MS-01 has proven to be a watershed in the recognition among Congressional Republicans that they are up to their ears in defeat. But it will do nothing to alter in any fundamental way the nature of this election cycle for their benefit.
I spent a lot of time tonight going through the various recriminations and public soul searchings done by GOPers high and low about how to avoid disaster come November. Words like "brand" were tossed around frequently. Bush is to blame for their bad fortunes, they claim. Republicans are losing because they are straying from their "core principles," we are told.
Socrates' finest advice is the famous "gnothi sauton" - know yourself. But it's clear to me from the 21st century GOPer incapacity to self-reflect that they don't read a whole lot of Plato in their spare time.
Republicans are losing because people don't like perpetual, purposeless war, and they gave that to them. They are losing because people used to prosper under Bill Clinton, and now they can't afford to fill their cars with gas. And Republicans relentlessly pursued an economic, a foreign, and an environmental policy that gave them that.
Republicans aren't losing because they have an image problem. They're not losing because of too close an association with President Bush.
Republicans are losing because the Republican party's platform has been unleashed on us, and we suffer under it daily. Republicans are losing because their ideas have been discredited by the reality of their fulfillment upon the American people.
Republicans are losing, and will continue to lose, because protecting the rich, starving the middle class, ignoring our health, and starting unnecessary wars haven't worked out too well.
Republicans can't run away from Bush to win in their individual districts and states, because they are Bush. With the minor exception of the Ron Paul contingent (itself better labelled "Libertarian" than "Republican"), there is no Republican party distinct from Bush's party.
They made that bed when they enabled and enacted King George's every whim, and now they will have no choice but to suffer the consequences come November.
Don't believe me? Count how many congressional Republicans have publicly distanced themselves from Bush's disgustingly un-American "appeasement" smear today against Barack Obama.
"I am announcing today that I will not be seeking reelection to the New Hampshire Senate," Gottesman said in a press release. "I have tried to be a voice for my constituents from Nashua, Hollis, Brookline and Mason, as well as for citizens from around the state of New Hampshire. I am very appreciative of having had the opportunity to serve them, but the time has come for me to step aside to allow someone else to come forward with new ideas to confront the challenges that still face the state. I want to thank all who have supported me in my campaigns for Senate and those who have stood by me without whom I would not have accomplished the work we have done."
Statement from Congressman Paul Hodes (via email):
"David is a wonderful friend who has served the people of Nashua, Hollis, Brookline and Mason, as well as for citizens from around the state of New Hampshire with distinction. He has worked tirelessly on their behalf.
He has advocated for public health for our families by working to ban smoking in restaurants and bars. He is a good and honorable public servant. I wish him well in his retirement and thank him for his service to the people of New Hampshire."
NHDP Chair Ray Buckley is expressing confidence that Democrats will retain the seat, saying ""We have several prospective candidates, and we expect a formal announcement shortly."
None of those prospective candidates have been named yet (that I've seen), so we'll be keeping an eye out.
From Chaz' must read piece on Stephen and what it means to be one of Grover's drowning-gummit-in-the-bathtub pledge boys:
Former NH Republican Senator Warren Rudman has said this about Mr. Norquist: "Americans for Tax Reform is a wonderful-sounding name. As far as I'm concerned, it's a front organization for Grover Norquist' lobbying activities."
Republican 1st District U.S. House candidate John Stephen will meet potential Washington-based supporters at a meet-and-greet in the nation's capital tonight.
Invitations sent by lobbyist Todd Boulanger, a former associate of Jack Abramoff, say, "Come hear first-hand why John will be the winner of the September 9 primary and go on to defeat Porter (sic)," referring to Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.
The "small, informal gathering" will be held at Shelly's Back Room, which calls itself "A Civilized Cigar Parlor."
About once a month since 2001, Grover Norquist has invited a top Bush administration official or a Republican congressional leader to dine with him and some 20 or 30 corporate lobbyists who help subsidize Americans for Tax Reform, the anti-tax group that Norquist heads.
The dinners at Norquist's Washington, D.C., home aren't cheap: The lobbyists pay ATR between $10,000 and $25,000 a year for the privilege of attending several of the intimate get-togethers, which have featured the likes of White House political guru Karl Rove and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, according to several lobbyists who have attended.
From time to time over the years, the K Street crowd has been joined at the dinners by other ATR supporters, including the leaders of some casino-owning Indian tribes who were top clients of one of Norquist's oldest friends, former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Representatives of the Saginaw Chippewas of Michigan, the Louisiana Coushattas, and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians were among those who either attended or helped to finance some of the Norquist-hosted soirees that were advertised as tax policy events. Moreover, some of these same tribal representatives also attended brief meetings at the White House with President Bush that Norquist has organized annually since 2001 for dozens of state legislators who have pushed anti-tax measures or signed anti-tax pledges.
This release (via email) from Alex Reese speaks for itself:
Sununu has accepted $2,250 from DCI Group, including $500 from co-founder Doug Goodyear and $250 from Douglas Davenport, both of whom recently resigned posts as top aides to John McCain amid the Myanmar scandal. [Open Secrets, accessed 5/13/08; MSNBC, 5/12/08]
Sununu also accepted $500 from DCI principal Tom Synhorst during his 2002 campaign. DCI employee James Tobin was convicted of crimes related to the phone jamming scandal, and former New Hampshire GOP Chair and convicted felon Chuck McGee said he consulted with DCI Group employee Brian McCabe during the 2002 New Hampshire phone jamming scandal. [Union Leader, 8/11/06]
Joshua Denton of Portsmouth, 26, an Iraq war veteran, says he thinks that both Obama and Hillary Clinton would be a better president than Republican nominee John McCain. He thinks that Obama is the change the country needs, along with having the best chance of beating McCain in the general election.
