Scozzafava, the moderate banished by conservatives, vows to fight for the soul of the GOP

Last week, she dropped out of the race for New York's 23rd congressional district, throwing her support (with a friendly push from the Obama White House)  to the eventual winner, Democrat Bill Owens. The move was a political stunner, an attempt to thwart conservative Doug Hoffman, who was surging in the polls after attracting support from such heroes of the right as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and setting off a blood feud within the Republican Party between pragmatists and ideologues.

This week, in retaliation, Republicans in the Assembly stripped Dede Scozzafava of her leadership position there.

But the moderate Republican assemblywoman, who counts herself a champion of local politics over ideological purity, says she has no regrets and may even run for Congress again -- as a Republican.

"How can Sarah Palin come out and endorse someone who can't answer some basic questions," Scozzafava said in her first lengthy interview in today's Washington Post. "Do these people even know who they are endorsing?"

Bemused by commentators who now use her name as a verb -- as in Florida Gov. Charlie Crist could be "scozzfaved" as a moderate in the Republican Party's bruising Senate primary fight -- she thinks there are more of her than of them.

"There is a lot of us who consider ourselves Republicans, of the Party of Lincoln," she said. "If they don't want us with them, we're going to work against them."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Gary Walts / Washington Post

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Obama to troops: I won't hesitate to use force, but...

En route to another Democratic Party fundraiser -- this one in Miami tonight -- President Obama stopped in Jacksonville to thank American military personnel and families for their service but to make a vow about no hasty decisions regarding their future deployments.

Sounding slightly defensive after recent criticism that his two-month-long internal discussion of the next step in the Afghan war was taking too long, Obama cited a list of improvements for the military, including increasing spending and cutting waste.

He paid tribute to the 14 latest U.S. casualties that bring 2009 losses in Afghanistan well past the 2008 total after only 10 months. October's U.S. dead now total at least 47, compared with 51 in August, the worst month yet in the eight-year struggle.

And then the president came to what White House speechwriters planted as the day's intended sound bite from the appearance:

And while I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests, I also promise you this -- and this is very important as we consider our next steps in Afghanistan: I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way. I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary.

It worked. (See video below)

Vice President Biden spent most of the day in Ohio at two Democratic fundraisers and at an official event to highlight stimulus spending. Unemployment in Ohio remains above 10%.

Still no definitive word on when Obama will announce his decision on the Pentagon's reported request for some 40,000 additional troops to quell the Afghan insurgency.

While he wouldn't mind holding the additional support over the upcoming Afghan presidential runoff to help ensure a fair result, Obama wouldn't mind having word of an expanded military commitment emerge after next Tuesday's elections stateside, especially the two governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia. Sending more troops, even considerably less than requested, could well alienate voters on the Democratic left and keep them at home.

As usual, we have the president's full text below.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Remarks by President Obama at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., as provided by the White House
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.  Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody.  How's it going, Jacksonville? (Applause.)

Let me begin by thanking Secretary Mabus for the introduction, for your service, Ray. I know we've got a lot of naval aviators here, and Ray is a former surface warfare officer.  But don't hold that against him.  Don't hold that against him, now. (Laughter.) Because Ray Mabus is doing an outstanding job as Secretary of the Navy. 

I also want to thank all your outstanding local leaders for welcoming me here today: Admiral Tim Alexander; your CO, Captain Jack Scorby; and your Command Master Chief, Jeff Hudson. To Chris Scorby and all the spouses who are with us -- you hold our military families together.  We honor you and we are grateful to you. (Applause.)

Now, it is great to be here at one of America's finest naval air stations. But we also have....

Robert Wexler, passionate Florida liberal, quits Congress

It's kind of a shocker for political groupies, news that a popular and not-in-any-way-endangered Democratic incumbent has decided to leave Congress.

Robert Wexler, a staunch liberal voice from Boca Raton, railed against Republicans who impeached President Clinton and fought for a paper-verification of all ballots after Florida's flawed (remember hanging chads?) election in 2000.

During last year's election, he was an early and avid supporter of Barack Obama despite strong support for Hillary Clinton in his district. Trying to deflect talk in January that he might be rewarded with an appointment in the new administration, Wexler said, "I have a dream job, a job I love."

Today he announced that he's resigning after 19 years in Congress to head a Washington think tank called the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation, founded by Slim-Fast founder S. Daniel Abraham.

