderate candidate in the Republican field.

  • Oh dear Lord, these home-schoolers are scary.

    “Beyond all that, a lot of people are tired of the fact that we can’t say Merry Christmas any more, and that ‘God’ is removed from every public place,” Mrs. Hurley said”.

    Can you imagine what these parents teach these kids in home schooling and what the kids miss by not mixing with people unlike themselves?

  • i know it’s been asked before, but i’ve never seen an answer: what happens to all the $$$ raised by ron paul when his blimp comes crashing to the ground? if he doesn’t mount an independent campaign a la ross perot, that is.

  • Ron Paul fans organized another massive fundraising initiative yesterday, and exceeded their previous highs. Paul took in an amazing $6 million on Sunday, apparently the most ever raised by one candidate in one day. The Politico added that the haul will probably help Paul raise more money than any other Republican candidate in the fourth quarter.

    What are they doing, robbing banks?

    Mike Huckabee’s decision to criticize Bush’s handling of Iraq has drawn fire from former Bushie Ari Fleischer, who said the former governor “will serve Republican primary voters, and our nation, better if he focused his criticisms on the Democrats who will run against our eventual nominee and not on the President who has kept us safe.”

    Translating Ari: “You’re not going to win, you fool, so don’t hurt the rest of us while you’re faliling around.”

    Don’t you wish our side had sense like that?

  • The Ron Paul campaign faces an interesting problem, and I’d be curious what JKap’s take is. I see it as an almost endemic problem of the philosophy being espoused – the radical anti-centralized power, anti-bureaucracy viewpoint, but it strikes me as a real problem:

    Ok, so Ron Paul has, lets say, $12MM in the bank. How is he going to spend it in a meaningful way between now and mid-January when NH does its thing? He has very little infrastructure, not much staff or formal organization — under those conditions, how does one turn a fresh $6MM into votes in a very short amount of time?

  • phoebes, Chuck Hurley is head of the Iowa Family Policy Center, a way-right group, so he is like that as a profession. i probably don’t want to know what political values they taught their kids, but they did teach Rebecca to be one hell of a basketball player (can I say that about a fundie?) – she played, of course, for a large public school.

  • I think Paul, McCain and Obama are all competing for the same group of independent crossover voters in New Hampshire. Obama probably has the edge, based on money and organization. But the Granite staters can surprise, and if McCain wins the state or Paul finishes second, who knows what happens after that.

    Given their demonstrated penchant for slimy tactics, I wonder if the Clintons will try to back-channel resources or other kinds of support to one of the Republicans to stop Obama in NH.

  • Swan– actually, they don’t have to rob banks! Don’t you remember that story from a month or so ago, when the Feds raided some place that was actually minting Ron Paul Dollars?

    So, when they talk about raising $6 million, are those U.S, or R.P. (Ron Paul)dollars?

  • A bit off-topic, perhaps, but here goes:
    Today I sent an e-mail to one of my senators, Chris Dodd, thanking him for putting up the good fight against immunity for the telecoms in the current FISA renewal being considered in the Senate.
    My *other* senator, you know, that guy named Joe … well, I also sent him an e-mail:
    “Mr. Senator,
    Please do not vote in favor of any bill that comes up for Senate vote if that bill contains any kind of grant to telecoms of immunity from prosecution for violations of privacy. The right of an individual citizen to seek redress is a most fundamental element of our society and the Constitutional government that we have. Our legal system is certainly well able to make a determination, case by case, whether any individual is owed redress when a violation of privacy been alleged. Therefore there will never be any justification for the existence in any congressional legislation to grant immunity from the law for any party in our society. Thanks so very much for you support on this.”
    I don’t really have much hope about this thing, but at least I’m trying to get my two cents in.

  • Why aren’t Obama and Hillary in DC today, supporting Senator Dodd’s filibuster of the FISA bill like they said they would?

    Either they are leaders or they are not. It’s time to see something concrete.

  • Good for Ron Paul. Every dollar he gets is another dollar that won’t be available to one of the other Republican candidates or the national Republican committees. Work it like a bilge pump, Ron, we’re behind you all the way!! 🙂

  • from the Rose interview:

    Bill Clinton declared that his wife was not only far better prepared to be president than her chief rival Sen. Barack Obama — “it’s not close” — but that voters who disagreed would be taking a “risk” if they picked the latter.

    And Bill “weathervane” Clinton sure does hate taking risks of any kind.
    It might be nice if he might have mentioned ONE BLESSED thing that made Hil “prepared”. He didn’t.


    the former president at one point said that voters were, of course, free to pick someone with little experience, even “a gifted television commentator” who would have just “one year less” experience in national service than Obama.

    WTF? Bill had NO national experience, so Obama’s state legislature work is chopped liver. How convenient.


