2010 US Presidential Election

[lord caedus]

This thread is awesome, keep up the good work guys!

Also, disputed, I love your posts, but I noticed a continuity error: You've referred to the female Senator from Maine as both Caroline & Laura Dempsey.

[disputed]

Lord Caedus - good spot. The senator from Maine is now officially Caroline Dempsey! I've edited accordingly.

[disputed]

msnbc.com, Wednesday April 15th

Questions Remain over Budget Vote Defeat

The fall out continued last night following the defeat in the senate of the 2011 budget resolution with a number of un named Democratic sources claiming that White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman and Director of Budget and Management Julia McBride had clashed over the exactly who was responsible for the inability to secure the resolutions passage.

It’s believed that Lyman had refused to entertain last minute alterations suggested by Senator Bill Armstrong (R – CO) and supported by McBride. Sources close to Armstrong believe that this refusal on the part of Lyman resulted in the loss of the votes of Colorado’s senior senator, Idaho’s Chris Carrick and West Virginia’s Brent Harrison.

The White House offered no comment.

[disputed]

Politico.com, Wednesday April 15th

Walken To Release Medical Records

Presidential hopeful Glen Walken has announced that he will publish his full medical history by the end of next week.

The former acting President faced numerous questions on his health during his last run four years ago and many credited this as one of the main reasons for his failure to secure the nomination. It seems that the campaign are taking a much more proactive approach this time round; Walken has reportedly shed around 60 pounds since November and will now make his full medical history available long before the likely calls to do so.

Campaign manager Anne Stark announced “the President intends to be completely open and honest with the voters. He’s in great health and he feels it’s important to let people know that.”

[Alexander Hamilton]

Walken has lost 60 pounds!?! Has anyone told John Goodman about this? Full disclosure: I once ran into Mr. Goodman at the University of Virginia Bookstore. He was buying UVa souvenirs and was very polite and low key. I was too reticent to ask him anything about the West Wing which was still playing at the time. Hw was then, and I believe still is, a very big man.
Disputed, are you aware there that was a Senator Bill Armstrong (R-CO) who served from 1979 to 1991? Have our universe and the West Wing universe converged?

[Alexander Hamilton]

Disputed and Mr. Bunny,
One further thought: I am glad to see that Senator Chris Carrick is in the thick of the budget fight. I thought Tom Skerritt did a fine job portraying a complex character with both good and bad motives and I regret that the West Wing did not use the Carrick character more as a sort of "anti-Santos". That is, a conservative Democrat who could not follow the Bartlett and Santos policies and for both policy and personal reasons jumped to the GOP.
Since the West Wing universe is also in the midst of an economic crisis, do we have any idea as to who President Santo's economic team is? Are some of the Senators mentioned during the series a possibilityfor the post of Secretary of the Treasury?

[disputed]

Mr Hamilton,

Thus far the only mentioned members of Santos' economic team is the somewhat beleaguered Treasury Secretary Christopher Parker and Director of Budget and Management, Julia McBride. They seem to be experiencing problems with their economic policies so some changes may well be ahead.

Bill Armstrong was based on a character listed in the politicians list from the show, so I'd guess that there is some sort of nod to the original Senator Armstrong in there.

[Peter_Winchester]

From Jefferson Lives Political Comment Site
Strategy Sessions 7*
From: The Strategy Group
To: MS
Not the best week, but it could have been far worse. Obviously, we need to focus on our image in the fallout of the budget vote. On the plus side, the Republicans are squabbling amongst themselves, and don't seem to be in any position to gain much out of it.

Agreeing to the Republican demands for spending cuts will look like a climb-down, and will severely undermine your authority. Remind this country who's the president. Instead, you should rework the budget in a way that makes no actual difference and send it back. Release a statement saying that we're working to help American jobs and American families whilst the Republicans are more interested in petty political point-scoring and ideological coups, etc, etc. Put the onus on the Majority Leader to do something.

On the other hand, it's clear that Josh Lyman has got to go. The man is too divisive and too polarizing for CoS. Atfer this budget thing has gone away, maybe offer him Treasury Secretary? Brief that you have enormous confidence in him, etc, etc. Then, we blame him for the rest of the economic screw ups.

As for Parker...... we might need a human sacrifice to pin the economic woes on. Offer him some low cabinet post, which he'll reject, and then get rid of him. Problem sorted.

We need to make as much mileage as possible out of the G20 summit. Our re-election campaign needs to focus on Matt Santos as a world statesman in difficult times. Lots of photocalls of you with Green, Ehrhart, d'Astier, etc, etc.

Let us know your thoughts,

The Strategy Team

*A slightly satirical advisory column, based on the New Statesman's "Tactical Briefing". Not really meant to be taken entirely seriously..

