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| BLOG ARCHIVE: DECEMBER 2005
ABRAMOFF
SCANDAL. There must be lots of very nervous people on
Capitol Hill this weekend -- elected officials and key GOP staffers
alike. According to numerous news sources, SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Lawmakers,
a bipartisan site that blogs about elected bloggers. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Happy New Year to all! (Shameless Plug:
Check out my eBay
auctions of various campaign buttons -- particularly if you
collect locals or third party items (the "Titus 2000"
Constitution Party pin is incredibly rare). We've placed 12 lots
online already, and will post a few more before the weekend is
over.) TEXAS.
Candidate filing closes in NEW
YORK. Even as Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi edges
closer to a gubernatorial Democratic primary challenge to Attorney
General Eliot Spitzer, a new poll shows he should probably forget
about it. Suozzi is said to be prodded by US Senator Chuck Schumer
(D), a Spitzer personal foe within the NY Dems, to make the primary
challenge. A new SIenna College poll out this week shows Spitzer
would currently defeat Suozzi by a whopping landslide of 72% to
8%. Without hours of the release of the poll, Schumer backed away
from Suozzi's potential candidacy. Despite reports of Schumer's
behind the scenes activity on behalf of Suozzi, including trying
to collect financial pledges for him, Schumer told the Albany
Times-Union he is now "too busy" with his duties
in DC as head of the DSCC to get involoved in the primary. Schumer
vowed he would stay out of the primary race and make no endorsement,
instead focusing his efforts of helping the Dems regain majority
control of the US Senate. Spitzer is a solid favorite to win the
open gubernatorial race over whomever wins the GOP nomination. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Political
Graveyard.
Despite the morbid-sounding name, lots of useful research info
here. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Have at it. Also, FYI, check out my
eBay
auctions of various campaign buttons. ARIZONA.
A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Governor Janet Napolitano (D)
remains in very good shape to win re-election next year. Napolitano
led GOP activist and former state employee Don Goldwater -- nephew
of the late US Senator Barry Goldwater -- by a vote of 50% to
30%. Napolitano led former State Senate President John Greene
(R) by a 56%-23% vote. The incumbent also led former State Appeals
Court Judge Jan Smith Florez (R) by a margin of 52% to 25%. Arizona
may be a fairly reliable red state, but Napolitano is one Dem
who looks very safe in her statewide contest. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Follow
Me To DC: David Harris for Congress (D-TX). FREE
SPEECH ZONE. FYI - I'm busy this week selling a bunch
of political buttons on eBay. Click
here to see what I've place online to date (and much more
to come before the end of the weekend). GUBERNATORIAL
CONTESTS. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday
the Republicans are facing serious problems in several 2006 gubernatorial
battleground states. Even Republican Governors Association Chair
Mitt Romney (R-MA) agrees with these dire assessments. Romney
told the Journal he expects the Republicans to suffer
a net loss of somewhere between 3 to 6 governorships in 2006.
In addition to Romney's own open seat, the Journal wrote
the others near the top of the potential Democratic pickup list
include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, New York and
Ohio. Other top states in play include Minnesota, Nevada and Alabama. ARKANSAS.
Republicans felt confident they TEXAS.
Will 2006 be a year of comebacks for the Democratic Congressmen
ousted by the Tom DeLay-inspired redistricting maps of 2004? The
US Supreme Court has already agreed to hear the case this winter
as to whether th\e 2004 GOP maps -- a second redrawing of the
new district lines created for 2002 from the 2000 Census data
-- were illegally redrawn and disenfranchised minority voters.
If the US Supreme Court rules in favor of the Dems, they could
either reinstate the 2002 districts or order new lines be drawn
under federal court supervision. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
speculated that a Democratic court victory could see the political
return of former Congressmen Martin Frost, Max Sandlin, Jim Turner
and Nick Lampson. Turner confirmed he would run if the old lines
were reinstated. Former Congressman Charlie Stenholm (D) says
he will not run -- even though he believes the Dems will win the
lawsuit -- as he starts work as a high-paid lobbyist next month.
Lampson is already challenging DeLay next year in CD-22, and says
he does not expect new lines to be in place in time for 2006 even
if the Democrats win in court. The Star-Telegram also
said freshman Congressman Kenny Marchant (R) would be the most
endangered by a reinstatement of the old lines, as his district
was custom-designed for him from small pieces of several other
Congressional districts. Just my take, but Lampson seems most
on the mark here: With the Texas primaries set for March 7th,
it seem unlikely the Supremes would force a re-do primary for
2006. New district lines for 2008 seem more likely if the Dems
win the lawsuit. Of course, a quick ruling could prompt
an injunction delaying the primary until new lines are finished
... but I wouldn't bet on it. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is 4President.org,
a cool online
online museum of Presidential campaign artifacts from 1960 through
the present. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Have at it. MONTANA.
A month of critical stories in Montana newspapers about questionable
ties between indicted GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff and US Senator
Conrad Burns (R) have already begun to take a toll on Burns' poll
numbers. According to a new Billings Gazette/Mason-Dixon
poll, Burns has lost ground against both of his leading Democratic
challengers. Burns currently leads State Auditor John Morrison
(D) by a vote of 46% to 40%. Burns holds a wider lead over liberal
State Senate President Jon Tester (D): 49% to 35%. Both of these
match-ups indicate roughly a 10-point drop for Burns since the
last Gazette poll a few months ago. The poll also tested
the Abramoff issue. The results: 58% said they were concerned
about it, 33% said they were not OHIO.
Here is some more Abramoff news. Congressman Bob Ney (R) made
his first detailed public comments on the Abramoff matter on Monday.
Speaking to the AP, Ney said "At the end of the day, I am
confident I will be cleared ... I have done nothing wrong and
the reason I can't comment on this is I have a side to tell of
my story. And that side of my story should be told to one or two
or both sources: the ethics committee or the Justice Department."
Ney denies the allegations contained in last month's indictment
of Abramoff lobbying partner Michael Scanlon, in which prosecutors
said Ney accepted "a stream of things of value" in direct
exchange for using his office to help the lobbyists' clients.
