First thoughts

Posted: Friday, June 15, 2007 9:16 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carly Zakin
*** Abortion Battle: Romney, Brownback, and Paul address the National Right to Life convention today in Kansas City -- with a little conflict and drama built in. On Wednesday, the McCain camp issued a press release drawing attention to a YouTube video in which Romney said (in 2005) that he was committed to upholding pro-choice laws in Massachusetts, even though he had already undergone his pro-life conversion. Team Romney fired back at McCain, saying his campaign “is faltering and failing.” And then Brownback’s camp got into the act yesterday by also blasting Romney. Now, the New York Times alleges that Romney has flip-flopped on stem-cell research. Quite a way to set up today's speech at the convention, huh?

*** Guess Who’s Also Speaking (Via Video):

A day after a rival campaign gave CBN’s David Brody a copy of a 1996 (or thereabouts) questionnaire, in which Fred Thompson seemed to state some pro-choice views, Thompson’s friends give Brody a copy of the video the former Tennessee senator will use to address the National Right to Life convention. Early on, the video features Thompson’s wife and their young children, and then Thompson says: “In 1994, I made my first run for the U.S. Senate. I was proud to receive the National Right to Life endorsement. I’ve been with you ever since. You’ve been with me ever since.” Given that all of the GOP front-runners now seem to have problematic records for some social conservatives, does it come down to whom they find least threatening?

*** Let’s Make A Deal: NBC’s Ken Strickland says that Senate leaders struck a deal yesterday that would bring the immigration bill back to the Senate floor, although whether it passes remains uncertain. Today, several key leaders -- including President Bush, Hillary Clinton, DNC chairman Howard Dean, and RNC chairman Mel Martinez -- are attending the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, where the immigration debate (and yesterday’s deal) will definitely be mentioned.

*** But…: The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal has plenty of numbers suggesting that getting the immigration bill through the Senate -- and then the House -- won’t be easy. In it, 46% believe immigration helps more than it hurts, while almost the same amount (44%) think the opposite. In addition, majorities oppose some of the Senate immigration bill’s legalization provisions: 64% are against allowing illegal workers to receive an automatic work visa if they pay a fine, and 55% oppose allowing illegal workers apply for permanent residency if they return home to their counties and pay additional fines.

*** Too Much Debate?

Speaking of the new poll, NBC/WSJ pollster Neil Newhouse (R) believes that one reason why Congress' approval rating has sunk to 23% in our latest survey is the frustration among voters that nothing is happening in Washington and Congress -- except debating. They've debated the Iraq supplemental, immigration, and Alberto Gonzales' fate. But nothing is getting done, Newhouse says. "It's almost as if voters sense the government is paralyzed by over-analysis on these issues.”

*** On The Trail: In addition to attending the prayer breakfast, Clinton discusses stem-cell research in New Hampshire; Edwards talks health care in Iowa, while wife Elizabeth makes three stops in New Hampshire; Giuliani is in Oregon; Huckabee appears on a Christian TV talk show and then raises money in Texas; McCain also raises money in Texas and Atlanta, then headlines the Alabama state GOP’s summer fund-raising dinner; Obama holds events in South Carolina; Richardson raises money in Minneapolis; Romney, in Iowa, meets with voters, holds a town hall meeting, and helps a county GOP committee raise money; and Tommy Thompson is also in Iowa.

Countdown to GA-10 Special Election: 3 days
Countdown to CA-37 Special Election: 10 days
Countdown to the Ames Straw Poll: 56 days
Countdown to MA-05 Special Election: 80 days
Countdown to LA GOV election: 126 days
Countdown to Election Day 2007: 143 days
Countdown to LA GOV run-off (if necessary): 154 days
Countdown to Iowa: 212 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 233 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 507 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 584 days

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Comments

Abortion is a non issue for me, so I don't care about the abortion issue. no wonder they call congress the talking head capitol of the world. If they would listen to the american people this immigration debate would be history.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 9:22 AM)

"GONZO GATE" DAY 112, THE SAGE CONTINUES. STILL SERCHING FOR THE 5,000,0000 MISSING E-MAILS. MAY BE HARRIETT MIERS KNOWS WHERE THEY WE PUT?

JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 9:24 AM)

If they have National Prayer Day and they all pray for different things, then what happens? Oh my.

scott, winona mn (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 9:34 AM)

republicans are getting a taste of their own tastics.... sounds familiar; flip-flop heaped on romney. love it! he's nothing but a panderer now for the right-wing. What goes around comes around.

juan, ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 9:36 AM)

Were the rest of the candidates invited, Reps and Dems, or did they choose not to attend? It seems that you would want to hear from all of the candidates from both parties. Since none of the front runners are there, it makes it a non-story. If they chose not to attend, that was a smart tactic. If they weren't invited, that should be the story.

Al, KS (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 10:36 AM)

scott, mn--Maybe God treats it like a poll.

