[Posted 03/11 04:45 PM]

The new AP poll shows the president’s approval rating for Social Security reform trailing support of his foreign policy handling by 15 percent. 38 percent say they approve how Bush is handling the politics of reform and 52 support his foreign policy, up five points from the AP’s February listing. Bush also has a 48 percent job approval rating in the poll, down two points from February.

The poll tracked 1,001 adults 3/7-9 and has a 3 percent margin of error.

[Posted 03/11 03:59 PM]

In light of the continuing media criticizing and speculating over John Bolton’s nomination for ambassador to the United Nations, comes this story on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Annan launched a “fierce” attack against the United States and Great Britain, accusing the two counties of an “erosion” of human rights.

During his speech, Annan outlined his five point "principled, comprehensive strategy" to fight terrorism.

And the plan’s top priority for combating terror? A “UN special envoy to monitor whether governments' counter-terrorism measures conformed to international human rights law.”

[Posted 03/11 12:42 PM]

Nancy Pelosi gave some interesting answers when questioned by the press in her connection to the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council trips.

In calling for an investigation of DeLay, Pelosi was asked if DeLay broke any rules:

“I have no idea”

When she was asked about her staff member who took a Korea-U.S. Exchange Council trip, Pelosi responded:

“I haven't taken any trips. I've been on intelligence trips, but I've only gone on trips -- I don't know of any trip that you're talking about.”

When the reporter reiterated her staff member’s trip, Pelosi countered:

“I do think that in the Congress of the United States, when staff sees members taking trips under the auspices of a particular group, there is an assumption that this group is okay.”

Pelosi added that she is not personally calling for an investigation after a reporter pointed out she could request one individually. When asked why the Ethics Committee should investigate DeLay, Pelosi’s repeated response was because “it’s their responsibility.”

[Posted 03/11 12:29 PM]

At 1pm today, Maryland Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes is expected to announce he will not seek re-election in 2006. Possibly Democrats to replace Sarbanes include former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley and a handful of House members. There are rumors the GOP will attempt to recruit Lt. Gov. Michael Steele into running.

[Posted 03/11 11:10 AM]

Vice President Cheney tells Knight Ridder that polls will not dictate the administration’s position on Social Security reform:

"The notion that you can lay out something this important, this complicated, that touches hundreds of millions of people and then go take a poll and say, `Oops! Sorry, we're going to stop' makes no sense at all. A poll's a snapshot in time. We're involved in a major educational effort here."

[Posted 03/11 10:26 AM]

Hopefully providing additional ethical clarification here, the DeLay trip sponsored by the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council happened “just days” after their status change, according to the Associated Press. By contrast, the Pelosi related trip took place a full two years later.

In addition, as the “Beltway Buzz” reported yesterday, the council informed DeLay and the other House travelers that the group’s status had not changed. And when it comes to full disclosure, the AP notes:

“The aide to Pelosi, Eddie Charmaine Manansala, took a trip sponsored by the council from June 26 through July 3, 2004, but only filed the required disclosure form with the House on Wednesday.”

“A spokeswoman for Pelosi, Jennifer Crider, said the aide forgot to file her form last year and did so after receiving a query from a reporter. The Washington Post reported on the trips in Thursday's editions.”

[Posted 03/11 10:17 AM]

Does Nancy Pelosi really want a fight with Tom DeLay? Pelosi has called for the House Ethics committee to investigate DeLay in connection with the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council sponsored flights of 2001. However, as the “Beltway Buzz” reported yesterday, a member of Pelosi’s own staff took similar trips in 2003. Not only that, but Pelosi’s office had failed to file the proper financial documents associated with the trip until they were pressured to do so.

Buried in today’s Washington Post piece is this exchange:

“In a clear reference to DeLay, Pelosi said at her weekly news conference: ‘In order for whatever accommodation they wanted to make for whoever they wanted to make it, there is no ethics process under the rules that they have put forth.’"

“Pelosi, who has an aide who accepted a trip from the exchange group last fall, said the committee should look into DeLay's handling of the matter but made no mention of her aide.”

[Posted 03/11 09:17 AM]

In a new Boston Globe poll, 28 percent of state voters say Mitt Romney should seek the White House in 2008. 39 percent of state Republicans oppose a WH bid, while 35 percent support.