Scanlon has already pled guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors,
while Abramoff is reportedly negotiating a plea deal of his own.
Filing for the Ohio primaries closes on February 16. Chillicothe
Mayor Joe Sulzer (D), Dover Law Director Zack Space (D) and training
consultant Jeff Woollard (D) have already announced challenges
against Ney. No Republican has yet hinted at a primary challenge. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Howard
Kaloogian for Congress (R-CA). FREE
SPEECH ZONE. All the political sites are buzzing about
the new Bob Novak column speculating US Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)
is expected to announce either re-election or retirement plans
within the next week and that his seat could soon be in play for
the 2006 cycle ... but what's the big deal? Nearly everyone (including
us) reported on this back in September. CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH WEEKEND OPEN THREADS. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Congressman
Sherrod Brown's GrowOhio.org. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah.
MINNESOTA.
A new Rasmussen Report poll out on the open US Senare
race shows this contest is very competitive. Hennepin County Attorney
Amy Klobuchar (D) leads Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) by a vote
of 48% to 41%. Child safety activist Patty Wetterling (D) leads
Kennedy by a 47% to 43% vote. Wetterling was the unsuccessful
nominee for Congress against Kennedy in 2004. However, Kennedy
held leads over the two of the Democratic hopefuls. He led wealthy
veterinarian Ford Bell (D) by 12-points and a 43%-40% lead over
multimillionaire trial attorney Mike Ciresi. Klobuchar is viewed
as the current frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, while
Kennedy faces no serious opposition for the GOP nod. The NRSC
portrays this race as the GOP's best chance for the US Senate
seat pickup next year. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is US Senator
Russ Feingold's Progressive
Patriots Fund. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah. NEW
YORK. Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro
(R) quit the race against US Senator Hillary Clinton (D) on Wednesday,
jumping instead into the open contest for Attorney General. The
NRCC and Governor George Pataki (R) recruited Pirro into the Senate
race, but she got off to a dismal start and recorded weak poll
numbers. Republicans are now hoping to entice attorney and President
Nixon son-in-law Ed Cox to re-enter the race. Cox quit the day
after Pataki openly endorsed Pirro. ABRAMOFF
SCANDAL. According to SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is FactCheck.org,
published by
the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Have at it! WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE. OHIO.
Congressman Ted Strickland continues
to be the solid frontrunner for the Dem TENNESSEE.
New Rasmussen Report poll out on the open US Senare race.
Former Congressman Ed Bryant (R) led Congressman Harold Ford Jr.
(D) by a vote of 41% to 38%. Former Congressman Van Hilleary (R)
led Ford by a similarly close vote of 41% to 39%. However, Ford
led Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker -- the most moderate of the GOP
contenders -- by a 42% to 36% vote. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Third
Party Watch. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Your turn ... your daily open thread. My
(hopefully) final Hurricane Wilma update. Since the October 24
storm hit, I went three weeks without electricity, then went even
longer without either cable or phone service? How long? Today
-- December 21 -- will be the first full day in which
we have electricity AND phone AND cable service at the house.
At least the 2005 Hurricane Season is over. ILLINOIS.
Candidate filing for the 2006 MICHIGAN.
A new independent poll shows support for Governor Jennifer
Granholm (D) is slipping. According to the latest EPIC/MRA poll,
Granholm now leads conservative billionaire challenger Dick DeVos
(R) by a vote of 53% to 39%. That number indicates the race has
tightened by nine-points within the past month. Granholm also
saw her approval rating drop seven-points to just 50% over the
past month. HE'S
NEVER HEARD OF YOU, EITHER. As
you know, we really like to profile the gadfly candidates you've
never heard of. Well, this time we found one that ranks up there
with perennial Presidential candidate Randy
"The Returned Christ" Crow (D). Meet the Republican
candidate for President who calls himself Michael Jesus SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is PoliticsVT. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Your turn ... your daily open thread. GUBERNATORIAL
RACE UPDATES. MAINE - P2008
#1: As had widely been expected for months, Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney (R) announced he will not seek re-election
to a second term next year. While the new chair of the Republican
Governors Association played coy about his future plans, his announcement
and recent travels make it very clear Romney is readying a run
for President in 2008. He's already launched a leadership PAC
-- The Commonwealth PAC -- so as to have a fundraising vehicle,
although the group's website
is rather incomplete. Romney is supporting Lieutenant Governor
Kerry Healey (R) as his successor. Norwood Selectman Gary Lee
and former State Turnpike Authority Board Member Christy Mihos
have both announced GOP primary challenges to her, although Healey
is heavily favored to win the nomination. Recent independent polls
show Healey trailing either of the likely Democratic candidates
-- Attorney General Tom Reilly and former US Assistant Attorney
General Deval Patrick -- by double-digit margins. P2008
#2 (and #3): Two P2008 White House hopefuls were big
winners last week: US Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold
(D-WI). The two men -- UTAH:
A divisive cultural war is flaring up within the Utah
Republican Party. State Senator Chris Buttars (R) announced last
week he will introduce a bill to outlaw gay-straight student clubs
in Utah high schools. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Progressive
Punch. Create your own ratings for every member of
Congress based on their voting records. Will even work for conservative
activists -- just flip the outcome and view a low score as a good
thing. The site also features a very detailed and searchable database
of Congressional voting records. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. (1) Obviously, I'm back from skiing in Utah.
Deer Valley is a really nice mountain resort, if you've never
been there -- especially if you like to ski long, nicely groomed
blue cruisers. We picked a perfect week to go as there were zero
crowds and no lift-line waits -- and we also saw three Olympic
skiing medallists and golf great Tiger Woods out on the slopes.
Two great dinner recommendations for when you're in the Park City/Deer
Valley area: Shabu and Mariposa. (2) Be sure to check out the
revamped format for the media listings on our Texas
and Utah pages. I've sub-divided the print
media, broadcast media, and blogs into different groupings. It
allows me to add more political blog links from across the spectrum.