Olivia (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 10:46 AM)

Does Fred Thompson really exist...or has he been manufactured in a film studio somewhere?...maybe in the Chenney undisclosed location. Can't answer questions if you never show up in person, can you? But hey...he's in second place in the polls. Guess it's working.

Al, KS (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 10:54 AM)

"...nothing is happening in Washington and Congress -- except debating."

To me this is a good thing, as it's a healthy change from the rubber-stamp Congress we had before, that didn't debate giving away our money to the pharmaceutical companies in their health care "reform." Not to menton the money to the mercenaries and armament manufacturers and the precious lives of those who bravely volunteer to defend this country. (They actually show up to their assigned duty stations, unlike our Coward-in-Chief.)

David, Tallahasee, FL (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:07 AM)

Romney has flip flopped more than a fish out of water.....and it's Republicans who are exposing it. Priceless.

CJ (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:14 AM)

Yes Mr. pollster Neil Newhouse (R), the problem with government is that we are engaging in too much thought and debate on the issues before acting. Clearly the congress should cut it out and starting emulating the Bush administration since that has worked out so well. Why with thought and debate we would have never acted on Iraq -- I see your point. I hope the news media continues to consult with such a sage as you.

Russell in Maryland (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:24 AM)

We need a National Reason Day.

Russell in Maryland (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:26 AM)

There is no Fred Thompson, it is really Don Rickles playing joke on us all.

Russell in Maryland (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:28 AM)

It's the 9th. inning of the Bush presidency. The score is Bush 0 and the american public 0. It's been a tight game, however Babe Ruth is up to bat for the american public and he's pointing at the center field bleachers.And so goes the republican party, it soon will be over.

JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:40 AM)

Hmm..debate is so dissapointing after the constant insults and political voting of the last Republican Congress. Terry Schiavo...no, the approval ratings are low because the Democrats gave to much leeway to Bush on Iraq and has rolled over on immigration. Oh yea, gas prices are still high and I have yet to see the minimum wage hike they talked about(it doesn't apply to my job though).

CJ (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:43 AM)

I think it's hilarious how the repubs are so busy stabbing each other in the back! And now they have a lazy slob actor who god knows what he stands for stealing the show. Wait to see who floats to the top of the dungheap and swift boat his a**!

Steve Althouse, Jonesboro IN (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:47 AM)

First Fred Thompson appears on FOX News Sunday, then he speaks at a national right to life convention. By my brand of fuzzy math, that means his next move will be to address a national carnival geek's convention where he will demonstrate the proper way to bite the heads off live chickens and swallow them, to the tune of "I'm all out of love" by Air Supply which the Repub far right is proposing as the new national anthem.

JIrby, Colorado (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:56 AM)

I disagree with Matthews---Thompson is not handsome and sexy to women.More like an old saggy and bald man.4 years of looking at Bush is more than enough ----I am sure he will not have his hair patches on like has on in L and O----On Leno he sure had on a cheap and shiney suit eeeesh

HMY (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 12:04 PM)

The problem with expecting swift action from Congress is that gridlock is actually not a bug of our political system it is a feature. No one should want swift federal action. When the government acts quickly you get things like the Patriot Act and the Iraq occupation. That investigations take longer than most people would like is regrettable. But I would rather have a Congress that moves slowly and deliberately than one that just rubber stamps every whim of the President.

John Doe, The Peanut Gallery (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 12:21 PM)

The Republican National Anthem,

"IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO"

H P Boston (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 12:32 PM)

Not so fast HP.You are ramping up the hearse while the corpus still walks free.The conservative GOP is holding the line on border enforcement,and has the vast majority of Americans in all polls conducted[week of June 11,2007],backing their play.[Hillarys and even Bushs ''comprehensive amnesty-without-enforcement''is now DOA].John Boehner,the House minority leader, forced Democrats to the wall in demanding that earmarks be made public.A service that benefits all Americans who demand oversight and a brilliant manouvre between he and GOP Rep.DeMint to keep the pressure on.This is how a minority party operates in its best environment particularly in the House.

Lee Holmes (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 2:17 PM)

Lee, public acknowledgement of earmarks was part of the Democratic campaign last fall and the House followed through on that promise the first day of the new session. Pretty brilliant of them to force the majority to do what they planned anyway. Now if they would force Democrats to start withdrawing troops from Iraq they could make some real gains.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 2:53 PM)

Johnny: The game I'm watching has the American Public ahead of Bush by a score of four to one in the eighth.

