Election Central Morning Roundup
Romney To Offer Health Plan — Starkly Different From Massachusetts Plan
Mitt Romney will give a speech at noon today laying out his health plan, which will be quite different from the Massachusetts Health Reform Law he signed when he was governor. His plan will reportedly include one aspect of the Massachusetts plan, redirecting public money currently spent on emergency room care and instead using it to get low-income people insured. But the plan will not require that people have insurance, as the Massachusetts plan does, and will include conservative pet issues like tax breaks and limits on punitive damages in malpractice cases.
Fox Poll: Hillary And Rudy Continue To Lead Nationally — Edwards Below Ten
The new Fox News poll shows Hillary Clinton ahead nationally with 35% support among Democrats, followed by Barack Obama at 23%, non-candidate Al Gore at 10%, and John Edwards with 6%. The numbers without Gore included: Clinton 38%, Obama 25%, Edward 8%. On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani has 29%, Fred Thompson 14%, Mitt Romney 11%, and John McCain 7%.
Arnold Dubious On California Electoral Vote Plan
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) gave a chilly reception to a Republican-backed voter initiative for 2008 that would award the state's electoral votes based on who carries the individual House districts — a proposal that would give the Republican nominee around 20 votes. "In principle, I don't like to change the rules in the middle of the game," Schwarzenegger. On the other hand, Schwarzenegger said he hasn't look at the proposal in depth and is not taking a definite position — so he could be keeping his options open.
Obama: Debate Over Maliki Is A Distraction
In an interview with CNN yesterday, Barack Obama said that Hillary Clinton's call for the ouster of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is a distraction from the real issues. "We can replace Maliki with four, five other guys, but if the underlying political dynamic is not changing, then we will not see progress in Iraq," Obama said. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin had previously called for a vote of no confidence in Maliki, while the White House is standing firm in their support of him.
Jerry Brown Eyeing 2010 California Gubernatorial Race
California Attorney General Jerry Brown told the Sacramento Bee that he is considering a run for governor in 2010, when he will be 72 years old. "I've certainly talked about it. But I've thought about it, and I've decided I'm not going to think about it in any serious way certainly for the next year," Brown said. Brown is a well-known brand in state politics, having already served two terms as governor in the late 1970's and early 1980's, mounting three bids for president in 1976, 1980 and 1992, an unsuccessful Senate campaign in 1982, and a recent successful tenure as mayor of Oakland.
Bob Kerrey Laying Groundwork For Nebraska Senate Comeback
Former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE), currently serving as head of the New School, has informed the trustees in a conference call that he might be going back to Nebraska and running for Senate if two-term Republican Chuck Hagel retires. "I am more and more certain Chuck is not going to seek re-election, and my intention is to make my decision before he makes an announcement," Kerrey told the Lincoln Journal Star. Kerrey has previously said that if Hagel does in fact seek re-election then he would not only not run, he would write his friend and former co-Senator a check. But if Hagel does leave, then expect this race to be a huge pickup opportunity for the Democrats.
Obama To Skip Iowa AARP Forum
Barack Obama will be skipping an AARP forum in Iowa on September 20, in accordance with his campaign's decision to not attend any more forums in 2007 except for those already confirmed. The forum, held in Davenport, will be broadcast live on PBS and feature three candidates to have confirmed thus far: Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Bill Richardson.
While Senator Obama is not my guy in this race, I congratulate him for his forthright assessment of—and willingness to speak publicly about—Prime Minister Maliki, who is apparently about to be tossed under the bus.
At this point, I suppose it's only a question of whether or not US intelligence operatives will support the removal of Maliki in the same manner in which they drove the overthrow and assassination of South Vietnamese Premier Diem when 'convenience' led the United States to dispose of him.
August 24, 2007 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
This plan from Romney, which, were he to become President, would not be enacted, is probably the best we can expect from the GOP this election season.
Also, Obama proves once again he is the one adult in this race, while Clinton goes along with the GOP's talking points of the week (and I am serious when I say this, I don't remember anyone talking about Maliki in these terms as recently as... last week).
August 24, 2007 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Hillary is getting more and more shrill daily with GOP talking points. She is now going around with a chicken little speech saying 'whatif, whatif' in reference to a another terror attack.
She claims to be doing this as a way of opposing Rudy...claiming such an attack will benefit the GOP.
Hillary is so focused on the GOP and attacking them that she will be unable to govern. She does not know how to lead, she is not telling us what she can do to benefit the country, her only claim to fame is that she can win against the GOP. Which we have no evidence of nor has she demonstrated she could win against them in the past.