Let me know if you like that format before I do more of it. (3)
I still haven't decided on whether to keep the multiple daily
threads versus going back to one daily thread -- but I'm strongly
leaning towards multiple threads. It seems to keep the postings
more on-topic and the debates more civil, while still allowing
the free-flowing exchange in the open thread. RON'S VACATION (DECEMBER 10-17) - OPEN THREADS.
OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 10-11: OPEN
THREAD FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 12. OPEN
THREAD FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13. OPEN
THREAD FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14. OPEN
THREAD FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15. OPEN
THREAD FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16. P2008:
Change is definitely in the air for the 2008 campaign
calendar ... and the folks in New Hampshire are not happy. The
DNC's committee studying possible reforms to the current primary
schedule appear to be responding to Dem leaders who argue that
more than just Iowa and New Hampshire should play an early role
in winnowing down the field of hopefuls. Complicating the matter,
however, is that Iowa and NH politicos are intent upon protecting
their first-in-the-nation status and White House wannabes don't
want to risk alienating voters in those two states. NH state law
requires that it always remain the first primary in the nation,
even if that causes the state to move their Presidential primary
to absurdly early dates each time. According to ABC News, the
DNC's proposed new plan would insert several state caucuses between
the Iowa and New Hampshire contests. Michigan and Nevada are among
the states pushing to get into the early voting process, although
the proposed changes reportedly do not suggest which states will
get to move forward. New Hampshire Secretary of State William
Gardner and NH Democratic Chair Kathleen Sullivan both vowed to
do whatever it takes to fight the proposed changes. TEXAS:
If some polling going on in Texas these days is a ABRAMOFF-GATE:
Two new developments in the ever-growning scandal that
is threatening to end the political careers of former House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), House Administration Committee Chair
Bob Ney (R-OH), US Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT), Congressman John
Doolittle (R-CA), former Christian Coalition Executive Director
Ralph Reed (R-GA) and others. The National Republican Senate Committee
has a strategy to defend against the damage from the scandal centered
around the prominent former Republican lobbyist, political operative,
and DeLay insider. The strategy: go on the offensive with a PR
effort to tie Abramoff and his tainted money to US Senate Minority
Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), US Senators Carl Levin (D-MI), Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI), Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and more. The theory is the
damage from the scandal could be somewhat neutralized if both
parties are linked to the corruption. The second major development
in the case -- potentially devastating news for the Republicans
-- is that former Abramoff business partner, lifelong friend,
murder conspiracy suspect, and criminal co-defendant Adam Kidan
will plead guilty next week to federal conspiracy and wire fraud
charges in Florida. In exchange for his guilty plea and cooperation
with prosecutors, Kidan will face no more than 10 years in prison
-- instead of the 30 years he is currently facing. According to
the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "under the plea
deal, Kidan would testify against Abramoff." This move would
increase the heavy pressure from the feds on Abramoff to likewise
cut a plea bargain for sentencing leniency in exchange for his
testimony against Members of Congress relating to bribes, kickbacks
and other corruption. Kidan also agreed to testify against the
three mob-connected men charged with the 2001 murder of businessman
Gus Boulis, whom Kidan and Abramoff were accused of defrauding
during the messy takeover of Boulis' gambling ship empire -- resulting
in the legal fight that ultimately led to the Boulis murder.
SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Bus
Project .
And, no, it's not about promoting mass-transit ridership. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Our daily open thread ...so, have at it.
CALIFORNIA:
Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist (AIP) spent over
$500,000 in Tuesday's special election -- several times more than
the amount spent by the Democrat in the race -- but finished third
with 25%. In comments to the Newport Beach Daily Pilot,
Gilchrist is undaunted. He said Wednesday he is thinking of jumping
into the race next year against US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D)
in order to continue his efforts to force the strict US to crackdown
on illegal immigration. In other California news, some conservative
Republicans are growing increasingly angry with Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger's (R) recent shift to the left since his special
election setback last month and his subsequent selection of the
Cabinet Secretary of former Governor Gray Davis (D) as his new
Chief of Staff. They're trying to organize an effort to draft
actor Mel Gibson for Governor. They've even launched a campaign
website -- set up by some GOP campaign consultant -- to convince
the producer of The Passion of the Christ to run. And
in yet more related news, you can forget about a "Meathead
vs. Terminator" gubernatorial race next year. Movie director
and actor Rob Reiner told the AP on Wednesday: "I've made
a definite decision that [running for Governor in 2006] is not
something I'm going to do." MONTANA:
The Helena Independent Record reported on the
close ties between US Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) and indicted
Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff's business partner,
SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Lefty
Blogs.
FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Our daily open thread ...so, what ya wanna
talk about? TEXAS:
Governor Rick Perry (R) continues to solidify his lead
in his 2006 race for re-election. According to the latest Scripps-Howard
poll conducted for state newspapers, NEW
JERSEY: Governor-elect Jon Corzine (D) will announce
this week the identity of the person he plans to appoint to his
soon-to-be-vacant US Senate seat. Most pundits predict Congressman
Bob Menendez (D) is the likely choice. Stay tuned. CALIFORNIA:
There was no surprise in the outcome of Tuesday's special
election for the open CD-48 seat left vacant when Congressman
Chris Cox (R) was appointed SEC Chair four months ago. As expected,
State Senator John Campbell (R) -- the frontrunner from the start
-- won the contest. The results: Campbell-45%, attorney Steve
Young (D)-28%, Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist (AIP)-25%,
teacher Béa Tiritilli (Green)-1%, realtor Bruce Cohen (Libertarian)-1%.
Gilchrist, who tapped into voter anger over illegal immigration,
made an impressive showing for a third party candidate in a contested
race. "We've got a huge victory tonight because we've issued
a wake-up call to America ... Our cause is not over, nor is my
aspiration for my political career," said Gilchrist on Tuesday
night. NEW
YORK: Westchester County D.A. Jeanine Pirro (R) emerged
from her meeting last week with Governor George Pataki to announce
she would not be forced into the open Attorney General's contest.
