Political Grapevine

[Master Capper]

got to love Chuck Hagel:

"If he'd been in the military, he would have learned gun safety."

-- Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), quoted by the Omaha World Herald, on Vice President Dick Cheney's hunting accident.


Katrina Response Hurts Bush Most
"Among the many controversies surrounding the Bush Administration, its response to Hurricane Katrina is most troubling to voters," according to a new WNBC/Marist poll.

The survey found that 66% of registered voters nationwide "are bothered a great deal or a good amount by the administration?s response to Hurricane Katrina. Although Democrats are most critical, 64% of independents and 42% of Republicans are bothered by how the administration handled the disaster."

The second most troubling is the Bush administration's wiretapping of Americans without a warrant, with 50% bothered a great deal or good amount.


Bush's Approval Falls
President Bush's job-approval ratings "have fallen off slightly" in the last month, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll, "while Congress's ratings have remained about the same."

The poll found that 40% approve of the president's performance, down three points in the last month.

The latest Gallup poll found a similar three point drop since January


Swann Skipped Most Elections
"Despite once saying that the right to vote should never be taken for granted," Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann (R) "missed 20 of the state's 36 elections in the last 18 years -- including 13 of his party's primaries," the Phildadelphia Inquirer reports.

"In that period, Swann missed elections for governor, U.S. senator and president, while also skipping a chance to vote on a dozen statewide referendums, including a 1989 question on property-tax reform - now a centerpiece of his campaign



Today on CNN?s Late Edition, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff refused to explain why the administration has turned over control of operations at six of the nation?s largest ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, a country with dubious ties to international terrorism:

The discussions are classified. I can?t get into the specifics here?As far as my agency is concerned, port security really rests principally with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection.

In other words, don?t worry about it, the Coast Gaurd has it covered. Kim Petersen, president of the largest maritime security consulting company in the United States, SeaSecure, disagrees:

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

WNBC/Marist poll.
CNN?s Late Edition

aren' you forgetting NYT-ACLU and Air America

 

[ctownguy]

WNBC/Marist poll.
CNN?s Late Edition

aren' you forgetting NYT-ACLU and Air America

How about moveon.org

 

[StevieD]

What is it exactly in the Grapevine that you guys object too or disagree with?

 

[djv]

Looks like your basic info for anyone who wishes to read. The one thing about the congress and Bush's rating. There both in the tank. Last time congress had such bad rating, in 94.The voters cleaned house. Dam I hope there wise enough to do it again.
We need some balance and checks back in our government. This rubber stamp chit is to dam costly.

 

[Master Capper]

WNBC/Marist poll.
CNN?s Late Edition

aren' you forgetting NYT-ACLU and Air America

Yeah like Brit Hume is an unbiased source

 

[Master Capper]

The Los Angeles Times says reports of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) turnaround are premature. The governor "faces dismal poll ratings, an empty campaign treasury, a peeved Republican base and other troubles as his new political team plots his campaign for a second term."

"The governor has yet to recover from his November special-election debacle, which squandered more than $45 million of his campaign money and drew a withering ad assault from organized labor... Adding to his difficulties is the poor national political climate for Republicans. Public anger at President Bush and the GOP over the Iraq war, a lobbying scandal, a botched Medicare drug plan and other issues could hurt Schwarzenegger and other Republicans on the California ballot in November."

Meanwhile, a new Public Policy Institute of California survey shows his "popularity ratings among men, women, whites, Latinos, Republicans, Democrats, independents and other key groups fall short of what he needs to win in November. Overall, only 40% of voters approve of his job performance, well below the 50% benchmark for an incumbent seeking reelection."

A new Datamar poll shows Schwarzenegger's (R) job approval at 42% among registered voters with 50% disapproving.


According to the new Diageo/Hotline poll, only 18% of respondents viewed Rep. Tom Delay (R-TX) favorably, including only 10% of Independents and 31% of Republicans. This may not bode well for DeLay, who has not only been indicted on criminal charges of conspiracy, but also faces an uphill battle for reelection in 2006 against former Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX).


