Apologies to any Buzz readers who tuned into MSNBC’s Connected looking for yours truly. Your humble reporter cannot compete with twice-weekly New York helicopter crashes.

I’m about to leave the confines of Buzz headquarters and make my way downtown to the MSNBC TV studios. Therefore, the blogging will be on hold for a while. When I return, I’ll post any new information that comes out. If you have the chance, please remember to tune in to MSNBC around 5:30pm today where I will be discussing the road to 2008.

The Republican National Committee Chair Ken Mehlman announced today the RNC has raised $52.9 million through the first five months of 2005, a record for a non-presidential election year. Mehlman and the RNC raised $10.3 million last month alone.

Probable 2008 Democrat candidate Wesley Clark has signed a deal with Fox News Channel to become a contributor to the network.

John McCain’s office issued a statement today on the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. McCain has been one of Bolton’s strongest supporters and is involved in the reported talks to end the Democrat filibuster of his nomination. From the statement:

Mr. President, the Foreign Relations Committee has spent weeks investigating Mr. Bolton’s background. In his recent report on behalf of the committee majority, Senator Lugar determined that “the end result of all this is that Secretary Bolton emerged looking better than when it began.” Chairman Lugar ultimately concluded that Mr. Bolton “is a highly qualified nominee,” and I agree. Let’s move forward expeditiously to confirm John Bolton as America’s ambassador to the United Nations.

I’ve been fishing around today for more news on John McCain’s role in the John Bolton nomination. It’s been reported that McCain is trying to bring the two sides together so Bolton can receive an up-or-down vote. Reportedly, McCain wants the White House to give up some documents in exchange for Democrats ending their filibuster.

There’s been so little actual dirt on what McCain’s role in this exactly is. If anyone is reading this who works on the Hill and has some insights, please drop me a line: epfeiffer@nationalreview.com

I’ll be appearing on MSNBC’s “Connected” program today at 5pm. We will be discussing the road to 2008 and my picks for who will lead the ticket. I’ve been told we’re the first segment on the program, so if you want to catch it, be sure to check in right at 5pm.

UPDATE: Ok, how did I know this would happen? I open my big mouth and the MSNBC producer changes the time to 5:30pm. I will be appearing with Jeffrey Duber of the American Prospect.

For a left-leaning MSM paper, the Los Angeles Times treats Mitt Romney fairly in their write-up of his support for the gay marriage ban. While giving voice to both sides of the debate, the LAT refutes the charge that Romney’s move is purely for national ambitions. They note he opposed gay marriage during his 2002 campaign.

However, a group called MassEquality charged Romney’s move was calculated. The group’s director Marty Rouse said:

"We think Gov. Romney is burnishing his right-wing credentials, and using gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts to help him with his possible run for president.”

In more Mitt Romney news, the Boston Globe also reports Romney’s fundraising organization sent letters to leaders in 17 states this month offering his assistance in the 2006 elections. In the letter, Romney’s conservative views on issues such as stem-cell research are highlighted.

A portion of Romney’s letter to South Carolina read:

As the friends and supporters who have helped Governor Romney succeed in Massachusetts, we are proud of his successes and committed to helping Republicans across the nation compete and win on the battlefield of ideas. We look forward to staying in touch as you continue to provide leadership and hard work on behalf of the Republican Party in South Carolina.

Mitt Romney has agreed to back a new measure in Massachusetts that would ban gay marriage. A proposal had been formed in the state Senate, which Romney had earlier supported that would have banned gay marriage but allowed civil unions. The new proposal makes no mention of civil unions.

While drawing support from religious conservatives and a few Democrats, Romney also was criticized for his shift. Critics say Romney only made the move to broaden his 2008 appeal. A statement from the Human Rights Campaign read:

As the governor considers a run for president in 2008, he has bowed to right-wing pressure to eliminate even the most basic rights for same-sex families in Massachusetts.

Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne says Bill Frist needs to apologize over Terri Schiavo:

We are entitled to our moral, ethical and philosophical commitments. We are not entitled to our own facts.


So why is this basic rule of argument often ignored by politicians whose certainty about their righteousness convinces them that they can say absolutely anything to further their causes?

Senator George Allen gave a wide-ranging interview to Victory New Hampshire, a group of activist groups from the 2008 primary state. In his interview, Allen laid out his four principles of government: Freedom of religion, freedom of expression, private ownership of property and proper application of law.

On judicial nominations, Allen stood his ground:

I was very much in favor, and still am, of the Constitutional Option, because I think what the Democrats have done for the last 3 years is to subvert the intent of The Constitution by requiring a 60-vote super majority confirmation for a judge. It’s supposed to be a majority vote. And beyond all the Constitutional aspects, to me, it’s a matter of keeping our promises to the American people who have accorded us this strengthened Republican majority.

The New York Post looks at Hillary Clinton’s South Carolina straw poll victory as more than just an interesting news item. The Post says it could take Hillary all the way to the White House:

Clinton's surprising popularity in South Carolina could help her lock up the Democratic nomination for the White House if she decides to run, because the state hosts an early presidential primary election — the first in the South.

The New York Times runs a nearly hysterical account of how conservatives are actually promoting the new book critical of Hillary Clinton: “The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President.”

[NRO, by the way, will have an exclusive on the Klein book on Monday.]

The Associated Press reports Bill Frist is attempting to schedule another vote on John Bolton for Monday. Democrats are continuing to filibuster Bolton’s nomination. Yesterday, Bolton met with Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd and 2008 wannabe Joe Biden. Dodd tried to convince Bolton to ask the White House to release additional documents on Bolton the Democrats are requesting. According to Dodd, Bolton had no response.

In addition, reports say John McCain arranged the Bolton/Dodd/Biden meeting in an attempt to end the Bolton filibuster.

Bill Frist has been taking his share of heat the past few days since details of Terri Schiavo’s autopsy became public. Frist appeared on three television networks yesterday to defend his actions in March. Back then Frist gave what critics say was an uninformed diagnosis of Schiavo’s condition. Frist supporters say he was only asking that Schiavo be evaluated more before being allowed to die. On ABC’s Good Morning America, Frist said:

"Looking at the court-appointed tapes, I raised the question 'Is she in a persistent vegetative state or not?' I never made the diagnosis, never said that she was not. I did say that certain tests should be performed to determine that before starving her to death. That was not done. The court acted. I respect the way they acted. I respect the pathologist's report yesterday."


"She had devastating brain damage, and with that, the chapter's closed."

Reader George writes in regarding the Fox poll on Hillary Clinton:

"I wish I were the '1' … that hadn't heard of Hillary Clinton."

In the same Fox poll, participants were asked to state their preference for each party’s 2008 presidential primary.

For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton finished first with 44 percent. John Kerry was second with 17, John Edwards third with 13 and no other candidate scoring in double digits.

For the Republicans, Rudy Giuliani was first with 29 percent. John McCain placed second, with 23 percent. Newt Gingrich was the only other Republican to come close to double digits, with 9 percent. Bill Frist received 3 percent. Jeb Bush and Condoleezza Rice were not included in the poll.

A new Fox Dynamics poll is out. In the poll, President Bush still has an under 50 percent approval rating. However, his 48 percent approval is still higher than his 43 percent disapproval rating.

In a separate question, respondents were asked to rate Bush, Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean under the categories of “favorable,” “unfavorable,” “can’t say,” or “never heard of” with the following results:

George W. Bush 52 42 5 -


Hilary Clinton 52 37 10 1


Howard Dean 23 41 24 13

Bush and Clinton both have 52 percent favorable ratings. However, Hillary still has 10 percent who "can't say" double the president's rating. That gives her room to rise in both categories.

