The Blue State

Afghanistan -- six years later

The war in Afghanistan has lasted six years -- more than the Iraq war and World War II.  And six years later, the Bush Administration can only report limited progress:

A White House assessment of the war in Afghanistan  has concluded that wide-ranging strategic goals that the Bush administration set for 2007 have not been met, even as U.S. and NATO  forces have scored significant combat successes against resurgent Taliban  fighters, according to U.S. officials.

The evaluation this month by the National Security Councilfollowed an in-depth review in late 2006 that laid out a series ofprojected improvements for this year, including progress in security,governance and the economy. But the latest assessment concluded thatonly "the kinetic piece" -- individual battles against Taliban fighters-- has shown substantial progress, while improvements in the otherareas continue to lag, a senior administration official said.

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Blue Radar

As I post each morning, here are some of the political stories thatmight not be worthy of their own posts, but are nonetheless newsworthy:

• FOREIGN Syria is pledging to attend the Mideast conference, which will take place in Maryland.
• IMMIGRATION The US government is rewriting rules that penalize employers for hiring illegal immigrants.
• CONGRESS Congresswoman Julia Carson (D-IN) has told a newspaper that she has terminal cancer.
• 2008 ELECTION/HOUSE According to CQ, the Northeast is trending heavily Democratic, and might cost the remaining Republicans, such as Chris Shays, his House seat in 2008: "The Northeast, which has long stood out as the nation’s leastconservative region, produced the biggest bonanza for the Democrats intheir surge to a House majority last year: 11 of the 30 seats the partytook from the GOP were in the area. Republicans say some of thosesetbacks were symptomatic of that particular election year, and predictsome 2008 take-backs. But Democrats say this 'reverse alignment' —counterbalancing the Southern shift to the GOP — rolls on."
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL GOP candidate Fred Thompson is accusing FOX News of being biased against his campaign.  (Well that's definitely a new one.)
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL On the weekend, Barack Obama continued to slam Hillary Clinton's health care plan, which requires people to buy private health insurance.  "Their essential argument is the only way to get everybody covered isif the government forces you to buy health insurance. If you don't buyit, then you'll be penalized in some way," said Obama, a U.S. senatorfrom Illinois. "What I have said repeatedly is that the reason peopledon't have health insurance isn't because they don't want it, it'sbecause they can't afford it."
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Barack Obama says he is open to the legalization of marijuana in some cases.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL In Iowa, Hillary Clinton is being pressed on her relationship with FOX News owner Rupert Murdoch.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL During a an appearance on CNN's Late Edition, Mike Huckabee stressed that America is addicted to foreign oil.  "Every time we put our credit card in the gas pump, we're paying sothat the Saudis get rich — filthy, obscenely rich, and that money thenends up going to funding madrassas," Huckabee said.

If we left something out, it's because we either wrote about ityesterday or are scheduled to do so in an individual post later today. Otherwise, feel free to add any stories to the commentbox.

Blue Nightowl Clips

Here we go with tonight's look at the latest political clips making their rounds on the blogs tonight:

1. Bill Clinton interview with Greta.
2. Mary Matalin makes excuses for Fred Thompson.
3. Red State Update.  How did these guys get into the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner?
4. Blair on religion: I don't want to be a nutter.

More clips later today and tomorrow.

Huckabee is the populist version of Jerry Falwell

Imagine a version of John Edwards that believes we didn't evolve from primates.  That's Mike Huckabee.  Matt Taibbi put it into context:

But all the attention on his salesmanship skills obscures the realsignificance of his rise within the Republican Party. Mike Huckabeerepresents something that is either tremendously encouraging or deeplydisturbing, depending on your point of view: a marriage of Christianfundamentalism with economic populism. Rather than employing thepatented Bush-Rove tactic of using abortion and gay rights to hoodwinklow-income Christians into supporting patrician, pro-corporatepolicies, Huckabee is a bigger-government Republican who emphasizesprison reform and poverty relief. In the world of GOP politics, herepresents something entirely new -- a cross between John Edwards andJerry Falwell, an ordained Southern Baptist preacher who actually seemsto give a shit about the working poor.

