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Don’t get caught flat-footed in front of the press! Below is a quick rundown of today’s “must reads.” – John T. Doolittle, House Republican Conference Secretary
The Morning Murmur – Wednesday,
September 06, 2006
1. Take Osama at his Evil Word -
New York Post
President Bush used Osama bin Laden's own hate-filled rhetoric yesterday to
bolster American resolve in the global war on terrorism and make the case
for finishing the mission in Iraq.
2. Katherine
Harris Wins GOP Nomination - Associated Press
Rep. Katherine Harris, who as secretary of state oversaw Florida's 2000
recount that gave George Bush the presidency, easily won the Republican
nomination to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson yesterday. In another closely
watched race, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis won the Democratic nomination to succeed
term-limited Gov. Jeb Bush.
3. Congress's
Last Stand - Wall Street Journal Op-ed
Republicans could help their prospects, and motivate their own supporters, if
they use the next month to advance sound policies that highlight differences
between the two parties.
4. Don't Blame the GOP -
USA Today Op-ed
Comprehensive earmark reform remains a top priority and will be considered
by the House this month. It will be interesting to see whether Democrats
once again follow their leader, or decide to support real reform.
5. Newsman to Tony Snow:
'Don't Point Your Finger At Me!' - Editor & Publisher
A not especially eventful
press briefing at the White House yesterday turned rancorous with NBC's
David Gregory telling Press Secretary Tony Snow, "Don't point your finger at
me," and Snow accusing the newsman of being "rude" and delivering Democratic
talking points.
For previous issues of the Morning Murmur, go to www.GOPsecretary.gov
FULL ARTICLES BELOW:
1. Take Osama at his Evil Word - New York
Post
By IAN BISHOP
September 6, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - President Bush used Osama bin Laden's own
hate-filled rhetoric yesterday to bolster American resolve in the global war
on terrorism and make the case for finishing the mission in Iraq.
"Bin Laden and his terrorist allies have made their intentions as clear as
Lenin and Hitler before them. The question is: Will we listen? Will we pay
attention to what these evil men say?" Bush told the Military Officers
Association meeting in Washington. "We're taking the words of the enemy
seriously. We're on the offensive, and we will not rest, we will not retreat
and we will not withdraw from the fight until this threat to civilization
has been removed." Bush also said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a
tyrant who gives money and weapons to Hezbollah and allows "them to attack
Israel and America by proxy. "
Bush vowed "America will not bow down to tyrants" and added that the United
States and its allies "will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon."
To remind Americans of the stakes in the global fight on terrorism on the
eve of the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Bush quoted extensively
from letters, Web site statements, audio recordings and videotapes from bin
Laden and other terrorists.
The president recounted bin Laden's declaration that the Sept. 11 attacks
were "an unparalleled and magnificent feat of valor" and the terror
kingpin's insistence that "death is better than living on this earth with
the unbelievers."
"This is the great ideological struggle of the 21st century - and it is the
calling of our generation," Bush said.
And he cited a "grisly al Qaeda manual" uncovered during a house raid by
British cops in 2000 which included a chapter called "Guidelines for Beating
and Killing Hostages."
"The terrorists who attacked us on September the 11th, 2001, are men without
conscience, but they're not madmen. They kill in the name of a clear and
focused ideology, a set of beliefs that are evil but not insane," Bush said.
Bush used bin Laden's words to support his case. He cited a 2004 bin Laden
audio message declaring "the most important and serious issue today for the
world is this Third World War" raging in Iraq.
"If we retreat from Iraq, if we don't uphold our duty to support those who
are desirous to live in liberty, 50 years from now history will look back on
our time with unforgiving clarity, and demand to know why we did not act,"
the president said.
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/take_osama_at_his_evil_word_nationalnews_ian_bishop.htm
2. Katherine Harris Wins GOP Nomination
- Associated Press
By STEVEN WINE
Associated Press Writer
MIAMI (AP) -- Rep. Katherine Harris, who as secretary of state oversaw
Florida's 2000 recount that gave George Bush the presidency, easily won the
Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson, shrugging off critics
who derided her campaign as spectacularly inept.
"Tonight I say to Bill Nelson: Come home, Bill. Enough is enough," Harris
said Tuesday.
Harris faces an uphill battle in her bid to unseat Nelson, though. Polls
have shown the Democrat more than 30 points ahead of Harris in a general
election matchup.