Bob Novak has a great piece on Mitt Romney. Everyone knows he’s running. And anyone with doubts should just check out the first paragraph of Novak’s piece:

Any real doubt that Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination should have been resolved by his performance Monday in suburban Oakland County, Mich. He did not merely drop into his native state for a political fund-raising speech. He spent a 12-hour candidate's day working a key presidential primary state.

Deborah Orin writes in the New York Post the new tactic of Republicans may be to ignore Hillary Clinton:

Republicans may finally be wising up to the fact that it's dumb to turn Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton into a victim by always attacking her and trumpeting every possible scurrilous claim about her.



"She is never stronger than when she's the national victim. People in our party finally get the joke — we're not going to let her be the victim of the right," says Republican strategist Rich Galen.

Orin says some of these same Republicans believe the better alternative is to treat Clinton as “another run-of-the-mill” Senator.

Orin and her cited Republicans are correct in noting it’s advantageous to deny Clinton a sympathetic role. However, the point they miss is that constantly praising her cordial and professional manner does not help Republicans either. It’s certainly ethical for Republican Senators and other figures on the right to acknowledge a colleague taking part in bipartisan efforts. Nonetheless, they should keep in mind every video clip and sound bite of praise becomes a potential 2008 advertisement from the Clinton team.

The Des Moines Register’s David Yepsen looks at the dueling challenges facing John Edwards. The former Democratic vice presidential candidate is keeping himself in the spotlight by promoting anti-poverty reforms. However, he is also openly running for president in 2008. Is he just using the poverty issue to keep himself in the spotlight?

Yepsen also argues if Edwards truly cares about fighting poverty, he will have to make proposals that involve additional personal responsibility; a notion liberals largely turn away from:

But if he just panders to them - as he was largely doing in a luncheon speech to the Iowa Coalition for Housing and the Homeless in Des Moines on Tuesday - then we can dismiss his center's work as just another effort to keep some politician in the limelight.

Bill Frist and Hillary Clinton are jointly presenting a proposal to streamline the way in which medical records are distributed. Under the plan, doctors and medical facilities would rely less on paper records in favor of electronic files that could be easily transmitted from one location to another.

First and Clinton also appeared on NBC’s Today show this morning to promote the plan. When Frist was asked about his and Hillary’s possible run for the White House in 2008, Frist said, "We're both running. I'm running the Senate and she's running for re-election."

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is set to make his third fundraising visit to California tomorrow. It’s the first major California fundraiser Romney has taken part in since talk started of his possible 2008 White House campaign. Romney will speak before 1,000 individuals at the Orange County GOP’s Flag Day dinner, which is expected to raise $300,000 for the county party.

Orange County GOP Chair Scott Baugh said:

''We in Orange County are intrigued by Governor Romney, most notably because he's a conservative governor getting elected in a blue state and governing well in a blue state."

Hillary Clinton has won the Democrats’ first straw poll. Democrats in South Carolina held a straw poll where Clinton edged out native John Edwards 44 to 34. According to participants, Edwards was considered the favorite going in. Governor Mark Warner came in third with 32 votes and Joe Biden placed fourth with 24.

However, the article erroneously claims this was the nation’s first 2008 straw poll. Buzz readers might remember last month I reported Wisconsin Republicans held their first 2008 straw poll, with Condoleezza Rice emerging the top vote recipient.

USA Today reports Christian conservative organizations such as the Family Research Council and Gary Bauer’s American Values are planning to interview prospective 2008 candidates and possibly endorse a candidate as well. Other leaders including James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation and Rev. Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association plan to participate as well.

The groups plan to start interviews after the 2006 elections. Bauer said the groups are conducting the interviews because candidates have become "very astute" at filling out questionnaire forms without making firm committements on issues.

