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Senate GOP Now Seeks to Divide Democrats

March 9, 2015 at 7:28 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 10 Comments

“With the Department of Homeland Security standoff in the rearview mirror, Senate Republicans are going on offense with proposals that divide Democrats such as an Iran oversight bill and trade legislation,” The Hill reports.

“Senate Republicans are desperate to show they can govern after they largely wasted February haggling over a DHS funding bill without winning any of the concessions they hoped for on immigration. After battling among themselves for weeks, Republicans now want to put Democrats on the defensive by pushing issues that split Democratic centrists and liberals.”

Clinton Emails Test Relationship with White House

March 9, 2015 at 7:16 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 9 Comments

Hillary Clinton’s “exclusive use of private email as secretary of state is testing relations between her emerging campaign and the Obama White House, and their responses could set the tone for how the two Democratic Party powerhouses interact during the next 20 months,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The contrasting reactions to the disclosure grew starker over the weekend when President Barack Obama answered questions on the matter, while Mrs. Clinton hasn’t.”

Politico has 5 questions about Clinton’s email.

Will Clinton’s Experience Be a Liability?

March 9, 2015 at 7:07 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 8 Comments

Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state “was supposed to be a central argument for her forthcoming run for president. Her globe-trotting record as the nation’s chief diplomat, her role championing women’s empowerment and gay rights, and her experience on tough national security issues were all supposed to confer credentials that none of her possible GOP opponents would possess,” the Washington Post reports.

“But over the past two weeks, with back-to-back revelations that she was working with foreign countries that gave millions of dollars to her family’s charitable foundation and that she set up and exclusively used a private e-mail system, that argument has been put in peril.”

Obama Delays Presidential Library Decision

March 9, 2015 at 6:30 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Obama “will hold off on announcing the location for his future presidential library until after Chicago’s runoff election for mayor, two people familiar with the decision said, in a bid to avoid politicizing his legacy project,” the AP reports.

“Last year the Barack Obama Foundation, which is screening proposals for the library, said the president and first lady Michelle Obama would announce the winner by the end of March. But with the Chicago race still up in the air, the announcement is no longer expected until after the April 7 runoff, said the individuals, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the library.”

Edwards Will Run for Senate in Maryland

March 9, 2015 at 6:26 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 4 Comments

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) plans to announce on that she will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Barbara Mikulski (D), the Washington Post reprots, setting up a potentially bruising primary fight with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

Edwards “has drawn early support from national progressive organizations, who helped her oust incumbent Albert Wynn in the 2008 Democratic primary and last week announced a movement to get her to run for Senate. But it remains to be seen whether efforts by groups such as Emily’s List and the Feminist Majority will be enough to offset an early funding advantage held by Van Hollen, a proven fundraiser who has $1.7 million in his campaign account.”

In Nixon’s Shadow

March 8, 2015 at 7:43 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 78 Comments

Politico: “It is a twist of history not likely to be lost on Hillary Clinton that only one person in modern times has managed to win the presidency after roughly two decades as a famous and polarizing figure in the first rank of political life. His name: Richard M. Nixon.”

“The Nixon example comes to mind not only because Clinton is in the midst of re-tooling herself and her staff for a 2016 campaign that will presumably introduce at least some version of a “New Hillary,” but because the bombshell news that she kept at least 55,000 pages of business emails sent during her tenure as Secretary of State on a private account has struck some observers as, well, Nixonian.”

Bush Has Troubles With Large Part of GOP

March 8, 2015 at 7:38 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds 42% of Republican primary voters say they couldn’t see themselves supporting Jeb Bush for the GOP presidential nomination, compared with 49% who said they could.

“The results underscore an early theme of the Republican nominating contest: Mr. Bush might be the favorite of many top donors and operatives, but he faces hurdles in appealing to the party’s voters, giving him little room to maneuver in what promises to be a crowded field.”

The Unlikely Mitch McConnell-Rand Paul Alliance

March 8, 2015 at 7:34 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 8 Comments

“When Rand Paul first ran for the Senate, he faced a powerful home-state antagonist in Sen. Mitch McConnell . Now, as Mr. Paul prepares to run for president, a five-year effort to bury the hatchet has forged an odd-couple partnership that is an unseen force in both the 2016 presidential campaign and the U.S. Senate,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Mr. Paul used his clout among conservatives to help Mr. McConnell, his fellow Kentucky Republican, win re-election last year and fulfill a long-held goal of becoming Senate majority leader.”

“Now Mr. McConnell is helping to advance Mr. Paul’s presidential campaign, and contributed to an important victory for him Saturday. The state GOP’s executive committee endorsed Mr. Paul’s request, backed by Mr. McConnell, to establish a presidential caucus, despite concerns about financial and political costs. This would allow Mr. Paul to circumvent state law that bars him from appearing on the primary ballot both for the White House and re-election to the Senate.”

Emanuel Leads for Chicago Mayor

March 8, 2015 at 2:46 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 11 Comments

A new Ogden & Fry poll in Chicago finds Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) is leading challenger Chuy Garcia (D), 44% to 38%, with 18% undecided.

Netanyahu Speech Did Not Help Him At Home

March 8, 2015 at 2:03 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 64 Comments

A new Jerusalem Post poll finds Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the U.S. Congress did not help his Likud party cut the Zionist Union’s two-seat lead.

