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BLOG ARCHIVE: SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2009.
NEWS
UPDATE & OPEN THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 21, 2009.
HEALTH CARE: It appears
as if the US Senate Democrats NEWS
UPDATE & OPEN THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 14, 2009.
RHODE ISLAND: Wealthy
businessman Rory Smith -- NEWS
UPDATE & OPEN THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 7, 2009.
MASSACHUSETTS: Voters
will cast primary ballots Tuesday in the special election the
fill the seat of the late US Senator Ted Kennedy. Turnout is expected
to be very low. Attorney General Martha Coakley continues to be
the strong frontrunner for the Dem nomination in all independent
polls. The only primary contender of the NEWS
UPDATE & OPEN THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30, 2009.
CONNECTICUT: NEWS
UPDATE & OPEN THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 23, 2009.
By a 60-39 vote, US Senate Democrats blocked NEWS
UPDATE & OPEN THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16, 2009.
The NEWS
UPDATE & OPEN THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9, 2009.
On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi handed President ELECTION
RESULTS OPEN THREAD - NOVEMBER 5, 2009. Tuesday was election
day in gubernatorial contests in NJ and VA, congressional special
OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2, 2009. Tuesday is election
day in the gubernatorial contests in NJ and VA, OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 26, 2009. The latest independent
OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 19, 2009. In New Jersey,
embattled Governor Jon Corzine (D) and former US Attorney Chris
Christie (R) are now neck-and-neck in the hot gubernatorial race.
OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 5, 2009. Chicago OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2009. Serious OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. Congressman
Stephen
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will
meet their self-imposed timetable of passing health care reform
legislation by Christmas Eve. It came at the cost of jettisoning
the public option, the public option trigger and the early Medicare
buy-in option, but the compromise was able to secure the 60 votes
needed to block any GOP efforts to stall the bill. US Senator
Ben Nelson (D-NE), the most conservative Democrat in the Senate,
announced his support of the plan, giving the bill the 60 committed
votes needed. The pro-life Nelson was also agreed to a compromise
which will strip out the staunchly anti-abortion Stupak amendment
from the House and replace it with much milder pro-life language
consistent with current law (i.e., the Hyde Amendment). Progressive
Democrats were largely unhappy with the compromise, believing
it betrayed the promise of a real public option. GOP Conservatives
opposed it as a further expansion of the federal government. However,
some in the media noted the final plan almost completely mirrors
the proposal advanced by President Obama during his 2008 campaign
... ALABAMA: Freshman
Congressman Parker Griffith, a conservative Blue Dog Democrat
who has voted against the White House this year on most key legislation,
announced Tuesday his switch to the Republican Party. 
Griffith
was facing a tough reelection contect for the GOP-leaning CD-5
district, which voted 61% for McCain last year. The unexpected
switch did not deter his two GOP opponents, as both men vowed
to remain in the race against Griffith in the GOP primary. Griffith's
leading GOP rival is Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks, a
former state legislator and former District Attorney. While some
state GOP leaders embraced the move, the conservative Club for
Growth was tepid in the brief statement it released: "This
party switch signals Griffith’s nervousness, but it doesn’t
signal that his incumbency is safe." The Dems also vow to
field a strong candidate for the seat, and several prominent names
are already being floated ... NEW
YORK: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
(R) announced he will not run for either Governor or US Senate
next year, ending GOP efforts to recruit him into those races.
In the gubernatorial contest, Republicans seem to be reluctantly
coalescing behind the candidacy of former Congressman Rick Lazio.
Recent polls, however, have surprisingly shown Lazio trailing
unpopular incumbent Governor David Paterson (D). In the US Senate
race, no Republicans have announced to date against US Senator
Kristen Gillibrand (D). 
the
lone GOP candidate in the race to replace term-limited Governor
Don Carcieri (R) -- quit the race over the weekend. He said he
became convinced he could not run a competitive race for the seat.
With Smith out, the only Republican name floating is that of Cranston
Mayor Steve Laffey, a conservative who challenged then-US Senator
Lincoln Chafee in the 2006 GOP primary. (Note: the button
at left is from his father John Chafee's 1962 winning run for
Governor.) Laffey previously announced he would not run,
but with no candidate in sight, he's reportedly reconsidering.
