I Thought Al Gore Was Above Intramural Party Politics
Posted on May 30, 2008 at 7:05 pmFirst, he was an elder statesman. Then he was an elder statesman who supports Democratic nominees. Now, he’s an elder statesman who endorses Democratic Congressmen against their primary opposition. Why is it again that Gore won’t intercede in the Obama/Clinton race?
Former Vice President Al Gore has endorsed an Iowa congressman who faces a challenge from another Democrat in next week’s primary election. Gore has endorsed Congressman Leonard Boswell in his race against challenger Ed Fallon.
The Gore backing is being touted in Boswell advertising as a means of repeating an often-made complaint about Fallon. Back in 2000, Fallon endorsed independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader. At the time Fallon cited his frustration with Democratic nominee Gore, especially his decision to pick moderate Democrat Joe Lieberman as his runningmate.
Gore lent his name to a Boswell fundraising letter and announced that he and his wife, Tipper, had both given Boswell the maximum donation allowed. Boswell endorsed Gore and campaigned in Iowa with him in 1999 and 2000, and Gore referred to Boswell a “real Democrat” who “stood” by other Democrats “time and time again.”
Stone By Stone
Posted on at 6:38 pmAlan Coverstone, who has been running for the 9th District school board like it was the 5th District Congressional seat, has a brand spanking new website.
Check out the issues page, especially the photo. He’s on the phone. Listening. Writing stuff down. He’s serious. For real.
Fighting For The Right
Posted on at 6:22 pmCongress David Davis, locked in a primary battle with one of his 2006 opponents Phil Roe, has been endorsed by the Tennessee Right to Life:
“I am very pleased to receive the endorsement of the National Right to Life. The sanctity of human life is one of the most important issues on the hearts and minds of East Tennesseans. Life is the greatest gift that God has given us and throughout my first term in Congress, I have done whatever is necessary to preserve the right to life,” said Davis.
“As your representative in Congress, I will continue to support our common sense East Tennessee ideas and work for the change that the First District deserves.” Davis added.
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Defending Libertarianism
Posted on at 5:38 pmWith all the zeal of the convert that he is, Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr defends the faith against attack from Mike Huckabee:
“Perhaps Governor Huckabee is forgetting that it is compassionate conservatism that led to our record budget deficits and explosion in the size of government. His vision of more of the same will lead his party deeper into the quagmire,” warned Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president, “I am reminded of then-Governor Ronald Reagan saying ‘I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism’ and that ‘The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.’ The problem we face isn’t too much libertarianism, but not enough of it.”
Cryptic Posting
Posted on at 5:28 pmWhat exactly is the point of a post like this?
Wow. I can’t believe that WNOX and Hallerin Hill would allow unsubstantiated crap like that on the air. Google it up for yourself. I’m sure it will be all over the wingnut websites by tomorrow morning. Anything for a buck, I guess.
If its not worth mentioning, why say anything? If you are going to say something link it up and/or report it and then explain why it is bad/wrong. This, I don’t understand.
UPDATE: This is apparently what was at issue.
Rump Politics: No Love For Dogs
Posted on at 3:08 pmSean Braisted gets the quotable quote from Congressman Cooper pressman John “Jim” Spragens on Harry Reid’s unsavory opinion of the Blue Dogs:
“When Democrats regained the majority, we found a country that was deep in debt. Blue Dogs are trying to do what’s right, even in an election year, and pay for our priorities instead of saddling the next generation with debt.” Spragens continues by saying sometimes you have to be willing to break with your party, even your Blue Dog coalition, when its in the best interest of the country, “I’m sure it makes the leadership’s job harder because they have to make tough choices about spending; that’s probably not a bad thing. No such thing as a free lunch, even when the food is popular.”
SEE ALSO: Vibinc
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Simper Fi: Tuke Claims Knox County Love In An Online Poll Marketed Statewide
Posted on at 3:01 pmOn Wednesday, the Bob Tuke for Senate campaign send out an email to supporters across the state encouraging them to vote in an online poll in “Knoxville.” Today, the campaign revels in their bountiful harvest:
Tuke Has Commanding Lead Over Padgett in Knoxville Views Poll
Bob Tuke — 63%Mike Padgett — 23%
Undecided — 10%
In the first organizing test of the primary campaign, Tuke took an immediate and commanding lead in the Knoxville Views Poll posted on Wednesday. The Tuke campaign is very encouraged by the results since his primary challenger is from Knox County, and served as the Knox County Clerk for 20 years. The results show that Tuke has far more organization than many political onlookers assume, and that Knox County is very much “in play” for Tuke in the August primary.
