Political bits II
I guess after the immigration debacle, the Republicans have given up on Hispanic outreach. Token chairman of the Republican Party, Sen. Mel Martinez, is stepping aside.
(Politico) Reflecting the broader trend, "At the end of September, the DCCC reported over $28 million cash-on-hand, and have only $2.9 million in debt. By contrast, the NRCC reported only $1.6 million cash on hand, with $3.9 million in debt."
(TheHill) Inevitability pays off for Clinton who is beginning to win the money race among DC insiders.
(Tribune) Patrick Fitzgerald is getting married.
And, has anyone noticed that the Republican conversation has shrunk to include only Giuliani and Romney? The Romney campaign has been successful in pushing Thompson out. Now people are talking about evangelicals finding harbor with Romney....
The Family Research Council (Dobson) meeting this weekend could mark a winnowing in the Republican primary.
(Later: Let's remember that earlier this week Giuliani was trying so hard to pick a fight with Clinton, presumably to go into this FRC meeting repeating his "electability" argument. The Clinton camp didn't play along.)
(Politico) Reflecting the broader trend, "At the end of September, the DCCC reported over $28 million cash-on-hand, and have only $2.9 million in debt. By contrast, the NRCC reported only $1.6 million cash on hand, with $3.9 million in debt."
(TheHill) Inevitability pays off for Clinton who is beginning to win the money race among DC insiders.
(Tribune) Patrick Fitzgerald is getting married.
And, has anyone noticed that the Republican conversation has shrunk to include only Giuliani and Romney? The Romney campaign has been successful in pushing Thompson out. Now people are talking about evangelicals finding harbor with Romney....
The Family Research Council (Dobson) meeting this weekend could mark a winnowing in the Republican primary.
(Later: Let's remember that earlier this week Giuliani was trying so hard to pick a fight with Clinton, presumably to go into this FRC meeting repeating his "electability" argument. The Clinton camp didn't play along.)
posted by mikevotes at
1:52 PM
7 Comments:
"The Romney campaign has been successful in pushing Thompson out."
I thought Thompson has been successful in pushing Thompson out....
Romney will be the GOP candidate. He's a nice clean white guy and an amoral shark of a candidate. He'll have broad appeal to white-bread America. He'll be tough to beat, especially if Clinton is the Dem nominee.
I think Edwards is the anti-Romney, but Obama would do well I think. Dodd would make a great leader, but I fear American superficiality will work against him. He lacks a certain youthful vigor at one end of the spectrum and he doesn't exude the lofty elder-statesman vibe at the other.
Just rambling.
By
-epm, at 2:46 PM
Good point about Thompson. It definitely wasn't the steak, it was the fizzle.
We've already had the Romney disagreement, so I won't go there. Frankly, he'd be my choice of the top four.
My opinion on Edwards is that he's too far left. The Dems have the center right now so the center candidate is likely to do better.
And, I know you like Dodd, but, being the superficial American I am, I find him kinda creepy. Good Senator, no huge problems with his positions, but there's just something about him.
Rambling back.
By
mikevotes, at 5:31 PM
You may be right about Edwards being too left for the general, though I don't think it's insurmountable. We'll see both candidates -- whoever they are -- move to the center and slightly away from their bases after the conventions... maybe sooner. More importantly, I think Edwards comes up shallow in foreign affairs and security issues.
Obama, to me, seems to have a fuller developed grasp of these issues, is comfortable on the subjects, and has a deeper bench when it comes to advisers on such things.
I don't see the "creepiness" of Dodd. But I'm a Yankee, so maybe that's it :)
Clinton... I'll vote for her if she's the nominee, and I think she'd be a strong leader, but as I said before I just see her bringing all that much fresh air. Is she really committed to restoring a balance of powers, the rule of law and the Constitution? Or does she really want to use these new-found executive powers for "good" instead of "evil?"
Now, tell me more about why you'd like to see Romney as the GOP candidate. I apologize for not paying attention. Is it the Morman thing or the "I'm not a social liberal... anymore" issue? Do you think he'd be a weak candidate in the general? Why? I think I have some ideas, but I'd rather not simply assume.
By
-epm, at 8:32 PM
I hope this isn't stepping on your candidate or someone else's, but I think you're use of the word "light" to describe Edwards seems right on.
I like the guy, but he doesn't seem to have a heft on the big stage. What's weird is that I remember watching him on CSPAN in '04, and his small group, retail appearances were phenomenal, but once you step him away from the audience a little, his connection disappears. (Experience with juries?)
Obama does have a better team, but really, I think it's his media shop that has been so phenomenal. They have crafted these populist images of him that brought him from nowhere to second. But they can't seem to make the next transition.
With Clinton, I'll say what I always say, she's really smart, really capable, possibly the best pre-president experience in the field, and could step in as a strong functioning office holder with her bench of appointments already lined up and knowing the system.
And, Dodd, I don't know. It's part yankee. It's part 60 year old with infants. It's part the issues he tends to emerge on. He's not generally on the Senate's A team in response. I don't know.
As for Romney, If I had to pick from the Republican field, he'd be my choice as much by the egatives of the others. Giuliani's a little fascist. Thompson is dangerously unqualified. I'd like McCain except for his whole "blood through the middle east" forever thing.
So, it's Romney. I don't think he'll do anything on the social issues. I think he'd make a competent organizational leader.
I don't want to be president, but if I had to choose....
By
mikevotes, at 9:21 PM
Are you saying that if Romney get the nomination you like it because if elected president you think things wouldn't be all that bad? Or are you saying if Romney get the nomination you like it because the Dems have a good chance of winning in the general?
By
-epm, at 6:58 PM
I'm saying A although I believe B to be true.
If I had to choose among the big four Republicans to serve as president, Romney would be my choice, but, yeah, if nominated, I don't think he wims.
By
mikevotes, at 9:07 PM
Thanks, Mike.
By
-epm, at 8:08 AM
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