DCCC @Stake - Weak, Scared & Republican

[rodeodance]

some interesting nuggets in this email

----- Original Message -----
From: Jesse Lee, DCCC
To: xxxx
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 5:00 PM
Subject: DCCC @Stake - Weak, Scared & Republican


Weak, Scared & Republican

April 7, 2006

• Tom DeLay Runs Away
• CA-50: Republicans Lash Out in Fear
• Running Scared, Cross-Country

Tom DeLay Runs Away

Tom DeLay, faced with a formidable Democratic challenger and heading towards a humiliating loss, decided to take his ball and go home. CNN's Jack Cafferty had little sympathy...

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, in the end, all the tough talk was reduced to, "I quit." To borrow a phrase from Roberto Duran, "No mas."

When a second aide to Congressman Tom DeLay pled guilty in the Abramoff investigation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, Mr. DeLay suddenly became just another disgraced public servant who couldn't take the heat. DeLay is also under criminal indictment in a separate case in Texas.

He was known as "The Hammer" when he was majority leader in the House. A big, tough-talking, strong-arm artist who could deliver votes to the Bush White House. He would strut around on Capitol Hill like a cocky little bandy rooster. But today he slithered away from Congress to await his fate at the hands of the criminal justice system.

Good riddance.
There's more to say and report on this disgraceful final chapter in DeLay's career, but here are a few choice excerpts...

Signs point to federal investigators zeroing in on DeLay
Knight Ridder - April 4, 2006

"Lawyers who've worked at the intersection of politics and criminal law expressed skepticism about DeLay's explanation that he stepped down because of concerns that he'd lose his re-election bid in November.

"'The guy has a hide of titanium. This is not about his election, this is about his defense of the criminal investigation,' former federal prosecutor John P. Flannery II said. 'The circle is closing on him for a federal indictment.'"
Analysis: DeLay Leaves Troubling Legacy
Associated Press - April 4, 2006

"Tom DeLay leaves a troubling legacy for Republicans as they face re-election. The Texan, once one of the most powerful and feared leaders of Congress, joined Newt Gingrich in helping to lead Republicans to power in 1994.

"Republicans face voters weary of corruption allegations and the heavy-handed tactics DeLay came to personify. At the same time, GOP candidates are further weighed down by President Bush's low approval ratings and the unpopularity of the war in Iraq ."
Give DeLay's Money Back?
TPM Muckraker - April 4, 2006

"DeLay's machine remains. And since the Justice Department's bribery investigation took a direct turn toward DeLay with Tony Rudy's guilty plea last week, the second former aide of DeLay's to plead guilty, one has to imagine the fallout were DeLay to eventually be indicted in a federal investigation.

"You remember the media frenzy after Jack Abramoff's guilty plea in January. Dozens of members of Congress rushed to return or donate Abramoff's and his clients' money. And recently, the same has occurred with Tony Rudy, although Rudy is not a household name - so only 13 of the 34 Republicans who received contributions from him have returned them.

"But imagine the predicament Republicans would find themselves in were DeLay to be indicted as part of the Justice Department's investigation. Fundraising was DeLay's specialty, and the main way that he kept House members in his debt. It's difficult to even calculate DeLay's impact in dollars, given how central he's been to the Republican money machine (appearing at others' fundraisers, directed corporate dollars to the GOP), but at the least, one would have to look at DeLay's political committee, Americans for a Republican Majority, which he's used to spread money around to hundreds of Republican House candidates since 1996.

"$3.47 million of ARMPAC's money has gone directly to Republican candidates since '96. And to over 100 members of the current Congress, usually in $10,000 payments."
DeLay's troubles expose rift among evangelicals
US News - April 6, 2006

"But some in the evangelical community are starting to worry that the Christian right's credibility on moral issues is being undercut by the movement's close association with scandal-dogged figures like DeLay, a hero to many Christian conservatives for pushing antiabortion rights legislation and for spearheading last year's House intervention in the Terri Schiavo case.