Chafee is running as an Independent, and is currently leading
in general election polls. Attorney General Patrick Lynch and
State Treasurer Frank Caprio are the leading Democrats in the
race ... TEXAS:
City Comptroller 
Annise
Parker (D) was elected Houston Mayor on Saturday by a 53-47 vote.
Parker, who is openly gay, acknowledged the historical nature
of her win, making Houston the largest city in the nation to ever
elect an out gay mayor. Parker -- who has a spouse of 19 years
and three childen they adopted -- saw her sexuality made into
almost the only issue discussed in the run-off campaign ... HAWAII:
Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D) announced he will resign his
CD-1 seat soon in order to focus all his efforts on his gubernatorial
bid. The move, when it occurs, will trigger a special election.
Hawaiian special elections always are incredibly crowded contests,
but the three frontrunners will be former Congressman Ed Case
(D), State Senate Colleen Hanabusa (D) and Honolulu City Councilman
Charles Djou (R) ... WASHINGTON:
Congressman Brian Baird (D) announced he will retire next year.
While Baird regularly scored easy reelection victories, the seat
will likely be competitive now that it is an open contest in 2010.
Several state legislators are looking at the contest. 
other
three hopefuls who appears to even remotely be within striking
range of Coakley is Congressman Mike Capuano. The winner of the
Democratic primary is a safe bet to win the special general election
on January 19 ... TENNESSEE:
Congressman John Tanner (D), a leading Blue Dog Democrat in the
House, announced last week he will not seek reelection next year.
Based upon voting trends in CD-8, the open seat moves to the toss-up
category. Farmer Stephen Fincher is the GOP frontrunner, having
raised over $300,000 to date for his campaign. Just hours after
Tanner announced his retirement, State Senate Minority Leader
Roy Herron (D) quit the gubernatorial race and jumped into the
CD-8 race. Several other Democratic state legislators also expressed
an interest in the seat, each promising to make a decision shortly
... MINNESOTA: Minneapolis
Mayor R.T. Rybak (D) became the latest candidate to jump into
the open gubernatorial contest. Eight Republicans, eleven Democrats,
six others are now officially in the race to replace retiring
Governor Tim Pawlenty (R). Last week, news reports indicated former
US Senator Norm Coleman (R) is showing renewed interest in the
race. Coleman downplays any focus on the race, but vaguely hints
he'll focus on "the political horizon" sometime later
... FLORIDA: State
legislative leaders announced a snap special session for this
week
to find the $1.2 billion needed to finance the so-called SunRail
high-speed train line in central Florida. If approved, the funding
could qualify the state for $2.5 billion in additional federal
stimulus funding. All of this funding -- for what critics are
mockingly calling an unneeded "Train to Nowhere" --
would benefit for-profit CSX railroad company. Governor Charlie
Crist (R), State House Speaker Larry Cretul (R) and State Senate
President Jeff Atwater (R) all support the train project, as do
US Senators George LeMieux (R) and Bill Nelson (D). Backers claim
the train would generate "create or save 14,000 jobs."
Gubernatorial candidate State Senator Paula Dockery (R) and US
Senate candidate/former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio are
outspoken critics of the project, as are several leading Democrats
and the state's Tea Party group. Dockery calls the project "a
billion-dollar boondoggle ... [that] will lead to higher taxes
and can take away funds from education." OBITUARY:
Former US Senator Paula Hawkins (R-FL) died on December 4 at age
82. She set a women's "first" in Senate history in 1980,
as the first woman ever elected to a full US Senate term in her
own right without being a surviving spouse or relative of the
previous incumbent. She was defeated for reelection in 1986 when
the popular Hawkins was challenged by the even more popular Governor
Bob Graham (D). 
