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December 10, 2013
Clark Wins Special Election in Massachusetts
Katherine Clark (D) handily defeated Frank Addivinola (R) in Massachusetts' 5th District special election to fill the seat left vacant by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), Roll Call reports.Smart Politics notes it's the 92nd consecutive House loss for Republicans in the state.
Are Republicans Preparing to Block Budget Deal?
Roll Call: "House and Senate negotiators have unveiled their budget blueprint to partially undo the sequester, but ardent defenders of 2011's automatic spending cuts sought to undercut the agreement even before it was announced."
Another Poll Shows Obama Hitting New Lows
A new Bloomberg poll finds President Obama getting little credit for economic progress under his watch as his job approval has plummeted to a new low of 42%.Key findings: Americans by 50% to 45% say improvements in the unemployment rate would have happened regardless of anything the Obama administration has done. 60% say he isn't responsible for a turnaround in housing and 64% don't give him credit for surging stock prices.
Lawmakers Set to Announce Budget Deal
"House and Senate negotiators are on the verge of announcing a budget agreement that would avert a government shutdown and bring a rare dose of stability to Congress's fiscal policy-making over the next two years," the Wall Street Journal reports.The WSJ also has a good Q&A on the budget deal.
Obama Approval Plunges to New Low
A new Quinnipiac poll finds President Obama's job approval among American voters has dropped to a new low, a negative 38% to 57%.Republicans lead by 41% to 38% in the generic congressional ballot, the first time they've led all year.
Said pollster Tim Malloy: "A rousing chorus of Bah! Humbug! for President Barack Obama as American voters head into the holidays with little charitable to say about the president. President Obama could be pretty lonely during his last two years in office if voters decide they want Republican majorities in the House and Senate."
However, a new Pew Research survey finds Obama's approval rising slightly to 45% to 49%, reversing a six-month slide.
Hagan Faces Close Re-Election Race
A new Public Policy Polling survey finds Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) in a toss up with all of her potential Republican opponents.She leads Thom Tillis (R) 44% to 42%, is tied with both Heather Grant (R) and Mark Harris (R) at 43%, and trails both Greg Brannon (R) and Bill Flynn (R) 45% to 43%.
Inquality for All
Coming on DVD next month: Inequality for All, the excellent documentary from Robert Reich.
Quote of the Day
"Neville Chamberlain shook hands with Hitler."-- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by Public Radio International, on President Obama shaking hands with Cuban President Raul Castro.
First Judge Confirmed Under New Filibuster Rules
"A divided U.S. Senate confirmed Washington lawyer Patricia Millett to serve on a powerful U.S. appeals court, the first Obama administration nominee to receive approval since Democrats last month made controversial changes to Senate rules," the Wall Street Journal reports."The 56-38 vote showed partisan divisions remain deep after Democrats changed rules to eliminate filibusters on most nominations. The move came after Republicans blocked votes on Ms. Millett and two other nominees for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, considered one of the nation's most influential because it considers lawsuits challenging major federal rules and regulations."
The Obamacare Dilemma for Republicans in 2016
Avik Roy: "Is the Republican nominee for president in 2016 really going to run on a platform of taking health coverage away from 24 million Americans? Especially after the Republicans ran in 2014 on ensuring that Americans can keep their health plans?"
Primary Challenges Freeze GOP Leadership
First Read looks at Rep. Steve Stockman's surprise announcement last night that he'll challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in a Republican Senate primary next year."One can't help but wonder if this primary challenge is more about Stockman trying to list build for his various political businesses than it is about winning. In a lot of ways, Stockman reminds us of JD Hayworth, who challenged John McCain in 2010 -- he's someone who can get 35%-40% of the vote, but probably can't take down Cornyn. But what Stockman DOES do, which is what Matt Bevin does to Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, is freeze the Senate GOP leadership from doing anything that remotely looks like compromising with the Democrats. McConnell and Cornyn are essentially non-players in the Senate until they get past these challenges."
Snyder Holds Edge in Michigan
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Michigan finds Gov. Rick Snyder (R) leading challenger Mark Schauer (D) in the race for governor, 44% to 40%, with 16% still undecided.In the U.S. Senate race, Terri Lynn Land (R) leads Gary Peter (D), 42% to 40%.
Conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin
Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin joins us on the Political Wire podcast for a terrific conversation about her new book, The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism.If you're enjoying these podcasts, head over to iTunes and give us a 5-star ranking.
Subscribe via iTunes or RSS to get episodes automatically or download the episode here.
Special thanks once again to the Cook Political Report for sponsoring this episode and offering listeners a special trial subscription.
Obama Shakes Hands with Castro
President Obama "shook the hand of Cuban President Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial service -- the first time the leaders of the two countries long at odds have had any contact," McClatchy reports."The brief greeting came as Obama made his way to the podium, past the VIP seating section of the soccer stadium. Castro appeared to speak to Obama, who acknowledged Castro and the encounter left Castro beaming, even as Obama moved over to warmly greet Brazil's president, Dilma Rouseff with a kiss on the cheek."
