Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 2, 2009, 1:03PM

Obama Seeks To Reassure Country On Flu
In this weekend's Presidential YouTube address, President Obama discussed the action that the government has taken to deal with the swine flu, including distributing antiviral treatments from the country's strategic stockpile, and also discusses the precautions that schools and businesses should take:

"It is my greatest hope and prayer that all of these precautions and preparations prove unnecessary," said Obama. "But because we have it within our power to limit the potential damage of this virus, we have a solemn and urgent responsibility to take the necessary steps."

GOP Address Criticizes Democrats For Stimulus, Other Spending
In this weekend's Republican YouTube, freshman Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) criticized President Obama and Congressional Democrats for the stimulus bill and other spending programs:

"This week, we marked the President's 100th day in office," said Jenkins. "And while, like most of you, I like the President personally, I think the Democrats' first 100 days running Washington can be summed up in three words: spending, taxing, and borrowing."

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Arlen Specter

Sestak "Thinking Of Getting In" To The PA Senate Race

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 6:16PM

This came in at the end of the day, so consider it TPMDC's Friday news dump, but on Hardball tonight, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) said for the record what many of us have long inferred--that he's "thinking of getting in" to Pennsylvania's 2010 Democratic primary.

Watch:

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Arlen Specter

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2009, 5:22PM

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT); Richard Besser, Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sec. of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA); Richard Besser, Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sec. of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

• CNN, State Of The Union: Richard Besser, Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sec. of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

• Fox News Sunday: Richard Besser, Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sec. of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius; Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA); Richard Besser, Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sec. of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; and Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius; MSNBC host and former Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL), and former RNC chair Ed Gillespie.

Barack Obama

Leahy On Souter: Senators Should Unify Around Souter Replacement

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 3:55PM

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has released a statement on the news of the retirement of Supreme Court David Souter. In it, he urges In exercising their important roles in the confirmation of the next Supreme Court Justice senators to "unify around the shared constitutional values that will define Justice Souter's legacy on the Court" when they consider Barack Obama's eventual nominee.

Leahy's full statement below the jump. Other than the President himself, he is the person who, most and earliest, will have to deal with any Republican attempts to block Obama's pick.

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Barack Obama

In Suprise Appearance At Press Conference, Obama Outlines Qualifications For Scotus Nominee

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 3:30PM

Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' daily briefing to "say a few words about [David Souter's] decision to retire from the Supreme Court."

Video below, followed by a partial transcription under the fold.

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Chuck Grassley

Conservatives Gear Up For SCOTUS Fight

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 2:51PM

Well that took about 10 minutes.

A group of more than 50 conservative groups held a conference call early Friday to begin plotting strategy, sources on the call said.

"You're already having chatter between conservatives on who is going to be the nominee, what type of nominee is going to be put forward by President Obama," said Brian Darling, the Heritage Foundation's Senate director and a former top Judiciary Committee staffer.

Detail oriented readers will remember Darling as the one-time legal counsel to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) forced off the Hill after writing the infamous "Schiavo Memo," advising Republicans that the lifeless Teri Schiavo could be a great political issue for the GOP.

But I digress. The article also contains this interesting tidbit: "Republican members of the Judiciary panel will meet next week to pick a new ranking member from amongst themselves. Senate aides say Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the fourth-ranking member on the panel, has the inside edge." As I reported earlier this week, Sessions has always been a strong contender, but the Republicans also face a number of incentives to give the slot to Sen. Chuck Grassley.

Barack Obama

Obama Recognizes Anti-Communist Forebears

Justin Elliott | May 1, 2009, 2:14PM

Happy Law Day and Loyalty Day everyone!

That's right, it's May Day or Labor Day in most of the world today, and President Obama has issued a pair of proclamations recognizing the homegrown American institutions of Law Day and Loyalty Day.

Law Day, established amid the anti-Communist fervor of the late 1950s by Dwight Eisenhower (the same president who gave us "under God" in the Pledge Of Allegiance a few years earlier), is designed, naturally, to celebrate the rule of law.

As Eisenhower put it: "In a very real sense, the world no longer has a choice between force and law. If civilization is to survive, it must choose the rule of law."

Loyalty Day, on the other hand -- which apparently began as 'Americanization Day' -- was established amid the anti-Communist fervor of the early 1920s in the wake of the Russian Revolution. Congress made it official, and President Eisenhower signed it into law the same year he created Law Day. Unfortunately, though, May 1 was getting a little crowded, and he felt obligated to bump Child Health Day to make room.

Today, Obama said, "I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance and to display the flag of the United States on Loyalty Day."

Full proclamations, which clearly aim for a tone of inclusiveness, after the jump.

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Progressive PAC To Democrats: Don't Shield Specter

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 2:13PM

The progressive group Accountability Now is calling out Democratic Party leaders for wholeheartedly embracing Arlen Specter--and shielding him from political accountability--before he even cast his first significant vote (a no, it turned out, on Obama's budget)

They think Pennsylvania Democrats should be allowed to pick their own nominee during the primaries, and are calling on the party not to grant Specter the gift of running unopposed.

"Elites believe that primaries are messy," said Glenn Greenwald of Salon.com and co-founder of Accountability Now. "Accountability Now believes that nothing focuses the mind of a politician on listening to citizens better than a primary."

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Pecora

Investigation Of Financial Crisis Idea Gaining Steam

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 1:20PM

Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested the creation of an internal "Pecora-like" congressional committee to investigate the causes of the financial crisis, and, since then, we've been following the idea as it moves closer to fruition.

In the last couple weeks, there have been some significant developments on that front. On the House side, influential Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) introduced a stand-alone resolution that mirrors Pelosi's preference. "This [House] select committee," Dingell said, would "be comprised of members appointed from the Committees on Financial Services, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and Government Reform...modeled on the Pecora Commission that held hearings in 1932 and 1933 to investigate the roots of the Great Depression."

The Pecora investigations were conducted in the Senate Banking Committee, but you get the idea. Dingell hasn't been in close conversation with leadership about his particular plan, but he did send Pelosi a letter asking for her support. I asked Dingell spokesman Adam Benson why Dingell prefers this configuration as oppose to, for instance, an independent outside commission. He said, "The committees of jurisdiction should be involved because they'll be the ones to write any legislation that results from the investigation."

Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John McCain (R-AZ) feel much the same way. They introduced a measure that would create a select committee in the Senate with the same charge. "While I also support an outside commission, and have previously introduced legislation to establish such a commission," Dorgan said, "I believe the Senate has an important oversight responsibility that cannot be delegated. That's why we need a select Senate committee to investigate this financial crisis and make sure it never happens again."

That measure--an amendment to the Fraud Enforcement Recovery Act (FERA)--got the go ahead earlier this week when the bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate.

But another, similar FERA amendment would create an external commission, containing members appointed by both House and Senate leaders, and Hill sources suggest that's where the action is.

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KY-SEN

Is Bunning In Or Out In 2010?

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2009, 12:48PM

So what exactly is the deal with Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) and the potential new GOP candidate, Kentucky Sec. of State Trey Grayson? Is Bunning going to hang up his cleats -- or is he still in it to win it in 2010?

Yesterday, Grayson formed an exploratory committee for a potential bid -- but said he'll only actually run if Bunning retires. Keep in mind that it's widely reported that the GOP leadership wants Bunning to retire, rather than protect him as a weak incumbent in what should be a decent red state for them, and Bunning himself has accused them of sabotaging him.

Here's where it gets tricky. It was reported that Bunning gave Grayson permission to do this -- seemingly a giveaway that he'll retire and anoint Grayson as his preferred successor, thus giving the GOP a much more electable candidate. The problem is, Bunning's spokesman is publicly indicating otherwise: "Senator Bunning has every intention of running."

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David Vitter

Stormy Daniels Embarks On Listening Tour For Possible Senate Bid Against Vitter

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2009, 12:14PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the Christian Right champion whose career became mired in the D.C. Madam prostitution scandal in 2007, may be on the verge of getting a primary challenger: Porn-star Stormy Daniels is responding to the draft effort to get her into the Republican primary, and has now announced a listening tour.

Daniels will hold her first event in Baton Rouge on May 5, followed by a New Orleans event on May 6. A Daniels candidacy, if it does occur, would likely turn out to be a vehicle to remind voters of Vitter's moral hypocrisy.

"DraftStormy is excited about the listening tour and is confident that it will help persuade Stormy Daniels to accept their challenge and run for Senate," the press release says. "We believe that the voters of Louisiana are ready for change and look forward to bringing honesty, integrity, and strength of character back to the United States Senate."

Full press release after the jump.

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Supreme Court

Will Committee Republicans Try To Block Obama's SCOTUS Nominee?

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 11:55AM

Anything's possible. But before they try, they should reflect on this Dear Colleague letter, co-written on June 29, 2001 by the then-chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) respectively.

U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, Washington, DC, June 29, 2001.

DEAR COLLEAGUE: We are cognizant of the important constitutional role of the Senate in connection with Supreme Court nominations. We write as Chairman and Ranking Republican Member on the Judiciary Committee to inform you that we are prepared to examine carefully and assess such presidential nominations.

The Judiciary Committee's traditional practice has been to report Supreme Court nominees to the Senate once the Committee has completed its considerations. This has been true even in cases where Supreme Court nominees were opposed by a majority of the Judiciary Committee.

We both recognize and have every intention of following the practices and precedents of the Committee and the Senate when considering Supreme Court nominees.

Sincerly,

Patrick J. Leahy,
Chairman.

Orrin G. Hatch,
Ranking Republican Member.

There is, of course, some precedent for tying up Supreme Court nominees one way or another in the Judiciary Committee. But by and large even controversial nominees get reported out, even if unfavorably.

Late update: You can read the original letter in its entirety here.