The decision has left some analysts scratching their heads. "What Is Wexler Thinking?" asked the Washington Independent's Spencer Ackerman, speculating that perhaps the move is part of some "inside-outside game" by the administration in which the think tank would push Israel toward the negotiating table from the outside while the White House pushed from the inside.

If so, Wexler gave no clue today in a presser, saying only, "We are at a unique and critically tense moment in the history of the Middle East," he said, "with both significant opportunities to succeed in the Arab-Israeli conflict as well as major challenges involving Iran, Hamas, and Al Qaeda." 

The district is a Democratic stronghold, and the Miami Herald is reporting that special election candidates could include Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Ring, who said he was "still in a little bit of shock over all of this," as well as state Sen. Ted Deutch, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter and former Broward County Commissioner Ben Graber.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo credit: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Former Rep. Mark Foley to debut as talk radio host tonight

Yep, it's true. There's no shame in America, only a rehab industry.

Mark Foley, the Florida Republican who left Congress in 2006 amid accusations he sent lurid e-mails to male House pages, is credited with helping to sour the electorate's view of the Grand Old Party in a year when Nancy Pelosi and the Dems swept into power.

In the years since, he's been in real estate investment, contemplating a return to politics.

Tonight, he makes his debut as a radio talk show host. "Inside the Mind of Mark Foley,"  billed by the station as a program that “will expose the inner workings of Washington, D.C.," airs at 6 p.m. EST on WSVU-AM (960) out of North Palm Beach, Fla. It can also be heard at www.seaviewam960.com.

Inside the mind of Mark Foley? Does anyone really want to know?

Apparently the Conservative Republican Alliance does. In an interview, Foley held forth on several issues:

On his sex scandal: “I am solely responsible for the problems I faced in 2006. I took responsibility, I resigned from the job I loved and a career I had built for 30 years. I did not break any laws; however, I owed my constituents, my colleagues and my family a far better standard than I set.”

On returning to politics: “I doubt I will reenter the political arena as an office seeker, but I will use my experience and my voice to help others, to rally for economic sanity, to bring about real reforms on a local, state and even national level.”

On Florida Gov. Charlie Crist winning the Republican primary for Senate: “If anyone thinks this election for U.S. Senate is over, then they better pay attention. We are in a very unique time in America’s political life…. There are no sure bets in politics, and money alone is not the key barometer.”

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Associated Press

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Joe Biden released to give one Florida speech

Today's official vice presidential work schedule encompassed sitting in on one morning presidential briefing and then, come late afternoon, administering a ceremonial oath to another incoming Obama official, the new U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Don Gips.

The VP also was scheduled to have some more of his now famous "meetings," which as usual remain undescribed.

Now comes word that Joe Biden, who has been not so very publicly visible in recent weeks, has been released by the White House to travel all the way down to Florida on Wednesday. He'll give a speech there at an Orlando middle school, highlighting what he sees as positive impacts from last winter's economic recovery act. Biden has been known to sometimes exceed the script. (JB will also squeeze in a fundraiser for a Florida congressman.)

Also assigned to accompany the longtime senator turned vice president is Arne Duncan, another Chicagoan who was tapped to become secretary of Education. But he's already taken his oath.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Getty Images

Mr. Crist coming to Washington?

 

Florida's popular Gov. Charlie Crist made it official today: he's running for the Senate instead of for reelection next year, to replace retiring Republican Mel Martinez.

No sooner had the 52-year-old governor thrown his hat in the ring than Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Jon Cornyn endorsed his candidacy, a sign of GOP desperation to keep the seat in Republicans hands in a Senate where Democrats are already looking at a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority. (Assuming Minnesota's Al Franken ever gets sworn in.)

With Florida tilting Democratic -- Barack Obama carried the state by a 2% margin, the first Democrat to win there since Bill Clinton's second-term victory in 1996 -- Crist's announcement also throws local politics into a tizzy.

For one thing, it gives Democrats their best shot at winning the governor's office since....

Florida's Republican Gov. Charlie Crist stumps with Obama for stimulus

It was an act of bipartisanship.

Or maybe it was an act of keen political savvy.

But whatever the motive, Florida's popular Republican Gov. Charlie Crist -- once on the short list to be Sen. John McCain's vice presidential running mate -- today embraced President Obama's megabillion-dollar stimulus package.

Only moments before McCain voted against the president's stimulus package, which passed on a 61-37 vote, Crist welcomed Obama to Florida and blessed the package.

"This issue, helping our country, is about helping our country," Crist said. "This is not about partisan politics. It's about rising above that, helping America and reigniting our economy."

