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Subscribe to RSSFrank Fahrenkopf, former RNC chairman and head of the Commission on Presidential Debates, lit into Mitt Romney’s campaign and Republicans for not understanding the country’s demographics and losing on voter turnout. “And I thought McCain’s campaign was the worst I’d seen in modern history,” he said, per Jon Ralston.
He also took a shot at debate moderator Candy Crowley, calling her selection a “mistake” and contended that media bias is real but the GOP has to “live with it.” He also called Michael Steele a “name that will live in infamy” for not fixing how primaries are run or limiting debates. Of Chris Christie’s embrace of Obama during Sandy: “He kissed him. He didn’t have to French-kiss him. I think he went overboard.”
“The National Rifle Association will launch a print advertising campaign targeting mostly Democratic senators up for re-election in 2014, according to sources close to the group,” Roll Call reports. “On Thursday, full-page ads are scheduled to run in local newspapers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina and West Virginia. They will be supplemented by digital advertising in these states and 10 others, including Alaska, Colorado, Montana, New Hampshire and South Dakota. Additionally, the group has scheduled full-page ads to run Feb. 25 in regional editions of USA Today, reaching parts of 15 states. The campaign is estimated to cost north of $375,000, sources said.”
“Who could bring together President Obama and Dick Cheney on the same side of an issue?” USA Today asks, “Supporters of gay marriage. The Respect for Marriage Coalition launched an ad Wednesday featuring comments from Obama and Cheney, who have clashed repeatedly on national security issues but back the idea of same-sex marriage. The ad also includes clips from former first lady Laura Bush and ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell.”
Stu Rothenberg on the GOP’s internecine problems: “Ultimately, the Republican Party’s problems go back to its base voters, who participate in primaries and nominating conventions. Many of them are so blinded by their anger toward President Barack Obama, the national news media and their own party leaders that they are willing to nominate the most conservative candidate in a primary, no matter how limited his or her appeal in a general election. And for party strategists, there is no easy solution to that problem.”
ALASKA: Here we go again… “Joe Miller, the tea party favorite who was backed by Sarah Palin when he roiled GOP politics in the 2010 midterm elections, is seriously considering another bid at an Alaska Senate seat, a campaign that could prompt a bare-knuckled effort against a candidate pushed by the party establishment,” Politico writes.
ILLINOIS: The Chicago Tribune: “Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., and his wife, former Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson, are expected to plead guilty to federal charges today, when more details may emerge about an alleged crime spree in which he is accused of spending more than $750,000 in campaign cash to buy luxury items, memorabilia and other goods. Attorneys familiar with public corruption investigations said the amount of campaign cash allegedly converted to personal use in this case is the largest of any that they can remember. Jackson Jr., who has been largely out of the public eye for eight months, is to appear in court at 9:30 a.m. Chicago time. His wife is to appear at 1:30 p.m. Chicago time.”
KENTUCKY: Mitch McConnell put out this video poking fun at Democrats’ search for a candidate to run against him.
NEBRASKA: “Sen. Mike Johanns’s (R-Neb.) retirement could open up another battleground in the fight between the establishment and grassroots factions of the Republican Party, with a deep bench of potential candidates likely to run in a state in which $1 million can go a long way,” The Hill writes. “At least one outside group that typically backs grassroots and Tea-Party-affiliated candidates — the Senate Conservatives Fund — is looking at the race as an opportunity in 2014.”
NEW JERSEY: Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) approval is at a record 74% in a Quinnipiac poll. He leads in a hypotchetical matchup against state Sen. Barbara Buono (D), the leading Democrat by a whopping 62-25%.
VIRGINIA: A Quinnipiac poll finds Terry McAuliffe (D) and state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) tied at 38-38%. With Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling in the race, McAuliffe gains a narrow advantage, 34-31% over Cucinelli; Bolling gets 13%.
Despite rumors that he might retire, signs are that Frank Wolf (R-VA) will run again, Roll Call reports.
WEST VIRGINIA: Democrats still don’t have a candidate for the Senate seat. Yesterday, Carte Goodwin (remember him???) turned down a run.
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Media Bias? No Such Thing.
-NBC
Republican governors and right-wing policies on the state level have proved very unpopular. That had nothing to do with it, naaaah. It's always about optics, with Republican strategists, never about substance. I would have more respect for these post morteums if I ever saw them ask, How Ddd we lose Maine, the oldest demographically and least diverse state in the union, running a former northeast governor, HOW?
How did we lose Maine, the oldest demographically and least diverse state in the union, running a former northeast governor, HOW?
Actually, Republican governors are more popular than Democratic governors. So are state legislatures. As Obama's fraudulent second term moves along the Republicans will become even more popular.
Amy B. Portland, ME
Jay-Z and Beyonce provide a depth never before achieved.
I thought Republicans liked successful people?
The Right has to live with "media bias". I guess so. Facts can be so damned inconvenient! The press just won't roll over and play dead for ya!!
Obama is playing the media like a high-school football star plays a fat chick. Call once to say I love you and watch them follow you around looking pathetic. Never have to even talk to them again but the are enamored.
John McCain has made the most number of appearances on Meet The Press of any guest. Every week the media Sunday talk shows provide a mound to hit soft balls for Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Newt Gingrich, Leslie Graham, and all the rest, not to mention gigs for Republican pundits to make their case for the right, Mike Murphy being the most likeable, but Carly Fiorna gets her chance, Peggy Noonan, George Will, et all. The media gives the Republicans plenty of rope, it's their fault they use it to hang themselves. The country does not like their policies or behavior. What's so hard to see in that?
I knew I'd screw up, trying to use a sports metaphor. Players hit soft balls from a plate, pitchers throw softballs from a mound. Ergo, MTP provides a plate from which Paul Ryan, Rubio and Gingrich hit softballs thrown by the host from the mound. My bad.
Wasn't he the guy in charge when the Republicans had their freakishly successful 2010 election. Steele's problem was that he was actually incapable of being a good liar because he was too honest. How is the Rinsed Shortbus working out for you anyways?
Re: Current debate about who owns the sequester.
President Obama is out front arguing against allowing the sequester to occur. Republicans are either in favor of it or taking no position.
The story of King Solomon comes to mind. President Obama wants to save the baby (our economy). Republicans opt to cut it in half (allow the sequester to occur).
Who most sounds like they OWN the sequester?
It was the Incompetent-in-Chief who demanded the sequester as part of the deal. Now that it's time to cut he just can't do it. He's addicted to spending other people's money. It's like crack (or coke or pot) to him.
The GAO has identified 125 billion dollars worth of waste under the control of the executive branch. Obama is a joke. He is such a buffoon.
The sequester will cut a paltry 45 billion dollars from a 3.6 trillion dollar "budget".
Big f'ing whoop. He plays fools like you like a fiddle.
The tea people republicans are just searching for something that sounds coherent.
and the dirt bag Dems continue to scathing themselves, cat scratch fever!
It wasn't just the messengers but the message that people objected to.