We all know that Rep. Jack Murtha is an old school, rough-and-tumble kind of politician. But NBC's Viqueira says that Murtha's tactics are causing some embarrassment to Democrats who had promised to clean up DC business as usual. Recently, Murtha stormed to the floor during a vote to threaten GOP Rep. Mike Rogers that he would cut off all pork for Rogers' district after he worked to kill a Murtha earmark in an Intelligence bill. It's the second time this year that Murtha has run to the floor to threaten a Republican in such a way. The first victim was Rep. Todd Tiahrt. Å 

Technically, Murtha's action would represent a violation of House rules. Accordingly, Rogers raised a point of privilege yesterday afternoon on the House floor to call for a rebuke of Murtha. Democrats moved to table -- or kill -- the Rogers motion.

This, Viq reminds us, is the same Murtha who told fellow lawmakers during the campaign last year that his friend Nancy Pelosi's promise of earmark reform was "total crap." Murtha is a senior member of the money-spending appropriations committee, and earmarks are a big part of what they do over there. Murtha has loads of influence in doling out this kind of largess.

From NBC's Carrie Dann
In the face of McCain's accusations of flip-flopping on immigration, Mitt Romney today opted for the roll-your-eyes-and-chuckle instead of the counterpunch. Speaking briefly with reporters in Dallas this afternoon, Romney responded with a laugh to McCain's "shoot the Guatemalans off his lawn" potshot -- which McCain liked enough to repeat to television cameras again last night in Oklahoma City.

"I guess it just shows that, even when he's wrong, he's amusing," Romney replied. He went on to defend himself against charges that he's inconsistent on immigration, ticking off the tough-on-illegals policies he promoted as Massachusetts governor. But he noticeably deferred when the press fished for a direct critique of the compromise bill hobbled together by the President and Congress earlier this week. "I'm not in the position to make that call today."

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Senior White House advisers say "it's premature" to "announce" an agreement on the war supplemental. "We're hopeful that the discussions over the emergency supplemental funding bill for the troops is nearing a conclusion," says one."We have not seen the final language yet, and we look forward to reviewing it."

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Congressional Democratic leaders are set to announce a deal on the once-vetoed Iraq supplemental. The outlines of the deal, similar to a measure put forward last week by GOP Sen. John Warner, would establish 18 benchmarks on political security and economic progress -- with reports due from the Administation to Congress on July 15th and September 15th.

The benchmarks would be tied to Iraqi reconstruction funds, but the President will have the ability to waive the benchmarks. And as the Los Angeles Times mentioned earlier today, the deal won't contain timelines for withdrawal.

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
Former GOP Sen. George Allen, who lost his Senate race last year (remember "Macaca"?), gives CBN News his takes on the 2008 GOP presidential field -- which he once was angling to be a part of. Allen has some nice things to say about Giuliani and Fred Thompson, but makes some digs at McCain and Romney.

On Giuliani: "We've gotten along very well."
McCain: He talked about working with the Arizona senator on internet tax moratorium, but took a shot at McCain-Feingold.
Romney: Said he doesn't know him, yet notes the issue flip-flopping. But on Romney's current positions: "He's presently taking are good positions."
Huckabee: "I like him a lot."
Hunter: Says he's a "great guy."
T. Thompson: "great record in Wisconsin."
F. Thompson: "I really like Fred. One of the things I like about Fred is that he respects that all wisdom does NOT reside in Washington."
 
Allen's advice: "Past record of performance is the best indicator of what someone will do in the future."

From NBC's Mark Murray and Chuck Todd
Candidate-in-waiting Fred Thompson keeps blogging. In another post on the conservative site Pajamas Media, he writes: "So, I hear you all have been talking about me." And he goes on to talk about bipartisanship: "To solve our problems, we have to realize that our country is pretty evenly divided along party lines. With close numbers in the House and the Senate, there will be no real reform without real bipartisanship. Too often, what we are seeing isn't an effort to find solutions, but rather insults and purely partisan politics. There are many good and responsible people in government who are willing to work together – but the level of bipartisanship needed for real progress can only be achieved when politicians perceive that the American people demand it."

