Meet The 'Mook Mafia'
By MICHAEL FALCONE ( @michaelpfalcone )
NOTABLES
- READ THE SECRET EMAILS OF THE MEN WHO MAY RUN HILLARY CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN: For the past five years, a prominent Democratic operative who is a leading contender to manage a Hillary Clinton presidential campaign has maintained a private email listserv for friends and associates that carries a provocative name: the "Mook Mafia," ABC's RICK KLEIN reports. The listserv, which one member said reaches more than 150 fellow campaign veterans, has been a means for Robby Mook and a close friend Marlon Marshall to stay connected with many of the operatives who would likely populate a Democratic presidential campaign in 2016. Mook and Marshall have both been mentioned as possible Hillary Clinton campaign managers. Copies of a cache of the emails obtained by ABC News, and revealed publicly for the first time, show Mook and Marshall demonstrating an aggressive tone in rallying their friends behind political causes, in exchanges that are often self-mocking and sometimes border on being profane. They include rallying cries to, in Mook's words, "smite Republicans mafia-style," and, to quote Marshall, "punish those voters." Mook sometimes calls himself "Deacon" in the emails, while Marshall, now a senior White House aide, refers to himself as "Reverend" in many of the exchanges. http://abcn.ws/1xVxoY9
- BACKSTORY FROM KLEIN: The private emails were provided to ABC News by a Democrat on the listserv who has worked alongside Mook and Marshall on previous campaigns. The person who provided the emails is, like the vast majority of those on the listserv, supportive of Hillary Clinton, but does not support the idea of Mook or Marshall holding leadership roles in a second presidential bid. They were provided on the condition of anonymity. That the emails are emerging publicly reflects the ferocious intra-battle to populate the top positions of an expected Clinton campaign. Neither Mook nor Marshall responded to requests for comment. http://abcn.ws/1xVxoY9
- THIS WEEK ON 'THIS WEEK': This Sunday, the powerhouse roundtable debates all the week's politics, with Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., Republican strategist and ABC News contributor Ana Navarro, and ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl. See the "This Week" page for full guest listings. Be sure to use #ThisWeek when you tweet about the program. Tune in Sunday: http://abcnews.go.com/thisweek
THE ROUNDTABLE
ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE: It's Friday, let's look ahead to next week. Could it be the week the president will move forward on executive action to reform the immigration system? It's unclear, but the president has made it very clear it's definitely coming, even if it enrages the GOP. At a press conference today in Myanmar he said he gave Republicans time to get it done, it didn't happen, it's "way overdue," and now is the time. "I gave the House over a year to go ahead and at least give a vote to the Senate bill. They failed to do so and I indicated to Speaker Boehner several months ago that if, in fact, Congress failed to act, I would use all the lawful authority that I possess to try to make the system work better, and that's going to happen," he said. Whether it's next week or later this month it's coming soon. Will it create an all-out brawl with Republicans? It's going to be a quite a fight to watch and a difficult dance to stand against broad executive action, but still seem open to immigration reform and not alienate voters they will need in two short years. We'll be watching.
ABC's RICK KLEIN: It's all over but the timing now, or so it would appear. "That's going to happen," President Obama declared at his news conference early Friday, referring to the long-awaited executive actions on immigration enforcement that could effectively legalize the status of some 3 million undocumented immigrants. That leaves the timing as the biggest question on the president's desk, and it's actually a big one. Senate Democrats are practically begging the president to wait until after funding bills are cleared. Republicans are still warning him not to act at all. Clearly the president would be on higher moral (if not necessarily legal) ground if he waits for Congress to adjourn for the year before acting on his own. Perhaps any action at all will sour the mood in Washington; it's just as likely that the mood was sufficiently soured without this move. But if the president moves ahead before Congress wraps up its business, it will be a clear message that not only does the president not plan to rely on Congress, he really doesn't care much about congressional input from here - Democrat or Republican.
