MyDD :: Saturday Evening Thread

Saturday Evening Thread

by Jonathan Singer, Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 08:05:44 PM EST

A few things...

Chevron's profit for the first quarter of 2006 was up 49 percent from the year before. Profits for Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, the big three in the oil and gas industry, were up 17 percent across the board from the previous year. In response, the Republican Congress stages a photo-op -- but they didn't mean for you to see this.
Iraqi Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi said that more than 100,000 families have been forced from their homes as a result of violence in the country.
With Florida Democrat Bill Nelson leading his Republican challenger Katherine Harris by close to 30 points in recent polling, top Republicans continue to try to push state House Speaker Allan Bense into the race. But can Bense a) raise the money b) knock off Harris in the primary and c) defeat the very popular Nelson in a general election? I've got a feeling that GOP leaders are putting a little too much faith in Bense's abilities.
House Democrats have joined the fight to block the unconstitutional budget reconciliation legislation signed by President Bush, filing suit to block implementation of the bill -- which passed the House and Senate with differing language -- and would mandate $39 billion in cuts to much needed programs. Great to see Democratic leaders actually willing to take some initiative in this matter.

What's on your mind this evening?

Permalink :: 5 Comments :: Post a Comment

Why Dem honchos so late on S 1932 suit? (none / 0)

Wasn't this a no-brainer?

Bush signs a law which trangresses one of the most basic parts of the Constitution known, surely, to all (most? many?) high school graduates in the country?

Why not do that most American thing and sue? (Using the enhanced standing that MCs generally have on laws they vote on.)

How do they lose? Either the case is tossed (at least one round before the DC Circuit Court assured) or (rather more likely) it goes to trial (with even more headlines from the back-and-forth, and appeals on top). Whatever the result, the Dems come off as watchdogs in protection of the Constitution - which can't be bad.

The fact that Dem honchos come along three months after S 1932 passed surely bespeaks timidity and trimming rather than boldness and high principle.

Was this a timing thing? Is coming in now to ensure that the stunt is still ongoing at election time?

(That's about as persuasive as Pelosi's excuse for dumping Slaughter's report off her site - but don't say I don't try for the girl...)

by skeptic06 on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 08:28:19 PM EST

Re: Saturday Evening Thread (none / 0)

The very popular Bill Nelson? Are you sure you have the right Nelson? http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/060 420100USSenatorNet.htm

Newsflash bub, the ONLY reason this seat isn't in play is because of Katharine Harris. You're right, there's no guarantee that Bense would win the primary. But if he does enter the race, that's the worst news the DSCC has gotten in months. Belieeeeve me.

by zt155 on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 08:58:50 PM EST

Nelson's Popularity (none / 0)

Remember that this is a guy who has, to my knowledge, lost one election in his four decade career in Florida politics -- and that was to a sitting United States Senator. Perhaps his short-term numbers aren't stellar, but Nelson has proved time and time again to be a popular choice for Florida voters.

Blogging here @ MyDD.com. Twittering @jonathanhsinger.

by Jonathan Singer on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 09:36:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nelson's Popularity (none / 0)

Correct. The only race Bill Nelson ever lost was the 1990 Gov primary to Lawton Chiles. He quickly rebounded by winning the Insurance Commissioner race a couple of years later. He is tough campaigner and knows how to win in Florida.

by John Mills on Sun Apr 30, 2006 at 12:26:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Evening Thread (none / 0)

Re FL: we want Harris to stay in the race because...

while turnout issues between races can be overstated, it would certainly help Klein, Bushansky, and other Dem challengers to have one race going their way in a landslide up ballot.

However, the Governor's race in the state might nullify much re turnout, so an argument for wanting Bense to enter is...

Bense will raise money from party regulars who face a variety of hard cap spending issues AND may actually feel personal giving constraints. As such, if Bense spends $15M to beat Harris and then lose somewhat respectably to Nelson (matched by a huge IE ($5M) from the NRSC, as I imagine Bense has leverage with people begging him into the race to get commitments of resources both locally & nationally)... while not requiring the DSCC & Nelson to raise very much more money than otherwise...

well, in politics in a 2 party bsystem, there are a lot of zero sum games, and Bense would be bleeding money that might go elsewhere.

by Hauser on Sun Apr 30, 2006 at 08:42:38 AM EST

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