What has she done to win against the GOP since being an elected official?
Now, she is fearmongering, spewing more GOP talking points every day...'American is safer' and 'oust Maliki'...and 'Iran is a terrible threat'....riiiight.
Obama was right...Hillary's policies and approach to issues are BushCheneylite.
August 24, 2007 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Iraqis may get rid of Maliki themselves but the Alliance party that put him up has nobody else who wants the job. If he gets voted out it'll be because Sadr and the Sunnis have enough clout in parliament to pull it off. That would be a positive for Iraqi unity and would be for the US too if the Bushies hadn't spent almost 5 tears vilifying Sadr. He and his Sunni allies are the most nationalist of that bunch. But they're the most anti occupation too so Cheney can't have that.
One way to make sure Maliki stays in power is for Americans to call for his ouster. I'm not sure how Sadr and friends feel about Levin and Hillary in particular but these days I'm pretty sure if an American wants "A" they're gonna reflexively pick "Z".
August 24, 2007 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you want a president who will take the GOP head on, frontal assault, fight them tooth and nail, win some, loose some but be in their face and vice versa all the time vote for Hillary.
If you want a candidate who will finesse Republican support right out from underneath them with better policies and politics, outflank them, and leave their "you're on your own society" on the trashheap of history vote for Obama.
August 24, 2007 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice! I wrote a blog about this last night, over in the Cafe's user-generated content section.
The short version: I agree whole-heartedly, and the people who are dumbing this down to score political points are really pissing me off.
August 24, 2007 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, if we're going to talk about polls, has anyone noticed that in the Rasmussen daily, the gap between Obama and Hillary has gone from 21 points to 11 points in the last six days. She hasn't dropped below her worst number in since 7/16, and he hasn't gone above his highest, but its interesting, especially given the four day rolling average Rasmussen uses.
August 24, 2007 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ted casablanca is just a mostly hollywood gossip columnist, (e entertainment) and has no expertise in politics. (He claims Bush has been drinking a lot---enough that is wife is really pissed off). Still, he gets a lot of stuff right---I thought this was an interesting take from him}
Vote of Confidence?
Is Al Gore makin' a bid for the Oval Office again in 2008? We're passin' along deets on his very possible presidential plan...Plus, Toothy Tile considers coming out to two megamags, while Star Jones Reynolds tosses softballs Isaiah Washington’s wily way, quelle crappy surprise!Last-Minute Man?
“Only if he’s absolutely certain the other candidates could not win.”
—A top Al Gore coworker, regarding the almost-prez’s thoughts on running for the top job in 2008
Still want the guy who coulda been a contender to be our prez? There’s hope. Even though many, many folks (including Gore himself) have eschewed the likelihood of Tipper’s main man participating in the spectacularly self-flagellating process of campaigning for the post of U.S. chief honcho, I’m told by high-up Gore campers this political surprise distinctly remains a very real possibility.
"He would do it,” continued the A.G. blabber, “but only, absolutely, if it looked like nobody else could take it.”I dunno, call me a pessimist (I am gay and over 40, so what the ef do you expect?), but Al-babe, I think your time has arrived. Throw your damn hat in, already! I’ve been reporting for eons that my Washington pundits—admittedly, a bunch second only to T-town types for being full of hot O2—say no way in Hades could Obama or Clinton ride victorious right into the Oval Office, where Hillary’s hubby, natch, used to play with the interns.So sorry to digress on that soiled little bit, but I’m doing it for a reason. See, the Republicans on the Potomac whom I correspond with (and, trust me, got more than a few) have assured me their ilk will make it their mission to drag up every female-dallying doing Bill Clinton ever participated in should Hillary get the Dem nomination. Totally inappropriate, natch, but still will not be a pretty campaign, to say the least.And Obama? Can he win?
Be prepared, Al, be very prepared.
August 24, 2007 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama paraphases what Kucinich said four weeks ago and he is great and grand GOP-slayer.
Obama for President in 2008 - Chiming in yet again . . .
August 24, 2007 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good thing Edwards spoke on Tuesday and pointed out that Clinton IS the heart of the Corporate/Washington alliance . . . Otherwise Obama wouldn't have had anything to say today . . .
Obama in 2008 - Chiming in again.
August 24, 2007 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
In Obama's denfense . . . It took me reaching almost AARP age to get over my pathological fear of anyone over 30 . . . Plus who wants to answer the questions and fears of your father's generation . . . History is just so dead.
August 24, 2007 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink