The AP reports Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, "a Republican whose lone term was dogged by a hiring scandal, lost badly Tuesday despite an election-eve effort to woo conservative voters by displaying the Ten Commandments in the state Capitol." Beshear "cruised to a 20-percentage-point victory in Kentucky after a campaign in which he repeatedly reminded voters of accusations that Fletcher directed the hiring of political allies for jobs protected by the state's merit system." Fletcher, "the state's first GOP governor in more than 30 years, was never able to overcome his indictment on misdemeanor charges that were later dismissed in a negotiated deal after a judge said he could not be tried in office."
The Wall Street Journal reports, "Two red states turned slightly blue in off-year elections as Kentucky's Republican governor lost, and Democrats picked up at least three seats in Virginia's state Senate." In Kentucky, Beshear "took nearly 60% of the vote against incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who was plagued by scandal in the early days of his administration."
The Hill reported Beshear "led 59-41 with 99.9 percent of precincts reporting in a race Democrats have pitched as a harbinger for 2008 in a state formerly dominated by their party." Democrats said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell "is in trouble in his 2008 reelection bid after Fletcher's loss even though they have not settled on a challenger."
USA Today reports Beshear "made ethics a key issue in the governor's race and avoided questions raised late in the campaign by Republicans about his own ethics as a lawyer." In his concession speech, Fletcher said, "The voters made up their minds, and I accept that. Kentuckians want to focus on the work itself and not the many distractions that I helped to create."
The AP reports in Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour (R), "practically the only politician to come out of Hurricane Katrina looking good, easily defeated a Democratic challenger Tuesday to win a second term." Barbour "won by nearly 20 percentage points over John Arthur Eaves Jr. after a race in which the Republican incumbent stressed his successful management of the hurricane recovery, job growth and rebuilding." USA Today reports Barbour "was one of the few public officials to emerge from the fallout of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with his political standing bolstered." The New York Times reports, "A lobbyist on Capitol Hill before becoming governor four years ago, Mr. Barbour is said to have used his clout in Washington to line up federal aid for hurricane recovery. His victory is a setback for Democratic hopes of stealing some of the evangelical base of that deeply conservative state."
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The Wall Street Journal reports Democrats "picked up at least three seats in Virginia's upper chamber and were likely to take more. The party's most impressive gains were in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C." Democrats have "swept recent high-profile statewide elections in Virginia, including the last two governor's races and a surprise victory in the U.S. Senate race last year, and the party hopes the trend will hold for the 2008 Senate race, where former Democratic Gov. Mark Warner is favored." The Washington Post reports Democrats "claimed control of the state Senate yesterday, defeating Republicans in key races in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. But the GOP kept its majority in the House of Delegates."
Results Seen As Evidence That Immigration Is Not Top Priority In Virginia The Washington Post reports in a front page story that voters "across Virginia chose candidates in state and local elections yesterday not out of anger over illegal immigration but based on party affiliation, a preference for moderation and strong views on such key issues as residential growth and improving traffic." With a "few notable exceptions, the trend benefited Democrats and not those who campaigned the loudest for tough sanctions against illegal immigrants."
USA Today, in an item on local ballot measures, reported that among the measures "was a referendum in New Jersey where voters were asked to pass one of the nation's most ambitious public efforts to fund stem cell research. New Jersey voters rejected the measure, which would have had the state borrow $450 million over 10 years to finance the research." The measure "drew opposition from anti-abortion groups and the Catholic Church, which consider the destruction of human embryos that is part of the research as ending a life for scientific experiments." The AP reports the New Jersey proposal "was placed on the ballot by the Legislature with strong backing from multimillionaire Gov. Jon Corzine, who spent about $200,000 of his own money on ads promoting the ballot question." New Jersey "already had approved spending $270 million to build stem cell research facilities."
The Oregonian (11/7) reports that Oregon's voters "overwhelmingly rejected a tobacco tax increase to pay for children's health care" after tobacco makers "spent a record $12 million, primarily on a TV commercial blitz" to fight the proposal. In a Tuesday story leading up to the vote, the AP (11/6, Silverman) said that the vote "could resonate 3,000 miles away on Capitol Hill." The AP said that if the proposal failed, "it will be a serious setback for children's health advocates and a notch in the belt of tobacco companies."
Two new polls out this morning show Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani holding large leads in their respective primary fields. USA Today reports Giuliani is "holding on to significant support among social conservatives and a double-digit lead in the Republican presidential field, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds." Meanwhile, Clinton's "formidable standing" among Democrats "is unshaken despite escalating criticism by her rivals and disappointing reviews of her performance at last week's debate. The New York senator is backed by 50% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, compared with 22% for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and 15% for former New Carolina senator John Edwards." While Giuliani's "standing has been relatively steady, now at 34%, the race to challenge him is roiling. Arizona Sen. John McCain moves into second place for the first time since June at 18%, edging former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson by a single point. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is fourth at 14%, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is at 6%." In a "head-to-head race, Clinton leads Giuliani 51%-45%."
