Nevada's Congressional Delegation a Disgrace - Primary Challenge for Berkley?

Yesterday, Congress caved in to Bush's demands and passed a war funding bill without any timetables for withdrawal from Iraq. As a little Swiss newspaper puts it: "Capitulation of the Democrats."

In the end the House passed the bill 280-142 with 86 Democrats voting for the bill and 140 against. The Senate passed Bush's war funding by an even wider margin with 80-14. Here the majority of Democrats supported the bill, with 11 Democrats voting against (including Sen. Sanders) and 36 caving to Bush (not counting Lieberman).

Now, here comes the best: every member of Nevada's congressional delegation voted for the bill and essentially against a timetable of getting out of Iraq. You'd expect this from Sen. Ensign, Rep. Porter, and Rep. Heller as they're all Republicans. But to have two Democrats, Sen. Reid and Rep. Berkley, representing Nevada who voted against ending the war is not only a disappointment but a disgrace.

Especially, when you consider that the majority of Americans want a timetable according to the latest CBS/New York Post poll (pdf!):

Do you think the United States should or should not set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq sometime in 2008?

Should 63%
Should not 34%

And this is not just Democrats and Independents (61-34) talking here. Already, 42% of Republicans want a timetable. I'm dumbfounded to think that Reid and Berkley don't get this.

There's been talk in the blogosphere of targeting some of these Democrats, like Berkley, in primaries next time around.

That Berkley's increasingly in trouble becomes apparent in this take from MSNBC:

Will anti-war activists force Democratic incumbents to spend money to defend themselves in primaries next year — or could the party actually get stronger candidates as a result of contested primaries?

[...]

Five-term veteran Shelley Berkley, who represents Las Vegas and environs, said Thursday afternoon, “My district is pretty evenly divided. I haven’t done polling, but according to other polls it’s apparent that more than 50 percent now oppose the Iraq war in my district or in Nevada.”

So her vote for the additional finding will go against the wishes of the majority of her constituents, but she explained, “I’m on record as saying I’m not going to leave the troops stranded. As angry and dismayed as I am with the Bush administration having created a debacle, I’m not going to take it out on the troops.”

She predicted, “By September, there will be enough Republicans who will have expressed their concern to the president; it will be a bipartisan effort to moderate his position.”

She also forecast that “as we get closer to election time, more and more Republicans will see that Mr. Bush is not on the ballot, they are.”

And what about the potential threat of a Democratic primary challenger against her? “I don’t foresee that happening. I’ve been very candid about my position.”

She recalled, “I was in anti-Vietnam war protests in college.” She said the U.S. exit from Iraq, when it happens, “will be much more complex than the helicopter on the roof of the embassy” – a reference to the Saigon evacuation in 1975. “This is very complex. It is so much more complex than just ‘get out tomorrow.’”

“As we get closer to election time, more and more Republicans will see that Mr. Bush is not on the ballot, they are.” Oh, this is just hillarious! Maybe Rep. Berkley should realize she'll be on the ballot as well. I have my doubts if a primary challenge will work against the Democratic Party machinery but a serious challenger would undoubtedly have support from the netroots.

Shelley Berkley should seriously reconsider her voting pattern regarding the war (among other things).

Harry Reid's "the New Sheriff in Town"

The Bush administration has proven time and again its contempt for Congress, most openly by misusing recess appointments (like in the case of U.N. Ambassador John Bolton). Senator Reid apparently wants to end this practise, which is wise considering that Bush might replace Gonzales by using another recess appointment in August. Here's the scoop:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a little trick up his sleeve that could spell an end to President Bush's devilish recess appointments of controversial figures like former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton. We hear that over the long August vacation, when those types of summer hires are made, Reid will call the Senate into session just long enough to force the prez to send his nominees who need confirmation to the chamber. The talk is he will hold a quickie "pro forma" session every 10 days, tapping a local senator to run the hall. Senate workers and Republicans are miffed, but Reid is proving that he's the new sheriff in town.

There is an interesting discussion in the comments thread over at Daily Kos whether this will actually work but you have to give Reid credit for trying by bringing some much needed Nevada values to Washington.

Joe Lieberman Still a Democrat - According to Harry Reid

Joe Lieberman is still a Democrat. That is, if you believe the website of Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid:

Now, according to Joe Lieberman himself that is not the case. Here's what he has to say on his official Senate website:

In 2006, Senator Lieberman was elected to a fourth term as an Independent, because of the strength of his record and his accomplishments for the state. He won the general election by more than 100,000 votes. He remains committed to caucusing with Senate Democrats, but will be identified as an Independent Democrat (ID-CT).

You heard the man. He's an Independent using the term "Independent Democrat" for official purposes. Now, why doesn't Harry Reid get it? Why still identify the man who defected from the Democratic Party and ignored the will of Democratic Connecticut primary voters as a member of this party? Just an oversight? I don't think so. Just look at this screenshot:

Notice something? Bernie Sanders is missing. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is apparently not part of the Democratic majority, while Joe Lieberman is. As Barbara Boxer recently noticed: "Elections have consequences" Joe Lieberman defected the Democratic Party. That should have consequences. When you list Joe Lieberman as a "member" than identify him correctly and include Bernie Sanders. Otherwise just drop him from the list. Joe's not a Democrat anymore.

