The Note
W A S H I N G T O N June 12—<br> -- We could lead with The Corrections (not by Jonathan Franzen):
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NEWS SUMMARY
In the June 10th edition of The Note, we wrote that all of the top six Democratic candidates for president (besides Howard Dean) would have to raise $6 million in the second quarter or people would start to talk. We meant $5.5 million. The Note regrets the error.
Nah. Too self-involved.
Or we could lead with our latest sense of the political implications of the looming Medicare compromise; the Gray Davis situation; the violence in the Middle East; the missing WsMD; the stalled elevator on the Hill; the stalled child tax credit on the Hill; the Boston Globe 's need to get some perspective in how it covers John Kerry; the expected returns of Elizabeth Edwards and Andy Card to the Center of the Universe; the Imus triple header; Roger Simon's new toy; or the possibility of a SCOTUS fight or two.
Nope. All too tentative and sluggish (what with the Eastern humidity causing people to be on www.travelocity.com and www.secretarysnowmakeseuropeunaffordable.com more than on www.fec.gov).
So we could lead with the major political daybook items, such as:
The president is expected to take on the generic drug fight today on his trip to New Britain, Connecticut (before he heads off to Maine). LINK
Robin Vinci of the New Britain Herald writes an article on the history of presidential visits to the city. This is the first time a President has made a repeat visit to the city. Bush is expected to receive a warm welcome. LINK
The New Britain Herald's Marah Block writes on how the locals there are fairly divided in their opinions of Bush but are still excited that he is visiting. LINK
Tonight, Senator Bob Graham appears on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, hosted by Jim Lehrer. He's in New York and Washington.
Senator Lieberman has a fundraiser in Connecticut.
Governor Dean makes several "house calls" in New Hampshire.
Congressman Gephardt attends the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Boston Red Sox game in Boston. (Go Yankees!)
Senator Edwards has a day of activities in Tennessee.
Senator Kerry begins his trip to Iowa.
But a laundry list is not a lead.
So since a recent comprehensive survey of Note readers determined that a vast majority of you are interested in the 2004 presidential race (and few of you, at this writing, believe control of the House or Senate is much in play), we can start simply.
There's one must-read today, and it is by the political reporter whose ratios of fame to influence; fame to talent; fame to fairness; and fame to sheer niceness are all as low as you can get in Washington.
His name is Ron Fournier.
Now, we don't mean THIS Ron Fournier: "Ron Fournier's career as a metal fabricator spans more than 35 years and across the custom automotive, aircraft and motorcycle industries." LINK
Or this one: "Ron Fournier, CEMVR Public Affairs, Rock Island, IL." LINK
Or even this one: "A œuvré comme arbitre de hockey professionnel pendant 14 ans (4 ans dans l'Association mondiale et 10 ans dans la Ligue nationale de hockey)." LINK
Nope, here is OUR Ron Fournier — he of the Associated Press. LINK and LINK
Fournier, as is his wont and ability, gets to the heart of the current state of play in the presidential race, and finds rich thematics in the fact that President Bush, elected after casting Al Gore as 'a serial exaggerator,' is now being accused of "stretching the truth about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction." LINK
But despite Democratic efforts to "build the issue into a consuming Watergate-style controversy," Fournier finds "many party leaders fear the president might be immune to accusations that his rhetoric falls short of the facts, and not just on Iraq, but on education, tax cuts, trade, the environment, homeland security and other policies."
"The candidates say Bush has fudged the facts on issues well beyond Iraq, including:"
"Education. While the president promotes his "No Child Left Behind" legislation, state and local officials struggle to pay for the standardized tests and other requirements of the 2002 law. 'What kind of education plan tries to add by subtracting?' Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri said."
"Tax cuts. Bush said all families will get a break, but the $350 billion bill he signed excluded many low-income families from a child tax credit. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts said Bush was 'leaving 12 million children behind.'"
"Deficits. Bush pledged to bring fiscal sanity to Washington, but he 'brought back the era of big and bloated government,' Gephardt said."
"Foreign affairs. Bush promised in 2000 to have a 'humble' foreign policy, but many allies feel bullied by Bush's moves on global warming, trade and Iraq. 'Our country is viewed with increased hostility,' Graham said."
"Homeland security. State and local leaders complain they have not received enough money from Washington to prepare for future attacks. 'We should not cede this issue,' said Senator John Edwards of North Carolina."
"David Axelrod, a strategist for Edwards, said Americans are likely to continue supporting Saddam Hussein's ouster, even if White House weapons claims are never proven. They trust Bush more than they ever did Gore."
"But, Axelrod said, 'You have to ask whether he's been leveling with people on a range of things and whether he trusts people with the truth.'"
Read this one twice. All that is missing is the pro forma Matt Dowd quote about how unshakeable America's bond of trust with this President is.
Now: one more summary thing for you.
One week from tonight, there is an event in Washington so very up the alley of your typical Note reader that we feel thoroughly compelled to tell you about it.
On Thursday, June 19, at 7:30 pm, our DC-area readers have a chance to attend a fabulous evening of entertainment and good will in a marvelous setting — the Silver Theater, the Art Deco masterpiece in Silver Spring that's recently been restored, combining its original 1938 splendor with the latest in high tech.
The New York Times ' Todd Purdum calls the cinema palace the "plushest place to see a movie in Washington these days."