Since he began to explore a run for the White House, Romney’s in-state numbers have fallen sharply. It is all but certain he will not seek re-election next year. And if he did, it would be a tough fight. 50 percent of surveyed voters said someone else should be elected next time. In a possible match-up race for governor, Democrat Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly leads over Romney, 48 percent to 41 percent.

[Posted 03/11 09:08 AM]

The Times also observes that while most of the attention has been on Social Security, Republicans are quietly succeeding with the rest of their agenda. The unusual level of early legislative success, including swift passage of the bankruptcy bill, has left many liberals concerned the Democrats are cooperating too much with Republicans.

[Posted 03/11 08:57 AM]

The New York Times has a similar post to the Post’s, chronicling how President Bush has spent a good part of his current trip reassuring or even having to win back Republicans to Social Security reform. The NYT focuses more on House members and is less alarming when you read the details.

[Posted 03/11 08:43 AM]

The Senate passed the bankruptcy bill 74-25. It now goes on to the House, who have promised to take up the bill next week. President Bush has signaled he would sign the Senate version of the bill.

[Posted 03/11 08:35 AM]

The Washington Post has conducted its own head count of senators regarding Social Security reform. There is no news on the Democratic side, unless you were expecting an early break from Lieberman, Landrieu or other potential Democratic swing voters. But Republican senators Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and Lincoln Chafee refused to go on the record saying they would support personal accounts.

[Posted 03/10 06:02 PM]

A wire report has been released on Tom DeLay’s medical condition, reading:

“Earlier today House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) went to National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., for observation of a common heart condition. Captain Michael Curran, the head of cardiology at the hospital, treated and released DeLay after a series of tests. He is now resting comfortably at his local residence in northern Virginia.”

Curran made the following statement:

"Mr. DeLay has a pre-existing common arrhythmia -– a condition which many Americans have. Mr. DeLay's personal doctor in Texas has been monitoring this common and treatable condition for years. After completing a series of tests and successful treatment of the arrhythmia, I discharged Mr. DeLay so he could return to his residence and rest in comfort for the remainder of the day."

DeLay will keep his weekend schedule, including trips to address the Club for Growth in Florida and Georgia on Saturday to participate in a fund-raiser for Georgia Congressman Phil Gingrey.

[Posted 03/10 05:31 PM]

Democrat Steny Hoyer has been spreading word lately that President Bush’s Social Security reform agenda would threaten benefits for disabled workers. But is his complaint based on fact?

The Cato Institute’s Michael Tanner noted the president’s promise to leave survivor and disability benefits untouched.

Speaking just last month in North Carolina, President Bush himself said, "The plan is only addressed to the retirees, not to the disabled and survivor benefits. In other words, we're focused on the retirement aspect of Social Security."

[Posted 03/10 04:44 PM]

ANWR will now proceed to a floor vote. The Republican led Senate Budget committee voted 12-10 to prevent a Democrat filibuster on the vote, which had been in place throughout President Bush’s first term. As we asked this morning, could this be the precursor to sending judicial nominations to the floor and ending excessive filibusters? Is it conditional on how the procedure and ANWR vote play in media coverage and the floor vote?

[Posted 03/10 04:31 PM]

The Wall Street Journal reports today that considering the new Free Enterprise Fund memo and other complications, “fretful Republicans are increasingly critical of White House strategy but divided on how to proceed.”

“Beltway Buzz” obtained the memo yesterday and posted some of the finer points here. When Steve Moore says Social Security reform has been “hijacked” and other sources make statements to us such as “personal accounts are over” it's clear the president’s challenge is real.

[Posted 03/10 03:56 PM]

Today’s Washington Post story on Tom DeLay and traveling expenditure violations has created a lot of noise connecting itself into the larger coverage of DeLay and Texans for a Republican Majority.

However, as more evidence concerning the Post story is revealed, the less it appears the targeting of DeLay was justified.

If Democrats or liberal interest groups use the information against DeLay they would face a series of contentious facts. We’ve already seen the Korea-United States Exchange Council statement today and now have access to more numbers.

American Public Media’s Power Trips listing has the Korea - United States Exchange Council tallying 7 trips through 2003. Four of the trips went to Republicans and three to Democrats.