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
ONE NATION, UNDER BEER: A HEADY HISTORY ON HOW BEER BECAME AMERICA'S DRINK OF CHOICE. Even before the United States had its independence, it had beer. And in this episode of "Power Players," hosted by ABC's DAVID KERLEY, we trace the country's heady beer history back to the beginning with beer historical expert Garrett Peck, who's written a new book "Capital Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in Washington, D.C." Beer first came to America with pilgrims on the Mayflower in 1620. And by 1770, Peck explained over a beer at Bluejacket Brewery in Washington, D.C., the D.C. area began brewing beer of its own when Scottish and English immigrants began making ales in what is today Alexandria, Virginia. "They brought it basically from Britain, and this is before the revolution, they're drinking ales," he said. "That lasted for a long time in the colonies." http://yhoo.it/14m1MlA
THE BUZZ
with ABC's KIRSTEN APPLETON
HARRY REID URGES WHITE HOUSE TO DELAY IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ACTION. According to ABC's JEFF ZELENY, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has privately asked the White House to delay an executive order on immigration until Congress passes a spending bill to keep the government running. While Reid supports President Obama's ability to act on his own on immigration, he told senators that he is increasingly concerned some Republicans will seize on the move and try to block the funding bill. Republican leaders have warned the president not to bypass Congress on immigration, but they showed new divisions over whether a rift could lead to a government shutdown. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell ruled out the possibility of a government shutdown, even if the president signs an executive order to protect 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. Hours later, House Speaker John Boehner disagreed and said a government shutdown could not be ruled out. http://abcn.ws/1v7Bvn1
OBAMA DOUBLES DOWN ON IMMIGRATION, KEYSTONE PIPELINE. Even as far away as Myanmar, President Obama could not escape the brewing face-off with Republicans that awaits him at home. Speaking to reporters alongside famous opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Obama was adamant that, despite mounting GOP objections, he will move forward and take executive action to reform the immigration system by the end of the year because reforms are "way overdue," ABC's JIM AVILA, MARY BRUCE and CHRIS GOOD report. "I gave the House over a year to go ahead and at least give a vote to the Senate bill. They failed to do so and I indicated to Speaker Boehner several months ago that if, in fact, Congress failed to act, I would use all the lawful authority that I possess to try to make the system work better, and that's going to happen," he said. Asked about pending legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, the president said his position on the issue has not changed and that the ongoing evaluation should be allowed to continue. http://abcn.ws/1usAFPq
NOTED: OBAMA MEETS WITH MYANMAR OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI. President Obama was warmly welcomed as he arrived at the home of famous opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for substantive talks. The president exited his limo and flashed a big smile as he walked up to greet Suu Kyi at the front door. As they shook hands, Obama leaned down and kissed her on the check. They met privately before addressing the press at a joint news conference on her lawn. The residence, where she spent almost 15 years of her confinement under house arrest, is a large grey colonial overlooking a lake. http://abcn.ws/1wZOyWd
BATTLE OF THE BALLOTS CONTINUES IN ARIZONA. All the votes have been counted in Arizona's 2nd Congressional district, but the battle is still on between Democratic Rep. Ron Barber and Republican challenger Martha McSally, ABC's ALI DUKAKIS reports. It's been one of the most closely watched House races this midterm election, and in no small part due to the razor-thin margin the congressman won by in 2012. But the less than 2,500 more votes he had in that victory seems stout compared to the final vote count in their rematch this year. The election results place McSally ahead by just 161 votes. According to Arizona law, a candidate must win by a margin of .10 percent. McSally holds a .08 percent edge over her opponent, setting the stage for automatic recount - the state's first recount in a congressional election, and its closest race in history. According to the Arizona Secretary of State's office, the recount will not commence until at least Dec. 1. But that didn't stop McSally from declaring victory: She jetted to Washington yesterday and will have her first full day of House freshman orientation today.
WHITE HOUSE FENCE JUMPER INQUIRY REVEALS MULTIPLE SECRET SERVICE ERRORS. A newly released review of the infamous White House fence jumper Omar Gonzalez is damning. The new report lays out a comedy of errors - including "performance, organizational and technical" failures on the part of the Secret Service, ABC's PIERRE THOMAS reports. During the Sept. 19 incident, alarms did not work, radios failed, officers were out of position as the intruder jumped a fence and ran more than 70 yards before walking right through an unlocked front of the White House. Receiving particular criticism was an officer with an attack dog. He was his on his personal cell phone talking without his radio earpiece in his ear. http://abcn.ws/1GU47mM
WHY SENATE DEMOCRATS CREATED NEW POSITION FOR ELIZABETH WARREN. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is joining Senate leadership after Senate Democrats created a new leadership position just for her. ABC's ARLETTE SAENZ and JEFF ZELENY report Warren will serve in the new position as a strategic policy adviser to the DPCC, and will act as a liaison to liberal groups to ensure they have a voice in leadership meetings and discussions. The newly created position will elevate Warren's stature in the Senate at a time when many progressives are calling on her to run for president in 2016. http://abcn.ws/112sv4h
LAWMAKERS URGE GREEN LIGHT TO WEED IN DC. In the wake of a midterm election where marijuana laws were further weakened across the country, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton called on Congress yesterday to allow the Washington's ballot-passed pot initiative to stand, ABC's KIRSTEN APPLETON reports. The District now faces threats from Congress to overturn Initiative 71, which overwhelmingly passed by a 2-1 margin. In a joint display of advocacy, Norton was joined by three representatives whose states have also reformed marijuana laws, including Reps. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Jared Polis, D-Colo., and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. http://abcn.ws/1xm1TcW
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
TAKE A TOUR OF NAYPYIDAW, MYANMAR'S GHOST TOWN CAPITAL CITY. As President Obama spends the day pushing for further democratic reforms in Myanmar, he is doing so in a place that stands as a constant reminder of the challenges facing this fledgling democracy: the newly-built capital city of Naypyidaw. Commissioned by the then-ruling military junta in 2002, the city seems to have everything: sparkling government buildings, beautifully manicured parks, large housing developments, golf courses and a massive sports stadium. The only thing missing, ABC's MARY BRUCE reports, is people. http://abcn.ws/1pV96P2
WHO'S TWEETING?
@keithcrc: Per @kenblackwell What GOP majorities should do and not do http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/11/13/what-gop-congress-should-and-shouldnt-do-in-2015/ … @TeamCavuto @megynkelly @kilmeade @GretchenCarlson #sgp
@zbyronwolf: Kayaking w @jonkarl, Biking w @MarkHalperin = BORING… Ribs with @ErinMcPike = must-see… @robportman eyes WH run -
@HuffPostPol: Why are Republicans talking like Elizabeth Warren? http://huff.to/1ukofJv
@kenvogel: Harry Reid, talking behind closed doors this a.m. to donors to iVote, which tries to elect Dem secretaries of State: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/elizabeth-warren-liberal-donors-112888.html#ixzz3J1gclAxY …
@DavidCornDC: Al Franken was liberal enough, tough enough, and doggone it people reelected him http://bit.ly/1oVb54S