Reader Kevin writes in with a suggestion on how John McCain could team up with Arnold Schwarzenegger to beef up his conservative credentials:

You'd think that a so-called 'reformer' like McCain would be out in Cali on occasion over the next several months helping Arnie push his initiatives. If they pass and he helps in a significant way, he'd bolster his bonafides and perhaps position himself to legitimately compete for those 55 electoral votes.



Needless to say, despite the current position New Hampshire, South Carolina and other states hold as front-end primaries, any Republican who can potentially put Cali back in the GOP column and essentially end the Democrats’ hopes of even coming close to winning the WH would warrant strong consideration regardless of results in those other aforementioned states.



Plus, it'd give McCain a chance to show folks who think he's an MSM-created fraud (like me) that he's willing to put his $$$ where his mouth (seemingly constantly) is.

Governors Mark Warner and Mike Huckabee appeared before the Senate Finance Committee yesterday on behalf of the National Governor’s Association. Warner and Huckabee, who serve as chair and vice-chair of the NGA, were in Congress to advocate greater state authority on Medicaid costs. Under the NGA proposal, states would have the authority to add fees for prescription co-payments and doctor visits. Huckabee said the move was to offset cuts in federal Medicaid spending and to cut down on Medicaid abuses such as the excessive use of emergency room visits.

For his part, Warner received praise from some Republicans and scorn from Democrats like House liberal Henry Waxman, who said Warner should be less “timid” about asking for more federal money.

The Associated Press reports one-time 2008 favorite and National Review “cover boy” Bill Owens has “dropped off the radar” of national politics.

Now Owens is faced with the first Democrat-run state house in 44 years and a compromising agenda that has some conservatives disappointed. However, Owens is getting praise from the newly empowered Democrats for his willingness and ability to meet them at the table:

We respect his decisions and he respects ours," said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. "But if you told me a year ago that the Democratic leadership and Republican governor were going to forge nine-tenths of their agenda, I wouldn't have believed it."

Owens passed on running for the Senate last year and some around him say he will return to the private sector once his term as governor ends.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush yesterday gave a short speech then took questions from about 300 members of Girls State, the American Legion Auxiliary's government education program. However, the media also asked him again about 2008. Specifically, Bush was asked if he’s not going to run for president, would he at least consider vice president. Bush answered:

"I've got 565 days and I intend to work as hard as I can to do my job," he said. "Please leave me alone."

One Girls State participant's question went unanswered: "If you were president of the United States, what would you do differently?"

Bush cackled as the chamber erupted in laughter: "You want to get me in serious trouble? Let me just say, I love my brother and I'm proud of him."

Could Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp. be warming to Hillary Clinton? It was Murdoch who first reached out to Tony Blair prior to his first election as British Prime Minister. The New York Observer looks at the warming relations between Murdoch and Clinton and how each could potentially benefit from an alliance with the other.

A week after telling supporters journalists don't have enough “spine” to challenge the Bush administration, Hillary Clinton closes a Buffalo, New York fundraiser to the media.

The Hill reports New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is pushing to “increase the weight” of Western states in the 2008 Democratic primaries, giving Richardson a “major advantage” over other Democrats vying to be the alternative to Hillary Clinton.

The Hill finds:

Richardson has a strong ally on the Democrats’ Presidential Nomination and Scheduling Commission, Michael Stratton, who has announced a campaign to create an early eight-state Western primary in 2008 that would include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Several of those have burgeoning Hispanic populations.

In addition, Richardson is able to use his position as Chairman of the Democratic Governor's Association to push for changes in the 2008 primary schedule.

Before getting the full treatment from ABC News today, Condoleezza Rice appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball last night. Host Chris Matthews tried to grill Rice on several topics including Iraq. However, Rice was in good form and told Matthews she believes the Iraqis will be able to defend themselves:

They've had elections. They are now going to write a constitution. They're going to have elections again in December. At that point, you have a completely freely elected legitimate Iraqi government. Their security forces are being trained. And I'm told, by our commanders in the field and others, that increasingly these are capable security forces that take on the challenges before them.

