The South Carolina Republican Party called the Internal Revenue Service “Obama’s Gestapo” in a fundraising email “in yet another reference to Adolf Hitler by one of the state’s two major political parties,” the Columbia State reports.
Musharraf to Face Bhutto Murder Charge
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf “will be charged next week with the alleged murder of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, his lawyer said, the latest turn in a political drama that has unfolded since his return from exile in March,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Mr. Musharraf is alleged to have not provided Ms. Bhutto with sufficient security at the time of her assassination, when she was campaigning for coming elections. He is also alleged to have threatened her before she returned to Pakistan in October 2007.”
Paul Escalates Feud with Christie
The feuding between New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) continued as the senator cautioned the governor he was picking a fight with the wrong guy, CNN reports.
Paul defended himself against Christie’s most recent allegations that the senator was bringing home too much money for his state: “This is the king of bacon talking about bacon.”
Earlier in the day, Christie chastised Kentucky for taking more federal money than New Jersey: “So if Senator Paul wants to start looking at where he’s going to cut spending to afford defense, maybe he should start cutting the pork barrel spending that he brings home to Kentucky.”
Dan Amira says Christie’s response was “absolutely dripping with disdain for Paul, as if there was nobody he respected less in the entire world.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“Defund it, or own it. If you fund it, you’re for it.”
— Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), quoted by TPM, urging his colleagues to cut funding for the implementation of Obamacare.
San Diego Sues Their Own Mayor
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner (D) “is now being sued by the city he leads,” the San Diego Union Tribune reports.
The City Council “unanimously approved a cross-complaint against Filner seeking indemnity for all damages the city may have to pay as a result of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the mayor earlier this month.”
Both Parties Will Slam Washington During Recess
Roll Call: “House Democrats and Republicans appear to be taking the same message home for August: Washington is broken.”
“The only difference is whom they’re pointing the finger at for breaking it.”
Weiner Dodges Question on Whether He’s Still Sexting
In an interview with the New York Daily News, Anthony Weiner evaded a question about whether he is still sexting women online.
Q. There is no one you are sexting now?
A. You can quibble about beginnings, middles and ends but what we’re talking about is over a year ago.
Manning Found Not Guilty of Aiding Enemy
Army private Bradley Manning was found not guilty of aiding the enemy for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, the Washington Post reports.
However, Manning was convicted of multiple counts of violating the Espionage Act which could earn him significant prison time.
NBC News: “The charges of which Manning was convicted carry a total of 154 years in prison.”
Nunn’s Uphill Fight Made Easier by Messy GOP Primary
Stu Rothenberg: “The recent entry of Michelle Nunn into the Georgia Senate race is good news for national and state Democrats who hope to swipe a normally Republican Senate seat in the Deep South… Nunn has potential, and the Republican primary could increase her opportunities, both because of its bitterness and potential for producing a seriously flawed nominee.”
“But there is a heavy burden of proof on Nunn to show that she can win — or, rather, that Republicans are throwing the contest away. She will need every break to go her way to have any kind of real chance. Given that, we are moving this race from Safe Republican to Republican Favored. It’s certainly worth watching, though it doesn’t yet merit some of the early hype that it has received.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“If we don’t do that, frankly I see further polarization of the Hispanic voter. And the demographics are clear that are the Republican Party cannot win a national election. That’s just a fact.”
— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), in an interview on the News Hour, on the need for immigration reform.
Why Did Weiner Do It?
New York Times: “His pattern of behavior is intriguing to mental health professionals and experts on sexual behavior, who — while they emphasize they cannot offer an authoritative diagnosis without examining him — discussed a variety of possible explanations for such conduct.”
“Some suggested the indiscretions might be an addiction with neurological roots. Others theorized that Mr. Weiner, a Democratic candidate for mayor of New York, could be meeting sexual needs unsatisfied in a marriage. And still others said he might be driven by a combination of a mood disorder and feelings of inadequacy to seek reassurance about his masculinity from women he had never met.”