In Florida's U.S. Senate race, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) leads Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL), 53% to 31%, a new Quinnipiac poll finds. Republicans back Harris 62% to 22%, while Democrats back Nelson 82% to 7% and independent voters go with the Democrat 55% to 23%.


Guest contributor Dick Morris emails: "I think the most interesting recent development is the growth of Al Gore in the Democratic field at the expense of Hillary. Without Gore in the running, the Marist poll of Feb 21 has Hillary at 40% but with Al, she drops to 33 and Gore runs second at 17%. He is pure on the war and his issue, energy and climate change, is becoming increasingly relevant. The real fight of 2008 may be Clinton v Gore."

Morris writes more in The Hill: "History indicates that candidates who won the popular vote but lost in the Electoral College have all come back to win revenge in subsequent elections."

Quote of the Day
"A final word on Jack Abramoff: The notion that he was a close friend who wielded influence over me is absolutely untrue."

-- Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), in a letter to constituents. However, the AP reports DeLay once famously described the now disgraced lobbyist as "one of my closest and dearest friends."

Bush?s Rhetoric on Family Incomes: Up = Down
President Bush likes to sell his tax cuts for the rich by saying, ?We want our families to have more money in their pocket.?

And the White House reported in August 2004, ?Real after-tax incomes are up 11 percent since December 2000.?

But Bush?s economic statistics have no basis in reality. The Federal Reserve Board reported today that the ?average income of American families, after adjusting for inflation, declined 2.3% in 2004 compared with 2001.? To see how poorly this compares to previous time periods.

 

[Master Capper]

Greenspan Predicts Third Party
The Wall Street Journal notes that in a recent speech former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan described "the two American parties now as controlled by their extreme wings, even though the voting public is far more centrist... He described the leadership of the parties as 'bimodal', meaning clustered at the extreme ideological ends, whereas the voting public was 'monomodal', meaning clustered near the middle."

"Such situations, he said, create an opening for a third-party candidate who appeals to the center. That, he said, could prompt the candidates of the other two parties to move back to the center, for fear of losing. He said the U.S. political system makes it difficult for a third-party candidate to win."



Ohio state Sen. Bob Hagan (*) "proposed a state law to forbid registered Republicans from adopting children or being foster parents," the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The legislation is in response to a proposed ban on gay couples doing the same.

"Hagan cited what he called 'credible research' that children in GOP households are 'more at risk for developing emotional problems, social stigmas, inflated egos, an alarming lack of tolerance for others they deem different than themselves and an air of overconfidence to mask their insecurities.'"

Hagan later said he offered the idea "in jest, but to demonstrate a serious point."


Tracking Hollywood Money
Sen. Hillary Clinton (*-NY) tops the list of politicians successfully attracting Hollywood campaign contributions, according to Variety. Clinton "has taken in $213,645 so far from movie, TV and music industry sources. Second place is closely contested by two Teds: Ted Stevens (R-AK), Republican chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee ($100,500), and Ted Kennedy (*-MA), of the Democratic family dynasty ($94,600)."

"Clinton has been a Hollywood favorite almost from the beginning of her Senate career, and Stevens is a natural beneficiary given that he presides over the committee that exerts enormous influence over television and radio. As for the other Ted, when was a Kennedy not popular in Hollywood?"

"At the corporate level, Time WarnerTime Warner has doled out the most cash so far: almost $612,000, 74% of which went to Democrats, the rest to Republicans. Viacom dropped $203,000 -- 48% to Dems, 52% to the GOP -- while Disney parted with $196,000: 44% to Dems and 56% to Republicans."


Democrats Look West in 2008
Washington Whispers: "Howard Dean's Democratic National Committee this week will formally solicit bids from cities eager to host the 2008 presidential convention August 25 to 28. We hear that the party would like it in the West or Southwest. Dean's unusually early announcement has irked the GOP, and there are rumors that the Republicans might try to spoil the Democratic event by choosing the same dates. But Republicans insist that's unlikely."


