Election Central Saturday Roundup
Thompson Buys Ad Time — Right Before Debate He's Skipping
Now this is something. Fred Thompson is skipping this Wednesday's Republican debate on Fox News, and will declare his candidacy at 12:01 a.m. that same night. However, Thompson's campaign has bought a 30-second ad to air on Fox News, just as people are tuning in to watch debate. The ad will feature Thompson speaking into the camera about the announcement he will make later that night.
Larry Craig Makes It Official — He's Resigning
Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) announced his resignation this morning, effective September 30, in the wake of the scandal involving his conviction for disorderly conduct in an airport men's room. However, he is still insisting upon his innocence, and vowing to fight it in court, despite his August guilty plea.
Obama And Edwards Pledge To Shun Rogue Primary States
Barack Obama and John Edwards have joined Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson in pledging to not campaign in states that violate the Democratic National Committee's official primary calendar. Assuming the pledge is honored, this would take them out of Florida and probably Michigan, for now. Both have put out statements praising the current system and primary calendar for nominating the presidential candidate, and promising to stand by it despite the current challenges.
Club For Growth Attacking Tom Davis
Senator John Warner (R-VA) only announced his retirement yesterday, but the right-wing Club For Growth is already attacking GOP Congressman Tom Davis, widely believed to be Warner's choice to succeed him. "Tom Davis has one of the most economically liberal records among Republicans in the House," said former Congressman Pat Toomey (R-PA), now president of the group. "Since Republican voters in Virginia are decidedly economic conservatives, it’s hard to see how Davis could win a statewide primary."
Hillary, Obama Both Respond To Iowa Gay Marriage Ruling
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have given their responses, offering cautious support, to a ruling by a judge in Polk County, Iowa, invalidating the state's ban on gay marriage. "The states have always determined age of marriage, other conditions and over time we've gotten rid a lot of discrimination that used to exist in marriage laws. That's now happening," said Clinton. A spokesman for Obama said the candidate "believes these matters should be left to the states, which is why he opposes the Defense of Marriage Act." The ruling in Iowa has been stayed, pending appeal.
Louisiana Dems Hit Back At Tancredo
Louisiana officials have responded to Tom Tancredo's statement that it is "time the taxpayer gravy train left the New Orleans station." This may come as a shock, but they don't agree. "Congressman Tancredo’s foolish call to cut out the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast is as ignorant as it is shortsighted," said Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who recently hosted a summit in New Orleans, to which all the presidential candidates had been invited. "Had the Congressman accepted my invitation to visit the hurricane-affected area this week, he would have witnessed what many already know: while substantial progress has been made, there is a great deal of work left to be done."
Report: GOP Candidates Looking At Tommy Franks For VP
The Washington Times is reporting that three Republican candidates — though it is has been specified which three — are looking at the idea of having Retired General Tommy Franks run for vice president next year. Franks was one of the men who helped plan out the Iraq War, orchestrating a light campaign that initially conquered Iraq but then failed to win the peace. One can't help but suspect that Democrats would love to run against him.
Comments (14)
DaveW wrote on September 1, 2007 2:11 PM:Is my memory betraying me, or did the Bushies pile onto Tommy Franks as a prime cause of the Iraq failure? His candidacy would make for some fascinating video clips.
lampwick wrote on September 1, 2007 2:19 PM:Yes, but Franks looks like someone who reeks of cigars and Aqua Velva, which would guarantee him a winning spot in Chris Matthew's Manstench Primary.
manu wrote on September 1, 2007 2:50 PM:Yah. Tommy F*ckin Franks. Bring it on. And by the way, since the Bush and the Vice are set on bombing Iran, that will be a doubly good idea (from Juan Cole:
http://icga.blogspot.com/2007/08/post-labor-day-product-rollout-war-with.html)
Fred Thompson....what a joke! I think instead of calling him a chickenhawk, he should be called a chickenshit. Seriously. this guy has been running but not running for half the year now. If you can't make up your mind whether you want to be president or not you don't deserve to be president. If he is not ready now to do debates and be held accountable then he is not up to par to be president. What a waste of time. Go back to Law & Order and continue pretending to be somebody. We definitely don't need another pretender in the white house.
