Republicans roll out early attack ads on Harry Reid

If you thought it was safe to turn on the television without seeing a political attack ad, think again. At least in Reno.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee this morning rolled out its first attack ad of the 2010 election cycle. And the target is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The ad notes that Reid voted for the $700-billion bailout package this year and supports President Obama's new stimulus package again this year. As a hammer slams into a piggy bank, the ad asks:

And now he wants a trillion more dollars in new spending? A trillion dollars? Tell Harry Reid to stop wasting our hard-earned money.

Last time we checked, Reid had $3 million in his campaign coffers and no strong Republican opponent.

But maybe the Republicans hope to repeat their feat as dragon-slayers from the 2004 election, when they targeted and defeated Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, now, of course, President Obama's secretary of Health and Human Services.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo credit: Associated Press

Blagojevich fights for little guys, gals -- healthcare, tax relief, all sorts of good things

Illinois' legally-challenged Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he's had a longrunning political feud with the Illinois House of Representatives, ever since the 51-year-old former congressman from Chicago's North Side was reelected in 2006.

At a Chicago news conference where he refused to take questions, Blagojevich says the Illinois House is standing in the way of his ongoing, valiant effort to fight for the ordinary people of his state, which is what he says he was elected and reelected to do. "From the very moment of my reelection," Blagojevich says, "I have been in a struggle with the House to try to get things done for the people."

The governor says he's "pushed and prodded" that legislative body for property tax relief for the working folks of Illinois.

He says he's fought to expand healthcare for poor people like the fellow over there in the wheelchair who had a liver disease or kidney disease or something wrong with him and couldn't get coverage. And for the women of Illinois who deserve better care and coverage for their breasts and cervixes.

In fact, Blago says, many people didn't know that the Illinois Senate has passed but the lazy, good-for-nothing House is still sitting on other bills to help regular Illinois citizens. "Is that an impeachable offense" to fight for the people as he's done?

The governor answered his own question: "I don't believe that's an impeachable offense. I understand the House's action. I'm not at all surprised by it."

Oh, and in case anyone had on their mind this silly talk about Blagojevich's legal troubles, now involving the Democrat-controlled Illinois House, by a closely-divided count of 114-1, (see news video below) choosing to impeach (or indict) a governor for the first time in the state's history earlier today, here's what the governor dismissively said:

"The House's action today and the causes of the impeachment are because I've done things to fight for the families who are with me today." And there were families there too, of all colors, looking sad and silent, but cared for.

Blago's alleged news conference today, with him talking nonstop and even quoting a British poet (Tennyson) and rocking up on his toes as he does when nervous or agitated, was....

Ticket Replay: S.C. Dem chair says Sarah Palin's 'primary qualification' is not having an abortion

The Ticket is republishing some items this weekend from the recent political season. This one originally appeared in this space on Sept. 10, 2008:

Thank goodness after all this lipstick-swine silliness we can get back to the important issues of this evolving presidential campaign, like whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin should have gotten an abortion upon learning during her recent pregnancy that she would give birth to a baby boy with Down syndrome.

We were shocked too to learn today that the "issue" of her non-abortion had apparently not been vetted by Sen. John McCain's campaign.

Nor, it seems, has that problem come up during the hasty media vetting of the  44-year-old mother of five since she was named the surprise Republican vice presidential running mate on Aug. 29.

Fortunately, Carol Fowler, the chairwoman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, was on duty to alert the rest of us today. In the apparent Palin Panic that seems to be seizing some local Democrats, Fowler told Alex Burns over at Politico.com that the former city councilwoman, mayor, current governor and vice presidential nominee was a female candidate "whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion."

The Ticket was, of course, in the Xcel Energy Center last week when....

Blagojevich says Sen. Reid sought to influence his Obama replacement pick

A quick update on the Democrats' molten stew that is the scandal surrounding Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his controversial appointment of Roland Burris as the state's new senator to fill the vacant seat of President-elect Barack Obama.

