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Democrats Invoke Nuclear Option to Curtail Filibuster

November 21, 2013 at 12:32 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pushed forward a vote to allow presidential nominations to go forward with a simple majority vote.

The vote was 52 to 48, mainly along party lines. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Carl Levin (D-MI) voted against changing the rules.

Roll Call says the “new precedent represents what’s likely to prove the most
significant change in Senate rules since 1975, when the cloture
threshold was reduced to 60 votes in most cases (from two-thirds of
senators present and voting).”

How to Use the Internet to Win

November 21, 2013 at 11:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Here’s a must-read: How to Use the Internet to Win in 2014 by Colin Delany.

Democrats Poised to Trigger ‘Nuclear Option’

November 21, 2013 at 9:20 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

First Read: “It’s true in physics and in politics: For every action, there’s an opposite and equal reaction. And so after Senate Republican filibustered President Obama’s nominees to sit on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals — not on concerns about ideology or qualifications, but over the president’s ability to appoint ANYONE to these vacancies — Senate Democrats are poised to change the rules via the so-called ‘nuclear option.'”

“And while this may seem like a threat you’ve heard before, this time it seems as if there isn’t any deal that will derail this likely action. Senate Democratic aides confirm to First Read that they’re expected to vote today to change the rules to eliminate the 60-vote threshold for all executive appointments, except to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Wonk Wire: Filibuster reform now? Why not?

If Kennedy Lived

November 21, 2013 at 9:06 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Jeff Greenfield talks about his new book, If Kennedy Lived on the latest episode of the Political Wire podcast.

A fascinating discussion. Listen here:

Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or RSS to get episodes automatically downloaded.

Scott Running Behind Crist in Florida

November 21, 2013 at 9:05 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Quinnipiac poll in Florida finds Gov. Rick Scott (R) trailing former Gov. Charlie
Crist (I) by seven points in his re-election bid, 47% to 40%.

Key finding: Voters says Scott does not deserve to be reelected by 53% to 37%.

Obamacare vs. Cruz Care

November 21, 2013 at 8:23 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Greg Sargent reports the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee “is set to launch a new campaign designed to refocus the debate on the Republican position on health care, which Dems will widely label as ‘Cruz Care.'”

“With Ted Cruz set to roll out his own health plan — one that will probably look like the usual grab bag of GOP reform ideas, which just aren’t a reform alternative to Obamacare – Dems plan to tar GOP Senate candidates across the country with it, by hitting them as proponents of ‘Cruz Care.’ Many GOP candidates also embraced Cruz’s Obamacare-driven government shutdown.”

Perry On Board for Debate Overhaul

November 21, 2013 at 8:20 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) told Republican governors that their party should “end the stupid way we conduct presidential debates,” Bloomberg reports.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) responded: “Hell, yeah!”

“It was Perry who famously couldn’t remember the third of the three federal agencies he would disband in one of the many televised debates his party conducted for the 2012 presidential nomination. The Republican National Committee is proposing far fewer debates in the next election cycle.”

Stark Vows to Oust Former Foe

November 21, 2013 at 8:17 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

To avenge his defeat last year, former Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) “has promised to put his financial means and political mettle toward ousting his successor,” Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Roll Call reports.

“Their race proved to be one of the state’s most bitter battles between two Democrats, thanks in part to California’s new primary system.”

Said Stark: “Hopefully Eric will lose, and I am doing everything I can to see that Ellen Corbett wins that primary election. … I remember Eric, during the campaign against me, suggested that I was too old and inept to be of any value in the political process, so I am going to see if I can prove that to be wrong.”

Quote of the Day

November 21, 2013 at 7:27 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I’m not supporting Liz’s candidacy.”

— Mary Cheney, in emails to Politico, on her sister’s U.S. Senate campaign.

Waves of Attacks Planned Over Health Law

November 21, 2013 at 5:20 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A House Republican document, “the product of a series of closed-door strategy sessions that began in mid-October, is part of an increasingly organized Republican attack on the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature legislative initiative. Republican strategists say that over the next several months, they intend to keep Democrats on their heels through a multilayered, sequenced assault,” the New York Times reports.