Frequent
Presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader (Green)
acknowledged he is contemplating running against US Senator Chris
Dodd (D) next year. The Connecticut Green Party has offered the
75-year-old Nader their nomination if he wishes to run. In other
related news, State Senator Sam Caligiuri (R) exited the US Senate
race and jumped into the CD-5 contest. Former Ambassador Tom Foley
(R) also said they he is leaning towards quitting the Senate race
and instead running for Governor. The NRSC appears to be clearing
the Senate primary field for former Congressman Rob Simmons (R).
Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO and state Board of Education
Member Linda McMahon and anti-tax activist Peter Schiff are the
other announced GOP candidates for Senate. Just speculation on
our part, but look for Schiff to eventually exit the GOP contest
in favor of running as the Libertarian nominee ... P2012: Former
CNN news show host Lou Dobbs (R/Independent) openly acknowledged
he is considering making a run for President in 2012. However,
Dobbs last 
week
said he may instead run against US Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
in 2012 to build his credentials for a delayed White House run
in 2016 ... MASSACHUSETTS: With a week to go until the special
election primary, Attorney General Martha Coakley (D) continues
to look like the clear frontrunner for the vacant US Senate seat.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Governor Mike Dukakis and
current Massachusetts First Lady Diane Patrick all endorsed Congressman
Mike Capuano in the Dem primary. The Boston Globe endorsed
philanthropist Alan Khazei. But look for Coakley to score a comfortable
victory next week ... ARIZONA: A new Arizona State University
poll shows Attorney General Terry Goddard (D) leading Governor
Jan Brewer (R) by a 47-28 vote ... KANSAS: Congressman Dennis
Moore (D) last week became the first House member to announce
his retirement for 2010. Five Republicans have already announced
for the seat, and several Dems are also looking at it. As an open
seat, CD-3 must be rated Leans GOP ... P2012: Former Arkansas
Governor Mike Huckabee (R) told Fox News on Sunday that it is
"less than likely" he will make a second run for President
next time. Meanwhile, a 
GOP
filibuster plans and now advance the Dem's health care reform
legislation to the floor for debate. In response to critics who
claimed nobody knew what was really in the bill, the Democratic
leadership 
capitalist
Steve Pagliuca - 15%, philanthropist Alan Khazei - 6%. The winner
of the Dem primary on December 8 is all but certain to defeat
State Senator Scott Brown (R) in the January general election
... In North Dakota, a new Zogby poll shows Governor John Hoeven
(R) would defeat US Senator Byron Dorgan (D) by a lopsided 55-36
vote. Hoeven has not yet decided on whether he will challenge
Dorgan next year ... Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is now
apparently leaning towards running against interim US Senator
Kristen Gillibrand (D) in 2010, instead of running for Governor,
according to conversations Giualiani had with close associates
last week ... In California, a new Rasmussen poll shows US Senator
Barbara Boxer (D) leading centrist former Hewlett Packard CEO
Carly Fiorina (R) by a 46-37 vote. Boxer also leads conservative
State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R) by a nearly identical 46-36
vote ... US Senator John McCain (R) may have trouble with his
party's conservative base, if conservative former Congressman
J.D. Hayworth challenges him in the GOP primary. The latest Rasmussen
poll shows McCain leading Hayworth 45-43 vote, with anti-immigration
activist Chris Simcox at 4% ... Finally, my best wishes to all
for a happy thanksgiving. 
big
news this week will be the release of former Alaska Governor Sarah
Palin's autobiography 'Going Rogue.' In the book she hits back
at various foes including her Alaska opponents and the media in
general (and Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson in particular). However,
her strongest hits are squarely aimed at various people involved
with the 2008 McCain campaign. As for Levi Johnston, he reportedly
is not even mentioned in Palin's book ... A federal judge sentenced
former Congressman Bill Jefferson (D-LA) to 13-years in prison.
Jefferson was convicted in August on bribery, racketeering and
other corruption charges. The sentence is the longest incarceration
ever given to a former member of Congress ... 
US
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) has changed plans again from
her previously announced decision to resign her seat in order
to focus full-time on her 2010 GOP primary challenge against Governor
Rick Perry. Hutchison on Friday says she now expects to resign
after the primary in March 2010, but left lots of wiggle room
to stay until the end of her term. "She will always do what's
right for Texas," explained Hutchison's campaign spokesperson.
