August 2003
ArchPundit
He’s Got Skillzzz
Joan Walsh writes a mea culpa about Dean’s political skills and suggests that he might be far more electable than people thought.
As someone who normally identifies as a DLC kinda guy, I’ve been more than appalled by Lieberman and the DLC attacks on Dean–a guy who makes the point that one needs a balanced budget to attack social justice. Hello Marty McFrom, but what the hell is it that you hate about the guy? That he argued there wasn’t an imminent threat from Iraq. Well, it turns out From and I were wrong. There was a long term threat and Dean was willing to address it as such. I can admit I was wrong, but apparently the DLC can’t bother to notice that the nuclear program wasn’t as advanced as previously thought.
And frankly, I want my country back.
More interesting was a few minutes of Chris Mathews that I caught. The Good Dr. Luntz was on and doing his focus group bit and, uhhh…, well people just like Dean. It appears to be very similar to how people are attracted to Dubya except there seemed to be a level of trust in regards to how well Dean actually understood the issue.
Adding more is this from Josh Marshall who points out that the successful Democratic candidate has to appeal to the base of hatred while at the same time playing to the general audience in the general. Josh also points out the short sighted vision of the DLC and suggests some folks are trying to hit them over the head with a clue by four. Good for them.
Does this fit Dean? Given that in a recent interview he slipped and talked about how in the general election he’ll have to move to more general issues—Yeah, he gets it. That doesn’t mean he wins, but it does mean he gets the drill a lot better than Lieberman or Al From.
Opposition to O’Hare
Jeff Trigg makes an excellent point about O’Hare expansion and the sleazy contracts that will likely be issued. As it stands now, there will be far fewer safeguards against the contracts being legitimate.
However, I’ll blame this on Fitzgerald because instead of working a federal bill that would have demanded some accountability and put Durbin in a corner to support such measures, Peter has refused to offer any constructive way to expand O’Hare while keeping it clean. O’Hare expansion is vital and he thinks it shouldn’t happen. So now it will happen and happen with few safeguards.
Why Dick Won’t And Shouldn’t Be President
Steve Chapman has a great column on Dick’s protectionism and the political consequences.
In presidential politics, the only thing worse than not getting the AFL-CIO’s endorsement is getting it. The last two candidates to get its blessing early in the race were Walter Mondale and Al Gore, neither of whom spent the following four years being serenaded with "Hail to the Chief." Bill Clinton won even though the labor organization didn’t get behind him until he already had the 1992 nomination sewn up.
Gephardt was one of the most responsive Members of Congress I’ve ever had–up there with Jim Leach which is high praise from me. And his staff say he is truly a great guy, which I don’t doubt.
I’m sympathetic to some sort of environmental riders on some free trade agreements despite that I am unsure if they can be effective. Howard Dean has been discussing this issue in relation to how he disagrees with Robert Rubin over including such protections. I tend to side with Rubin thinking they won’t do much good, but also recognize the problem.
That being said, free trade benefits the poor in the developing world more than anything else. Having been in Nicaragua just post embargo and their strong desire not for aid from the U.S., but for trade brought home the importance of this. Secondly, it benefits consumers. Third, free trade stops the U.S. from favoring some businesses over others. Despite cheaper labor in the U.S. many of Chicago’s candy makers are moving to Canada because the cost of sugar is closer to world market rates. But the US chooses to support corn producers because of ADM: Supermarket to the Politicians.
Gephardt is a decent man and I have a great deal of respect for him, but I can’t endorse in a primary someone so mediocre on such an issue.
It’s Like I Wrote It
The Trib covers forest policy and points out all three major problems with fire and forest policy.
1) We are subsidizing timber–often to environmental harm
2) We are using proctectionist policies to exclude cheaper Canadian lumber and thus hurting consumers
3) We are protecting homes in high risk areas, despite that they are in high risk areas
Who says good environmental policy is opposed to good economic policy.
Tari Renner in the 11th
Tari Renner is running to unseat Jerry Weller in the 11th CD.
Several people I know speak highly of Tari Renner, making him highly unlikely to do much besides be a gnat bothering Weller. Other than Mike Kelleher, there aren’t many Democrats who have made strong runs in the area and with redistricting it only got harder. Interestingly, Kelleher is in the 11th now as he was redistricted into it by less than a block.
Weller pushed to have his District come south so his parents could vote for him. I still can’t believe we have a vanity CD of this nature and few redistricting stories surprise me anymore.
How Did I Miss This
Rich Miller has two relatively recent stories up that I haven’t commented upon, but the best is What’s Good for the Goose…
WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE… (excerpt) Mayors and city councils throughout the state have been complaining about the new fee on wastewater discharge. The fees, running as much as $10 per resident, have hit small farming communities particularly hard.
Most communities are paying under protest, most are furious that they didn’t find out about the fees until they received a bill from the state, most are also disgusted that the fees will be immediately transferred into the state’s General Revenue Fund and not spent on improving or inspecting the facilities, and most are also complaining that the Metropolitan Water and Sanitary District’s fees are capped at a very low rate.
But the southern Illinois town of Hillsboro found a way to get even – and make a small profit in the bargain. . . .
But, after Hillsboro received a bill from the state for $21,000, angry town leaders decided to slap a wastewater fee on the [state] prison – for $24,000. from
Heh.
Also good is his coverage of the Illinois Commerce Commission–go see it at his site, but it essentially reports on a hidden news story in which the current ICC Members are pushing down refunds to consumers. How would you react if George Bush had appointed such a commission? I thought so.
Calling Jeff Trigg
Errr…I’m all for easy ballot access, but this is ridiculous.
Just kidding in one sense, but it opens up an interesting question of how to have orderly elections that discourage candidates who aren’t serious.
Is There Such A Thing As A Satirical Lawsuit?
Because the suit filed by Fox News against Al Franken might qualify–after all being unsuccessful at being funny isn’t a barrier to calling something satire.
Fox said in the suit that Franken flew into a rage near a table of Fox News personalities at a press correspondents’ dinner in April and acted "either intoxicated or deranged."
It said Franken has become "increasingly unfunny."
"Franken is neither a journalist nor a television news personality. He is not a well-respected voice in American politics; rather, he appears to be shrill and unstable," the suit said.
Fox claims it registered the phrase "fair and balanced" in 1997 and that it "was created as a specific alternative to what its founders perceived as a liberal bias in the American media."
Franken worked as a comedy writer in the 1970s and has appeared frequently on "Saturday Night Live."
But I’m sure Al will thank them for boosting his sales…
It’s the Gay Supremacy Hour
Brent Bozell is a moron.
I’m moving on…