Also, check out the number of comments his post received. 

From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Kentucky's Derby: We haven't focused much on down-ballot races since last fall's midterms -- due mainly to the all-consuming presidential race -- but that changes with today's Kentucky gubernatorial primary. The big story is on the GOP side, where incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher faces a challenge from ex-Rep. Anne Northup and businessman Billy Harper. As one of us wrote yesterday, perhaps no race of 2007 better epitomizes the Republican Party's past and current struggles than this one does. Ethical troubles, which contributed to the loss of at least nine GOP-held seats last year, continue to haunt the scandal-plagued Fletcher. And Iraq and overall political environment helped defeat Northup last fall.

*** Can Fletcher Win Twice (or Thrice)? Despite being indicted in a hiring scandal and even pleading the 5th, Fletcher seems poised to win the GOP primary and get the 40% need to avoid a run-off. A recent Louisville Courier-Journal poll shows Fletcher leading Northup by 15 points (41%-26%). On the Dem side, according to the poll, Steve Beshear (27%) and Bruce Lunsford (21%) seem headed to a June 26 run-off. But if Fletcher wins, do the Dems automatically become the favorites to win in November in this increasingly GOP-leaning state? In the eastern part of Kentucky, polls open at 6:00 am ET and close at 6:00 pm ET; in the western part, they open at 7:00 am ET and close at 7:00 ET.

*** Stuck in the Middle with You: Giuliani said yesterday that the Senate immigration deal doesn't have a "clear sense of purpose." With liberals beginning to line up against the bill, is it possible that McCain might be the only member of the Big Six to support the deal? If so, does the immigration issue go from being a minor nuisance for him to a much bigger one? Maybe that explains his volley at Romney yesterday.

*** Metaphor Time: The potential breakdown of the immigration deal could be a metaphor for McCain's 2008 chances. In many ways, McCain is a compromise candidate, just like this immigration deal. From 30,000 feet, McCain -- like this bill -- seems like the logical way to go. But the more one focuses on the specifics, the more the grumbling begins. How is it that this immigration deal isn't a done deal (despite passing the Senate last year by 60-plus votes)? How is it that McCain is no longer the logical heir or isn't seen as the most electable conservative? There are plenty of ways to nitpick this immigration bill to death from both the left and right -- just like McCain's presidential bid has been nitpicked.

*** What's Good for the Goose Isn't Good for the Gander? Check out Huckabee's comment that he won't attend the New Baptist Covenant Celebration next year because of organizer Jimmy Carter's criticism of President Bush. "While I continue to have great respect for President Carter as a fellow Christian believer and Baptist, I'm deeply disappointed by the unusually harsh comments made in my state this past weekend regarding President Bush," Huckabee said. Wait a second: Hasn't Huckabee been criticizing Bush and his policies -- at least implicitly -- at the first two GOP debates?

*** Advice and Consent: Michelle Obama tells the AP that she ISN'T one of her husband's closest advisers. "We have very separate professional relationships, which is I think healthy," she said. "There is so much work we need to do as a family and as a couple. We talk about our work, we talk about what we do but he makes his decisions on his own and I try to be supportive."

*** On the Trail: Clinton holds a conference call on her pre-K initiative at 11:30 am ET; Edwards, in New Jersey, tours a stem-cell research facility and holds a media avail; Giuliani has an endorsement announcement in Albany, NY; Hunter stumps in South Carolina; McCain and Romney both fundraise in Texas; and Obama holds his Philadelphia kick off.

Countdown to the Ames Straw Poll: 80 days
Countdown to Election Day 2007: 167 days
Countdown to Iowa: 236 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 258 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 531 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 608 days

 

The New York Times: "As the Senate began work on a comprehensive immigration bill, lawmakers from both parties demanded substantial changes in the legislation on Monday and forced Senate leaders to extend debate beyond the Memorial Day recess." 

