“He’s absolutely unbeatable in the state of California. Not even the Lord could beat him.”
— Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, quoted by Politico, on the political comeback of Gov. Jerry Brown (D).
Kennedy Considers Bid in Massachusetts
Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) confirmed to the AP that his brother, Ted Kennedy Jr., is considering running for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts if Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) is confirmed as the next secretary of state.
While Kennedy now lives in Connecticut, he’s felt obligated to contemplate running in
Massachusetts, where the Kennedy name is revered.
Last Minute Political Gift
For the political junkie on your shopping list: Etch A Sketch 2012 USA Election Red vs. Blue Edition.
Quote of the Day
“Nothing brings two people closer together than weeks of debate prep. John, I’m
looking forward to working with you instead of debating you.”
— President Obama, quoted by the New York Times, nominating Sen. John Kerry, who played Mitt Romney in mock debates during the 2012 presidential campaign, for Secretary of State.
Two Republican Debacles in 12 Hours
John Dickerson notes Republicans had two major setbacks in rapid succession: Speaker John Boehner’s failed “Plan B” to avert the fiscal cliff and the NRA’s embarrassing press conference.
“The Republican Party is in a rebuilding mode after its 2012 election loss. These two events–a defiant NRA and an incompetent leadership–cannot be the face of confrontation the GOP wants to show the public on high-profile issues. Tea Party activists and gun owners are a key part of the party base. But these public acts are out of sync with the moment and completely at odds with party’s need to widen its membership.”
Joe Conason: What Americans should learn from the “Republican apocalypse.”
Plan Uncovered to Topple Boehner
“Several conservative House Republican members are contemplating a plan to unseat Speaker John Boehner from his position on January 3,” Breitbart News reports.
“Staffers have compiled a detailed action plan that, if executed, could make this a reality… Dissatisfaction with Boehner is growing in the House Republican conference, but until now there hasn’t been a clear path forward.”
Fox News: A look at Boehner’s future as House leader.
How the Fiscal Cliff Talks Stalled
The Wall Street Journal has a great behind-the-scenes look at how the fiscal cliff negotiations faltered.
“Mr. Obama repeatedly lost patience with the speaker as negotiations faltered. In an Oval Office meeting last week, he told Mr. Boehner that if the sides didn’t reach agreement, he would use his inaugural address and his State of the Union speech to tell the country the Republicans were at fault.”
At one point, Boehner told the president, “I put $800 billion [in tax revenue] on the table. What do I get for that?”
Replied Obama: “You get nothing. I get that for free.”
Tax Fight Sends GOP Into Chaos
Karen Tumulty: “Disarray is a word much overused in politics. But it barely begins to
describe the current state of chaos and incoherence as Republicans come
to terms with electoral defeat and try to regroup against a year-end
deadline to avert a fiscal crisis.”
“Whether and how the party can resolve the issue has implications going forward. It could determine Boehner’s viability — even his survival– as leader of the only part of the federal government controlled by the Republicans. It also could set the terms of engagement for the battles that lie ahead, including such contentious ones as immigration and the fiscal 2013 spending bills, which are funded for only half the year and which expire March 31.”
“As things stand now, some worry that nothing short of a catastrophe could force a resolution.”
Andrew Sullivan: “The Republican slide
into total epistemic closure and political marginalization has now
become a free-fall. This party, not to mince words, is unfit for
government.”
McConnell Barely Ahead of Judd
A new Voter/Consumer Research poll in Kentucky conducted for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) shows the Senate minority leader ahead of potential challenger Ashley Judd (D) by just four points.
A Public Policy Polling survey earlier this month also found McConnell ahead of Judd by four points.
Revenge of the Purged
Politico: “Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Justin Amash (R-MI) and Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), all stripped of prized committee assignments earlier this month because of perceived sins against the party, did a three-amigos end zone dance as GOP leaders struggled and failed to get the votes for a tax-cut bill designed to empower Speaker John Boehner in negotiating the so-called fiscal cliff.”
“The whole episode gave Boehner the feel of a substitute teacher who
is accountable for what happens in the classroom but isn’t really in
control of the kids. He’s already used the tools at his disposal to
bring Huelskamp, Amash and Schweikert into line — and that didn’t work.”
How Should Obama Deal with the Republicans?
