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GOP Starts ‘Security September’ Campaign Today – Control of Congress in November All But Assured

Jon Ponder
“From homeland security to national security to border security, House Republicans will focus first and foremost on addressing the safety and security needs of the American people throughout the month of September.”
— House Majority Leader John Boehner

Be afraid: Despite an increasing number of reports of polls indicating that the Democrats could take back the House and Senate on November 7, we all know that the likelihood that Republicans will lose control of either body is extremely remote.

We have seen that the GOP will lie, cheat and steal to win an election. The stakes could not be higher this year. If the Dems take either house, they will quickly catch up on the proctological oversight of the administration that the Republican majority has let slide. If the Dems take both houses, Bush will only have the courts he has packed with rightwingers to protect him and his cronies.

Over the past five years, Republicans have instilled a fear of terrorists into the American “psyche,” as Pres. Bush calls it. He and his message team — Cheney and Rumsfeld, primarily — use fear in the public mind like a lever to manipulate voters to do their will.

When things go wrong, as appears to be the case now, Republicans play the “terror card” and the public snaps to.Predictably, then, the GOP is launching its fall election campaign theme for this year on the day after Labor Day:

With GOP control of the House and Senate hanging in the balance in the November midterm elections, Republican leaders want to use the monthlong session that begins today when Congress reconvenes to press what has traditionally been their biggest advantage over Democrats: national security.

House Majority Leader John A. Boehner issued a statement last week emphasizing the theme Republicans plan to hammer. In fact, he reminded voters four times in one sentence.

“From homeland security to national security to border security, House Republicans will focus first and foremost on addressing the safety and security needs of the American people throughout the month of September,” Boehner said.

What sort of leader deploys campaigns to ratchet up fear in order to manipulate and intimidate his citizens? What sort of regime needs a pliant media to reinforce the myth that it is trustworthy and competent?

What we need now is a leader who can credibly remind us, as FDR assured Americans during the Great Depression, that fear only serves to weaken us — that the American tradition is to stand tall even as bombs are exploding, to take out our enemies fair and square and to be benevolent to our enemies in defeat.

Where can we find a leader like that?

Maybe It Sounds More Convincing in Spanish

Buck Banks

Radio free Hialeah: Katherine Harris took her campaign for the U.S. Senate to the Miami Hispanic community over the weekend. She even aired a new Spanish-language commercial on local radio. Who knew she has so many Spanish Republican supporters? Here’s a translation, courtesy the Palm Beach Post:

NARRATOR: Attention Republicans! Next Tuesday, we can move one step closer to electing our second Republican United States Senator in Florida.

Katherine Harris is a gutsy woman who’s fought for Republican values during her entire life and won.

Katherine Harris is a leader, hard-working and believes in family values, but most of all she is loyal. And that is why the following Republican leaders have endorsed her. Senator Mel Martinez, Congresswoman Illeana Ros-Lehtinen, Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, the United States’ first Cuban-American House Speaker Marco Rubio, and many other Republican officials.

Katherine Harris is the true Republican candidate who has always been loyal to our community, our state, our president, George W. Bush, and our Republican values.

Katherine Harris with #11 on the ballot!

This advertisement is paid for by Friends of Katherine Harris. I am Katherine Harris and I approve this message.

Jeb Slammed By Righteous Florida Senator

Trish

Update: Villalobos won!

In Florida’s meanest and most expensive state Senate race, Miami Sen. Alex Villalobos was reelected Tuesday night, overcoming the millions spent by third-party attack groups and the ire of Gov. Jeb Bush, who helped run a candidate against the moderate Republican.

I have a new hero and she’s a Republican.

Florida State Sen. Nancy Argenziano has never been accused of hiding her feelings, but a masterpiece scathing email she sent about Jeb Bush last week is too fun not to share.

“The Governor has a history reflecting accommodation of special interests as evidenced by his agencies’ contracts, and his flexible Republicanism is at odds with both America and actual Republican principles. In his heart of hearts, the Governor prefers dictatorship to democracy.”

First, a little background. Fellow Republican Florida Sen. Alex Villalobos was in the queue to be the Senate majority leader until he parted ways with Big Boy on two initiatives the Florida governor has refused to abandon, despite being overruled by the people of Florida and the state supreme court: lowering class sizes (duh) and furnishing vouchers to public school students for private school tuition (no way).

After Villalobos, who would have been the first Cuban-American to lead the Florida senate, sided with his constituents over Jeb, he found himself the subject of a Jeb-led coup. And as Michael Schiavo could tell you, there is no pettier or more vindictive bully than a pissed-off Jeb Bush.

But Nancy’s on the case. When Jeb sent a fundraising letter to state legislators on behalf of Villalobos’ opponent, Frank Bolanos, Argenziano had enough. She emailed back, and cc’d her missive to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Full text:

Mr. Bolanos:

You are grossly in error in presuming to send me this garbage, especially through my legislative e-mail.