Now, asserting that any internet poll can definitively claim a specific geographic region is a stretch as it is but considering that both the Tuke campaign and the poll’s sponsor solicited votes from outside Knox County the Tuke campaign claims seem a bit over the top.
In an email to an undisclosed list of Middle and West Tennesseans, the originator of the poll, R. Neal, solicited help from all three Grand Divisions:
Hey, can y’all vote in this poll on the Dem primary for U.S. Senate? Need some votes from Middle and West Tennessee for a better sampling….
A Matter Of Plumbing
Posted on at 2:12 pmEmily’s List has again endorsed incumbent Congressman Steve Cohen’s female opponent in the Democratic primary in District 9:
“This is a matter of plumbing. They don’t endorse males,” responded Cohen campaign manager Jerry Austin to the Emily’s List action. “They spent half a million dollars roughing up Steve in 2006 and couldn’t beat him.” Austin said numerous women supporting Cohen countered “in the best way possible; they stopped writing checks to Emily’s List.”
Say Hi To The Nice Guy
Posted on at 2:09 pmAlex Moseley, a Republican candidate running against Jim Hackworth in the 33rd state House district, explains why a nice guy like him would want to run for office.
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More State Buyout News
Posted on at 1:57 pmOnce again, our favorite blogging state house reporter is on the case with some more news on the state employee buyout. Kumari relays that Finance Commissioner David Goetz tells her that 11,700 state employees will be offered buyouts in order to achieve the magic 2000 number.
If more than 2,000 accept buyouts, seniority will determine which workers get to accept the package.
An email delivered to legislators and staff earlier today describes the the buyout process:
We anticipate Voluntary Buyout Program packets to be mailed to eligible employees the third week of June. These packets will include a number of documents, such as details of the program, application forms, and information regarding the program benefits available to the individual employee.
Along with an attractive buyout offer, as part of the program eligible participants will receive subsidized medical benefits and tuition assistance for various state colleges and universities, GED programs, and for certain apprenticeship programs. In addition, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development will provide career assistance such as resume building and other tools for transitioning to other employment.
In addition to issuing the Voluntary Buyout Program packets, we will be establishing a Web site to update and inform employees, as well as a call center and a special email address where employee questions related to the buyout can be directed. We also are planning town hall meetings with eligible employees.
Staff members of all legislators will be provided with a simple information card featuring the Web address, call center number and the email address so you can direct constituent state workers and their families to information they might need, should they contact your offices. We will be asking that staff members and legislators not try to answer questions regarding the program, but instead refer all questions to the call center and email address.
SEE ALSO: Joe White
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That Twisted Little Tribe
Posted on at 1:37 pmKay Brooks thinks a blogpost where Nate Rau exposes the intimate connections of the extended family that runs Metro Government needs to be the exception rather than the rule in Nashville media:
Unless we want the Council to take up the saying of former Senator Wilder and get a pass just because “Metro is Metro” we need our media outlets to continue to make those connections and fill out the story if we’re ever going to reign in these conflicts of interest. We need voters to pay attention at election time to these conflicts of interests. Conflicts of interest that are not confined to Metro but are very well demonstrated by the Tennessee House Democrats–the majors, if you will, to the Metro farm team.
I Can’t Even Picture Ross Perot Saying This
Posted on at 1:29 pmHillary Clinton on the state of the Democratic campaign for President:
“You can’t tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him.”
UPDATE: The Big Payback
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It’s Not The Pants That Make You Look Fat, It’s Your Hips
Posted on at 1:05 pmThe Next Right gives the GOP message the Pepsi Challenge:
Republican voters like the Democrat’s message more than their own party’s message by a large 14% margin when they don’t know which party it comes from. Just as disturbing, numbers among independents drop by another 10%… giving the Democrats a massive 28% advantage. Even our horrifically damaged image is better than our message on the economy. Independents and even Republicans simply like the Democrats’ plan more than ours.
Iraq and trade both follow the exact same pattern. We’re getting smashed on both issues on the partisan test, but when you look at the nonpartisan test where our damaged image isn’t a factor, the numbers get even worse among Independents and Republicans. A few Democrats (and in the case of trade a bunch of Democrats) move our way on the nonpartisan ballot, but Independents actually agree with our messages more when they know the messages came from Republicans.
On taxes, the picture gets more complex. On the partisan text, Independents like the Democrats’ message by significant 14% margin, but Republicans still like our message and give us a resounding 39% advantage. That changes drastically on the nonpartisan test.