"'We can't blast Bill Clinton on one hand and cast a blind eye to Republican friends who are guilty of the same kind of misconduct,' says Ken Connor, an evangelical activist and past president of the Family Research Council.

"'We saw Christian conservatives embrace Mr. DeLay without regard to the merits of the issue,' Connor continues. 'When you offer a ringing affirmation of someone in the face of very serious allegations, you're presumed to be affirming the conduct as well.'

"DeLay isn't the only high-profile political figure allied with the Christian right who is now facing charges of unethical behavior."
Turning the Tables
Time - April 4, 2006

"On Capitol Hill last week, it was almost as if the two parties had decided to switch roles. At a press briefing, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer was declaring, 'Republicans don't have an agenda,' a critique Republicans usually hurl at Democrats. The next day Hoyer and other Democrats from the Senate and House, along with state governors, got together to announce the party's unified plan for improving America's national security.

"Meanwhile, Republicans were looking in disarray - even before the announcement this week that Tom DeLay would give up his House seat..."
Apparently, DeLay agreed...

House GOP lacks agenda, DeLay says
Washington Times - April 5, 2006

"Departing Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas said yesterday that House Republicans have no vision or agenda and have let the Democrats choose the GOP leadership.

"'We don't have an agreed agenda -- breaking up our leadership has taken its toll,' Mr. DeLay told a small group of reporters invited to his offices in the Cannon House Office Building."


CA-50: Republicans Lash Out in Fear

When Duke Cunningham resigned in shame after one of the most spectacular government corruption scandals in American history, there were a few things everybody knew about the special election to fill his seat. It was a heavily Republican district, and even with Cunningham's disgrace it would be a difficult haul for any Democrat; and the Democrat who would carry the torch and face those odds would be Francine Busby, who had long since launched her upstart campaign.

Our Republican counterpart, the NRCC, nonetheless crowed through spokesman Carl Forti:

"When Busby loses, it will blow the Democrats' 'culture of corruption' theory right out of the water... And right now, that is their whole strategy for November."
Of course nobody else believed that - everybody knew that a district that President Bush won overwhelmingly would be an enormous hurdle, and that the Republicans would never dream of having to spend a dime in a district so heavily Republican.

But even so, the NRCC's words have already come back to haunt them. This week the NRCC was forced to drop more than $360,000 into the race, more money than many Republicans raise in a year. And keep in mind, the election coming next week was supposed to be just the first step, an open primary where Busby would take on a whole slew of Republicans and nobody was expected to get the 50% it would take to win out right. But with polls showing her at 45% at inching up, the Republicans' panic may be justified.

And what else would the Republicans spend their money on but pathetic TV ads smearing an upstanding Democrat looking to come to Washington and clean up their mess. As Francine Busby explained in her statement responding to the ad...

DC ATTACK ADS BEGIN
National Republican Congressional Committee Launches Duke Cunningham-Tom Delay Funded Attack Ads on Francine Busby

Encinitas, CA - The National Republican Congressional Committee today launched a barrage of attack ads against Francine Busby in the 50th Congressional District Special Election. Duke Cunningham and his co-conspirators in the federal bribery case have given over $680,000 to the NRCC and Tom DeLay, who stepped down under pressure earlier this week, has given over $870,000.

"This is the last ditched effort of the Delay-Cunningham machine to hold onto power in this district," said Busby's Communications Director Brennan Bilberry. "Voters of the 50th District are fed up with their corrupt system and these misleading negative attacks will certainly backfire."

The NRCC's claims in the ad that Busby has taken contributions from the employees of government contractors including employees of well-established business like Qualcomm. They also claim that she has taken contributions from Sen. Dennis DeConcini, who, along with John McCain and John Glenn, was admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee.

