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Republican Party Demands Investigation Into NSA Spying

January 24, 2014 at 11:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

In the latest indication of a growing libertarian wing of the Republican party, the RNC “passed a resolution Friday calling for an investigation into the “gross infringement” of Americans’ rights by National Security Agency programs that were revealed by Edward Snowden,” Time reports.

The measure passed by an “overwhelming majority” by voice vote and declares “the mass collection and retention of personal data is in itself contrary to the right of privacy protected by the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

Americans Sour on Even Their Own Lawmakers

January 24, 2014 at 11:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Gallup: “The enduring unpopularity of Congress appears to have seeped into the nation’s 435 congressional districts, as a record-low percentage of registered voters, 46%, now say the U.S. representative in their own congressional district deserves re-election. Equally historic, the share of voters saying most members of Congress deserve re-election has fallen to 17%, a new nadir.”

Menendez Denies Corruption Allegations

January 24, 2014 at 10:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) “is striking back against new corruption allegations regarding his ties to two Ecuadorian bankers who are accused of defrauding account holders in Ecuador to the tune of $100 million,” the Daily Beast reports.

A Menendez spokeswoman denied the senator had been involved in any quid pro quo: “A year after a false smear campaign was launched against Sen. Menendez, once again we see anonymous sources making outlandish allegations.”

The Nearly Invisible Crist Campaign

January 24, 2014 at 9:42 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Adam Smith: “It may not be readily apparent if you follow the Florida media that constantly notes Charlie Crist’s campaign for governor or the Washington pundits who describe Charlie Crist vs. Rick Scott as THE race to watch in 2014. But here’s the reality: There is no real Crist campaign for governor.”

“Sure, he announced a couple days ago that Barack Obama campaign manager Jim Messina is on board, and Obama’s digital director, Teddy Goff, has signed on too. Obamaworld has opened up a bunch of Democratic fundraising doors from Hollywood and beyond.”

“But it’s been nearly three months since Crist officially announced his candidacy and at least 10 since everyone knew he was preparing to do just that. Where the rubber meets the road: there is for all purposes no Charlie Crist campaign except for a fundraising operation that so far appears fine but hardly daunting.”

The Contraception Trap Catches Another Republican

January 24, 2014 at 9:34 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

First Read comments on Mike Huckabee’s strange statement on women and contraception:

“Yes, he was referring to Democrats. And yes, the quote — taken as a whole — doesn’t make a lot of sense. But if Republicans should have learned anything from the 2012 election cycle, it should be that GOP politicians, especially male ones, should tread very carefully when talking about birth control and women’s rights. Indeed, here is the recommendation from the RNC’s post-election autopsy last year: ‘When it comes to social issues, the party must in fact and deed be inclusive and welcoming. If we are not, we will limit our ability to attract young people and others, including many women, who agree with us on some but not all issues.’ And yet, the same RNC invited Huckabee to talk about this issue…”

Cuomo Criticizes Spitzer for Mess Left Behind

January 24, 2014 at 8:49 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) “surprised some members of the audience” at a Hollywood fundraiser this week by “trash talking” Eliot Spitzer (D), saying his predecessor created a mess at the statehouse, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Bonus Quote of the Day

January 24, 2014 at 8:40 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I have no more questions for this incredibly highly qualified group of nominees.”

— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by Yahoo News, after U.S. Ambassador-designate George Tsunis displayed a total lack of knowledge of Norway at his confirmation hearing.

Rodman Under Investigation for Breaking Sanctions

January 24, 2014 at 8:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Josh Rogin: “Dennis Rodman was already having a rotten month, between the trip to rehab and the global condemnation for cozying up to a dictator. Now things may be about to get much worse. The U.S. Treasury Department is investigating whether he violated the law that prohibits the importing of luxury goods into North Korea.”

“On his third and most recent trip to Pyongyang this month, Rodman reportedly brought several gifts for the young Kim’s 31st birthday. They allegedly included hundreds of dollars’ worth of Irish Jameson whiskey, European crystal, an Italian suit, a fur coat, and an English Mulberry handbag for Kim’s wife, Ri Sol-ju.”

The Clinton Orbit

January 24, 2014 at 8:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The New York Times has a must-read look at the people surrounding Hillary Clinton, with a special focus on confidant Phillip Reines.