Instead, Pirro noted Pataki is strongly supporting her longshot
'06 campaign against US Senator Hillary Clinton (D). Several leading
Republicans -- including State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno
and Congressman John Sweeney -- have openly urged Pirro to switch
into a race the Republicans could possibly win. Where the story
takes an odd twist is a New York Post report that Pirro's
own husband met had secretly met with Bruno last week in an attempt
to get his wife to switch out of the US Senate contest. Al Pirro
confirmed the story in a written statement to the Post,
but said his actions "were solely intended to support Jeanine's
political aspirations." In somewhat related news, State Assemblyman
Pat Manning -- a GOP candidate for Governor -- said he doesn't
care that the state's Republican leaders are trying to work a
deal for them to anoint statewide nominees. Manning said he will
run in the GOP primary regardless of whatever the bosses do in
his race. Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, former Secretary
of State Randy Daniels, former State Assembly Minority Leader
John Faso and billionare businessman Tom Golisano are all expected
to compete for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. The winner will
face (and be the underdog against) Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
(D). SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Casey
Cagle for Georgia Lt. Governor (R). FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Our daily open thread ...so, what ya wanna
talk about? DELAY
RETURN DELAYED: Former US House Majority Leader Tom WEST
VIRGINIA: State GOP Chair Rob Capehart became the latest
-- and probably the last -- of the potential first tier candidates
to announce he would not run next year against US Senator Robert
C. Byrd (D). With Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, Secretary
of State Betty Ireland, Capehart and others out of the running,
it seems to the GOP will likely turn to attorney and Army veteran
Hiram Lewis (R) -- a frequent candidate -- as their candidate
against Byrd. CALIFORNIA:
Tuesday is TORTURE:
CIA SECRET PRISONS NOW CLOSED. ABC News reported that
the CIA quickly shut their secret interrogation centers hidden
in Romania and Poland after the facilities were alluded to in
European news reports. According to ABC, the CIA scrambled to
close the secret prisons and transfer the purportedly high-value
enemy combatants before US Secretary of State Condi Rice arrived
Monday in Europe for meetings with her allied counterparts. ABC
cited "current and former CIA officers speaking to ABC News
on the condition of confidentiality" as the sources of this
report. SITE
OF THE DAY. A few folks are critical of certain choices
I've made for site of the day. Sometimes they don't like the ideology.
Sometimes they think the sites aren't pretty or slick enough.
Well, as is explains on the Site of the Day
page, some of the sites are chosen purely because of valuable
content (even if it isn't the prettiest site in the world). Got
it? Now that we've got that out of the way, here's today's Site
of the Day: 513
Green PAC, the PAC of the Cincinnati Greens. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Our daily open thread ... have at it! TORTURE:
The torture debate and controversy is continuing in DC
and Europe regarding US policies. In Washington, the Bush Administation
indicated they are now interested in reaching a compromise with
LOUISIANA:
Freshman Congressman Charles Boustany Jr. (R) got some
good news within the past few days. Former Congressman Chris John
(D) -- who lost a 2004 race for US Senate -- announced he would
not make a run for his old CD-7 seat. With John out of the race,
attorney and '96 congressional run-off candidate Hunter Lundy
(D) appears likely to be the Democratic candidate next year against
Boustany. CONGRESSIONAL
SCANDAL WATCH: The New York Times had an intriguing
line in a news article Friday about the growing scandal involving
indicted GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff. "Many forces are bearing
down on Mr. Abramoff. Last week, his closest business partner,
Michael Scanlon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in exchange for
cooperating in the inquiry ... Mr. Abramoff has told friends that
he is running out of money. In a new approach that could contribute
to the pressures, prosecutors are sifting through evidence related
to the hiring of several former Congressional aides by a lobbying
firm, Greenberg Traurig, where Mr. Abramoff worked from 2000 to
last year, according to people who know about the inquiry ...
Several people involved in the case, insisting on anonymity because
of the plea negotiations, said they anticipated that Mr. Abramoff
would try to reach an agreement with the prosecutors in a rapidly
closing window of time before he is scheduled to stand trial in
a separate federal case in Florida [in January] ... A lawyer for
Mr. Abramoff in the case, Neal R. Sonnett, declined to comment
on whether his client is conferring with prosecutors," reported
the newspaper. If Abramoff flips, this case will blow wide open. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our site of the day winner is Ballot
Access News. FREE
SPEECH ZONE: The daily open thread ... anything and everything
... hang out and chat ... whatever. AVOIDING
PRIMARIES? Republicans leaders in three key states --
Ohio, Illinois and New York -- are trying to narrow gubernatorial
primary fields to improve chances of victories in general elections
next year. In Ohio, the AP reported that longtime State GOP Chair
Bob Bennett and other leaders know their party is already gravely
wounded by term-limited Governor Bob Taft's (R) dismal performance.
That's why they want to avoid a three-way primary next year OREGON:
It looks like Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) may quickly turn from
favorite to underdog in next year's primary. Liberal State Senator
Rick Metsger (D) quit the primary race last week. Now comes word
that liberal State Senator Vicki Walker has postponed the scheduled
announcement of her candidacy this week against Kulongoski. So
far, all of this is good news for Kulongoski. But here's where
it all goes bad for the incumbent: Walker told the Eugene
Register-Guard she is waiting for popular former Governor
Jon Kitzhaber (D) to decide what he's going to do. Walker said
she spoke with Kitzhaber last week, who told her he's "seriously
thinking about running" for his old job and plans to make
a formal decision soon. If Kitzhaber enters the race, he'd instantly
become the favorite to win both the primary and general election.
FYI: Walker says she'll challenge Kulongoski if Kitzhaber passes
on the race. EDITORIAL:
ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY. On this eve of the 1,000 government-sanctioned
execution in the US since the US Supreme Court reinstated the
death penalty in SITE
OF THE DAY: Our Site of the Day Award winner: ActBlue.com. FREE
SPEECH ZONE: The daily open thread ... anything and everything
... hang out and chat ... whatever. CALIFORNIA:
LOUISIANA:
In the aftermath of her inept handling of the Hurricane
Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans, Governor Kathleen Blanco
(D) appears to be in trouble when she faces re-election in 2007.
