Roving Holder
Karl Rove, in his post-Bush role of smarmy pundit, has managed to inject his foul stench into the Holder nomination. Patrick Leahy—upon witnessing his GOP Senate colleagues Charles Grassley, John Kyle and Arlen Specter do an about face and withdraw their praise for Holder—noted the following:
Senator Grassley has acknowledged Mr. Holder’s impeccable credentials while reserving judgment. But of course since then, Karl Rove has appeared on the Today Show and signaled that Republicans ought to go after Mr. Holder. Right-wing talk radio took up the drum beat.
On the Sunday morning Chris Mathews Show, a Washington Post Reporter backed Leahy’s assertion:
Word on the street is that Karl Rove is going to be helping lead the fight against Eric Holder when his nomination for Attorney General heads up to the Senate
Following Holder’s nomination, Karl Rove himself unabashedly remarked "there will be some attention paid to this." We would expect no less from a skin boil like you, Karl.
Arlen’s Spectre
Hey, Arlen, did you hear the one about the incumbent GOP Senator who lost his reelection after he quipped tasteless stereotypes?
Biden Discheneys the office of VP
In Executive news you can use, Biden plans to Discheney the office of the Vice President. According to a Politico report, Biden will massively curtail Cheney’s looming aura by:
- Avoiding conflation of the VP office and the US Senate
- Closing down the "shadow government"
- Restoring the VP’s role to that of an advisor rather than a pseudo-president.
The Politico puts it mildly:
In short, Biden will be no Dick Cheney – who redefined the office of the vice presidency to gather unprecedented influence and reach. Instead, Biden will serve the role of trusted backup, but someone who won’t be mistaken for a co-president single-handedly crafting and promoting policy.
Bob Corkerscrewed
In man bites dog news, Senator Corker was a d*ck on FOX News Sunday. Yesterday morning, responding to the UAW’s refusal to make union busting concessions that would appease the likes of Corker,the Tennessee Senator said this:
CORKER: ... I have to tell you, this is a time for the shared sacrifice to happen.
Yes, he really meant the workers need to do their share of sacrificing. And, yes, he was being serious. But the freshman congressman was aptly smacked down by Senator Stabenow:
STABENOW: With all due respect...
WALLACE: Senator Stabenow, you get 30 seconds and you have the last word.
STABENOW: Bob, with all due respect, the only people that have already sacrificed, and I can tell you that directly from men and women in my state, have been the workers.
The reality is this is not about workers in America. It’s not about workers in America being paid too much. It’s not about the middle class being paid too much.
It’s about a long-term commitment to advance manufacturing and that’s what we’re talking about.
Why Can’t Obama Close the Deal On Global Warming? (WCOCTDOGW?)
The AP, exercising its patented flair for the obvious, describes Obama’s uphill battle to fight back global warming (as if this is a task that Obama could single-handedly tackle). Luckily, though, simply reversing course from the Bush administration's policies will do wonders to take us in the right direction:
After years of inaction on global warming, 2009 might be different. Obama replaces a president who opposed mandatory cuts of greenhouse gas pollution and it appears he will have a willing Congress. Also, next year, diplomats will try to agree on a major new international treaty to curb the gases that promote global warming.
As the AP article correctly notes, though, the environmental vestiges of Bush’s reign are downright terrifying. Tragically, repairing this damage is probably well above Obama’s paygrade:
The average global temperature in 2008 is likely to wind up slightly under 57.9 degrees Fahrenheit, about a tenth of a degree cooler than last year. When Clinton was inaugurated, 57.9 easily would have been the warmest year on record. Now, that temperature would qualify as the ninth warmest year.
GOP Illinoisemakers
Three Illinois GOP honchos announced Sunday an ad campaign calling for a special election to replace Barack Obama’s vacant senate seat. The Illinois Lt. Governor and US Senate Majority Leader both favor an appointment. If the embattled governor steps down willingly, which news reports are indicating is a distinct possibility Monday, a special election would become moot. Of course, a-holes will still be a-holes:
Republicans, though, smell what would be an historic opportunity to steal the president-elect's Senate seat. Along with the state GOP, incoming National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Ensign (Nev.) and the Republican National Committee are doing their best to add to the pressure by calling for a new election.