Dennis Kucinich Correct To Not Attend Closed Session Of Congress

Something does not smell right over the closed session of Congress tonight, as the members talk over controversial electronic surveillance legislation. If the Democrats cave in to the President on this issue, who will be so silly as to give more money to the House Democrats this fall?  How would even Howard Dean spin that House fiasco into a silk purse?

To his credit, Representative Kucinich, and a few other members made it known they would not attend the session.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said debating such an important issue behind closed doors “raises questions about the constitution of the U.S.” arguing that the House floor is “the citadel of free speech” and should not be closed to public view. Kucinich said he would not be attending the session.

House Republicans called for the session—which will be closed to the media and all but the highest level staff–to discuss classified information relating to an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Democratic leaders agreed to go along with the session earlier in the day.

Congress has been deadlocked for weeks over the measure, arguing over whether or not to grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies who aided the government in the wiretapping program after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Republicans have argued that if members are able to learn more about the program, they will grant the immunity to the telecoms.

It is just the sixth closed session in House history and the first since 1983 when the chamber discussed aid to Nicaragua. 

Prior to the closed session, several Democrats took to the House floor to express their disappointment with the decision.

“I smell something, and I don’t like being manipulated,” said Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.).

Technorati Tags: DennisKucinich, FISA, Congress, Republicans

The Way Election Returns Used To Be Watched

The 79-year-old man sitting alongside me on Tuesday night at our election gathering leaned over at one point as the returns for New Hampshire were coming in and said, “This is the way it used to be.”  Knowing what he meant I grinned, and told him I much agreed. 

There was a time before precision polling told us how we would vote before we ever cast a ballot, or exit polling had broken down the winners and losers along with the reasons why within minutes of a state closing their polls, that watching election returns after a hotly contested political battle was loads of fun.  People would speculate and wonder all through election day, but if was not until the balloting ended, and the slow counting process started, that any true sign of the end result would be known.  There was an air of mystery and tension that was great fun for the political junkie and average voter alike.

So it was remarkable political theater on Tuesday night when every poll prior to the New Hampshire primary, along with every exit poll conducted, and every campaign’s internal calculations were all turned upside down.  Every assumption of the brightest and most capable political reporter and pundit was wrong.  Every brave person who penned a prediction about the outcome, felt as inconsequential to the process as the top campaign manager for any top-tier candidate.  No one knew what would ultimately happen in the Democratic primary for several tense hours. 

It was as if we all stepped back in time for a bit.  I wonder how many thought about a time not so long ago when all elections were so marvelous to watch unfold? 

Even with the computer models of the areas in New Hampshire where votes had not yet been counted, there were still unknown possibilities that made the evening longer.  Even the political anchors of the all news channels were having nostalgic feelings of the energy and real excitement of how elections once were covered.  They were as anxious to know the outcome as the audience that was watching.  And no one knew anymore than the other for much of the evening.

After the winner was eventually announced, and the final speech was made, the pundits and reporters started a process that will take days to conclude.  Exactly what happened to the voters in the final 36 hours of the campaign, and what did the candidates do or say that produced such a stunning end to a hard fought primary?  I am as eager as any to better understand the answers.

But I will be among the first to say I am glad that whatever took place in the minds of the voters did happen.  And not for any political reason either.  I am glad that we all had a chance to sit and watch an election play out for a few hours with nothing to guide us but the actions of those who took the time to care enough to cast a ballot.  For a while every American was connected to the same incredible drama unfolding in the nation.  We do not have enough of those shared moments as a people. 

It might seem corny and old-fashioned, but is also felt good.  And it was fun!

Technorati Tags: Election08, NewHampshirePrimary, Pundits, Media,

New Hampshire Primary Predictions…John McCain’s Mojo On The Move?

I am not the only one who finds Mitt Romney a fraud and contrived in his race for the White House.  All of his fellow GOP presidential contenders feel the same way.  After the Saturday night debate on ABC it is clear how the folks who have had to compete with him feel.  OUCH!   The voters are also weighing in on the slickness and flip-flopping on every issue he talks about, and find there is no firewall that Romney has as his final set of principles.  His only position that does not change is his conviction about his Mormon faith, and that is not of interest to most Americans.  After all, the issue is not if Mitt Romney gets his own planet to rule after death, it is about who can govern best starting in 2009. 

John McCain has retooled his campaign after the summer of angst in 2007 that almost ended his final run for the White House.  But in the climate where the GOP search is on for a real possible winner for the Republicans in November 2008, the Arizona Republican is looking better and better.  The poll numbers for his efforts are paying off, and McCain’s mojo has returned.

On December 19, 2007 I wrote the following.

John McCain has one shot to reclaim his position in the GOP.  That is in New Hampshire.  If he can win a convincing number of voters to his campaign he can march onwards and still be the nominee in 2008.  I still think he has the greatest chance with the independents of New Hampshire even though they are very anti-war.

I think the huge question is which primary contest does the independent voters in New Hampshire take their votes.  If they find the Barack Obama race with Hillary Clinton more appealing McCain will suffer.  I think however there is plenty of independent support to lift McCain over the top.

Therefore I predict the final results for the New Hampshire Republican Primary.  I give only three percentages.

John McCain   36%

Mitt Romney 29%

Rudy Giuliani

Ron Paul  11%

Fred Thompson

Mike Huckabee

I think that Hillary Clinton shows some progress in her campaign style by starting to actually fight for the nomination.  No one wants to see a candidate take the primary process for granted, or have a candidate feel that the nomination is deserved.  So the steel that she demonstrated during the Saturday night debate is not all bad, in spite of what many pundits are saying.  But I feel that she is in trouble for being the insider candidate in a time when the public mood seems to be in favor of a total reversal of the Bush years.  Too many feel that she is more inclined to political deals than reversing the policies that need changing.  From a strategic point of view she has had no time to change tactics to the degree required after the Iowa caucuses in order to win in New Hampshire.  (I repeat from past posts that I still predict she wins the nomination.)

My bold prediction is that John Edwards makes a stronger showing than the polls show in New Hampshire.  Edwards had a dynamic and powerful debate performance on Saturday night.  While I do not think debates are that significant in general to a primary, there is such huge coverage and national interest that he gets extra mileage from it.   His grittiness will hit a mark in New Hampshire.  And he needs it.  If he does not come in second place I do not see how his campaign endures in a real way.

My predictions for the Democratic New Hampshire primary are as follows.  I give only two percentages.

Barack Obama  36%

John Edwards

Hillary Clinton

Bill Richardson 4%

Dennis Kucinich (gasp)

Technorati Tags: NewHampshirePrimary, Election08, JohnMcCain, MittRomney, FredThompson, RonPaul, RudyGiuliani, MikeHuckabee, BarackObama, JohnEdwards, HillaryClinton, BillRichardson, DennisKucinich

Obey Tells Kucinich What Needs To Be Said

Congressman Dave Obey is smart and capable.  As a critic of the Iraq War, and Chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee he is crafting spending legislation for the war.  His many years in Washington make him the right person for the job today. On the other hand readers might know that while I think Congressman Dennis Kucinich who is running for president is an interesting fellow, he can be a bit tone deaf to the real political world that most of Congress lives in.  We are all against President Bush’s war but must find workable ways to end it.

With that said, the rest is here.  And written with style and verve by the best political site on the internet, The Politico.

Technorati Tags: DaveObey, DennisKucinich, IraqWar, Election08