SSP Daily Digest: 3/26 (Morning Edition)

  • GA-Sen: Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson was released from the hospital after being treated for a bacterial infection and dehydration. Sounds like he’s okay, but he’ll be out of commission for at least a week.
  • MI-Gov, MI-09: Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard is batting down rumors that he may switch races from Michigan’s gubernatorial race to a run against Democratic frosh Rep. Gary Peters. The NRCC apparently denies that they’re wooing Bouchard, and his campaign manager adds: “Mike is committed to running for governor. He’s not considering that congressional seat or any other race.” (JL)
  • GA-12: In yesterday’s digest, we mentioned the increasing heat that Dem Rep. John Barrow was facing from back home over his vote against healthcare reform. It looks like some of that discontent may spill over into the form of a legitimate primary challenge. (No, ex-state Sen. Regina Thomas, lover of hats, does not qualify as a serious threat.) Current state Sen. Lester Jackson, who lobbied Barrow heavily on the HCR vote, says that he finds the prospect of a primary challenge against Barrow to be “appealing”, and state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond is another name being batted around by Georgia Democrats eager to give this out-of-whack incumbent the boot. (JL)
  • MD-01: Businessman Rob Fisher, a “cyber-security firm” owner, has announced that he’ll take on state Sen. Andy Harris in the GOP primary to face Dem Rep. Frank Kratovil. (JL)
  • PA-06: Doug Pike has asked J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, to remove his name from their list of endorsees and also says he’ll return $6,000 the group raised for him.
  • WA-08: GOP Rep. Dave Reichert is in the hospital for treatment of a chronic subdural hematoma. His office says the procedure was successful and that he’ll be discharged in a few days. Jwaalk has more here.
  • VA-05: Terry McAuliffe just did a solid for a fellow Virginian: He sent out an email blast soliciting funds for Rep. Tom Perriello, specifically citing his pro-healthcare vote (and the fact that he’s now in Sarah Palin’s “crosshairs”). I’m told that T-Mac’s list contains over 75K names, which is pretty monster.
  • Census: The good news: Several lawmakers are planning ahead – way ahead – to ensure that the 2020 Census isn’t plagued by the problems that have affected the 2010 Census. The bad news: Tom Coburn is involved. WTF?
  • Healthcare: The hullabaloo over the winger AG lawsuits against the healthcare reform bill just gets dumber and dumber. Wisconsin’s Republican attorney general, J.B. Van Hollen, apparently had to seek permission from the governor to file suit against the bill – and got smacked down hard by Dem Jim Doyle. On the flipside, moron Gov. Jim Gibbons of Nevada is berating his Democratic AG, Catherine Cortez Masto, for not jumping into the fray. Gibbons has been demanding an analysis of the constitutionality of the new law from Masto, sneering that it’s a task worthy of a “second-year law school” student. No shit, Jimbo – the answer is “shut up.”
  • White House: Again, not news – WH Press Sec’y Bob Gibbs said that the White House will treat all Dems equally in terms of helping them this fall, whether they voted in favor of healthcare reform or against it. No kidding. What else is the president’s political team supposed to say?

    • 71 thoughts on “SSP Daily Digest: 3/26 (Morning Edition)”

    4. So I don’t see him as a serious challenge to Barrow unfortunately. Lester Jackson is probably the best bet to challenge Barrow.

    5. A little truth in advertising please. If J-Street is so pro Israel why have so many Arab and Muslim Americans and Iranian advocacy organizations so much money to then.

      The reality is that on many important issues J-Street is advocating AGAINST the interest of Israel. That’s why so many in Israel and the Jewish community feel J Street is a wolf in sheeps clothing.

      So please don’t insult us by referring to it as a pro-Israel group. It is NOT and good for Doug Pike for distancing himself from them and taking a PRO-Israel stance!

    6. A little factoid.  Jackson was Thomas’ successor in the State Senate.  I wonder if they may do a switcheroo: he primaries Barrow, she gets her old seat back.

    7. It’s constitutional.  The lawsuit is a waste of money and nothing more than political grandstanding by members of your party.

      Sincerely,

      A Second-Year Law Student

    8. A little off topic, but I’m amazed at how well the caucus held up during recon.  Only nelson (duh) Blanche and Pryor voted against the final bill.  Nelson’s nelson, lincoln’s trying to win and pryor doesn’t want to end up like lincoln in 2014.  hats off to those who voted, but i wonder if it’ll hurt some sens like tester, mcCaskill or webb come 2012, or begich in 2014?

    10. Any Oklahoma resident who is eligible better file to run against Coburn.  He ought to at least answer to the voters for his insanity on a host of issues.  What if we find out that Coburn  was more directly involved in the Ensign scandal than previously thought.    

    12. If this trend is confirmed by other polling and continues, it could be highly significant:


      Three weeks ago, 40 percent of Democrats were likely or definitely going to vote, compared to 51 percent of Republicans — an 11 point “intensity gap”. Two weeks ago, as the battle for health care reform heated up, and GOP obstructionism came in full view, the numbers were 45 percent for Democrats, 56 percent for Republicans — both sides equally riled up.

      This week, the numbers are 55 percent for Democrats, 62 percent for Republicans. While both sides saw big spikes in their numbers, Democrats were particularly energized, with that intensity gap narrowing from 11 points to a far more manageable seven.[…]

      I think a lot of us predicted that actual passage of a health care bill would make Democratic voters somewhat more enthusiastic. This seems to be confirmation of that prediction. But I still say that the most important thing would be an improved economic situation and outlook for more people.

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