The resignation -- if Hutchison follows through on her latest
statement -- will force a special election next year. At least
ten candidates have already announced their candidacies in the
date-uncertain Senate special election ... Milwaukee Mayor and
former Congressman Tom Barrett (D) announced his candidacy for
Wisconsin Governor. The White House had enouraged Barrett to run
for weeks, believing he is the strongest Dem for the open seat
contest ... Former Congressman Tom Tancredo (R) said this weekend
that he "expects" to soon enter the race for Colorado
Governor.
Obama
a small victory on Saturday when the House approved universal
health care legislation by a 220-215 vote. Only one Republican
-- endangered freshman Congressman Joseph Cao (R-LA) -- joined
with the Democrats to approve the bill. The fight for national
health care now moves to the US Senate. Senate Democrats acknowledge
it will be a tough fight, but believe they can have a bill on
the President's desk for signature by the end of next month ...
All signs are now pointing to former New Mexico Governor Gary
Johnson (R) running as the "Ron Paul movement" candidate
for President in 2012. Johnson, who is launching his Our America
PAC and has a book coming out in December, is seemingly encouraging
the "
Johnson
decides to make the race ... US unemployment rate his 10.2% on
Friday, the highest since 1983 (btw, what happened to that incumbent
President in 1984?) ... According to published media reports,
non-profit group founder/CEO Anthony Shriver (D) is considering
jumping into the race for Florida Governor. Shriver is the nephew
of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, the son of 1972 Democratic VP
nominee Sargent Shriver, and the brother of California First Lady
Maria Shriver ... Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter is
openly contemplating making a Democratic primary challenge next
year against US Senator Blanche Lincoln. Halter, who served as
the Social Security Administrator during the Clinton Administration,
is reportedly upset about Lincoln's failute to embrace Obama's
call for universal health care ... The fiscal conservative Club
for Growth is running TV spots in Florida which mock Governor
Charlie Crist (R) for falsely claiming last week on CNN that he
"never endorsed" Obama's stimulus package earlier this
year. The group is backing former State House Speaker Marco Rubio
against Crist in the GOP primary for US Senate.
elections
in NY CD-23 and CA CD-10, and mayoral contest in NYC, Boston,
Miami, Houston, Boston, Atlanta, and elsewhere ... NEW
JERSEY: Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R) defeated
Governor Jon Corzine (D) by a 49% to 45% vote, with former State
EPA Director Chris Daggett (Independent) third with 6% ... VIRGINIA:
As expected, former Attorney General Bob McDonnell (R)
defeated State Senator Creigh Deeds (D) by a lopsided 59-41 vote.
This continues Virginia's odd tradition, started in 1977, that
whichever party holds the White House has lost the last nine consecutive
gubernatorial contests in the state ... NY-23:
This 
was
the big upset of the 2009, aided largely by GOP infigting. Center-right
attorney Bill Owens (D) captured this seat with 49%, marking the
first time the Dems have won this seat since before the Civil
War. Accountant Doug Hoffman (Conservative) -- who was backed
by Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, and Rush Limbaugh -- was second
with 45%. GOP nominee Dede Scazzafava -- a liberal Republican
-- withdrew from the race days before the vote and endorsed the
Democratic nominee after she faced such hostile opposition from
leaders of the conservative wing of her own party ... CA-10:
No surprise. Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi (D) defeated attorney
David Harmer (R) by a 53-43 vote, with third party candidates
splitting the remaining 4% ... NEW YORK CITY:
Incumbent Mayor Mike Bloomberg (R) spent $100 million from his
own pocket, a national record for candidate personal spending,
to defeat City Controller Bill Thompson (D) by an unexpectedly
close 51-46 vote ... GAY RIGHTS: Maine voters
repealed by the state's same-sex marriage law by a 53-47 margin.