One, word leaked that Burris, a former Illinois attorney general and comptroller, at his initiative will meet with Democratic Senate leaders including Majority leader Harry Reid in Washington on Wednesday, the day after the new Congress convenes. Burris has vowed to take his seat. Reid has vowed to block Burris from doing that, with armed guards if necessary.

Two, Blagojevich sources threw another brushback fastball past Reid, saying that the Senate Democratic leader had called the accused Democratic governor shortly before his arrest on charges of conspiring to sell government business and favors.

According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, Reid attempted to influence the governor's nominee choice by expressing serious reservations over the 2010 electability of three potential Blagojevich picks -- Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis and state Senate President Emil Jones.

All three men happen to be black, as is Burris.

Reid is said to have told Blagojevich he had more confidence in the electoral popularity of Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, who like Reid is white, or Tammy Duckworth, an Asian American who heads Illinois' Veteran Affairs Department.

A Reid spokesman confirmed the conversation but declined to list the names of those discussed.

Blagojevich is playing a typically hardball brand of Illinois politics, as The Ticket noted here the other day. By naming the 71-year-old Burris, who's never lost an election to a Republican, Blagojevich places Reid in the uncomfortable political position of blocking an experienced black political vote-getter from replacing a black and becoming the Senate's only black member.

Several African American House members of the Black Caucus have called for Burris' seating. And the governor's office now blithely suggests that Reid has a conflict of interest.

A Blagojevich spokesman said, "It seems to the governor that Sen. Reid has a horse in the race and Roland Burris isn't one of them."

In a strongly worded statement late Saturday night Reid accused the governor of "leaking and distorting conversations."

Reid added: "Gov. Blagojevich's efforts to try to tarnish others while the cloud of suspicion continues to grow over him are shameful, as are his efforts to further betray the public trust and sow seeds of division."

The now thoroughly racially tinged controversy is more than likely to come up this morning when Burris appears on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos."

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Associated Press (Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada).

Ticket Replay: Gov. Sarah Palin's home church torched

This weekend The Ticket is republishing some items from recent months. This one originally appeared here on Dec. 14, 2008:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, her husband Todd and up to 1,000 fellow parishioners will worship in a local school this morning after a suspicious fire virtually destroyed the Wasilla Bible Church early Saturday. Some women and children in a crafts group were inside at the time.

The Rev. Larry Kroon said some parishioners were in the church on Nicola Avenue at the time the fire was noticed but no one was injured. Firefighters battled for about eight hours in minus-20 degree temperatures to completely extinguish the blaze that began at the front door.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate went to the church Saturday to apologize to pastors in case the estimated $1 million fire damages, suspected as arson, were "in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received" since the governor's involvement with John McCain's presidential campaign.

The 30-year-old congregation in Wasilla, about 40 miles north of Anchorage, had moved into its new church just 30 months ago. Church officials said they expect to hold services at the Wasilla Middle School for the foreseeable future during repairs.

(UPDATE: In the ensuing weeks since the fire, there doesn't seem to have been much media attention or outcry against the anonymous attack on a house of worship. Probably just because Wasilla is so far away. Yes, that's probably the reason.)

— Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Al Grillo / Associated Press (top, church); Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images (bottom, Gov. Sarah Palin).

Already 2009 in The Ticket's world of Barack, Michelle, Hillary, Sarah, Newt

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It might seem a tad early here in the predawn darkness of the Pacific time zone on New Years Eve day. But it's already time for us to start wishing loyal Ticket readers around the world a Happy New Year.

To our absolute delight, the Ticket's audience has mushroomed internationally in recent months, as folks way, way beyond the lower 48, the distant islands where the new president hangs out and Sarah Palin country up north tune into the American political scene.

We're delighted you chose our online window to peek through.

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These have been momentous months for American history with thousands of Ticket items telling the stories of the 2007-08 presidential campaign. Now, we start a brand-new year. And the political stories of a brand-new Congress and administration. And, believe it or not, the start of the next election season.

It's only 36 months until the 2012 Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire voting; 22 months to the 2010 midterm elections, including the California governor and Senate votes; 20 days until a historic inauguration; and 144 hours until the new Congressional session starts.