The Washington Post: "Senate leadership aides said yesterday that the proposal could probably muster the support of about 30 Republicans and 30 Democrats -- just enough to beat a filibuster, which was all but promised yesterday by conservatives."

It's worth noting that a good number of same-state, same-party senators are split on this bill. For instance, in New Hampshire, John Sununu is against it, but Judd Gregg is for it. By the way, Sununu is up for re-election next year.

Meanwhile, Jon Kyl gets a taste of what life is like for his fellow Arizonan McCain when one bucks the conservative wing of the GOP. USA Today: "Last year, he opposed a proposed immigration bill President Bush backed. This year, he's one of the chief architects of [the] bipartisan deal… The reaction among Kyl's conservative base has been less than gratifying. 'The criticism has been more intense than the plaudits,' the senator acknowledged Monday.

McCain's shot at Romney yesterday got picked up by the major papers. The New York Times: "'In the case of Governor Romney, you know, maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it changes because it's changed in less than a year from his position before,' Mr. McCain said on a conference call. 'And maybe his solution will be to get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn.'"

The Boston Globe adds, "The frosty relationship between Mitt Romney and Arizona Senator John McCain, exposed during the debate last Tuesday in South Carolina, added a few more icicles yesterday."

When questioned by reporters in Tulsa about the beating his comprehensive reform legislation is taking from critics, McCain got testy, NBC's Carrie Dann reports. "If you don't like this proposal, which is supported by the President of the United States and leaders on both sides of the aisle," McCain challenged, "then what is YOUR proposal?"

Dann also notes that Giuliani said yesterday that the Senate's proposed immigration bill -- cosponsored by McCain -- lacks "a clear statement of purpose, and then a way of executing that purpose."  Implying that the legislation is too soft on national security, he said "we'll have to wait and see" how negotiations on the bill progress this week.

The Los Angeles Times: "Scrambling to send President Bush an emergency war spending bill he will sign, Democratic leaders have decided to drop their insistence on a timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. The move … is a significant concession to the president and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill, who have steadfastly rejected any dates for bringing U.S. troops home… Under the developing Democratic plan, which leaders are still negotiating, Congress would fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year, according to sources familiar with the proposal."

BIDEN: Reuters reports on Biden's trip to the UN yesterday, where he "said that he would commit U.S. forces immediately to stop militia in Sudan's Darfur region as long as there were reports of genocide."

CLINTON: Her headlining appearance at the Arkansas Democratic J-J dinner next month is sold out.

EDWARDS: The former North Carolina senator was in New Hampshire yesterday. About 75 people heard him speaking during his three-stop Western New Hampshire tour.

Edwards will be in New Jersey today to -- among other things -- collect the endorsement of the always popular and sometimes acting Gov. Dick Codey.

Another bad anecdote for Edwards regarding money and poverty? This one has to do with a $55,000 speaking fee he charged UC-Davis in California. The speech was on poverty.

GRAVEL: Jim Ridgeway writes in Mother Jones about the possibility that Mike Gravel bolts the Democratic Party to run as an independent and about the headaches that could cause the eventual Democratic nominee.

OBAMA: Michelle Obama was in Iowa yesterday drumming on female support for her husband, the Des Moines Register writes. She told the Waukee, IA, crowd: "I'm here because I'm a wife, I'm a mother, I'm a professional, and like so many of you, I am desperate, so desperate, for a change. I feel fundamentally that we cannot keep moving in this direction as a country."

In an interview with the AP's Mike Glover, Michelle Obama said she is NOT one of her husband's closest advisers. "'We have very separate professional relationships, which is I think healthy,' Michelle Obama said during her fourth visit to Iowa. 'There is so much work we need to do as a family and as a couple. We talk about our work, we talk about what we do but he makes his decisions on his own and I try to be supportive.'"