A new national WNBC-Marist poll of 805 registered voters, taken from October 29 and November 1, shows Clinton with a "commanding yet diminished" lead among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, topping her nearest rival, Obama, 48% to 17%. John Edwards got 10%, followed by Bill Richardson with 3%. Marist also broke down their results into those taken before and after last Tuesday's debate. Those surveyed before the debate favored Clinton over Obama 52%-16%; those surveyed after favored her 43%-18%.
On the GOP side, the Marist survey shows Rudy Giuliani leading the GOP field with 30%, followed by McCain, 17%; Romney, 13%; Thompson, 12%; and Huckabee, 5%. In a hypothetical general election match up between Clinton and Rudy Giuliani, 50% backed Clinton, 40% Giuliani and 10% were undecided.
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Several top Democratic lawmakers are drafting a new plan to end US involvement in Iraq, though it may do little more than reignite the debate in Congress. The Hill reports "four powerful lawmakers" House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, and Rep. John Murtha -- are "working on a new Iraq plan for the Democratic Congress in the hope it will reignite the war debate as soon as this week." Levin "said the new legislation might include interim 'bridge funds' providing partial military funding for the Iraq war as well as a mandate to change the mission of the US military to counterterrorism and other operations. He also said it could include a goal of completing a troop withdrawal within nine months."
The Washington Times also says "the move mimics previous attempts by the Democrat-led Congress to challenge President Bush on Iraq and threatens to stall the roughly $50 billion bill, which would pay for about three months of warfare while lawmakers debate the rest of the $196.4 billion war-funds request for 2008."
While the lack of funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were the primary focus in coverage of the DOD appropriations bill, several publications also noted the bill does not include financial support for the European missile defense bases and immigration reform. The New York Times reports, "House and Senate negotiators approved a $459 billion military spending bill on Tuesday, but rejected a Republican bid to provide $70 billion more to continue fighting the war in Iraq without any restrictions." Democratic lawmakers said "they would provide less money for the war, for a shorter time, with certain restrictions that are to be decided in the next few days." USA Today reports, "Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) said the omission would impose a strain on troops."
The Wall Street Journal reports House Democratic leaders have "yet to reach a final agreement...but one option under discussion would set a nonbinding goal of completing the withdrawal of most U.S. forces by the end of 2008."
Although the level of violence in Iraq and US casualties there are currently trending down, the report that the total casualty figures for 2007 are the worst yet received extensive play in US newspapers this morning, and was covered by two networks last night.
ABC World News reported, "Despite the recent reduction in violence, 2007 is now the deadliest year of the Iraq war for the US military." The CBS Evening News said, "Despite a recent down turn in violence, this is now the deadliest year of the war for US forces, with at least 852 deaths, two more than all of 2004. The US death toll since the invasion is at least 3,855."
This morning, the New York Times reports, "Military officials attribute the increase this year to an expanded troop presence during the so-called surge, which swelled the American force to more than 165,000 troops in Iraq, and sent units out of large bases and into more dangerous communities."
The Los Angeles Times reports the casualty figures "were pushed up by particularly bloody months in April, May and June, which each saw more than 100 troop deaths." USA Today /AP notes "the grim milestone comes as the Pentagon points toward such encouraging signs as growing security in Baghdad and other former militant strongholds." Likewise, the Washington Post reports "the grim milestone belied a more optimistic trend: Troop casualties have declined sharply since early summer."
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday endorsed Michael Mukasey, President Bush's attorney general nominee, a move ABC World News said "virtually guarantee[s] that...Mukasey will be confirmed." The full Senate confirmation vote "could come next week." The CBS Evening News noted "the vote was 11-8. Democrats Schumer and Feinstein joined all nine Republicans in voting 'yes.'"
The Washington Times notes that the votes against Mukasey were cast by Democratic Sens. Patrick J. Leahy, Edward M. Kennedy, Joseph R. Biden Jr., Herb Kohl, Russ Feingold, Richard J. Durbin, Benjamin L. Cardin and Sheldon Whitehead.
While most reports said the panel's vote "virtually ensures" his confirmation by the full Senate, the Financial Times takes a more negative tone, saying Mukasey "won the grudging approval of a slim majority of senators." The Hill reports that though Mukasey's pledge "to enforce a law to prohibit waterboarding if Congress were to enact such a measure" was "critical," Majority Whip Dick Durbin "insisted" such a bill "was unnecessary and would not move through the 110th Congress."