[disputed]

Washingtonpost.com, Thursday April 16th

Walken and Sullivan Add to Calls For Wendt to Drop Out

Two of the front runners for the Republican nomination for President yesterday added their voices to the growing calls for South Carolina congressman Sam Wendt to end his run for President.

Former acting President Glen Walken and the former Governor of West Virginia Ray Sullivan, who were both in California attending a fundraiser for prospective Senatorial candidate Richard Lassiter, issued a joint statement saying “in light of the comments made by Congressman Wendt we both feel that he has shown complete disregard for the party, the other candidates and the country as a whole. As such we are calling on him to withdraw his candidacy. Ours must be a party that is open to everyone.”

Walken, a long time friend of the South Carolina congressman, later added “Sam clearly has some problems he needs to work through, but he can’t do that in the spotlight of national campaign.”

When asked about the specifics of Wendt’s comments he added “We must be totally committed to helping to improve life for every single American, with no exceptions. The comments regarding Congressman Skinner were disgraceful and we must work to ensure that discrimination of this kind is not part of the Republican Party”

[disputed]

Cbsnews.com, Thursday April 16th

Former Senator Attacks Berryhill

Former South Dakota Senator Wendell Tripplehorn yesterday attacked former Secretary of State Lewis Berryhill for what he described as “despicable disloyalty”.

Tripplehorn, who was in Florida promoting his book “Public Service my way”, was pressed to respond to claims that surfaced over the weekend that he may consider challenging for the nomination if Berryhill seems likely to win.

“I have absolutely no intention of running for President in 2010; President Santos has my complete support. He is doing an outstanding job in extremely trying times.”

Tripplehorn has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the 2010 gubernatorial election in South Dakota and was believed to have been vetted for the role of Secretary of Commerce in 2006.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Newsweek, April 20, 2009 George Rich Column
"The Lion, the Lamb and the Ass"

It has oft been said that it is dangerous for the lamb to lie down with the lion. However, in the strange relationship between our President and his Secretary of State it has been difficult for this writer, and others, to determine who was the lion and who was the lamb, or if either one of them was a lion. Over the last three years as this mismatched pair have stumbled and bumbled from one misbegotten G-20 meeting to another useless G-8 meeting, from one depressing Gaza Working Group meeting to another mind numbing Kazakstan Four Power meeting, leaving a trail of hazy words and enough warm and fuzzy promises to equip every American with a pair of comfortable slippers, this writer has dispaired of seeing or hearing anything clear and true from either of these sheep in sheep's clothing.
However, with the world financial system close to meltdown, with the American economy at a standstill and with the President's budget the plaything of an attention deficit disorder Congress, a lion's roar has finally been heard. From the salons of Georgetown, to the lobbyist's lairs of K Street, the town is buzzing over the shot sent over the bow of the neo-protectionists of the Senate. And lo and behold this strike against the attempt to raise tarriffs and stifle international trade did not come from Matt "I voted for CAFTA before I voted against it" Santos but from the panther of the citrus groves, Arnold Vinick.
In a clear statement blasting the attempts of certain Democrats to pass "protect American workers" amendments to the budget, Secretary of State Vinick declared that such attempts not only violated U.S. commitments to NAFTA, CAFTA and the WTO but would have the same deleterious effect on the American ecomomy as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930.
Of course the real villain in this story, is little Josh Lyman (As an aside, why does no one call him Joshua? Is it because he has not earned a grown up name?) Mr. Lyman's combination of arrogance and incompetence has resulted in an impotent President, an out of control Congress and an American public averting their eyes from a train wreck of a budget process. At one particularly dark moment of the budget fight, when the views and actions of the White House were as clear as mud, one leading Western GOP Senator was told not to worry about Lyman's attempt to reach a deal with the neo-protectionists because "he was his own worst enemy". After pondering this for a moment, this Senator replied, "Not while I am alive".
Such are the results of trying to merge the worst aspects of a University of Texas frat house with a pretentious Yale undergraduate Political Science bull session.
(OOC Notes; I leave it to the readers of this thread to guess which political commentator I have so clumsily attempted to copy. I do not share Mr. Rich's total disdain for Josh Lyman, but I do admit to sometimes being amazed at his inability to predict the consequences of his political and personal decisions. Mr. Rich may have forgotten (or decided to ignore) that Matt Santos went to Annapolis undergraduate and was not in a fraternity at UT Law School. Lyndon Johnson is credited with first using the "not while I am alive" comment about a fellow Senator.)