There will be much, much more to write about in coming hours, days, weeks and months. And we're so happy that so many millions of you have tuned in.

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So, without further ado, in one minute, we wish happy 2009 to our loyal Ticket readers in New Zealand, and 120 minutes later to those in Australia. And in 60 minutes the same wish goes to Japan. And then onward around the globe through our readership in India and Iran, and then to U.S. troops in Iraq, to our friends in Italy, France and the U.K. And to one of our latest subscribers in the Canary Islands. And to both of you Newfies out there.

Plus, happy New Year to all of the U.S.-Canadian time zones from Halifax to Nome and Waikiki.

This is going to be a fascinating political year. We look forward to making the journey together.

A very happy and healthy New Year to all!

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: 2009 New Year's Baby / The Father

Ticket Replay: Obama praises radio host who calls McCain 'warmonger'

From time to time this holiday week The Ticket is republishing our favorite items from the past political season. This one, which originally appeared in this space on April 5, 2008, carries a particular irony since it refers to McCain's adamant denunciation of one of his rally speakers using Barack Obama's middle name of "Hussein" repeatedly to warm up the crowd.

(Back in April that was considered name-calling. Here we are in December and the president-elect has chosen to use all three of his names when taking the oath of office on Jan. 20.)

For the second time in several days a liberal radio talk-show host has ignited a firestorm of political criticism by calling another candidate names. This time it was Ed Schultz, who calls himself "progressive," speaking before Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at a Democratic state party event in North Dakota on Friday night and calling Republican Sen. John McCain a "warmonger."

The McCain camp immediately called on Obama personally to denounce Schultz and the reference, as McCain did after a similar incident in Ohio in late February.

Saturday in Arizona, McCain, a decorated former POW who has spoken often of the horrors of war, said, "I would hope that, in keeping with his commitment, that Senator Obama would condemn such language, since it was part of his campaign."

A few weeks ago when a Cincinnati radio talk-show host, Bill Cunningham, aroused a large Republican rally by continually referring to the Democratic presidential candidate as Barack Hussein Obama,....

First Lady Laura Bush in a kind of Sunday talk farewell

Time was, Laura Bush wasn't all that keen on media interviews.

Fact is, she may still not be keen on them. But she's become a real pro chatting with the media, without revealing any contempt she might feel for the abuse she's seen, read and heard heaped on her father-in-law and husband and brother-in-law over the years. Fairness is not a word she associates with the media.

Bush -- who has 23 days left as first lady before she gets to decorate another house in her favorite city, Dallas -- said she's excited about the new life but will miss the camaraderie of longtime staff. She called it going from 100 miles an hour to zero, or maybe five.

She joked that her husband is in trouble for saying he's not looking forward to her cooking but admitted after 14 years of staff cooking, she's lost the touch but will pick it back up.

Actually Laura Bush spent her honeymoon with her new husband way back when as he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in West Texas. So she's had politics throughout her married life.

Unnoticed by most, she's been somehow involved in every presidential election campaign for 28 years, except for Bob Dole's in 1996, when she was Texas first lady, presiding over Sam Houston's old house in Austin.

So there she was on Fox News Sunday, chatting comfortably with Chris Wallace in a sort of Sunday farewell, making jokes and talkin g about issues that would have made her uncomfortable only eight years ago. They talked about a bunch of things, one of them the shoe-fly assault on the president during his recent trip to Iraq.

She said, sure, she was offended by the hurled shoe, not surprised that her fit husband could so easily dodge it, and pretty sure that had Saddam Hussein been the target and Iraq not a free country, the offending reporter would not still be around to plead for release.

She was asked about her oft-reported distaste for her husband's "bin Laden dead or alive" comment years ago. "I don't know that I said, 'Tone it down darling,'" said the First Lady. "I might have said, 'Tone it down, Buster!'"

