First thoughts

Posted: Friday, March 30, 2007 9:23 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Back to Walter Reed: Bush makes his first visit to the Army hospital since the Washington Post exposed the poor living conditions there. But what story will be the bigger headache today for the White House -- this one or the fallout from yesterday’s Kyle Sampson testimony?

*** Giuliani’s Tough News Day: Judith Giuliani will sit in Cabinet meetings; Bernie Kerik is back on the front page; and there’s another look at people who are upset with Giuliani’s handling of 9/11. Ouch.

*** Anchors Away: At the end of this week, the presidential candidate most identified with the Iraq war -- McCain -- heads to Iraq. Biden, Clinton, Rudy, Dodd, and Obama also hit the campaign trail as Congress begins its Easter recess.

*** Countdown to March 31: Paranoia about the other campaigns is in the air. We're 24 hours from a game of chicken. Expect candidates like Edwards, Giuliani, and Dodd to be releasing their totals first. Neither is contending for top honors in their respective money primaries, but all three will raise hefty sums that if they are out first, they will earn decent early press. Clinton, Obama, Romney, and McCain will all be playing a waiting game on releasing totals until their hand is forced.

*** The Expectations Game: Other things we expect with the 1st Q fundraising deadline this Saturday: 1) that the Democratic field, collectively, will out-raise the GOP field; and 2) that all Big Six candidates could raise at least $20 million each, raising the likelihood that the entire ’08 field will rake in more money in ONE quarter what Bush and the Democratic presidential candidates raised in ALL of ’03.

*** Get Ur Freak On: Hillary Clinton’s Saturday fundraiser with hip-hop impresario Timbaland -- who produced that Missy Elliot classic -- closes out her 1st quarter haul, which will be anywhere between $25-$50 million. Also in the money chase: Obama raises cash in Florida today, while Giuliani hits Utah.

*** And Do the Math: Obama’s campaign is holding 5,000-plus house parties tomorrow. If it raises just $1,000 on average at each event, that's an additional $5 million the campaign may raise.

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Comments

Chuck Todd, a welcome song-"Chuck E.s In Love"-Rickie Lee Jones

Still Crazy After all These Years (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 9:31 AM)

How 'bout replacing these tedious prose renderings of each candidate's latest take from their bagmen with a simple daily chart -- y'know, the old thermometer graph so popular at church fund-raisers, where the red line just keeps going up and up towards the top ... which in this case can be marked "White House!!!" Just put the ten leading candidates' thermometers in a box at the top of First Read, and we can tell at a glance who's on the fast track to the Presidency on any given morning -- make it more like a real horse race, and handicappers'll have a ball! And remember, y'all: Money isn't Everything -- it's The Only Thing ...

Rick Lapin, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 10:19 AM)

Countdown to Fundraiser Deadline- "Shake Your Moneymakers"- (The Black Crowes)

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 10:21 AM)

"Money - its a gas, keep your hands of my stash" Pink Floyd. "Get it while you can" - The late Great Janis Joplin! Lets get the money out of politics and government, then we can be clean again, until then, each and every candidate that runs for anything from dog catcher to prez is wearing "dirty laundry'(Don Henley).

Melba, White Bluff, TN (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 10:25 AM)

Is Rudy thinking of a "Rudy and Judy" ticket? That should win the hearts and souls of the right wing.

Rufus Gibbons, Kennett, Mo. (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 10:31 AM)

The best way to start getting rid of the "money influcence" in our government would be for every state to have their primary on the same day, just like the general election. Then, parties, use your conventions to honor your nominee, not to choose your nominee - that ship has long sailed and I don't think it will ever find it's way back to port again. After the primary is over make every media outlet give each candidate a certain amount of free airtime (even steven, all primetime or none primetime)and print space every day - they can afford it, and finally - no more personal attacks, no more lies in ads - make them tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Then we might get back to what this country was founded to stand for.

Melba, White Bluff, TN (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 10:32 AM)

"Rudy and Judy"- "A Song For Rufus"-(Bob Seger)

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 10:55 AM)

Unnamed sources claim that Dubya's visit to Walter Reed was delayed until all the Democratic patients could be fired and replaced with Republican patients. - Independent Party News Service

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 11:40 AM)

They got the money, hey You know they got away They headed down south and theyre still running today Singin go on take the money and run - Steve Miller http://www.metroactive.com/metro/03.21.07/dianne-feinstein-resigns-0712.html

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 12:04 PM)

News Flash - Dubya goes to Walter Reed but never sees the building that the soldiers were in and had to deal with. Photo Op with soldiers in a different building. Dubya to claim that they are fixing the mulitple problems with soldier/veteran health care. Can anyone smell or see a smoke screen here. Oops forgot that it is the land of Oz!!!!!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 12:09 PM)