ABC News writes, for many supporters of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, her recent visit to Europe, “marked the arrival on the international stage of the next president of the United States.”

University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato said, “She clearly would have huge support from the Bushes, who don't really like the other possible candidates. What the enthusiasm about Rice running really says is that Republicans, deep down, realize that there aren't really any other good candidates that could win and have all the elements they want in the next president.”

As to how Rice has garnered her grassroots support through several draft Condi organizations, the Post finds:

For many, Rice has breathed a bit of life into the party. Her rock-star appearances in Europe only further enamored her to her faithful flock. The idea of a single, black woman as the Republican candidate for 2008 is a bonus, they say, but has nothing to do with her chances, good or bad. The Europeans even liked her, they add.

The Washington Times reports John Kerry told a group of Senate Finance Committee colleagues that he has “always” been for free trade agreements:

"I have voted for every single trade agreement. I am not a protectionist. Even in the campaign last year, when there were enormous pressures not to, I voted for Chile, Singapore and Australia."

However, what Kerry failed to disclose was that records show he did not vote on all the free trade pacts since he’s been in office. Three have passed without his support.

The Washington Post observes that seven months after losing the presidential race to President Bush and Vice President Cheney, John Edwards is back on the primary trail, “emerging with undiminished ambition and a fresh cause.”

Edwards is using the topic of poverty as catalyst for his travels around the country, including several 2008 primary hot spots, to keep his face in the minds of Democrats. However, it’s much harder for Edwards who no longer has the benefit of a Senate seat or an official campaign to buffer his visits. Still:

Edwards has the luxury of time and wealth, even if he does not have the political stage or the policy portfolio he sought as Kerry's running mate. Dwelling in the land of policy debates, blue-ribbon commissions and Democratic gatherings, he is calculating how to make a difference, and how to make himself heard.

Sam Brownback tells the Topeka Capital Journal he is sticking with his term limits pledge and will not seek re-election. Brownback said, “That's what I said when I first ran, and I intend to stick to that.” Brownback’s second term ends in 2010.

In regards to a possible presidential run in 2008:

He admitted Monday he would have a difficult hill to climb to obtain the national name recognition needed to win the GOP nomination.

That's why he's starting so early.

"It's such a long race that you've kind of got to line up way early, particularly if you haven't been out in that field before," he said.

The senator said he would continue visiting early presidential primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire. But he hasn't said when he will make the decision about whether to run.

Reader David writes in on the possibility of a John McCain/Jeb Bush 2008 ticket:

This view may not be as far-fetched as it initially seems. Rove has always made clear that his plan for national GOP dominance goes far beyond two terms of Bush and extends instead to a potential permanent Republican majority. Rove himself compares Bush to McKinley, the establishmentarian Republican president who won two terms around a century ago largely by uniting contiguous regions of the country to put together a small but solid majority. What Rove doesn't mention --- yet --- is that in order for McKinley's GOP to dominate the nation for the next three decades, it took maverick Republican Teddy Roosevelt to succeed McKinley and break the red/blue divide of the time. If Rove is a student of history, and we know he is, the astute strategist is almost certainly looking for a candidate who can play TR to Bush's McKinley. And what better pol to play the role than the Senator from Arizona who personally idolizes Roosevelt: McCain.

USA Today reports the Clinton’s “long financial hangover” from Whitewater and former President Clinton’s impeachment is over thanks to cash from speaking engagements and book deal payments.

The jointly owned Clinton bank account could now have upwards of $50 million in assets since Bill Clinton's second term ended. He reportedly earned more than $13 million in speaking fees his first two years out of office. In addition, Hillary Clinton has reportedly earned $8.7 million in fees from her autobiography so far.