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Dodges Question On Alleged Swine Flu-Democratic Presidents Connection

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2009, 11:38AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) appeared the other day on the Fox Business Channel, and during the interview she was asked exactly what she meant when she connected swine flu outbreaks to Democratic administrations. She immediately changed the subject, as you can see at the 0:55 mark:

"Well, actually, I had a full, uh, conversation that I was having with another station -- primarily about the economy, because that's what we're worried about right now," said Bachmann. "And we had just found out about the swine flu at that time, the aggressive nature of how far it was progressing. So the real topic of conversation was on the economy, as it should be. The economy right now is at a situation where we're not seeing the level of recovery that we would like to see."

She then proceeded to talk about the harmful effects of President Obama's big spending and the stimulus bill, and how without the stimulus the recovery would have already been happening.

The fun part here is that this exchange is from a clip that was posted on her own YouTube account.

Arlen Specter

Specter Defection Creating Logjam In Democratic Caucus

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 11:12AM

Here's an extremely thorough article by Alexander Bolton of The Hill, laying out, among other things, what Arlen Specter's defection will mean for senior Democrats and their committee assignments.

The key takeaways are as follows:

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Rick Perry

Poll: One-Third Of Georgia Republicans Approve Of Secession

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2009, 10:58AM

A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll finds that a third of Georgia Republicans approve of the idea of seceding from the United States.

The pollster asked: "Do you think Georgia would be better off as an independent nation or as part of the United States of America?" The top-line here is United States 68%, independence 27% -- but among Republicans, it's a closer U.S. 52%, independence 43%.

Respondents were then asked: "Would you approve or disapprove of Georgia leaving the United States?" Here the overall answer is approve 18%, disapprove 76% -- but among Republicans, it's approve 32%, disapprove 63%.

Look on the bright side: The Union cause is actually much stronger among Republicans here than it is in Texas, where a previous poll showed Texas GOPers evenly divided on independence, and a majority approving of Gov. Rick Perry's suggestions about seceding.

Arlen Specter

Republicans Running Anti- And Pro-Specter Robocalls In PA

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 10:24AM

Here's a weird gambit from the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

As my colleague Eric Kleefeld reported earlier this week, the NRSC is running an anti-Arlen Specter robocall in Pennsylvania meant to create a chasm between the new Democrat and the voters who will select the party's nominee in the 2010 Senate race. You can listen to that call here.

But that's not the full extent of their shenanigans. They're also running a vaguely pro-Specter (but anti-Sestak) robocall at the exact same time. Take a look.

So what's the play here? That, should Sestak run, the first robocall will result (or help result) in a Sestak nomination, and that the second robocall will drive independent voters away from Sestak over to Toomey? That's the only thing I can think of, but it seems like a stretch. Then again, this is the NRSC....

Transcript follows:

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Supreme Court

Halperin: "White Men Need Not Apply" For SCOTUS Vacancy

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2009, 10:05AM

Check out the latest spin on the Supreme Court vacancy, from Mark Halperin:

Is there anything more to say?

Arlen Specter

Will Specter's Switch Make It Easier For Republicans To Filibuster Judges?

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 9:53AM

Much of the day will no doubt be spent gaming the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Is it good for Democrats? For Republicans? Who will Obama nominate? How quickly and ferociously will charges of socialism and judicial activism begin to fly? And would Specter have switched parties if he'd known that he'd have had a golden opportunity to obstruct an Obama Supreme Court appointee in order to shore up his right?

All worthy questions, but all impossible to answer. At least for now.

What I want to focus on is a bit deeper in the weeds, but could prove very important, and, for Republicans, a potential source of poetic justice. (No pun intended.)

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Auto Industry

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2009, 9:03AM

WaPo: Biden In Charge Of Search For SCOTUS Nominee
The Washington Post reports that Vice President Biden has been tasked with with drawing up a list of potential Supreme Court nominees to replace Justice David Souter, whose retirement has not yet been officially announced but is widely reported to be a settled issue. Souter will reportedly step down after this current court term ends in June, effective upon confirmation of his successor. The next term begins in October.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will be meeting with his cabinet at 11:15 a.m. ET. AT 12 p.m. ET, he will have lunch with Vice President Biden, and it's not unreasonable to imagine that the Supreme Court will be a key topic of discussion. At 1 p.m. ET, he and Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano will attend a naturalization ceremony for active-duty service members, with Napolitano swearing them in as citizens and Obama presenting an Outstanding American by Choice Award. At 4:30 p.m. ET, he will attend a ceremonial swearing-in of Commerce Sec. Gary Lock and Health and Human Services Sec. Kathleen Sebelius, with Biden delivering the oath of office.

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Arlen Specter

Labor Joins Sestak In Pressuring Specter

Brian Beutler | April 30, 2009, 6:40PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) may be a lone critic of Sen. Arlen Specter among Pennsylvania Democrats and party leaders, but if he looks past his colleagues he'll find a natural (though perhaps convenient and temporary) friend in labor. For now, Sestak is sending warning shots at Specter, pressuring him to get with the program, and groups like AFL-CIO and SEIU are doing the exact same thing. Especially vis-a-vis issues like health care and employee free choice.

Officially, AFL-CIO say they "look forward to continuing an open and honest debate with Senator Specter about the issues that are important to Pennsylvania and America."

"Sen. Specter," they say, "has said all along that he recognizes the need to reform our broken labor law system and we will continue to work with Congress to give workers back the freedom to form and join unions and pass legislation that stays true to the principals of the Employee free Choice Act."

And their Pennsylvania president agrees.

But Stewart Acuff, AFL-CIO's Director of Organizing hasn't been so timid.

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Arlen Specter

Will Grassley Step Down From Senior Finance Position?

Brian Beutler | April 30, 2009, 5:56PM

Will Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will step down from his position as ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and become the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee? A lot of signs point to yes, and that has reformers on the Hill and elsewhere--who prefer Grassley's record to that of his potential replacement--pretty worried.

If it happens, it will be thanks, indirectly, to Sen. Arlen Specter's defection into the Democratic party. Specter was the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee and his big move on Tuesday created an opening that has yet to be filled. As I reported earlier this week, though, the committee's senior Republican--Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)--is prohibited by Senate Republican Conference rules from taking over the committee. And only two of the three eligible senators--Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)--make much sense.

Of those two, Grassley has some advantages: He's a more senior on the committee, for instance, and he isn't as controversial or conservative a senator as Sessions is. But he is ranking member of the Finance Committee--a committee with tremendous power, particularly with health reform on the horizon--and he'd have to leave that post if he were to take over for Specter.

So why would he do it?

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MN-SEN

Coleman's Appeal Brief: Count More Of My Votes -- Or Maybe Nullify The Election

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 5:21PM

I have now had the chance to read through Norm Coleman's brief in his appeal of the Minnesota election trial -- check out Rick Hasen's take on it here -- and it sets up a coherent formulation of many of his previous arguments, boiling down to a few options Coleman wants the state Supreme Court to consider: To preferably count more ballots that are presumably for Coleman, or else subtract ballots that are presumably for Franken, or declare the whole election null.

The main focus of the brief is its argument that the trial court wrongly established a strict standard for admitting in any absentee ballots that had been previously rejected by local officials, as opposed to a more lenient standard that was the de facto standard for most jurisdictions across the state on Election Day. And these local standards are themselves deeply flawed, Team Coleman says, due to varying interpretations and applications of the state law by the human beings conducting the election from one place versus another.

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Tea Party

Top Conservatives On Twitter FAIL

Brian Beutler | April 30, 2009, 3:21PM

(For the uninitiated, the "#" allows twitterers to code their messages in a way that makes them all easily accessible--all tweets appended with "#tcot" can be found by searching for the term at this website.)

What could "#tcot" mean, we thought? Teabagging Conservatives' Organizing Tool? Tremendous Collection of Ornery Tweets?

In fact, it stands for "Top Conservatives On Twitter," and it is, in a way, a perfectly accurate moniker.

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Eric Cantor

Cantor: "It's Not A Rebranding Effort"

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 2:26PM

CNN reported last night the GOP was launching a new initiative, the "National Council for a New America," as a push to rebrand the party's image away and counter the label that the Democrats have put forward calling the Republicans the "Party of No."

However, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) appeared today on Fox News, and he said it is not a rebranding effort, but is instead an attempt to engage with the American people:

"Jane, it's not a rebranding effort," said Cantor. "What this is, is an attempt to engage and begin a conversation with the American people. what we're looking for on the National Council for a New America is to involve all the American people for wide-open policy debate about the issues confronting this nation, on the issues confronting the families and the communities across this country."

So did CNN read in too much, thinking that an effort to alter the party's image was tantamount to rebranding -- or is it that Cantor is walking the idea back?

IL-SEN

Poll: GOPer Kirk Could Be Competitive For Illinois Senate Seat, But No Guarantee

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 2:09PM

A new survey of Illinois from Public Policy Polling (D) suggests that Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) could potentially be a competitive candidate in the 2010 election for the Senate seat now held by Democratic Sen. Roland Burris. But this could easily change against him, if currently undecided Democratic voters lock in for the eventual nominee.

Against Burris, Kirk wins in a 53%-19% landslide. It seems highly improbable that Burris will actually be the nominee, and PPP polled some other Democrats: Kirk edges Rep. Jan Schakowsky 37%-33% and ties state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias 35%-35%, with high numbers of undecideds. But the well-known and popular state Attorney General Lisa Madigan leads Kirk 49%-33%.

From the pollster's analysis of the match-ups with Schakowsky and Giannoulias: "Those numbers aren't quite as encouraging for Republicans as they may seem to be though. In each case only 19% of GOP voters are undecided, while more than 30% of Democratic ones are."

Phoney GOP Statistic Filters Down To Industry Activists

Brian Beutler | April 30, 2009, 12:30PM

The American Energy Alliance describes itself as a "not-for-profit organization that engages in grassroots public policy advocacy and debate concerning energy and environmental policies." As a point of reference, those policies don't include the Waxman-Markey cap and trade bill, which, AEA's website announces "will further cripple our already struggling economy."

AEA's policy ideas supposedly come from the industry-funded Institute for Energy Research (of which they are an affiliate) which supposedly conducts "intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets."

