GOP Senator wannabe George 'Macaca' Allen asks black reporter, twice, what position he played in basketball, because, you know, he's black

Call it Macaca 2.0. (Background on Macaca here.) Read the rest of this post...

MoveOn woman kicked & stomped by 'Libertarian' Tea Baggers outside Rand Paul debate

It's starting.  The thugs are showing up at Teabagger events. Let's see if they can spin this as "disaffected loner" material — if so, this "loner" brought friends.

Thanks to Joshua Green at The Atlantic for this (h/t Ian Welsh, who wants their names published):

A Kentucky reader sends word that according to the local Fox affiliate, a young woman affiliated with MoveOn.org was brutally attacked--stomped in the head--outside the debate by a Rand Paul supporter [actually more than one].

Here's the local news video. It's short and to the point:



Thank God those were sneakers. Really ugly stuff. If a movement gives permission and makes excuses for violence, the result is violence. Willkommen.

(If you like, pay attention to how the Big Boy news handles this; watch to see if they walk too fine a line.)

GP Read the rest of this post...

Joe the Plumber running ads in support of Teabagger in MO Senate race; says Newt and Rove too 'moderate'

Some people seriously don't know when their time is up. Having said that, this can't bode well for Roy Blunt.



Yes, his opponent, teabagging state Sen. Chuck Purgason, is way behind Blunt in the polls, but so was GOP nutjob Sharron Angle in Nevada. Things change. And if Joe the Plumber is endorsing the even farther right candidate, then Blunt may start to see his numbers change. All of which is a plus for the Democratic nominee, Robin Carnahan. The more the Republicans tear each other apart, and try to out-teabag each other, the better.

Just to give you a sense of how much of a nut Purgason is (as is Joe the Plumber), check out this screen capture of his ad, in which he mocks GOP Rep. Roy Blunt, who is himself a far-right nut, for having friends who are "moderate" Republicans. Who are the moderate Republicans? Take a look:



Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, and Mike Huckabee. Read the rest of this post...

Senate election forecast from Nate

From 538.com:

Our latest Senate simulation has the chamber convening in 2011 with an average of 53.5 Democrats (counting Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders), 46.0 Republicans, and 0.5 Charlie Crists.

Read the rest of this post...

92-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd in 'serious' condition

Robert Byrd is in the hospital. He's been hospitalized several times over the past few years. But, this time, Byrd's staff is reporting that his condition is "serious."

The Senate being the Senate, any Democratic absence has an impact. And, it sure looks certain that Byrd won't be in the Senate for the vote on Wall Street reform this week:

Sen. Robert Byrd (D., W.Va), currently Congress’s longest-serving member, has been hospitalized in “serious” condition, diminishing the chances of the Senate putting the financial-overhaul bill to a vote this week.

Byrd, aged 92 and currently Congress’s longest-serving member, was admitted to a Washington area hospital late last week for what was thought to be severe dehydration and heat exhaustion brought on by this summer’s near triple-digit temperatures. He was expected to spend just a few days in the hospital, but Byrd spokesman Jesse Jacobs said in a statement on Sunday that “other conditions have developed which has resulted in his condition being described as ’serious.’”

Developing "other conditions" doesn't sound good, especially for someone so frail.

Nate Silver explains West Virginia's laws on succession. Read the rest of this post...

John Ensign is still a US Senator. Indictment coming?

Jon Ralston, Nevada's political guru, has another brutal column today on Senator John Ensign. Ralston's hearing that the DOJ has built a strong case against Ensign, who seems oblivious to the scandal and potential indictment. In fact, GOPers running for Senate in Nevada want his support. Fine. Looks like Ensign is going to be a campaign issue in 2010 -- in Nevada and other Senate races:

The department is being very deliberate in assembling a case against Ensign. But Justice has a mountain of documents and e-mails that, combined with the senator’s own admissions or statements in e-mails, would seem to amount to a formidable case. And last week’s New York Times story, showing how Ensign’s contacts with a local company (similar to several other interactions), show how far the senator was willing to go to get Hampton work, mostly while he was employed by ex-Ensign aides who had formed a lobbying/consulting firm. The structure, so to speak, is becoming more transparent all the time.