In the reported listings, Democrats took 54 percent of all such power trips. Democrats spent $7,809,837 over 2,730 trips. Republicans took 2,095 trips for 45 percent of the total, spending $6,512,990.

Nine of the top 10 spenders and the entire top five were Democrats. John Breaux led the field with $158,000 spent. Robert Wexler, Gene Green, Maurice Hinchey and Cal Dooley round out of the top five, all in the $150,000 dollar range. Jim McDermott and James Clyburn also made the top 10.

[Posted 03/10 02:31 PM]

The Korea-United States Exchange Council has released a statement today regarding their status and sponsorship of House members that violated House Ethics rules. All of the members of Congress involved, DeLay and Nancy Pelosi included (through staff), have denied prior knowledge of KORUSEC’s changed status before their trips. From the statement:

“The Korea-United States Exchange Council (KORUSEC) is immediately taking the steps necessary to address the questions raised by filing papers under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. … Members of the Congress were assured by KORUSEC that these exchanges met with the approval of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, as we believed the case. We regret if we were in error and are moving with dispatch to take the necessary corrective action.

Edward Stewart, Assistant Secretary KORUSEC”

[Posted 03/10 12:32 PM]

Many fiscal conservatives have been wondering what was up with Rick Santorum’s minimum wage increase proposal. Did Santorum really want the wage increase to pass? And if so, why did he say when referring to his and Ted Kennedy’s much larger proposal, “I would hope candidly that we didn't pass either of these at this time.”

A GOP source close to the bankruptcy bill debate tells me Santorum’s comment concerned legislative priorities. Santorum does not believe a minimum wage increase should be attached to the bankruptcy bill.

The source also says, “Santorum has supported a more reasonable minimum wage increase in the past, this is not an election year pitch.”

“But he thinks the bankruptcy bill should be separate, so that there can be a more honest debate about the minimum wage instead of just attaching it to another bill for passage or defeat.”

[Posted 03/10 11:16 AM]

Today’s Washington Post reports Tom DeLay and other GOP House members accepted an expense paid trip to South Korea in 2001 from a registered foreign agent, against House rules.

The group, Korea-U.S. Exchange Council “a business-financed entity created with help from a lobbying firm headed by DeLay's former chief of staff” also sponsored trips for three Democrat House members in 2003.

DeLay’s office says they were not aware the group had changed its status to foreign agent, as do the other House members who went on the trips. Former RNC general counsel Jan Baren said the news would likely result in an investigation from the House Ethics Committee.

UPDATE: Perhaps I was being gun shy earlier, but it's certainly worth noting that the Post waits until paragraph 20 to mention that Democrats had taken similar trips, as I noted, including Nancy Pelosi.

There is also very little attention in the article given to the high likelihood that DeLay and other House members or both parties were not aware this group had changed its status.

[Posted 03/10 10:46 AM]

Bob Novak reports today the GOP is facing the choice, “Pass a bill that is a pallid version of the original proposal, or concede defeat and fight out the battle in the 2006 campaign” on the advice of Robert Bennett, who has “quietly entered the Social Security maelstrom.” Bennett’s plan would cut benefits, but not raise taxes. Personal accounts would be written into law, but not take effect for five years, once Bush is out of office.

Novak:

“Hardly a month ago, it was inconceivable that Bush would accept such a watered-down proposal. But now, it is probably the most that can be hoped for. Whether the Republicans declare victory, such a proposal will shape partisan politics into the future."

[Posted 03/10 09:24 AM]

Republican leaders today will announce “a committee of African American leaders and experts on minority voting to develop a strategy to attract more blacks to the GOP.”

RNC Chair Ken Mehlman gives a practical but positive assessment , “Is this going to be a long and sustained effort? Absolutely. Will it be dramatic and happen overnight? I don't think it will.”

Not mentioned in the story, the group will meet with Mehlman monthly, and includes Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and J.C. Watts amongst its 20 members.

[Posted 03/10 09:02 AM]

In a move that should bring some relief to free market types, Allan Hubbard the White House’s top economic adviser, clarified the administration’s position on Social Security reform. Hubbard said Democratic demands that personal accounts be taken off the table before a “bipartisan” solvency plan can be enacted are “absolutely a non-starter.” And on the issue of add-on accounts, Hubbard added, “'add-on' accounts do not deal with the solvency problem.”