"Open Congress" Launched

After Congresspedia, the Sunlight Foundation has launched another great tool: Open Congress

Open Congress is an awesome tool for anyone interested in what goes on in Congress. Here you can actually learn more about bills, members of Congress, committees, etc.

You can find out that Dean Heller actually voted 'Aye' on a resolution to support "the goals of International Women's Day", that Dianne Feinstein is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, that the top contributor to both Harry Reid and John Ensign is MGM Mirage, that Barbara Boxer recently sponsored a "bill to provide all low-income students with the same opportunity to receive a Pell Grant by suspending the tuition sensitivity provision in the Pell Grant program", and that John Doolittle most often votes with Rep. Jean "Mean" Schmidt of Ohio.

This is an awesome tool, try it.

How Shelley Berkley Got Her Appropriations Committee Seat

God may work in mysterious ways. Congress not so much. As Josephine Hearn of The Politico puts it in her article: "How to Advance in Congress: Networking. Luck. And Money Doesn't Hurt."

The article chronicles nine Representatives and how they got (or lost) prescious committee assignment. One of the the lucky was Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley:

Friends in the Highest Places: Shelley Berkley

The Nevada Democrat was another member hankering for a Ways and Means seat. And like Pascrell, she'd been waiting a long time. "I expressed interest a year before I was elected in 1997," she said.

Berkley voiced her preference to Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), then the House minority leader, who assured her she would get it. But when Gephardt retired and was succeeded by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Berkley was back at square one when she made clear she would not honor Gephardt's promises.

Repeatedly, Berkley reiterated her interest, but she watched as openings went to other members, including three others who came to Congress the same year she did.

This time, though, she had a friend in the highest of places. Fellow Nevadan Harry Reid, the new Senate majority leader, made a pivotal call to Pelosi on Berkley's behalf

Berkley got the seat. Soon after, she held a breakfast for Reid at her Capitol Hill home, at one point choking up when she noted that it took her "eight years and a phone call" to get on the panel.

"I felt like it was time," Berkley said.

As among the lucky few were a significant number of freshmen, who in some instances even got sub-committee chairmanships, one is left to ponder Jill Derby's fate would she have been elected. Unfortunately, the people in the second district chose a man who will wield little influence in the minority over a woman who could have been a high stakes power broker for her constituents in DC.

You can read the entire article at The Politico.

John Ensign Rather Golfs Than Debate The War

Every cynical blogger in Nevada guessed that John Ensign was probably out golfing when he missed the vote on the Iraq war debate last Saturday. Call us cynical no more:

A spokesman for Ensign confirmed Tuesday that he played golf with his son in Nevada rather than attend the weekend session called by Senate Democrats. Ensign criticized the vote as nothing more than "political posturing" that he had no interest in joining.

Want a comment from a political science professor?

"The irony here is in the past he's been criticized for playing too much golf and having a good tan," Herzik said. "But if you're going to criticize - 'You're out on the golf course instead of the floor of the Senate for this historic vote' - he'll say, 'What historic vote? It was a sham.'

"His position is valid. Whether or not it's popular, that's another question," Herzik said.

What Lisa Mascaro forgot to mention in her article, although it's pretty apparent, is that Herzik is a Republican. One who obviously doesn't have much respect for the political instutions of this land, for the people of Nevada or for the troops.

To top it all off, here's Harry Reid's response:

In Carson City on Tuesday, Reid himself said: "Maybe you haven't heard about our pact?" It was a reference to an agreement he and Ensign have to not criticize each other publicly.

Good Lord!

Reid Has No Regrets About Iraq Vote, Has Flawed Reasoning

Harry Reid isn't running for President. That might be one reason why he doesn't see the point in regretting his vote for the Iraq war resolution as Hillary Clinton is the only presidential contender who doesn't regret her vote and instead blames it all on Bush.

Essentially, they're both taking the easy way out. Whenever Hillary talks about her vote she sounds as insincere as can be. You think it would be impossible that anyone could do a worse job? Guess again:

As he prepares to lead Senate Democrats in the debate on President Bush's Iraq policy, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada says he has no second thoughts about his vote in 2002 authorizing the president to go to war.

"The evidence at the time was persuasive -- especially if you go back and look and see what Secretary of State Colin Powell did at the United Nations," Reid said Tuesday.

"We've learned since then that the evidence was manipulated," he said. "So the answer is no. I'm not going to apologize."

Either Sen. Reid's memory is really, really bad or he's just being smug and insincere as his reasoning is totally off. The Review Journal points this out, unfortunately only several paragraphs later:

Reid insists his 2002 vote was based on "inaccurate information" propounded by the Bush administration.

