Political Wire

Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!

Big Shift Coming in American Politics

January 6, 2015 at 8:07 am EST By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

“This year and next are likely to represent something of a watershed period in American politics,” Charlie Cook writes.

“First, we have a ‘double open’ presidential contest, with no incumbent running in either party. The absence of an incumbent creates a vacuum and an opportunity for change within a party—not only a strong chance of generational change but also a shift in direction, tone, and approach.”

“Second, with Republicans taking over both chambers of Congress and with a lame-duck Democratic president in place, both parties will be seeking to find their new paths and strategies.”

Wonk Wire: The new Congress: Racially diverse but religiously uniform

Boehner Faces Revolt Today

January 6, 2015 at 6:47 am EST By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

“House Speaker John Boehner’s GOP opponents will try to take him down Tuesday. They are fighting against both the odds and history,” the Washington Post reports.

“The Ohio Republican faces reelection to his third term as leader of the House this afternoon, and he’s expected to face at least token opposition from conservatives in his own party; the latest whip count shows as many as 15 members could oppose Boehner. But that’s well shy of the minimum 29 needed to even bring Boehner to a second vote and throw his reelection into doubt — an outcome that still seems quite unlikely.”

New York Times: “Tuesday’s vote for the top House leadership post represents a reach for relevance by some rank-and-file conservative Republicans.”

National Journal: Anti-Boehner bloc looks for allies

How McConnell Can Get to 60 Votes

January 6, 2015 at 6:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard 27 Comments

Wall Street Journal: “Six is the number of Democratic senators that Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s new Republican Majority Leader, will have to woo over to his side to reach the 60 votes needed to break filibusters. Republicans have 54 seats and therefore a majority in the new Senate, which is nice for them. But it doesn’t guarantee much of anything, because most items of importance can be filibustered to death, and breaking a filibuster requires a super-majority of 60 votes.”

Bush Campaign Ready to Launch

January 6, 2015 at 6:04 am EST By Taegan Goddard 2 Comments

“Jeb Bush’s fundraising operation is about to get serious,” Politico reports.

“Allies of the former Florida governor are planning to roll out both a leadership PAC and a super PAC in the coming days in an effort to lock up major donors and give pause to potential rivals for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination… The plan is a bold one that in some ways echoes — and updates — the aggressive pre-campaign fundraising approach taken by Mitt Romney ahead of his 2008 and 2012 runs.”

Will McDonnell Serve Prison Time?

January 6, 2015 at 6:03 am EST By Taegan Goddard 2 Comments

Politico: “Bob McDonnell will learn Tuesday whether he’s sentenced to prison and, if so, for how long — a much-anticipated moment in a drama that has engulfed the former Virginia governor and his family for the past year.”

Ernst Won’t Speak to Non-Iowa Media

January 6, 2015 at 6:01 am EST By Taegan Goddard 19 Comments

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), “one of the most high-profile politicians to come out of Iowa, has kept a decidedly low profile in her transition from little-known state senator to a U.S. senator recognized virtually everywhere she goes,” the Des Moines Register reports.

“After coming off one of the hottest campaigns of the 2014 elections, Ernst was bombarded with media requests from every Sunday political show, network and cable TV station and major newspaper — influential outlets that her campaign aides last spring would’ve begged to just know how to spell her name correctly. She steered clear of all national media requests.”

Just Two Scientists Left in Congress

January 6, 2015 at 6:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard 26 Comments

“The retirement of Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), who for 16 years was the House’s resident astrophysicist, represents the latest in a string of departures by members trained in the sciences,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“His exit leaves Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA), as the only remaining members who hold doctorates in the natural and hard sciences out of the 535 senators and representatives in the 114th Congress, according to the Congressional Research Service.”

Obama Moves Closer to Shutting Down Guantánamo

January 6, 2015 at 5:50 am EST By Taegan Goddard 4 Comments

New York Times: “In a series of secret nighttime flights in the last two months, the Obama administration made more progress toward the president’s goal of emptying the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, than it had since 2009. The accelerated pace came after an era of political infighting and long bureaucratic delays.”

Gibson Won’t Run for Re-Election

January 6, 2015 at 5:27 am EST By Taegan Goddard 3 Comments

Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY) “will not seek reelection in 2016 as he eyes a bid for statewide office in the future,” The Hill reports.

“The news comes just two months after Gibson trounced Democratic multi-millionaire Sean Eldridge to win his third term in the House.”

First Read: “With this seat and the one vacated by Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), Democrats have a good shot at winning one or two seats in special elections this year.”

