Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* The new video from the American Bridge Super PAC suggests Virginia's gubernatorial race is already in full swing, eight months before Election Day.
* In Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder's (R) popularity appears to be fading fast. The Detroit Free Press reported yesterday on a new statewide poll showing only 36% of Michigan voters giving the governor a positive rating.
* And then there were two: businessman Gabriel Gomez has joined state Rep. Dan Winslow as the only two Republicans running in Massachusetts' U.S. Senate special election.
* Though Sen. Kay Hagan (D) is widely viewed as vulnerable in North Carolina next year, the latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows the incumbent leading each of her likely Republican challengers by margins ranging from 5 to 15 points.
* In Arkansas, Lt. Gov. Mark Darr (R) announced this week that he will not run for governor next year, clearing the way for former Rep. Asa Hutchinson. Darr is rumored to be interested in the U.S. Senate race, however.
* In Florida, there's plenty of scuttlebutt about former Gov. Charlie Crist running as a Democrat against Gov. Rick Scott (R) next year, but don't rule out former Florida CFO Alex Sink (D), who narrowly lost to Scott in 2010, and is considering a rematch.
* In Ohio, state Democratic leaders believe Richard Cordray's nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is likely to fail due to Republican obstructionism, which means Cordray may yet be able to run against Gov. John Kasich (R) next year.
* And in Georgia, Rep. Tom Price (R) is widely assumed to be eyeing next year's wide-open U.S. Senate race, but the far-right congressman said yesterday he won't make a formal decision until May.
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Jose Antonio Vargas gave very moving testimony on immigration reform today. I don't think it's possible to hear it and not cry.
I think that Harry Reid needs to do some serious soul searching. It isn't beyond the realm of possibilities that the Senate Republicans will essentially reject ALL Obama nominees for anything.
How long is he going to allow this nonsense to go on?
I've said many times that any serious filibuster reform had to include up-or-down votes on executive branch and judicial nominations.
I don't know why Harry Reid doesn't listen to me. He always seems to foul things up when he doesn't take my advice. :)
T
I'd laugh but Reid has turned caution into guaranteed defeat.
Yes, he should have listened to you.
We still have the filibuster because there weren't enough votes to change it.
There are 53 Democratic Senators, one Independent (King/ME) and one Socialist (Saunders/VT) in the Senate Democratic caucus. If I remember correctly, seven senators didn't support changing the filibuster rules - at that time. Reid was one, I understand, but even so, seven from fifty-five is 48. Even had Reid voted for filibuster changes that still wouldn't have been enough.
FWIW, a few days after Sen. Reid announced the changes that had been made and his new agreement with McConnell, I read an article over at DKos (can't remember the author) about the changes. The author, undoubtedly in an attempt to ease our being upset, pointed out the Reid has already used the "nuclear option" - in early October of 2011. At the beginning of the 2010 session, McConnell had, surprise!, made promises he later didn't keep. Reid mustered the entire Democratic caucus to vote for procedural changes! Every single one!
I fully expect the same to happen again, the only question being: when? McConnell can't be trusted and the closer it gets to his primary, the greater the strain on him (McConnell). He'll break his promise again and Reid will change the rules - again. Most likely again with the support of his entire caucus.
Wouldn't surprise me to find out that the votes of those other six senators to make procedural changes are already in Reid's pocket, just waiting for McConnell to back out of his agreement. I rather think it may have been the promise of using those votes on that future occasion that led to the rumors about there being enough votes to implement a talking filibuster.
Actually, the way things are going now with Graham et al, the rules may get changed before the summer's over this year.
I'm not in Ohio, but someone who is can comment on why Ted Strickland doesn't go for a rematch. If there was ever a case of buyer's remorse, the 2010 Ohio election for governor would seem to be it.
Dems also need to slam through Cordray's confirmation. It's one thing for the Republicans to have a specific gripe against Cordray that supports a contention that he's not fit for the position. However, it's totally unacceptable to simply declare that you're not going to confirm ANYONE for a position because you don't think that position should exist. I'd rather see Cordray there and a Democrat with more political visibility in Ohio run for governor.
Unless the repubs have decided to throw in the towel on the governorship of Ohio, something that would boost their chances is to not have Cordray running for governor. They blocked Elizabeth Warren and now she's in the Senate. If they block Cordray, he'll soon be a governor of an important swing state.
Buerre says:
"Valentine's Day is upon us, and as cupids, we need to be concentrating on getting the arrow out of the quiver. I have a few recommendations for Valentine's Day that are sure to elicit a tepid response from your favorite gal:
1. Set the bar low.
If this is your first Valentine's Day with a new girlfriend, set the bar extremely low. Acknowledge the fact that there is, indeed, a Valentine's Day, but rail against it as a whipped-up figment of a Holiday designed by the flower industry and candy companies.
Example: "I wanted to get you flowers, but I know that you hate it when things die, and I don't want our love to die...not now, not ever!"
Example: "I know it's a tradition to give a sweetie candy for Valentine's Day, but I am a great listener...remember? That's what you love about me, that I am a good listener? I remember your lamentations about your anxiety in relation to your weight gain in your hips, so I thought I would hold off on the sweets this year. Instead, I found a bean-bag coffee cup holder for your car, so you don't spill your coffee on the way to work. By the way, I'm a little short on cash...can you spot me a $20 until Monday?"
2. No proposing
There is no need to propose on Valentine's Day, Christmas Eve or any other Holiday...it's too much. There is too much commotion, and the significance of your everlasting devotion and loyalty to your gal will be lost in all the hub-bub. Prolong that proposal for a while, and instead, turn on some nice music, dim the lights and cook your special lady a sumptuous feast.
Example: "I know that you love French things. Remember when I took you out for french fries? I thought I'd whip up a "coq au vin" for dinner...what's that ? Romantic? You know it, baby. I bought a 20-pack of Chicken McNuggets and I got us a gallon of "Dago Red". There's your dinner...let's commence to some loving."
3. Be careful with the poetry.
Poetry is a dangerous thing, especially if you're not good at it. If you struggled to make it past 3rd grade phonics, steer clear of the poetry and buy a nice card for your sweetie. Do not copy poetry from an online source, because she will google the key phrases and realize that you are a cheater.
Example: (Angry woman who got nothing for Valentine's Day on telephone)
"Girl, if your man is gonna plagiarize a Carl Sandburg poem, you ain't got no business helping him with his Longfellow."
Buerre's Helpful Hint:
"A 'Boil-in-Bag' entree is NOT really cooking. If you cannot prepare food, order her favorite entree from her favorite restaurant and have it ready for her when she comes home from work. Surprise her with a decadent dessert and a nice foot massage and bunion-buff, and her girlfirends will look at their stuffed animals and personalized giant cookie as nothing more than wishful trinkets from a boy playing a man's game."
Note: Many women enjoy popping a pimple or two around the Holiday season, and nothing seals the deal better than a gigantic, pus-filled polyp on a scapula, where she can straddle your back and squeeze that sucker until she is satiated. Save the boil on your ass for Sweetest Day.