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Emails Suggest Christie Aides Wanted Bridge Gridlock

January 8, 2014 at 9:38 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Bergen Record: “A cache of private messages between Governor’s Christie’s deputy chief of staff and his two top executives at the Port Authority reveal a vindictive effort to create ‘traffic problems in Fort Lee,’ apparent pleasure at the resulting gridlock, and insults used to refer to the borough’s mayor, who had failed to endorse Christie for re-election.”

“The documents obtained by The Record also raise serious doubts about months of claims by the Christie administration that the September closures of local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge were part of a traffic study initiated solely by the Port Authority. Instead, they show that one of the governor’s top aides was deeply involved in the decision to choke off the borough’s access to the bridge, and they provide the strongest indication yet that it was part of a politically-motivated vendetta–a notion that Christie has publicly denied.”

Quote of the Day

January 8, 2014 at 9:31 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Congress is best viewed from a distance — the farther the better — because up close, it is truly ugly. I saw most of Congress as uncivil, incompetent at fulfilling their basic constitutional responsibilities (such as timely appropriations), micromanagerial, parochial, hypocritical, egotistical, thin-skinned and prone to put self (and re-election) before country.”

— Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in his new book, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War.

Many House Republicans Face Primaries

January 8, 2014 at 9:24 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

First Read reports that more than half of the National Republican Campaign Committee’s “Young Gun” candidates “are locked in primaries… And about half of the most vulnerable House Democrats running for re-election in 2014 are facing Republican challengers locked in a GOP primary.”

However, the Cook Political Report‘s David Wasserman believes that these Republican primaries could ultimately influence just a handful of general-election contests: “It will only be a problem for Republicans if problematic candidates emerge — and so far there are only a few primaries brewing where there is a ‘problem’ on the horizon.”


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The Gates Book is a Big Deal

January 8, 2014 at 9:19 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rick Klein: “It turns out Robert Gates had a thing or two to say. This new book is a blockbuster on several levels. It’s from an impeccable, respected, true-insider source with only mildly partisan leanings; it directly questions President Obama’s wartime leadership and motivations; it displays particular mistrust and disdain even for Vice President Joe Biden; it tweaks Hillary Rodham Clinton, too, and even hints at a wedge between Obama and Clinton when it comes to White House meddling in national-security affairs. Above all, it confirms many of the worst suspicions about the Obama White House, at a time of significant backsliding in Iraq and lingering concerns in Afghanistan. If you think it’s not worrisome to the Obama inner circle, witness how much time the president is spending with his vice president today.”

First Read: “In his sixth year of his presidency, the president is desperate to not
look like a lame-duck and preserve his ability to run the town, but it’s
a challenge, and this Gates book is a new distraction that doesn’t help
one bit.”

Drama Threatens GOP Seat in Florida

January 8, 2014 at 9:11 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Hill
looks at the drama unfolding in Florida’s 13th congressional district special election:

“The GOP race to replace the late Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.) has become a political soap opera that could jeopardize Republicans’ hold on the seat. It has all the makings of a daytime drama: a widow disavowing her son due to opposing primary allegiances and a secret family kept hidden for decades only to surface a week before the contentious primary. And with an important swing district at stake, it’s the messy, public family feud that’s another added worry for the party ahead of Tuesday’s Republican primary, for which GOP leaders, and the Young family, are far from unified.”

The Best Health Care System in the World?

January 8, 2014 at 8:55 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Wonk Wire: Life expectancy lags in the United States

Clinton Super PAC Raises $4 Million

January 8, 2014 at 8:50 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Ready for Hillary, a “super PAC” that is urging Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016, announced that it raised more than $4 million last year, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Control of Virginia Senate May Hinge on Recount

January 8, 2014 at 8:47 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Get ready for another recount, with control of the state Senate in the balance,” the Richmond Times Dispatch reports.

“With all precincts reporting, Del. Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. (D) on Tuesday night led Wayne Coleman (R) by just 22 votes out of 20,379 cast in a special election for the Norfolk state Senate seat of Lt. Gov.-elect Ralph Northam.”

“The state Senate is now split with 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans. The lieutenant governor has the tiebreaking vote on most issues.”

Spitzer Hot Tub Story Debunked

January 8, 2014 at 8:05 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The New York Daily News reports the “rapidly imploding down-market New York Post” was wrong about its hot tub story involving Eliot Spitzer and new girlfriend, Lis Smith.