RICHARDSON: Here's how his announcement yesterday played. The Washington Post: "Toggling between Spanish and English, Richardson delivered a lively speech that outlined his proposals for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, encouraging energy efficiency, providing health insurance to more Americans, boosting the middle class and addressing immigration."

The Los Angeles Times: "Richardson's official entry expands what is becoming the most diverse field of mainstream presidential candidates in U.S. history."

Richardson, the AP writes, "was introduced by his wife, Barbara, who has shied away from the campaign trail but plans more appearances now that her husband is a full-fledged candidate." 'The decision to seek the presidency was not an easy one, especially for me,' she said. She said she values her privacy, but concluded that the country needs her husband's leadership.

Richardson went from Los Angeles to Iowa and pledged to increase his TV ad spending in the wake of his double-digit showing in the most recent Des Moines Register poll.

Maybe not the release Richardson was looking to get from his announcement... Per the conservative Club for Growth: "While Governor Richardson's record is far from stellar … he also cut New Mexico's top income tax rate, and has demonstrated a willingness to tolerate the free market rather than declare war upon it. 'There is no reason why being a Democrat must translate into raising taxes and stifling economic growth,' Club for Growth President Pat Toomey said. 'While Bill Richardson is certainly no Milton Friedman, he has an opportunity to open up the Democratic Party to pro-growth policies.  We hope he takes advantage of this opportunity.'"

GIULIANI: In accepting support from the New York GOP establishment yesterday, the former mayor talked up his electability in traditionally blue states like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

The AP's Mike Glover delves into whether or not Giuliani will compete in Iowa. "'The best organizations have to be McCain and Romney,' said Sen. Chuck Grassley, the state's top Republican elected official. 'I don't think Giuliani is very far along on organizing.'" The Giuliani camp disagrees. "'We are putting in place a full and complete field organization and leadership organization to compete,' said Mark Campbell, a Giuliani political adviser." McCain has assigned 20 staffers to Iowa, and Romney has 17. Giuliani aides said they've put seven staffers to work in Iowa and intend to hire more.

The New York Times says that as Giuliani "runs for president, his image as a chief executive who steered New York through the disaster of Sept. 11 has become a pillar of his campaign. But one former member of his inner circle keeps surfacing to revisit that history in ways that are unflattering to Mr. Giuliani: Jerome M. Hauer, New York City's first emergency management director… Hauer does not disparage Mr. Giuliani's overall effort at emergency preparedness or appear to have actively sought out a role as a Giuliani scold. But he has emerged as one in several settings where his frank, often blunt, answers to questions have offered a rare view inside the often-insular Giuliani administration."

HUCKABEE: Huckabee has canceled an appearance at the New Baptist Covenant Celebration next year because of organizer Jimmy Carter's criticism of President Bush. Said Huckabee: "'While I continue to have great respect for President Carter as a fellow Christian believer and Baptist, I'm deeply disappointed by the unusually harsh comments made in my state this past weekend regarding President Bush and feel that it represents an unprecedented personal attack on a sitting president by a former president, which is unbecoming the office as well as unbecoming to one whose conference is supposed to be about civility and bringing people together.'"

MCCAIN: Following the news that trickled out late last week about the shouting match that took place between McCain and Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn, we're not surprised that some reporter decided to do the "McCain temper" story. The Los Angeles Times: "An angry, profane exchange between Sen. John McCain and another Republican senator last week prompted a new round of questions Monday about whether McCain's legendary temper is becoming a liability to his campaign for the presidency."

More from the story: "Until the latest flap, McCain had managed in the last six months to quell the image that he is easily angered. On Monday, his campaign took sharp exception to the entire matter, characterizing it as political theater. 'If something is written every time members of Congress and leading politicians, behind closed doors, try to get the other's attention, and tempers flare, you'd run out of ink,' said John Weaver, McCain's chief campaign strategist.

PAUL: As we can attest to, Ron Paul's supporters are very active online.