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Thursday April 16th
Haffley goes on the attack against Presidential Rivials
Former Speaker of the House and current Congressman Jeff Haffley of Washington state launched into an attack on all his fellow rivials for the GOP nomination. Unlike Congressman Sam Wendt's remarks last week, they where not personnel.
Speaker at a fund-raiser in Cidar Rapids, Iowa he said Ray Sullivan "Was trying to please everyone, but he stood for the defeated Vinick brand of the party".
On General Nicholas Alexander he said he was" not a real Republican, he admits he thinks Newman and Bartlet where good Presidents- what more do you need to know". About Governor Pratt "He is trying to re-event himself as a Conservative, when Tennessee Governor he was regarded as a liberal Republican". On Governor Reed he said "Personally I like Mike, he made that great speech at the last convention, but you do not elect a man President because he gave one good speech in prime-time three years ago". On Former Acting President and Former Speaker of the House Glenn Allen Walken whose entry into the race seems to have hurt the Haffley campaign the most said "I don't understand why Glenn has got back into the race, he had his chance in 2006 and lost, what has changed between then and now?". As for Matt Skinner "Matt has not deserved the comments about his private life, he is a good Republican Congressman, but he does not have the expereince or appeal to win the nomination, let alone the Presidency".
Asked about President Santos and the current Budget crisis "It is clear to me that this problem, has been caused by one man with the largest ego in Washington DC, Josh Lyman. The President must sack him now, but as always with this President he will delay, dither, before making a decision or no decision".
Also asked why he thought he would make a better President "Because this country needs a serious level headed President, for these serious and dangerous time we live in".

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Friday April 17th 2009
Former President's son meets with top Republicans
Richard Lassiter (56) the oldest son of former President Owen Lassiter had a morning meeting with several top Republicans, including Former RNC Chairman Steve Hodder, his fathers Former Sec. of State Bobby Bodine, the head of the ACA Rev. Don Butler, and Former California Congressman Pete Ross.
It is belived that the meeting was to discuss if Lassiter was going to stand for the Senate next year.
Lassiter, has made his name as crime-busting DA in Los Angles, and is popular with both Republicans and Democrats.
His mother former First Lady, Libby Lassiter is also belived to be pushing forward her son into a run.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Mr. Bunny,
I have many English friends and one of our favorite topics of conversation is the difference between American English and the King's English. One of the most interesting differences in word usage deals with politics.
American politicians "run" for office while English politicians "stand" for office. How do you suppose this difference started? The British usage certainly sounds more dignified while the American usage better brings to mind the hectic hurly burly of modern politics.
Please keep up the good work, I can't wait to see how the 2010 race ends up!!

Your obedient servant,
AH

[Peter_Winchester]

From the Daily Mail, April 16th
TORIES ASSEMBLE "ATTACK SQUAD"
Tory leader James Taylor has completely re-organised the Conservative electoral strategy group, bringing in several key media experts in preparation for the upcoming European Union elections, as well as the possibility of a general election later this year. A notable inclusion in this group is Jacqui Boulter, who worked on the Arnold Vinick presidential campain in the US in 2006. Although the campaign was ultimately unsuccesful, most political commentators believe that it laid the groundwork for the resurgence of the Republican Party in recent years, following the landslide defeat in thr 2002 presidential election. The challenges faced by the Republican Party in the US in presenting conservatism as a modern ideology are similar to those faced by Taylor; trying to sell a new Conservative Party to a public that still remembers the shambles of the Graty government.

From the Guardian
Comment: Andrea Jacques
Getting the traditionalist Conservatives to accept Samuels as Shadow Chancellor was certainly a challenge, but the real test of James Taylor's leadership will be the EU elections this June. Despite the best efforts of Taylor, Samuels and Matthews, the Conservative Party is still fundementally divided over Europe; every time the Conservatives get into power they have lurched from one extreme to the other. The extreme euroscepticism of Thatcher, the europhilia of Reed and then the almost surreal knee-jerk policies of Graty spring to mind. Plenty of senior figures in the party are still unconvinced about Taylor's leadership, and consider themselves children of Graty, Reed or Thatcher. Taylor himself has remained rather silent on the Europe issue, which only fuels ideas that he is just a placeholder. Taylor needs to take a stance on Europe in time for the elections; yes, some of the party won't agree, but if they want to be in government, they'll keep quiet. A strong leader needs to lead their party, not follow it.*

*Without the long period of opposition, I don't see the Conservative Party's wounds over Europe going away soon. Taylor's in for a harder fight over Europe than Cameron is.

[Marky Bunny]

Originally Posted by Alexander Hamilton

Mr. Bunny,
I have many English friends and one of our favorite topics of conversation is the difference between American English and the King's English. One of the most interesting differences in word usage deals with politics.
American politicians "run" for office while English politicians "stand" for office. How do you suppose this difference started? The British usage certainly sounds more dignified while the American usage better brings to mind the hectic hurly burly of modern politics.
Please keep up the good work, I can't wait to see how the 2010 race ends up!!

Your obedient servant,
AH

Thanks for the kind words. I have no idea who is going to win the GOP nomination, like the real world. That is what making it fun to write.