“A receipt shows Spitzer and Smith checked out Sunday at 12:58 p.m. — three hours before the alleged sexcapade. At 4:19 p.m. Sunday, Smith tweeted from a nearby restaurant called Robbie’s Kitchen, where she and Spitzer had watched her favorite team, the Cincinnati Bengals, lose a playoff game. That’s not an easy thing to do from a hot tub while someone’s licking your feet.”

LePage Says Children Should Work

January 8, 2014 at 7:30 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) told a trade show audience that 12-year-olds should be allowed to work in Maine, the Portland Press Herald reports.

Said LePage: “We don’t allow children to work until they’re 16, but two years later, when they’re 18, they can go to war and fight for us. That’s causing damage to our economy. I started working far earlier than that, and it didn’t hurt me at all. There is nothing wrong with being a paperboy at 12 years old, or at a store sorting bottles at 12 years old.”

Record-High 42% of Americans Identify as Independents

January 8, 2014 at 7:23 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Gallup poll finds 42% of Americans, on average, identified as political independents in 2013, the highest measured in 25 years. Meanwhile, Republican identification fell to 25%, the lowest over that time span. At 31%, Democratic identification is unchanged from the last four years but down from 36% in 2008.

Radel Returns to Capitol Hill

January 8, 2014 at 7:16 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A somber Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL) “refused to say whether he would run for re-election Tuesday night, as he returned to the Capitol to vote for the first time since he took a leave absence following an Oct. 29 drug arrest for possession of cocaine,” Roll Call reports.

Politico notes Radel “has been trying to set up face-to-face meetings with some Capitol Hill colleagues to apologize for his cocaine bust.”

Obama Outreach Made Difference for Unemployment Bill

January 8, 2014 at 7:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Democratic effort to extend federal benefits for the long-term unemployed got a surprise boost Tuesday as skeptical Republicans in the Senate voted to allow the proposal to advance, with issues of poverty and economic opportunity emerging as a central battleground between the parties,” the Washington Post reports.

“The reprieve came after President Obama’s outreach to some GOP senators produced the narrowest of victories for the White House.”

Roll Call: “Six Republicans bucked the party line Tuesday to open debate on a temporary reinstatement of lapsed jobless benefits — and for some, the story behind their support is one of high unemployment at home, combined with Democratic delegation mates who create inherent political tension.”

Can Economy Save Democratic Majority in Senate?

January 8, 2014 at 7:05 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Democrats are confident that a strong economy in 2014 will help them retain their Senate majority,” The Hill reports.

“Democratic senators speaking on the record are more cautious, but believe that the economy will boost their party’s chances of holding the upper chamber.”

Conversation with Joe Trippi

January 7, 2014 at 11:30 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Joe Trippi, political consultant and media strategist, is our guest on the latest episode of the Political Wire podcast. He gives a great look at the upcoming midterm elections, the future of the Democratic party and how technology might upend the two political parties.

Listen here:

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

Special thanks to Squarespace,
the all-in-one platform that makes it fast and easy to create your own professional website or online portfolio. For a free trial and 10% off, go to squarespace.com use offer code GODDARD.

Gates Unloads on Washington

January 7, 2014 at 8:25 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Washington Post reviews Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War by Robert Gates.

“Gates left Washington in 2011 with a reputation as a steady, sober-minded member of the foreign policy establishment, who had served eight presidents and was admired equally by Republicans and Democrats. The next time Gates visits the capital, his reception may not be quite so warm. Duty is his second memoir, and this time he cuts loose.”

The Week: 5 takeaways from the explosive new Gates memoir.

House Republicans Coached to Show Compassion

January 7, 2014 at 7:27 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“House Republican leaders sent a memo this week to the entire GOP conference with talking points designed to help rank-and-file Republicans show compassion for the unemployed and explain the Republican position on unemployment benefits,” the Washington Post reports.

In the memo, House Republicans “are urged to be empathetic toward the unemployed and understand how unemployment is a ‘personal crisis’ for individuals and families. The memo also asks Republicans to reiterate that the House will give “proper consideration” to an extension of long-term insurance as long as Democrats are willing to support spending or regulatory reforms.”

Left Brain, Right Stuff

January 7, 2014 at 7:05 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Just published: Left Brain, Right Stuff: How Leaders Make Winning Decisions by Phil Rosenzweig

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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