The new Southern Media & Opinion Research poll contrasted
numbers for various Bayou State politicos taken before Katrina
against numbers recorded in November. As for Blanco, the number
of voters who said they would definitely vote to re-elect her
dropped 23%. President Bush and US Senator Mary Landrieu (D) recorded
numbers virtually unchanged between before Katrina and now. US
Senator David Vitter (R) saw his approval rating skyrocket to
70%.
COMEBACK
TRAIL: Dems may have found a way to place two more GOP
House seats into play for 2006. In Pennsylvania, National
Journal's Hotline reported former Congressman Ron Klink (D)
-- the 2000 nominee for US Senate -- is considering making a run
to regain his former CD-4 seat from Congresswoman Melissa Hart
(R). Hotline opined that "Klink would represent
her most serious competition to date." Klink's pro-life views
hurt him with the more liberal statewide Democratic base in his
2000 run, but should not hinder him in this district. In Kentucky,
freshman Congressman Geoff Davis (R) appears likely to face an
even bigger threat. Former Congressman Ken Lucas (D) -- who defeated
Davis in 2002, before retiring in 2004 -- is "seriously considering"
challenging Davis next year. DCCC Executive Director John Lapp
said "Ken Lucas is clearly disappointed in Geoff Davis ...
The culture of corruption in the Capitol that has gotten worse
by the day since he left has clearly made Congressman Lucas angry.
Northern Kentucky needs someone who will fight for them, not the
Washington crowd." Dems also feel energized by Davis' recent
comments, in which he called Iraq War opponents "despicable,
dishonorable, uninformed, unhistorical, anti-intellectual and,
frankly, un-American." They're equating the Davis comment
with Congresswoman Jean Schmidt's (R-OH) repudiated personal attack
on Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) for cowardice. SITE
OF THE DAY: Our Site of the Day Award winner: Bill
Brenner for US Senate (New York). FREE
SPEECH ZONE: The daily open thread ... anything and everything
... hang out and chat ... whatever. |
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ARCHIVE:
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indicted
Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff's lawyers and federal prosecutors
in Miami have reportedly agreed upon nearly all the terms of a
plea deal. Both sides met briefly with the federal judge on the
case on Friday to go over some key elements of the deal. They
are expected to formally announce the completed plea deal on Tuesday.
In related news, Congressman John Doolittle (R-CA) appears now
to actually be one of the purported targets of the investigation.
What does this mean for the 2006 elections? Former US House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay still runs for re-election, especially as he's
already qualified for the ballot (and filing in Texas closes on
Monday) -- but I'd be surprised if he attempts to regain his leadership
spot in January. As for Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH) -- and a likely
looming federal indictment -- I'd peg the odds a 50/50 that Ney
decides to retire. US Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Doolittle?
About a 1-in-3 chance that either or both decide to retire, too.
And, if Abramoff talks about former Christian Coalition Executive
Director Ralph Reed's purported collusion in Abramoff's questionable
Indian gaming activities, Reed's campaign for Georgia Lieutenant
Governor will be fatally wounded. Who else will be implicated
or indicted? Who knows ... but this is clearly the biggest Hill
corruption scandal since 
Texas
on Monday, January 2, and -- based upon those who 
could
hold onto the open Governor's Mansion next year when billionaire
Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller (R) was their likely nominee.
Rockefeller was forced to withdraw from the race in July when
he was diagnosed with a serious pre-leukemia condition. Since
then, Rockefeller underwent a bone marrow transplant in Seattle
three months ago -- and remains there today, continuing his recovery.
GOP leaders are concerned their current candidate -- former Congressman
Asa Hutchinson -- will have a much tougher time in the general
election contest. So concerned, it turns out, that some were openly
speculating Rockefeller is making a full recovery and will soon
be able to jump back into the race. "If the rumor is that
he's intending to come back into the race, then the rumor is incorrect,"
Rockefeller's spokesman told the Arkansas News Bureau. He said
the Lt Gov would remain in Seattle for several more weeks and
is recovering "smoothly" -- but made a point of noting
that Rockefeller already returned nearly all of the gubernatorial
campaign contributions he had collected. Hutchinson's campaign
downplayed the pining for Rockefeller's return. "We have
always operated under the assumption that we would face a strong,
well-funded opponent in both the primary and general elections,"
said Hutchinson's spokesman. Attorney General Mike Beebe (D),
former Social Security Administration Commissioner Bill Halter
(D), former State Representative Jim Lendall (Green) and musician
Rod Bryan (Independent) are all announced candidates for Governor.
Candidate filing in 
concerned,
and the remainder offered no opinion. According to both the Wall
Street Journal and Washington Post, Burns, Congressman
Bob Ney (R-OH), Congressman Tom DeLay (R-TX) and Congressman John
Doolittle (R-CA) are under investigation in the federal corruption
probe related to Abramoff.
ALASKA.
What exactly did curmudgeonly US Senate President Pro
Tempore Ted Stevens (R) mean -- according to the Anchorage
Daily News -- when he said "This is the saddest day of my
life ... I say goodbye to the Senate tonight"after his proposal
to allow oil drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve
(ANWR) failed on Wednesday? Stevens' staff refuses to clarify
the statement. Observers agree Stevens is fed-up with DC politics
after his failures this year with ANWR and his failed funding
for Alaska's so-called "bridge to nowhere"? Some believe
that -- at age 82 and after 37 years in the US Senate -- Stevens
is contemplating resigning. While Stevens is not up for re-election
until 2008, a resignation in the coming weeks would force a 2006
special election. A state law adopted by voters after Governor
Frank Murkowski (R) appointed his daughter Lisa to his vacant
US Senate seat now prohibits the Governor from making any interim
appointment before the special election. Of course, at the end
of the day, this is more likely just Stevens' pissed-off way of
saying he probably won't seek re-election in '08.
gubernatorial
nomination, despite recent developments. Flamboyant TV talk show
host and former Cincinnati Mayor Jerry Springer (D) announced
yesterday he would not jump into the race. Springer said "we
have a candidate [Strickland] and a wonderful opportunity for
party unity. Let's not blow it. Accordingly, I believe it would
be irresponsible, divisive, and a betrayal of principle for me
to jump into the race at this late stage." Despite Springer's
exit, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D) -- with the urging of the
UAW -- appears to be weighing a run for Governor. State Senator
Eric Fingerhut (D) -- the '04 nominee for US Senate -- launched
an exploratory committee two weeks ago. Additionally, former State
Representative Bryan Flannery (D) this week tapped former pro
football player Frank Stams as his Lieutenant Governor runningmate.
