Tuesday’s political round-up

December 19, 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:

* In a pleasant surprise, Nancy Pelosi’s office announced this morning that Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) will replace Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Van Hollen, whom I’m a big fan of, won re-election this year with 77% in his district, which is just outside DC.

* Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) appeared on The Daily Show and did fairly well. As watchers of the show know, Stewart frequently compares Vilsack’s name to the duck from Aflac insurance commercials. With this in mind, the governor gave Stewart a stuffed duck sporting a Vilsack campaign button. Stewart asked, “So you’re not going to run away from duck-related humor?” Vilsack responded, “I’m not going to duck the issue, that’s right.”

* The notion of a Congressman Ari Fleischer (R-N.Y.) is rather horrifying, but apparently that’s the new scuttlebutt. Rep.-elect John Hall (D) won an upset in Westchester County this year, and in light of the area’s GOP leanings, Hall instantly became a top 2008 target. Rumor has it that Fleischer is considering the race.

* Hillary Clinton’s likely presidential campaign added a key staffer this week when Democratic operative Mike Henry was brought on board, likely to serve as deputy campaign manager. During the 2004 cycle, Henry managed the primary campaign of wealthy businessman Blair Hull in Illinois — who lost to Barack Obama.

* And, finally, former U.S. President George H.W. Bush said in Japan this week that he would be an aggressive opponent of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Bush 41 told students at Waseda University in Tokyo that, in 2008, “I’ll be back on the other side (of politics), and I will be trying to beat the hell out of her, if I possibly can.” Remember, he’s supposed to be the classy diplomat in the family.

U.S. President George H.W. Bush said in Japan this week that he would be an aggressive opponent of Hillary Clinton’s campaign

H.W Bush doesnt do ANYTHING for the Republican Party in general ONLY HIS FAMILY…this leads me to believe that Jeb is running for the 2008 nomination….BOOK IT!!!!

  • “I will be trying to beat the hell out of her…” – GHWB

    Note that he did not say, “I will be trying like hell to beat her,” but “trying to beat the hell out of her.” Reminds me of the GWB statement to the effect that he had his foot on Kerry’s throat and wasn’t going to let up. This is how the modern R approaches elections. The aim is not to beat your opponent in the sense of a game, but beat them to within a hair of death in the sense of an all out bloody street-fight.

    Voters need to ask themselves if this is the best the R party has to offer, and if it is, declare Rs not fit for a civilized society.

  • When your Daddy was a mediocre businessman, and a low-level banker for the Nazis, I guess that all your behavior will be ego and hubris. As you son’s will be to.

    Barbara”the Queen of Hearts” let him put his gonads on for that interview. They are safe within her purse again, I am sure.

    You can’t but class.

  • That Bush comment in Japan rung a bell with me. Does anyone else remember this one from the 1984 campaign?

    Reagan’s efforts to do so again were boosted, then apparently set back, by Vice President George Bush last week. In a televised debate in Philadelphia Thursday night with Mondale’s running mate, Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro, Bush presented the Administration’s case more ably than Reagan had four nights earlier. Indeed, though Ferraro also argued impressively, most analysts gave Bush a slight edge (see following story). But the next day, Bush squandered some of the benefits with one of the silliest blunders of the campaign. After a rally in Elizabeth, N.J., on Friday, a television boom mike caught him whispering to a longshoreman that “we tried to kick a little ass last night.” Realizing that the mike was on, the Vice President then exclaimed, “Whoops! Oh, God, he heard me! Turn that thing off.”

    At a press conference in Birmingham later in the day, Bush proceeded to dig himself in deeper. Asked to confirm the wording of his remark, he replied, “I didn’t use ‘a little’ ” (the tape established that he had, though). He agreed that he had used “an old Texas football expression” and added, “I stand behind it.” He would not apologize to Ferraro, he said, because the remark was not aimed at her. “It was a way of assessing victory. She would understand this. She’s a good competitor.” Ferraro’s comment: “I would not address my opponent in the same way.”

