The Political Universe 03.16.07
Posted by Jason Easley on 03.16.2007
Senate Republicans were able to block a measure that would have established a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback hates gay people as much as Gen. Peter Pace does, and California moves its primary day up. This is just another omen that the mega primary is coming. All this, and the political quote of the week, is waiting for you in the Friday edition of this column.
Senate GOP blocks Iraq pullout plan
On Thursday, Senate Republicans easily defeated a plan to withdraw the troops out of Iraq, which was lacking even full Democratic support. The measure was defeated by a 50-48 margin. It was 12 votes short of the 60 required for passage. Republican John McCain (R-AZ) decide to campaign in Iowa instead of voting on the bill, and Democratic senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) did not cast a vote because he is still recovering from a stroke. The measure would have required troops to start leaving Iraq 120 days after it was passed. It did not specify a deadline for completion of the withdrawal, but it did set a completion goal of March 31, 2008.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) led the opposition to the measure. "This is a dangerous piece of legislation. It is constitutionally dubious and it would authorize a scattered band of United States senators to tie the hand" of the commander in chief, he said. McConnell also said that this bill would be "absolutely fatal" to the troops mission in Iraq. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said, "Five years of war, the president's current approach in Iraq is not working. The country is closer to chaos than stability. U.S. troops are policing a civil war, not hunting and killing the terrorists who attacked America on 9/11."
The Republicans did try to create a political dilemma for the Democrats by suggesting an amendment, which was put forward by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), "no funds should be cut off or reduced for American troops in the field" that would undermine their safety. The Gregg amendment was passed by a vote of 82-16. Only one Republican, Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon crossed over and voted with the Democrats, but two Democrats did join with the GOP in voting against the measure. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) voted against the measure. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) also voted with the GOP.
Democrats had better luck in the House, where an even stronger troop withdrawal bill passed the Appropriations Committee by a 38-26 vote. That bill is expected to be voted on by the full House and passed next week. The House bill is an even stronger call for the withdrawal of troops than the one the Senate rejected today. In my opinion, there is no way that the Senate will ever pass anything like the House version of the bill, but the daily political battles over the war are intriguing to watch. The Republicans should be able to hold their position, unless things go even further downhill in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The political quote of the week
"Environmentalist, that sounds like someone who lives naked in a tree and eats nuts with the big nose ring. But when you say, 'I want protect the places where you like to hunt, camp and fish' well, you bet [voters are] for that."
-- Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D)
GOP presidential candidate Brownback agrees with Pace that homosexual acts are immoral
Republican Presidential candidate Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) is supporting remarks made by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace that homosexual acts are immoral. Earlier this week, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs in an interview with the Chicago Tribune said, "I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United States is well-served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way." Pace also compared homosexuality to adultery, and said that the military should not permit gays to serve openly.
Most lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican, have criticized Pace's remarks, but in a letter to President Bush, Brownback called the criticism both "unfair and unfortunate." In his letter Brownback wrote, "We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues. In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views."
The letter went on to express the opinion that, "The moral behavior of members of the Armed Forces is of the highest importance, particularly during this time of war. The question is whether personal moral beliefs should disqualify an individual from positions of leadership in the U.S. military? We think not. General Pace's recent remarks do not deserve the criticism they have received. In fact, we applaud General Pace for maintaining a personal commitment to moral principles. He has demonstrated great leadership during a very difficult time and he continues to do so today." This is all part of Brownback's strategic play for the support of social conservatives. If nothing else, his letter already has gotten him more publicity than anything else his campaign has tried.
At first Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both tried to sidestep the question of whether they agreed with Pace's comments, but on Thursday each sought to clarify their position. On Wednesday, Obama avoided the question when it was put to him by reporters. On Thursday he issued a fairly generic statement saying, "I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral. Attempts to divide people like this have consumed too much of our politics over the past six years." When asked on Wednesday by ABC News about Pace's remarks, Clinton said that it is for "others to conclude" the morality of homosexuality.
Yesterday, she too put out a statement that said, "I should have echoed my colleague Senator John Warner's statement forcefully stating that homosexuality is not immoral because that is what I believe." I can understand why Obama, a person of faith who is vigorously courting the religious vote in his campaign, would try to avoid the question, but Jeez Hillary, if what Warner said is what you believe, then that is how you should have answered the question when you were asked on Wednesday.
I know that the Democrats don't want to get caught up in these "moral values" issues where the Republicans are strong, but when a question like this one is asked of candidates, they need to show leadership and deliver clear answers. Avoiding these questions makes Democrats look wishy-washy. I know that these issues are not the ones that matter most to people, and maybe I am just old fashioned, but when a candidate is asked their opinion on something, I think that they should handle the question better than Clinton and Obama did. I am starting to wonder if either of them is ready for prime time.
The mega primary is coming
California has announced that it has moved its primary up to February 5, 2008. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation that now makes the state a major player in the primary process. "Now California is important again in presidential nominating politics ... and we will get the respect that California deserves," Schwarzenegger said during a bill signing ceremony. California now joins Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho (Democrats only), Missouri, and Utah as states holding their primaries on February 5. Fifteen other states including Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas are considering moving their primaries to the same day. This could mean that February 5 will be mega primary day.
These changes in the schedule would make money and early success more important than ever in the first phase of the primary process. A candidate who gets off to a good start in the first three contests will have a huge advantage on February 5. If all of the big states move up to the same day, this could mean that candidates will have to pick and choose which states they are going to spend money and resources in. I live in Pennsylvania, where our primaries have been scheduled so late that they have been meaningless for decades. Personally, I would love to vote in a primary that actually has a chance to decide the nominee. To me, the best system would be if states went to a rotational schedule, so that different states would vote early each campaign cycle.
Some critics are worried that too many states voting on the same day will be bad for democracy. I think that if enough of the big states move together, they will have the effect of canceling each other out. I don't mean any disrespect to Iowa or New Hampshire, but I am getting tired of our nominees being chosen by two smaller homogeneous states. I can see the day coming, not too many years in the future, when we have a national primary. The downside to a national primary is that it would lead to candidates ignoring the smaller states in favor of the bigger prizes. However, if states keep moving their primary day up, the end result will be a de facto national primary. I'm not sure if this would be a good or bad thing, but it seems like it will soon happen.
Be sure to check out…
Crow gives us some good political cartoons to check out. I think that if it were possible, this would make a good weekly feature for the Politics zone.
Josh White lays out his argument for Why The Democrats Should Debate On Fox News. I have heard worse jokes made by Democrats about Obama. I think the Democrats woke up one day and said, "What the hell? We can't debate on Fox News. They like Republicans." In short, I think that the Democrats were looking for a reason to bail, and Ailes gave them one.
That's it for me this week. I'll be back on Tuesday with more political news. If you find yourself bored, and looking for something to do on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 (et). Tune in to The Political Universe Radio Show. Have a great weekend. Oh, and check out the MySpace.
Saturday is St. Patrick's Day. Earlier today down in Washington D.C., Vice President Dick Cheney shot a leprechaun in the face. Scooter Libby is already wearing a button that reads, "Pardon me, I'm Irish." --- David Letterman
President Bush was in Mexico today. He had a press conference with the Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Wouldn't it be funny if he wasn't able to get back across the border?--- Jimmy Kimmel
Hillary Clinton announced yesterday that the "vast right wing conspiracy is back." You know what that means. Bill must be dating again.--- Jay Leno
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