NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd is writing an as-yet-untitled book about President Obama’s first term and what “Obamaism” truly is.
Another Bush Steps Up to the Plate
The Los Angeles Times profiles George P. Bush, who grew up “a prince amid Republican royalty.”
“He is the fourth generation to enter the family business: Great-grandpa was a U.S. senator, grandpa and an uncle were presidents, dad was a governor. And even if his aim is conspicuously low, a run for the office of Texas land commissioner, expectations could not be higher — the governorship sometime in the next decade, followed, in the manner of dynastic destiny, with another White House reign.”
Double Down
Double Down: Game Change 2012, the forthcoming book by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, is now available for pre-order.
West Pledges He’ll Be Back
Former Rep. Allen West (R-FL) told a radio show that he would be back in national politics soon.
Said West: “Well, we’ll get back into the political scene, but there are so many things I can do right now that can really help us going forward to the midterm elections. It’s not about me; it’s about the team, it’s about our country and that’s what I’m focused on primarily. So after the midterm election cycle we’ll look into getting back into the political framework in 2016. There’s no doubt about it.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“I think they ought to put a sign on the national committee doors that says ‘closed for repairs’ until New Year’s Day next year and spend that time going over ideas and positive agendas.”
— Former Sen. Bob Dole, quoted by CBS News, on the Republican party’s problems.
Will Immigration Reform Die in the GOP-led House?
“The biggest overhaul of U.S. immigration laws in a generation won bipartisan approval from a powerful U.S. Senate committee last week, but there is a strong chance that Republicans in the House of Representatives will end up killing it,” Reuters reports.
“The problem: House Republicans are far from convinced by arguments from party leaders that passage of the bill would help Republicans draw support from Hispanic voters. Many also believe any kind of amnesty for the estimated 11 million immigrants who are in the United States illegally is just plain wrong.”
How Republicans Could Win Senate in 2014
Chris Cillizza: “In a party where good news has been hard to find over the past two years, the current state of play in 2014 Senate races gives Republicans some reason to smile.”
“A combination of raw numbers, a shift in the political environment and some notable recruiting failures has handed Senate Republicans a realistic — but by no means certain– chance of picking up the six seats they need to win back control of the chamber.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I’m not commenting on the mayor’s race or on Anthony Weiner’s race
at this point, no.”
— Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), quoted by the Weekly Standard, declining to say whether he’ll support one-time protege Anthony
Weiner (D) for New York City mayor.
Warner Declines to Endorse GOP Ticket in Virginia
Former Sen. John Warner (R-VA) told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he would not endorse the ultra-conservative Republican ticket in Virginia.
Said Warner: “Each person in our state’s got to make their own judgment on that issue, I maintain a golden silence — because the facts are clear for all to interpret.”
Quote of the Day
“I doubt it. Reagan couldn’t have made it. Certainly, Nixon couldn’t have made it, cause he had ideas. We might’ve made it, but I doubt it.”
— Former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS), quoted by Politico, noting he doesn’t believe he could make it in today’s Republican Party.
Unimpeded GOP Pushes North Carolina to the Far Right
Washington Post: “The state’s hard turn to the right comes less than five years after people took to the streets here to celebrate the 2008 victory of Barack Obama, the first Democratic presidential candidate to capture the state since Jimmy Carter in 1976. The win prompted Obama’s supporters to crow about the growing influence of progressive and minority voters not only in North Carolina but across the South.”
“But that euphoria is now a distant memory. Since the recession hit, North Carolina has been saddled with one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates. The bad times helped prepare the way for a carefully executed strategy, with big financial support from a major conservative activist, that helped the GOP win control of both chambers of the state General Assembly in 2010.”
“Those victories were capped last year when Republican Pat McCrory was elected governor, giving the party control of all levers of state government for the first time since 1870.”
California Faces Huge Budget Surplus
New York Times: “After years of grueling battles over state budget deficits and spending cuts, California has a new challenge on its hand: too much money. An unexpected surplus is fueling an argument over how the state should respond to its turn of good fortune.”
“The amount is a matter of debate, but by any measure significant: between $1.2 billion, projected by Gov. Jerry Brown, and $4.4 billion, the estimate of the Legislature’s independent financial analyst. The surplus comes barely three years after the state was facing a deficit of close to $60 billion.”
Franken Looks Like Heavy Favorite for Re-election
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) “looked to be a top GOP pickoff target next year after his agonizing seven-month recount and legal battle put him in the Senate in 2009 by a mere 312 votes,” Politico reports.
“Yet, in a turnabout few could’ve predicted, Franken has yet to draw a Republican opponent. The GOP looks likely to choose between relatively unknown state legislators, inexperienced businessmen or a conservative radio host with a history of controversial statements.”
Hezbollah Commits to an All-Out Fight to Save Assad
“The leader of the powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah decisively committed his followers on Saturday to an all-out battle in Syria to defeat the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad,” the New York Times reports.
“He said the organization, founded to defend Lebanon and fight Israel, was entering ‘a completely new phase,’ sending troops abroad to protect its interests.”
Brewer Follows Through on Threat to Block All Legislation
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) “sent five bills to the scrap heap in a pointed gesture intended to prod lawmakers into a deal on the budget and her plan to expand Medicaid,” the Arizona Republic reports.
“The five vetoes, follow-through on Brewer’s promise to block legislation until her top priorities move forward, capped a tense day that saw some lawmakers receive threats over their support for the plan to provide health care for more of the state’s poor.”
Heineman Opts Out of Senate Run
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) will not seek Sen. Mike Johanns’ (R-NE) seat in 2014, the Omaha World Herald reports.
Said Heineman: “After careful consideration of all of the issues involved in a race for the United States Senate, I have decided to keep my focus on being the best governor that I can for the citizens of Nebraska. Every day, I enjoy the challenges and opportunities of being the governor of the best state in America.”
Is Wall Street Literally Writing the Country’s Laws?
The Week: “A bill called the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act recently sailed through the House Financial Services Committee. But when the New York Times went through emails from a lobbyist to the congressmen who wrote it, the paper discovered an unofficial co-author: Citigroup.”
“It turns out that recommendations from Citigroup made up 70 of the bill’s 85 lines, with two important paragraphs copied almost verbatim — save for two words that were changed to make them plural.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“You couldn’t claim with a straight face that disclosing whatever he
disclosed in that story threatened the national security of the United
States.”
— Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey quoted by CBS News, arguing that the Obama administration investigation into Fox News reporter James Rosen was part of an effort to control information that’s available to the public.