Harris became a darling of the Republican Party after the 2000 recount, and
she parlayed her name recognition into two terms in Congress. But state GOP
leaders tried to talk her out of running for Senate, citing fears she would
lose to Nelson and spur a large turnout by Democrats in November that would
hurt the entire Republican ticket.
In another closely watched race, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis won the Democratic
nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Jeb Bush, beating state Sen. Rod
Smith. Davis' opponent in November will be Florida Attorney General Charlie
Crist, who claimed the Republican nomination.
Harris' campaign was widely ridiculed, even by her own party. Fundraising
lagged, her appearance was mocked, staff members kept quitting, and she was
linked to a corrupt defense contractor.
Still, she won the primary comfortably, thanks to weak opposition and a
strong base of support. Some 2 1/2 hours after the polls closed, the
49-year-old congresswoman arrived at her Tampa campaign headquarters to
chants of "We want Katherine."
"It's a great victory because it shows each of us we can overcome adversity
to achieve extraordinary victories," Harris said.
With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Harris had 49 percent of the
vote against three relative unknowns. Attorney Will McBride ran second at 30
percent, and retired Navy Admiral LeRoy Collins had 15 percent.
Nelson didn't address Harris' win directly but said in a statement that he
looked forward to "spending the next six years continuing to fight for the
people of Florida in the United States Senate." The Democrat had no primary
challenger.
Despite a handful of late openings at polling places, the primary appeared
to be debacle-free, with no problems reported to rival the troubled
elections in 2000 and 2002. Rainy weather in South Florida and other parts
of the state was expected to reduce turnout figures.
"The primary election in Florida today ran very smoothly," said state
Division of Elections spokesman Sterling Ivey.
The Democratic race for governor tightened in recent days, but Smith fell
short in his bid for a come-from-behind victory. Davis dogged Smith about
his connections to big sugar companies, repeatedly pointing out how U.S.
Sugar Corp. spent millions of dollars to fund attack ads.
Davis spoke to supporters in Tampa shortly after Smith phoned to concede.
"With all the talk of sugar in the news, let me say, how sweet it is," Davis
said. "It's time to change direction, and tonight is a new beginning."
Crist campaigned as a champion of consumer causes and the governor's
policies - at least when it came to crime, taxes and education. A roar went
up in Crist's hotel suite in St. Petersburg when he told family and
supporters he'd been declared the winner.
"All I want to be is the people's governor," Crist said, "and they should
rest assured that if they elect me in November, no one will fight harder for
the people."
In other results, state Sen. Skip Campbell easily won the Democratic
nomination for attorney general over a little-known lawyer who did not
campaign. Bill McCollum, a former congressman, was unopposed for the
Republican nomination.
Senate President Tom Lee won the Republican nomination for chief financial
officer, setting up a November race against Democrat Alex Sink.
In the race for Harris' House seat, auto dealer Vern Buchanan fended off
four opponents for the GOP nomination to fill the 13th District seat. He
will face banker Christine Jennings, who easily won the Democratic
nomination.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FLORIDA_ELECTION?SITE=NCWIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
3. Congress's Last Stand - Wall
Street Journal Op-ed
A few things for Republicans to do before November.
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 12:01 a.m.
Congress returns to work today, with the GOP majority down in the polls and
only a dozen or so legislative days left to impress voters before Election
Day. Can they do anything to stop a rout?
Republicans are already staking their election chances less on their
achievements than on the damage Democrats might do if they take over, so
perhaps the GOP answer will be to do nothing and say a prayer. But
Republicans could still help their prospects, and motivate their own
supporters, if they use the next month to advance sound policies that
highlight differences between the two parties. For example:
Military tribunals. In Hamdan, the Supreme Court invited Congress to rewrite
the rules for military tribunals for terrorists, and Republicans can help
President Bush and the war effort by doing so. Senator Lindsey Graham (R.,
S.C.) is the main obstacle as he courts media flattery by opposing Mr.
Bush's proposed language. His colleagues should make it clear that the
language will move with or without him.
Spending restraint. One reason many GOP voters are in a sour mood, and may
stay home in November, is the lack of spending discipline. Republicans can
lighten that blot on their record by passing reforms that stem the worst
abuses--namely, more transparency for special-interest "earmarks," and a
line-item veto to allow a President to delete specific spending pork.