Flannery and Stams played football together in the 1980s on the
championship Notre Dame team. In related news, State House Minority
Leader Chris Redern, a Strickland supporter, was elected Democratic
State Chair this week. Meanwhile, term-limited Governor Bob Taft
(R) continues to be an anchor dragging down his party's chances
in next year's Ohio contests. A new SurveyUSA poll released Tuesday
shows Taft remains the most despised Governor in the nation. He
scored an disastrous 80% disapproval rating. FYI: rounding out
the "Bottom Five" group of highly disliked Governors
were Frank Murkowski (R-AK) at a 69% disapproval rating, and --
tied with disapproval ratings of 63% apiece -- were Arnold Schwarzenegger
(R-CA), Kathleen Blanco (D-LA) and Ernie Fletcher (R-KY). The
top five most popular Governors were Jodi Rell (R-CT), John Hoeven
(R-ND), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jon Huntsman (R-UT) and John Lynch
(D-NH).
primaries
closed on Monday. Governor Rod Balgojevich (D) drew two primary
opponents: former Chicago Alderman Edwin Eisendrath & political
unknown Philip Sitkowski. Blagojevich is heavily favored over
both men. On the GOP side, five Republicans filed -- with State
Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka as the favorite to win the nomination.
Dems are strongly favored to win nearly all of the other statewide
offices. In the congressional contests, the CD-6 race is an open
seat and all other incumbents drew challengers. In CD-6, State
Senator and former Tom DeLay aide Peter Roskam captured the GOP
nomination without opposition when his announced centrist primary
foe failed to file by Monday's deadline. The Dems will see a feisty
three-way primary for the right to oppose Roskam. The CD-6 seat
leans Republican, but it should be a competitive race. Seven Republicans
will compete in the GOP primary in the Republican-leaning CD-8
district, with the winner taking on freshman Congresswoman Melissa
Bean (D). All of the other incumbents look fairly safe. See our
Archangel
(and also uses the name "Saint Michael Jesus the Archangel").
Trust me, this guy appears rather delusional. Just don't say it
too loudly near him, as he appears to be regularly armed with
a sword in many of his pictures. Let him explain himself in his
own words. "From the time I was a little boy I knew I was
God and Michael the Archangel, but I didn't dare tell anyone,
not even anyone in my family because I knew that the devil, Satan,
was going to try to murder Me, and indeed he did try, four separate
times," he explains. He also writes a lot about "My
Big Brother, Jesus Christ, Whose parents, My spouse the Blessed
Virgin Mary Michelle and her guardian spouse, Saint Joseph."
Archangel Michael wrote he was a Vietnam War veteran who attempted
suicide when, he explains, he suffered from depression and paranoia;
and later became a "a volunteer Secret Agent for the Central
Intelligence Agency without pay." A former janitor, he is
a self-employed "writer" these days. As for politics,
he describes himself as a "Reagan Republican" -- but
adds he has also briefly drifted in and out of the Libertarian
Party twice over the years. Michael the Archangel says he is a
"radical conservative Republican" who recognizes "the
fact that America is an official Theocracy." I'll just let
him explain it in his own words: "The cultural/educational
struggle going on between liberals and conservatives ... will
decide whether the liberals are allowed to take this nation further
and further down the road to socialist destruction or whether
the conservatives will take our country back for God and the people.
As a 2008 election Republican Presidential candidate, I hope all
you Libertarians become Christians. Your support for the pro-choice
position vis-a-vis abortion is just as destructive as the Communazis'
position on that subject. The Democrats are complete Socialists,
that is, Communazis." He also wants tougher enforcement of
narcotics laws, a total ban on tobacco sales, opposes any gay
rights laws, supports a total ban on abortion, etc. You can find
lots and lots of very long pages of writing like this -- all of
which proclaim this candidate to be God -- on his official website:
According
to the Bangor Daily News, Governor John Baldacci (D)
could soon be a facing a more complex race for re-election next
year. First-term State Representative Barbara Merrill -- a longtime
Democratic activist, attorney, and wife of a former Democratic
State Chair -- appears to be edging towards challenging Baldacci.
The only question seems to be whether she will run as a Democrat
or as an Independent. So far, Merrill is following the course
set in 1994 by wealthy political outsider Angus King, who was
elected Maine Governor as an Independent in a mutli-candidate
contest. Like King, Merrill has just written a campaign book detailing
her plans for improving the state. Unlike King, Merrill lacks
the name ID and personal money he had available for the race.
Democratic leaders are obviously not happy. "There is overwhelming
support within the party for Governor Baldacci," said State
Democratic Chair Pat Colwell. However, polls show Baldacci is
vulnerable as his approval rating sagged into the 40s in recent
months. Republicans may also face a similar split in the general
election. Former Portland Police Chief Mike Chitwood (R) is considering
making an Independent run, as is wealthy bank president James
Dowe. Four candidates are already competing for the GOP nomination.
Five others have already announced as independent or third party
candidates, including 2004 Green Party VP nominee Pat LaMarche.
COLORADO - 
Remember
when popular brewpub owner and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
(D) said repeatedly a few months ago he was not interested in
running for Governor next year? Well, never mind that ... because
now he's seriously looking at entering the race. According to
the Denver Post, Hick on Friday "told his Cabinet
officers that he has not ruled out running for Governor, but said
that so far he has not found a compelling reason to enter the
race. The Mayor told his top appointees that perhaps he should
listen to the political activists and supporters who are pressuring
him to run." Recent polls show Hickenlooper holds wide bipartisan
support statewide and would currently lead either of the likely
GOP nominees in the open seat contest. According to the newspaper,
five attendees at the Friday meeting confirmed Hickenlooper made
the statement. All of this news has revved the 
friends
who co-sponsored the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law
that bears their names -- won separate battles this time. For
McCain, his victory came in the form of President Bush posing
with the Arizonan and agreeing to sign into law McCain's broadly
written amendment to ban on torture. The McCain amendment -- attached
to a Defense Department appropriations bill -- prohibits the US
(including both the military and CIA) -- from using "cruel,
inhumane and degrading" treatment on any captured POWs, detainees,
insurgents, enemy combatants, terrorists, or whatever else you
want to call them. The Bush Administration, with the backing of
the House Republican leadership, worked unsuccessfully over the
past two months to weaken or kill the amendment. In November,
Vice President Dick Cheney personally addressed the GOP Senators
at a closed door meeting, pleading with them to carve out an exception
allowing the CIA to use torture in certain limited circumstances.