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Friday April 17th
Democratic leadership hold emergency talks at the White House
The Democratic leadership from both Houses meet with his economic team in hope of resolving the current budget deadlock.
Speaker of the House Mark Sellner, Senate Miniority Leader George Montgomery, and Former DNC Chair Barry Goodwin. Vice-President Baker and Sec of State Vinick also attended.
It is understood that Montgomery called on Santos to sack White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman. Lyman has come under increasing pressure in the last few days after the late failure of the budget on Tuesday.
Their is no love lost between Montgomery and Lyman, after Montgomery attempted to have Lyman fired as Santos Campaign manager in October 2006.

[Marky Bunny]

Foxnews.Com Friday April 17th
Berryhill attacks a "White-House out of control".
Former Sec of State Lewis Berryhill and the man most likely to challenge President Santos for the nomination next year has called the White-House "out of control".
Again holding a press conference on the steps of his house he was asked about the current budget crisis "We have to resolve the budget now, and we are not going to do it, when the White House is out of control. The Chief of Staff (Josh Lyman) is playing a very dangerous game of "chicken" with the federal government. I like Josh as a person, but it is always black and white with him. No comprise and that is what is needed now. President Santos has to show some leadership and take over the budget himself now".
Berryhill refused to take any questions if he would be formally challenging the President soon "I will only say what I have said over the last few weeks. I am looking into it.Thanks all".

[disputed]

Foxnews.com, April 17th

BREAKING NEWS: Bryce To Head Budget Negotiations

The White House has announced that former Secretary of Commerce Mitchell Bryce has been appointed as a Special Advisor to the President and will take immediate control of the budget negotiations.

Bryce, 63, who served in President Bartlet’s administration, is extremely well regarded on The Hill after his successful time at the head of the Department of Commerce.

[disputed]

PoliticsNow.com, Friday April 17th

Gubernatorial Battles

Top Ten Upcoming Races

10. South Dakota – Governor Chuck Rollins is term limited so the GOP field is already crowded in what is traditionally a red state. The front runners are Lt. Governor Tim Masters and businesswoman Kate Kelly. However, the suggestion this week that former Senator Wendell Tripplehorn is looking at the race would turn everything on it’s head.

9. Arizona – Democratic incumbent Mike Lawson’s approval ratings are hovering around 30% so the Republicans are clearly targeting this as a winnable race. Congressman Jack Darnell has joined the Republican field and will be the most likely challenger to front runner and former Lt. Governor Peter Mitchell.

8. Louisiana – Republican Governor Mick Johnson will face a primary challenge from former Senator Cole Quigley, who has been an outspoken opponent of Johnson’s administration. Democratic Congresswoman Rebecca Goldman has already announced her candidacy.

7. Iowa – Term limited incumbent Laura Connolly can’t run so it’s looks to be straight fight between Republican Carl York and Democratic Lt. Governor Sarah Campbell.

6. Colorado – An absolutely key state for next years Presidential election, the GOP have spent much of the past three years building a large organization in the area. This should help their contenders; District Attorney Oliver Moseley is well known as the son of current Senator Jack Moseley and there are some suggestions that state senator Tom Folan will run. Businessman David Thorper is also in the running. Incumbent Jack Wallace will likely run again despite wavering approval ratings.

5. New Jersey – One of two key 2009 elections that many think will set the mood for next years Presidential election. Incumbent John Treyman is not popular and is polling behind both likely Republican candidates – State Senator Dan Pritchard and DA Clark Holloway.

4. Michigan – With the end of Ruth Hutchins term both sides see this as a winnable state. The GOP field clarified this week with the announcement that former Congressman John Brennan would run, it’s unlikely that any of the current contenders has the profile or resources to compete. The likely Democratic nominee seems to be either Lt. Governor Andre Manning or State Treasurer Kay McCormack.

3. Tennessee – Democratic Governor John Roberts is not seeking a second term for health reasons. The primaries are open on both sides with actor and former Congressman Lionel Jackson looking like the front runner for the GOP nomination but he’ll have to work hard to see off State House speaker George Andrews. The Democrats have two relative unknowns in state senators Bill Rake and Simon Underwood challenging former police chief Bruce Kimble.

2. New York – With no incumbent we were always set for an interesting race, but with the announcements this week from the Republican former NYC mayor Blake Marshall that he will challenge former District Attorney and Congressman Andrew Casey things are really heating up. Casey has been endorsed by the Club for Growth suggesting this could be a bloody battle. The winner is likely to face either current DA Matthew Lewis or Orwell Group CEO John Nolan.

1. Virginia – The 2009 race is well and truly on with former Bartlet Secretary of Defence Miles Hutchison battling Congressman Noah Gellman and former state speaker Michelle Rockwell for the Democratic nomination. The GOP field has narrowed to two with Congressman Robert Buchanan emerging as the front runner ahead of former Lt. Governor Troy Rivers.