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Tim Pawlenty

Americans United Ad In Minnesota Targets Pawlenty, On Certifying Franken

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 11:58AM

Americans United For Change has just come out with this TV ad, calling upon Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) to resist pressure from his national party, and certify Al Franken as the winner of the Senate race after Franken presumably wins against Norm Coleman's appeal at the state Supreme Court:

"The Republican Campaign Chairman, Texas Senator Cornyn, said Norm Coleman's court challenges could take 'years' to resolve," the announcer says, accompanied by a fuzzy shot of Cornyn in a cowboy hat. "Now Governor Pawlenty has a choice. Will he act in the best interest of Minnesota, or his own national political ambitions?"

The ad will air on cable TV in the Twin Cities and Rochester media markets. The oral arguments at the Minnesota Supreme Court won't happen until a month from now, so there's plenty of time for people to argue about what should happen after a court decision that may be widely expected, but hasn't actually happened yet.

John Cornyn

The GOP: Not A National Party?

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 11:54AM

At the Senate GOP leadership's press conference on Tuesday, after Sen. Arlen Specter switched from the Republicans to the Democrats, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) made a very interesting statement in his capacity as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee:

"I will tell you that in 2010 we are working very hard to make sure that we have the kind of candidates across the country on a national scale," said Cornyn, "that will allow the Republican Party to regain our status as a national party, and run competitive races in blue states, and purple states, and in red states."

So was Cornyn saying that the GOP is not right now a national party? I asked NRSC press secretary Amber Wilkerson for comment, and she pointed me in the direction of something Cornyn said at CPAC earlier this year, about the need to be a big tent that can appeal to voters across the country.

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Michael Steele

Steele: I Wear My GOP Hat Backwards, "That's How We Roll In The Northeast"

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 11:08AM

Appearing today on Morning Joe, Michael Steele provided an interesting metaphor for how different kinds of Republicans can co-exist. He asked Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan to imagine that they were all wearing hats that said "GOP," and that they hailed from different parts of the country:

"You (Brzezinski) wear your hat one way you like to wear it, you know, kind of cocked to the left, you know, 'cause that's cool out West," Steele said. "In the Midwest, you guys (Scarborough) like to wear it a little bit to the right. In the South, you guys (Buchanan) wear the brim straight ahead. Now the Northeast, I wear my hat backwards, you know, 'cause that's how we roll in the Northeast."

This gets into something I've observed before about Steele: He often sounds like a middle-aged man attempting to talk to his kids and sound cool, and not exactly being successful at it.

Michael Steele

Steele Responds To RNC Members' Plot Against Him

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 10:17AM

Michael Steele is firing back at his RNC detractors, who are bringing forward a proposed rewrite of the RNC's rules to effectively strip Steele of his control over the party's finances.

The Washington Times reports that Steele has fired off an e-mail to the proposal's five main sponsors. "No RNC chairman has ever had to deal with this," Steele wrote, "and I certainly have no intention of putting up with it either."

Steele also wrote: "It is of course not lost on me that each of you worked tirelessly down to the last minute in an effort to stop me from becoming chairman."

Arlen Specter

Sestak: Specter Better Shape Up

Brian Beutler | April 30, 2009, 10:12AM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) is starting to sound like a guy whose road to the Senate has just been hit by an avalanche. A 79-year-old, recently Republican avalanche. Earlier today on MSNBC, he reiterated his doubts about Sen. Arlen Specter's move into the Democratic party. But, at the end of his appearance, he almost explicitly threatened to run for the Senate if Specter didn't quickly prove a good steward of Democratic values.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 9:01AM

Gates Asks For War Funding; To Testify Before Committee Today
Sec. of Defense Robert Gates is asking Congress to pass $83.4 billion in funding by Memorial Day for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Gates will testify today at a 10 a.m. ET hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined by Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, where he will say: "After Memorial Day, we will need to consider options to delay running out of funds."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meeting at 1:30 p.m. ET with Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Carl Levin (D-MI), and Reps. Ike Skelton (D-MO) and John McHugh (R-NY). At 2:30 p.m. ET, he will speak at the "White House to Light House" Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride, a program to raise awareness about the challenges facing wounded veterans. At 3 p.m. ET, Obama will meet with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner, and at 3:45 p.m. ET he will meet with Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, joined by Vice President Biden.

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Barack Obama

Obama: State's Secrets Privilege Too Broad. I Know! I've Used It!

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 8:52PM

Time's Michael Scherer just asked an excellent question. During the campaign, Obama took the position that the Bush administration had abused the state's secret privilege, but since coming into office he has used it repeatedly to argue that crucial national security cases be thrown out of court.

Scherer asked the President to reconcile that contradiction. And Obama's answer was...a bit disingenuous. "I actually think that the state secrets doctrine should be modified," he said. "I think right now it's overbroad."

So why has he been hiding behind its breadth? "We're in for a week, and suddenly we've got a court filing that's coming up...and we don't have the time to think up what an overarching form that doctrine should take."

But it's hard to square that with what the administration's actually done. DOJ lawyers haven't asked the courts for more time, or to withhold key pieces of information. Rather, they've argued that these cases--Jewel v NSA, Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation v Obama, and Mohammed v Jeppesen Dataplan--be tossed out entirely. And they've done that by invoking the state secrets privilege. In fact, in Jewel, the administration went so far as to claim "sovereign immunity" for the government from just about any lawsuit involving wiretapping. That position is even more radical than Bush's was.

It's hard to imagine Obama walking that claim back. But as far as state secrets go, now he's on the record. The administration, he said, is "searching for ways to redact to carve out certain cases to see what can be done... there should be some additional tools so that it's not such a blunt instrument." That's news--the White House hasn't always been so straightforward. But there are incipient efforts in Congress to do just what Obama said, and if I had been offered a followup question, I might have asked whether this means he'll throw his full weight behind them.

Arlen Specter

Obama Stands By Need For Public Option In Health Reform

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 8:39PM

Obama just addressed the significance of Arlen Specter's move into the Democratic party, saying, "I am under no illusion that I'm going to have a rubber stamp Senate. I've got Democrats who disagree with me." And boy is he ever right about that.

Republicans see things differently, though, and to them Obama said, "I want them to realize that me reaching out to them has been genuine." He added, though, that he can't accept a definition of bipartisanship that means agreeing with "certain theories of theirs that have been tried for eight years and didn't work."

As an example he suggested that Republicans should work with him on a health care bill, even if they disagree with him philosophically over the need for a public insurance option. That's an interesting case in point. A number of liberal groups have become concerned that the administration isn't as committed to a public plan as they'd like, and this suggests, at least to some extent, that he is.

Torture

Obama: I Believe Waterboarding Is Torture

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 8:23PM

ABC's Jake Tapper just asked Obama if he thought that the Bush administration "sanctioned torture" in its use of waterboarding and Obama, after a moment's hesitation, said "Waterboarding violates our ideals and our values. I do believe that it's torture."

In his opening statement he also said that his administration put an end to torture, and there's no reason to say that unless you think torture was happening. But it's probably the most direct admission to date and, given recent events, it comes at noteworthy time.

After making that acknowledgment, Obama reiterated many of the points he made when he addressed the CIA after greenlighting the release of the Bush-era torture memoranda--that torture makes the country less safe, is untrue to American values, and less effective than humane interrogation techniques.

Arlen Specter

NRSC Launches Calls To Remind Pennsylvania Dem Voters Of Specter's GOP Roots

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 8:22PM

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is taking some revenge on Arlen Specter, with a new robocall campaign targeted at Democratic primary voters in Pennsylvania -- reminding them of former President George W. Bush's support for Specter, in an effort to drive a wedge between Specter and the voters of his new party:

"I'm here to say it as plainly as I can, Arlen Specter is the right man for the United States Senate," Bush says, in the audio from a campaign ad from Specter's closely-fought 2004 primary against conservative challenger Pat Toomey. "I can count on this man -- see that's important. He's a firm ally when it matters most. I'm proud to tell you I think he's earned another term as the United States Senator."

That last line from Bush does have a certain dramatic irony, referring to a politician who switched parties five years later. A reader of ours has already told us they've received the call.

The NRSC has also set up a new Web page, Meet Democrat Arlen Specter, featuring some old Specter campaign ads from that 2004 primary, with the endorsements of George W. Bush and Rick Santorum, plus some video of Specter saying he'll stay a Republican, or criticizing Harry Reid, and all sorts of news clippings of Specter being a partisan Republican.

Full NRSC press release after the jump.

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MN-SEN

Cornyn Warns Against Danger Of 60 Dem Seats -- In Case Of "Unlikely" Coleman Loss

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 6:38PM

In a guest-post today at the conservative Power Line blog, NRSC chairman John Cornyn has an interesting line in terms of playing up the dangers of a filibuster-proof Democratic majority:

Second, in the unfortunate and unlikely event that Senator Norm Coleman loses his legal battle in Minnesota, Harry Reid will now have his long-coveted 60-seat, filibuster-proof supermajority in the United States Senate. With Nancy Pelosi firmly in control of the U.S. House of Representatives and President Obama just 100 days into his administration, Republicans will have lost the ability to meaningfully impact legislation in any way.

Note that Cornyn refers to a Coleman legal defeat as an "unlikely" event -- despite the fact that hardly any neutral observer would predict that Coleman will win his court fight.

Cornyn has to walk a very fine line here. He obviously needs to communicate to the base just how dangerous a 60-seat Democratic majority is -- but if he admits that such a thing is actually happening, then he's given away far too much in the final remaining battle of the 2008 election.

Arlen Specter

NRSC's Money Pitch: Stand Up Against Former Republican Arlen Specter

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 6:23PM

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is now trying to channel the understandable rage of their base regarding Sen. Arlen Specter's party switch towards a constructive end: Bringing in some cash.

At the NRSC's Web page, this contribution box pops up:

Not too subtle, but again it makes perfect sense. Don't curse the darkness -- turn on the light (or in this case, bring in some money).