This drip-drip-drip of revelation seems to have left Ensign unfazed, like a man who is slowly drowning but believes he can rise above it — or, perhaps, deludes himself into thinking he can walk on water. But as Republicans here and in Washington play the pathetic see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil game vis-a-vis Ensign, it is becoming more obvious that their craven behavior could be self-defeating.

If Ensign gets indicted, he will become a national and state nightmare for the GOP. National Democrats will brandish him as a symbol of corruption (they may anyhow) and local Democrats will wrap the junior senator around the GOP Senate nominee’s neck, especially because Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian foolishly have said they would welcome his support. I wouldn’t even be surprised to see Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid directly go after his pal to boost his sagging fortunes. I can hear it now: “Sorry, John. But now you know how Doug Hampton feels — how it feels to be screwed over by your best friend.”

Interesting choice of words since this whole scandal started because Ensign was having an affair with the wife of his best friend, Doug Hampton, when both Hampton and his wife were working for John Ensign. It just deteriorated from there. But, again, John Ensign is still a U.S. Senator. Read the rest of this post...

US politics needs a platinum parachute leader to run for office

I hear people really like the idea of a pampered executive who walked away with $21 million despite being a failed leader. It especially goes over well during a recession and when there's little hope for an economic turnaround any time soon. Good luck with that strategy. CNN:

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is taking the initial steps to challenge California Democrat Barbara Boxer for her Senate seat, a move that could lay the groundwork for one of the most high profile and expensive contests of 2010.

Fiorina, the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company and a former surrogate for John McCain's presidential bid, filed a tax identification number and registered a campaign committee with the IRS Tuesday called "Carly for California."

"The people of California have serious concerns about job creation, economic growth and the role of government in solving problems that touch each of ourlives," Fiorina said in a statement. "I have received a great deal of encouragement to make a run for the Senate in 2010 from people across the political spectrum because these are all issues that need focused attention in Washington, D.C."

Read the rest of this post...

And, then, there were 39

This fall, Texas Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is quitting to run for Governor:

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) on Wednesday said for the first time that she is prepared to resign her Senate seat in October or November, paving the way for a May 2009 special election to replace her.

Hutchison, who would resign her seat in order to focus on campaigning for governor, said in a radio interview with a Dallas-Fort Worth station that she couldn’t stay in office and wage the kind of campaign she wanted.

So, for six or seven months anyway, the Republican caucus will be down to 39 (in 2006, there were 55 GOP Senators.)

Too bad Democrats only have 60 Senators in their caucus. Otherwise, they might be able to get some things, like health insurance reform, done. Read the rest of this post...

Kentucky's Senator Bunning to retire, setting up battle for the open seat

Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning, who has provided some great amusement with his attacks on his colleague from Kentucky, Mitch McConnell, is retiring. It wasn't unexpected. But, it sets up an intense fight for the open seat:

The open seat will likely attract Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R), who outraised the senator by a two-to-one margin last quarter. National Republicans are excited for the prospect of a Grayson candidacy, which sources have told The Hill would be announced shortly after Bunning's departure.

But Grayson will not be alone in the Republican field. He could also face former Ambassador Cathy Bailey, a wealthy former Republican National Committee member who has expressed interest in a bid and has suggested she could help finance her own campaign. Physician Rand Paul (R), the son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), is already running.

Bunning said he would not endorse a candidate in the Republican primary, though he said he hopes "a strong conservative" wins the nomination.

"The Republican Party needs more people with strong principles and convictions that can stand up to the temptations of political power that have engulfed so many of our leaders after they arrive inside the beltway," Bunning said in his statement.

On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D), the once-little known state senator who nearly upset Bunning, is already engaged in a bitter battle with Attorney General Jack Conway (D). Mongiardo began with a strong fundraising performance, but Conway easily outpaced him, raising more than $1.3 million in his first three months as a candidate.

Read the rest of this post...

UPDATED: Democratic primaries: In NY, Rep. Maloney will challenge Sen. Gillibrand. In PA, Rep. Sestak will challenge Sen. Specter.

UDPATE @ 4:31 PM via Greg Sargentwe learn that it's not "official" yet for Sestak:

But Sestak spokesperson Jonathon Dworkin tells me that in fact, Sestak has not made a final decision. Dworkin says Sestak told the paper what he’s been saying to everyone else: He’s still talking to his family about whether to run.

“He mentioned his daughter in the interview,” Dworkin said. “He hasn’t made a final decision. He’s still on the same timeline as before. That has not changed.”