ROMNEY: The former governor was in Houston yesterday to address the Harris County GOP executive committee. McCain is in Houston today to raise money, and Huckabee will speak the group Americans for Fair Taxation on Wed.

Surprisingly, he only got a few he's-on-a-roll clips yesterday following his surprising double-digit lead in the most recent Des Moines Register poll. Here's one from Hartford Courant's Lightman.

And another from the Chicago Tribune's Zuckman.

Remember, Wyoming's Republican Party will hold its party caucuses the same day as the New Hampshire primary. The Washington Times: "By piggybacking on New Hampshire's primary, Wyoming Republicans are hoping to grab a bit of the presidential-election spotlight. So far, it seems to be working, said Tom Sansonetti, the Cheyenne lawyer and longtime Republican activist who devised the plan. 'We're already getting attention that we've never had,' said Mr. Sansonetti, who serves as the state's 2008 county convention coordinator."

The Washington Post uses Falwell's funeral today as a backdrop to talk about the future of the Christian conservative movement. Mentioned in this piece: Rev. Frank Page, the current president of the Southern Baptists Convention; Mega-church pastors Rick Warren and William Hybels; David Barton, head of the Texas-based group WallBuilders; and Orlando-based Rev. Joel Hunter.

The Washington Post: President Bush said yesterday that Democrats in Congress are engaging in "pure political theater" by preparing resolutions of no confidence in Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, and he repeated his support for his embattled aide and longtime friend."

The New York Times: "In addition, the Justice Department on Monday released several hundred pages of internal communications and other documents, including previously withheld e-mail messages, that provided fresh insights into the Gonzales situation. Specifically, the documents showed the scramble by White House and Justice Department officials to limit damage caused by the uproar over the dismissals of United States attorneys as Congress was starting its inquiry into the firings this year. The department turned over the documents to House and Senate investigators before Wednesday's appearance at the House Judiciary Committee by Monica Goodling, the department's former White House liaison, who is testifying under a grant of immunity."

The AP previews today's gubernatorial primary in Kentucky. "All the campaign bus tours and rallies are over. Now it's up to Kentucky voters to whittle the long list of candidates running for governor."

 

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) made his presidential candidacy official today from Los Angeles, and he made it no secret the moving up primaries like Florida's and California's will benefit his campaign. "The fact that Florida, Texas, and California are early, I welcome that because they are states with strong Latino populations, they are states with strong environmental concerns, they are states where I believe I could do well." He began his announcement by emphasizing that California was his birthplace. "It means so much to me to announce my candidacy in California, the state that I was born and where I'm going to win this primary here in this state." And on Florida, Richardson was frank. "I will campaign in Florida. I will make it a large part of my campaign. I've already done that. I will treat every primary with the seriousness it deserves. ... I am going to be there a lot. In fact, I'm going there next week."
 
Richardson later had to backtrack a bit on his connection to California. "I also have a confession to make. I was born here but I didn't exactly spend a lot of time here. In fact, I was born here because my father, an American citizen, wanted me to be born in America and he had a sister that lived here. So that's why I was born here. Now, I didn't spend much time here. In fact, it was about eight hours cause I went right back." Then why did Richardson announce in California on the basis of it being his birthplace? "But now there's the California primary, so I'm trying to improve on those roots."
 
If elected, Richardson would be the first Latino president. Earlier in the campaign season, he had stated he was the first Latino candidate. After being corrected, Richardson admitted he is the first Latino to run for president in the Democratic party. "For the record, because I got to be correct in some of these things, the first candidate for President was some 25 years ago. He was a Republican. Name Benjamin Fernandez. I've checked. I don't know where he is. He may still be around. So I am really the second in history, but the first in the Democratic party." 
 
