After Bradley and others turn the position down, retired 78-year-old Senator Frank Lautenberg gets the Torricelli slot. Considering the court battle, the internecine Democratic feuding, and Lautenberg’s resounding mediocrity, I’d say the GOP have just picked up a seat. Hopefully the Dems can make it up elsewhere.
Category: Congress
Rolling the Dice.
The House takes aim at Internet gambling.
No MJ for Bradley.
As many expected, Bill Bradley has removed himself from contention for the Torricelli slot. That’s a shame, but I guess he did retire for a reason.
Hey, wait a minute…
“The result of our attack [on Saddam] would be his using the very weapons we are trying to deter.” TNR profiles Senator Carl Levin, a lonely Democratic voice in the battle over Iraq.
Assist to Dollar Bill?
According to several sources, Torricelli has dropped out of the New Jersey race, complicating a Senate situation already fraught with peril for the Democrats. Could this pave the way for Bill Bradley‘s return to the political scene? Let’s hope so. To be honest, even Lautenberg, who’s pretty mediocre, would be an improvement over the Torch. Update: He’s officially out…no word yet on who’s in.
Mr. Washington’s Congress.
In a show of commitment to NYC a year after the attacks, Congress convenes once again in Federal Hall, just as it did in the days of Washington. To my mind, this is one of the classier displays churned out by the 9-11 memorial industry this week.
Erskine v. Liddy.
Former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles tests the West Wing theory of politicking in the NC Senate race.
Freak Show.
Jake Tapper interviews Dick Armey as he (thankfully) nears retirement. “I learned real early on that if you’re having a discussion about foreign policy, just say something disparaging about the French, and everybody will think you know what you’re talking about.” Strangely enough, he also confuses Iraq with Vietnam.
Dubya and the Dems.
Is the Bush White House hoping for heavy GOP losses in 2002? Somehow, I doubt it…the last thing he’d want to see is a Democratic House looking more carefully into subjects such as Enron, Halliburton, and Harken.
Mr. Emanuel goes to Washington.
Former Clinton aide (and Stephanopoulos replacement) Rahm Emanuel wins his Illinois primary and, barring an historic upset, will enter Congress in November. Good luck to him, I suppose…he’s extremely effective when on the offensive, but back in the Carville days he was always one of those guys on the phone who treated you like the help. (We were the help, of course…nevertheless, his phone manner was definitely lacking. We weren’t even his subordinates.) At any rate, gracious or no, I’m sure he’ll do well in Congress.