Charlie Cook: “At this point, there are two competing theories on what theme will
dominate the 2014 congressional elections. The one that seems to have
become the conventional wisdom is that Republicans will continue to have
problems with perception of their brand–specifically with younger,
minority, female, and moderate voters. The other scenario is that as
more provisions of the Affordable Care Act kick in early next year,
certain ones will alienate many voters who now either support or are
ambivalent toward ‘Obamacare,’ creating an undertow for Democratic
candidates. Other scenarios could develop, but these now seem to be the
most plausible.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“At the very least, the council should have also included a requirement for warning signs on women’s and girl’s public restroom and locker room doors saying that women and girls may be confronted there by men who think they are women.”
— Michigan state Rep. Tom McMillin (R), quoted by MLive, opposing a law because it would allow transgendered men and women to use restrooms designated for the opposite sex.
Tennessee Politician Arrested for Indecent Exposure
A former Tennessee politician “who was investigated on indecent exposure allegations while in office more than two years ago has been arrested… after a new complaint was filed,” the Kingsport Times-News reports.
William Lee Blakely “is charged with one count of indecent exposure as a result of allegations made by a female motorist who claimed that he ‘fondled himself’ and made obscene gestures while they drove beside each other on Interstate 26.”
A witness told WJHL-TV that Blakely was masturbating out of his open car window while speeding down the highway at 90 miles per hour.
Republicans Divided Over Gun Control Filibuster
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) broke with 14 of his Republican colleagues saying he believes gun control legislation deserves a “vote up or down,” Politico reports.
Said Isakson: “I’ll speak for myself on that question. There’s no ambivalence on the gun issue, I think everyone knows what the issues are. We have not seen the final draft of the legislation that was produced, I understand, last night, but I think it deserves a vote up or down.”
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had similar sentiments on CBS News over the weekend “I don’t understand it. What are we afraid of?…If this issue is as important as all of us think it is…why not take it up and debate?”
The Week: Why Senate Republicans should think hard about a filibuster of gun control legislation.
Landrieu Holds Small Lead Over Cassidy
A new Harper Polling survey in Louisiana finds Sen.Mary Landrieu (D-LA) with a small lead over Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in a possible U.S. Senate race, 46% to 41%.
Key findings: Landrieu leads among women 50% to 33% while Cassidy leads among men 48% to 41%. Among white voters, Cassidy leads 49% to 34%.
Chicago Voters Head to the Polls
Chicago Tribune: “Voters across the Chicago area will go to the polls for local elections today, picking winners in a range of races from a replacement for U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson to a high-profile suburban mayoral contest featuring a former Bears’ star.”
Why There’s Movement on Gays But Not Guns
Jill Lawrence explains why there’s been a shift on gay marriage but not on guns control
“Demographics offers one answer. Acceptance of gay marriage in the political world is being driven in part by polling that shows overwhelming support for it among young people. By contrast, at least two polls this spring show there is no corresponding generation gap on guns. … The relative power of the lobbies on guns and gay marriage is another factor.
Quote of the Day
“I may be a Republican. I’m not an idiot.”
— Lancaster, California Mayor Rex Parris (R), quoted by the New York Times, when asked if global warming was a threat.
New Super PAC to Support Far Right Candidates
Former Rep. Jeff Landry (R-LA) “aims to keep stirring up trouble on Capitol Hill from the outside with a new super PAC to support hard-right conservatives in the House of Representatives,” Politico reports.
“Landry, who lost his bid for reelection last year, will helm a group dubbed Restore Our Republic. The goal of the super PAC… is to give conservatives aligned with the GOP’s activist base the same outside support that establishment-side Republicans get from independent expenditure groups.”
Authorized Thatcher Biography to be Released
The first volume of an authorized biography of Margaret Thatcher — to be titled Not for Turning — was announced just after her death yesterday, The Guardian reports.
Commissioned in 1997 on the understanding that it would not be put out during her lifetime, the publisher said it would be released immediately after her funeral. Thatcher herself did not read the manuscript before she died.
Colbert Introduces Clinton to Twitter
Stephen Colbert convinced former President Bill Clinton to send his first tweet.
Just spent amazing time with Colbert!Is he sane? He is cool! #cgiu
— Billy Jeff Clinton (@PrezBillyJeff) April 6, 2013
McConnell Weighed Attacking Judd on Her Mental Health
Mother Jones obtained audio of a private meeting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell held with aides “to discuss how to attack his possible Democratic foes, including actor/activist Ashley Judd, who was then contemplating challenging the minority leader. During this strategy session McConnell and his aides considered assaulting Judd for her past struggles with depression and for her religious views.”
Said one aide: “She’s clearly, this sounds extreme, but she is emotionally unbalanced. I mean it’s been documented. Jesse can go in chapter and verse from her autobiography about, you know, she’s suffered some suicidal tendencies. She was hospitalized for 42 days when she had a mental breakdown in the ’90s.”
Biden Faces Role as Underdog
Vice President Joe Biden “faces a situation unique in the annals of modern American politics,” the New York Times reports.
“He is the vice president, the highest-ranking member of his party interested in running for president, yet he is not the heir apparent. While every sitting vice president who sought it in the last half-century captured his party’s nomination, Mr. Biden would start as the underdog if he ran against Mrs. Clinton, the former secretary of state.”
Bloomberg Group Will Grade Lawmakers on Guns
The nonprofit group financed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to push gun control laws “will unveil a scoring system Tuesday to award lawmakers grades of A through F, much like the National Rifle Association, which has derived much of its power by deploying letter rankings against politicians at election time,” the Washington Post reports.
“This is Bloomberg’s latest move to establish his organization as a counterweight to the influential NRA and to create legislative momentum on Capitol Hill around President Obama’s proposals to toughen the nation’s gun laws.”
Does Obama’s Agenda Have a Chance?
Howard Kurtz: “Rarely in modern history have so many in Washington labored so hard and produced so little. On every major item on President Obama’s agenda, there is a flurry of activity that may amount to nothing.”
“The gridlocked capital seems unable to act except in an emergency, and sometimes not even then, as we saw with the brief plunge over the fiscal cliff on New Year’s Day. The elusive breakthrough is always next week, next month, after the next recess, as soon as this gang or that group reaches a tentative agreement on the possibility of proceeding.”
Marc Ambinder: Is Washington gridlock starting to ease?
Margaret Thatcher’s Dark Legacy
I had the great honor to know Hugo Young, a well-known British author and columnist for The Guardian. He wrote an amazing epitaph for Margaret Thatcher just days before he died in 2003. It’s finally being published today.
Virginia No Longer a Stepping Stone to the White House
“As the race for governor heats up in Virginia, Beltway insiders again will seek to turn it into a warm-up for a bid for the White House. But that’s almost certainly not going to happen,” writes Ryan Teague Beckwith.
“Although Virginia is sometimes called the “mother of presidents” because eight were born there (including Washington and Jefferson), the state’s reputation as a presidential proving ground is outdated. And its gubernatorial races, which happen in otherwise slow years, are vastly overrated by Beltway pundits.”
“The past eight governors of Virginia have been discussed as potential presidential or vice presidential prospects at various points in their careers, yet none have ended up mounting a credible campaign.”
Democrats Skeptical of Obama’s Budget Strategy
Roll Call: “Congressional Democrats continue to be baffled by — and frustrated with — the White House’s legislative strategy, with many aides questioning the wisdom of offering a compromise budget before negotiations have even begun.”