Budget

The Budget Passes Both Houses--Specter, Republicans Vote No

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 6:02PM

The Senate has passed the President's budget by a vote of 53-43.

Just as earlier this month when the Senate passed it's version of the resolution (and just as in the House earlier today) not a single Republican voted for it. And just as last time, they were joined by Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Ben Nelson (D-NE). And just as last time, Sen. Arlen Specter voted against it, too. Except last time around he was a Republican.

I'll post the full roll call when it becomes available.

Late update: Statements from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell below the fold.

Late late update: Here's the roll call. Specter's still listed as a Republican. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) also voted with the Republicans, presumably over the issue of reconciliation.

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Arlen Specter

Rendell: Specter Will Probably Run Unopposed In 2010 Dem Primary

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 5:05PM

Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) was just interviewed by Neil Cavuto on Fox News, and he predicted that Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) will easily have full Democratic support in his 2010 primary.

"Well, I think that Arlen will probably wind up running unopposed, or without a serious challenger," said Rendell. "Look, the President of the United States has already endorsed Arlen, the Vice President of the United States has. Everyone knows Arlen and I are personal friends, go back to when he hired me as an assistant district attorney without asking me what party I belonged to. I think every major Democrat is gonna be for Arlen. And I think he's got a lot of inherent support with Democrats and independents all across the state."

So despite any rumblings about Joe Sestak or some other Dem possibly running, Rendell is predicting a clear field.

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Will Specter Vote For The Budget? An Early Test

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 3:48PM

When Pat Toomey announced that he'd be challenging Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania primary, we were prepared for Specter to tack to his right. And he did just that. After ushering forward and voting for the stimulus spending package, Specter voted for a Republican alternative budget that would have frozen spending. He announced his intent to oppose EFCA. And he withheld support from President Obama's OLC-chief designate Dawn Johnsen.

But then he ditched the Republican party and, with it, much of the incentive to do the bidding of conservatives. At about noon, he became a Democrat. At about 2:15, in a move that vexed liberals, he announced that he doesn't support Dawn Johnsen. A few hours later he voted to confirm the supposedly controversial Kathleen Sebelius to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This morning he appeared with Obama and other Democrats in a celebratory photo-op at the White House.

And tonight, he'll have another test.

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FL-SEN

Dems Release Preemptive Attack Ad Against Charlie Crist In Florida Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 3:35PM

The national Democrats are now going on the air for the first time in a key 2010 Senate race -- against a potential candidate who isn't even officially in the race yet!

The new TV ad from the DSCC takes on Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), who is widely viewed as being likely to run for the open GOP-held Senate seat in this perennial swing state:

"Crist enjoys being governor when he attends basketball games and Super Bowl activities and when he takes over sixty days off with no schedule," the announcer says. "But now, the job's getting tough and Crist wants out -- leaving Floridians with the mess."

It's not immediately clear just how extensive the ad buy might actually be.

Late Update: The DSCC tells me it should start airing in Tallahassee tomorrow, and may expand later.

Late Late Update: NRSC press secretary Amber Wilkerson gives us this comment: "The DSCC obviously knows they're in trouble in Florida because this reeks of desperation. Too bad they haven't learned that voters in the Sunshine State are looking for real solutions, accountability, and checks and balances in Washington - not another round of pithy negative attacks."

Arlen Specter

Inhofe: Specter's Switch Is "First Visible Evidence" Of GOP Comeback!

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 2:19PM

Now here's an interesting spin on the Arlen Specter switch. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) appeared on Fox News today, where he presented the case that Specter's switch is the first evidence that people are rebelling against Obama, and that the Republican Party is coming back!

Inhofe explained that this was a sign that Obama and the Democrats were overreaching, just as Bill Clinton did in 1993, and the people are rebelling against it just as they did in 1994:

"Now the evidence of this was found out when Arlen Specter made his decision," Inhofe explained. "And that is all of a sudden, we find out that Arlen Specter is down in the Republican Party, down in terms of his popularity. The guy that ran against him and was defeated by Arlen Specter in, six years ago, now is so far ahead of him that Arlen Specter's own advisers said there's no way that you can win this thing unless you change to the Democratic Party. Now to me, that's the evidence it's coming."

Inhofe appears to be thinking here that the state of opinion in the Republican Party is tantamount to the nation's opinion overall. This might be true enough if it's just applied to his home state of Oklahoma. But as we've learned in 2006, 2008 and recent months, this doesn't exactly apply to the whole country.

NY-20

Scott Murphy Sworn In As New Congressman For New York's 20th District

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 2:14PM

Rep. Scott Murphy (D-NY) was just sworn in to the House of Representatives, capping off a four-week process that has lasted since the photo-finish on the night of his special election way back on March 31.

Murphy has taken the upstate New York seat formerly held by U.S. Sen Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), whose appointment to the Senate caused the special election in this marginal district. It took over three weeks for the winner to be known as absentee ballots were counted, with Murphy up by 399 votes at the end of last week when his Republican opponent Jim Tedisco conceded the race.

Murphy's certificate of election has not actually been issued yet, as the state continues to go through the bureaucratic niceties of finalizing the vote count. But because the outcome is no longer in any doubt, Murphy was permitted to take the oath of office.

Late Update: A funny moment occurred during the swearing-in. Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the whole New York delegation to step forward. "Aren't there any Republicans from New York?" Pelosi asked rhetorically, and then chuckled. There are three GOP members out of 29, down from nine GOPers just four years ago.

Tea Party

Obama Mocks Fox, Teabaggers

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 1:53PM

Speaking at a town hall event in Arnold, MO earlier today,President Barack Obama took a swipe at Fox News and their tea bagging fans for their lack of seriousness. Watch:

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Climate Change

Climate Change Amendment Stricken From Budget

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 1:25PM

This is a little bit deep in the weeds, but you may recall that back in early April when the Senate was debating the budget, Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) introduced an amendment meant to prevent the Senate from passing climate change legislation through the reconciliation process, and it passed by a wide margin.

Well, in conference, that amendment was stripped out completely. Mike Johanns is very unhappy. But that doesn't mean that a cap-and-trade program will absolutely be established during the reconciliation process. And it doesn't mean that Democrats will be hanging the threat over Republicans' heads the way they are with health reform. In fact, the conference report basically says this won't happen. But technically there won't be anything (other than Senate politics) stopping Democrats from doing so.

IL-SEN

Poll: Illinois Dems Disapprove Of Burris -- He Would Lose Primary In 2010

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 12:48PM

A new survey of Illinois from Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Sen. Roland Burris appears to be a sitting duck in any Democratic primary, if he does indeed run in 2010.

Burris' approval rating among likely Democratic primary voters is only 27%, to 49% disapproval. In a primary against state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who has already declared his candidacy, Giannoulias leads with 49% to Burris at 20%. Adding Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who is publicly mulling a candidacy and will announce her intentions in June, it's Giannoulis 38%, Schakowsky 26%, Burris 16%.

If state Attorney General Lisa Madigan were to get in, though, she could take the whole field: Madigan 44%, Giannoulias 19%, Burris 13%, Schakowsky 11%. If Madigan were to run for governor instead, she also has a 45%-29% lead over the new Governor Pat Quinn, who took office after Rod Blagojevich was removed from office.

Budget

Budget Update: House Passes Final, Final Budget

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 11:57AM

The complete Roll Call isn't posted yet, but the final tally was 233-193. The Senate votes next, and then all of it--including the threat of an October 15 health and education reform deadline--will be a done deal. I'll update this post when that happens.

Late update: House Roll Call here. As you can see, it got zero Republican votes, just as the House budget resolution got zero votes, and just the stimulus got zero votes. A complete coincidence, I'm sure. Seventeen Democrats voted no as well.

MN-SEN

Franken Announces Chief Of Staff For Eventual Senate Office

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 11:52AM

Al Franken is moving further to present his victory in the Minnesota Senate race as a settled matter, with his campaign announcing that he has hired Drew Littman, a former staffer for Barbara Boxer, to be his chief of staff in Washington.

"I'm honored and excited to join Senator-elect Franken in Washington," Littman said in the press release. "Over my long career, I have had the privilege to work with many elected officials and organizations who believed in the same vision Al Franken will work towards as a Senator. I know that Al Franken is ready to serve and that he will work hard on behalf of Minnesota's working families. And I can't wait to help him get started."

Franken's office announced another hire last week, for the position of state director.

Full press release after the jump.

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Arlen Specter

Snowe: The GOP Did Leave Specter Behind

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 11:48AM

As I noted below, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) thinks the Republican party will be fine as long as it embraces "mainstream" Americans like Pat Toomey, who stick to their laurels and don't push conservative voters on to a trail of tears to the South. Perhaps Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) will turn to that advice for when, as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, he addresses the question, which he raised yesterday, of how to turn the GOP into a national party once more. Or perhaps he'll pay more attention to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who wrote penned for the New York Times a counterpoint of sorts to Jim DeMint's bizarre interpretation of Arlen Specter's move into the Democratic party.

"Republicans [have] turned a blind eye to the iceberg under the surface," she wrote, "failing to undertake the re-evaluation of our inclusiveness as a party that could have forestalled many of the losses we have suffered."

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Michael Steele

Steele Facing Threat To His Financial Control Of RNC

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 11:22AM

The Washington Times reports that Michael Steele is facing a new threat to his leadership of the Republican National Committee -- a proposed rule being circulated by some RNC members that would impose new restrictions and oversight measures against Steele's ability to spend money:

The Pullen resolution would make it a written rule that contracts of $100,000 or more be open to competitive bidding; that all checks be signed by two RNC officers; that party staff be prohibited from signing on behalf of an officer; and that all contracts be reviewed and approved by the members of the RNC executive committee.

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Michele Bachmann

Historian Michele Bachmann Blames FDR's "Hoot-Smalley" Tariffs For Great Depression

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 11:08AM

Make no mistake: When it comes to economics, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) knows her history -- even if that history is from another planet.