Flashback Quote of the Day

January 5, 2015 at 9:01 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 58 Comments

“Should sodomy be elevated to the same constitutional status as race and religion? My answer is No.”

— Jeb Bush, quoted by BuzzFeed, arguing against gay marriage in a 1994 Miami Herald op-ed piece.

Santorum Summons Former Aides for Meeting

January 5, 2015 at 8:16 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 19 Comments

Rick Santorum has invited former aides to Washington next week for a “private briefing” on his plans for a possible 2016 presidential bid, CNN reports.

The invitation was sent by a Santorum aide to more than two dozen “friends and former colleagues” from past campaigns and his time in the U.S. House and Senate.

Bush Kicks Off Presidential Fundraising in Greenwich

January 5, 2015 at 11:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard 18 Comments

“Jeb Bush’s flirtation with running for president in 2016 will take the former Florida governor to the familiar and lush stomping grounds of the Bush political clan: Greenwich,” the Connecticut Post reports.

“The Republican will raise money for his newly-created leadership PAC at a reception Wednesday in the hometown of his father, former President George H.W. Bush. Proof that not all of Greenwich winters in Florida, a popular tax-Haven for Connecticut residents, Bush will be hosted by an assemblage of relatives and political allies with ties to his father and brother.”

CEO Who Predicted Layoffs Gives Raises Instead

January 5, 2015 at 11:34 am EST By Taegan Goddard 38 Comments

In the lead-up to the 2012 presidential election, Think Progress reminds us that Westgate Resorts CEO David Siegel sent an email to all employees: “Of course, as your employer, I can’t tell you whom to vote for” but he noted that re-electing President Obama would “threaten your job” and result in “less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.”

Two years later, Siegel informed employees that he would boost their salaries because 2014 beat all expectations: “We’re experiencing the best year in our history and I wanted to do something to show my gratitude for the employees who make that possible.” He told the Orlando Business Journal that “things have never been better.”

Which Coffman Will Run in Colorado?

January 5, 2015 at 11:13 am EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

Roll Call: “This Senate race could make for interesting dinner conversation in one Colorado household. Republicans say battle-tested Rep. Mike Coffman and his wife, Cynthia Coffman, the state’s newly elected attorney general, are two of the party’s top prospects to challenge Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in 2016.”

“Colorado marks one of the few states where Republicans have the opportunity to go on offense in 2016, a year when the GOP must defend 24 seats — the vast majority of the map. And after incoming GOP Sen. Cory Gardner’s victory last year, Republicans are newly emboldened about their statewide prospects — and potential candidates.”

Bush Sets the Pace for GOP Hopefuls

January 5, 2015 at 10:05 am EST By Taegan Goddard 39 Comments

First Read: “Huckabee’s announcement on Saturday is also a story about Jeb Bush, because we’re pretty sure that Huckabee wouldn’t have departed his Fox job as soon as he did if Bush hadn’t been making his own moves. We’re cautious to call Jeb the GOP frontrunner right now, but fellow Republicans sure are reacting to him like he’s the frontrunner — he’s dictating the rules and pace.”

Boehner Begins New Congress with Drama

January 5, 2015 at 9:59 am EST By Taegan Goddard 24 Comments

Rick Klein: “This was supposed to be the week that was about results, not process. But a rough holiday break removed that possibility from what was supposed to be a triumphal week for House Speaker John Boehner. Before he gets settled into a third term as speaker, he has one Republican member resigning after a felony conviction, and a top member of his leadership team under intense scrutiny for a not-really-that-long-ago speech in front of a white supremacist group. Then there’s the leadership challenge – a personal affront to Boehner, since the real time to run for House speaker would have been in GOP leadership elections shortly after Republicans expanded their majority to its new historic level. Ted Yoho/Louie Gohmert/Steve King won’t stop Boehner from continuing to serve as House speaker. But Boehner will once again have to tame the impulses of his own fractious conference, before his expanded House majority even votes on a bill. What’s that say about the year ahead?”

Chickenhawk Nation

January 5, 2015 at 9:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

James Fallows: “The American public and its political leadership will do anything for the military except take it seriously. The result is a chickenhawk nation in which careless spending and strategic folly combine to lure America into endless wars it can’t win.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

January 5, 2015 at 9:04 am EST By Taegan Goddard 4 Comments

“Well, I don’t think they’re very serious. And frankly, they’re pretty disappointing in the sense that anyone who wanted to run could have run in the conference elections and none of them did. So by going out and not voting for the conference choice, you’re not attacking John Boehner, you’re really attacking the Republican conference that you say you’re part of.”

— Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), quoted by The Hill, on the GOP challenges to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).