Richardson made it clear he understands he is not a front-runner, but he tried to say it does not matter. "Some are rock stars; I am not. But I have a proven record. I won't have their money, but I will have the voters and the grassroots campaign that will win us the presidency." Richardson also said he shouldn't be left out in the running, because his poll numbers are rising. "I am also very pleased to announce to all of you who have been with me, even when I started out below the margin of error, when I first announced, that last night we achieved double digits in both Iowa and New Hampshire in polls."

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
In a press availability today, President Bush was asked about Jimmy Carter's recent criticisim of his presidency. Here's his response: "I get criticized alot from different quarters that's just part of what happens when you're president.  I will continue to make decisions that I think are necessary to protect the American people from harm.  I will continue to make decisions based upon certain principles one of which is my strong belief in the universality of freedom.  We're at war with an enemy that's relentless and determined.  its essential that the decisions I make protect the American people as best as we can."

"Look I understand some people may not agree with the decisions I make but the American people need to know I'm making 'em based on what's best for this country."

Bush was also asked about Alberto Gonzales. "He has got my confidence. He has done nothing wrong. There's be an enormous amount of attention on him. There's been no wrongdoing on his part. He has testified in front of Congress and I frankly view what's taking place in Washington today as pure political theater."

From NBC's Ken Strickland
The Senate begins its debate on a comprehensive immigration reform bill today. With criticism of the fragile bipartisan deal coming from all quarters -- inside and outside of Congress -- it could be weeks before the bill clears the Senate, if ever. Dozens of amendments are likely to be offered on the bill, which was put into 326 pages of legislative language over the weekend. 

From NBC's Ken Strickland
While there was much discussion over the weekend about Sen. Chuck Schumer's (D) proposal of a "no confidence" vote this week on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, it's "unlikely" to happen, according to a senior Democratic aide.  On paper, having such a vote would appear to be a no-brainer for Democrats because it would likely get some Republican support. But in the Senate, there's no such thing as taking a clean shot on an issue. If a vote did come to the floor, GOP leaders have procedural tools to either stop it or require a vote on on another resolution that would be problematic for Democrats to support. ("How about a vote on if the war is lost," a Republican aide suggested.)

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Another edition of emptying my inbox and both actual and mental. Some additional items and thoughts that I will share as frequently as possible. Here's today's brain/email dump:

-- Gallup is out with new numbers on abortion. The headline: a growing minority would like to see Roe overturned. The actual number is 35%, still a minority, but the majority saying don't overturn is 53%. That's a all-time Gallup low. That said, abortion rights supporters should take heart in the fact that more folks still think abortion should be legal in most circumstances compared to those folks who believe it shouldn't be legal at all or very rarely allowed.  Bottom line: the country appears to be warming to a day when the feds don't have a say on abortion but these same folks want their own states to keep abortion safe, rare and legal. (poll conducted 5/10-13; 1,007 adults; +/- 3%)

-- Mike Huckabee is trying to make himself more aligned with the Christian conservative crowd. He tells CBN's David Brody that he does NOT believe in teaching about sex and birth control in schools.

-- The most under-reported angle to the James Dobson-can't-support-Giuliani-or-McCain story? The fact that he did NOT single out Romney in a negative light. The Dobson primary appears to be a two-candidate race between Romney and Fred Thompson. If Dobson gives his ok to a Mormon, that would be HUGE for Romney in both Iowa and South Carolina. ... Also, staying on the social conservative front, don't miss this Bonnie Erbe column that quotes longtime conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly. As conservative as Giuliani "may be on other issues, Schlafly says the average GOP primary voter has yet to divine Giuliani's position on abortion rights. And once those voters understand he's pro-choice, she says, they will run as fast as Kansans fleeing an oncoming twister."

-- Al Gore's "I'm not a candidate" tour made its way on to ABC's airwaves this morning. In his "GMA" interview, Gore added of '08: "I'm not pondering it, I'm not focused on that. .. I'm focused on how to solve the climate crisis and in order to solve the climate crisis I'm convinced we will have to fix the cracks in the foundation of democracy."  Gore even took a shot at the network for using a 2008 logo to promo the interview. Gore: "The frame, the logo for this discussion, 'Campaign '08'… that's not what this is about. This book is about what's gone wrong and how we can fix it." As I've indicated before, take Gore at his word. Unless there's a real vacuum come November (translation: Obama falters), he's not getting in.