“The job of keeping out the claqueurs now falls partly on Reines, who is known in the Clinton world as slightly paranoid, often hilarious and somewhat quirky. He is 44 and lives in a Dupont Circle apartment with his cats Uday and Qusay, named after the thuggish sons of Saddam Hussein. He once accidentally stuck his fingers in my water glass over breakfast to clear a stain from his dress shirt. At lunch, he orders an Arnold Palmer and a Diet Coke, seemingly just because. He also instills a healthy dose of terror in the extended Clinton family that his boss is said to appreciate. Almost everyone I talked to dutifully emailed Reines to ask for permission before they spoke to me.”

Quote of the Day

January 24, 2014 at 8:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I like to describe my job as trying to get 218 frogs in a wheelbarrow long enough to pass a bill. It’s hard to do.”

— House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Ryan Doesn’t Want to be Speaker

January 24, 2014 at 7:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) “said he does not want to be speaker of the House, a declaration that will cause reverberations in Republican leadership circles in Washington,” Politico reports.

Said Ryan: “I could’ve decided to go on the elected leadership route years ago. I’m more of a policy person. I prefer spending my days on policy and my weekends at home with my family. My weekends consist of going to the YMCA for basketball and then one of their neighborhood parishes for basketball these days. I want to keep doing that. … The speaker is expected to fly around the country on weekends as well, helping folks — I’m not going to do that. I’m four days a week in D.C. and three days a week in Janesville — it’s a good mix, I like that mix.”

Boehner Says Shutdown Fallout Was Predictable

January 24, 2014 at 7:13 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) called last fall’s government shutdown a “very predictable disaster” that he warned his fellow Republicans to avoid, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Said Boehner: “When I looked up, I saw my colleagues going this way. And you learn that a leader without followers is simply a man taking a walk. So I said, ‘You want to fight this fight? I’ll go fight the fight with you.’ But it was a very predictable disaster.”

Tweet of the Day

January 24, 2014 at 7:13 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Even 100 years ago, it would have been hard to imagine a man making a statement as ridiculous as what Mr. Huckabee said today.

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) January 23, 2014

McDonnell Rejected Plea Offer to Spare Wife Charges

January 24, 2014 at 7:06 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Maureen McDonnell relayed to federal prosecutors last summer that she felt responsible for the relationship with a wealthy businessman who had drawn legal scrutiny to Virginia’s first family, and her attorney asked whether the case could be resolved without charges for her husband,” the Washington Post reports.

“But prosecutors showed no interest, according to people familiar with the conversation. Instead, months later, authorities proposed that then-Gov. Robert F. McDonnell plead guilty to one felony fraud charge that had nothing to do with corruption in office and his wife would avoid charges altogether. The governor rejected the offer, the people with knowledge of the conversations said.”

U.S. Willing to Hold Talks if Snowden Pleads Guilty

January 24, 2014 at 7:02 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Attorney General Eric Holder said that the United States “was willing to discuss how the criminal case against Edward Snowden would be handled, but only if Mr. Snowden pleaded guilty first,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Holder, speaking at a question-and-answer event at the University of Virginia, did not specify the guilty pleas the Justice Department would expect before it would open talks with Mr. Snowden’s lawyers. And the attorney general reiterated that the United States was not willing to offer clemency to Mr. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who has leaked documents that American officials have said threaten national security.”

Aiken Prepping Congressional Bid

January 24, 2014 at 7:01 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Pop singer Clay Aiken (D) is assembling a political team for a run at the Democratic nomination in North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District, sources told WRAL News.

Roll Call: “But his candidacy is being met with skepticism by some Tar Heel State Democrats, who are holding out hope of making it a race in this Republican-leaning district.”

An Opening to Fight Inequality?

January 24, 2014 at 7:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “The best-known Republicans speaking out on poverty and opportunity have presidential ambitions, among them Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). Influential conservative economists and columnists have spoken up as well.”

“While their comments suggest the two parties agree mainly on the problem, not the remedies, some Republicans and Democrats see a chance, if small, for compromises — perhaps on tax policy, education and job-training initiatives, even the federal minimum wage.”

Said GOP strategist Vin Weber: “The president could move the ball. And he doesn’t have to move it from a dead start. He’s got a little bit of movement on the right.”

Boehner Likes Bush for President