The Week: The 13 craziest, most offensive things said by politicians in 2013.
The Fickle Politics of Climate Change
Wonk Wire: Belief in climate change depends on the previous day’s weather.
Ted Cruz Wannabes
Patricia Murphy: “If Ted Cruz seems like a one-of-a-kind, give it time. A slew of young, hard-charging, Tea Party-endorsed Senate wannabes is looking to knock off the Republican establishment again in 2014. Some have better chances than others, but all have the unmistakable Cruzian commitment to refusing to toe the Republican Party line and make headlines while doing it. If you haven’t heard of them yet, you will.”
Best Political Ads of the Year
Roll Call rounds up the top political ads of 2013.
Tip O’Neill and the Democratic Century
Free today on the Kindle: Tip O’Neill and the Democratic Century: A Biography by John A. Farrell.
Utah Ruling Heads to Supreme Court
“In June, when the Supreme Court stopped short of deciding whether the Constitution guaranteed a right to same-sex marriage, many thought the court had bought itself several years before it had to confront the question again,” the New York Times reports.
“But the issue will soon return to the court, with officials in Utah saying that within the next few days they will ask the justices to block a trial judge’s decision last week that allows same-sex couples to marry there.”
Rick Hasen: “It is fairly likely that the Court grants a stay to keep the status quo as things progress in the 10th Circuit. That will buy the Court some time. But not that much. I expect within a year or two this case or another will make it to the Court in a way that leads the Court to decide the same-sex marriage issue on the merits. There are just too many questions, and so much litigation, for the Court to avoid the merits for too long.”
Obama Signs Budget Pact
President Obama “broke from his vacation in Hawaii on Thursday to sign a stack of legislation that included the bipartisan budget deal and funding legislation for the Pentagon,” The Hill reports.
“Many in Washington are hopeful that the budget agreement will pave the way for more bipartisan deal making in 2014 after one of the least productive years on record for Congress… But a number of contentious fiscal issues loom in 2014, including another fight over the debt ceiling, and there’s no guarantee that the budget agreement will ward off another shutdown in January.”
Wonk Wire: Lawmakers cite progress on spending bill.
Weiner Hints at Another Comeback Attempt
Anthony Weiner (D) posted a thank you message to supporters on Facebook “that leaves the door open-ever so slightly-to another comeback run,” Politicker reports.
Said Weiner: “What’s next? I’ll keep you posted on my plans. But I hope we keep the band together.”
The Year in Mass Shootings
Gawker has the astonishing run down.
Spitzer Getting a Divorce
“Revealing New York’s worst-kept secret, scandal-scarred former Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Tuesday night that his longtime marriage to Silda Wall Spitzer is kaput,” the New York Daily News reports.
“The Christmas Eve announcement came two days after revelations that Spitzer was in a relationship with a former aide who is the spokeswoman for Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio.”
Quote of the Day
“Recently we learned that our governments, working in concert, have created a system of worldwide system of mass surveillance watching everything we do. Great Britain’s George Orwell warned us of the danger of this kind of information. The types of collection in the book — microphones and video cameras, TVs that watch us — are nothing compared to what we have available today.”
— Edward Snowden, in an “alternative Christmas message” broadcast on UK television.
Republicans Grab Edge in Midterm Elections
A new CNN/ORC poll finds Democrats “have lost their advantange and Republicans now have a slight edge in the battle for control of Congress.”
“Two months ago, Democrats held a 50%-42% advantage among registered voters in a generic ballot, which asked respondents to choose between a Democrat or Republican in their congressional district without identifying the candidates… But the Democratic lead evaporated, and a CNN poll a month ago indicated the GOP holding a 49%-47% lead. The new survey, conducted in mid-December, indicates Republicans with a 49%-44% edge over the Democrats.”
GOP Seeks to Recast Message
“Republican leaders and their corporate allies have launched an array of efforts aimed at diminishing the clout of the party’s most conservative activists and promoting legislation instead of confrontation next year,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“GOP House leaders are taking steps to impose discipline on wavering committee chairmen and tea-party factions. Meanwhile, major donors and advocacy groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Crossroads, are preparing an aggressive effort to groom and support more centrist Republican candidates for Congress in 2014’s midterm elections. At the same time, party leaders plan to push legislative proposals–including child tax credits and flextime for hourly workers–designed to build the party’s appeal among working families.”
“The efforts, at the national and state levels, come at the end of a year of infighting and legislative brinkmanship, capped by the 16-day government shutdown in October that drove the party’s image to historic lows.”
Majority Think Congress is the Worst in Their Lifetimes
A new CNN/ORC poll finds that 67% of those questioned think the current Congress is the worst in their lifetime, with 28% disagreeing.
Said pollster Keating Holland: “That sentiment exists among all demographic and political subgroups. Men, women, rich, poor, young, old — all think this year’s Congress has been the worst they can remember. Older Americans — who have lived through more congresses – hold more negative views of the 113th Congress than younger Americans. Republicans, Democrats and independents also agree that this has been the worst session of Congress in their lifetimes.”
The Week: The worse ever.
Top 10 Political Stories of 2013
Here are the 10 most popular posts on Political Wire for 2013:
1. Another Bush Enters the Fray
2. Lawmaker Makes Lewd Remark to Teenage Girl
4. Christie Slams House Republicans
5. Best Political Ad of the Year (So Far)
6. Tennessee Politician Arrested for Indecent Exposure
7. The Nuclear Launch Code was 00000000
8. Ministry Apologizes to Gay Community and Shuts Down
Matheson Mulls Statewide Bid in Utah
Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), “who said last week he won’t run for his House seat next year and is eyeing a potential bid for Utah governor or the Senate in 2016, knows it would be the challenge of his career, but he’s not afraid,” the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Said Matheson: “I’m a competitive guy and I’m proud of my success in elections. I don’t have a problem facing competition.”
No Democrat has won statewide office in Utah in 17 years.
Cochran Way Ahead But Possibly Vulnerable
A new Harper Polling survey in Mississippi finds Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) with a 23 point lead over primary challenger Chris McDaniel (R), 54% to 31%.
“However, the survey also reveals peril for Cochran if the race becomes defined as a contest between the establishment Republican Party candidate and the tea party candidate.”
Key findings: 59% of the electorate supports a tea party candidate to a non-tea party candidate and 66% approve of the Republican-led shutdown of the federal government in October.
Political Propaganda or Christmas Movie?
FBI files show that between 1947 and 1956, the movie It’s a Wonderful Life was listed as “under the suspicion of being a
vehicle of Communist propaganda.”