The House is holding up earmark reform, which is part of the ethics bill,
because its leaders want to outlaw campaign spending by big-money 527 groups
funded by the likes of George Soros. The Senate GOP rightly views this as
another restraint on political speech. House leaders are only hurting
themselves by blocking an anti-earmarking victory.
Health insurance. The latest Census data finds that 46.6 million Americans
lack health insurance, with the cost of coverage rising. The House has
already passed a popular bill to let small businesses and associations offer
lower-cost insurance the way that Fortune 500 companies can. Liberals in the
Senate are blocking it precisely because it might reduce the ranks of the
uninsured and thus reduce the demand for government health care. Why not
force Democrats to vote up or down?
Gas prices. Gasoline prices are falling nationwide, but with oil prices
still near $70 a barrel now is the time to open new sources of domestic
energy supply. The House and Senate have both passed bills to expand
drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf, and there's no reason they can't be
reconciled in conference. The House has also passed faster permitting for
new gas refineries, and Senate Democrats should also be forced to kill that
if they dare.
Property rights and judges. The Supreme Court's Kelo decision has provoked
bipartisan outrage against the taking of private property for private
development. But Congress still hasn't taken the popular opportunity to do
something about it. The House long ago passed a measure to block federal
dollars from financing local projects invoking eminent domain. But the
Senate has sat on its hands, thanks mainly to Judiciary Chairman Arlen
Specter.
And speaking of Judiciary, whatever happened to pushing more judicial
nominees for a floor vote? The White House recently resubmitted five
appellate court candidates to the Senate, and they deserve a vote in what
could be the last time in this Presidency that Republicans control the
legislative calendar.
Taxes. Democrats who oppose making the Bush 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent
are arguing for one of the largest tax increases in American history. The
average family with children would see its tax payment rise by $2,084 a
year. A vote in both houses on making these permanent is good policy and
politics. Ditto for another vote on repealing the death tax, to remind
voters in red states about where their tax burdens will head if Democrats
take control.
We'd also mention immigration reform, except that House leaders tell us
there is zero chance of that passing before November. Leave it to
Republicans to fan national concern about the issue for a year and then say,
well, never mind. On the policy merits, this may be for the best because
anything that passed in the current environment would only throw more police
at the border or further harass employers. But if Republicans lose the
House, their demagoguery on immigration will be one reason.
As the nearby table shows, the GOP's legislative record in the House is
actually better than the media advertise. Many good ideas have died in the
graveyard of the Senate, thanks to Democratic Leader Harry Reid's use of the
filibuster and the eagerness of too many GOP Senators (Maine's Olympia Snowe,
George Voinovich of Ohio) to run away from Mr. Bush on key issues.
Republicans can't undo all that damage in a month, but they can at least
give voters some better reason to re-elect them in November.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008896
4. Don't Blame the GOP - USA Today Op-ed
By David Dreier
No one needs to be reminded that we're in the midst of the political season.
Many Americans have been bombarded by automated phone calls sponsored by
Moveon.org and other special interest groups or barraged with attack ads
attempting to create false ethical clouds around members who have no
connection to recent scandals. Some of these ads were pulled from the air
after they were proved false. It is within this context that the lobbying
reform and ethics debate must be considered.
A recent Time magazine profile of the Democratic leader in the House
reported that her legislative mandate to her members included, as the
magazine put it, "avoiding compromise with Republicans at all cost."
This strategy was on display when the House considered the Lobbying
Transparency and Accountability Act earlier this year. Fewer than 10 House
Democrats supported this legislation, which would increase lobbying
disclosure requirements, include critical reforms of the earmark process and
stiffen penalties for breaking the rules. Why the Democrats refused to work
with Republicans on real reform was clear - it did not fit into their
political strategy.
Even before the bill was considered by the House, Democrats made known their
intention to make ethics a political issue. It was to be their key to
winning back the majority they lost in 1994. Hence, their fierce opposition
to our reform bill. But intervening events undermined their strategy.
Members on their side of the aisle began to face ethical questions of their
own, and a special election built on the "culture of corruption" message
they so frequently espoused yielded a loss rather than a win. Since then,
they seem to have lost interest in the issue entirely.
For the Republican leadership, however, work continues. We remain committed
to achieving greater transparency and accountability in the lobbying and
ethics process. Former members who are registered lobbyists have been banned
from the House floor. Comprehensive earmark reform remains a top priority
and will be considered by the House this month. It will be interesting to
see whether Democrats once again follow their leader, or decide to support
real reform.
Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., is chairman of the House Rules Committee.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-09-05-oppose_x.htm
5. Newsman to Tony Snow: 'Don't Point
Your Finger At Me!' - Editor & Publisher
By E&P Staff
NEW YORK A not especially eventful press briefing at the White House today
turned rancorous with NBC's David Gregory telling Press Secretary Tony Snow,
"Don't point your finger at me," and Snow accusing the newsman of being
"rude" and delivering Democratic talking points.
Earlier, speaking to reporters, Snow, continuing the administration's media
focus on the war on terror, accused "some in the Democratic Party" of saying
"we shouldn't fight the war" and "we shouldn't apprehend al-Qaeda" or even
"question al-Qaeda."
Snow got into a tussle with Gregory after the NBC journalist told him, in a
lengthy remark, that the public may wonder why the president's statement and
report today on the war on terror did not admit more failings on the
administration's part. Snow observed that he had nicely summarized "the
Democratic point of view," and Gregory took exception to this.
This exchange followed.
*
Q Actually, Tony, I don't think that's fair, if you look at the facts. If
you look at the facts.
MR. SNOW: Well, I do, because -- no, because, for instance --
Q No, no, no. No, I don't think you should be able to just wipe that, kind
of dismiss the question --
MR. SNOW: Well, let me --
Q It's not a Democratic argument, Tony.
MR. SNOW: Let me answer the question, David.
Q But hold on, let's not let you get away with saying that's a Democratic
argument.
MR. SNOW: Okay, let me -- let's not let you get away with being rude. Let me
just answer the question, and you can come back at me.
Q Excuse me. Don't point your finger at me. I'm not being rude.
MR. SNOW: Yes, you are.
Q Don't try to dismiss me as making a Democratic argument, Tony, when I'm
speaking fact.
MR. SNOW: Well, okay -- well, no --
Q You can do that to the Democrats; don't do it to me.
MR. SNOW: No, I'm doing it to you because the second part was factually
tendentious, okay? Now, when you were talking about the fact that it failed
to adapt, that's just flat wrong. And you will be -- there has been -- there
have been repeated attempts to try to adapt to military realities, to
diplomatic realities, to development of new weapons and tools on the part of
al Qaeda, including the very creative use of the Internet. So the idea that
somehow we're staying the course is just wrong. It is absolutely wrong.
*
Elsewhere, Snow denied that the president's statement and report today on
the war on terrorism were political in any way. "I think it belittles it by
trying to dismiss it as politics," he said. But later, when a reporter
asked, "But you don't disagree that he's trying to frame the debate for what
is an important political choice?", Snow replied: "Absolutely. Of course, of
course."
He also said there would be no troop withdrawals in Iraq any time and
reiterated the president's strong support for Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld.
President Bush "would love to see members of both Houses of Congress
returning to that sense of cooperation we had after September 11th."
Here is an excerpt from Snow's remarks:
"There have been some in the Democratic Party who have argued against the
Patriot Act, against the terror surveillance program, against Guantanamo. In
other words, there are some people who say that we shouldn't fight the war,
we should not detain -- we shouldn't apprehend al Qaeda, we shouldn't detain
al Qaeda, we shouldn't question al Qaeda, and we shouldn't listen to al
Qaeda. In other words, they're all for winning the war on terror, but
they're all against -- they're against providing the tools for winning that
war.
"And we think it's a perfect opportunity for Democratic leaders to say, no,
we are serious about winning the war. We have now reiterated some of the
basic precepts of administration policy and also the policy put together by
generals over the months of the engagement in Iraq. And we look forward to
working with members of Congress to figure out how best to prevent
terrorists from coming here, but, more importantly, how to defeat terrorism.
"Finally, one other point, which is, there is a reiteration of a call to
replace or have Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stand down. The
President strongly supports the Defense Secretary. It's not going to happen.
Creating Don Rumsfeld as a boogeyman may make for good politics, but would
make for a lousy strategy at this time. And, furthermore, if you listen to
the speech that Secretary Rumsfeld gave last week, it was not only
thoughtful, but comprehensive about trying to frame the ongoing war against
terror, and also the war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"So this, again, is something that the President would love to see members
of both Houses of Congress returning to that sense of cooperation we had
after September 11th, where the real goal was not to try to hand out pink
slips at the Pentagon, but instead to win the war on terror in a way that is
going to make not only America safer, but also the rest of the world safer
so that democracy can take firm root throughout the globe."
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003087485
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