By a 51-49 vote, Washington State voters approved the so-called
"everything but marriage" R-71 ballot question. It grants
same-sex couples the right to enter in domestic partnerships with
virtually all the same state rights of marriage except being legally
able to call the relationship a marriage. In Houston, out gay
City Controller Annise Parker placed first with 31%, followed
by former City Attorney Gene Locke at 26%. They head to a December
runoff. If elected, Parker would become the first openly gay person
elected Mayor of a major US city.
congressional
special elections in NY CD-23 and CA CD-10, and mayoral contest
in NYC, Boston and elsewhere ... In New Jersey, the race between
Governor Jon Corzine (D) and former US Attorney Chris Christie
(R) remains too close to call. By contrast, in Virginia, former
Attorney General Bob McDonnell (R) appears headed to a landslide
win over State Senator Creigh Deeds (D) ... The wild three-way
NY 
CD-23
race got wilder over the weekend as the GOP nominee -- pro-choice/pro-gay
marriage State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava -- quit the race
and endorsed pro-life attorney Bill Owens (D). Accountant Doug
Hoffman (Conservative), who is now backed by the RNC and NRCC,
is a slight favorite now over Owens. Scazzafava's name will remain
on the ballot on Tuesday ... In California CD-10, Lieutenant Governor
John Garamendi (D) is expected to score a comfortable win over
a Republican and three other opponents ... New York City Mayor
Mike Bloomberg (R) is cruising to a very big win over City Controller
Bill Thompson (D), who ran a highly dysfunctional campaign ...
In California, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) quit the gubernatorial
race, citing his poor fundraising. Polls had routinely placed
him in a distant second place behind Attorney General Jerry Brown
in the Democratic primary ... Infamous GOP consulant Roger Stone
predicted to Politics1 that NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg will run
for President as an Independent in 2012. "That's why he ran
for reelection this year," explained Stone. He also said
"the name of the Republican Presidential nominee [in 2012]
isn't yet known. The person who will be nominated is not any of
the major names floating right now" ... Here's a very early
prediction from me on the 2010 US Senate race in Florida: Barring
the unexpected (and this is not the outcome I want), former State
House Speaker Marco Rubio -- closely aligned for the past few
years with the Religious Right wing of Republican Party -- will
defeat Governor Charlie Crist in the GOP primary for US Senate,
and go on to win the seat in the general election. 
New
Jersey polls show a toss-up in the gubernatorial contest. Polls
differ on which man -- Governor Jon Corzine (D) or former US Attorney
Chris Christie (R) is leading, but the polls always show the leads
as being within the margin of error. Some polls show third-place
Independent Chris Daggett now reaching near the 20% mark ... Another
fascinating race to watch is the NY-23 congressional special election.
A GOP rift may hand the Democrats this GOP open seat. When the
Republicans nominated pro-choice/pro-gay marriage State Assemblywoman
Dede Scozzafava, the Conservative Party nominated accountant Doug
Hoffman. Meanwhile, the Dems nominated pro-life attorney Bill
Owens. The latest Research 2000 poll shows Owens at 35%, Scozzafava
at 30%, and Hoffman at 23% ... Two of the November races -- at
least based 
upon
the polls -- appear to already be largely decided. In Virginia,
former Attorney General Bob McDonnell (R) leads State Senator
Creigh Deeds (D) by a double-digit margin that appears to be growing.
In New York City, incumbent Mayor Mike Bloomberg (R) is headed
to a landslide win over City Controller Bill Thompson (D) ...
In other polling news, a series of Research 2000 polls last week
shows US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) continuing to trail
for reelection next year against the leading announced GOP challengers
. Expect Reid to run a scorched earth strategy which spends millions
to drive up the negative ratings of the Republican rivals ...
The health care debate on Capitol Hill is seemingly heading towards
resolution in the Democratic Caucus, where it will largely be
decided. While the White House appears to prefer the public option
"trigger" so as to keep Senator Olympia Snowe's (R-ME)
support, Senator Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi both reportedly
are trying to secure enough votes for including a plan which includes
a public option from the outset. One top Democratic House member
involved in the talks told Politics over the weekend: "We
are close to having enough votes for the 'robust public option'
-- but we're not there yet. I think they're closer to having enough
votes in the Senate right now than we are in the House."