On Monday night, our friends at Dump Bachmann reported, Bachmann took to the House floor and paid tribute to the economic policies of Calvin Coolidge and the "Roaring 20s" (the era that ended with a massive monetary contraction and the Great Depression). One particular line really does stand out, though -- saying Franklin Roosevelt turned a recession into a depression through the "Hoot-Smalley" tariffs:

Here's what really happened: When Franklin Roosevelt took office, unemployment was already about 25%. And the tariff referred to here was actually the Smoot-Hawley bill, co-authored by Republicans Sen. Reed Smoot of Utah and Rep. Willis Hawley of Oregon, and signed into law by President Herbert Hoover.

Interestingly, this speech also happened on the same day as when Bachmann connected the 1970s swine flu outbreak to Democrat Jimmy Carter being president, even though it was actually Gerald Ford in office at the time.

Late Update: A shout-out to Liberal in the Land of Conservative for also noticing Bachmann's false attribution of the tariff bill to Roosevelt -- and also to Matt Yglesias for pointing to the metaphysical possibilities.

Arlen Specter

Both National Parties' Sites Still List Specter As A Republican

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 9:42AM

You can tell Sen. Arlen Specter's (D-PA) switch from the Republicans to the Democrats is still sinking in for the political world -- in fact, both national parties' Senate campaign committees still list him as a Republican on their pages for the 2010 election.

Here's the DSCC:

And the NRSC:

It's probably safe to say that this one is a likely Democratic pick-up.

Arlen Specter

DeMint: We Lost Pennsylvania Because 'Forced Unionization' Caused Republicans To Flee

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 9:18AM

There are two competing interpretations of Arlen Specter's move into the Democratic party. It's not clear why they're competing, because they're not by any means mutually exclusive. In fact, they're deeply connected. But that's how it's playing out: Either Specter became a Democrat because the Republicans moved too far to the right or Specter became a Democrat because he was facing a career ending primary in 2010. Strangely enough, even though Specter himself insists both factors contributed to his decision, very few people seem to have absorbed this.

One of those people is Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who says the Republican party's hitting the sweet spot. He attributes the non-viability of the Republican party in state's like Pennsylvania to the fact that voters have fled "forced unionization" in the northeast for the safety and comfort of the southern motherland.

Seriously.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 8:57AM

Obama And Biden Host Specter At White House Press Availability
President Obama and Vice President Biden publicly welcomed Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) to the Democratic Party at the White House earlier this morning -- fittingly, from the Diplomatic Room. "I think that I can be of assistance to you, Mr. President," said Specter. Obama said: "I don't expect Arlen to be a rubber stamp. In fact, I'd like to think that Arlen's decision reflects recognition that this administration is open to many different ideas and many different points of view."

Obama's Day Ahead: Town Hall In Missouri, News Conference From Washington
Following this morning's joint statement with Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), President Obama departed Andrews Air Force Base at about 8:30 a.m. ET, headed for St. Louis, Missouri. He will arrive in St. Louis at 10:30 a.m. ET, and will hold a town hall at 11:20 a.m. ET at Fox High School in Arnold, Missouri, discussing his first 100 days in office. He will depart from St. Louis at 2 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 4 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m. ET tonight, President Obama will hold a news conference.

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Arlen Specter

Specter's Switch: The Bigger Picture

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 7:28PM

I'm sure everybody's excited to read more about Arlen Specter. I know I can't wait to keep writing about him. But today's news will have a rather significant impact on a number of the seminal stories and meta-stories that define today's Washington, and it behooves us all to take stock.

Specter, as we've noted a number of times today, could well become the Democrats' 60th senator. But before that can happen, though, Democrats will need to get Al Franken seated, and today's move raises the stakes for both sides of that fight. If you thought Norm Coleman and the national Republican party had little incentive to throw in the towel when Franken represented the Democrats' 59th vote, they have considerably less incentive to call it quits now. If, as is widely presumed, the Minnesota Supreme Court decides in June or July to uphold Franken's victory, the pressure from Washington will be on Gov. Tim Pawlenty to do the unseemly thing and refuse to certify the result.

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Arlen Specter

Sebelius Confirmed To Health & Human Services, With Specter's Support

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 6:23PM

It's been a day for changing titles. Former Kansas governor was confirmed earlier this evening to be President Obama's Secretary of Health and Human Services. The vote was 65-31. Among the 65 was former Republican Arlen Specter (D-PA). We'll post the Roll Call when it comes down the pipe.

Interestingly, Specter also voted in support of an major piece of anti-fraud legislation earlier today, and, in that roll call, the Senate website still lists him as a Republican. Amateurs.

Anyhow, NARAL/Pro-Choice America has been pushing hard for Sebelius' confirmation, and the group's president, Nancy Keenan, had this to say:

We applaud the Senate's vote to confirm the eminently-qualified Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to serve in this critical position. Anti-choice advocates tried every desperate trick in the book to derail her confirmation, but this vote shows that a majority of senators understand that Americans are tired of the antagonistic politics of the past. As our country faces challenges on a number of fronts, especially on the issue of affordable health care, we look forward to ensuring that women's health and sound science are a priority, rather than the failed political maneuvering that damaged this agency during the previous Bush administration.

Late update: Roll call here. He's still listed as a Republican. Somebody should call the clerk!

Arlen Specter

Steele On Specter's Switch: "I'm Sure His Mama Didn't Raise Him This Way"

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 6:22PM

Earlier in the afternoon today, Michael Steele appeared on CNN and was asked whether he was surprised about the developments with Arlen Specter.

"No I'm not, to be honest with you I had a feeling," said Steele. "Sen. Specter had very few options at this point. He had stepped on the toes of many Republicans with his vote on the stimulus bill, which is a core principle in terms of our views on economics."

In the course of the interview, Steele elaborated on his displeasure with Specter for having betrayed Republicans who'd supported him in the past.

"For the senator to flip the bird back to Senator Cornyn and the Republican Senate Leadership, a team that stood by him, who went to the bat for him in 2004, to save his hide is not only disrespectful but down right rude," said Steele. "I'm sure his mama didn't raise him this way."

Arlen Specter

Who Will Be The Judiciary Committee's Ranking Member?

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 6:12PM

Thusfar, no decisions have been made with respect to Sen. Specter's committee assignments. At least, that's the official world. But here's the lay of the land.

As I noted earlier, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)--the senior member of the Judiciary Committee behind (at least until today) Arlen Specter--can not become its ranking member. His staff confirms it. The rules of the Senate Republican Conference forbid it. Hatch was chairman of that committee from 1995-2001 (with a brief interruption in 2001 thanks to Jim Jeffords) and then again from 2003-2005, and conference rules stipulate that "[o]nce a Senator has completed six years as Chairman of a committee, there will be no further opportunity for that Senator to serve as Ranking Member of that same committee if control of the Senate shifts and Republicans go into the Minority."

Behind Hatch, though, are Sens. Grassley (R-IA), Kyl (R-AZ), and Sessions (R-AL). Let's tackle them in reverse order.

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Arlen Specter

Pennsylvania Dems Welcome Specter, Point Towards 2010 Campaign Support

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 6:05PM

Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney put out this statement welcoming Arlen Specter to the party -- and essentially saying that Specter will have the state party's official support in 2010:

"The Pennsylvania Democratic Party welcomes Sen. Arlen Specter with open arms as he has been a tremendous influence on Pennsylvania and has always voted his conscience for the good of his constituents.

"It was the Republican Party that abandoned Arlen Specter, not the other way around. He has been good for the commonwealth and has taken courageous stands, such as supporting President Barack Obama's stimulus plan that is already helping hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.

"While the endorsement process is, obviously, a long time from now, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party has a long-standing practice of supporting Democratic incumbents."

Arlen Specter

Pennsylvania GOP Chairman: Specter Owes Every Republican Who Supported Him An Apology

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 5:58PM

Pennsylvania Republican Party chairman Rob Gleason put out this statement today on Arlen Specter's defection to the Democrats:

"I am deeply disappointed in Senator Arlen Specter's decision to leave the Republican Party, as he has benefited from the support of our Party for many years. It is apparent that he chose to act in his own self-interest and put his political ambitions first. The Republican Party has room for conservatives and moderates because we are the Party of ideas.

"I, like many of my fellow Pennsylvania Republicans, took Senator Specter at his word when he said that he would not switch parties, and I believe he owes every Republican who has supported him over the last three decades an apology. I would urge Senator Specter to do the right thing and proactively return any and all campaign contributions he has received in recent months to run as a Republican in the upcoming election. I am sure that most, if not all, of these donors would not have supported a Democrat candidate.

"Senator Arlen Specter can rest assured that we are committed to winning this seat back for the Republican Party in 2010. I am confident that we will win this seat back."

Dawn Johnsen

Republican Opposition Crumbling--Lugar To Support Johnsen

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 5:36PM

So much is in flux right now that it's hard to keep everything straight, but here's an important update. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) will support the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Johnsen is a professor at Indiana University--one of Lugar's constituents--and, as such, it makes sense that Lugar would be a swing vote.

Assuming nobody in the Democratic caucus (save, perhaps, it's newest member) chooses to obstruct, that leaves Democrats one vote shy of the 60-votes needed to break a potential Republican filibuster. And that doesn't account for the fact that a number of Republicans (moderates, and others who are on the record opposing the filibuster of presidential nominees) have yet to break silence.

Earlier today once and current Democrat Arlen Specter said he opposes Johnsen's nomination, but his staff was unable to confirm just yet whether that means he'd support a filibuster or not.

Arlen Specter

Biden: "I Welcome My Old Friend" Specter To The Democratic Party

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 5:21PM

Vice President Joe Biden released this statement on Arlen Specter's party switch:

"I welcome my old friend to the Democratic Party. Senator Arlen Specter is a man of remarkable courage and integrity. I know he will remain a powerful and independent voice for Pennsylvania and the country."

