Thursday’s political round-up

December 7, 2006

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:

* New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), a likely 2008 aspirant, “took a swipe at the new Democratic congressional majority for not consulting the nation’s Democratic governors more,” an ABC News report explained. “In my judgment it’s been insufficient,” said Richardson who chaired the Democratic Governors Association in 2006 when his party won control of a majority of the nation’s governorships for the first time since 1994. “The Democratic Congress should listen to Democratic governors more because we have won.” He added, “Here in Congress, the people just float around and nothing happens.”

* As noted in comments yesterday, Al Gore may not be prepared to talk about a presidential campaign, but he’s taking some steps that a candidate might take. In May, Gore’s new book, “The Assault on Reason,” will hit bookstore shelves.

* Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.), another likely 2008 candidate, is taking a relatively unusual step for a GOP candidate: he’s encouraging a tolerant policy towards Hispanic immigrants. “One of the great challenges facing us is that we do not commit the same mistakes with our growing Hispanic population that we did with African Americans 150 years ago and beyond,” Huckabee said. “We’re still paying the price for the pathetic manner in which this country handled that…. I think, frankly, the Lord is giving us a second chance to do better than we did before.”

* New York’s congressional Democrats got together yesterday for an all-hands meeting with Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer (D) on Capitol Hill yesterday, but Sen. Hillary Clinton didn’t make it. She was having breakfast with Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin (D).

* Speaking of Iowa and 2008, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) looks like he has some work to do. When Brownback appeared before some local Iowan reporters, one asked the senator how to spell his name.

* And, finally, looking at the 110th Congress, the WaPo notes that the GOP will be more ideologically homogenous than at any point in modern history. Noting a study by UC San Diego’s Keith Poole and NYU’s Howard Rosenthal, the Post explained that Congress will have the fewest moderates in 2007 since the 19th Century

The planet needs Al Gore to run like hell, so our kids don’t end up living in hell.

No other viable candidate is taking the issue of global warming very seriously. You’re it.

Please run, Al.

  • And, finally, looking at the 110th Congress, the WaPo notes that the GOP will be more ideologically homogenous than at any point in modern history. Noting a study by UC San Diego’s Keith Poole and NYU’s Howard Rosenthal, the Post explained that Congress will have the fewest moderates in 2007 since the 19th Century

    What we have now are moderates (Democratic moderates) who will actually vote against the fascist scum, rather than go along with them, the way the Republican “moderates” did. In other words, the center just rejected the people who weren’t centrist when it really counted.

    However, all Republican moderates are welcome to join the great coaltion against the Confederate Traitor Southernist Party. They’ll get the things they really wanted, that way.

  • How do you spell Brownback ?? It is any wonder the press doesn’t get around to actually checking facts, they don’t even know the name of person who might not be common to most folks, but should be known to a reporter covering politics.

    Plus Brownback ?? Are you kidding me, does the reporter at least know how to spell Sam ??

  • In other words, the center just rejected the people who weren’t centrist when it really counted.

    exactly right. when the votes really mattered (the first vote to establish leadership/control of the agenda and committees, and all the other heinous pieces of legislation that came out of the 108th and 109th Congress) those “moderate” Republican’ts proved they weren’t moderate at all.

    Where’s the study from the Poly Sci experts that show how the 109th Congress was the most partisan Congress ever? Now that would be a meaningful study/analysis.

  • “Confederate Traitor Southernist Party.”
    ————————————————————Tom Cleaver

    When properly processed, CTSP makes good compost for your vegetable garden. Their hides also serve well for wrapping the garbage in, thus allowing old newspapers to be recycled.

    Hey—at least I didn’t mention the Soylent Green thing.

    Oops—my bad….

  • I left a comment at WaPo about the article echoing what Tom (#2) said above. The conclusion that Congress contains the fewest moderates since whenever can only be reached if one excepts the idea that only Republicans can be moderate – which is patently absurd. Congress has moved to the center by dumping the moderate Republicans who enabled the radical right.

  • As noted in comments yesterday…

    Grumpy was thinking about getting a blog instead of being a comment ho, but statements like that above make Grumpy think twice. Ho, ho, ho!

  • “One of the great challenges facing us is that we do not commit the same mistakes with our growing Hispanic population that we did with African Americans 150 years ago and beyond,” Huckabee said. “We’re still paying the price for the pathetic manner in which this country handled that…. I think, frankly, the Lord is giving us a second chance to do better than we did before.”

    This guy is good. If only more democratic leaders were willing to step up and say something this powerful with conviction. . . American politicians at the national level have either bowed down to the machine (like Arlen Specter ) or simply re-act to the “issues” as framed by said machine.

    Neo-con genius was simply assuming they could get away with anything. In a world of cowards, confidence wins, no matter how misplaced.

  • Oops, remind me to read the posts in order! Good to see the NY’er getting air time on TCBR! Two of the more lucid and genuine sources of political information and commentary coming out of American media.

  • “I think, frankly, the Lord is giving us a second chance to do better than we did before.”

    Next Huckabee will be telling us that, “Jesus wrote my immigration policy.” Pandering to the Taliban wing already….shameful.

    And I think that Gov. Richardson might have made a tactical error in starting to lob grenades at his own party before they’ve even been sworn in for the new session.

    Geezuz, Bill, the Dems have been the national minority party for over a decade. Would it kill you to wait till they move into their new offices before accusing them of not communicating enough?

    I know you’re trying to make a quick hit to boost your presence on the national stage but this just reeks.

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