The evening is part of Washington's hottest film festival, SILVERDOCS, the American Film Institute and Discovery Channel Documentary Festival , a 5-day event that runs from June 18 through 22.
Tickets are available now for an exclusive screening of Ron Frank's "Only in America, " a film about Senator Joseph Lieberman's historic run in 2000 as the first Jewish candidate for vice president on a major party ticket.
Also to be shown : "We Wuz Robbed," by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee.
Following the films, Democratic media strategist /Silver-Spring-boy-made-good Carter Eskew and Bush media adviser Mark McKinnon will participate in a panel discussion with the Washington Wire herself — Jackie Calmes, Political Features Editor for the Wall Street Journal .
The panel will be moderated by (major Note throat clearing here) ABC News Political Director Mark Halperin, and will deal with faith in politics and a preview of the 2004 presidential campaign.
But wait — as they say on your finer game shows — there's more.
Following the discussion , you'll be able to attend an "Inside the Beltway" Martini Party for a special screening of "Elvis and Us," the 1993 campaign documentary about life on the trail with candidate Bill Clinton .
It's the ten-year anniversary of this cult classic, which the Washington Post Style section in 1993 called "the hottest underground flick in town: part travelogue, part rockumentary, part outtakes of Bill Clinton and media types acting like clowns."
In the only known review EVER of the film, a younger Howard Kurtz wrote about the movie (produced by Mary Marsh and Mark Halperin of ABC News):
"This R-rated … retrospective evokes a time when Clinton actually liked to goof around with reporters. He aims the camcorder at Al Gore and declares: 'Nice teeth! What's your position on the toothpaste subsidy, senator? … '"
"We see Bill bowling, eating, speechifying, eating, lumbering around a baseball diamond and eating."
"Some juxtapositions border on brilliant. A New York Post headline ('WEIRD SEX ACT IN BULLPEN') prompts one scribe to ask, 'That's today's Clinton story, right?' In the next scene, Clinton is hugging a giant bunny."
There are some really lovely scenes of the late Michael Kelly, including one where he dances cheek to cheek with the Washington Post 's Dan Balz.
And there are plenty of other vintage shots and scenes you won't want to miss — including Adam Nagourney singing Willie Nelson (or is it Elvis?).
Again, the whole evening starts at 7:30 pm and, (this is the amazing part) it costs $12.50 for the entire thing — all three films AND the party !!
Additional information on tickets and everything else can be found at LINK.
We'll tell you more about the feature films in the days leading up to next Thursday, but what are you waiting for???? Get your tickets now!!!!
California recall:
The San Francisco Chronicle's Robert Salladay takes a look at a poll released yesterday that shows 48% of Californians would like to see Davis recalled to 41% who want to keep him. LINK
The New York Times ' Rich Oppel has an outstanding and piquant look at the Gray Davis counterattack against Darrell Issa on the soft-money-ban question, complete with "Issa" pronouncer ("(pronounced EYE-sa)"), and hilariously typical quote from Issa's lawyer, Mr. Benjamin Ginsberg, whose representation of Issa will surely become a Davis communications team talking point:
"'This is a tawdry and heavy-handed attempt to squelch opposition by twisting and turning the new law,' Mr. Ginsberg said. 'I don't think this goes much beyond the politics of Gray Davis's being worried and trying to stop anyone opposed to them.'" LINK
Subscription-only CQ has this take on Rep. Darrel Issa: "[T]he recall effort Issa leads has divided an already fractured state Republican Party and split his House colleagues. Furthermore, it has left Issa in a precarious position, opening him to personal attacks and potentially alienating national Republicans, who worry that a divisive recall fight could energize Democrats in the same year President Bush runs for re-election."
Marinucci and Wildermuth of the San Francisco Chronicle list those interested in Gray Davis' job. LINK
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will speak at a Town Hall LA breakfast this morning in Los Angeles and take questions after.
Big Casino budget politics, Medicare:
The AP's Deb Riechmann thinks Bush's push on prescription drugs "may give a boost of adrenaline to his efforts to portray himself as a compassionate conservative." LINK
The AP's David Espo sees the Medicare drug plan gaining in Congress. LINK
Elisabeth Bumiller "with" Robert Pear sweeps up all the Medicare doings in our nation's capital and Capitol. LINK
Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post does the same thing, with an emphasis on Senator Daschle's possible support for final passage. LINK
Clinton era Medicare official Nancy-Ann DeParle urges Daschle and other Democrats to get on board the train, and will surely cause the folks at the Wall Street Journal ed board to quake with rage with this:
"If President Bush signs this bill, he will preside over the biggest expansion of government health benefits since the Great Society." LINK
The New York Times says the cost of prescription drugs to workers is still going up, up, and away. LINK
Big Casino budget politics, tax cuts:
The House-Senate logjam on the child tax credit continues.
The New York Times leads with the notion that moderate Republicans in the House could team up with Democrats to defeat Mr. DeLay's ideas. LINK
Bob Novak seems not to care much for the child tax credit or David Firestone's handiwork on the matter. LINK
National security politics:Writing about congressional Republicans plans to investigate the WsMD in Iraq matter, the Washington Post 's Dewar and Slevin say:
"Roberts, Warner and Goss said they have not heard from any intelligence officials complaining of undue influence on their work on Iraqi weapons. All three said the Bush administration had not pressured them to avoid a public inquiry … ." LINK
