Political Wire

Lhota Enters Race for New York City Mayor

January 17, 2013 at 12:27 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Joseph Lhota (R) filed documents to become a Republican candidate for mayor of New York City, the New York Times reports.

Lhota “is something of a throwback: an unapologetically outsize personality, known throughout his career for big emotions and an uninhibited style. His combination of experience — on Wall Street, in the Giuliani administration and, most recently, running the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — immediately changes the texture and character of a campaign dominated by Democratic elected officials.”

Cuomo Still Riding High

January 17, 2013 at 12:09 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Siena poll in New York finds Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) continues to enjoy strong support from voters, with a 71% to 24% favorability rating and 60% to 38% job performance rating.

Obama in Strong Position at Start of Second Term

January 17, 2013 at 11:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Pew Research survey finds President Obama’s approval rate at 52%, his highest since the early months of his presidency. “His personal favorability, currently 59%, has rebounded from a low of 50% in the fall campaign. And increasing percentages describe him as a strong leader, able to get things done and as someone who stands up for his beliefs.”

Meanwhile, the Republican Party’s image, “which reached a recent high of 42% favorable following the GOP convention this past summer, has fallen once again to a low of just 33%. Much of this decline has come among Republicans themselves.”

Candidate’s Stepmother Declines to Endorse Him

January 17, 2013 at 10:57 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former New York City public advocate Betsy Gotbaum declined to endorse her stepson, Noah Gotbaum, for the same office, the New York Times reports.

Gotbaum said that her decision was not personal and that she and her stepson had “a close relationship.”

The Road for Democrats to Retake the House

January 17, 2013 at 10:53 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “Democrats are promising an all-out blitz to win the House in 2014. There’s just one lingering question: Which Republicans can really be unseated? The problem: Republicans used the once-a-decade redistricting process to shore up many of their members, leaving Democrats with few ripe GOP targets. Only four Republican incumbents are in seats that tilt toward Democrats — a fraction of the 17 seats Democrats need to net in order to seize the majority. In fact, there’s reason to believe that the 2014 playing field favors Republicans: There are 15 Democrats representing GOP-leaning districts, so Democrats will need to invest heavily just to maintain their current membership in the House. The daunting playing field is one of many challenges facing Democrats in 2014. Midterm elections are typically losers for the party in the White House. And outside conservative groups outspent Democratic ones 2 to 1 over the past two election cycles.”

Second Term Advice for Obama

January 17, 2013 at 9:31 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Matthew Dowd gives President Obama 5 useful tips as he prepares to start his second term next week:

1. Turnover in staff and cabinet leadership. It is very important for a president to bring in new leaders in a second term. The folks that served in the first term are tired, exhausted, and lack much of the creativity needed to energize a second term.

2. Second term scandals. Be constantly aware and diligent in avoiding scandals and big mistakes that could doom the second term no matter the personnel or vision in place.

3. Rediscover first term vision. It is also important for President Obama to look back at the biggest things he didn’t accomplish in his first term and renew an effort to get that done.

4. Simplify second term agenda. Many Presidents have beleaguered second terms because they bit off way more than they could chew. They try to do too many things, and they end up not doing any of them well. Doing a few simple and direct things in a second term is the path to success.

5. Legacy. The final item President Obama should focus on is what is his political legacy post the second term. Who are the new brand of leaders he is bringing in and getting ready to carry on what he began?

Obama Goes Big on Guns

January 17, 2013 at 9:19 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

USA Today: “The beauty of a second term presidency, at least for
the man in the Oval Office, is that political calculations become less
important as he considers policies he wants to pursue. President Obama’s
sweeping gun-safety agenda laid out Wednesday reflects just that
reality as he called on Americans to get behind a dramatic plan that he
believes can help stem gun violence.”

Politico: “For one of the few instances in his presidency,
he now appears willing to burn political capital by pressuring Senate
Democrats to vote for a measure that is likely to die in the House, a
symbolic victory that sets the stage, he hopes, for more meaningful
ones. Along with his tough stances on the debt ceiling, it’s part of a
second-term strategy of calculated confrontation: Republicans won’t
negotiate with him, so he plans to marshal popular opinion to force them
into action.”