Arlen Specter

Menendez On Specter: 'I Look Forward To Supporting Him' And Keeping Seat Democratic In 2010

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 5:17PM

DSCC chairman Bob Menendez has released this statement on Arlen Specter's party switch:

"We welcome Senator Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party. The more the merrier. I just spoke with the Senator on the phone, told him that I look forward to supporting him and making sure this seat stays Democratic in November of 2010.

But today's news is proof positive that the Republican Party is so out of touch with Americans that they're losing one of its most prominent leaders. The Republican leadership in Congress, by obstructing and blocking progress at every turn, has poisoned the Republican party to a point where one of its own has to jump ship.

We thought Republicans may have hit rock bottom in November, but given their current strategy the hole they're digging keeps getting deeper. If Republicans continue to vote against progress and bet against the American economy, today's blow will be nothing compared to the long-term loss they will feel for years to come."

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann: Swine Flu Happens Under Dem Presidents

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 5:09PM

Michele Bachmann is at it again: Attributing flu pandemics to Democratic presidents.

Bachmann did an interview with the right-wing Pajamas Media, and had this to say:

"I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president Jimmy Carter," said Bachmann. "And I'm not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it's an interesting coincidence."

As the Minneapolis/St. Paul City Pages points out, Bachmann has the 1970s flu outbreak all wrong. It happened in 1976 when Gerald Ford was in office.

This also shows just how shallow Bachmann's historical understanding is. She could have easily also referred back to the infamous 1918 Spanish flu pandemic -- Woodrow Wilson was president at that time, don't you know!

Arlen Specter

Kaine: 'We Are Thrilled To Welcome Senator Specter'

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 4:48PM

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine has put out a statement welcoming Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party, simultaneously offering the newest Dem Senator the party's full support and castigating the GOP for driving away moderates.

Key quote:

"As Senator Specter noted, the Republican Party has drifted far to the right and seems more interested in ideology, conflict and obstruction than in working constructively to address the nation's problems, and no longer appeals to moderates, including Senator Specter. I commend Senator Specter on his decision to work with President Obama and Senate Democrats to help turn our economy around, create jobs and put the country back on the right track. We are thrilled to welcome Senator Specter into the Democratic fold and he can count on our full support."

Full statement after the jump.

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Harold Koh

Oh Yeah! Harold Koh's Nomination Hearing

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 4:47PM

I mentioned earlier that we'd be closely following today's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nomination of Harold Koh to be State Department Legal Adviser. But then--well, you know. I haven't forgotten, though, and here's a bit of an update.

You can read the prepared statements from committee chairman John Kerry (D-MA), ranking member Richard Lugar (R-IN), and Koh himself (all PDFs) here. However, if you're in the mood for some slightly denser, but more interesting reading, check out this Q&A. Lugar asked Koh a bunch of questions for the record (including on such hot-button issues as "transnational justice") in advance of the hearing and Koh responded in full last week.

A committee source says Lugar set a cordial and laudatory tone in his opening statement, and suspects that he will vote to move Koh's nomination out of committee when it meets to discuss business a week from today.

Arlen Specter

Franken Campaign Plays It Safe On Specter

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 4:36PM

Al Franken's campaign seems to be playing it cool regarding the ramifications for them of Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party -- that if Franken is seated, he would officially be the 60th Dem in the Senate, seriously raising the stakes of this whole fight.

I asked Team Franken for comment about Specter's switch, and the prospects of being that 60th Democrat. Spokesman Andy Barr told me: "Sen.-elect Franken looks forward to working with Senators of both parties to make progress on President Obama's agenda and move our country forward."

Al Franken might be looking forward to working with Senators of both parties, but chances are the Senators of the other party aren't looking forward to working with him -- or too eager to even let him have that chance.

Arlen Specter

Specter: A Conservative Railing Against Ultra-Conservatives

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 4:14PM

In a very interesting moment at his press conference today, Arlen Specter showed that he remains in many ways a small-c conservative -- it's just that he's not a complete and utter right-winger.

Specter railed against his former compatriots in the Republican Party for not supporting moderates, and being in the thrall of the Club For Growth, the right-wing group that was working to defeat him in the 2010 primary:

Republicans didn't rally to Wayne Gilchrest in Maryland -- he was beaten by the Club For Growth and the far right -- and lost the general election. Republicans didn't rally to the banner of Joe Schwarz in Michigan -- he was beaten by a conservative and the Club For Growth -- and they lost the general election. Republicans didn't rally to Heather Wilson in New Mexico last year, and she was beaten in a primary, and lost in the general election. The Club For Growth challenged Linc Chafee -- remember Linc Chafee? -- they made him spend all his money in the primary, and he lost the general. And had Linc Chafee been elected in 2006, the Republicans would have controlled the Senate in 2007 and '8, and I would have been chairman of a committee.

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Arlen Specter

Sestak: Specter Didn't Shape Republican Party

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 3:34PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) has released on official statement on the news that Sen. Arlen Specter has become a Democrat. To wit:

This shows the principle rule of politics: tomorrow is always another day -- as today was. This may be good for Arlen, politically; however, two key questions need to be answered. First, after 31 years in the military, I learned that you run for something, not against someone. Arlen has made a decision to leave a race because he could not win against someone. What needs to be known is what he is running for. Second, I watched then-Gov. Clinton and then-Sen. Obama take a leadership position in the Democratic Party and shape it. The leadership that would have been most impressive would be if Arlen had used his role to reshape the Republican Party that he said he had entered when it was a 'big tent,' but now is leaving because it has gotten too small. In short, I believe that the principles of what he is running for and his commitment to accountable leadership are questions that still need to be addressed.

Tomorrow's another day indeed. Specter's indicating that nothing will change about his politics now that he's a Democrat. It remains to be seen whether that will be reflected in his voting record from this point forward. But Sestak's statement is a warning that he oughtn't rest on his Republican laurels.

Arlen Specter

Sestak: I Can't Support Specter.... Yet

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 3:12PM

In recent weeks, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) has become one of the most visible figures in Pennsylvania politics, and his star is still rising. We noted a couple weeks ago that, in a number of ways, Sestak would be well positioned to run for Senate in 2010, but he's said all along that he's happy serving in the House and has no intention of attempting a switch.

Now, of course, the landscape is completely changed. And whether Sestak throws his hat in, or stays in the House, Pennsylvania Democrats will have to decide whether or not to embrace Democratic Senate candidate Arlen Specter. On that question, Sestak's saying 'not'--at least for now. Watch:

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Arlen Specter

Lieberman Welcomes "Another Independent Minded Democrat" To The Caucus

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 2:48PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (Democrat-turned-Independent Democrat, Connecticut) put out this statement welcoming Sen. Arlen Specter (Republican-turned-Democrat, Pennsylvania) to the Dem caucus:

"I enthusiastically welcome my good friend Arlen Specter into the Democratic caucus. It will be very good to have the company of yet another independent minded Democrat in the caucus!

"I have always admired Arlen as a man of deep principle who has been a bridge builder to get things done in the Senate. Arlen understands that we get things accomplished when we listen to the vital center of American politics. I know that Arlen will continue to make a major contribution to the Senate and the nation as an effective independent leader and problem solver."

Judd Gregg

Gregg: Democrats Trying To 'Roll The Minority' On Health Reform

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 2:43PM

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), ranking member on the Budget Committee, has an interesting position on the question of passing legislation through the budget reconciliation process. That is to say, he unequivocally opposes the procedure in all circumstances (unless those circumstances involve Republican agenda items like tax cuts). We've tracked his swings here pretty thoroughly, and noticed that he was at it again today on Fox News. Watch:

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Arlen Specter

Specter Opposes Johnsen

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 2:40PM

At his press conference just now, Sen. Arlen Specter (RD-PA) had a brief answer to the question of whether he now supported Dawn Johnsen's nomination to be chief of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. In short, no.

Now, there's a familiar vagueness to the question, and therefore to the answer. Specter said he "opposes" Johnsen, but, as with Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), that doesn't mean he'll vote to filibuster her nomination. We'll get a clearer answer on that question as soon as possible.

Late update: Specter's staff has no updates on the senator's position on cloture, but more details could be forthcoming soon.

Arlen Specter

Specter Cites GOP Primary Problems -- And He Still Does Not Support EFCA

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 2:38PM

At his press conference just now, Arlen Specter said bluntly that he was switching parties because of the serious prospect of losing his primary and he also said he will not be voting for cloture on the Employee Free Choice Act.

Specter said he supported the stimulus bill because he did not want to risk another 1929-style depression. And afterwards, he said he travelled his state -- and looked at poll data with his campaign staff -- finding that his chances in the GOP primary were "bleak."

"I'm not prepared to have my 29-year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate," said Specter, "not prepared to have that record decided by that jury."

And he stressed his personal independence. "I note that some of the news stories since my statement was released this morning are taking a look at the 60th vote -- and I will not be an automatic 60th vote," said Specter. "And I would illustrate that by my position on employee's choice, also known as card check. I think it is a bad bill, and I'm opposed to it and would not vote to invoke cloture."

Late Update: Here's Specter discussing EFCA:

Arlen Specter

Leahy Comments On Specter: I Think He'll Be Happier

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 2:17PM

As I hinted at in my previous post, it will be interesting (and important) to see what happens to Specter vis-a-vis the Judiciary Committee. Will he simply move on to the other side of Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and become the committee's senior Democrat? Or will there be more complicated machinations. Did leadership offer him a sweet deal that hasn't yet been revealed? And what does this mean for, among other issues, the nomination of Dawn Johnsen?

We'll try to get answers for all of those questions for you, but for now, here's Leahy's statement on the news of the day.

Senator Specter called me this morning. He and I have been friends for 40 years. We first met when we were both young prosecutors. We have a particular friendship, and he wanted me to know before it became in the press.

In talking with him, I had the impression that he went through much the same that Jim Jeffords of Vermont did. I had the impression that Senator Specter had a feeling that the Republican Party, a great party in this country, had left him - not the other way around.

I know how hard he has agonized. I believe he's going to be happier.

Arlen Specter

What Does Specter's Switch Mean For The Committees?

