Byron York has quotes from 27 Democratic senators who defended Obamacare by saying some variation of “If you like your existing plan, you can keep it.”
Milking the Culture War
Michelle Cottle broke down and reviewed Sarah Palin’s new book on Christmas, Good Tidings and Great Joy.
“Don’t misunderstand. Palin’s book is neither well-written nor informative on either a political or a theological level. She does what plenty before her have done: scour the news for any cases of holiday-themed lawsuits or political scuffles, even ones where Christmas emerges triumphant, and whip them into a towering soufflé of proof that Jesus’s, and maybe even Santa’s, days are numbered…”
“But to focus on Palin’s narrative or polemic gifts is to miss the point. The book is not, as the subtitle maternally suggests, about ‘Protecting the Heart of Christmas.’ As with pretty much everything the former governor does, this is all about Venting the Spleen of Sarah. And that’s what makes it so gosh darn refreshing.”
When Change Was Not Just a Slogan
The New York Times reviews The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
“If you find the grubby spectacle of today’s Washington cause for shame and despair — and, really, how could you not? — then I suggest you turn off the TV and board Doris Kearns Goodwin’s latest time machine. Let her transport you back to the turn of the 20th century, to a time when this country had politicians of stature and conscience, when the public believed that government could right great wrongs, when, before truncated attention spans, a 50,000-word exposé of corruption could sell out magazines and galvanize a reluctant Congress. The villains seemed bigger, too, or at least more brazen — industrial barons and political bosses who monopolized entire industries, strangled entire cities. And ‘change’ was not just a slogan.”
Writes Goodwin: “There are but a handful of times in the history of our country when there occurs a transformation so remarkable that a molt seems to take place, and an altered country begins to emerge.”
“The years covered in this book are such a time. It makes a pretty grand story.”
Alpha House
Just released: Alpha House, an original political comedy show available only on Amazon.
The Washington Post notes the show is based on a real Capitol Hill living arrangement and centers on four Republican senators who are also roommates.
The first three episodes are free to all. The remainder can only be viewed by Amazon Prime members.
Are Voters Really That Angry?
George Will: “Americans profess detestation of politics and its practitioners, but their behavior belies their rhetoric. Last month, a poll reported that 60 percent of Americans favor voting out of office all congressional incumbents, including their own representatives. But just 11 months before this poll revealed the electorate’s (supposedly) extraordinary dyspepsia, voters reelected 90 percent of representatives and 91 percent of senators. Most Americans most of the time have better things to do than feel strongly (aggrieved or otherwise) about politics. They are not as angry about goings-on in Washington as they say they are, or imagine themselves to be, or think they ought to be when a pollster takes their emotional temperature.”
Geithner Heads to Private Equity
Former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, one of the architects of the federal government’s rescue of the financial system, is joining private-equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“I think she’d make a good anything.”
— New York City police chief Ray Kelly, in an interview with Playboy, on whether Hillary Clinton would make a good president.
House Passes Bill Letting People Keep Their Health Plans
“Defying a veto threat from President Obama, the House on Friday approved legislation that would allow health insurance companies to renew individual insurance policies and sell similar policies to new customers next year even if the coverage does not provide all the benefits and consumer protections required by the new health care law,” the New York Times reports.
“The vote was 261 to 157, with 39 Democrats bucking their party leadership to vote in favor of the bill.”
Washington Post: “The 39 Democratic votes in favor represent the largest defection by far
on a major or closely-watched piece of legislation this year, signaling
the political difficulty that dozens of congressional Democrats face in
reelection contests next year.”
The White House has promised to veto the bill if it makes it out of the Senate.
Majority Think Oswald Did Not Act Alone
As the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination approaches, a new Gallup poll finds that 61% of Americans still believe others besides Lee Harvey Oswald were involved.
The Monkey Cage: “Why are Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories so popular? The distinguishing feature of a successful conspiracy theory is power, and the Kennedy assassination has that in spades. The victim was an American president and the potential villains include actors of immense reach and influence.”
Conversation with Gov. Howard Dean
Gov. Howard Dean was our guest on the latest episode of the Political Wire podcast.
It’s a fascinating interview with the former DNC Chairman on the political problems facing Democrats and the White House over the implementation of Obamacare.
Listen here:
Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or RSS to get episodes automatically downloaded.
This episode was sponsored by Igloo Software, an intranet you’ll actually like.
Bonus Quote of the Day
“If you don’t like your Democratic House member, you don’t have to keep him or her.”
— Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), quoted by National Journal.
Kentucky Senate Race Deadlocked
A new DFM Research survey finds Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) deadlocked in the U.S. Senate race, 41% to 40%.
Key findings: McConnell’s favorable rating is 35%, his unfavorable rating is 55%.
A One Man Episode of COPS
Jon Stewart takes a look at Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. It’s almost too funny to watch.
Nelson Mulling Bid for Florida Governor
Democrats close to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) are letting potential supporters know the three-term senator is “waiting in the wings” if Charlie Crist’s (D) campaign for Florida governor stumbles, the News Service of Florida reports.
“Nelson’s chief of staff, Pete Mitchell, called some prominent Democrats recently and told them the 71-year-old Nelson, who has been coy about his interest in the governor’s race, is considering a bid.”
November 30 Deadline Looms
First Read notes “the true test if things ultimately get better for the White House is whether or not it meets its self-imposed Nov. 30 date to fix the website for a majority of Americans.”
“A better-functioning website cures a lot of problems — enrollment numbers will go up, those with canceled plans might be able to find better deals, the negative feedback loop might come to an end. But not meeting that deadline could be disastrous. After all, if you think Democrats are skittish now, just think how they’ll be if the website isn’t significantly improved by Nov. 30.”
Cruz Stays Silent as Cornyn Kicks Off Re-Election
Houston Chronicle: “When
Texas Sen. John Cornyn launches his campaign for a third six-year term
on Friday with a rally in Austin, it will feature a cameo appearance by
Gov. Rick Perry — but no sign of tea party-backed freshman Sen. Ted
Cruz.”
Obama Plays Defense
Dan Balz:
“Throughout his career as a national politician, President Obama often
has benefited from comparisons with others. Nearing the end of the first
year of his second term, he is running mostly against himself — and
falling short. The disastrous rollout of his health-care law has put him
on the spot in ways he has rarely been before. The cool and cerebral
chief executive, whose reliance on smart people and rational analysis
has been at the foundation of his often-insulated governing style, has
been forced to admit that he and his team vastly underestimated the
challenge of implementing the Affordable Care Act.”
USA Today:
“Whether it’s Richard Nixon over Watergate, Bill Clinton over Monica
Lewinsky, or President Obama over the problems with his health care
rollout, presidents have often apologized — or at least expressed regret
or taken responsibility for something gone publicly wrong.”
Voters Don’t Want Anyone to Win
Charlie Cook: “One Democratic pollster recently (and aptly) summed up the sentiment: ‘Voters want to punish Republicans but not reward Democrats.’ This dynamic suggests we are in for either a highly muddled election outcome next year–hardly the stuff for a wave, because one party has to be rewarded and looked favorably upon to create a wave–or a highly volatile environment, what a meteorologist might describe as an ‘unstable air mass.’ The latter dynamic could translate into a lot of surprise election outcomes, but not necessarily in any uniform direction.”
Joshua Green: “Americans are fast losing faith in the president, his party, and his
signature policy achievement. But while they’re open to the idea of
handing power to the opposition, Republicans are busy demonstrating that
they have no idea how to govern.”