GOP Worries They Could Lose House

January 17, 2013 at 8:52 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“There’s growing angst among Republicans that the party’s House majority could be at risk in 2014 if the deep GOP divisions that emerged during the recent ‘fiscal cliff’ negotiations persist in looming negotiations over a slew of budgetary issues,” The Hill reports.

“Even as Republican officials maintain the GOP majority is safe, several lawmakers and longtime activists warn of far-reaching political ramifications if voters perceive Republicans as botching consequential talks on the debt ceiling, sequestration and a possible government shutdown.”

Are You Better Off?

January 17, 2013 at 8:03 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

First Read compiles some statistics from the start of President Obama’s first term.

“The Dow Jones Industrial average is up 5,550 points since then. The economy is growing (instead of contracting). Consumer confidence has nearly doubled (though it remains below where it was before the Great Recession). And a larger percentage of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction (but a majority still think it’s on the wrong track).”

“On the other hand, there’s data indicating that the nation isn’t better off than it was four years ago – and that the Great Recession continues to take a toll on families. Median household income (adjusted for inflation) is lower than it was in 2009. And more Americans live below the poverty level than they did four years ago.”

Another Lawmaker Suggests Obama Impeachment

January 16, 2013 at 10:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL) told The Shark Tank that President Obama could be impeached over his executive actions on gun control.

Said Radel: “It is one of those times in our history, we are at this breaking point. We have completely lost our checks and balances in this country, the Congress needs to hold the president accountable for the decisions that he’s making right now, and that why again, I would say that all options should be on the table.”

Earlier this week, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) also threatened Obama with impeachment.

Flashback of the Day

January 16, 2013 at 9:55 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“We are writing to urge your support for a ban on the domestic manufacture of military-style assault weapons.”

— Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan in a 1994 letter to Congress.

Extra Bonus Quote of the Day

January 16, 2013 at 8:05 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“When it’s for self protection, you need as much firepower as needed to protect your family.”

— Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R), quoted by the Clarion Ledger, saying he’ll oppose President Obama’s gun control initiatives.

Did the Earmark Ban Lead to Gridlock?

January 16, 2013 at 6:05 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Businessweek suggests that banning earmarks is what caused the current Congressional gridlock.

“In the two years since, it’s done nothing but tie itself up with a supercommittee, a sequester, and continued promises to fix things in the future. Political hacks used to say pork was the political grease that lubricated legislative deals. Only now do we see how true that was. Would it really be so terrible to reintroduce some congressionally sanctioned bribery? That would let members lay claim to the odd million in the interest of striking a deal worth much more.”

Fox News Hires Dennis Kucinich

January 16, 2013 at 3:51 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) has signed on as a regular contributor to Fox News, the AP reports.

Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes said he’s “always been impressed with Kucinich’s fearlessness and thoughtfulness on the issues.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

January 16, 2013 at 2:30 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The NRA is continually trumpeting they increased their membership by ‘x’ amount in this month. The president has the most exciting campaign apparatus ever built. It’s time to turn that loose. It’s time to turn that loose for something more than just an election. If the NRA’s got a list, then Obama for America has a bigger list and it is time to get activated again.”

— Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, interviewed on Morning Joe.

Scott Backs Away from Election Law He Signed

January 16, 2013 at 1:22 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Facing a highly critical group of black legislators, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) distanced himself from a controversial election law that led to fewer early-voting days and long lines, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Said Scott: “It was not my bill. We’ve got to make changes, I agree… The Legislature passed it. I didn’t have anything to do with passing it.”

Scott signed the bill into law in 2011.

Quote of the Day

January 16, 2013 at 1:16 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“House committees of jurisdiction will review these recommendations. And if the
Senate passes a bill, we will also take a look at that.”

— House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), quoted by NBC News, immediately shifting responsibility for President Obama’s proposed gun control package to the U.S. Senate.

Crist Leads Scott by Double-Digits in Florida

January 16, 2013 at 12:44 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Florida finds Charlie Crist (D) would handily beat Rick Scott (R) in a race for governor, 53% to 39%.

Key findings: Scott’s approval rating is just 33%, with 57% of voters disapproving of him. Crist meanwhile is being embraced by Democrats with 52% of primary voters saying they’d like Crist to be their candidate next year.

July 4th Special