[Posted 03/10 08:53 AM]

This Los Angeles Times piece details how ANWR made its way into the Senate budget proposal. With the change, the proposal can now be enacted with a simple majority vote. Is this a sign the White House and Senate leadership will end filibusters that stalled majority-supported action during Bush’s first term?

[Posted 03/10 08:38 AM]

A new Quinnipiac poll backs up yesterday’s poll showing that either John McCain or Rudy Giuliani would top Hillary Clinton in a 2008 White House campaign. However, today’s results are much closer. Giuliani only edges Clinton 44 to 43 percent, while McCain comes out on top 43 to 41 percent.

Giuliani has the highest approval rating of the three, 48-12 percent. McCain follows with 35-8 and Clinton scores 34-29.

Interestingly, there haven’t been many polls testing Clinton against a solid conservative candidate.

[Posted 03/10 08:26 AM]

President Bush embarks on a two-day, four-state swing today to promote Social Security reform where “his first priority will be to calm the nerves of the retired and near-retired.”

“I want all seniors here and seniors listening to know that nothing will change for you. You will get your Social Security check. The government will keep its promise.”

MoveOn.org began airing a series of ads claiming reform will lead to the “working retirement.” Bush addressed these concerns as well:

“I don't care what the ads say, I don't care what the scare tactics say, you're going to get your check.”

[Posted 03/10 07:44 AM]

The New York Times follows up yesterday’s story about the House/Senate budget proposals, noting GOP senators wary of tax cuts have reduced President Bush’s proposed $100 billion in cuts down to $70 billion. The House version proposes $108 billion in cuts. Olympia Snowe, Lincoln Chafee, Norm Coleman, Though the Senate proposal does not specify which cuts will be enacted and which excluded, Judd Gregg said he plans to extend cuts on capital gains and dividend taxes. Mike DeWine adds he is not happy that the ANWR proposal is included in the budget, allowing it to avoid a filibuster.

[Posted 03/09 04:13 PM]

Roll Call (subscription required) has more on Chafee, Hagel, Richard Lugar and Bolton’s nomination prospects. Interestingly, it is Chafee who comes off as most open to Bolton in this piece. Chafee notes he has generally been supportive of all Bush nominees. Hagel adds:

“I do have concerns, because the United Nations is a very important institution,” Hagel said. “We need to send someone to the U.N. that has the skills to work with the secretary-general.”

Ultimately, this reserved criticism boils down to a fundamental question: Are Republicans going to vote against one of President Bush’s nominees because he has expressed opinions critical of the United Nations? Do they prefer a nominee who speaks with the rest of the world reflexively or one who first considers the costs to American interests?

[Posted 03/09 04:02 PM]

I noted earlier today that Lincoln Chafee could potentially keep John Bolton’s nomination from a floor vote. The New York Times reported Chafee’s dismay at seeing John Danforth replaced, but also quoted Chafee as sounding more optimistic about Bolton’s ability to forge alliances.

A GOP source on the Hill tells me that Chuck Hagel is offering some of the same criticisms of Bolton as Chafee. Regarding the New York Times piece, the source notes, “They are looking at the common knowledge that Chafee will make provocative statements. He is very open and honest in a way that can imply a greater rift with party positions than there actually is.”

The source adds that on his last vote, Chafee voted in favor of Bolton. In addition, I have been told that both Condoleezza Rice and Bolton himself called Chafee to ease any concerns going into his hearing. Still, the source notes, “You can be sure Chafee will ask tough questions. It’s not yet easy to count on his ‘yes’ vote.”

[Posted 03/09 03:52 PM]

The Free Enterprise Fund has issued their latest memo, authored by Steve Moore and chief Economist Larry Hunter.

The memo opens:

“The campaign to allow workers to invest part of their payroll tax contributions in real private assets through personal retirement accounts has been hijacked.”

Moore and Hunter warn the debate has shifted from personal ownership to a “tax-increasing, benefit-cutting, retirement-age-raising monster, devouring the very idea of an ownership society.”

More:

“We fear that in recent weeks President Bush and the Republicans in Congress have been suckered into a debate about shoring up the finances of Social Security, and have put on the table a series of unattractive options that voters will ultimately reject.”