Jonathan Chait notes President Obama seems to have realized he’s not going to get a “grand bargain” to deal with the nation’s debt.
“You can see in the Democratic side a persistent good-government
impulse, one that finds the GOP’s inability to even advance its own
interests rationally as a troublesome failure of government for which
they themselves ultimately share responsibility. It’s true that a
smarter, better organized Republican party would be easier to deal with.
But the GOP remains dysfunctional and apparently bent on
self-immolation. The only question for Obama is whether he wants to
allow Republicans to turn this fact to their advantage, or whether he is
willing to disengage and let them burn out on their own rage.”
The Week: Does President Obama know what he wants?
Bonus Quote of the Day
“God only knows.”
— House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), quoted by ABC News, on how Congress will avoid the fiscal cliff.
How Kerry Used World Stage to Rebuild His Career
Boston Globe: “Just three months after losing his campaign to be president of the United States, a politically wounded and weary Sen. John Kerry took a routine fact-finding tour of the Middle East. It was one of countless overseas trips Kerry had taken in his two decades in Congress. But this time, those accompanying the Massachusetts Democrat noticed something was different…”
“The 2004 presidential campaign had significantly raised Kerry’s profile around the world, an international stature that helped Kerry climb out of the darkness after his defeat at the hands of President George W. Bush and allowed him to reset the trajectory of his public career.”
Brown Still Has Tough Road in Special Election
Nate Silver looks at new polling showing the recently-defeated Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) as the heavy favorite in a special election to replace Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) — who is likely to become Secretary of State — but notes “it is difficult to view Mr. Brown as much better than even money: he is a Republican in Massachusetts who lost an election by a reasonably clear margin just last month.”
“And if Mr. Brown wins, he could well face another competitive election in November 2014, when Democrats will have more chance to gear up from the race – and when Mr. Patrick will have finished his second term as governor and might be more likely to run for the Senate.
Harry Enten: “Even if Brown were to win in 2013, he’d face another election in
2014: the seat currently occupied by Kerry is due for its regular
election in 2014. A Republican winning a Senate seat in Massachusetts
three times in five years could be considered equivalent to Adam Sandler
winning an Oscar three times in five years.”
Rubio Favored Among Republican Primary Voters
Harper Polling takes an early look at 2016 GOP presidential contenders and finds Republican primary voters back Marco Rubio with 34%, followed by Chris Christie at 18%, Condi Rice at 14%, Rand Paul at 8%, Allen West at 5% and Scott Brown at 3%.
Most interesting is that the Tea Party is the foundation of Rubio’s support with 43% who identify as tea partiers backing the Florida senator.
Hagel Apologizes for Gay Slur
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), seeking to preserve his viability for nomination as secretary of Defense, issued a strong apology for a gay slur in 1998 that turned some top Democratic activists against his potential selection, Politico reports.
Hagel had in 1998 disparaged James C. Hormel as “openly aggressively gay” after President Bill Clinton named him ambassador to Luxembourg. Today, Hagel said in a statement: “My comments 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive. They do not reflect my views or the totality of my public record, and I apologize to Ambassador Hormel and any LGBT Americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights.”
Media Tip: How to Deliver a Better Phone Interview
A guest post from Brad Phillips, author of The Media Training Bible.
In 2010, Toronto Mayor-Elect Rob Ford agreed to an interview with As It Happens, a national radio program that airs on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (and elsewhere). But when the reporter called at the scheduled time, Ford was busy coaching a youth football game.
He proceeded with the interview anyway. Unsurprisingly, he was unfocused, simultaneously yelling at children and telling the reporter about fiscal restraint. He interrupted the interview numerous times and made his points inarticulately, until finally admitting he was “being distracted.” The disastrous interview generated unnecessary bad press for his campaign.
NRA Wants Armed Police in Every School
The National Rifle Association called for armed police officers to be posted in every American school to stop the next killer “waiting in the wings,” the AP reports.
Said NRA president Wayne LaPierre: “The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
The Week has more on the “instantly inflammatory” news conference.
Mark Halperin: “Some Democratic strategists on Thursday in advance of the NRA statement thought the group might talk in a more conciliatory fashion and then work quietly over the longer term to stymie any legislative efforts. Those Democrats were wrong — and now have to try to figure out how to make Republicans who stick with the NRA pay a political price.”