The Senate responded that same afternoon by a unanimous voice
vote reaffirming their support of the McCain amendment by attaching
it to another bill. 
The
Bush Administration capitulation came last week, however, after
an overwhelming bipartisan majority approved identical language
in a House vote on the McCain amendment. As for Feingold, his
victory came on Friday in the fight against renewing the controversial
Patriot Act. The act, passed into law as part of a sweeping anti-terrorist
package in the days following the 9/11 attack, is either an essential
law enforcement tool to fight terrorism or an unconstitutional
attack on the privacy and civil liberties of Americans (depending
upon your perspective). In 2001, Feingold was the lone Senator
who voted against the Patriot Act -- an act of political courage
that sets him apart from all his likely Presidential primary rivals.
On Friday, Feingold led the successful charge that killed the
renewal sought by the White House before the end of the month
sunset date. The unexpected news on Thursday that President Bush
personally authorized domestic wiretapping and surveillance of
alleged security threats without court authority helped give Feingold's
group momentum to the argument that the White House and Justice
Department would be tempted to abuse discretion if the act was
renewed. Feingold rallied Democrats and a handful of Republicans
-- including Senators John Sununu (R-NH), Larry Craig (R-ID) and
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) -- and blocked the GOP leadership move to
end the filibuster. Supporters of the act fell eight votes short
of the 60 required to end debate, and no further votes are scheduled
before the Act's expiration date. Feingold scored major media
attention and earned big points from the Democratic Party's anti-war
base. As for the President's authorized use of domestic surveillance
without court-issued warrants, Republican and Democratic US Senators
alike -- including Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA)
-- are calling for hearings on this apparently illegal conduct
when Congress reconvenes in January.
After
several years of lawsuits over allowing the clubs at one high
school, the Salt Lake School Board settled all the related cases
in 2000 by allowing students to form extracurricular clubs focused
on gay issues. The clubs -- called the Gay-Straight Alliance --
now exist in 40 Utah high schools. Buttars told the Salt Lake
Tribune the clubs violate state law by promoting a sexuality
that most Utahns find "perverted." State law already
allows a school board to deny access to clubs that encourage criminal
or delinquent conduct, promote bigotry or involve human sexuality.
The federal Equal Access Act, however, requires any public secondary
school accepting federal funds to allow all student clubs equal
access to its facilities. "I just don't believe members of
sexual-orientation clubs should be sanctioned by the public schools
... They should not be allowed to have that on school property
at all," Buttars told the Deseret News. Leaders
involved with the GSA group say they are very careful to never
discuss sexuality, noting they do so in the same way as Utah biology
and health teachers when sex education questions are raised in
the classroom. Governor Jon Huntsman (R) was quick to note his
opposition to Buttars' proposal, telling the Tribune
"the appropriateness of gay-straight clubs is best decided
between parents, students and their school boards, not by state
officials ... If parents do not like the idea of such clubs they
should take it up with their school board." Huntsman, who
has two of his children attending a high school that hosts one
of the GSA clubs, added: "I've not gone in to talk to the
school board about it."
I'm
trying something here so that you folks can keep the news coming
for the week when I'm away in Utah on vacation. That means I won't
be online nor posting anything until December 17. I'll post an
open thread for each day and -- if y'all play along -- this should
work out well. Please try to show some restraint and stick
to the current daily thread.
MERRY
CHRISTMAS: Yesterday I added the name of 
NEW
JERSEY: Told 'ya so. CNN reported that Governor-elect
Jon Corzine (D) will announce on Thursday his selection of Congressman
Bob Menendez (D) for the upcoming US Senate vacancy. Corzine and
Menendez both declined to confirm the story on Wednesday. As the
House Democratic Caucus Chair since 2003, the Cuban-American legislator
is the highest-ranking Hispanic in Congressional history. Menendez
will defend the seat on the ballot next year against centrist
State Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R). The appointment will also necessitate
a congressional special election in the spring for Menendez's
safely Democratic CD-13 seat. State Assembly Speaker Albio Sires
(D) and Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas (D) will start as the two initial
favorites for the open CD-13 seat.
DeLay
(R-TX) got some good and bad news on Monday. A trial court judge
dismissed the felony criminal conspiracy charges against DeLay,
but ruled there was sufficient evidence to have DeLay go to trial
next spring on the two felony money laundering counts. The ruling
means DeLay will not be able to resume his leadership position
in January. The House Republican leadership previously said that
if DeLay was not able to return to his former position in January,
they would hold new leadership elections. Acting House Majority
Leader Roy Blunt (R-MO) is clearly interested in holding onto
the position permanently, but he appears to be losing support
for holding the position permanently. Blunt, who has also held
onto his position as Majority Whip, did not impress his GOP colleagues
during these past few months. Congressman John Boehner (R-OH)
-- the ambitious former House Republican Conference Chair and
current House Education & Workforce Committee Chair -- is
rumored to be actively seeking votes for the Majority Leader post.
Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) already announced he wants to be
the next Majority Whip. NRCC Chair Tom Reynolds (R-NY) also wants
to be Whip, but the timing is not good for him and he may pass
on a race to fulfill his NRCC commitments. Congressman Mike Pence
(R-IN) -- Republican Study Committee Chair -- is ambitious, but
is not ready to make a move. Pence said he opposes new leadership
elections in January. The House Republicans need to decide if
if they are willing to risk restoring DeLay to leadership versus
the threat of DeLay's wrath if they conspire against him and fail
versus possible political gain from from plotting with
potential new GOP leadership if they succeed.
special
election day for the open CD-48 left vacant when Congressman Chris
Cox (R) was appointed SEC Chair four months ago. Conservative
State Senator John Campbell (R) is expected to romp to a landslide
victory in this safe GOP district. Heavily backed by the Republican
political establishment, Campbell captured 46% and ran 29-points
ahead of his nearest opponent in the 17-candidate, all-parties
open primary in October. Attorney Steve Young is the Democratic
nominee, although much of the attention here has been drawn to
a colorful third party hopeful. Anti-illegal immigration activist
Jim Gilchrist (AIP), who founded the controversial Minuteman Project
of border patrol vigilantes, will finish at best in the low-double
digits. Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) -- a likely 2008 White
House candidate -- has actively campaigned for Gilchrist. However,
Campbell -- with the support of Cox, Governor Schwarzenegger,
and others -- should have no problem easily winning this seat.
US
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on his legislative amendment that would
prohibit the US -- including the military and CIA -- from using
"cruel, inhumane and degrading" treatment on any captured
POWs, detainees, insurgents, enemy combatants, or whatever you
want to call them. "We are working hard in good faith on
both sides to come up with an approach that can be supported by
the president and the Congress, to both find a way to be aggressive
in the war on terror and still comply with US law," said
National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley to Fox News. Speaking
on NBC's Meet the Press, McCain quickly responded that
he has had "frank and open discussions" with the White
House but added "I won't -- we won't" compromise on
banning torture. In related news, the European Union is still
demanding that US Secretary of State Condi Rice answer EU concerns
that the CIA has been secretly hiding and torturing captured enemy
combatants in former Soviet bases in Eastern Europe. While continuing
to answer that the US doesn't torture, the official US line has
been a vague statement sorta sounds like a denial without actually
answering the EU inquiry. News reports are mixed as to what Rice
will say this week. Some accounts claim she will refuse to elaborate
on previous answers and essentially tell the EU to mind their
own business. Reuters claims her message will essentially be "back
off ... Europe has already begun to get the message to ease up
on the controversy." Other reports say Rice will try to offer
a more detailed denial regarding torture itself -- but will not
confirm or deny whether the US operates secret prisons in Europe
with the quiet cooperation of certain governments.
Governor
George Pataki (R) and his allies were behind the move in an effort
to endorse former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld as the candidate
for Governor and Westchester County D.A. Jeanine Pirro as the
candidate for US Senate. Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and incumbent
US Senator Hillary Clinton are assured of being the Dem nominees
for Governor and US Senate next year. Those plans seem to be unraveling
as State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Congressman John
Sweeney and others are attempting to derail the meeting in order
to advance the odds of billionaire businessman Tom Golisano for
the Governor race and former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer in the
US Senate contest. This anti-Pataki faction would also like to
steer Pirro into the open Attorney General's race. This "avoid
primaries" strategy isn't unique to Republicans. Florida
Democrats, for example, would like to find a way to avoid a Jim
Davis-Rod Smith gubernatorial primary by steering the two men
into running together as a team for Gov and Lt Gov.
1976,
it's time for the US to join the ranks of civilized nations by
abolishing the death penalty. The US stands alone among industrialized
"first world" nations in continuing to execute prisoners.
Yes, they're violent bad guys. Yes, they did terrible things to
innocent victims. Yes, many of them would kill again if released.
However, a life sentence in prison -- a true life sentence --
is adequate punishment for all of those crimes. Further, we can
correct a wrongful conviction with a life sentence. We cannot
do so with innocent persons who are wrongfully executed. And,
don't fool yourself, innocent persons have certainly been executed
over the years in various states. We diminish our humanity as
a nation by resorting to state-sanctioned murder. In the 1970s,
the late US Supreme Court Justice William Brennan wrote that “evolving
standards of decency” required focusing upon the essence
of the death penalty itself and not primarily upon the procedure
under which the determination to inflict the penalty upon a particular
person was made. Additionally, Justice Brennan pointed out the
death penalty did not serve any penal purpose more effectively
than a less severe punishment, and that our civilization and the
law had indeed advanced to where the Supreme Court should hold
that the punishment of death -- for any crime and under all circumstances
-- was cruel and unusual in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth
Amendments. Standards of decency in the United States may never
evolve to where the death penalty will be abolished as it has
been in practically every other country we think of as civilized.
But they should. Learn more about the death penalty by visiting
these sites: 
Republican
odds of defeating US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) next year dropped
from slim to none this week when they lost the only potential
challenger who had the ability to run a viable campaign. Multimillionaire
software executive Bill Mundell (R) -- who spent the past several
months laying the groundwork to make a serious run -- announced
he will not enter the race. Mundell is a close ally of Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). While Mundell told the Los Angeles
Times he was willing to spend millions from his own pocket
on the run, he said the large GOP donors he contacted made it
clear they would not kick in the bucks needed to challenge an
incumbent they viewed as unbeatable. Without their matching money,
Mundell said his run would have merely been a "vanity campaign"
and he had no interest in running one of those. With Mundell out,
the California Republicans are left without any prospective challengers
looking at the race.
Fienstein's only announced opponents to date are right-wing chiropractor
Don Grundmann (AIP) and socialist activist Marsha Feinland (PFP).
Filing closes March 10. 
MICHIGAN:
A new EPIC/MRA poll shows Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) continues
to be strong, with her approval rating rising and her lead growing
against her likely GOP opponent. Granholm -- who previously scored
lackluster numbers in previous EPIC/MRS polls -- recorded an approval
rating of 57% and a disapproval rating of 43%. Those numbers translate
to a 20-point increase since the previous poll. When Granholm
is pitted against billionaire businessman Dick DeVos (R), Granholm
led by a vote of 58% to 35%. Inexplicably, despite these rosy
numbers, a whopping 61% of respondents in this same poll said
Michigan is headed in the wrong direction. and 64% said the US
was likewise headed the wrong way. Analysis seems to indicate
voters blame President Bush and Congress more for the state's
economic woes than they blame Granholm.
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