Will she? Won’t she? Still reading the tea leaves…
Is Sarah Palin getting the kind of press that makes for viable presidential campaigns? Maybe not, and her critics appear to be increasingly of a conservative stripe.
The Mama of Mama Grizzlies proved to be a fierce campaigner on the 2010 midterm election trail, and she continues to command an army of devoted supporters, particularly among members of the Tea Party movement.
But winning the White House requires an ability to attract many, many independent voters. And two months after the Arizona shootings, and her use of the charged term “blood libel” against critics of her gun-toting rhetoric, Palin seems to be having trouble convincing influential conservatives to take her seriously as a seaworthy candidate.
“She’s becoming Al Sharpton, Alaska edition,” says the headline of a POLITICO article that identifies the Republican 2008 vice presidential nominee with a politics of grievance and group identity that betrays conservative principles. And who are these critics? Conservative columnist George Will… former Bush strategist Peter Wehner… Manhattan Institute analyst Heather Mac Donald…
Not exactly the Lamestream Media.
Then there’s Fox News jefe Roger Ailes. According to New York Magazine, Palin sought Ailes’ advice after the January shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords unleashed a deluge of criticism over her use of rifle cross-hairs to identify vulnerable Democratic congressional districts, including Giffords’, on a 2010 campaign map.
New York Magazine says Ailes told the former Alaska governor to lie low and not inject herself into the story. But Palin didn’t take that advice, and now has Ailes’ displeasure and slumping poll numbers, not only with the public but with political insiders as well.
Is deficit debate a new political dawn?
Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles think it may be a new day in American politics, one where politicans who hike taxes and alter Social Security stay in office.
Simpson, a former Republican senator, tells MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that he sees evidence of change whenever he strolls through an airport: “I can tell you, we used to get lots of signals. I get more thumbs up now than other digits.”
The pair, co-chairs of President Barack Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, have proposed cutting the U.S. budget deficit by reducing defense spending, eliminating tax breaks, hiking the gasoline tax and altering Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Those kinds of measures have been a presciption for political suicide up to now, although the recommendations call for lower tax rates overall.
But with voters agonizing over joblessness, the deficit and growing economic powers like China, Simpson and Bowles believe the public wants to hear straight talk about the country’s problems and the steps needed to set things straight.
“Congress people used to believe if they came up here they’d get punished for making tough decisions. I think it’s just the opposite today,” Bowles says. “They will be severely penalized if they take a walk and don’t make these tough decisions and don’t get real.”
Simpson warns specifically against a current argument that says you can eliminate the deficit by banning earmarks, attacking waste, fraud and abuse, and scaling back foreign assistance.
Congress gets ready for lame duck, and it’s not even Thanksgiving
Congress returns next week for that peculiar order of business known as a lame-duck session. It’s a post-election gathering where lawmakers who lost re-election get to take any final votes, while newcomers who won in the Nov. 2 midterms have to sit it out.
The hot item to watch will be whether extending the Bush-era tax cuts will fly, but don’t expect any Peking duck, as legislation on China’s currency is unlikely to be on the menu. (Hey, it’s Friday).
All the duck talk got us to revisit the origin of the phrase “lame duck.”
It’s British! And it wasn’t even about politics.
The phrase originated in the London Stock Market, referring to investors who couldn’t pay their debts. The following are some citations at The Phrase Finder.
– In Horace Walpole’s Letters to Sir Horace Mann, 1761, there is: “Do you know what a Bull, and a Bear, and a Lame Duck are?”
– In 1771, David Garrick, in Prologue to Foote’s Maid of Bath writes: ”Change-Alley bankrupts waddle out lame ducks!”
Bachmann steps aside, avoids House Republican-Tea Party tussle
There will be no showdown at the GOP corral. (For now anyway).
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, a Tea Party potentate, decided to step out of the ring . And so evaporated the potential for a high-profile internal duel for House Republican Conference chair, the fourth highest position.
Bachmann in July started the Tea Party Caucus as the conservative movement was gaining momentum ahead of the November elections. Republicans seized control of the House of Representatives in those midterms which also brought wins to Tea Party candidates who will want to flex their muscles in the new Congress.
But Bachmann’s decision has staved off what could have been high-level drama when Republicans pick their leaders next week.
(We don’t know yet whether there was any behind-the-scenes gentlepersons agreement as is often the case on Capitol Hill, or whether it was simply a realistic look at her prospects for winning).
In her statement last night, Bachmann said ”Jeb Hensarling has my enthusiastic support” because the Texas congressman had demonstrated a commitment to limited government, reduced spending, and lower taxes — all positions promoted by the Tea Party movement.
Hensarling said he was humbled to earn the support of his dear friend. “Michele Bachmann is a committed movement conservative whose effective voice played an important role in America’s decision to trust House Republicans once again,” he said.