The Raleigh News & Observer's Rob Christensen reports Hillary Clinton has been raising campaign re-election dollars in John Edwards’ “backyard” of North Carolina. Clinton sent a fundraising letter to residents asking for contributions to help her respond to “a relentless attack operation against me” being waged by Republicans. Clinton says in the letter:

They want to limit my ability to speak out. And they are emboldened by the defeat of my friend and former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. That's why the Republicans are planning to run a relentless attack operation against me -- one that is likely to set new standards for negative campaigning.

For someone who feels their ability to "speak out" has been compromised, Clinton has literally crossed the country recently to fundraise for her re-election campaign, meeting and talking with supporters along the way. Experts have said Clinton could spend everything she needs for her re-election, some $20 million, and still transfer $40 million to a presidential campaign. With a network already established and $40 million in so-called seed money, it would be nearly impossible for any Democrat to compete with her.

The Hotline reports the Minnesota State House Speaker has endorsed Condoleezza Rice for president. Speaker Steve Sviggum wrote to the draft group “Americans for Rice” and offered his support. Sviggum: “I’d be honored to be part of the Rice for President campaign.”

After Hannity had finished asking Vice President Cheney about his own ambitions, he shifted topics to measuring the Democratic ticket. It was a good move on Hannity’s part to gauge Cheney’s response. For those who watched, the full effect does not come through in print. Nonetheless, Cheney handled his answer with the grace required of office while simultaneously balancing his responsibilities at the top of the Republican Party:

Hannity: "Could Hillary Clinton become president in 2008? She's like the front-runner to win the nomination. Do you think she could win? And who would you like to see -- four or five people, Republicans, run, considering you've taken yourself out of the race."

Cheney: "Let's put it this way. ... I haven't endorsed anybody. I wouldn't want to start through the list. And I'm confident that whoever the Republicans nominate in 2008 will receive widespread support and defeat whatever Democrat receives the nomination."

As we noted earlier, Vice President Cheney was on Hannity and Colmes last night. He gave a strong interview all around, I thought. In particular, he made news today with his clear and articulate responses to questions surrounding Guantanamo Bay. Of course, he was asked about 2008 presidential ambitions. Cheney who has and continues to very openly declare he will not run for the White House continues to be asked. Cheney and Sean Hannity had the following exchange:

Cheney: "I've loved being vice president. It's been a tremendous experience. But it works in part because my agenda is his agenda. I don't have anything here that I'm trying to do. So I've made it clear that this is my last job in public life."

Hannity: "So when they draft you at the convention, you will say..."

Cheney: "If nominated, I will not run, et cetera, et cetera."

While appearing together at an event supporting public education reform, Senator George Allen and Virginia Governor Mark Warner were asked about the possibility of an all-Virginia presidential contest between the two.

Warner said, "'I think there will be plenty of time for both of us to make decisions on what, if anything, we do in politics in the future.”

Allen reportedly smiled and said, “I just love the faces of all these reporters here."

The Associated Press reports Bill Frist is trying to schedule a vote on John Bolton for this week.

Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne writes John McCain’s campaigning efforts for President Bush in 2004 may deliver the capital necessary to ease McCain through the 2008 GOP primaries. McCain is a natural heir to Bush on foreign policy. And he’s also a fiscal conservative who could help Bush’s standing on government spending, according to Dionne. But to get pass conservative opposition, McCain may need a different Bush on his side. Jeb:

“Jeb Bush has said he will not run in 2008. But that does not rule him out as a vice presidential candidate. If McCain won, Jeb would be the No. 2 to a president who will turn 72 on Aug. 29, 2008, and might well serve only a single term. If McCain lost, Jeb would have enhanced national recognition for a run in 2012. If picking Jeb is the price of winning over George W., McCain will pay it.”

As I’ve mentioned before, Arnold Schwarzenegger is making historic moves in California. His announcement yesterday calling for a special election in November is another legacy crafting move. To some extent, voters in California have already won.