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 2:07PM

Answer: Still unclear. Everyone on the Hill is referring such questions to the Majority Leader's office, and the Majority Leader's office isn't saying much. The Democrats (including Harry Reid himself) are wrapping up their weekly caucus lunch and Reid has scheduled a press conference for 2:45. We'll keep our eye on it.

There are at least two important questions that still need to be answered. First, what will Specter's committee assignments be now that he's a Democrat. And second, who will replace him on his current committees now that he's switching over. He was, of course, ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and, for good measure, ranking member on subcommittees in the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Appropriations Committee. Those positions will now have to be handed down to other Republicas.

More on all that later. But for now, keep in mind that the next most senior minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee is Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). He used to chair that committee, and there may be term limit rules that prevent him from taking Specter's place. Behind Hatch are Iowa's Chuck Grassley (ranking member on Senate Finance) and Arizona's Jon Kyl (the minority whip). If they don't swap out those coveted positions for Specter's slot on Judiciary, next in line would be...Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL).

PA-SEN

Pennylvania Dem Senate Candidate: I'm Still In, Even With Specter's Switch

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 2:06PM

Joe Torsella, former head of the National Constitution Center and currently a candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania in 2010 -- the seat now held by Arlen Specter -- has put out this statement saying he's still in the race:

"I decided to run for the United States Senate from Pennsylvania for one simple reason: I believe we need new leadership, new ideas, and new approaches in Washington. It's become obvious that the old ways of doing business might have worked for the special interests, but they haven't worked for the rest of us.

"Nothing about today's news regarding Senator Specter changes that, or my intention to run for the Democratic nomination to the Senate in 2010 - an election that is still a full year away."

Torsella raised $593,000 in the past quarter, and had $583,000 cash on hand. By contrast, Specter brought in $1.28 million, and has $6.74 million cash on hand, and is likely to have the full backing of the Democratic establishment against Torsella or any other Democratic primary challenger.

Arlen Specter

DCCC Celebrates Specter Switch

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 1:53PM

The national Democratic Party is already celebrating the party switch of Sen. Arlen Specter (R-turned-D-PA), with the DCCC sending out an e-mail thanking supporters for bringing change to America.

That's right, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, not the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Your incredible grassroots support for President Obama's economic agenda is not only proving that the Republicans' "just say no" approach is wrong for America but it's also helping drive proud Democratic candidates like Scott Murphy to victory and driving courageous leaders like Senator Specter away from their party.

Thank you again for keeping up the fight to bring change to Washington.

Technically speaking this is not a fundraising letter, as there's no explicit appeal for money, though there is standard link at the bottom asking for contributions.

Full e-mail after the jump.

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Toomey: Specter Was Against 60 Democrats Before He Became 60th Democrat

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 1:34PM

The Toomey campaign has weighed in on Sen. Arlen Specter's decision to become a Democrat (and, therefore, to drop out of the Pennsylvania Republican primary).

"Senator Specter's decision is in keeping with his record. He is more at home in the Democratic Party than the Republican Party. That has been true for decades, not just true today.

In recent weeks, Senator Specter has made numerous statements about how important it is to deny Democrats the 60th seat in the U.S. Senate and how he categorically intended to remain a Republican to prevent one-party dominance in Washington.

What Pennsylvanians must now ask themselves is whether Senator Specter is in fact devoted to any principle other than his own reelection.

Emphasis mine. And Toomey has a point. Just last month, Specter said, "I think each of the 41 Republican senators, in a sense -- and I don't want to overstate this -- is a national asset.... [I]f one was gone, you'd only have 40, the Democrats would have 60, and they would control all of the mechanisms of government."

Arlen Specter

Specter Looks Happy To Switch

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 1:23PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) briefly spoke to reporters outside his office today, saying he would explain his plans at a press conference this afternoon.

A reporter asked Specter what he would say to a crowd of his visiting constituents -- who for their part then began applauding. "I don't have to say anything to them," said Specter, with a big bright smile. "They've said it to me."

Michael Steele

Steele: Specter Left GOP Because Of His Left-Wing Voting Record, Would Have Lost Primary

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 12:59PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele has released this statement on Arlen Specter's party switch:

"Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not.

Let's be honest-Senator Specter didn't leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.

Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don't do it first."

McConnell Out Of Commission When Specter Announced Party Switch

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 12:56PM

Here's an interesting tidbit about the big, giant, Potentially Earth-Shattering news that Sen. Arlen Specter will now be Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA). Intentionally or otherwise, Specter planned his announcement at a time when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would be indisposed.

McConnell, along with the rest of the congressional leadership, was, at the time of the announcement, attending a ceremony commemorating the unveiling of a bust of Sojourner Truth--the famed 19th century abolitionist and women's rights activist. A source in attendance confirms that he left the ceremony about a half an hour ago to attend a scheduled vote on the Senate floor.

It's unclear if that means McConnell was left in the dark about the plans. as a point of reference, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)--chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee)--wrote a letter to Pennsylvania Republicans two weeks ago endorsing the man who today decided he didn't want to be a Republican at all.

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Arlen Specter

Why Specter Did It -- And Had To Do It

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 12:48PM

So why exactly has Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA D-PA) switched parties?

It really comes down to electability -- specifically electability as a Republican. Specter's own statement acknowledged that his support for the stimulus bill has made his position untenable with the GOP:

It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

Probably the most important point is here is the demographic changes going on in Specter's home state. Pennsylvania is a closed-primary state, and the ranks of registered Republicans, the folks eligible to vote in the GOP primary, shrunk last year. In 2008, between 150,000 and 200,000 registered GOPers switched to the Democratic Party in order to vote in the contentious primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Let's take a look at the deeper numbers -- and how the state's reduced GOP electorate has pulled harder to the right, making this move necessary as a simple matter of political survival.

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Reid: 'Specter And I Have Had A Long Dialogue' About Party Switch

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 12:36PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has put out a statement on the news that Sen. Arlen Specter (formerly R- now D-PA) is switching parties.

I have known Senator Specter for more than a quarter-century. He has always been a man of honor and integrity, and a fine public servant.

Senator Specter and I have had a long dialogue about his place in an evolving Republican Party. We have not always agreed on every issue, but Senator Specter has shown a willingness to work in a bipartisan manner, put people over party, and do what is right for Pennsylvanians and all Americans.

I welcome Senator Specter and his moderate voice to our diverse caucus, and to continuing our open and honest debate about the best way to make life better for the American people.

You see an indication there--no big surprise--that this has been tossed around for some time now. But not everybody seemed to be as queued in as Harry Reid. More on that momentarily.

Arlen Specter

Arlen Specter Switches Parties

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 12:04PM

Arlen Specter has announced that he is switching parties, and running for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary. This now puts the Democrats at 59 Senate seats -- and would be the magic 60 seats, assuming Al Franken is eventually seated from Minnesota.

A recent Rasmussen poll showed that Specter was trailing his conservative challenger in the Republican primary, 2004 opponent Pat Toomey, by a margin of 51%-30%. Toomey was heavily capitalizing on Specter's support for the stimulus package.

From his statement:

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

...

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords' switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

Kudos to Michael Crowley, by the way, for apparently getting this first.

Full Specter statement after the jump.

Late Update: I run through some of the math here, showing why Specter simply had to do it in order to survive politically.

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MN-SEN

Coleman: Whoever Wins Senate Race Will Have 'A Cloud Hanging Over Them'

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 11:12AM

Norm Coleman is taking an interesting rhetorical tack in the continued spin war among the Minnesota press. Coleman spoke to local newspaper company ECM's editorial board on Friday, and commented that the winner of this Senate race will always face serious questions.

"No matter who wins the race, there's always going to be a cloud hanging over them -- did they really get more votes than the other guy," said Coleman. "That's a reality. And there's nothing you can do to change that."

It really is worth asking why someone would be litigating endlessly to be declared the winner, while simultaneously saying aloud that whoever wins will face doubts over democratic legitimacy. One possibility is that Norm could be planning for the contingency of Franken winning -- and thus would want to create an environment that continually undermines his opponent.

Another question, which I've asked before: Where were you in 2000, Norm, when we really needed you?

Koh To Testify Today--Fun Video To Follow

Brian Beutler | April 28, 2009, 9:50AM

Harold Koh will face the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this afternoon, and, barring any unusual shenanigans, his nomination to be State Department Legal Adviser will move closer to the floor. But today's hearing presents us with an opportunity to take the temperature of rank and file Republicans, who have decided to make an issue of Koh because, they say, Koh is a "radical transnationalist" who, through undue deference to international institutions and treaty obligations, will subvert and destroy the U.S. legal system.

Of course, this argument has little if any purchase among liberals, moderates, and academics. Two prominent conservatives--Ted Olson (who served as OLC-Chief under Ronald Reagan and Solicitor General under George Bush) and Ken Starr (the independent counsel who pursued Bill Clinton with unusual vehemence)--have even come forward to call it nonsense.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 8:59AM

Congressional Dems Reach Budget Agreement
House and Senate Democratic negotiators agreed Monday night to a budget outline for 2010, including the parliamentary ability to pass health care legislation without the threat of a Republican filibuster. The $3.5 plan also includes funds for clean energy and other domestic programs, and a tax increase for individuals making more than $200,000 or couples making more than $250,000 per year.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with FBI Director Robert Mueller and other senior officials at FBI Headquarters, at 10:45 a.m. ET. He will then deliver remarks to FBI employees at 11:10 a.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET, Obama will meet with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. At 3:05 p.m. ET, he will present the National Teacher of the Year Award in the Rose Garden. At 4:30 p.m. ET, he will meet with Defense Sec. Robert Gates, and at 7:30 p.m. ET he and the First Lady will attend a reception for Cabinet secretaries in the Blue Room.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2009, 8:59AM

Congressional Dems Reach Budget Agreement
House and Senate Democratic negotiators agreed Monday night to a budget outline for 2010, including the parliamentary ability to pass health care legislation without the threat of a Republican filibuster. The $3.5 trillion plan also includes funds for clean energy and other domestic programs, and a tax increase for individuals making more than $200,000 or couples making more than $250,000 per year.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with FBI Director Robert Mueller and other senior officials at FBI Headquarters, at 10:45 a.m. ET. He will then deliver remarks to FBI employees at 11:10 a.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET, Obama will meet with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. At 3:05 p.m. ET, he will present the National Teacher of the Year Award in the Rose Garden. At 4:30 p.m. ET, he will meet with Defense Sec. Robert Gates, and at 7:30 p.m. ET he and the First Lady will attend a reception for Cabinet secretaries in the Blue Room.