"My fear with Hillary was just because she is who she is -- for better or worse -- she would sink, not just lose the presidency," but Democrats in Congress, Denton said Wednesday.
We'll apparently have to wait to hear about the other three NH Edwards delegates.
Then in the afternoon Senator Clinton made something unequivocally clear on a major news network:
"Anybody who has ever voted for me or voted for Barack has much more in common in terms of what we want to see happen in our country and in the world with the other than they do with John McCain," Clinton said on CNN's "The Situation Room."
"I'm going to work my heart out for whoever our nominee is. Obviously, I'm still hoping to be that nominee, but I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that anyone who supported me ... understands what a grave error it would be not to vote for Sen. Obama."
In the evening came a surprise endorsement of John Edwards for our increasingly presumptive nominee.
(Happening right now live in Michigan. A good choice in time and place, I think. I suppose we'll use this as a reaction thread. - promoted by Dean Barker)
(CNN) - CNN has confirmed that former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards will endorse Barack Obama at a Michigan campaign event about an hour from now.
...
(Those of us who make the trip to Denver will be doing our best to bring you a vivid picture of what's going on there. You'll definitely hear more on this as the time gets closer - promoted by Laura Clawson)
CONGRATULATIONS BLUE HAMPSHIRE!
DNC Chairman Governor Dean Announces Blogs Selected For 2008 Democratic National Convention 'State Blogger Corps'
May 14, 2008
Party Chairman Notifies Selected Blogs Via Online Video Message
DENVER - As part of the Democratic National Convention Committee's (DNCC) commitment to engaging a broad spectrum of audiences in the 2008 Democratic National Convention experience using new technology and other creative means, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Howard Dean today announced the blogs selected to participate in the DemConvention State Blogger Corps during the four-day event in August. Governor Dean notified the blogs selected via an online video message available at www.DemConvention.com.
"Similar to the record-breaking voter turnout our Party has seen during the primary season, the demand for these coveted blogger positions is yet another indicator of the tremendous interest in this historic Convention," said Governor Dean. "The Internet has played a critical role in connecting Americans to elected officials and candidates seeking office. The DemConvention State Blogger Corps will continue to foster this dialogue - in all 50 of our states and our territories too - as we head towards this year's historic election and elect a Democrat to the White House."
The bottom line is: the state is now required to provide every student in every district with an adequate education. The amendment eliminates that. Instead the state will be required to spend just as much as it would cost for universal "adequacy," but can distribute the money unequally.
The legislature has already adopted a definition of "adequacy" that costs out to $3450 per student - about 38% of what the poorest schools spend today. The amendment continues the process of touching up the X-rays. It just provides more flexibility in divvying up inadequate aid.
But this is now the third special election in the House in a red district that Democrats have won. And that the NRCC has spent lots of money they don't have defending.
This literally makes my week. The nation stands ready to hold Bush's Republican Party accountable for the last eight years. Next November will be a sea change, if these three races are indicative of anything.
(And remember, a President Obama is much less effective without a filibuster-proof Senate, so we've got to reach that number, too.)
A GOP House leadership aide told Politico last week that "if we don't win in Mississippi, I think you are going to see a lot of people running around here looking for windows to jump out of."
The $1.27 million that the NRCC spent in the heavily Republican district amounted to nearly 20 percent of the committee's entire cash-on-hand. The committee has now spent more than $3 million to defend three conservative House seats, losing all three of them, and it is ill-equipped financially to compete fully in an ever-widening playing field for November.
[DNC Chair Howard Dean] -- yes, he's in trouble, in that campaign managers, candidates, are really angry with him. He has raised $74 million and spent $64 million. He says it's a long-term strategy. But what he has spent it on, apparently, is just hiring a bunch of staff people to wander around Utah and Mississippi and pick their nose. That's not how you build a party. You win elections. That's how you build a party.
When I was President of the Seacoast Shipyard Association back in the 1990s during the first serious closure threats, I suggested that our long-term strategy to keep the facility open AND active would be to explore diversification.
I wrote a "paper" as I was finishing my term on the SSA Board suggesting we look toward building the next generation of wind power turbines, high-speed mag lev trains, and military-scientific research and tourist submarines, bringing together public-private relationships.
That was at a time when it appeared we were entering an era of world peace and reducing our military. Of course, 9/11 changed our thinking, and it's clear that we have to continue to be on guard. Homeland security is important, and will be for decades. Hopefully we'll maintain a balance and find ways to make friends throughout the world, but terrorism is an ever-present threat.
The unique proposal by Congressperson Carol Shea-Porter to re-use the "old" but still "new" and certainly structurally-solid navy prison for the Air Force Cyber Command is visionary diversification at its best.
Her suggestion would bring over 500 good-paying jobs, as well as perform a vital national service since the Command works to identify and stop efforts to sabotage the Internet or hack into our military services and the Pentagon.
Locating the Command here makes special sense because of our high quality workers, the location of Pease Tradeport, and the security of the shipyard itself.
Carol Shea-Porter's innovative thinking and dedication to bringing jobs to our state is much needed. She should be thanked by all of us concerned about protecting the jobs and expanding the use of our shipyard, as well as all who want to guarantee our nation will be strong in our efforts against terrorism throughout the 21st Century.
Tomorrow at 2pm, Rep. Paul Hodes will be testifying before the joint House Judiciary Subcommittees on the still unsolved and under-investigated phonejamming crime that helped nudge John E. Sununu to victory in 2002.