Polls
within the past few days show the two men within a point or so
of each other. Independent Chris Daggett is third, polling in
the mid-teens ... A Rasmussen poll on the P2012 GOP contest shows
Mike Huckabee is now leading the field with 29%. Mitt Romney was
second with 24%, Sarah Palin had 18%, Newt Gingrich scored 14%,
and Tim Pawlenty captured 4% ... In Oregon, former Governor John
Kitzhaber narrowly edged former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury
in a non-binding 
straw
vote at a state Democratic Party conference. The result was a
surprise, as the more moderate Kitzhaber was presumed to be a
solid frontrunner for nomination over progressive Bradbury and
former Hewlett-Packard executive Steve Shields (who barely registered
in the straw poll) ... In Iowa, US Senator Chuck Grassley (R)
is leading for reelection over former First Lady and attorney
Christine Vilsack (D) by a 51-40 vote, according to a new Research
2000 poll. The poll also showed Governor Chet Culver (D) holding
a wide lead for reelection over his two announced GOP challengers.
However, Culver trails former four-term Governor Terry Branstad
(R) by a 48-43 vote. Branstad recently filed paperwork to form
an exploratory committee ... US Senator Arlen Specter (D) is continuing
to face major problems in his 2010 reelection contest in Pennsylvania.
A new Rasmussen poll shows Specter trailing former Congressman
Pat Toomey (R) by a 45-40 vote. Specter holds a surprisingly close
46-42 advantage in his Democratic primary race against Congressman
Joe Sestak. By contrast, a Susquehanna Polling survey last week
showed Specter holding a 44-16 lead over Sestak.
lost
out to Rio for host city of the 2016 Olympic, despite a last minute
personal pitch to the IOC from President Obama ... The President
and Congress struggle with the question of what to do militarily
with the future of Afghanistan ... Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D) cancelled the Senate's scheduled Columbus Holiday recess
to keep the press on for passage of health care reform legislation
... More troubling details emerged about US Senator John Ensign's
(R) sex scandal, the latest causing Senate Republican Leader Mitch
McConnell (R) to back away from his previous statements of support
for Ensign's stated plans to seek reelection in 2012 ... The DNC
donated $1 million to Creigh Deeds' gubernatorial campaign in
Virginia, although polls continue to show him trailing by a noteworthy
margin ... In New Jersey, embattled Governor Jon Corzine's (D)
negative TV spots seem to be working, as several polls show he
has closed the gap and now trails former US Attorney Chris Christie
(R) by roughly 4 points ... In Minnesota, former State House Speaker
Marty Seifert won the straw poll for Governor at this weekend's
GOP State Convention. Seifert was first in the delegate vote with
37%, followed by State Representative Tom Emmer at 23%, former
State Auditor Pat Anderson at 14%, State Senator David Hann at
12%, and five others finished in the low single-digits. This was
purely a non-binding straw vote, versus the official party endorsement
vote at the next state convention in April 2010. Ten Democrats,
two Greens, and one candidate from the Constitution Party are
also running in the open gubernatorial race ... In South Dakota,
term-limited Secretary of State Chris Nelson (R) announced his
candidacy next year against Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
(D), setting up a potentially competitive race.