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Environment

Waxman Forced To Delay Action On Climate Bill

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2009, 6:31PM

We noted earlier that MoveOn.org is raising money to fund an ad campaign targeting conservative House Democrats who might stand athwart the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, still in its infancy.

Well they may want to ramp things up a bit. The bill was scheduled to be marked up this week, but Waxman just delayed further action until next week, citing "productive discussions between members". According to the Wall Street Journal, "[t]he delay indicates that the House Democratic leadership is having difficulty rounding up votes to move the bill forward, amid disagreements over which industries and regions of the country should bear the burden for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions."

Democrats from industrial and coal-dependent states have expressed concerns that the climate bill would sharply raise energy costs and hurt the economy in their states.

If you thought the stimulus was a slog, and think health reform will be harder still, just wait for the climate change wars.

Torture

Poll: Narrow Majority Favors Investigation Of "Harsh Interrogation Techniques"

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2009, 5:01PM

A new Gallup poll finds that a narrow majority of Americans favor investigations of interrogation methods -- though it's not a resounding mandate, relative to other issues.

The question as asked is: "Would you favor or oppose a government investigation into the use of harsh interrogation techniques of terrorism suspects?" The result is 51% in favor to 42% against. From the pollster's analysis:

While a slim majority favors an investigation, on a relative basis the percentage is quite low because Americans are generally quite supportive of government probes into potential misconduct by public officials. In recent years, for example, Americans were far more likely to favor investigations into the firing of eight U.S. attorneys (72%), government databases of telephone numbers dialed by Americans (62%), oil company profits (82%), and the government's response to Hurricane Katrina (70%).

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Dawn Johnsen

Sebelius' Filibustered Nomination To Move Forward--Why Not Johnsens?

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2009, 4:58PM

We haven't been following Kathleen's Sebelius' confirmation fight as closely as we have those of some other Obama nominees because, initially, she seemed like a shoe-in. The Senate Finance Committee advanced her nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services by a wide margin just last week. But in the wake of some complaints from anti-abortion groups--including about her April 23 decision to veto the latest in a series of efforts by the Kansas legislature to limit late term abortions--she'll now be subjected to a cloture vote (or, if you don't speak Congress-ese, a filibuster).

Her initially-non-controversial nomination will likely come to a vote tomorrow, though, and she'll likely clear the 60 vote hurdle with the help of Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and possibly others.

But, of course, there's another female Obama nominee who's running into some trouble.

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Barack Obama

Obama's First 100 Days, And The Polls

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2009, 4:10PM

With President Obama's first 100 days nearly finished, let's take a look at how he's done in the polls, from the honeymoon to the present.

Obama's approval rating remains solid, but has fallen by about ten points as the honeymoon effect has worn off, while disapproval is up by about 15 points due to the loss of soft support and some initial undecideds. And the system appears to have found a temporary equilibrium state, a general range that could potentially hold until future events disrupt it.

The Pollster.com graph tells the story:



One thing to note is that Obama's support has gone down since the initial grace period around inauguration -- but during March, it basically leveled out. The growth in disapproval has been a bit higher than the decrease in approval, probably because the honeymoon had a mixture of people who would normally disapprove instead approving or being up in the air, but have now made up their minds.

Some further analysis after the jump.

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MoveOn Targets Democratic Climate Change Obstructionists

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2009, 3:30PM

Speaking of the 'bad guys' centrists, the group MoveOn.org is raising money to fund ads intended to run in the districts of Democratic members who may oppose House efforts to advance climate change legislation.

In particular, the ads would target Reps. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Charles Melancon (D-LA), and Charles Gonzalez (D-TX)--all from either oil, coal, or manufacturing states. Boucher used to head the subcommittee with jurisdiction over this issue, but he swapped out this winter with Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), who, along with Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), co-authored the bill in question.

Today, the New York Times reports that Boucher--a veteran environmentalist foe--wants the Waxman-Markey bill all-but-gutted.

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Michele Bachmann

National Dems Join In On Bachmann-Watching

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2009, 2:57PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) seems to be emerging now in a very important role for the Republican Party: To be the leading bogeyman for the Democrats, now that folks like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Rick Santorum, Jesse Helms, etc., are all long gone and out of office.

The DCCC is now getting in on the Bachmann game, launching BachmannWatch.com:

Rather than focus on the easier target of Bachmann's record of extremism, McCarthyism and talk of revolution, the Dems are instead setting out to pro-actively debunk things she's said that simply aren't true. An example:

$1430 for Everyone in the World?

BACHMANN CLAIMS...

"The amount of money that's been committed by this Democrat government already, the amount of money that they have committed, your tax money to spend, would equal, and I'm not making this up, a check in the amount of $1,430 written to every man, woman, child in the world."

http://minnesotaindependent.com/26721/bachmanns-statements-on-stimulus-raise-a-few-eyebrows

THE FACTS Basic math: dividing the $789 billion recovery package by the estimated world population of 6.7 billion only equals $116.

Check out the press release announcing the site, after the jump.

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Harry Reid

In Letter, Reid Sends Warning Shot At Senate Republicans--Cooperate On Health Care

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2009, 12:34PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has sent a letter to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warning that--as we reported Friday--Democrats will give Republicans until mid-October to reach a compromise on comprehensive health care legislation before the Democrats use the budget reconciliation process to circumvent the filibuster and pass reform.

Nearly 46 million Americans - including 15 percent of your constituents in Kentucky - have no health insurance, and the problem grows worse by the day. In Nevada, more than one out of three people under the age of 65 went without health insurance during 2007 and 2008 - and more than three-quarters of them went without health care for six months or longer.

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Newt Gingrich

Gingrich's Many Cap-and-Trade Distortions

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2009, 12:27PM

On Friday, I posted a clip of Newt Gingrich's testimony before the House Energy & Commerce committee, in which the former House Speaker stood by misleading GOP charges that cap-and-trade legislation will cost the average family thousands of dollars a year.

We've been over much of this before--the most famous Republican talking point has its roots in an MIT study, which estimates that the government will initially collect $366 billion in revenue from a cap-and-trade bill every year. Republicans assumed that industry would pass this cost on to consumers, divided that number by an estimate of the number of households in America and--voila--concluded that, on average, each household would be responsible for $3,128 worth of increased energy costs.

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MN-SEN

Dem Petition Gets 100,000 Signatures Asking For Norm Coleman's Concession

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2009, 11:35AM

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's online petition asking Norm Coleman to finally concede defeat in the Minnesota Senate race has now reached 100,000 signatures, DSCC communications director Eric Schultz has just told me.

"The numbers speak for themselves," said Schultz.

"People across the country want Norm to give up," he explained, "because they want that 59th Democratic Senator to get the Obama agenda passed."

It's worth pointing out that this is probably the same underlying reason that a lot of Republicans want for Norm to not give up.

Barack Obama

DNC Ad Marks First 100 Days' "Foundation For Change"

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2009, 10:34AM

The Democratic National Committee has unveiled this new TV ad, celebrating President Obama's first 100 days:

"The First 100 Days," the on-screen text says. "Laying A Foundation For Change." The ad is set to air Tuesday and Wednesday, on national cable and in the D.C. media market.

Barack Obama

Obama Official: Conservative Dems Are 'Bad Guys'

Brian Beutler | April 27, 2009, 9:36AM

The fact that President Obama's agenda routinely gets fewer Republican votes than you can count on one hand has become something of a running joke in Washington, and goes a long way toward explaining the acrimony between the two parties today. The administration may have been unaware that "bipartisanship" wouldn't work in practice, but they learned that lesson quickly.

But there's a more complicated, intraparty relationship--the one between party leaders and conservative Democrats--that's at least as crucial, and that's giving the administration a harder time. As we've documented, here, the White House and party leaders on the Hill have gone out of their way to squelch grassroots efforts to target Blue Dog Democrats in the House and conservative Democrats in the Senate, and, for the most part, those groups have complied. But how does the administration really feel about them?

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2009, 9:00AM

NYT: Exceptions To Iraq Deadlines Are Proposed
The New York Times reports that the American and Iraqi governments will begin negotiating possible exceptions to the June 30 deadline for withdrawing U.S. combat troops from cities, focusing on Mosul in the North and some parts of Baghdad. Iraqi officials have agreed to classify U.S. bases in the Baghdad area as technically outside the city limits, thus holding to the letter of the agreements.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama is speaking at 9 a.m. ET, to the National Academy of Sciences annual meeting. At 2 p.m. ET, he will welcome the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team. And at 5 p.m. ET, he will attend a reception with foreign economic, finance and environmental ministers.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2009, 1:04PM

Gibbs States White House Reticence On Truth Commission
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stated the White House's reluctance for a truth commission on the torture issue, deferring instead to the ongoing work of the Senate Intelligence Committee: "Well, I think the president had great fears that the debate that you've seen happen in this town on each side of this issue, at the extremes, has -- that's taken place would be what would envelop any commission that looked backward. That's why his focus, David, the whole time is how we look forward in this country."

Poll: Close Public Divide On Torture
A new ABC/Washington Post poll finds a majority of Americans supporting President Obama's decision to release the torture memos: 53% in favor, to 44% again. A slim 51%-47% majority supports investigation of whether laws were broken in the treatment of terrorism suspects. At the same time, it's a close divide on whether the U.S. should consider using torture in some cases: 49% against it, versus 48% who say there are cases where it should be considered.

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