Dworkin confirmed, however, that Sestak had set forth on a tour of all of Pennsylvania’s counties. But is he in the race yet?

Nope. Sorry.

__________
Two of the newest Democratic Senators, New York's Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed by Governor Paterson to take Hillary Clinton's vacant seat, and Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, who switched parties, will be facing primary challengers.

Via The Hill:

An adviser to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) confirmed Wednesday that the congresswoman will enter the state’s Senate primary against appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Paul Blank, who works with Democratic consultant Joe Trippi’s firm, said Maloney is officially in the race. Blank is set to serve as a top adviser for her Senate campaign.

"Congresswoman Maloney has made her decision,” Blank said. “She believes times are too tough and our challenges too important for politics as usual.

He added: “Congresswoman Maloney is putting together a campaign team and will make her announcement in two weeks."

And, The Hill again:

Rep. Joe Sestak (Pa.) said Wednesday he will challenge Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), becoming the second House Democrat in the past few hours seeking to unseat an incumbent Senate Democrat.

“I am going to get into the race against Arlen Specter in the Democratic race for senator,” Sestak told the Wayne Independent on Wednesday morning.

This is good for the process. Senate seats aren't inherited or bestowed upon people, although many in the Senate seem to think that's the case. Also, opportunities to run for the Senate don't happen very often. Read the rest of this post...

Poll: PA voters want a Dem primary

From Greg Sargent:

Pennsylvania Dems, by contrast, are basically giving the Dem establishment the middle finger. For some reason, they don’t seem persuaded that Specter is the best they can do. Maybe it has something to do with Specter’s record and his admission that he only became a Dem to save his political hide. Or something like that.

Read the rest of this post...

A Kennedy from Illinois?

Chris Kennedy, a son of Bobby, is reportedly thinking of running for US Senator from Illinois. He'd be competing against Alexi Giannoulias and Jan Schakowsky in the Democratic primary (well, also against Roland Burris, if he actually runs).

First off, yes, I love the Kennedys.

But.

Not to compare the Bushes to the Kennedys, but at some point you risk watering down the candidate by simply electing the name. This was the concern a number of the blogs had with Caroline Kennedy being talked about as a possible replacement for Hillary in NY. The concern was whether Caroline would be a good Senator, rather than just being a good name. And doubts are already surfacing about Chris Kennedy's ethics, and whether he's really as good a guy as his uncle, or his dad.

There's also the larger issue of the future of the party. Chris Kennedy vs. Alexi Giannoulias is also about the larger debate over Ted Kennedy vs. Barack Obama. Chris is the son of Bobby, while Alexi is the protege of Barack. Both the Senator and the President are great men, and pillars of the party. But it is an interesting point to consider whether we want to look forward to the future, or reach back to the past. In a very real way, this discussion parallels the Republicans' ongoing fixation with Reagan. In their desire not to lose the good old days, they're losing their present and their future. The party is so mired in the past that it can't reform, adapt or grow.

It saddens me that Ted Kennedy is aging, and ill. And it's disturbing to watch any dynasty so tied to your youth drift away. But a Bush, a Kennedy and a Clinton in every state? I'm just not sure I'm there yet. Read the rest of this post...

The President of the Senate met with the Democrat's 60th Senator

V.P. Joe Biden had a meeting yesterday with the Democrat's newest Senator (to-be), Al Franken. Biden said:

While Senator Amy Klobuchar is one of the hardest working members of the United States Senate, Minnesotans deserve their full representation.

Once the Minnesota Supreme Court has issued its final ruling in this case, the President and I look forward to working with Mr. Franken on building an economy for the 21st century.

Yes, the Minnesota Supreme Court, not the U.S Supreme Court, should be the final arbiter (although the Republicans know Coleman has lost. If the guy had an ounce of class, he'd concede.)

Someone needs to get this photo to Arlen Specter to remind him whose side he is on now:


(White House Photo) Read the rest of this post...

Arlen Specter is getting crushed by Pat Toomey in PA's GOP Senate primary

We haven't been paying much attention to early polls for the 2010 races, but this one really caught my eye. Wow. I knew it was going to be rough for Arlen Specter in the Republican primary in PA (which is still a year away), but it's looking really, really bad. He's getting crushed by former Congressman Pat Toomey. Just crushed according to the latest Rasmussen Poll:

Incumbent Senator Arlen Specter trails former Congressman Pat Toomey by 21 points in an early look at Pennsylvania’s 2010 Republican Primary. Fifty-one percent (51%) of Republican voters statewide say they’d vote for Toomey while just 30% would support Specter.

