WHAT'S BREWING
Pres. Bush's conversation yesterday with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert to negotiate the coming cease fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was the two leaders' first conversation in a month.
We are shocked, shocked, that the two parties are practicing the art of politics in regards to the thwarted terror bombings. And even more shocked, shocked, that each party is criticizing the other for, gasp, playing politics.
Not only are GOP '06 candidates happy to hold closed-press events with Pres. Bush, but apparently the WH enjoys the privacy as well.
Is Mitt Romney now the new GOP surrogate against John Kerry? The GOP '08 hopeful played defender of the Iraq War against Kerry crticism. And the Globe ate it up.
August in IA: Our spies tell us Newt Gingrich continues to prove to be one of the bigger GOP draws (if not biggest?), whether in Sioux City or Cedar Rapids; Evan Bayh does the State Fair on Monday.
Is NRCC Chair Tom Reynolds setting up what the fall nationalized (televised) GOP message is going to be with this attack on House Dem leader Nancy Pelosi: "As a New Yorker who witnessed first-hand the grievous destruction brought on this country by terrorists, I say to Leader Pelosi that she ought to be ashamed to have voted against doing everything possible to prevent such an attack. The wiretap provision of the PATRIOT Act has proven itself invaluable in fighting the Global War on Terror and Congresswoman Pelosi is on the record opposing it."
Meanwhile, the most recent Harris telephone poll is the latest nat'l survey to show Dems with a double-digit lead in the generic ballot: 44-31% (release).
More mixed signals on the economy: consumers are still consuming things they want, not just what they need.
'06 SENATE RACES
Not surprisingly, there is a lot out there on CT SEN. Here's what's worth knowing: Matt Bai on what the Lieberman foes are for; Bill Richardson became the latest WH '08er to endorse Lamont and call on Lieberman to drop out; Lamont will make the Sunday show rounds; George McGovern (via Eleanor Clift) reacts to Lamont.
AZ: Nothing suggests confidence for this November than floating leadership ambition for '07. Meet the next No. 2 in the Senate: Jon Kyl?
RI: Now that CT is out of our collective systems (or is it?), it's time to obsess over another primary. Chafee gets personal against Laffey in latest TV ad.
VT: Longshot GOPer Rich Tarrant becomes first SEN candidate to use the thwarted terror plot in a TV ad. Could we see similar attack ads in, say, OH and MD where, like VT, a liberal House member is looking for a promotion.
WA: McGavick takes advantage of the long primary window and loans himself another $2M for his campaign, delaying further the possibility of triggering the millionaires' amendment.
'06 GOVERNORS RACES
FL: As the GOP primary gets less competitive, the Dem primary heats up and gets tighter. Did Rod Smith's early TV ad campaign gamble pay off?
IL: Did the media go too far in making Blagojevich's toddler cry or did the GOV go too far in putting his family in the middle of tense questioning? Or do images trump all?
MD: New P.O.S. (R) poll, conducted last week for the MD/DC Credit Union Assn, showed Ehrlich v. O'Malley tied, which is a stark contrast to public polling from earlier this summer. BTW, in the SEN race, Cardin led Steele by 8, while Steele led Mfume by 1 (release). Meanwhile, Ehrlich got more good news regarding early voting.
OR: Initial spin on the withdrawal of indie Ben Westlund seems to favor Kulongoski, but remember, Westlund and Saxton were splitting anti-Kulongoski votes.
WI: Mark Green will air his first TV ads next week (wispolitics.com).
'06 HOUSE RACES
LA 02: Did too many candidates file against Rep. Jefferson? Who will emerge as his chief foe?
NC 11: One example of a GOP incumbent trying to "educate" his voters about Pelosi. Is Pelosi's name I.D. high enough for the GOP to Newt-er her? Doesn't she have to become Speaker first?
CROSSING OUR TRANSOM
Something to keep bloggers busy: CBS News granted C-SPAN permission to air the 60 Minutes segment, which will air at 8 p.m. Monday, immediately followed by Wallace's approximately 90-minute interview taped in Tehran earlier this week. C-SPAN will follow the presentation with an open-phone segment to solicit viewers' reaction. The program will also be simulcast on C-SPAN Radio (release).
CHEW ON THIS
Will articles like this one bring a renewed scrutiny on the embattled Homeland Security Dept.? BTW, is there another cabinet agency that is tied so much to bad news?
The future of flying: no carry-on luggage, so recommends the Old Gray Lady; Meanwhile, the wine tourism industry in NoCAL is already pondering the unintended consequences.
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Re Homeland Security:
BTW, is there another cabinet agency that is tied so much to bad news?
Is there another agency where even the Democratic ranking member in charge isn't interested in following up on fraudulence and Bush administration overreach?
The junior senator from Connecticut had better curb his hysterical proclamations about "security" lest the embarrassment of DHS gets laid at his feet.