Cliff Schecter

Hey guys and gals!

I apologize for my extended absence, Netroots Nation and a wedding this weekend have kept me on the run. Which is a great segue to the changes that will be going on here.

It turns out that while promoting a book full-time, fulfilling some previously made consulting obligations and actively helping raise a 21-month old, I can’t also be on top of political news 24/7 to the level

Hey folks, sorry posting has been so sporadic. I am on a 3-hour panel on Political Punditry right now. So I need to get back to things.

But if you are at Netroots Nation, please come by the fourth floor bookstore in the exibition center for my book signing at 11:30 AM tomorrow morning (Friday).

Well, we already knew he liked to hang out with fundraisers who make rape jokes. But we didn’t know he liked to make them himself. Now we do.

Honestly, everytime you think things can’t get worse for Republicans….well, read the press release from the DSCC to fully understand the idiocy behind what Dole did (and then try not to laugh–I dare you!)

Great article from the Wall Street Journal on yet another Republican who is vulnerable and abosolutely shouldn’t be. He is simply due to the fact that everyone–inlcuding members of his own party–pretty much hates him (think Rep. Jean Schmidt).

In this ad Obama accomplishes two things: 1) His national security/foreign policy bona fides, by pointing out his work to track down loose nukes = preventing nuclear terrorism and 2) That he can work across party lines, showcasing his work with Republican Senator Dick Lugar–a respected foreign policy elder statesman–on this issue (and from Indiana–a state that Obama happens to be targeting to turn from red to blue this election).

More bad news for the NRCC (the article is from Roll Call, subsciption required):

A new poll commissioned by his challenger’s campaign showed Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) trailing in his bid for an eighth term by a single percentage point.

The poll showed businesswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D) leading English 41 percent to 40 percent, with 19 percent undecided.

From the uber-talented and demented mind of Lee Stranahan.

A very interesting analysis by the National Committee for an Effective Congress (NCEC). Republicans are now hopelessly outnumbered on the coasts, and are rapidly becoming a minority in the West and Midwest (with the exception of rural districts).

Ok, so does this count Mitch?:Associated Press: Iraq’s national security adviser says his country will not accept any deal with the United States unless the agreement sets specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. [Associated Press, 7/8/08]Reuters: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday raised the prospect of setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.