-- The Florida Factor: Florida made it official today, as has already been noted on the "First Read" blog. Just a few thoughts for those attempting to set Conventional Wisdom: Florida is the finals. Coming a week before Tsunami Tuesday, set for Feb. 5, Florida will likely crown the winner with Tsunami Tuesday adding the exclamation point. Also, don't assume the DNC will punish FL. They can't afford to let the GOP own the state for the primary. The FL Dem primary on Jan. 29 will count. Look for the DNC to let SC Dems move up their 1/29 primary to a week earlier (possibly on the same day as the SC GOP primary). And expect another big state to join Florida on Jan. 29. That big state: Michigan. The two parties in that state get along well on this issue.  A FL-MI Jan. 29 axis is HUGE for the process and will make that day as dominant as Iowa.

-- Fred Thompson is edging ever-so-closer to announcing his exploratory committee. Frankly, don't be surprised if he drops a hint or two this week about. One thing over the weekend caught my eye. Thompson, in a Chicago speech on Sunday, used this phrase, 'the day after Iraq," to frame all the domestic and int'l problems the next POTUS has to focus on. I thought the phrase was quite effective and seemed to give the Republicans a chance of coming up with a case as to "why them" and not the Dems. For instance, Thompson used his "day after Iraq" line to talk about China and entitlements, "saying the military and economic threat the country poses is among the critical issues - along with untamed growth in entitlement spending - that are not being dealt with while the U.S. is fixated on the war in Iraq."  

From NBC's Mark Murray
Well, it's official: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has just signed legislation into law moving up his state's presidential primary to January 29. As the AP writes, "The move will put [the] primary behind only the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the New Hampshire primary and on the same day as South Carolina's Democratic primary."

Yet as we've mentioned before, there are potential problems: Both the DNC and RNC have threatened to penalize the states that move up their primaries and -- also in the DNC's case -- even the candidates who campaign in them.

The Giuliani campaign was the first out of the gate to comment on Florida's official move. "Rudy Giuliani is the candidate who will win in Florida," said campaign manager Mike DuHaime in a statement. "We have a strong and growing team on the ground, and the Mayor's optimistic vision for the country is resonating across the state."

This blog had some technical difficulties Friday afternoon and this weekend, so we're a bit behind in posting some of your comments. But we'll get them up later today. Thanks for your patience.

From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Announcement Day: Today's the day when perhaps the most underrated candidate in the field -- Bill Richardson -- makes his presidential bid official, and gets a chance to prove that he deserves a slot in the first tier. He does it from Los Angeles at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Richardson has raised an impressive amount of money, and he's getting a lot of support among Hispanics, including some key GOP ones who supported Bush in 2000. If it wasn't for the gee- whiz coverage that Obama and Clinton receive, Richardson might already be getting better press.

*** No Experience Needed? There's another thing that Richardson has, as his new TV ad notes -- tons of on-the-job experience (congressman, UN ambassador, Energy secretary, governor). But has anyone realized that outside of McCain, none of the Big Six actually has that much experience as they run for president in this post-9/11 world? Clinton is beginning her second term in the Senate; Edwards served only one term in that chamber; Giuliani's service as an elected official doesn't extend beyond his two terms as mayor; Obama is just in his third year in the Senate; and Romney is a one-term governor.

*** D.O.A.? Everyone seems to be against the Senate immigration deal. Liberals. Conservatives. Employers. Labor. And the New York Times editorial page. As the political adage goes, if the compromise makes all sides unhappy, that must mean it's a good compromise. But that's not the sense we're getting with this immigration deal. This legislation brought everyone together -- which is a rarity nowadays. But did the deal actually drive them apart?