Schwarzenegger is taking ideas vastly unpopular with those in government bureaucracy, particularly those sympathetic to liberal causes, and putting them under the spotlight. While he can expect a hard fight with interest groups, Schwarzenegger’s proposals seem popular with Californians themselves.

If Schwarzenegger’s initiatives are successful, the national impact will be significant. Voters could see a change in the way campaign funds are raised/distributed and eventually even an alteration in how the districts members of Congress occupy are determined. And of course, if Schwarzenegger is successful, his influence in the party and with the future GOP 2008 nominee will grow.

Here’s a different and more positive look at polls on Iraq and President Bush. In this IBD/TIPP Poll, a majority believes the effort in Iraq is a worthwhile long-term goal. Unlike most other polls, this also shows the breakdown between Democrats and Republicans. All in all, the results aren’t 180 degrees apart from what you’re seeing in the rest of the media. But this poll presents a more balanced and detailed analysis of where the country’s mood is more likely positioned.

Virginia Governor Mark Warner is urging his staff to “stay focused” on the last seven months of his term, even as he prepares for a 2008 presidential campaign. Warner told reporters he will continue to focus on federal issues, including Medicare, but he won’t “formally” pursue any presidential ambitions until he leaves office.

The Richmond-Times Dispatch says Warner has told friends he will not challenge for George Allen’s Senate seat next year. Warner cited a survey marking Virginia as the best managed state in the nation and promised to deliver a fiscally sound budget to his successor.

The New York Times sent its reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg to cover the Senate news conference yesterday apologizing for the Senate’s failure to enact anti-lynching laws. Stolberg mostly plays it straight, but when it comes to describing co-sponsor George Allen’s role, thinks get more complicated.

In one sentence, Allen’s role is written off as calculated and his true beliefs called into question:

“Others described the resolution as an act of expediency for Mr. Allen, who is a likely presidential candidate and who has been criticized for displaying a Confederate flag at his home and a noose in his law office.”

By the story’s wording, Stolberg would have you believe Allen had previously endorsed lynching with a noose hanging right next to a confederate flag. Of course, that’s not the case.

Stolberg notes the apology was carried on a voice vote, then quotes John Kerry insinuating some Republicans would have voted against the apology and that’s why a voice vote was issued, “It's a statement in itself that there aren't 100 co-sponsors. It's a statement in itself that there's not an up-or-down vote.” Because you know John Kerry cares about up-or-down votes.

The White House announced Condoleezza Rice would begin a one-week trip to the Middle East and Europe this Friday. Rice will visit Jerusalem and the Palestinian headquarters of Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Rice will be there to help Israelis and Palestinians prepare for the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

During her trip, Rice will also visit Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Europe, where she will visit Brussels for an international conference on Iraq and London for the meeting of the Group of 8 foreign ministers.

In more Jesse Jackson news, he just told CNN that Michael Jackson was “lynched by the media” prior to Jackson’s acquittal today. Was Jesse Jackson aware of the timing with the Senate apology today regarding anti-lynching legislation?

John Edwards was in attendance for a Rainbow/PUSH anniversary event last night with Jesse Jackson. Edwards was a featured speaker on the third day of the group’s annual convention in Chicago.

John Kerry and Bill Clinton were both invited to the event but could not attend. Clinton was expected in attendance but cited “an emergency” that kept him away. Meanwhile, Kerry was also expected to attend but cited a “schedule conflict” keeping him away.

I’ll be in and out this afternoon working on a few stories for NRO. Posting will continue throughout the afternoon, but might become a bit sporadic. Please keep checking in today for updates or sign-up for the RSS feed…

A DNC source tells me the mood is more positive at Democratic headquarters than one might expect:

Things are going well actually. we've gotten a lot of good press this
weekend regarding Dean and backing from within the party ... Even Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday conceded that the faithful have rallied around Dean.