It’s becoming clear that the Republicans used the tea party to get their despondent right wing base fired up with fiery rhetoric, fear and outright lies. Now, that the election is over they will push put them back in the closet and go back to running things the way they have been for the last 30 years. Welcome back boys….
Washington Extra – Down but not out
How the Democrats could have done with those numbers a week ago, or more precisely how they could have done with three or four months of numbers like that. The U.S. economy created a net 151,000 jobs in October, hiring hitting its fastest pace in six months. It is a sign that the economy is regaining momentum after a desperately sluggish summer, and might have lifted President Barack Obama’s mood a little too as he makes the long trip to India.
They were subjected to some bitter attacks from their opponents, and even had their detractors within their two parties. Both suffered cruel defeats this week, but if you thought you had seen the back of Nancy Pelosi and Christine O’Donnell, think again. The Republican from Delaware, who ended her remarkably upbeat concession speech with an invocation to have a “party”, has already announced she is pursuing a book deal and will still be fighting against the Democrats. Shades of Sarah Palin perhaps.
Pelosi, meanwhile, says she now wants her old job back, that of House Minority leader. Defeated or not, who would bet against her?
Obama, O’Donnell, and Pelosi – down, but definitely not out
Here are our top stories from Washington today…
Obama heads to Asia, hopes to deliver on jobs
The president received some encouraging news just before he left Washington: The government reported faster-than-expected payroll growth, although the unemployment rate remained steady at 9.6 percent. Obama called for “putting politics aside” in brief remarks at the White House. “We can’t spend the next two years mired in gridlock. Other countries like China aren’t standing still so we can’t stand still either. We’ve got to move forward,” Obama said.
What wilderness? Republicans emerge from elections ready to charge
Republicans have emerged from the political wilderness and they’re wasting no time laying down markers.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell particularly sounds like he’s looking for bear, not mincing words in his speech at the Heritage Foundation today.
Never mind that his party is still in the minority in the Senate and would need support from Democrats and the president to get anything enacted, McConnell appears ready to lay down the law.
“The White House has a choice: they can change course, or they can double down on a vision of government that the American people have roundly rejected,” McConnell said. “If the administration wants cooperation, it will have to begin to move in our direction.”
Soon-to-be House Speaker John Boehner, who will actually lead a Republican majority, offers his thoughts in “Pillars of a New Majority” and a letter to his colleagues that says “the people have been clear: the job-killing spending binge in Washington must end, and Congress must change.”
Our congressional correspondent Donna Smith reports that Washington analysts say Republicans feel they will be able to force Democrats to accept spending cuts without compromising on taxes.
It remains to be seen whether they will go along with the White House offer to compromise on the question of extending tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush and which expire at the end of the year.
This is not the first time that the Americans have been lumbered with a President who is not able to walk straight with a chewing gum. Remember LBJ, another democrat?
Rex Minor
Washington Extra – Chastened, humbled… and shellacked
It was a subdued and chastened president who took the podium for his post-election news conference today. His tone flat, his eyes often downcast, his smile largely absent, Obama admitted the election results were “humbling.” At first, he tried to pin the blame on the tepid economic recovery, but as the questions ground on, he took more and more responsibility for the defeat on himself. For setting a bad tone with business, for not making enough progress on the economy, for failing to change the way Washington works.
Yet there was no contrition about the policies he pursued. Perhaps this was not the right venue for that, perhaps history will prove him right, but one had the feeling the president believed just as firmly as ever in the policies he had so painstakingly worked out in his long Oval Office deliberations. The Democrats who lost on Tuesday, he said, had already contacted him to say they had no regrets, because they felt “we were doing the right thing.”
Finally, Obama paused for reflection when Reuters correspondent Matt Spetalnick asked how he responded to the charge he was “out of touch” with voters’ economic pain, if he was now going to change his leadership style. His answer seemed to give a window into the human side of a president often described as aloof.
“You know, there is an inherent danger in being in the White House and being in the bubble,” he said. “I mean, folks didn’t have any complaints about my leadership style when I was running around Iowa for a year and they got a pretty good look at me, up close and personal, and they were able to lift the hood and kick the tires. And, you know, I think they understood that my story was theirs.”
“ I might have a funny name. I might, you know, have lived in some different places, but the values of hard work and responsibility and honesty and looking out for one another that had been instilled in them by their parents, those were the same values that I took from my mom and my grandparents. And so, you know, the track record has been that when I’m out of this place, that’s not an issue. When you’re in this place, it is hard not to seem removed.”
In the end Obama said he had been on the receiving end of a “shellacking,” a version of the “thumpin’” Bush said he had received in 2006, a thumpin’ orchestrated by then Democratic campaign committee chief Rahm Emanuel.