Here's the Fox News version of its taped first lady interview. Here's a partial Fox News transcript. And our blogging buddy Mark Silva has returned to the Swamp and has his take on the interview over here.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Evan Vucci / Associated Press

Ticket Replay: Joe the traitor flushes good pal John McCain

The Ticket is republishing some of our favorite items during the next two weeks from the reservoir of some 4,000 written since we launched on June 11, 2007. This one originally appeared here on Dec. 10, 2008:

Maybe you remember Joe the Wurzelbacher, an Ohio plumber who so sincerely quizzed a campaigning Barack Obama on a Toledo cul-de-sac that his videotaped answers about the Democrat's damaging "tax cuts" attracted the opportunistic eye of Republican John McCain's aides.

Obama, apparently thinking Joe was genuinely concerned about the tax cuts' effect on his professed dream to someday own a small plumbing business, provided a full answer that included mention of redistributing wealth.

The GOP senator promptly took the occasion of the next debate to make Joseph an instant national celebrity as the ultimate regular guy (who's about 6-2, bald and a little behind in some taxes), opining on tax policies, etc., who'd be hurt by Obama's plan.

And McCain invited him to ride the campaign bus, apparently thinking Joe was genuinely concerned about the tax cuts' effect on his professed dream to someday own a small plumbing business.

And Joe got to meet Sarah Palin and speak at rallies to large cheering crowds and be interviewed lots of times like a real celeb. Perhaps that was a lot more entertaining than fixing plugged toilets. (And you don't need a license to do it.)

Joe seemed to really like the campaign. He said he did anyway. But now Joe's writing a book, or maybe a book's being written with Joe's name on it, that Joe says is going to analyze the 2008 campaign and his role in it. About time too.

So Joe's out promoting himself and the unfinished book already on Glenn Beck's radio show (audio tape below).  Don't tell Joe but, frankly, he's museum-grade history as far as 2008 politics are concerned.

But he's still out there talking. Joe admits he's a little more educated than other people about politics. So his insights are worth more. He finds Palin to be "the real deal."

But Joe says after talking with McCain in depth on the bus and quizzing him in depth about the bailouts that Joe doesn't like and neither does McCain if they've got pork though he voted for it, which Joe apparently doesn't like. Joe says he was "appalled" at some of the things he saw in politics.

Joe promises the Democrats are really gonna like what he has to say about the Arizona senator they already beat. But Glenn didn't tell him that part.

Joe said he felt dirty after being on the bus with politicians and wanted to get off. Glenn asks the obvious question: So why didn't you?

Joe thinks a second to find an answer, which Democrats won't like.

(Hat Tips to old pal Jimmy Orr over at the refreshing VoteBlog and the always insightful LittleGreenFootballs.)

The interview tape is available for bipartisan listening below.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: The Blade via Associated Press 

David Axelrod, Rick Davis and others do an election postmortem

The brains behind the presidential campaign came together last night at Harvard's Institute of Politics to give the inside scoop on the year's biggest story.

Bill McInturff (John McCain's chief pollster) and Rick Davis (McCain's campaign manager) met with David Plouffe (Barack Obama's campaign manager) and David Axelrod (Obama's chief strategist) for the election postmortem, which the Institute has held every election cycle since 1972.

It was moderated by PBS' Gwen Ifill, who played her own role in the campaign.

The politicos named the highlights of the campaign as well as their regrets.

Davis, for one, said he wished McCain had never said that the U.S. economy was fundamentally strong (a statement he made in September, when Wall Street was collapsing).

"That would be one he'd want to do a redo on," Davis said.

Obama's team said that the controversy over the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. was a low point of their campaign.

"It was a moment of great peril," Plouffe said.

Axelrod shared a few details about that controversy, which culminated in Obama giving his well-regarded speech on race in Philadelphia in March. He said Obama was still working on the speech until late the night before he gave it.

"I woke up at 2 a.m., and there was the speech on my BlackBerry," Axelrod said. "I e-mailed him back and said, 'This is why you should be president.'"

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo: Barack Obama's campaign advisors, including David Axelrod, right, listen as he delivers remarks to the media in London last summer. Credit: Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images