The memo pushes hard the idea of preventing Congress from taking Social Security surplus cash ($90 billion this year alone) and diverting it into pork programs. If the Moore/Hunter proposal was adopted, that surplus money could be used to start a modest 2-3% personal account investment that would leave the door open for greater future investments out of the Social Security payroll tax.

[Posted 03/09 01:53 PM]

Today’s New York Times piece suggesting improprieties on the part of Tom DeLay in connection with Texans for a Republican Majority has a history.

A GOP insider tells me that there is nothing new in the article, “It’s another example of them taking a story they covered differently in the past and trying to make it newsworthy again.”

Sure enough, Phil Shenon, the New York Times reporter who wrote today’s piece, had a different take less than a week ago. On March 3rd, Shenon wrote of the case facts, “The trial testimony has not tied Mr. DeLay to any illegality or suggested that he was involved in the details of the fund-raising efforts by the political action committee.”

I spoke with another individual who saw Shenon switching angles from last week’s coverage and asked Shenon about it directly, “He acted like that story never happened, that he didn’t know what I was talking about.”

Is the media simply covering an important story or is a different angle being pursued? “60 Minutes” just ran its second profile of Democratic Texas DA Ronnie Earle, who has also been interviewed by Esquire, Texas Monthly, and the Los Angeles Times, all left-leaning, mainstream publications.

We’ll let Ronnie Earle himself explain his special connection with the media and their coverage of DeLay. It comes right from this month’s Esquire profile :

“Now an assistant comes in with a computer printout and Ronnie Earle leans forward to study it. He grins. ‘Oh, man, that’s great.’ He dials the number for The New York Times . ‘Kate, this is Ronnie Earle in Austin. I’d like to add a couple of paragraphs if it’s not too late.’… Then the phone rings and CBS is on the line. He shakes his head and smiles.”

[Posted 03/09 12:03 PM]

This report suggests liberals abroad are wary of Bolton’s nomination. Going on the record are Syrian and French think tanks, which question Bolton’s approach to alliance building. However, the piece also suggests there are supportive countries, especially when it comes to Bolton’s U.N. reform ideas:

“'Bolton takes a very dim view of the U.N.,'’ said Robert McGeehan, an analyst at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. ’He, with a lot of others, feels that the degree of corruption is out of control, and that [Secretary-General] Kofi Annan is doing very little about it.'’'

[Posted 03/09 09:45 AM]

Factcheck.org has a response to the AARP’s claim that Social Security needs only “moderate” changes to maintain its solvency:

“Can the current Social Security system -- without individual accounts --
be fixed with only ‘a few moderate changes,’ as AARP suggests in a
recent newspaper ad? A look at some of proposals that have been verified
by neutral experts shows that they rely more on tax increases than
benefit cuts. Whether the required changes are "moderate" or not will be
a matter of opinion, but readers can judge for themselves by looking at
the details we present here.”

The full report

[Posted 03/09 09:12 AM]

Several outlets report that after eight years, the Senate is finally set to approve new rules regarding bankruptcy. This will be the second of President Bush’s business agenda delivered this year, following restrictions on class action lawsuits. The previous roadblock to passing the bill, a loophole that would have prevented pro-life protestors from bankruptcy protection laws, was defeated yesterday, 53-46.

[Posted 03/09 09:02 AM]

California Democratic state Treasurer Phil Angelides will announce his campaign to challenge Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor in 2006. In a Field Poll last week, Schwarzenegger came out 15 points ahead of all likely Democratic challengers, including Angelides, who placed third in a possible Democratic primary. Angelides has raised $12.5 million so far for his run.

[Posted 03/09 08:54 AM]

According various reports, John Bolton’s nomination for U.N. Ambassador looks mostly secure. His most significant potential for a setback could actually come in his committee vote. If all 8 Democrats vote against him, it would only take one GOP vote to cause a tie and block a floor vote. The Republican of most concern is Lincoln Chafee who recently made a comment that he was sad to be losing the "respected, moderate" voice of John Danforth. However, Chafee added he has had positive conversations regarding Bolton.

[Posted 03/09 08:46 AM]

Today’s New York Times piece suggests Tom DeLay was “more actively involved than previously known” with the PAC now under investigation by a grand-jury and partisan DA Ronnie Earle.