*** Goodbye Gonzo? Alberto Gonzales has survived a lot longer than anyone expected. Does that end as the Senate takes up its no-confidence vote on him this week?

*** Carter vs. Bush: Is Carter the best person to judge Bush's place in history? He told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this Administration has been the worst in history." The White House, which called Carter's comments "sad," is probably relieved to have a fight like this since Carter wasn't exactly viewed as one of America's better presidents by historians.

*** Reverend Newt: Was anyone else a bit surprised by Gingrich's cry against a "radical secularism" at his commencement address at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University over the weekend? The Newt we all know was never a social conservative. Does his speech signal that he's more serious about a presidential run than we think he is? If so, is he too late getting in?

*** He Who Must Not Be Named: In her interview on TODAY this morning, Clinton was asked two different questions about Obama, and she NEVER once mentioned his name in response. Is it another example of just how disciplined she is?

*** The BLUE-grass State: Kentucky's gubernatorial primary is tomorrow, and a poll released last week shows embattled incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) leading challenger Anne Northup (R) by 15 points -- and more importantly, above the 40% threshold he needs to avoid a run-off. Does a Fletcher win give the Democrats a better than even-odds chance of winning in November?

*** On the Trail: Besides Richardson's announcement today, Biden leads a bipartisan delegation of Senate Foreign Relations members to the UN, Clinton unveils her pre-K initiative from Miami; Giuliani does Letterman; and McCain addresses the Oklahoma Legislature, where he unveils his ethics plan.

Countdown to Kentucky's gubernatorial primary: 1 day
Countdown to the Ames Straw Poll: 81 days
Countdown to Iowa: 237 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 259 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 532 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 609 days

The latest group that's not crazy about the Senate's immigration deal: employers. The New York Times writes, "Employers, who helped shape a major immigration bill over the last three months, said on Sunday that they were unhappy with the result because it would not cure the severe labor shortages they foresee in the coming decade. In addition, employers expressed alarm as they learned that the Senate bill would require them to check a government database to verify that all current and former employees — aliens and citizens alike — were eligible to work in the United States."

Don't miss this shouting match between GOP Sens. John McCain and John Cornyn. According to several Washington Post sources, it started when "Cornyn began voicing concerns about the number of judicial appeals illegal immigrants could make. After McCain swore at Cornyn and accused him of trying to blow up the pact, Cornyn accused the presidential candidate of 'parachuting' into the negotiations at the last minute. McCain, who helped craft an immigration deal last year in the Senate but has been represented by staffers in most meetings this year, blew up at Cornyn, saying, 'I know more about this than anyone else in the room.'"

More: "McCain's camp denied that he claimed superior knowledge of the bill but acknowledged that the two Republicans went at it. 'These negotiations can be very tense, and there was a spirited exchange. That's it,' said spokesperson Brian Jones.

The dean of west coast-based political reporters, Mark Z. Barabak, does a great job of looking at the presidential politics on this issue.

Meanwhile, Romney is trying to prove his tough-on-immigration bona fides with a new TV ad on the subject. But, remember, Romney has a very mixed record on immigration. But with Fred Thompson on the verge of getting in, Romney is trying hard to be the Republican in the first tier to be the most aggressive on this issue. Thompson's record is a bit more pure on the issue, so Romney has a short period of time to brand himself the anti-amnesty candidate.

The Washington Post front-pages that the Iraq Study Group's recommendations are getting a second look. "With negotiations continuing this week on a new war funding bill, the administration is strongly signaling that it would accept the idea of requiring the Iraqi government to meet political benchmarks or else risk losing some assistance from the United States. That was one of the key proposals from the group… The administration is also preparing for its first substantive discussions with Iran, to begin on Memorial Day, not long after its first high-level talks with Syria in more than two years. The Iraq Study Group had strongly urged such regional diplomacy aimed at fostering a political settlement and bringing down the sectarian violence in Baghdad."