Bill Hyers is “suddenly a blazing hot commodity after managing Bill de Blasio’s New York mayoral victory. Almost without taking a breath, he has been snapped up to run the marquee 2014 Florida gubernatorial campaign of Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist,” the Washington Post reports.
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Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“It will poison the atmosphere of the Senate.”
— Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), in an interview on Bloomberg TV, on the filibuster rule change.
Schweitzer Mulling a Presidential Bid?
Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) hinted to Steve Kornacki that he might run for president in 2016.
Said Schweitzer: “There’s around 100 counties in Iowa, and on my bucket list is to try and make it to all the counties of Iowa someday.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I think then we have to consider extending the deadline for the mandate, but let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”
— Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), in an interview on Minnesota Public Radio, suggesting he’s open to delaying the Obamacare individual mandate if the website isn’t fixed in time.
Fixing the Website Isn’t Enough
Amy Davidson: “Since the rollout, Obama has treated it as a given that the website will be fixed, and that everyone will remember how bad the present system has been and how much better the new one is… After five years in the White House, Obama still believes that he can go into a corner, tinker with something until it’s better, and win on the merits. The long view can serve him well, but it can also leave him unprepared when the other side won’t give up on an all-out battle. Health-care reform is the President’s signature legislative achievement, and a historic one. To preserve it, he needs to fight for it politically, state by state. This time, the Obama brand alone isn’t enough.”
The JFK Industry
Daily Beast: “If the torrent of 50th anniversary articles, symposia, blog posts, TV documentaries and docudramas, historical reenactments, new books, and reissues has left you aghast at the bottomless self-involvement of your elders, please keep in mind that the deluge this month is nothing compared to the steady rain that fell on us almost every month between 1963 and 1967.”
“Remembering JFK became an industry in those years. The double murder of a U.S. president and his suspected assassin–within 48 hours of each other–multiplied expon-entially the number of angles that journalists, historians, self-appointed gumshoes, and total crackpots could pursue. The light that bounced off those shattering events, somehow mirroring each other, has many of us still trying to see straight and fit the pieces together in a logical pattern.”
Brown Still Not Saying Whether He’ll Run Again
“He has millions of dollars in his campaign account, solid approval ratings and a small number of potential challengers who are virtually unknown, but Gov. Jerry Brown still won’t say whether he’ll run for reelection next year,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Although Brown stays mostly out of the spotlight, his aggressive fundraising — and his preference for biding his time — put the safe money on a run for an unprecedented fourth term as governor, a race he would enter as a strong front-runner. And experts say that despite an already respectable war chest, it behooves him to wait.”
Quote of the Day
“Amazing what White House will do to distract attention from Obamacare.”
— Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), on Twitter, about the deal reached last night with Iran on their nuclear program.
Major Powers Reach Deal with Iran
“The U.S. and five other world powers struck a historic agreement with Iran, agreeing to ease part of an economic stranglehold in exchange for steps aimed at capping Tehran’s nuclear program and ensuring the country’s Islamist government doesn’t rush to develop atomic weapons,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The agreement calls for Iran to stop its production of near-weapons grade nuclear fuel–which is uranium enriched to 20% purity–and for the removal of Tehran’s stockpile of the fissile material, which is estimated to be nearly enough to produce one nuclear bomb.”
“Iran, in return, will gain relief from Western economic sanctions that U.S. officials believe will provide between $6 billion and $7 billion in badly needed foreign exchange for Tehran over the next half-year.”
Republicans Cry Foul Over Obamacare Push Back
After trying for months to delay implementation of the new health care law, Republican lawmakers are now “pushing back hard against the Obama administration’s decision to delay next year’s open enrollment season for health coverage under Obamacare until after the 2014 midterm elections,” the AP reports.
Embattled Cheney Books TV Time
Liz Cheney (R) “is ending the roughest week of her political career by reserving nearly $40,000 more in TV time in Wyoming, a significant buy nine months before the Senate primary,” Politico reports.
Ford Approval Rate Not Moved by Crack Admission
A new Forum Research poll finds the approval rate of Toronto mayor-in-name-only Rob Ford holding steady at 42%, which is down just slightly from two weeks ago after Ford admitted to smoking crack cocaine.
“Perhaps most interestingly, 33% of respondents said they planned
to vote for Ford in the next election whether he goes to rehab or not.
And one fifth of those surveyed said they would support Ford for prime
minister — an aspiration he reiterated last weekend to Fox News.”
Democrats Weigh Nomination Strategy Under New Rules
“The White House and its allies are formulating ways to take maximum advantage of this week’s change in the Senate’s filibuster rules to rapidly confirm more than 240 judicial and executive nominees awaiting approval,” the Washington Post reports.
“Democrats hope to break a logjam in President Obama’s appointments, allowing him to push ahead with key parts of his agenda. But they also acknowledge that the political environment remains difficult, with many procedural tactics still available to Republicans intent on blocking his nominees.”
Texas Lawmaker Charged with Taking Gun Through Airport
Texas State Rep. Drew Darby (R) “is facing a felony charge after he attempted to take a weapon through a security screening at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport this month,” the Austin American Statesman reports.
2014 Ad Strategy Snapshot
“Using this map, you can see every US media market with reference to political leanings, voter demographics, upcoming 2014 political races and what it will likely cost to place an ad in each market.”
Kerry Heads to Join Iran Nuclear Talks
Secretary of State John Kerry planned to fly to Geneva “to join the talks on imposing a temporary freeze on Iran’s nuclear program, a sign that the negotiations are edging close to an agreement,” the New York Times reports.
“The top diplomats from the six world powers that are negotiating with Iran–the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany–had been expected to go to Geneva if an accord appeared to be at hand and their involvement was needed to push it over the finish line.”
The Return of the New Democrats?
Out next month: The New Democrats and the Return to Power by Al From with a forward written by Bill Clinton.
Very interesting.
GOP Congressional Candidate Hits a Beer Bong
Minneapolis City Pages published photos of Stewart Mills (R), who is seeking to unseat Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN), which show him drinking from a beer bong and licking the mouth of a woman to whom he is not married.
His statement: “It’s no secret that in the past I’ve let my hair down to have fun with family and friends. My wife and I have had many lighthearted moments in our lives but right now I am focused on my Congressional campaign and the disastrous effects of our overreaching government and sky high unemployment in the north eastern Minnesota.”
