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Carville to Democrats: Pray Now to Avoid Disaster in November
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2010 Comment (20)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
The election environment has turned so ugly for Democrats that one of their most celebrated election advisers is suggesting days of prayer and pure luck to hold off a fall disaster.
Asked what he'd advise Democrats up for election to do, James Carville says, "I'd probably get them to say—being a Catholic—a couple of Novenas," a reference to the Catholic nine-day period of private or public prayer to obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or to make special petitions.
Democracy Corps partner and pollster Stanley Greenberg explained why: If the House election were held today, "we'd have a change election." Meaning the GOP would take control.
They and other Democratic analysts say that even with healthcare reform passed, the public is disgruntled with Washington and the party that runs it. The two say voters are OK with healthcare reform, but are much more eager for jobs and jobs programs. In focus groups held by Greenberg, Americans have asked why the Democrats haven't been as preoccupied with jobs as with healthcare.
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BlackBerry Black Holes on Capitol Hill
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2010 Comment (1)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
House and Senate members have a new complaint about Capitol Hill. There are dozens of places where their cellular phones and BlackBerrys don’t work. It’s been an ongoing problem, and areas like the underground tunnels between House and Senate office buildings and the Capitol have been wired for service recently. But in the new U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, where parties caucus and hold secret meetings, service “black holes” have been discovered, and there are mounting demands on congressional IT officials to close the gaps. “Communication is important there because a lot of us use it,” Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Maryland Democrat, says of the visitor center. “It’s really a high priority.”
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Sean Hannity Names Obama’s 15 Most Radical Aides
Tweet Share on Facebook March 30, 2010 Comment (26)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Fox New Channel's conservative megaphone Sean Hannity has had it up to here with Barack Obama, the president's "like-minded miscreants," and even talk of a third party filled with Tea Party activists.
For proof, just look at his new book, Conservative Victory: Defeating Obama's Radical Agenda. Destined to become another New York Times bestseller for Hannity, the 248-page paperback—no pictures—is his latest call for GOP unity to defeat Obama's agenda and conjure up a political future with Reaganesque politics.
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Horace Cooper Lobbying Case Hit a Snag
Tweet Share on Facebook March 30, 2010 CommentBy Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
The Justice Department's bid to jail another former federal official caught up in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal has hit a snag. Not only is former Voice of America and Labor Department staff chief Horace Cooper fighting the FBI, but a federal judge has slammed the case as sloppy and vague. Cooper is charged with taking sports and concert tickets and dinners from Abramoff, the convicted lobbyist. But U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle, who this week tossed out one of five charges, wants proof that Cooper did something for Abramoff in return for the gifts. "I can't tell what he did," says the judge, ordering the feds to cough up a better case within two weeks.
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Secret Service Wants $14 Million to Protect Obama in 2012
Tweet Share on Facebook March 29, 2010 Comment (5)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
we don't need presidential campaigns or even candidates to know that the 2012 race is already on. That's because an even more official source than candidate trips to Iowa and New Hampshire has just weighed in. "President Obama and Vice President Biden," says the Secret Service, citing official expectations, "will run for re-election." Need further proof the game is on? Then consider the Secret Service budget demands: This year it wants $14 million to get ready for 2012.
Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan says the cash request is urgent because the agency needs lots of new equipment like armored cars and radios that take time to make. "We have to buy these vehicles this year," he says, explaining the long process to install after-market armor and bulletproof glass. Once equipped, the cars will be positioned around the country to haul around Obama, Biden, and whomever the GOP puts up in 2012.
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10 Winners in the Healthcare Debate
Tweet Share on Facebook March 26, 2010 Comment (3)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
The historic healthcare victory has made big winners out of the personalities involved. President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi are two names now written into the history books. And even foes like Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell get footnotes. [See a slide show of the 10 healthcare winners.]
But there were a bunch of other winners, especially among interest groups, political campaign operations, and even news outlets. We polled our insiders to come up with the best 10, including the Drudge Report and AFSCME.
- See a slide show of Obama's 5 worst cabinet secretaries.
- See a slide show of Obama's 5 best cabinet secretaries.
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Senator Collins: Government Should Counter Pay-Gap Claims
Tweet Share on Facebook March 26, 2010 Comment (25)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Federal workers are overpaid, right? Get tons more than workers on the outside do for the exact same job, yes? Even the government's own Bureau of Labor Statistics pretty much says that, according to USA Today.
Well Sen. Susan Collins and the federal HR department, the Office of Personnel Management, say you shouldn't believe everything you read.
Collins, in fact, is pressing the administration to counter recent news stories that say federal workers make up to twice as much as those in the private sector. The Maine Republican says that constituents are apparently irked by the pay gap, and she wants the administration to help her dismiss the claims. "I don't think those points are being made," she says.
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With Healthcare, Obama Scores His First Zogby A+
Tweet Share on Facebook March 26, 2010 Comment (13)Pollster John Zogby updates our weekly Obama Report Card with a grade on the president's performance. Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis, and interaction with major players to come up with a grade and some comments that capture how he sees the president's week ending.
John Zogby on Week 62:
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Democrats Pivot From Healthcare to Jobs
Tweet Share on Facebook March 25, 2010 Comment (80)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Looking to pivot to the key issue Americans are most concerned about, Democratic leaders plan to start promoting the healthcare reform legislation as a jobs creator. Senior aides said the campaign will focus on several small-business tax credits included in the overhaul.
"Health reform will now shift to jobs when we start talking about the tax credits and how they can be used to expand employment and help the economy," said a Democratic aide who is key in formulating the fall campaign themes for members. "That should give us something new to talk about while promoting the big victory. We think that we are going to have a lot of momentum going into the fall elections," said the aide.
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Hazards for Smokers on Capitol Hill
Tweet Share on Facebook March 25, 2010 Comment (1)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
A lot of the perks for House members have been snuffed out, but smoking isn't one of them. While greatly limited as far as where they can puff, members are allowed to smoke on an outdoor balcony off the Speaker's Lobby near the House floor. But members tell Whispers that it has become a danger zone because little bits of stone or mortar frequently fall down. "It's the only place you can enjoy a cigar," says Oklahoma Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who worries about the safety of fellow smoker John Boehner, the House minority leader. Cole's complaint drew sympathy but no quick solution from Stephen Ayers, acting architect of the Capitol. "One would be surprised," he says of the old Capitol, "how much is missing or broken."