When the party’s names are removed, Independents are almost evenly split, giving the Democrats’ message a small 5% advantage. However, Republican voters stampede away from the GOP message. Among Republicans, support for the GOP message on taxes drops by a gargantuan 53% when the party’s names are removed, leaving the Democrats with a 14% advantage. You read that right, on the nonpartisan test, Independents like the GOP message on taxes more than Republicans do and even Independents slightly favor the Democrats.
The takeaway? Our message right now is electoral poison and this isn’t all about “brand.”
Senator Claire McCaskill To Speak At Jackson Day
Posted on at 12:53 pmWhile the traditional keynote address at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s annual Jackson Day celebration this Saturday will be given by the party’s popular titular head Governor Phil Bredesen, Post Politics has learned that the heretofore unannounced guest speaker at the event will be Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri.
A former Missouri state auditor, Claire McCaskill defeated Governor Bob Holden in the 2004 Democratic primary race, becoming the first person to defeat an incumbent governor in a primary election in state history.
Ultimately losing that election, McCaskill ran in 2006 for the U.S. Senate defeating Republican Senator Jim Talent by a margin of 50% to 47% becoming part of a large freshman class of Democrats brought to office on a wave of anti-Republican sentiment.
After taking office Senate officials arranged for her assigned desk to be a desk used by none other than Missouri’s own Harry Truman. McCaskill was born in Rolla, Missouri.
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Resourcing The Election
Posted on at 12:32 pmA Washington Post reporter explains why his organization doesn’t cover third parties:
We don’t have enough resources to cover your party. it’s that simple, and if that infuriates you, I’m sorry. But that’s life. The Green Party and Nader got plenty of coverage in ‘00 when, at the least, he had the chance to play a decisive role in some states. So far, there’s little indication that the Greens will have any major impact on the ‘08 election. Until you can demonstrate that there is some level of support for your party, our paper isn’t going to spend precious resources reporting on whatever it is you’re doing. I’m sorry, but we’re a business, and lots of my colleagues are walking out the door under volunteer buyouts. We don’t have the resources to cover you guys.
More Buyout Business To Come From Kumari
Posted on at 11:36 amCara Kumari updates us on her impending update:
This afternoon, Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz is going to sit down with the media and update them on the state of the buyout effort. Based on the timeline devised by the state and the consultants, May 19-28 was the time commissioners and department heads were supposed to be targeting job classifications or business units for reorganization. May 29-June 3 was the time frame for preparing the individual buyout offers and packets.
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TNGOP Big In Taiwan
Posted on at 11:31 amTennessee Republican Party Chair Robin Smith reports from the Far East:
In the coming weeks, I will be writing about my recent trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong to represent the RNC. I was honored to have been selected for the annual trip that serves to increase the flow of information and relations with a key ally in the Pacific Region. The take home message from the trip: The citizens of Taiwan are very supportive of America, have very positive comments about the policies of Republicans and are extremely hopeful that John McCain will be the next President of the United States.
Bob Dole: Bob Dole Does Not Like Scott McClellan
Posted on at 11:29 amFrom Jonathan Martin:
“There are miserable creatures like you in every administration who don’t have the guts to speak up or quit if there are disagreements with the boss or colleagues,” Dole wrote in a message sent yesterday morning. “No, your type soaks up the benefits of power, revels in the limelight for years, then quits, and spurred on by greed, cashes in with a scathing critique.”
Michael Marshall, Dole’s spokesman and colleague at the Alston Bird law firm, confirms the message came from the former senator and presidential candidate. ”Yes, it is authentic,” Marshall wrote in an email.
“In my nearly 36 years of public service I’ve known of a few like you,” Dole writes, recounting his years representing Kansas in the House and Senate. “No doubt you will ‘clean up’ as the liberal anti-Bush press will promote your belated concerns with wild enthusiasm. When the money starts rolling in you should donate it to a worthy cause, something like, ‘Biting The Hand That Fed Me.’ Another thought is to weasel your way back into the White House if a Democrat is elected. That would provide a good set up for a second book deal in a few years”
Dole assures McClellan that he won’t read the book – “because if all these awful things were happening, and perhaps some may have been, you should have spoken up publicly like a man, or quit your cushy, high profile job”
“That would have taken integrity and courage but then you would have had credibility and your complaints could have been aired objectively,” Dole concludes. “You’re a hot ticket now but don’t you, deep down, feel like a total ingrate?
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