The NYT says new documents show DeLay personally forwarded at least one check to Texans for a Republican Majority and that he was in “direct contact with lobbyists for some of the nation’s largest companies on the committee’s behalf.”

[Posted 03/09 08:26 AM]

The Washington Post reports that the House and Senate Budget committees will introduce their fiscal plans today that include tax cuts and spending reductions that include Medicaid, farm assistance and other programs.

Olympia Snows, Susan Collins, John McCain and Lincoln Chafee have said they could resist the tax cuts if they are not coupled with comparable spending reductions.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg is expected to include $70 billion in tax in his blueprint, while the House may go closer to $100 billion.

[Posted 03/08 04:59 PM]

A government insider tells me that John Bolton’s nomination for U.N. Ambassador should proceed with some fireworks but little controversy.

“We’re very optimistic. The support he needs is there. And it’s the typical opposition but won’t affect the vote.”

In addition, supporters of Bolton have been making the rounds, reminding senators of his past accomplishments:

“Quite a number recognize his skills and the work he has done. Bolton has unique qualities and has been a very strong supporter of Israel. He was there and repealed the Zionism/racism statement in ’91.”

“Because of the work he has done on Iran and Libya regarding nuclear proliferation, he has made several trips to the region and built a lot of friendships in Israel. And his supporters are speaking out, letting people know about the importance of his commitment to Israel, our best friend in the region.”

While the media has taken a negative slant to Bolton’s previous criticisms of the U.N., this source explains this was in fact a driving force behind his nomination:

“He’s a tough guy on the United Nations, that’s true. But it may be just what America needs right now, someone who is not afraid to criticize mistakes but has the experience with the people in involved to still get work done.”

[Posted 03/08 03:03 PM]

Congressional Quarterly (subscription required) has a more balanced account of Chuck Hagel’s Social Security proposals.

His plan includes personal accounts. Hagel says he will be one of President Bush’s “strongest supporters on that central point.” In addition, the plan cites three specific benefit cuts that include reducing benefits for retirees and increasing the retirement age.

Better still, the plan would not raise the cap on the income tax for Social Security. Hagel acknowledges to CQ that he doesn’t have any official supporters of his plan, but that he has been getting a better-than-expected reception from some Democrats, including Max Baucus of Montana.

Hagel seems to come off much better in context than his reported comments earlier suggested.

[Posted 03/08 12:33 PM]

The blog Talk Left notes that Bolton’s last confirmation vote passed 57 to 43 with all the opposition coming from Democrats.

[Posted 03/08 11:50 AM]

Chuck Hagel tells Congress Daily (subscription required) that Social Security reform can wait, “It does not need to be done this year.” It’s a disappointing comment, but we know the game. As with Donald Rumsfeld, Hagel gives a disparaging comment regarding high-profile conservative issues or figures. Then, the media reciprocates with massive coverage, citing the GOP “split.”

[Posted 03/08 11:36 AM]

A GOP source close to the Social Security debate tells me, “the battle for personal accounts is over.”

“Even though the president will keep pushing it and no one is coming out to say it publicly, most Republicans are already resigned to believe that privatization won’t happen.”

“The president is going to take the compromise of add-on accounts, reduced benefits and a payroll tax cap increase and claim victory. Fiscal conservatives and party hard-liners are not going to be happy with this bill at all.”

The source believes there is still “some hope” that the House will pass a bill forcing Democrats in the Senate to filibuster and nationalizing the issue for 2006.

This insider is not a fatalist on most issues. However, while we hope the forecast does not come to fruition, there is likely some measure of truth to the sentiment.

[Posted 03/08 11:24 AM]

Texas Monthly (subscription required) landed one of the few outgoing interviews with Dan Rather. While the piece is a nearly unflinching love letter to Rather, it does contain interesting bits in its 6000 word count:

Reporter Gary Cartwright describes Rather’s career experiencing “rejuvenation” despite the “60 Minutes” Bush National Guard memo fallout. In his only direct quote on the subject, Rather says, “The panel report is what it is. I’ve read it. I absorbed it. I will carry it with me in the future. It was a process that resulted in four good people losing their jobs. My reaction is one of great sadness.”

The article goes into detail about Rather’s “fifty years of rock-solid journalism” calling Rather “the last of his breed, a junkyard dog in anchor’s clothing.”