    I think this guy might have some problems with strong women. Now why would that be? Perhaps, this might give you a clue.

    Barbara Bush, his wife, said, “I can’t say it, but it rhymes with rich,” referring to Ferraro, the only woman to be nominated for national office on a major party ticket. Ms. Bush later apologized for calling Ferraro a “witch.”

    I must be tough walking around with your ‘nads in your wifes purse.

  • And I just flashed back to Bush the Elder’s “we tried to kick a little ass last night” comment after his debate with Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. Plus ca change, plus c’est meme chose…

  • Of course, this is the same guy who was “gonna beat her [Geraldine Ferraro] ass” and laughed about having to run against some “girl.”

    Classy, real classy. No wonder W is the jerk-off that he is…he comes by it naturally.

  • I must be tough walking around with your ‘nads in your wifes purse.=It must be tough walking around with your ‘nads in your wifes purse.

  • A Kennedy takes a piss and its front page news. Why then does the MSM allow the low-class white-trash Bush Crime Family to get away with being a bunch of drunken criminals? Dollar for dollar and pound for pound I would wager that more booze and drugs have been ingested by the Bush clan than any other political family in the nation.

  • And, finally, former U.S. President George H.W. Bush said in Japan this week that he would be an aggressive opponent of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Bush 41 told students at Waseda University in Tokyo that, in 2008, “I’ll be back on the other side (of politics), and I will be trying to beat the hell out of her, if I possibly can.” Remember, he’s supposed to be the classy diplomat in the family.

    Did he throw up in anybody’s lap (yet)???

  • When your Daddy was a mediocre businessman, and a low-level banker for the Nazis,

    Actually, not quite so “low level” since his financing of Hitler in 1928 was what allowed the Nazis to “break into the mainstream”. Preston Bush was rewarded after Hitler came to power with contracts and financial positions inside German companies, which he kept until – facing indictment in 1942 under the Trading With The Enemy Act – he bought himself amnesty by getting elected to the Senate from Connecticut.

    Additionally, Preston Bush was the one who came up with the idea of getting Brown Brothers Harriman – where he worked – to make the investment of these loans after having visited Germany and seen who and what the Nazis were.

    That is the “classiness” of the Bush crime family at work.

  • You know how much less fucked up this country and our politics would be if either George H.W. or W. Bush was able to stand up to Mrs. Iselin, I mean, Barbara Bush, and hash out their issues with her instead of redirecting their fucked-up mental shit onto the rest of us?

    If the Bush family wants to save politics, they can all get the fuck out. Or they can all keep fucking it up. There are not other choices, but I think I know which one they’re going to choose.

  • It is reassuring to have such conclusive evidence that White Trash is not an economic category. It transcends income levels and geography.

  • Chris – have the Bushes ever expressed any desire to “save” politics? For that matter, can ANYONE out there bring an example of any Bush family member contributing to society?
    Any MDs? Professors or teachers?
    The Bush family has contributed less to America than the Capone, Gotti, or any other crime family. They are a cancer in American society.
    And I like the Iselin reference.

  • Ari Fleischer for Congress? This guy has got a record of lies and obsfucation that would circle the globe twice. Save those bookmarks of Ari classics, gang.

  • Ari Fleischer for Congress?

    Never happen. There are vast, rich veins of ore to be mined in WH press conference tapes for his opponents – the campaign ads will just write themselves.

    Save your money, Ari, before you get made a fool of in broad daylight, and everyone watching.

    -GFO

  • Completely unrelated to anything here but had an interesting conversation regarding Jefferson’s win in LA. Apparantly his opponent was making waves about all thouse people trying to cross the bridge during Katrina, and made some comments about the Jefferson Parish sherrif Harry Lee or just generaly about Jefferson Parish (not knowing to be the most hospitable to minorities – this was big David Duke country). Well apparantly Harry Lee really got out the vote for Jefferson and that accounted for the win. So apparantly in New Orleans part of the Jefferson district, he might not have won, but Harry Lee’s get out the vote campaign in the area his is popular pushed Jefferson over the edge.

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