Similar sources have told me in recent months the mood at the DNC was not always so strong. There was resistance and resentment towards Howard Dean initially. Staffers at the DNC didn't understand why the man who energized the party in 2004 more than any other Democrat was lying low. But could the firebrand who takes heat away from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid while building a grassroots donor base actually be just want the party faithful have in mind?

George Allen and Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu will hold a press conference today to discuss passage of a Senate resolution apologizing for not passing a ban on lynching between the years 1882 and 1968. Allen co-sponsored the resolution and noted, “Lynching is something the Senate could have done something about.”

Roll Call reports (subscription required) that Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is planning a 2008 presidential campaign.

When Huckabee was asked about the possibility last week, he said, “I think it’s a little early. It is not the big focus of my life right now.” However, a “source close to the governor” says that as of right now, “he is planning to run for president.”

A state Democratic operative offered a similar assessment, “[Huckabee’s] running. Everybody here thinks he’s running.”

Roll Call notes Huckabee and Bill Clinton hail from the same town, Hope.

The Boston Globe runs a lengthy profile of political consultant Mike Murphy. Murphy made headlines recently with his comments to National Review's John J. Miller on abortion and Mitt Romney.

Murphy has consulted for numerous big name Republicans including Jeb Bush, John McCain and Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, Murphy says he will stay out of the 2008 election if both McCain and Romney pursue the presidency. On whether Romney will run, Murphy says:

'Will he run? I don't know. . . . He's aggressively been testing the waters, because he's a smart guy, and that's what he oughta do, and he should decide this year, not next."

In a previously taped interview that will air on Fox’s Hannity and Colmes tonight, Vice President Dick Cheney will describe DNC Chair Howard Dean as “Not the kind of individual you want to have representing your political party.”

In addition, Cheney will say,” I’ve never been able to understand his appeal. Maybe his mother loved him, but I’ve never met anybody who does. He’s never won anything, as best I can tell.”

Of course, Dean did win several elections in Vermont and the DNC post. But the only track record that will really count will come after the 2006 elections.

Michael Goodwin of the New York Daily News is getting a lot of attention for his column today comparing Hillary Clinton to Howard Dean . Needless to say, the column caught my attention when I realized Goodwin uses two identical techniques found in my article on Clinton last week.

Like me, Goodwin rolls a Clinton quote under the guise of it coming from someone more like Dean:

Oops. Beg pardon. That wasn't Howard Dean. That was Sen. Hillary Clinton, speaking at a Democratic dinner in Minnesota in April.

My exact wording was:

You could be forgiven for mistakenly thinking the missive was again fired by Dean. The tone and even the word choice fall right in line with material issued from Democratic headquarters in recent months. But the passage actually came from Hillary Clinton speaking at the same fundraiser.

Goodwin also follows my point on Hillary’s aesthetic realignment:

Clinton has gone out of her way to emphasize more centrist values. She has quoted from the Bible, calls herself a "praying person" and has urged "common ground" on abortion. She appeared with Newt Gingrich, a darling of the right, to discuss health care.

Whereas my article read:

There are two Clintons campaigning these days and they are both named Hillary. The Hillary you’ve been hearing a lot of lately is putting on a moderate face — expressing reservations about abortion, appearing at events with Newt Gingrich and being a strong supporter of the war in Iraq.

Chuck Hagel added his voice to those Republicans criticizing the White House on Iraq. Hagel said:

“Many of us warned this administration before we ever put a boot on the ground."

"We didn't have plans for it. And we are now where we are.”

Are the 2008 Republican “mavericks” sliding away from the administration on Iraq as well?

Lindsey Graham criticized the White House for downplaying the strength of terrorists in Iraq, “The insurgency is alive and well. We underestimated the viability of the insurgency.” Graham also said the White House has "been slow to adjust when it comes to troop strength and supporting our troops."

Graham also blamed the White House for recruiting shortfalls,
“This war is going sour in terms of word of mouth from parents and grandparents. If we don't adjust, public opinion is going to keep slipping away."