Obama thanked Crist for the endorsement, saying, "The thing about governors is they understand this economic crisis in a special way. When the town is burning, you don't check party labels. Everybody needs to grab a hose. And that's what Charlie Crist is doing."

Read the president's speech below.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Credit: Getty Images

Is 'Morning Joe' Scarborough running for the Senate?

Is Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show for political junkies, planning to run for U.S. Senate from Florida next year?

Scarborough, who before his media gig was the Republican congressman from Pensacola, has been coy lately about his intentions.

"I haven't closed it off," Scarborough told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune yesterday. "I've been getting some calls from some fundraisers in Florida."

It may be that Scarborough wants to wait and see, like everyone else in Florida politics, whether popular Gov. Charlie Crist is planning to run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez.

But then this morning, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs teased Scarborough about his political aspirations while a guest on his show.

Gibbs: Joe, is it really going to be Sen. Scarborough?

Scarborough: I have to call my brother. Is he running? Yeah, right. Absolutely not.

Co-host Mika Brzezinski: All these people are calling him, asking him to run for Senate in Florida. The phone's ringing off the hook.

Scarborough: Absolutely not.

Gibbs: Mika, all I've got to say is "Morning Mika" has a nice ring to it.

Scarborough: There you go. So anyway. Here's my problem, Robert. I don't really think it would be good to run in 2010 with a party that is actively associating itself with the Taliban.

The last is a reference to comments made by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.), reported here by The Ticket last week, that the House GOP had to adopt the tactics -- if not the motives -- of the Taliban in waging an insurgents' war against Democratic House leaders.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo: MSNBC

President Obama's week ahead: What you'll see and read

A busy week of campaigning in store for the new president as he tries to seize back the initiative in the ongoing national debate over the economic spending, er, economic stimulus package.

The Obamas spent their first night at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland on Saturday and will return late this afternoon.

Monday morning the president will fly to Elkhart, Ind. which just so happens to be hard hit by new unemployment. There, in a noon-hour townhall meeting, he'll talk up his economic stimulus legislation in time for the networks to assemble their film packages for the evening news. Listen for more depressing economic data and talk of urgency.

He'll return to the White House in time for a 5 p.m. Pacific nationally-televised press conference, which will allow him to dominate the Tuesday morning news cycle too.

Tuesday: Same deal, only he flies down to Fort Myers, Florida to highlight the increased unemployment in that politically crucial state. Back to his own bed that night and Wednesday in the Oval Office. Sometime in here soon someone will be told to leak word of the president's latest nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, since Tom "I Had a Back-Tax Problem" Daschle withdrew his name last week.

Thursday, however, Obama will travel again, flying out to Springfield, Ill., to celebrate the 200th birthday of the nation's first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, who wasn't really an Illinois native but try to tell that to Springfield where his history and tomb are a local industry.

(Did you know, btw, robbers actually tried to steal the 16th president's body for ransom in 1876? Look it up. And that explains why after being moved 17 times over the years his remains were permanently encased in 10 feet of concrete in 1901.)

Obama will speak at a Lincoln banquet Thursday in the suddenly Blagojevich-less city where the 44th president once was present in the state legislature. In that same city, Obama launched his hopelessly longshot presidential campaign almost exactly two years ago after disinviting at the last minute someone named Jeremiah Wright from giving the campaign's opening invocation.

Back home again for the night. On Friday after work, as the president-elect indicated he would do every six weeks or so, he will pick up the family. And the Hawaiian native will take them back to their South Side home in balmy Chicago to get away from the awful Washington winter for the long holiday weekend.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Related items:

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Dramatic tapes of Hilda Solis-White House emergency radio chatter

What now for Michael Steele's Republican Party?

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Photo credit: Associated Press 

Barack Obama's money machine: Now he's selling orange juice!

We've written here before about the compulsion of Barack Obama's campaign and transition team and inauguration team to send out e-mails seemingly every day pleading for more money and more money, even weeks after he won the whole national election.

It's called donor fatigue.

Now, less than a week before his presidential inauguration to move into the White House with his family and mother-in-law, Obama has been exposed by the funny folks over at TMZ.com as someone using the presidency to sell orange juice with his daughter, Malia. They're even taking a vote over there.

Of all things.

And he didn't even win the Florida primary.

What's next? Burger King on the South Lawn?

Seriously, whaddya think? Is this for real? Or just real exploitative?

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: TMZ.com