[…]

Florida Cliff Hanger: Final Candidates to Replace Jeb to be Selected Tomorrow

Trish

Tuesday, Sept. 5 is the day so many Floridians have waited for: when we find out if the candidates for our next governor will be — on the Republican side — a Schwarzenegger or a DeLay, or — on the Democratic side — a Bill Nelson or a DeLay.

A few months back, I told people I preferred Davis but would be happy with either man. Now Rod Smith has pissed me off enough that I would consider voting for Charlie Crist — the Schwarzenegger Republican.

The Republican race started out as the more interesting of the two, and while it hasn’t lost any drama, the Democratic one has my attention.

In the beginning, there were complaints that the two Democrats were too similar, too nice to each other on the campaign trail, and too boring. Then Rod Smith, a former state senator, found himself behind in the polls and pulled out the heavy ammo: U.S. Sugar.

When Smith headed the state’s agriculture committee, he evidently made some friends with money — the huge sugar industry, which Florida has spent years in court trying to get to clean up the Everglades. That money is now painting U.S. Rep. Jim Davis — a plodding, deliberate but pragmatic boy scout ala U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson — as a racist in a series of ads and phone calls because of a vote from 16 years ago. […]

Gay Son, Unwed-Mother Daughter Campaign Against Wingnut Dad Randall Terry

Trish

Things are getting good in a Florida state senate race that’s coming down to the wire on Tuesday. Anti-abortion zealot Randall Terry is running against moderate Republican incumbent Jim King to represent much of Northeast Florida.

Terry’s family values include divorce and remarriage to a younger wife and abandoning fatherhood when children disappoint you

Two of Terry’s children are coming forward to offer some reality checks on their dad, whose family values include divorce and remarriage to a younger wife and abandoning fatherhood when children disappoint you.

Terry’s adopted son has inserted himself into the election – publicly criticizing his father’s claim to uphold family values as hypocritical and even offering to help his opponent.

Jamiel Terry, 26, who is gay, said he is estranged from his father because Randall Terry disapproves of his sexuality. His sister, Tila, said she is also estranged from their father because she had a child out of wedlock.

…Tila, 21, who was also adopted by Randall Terry, said she asked her father for help with her child, but he turned her down.

“He told me he couldn’t help me because he was running for office and he had his own baby on the way,” Tila Terry said.

I’ve heard that many of these anti-abortion crusaders are only interested in babies before they’re born, not after. I wonder what Tila thinks about that?

For his part, King took the high road and declined the Terry children’s offers of assistance.

“I am a father just like Randall Terry is a father, and there are things that happen in a family that are personal, and they shouldn’t have much to do with a campaign,” King said.

Terry’s low blows in the race include getting not one but two cronies to qualify as last minute write-ins, shutting non-Republicans out of the primary vote, which in this case, will decide the seat.

Proof Katherine Harris is Crazy — She Appointed George Bush President

Buck Banks

Kate-bashing bandwagon: It’s really difficult to refrain from piling on Katherine Harris’ Senate campaign when she continually provides incentives like her diatribes about religion, morality and politics delivered last week that seem designed to make folks wonder if her relationship with reality is a bit tenuous at times. It just provides plenty of fodder for pundits to play with.

For instance, here are some examples from today’s Tampa Tribune:

Would anyone be surprised to discover Harris staffers tunneling under West Shore Boulevard, hoping to make a run for it before the candidate goes into another of her meltdowns that make Joan Crawford look like Miss Piggy?
….
For, to Harris, her mouth has become a weapon of mass discombobulation.
….
It was bad enough that Harris comes off as something akin to Glenn Close in “Fatal Attraction” meets Courtney Love.
….

In the eyes of her admirers, she was Mother Teresa, Marie Curie, and Joan of Arc all rolled into one

At least that’s more entertaining than the Orlando Sentinel’s frantic hand-wringing in an editorial yesterday that virtually begged Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to endorse Will McBride, one of three Republican candidiates running against Harris in the primary:

For the good of his party and, indeed, for the good of a political system that relies on vigorous debate of real ideas, it’s time for Gov. Jeb Bush to get involved in this race as he has in other Republican primaries. There is still time for Mr. Bush to endorse Orange County attorney Will McBride in Tuesday’s primary. Mr. McBride has the resources to run a campaign statewide and stands clearly as the Republicans’ best candidate.

The fear among Florida Republicans is that Harris will get 40 percent of the vote in the primary and the other three Repug candidiates will divvy up the other 60 percent, in effect, conquering themselves and any chance of the party beating incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, who leads Harris in the polls by more than 30 percent.
[…]

Jack Kemp on Lieberman’s Campaign Trail

Trish

Former Republican candidate for president and vice president, Jack Kemp, is back on the campaign trail. This time, he’s not asking for votes for himself but for an old sympatico pal:

Joe Lieberman.

Kemp’s supporting the Republican this time around too.

