Republicans lose two senators in as many days, but they can count on Rove to spin it into a victory
It took Larry Craig five days to bow to public pressure. Republicans kept piling on. Huckabee called on him to resign, and the Idaho Gov had no kind words. And Craig announced early this afternoon that he is resigning effective September 30th: "The people of Idaho deserve a senator who can devote 100 percent of his time and effort to the critical issues of our state and of our nation. Therefore it is with sadness and deep regret that I announce that it is my intent to resign from the Senate, effective September 30th." But Craig maintained his innocence: "We'll fight this like hell." I have already expressed dismay ah the hypocrisy of a party that forces one member embroiled in a sex scandal out in 5 days, while another who confesses to adultery with prostitutes suffers no political consequences - so I will not delve further into that.
What happens next? The governor - Otter - gets to appoint a replacement. His main options are well known: Lieutenant Governor Risch, who appears to be the establishment favorite but who is said to have an awful relationship with Otter, and Congressman Simpson, who is deemed a weaker general election candidate. Democrat Larry LaRocco who was already running against Craig is waiting to know who he will end up facing in the general election. Naturally, the Idaho situation will resemble the one in Wyoming for late Senator Thomas's seat: the GOP got to appoint a replacement, and the incumbent will be heavely favored to win re-election come November 2008. Democrats will have a very tough time putting either Idaho or Wyoming in play, but you can't blame them for trying.
A last note on Idaho - Does anyone remember how tight the Idaho Governor's race was last fall? Otter ended up winning 52-44, but a tracking poll in the state in the last week of the campaign had the Democrats and the GOP in a too close to call dogfight, with Otter pulling ahead only in the final days of the campaign. If the Democrat had won in November, he would have gotten to appoint a Democratic Senator today... Though it is worth wondering whether the GOP would have turned against Craig in the same way if they were facing the prospect of losing the seat.
The other open GOP seat is, of course, Virginia. The big question now is what Mark Warner decides to do. Thankfully, he does not seem intent on keeping us guessing to long. He called a press conference yesterday to praise John Warner ("Today is about JohnNotMark") but said he would announce his decision in the next week or two. He said, "My family and I will talk about it now. We have talked about it already." On the GOP side, an aide for Rep. Davis was quoted as saying, "He is running." This race is moving fast now.
Week-ends are often quiet, so here is something you could read if you really really need your political fix on a Saturday afternoon: Karl Rove's essay in the National Review. Warning this is not for the faint of heart... "How might history view the 43rd president?" he asks, and his answer is hardly surprising. "President Bush will be viewed as a far-sighted leader who confronted the key test of the 21st century."
Nothing unexpected in the essay, just a long list of what Rove regards as Bush's many accomplishments. "A man of moral clarity who put America on wartime footing in the dangerous struggle against radical Islamic terrorism." "A compassionate leader who used America’s power for good." A promoter "of economic growth [who] understands free markets provide the best path to a more hopeful tomorrow." "a reformer who focused on modernizing important institutions." "An innovative conservative thinker with a positive, optimistic agenda for action." And a "strong advocate of traditional values."
It all reads like a big joke, until you realize Rove is entirely serious. At that point you realize how tragic this is.
What happens next? The governor - Otter - gets to appoint a replacement. His main options are well known: Lieutenant Governor Risch, who appears to be the establishment favorite but who is said to have an awful relationship with Otter, and Congressman Simpson, who is deemed a weaker general election candidate. Democrat Larry LaRocco who was already running against Craig is waiting to know who he will end up facing in the general election. Naturally, the Idaho situation will resemble the one in Wyoming for late Senator Thomas's seat: the GOP got to appoint a replacement, and the incumbent will be heavely favored to win re-election come November 2008. Democrats will have a very tough time putting either Idaho or Wyoming in play, but you can't blame them for trying.
A last note on Idaho - Does anyone remember how tight the Idaho Governor's race was last fall? Otter ended up winning 52-44, but a tracking poll in the state in the last week of the campaign had the Democrats and the GOP in a too close to call dogfight, with Otter pulling ahead only in the final days of the campaign. If the Democrat had won in November, he would have gotten to appoint a Democratic Senator today... Though it is worth wondering whether the GOP would have turned against Craig in the same way if they were facing the prospect of losing the seat.
The other open GOP seat is, of course, Virginia. The big question now is what Mark Warner decides to do. Thankfully, he does not seem intent on keeping us guessing to long. He called a press conference yesterday to praise John Warner ("Today is about JohnNotMark") but said he would announce his decision in the next week or two. He said, "My family and I will talk about it now. We have talked about it already." On the GOP side, an aide for Rep. Davis was quoted as saying, "He is running." This race is moving fast now.
Week-ends are often quiet, so here is something you could read if you really really need your political fix on a Saturday afternoon: Karl Rove's essay in the National Review. Warning this is not for the faint of heart... "How might history view the 43rd president?" he asks, and his answer is hardly surprising. "President Bush will be viewed as a far-sighted leader who confronted the key test of the 21st century."
Nothing unexpected in the essay, just a long list of what Rove regards as Bush's many accomplishments. "A man of moral clarity who put America on wartime footing in the dangerous struggle against radical Islamic terrorism." "A compassionate leader who used America’s power for good." A promoter "of economic growth [who] understands free markets provide the best path to a more hopeful tomorrow." "a reformer who focused on modernizing important institutions." "An innovative conservative thinker with a positive, optimistic agenda for action." And a "strong advocate of traditional values."
It all reads like a big joke, until you realize Rove is entirely serious. At that point you realize how tragic this is.
posted by Taniel at
12:06 PM
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