Political Posturing: Where Have All the Moderates Gone?
• Specter's future up in the air.FristcallsSpecter's comments "disheartening," suggests rules could be changed if Democrats start blocking votes.McCain: "I believe thatArlenhas done a good job. I think he'll be confirmed." [ WP , WP , WSJ , LAT , WT , USAT ]
•Senators hope to wrap up spending matters; tension expected with administration. House GOP aide: "You're not going to see us throw overboard all these programs that we've cared about for years because the administration wants to fund a bunch of new stuff." [ NYT , LAT , WT ]
• McCainsupportsGoss' shake-up of "dysfunctional" CIA; internal tensions concern lawmakers. [ WP , WSJ , LAT ]
•Loss of moderate, Southern Democratic senators leaves more polarized Congress. Professor: "They've lost the white conservatives. They're now losing the younger, white moderate voters, who are now much more likely to be Republican than Democrat." [ NYT ]
•Opening of $165mClintonlibrary creates forum for Democratic strategizing: "Virtually everyone who is anyone in the Democratic Party will be at the same place at the same time -- at a critical time." Most pressing, isHillaryelectable? [ WP ]
•Europeans come to terms withBush, see mutual benefit of achieving big-picture goals.Bushdons tuxedo forRice's surprise party at British ambassador's residence; makes orchestrated call toChirac. [ NYT ]
• BrownsteinreexaminesBush's victory and finds little to it;Bushneeds impressive term to secure future Republicans, break historical trends. [ LAT ]
• Hagel--an anti-abortion, pro-school prayer, pro-vouchers Vietnam vet who voted against NCLB, Medicare reform, and is critical of the Iraq war-- plans to run likeMcCainin '08; will introduce bills for private Social Security accounts and alternative to Kyoto Treaty. [ WP ]
• Collinsemerges as key moderate as group gains clout.Snowe: "I think the view that moderates as a group should be jettisoned from the party wouldn't bode well for the future." [ WP , BG ]
• Rod Paigeresigns. [ USAT ]
•Liberals invited to Canada; seminars hosted in blue states. [ BG ]
• Chicago Tribunecorrespondent on the state ofKerry's marriage during the campaign: "A lot of these things just don't happen in plain view of reporters. And few people within the campaign were willing or able to discuss the state of the candidate's marriage. The only thing that was apparent was thatSenator Kerry's wife tended to put crowds to sleep while speaking." [ WP ]