But Huckabee is alsosomething else: full-blown nuts, a Christian goofball of the highestorder. He believes the Earth may be only 6,000 years old, angrilyrejects the evidence that human beings evolved from "primates" andthinks America wouldn't need so much Mexican labor if we allowed everyaborted fetus to grow up and enter the workforce. To top it off,Huckabee also left behind a record of ethical missteps in the swamp ofArkansas politics that make Whitewater seem like a jaywalking ticket.

If it's Huckabee versus Clinton in the general election, you will see both Democratic and Republican voters switch parties based on their educational background.

Buy Energy Star Things

So we read progressive blogs and we support progressive candidates. If that's the case then we're obligated to live like we'd want our candidates to vote. During the holiday season, one way to do this is by purchasing Energy Star rated products.

The EPA estimates that it saved about $12 billion in energy costs in 2005 alone. Energy Star has been a driving force behind the more widespread use of LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, power management systems for office equipment, and low standby energy use.

On Dell.com, their cheapest Energy Star computers sell for about $20 more than the cheapest regular computer.  Last week, at Best Buy, I bought a new wide screen LCD Television and paid $50 more for the Energy Star television. 

Sounds like Energy Star products cost about 2-4% more up front, but the energy savings will be reflected in your electric bills for as long as you're plugged in.  It's an investment worth taking and hopefully something that our government will eventually mandate.  On Dell.com, they claim that:

Over 4 years, CO2 emissions can be reduced by approximately the same amount as 1/4 acre of trees reduces in one year OR the amount reduced by not driving your car for 8 weeks.

It's a start.

Blue Radar

As I post each morning, here are some of the political stories thatmight not be worthy of their own posts, but are nonetheless newsworthy:

• SCANDAL Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan is blaming Bush and Cheney for his own misstatement about the Valerie Plame leak.
• FOREIGN POLICY A number of retired generals are supporting the Democrats' interrogation plan.  "Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, a former commander of U.S. forces inIraq whose name was tarnished by the Abu Ghraib scandal, said Saturdaythat a war funding bill passed by the House on November 14 puts 'America on the path to regaining our moral authority' by requiring allgovernment employees, including CIA agents, to abide by the military’spermissible interrogation methods," wrote Roxana Tiron of The Hill.
• IRAQ The US is blaming Shiites for an up-tick in violence that killed 15 in Baghdad late this week.
• IRAQ US troops levels in Iraq will decrease by 5,000 by next month.
• IRAQ The US military has been imprisoning an Iraqi journalist for 18 months.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Just one day after Hillary Clinton claimed that Barack Obama would need on-the-job training in order to become president, the Illinois Senator fired back.  "My understanding is that she wasn't Treasury secretary in the Clintonadministration," Obama said. "I don't know exactly what experience she's claiming."
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL The Politico's Ben Smith is adding more life to the speculation that Lou Dobbs, or some other conservative populist, will run for president as an independent.  "But his hints — not to mention the high ratings for his opinionated CNNshow — served as a reminder that while the Texas billionaire (Ross Perot) may havevanished from the political scene, his ideas, and his appeal, arerattling around this year as loudly as ever," wrote Smith.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL This weekend, Barack Obama criticized Hillary Clinton's health care proposal, which would force every American to purchase private health insurance.  Obama says the real problem is cost.  "Cost is the number one reason that 47 million Americans do not havehealth insurance and thousands more are edging toward bankruptcy everyday," said. "That is wrong, and it's why my plan doesmore to cut the cost of health insurance than any other proposal inthis race.  "What I have said repeatedly is that the reason people don't havehealth insurance is not because they don't want it, it's because theycan't afford it."
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL In the Orange Country Register, a GOP-friendly newspaper, columnist Mark Steyn delivered a blistering ad hominem attack against the Democratic candidates.  "Democrats, meanwhile, have got a woman, a black, a Hispanic and a preening metrosexual -- and they all think exactly the same."  (Obama and Hillary think exactly the same?  Looks like someone hasn't been following this race closely.)
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is expected to raise $12 million in the 4th quarter of 2007.

If we left something out, it's because we either wrote about ityesterday or are scheduled to do so in an individual post later today. Otherwise, feel free to add any stories to the commentbox.