Who Lost America?
In the lowest levels recorded since the poll began in 2001, only 33% of Americans believe leaders of other countries respect Bush, compared to 63% who believe they don?t have much respect for him, according to a new Gallup poll.

"Further indicating America?s negative image in the world is the fact that only 43% of respondents are satisfied with the position of the United States in the world today, while 54% are dissatisfied. These numbers are worse than those seen in 1966 when America was at the height of the Cold War."


?Governors of both parties said Sunday that Bush administration policies were stripping the National Guard of equipment and personnel needed to respond to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, forest fires and other emergencies.? Following a recent Pentagon budget proposal to cut 20,000 Guard members, ?all 50 governors signed a letter to the president opposing any cuts in the size of the National Guard


Conservative columnist George Will this morning on ABC?s This Week:

STEPHANOPOULOS: What does civil war look like?

WILL: This. This is a civil war.

Later, Will even questioned whether Iraq can truly be said to have a government:

Now, does Iraq have a government? Let me just postulate the question. A government exists when it has a reasonable monopoly on the legitimate use of violence. As long as the militias are out there, the existence of an Iraqi government is questionable. Think of Los Angeles. If Los Angeles said the Bloods and the Crips are going to be tolerated, they?re going to be armed and police their areas and enforce the law in certain areas, what sense would Los Angeles have of government?

Zero. Number of Iraqi battalions capable of fighting without U.S. support. On Friday, the Pentagon revealed that ?the only Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support has been downgraded

William F. Buckley, founder of the conservative magazine National Review: ?One can?t doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed.

 

[smurphy]

Bush?s Rhetoric on Family Incomes: Up = Down
President Bush likes to sell his tax cuts for the rich by saying, ?We want our families to have more money in their pocket.?

And the White House reported in August 2004, ?Real after-tax incomes are up 11 percent since December 2000.?

But Bush?s economic statistics have no basis in reality. The Federal Reserve Board reported today that the ?average income of American families, after adjusting for inflation, declined 2.3% in 2004 compared with 2001.? To see how poorly this compares to previous time periods.

How many actual statistics does it take before people acknowledge that the tax cuts did not help most Americans. And in the long run, they will actually cost us all even more.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

"What is it exactly in the Grapevine that you guys object too or disagree with?

Just now seeing your question Stevie--haven't been reading--but on your question -didn't have to go very far as usual--

"The second most troubling is the Bush administration's wiretapping of Americans without a warrant, with 50% bothered a great deal or good amount."

bothered a great deal or good amount???? What the fck kind of poll would ask such a question --read that out loud 10 times for your punishment for asking

and after consideration here is more punishment---
Let the Backtracking Begin...

Monday, February 27, 2006

By Bill O'Reilly



Let the backtracking begin: that is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo."

As the evidence mounts that there will be strict oversight on the Arab company working in some U.S. ports, the political backtracking and "CYA", "cover your ?" has begun.

The New York Times now says even though it might not be smart to throw the Emirates out, as The Times wanted to do a few days ago, the whole controversy is President Bush's fault because he has over-hyped the War on Terror. Call me crazy, but I thought Al Qaeda had just a little bit to do with the hype.

Anyway, The Times now realizes its editorial position is racial profiling, and you can't insult an Arab ally without cause. And Hillary Clinton realizes the same thing. Here's her latest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, *-N.Y.: It's very troubling that we find ourselves in this position. And I, for one, hope that there are answers, but at the very least I hope the 45-day investigation is carried out as required under the statute.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Well, "Talking Points" respectfully disagrees with Mrs. Clinton. We should vet the Arab company for 90 days or however long it takes to know everything about it.

The point here is that there was much more to this port story than you were led to believe when you first heard about it. And now those who demagogued and distorted the story look foolish.

This is a hallmark in the War on Terror coverage in general; distortions often rule the day, cool analysis is rare.

One more example. Today, the ACLU says it has evidence that FBI agents in Guantanamo were concerned U.S. military interrogators were abusing detainees there. Wow! The ACLU's outraged that strobe lights and gay porn allegedly were used to break some terror suspects.