Did Christie Allies Close Bridge for Political Retribution?
"For as long as anyone can remember the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has worked like this: two governors divide up the board and staff appointments, and the contracts that flow from that. No one blows the whistle on anyone else, because that might jeopardize one's own spoils," WNYC reports.That changed abruptly this week when one board member used his subpoena power "to summon officials to explain why three lanes onto the George Washington Bridge had been abruptly closed in September, causing a week's worth of traffic..."
"Democrats were swift to raise the possibility the lane closures had been made as political retribution against the Mayor of Fort Lee, a Democrat, who, unlike some Democrats, had not endorsed Christie for reelection. There was a lot of whispering during Christie's re-election campaign that he had a 'naughty and nice list' but no one had been able to prove it. Now, there was talk, there might be some evidence."
Meanwhile, a new Monmouth/Asbury Park Press poll shows Christie with a 65% approval rating.
Best and Worst of Politics in 2013
Stu Rothenberg reviews the year in politics."It's been a weird year, but face it: Weird is the new normal in politics."
Obama Adds New Advisor
With approval ratings flagging and his healthcare law at risk, President Obama is bringing on board John Podesta "who helped guide President Clinton through the darkest days of his presidency," the Los Angeles Times reports."The Democratic veteran arrives as the president scrambles to fix the troubled start-up of the Affordable Care Act and to recover public support for his most important domestic achievement. Sources familiar with the decision said Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough asked Podesta to take on the role of guiding healthcare implementation as well as advising on other big domestic and foreign policy matters."
First Read: "Given his chief-of-staff work during Clinton's second term (especially during impeachment), Podesta is very familiar with how a White House can rack up executive accomplishments when facing a recalcitrant Congress. He also knows how to work all the departments and agencies within the executive branch, which has been a weak spot for this administration."
Paul Thinks Son Will Run for President
Former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) told CNN his son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), will probably run for president in 2016.Said Paul: "I think he probably will. I mean, he's been on TV hinting that he very well might."
Obama Still Viewed Poorly on Economy
A new New York Times/CBS News poll finds that last week's "reports of hopeful economic indicators did nothing to improve the American public's negative opinion of President Obama's stewardship of the nation's economy. However, while most Americans describe the economy as in bad condition, there has been a slight uptick in the number who view the nation's fiscal circumstances positively."Key findings: "37% of those surveyed approve of Obama's handling of the economy; 58% disapprove. These numbers are indistinguishable from the results of a CBS News poll taken last month, although better-than-expected unemployment numbers and other positive economic data were released last week."
Iowa GOP Bans Officials from Taking Campaign Pay
"Republican Party of Iowa board members will no longer be able to get paid for political campaign work, eliminating potential conflicts of interests," the Des Moines Register reports."It's important because Iowa plays an outsized role in winnowing the field of presidential candidates, party leaders say, and the integrity and reputation of the caucuses depend on the conviction that Iowans in positions of political power aren't being paid to stack the deck for their candidate."
Grayson Lost $18 Million in Investment Scheme
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) lost $18 million in a scheme that cheated him and about 120 other investors out of more than $35 million, the AP reports."The Virginia man who ran the scheme, William Dean Chapman, was sentenced Friday in federal court to 12 years in prison. Prosecutors say Chapman used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle including a Lamborghini, a Ferrari and a $3 million home."
Mandela's Party Faces Test
New York Times: "In the coming months, the African National Congress will face what may be its most fiercely competitive election since it came to power in 1994 -- and, for the first time, will do so without its most important moral figure, Mr. Mandela."
December 09, 2013
Pryor Trails in Arkansas
A new Inc./WomanTrend poll in Arkansas finds Rep. Tom Cotton (R-AR) leading Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) by seven points, 48% to 41%.Key finding: 62% of those polled have an unfavorable view of the Affordable Care Act.
Stockman Will Challenge Cornyn in Primary
Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) told WND that he will run against against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the state's Republcian primary race.Stockman blamed the incumbent GOP senator for undermining Sen. Ted Cruz's "fight to stop Obamacare."
Said Stockman: "We are extremely disappointed in the way he treated his fellow congressmen and broke the 11th commandment and undermined Ted Cruz's fight to stop Obamacare. And now, it looks like Cruz was right and Cornyn was wrong. He sided with the president, essentially, in making sure Obamacare became law while Cruz did everything possible to stop it."
Obenshain May Ask Virginia Legislature to Intervene
The lawyer representing Mark Obenshain (R) in the pending statewide recount in the Virginia attorney general race on "for the first time openly raised the issue of contesting the election in the General Assembly if the tally does not sway the result in the Republican's favor," the Richmond Times Dispatch reports."If he loses the recount, Obenshain could ask a joint session of the General Assembly -- which is dominated by Republicans -- to reverse the results. Under state law, grounds for a contest include objections to 'the conduct or results of the election accompanied by specific allegations which, if proven true, would have a probable impact on the outcome of the election.'"
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