Incoming “Evening News” anchor Bob Schieffer describes Rather’s fall:

“They had him doing three full-time jobs – anchor, ’60 Minutes’ and ’48 Hours.’ What made Walter [Cronkite] so great was he let other people handle the little stuff. If Walter covered a story, you knew it was big. They made Dan the logo of CBS. They wore him out.”

Just two paragraphs later, TM defends Rather as being hands off: “Except for a couple of interviews and the narration, Rather had hardly any input on the memo segment but read multiple drafts of the script.”

In a bit of unintended humor, Mary Mapes bemoans that her son, “thinks I should get a job in an ice cream store,” now that she is unemployed. Her son seems to better comprehend the Mapes aptitude for accurate scoops.

Finally, Rather’s concerned his eventual full-time “Evening News” successor will lack his true reporting skills. But in expressing his concern, Rather seems to offer a personal indictment: “When you are a high-profile anchor constantly sniffing rocket fuel for ego, if it gets deep in your lungs, then you probably won’t have any goddam sense.”

[Posted 03/08 09:42 AM]

A new Marist College poll is out testing the potential White House field for 2008. Rudy Giuliani leads the field for Republicans, with 25 percent support. Trailing closely in second place is John McCain, with 21 percent. 20 percent remain undecided. However, most interesting is that Condoleezza Rice now registers 14 percent, placing her third in the field, ahead of Bill Frist, Jeb Bush and others.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is far out ahead. She takes 39 percent of Democrat support. John Kerry hangs in second place with 21 percent, followed by John Edwards at 15. Several other Democrats score single digit support to round out the field.

In potential general election match-ups, McCain fares the best against Clinton, besting her 54 to 42 percent. Giuliani comes out ahead of Clinton as well, but only by 2 percent, 49 to 47. Clinton comes out ahead of Rice 51 to 43 percent.

Giuliani and McCain also win in hypothetical match-ups against Kerry and Edwards and by larger margins. Marist notes Giuliani's support has rebounded significantly since the Bernard Kerik scandal.

[Posted 03/08 09:29 AM]

OMB Director Josh Bolten has an op-ed in USA Today arguing in favor of Social Security reform:

"The longer we wait, the more expensive the solution becomes. Each year, the bill for fixing the problem permanently - which is already more than $10 trillion - rises by $600 billion or more. Second, the sooner we act to create personal accounts under Social Security, the better it will be for young workers, because they will have more time to build assets in those accounts. Third, taking action now - like prepaying a mortgage or doing preventive maintenance on a car - is cheaper than waiting for a much bigger bill to come due."

[Posted 03/08 08:49 AM]

Newsday’s Washington Bureau Chief Timothy Phelps writes that Democrats and diplomats see John Bolton’s nomination yesterday as “a message to the world that the administration's flamboyant, in-your-face unilateralism has not changed, despite the conciliatory tone of Bush in Europe last month.”

[Posted 03/08 08:29 AM]

The New York Times has an analysis today that reads as sympathetic to the side of reformers. While not explicitly endorsing reform or the Republican side of the argument, it notes that the majority of opposition to reform is based on a misunderstanding of how the Social Security system actually works.

[Posted 03/08 08:14 AM]

The Washington Post notes as the debate over Social Security reform heads into its second stage Democrats are worried. While the left has been buoyant, claiming to have “Bush on the run,” Democrat insiders realize that perceived advantage can’t hold if their party does not present a counter plan of its own.

The Democrats note the president’s ability to turn an issue to this favor, even when it includes elements of compromise that did not appear practical earlier in the debate.

[Posted 03/07 05:10 PM]

John Kerry has put out his own statement on Bolton’s nomination:

"Mr. Bolton's nomination carries with it baggage we cannot afford. This is just about the most inexplicable appointment the President could make to represent the United States to the world community.

"If the President is serious about reaching out to the world, why would he choose someone who has expressed such disdain for working with our allies?

[Posted 03/07 02:54 PM]

Jon Corzine has come out swinging at the nomination of John Bolton for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Corzine cites the administration’s “needless confrontations with the rest of the world” and insinuates Bolton’s nomination will weaken international relations:

“He is responsible as much as any member of the Administration for the needless confrontations with the rest of the world … As one of the Administration’s most outspoken proponents of unilateralism, John Bolton could well be a roadblock to addressing any of these critical priorities.”

