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Tony Blair Defends His Advisory Work

December 4, 2014 at 9:47 am EST By Taegan Goddard 5 Comments

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair defended his government advisory work to Vanity Fair saying maintaining that “it’s not as lucrative as people think, and describing it not as work for hire but as work that can change the character of countries.”

Said Blair: “I’m a private individual, I’m not a government department! One of the things people are going to have to get used to is: you are going to get leaders leaving office in their early 50s. I have a lot of energy. I feel extremely fit. There’s no way I’m going to retire and play golf. You look at someone like Henry [Kissinger]. He’s 91 and he’s still going strong. I love that. Or Shimon Peres! These are my role models.”

Obamacare Is Working

December 4, 2014 at 9:26 am EST By Taegan Goddard 23 Comments

As the GOP-controlled Congress looks at taking on the Affordable Care Act, three new Wonk Wire stories are worth highlighting:

Bonus Quote of the Day

December 4, 2014 at 9:18 am EST By Taegan Goddard 4 Comments

“It’d be shortsighted to deny funding to an agency that’s become one of the frontline defenders of the homeland.”

— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), quoted by the Washington Post, on the House GOP’s plan to only temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security in retaliation for President Obama’s immigration actions.

Landrieu Slaps Senator Who’s Helping Her

December 4, 2014 at 9:12 am EST By Taegan Goddard 29 Comments

Beleaguered Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) warned Louisiana voters that her defeat would elevate an advocate of “windmills” to a powerful position on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

Said Landrieu: “If I don’t get back there as a senior member of the committee, we’re gonna have a woman who I like very much (but) I’m not sure Louisiana is going to think very much of a senator from Washington state who’s all for windmills and alternative energy, and doesn’t support the oil and gas industry.”

“She was speaking about Democratic colleague Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), who just then was sending out an email appeal to raise money for Landrieu.”

Cruz’s Secret Weapon in Iowa

December 4, 2014 at 9:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) “have quietly forged a personal friendship and powerful political alliance—one that helped derail immigration reform in the 113th Congress and that could give Cruz a critical boost in the 2016 presidential race,” National Journal reports.

“Recently elected to his seventh term, King is beloved by Iowa’s conservative community and wields considerable influence in the early nominating state. His endorsement, as in past presidential cycles, will be among the most sought-after in Iowa ahead of the state’s January 2016 caucuses.”

Why Do Democrats Refuse to Defend Government?

December 4, 2014 at 8:45 am EST By Taegan Goddard 18 Comments

Michael Tomasky: “The Democrats are the party of government. It’s the basic reason a person is a Democrat in the first place—Democrats disagree about loads of things, but the one principle they all subscribe to is a belief that the federal government can and must intervene in the economic and social spheres to even things out. And the rejection of that belief is the basic reason a person is a Republican.”

“So government is the fundamental dividing line. And yet, for the past 30 years, what kind of debate about this have we had? We’ve had one side relentlessly attacking government as incompetent to evil, and the other side saying nothing, being too cowed to stand up and say that government is, and does, good. Elected officials don’t do it, and even the progressive political professionals don’t do it.”

O’Malley Hires Possible Campaign Manager

December 4, 2014 at 8:24 am EST By Taegan Goddard 3 Comments

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) “has hired Bill Hyers, who managed New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign last year, as a senior adviser to the governor’s political action committee,” the Washington Post reports.

“The move comes as O’Malley continues to weigh a 2016 White House bid, which would likely pit him against Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination.”

Begich Mulls Bid for Anchorage Mayor

December 4, 2014 at 8:21 am EST By Taegan Goddard 11 Comments

Alaska Dispatch News: “The field of candidates who will vie to become Anchorage mayor next year is expected to crystallize in the next few weeks, as one figure looms over the local political landscape: outgoing U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D).”

“Begich, who served two terms as Anchorage mayor before his election to the Senate in 2008, is said to be considering another bid to be the city’s chief executive. And some prospective candidates say they’re waiting to decide whether to launch their own candidacies until Begich makes up his mind.”

Bullock Seeks to Lead Democratic Governors

December 4, 2014 at 8:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard 5 Comments

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) “is vying to chair the group dedicated to electing Democratic governors — a position that would give him a prominent platform as he heads into his own re-election bid,” the Helena Independent Record reports.

No other Democratic governor is thought to be interested in the post.

Quote of the Day

December 4, 2014 at 7:46 am EST By Taegan Goddard 7 Comments

“Senator Cruz needs to stay in the Senate. I think Senator Cruz wants to fan the flames here, but I think everyone here has become more savvy to his ways.”

— Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC), quoted by the Washington Post, on Cruz’s meddling in House GOP efforts to pass a government funding bill.

Inside McConnell’s Plan to Retain Senate Majority

December 4, 2014 at 7:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard 8 Comments

Even takes the reins as Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R) and his allies “are quietly trying to engineer a bold plan that would enable party leaders to rely more on major contributions to independent groups while also removing restrictions on the ability of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and other party committees to interact with candidates,” Politico reports.

“The outside cash would be raised by a pair of linked groups — a super PAC and 501(c)4 non-profit — that could accept unlimited cash to boost key GOP Senate candidates, according to sources familiar with the plan. The inside cash would flow to the NRSC, which could operate more freely under an election law change McConnell began pushing this week.”

Cassidy Holds Huge Lead Over Landrieu

December 4, 2014 at 7:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

A new WPA Opinion Research poll in Louisiana finds Bill Cassidy (R) leads Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) by 24 points in their U.S. Senate runoff, 57% to 33%.

Four Republicans Who Worry Hillary Clinton

December 4, 2014 at 7:31 am EST By Taegan Goddard 40 Comments

“Hillary Clinton allies are focusing on four potential Republican challengers for the White House: Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and Scott Walker,” The Hill reports.

“Clinton World believes Paul has run the best “pre-campaign” of the group. And the fact that the Republican senator from Kentucky has worked to attract Republicans and Democrats to his cause has made him someone to watch. Yet, time and again, Bush is the top name to roll off everyone’s tongue.”

Clinton Meets with Potential Campaign Managers

December 4, 2014 at 6:55 am EST By Taegan Goddard 1 Comment

“With weeks to go until she makes an announcement about her future, Hillary Clinton has started meeting with a broad range of political figures — including potential campaign managers,” Politico reports.

“Clinton, who several people close to her describe as still not firmly decided on a campaign, met Wednesday with outgoing Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee executive director Guy Cecil, one of the two people most often described as a potential campaign manager for her 2016 campaign… Clinton has also spoken with Robby Mook, another-often mentioned potential campaign manager, about 2016, people familiar with the discussions said, but the details were unclear.”

Republicans Scramble to Pass Funding Bill

December 4, 2014 at 6:48 am EST By Taegan Goddard 5 Comments

Republican senators panned Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and his conservative colleagues “as they picked up traction on their push to derail the House GOP’s plan to keep the government funded,” Politico reports.

“The high-profile Texas conservative made a splash on Wednesday in announcing his opposition to House leaders’ plans to pass an omnibus spending bill to keep the government funded through September, revisit Department of Homeland Security funding early next year and pass a proposal disapproving of Obama’s immigration policy — which the Democrat-controlled Senate will not take up.”

Washington Post: “Still, the response among conservatives to the president’s immigration plan seems to put the spending deal in some jeopardy, with the fury building as the funding framework is finalized. Some Republicans have called on Boehner to not invite Obama to deliver the State of the Union address next year; others have suggested cutting the budgets for White House operations. Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KN) has proposed defunding Air Force One. Censuring and impeaching him also have been mentioned.”

Wonk Wire: Republicans retreat on immigration with hollow threats

Carson Says Presidency is ‘Horrible’

December 3, 2014 at 9:14 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 15 Comments

Ben Carson, a potential contender for the GOP presidential nomination, said that running for president “has not been a goal” and called the position “horrible and stressful.” Politico reports.

Said Carson: “I’m not sure that anybody wants to put themselves in that kind of horrible and stressful situation, that has never been a goal of mine. However, I do recognize that the direction of our country is not a good one…many Americans have been indicating that they want me to [run], so whether I want to do it or not, I do feel an obligation to at least very seriously consider the possibility.”

Steele Says Black Man’s Life Not Worth a Ham Sandwich

December 3, 2014 at 7:53 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 40 Comments

Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele criticized grand jury decisions to not indict white police officers in the deaths of black men in New York and Ferguson, MO, The Hill reports.

Said Steele: “They tell us, at least, a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich. Well clearly a black man’s life is not worth a ham sandwich when you put these stories together. And that is the frustration.”

GOP Officials Will Remain Neutral in Iowa Caucuses

December 3, 2014 at 7:50 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 2 Comments

The Iowa Republican Party announced that “each member of its central committee has pledged to stay publicly neutral during the 2016 presidential nominating process, part of a broader effort by both parties to restore credibility and import for the first-in-the-nation caucuses,” Politico reports.

“The party’s governing board called the announcement ‘unprecedented’ and said the idea is to convey to every would-be candidate that ‘all are welcome in Iowa’ and that ‘the caucus process will be a fair and impartial one.'”