On Feb. 5, 2003 -- four months after the Senate vote -- Powell delivered a speech at the United Nations accusing Iraq of harboring chemical weapons.

Powell has since called that speech a "blot" on his record.

Basically, former Secretary of State Powell is more distressed about enabling the President to go to war than Sen. Reid. This is - to put it mildly - unfortunate.

Unfortunate is also Sen. Reid's disdain for the people of Nevada:

"My caucus accepted it, and the people in the state of Nevada have not raised that as an issue," Reid said.

I find it hard to believe that not a soul in Nevada has "raised that as an issue" with the Senator. There just must have been at least one lone peace activist in Nevada who must have gotten in Reid's face about his vote.

Therefore, the Senator is pretty lucky that he's not even thinking about running for President. Cause he would not survive. The netroots are already pretty harsh on Hillary who has basically stated that if people don't like her stance vote for someone else. Kos has replied to Hillary in no uncertain terms. It remains to be seen if he will do the same with Sen. Reid or if there is some sort of double standard.

As for Sen. Reid. It's a pity that he will probably not be forced to defend his vote like Hillary has been forced to do recently. He's pretty sure of himself and his position in the Nevada Democratic Party. Unfortunately, both for the Democratic Party and for the people of Nevada, I think he has no need to worry. There is no primary challenger in sight. That of course might change, as he's not up for re-election until 2010.

PS: Coincidentally, Harry Reid's son, Rory Reid, was hired by Hillary Clinton as her Nevada campaign manager.

Read another opinion on Reid's Iraq vote at the Las Vegas Gleaner.

Say Hello to Gov. Krolicki

The biggest flunk ever to be elected governor of the Silver State may actually not be governor at all. According to what's been reported around the buzzing Nevada blogosphere this state may not even have a governor right now.

Before I go on, read the full run down on Vote Gibbons Out.

So, technically, Gibbons would have to be removed. Lt. Gov. Krolicki (R) would then take over as Governor and a new election would possibly have to be called.

Here things would become really interesting. Would Gibbons run again? Would it be too embarrassing? Would his wife run? Would Krolicki want to keep the new job? Who would the Democrats nominate? "Dina-Might"? Speaker Buckley? Anyone else?

Will any of this ever happen? Probably not. The establishment will see to that and I doubt that Harry would like to see his Caucus disturbed in any way.

John Ensign To Be The New Liddy Dole - Republicans Hand The Senate To Dems In 08

It's official, the ensignificant Senator from Nevada will be the new head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee which is responsible for recruiting and supporting Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate. This election cycle Liddy Dole was responible for that and you know how that turned out - can you say Majority Leader Reid?

Anyhow, things are gonna get much worse this time around. The Hair-do, as Ensign is known in Nevada, hasn't gotten much attention in the national press yet, cause, well, he hasn't done anything. He's been golfing under the radar. I'm pretty sure nothing much will change as he's only the face of the operation and surely, Republicans must have some qualified guys running the NRSC.

Or not:

Ensign said his chief of staff, Scott Bensing, would serve as NRSC executive director, political consultant Mike Slanker would be political director and Slanker's wife and business partner, Lindsey, would be NRSC finance director. The pair run Nevada-based November Inc., which does political consulting for many Nevada GOP candidates.

This oughta be fun. So, some Nevadan political consultant and his wife will run the show? Geez, what's the plan here? Give Democrats another ten seats in the Senate next cycle?

Kenny Guinn For Vice President?

My sleeping habits have been totally screwed up this week. After election night I went to bed at 8am CET, today I actually got up at that time. Doing things like that to your body (and your mind) doesn't go unnoticed.

So I had another one of my crazy-insomnia-ideas. Here it goes:

• According to Woodward, Cheney said that if Rummy goes he'll be next.
• So Cheney either resigns for health reasons, or he'll be impeached and resign for healt reasons or he's so addicted to power that he'll have to be dragged out of office.
• Next, Bush is forced to appoint a successor if he doesn't want Nancy Pelosi a heartbeat (or an impeachment hearing) away from the President for too long.
• Bush will need a very special replacement. Someone who is kinda dull, preferably unknown, yet still qualified, who no one really hates, who won't even consider running for Pres in 08 to avoid angering the scattered GOP presidential field that is left and who will make it through confirmation hearings in a Democratic House and Senate.
• That's where Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn comes in.
• Guinn basically meets above requirements. Plus: Dems won't hate a guy who kinda refused to endorse and campaign for the Republican nominee (and who is now his elected successor) and who's son contributed to the Democratic candidate.
• There have already been rumours Kenny might get a position in the White House after he leaves office as NV Gov.
  
• Harry Reid's Majority Leader. When's the next time a Nevadan could become Vice President? The closest any Nevadan before has ever come to power in the White House was poor Pat Nixon (so wonderfully played by Joan Allen).
• Meet the next Vice President of the United States: Kenny Guinn!

Yup, that's how screwed up my mind gets when I'm sleep deprived... your thoughts?