This was a similar criticism before Condoleezza Rice’s first trip abroad as Secretary of State and will hopefully carry as little weight. In the meantime, we'll have to wait and see what other Democrats are saying.

[Posted 03/07 11:44 AM]

The DNC has sent out a letter to supporters on their battle against Social Security reform:

“George Bush and the GOP leadership made a huge miscalculation when they decided to make a play to privatize Social Security -- a program that has lifted generations of senior citizens out of poverty. Democrats are united -- we've got Bush on the run and have a chance to hand the GOP a stunning defeat. We are winning this first major battle of 2005.”

[Posted 03/07 11:40 AM]

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is gathering in Washington today to protest Social Security reform. If the name sounds familiar, it's because this liberal activist group was found guilty of widespread voter fraud in the 2004 election swings states of Ohio, Colorado, Missouri Pennsylvania, New Mexico
and Minnesota.

ACORN’s first protest event is scheduled from 1:45 to 2:3pm. Ted Kennedy and Mark Pryor are scheduled to address the crowdt.

After that, ACORN moves to another event, this time at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and scheduled for 3:00 to 3:30pm.

A final protest takes place from 4:15 to 4:45pm at Liberty Tax. An estimated 800 ACORN protestors are expected to be on hand.

[Posted 03/07 09:10 AM]

For the crime of telling the truth, factcheck.org has come under attack from the liberal activist group, Campaign for America’s Future.

Last Thursday, factcheck.org criticized CAF’s recent ads attacking Social Security reform as being inaccurate. The CAF ads claim Wall Street would unfairly benefit from personal account funds. However, factcheck pointed out that in the federal Thrift Savings Plan, Wall Street would actually only earn 16 cents on a $10,000 investment.

CAF asks factcheck to “set the record straight” while not refuting any of their claims. The full factcheck response is here.

[Posted 03/07 09:02 AM]

The final question in the most recent Research 2000 Florida Poll of 600 likely voters asks if they would like to see current Governor Jeb Bush run for president in 2008. 41 percent say yes, 49 percent no, with 10 percent not sure. 78 percent of statewide Republicans say yes.

[Posted 03/07 08:55 AM]

A new AP poll shows President Bush with a 39 percent approval ratings for his handling of the Social Security debate. Democrats come out ahead by six points on Social Security in who voters trust more on the issue. However, 45 percent express support for personal accounts, with 4 percent undecided.

[Posted 03/07 08:43 AM]

The Chicago Sun-Times has a rundown of the fight between Rick Santorum and Ted Kennedy over raising the minimum wage.

However, the story does exclude some basic statistics concerning the minimum wage: That only 3 percent of today’s workers are on it, more than half of those are under 25, 62 percent are part time workers and 70 percent live in households with family incomes above the poverty line.

[Posted 03/07 08:35 AM]

The Dallas Morning News argues that President Bush’s tax cuts are endangering government safety net programs, including Social Security. After extensively citing “non partisan” sources such as the Brookings Institution, the paper interviews its first tax cut supporter, the White House, on paragraph 17.

[Posted 03/07 08:25 AM]

Newsday reports Michael Bloomberg was booed while crossing the most conservative sections of this weekend’s Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day parade.

[Posted 03/07 08:12 AM]

Several publications carry news
of Chuck Hagel’s proposal to raise the retirement age from 67 to 68. However, Hagel is having trouble getting Democrat support as he continues to back personal accounts.

[Posted 03/07 07:58 AM]

The New York Times reviews the competing Social Security reform plans, those against reform and how it will be nearly impossible to reach a consensus compromise that either embraces or rejects personal accounts.

In a separate story, the NYT discusses the left and right’s wrangling for Joe Lieberman in the reform battle. He has previously hinted at supporting personal accounts but recently backed away from reform proposals. The piece cites liberal Lieberman critics chronicling his “disloyalty” and wondering, “if he belongs in the party at all” for expressing a willingness to work with Bush.

[Posted 03/07 07:31 AM]

The Washington Post reports the White House’s proposed restructuring of the tax code will result in a more simple code but not lower taxes. The Post also reports some GOP senators, including Lindsey Graham and George Voinovich oppose making the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent until they are coupled with comparable spending cuts.