If the March 17 election were held now, the Zionist Union would beat the Likud, 24 Knesset seats to 22, the poll found. In last week’s survey, the Zionist Union received 25 seats and Likud 23.

Huckabee Compares Clinton Family to ‘The Godfather’

March 8, 2015 at 10:14 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 33 Comments

Mike Huckabee said the email controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton is just part of the Clinton family mentality, which he compared to mob boss Michael Corleone from The Godfather, according to The Hill.

Said Huckabee: “It’s not personal, it’s just business.”

Kentucky GOP Backs Move to Caucus

March 8, 2015 at 10:01 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

The Kentucky Republican Party’s executive committee voted unanimously to approve a presidential caucus next year, which would allow Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to run for president and re-election at the same time, the Lexington Herald Leader reports.

“While winning approval for a caucus from the executive committee was key to Paul’s efforts, the state central committee, which comprises more than 350 members, will still have to vote on a formal proposal, with caucus rules and details, when it meets Aug. 22.”

Josh Putnam: “Trading the May presidential primary for separate caucuses was the easiest path to circumventing that law, allowing the concurrent runs for both offices. Sen. Paul now avoids having to go through the courts to challenge the law or attempting to exploit more intricate possibilities.”

Scalise Has Trouble Rounding Up Votes

March 8, 2015 at 9:55 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 20 Comments

“Seven months on the job, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s (R-LA) wobbly vote-counting operation looks nothing like that of one of his predecessors, Tom DeLay of Texas, whose iron grip on his caucus made him one of the most respected – and feared – Republican leaders in Washington,” The Hill reports.

“Scalise’s whip office has suffered a series of embarrassing setbacks, raising questions about whether the Louisiana Republican’s relatively new team is simply working out the kinks or if there’s a deeper, structural problem GOP leaders need to address.”

Clinton Defends Foreign Donations

March 8, 2015 at 9:52 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 4 Comments

Bill Clinton defended his foundation’s acceptance of donations from foreign governments, “pointing to the track record of his global philanthropy as Hillary Clinton nears an announcement on a 2016 presidential campaign,” the AP reports.

Said Clinton: “My theory about all of this is disclose everything and then let people make their judgments. I believe we have done a lot more good than harm and I believe this is a good thing.”

Graham Shines at Iowa Cattle Call

March 8, 2015 at 9:46 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 29 Comments

“Nine GOP White House contenders did their best to sound more compelling and better-versed on farm-related matters than their competitors Saturday as they were quizzed during an unusual showcase of agriculture policy on the presidential campaign trail,” the Des Moines Register reports.

A “witty performance” by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) “captured the most applause during the 6½-hour examination of some wonkish policy matters at the Iowa Ag Summit… But it remains to be seen whether Graham, who barely registers in polling, will get the kind of lift that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) did after his buzzy speech to a similar-sized audience of Iowans and national press six weeks ago at the Iowa Freedom Summit, the first “cattle call” presidential audition of the year in Iowa.”

Washington Post: “Saturday’s forum was one of a series of events on Iowa’s political calendar this spring and summer designed to draw the candidates to the state and take positions on its pet issues.”

New Redistricting Boon to California Democrats

March 8, 2015 at 9:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

“A U.S. Supreme Court case that could force California to redraw its congressional districts has stirred up fears of a return to partisan gerrymandering, a divisive process that has been criticized for both cementing and crushing political careers,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

“While the potential impact remains uncertain, both Democratic and Republican leaders agree that the ruling could solidify the Democrats’ tight grip on California’s 53-member House delegation, the largest of any state.”

“The issue stems from a lawsuit filed by Arizona’s Republican-led Legislature arguing that the Constitution gives state legislatures the exclusive responsibility for drawing congressional district boundaries. Arizona and California voters have passed measures removing that authority from lawmakers and handing it over to independent citizen commissions.”

Extra Bonus Quote of the Day

March 7, 2015 at 5:58 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 60 Comments

“I believe firmly that there are jobs to be had not just across my state but across America. If you work hard and play by the rules in America, you should be able to do anything.”

— Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), quoted by The Hill.

Remembering ‘Bloody Sunday’

March 7, 2015 at 4:25 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 49 Comments

President Obama spoke at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the events of “Bloody Sunday” when over 600 non-violent protesters were attacked by Alabama state troopers as they marched for voting rights. It’s definitely worth watching or reading.

It is a rare honor in this life to follow one of your heroes. And John Lewis is one of my heroes.

Now, I have to imagine that when a younger John Lewis woke up that morning fifty years ago and made his way to Brown Chapel, heroics were not on his mind. A day like this was not on his mind. Young folks with bedrolls and backpacks were milling about. Veterans of the movement trained newcomers in the tactics of non-violence; the right way to protect yourself when attacked. A doctor described what tear gas does to the body, while marchers scribbled down instructions for contacting their loved ones. The air was thick with doubt, anticipation, and fear. They comforted themselves with the final verse of the final hymn they sung:

No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;

Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.

Then, his knapsack stocked with an apple, a toothbrush, a book on government – all you need for a night behind bars – John Lewis led them out of the church on a mission to change America.

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