Thethinredline wrote on September 1, 2007 3:54 PM:I have to say, i really dont see how the Club for Growth helps the conservative movement at all. I mean i can understand why groups or individuals want to move the the general debate rightward on economic issues. But you reach a point when you're just weakening the GOPs posistion in Washington (such as their attacking of Lincoln Chafee in his primary). If Mark Warner does run for the Democrats you'll need a GOP freight train to stop him, and weakening one of their most viable candidates isn't really productive.
I just hope that when we have the White House and both Houses of Congress in 2009, we're not going to be infighting like this on such a destructive scale.
gsc wrote on September 1, 2007 4:22 PM:What a gutless shit Thompson is. What a clown.
But ten bucks says a terrifying percentage of "US American" trailer park dumbasses end up picking Thompson as the winner of the debate, because their education free minds will remember him as actually being in it, instead of prancing and preening and pretending to be a candidate before it even starts.
You watch and see.
freepatriot wrote on September 1, 2007 4:36 PM:so who do you want to be Veep in 2008 ???
some dickhead general who ACTUALLY TAKES PRIDE in the fact that he planned the invasion of Iraq (does this guy know we lost ???)
or would you rather have someone like Wesley Clark or General Shinseki ???
you know, the guys who told us that General franks didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground ???
do you want the idiot who orchastrated this fuckup, or the guys who knew from the beginning that this was gonna be a fiasco ???
is this some sort of national IQ test ???
manu wrote on September 1, 2007 4:39 PM:is this some sort of national IQ test ???As if we weren't in enough trouble already... Richard L. Adlof wrote on September 2, 2007 1:26 AM:
Hello! This is Fred Thompson. You probably recognize me as the racist fuck from 'The Wiseguy' or as the DA from one of the thirty gazillion 'Law and Order' shows . . . I'm too chikenshit to debate tonight BUT I will be entering the race RIGHT after the debate by going all Hollywood on the Party. Remember how many D-List actresses and pole dancers I banged before hooking up with kid that is now my wife? I can do that for America . . . So stay tuned RIGHT after the debate.
anna f wrote on September 2, 2007 5:31 AM:Wow, a Thompson/Franks ticket! Two southern pretend-hicks. What a dream!
Daniel wrote on September 2, 2007 10:20 AM:Will Clinton actually get in trouble in IA and NH voting if she does not agree to this pledge? I personally find that doubtful... do voters actually care about whether the candidates campaign in Florida and in Michigan?! At the same time, it is a risk she might not want to take... but how could she recover from IA and NH collapses if she can't campaign in Florida?!
More analysis and news at Campaign Diaries
Daniel wrote on September 2, 2007 10:24 AM:And I have just posted my detailed Senate rankings, race by race. My outlook: A 3 to 6 seat pick-up for Democrats. The 6 top most vulnerable seats are Republican, starting with New Hampshire, Colorado and Virginia. In fact, there are only 2 Democratic seats (Louisiana and South Dakota) in this list of 15 races!
Check out the full rankings here!
Richard L. Adlof wrote on September 2, 2007 12:46 PM:Clinton & Obama pooch their own rational . . .
They argue, that the states have the power to regulate the particulars of licensing a religous ceremony that alters the legal status of the folk involved, they cerebrate a court overturning the peoples will on the basis of federal law - in this case the law.
I hate the Republican-like doublethink they both have latched onto.
demwinger wrote on September 3, 2007 9:33 AM:everyone make sure and text Ron Paul as the winner wednesday on Faux News so that Hannity throws a fit again.
even though Paul is the only true Goldwater republican in the race, Hannity cannot stand him lol.