"We All Live In A Yellow Submarine"-The Beatles

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 12:18 PM)

Hearing 2 days in a row from Decision'08 MSNBC that Guiliani & McCain lead over Clinton and Obama is just the most unbelieveable of all!! Who in the world would want 'more of the same' which is exactly what they would get from another Republican president!!! McCain, a veteran who we use to respect has changed his tune since he wants to be Prez, and Guliani? He can't even govern NYC correctly (he has many fooled). That's all the GOP has! The Dems have many good ones, Biden, Richardson, etc. all smart, good. And at least w/ Clinton or Obama we would have INTELLIGENCE and leadership which we truly admire and haven't had anywhere in this administration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ellen, St. Augustine, Fl (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 1:35 PM)

"Freak out..... le freak, c'est chic...."--Chic

Dorothy (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 1:42 PM)

Melba, I agree with you. A date the campaign can start, one national primary date, ads must be reviewed by an impartial panel and fines administered if lies or half truths are aired. Why doesn't the FCC do this now? I would rather hear a "naughty" word than all the lies and half truths. If Bush would have had to tell the truth, he would never get elected. And keep religion out of politics, period!

Iowa Mom (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 1:52 PM)

Ellen, I too am disheartened by that poll. It says more about the American people than it does about the candidates. As much as we would like it to be different, America is still not ready for a Black or Woman president. We should face reality and support other candidates because the alternative of another term or two of radical right rule will literally destroy this country. I am holding out some small hope that we will find out in a few days that the poll was seriously flawed. There are many wasys to bias a poll either intentionally or by bad design.

Russell in Maryland (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 2:20 PM)

I can see where the Repubs could raise millions if they could do a plaster cast of Karl Rove's face for the purpose of making punching bags that look like Rove. They would be getting all their money from Democrats, thus leaving the Dems at a financial disadvantage. I would personally be willing to pay a hundred bucks for such a punching bag, and it would give you real incentives for not skipping your workouts. They could also do ones of Tom Delay, Cheney, Bush himself and any number of Repubs that most reasonable people would like to smack across the landscape and into other zip codes.

JIrby, Colorado Springs (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 2:45 PM)

I like JIrby's idea about the punching bags. Or, how about voodoo dolls?

Olivia (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 4:17 PM)

Russell, I'm not so sure that this poll reflects the voters' views of either women or african americans. I believe that, as it stands right now, Clinton will never manage to get over 48-49% in the general election. She has made too many enemies over the years, she still has a hawkish view on Iraq, and the country is tired of the Bushes and Clintons. Obama does offer a refreshing change but, as of yet, does not offer much substance on the issues. It's a good thing for both the Dems and the GOP that the first votes will not until be cast until January '08 as neither party's front runners are really exciting the base (other than Obama, whose real attaction may be with first time voters, or those who feel disenfranchised). Us Dems must take a closer look at some of the "second tier" candidates and give one of them our support if we really want the presidency. I, for one, am very impressed with Bill Richardson, who has unique foreign policy experience, knows how to deal face to face with our nation's adversaries, and has the temperment to work with both sides of the aisle.

Bob, Orlando (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 4:30 PM)

That voodoo that you do so well. (Be still my heart)

Scott in South Texas (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 4:52 PM)

"Witchy Woman"- (Eagles)

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 8:29 PM)

Liv- All my voodoo dolls came from New Orleans.

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 8:33 PM)

Olivia, if you're ever down New Orleans way, go to a voodoo shop. There are plenty in the French Quarter. It will blow your mind. JIrby's idea made me laugh and your idea got me thinking.

Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Friday, March 30, 2007 11:46 PM)

"That old black magic has a way with me...."

Dorothy (Sent Saturday, March 31, 2007 2:37 PM)

No "substance"? How many times do we have to hear this tired old refrain? The issues are all laid out neatly on his website, BarackObama.com. And if he's not, at this point, developing specific plans and programs for implementing his ideas, that's a GOOD thing, as far as I'm concerned! He has said that he would request input from independent commissions that would study issues and make recommendations. I don't want a president who thinks he knows it all and won't listen to the subject matter experts, like GWB vis-à-vis the Iraq debacle. Obama has integrity, good judgment, and a sincere concern for the well-being of all Americans. Once he's elected, he will create fair, workable policies based on the way the world really works, and he won't do it from within some untouchable ivory tower -- he cares about what we the people want and need. ~~Cheryl

Cheryl, Tacoma, Washington (Sent Sunday, April 01, 2007 10:45 AM)

M.E. & Jane--I remember when I was in New Orleans approximately 30 years ago I saw voodoo dolls in a souvenir store there. Sometime last year I saw a news story about real voodoo shops in New Orleans--if I ever find myself there, I'll check one out.

Olivia (Sent Monday, April 02, 2007 5:01 PM)

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