OK, with the weekend one bit bundle of chaos, here's a ton of short takes to get me through the day ...
Charlie Stenholm gets endorsed by BIPAC - make of it what you will. BIPAC typically supports GOP candidates, but even the most stridently partisan group will occassionally look out for those on the other side that they can support. Hence some Dem groups occassionally supporting Jim Leach in the House of Arlen Specter in the Senate. Given that the race is contested against a GOP incumbant, though, its a good sign. Somewhat non-surprisingly, I suppose, the same group has endorsed Pete Sessions over Martin Frost.
Bush Speaks Tonight - Trying to keep an open mind on this one. The two biggest things I'm looking for are his willingness to suggest a few new approaches combined with a willingness to admit that a few things just haven't gone as planned ... second is that the PR about a "generational commitment" remains at the forefront, as opposed to overtures about a quick pullout. Just a nagging hunch at this point, but having seen a bit more vocal isolationist bent even within the GOP and an eagerness to see some troops come home sooner rather than later, I've got to think that there's going to be a bitter disappointment for many between 6/30 and election day if troops remain over there while the impression is given that they'll start to head home.
Its a tough line to stick to, admittedly. There's a growing sense of impatience that we're not seeing things develop as we were told they likely would, so there has to be a clear sense of getting from where we are now to a safer, stable, democracy in Iraq ... eventually. A slew of ideas coming forth from the pundit gallery as of late, though. More on that when I update commentary of my own on the speech.
Kerry Broadens Scope of His Pitch - A most encouraging read on the state of the Kerry camp ... at least from the viewpoint of those of us in or around the middle of the great political divide. Extra refreshing to read of Kerry being a bit critical of himself in watching prior episodes of foot-in-mouth situations. As much as I hate collecting hobby horses for my own sake, the idea of Kerry-McCain is just growing stronger and stronger in my mind with each passing day. While I still have my reservations of Kerry (particularly as long as Bob Shrum is around him), he's in a unique and enviable position to truly carve out his own message within the party, ala (dare I suggest it) John Kennedy - a progressiveness that transcends the merely liberal chattering class and unites the moderate, populists, and liberals alike. Its a lofty, possibly stratospheric goal ... but if he comes out from the Convention with the right message, he's got it within his ability. Nominating a bi-partisan ticket would be a great means of imparting that message in and of itself. Worth noting that Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska was hit up for his take on the Veep spot. That's likely the next best thing to a McCain that I can think of. But my own preference is noted in my own purchase of a Kerry-McCain campaign button over the weekend. Hope is being actively kept alive in these quarters.
Richard Lugar @ Tufts - Read this speech! The shame of it is that it wasn't made a few years ago, but I'll take it for what its worth at present.
A Party Still Trying to Figure It Out - For another side of the coin, this is a great read by the author of "Rise of the Vulcans" regarding the situation on this side of the aisle in regards to foreign policy. Mann raises several good points. Problem is, I think its easy to say that after the primary campaign, the later Kerry comes out with any prescriptions, the better it'll serve him politically. To date, he's made a few and to wit, Bush has carried out a handful of those very ideas ... namely, making efforts to internationalize the Iraq effort. Still, its worth calling Kerry out on this one to at least get the questions on the table for Kerry to address at some point in time (soon).
The statewide shuffle continues - More namedropping, and I'm somewhat proud to suggest I called a few of these (sorta). Steve Ogden's name is dropped for Lt. Guv. You read it here first, the Star Tele follows. See how that works ;-) (yes, I did indulge in grand delusions from time to time ... deal with it). Add State Rep. Charlie Geren to the list of potentials for Ag Commish & State Sen. Todd Staples to the same list. Staples has been mentioned elsewhere, Geren's interest is new to me. FWIW, a Lt. Guv race between Ogden and Strayhorn does the same as Eckels vs Strayhorn in my mind ... it ends with Strayhorn off the ballot in November. Ogden v Eckels v Strayhorn may well go to a runoff. If it doesn't Strayhorn survives courtesy of name ID. If it goes the extra round, the GOP faithful kill their own and Strayhorn is once more dead in the water. In convo with other political types over the weekend, the party switching rumors are still ever-present. Those odds might not be as low as I had suspected they were lately (but still perhaps in the low 2-digit range). Without a doubt, if Carole DOES make the switch, she needs some serious political handling that is failing her as of late. If Charlie Stenholm or John Sharp are too busy to advise her, someone pass on my number. I can't promise a win, but I can promise to make it entertaining.
Sharpstown Democrats - is now up and running. Saturday was a full day of political events, with a meeting to hammer out the constitution & bylaws for this group, and then to a Senate District event that was rather productive as well (although far too long and far too boring at points). Still, the funnest part is always the socializing and networking. I probably picked up more useful info during the breaks and after the meeting as I did during. Par for the course, though, and I suspect others there may have felt they got more out of it than I.
Beer and licorice diet bad for health - Just in case you were wondering ...
Democratic State Convention Update - John Edwards and Bill Richardson will be on tap for the big names. Although excitement abounds about either of them being named for the Veep spot prior to the convention, my own preference is noted above.
Sidenote of frivolity ... Via BOR comes this quiz, picking your ideal match for Senator. I'm noting a distinct bias on Hollings as both I and Karl-T end up with him at the top of our lists. Worth noting that there were no questions on free trade, which likely would have offed Fritz from the top spot. But then again, it might be a saving grace that Hell Miller isn't atop my list. I credit the high showing of Biden to the importance I place on national security, Bayh to the conservative positions taken in the quiz, and Reid ... I have no clue. Clearly, though, Joe is too far down on this list.
1: Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (South Carolina) (100%)
2: Evan Bayh (Indiana) (100%)
3: Zell Miller (Georgia) (97%)
4: Harry Reid (Nevada) (91%)
5: Joseph Biden (Delaware) (91%)
6: Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas) (86%)
7: Thomas Daschle (South Dakota) (83%)
8: C. William "Bill" Nelson (Florida) (81%)
9: John Breaux (Louisiana) (78%)
10: Charles E. "Chuck" Schumer (New York) (72%)
11: Christopher Dodd (Connecticut) (70%)
12: Hillary Rodham Clinton (New York) (64%)
13: John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV (West Virginia) (62%)
14: Max Baucus (Montana) (56%)
15: Patrick Leahy (Vermont) (54%)
16: Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia) (51%)
17: Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut) (48%)
18: John F. Kerry (Massachusetts) (45%)
19: Dianne Feinstein (California) (43%)
20: Daniel Inouye (Hawaii) (40%)
21: Jon Corzine (New Jersey) (40%)
22: Richard "Dick" Durbin (Illinois) (37%)
23: Tom Harkin (Iowa) (37%)
24: Robert "Bob" Graham (Florida) (35%)
25: Edward "Ted" Kennedy (Massachusetts) (32%)
Comments
I hear things come in threes. Hollings was numero uno on my results, as well!
Posted by: tim delaney | May 24, 2004 06:43 PM
"Clearly, though, Joe is too far down on this list."
Joe-mentum!
Posted by: Jim D | May 24, 2004 11:06 PM