“The idea is to gather stories of people affected by the health care law — through social media, letters from constituents, or meetings during visits back home — and use them to open a line of attack, keep it going until it enters the public discourse and forces a response, then quickly pivot to the next topic.”

Radel Will Take Leave for Drug Treatment

November 21, 2013 at 5:18 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL) “won’t resign, but he will take a leave of absence,” Roll Call reports.

“The Florida Republican faced the media late Wednesday night after pleading guilty earlier in the day to a misdemeanor charge of possession of cocaine. Radel apologized and said he would take a leave of absence while he seeks ‘intensive’ inpatient treatment, but he also said he wasn’t stepping down.”

Said Radel: “I will be taking a leave of absence. During that time, I’m going to donate my salary to a charity.”

Pay to Playbook?

November 20, 2013 at 10:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Erik Wemple tears apart Mike Allen’s Playbook email newsletter and reports how it’s filled with recycled press releases and “long hugs to powerful Washington interests, including advertisers.”

“Politico’s leaders didn’t cooperate for this piece. In rejecting a sit-down discussion, Editor-in-Chief John Harris said the premise ‘is without merit in any shape or form.’ Without an interview, it’s impossible to judge Allen’s motivations. For example, does he write nice things about the chamber because he wants more advertisers or because he feels their agenda doesn’t get fair play in other outlets? Did he publish those BP plugs because he thought they were newsworthy or because he’s got a friend at the company?”

Andrew Sullivan says “to my eyes, it reads like a meticulously researched tale of at least the appearance of blatant corruption.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

November 20, 2013 at 3:49 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Leadership is gonna come out of the states, not Washington. Look at the governors.”

— Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R-IA), quoted by the Washington Post, nixing the idea that a Member of Congress should be the GOP nominee in 2016.

Radel is First Congressman Convicted for Cocaine Use

November 20, 2013 at 3:43 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL) “appears to be the only member of Congress to have ever been convicted for cocaine use while in office,” NBC News reports.

“The only other member of Congress to be arrested and convicted on a drug charge was Rep. Frederick Richmond (D) of New York, who, 30 years ago, was convicted for marijuana use. Richmond, who also served as deputy finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee, in 1982 also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of evading taxes and a misdemeanor regarding a government contract.”

The Washington Post reports Radel first informed Speaker John Boehner of his arrest yesterday.

Utah Town Forgets to Hold Election

November 20, 2013 at 3:36 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The city employee responsible for oversight of elections in Wallsbugh, Utah “brought new meaning to the job description by overlooking the election altogether,” the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

“The new recorder in the town of about 275 just east of Deer Creek Reservoir forgot to announce the opening of the filing period or arrange to hold an election Nov. 5, when voters across the state cast their ballots in municipal elections. By the time the oversight was caught shortly before Election Day, it was too late to field candidates and hold the balloting on the fly.”

Obama Campaign Will Transfer Some Data to DNC

November 20, 2013 at 3:10 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“After nearly a year of discussion over the fate of reams of Obama campaign data, officials have decided to transfer some voter information to the Democratic National Committee, but to retain its email list and rent it out to Organizing for Action, party committees and other groups,” Politico reports.

Christie’s Tough Balancing Act

November 20, 2013 at 11:30 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

USA Today says Gov. Chris Christie (R) “has to walk a fine line: He must maintain the political
momentum he has been steadily gaining since he came to national
attention during Superstorm Sandy last year without risking overexposure
or becoming viewed as the ‘inevitable’ GOP nominee.”

Capitol Hill Democrats Angry with Obama

November 20, 2013 at 11:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Hill: “President
Obama’s relationship with congressional Democrats has worsened to an
unprecedented low, Democratic aides say. They are letting it be known
that House and Senate Democrats are increasingly frustrated, bitter and
angry with the White House over ObamaCare’s botched roll out, and that
the president’s mea culpa in a news conference last week failed to
soothe any ill will.”