“I think if anyone complains about Jack Kemp coming in on my behalf, it just shows that they’re still blinded by the old partisan politics,” he said. “Jack’s a devoted Republican, I’m a devoted Democrat, but we agree on a lot of stuff.”

Joe needs a little help with terminology. First, there’s his use of the word, “devoted,” which normally means “loyal” and “committed.” Then there’s “Democrat,” which more often than not excludes people who run for office as Independents.

As to Kemp, who served as HUD secretary under Bush I and Bob Dole’s running mate when he lost against Clinton/Gore in ’96, I think he’s got it right. He’s supporting the Republican this time around too.

Tennessee Politics: The Senate Race between Harold Ford Jr. and Bob Corker Could Presage Big Changes in the Volunteer State

Jon Ponder

Is Tennessee Ready to Elect an African American Democrat to the Senate? Does Rep. Zach Wamp Practice His Imitation of George Bush? And What about Bob ‘Family Values’ Corker’s Daughter’s Girl-on-Girl Action Photo?

An Interview with the Editor of 10,000 Monkeys & a Camera about the State of Politics in Tennessee

The August 3, 2006, primary election in Tennessee resulted with Rep. Harold Ford Jr. as the Democratic nominee, and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker as the GOP candidate.

Harold Ford is no liberal, and while that fact gives him a fighting chance in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since Al Gore was reelected in 1990, it may not be a net-plus for the Democratic Party, especially when you consider his record in the House:

[Rep. Ford] has voted to outlaw gay marriage and to repeal the estate tax, and wants to amend the Constitution to ban flag burning. He supports getting rid of the handgun ban in the nation’s capital and says the Ten Commandments should be posted in courtrooms around his state. He favors school prayer, argues that more troops should have been sent to Iraq and wants to seal the border with Mexico.

Still, capturing the majority in the Senate is the name of the game this cycle, and the election of a Democrat in Tennessee, albeit a conservative, could tip the balance against the GOP and George W. Bush.

We have been very curious about the political atmospherics in Tennessee, circa 2006, and so we invited our friend Alice, the editor of one of our favorite sites, 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera, up to the Pensito Review electronic garret for a mug of green tea and a chat about politics in the Volunteer State.

The Interview

PR: Welcome to the electronic garret here at the Pensito Review world headquarters, Alice. Sorry about the dust. Hope you’re not allergic.

A: Having just moved into a rental house that is in the middle of a complete new window installation, I am conveniently accustomed to dust.

PR: You’re a transplant to Tennessee, but you seem to have taken root in Chattanooga. I know you’ve been involved in a number of local campaigns. How does the slate of local candidates look this year?

[…]

Nonpartisan Rothenberg Report: Dems Poised to Take House

Jon Ponder

Stuart Rothenberg:

Our latest race-by-race review of Congressional districts around the country convinces us that a Democratic wave is building and that the party is poised to take control of the House of Representatives in the fall. The only question now is the size of the November wave.

The national mood remains bleak for Republicans. President George W. Bush’s job performance ratings are terrible, and the public still gives Congress low marks. A majority of Americans continue to tell pollsters that the country is headed in the wrong direction.

That’s a recipe for a GOP disaster, and there is no reason to believe that things will change dramatically between now and Election Day to improve Republican prospects…

Therefore, we are raising our estimate of likely Democratic gains from 8-12 seats to 15-20 seats, which would translate to between 218 and 223 seats – and a majority – in the next House.

Harris View of the World Pisses Off Jews, Other Non-Christians, Christians, Democrats, Republicans, Gays, Straights, and Model Airplane Enthusiasts

Trish

Florida Jews and other non-Chrisitians are expressing outrage at U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, who recently stated that only the twice-born are fit to hold office.

Since He chooses our rulers, He chose Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton as surely as He chose Katherine herself. God sounds a little conflicted.

As PR Editor Buck noted, statements by Harris published in the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist Convention surpassed even her own unmatched record of looniness. Others are starting to agree.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., said she was “disgusted” by the comments “and deeply disappointed in Rep. Harris personally.”Harris, Wasserman Schultz said, “clearly shows that she does not deserve to be a Representative . . .”

State Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, demanded an apology, saying the statements were “outrageous, even by her standards.

“What is going through this woman’s mind?” said Slosberg. “We do not live in a theocracy.”

…Ahmed Bedier, the Central Florida Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said he was “appalled that a person who’s been in politics this long would hold such extreme views.”

Bedier said most Christians would find such comments “shameful.”

…The criticism was not limited to Democrats.

Ruby Brooks, a veteran Tampa Bay Republican activist, said Harris’ remarks “were offensive to me as a Christian and a Republican.”

“To me, it’s the height of hubris,” said Brooks, a former Largo Republican Club president and former member of the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee.

And Jillian Hasner, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said: “I don’t think it’s representative of the Republican Party at all. Our party is much bigger and better than Katherine Harris is trying to make it.”

What did Harris say to get everyone so upset? It’s best to read it for yourself. […]