questions
emerged over the past week, from various polling professionals,
that suggests that Strategic Vision may have been faking polling
results for several years. Considering how many political sites
reported on the Strategic Vision polls since 2006, 
Lynch
(D) has withdrawn from the January special election in Massachusetts
for US Senator. However, wealthy venture capitalist Steve Pagliuca
(D), co-owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team, has jumped
into the contest. Independent polling last week indicates Attorney
General Martha Coakley (D) is the solid frontrunner to win the
special election. Congressman Mike Capuano (D) is already on the
air with TV spots. In related news, the state legislature is expected
to approve a change in state law later this week allowing Governor
Deval Patrick (D) to appoint an interim US Senator to serve until
the special election is held. Former Governor and '88 Presidential
nominee Mike Dukakis (D) -- a supporter of single-payer health
care and who has already said he would not run in the special
election -- is expected to be named the interim Senator ... The
New York Post reports that President Obama last 
week
private urged New York Governor David Paterson (D) to end his
2010 campaign to hold the job. Polls show Paterson hovering around
the 20% mark, making him virtually unelectable. Paterson, however,
appears intent upon running next year. Attorney General Andrew
Cuomo (D) is expected to be challenge him in the primary -- despite
previous denials to the contrary. Former Congressman Rick Lazio
and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani are expected to battle each
other for the GOP gubernatorial nomination ... Activists at the
weekend's Values Voters Summit, a national gathering of religious
right activists, cast votes in a straw ballot for the 2012 GOP
Presidential contest. Mike Huckabee won with 29%, followed by
Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Sarah Palin tied with 12% apiece,
Mike Pence captured 11%, and Newt Gingrich, Bobby Jindal, Rick
Santorum and Ron Paul lagged far behind. Romney narrowly edged
Huckabee in this same straw poll four year ago. Huckabee, Romney,
Pence and Pawlenty spoke at the event before the vote ... Finally,
in the federal health care debate, US Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
unveiled his long awaited proposal last week, only to find it
drew endorsements from only a few Democratic Senators and zero
Republicans.
OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2009. The health
care debate continues to heat-up as the US Senate prepares to
take up the issue. US Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Olympia
Snowe (R-ME) both announced Sunday they will oppose any reform
legislation which includes a public option. With those two GOP
centrists now clearly out of the mix, it makes it much more likely
the Senate Dems will resort to the reconciliation rules to allow
the legislation to advance with only 51 votes (instead of the
60 usually required to invoke cloture to block a filibuster) ...
Now that former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card (R) and Congressman
Ed Markey (D) have taken themselves out of the US Senate special
election in Massachusetts, the list of those who will run is taking
shape. On the Democratic side, the major candidates will be Attorney
General Martha Coakley and Congressmen Mike Capuano and Stephen
Lynch. Capuano is believed to be the candidate backed by the Kennedy
family. On the GOP side, party leaders appeal to be rallying behind
State Senator Scott Brown -- as 
retired
pro baseball pitcher Curt Schilling now appears unlikely to run
... Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) said over the weekend that he
will refuse to make an apology this week on the House floor for
having shouted "you lie" at President Obama during last
week's Joint Session of Congress. Wilson said he already apologized
to the President in a phone call to the White House and will not
apologize again. House GOP Leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor
have reportedly been among those privately pushing Wilson to make
a brief, formal apology on the House floor to avoid an all-but-certain
reprimand vote for his rude outburst. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
was willing to block any formal reprimand action against Wilson
if he was simply willing to offer a formal apology on the floor.
House Rules prohibit members from calling colleagues "liar"
and other disparaging terms during floor debates and speeches
... Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), the most senior out gay member
of Congress, torpedoed Congressman Jerry Nadler's (D-NY) effort
to repeal DOMA. Frank said that Nadler was seeking too much, as
it was more realistic to advance gay rights in this session by
limiting the agenda to passing the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act, repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in
the military, and providing domestic partner benefits to spouses
of federal employees.
OPEN
THREAD FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2009. Labor Day is
now behind us, so Congress returns to work on Tuesday ... President
Obama will turn up the heat on health care reform in a speech
before a joint session of Congress. The President will finally
definine the specifics of the plan he wants adopted ... The President
will also give his unexpectedly controversial "welcome back
to school" speech this week aimed at America's grade school
students. Conservative school boards in several counties around
the nation have banned the airing of the speech as a feared leftist
"indoctrination," even though it is seemingly a benign
message emphasizing staying in school and working hard to get
good grades (much like similar televised speeches given in the
past by President Reagan and Bush-41) ... Former Congressman Joe
Kennedy (D) and former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey (R) --
the perceived frontrunners for each party's primary contest for
the open US Senate seat in Massachusetts -- each announced they
will skip the race. Attorney General Martha Coakley (D) has announced
her candidacy, and many others continue to look at the contest
... Newly appointed US Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) takes office
on Thursday.
THREAD
FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 31, 2009. I'm trying something
new here on Politics1's homepage, as I previously mentioned I
was now using Twitter to post what comments on news, politics
and personal asides that I had to offer. With my BlackBerry and
the great 
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