A Strange Suggestion

Mark Newgent at Red Maryland compares O'Malley and Obama, and concludes that while they lack substance (something I agree with in shades), their messages of unity and hope have led to electoral victory over more substantive candidates.

Bob Ehrlich campaigned on issues and substance contrasting the differences between himself and O’Malley on the issues. O’Malley played the pious piper, spoke in shallow generalities, demagoguing issues like the BGE rate hike as special interests bilking working families, and that he would stop the rate hike. O’Malley won the election, but like anyone who bothered to research the issue knew, could not stop the rate hike.

The emphasis is mine, mostly because Mr. Newgent seems to forget that fact as he closes his post. After stating that O'Malley and Obama won on their amorphis hopeful messages, Newgent concludes that the best strategy for Conservative is to ignore the sea change currently sweeping the nation.

Change for change’ sake, without any real sense of where that change will lead to, is a fool’s errand and fraught with more peril than the status quo.

Sadly, you see the Republican candidates, especially Huckabee and McCain, (and my man Mitt too) engaging in the same rhetoric.

In the face of this claptrap, Conservatives should heed William F. Buckley’s charge to, “stand athwart history yelling stop.”

I don't really think this is much of a change from the current Conservative strategy. Are not Conservatives inherently opposed to brash and abrupt change? Of course they are, and this is why we are currently seeing them get routed at the polls.

Moreover, it seems like the Republican candidates got the message that Mr. Newgent is determined to ignore. Change is the buzzword this season, despite it's muddied meaning. I understand Mr. Newgent's fear of this term. Change for changes sake has more likelihood of bringing bad legislation than good. Therefore in this "change" election, I believe it is the duty of politicians and those who follow them to do their best to define "change" as they see it, not to flee from it.

Being the "anti-change" candidate or party in "change" election does not seem wise.

Greenwald: Fred Thompson far from a Regular Conservative Guy

Greenwald as usual, is right on target.

There is nothing in Fred Thompson's life that he has actually done that makes him "a tough guy" in the sense Fineman means it, nor is there anything that makes him a "cultural conservative." If anything, what his life actually is -- his behavior in reality -- seems to negate those characterizations.

But the illusion of manliness cliches, tough guy poses, and empty gestures of "cultural conservatism" are what the Republican base seeks, and media simpletons like Fineman, Halperin and Matthews eat it all up just as hungrily. That's how thrice-divorced and draft-avoiding individuals like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh become media symbols of the Christian "values voters" and "tough guy," "tough-on-defense" stalwarts.

And it's how a life-long Beltway lobbyist and lawyer who avoided Vietnam, standing next to his twenty-five-year-younger second wife, is held up by our media stars as a Regular-Guy-Baptist symbol of piety and a no-nonsense, tough-guy, super-masculine warrior who will protect us all.

Read it all.

Al Wynn Feels the Heat

Why else would he be co-sponsoring Rep. Dennis Kucinich's "Department of Peace" bill?

Despite the logistical hurdles and legislative roadblocks, Kucinich made history when he said he would hold hearings on H.R. 808, which has 52 cosponsors, including centrist Democratic Reps. Ellen Tauscher (Calif.) and Albert Wynn (Md.).

Tauscher pointed to a letter she and Kucinich wrote in 2002 urging Bush to postpone a vote on going to war until after the midterm election. At least one left-leaning political action committee has suggested finding a liberal Democrat to challenge Tauscher; Wynn nearly lost his primary in 2006 to a more liberal Democrat.

...

Wynn, a new convert to the bill who has called his 2002 vote for the war in Iraq a mistake, said, “It makes sense to send a signal to the world that we’ll at least consider non-violent solutions.”

Now, if it was only his Iraq war vote that I was worried about, I would be able to forgive Rep. Wynn. But progressives' concerns over Wynn are related to several other terrible, pro-republican votes.

Wynn has taken heat for his vote to invade Iraq. But for the past two years, he has attempted to recant.

‘‘I think basically the president misled the country and the Congress about weapons of mass destruction,” Wynn said in an interview with The Gazette. Wynn says he cast his vote in part out of concern for his district’s proximity to Washington, a potential terrorist target.

‘‘I’m not too proud to admit I made a mistake ... knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have voted for the use of force.”

Wynn is now backing the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

But he also broke with his party to support an energy bill giving oil and gas companies tax breaks and incentives, and an amendment banning flag burning. Unlike most Democrats, he supported the move to give the federal courts jurisdiction in the case of Terry Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman whose husband wanted to remove her feeding tube.

Wynn also has supported another GOP favorite, repealing the estate tax, which taxes the property of the wealthy after they die.

‘‘I’m a good Democrat, but I’m not a blind Democrat,” Wynn said. He says he stands with his party on the most important issues.

Terry Schiavo? Flag burning amendment? Repealing the estate tax? Unacceptable votes for a Maryland Democrat.

To make matters worse, Mr Wynn insults every Democrat who did the right thing on these votes claiming they are somehow "blind". No wonder fellow Maryland Democrat and head of the DCCC Chris Van HollenNo wonder Donna Edwards and the "They Work for Us PAC" have made Wynn a target for their organization in 2008. Even his reason for supporting the Iraq war is one of the most ridiculous cop outs I have ever heard. Did Mr. Wynn really fear a nuclear attack on PG county? What a joke.

Now Rep Wynn is trying to fool us by co-sponsoring pie in the sky "peace activist" legislation. Not on our watch.

2008 Targets

Its never to late to think about '08. There are two congressional seats that Maryland Democrats should focus on, MD-06, where Republican Roscoe Bartlett is considering retirement, and MD-04, where Democrat Al Wynn faced a tough primary challenge from Donna Edwards in 2006.

MD-06: Bartlett has apparently ruled out retirement before 2008. However, as Fredneck argues, a lot can happen in two years.

Bartlett won his race in 2006 against Andrew Duck with 59% of the vote. Duck ran a good race and was one of the best candidates Democrats have fielded in this district in a while. In the end, Bartletts name recognition mixed with the (R) next to his name was too much for Duck to overcome.

If Bartlett retires however, things could even out considerably, especially in a Presidential election year. Maryland Democrats, particularly those in Frederick and Westminster need to start looking for quality, local candidates to run should Bartlett decide to step down. Heck, maybe Duck would even consider running again?

MD-04: The best part about this seat is that it will most likely remain Democratic no matter who gets the nomination. Wouldn't it be great to have a reliable Democrat in this seat, rather than the bush loving Al Wynn? Of course it would, so it is important we start early.

There was a huge amount of national netroots support for Donna Edwards during her primary challenge. Since Donna is now busy holding folks like Wynn accountable, we need to find a new Democrat to run in the primary.

It would be wonderful to take this seat from Wynn, and the netroots money and infrastructure will be there to support whoever we run.

So, put your thinking caps on and get ready for '08.

Conservatives "Regroup" in Baltimore

Republicans have finally decided to come together to discuss how to regroup after their losses in 2006. Its a very important event for the party:

The retreat comes amid a widening split between conservatives and moderates within the Republican Party, with each side blaming the other for election losses in November. Conservatives say the party lost touch with the voters when it lost touch with its basic tenets: keeping government small and spending limited.

"As conservatives, we must get back to basics and begin to thoughtfully communicate our vision and core principles," Rep. Jeb Hensarling, the Texas Republican who chairs the 90-member Republican Study Committee, said in a statement. "Gathering some of the best minds in the conservative movement together with conservative leaders in Congress provides an opportunity to strategize and develop a solid foundation."

Obviously, conservatives have gotten off track. They recognize that they must return to their original values, especially if they plan on taking the presidency in 2008.

Too bad only one of the GOP front runners showed up.

Romney will address the congressmen Friday. Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani also were invited to the retreat in Baltimore, where the same group met last year. Giuliani told organizers he had a scheduling conflict, they said. McCain did not respond.

Hilarious. Giuliani and McCain are the standard bearers of the GOP for '08. Romney is a long shot at best. This non-attendance is key.

The retreat comes amid a widening split between conservatives and moderates within the Republican Party, with each side blaming the other for election losses in November. Conservatives say the party lost touch with the voters when it lost touch with its basic tenets: keeping government small and spending limited.

Seems like the conservative wing of the GOP has lost touch with their presidential candidates.

John Edwards '08

I guess we all knew this was coming, but heck, I am still really excited. John Edwards had announced his candidacy for President.

Just stick with an economic populist message John, and you will go far.

Update: Full transcript here. Video snippets available here.

If You Read One Story About Barack Obama This Year

Read this one.

I am still skeptical of Senator Obama, but after reading this article, I appears that that skepticism is exactly what the Senator expects.

Maryland Voting Machines may have Paper Trail by '08

Lets just hope it actually happens.

Not too much else to say about this. What a waste of money those electronic machines have turned out to be.