    Later he said that his friends in the Republican party had indicated that they felt his wife would be the strongest candidate, partly because she had already been “vetted” — another subtle slap at Obama.

    A Republican endorsement. THAT’s a good sign.
    For somebody. Not sure who.


    Also: He said the most important thing to judge was who would be “the best agent for change” not merely a “symbol for change….symbol is not as important as substance.”

    A symbol… a figurehead… a largely ceremonial position… like, I don’t know… a First Lady?

    And CHANGE? You have to be kidding me. Hil is going to shake things up more than Obama? I can’t think of a Dem more stay-the-course than yer Mrs.

    Damn, Bill. Throwing softballs a kid could whack out of the park. Did you forget your wheaties this morning? (Could Bill secretly not want his wife to win?)


    He also hit back at the charge that experienced politicians had helped get us into the Iraq war, saying that this was “like saying that because 100 percent of the malpractice cases are committed by doctors, the next time I need surgery I’ll get a chef or a plumber to do it.”

    This is not only a stupid analogy, but he’s claiming Senator Obama and Senator Hilary aren’t in the same field. Then he suggests you don’t vote for a doctor/senator who’s been caught at malpractice (voting for authorization for war in Iraq AND Iran) Seriously, is he trying to HELP?


    Clinton attributed his wife’s decline in Iowa to the press overplaying her poor answer to one debate question on driver’s licenses for illegal aliens. He took another shot at the press in defending his wife in the so-called “kindergarten” attack on Obama, saying, “So he just got a few stenographers to write stories about the — as if this kindergarten letter was serious.”

    He did say that he gets “tickled” watching Obama because of his attractiveness and political skills. “I like all these people,” he said. “I have nothing bad to say about him or anyone else.”

    You forgot to say “Bless his heart.” Mr. President.
    Am I to understand you think a vast left-wing conspiracy in the media is groundlessly slapping your helpless wife around?

    This interview bordered on the surreal. Is Hil going to take her husband down with her????
    Worse things could happen.

  • Does anyone remember in the novel “Animal Farm” when Napoleon the pig suddenly unveiled his secret dobermans? This is the well kept secret that is coming of age…the “home-schooled” whose ideology could never survive public high school scrutiny whereas at home they can be indoctrinated in secret into a condemning conservative authoritarian who is taught to vote one way regardless…the fanatical Christian right.

    Most of you have probably never viewed “Jesus Camp” but for those who have, imagine all those children with a ballot in their hand and then tell me I’m paranoid. I live in the same area where the film was made…where these people exist…where rationality is replaced by creationism and dominionism.

  • Every dollar he gets is another dollar that won’t be available to one of the other Republican candidates or the national Republican committees.

    That’s some stunning logic there. People buying groceries or making a house payment aren’t sending dollars to other candidates either.

    Work it like a bilge pump, Ron

    Finally, a R.P. supporter correctly identifies what he’s been pumping lately… everyone else has known all along!

    It’s pretty common knowledge that the loon Paul is secretly being backed by the Democrats to server as a “Ross Perot” type spoiler in the Republican primaries. While I agree with many of his libertarian-based positions, he’s totally wrong on most defense related issues and he would usher in a dangerous isolationist stance that would leave our country prone to attack.

    I insist on a solid, straight-talker that has the guts to take on the issues and has sane, practical plans for immigration/defense/security/economy – I reject serial panderers, nutjobs and those with lots of “baggage”; thus I will be casting my vote (and putting my cash support) for Fred Thompson. http://Fred08.Com http://Fredipedia.US

  • Where are the dem senators running for president who said they would support Dodd’s filibuster. Dodd could be out raising campaign funds too but this FISA issue is the biggest issue to come around in a long time. Reid goes against the dems pres. candidates on this issue. Maybe he thinks the repubs candidates should be president. Reid’s actions are shameless. He is demonstrating that he too can be bought. It’s outrageous.

    I donated to Dodd’s campaign fund since he’s “stuck” in the senate right now doing what is right and can’t be out there campaigning. All the candidates “should” be there with him “doing” what they so far only “talk” about. Is this how they will lead…when it comes time to “do” it they don’t show up.
    Not a word about this filibuster on any of the on-line big news services. Figures.

  • troll on 18. I would love to see a Fred Thompson nomination. His name is certainly famous in these parts. Well maybe not “famous” but it never fails to get a big laugh.

  • electric rascal, i can only hope that the rest of Frederick of Hollywood’s campaign team is as smart and observant as you are, thinking that Curmudgeon’s post was supporting Ron Paul.

  • What good does all that money do Paul, anyhow?

    It’s interesting to see a Republican actually score big in the small-money bracket, but… It’s all crazies’-monies.

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