Strobe lights, how could they?

Bottom line: There's usually much more to important stories than you're being fed by the ideologues, the newspapers and talk radio. Unfortunately, in America today, Kool-Aid drinkers on both sides will deceive you.

We will not.

And that's "The Memo."

The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day

You know, I admire Walter Cronkite. The man's nearly 90 years old and he's still kicking. But there is no question that the former newscaster is a far left guy. Since his retirement from CBS News, he has embraced all kinds of progressive causes.

Here's the latest. Mr. Cronkite is now trying to raise money for the Drug Policy Alliance, a drug legalization outfit that's partially funded by our pal, George Soros. Cronkite actually signed a fundraising [letter] that said in part, "We have locked up literally millions of people of color who have caused little or no harm to others."

The people Cronkite is talking about are street drug dealers who sell heroin, crack and meth, among other dangerous drugs. Apparently Walter Cronkite doesn't feel this is harmful. That view, with all due respect, is insane.

Memo to Walter: Hard drug dealers hurt and sometimes kill people, Sir. It is ridiculous you do not understand that.

Mr. Cronkite is welcome to debate me on the issue any time.

 

[StevieD]

"SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, *-N.Y.: It's very troubling that we find ourselves in this position. And I, for one, hope that there are answers, but at the very least I hope the 45-day investigation is carried out as required under the statute.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Well, "Talking Points" respectfully disagrees with Mrs. Clinton. We should vet the Arab company for 90 days or however long it takes to know everything about it."



Why does that idiot O'Rielly want the vet to last 90 days or however long it takes? He already approved the deal before the 45 days which is standard. Talk about a hypocrit!
He can't have it both ways. He agrees with Bush and says it's okay to approve it while forgoing the 45 day vet but then gets all over Clinton for agreeing with the 45 vet because he thinks it should be longer. How this guy has any credibilility is beyond me.

Thank you for outing O'Rielly DTB.

 

[djv]

Were all being B S by WASH DC it's done deal March 2nd. The 90 day or 45 day or 10 day review is all B S. It stops only if the Pres or congress stops it in next 3 days. Anyone think that happens. It also might get stopped in N J because the governor is asking for legal action at once from there state court. Not sure if that will work. Frist has already flipped.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

"Why does that idiot O'Rielly want the vet to last 90 days or however long it takes?"

maybe he's bothered a great deal or a good amount about situation

 

[djv]

Why did he not say deal done March 2nd no matter how many days a review is done. The law is 45 days. He new that part. What he did was cut the tape for his twist. The closing for deal with Brits is March 2nd. It is true UAE and BRITt's can stand down. I didn't here them say there doing that.

 

[Master Capper]

Bush says pulling out of Iraq would undermine our troops? morale:

It is also important for every American to understand the consequences of pulling out of Iraq before our work is done. ? We would undermine the morale of our troops by betraying the cause for which they have sacrificed. [12/18/05]

U.S. troops say they want out of Iraq within a year:

A new poll to be released today shows that U.S. soldiers overwhelmingly want out of Iraq ? and soon. The poll is the first of U.S. troops currently serving in Iraq, according to John Zogby, the pollster. Conducted by Zogby International and LeMoyne College, it asked 944 service members, ?How long should U.S. troops stay in Iraq?? Only 23 percent backed Mr. Bush?s position that they should stay as long as necessary. In contrast, 72 percent said that U.S. troops should be pulled out within one year. Of those, 29 percent said they should withdraw ?immediately.?


The latest CBS News poll puts President Bush?s job approval at 34 percent ? an all-time low. Vice President Cheney is doing even worse. Only 18 percent of the public approves of the way he is doing his job.

The American public has a dismal assessment of Bush?s policies across the board:

? 30 percent approve of Bush?s handling of the war in Iraq ? an all-time low.

? 27 percent approve of Bush?s energy policy.

? 32 percent approve of Bush?s handling of the economy.