Top-5 Political Clips of the Week

As we post at the end of each week, here are the top-five political clips over the last seven days:

5) Bush pardons turkeys.

4) Obama campaign targets older Iowa voters.  Pundits had been telling him to focus more on Social Security and other economic issues.  Now he is, and is finally making ground in Iowa.

3) Chuck Norris wants you to vote for Mike Huckabee.  Compared to most other Republicans in the race, Huckabee is definitely a fresh face.

2) The art of desperation.  Having Bill and others do the talking for her.

1) Jim Webb and Democrats block Bush recess appointments.  This is called spine!

More clips tomorrow.  The Blue Radar, with all of the Sunday headlines, will be posted just after 4 AM ET.

Sunday News Shows

Here are the guests that will appear on the Sunday news shows tomorrow morning.  The notables are in bold:

ABC's "This Week" — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.

CBS' "Face the Nation" — retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni.

NBC's"Meet the Press" — Republican strategists Mary Matalin and Mike Murphy;Democratic strategists Bob Shrum and James Carville.

CNN's "Late Edition" — Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.; Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

"Fox News Sunday" _ Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.; Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Carl Levin, D-Mich.

I wonder how Tim Russert feels about himself for bringing in an official Clinton campaign spokesman, but not giving equal time to Obama or Edwards.

As far as Richardson is concerned, he needs to convince viewers that he is trying to do more than just be a member of Hillary's cabinet.

Perfect Is The Enemy Of Good

The single most formidable obstacle in US politics today is the problem of 'All or Nothing'.  It presents itself in every major issue that we face: Iraq, social security, global warming, health care, immigration, energy dependence, gas prices and so on.  Each of these issues are going completely un-addressed because there is absolutely no one in Washington with any power today who has been willing or able to bridge the enormous gap on any major issue. 

Seriously, all those issues are in a standstill mode!  It's gridlock. Each one by itself could take a lifetime to resolve.  Instead, the Democrats pretend that they need 60 Senators to get anything done and the Republicans filibuster at double the record rate.

Clearly, President Bush is a culprit, so obsessed with Iraq that he won't even sign bills to fund his war unless it literally provides no timetable for an end to the war (by the way, isn't ending a war usually the goal?)  He's simply given up his illogical plan to dissolve social security and simply let the problem fester. His party won't listen to his rather sensible plan on immigration - instead they plan to deport millions of people who technically don't exist.  And as for energy reform: can you name one thing that's changed in the past five years because of our government? I can't. On that issue we continue to lag the rest of the world.

Instead of compromise and progress, Congress and the President have chosen deadlock. In reality, you never get what you perceive as perfection. But you can still have good enough and you can still make progress.

It is not important whether a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent gets elected in 2008, as much as it matters that whoever that person is, they are willing and, especially, able to unite a divided country so that we can solve real problems in the US and around the world.  Politics as they are today are simply not sustainable.

This is my primary concern about nominating Hillary Clinton in 2008.  She's a divisive figure.  She's already burned her bridges to the other side. And whether that is perception or reality is irrelevant in this political environment. If she rules, it will be as Bush has - with a 51% majority.  And we can no longer afford to be stuck in neutral, because we have real problems, requiring real solutions - maybe not perfect solutions, but good solutions. 

The Blue State '08 endorsement nears

Yes, posts on this site have slowed a bit because I am literally working two other jobs at the moment that occupy about 50 hours of my time per week.  But as primary season heats up, we will escalate our coverage significantly.  This is the most important primary election in a generation because we are entertained with a fundamentally basic question: do we nominate someone from inside the Washington establishment, or do we look for a progressive voice from the outside who is capable of bringing about major change?

Clearly, on the inside we have people like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson, who are continuing to take money from lobbyists.  Barack Obama and John Edwards, however, do not.  The latter two rely on individual donors to fund their campaigns.  It's a bottom-up mentality, which means Edwards and Obama will not be indebted to the forces in Washington.  Instead, they will be indebted to all the small donors that contributed a few dollars here and there to a cause that is much worth the fight.

Unfortunately, to the benefit of Hillary Clinton, both Edwards and Obama cancel each other out.  The Blue State is preparing to endorse a candidate, and is stuck on which of the two to support.  We would like your input on which of these two we should support, and why?