Coming later this year: Stonewalled: One Reporter’s Fight for Truth in Obama’s Washington by Sharyl Attkisson, who Politico reports just resigned from CBS News.
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Did Bush Cost Republicans an Entire Generation?
Kevin Drum: “You’ve probably seen this before from other sources, but the chart… basically shows that for the past 40 years voting patterns haven’t differed much by age. In fact, there’s virtually no difference between generations at all until you get to the George Bush era. At that point, young voters suddenly leave the Republican Party en masse. Millennials may be far less likely than older generations to say there’s a big difference between Republicans and Democrats, but their actual voting record belies that.”
“Whatever it was that Karl Rove and George Bush did–and there are plenty of possibilities, ranging from Iraq to gays to religion–they massively alienated an entire generation of voters. Sure, they managed to squeak out a couple of presidential victories, but they did it at the cost of losing millions of voters who will probably never fully return. This chart is their legacy in a nutshell.”
Prosecutors Investigate Port Authority Chairman
Federal prosecutors “have subpoenaed records from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey related to the business interests of its chairman, David Samson,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The demand for records comes as scrutiny of Mr. Samson–a close ally of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie–has increased since allegations emerged that the Port Authority closed George Washington Bridge access lanes for political purposes.”
Broun Leads GOP Pack for Senate Nod
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Georgia finds Rep. Paul Broun (R) leading the GOP Senate primary race with 27%, followed by Rep. Phil Gingrey (R) at 14%, Rep. Jack Kingston (R) at 13%, David Perdue (R) at 12% and Karen Handel (R) at 9%.
In head-to-head matchups, with Michelle Nunn (D) and Broun were tied at 38%, while Nunn with slight leads over Kingston, Handel and Gingrey.
Most Young Republicans Favor Gay Marriage
Pew Research: “Today, 61% of Republicans and Republican leaners under 30 favor same-sex marriage while just 35% oppose it. By contrast, just 27% of Republicans ages 50 and older favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry.”
Who’s the Guy in the Bathtub?
The Huffington Post has photos of Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) drinking “at a hotel party next to a man lounging in a bathtub.”
Dave Weigel has a report from the party.
McConnell Looks Safe in Primary
A new Public Opinion Strategies (R) poll in Kentucky finds Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) holds a massive lead over primary challenger Matt Bevin (R), 61% to 23%.
Christie in Better Shape Than You Think
Joshua Green: “For all the bad press over Bridgegate, Christie hasn’t been abandoned by party leaders or major donors. True, some conservatives don’t like him. But the media’s criticism has prompted others to rally behind him. His CPAC reception hardly left the impression that he’s unacceptable to the base. All things considered, Christie may be better positioned to win the Republican nomination than he was a year ago.”
“As for that poll of Republicans swearing up and down they’d never vote for him? Don’t believe it. In 2011, Gallup found that 26 percent of Republicans would “definitely not vote for” Mitt Romney, who, of course, went on to win the nomination and the vote of just about every Republican in the country.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“Oh, I’m probably .01 percent.”
— Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner (R), quoted by the Chicago Sun Times, when asked if he was among the one percent of wealthiest Americans.
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I don’t think there’s really this vast civil war in the Republican Party
that like many in the left suggest there is. I think we’re a party with
a vibrant debate, adding ideas, solving problems, and I think that’s
going to be — I think we’re going to be okay.”
— Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), quoted by Huffington Post.
Christie Aides Ask Judge to Throw Out Subpoenas
“Two figures in a political payback plot that has overshadowed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) administration will attempt to convince a judge that they shouldn’t be forced to turn over documents to a legislative panel,” the AP reports.
“Lawyers for former Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien and fired Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Kelly have asked the judge to throw out their subpoenas. They say handing over personal emails, text messages and planning calendars would be like testifying against themselves.”
Clinton Hires McAuliffe Aide
“Hillary Clinton is bringing on Terry McAuliffe’s political director from his successful gubernatorial run as a scheduler based in her personal office in New York,” Politico reports.
Brown Allies Signalling He’ll Run
Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and key allies “are suddenly sending signals he intends to jump into the 2014 Senate race in New Hampshire,” CNN reports.
“Brown has been debating for months about whether to challenge Democratic incumbent Jeanne Shaheen, torn, friends say, about whether he should instead run for president in 2016, or just forgo running for elective office again. Well a number of GOP sources in New Hampshire report receiving calls in recent days from Brown or his top allies, and there’s word from GOP operatives that there are conversations about building a Senate campaign staff.”
Is Obamacare Working?
Branstad Still Ahead in Iowa
A new Des Moines Register poll in Iowa shows Gov. Terry Branstad (R) well head of challenger Jack Hatch (D) in the race for governor, 44% to 29%.
Quote of the Day
“You know things are bad at CNN when they say they may go to a print edition.”
— Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (D), quoted by Politico.
Paul Says Privacy Focus Would Attract Young Voters
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said the Republican Party “would win more support from young voters by highlighting what he says are violations of privacy by the federal government, including the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs,” Bloomberg reports.
Said Paul: “It’s a message that can grow the party, and the party’s got to grow bigger or we’re not going to win again.”
Worst Congress Ever?
“Democrats and Republicans alike say the 113th Congress is shaping up to be the worst ever,” The Hill reports.
“Veteran lawmakers are used to partisanship and stalemate, but they say Capitol Hill has sunk to a new dysfunctional low. Congress has in some ways already closed for business until after the mid-term election. Any laws made between now and November will be minor.”
The Week: Can we overcome our current dysfunction?