Filibuster Seen As "Possibility" Congressional Quarterly reports Senate Democratic leaders "are leaving open the possibility that there might be an attempt to filibuster the nomination." Majority Leader Harry Reid and Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, "both of whom oppose the nomination, declined to say whether Mukasey's other Democratic opponents might try to block his confirmation." However, Fox News Special Report noted that Sen. Lindsey Graham "dismisses talk some Democrat might try to block a floor vote."
Former DOJ Official Underwent Waterboarding The New York Times reports that "three years ago, Daniel Levin, then the acting head of the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department, decided to bring reality to bear on his deliberations on the torture question" and "asked to undergo waterboarding" at a military base. Levin "declined to comment on the experience," but "a former senior administration official confirmed on Tuesday that it took place. After his waterboarding, Mr. Levin went on to sign a new legal opinion on the limits of interrogation," but "after writing the opinion denouncing torture, Mr. Levin...was told by Alberto R. Gonzales, the incoming attorney general, that he would not be nominated to lead the Office of Legal Counsel."
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The Washington Times /AP reports, "The House approved what could become the first override of a President Bush veto Tuesday, with Republicans joining Democrats in challenging the president over a $23.2 billion water resources bill that addresses pressing infrastructure needs while offering hundreds of home district projects." The vote "was 361-54, well over the two-thirds majority needed to negate a presidential veto."
The Wall Street Journal notes a total of 138 Republicans lined up against the president." The Senate "is expected to follow suit today, marking the first time Mr. Bush has seen one of his vetoes overridden." The New York Times, under the headline "Republicans Join Vote To Override Water Bill Veto," USA Today and the Washington Post also report the story.
The AP reports congressional negotiators "said Tuesday they were nearing agreement on a revised children's health bill that they believed would withstand President Bush's veto. Their goal is a measure that will attract about two dozen more House Republicans to a bid to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion."
McClatchy reports, "The Senate on Tuesday drove its farm bill straight into a ditch, as a parliamentary clash revealed some deep-seated political problems that go well beyond agriculture. Though the farm bill debate had barely begun, senators couldn't agree on how to proceed." Republicans "want to offer lots of amendments; Democrats want to limit them."
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USA Today reports the House "nearly wound up debating the impeachment of Vice President Cheney on Tuesday -- thanks to Cheney's fellow Republicans." In "a surprise move," House Republican leaders "tried to force a debate on a Democratic-sponsored impeachment resolution in order to highlight what they called the majority's lack of accomplishments." But "after a couple hours of parliamentary maneuvering, Democratic leaders successfully referred the matter to the House Judiciary Committee," which will effectively kill the resolution.
The AP reports, "Midway through the vote, with instructions from the GOP leadership, Republicans one by one changed their votes from yes -- to kill the resolution -- to no, trying to force the chamber into a debate and an up-or-down vote on the proposal." Roll Call reports, "Republican leaders credit Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) with the strategy, which prompted a scheduled 15-minute vote to remain open for an hour as dozens of GOP lawmakers switched their vote to oppose shelving the legislation."
The Washington Times notes Republicans "said the episode exposed a lack of control by House leadership over their liberal members, many of whom support impeachment proceedings against Mr. Cheney." The Los Angeles Times also says the referral to committee "effectively shelved the issue for now, but not before...Kucinich, who garnered 2% in the latest Quinnipiac Poll, spent time on the House floor reading into the record three articles of impeachment against the vice president." The Hill reports "House Republicans clearly enjoyed watching Democratic leaders squirm during the series of votes, which lasted more than one hour."
The Washington Post reports, "Cheney has not come under such direct legislative attack since June, when Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) pushed to cut funding for Cheney's office and residence, even his lawn service."
The New York Times reports John P. Higgins, the inspector general of the Department of Education, "has said he will examine whether federal money was inappropriately used by three states to buy educational products from a company owned by Neil Bush, the president's brother." Higgins "said he would review the matter after a group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, detailed at least $1 million in spending from the No Child Left Behind program by school districts in Texas, Florida and Nevada to buy products made by Mr. Bush's company, Ignite Learning of Austin, Tex."
The Washington Times reports Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff "ordered an inquiry to determine whether high-ranking officials at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be punished for allowing a Halloween party with a costume described as racially insensitive. One of Mr. Chertoff's assistant secretaries, Julie L. Myers, who heads ICE, apologized Friday for the costume worn by a Homeland Security employee that included dreadlocks and prison stripes."
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The late night shows were in re-runs last night due to the writer's strike.
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