Scandals May Hurt GOP Candidates in Ohio
“Joy Padgett, the GOP’s new congressional candidate in Ohio, has been in a jam when it comes to finding a big-name Republican who could come to town and bring more than trouble.
“Gov. Bob Taft? He was convicted of illegally accepting gifts. GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell? He is getting trounced in the polls. Bob Ney, the current congressman? He admitted taking bribes and then checked himself in for alcohol rehabilitation”….
“A poll released this week by the Columbus Dispatch indicated Democrats could sweep races for U.S. Senate as well as Ohio governor, auditor, treasurer and secretary of state. This would be a remarkable turnaround after 16 years in which Republicans have enjoyed uninterrupted control of the governorship and dominated most statewide races.” (WaPo)
Waging the War on Terror: Report Belies Optimistic View
“Three years ago, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld wrote a memo to his colleagues in the Pentagon posing a critical question in the ‘long war’ against terrorism: Is Washingtonâs strategy successfully killing or capturing terrorists faster than new enemies are being created?
“Until Tuesday, the government had not publicly issued an authoritative answer. But the newly declassified National Intelligence Estimate on terrorism does exactly that, and it concludes that the administration has failed the Rumsfeld test.
“Portions of the report appear to bolster President Bushâs argument that the only way to defeat the terrorists is to keep unrelenting military pressure on them. But nowhere in the assessment is any evidence to support Mr. Bushâs confident-sounding assertion this month in Atlanta that ‘America is winning the war on terror.'” (NYTimes, AP, WaPo)
Detainee Bill in Final Stages
“White House national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley met with Republican senators yesterday in an effort to reach final agreement on legislation that would govern the military trials of terrorism suspects, but they did not resolve a dispute over whether the captives should have access to U.S. courts.
“The complex measure, which President Bush has called a top legislative priority, nonetheless appears likely to win approval by the time Congress adjourns at the end of this week. A vote is expected in the House today on a version of the legislation that the White House supports. It was unclear yesterday evening whether Republican leaders would allow any amendments to it.” (WaPo, NYT)
Democrats Surpass K Street Fundraising Goal
“Top Democratic House aides are rallying their friends on K Street to open their wallets one final time this week before party operatives scatter to the campaign trail.
“The rally, billed as ‘Countdown to the Majority,’ already has outstripped its original target by pulling in more than $100,000 in pledges for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, according to several people familiar with the event.
“Almost 150 lobbyists, a virtual whoâs who of top downtown Democrats, are ponying up $500 a head in personal money to be listed as sponsors on placards that will be displayed at the event. They will gather Thursday night at the Columbus Club in Union Station to hear from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi [D-CA], Minority Whip Steny Hoyer [D-MD] and a host of other Democratic leaders and ranking members.” (Roll Call)
Prosecutors Say Libby Trying to Use “Graymail” To End His Trial
“[I. Lewis “Scooter”] Libby wants to use…daily intelligence briefings and terrorism threat assessments as evidence to show he had important things on his mind and honestly didn’t remember details about his conversations with reporters.
“Prosecutors have said Libby is trying to sabotage the case by requesting so much classified information that the government will be forced to withhold it and let the case be dismissed. It’s a legal tactic known as ‘graymail.'” (AP)
Lindsey Graham’s Deep Conservatism
“There they were, that trinity of renegade Republicans being blessed on that most sacred ground. Senators John Warner, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham–military veterans all–the Sunday New York Times noted, had banded together to oppose their president on his preferred legislation for detainee treatment. By blocking the administration’s effort to reinterpret the Geneva Conventions, the Times wrote a week and a half ago, the three brave souls had handed President Bush a [defeat]…
“There’s only one problem: Graham isn’t a maverick at all. His colleagues from South Carolina (his state) and neighboring North Carolina and Georgia–all of whom arrived with him in 2002 or afterward–are good barometers of conservatism themselves, and all six of them (Graham and Jim DeMint from South Carolina, Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr from North Carolina, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson from Georgia) have nearly identical voting records. In fact, according to the American Conservative Union ratings–the widely-used metric for ideological purity–Graham voted the conservative line 94 percent of the time over the last two years. And Graham’s career score, 91 percent, is higher than such party stalwarts as Majority Leader Bill Frist, Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, and even liberal boogeyman Rick Santorum. Lindsey Graham’s individualism is a myth.” (TNR)
GOP Opponent Asks DOJ for Murtha Probe
“A Republican challenger to Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Murtha traded appropriations earmarks for hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the clients of lobbying firms with close ties to the veteran lawmaker, including one where his brother works.
“On Tuesday, Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey, Murthaâs GOP opponent, delivered a letter to Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, requesting that Justice begin a probe of Murtha immediately.” (Roll Call)
New Casey-Santorum Front: FEC
“The high-profile Pennsylvania Senate race between incumbent Rick Santorum [R-PA] and Democrat Bob Casey Jr. has spilled over into a fight over arcane television advertising rules.
“The face-off began Sept. 19 when Caseyâs camp filed a request to the Federal Election Commission for an advisory opinion on an advertising tactic used by Santorum in recent weeks….
“The Casey campaign asked whether it, like Santorum, may accept discounted air time from local television stations, despite arguably becoming ineligible for the cheap rates by a failure of the candidate to disclose himself at the end of a political ad â a requirement of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.” (Roll Call)
OMB Wants Bloggers’ Help Passing Bush Administration Legislation
“The Office of Management and Budget has launched a back-channel effort to reach out to political bloggers for their help in pushing the Bush administration’s management agenda on Capitol Hill, OMB officials said Tuesday.
“OMB Deputy Director for Management Clay Johnson met with a group of bloggers Tuesday after President Bush signed the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act at the White House. The act, passed by the House and Senate on Sept. 13, mandates the creation of a Web site tracking hundreds of billions of dollars in federal contract and grant spending.” (Government Executive)
Cost of Running National Campaign Is 11 Times More Than in 1976, Researcher Says
“Candidates for president, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and political groups spent about $1.78 billion on 600 professional consultants during the 2004 federal election, said the Center for Public Integrity, which conducted a study of campaign spending….
“Sandy Bergo, who directed the study, said the public should be concerned that candidates “have to spend so much time to do the fund-raising to pay for all these services.”
“‘They spend hours on the telephone and become almost telemarketers,’ Bergo added. ‘And of course that ties them closer to the donors who give the most money.'” (AP)
Abramoff Colleague Seeks Court Dismissal
“A former colleague of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff has asked a federal court to dismiss civil charges filed by a Texas Indian tribe that both lobbyists represented, claiming lack of jurisdiction.
“Jon van Horne, who worked alongside Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig, filed a motion Thursday to dismiss fraud and racketeering charges against him in U.S. District Court. The suit, brought by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, names as defendants Abramoff, van Horne, former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed, former Rep. Tom DeLayâs [R-TX] aide, Michael Scanlon, and former Rep. Bob Neyâs [R-OH] chief of staff, Neil Volz.” (The Hill)
Senate Committee Will Turn Docs, Staffers Over to Department of Justice Investigation
“The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has agreed to turn over documents and allow three staffers to provide testimony to the Justice Department as part of the federal investigation into Lester Crawford, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration.
“The U.S. attorneyâs office in the District of Columbia is conducting a probe into Crawfordâs statements about his financial holdings during confirmation hearings before the panel in 2005.” (Roll Call)