Specter is viewed favorably by 42% of Pennsylvania Republicans and unfavorably by 55%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state. Those are stunningly poor numbers for a long-term incumbent senator. Specter was first elected to the Senate in 1980.

Toomey, who served in the House from 1999 to 2005, earns positive reviews from 66% and negative comments from just 19%.

Republicans are really sick of Specter. He's in big trouble. This is a Republican primary re-match and Specter barely beat Toomey in 2004. Hard to see how Arlen recovers enough to keep his seat. Specter already tried veering right by flip-flopping on the Employee Free Choice Act. That strategy didn't help with the right wingers and caused him to lose support from labor. Arlen's got no friends. Maybe he should reconsider that offer to join the Democratic party after all. Read the rest of this post...

Nice Greek boy raises over a million for Senate race in Illinois

I'm told I'd referred to Alexi Giannoulias, who will be running for Obama's Senate seat in Illinois in two years, as a "nice Greek boy." It's something my yiayia (that's "grandma" for you Americans) would have said, trilling her Rs all the while, so it's entirely possible.

I actually met Alexi at the Greek Independence Day event at the White House a few weeks ago (that's him, above, shaking Obama's hand), and he is a nice Greek boy. He's also a great politician, a good Democrat, and on his way to becoming the next Senator from Illinois (Cillizza at the Post is already calling Giannoulias the Democratic frontrunner in the race.) I hope you'll consider supporting Alexi's race by donating to his campaign via the box to the left.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

He's still just at the "exploratory committee" stage, but Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has already raised $1.1 million in the 28 days since he announced he was "exploring" a run for U.S. Senate.

He is eyeing the seat formerly held by his friend and basketball court partner, President Obama.

"It's actually unbelievable on two counts: The sum of $1.1 million, in and of itself, is unbelievable, but the fact that it's in the worst political fund-raising environment that, I think, any of us have ever seen, makes it all the more extraordinary and impressive," said political activist and fund-raiser Michael Bauer....

Giannoulias had hoped to raise half a million dollars after announcing his exploratory bid March 3 to make him appear the prohibitive favorite in next year's Democratic primary for the seat. The amount of contributions surpassed his expectations, he said.

Read the rest of this post...

Lots of Senate campaign updates

OR: The Chamber of Commerce (yep, you read that right) released a poll showing Gordon Smith barely squeaking by Jeff Merkley 38-34.

AK: The good folks at MyDD continue their series profiling the MyDD Road to 60 list.

CO: Remember this ad from the DSCC? Well, turns out it was right on - tonight Schaffer's benefiting from a big fundraiser sponsored by the Ukrainian-Americans for Bob Schaffer 2008.

NC: Shock! Apparently being a big-name Republican isn't such an asset when everyone hates Republicans.

TX: Rick Noriega has a great post on the HuffPo talking about his two weeks training soldiers.

GA (1 and 2): Jim Martin launches his first ad of the cycle while Kos talks about his chances in the Hill.

NJ: Lautenberg is up 45-28 on Dick Zimmer. Read the rest of this post...

Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) big bad gay porn moment

Conservative, and somewhat dim, US Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has a new campaign ad out. It's, um, a bit odd, to say the least. Though my favorite part is the guy doing the voice over. His voice is so absurdly baritone, and reeking of mock gravitas, that he sounds like he's doing a gay porn flick (Oh yeah, Big Bad John, baby, yeah, you like that?). Seriously, watch it and enjoy. (From the DSCC, they also have Jon Stewart's take on the commercial - oh, apparently he makes a gay joke too :-)



We've set up an ActBlue page to help Rick Noriega defeat Cornyn in November. Read the rest of this post...

Updates on various Senate campaigns

OR: Gordon Smith apologizes for his comments on polygamy and gay marriage. He's still a pig. He's in favor of adding gay-bashing language to the United States Constitution. You don't come back from betrayal like that. Ever.