? 5 percent of Americans are pleased with the way the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast is going.

Today, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said, ?Our focus is on the important priorities of the American people.? Looks like the American people disagree.



Susan Collins (R-ME) today released an unclassified version of a document showing that the U.S. Coast Guard ? located in the Department of Homeland Security ? ?cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations.? From the document:

There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential merger. ? The breadth of the intelligence gaps also infer potential unknown threats against a large number of potential vulnerabilities.

 

[kosar]

I guess that troop poll directly contradicts Waynes ridiculous assertion that they would rather be over there than back at home. You tend to get a little more 'accuracy' when the respondents are anonymous. Generals blathering on TV about how high morale is doesn't quite have the same credibility.

18% apporval for Cheney, huh? That sounds a little high. Saw something yesterday where high placed republican sources say Cheney will resign shortly after the 06 elections because of how much of a liability he is these days.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Don't know who their polling Matt--reserves-NG ??.I put more faith in what I read from the couple from this site that are serving--from interviews I see with troops that are serving-reinlistment rates- than I do in some blog site and the micro militia that frequent them. I saw their type 1st hand on otherside of fence at Oakland--something bout those that served and serving that form an invisable bond--the same can be said for those who have made excuses not to--and before I say something I regret I'll leave it at that--
P.S. I hope you know that none of this applies to you and I am sure you know where I'm coming from-would welcome you in my unit anytime and you'd have my vote for any office you ran for.

 

[gardenweasel]

love the thread....in particular,i loved uber- liberal democrats smearing shuffling uncle tom lynn swann...

throw a few oreo cookies at `im,guys...dems do it in maryland...

 

[kosar]

Don't know who their polling Matt--reserves-NG ??.I put more faith in what I read from the couple from this site that are serving--from interviews I see with troops that are serving-reinlistment rates- than I do in some blog site and the micro militia that frequent them. I saw their type 1st hand on otherside of fence at Oakland--something bout those that served and serving that form an invisable bond--the same can be said for those who have made excuses not to--and before I say something I regret I'll leave it at that--
P.S. I hope you know that none of this applies to you and I am sure you know where I'm coming from-would welcome you in my unit anytime and you'd have my vote for any office you ran for.

Wayne,

There is no question, all of us vets have a bond and of course I have the utmost respect for people like you and DJV and others on the site(and everywhere of course) who were in Vietnam .

However, I try not to blur the line of 'supporting the troops' and 'blindly supporting any admins decision to send to war.'

They are distinct.

As far as excuses 'not to join', we can go from draft dodger Clinton to draft dodgers Cheney to Perle to Wolfowitz to a huge percentage of current policy makers. I will refrain from saying 'Republicans in office', but we've seen the lists on the service records on both sides. They aren't as fun as the chain emails that accuse Clinton of 40 murders, but actually grounded in fact.

Iraq has no sensible end and it was clear from before the invasion. I believe that you know this in your heart, but somehow I think that you feel you are letting our troops down or being disrespectful if you were to vet those thoughts.

You can cite Somalia, cutting and running, until you're blue in the face, but let's face facts....there is no happy ending in Iraq and many of us recognized that over 3 years ago.

We did what we set out to do..we got rid of Saddam. Let them sort it out without any more deaths/maimings on our side.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

just a little on cbs poll --seems above post left out a few things--

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

The president's approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 34 percent and has dropped 8 points since last month. That's according to a new CBS poll in which just 30 percent approve of how President Bush is handling the war in Iraq and for the first time, most Americans say the president doesn't care about people like them.

The latest Rasmussen Reports poll also shows support for the president dropping over the past week, but his approval rating in that survey is 43 percent. Rasmussen all but perfectly forecast the outcome of the 2004 presidential election. So is there a reason the CBS poll is so much lower? Turns out, even after weighting their sample, 37 percent of respondents called themselves Democrats, compared to just 28 percent who said they were Republicans.

Now on otherhand will say that I think CBS did good interview with GW with some tough questions in a respectful way.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1671087&page=1