Wednesday’s political round-up

May 23, 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:

* The AP explains today that former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) “already is” running for president, he just hasn’t said so yet: “Thompson is hiring staff, speaking to conservative groups, writing online columns on topics of the day and staking out positions on issues like the Senate immigration overhaul.” Chris Cillizza adds that Thompson hired former Federal Elections Commission Chairman Michael Toner “to serve as the lead lawyer for his increasingly likely campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.”

* The Boston Globe’s James Pindell notes that Rudy Giuliani will host “a town hall meeting” in New Hampshire today — but the public isn’t invited. “Apparently to Giuliani, speaking to insurance company employees and spouses in the office cafeteria counts as a town hall meeting,” Pindell said. Meet America’s next Bubble Boy.

* Indicative of the directions of the two major parties, the AP reports, “National Democratic Party committees raised nearly $60 million in the first four months of this year, one-fourth more than two years ago and twice as much as they collected during the same period in 2003. Republican Party committees, on the other hand, collected a quarter less than in 2005, placing them at near parity with Democrats for the first four months of this year.”

* Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is launching a new TV ad in New Hampshire today, taking credit for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama voting for the Feingold bill on Iraq war funding. (I doubt he’s right, but at a minimum, it takes chutzpah to make the claim.)

* And both of Kentucky’s gubernatorial primaries went exactly the way Democrats wanted them to go yesterday. On the Republican side, incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher won 51% of the vote, despite a series of ethics and legal scandals. Fletcher will face former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear (D), who got 41% (just barely enough to avoid a run-off) of the Democratic vote. Given Fletcher’s scandals, the smart money is on Beshear. The general election is in November.

How nice for the Democratic party that they are winning the money race. The major difference between Republican control of Congress and a slim Democratic control is just the kind of chatter, not the substance. We are not getting our moneys worth.

  • “National Democratic Party committees raised nearly $60 million in the first four months of this year… Republican Party committees, on the other hand, collected a quarter less than in 2005.”

    How long until some fRight Wing Fink claims the Dems cash was “stolen” from the Repugs or, it all comes from dubious sources?

  • Oh my god, that Monica Goodling has the most horrible, little-girl, whiny voice I’ve ever heard.

    It’s like chalk on a blackboard.

    Though, maybe if I agreed with what she ‘s passing off as “truth”, I’d like the voice?

  • Don’t worry. The cowards won’t be getting any more of my money. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

  • “National Democratic Party committees raised nearly $60 million in the first four months of this year, one-fourth more than two years ago and twice as much as they collected during the same period in 2003.”

    I will be very intersted to see ehat their “take” is in the next four moths, inlight of the Iraq funding debacle, and how it compares to the first four months’ numbers. As noted in a post below, they will get no more of my money at this point, so doubtful is not alone ( and I have a feeling there are many more ordinary American contributors who will follow suit).

  • re: Jessica and doubtful…

    I think by 2008 it won’t matter so much what the Dems cave on right now. We’ll support the Dems, even if we would rather have some others to support. Unless we want the Republicans to have a better chance?

    Write LOTS of letters to tell them you’re unhappy. But if we insist on purity we will hand the Republicans a lifeline and they’re going to need one by 2008.

  • Given that “Law and Order” went over the cliff and straight down the tubes this past season (terrible, terrible, awful writing and plots that stunk, not to mention the new casting sucked major), I’ve gotten out of the habit of watching, so missing it when Thompson declares for President won’t be such a loss.

    That said, the guy is the epitome of the Republican “empty suit.” A record of no accomplishment in the Senate, a campaign (the little red truck) that was b.s., and now his current effort to make himself “presidential” proves the truth of Orwell’s comment on political speech: ”Political language…is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”

    I personally think that once the women of the Christian Right get a good look at his Succe4ssful Hollywood Actor’s Trophy Wife he’s going to become a lot less popular. He’s the nightmare those women have come true.

  • While the general election hasn’t happend — No Republican from KY who voted for Fletcher can complain about re-electing Nagin in NOLA or Marion Barry in DC.

  • Tom Cleaver,

    Thompson will not be on the show next season. Sam Waterston’s character will replace him as the DA and most of the rest of the show is being recast.

  • Racerex, @7

    I’m not the kind of person who writes her Congresscritters, ie I never initiate such correspondence. However. Since the night before last (when the first rumours about the final shape of the Surrender Supplemental began to circulate), I’ve been venting my spleen to everyone who’s trying to hit me for money (and there’s usually, at least one e-mail a day, since I’m a small but fairly reliable donor). Basically, it’s along the lines of “ask me again after you’ve grown some spine on issues A, B and C (whatever’s relevant to that person’s record). At the moment, I’m not sure I’ll ever give yu my vote, never mind money. The best I can promise you now is that I won’t vote for a Republican.”

  • A comment a friend made: we don’t go into government with the politicians we deserve, we go with the ones we have.

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