NH: Want proof Sununu is nothing more than a puppet for the Bush administration? Blue Hampshire has the goods

MN: Franken is going on the offense on Iraq

NC: Obama spells trouble for Liddy Dole (subscription required)

NE: While George Bush is haunting Mike Johanns

MS: Bush is going to be in Mississippi raising money for Roger Wicker on July 1

NJ: For Republicans, New Jersey is such a tease

TX: Big John just gets funnier and funnier Read the rest of this post...

Various updates on Senate races

MN: Al Franken launches a new TV ad about investing in America instead of Iraq

CO: Gas prices are a big issue this cycle and Big Oil Bob Schaffer might be regretting his close ties to the oil and gas industry

KS: With results that line up with Slattery's own internal poll, Rasmussen has Roberts under 50%

TX: The contrast between these two candidates is stark

LA: Landrieu is looking good in a couple of recent polls

VA: Yep, Mark Warner is ahead

SC: A nominee has been picked in the South Carolina Read the rest of this post...

Even for a cynic, Harry Reid is optimistic about Dem. Senate prospects

Yesterday morning, I attended the Maria Leavey Breakfast with Majority Leader Harry Reid. I brought my Flip camera to get video -- and I did (except the sound didn't come through.) So, I waited for the transcript before I posted on the event.

Reid was his usual blunt self, answering questions on the record for the reporters and bloggers at the meeting. He didn't hold back. Nico Pitney posted one account here.

Couple of great lines from Reid. On Republican Senators:

First of all folks understand that the Republicans in the Senate do not represent mainstream Republicanism in the country. Mainstream
Republicanism in the country is moderate. The Republicans in the Senate are not moderates, with the one exception of Olympia Snowe are not moderates, they're right wing. And that includes some people who in the past have been moderates, someone you'd think like Arlen Specter. I talk about Arlen Specter in my book briefly and say that he's with us when we don't need him. (Laughter) Which is true, he never votes with us on an important vote. The only one who does is Olympia Snowe.

And on FISA:

As you know the Senate passed a bill that granted immunity, I and the majority of the Democrats opposed that, but there were still enough Democrats to join with the Republicans to pass it. I personally don't believe that the phone companies should have immunity and I certainly don't think Bush and Cheney should have immunity. And that's where we are. They are trying to work something out. These are public hearings, public negotiations most of the time, not all of the time, but remember this is not going to happen unless we have Chairman Conyers and others sign off on it, otherwise you can't get it done. So I think we have some good people involved in this. Hopefully we'll work something out on it. As I said, I think the mad rush for immunity was not intense as it was.

For me, the best moment was the last question asking the Majority Leader to handicap the upcoming Senate races.

After explaining how well all the incumbents are doing, Reid turned to the challengers and open seats. In his own words:

We're ahead in Virginia, I mean Virginia's not even close. We're ahead in New Mexico. We'll probably win in Colorado. We're very concerned about that state always even though Mark Udall's way ahead, because the Republicans, there's more than 100,000 more Republicans than Democrats in that state. It's changing significantly, you have a Democratic legislature, a Democratic governor so we're doing OK in Colorado and I think Udall will win. As we speak we're ten points ahead of Stevens in Alaska. Mayor Begich is in town today, I'm going to go to an event for him later on this morning. We have a primary in Oregon. We believe that Merkley who's speaker of the Assembly, can beat Smith.

We believe that Elizabeth Dole is going to be beaten. The niece of Lawton Chiles, governor and senator from Florida, who is running, she's a state senator, and she's only two or three points behind her right now and I think she's going to win that race, she meaning Kay Hagan.

We have, we got poll results back out of Texas, we're only four points behind in Texas.

We're tied in Mississippi as we speak.

We just have a lot of places to look that are very important. I believe that Maine is going to be our Rhode Island this time. I think Sue Collins who has favorability not nearly as high as Chaffee's, but once Allen starts tying her to what Bush has done Maine which has a very progressive state, are, they're going to turn her out

So we're going to pick up some seats I've only gone over a few of them. We're as I, I think I told you we're competitive as I speak in 11 seats, so I hope that we'll pick up a number, a few of them. I'm kind of a cynic about everything that way I'm not disappointed as often. So I think we'll pick up four seats, five seats.

Let's review what's in play: Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi and Maine. Sounds good to me. I'd throw in New Hampshire, Minnesota and Nebraska (after Scott Kleeb wins tonight), too. Read the rest of this post...