"If all that Washington special interests can come up with is one contributor out of over 8,000 who was admonished fifteen years ago, they are more desperate than anyone thought," said Bilberry. "Francine is running to change the system that this group profits from - it is no wonder they are using Duke Cunningham and Tom DeLay's dirty money to attack Francine."
So, to sum up, the NRCC is using their special interest warchest, funded in no small part by the likes of Duke Cunningham and Tom DeLay, to smear her for a single contribution from one of John McCain's old friends - McCain being the Republican they send out to campaign when they want to look clean.

The DCCC has already launched a massive response in the district exposing their hypocrisy. We'll keep you updated on the race, and we'll stand up for Francine Busby and all of our Democrats every day.




Running Scared, Cross-Country

A brief look at recent poll numbers on Congress nationwide has GOP House members running scared, and it's beginning to show -- apparently even on their faces. Political pundit Charlie Cook was quoted as saying...

"And these Republican members, one of us-one of them told us he comes in for the Tuesday House Republican Conference lunch, and he can tell who's just gotten a poll back, that they have this shell-shocked look on their face. Somebody else said 'ashen.'"
One Republican who probably had a severe case of "poll face" on Thursday was Rep. Mike Sodrel of Indiana going up against Democrat Baron Hill... Hill Has 10-Point Lead in New Democratic Poll
Roll Call - April 6, 2006

"A recent Democratic poll conducted in the 9th district race showed former Rep. Baron Hill (D) ahead of Rep. Mike Sodrel (R) by a 10-point margin...

"The poll also found that President Bush had a 48 percent positive/43 percent negative rating in the district, compared to the 58 percent positive/37 percent negative rating he had there just before the 2004 election.

"'Unlike the 2004 election, which shepherded a Republican tide in Indiana, this year's election looks to be equally favorable for Baron Hill and the Democrats,' pollster Fred Yang wrote in a polling memo. 'Hill maintains favorable ratings among 9th CD voters, and is the unusual challenger who is better regarded than the incumbent.'"
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad for the GOP, if this was the only race with bad news across the country. However, back in Connecticut things weren't looking so good for Republican Chris Shays either. Shays has tried repeatedly to paint himself as a moderate but he just can't seem to run fast enough to escape from his record.

Centrist Faces the GOP's Iraq Problem
Washington Post - April 6, 2006

"How nervous are Republicans that the Iraq war could hurt them in November? Nervous enough that Rep. Christopher Shays visited the same senior center twice in one week to defend his stand.

"The nine-term House veteran is in full campaign mode, explaining his unbending support for the war to confounded voters such as Anne Donnelly, a resident of the Marvin. She has supported Shays in previous elections but complained that his bullish stance on Iraq seemed at odds with news reports that portray a country in a tailspin...

"Shays has an aggressive and seasoned Democratic opponent, Diane Farrell, who lost by four percentage points when she challenged Shays in 2004 and who talks about the war at every public event.

"'Oh, sure, now he sounds frustrated,' she said of Shays. 'But it's too little, too late.' Farrell argues that Republicans have failed miserably in their role as legislative overseers, providing the White House with an open wallet without asking any hard questions."
As one can imagine, when you are running scared you may say or do anything to score political points. Republican Curt Weldon proved that axiom again this week...

Weldon Offends his Challenger
Philadelphia Daily News - April 6, 2006

"After combat operations in Afghanistan and a stint as a national-security aide in the Clinton White House, former Navy admiral Joe Sestak felt prepared for just about anything when he decided to run for Congress in Delaware County.

"But Sestak didn't expect to be second-guessed by the Republican incumbent, Curt Weldon, on where his 5-year-old daughter, Alexandra Sestak, should be treated for a malignant brain tumor.

"Apparently trying to score political points on a residency issue, Weldon reportedly suggested to a Washington newspaper that Sestak should have sent his daughter to a hospital in Pennsylvania or Delaware, rather than the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, where she has been treated since the tumor was diagnosed last summer.