Kato in Des Moines (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 3:36 PM)

H P boston, I prefer "Onward Christian Soldiers"

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 3:38 PM)

John Doe I could not agree more. Our current political system is geared to be slow and with compromises. I am glad nothing is getting done. That means the republican machine is being grounded to a stop. You are so right about the patriot act and the Iraq war. That is what happens when one party controls all branches of government. It is allowed to happen because of an easily manipulated president, that does not think for himself. Remember God talks to W and the reason we invaded Iraq was with his god's blessing. So facts, reason , and opposing opinions mean absolutely nothing to this president. He has stated he wants to rule like a dictator. Just sit back and think about W having god in his ear and all the power of a dictator. This is what republicans want. Thankfully the rest of america woke up and started taking his power away in the 2006 elections. He is to busy covering his own ass instead of screwing up more things. Investigations are just the tip of the iceberg. Once we find out how decisions were actually made in the white house: I guess Ouija board, modified to talk directly to god. Oh god, I want to piss off liberals, that is my mission in life. Start wars and give tons of money to the rich. This God sounds like one sick puppy. Remind me to never pray to his god. He is one evil fellow.

bobf (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 4:32 PM)

John Doe - You are exactly right. If you study the party affiliations of the WH and Congress throughout history, you will see that more often than not there is divided government. I have yet to be convinced that the average American intends to do that, however.

Carrie, NW Iowa (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 4:35 PM)

Here's some important news out of a part of the country that, not being New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, or anyplace else that either has an early presidential contest or is one of the much-sought vote-heavy states, is being treated as if it doesn't exist. Per an article in the Times-Picayune, cash-strapped New Orleans is asking foreign countries for rebuilding help as federal dollars remain slow to flow. According to Kenya Smith, director of intergovernmental relations for Mayor Nagin, city leaders are talking with more than 5 unidentified countries and added that the city is "very serious" about pursuing foreign help. For months, Nagin has complained that bureaucracy is choking the flow of much-needed federal funds to New Orleans--slowing her recovery. As of June 8, the city said she had gotten just over half of the $320 million obligated by FEMA for rebuilding city infrastructure, etc. And that doesn't include other improvements such as raised neighborhoods meant to help build the stronger city promised by Nagin and his recovery director. It's high time the candidates and the media who cover them started treating Katrina and its aftermath and the need to rebuild New Orleans and the rest of the affected area as a substantive campaign issue instead of "wagging the dog" with relative trivia.

Olivia (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 4:47 PM)

SCAATY How about..."Nearer My God To Thee"

Help to rush the Christian Soldiers along ya think.

H P Boston (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 4:59 PM)

John.Insofar as the House is concerned they reneged on that promise the moment that they captured the majority.Thus they ''planned to do''nothing.Obey had the lock on earmark divulgence and was not going to let it go until the GOP ganged up on him.Ask yourself why it has only taken six months for the Dem majority to look even worse than the GOP did in twelve years.

Lee Holmes (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 5:25 PM)

H P Boston, "Nearer My God To Thee'-is the current Supreme Court

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 5:25 PM)

Still Crazy, The Supreme Court I pegged as...
"HOW LONG HAS THS BEEN GOING ON"

H P Boston (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 6:41 PM)

Thank you for mentioning that Ron Paul was at the candidate forum at the National Right to Life convention on Friday. I wonder what Dr. Paul had to say.

Dar (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 8:31 PM)

Olivia, I think everything in NOLA is at a standstill until FEMA collects the overpayments that were illegally collected. I think the figure is about $450 million paid out to crooks taking advantage of a bad situation.

Barbara, TN (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 11:23 PM)

'There must be a thousand voices trying to get through" - Supertramp

Mel, Illinois (Sent Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:14 AM)

Olivia, call Nigeria, all that money they are making from their telephone scams, they ought to kick some of it back, and will keep Ray Nagin's promise that New orleans will be a chocolate city.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Saturday, June 16, 2007 9:38 AM)

"GONZO GATE" IT ISN'T JUST YOUR EVERYDAY SCANDLE ANYMORE.

JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA (Sent Sunday, June 17, 2007 10:25 PM)

John Doe, The Peanut Gallery (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 12:21 PM)

You must be a part of my industry. Yes, indeed, gridlock can be seen as a "feature". Beautifully put.

I hate that gridlock most often manifests as purely political posturing (love alliteration) but, the benefit as another blogger said, is that we are spared purely knee jerk reactions which, then, have to be healed over decades. In addition, it reflects a true branch of government rather than the rubber stamp congress we had until the last election.

The downside, of course, is that, once we do have decisions, much of the time these decisions are the result of compromises that water down to almost nothing the resulting legislation.

It is a price I am more than willing to pay if we can avoid another Patriot Act.

Independent,Texas (Sent Monday, June 18, 2007 9:13 AM)

Lee, tell me when the GOP ganged up on Obey. Must've been the first day of the new session because that's when the rules were changed.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, June 18, 2007 10:37 AM)

"Number 9"-Beatles

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Monday, June 18, 2007 11:06 AM)

John.Try last week.[led by Bohner,DeMint,Ensign and Coburn].If the ''rules were changed'',then explain this.Chicago Tribune,June 19,2007[thats this morning]-''Expose The Earmarks''.Obey is specifically singled out for criticism as the 08 budget is now up to 32,000 earmarks of which not ONE has been publically released.Obey is keeping all of them secret.Why?

Lee Holmes (Sent Tuesday, June 19, 2007 2:59 PM)

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