Obama Addresses Muslim Nation

In Obama's speech today in Cairo, he described a world in which christians, Jews and Muslims can all work together for the better of the world.

Highlights:

-Islam and the United States can work together.

-9/11 was an attack on the U.S. and everyone else and we needed to respond to its perpetrators: Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

-The Iraq war was a "choice war" and we want to get out asap

-Israel needs to be recognized and Palestine needs its own state.

-Iran can only pursue peaceful nuclear power/energy

Overall, it was pretty good. Here is the text and video grace a TPM

Obama Playing His Cards Right

Politico has an article out about how Obama has been laying the groundwork to isolate repub conservatives to the south. In Obama's most recent appointment, he nominated  Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) for Army secretary. The idea of nominating very qualified repubs from areas trending dem is not new.

"It’s an event that’s happening with enough frequency to suggest the presence of a design, a plan that not only sketches the outline of a reelection strategy but manages to drive a wedge into the opposition at the same time. Call it a Sherman’s March in reverse — an audacious attempt by Obama to burn down any lines of escape for Republicans from their one refuge of popularity, the deep South."

What is the strategy? Politico lists many. First, Obama keeps his campaign promise to be bipartisan. Second, and most interesting, is that by taking out moderate repubs he's isolating the conservatives in the GOP party to a regional southern party. (If you look, the GOP has been losing senate and house seats hand-over-fist in the North and Midwest over the 2 election cycles.)

Third, by taking away moderates from areas trending blue the GOP has to then spend serious cash in defending the seat. This takes away valuable cash that could be used to attack dem seats instead of defending currently held ones. This gives dems better opportunities. 

Overall, its a great plan. 

Penn Dems Favor Specter Primary Challenge

It looks like the dems of Pennsylvania don't think Arlen Specter should get a free pass. A poll out by Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Polling and Research says that the majority of Pennsylvania's (63%) feel that Specter needs to be challenged:

"In the 2010 race for U.S. Senate, by a 63/28 margin most Democrats believe Specter should face a challenge from one or more other Democrats in the 2010 Democratic primary in order to secure the nomination (9% are undecided). This suggests most Democrats want Specter to earn his rightful place as the Democratic nominee despite comments by Democratic Party officials and leaders that Specter should be given a free ride in the primary."

Damn straight. In a democracy, no is annointed!

Sightings of Howard Dean

Howard Dean, father of the 50 state strategy and lead architect as to why dems had so many pickups in 06 and 08, has been seen doing the rounds in DC for health care.

"Dr. Dean is reemerging as a major voice inside the Democratic Party -- playing an inside-outside game that’s might make him to health care what former Vice President Al Gore is to the environment."

Dean was a huge part of why dems have done so well and to see him ostracized over the past several months is frustrating. Dean did a great job and has not gotten the recongnition he deserves. 

Franken Will Probably Win... Again

Coleman's never ending attempt to keep an elected official out of court continued with the Minnesota State Supreme court hearing oral arguments today. It, AGAIN, doesn't look like Coleman has a snowballs chance in hell of winning the court battle or being senator.

Rick Hansen: "There's no question that Coleman's side got much tougher question than Franken's side, and based upon oral argument I would not be surprised to see a unanimous decision in favor of Franken in a relatively short time frame (within two weeks -- maybe sooner). I counted at least three of the five Justices who were much more willing to accept Franken's arguments than Coleman's arguments, and who asked Coleman's side much more difficult questions."

There is no reason for the court to overturn the lower court. If it did, don't expect to see Franken in the seat until next year while the appeals process works its way up to the supreme court. 

Then there's this little nugget over at DailyKos:

"Furthermore, I have been unable to find any independent expert who believes Coleman will win in the Minnesota Supreme Court. In fact, I have asked the Coleman camp if they know of any expert and they not given me any names.

The thing about experts is that they can, of course, be wrong. But when they all say the same thing you have to wonder."

Yea, it does make you wonder.

Penn Gov Ed Rendell Endorses Specter

Popular Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has endorsed Arlen Specter for senate and has warned Sestak, Arlen's dem primary challenger, that he would lose handily and eventually "fade into political obscurity."

This comes as no surprise because Rendell and Specter go way back. We have also discussed here why a primary challenge to Specter by Sestak is good for dems in general. Will Rendell's endorsement change Sestak's mind? Probably not. This was coming for a while now and Sestak is known for being stubborn. Sestak needs to stay in the race to keep Arlen honest. 

Florida Senate Takes a New Turn

For those who haven't been watching too closely, the repub primary for the open Florida Senate seat just got more interesting.

First, Repub Governor Charlie Crist anounced his candidacy for the open senate seat. Crist is not liked by a block of the Florida conservative base because of his endorsement of Obama's stimulus plan. Crist even had a press conference with Obama in support of the stimulus.

Second, very conservative candidate Marco Rubio anounced he would also run for the seat. This pitts a moderate conservative versus a die-hard conservative. Just what the GOP doesn't want. (Why? Because moderate repubs have left the party in droves leaving only die-hards behind to vote in the primaries.)

Third, just this week Mike Huckabee and uber popular former gov Jeb Bush endorsed Rubio over Crist. Why is this importat? Well, Huckabee has national conservative street cred because of his presidential run and Jeb was hugely popular before he was ousted by term limits.

With these two biggies in Rubio's corner, they can turn out repub voters in droves to get the more conservative elected during the primary. This is good for dems because the overly conservatives have not been getting elected in moderate states.