"The remark provoked an angry response yesterday from Sestak, who said he and his wife had settled on the Washington hospital because of its outstanding work on pediatric brain tumors.

"'We made a decision based on many factors, none of which was political,' Sestak said in a telephone interview. 'This decision was made in the best interests of my daughter's life, and where we're doing it should not be brought into this campaign.

"'Talk to me about the issues, attack me if you want to continue to do so, but where we want the treatment for our daughter is not to be left in the hands of others, especially not in the hands of politicians like Curt Weldon,' he said."
While most of the local press on Republican Members is just starting to trickle out, the Abramoff-entangled Bob Ney of Ohio got bombarded immediately yesterday...

Ney won't copy DeLay

Foes want Ohio's Ney to follow DeLay; he says no way

Ney vows he'll fight on, not quit

Now, the Spotlight Turns to Rep. Ney

Chris Cilizza, writing for the Washington Post's blog on congressional politics, summarized it thusly...

The Fix: "House: Will Rep. Ney Follow DeLay's Lead?

"Tom DeLay's decision to resign from Congress rather than risk his (and his party's) political future at the ballot box has stoked talk that embattled Ohio Republican Rep. Bob Ney will follow his colleague's lead.

"In the immediate aftermath of DeLay's announcement Monday night, Ney issued a statement seeking to dismiss any comparison. 'While I respect Tom DeLay's decision, I am not Tom DeLay,' Ney said. 'I have absolutely no intention of retiring.'

"While Ney may have no plans to retire, there is growing sentiment among Republican insiders in the nation's capital that he should do just that for the good of the party. 'Tom DeLay knew that not running was always a possibility and did the honorable thing to keep his seat in Republican hands,' said a GOP strategist who was granted anonymity so he could speak candidly without fear of reprisal. 'Bob Ney, up to this point, has refused to acknowledge the gravity of his situation.'...

"In talking to Republicans familiar with internal polling in the DeLay and Ney races, the Ohio Congressman is currently in worse shape. Although DeLay made his final decision to resign after being presented with a poll that showed him essentially tied with former Democratic Rep. Nick Lampson, Ney continues to forge forward although private surveys have shown him trailing the two most likely Democratic candidates -- Chillicothe Mayor Joe Sulzer and attorney Zach Space."
When it rains, it pours they say; meanwhile our candidates are breaking fundraising records and making strong showing in the polls. If you want to learn more about a specific candidate, or race, check in on all of the Democratic candidates and incumbents at www.dccc.org/races.














Democrats react to revelations that President Bush personally authorized selective leaking of classified information to bolster the case for war in Iraq:

"One of the constants in the Bush Administration's miserable record on Iraq has been the manipulation of intelligence precisely for political purposes. That has caused our intelligence -- which used to be accepted without question around the world -- to be viewed with skepticism by the international community."
-- Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

"If the disclosure is true, it's breathtaking. The President is revealed as the Leaker-in-Chief."
-- Democratic Rep. Jane Harman, Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee

"Two recent revelations raise grave new questions about whether you, the Vice President, and your top advisors have engaged in a systematic abuse of the national security classification process for political purposes."
-- Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, Ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, writing to President Bush

"I sincerely hope the Congress will finally take seriously its Constitutional duty to conduct oversight over vital matters to America's national security and the safety of our people."
-- Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer

[lolly]

1. Ow, ow, it hurts to laugh this hard . . .

But some in the evangelical community are starting to worry that the Christian right's credibility on moral issues is being undercut by the movement's close association with scandal-dogged figures like DeLay
Christian right's credibility on moral issues!!!

Now there's a contradiction in terms.

Can somebody name one person on the Christian right who has any credibility, moral or otherwise?

[BOSSHOG]

2. Thanks for the great information

Apparently republicans are good farmers. Just look what they have reaped from all their "hard" work. Maybe hard time to come for many of them.

[KoKo]

3. K & R! Great to see all that great news in one spot. Good Weekend

reading for those who need a pump up after reading Hersh's article.