A Setback for Women Everywhere
Sally Quinn: “Up until Weiner’s cringeworthy news conference Tuesday, I had felt sorry for his wife, Huma Abedin, even though I couldn’t understand how she was able to condone his online antics in the first place. I have nothing against Abedin. I like her: She is a lovely, gracious, intelligent woman. I ache for her need to come to the rescue of this man who has betrayed her so often and will likely do it again. I ache for all women who find themselves in this position. And yet, there she stood in front of the cameras, this modern American career woman, by her man, saying she had forgiven him, loved him and believed in him. Just what exactly does she believe in? The only thing she can believe in for sure is that he will continue his infidelity.”
“Though her friends say she is strong and resolute and defiant, sadly she makes all women look like weak and helpless victims. She was not standing there in a position of strength. It was such a setback for women everywhere.”
McDonnell Will Return All Gifts to Benefactor
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said that he is working with his attorneys to arrange the return of gifts he accepted from a benefactor, including a Rolex watch, NBC News reports.
Said McDonnell: “My intent is everything I have received from this particular donor … that those gifts that I have in my possession, I am working with my counsel to be able to return.”
He added that his decision to repay two loans (with interest) last week was “the first of many things that I intend to do.”
The Cloakroom: What McDonnell could have learned from Richard Nixon.
The End of Campaign Contribution Limits?
Jeffrey Toobin says the Supreme Court may soon strike down campaign finance limits.
“The reason the contribution levels might be in jeopardy rests on the rationale the Justices now demand for all campaign-finance limits. According to Justice Anthony M. Kennedy’s opinion in Citizens United, the government’s interest in preventing the actuality and appearance of corruption is ‘limited to quid pro quo corruption.’ Congress can regulate campaign contributions only to stop contributors from demanding, and receiving, quid pro quos. The Court forbids other justifications for contribution limits–like levelling the playing field. Quid pro quos are, of course, very difficult to prove. So unless the government can prove that the limits on aggregate contributions prevent quid-pro-quo corruption (and how, really, can the government do that?), these rules might fall, too.”
“Such an outcome is especially likely because the current Court has such an exalted idea of the importance of campaign contributions as a form of individual expression. In other words, money equals speech. The speech of wealthy people is a source of particular, almost poignant concern.”
FEC Says Sestak Must Declare His Candidacy
The Federal Election Commission says former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) “has passed the threshold of exploring a run for Senate in 2016 and must declare himself a candidate – or disavow his bid,” PoliticsPA reports.
Paul Refuses to Endorse Alexander in Tennessee
In an awkward appearance with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in his home state, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) stopped short of endorsing Alexander’s re-election bid, the Tennessean reports.
Said Paul: “I’d rather not go there. I’d hate to be painted as ‘Oh, I’ve come here and I’m not endorsing him’ because I think that’s the wrong message to send. I’m very supportive of Sen. Alexander, and I hope he doesn’t get an opponent.”
Boehner’s Budget Headache
Roll Call says GOP efforts to defund Obamacare are creating a big headache for Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).
“With 60 Republicans already pushing the Ohio Republican to defund
Obamacare in any spending bill, the speaker may not be able to cobble
together a House majority on a bill that President Barack Obama would
sign without Democratic votes. And he’s not likely to get those votes
for free.”
First Read: “We have an additional question here: What does Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell do? Does he join the Mike Lees, Marco Rubios, and Ted
Cruzes who want to defund Obamacare, so he doesn’t give GOP primary
opponent Matt Bevin any room to maneuver? Or does he join with the Tom
Coburns and Richard Burrs to make the point that such a move only sets
up the GOP to get blamed if there’s a government shutdown? Republican
need to use August to come to some sort of consensus, because right now,
even as the president’s popularity may be waning, the GOP public
infighting and lack of agreement here is only helping the White House.”
Virginia Backlash for Cheney
National Journal:
“Republican officials are grumbling that Liz Cheney passed up an
opportunity to run in her adopted state of Virginia, leaving the party
empty-handed as it searches for a challenger against Sen. Mark Warner.
Instead of taking one for the Republican team, she’s sparked an
intra-party war in Wyoming. And, some strategists say, her prospects
would be slightly better running in a battleground state than waging a
long-shot primary battle against a popular sitting senator.”
