Quote of the Day
Principle -- particularly moral principle -- can never be a weathervane,
spinning around this way and that with the shifting winds of expediency.
Moral principle is a compass forever fixed and forever true.
Edward R. Lyman
Political Potpourri
One of the more interesting races is for Barack Obama's old Senate seat between GOP moderate Congressman Mark Kirk and state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias is currently under a cloud over the FDIC taking control of his family-owned Broadway Bank. The Obama Administration has notably distanced itself from Giannoulias, especially given the President's populist rhetoric against banks. Polls have been close, although I haven't seen any since the bank closure. I figure that this may be the year of a GOP comeback in Illinois given the ongoing Blagojevich circus, just as the George Ryan scandal resulted in GOP statewide wipeouts for the remainder of the 2000's.
Speaking of which, it's fascinating to see that Blago is trying to get Obama subpoenaed and insisting to anyone whom will speak to him that his wheeling-dealing is little more than business-as-usual political deal making. I don't buy it; there's no doubt there's a qualitative difference between what Blago was doing and what Florida, New York, Delaware, and Massachusetts had recently done in pushing Senate replacements. Generally speaking, there are a variety of strategies, mostly for political versus personal advantage--e.g., a strong candidate to keep the seat for the governor's party or a caretaker candidate. When Blago started shopping the nomination around for extraneous political concessions or contributions, it corrupted the process. Blago mentioned, for instance, he was willing to name Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the Senate in exchange for her father's cooperation on Blago-favored state legislation. Now I personally don't support Lisa Madigan on her current reelection bid in Illinois, but at the time she was a very credible Senate candidate running strongly against prospective candidates from either party--not to mention Blago's seat.
The Ledger has an interesting article about how the Republicans are raising serious candidates to run competitive races against at least a dozen long-term Congressmen, like Rep. Obey (D-WI).
Looking at some polls at Real Clear Politics, it looks like the GOP has a good shot at taking the 2 New Hampshire Congressional seats back and to hold retiring Judd Gregg's Senate seat, Senator Murray's (D-WA) seat is clearly a toss-up, and Campbell and Whitman seem to have momentum heading towards the GOP Senate and gubernatorial primaries--and good shots at defeating two long-time Democratic politicians, Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown respectively.
Rubio, Crist and Cheney
Add Eric Cantor (R-VA) endorsement to Marco Rubio's bizarre bandwagon effect. Granted, I don't often reference opinion columns by Obama supporters, but Democratic strategist Joy-Ann Reid has penned an interesting column entitled "Why Republicans Need Marco Rubio". She makes an interesting comparison, essentially calling him a Latino Clarence Thomas. There are, of course, a number of prominent GOP Latinos in Texas and Florida, but Marco Rubio has been willing to play up to the media conservative base. I still don't get it. Let me get this straight--the libertarian CATO Institute rated Crist the most fiscally conservative governor in America in 2008. (However, it should be noted that CATO was not happy with Crist in 2009 when he agreed to the increased cigarette tax and auto registration fees and expanded flood insurance subsidies.)
Reid points out that Rubio was hardly the media conservative dream Florida House Speaker; most of it seems to be the infamous Crist hug of Obama circulated along the conservative blogs. In fact, I have not heard a single report on Fox News report on Rubio's earmark-like spending or a fact check on the consistency of his House record with his newfound conservative ideals. But then, I never heard Fox News report that Sarah Palin actually was for funding of the Bridge to Nowhere and had secured earmark money as mayor and governor.
I'm very concerned about Crist's possible run as an independent--in part because I think he is not guaranteed a victory (two different polls show Rubio and Crist winning respectively), he will lose a lot of his endorsements, and if he loses, it may kill his career. But in theory, I want to see him do it, and if I was voting in Florida this November, I would cast my vote for Crist as either a Republican or independent. I think that closed primaries pander to extremes, which is exactly what is happening now, and you have to be able to appeal to moderates and independents to win a purple state.
As for Dick Cheney's endorsement: Let me say, Mr. Cheney, you were part of an administration which came close to doubling the federal deficit, pursued two politically dubious and divisive wars, created the first major unfunded entitlement mandates in recent history, and presided over the most invasive government intervention in decades. Haven't you done enough, Mr. Vice President? Without a George W. Bush and a Dick Cheney, there never would have been a Barack Obama. So enough already over a vote for Crist being a vote for Obama....
Political Cartoons
Chuck Asay does a good job of exposing Obama's "bipartisanship" when it comes to the stimulus bill, budget omnibus bill, federal debt ceiling, health care reform, financial overhaul reform, cap-and-trade, immigration, and....
Musical Interlude: "Child" Songs
Oak Ridge Boys, "Thank God for Kids"
The Carpenters, "Bless the Beasts and the Children"
Guns 'N Roses, "Sweet Child O' Mine"
Johnny Mathis, "When a Child Is Born"
