USA Today says Gov. Chris Christie (R) “has to walk a fine line: He must maintain the political
momentum he has been steadily gaining since he came to national
attention during Superstorm Sandy last year without risking overexposure
or becoming viewed as the ‘inevitable’ GOP nominee.”
Capitol Hill Democrats Angry with Obama
The Hill: “President
Obama’s relationship with congressional Democrats has worsened to an
unprecedented low, Democratic aides say. They are letting it be known
that House and Senate Democrats are increasingly frustrated, bitter and
angry with the White House over ObamaCare’s botched roll out, and that
the president’s mea culpa in a news conference last week failed to
soothe any ill will.”
Reid Prepared to Curb Filibusters
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) “is prepared to move forward with a vote that could severely limit the minority party’s ability to filibuster presidential nominees, possibly as early as this week,” the New York Times reports.
“Exasperated with the refusal of Senate Republicans to confirm many of President Obama’s nominees, Mr. Reid has been speaking individually with members of his caucus to gauge whether there is enough support to change filibuster rules.”
Udall Barely Ahead in Colorado
A new Quinnipiac poll in Colorado finds Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) just ahead of Ken Buck (R) in a possible re-election match up, 45% to 42%.
Udall holds slim leads over five other possible GOP challengers as well.
Said pollster Tim Malloy: “Though running even or ahead of six possible Republican challengers, Sen. Mark Udall must be pulling for a quick fix of the Obamacare website and a change of heart by Coloradans who dislike the Affordable Care Act by a wide margin.”
The Man Who Knew Too Much Talks
Former LBJ aide Bobby Baker “in recent years quietly recorded an even more unvarnished account of his anything-goes-era in Washington,” Politico reports.
“His recollections–of an age when senators drank all day, indulged in sexual dalliances with secretaries and constituents, accepted thousands of dollars in bribes and still managed to pass the most important legislation of the 20th century–were collected by Donald Ritchie of the Senate Historical Office in interviews with Baker in 2009 and 2010. The resulting 230-page manuscript was so ribald and riveting, so salacious and sensational, that the Historical Office refrained from its usual practice of posting such interviews online.”
Another Bush Enters the Fray
Houston Chronicle: “George Prescott Bush, a political newcomer who is the grandson and nephew of U.S. presidents, filed to run for Texas land commissioner on Tuesday — a move that officially begins the continuation of his family’s political dynasty with a young, Hispanic, Spanish-speaking candidate.
Congressman Busted in Cocaine Sting
Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL) “was caught buying drugs as part of a federal investigation into a Washington, D.C., drug ring last month and is being charged with cocaine possession,” USA Today reports.
If found guilty, Radel faces a maximum of 180 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
Bush Ramps Up Travel Schedule
The Week notes that even though former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) “has insisted that he’s not going to think about running for president until the middle of next year, but his busy travel schedule and his anti-ObamaCare talking points suggest that he is already laying the groundwork for the primaries.”
“All in all, it certainly looks like Jeb is intent on keeping his name in the mix, and is going through the necessary steps to establish a coherent platform. Whether he can find a position on the ideological spectrum between the Tea Party and Christie — and overcome suspicions about his position on immigration reform — remains to be seen.”
The Republican Party is the Tea Party
The Fix notes that “views of the Republican Party’s ideological leaning are essentially the same as the tea party… Views of the GOP and the tea party are virtually the same across all demographics.”
“In other words, if the tea party has moved the GOP to the right — and it has — it has done so to such an extent they are now viewed as ideologically very similar.”
Quote of the Day
“I did the best I could do. I’m also
very comfortable with the fact that it’s going take a while for history
to judge whether the decisions I made are consequential or not. And
therefore, I’m not too worried about it.”
— George W. Bush, quoted by The Wrap, reflecting on his presidency on “The Tonight Show.“
Obama Approval Plunges to New Low
A new CBS News poll finds President Obama’s job approval rating has plunged to the lowest of his presidency with just 37% percent approving of the job he is doing as president, down from 46% in October — a nine point drop in just a month.
National Journal: “This year, no one in Washington is doing a good job. That’s
according to favorability polls, which in the last few months have
steadily churned out record low after record low of the American
public’s confidence in its leaders.”
San Diego Picks Mayoral Candidates
San Diego Union Tribune:
“Republican City Councilman Kevin Faulconer easily won a spot Tuesday
in the runoff to be San Diego’s next mayor while Councilman David
Alvarez appeared likely to join him as the Democratic challenger.”
Hopes Grow for Budget Deal
“They’ve been written off as a doomed-to-fail duo: Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray, the congressional budget leaders who are on an uphill quest to reach any kind of fiscal deal. But an agreement may not be so elusive after all,” Politico reports.
“Hopes are growing that Ryan and Murray could reach a narrow deal to replace a portion of the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration, according to lawmakers and senior aides involved in the discussions. The changing dynamics are the result of several factors: The fears among GOP defense hawks of deep Pentagon cuts in the new fiscal year; the desire of Republican leaders to avoid another disastrous shutdown fight; and the willingness of Democrats to consider other revenue raisers besides tax increases.”
Obama Backs Piecemeal Immigration Overhaul
President Obama said he “would accept a piecemeal approach to overhauling the immigration system, a move aimed at jump-starting a moribund process that reflects the realities of a divided Congress,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Mr. Obama has long favored the sweeping immigration bill that passed the Senate in June, but the House has made clear it wouldn’t consider that measure.”
Said Obama: “If they want to chop that thing up into five pieces, as long as all five pieces get done, I don’t care what it looks like. What we don’t want to do is simply carve out one piece of it…but leave behind some of the tougher stuff that still needs to get done.”
Bachmann Says Liberalism is Crumbling
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) told Roll Call that she “is absolutely delighted by the troubled rollout of HealthCare.gov and President Obama’s recent mea culpas.”
Bachmann said that the rollout presented conservatives with the “opportunity of a lifetime” because “liberalism is crumbling in front of our eyes.”
Hickenlooper Leads GOP Rivals
A new Quinnipiac poll in Colorado finds that voters say that Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) does not deserve re-election by a 49% to 42% margin.
Nonetheless, Hickenlooper edges four possible GOP challengers: 46% to 41% over Tom Tancredo (R), 45% to 40% over Scott Gessler (R), 44% to 38% over Greg Brophy (R), and 44% to 40% over Mike Kopp (R)/
Give Obamacare a Chance
Wonk Wire: Stop hyperventilating about Obamacare
Daines Looks Strong in Montana
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Montana shows Rep. Steve Daines (R-MT) with pretty substantial leads over both possible Democratic challengers.
Daines leads John Bohlinger (D), 51% to 36%, and tops John Walsh (D), 52% to 35%.
Key findings: “But the number that may be most important to the US Senate race at this point is 34. That’s Barack Obama’s approval rating in the state, with 63% of voters disapproving of him. Only 31% of voters in the state support the Affordable Care Act to 58% opposed, and just 14% think the rollout of the ACA has been a success to 82% who think it’s been unsuccessful. 63% rate it as being ‘very unsuccessful.’ All of that is making it a tough start to the race for Democrats.”