Whether the president can escape the White House “bubble” and reconnect with the American people is going to be one of the most important and interesting questions of the second half of his presidency. This, just as much as working with Republicans, will be one of his greatest challenges.
The elected leaders akways forget that time is the only commodity they cannot buy in the market. Let us simply recall the commitments he uttered to the American people in support of his election.
The tortured camp in the USA has still not been closed. Any other President coulhave done away with the illegal concentration camp in a one month period. In my opinion he is incompetent for the job, never mind his rhetoric!
Rex Minor
Arizona sends a Quayle back to Washington
The famous Quayle name is back in politics. Ben Quayle, the son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, won a comfortable victory in Arizona’s strongly Republican Third Congressional District.
In his first run for office, the 33-year-old beat back a challenge from conservative Democrat John Hulburd to win the seat vacated by veteran Republican Rep. John Shadegg by a nearly 12-point margin.
His father served under senior President George Bush, and is perhaps best remembered for famously misspelling the word “potato” while campaigning in 1992.
In a brief victory speech at a hotel in downtown Phoenix late Tuesday, Quayle tipped his hat to voter anger at soaring public deficits which helped the Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and clinch victory for him.
“When I decided to run for office … I saw our country being taken down a dangerous path where opportunities for future generations would be minimized,” Quayle, flanked by his wife Tiffany, told supporters. “But now tonight we actually have let our collective voice be heard, and tonight we are going to turn that path around and put us going in the right direction,” he added, promising to work hard to meet voters’ expectations.
Quayle, who runs a small investment company, had taken flak during the campaign over postings he made several years ago for a racy website in Scottsdale, and an ad stridently declaring President Barack Obama to be the “worst president in history.” He was also criticized for his age and lack of experience, although Arizona Republicans furious at Washington incumbents said they saw merit in electing a newcomer. “My hope is that, as he is an untried politician, he won’t behave like the people who are in there time-after-time, and that he’ll give a new look to the Republican Party,” said retiree Lois Andrews, 68, who cast her vote for Quayle in the Third District which spans north Phoenix and prosperous Paradise Valley. Democrats took a hammering in Arizona, where Representatives Harry Mitchell and Ann Kirkpatrick lost their House seats, and Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords were clinging on to razor thin leads on Wednesday with districts still to report. They saw little to celebrate in sending Quayle to Washington. “I think somebody just pushed him out there because of his name,” said John Chiazza, 62, a registered Democrat in the Phoenix valley.
“He’s too fresh … He’s doesn’t have any sense of what’s going on. I don’t think he knows what he’s getting into.”
Christine O’Donnell’s parting words: “Let’s Party!”
It was probably one of the most upbeat political concession speeches.
Tea Party favorite and Republican Christine O’Donnell, who lost the Delaware Senate race, began her concession speech by declaring victory and ended it with a very uplifting “Let’s Party!”
There was no sign of wear-and-tear from a campaign in which she felt a need to declare ”I’m not a witch” in an ad, and was called a “nut job” by Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain.
Democrat Christopher Coons won the Senate seat once held by Vice President Joe Biden. Although O’Donnell lost, other Tea Party favorites like Rand Paul in Kentucky and Marco Rubio in Florida won their Senate races.
But in making her exit, O’Donnell was all smiles and positive energy.
“We were victorious because the Delaware political system will never be the same. That’s a great thing,” she said.
“And that’s a good thing. Our voices were heard, and we’re not going to be quiet now. This is just the beginning. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” she said.
Of course she says ‘let’s party’. She got exactly what she wanted. With all this national attention she can now go cash in like Sarah P. She’ll get paid to speak at tea party events, be a fox news contributor and how far can a stop on dancing with the stars or one of those religious channels be? She will probably wind up with her own show right after Jimmy Swaggart. God bless America.
Washington Extra – T minus 4
There’s something about the number four.
It’s FOUR days to the midterm elections which still leaves plenty of room for last-minute commotion.
For example, in the Florida (yes, Florida) three-way Senate race, former President Bill Clinton ended up having to issue this statement today: “I didn’t ask Kendrick to leave the race, nor did Kendrick say that he would.”
Comedian Jon Stewart caps off his weeklong visit to Washington, which included the interview with President Barack Obama on “The Daily Show,” with his Rally4Sanity (there’s that FOUR) on Saturday.
And then on Sunday, the two former Presidents Bush will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in Game FOUR of the World Series.
Since the younger Bush was part-owner of the Texas Rangers, there’s little doubt which team he’s rooting for – hint, it’s probably not the San Francisco Giants. Of course, Sunday is also Halloween so beware of the FOUR pounds of leftover candy…
Here are our top stories from Washington today…
Oh that’s some harsh sarcasm DrJJ