RedState Morning Briefing

By Erick Erickson
December 16, 2009

1. Senate Democrats on Verge of Deal

Don’t believe everything you hear. The Senate Democrats are not on the verge of a collapse. They are on the verge of compromising every single thing they want just so they can get a “health care reform” bill passed. Here’s what I’m being told . . .Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. A Bomb Goes Off in Florida

Last night in Washington, close to one hundred leaders of the conservative movement gathered in a townhouse just down from the United States Capitol to hear Senator Jim DeMint and Florida Speaker Marco Rubio at a Senate Conservatives Fund fundraiser for Marco Rubio. The people in the room for Rubio were the same people who blew up NY-23, helping Doug Hoffman and crushing the chances of a far left Republican, Dede Scozzafava. Just prior to the start of the fundraiser, a bomb went off in Florida. According to Rasmussen, the Florida Senate primary is now tied between Rubio and Crist. For perspective, only about six months ago, Rubio was in the single digits with Crist safely over 50%. Jim DeMint told the crowd that Rubio is one of a handful of “new Republicans” running to take back our country. And the new poll shows it is working. Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Howard Dean: “Kill the Senate Bill” — Updated, Sen. Nelson tells Obama NO

From Plum Line, which has published an advance look at a radio interview Howard Dean recorded for Vermont Public Radio. Dean said Democrats must now kill the health care bill. The question is whether Senator Sanders (I-VT) and Senator Burris (D-IL) or any other Senator agree, and I suspect the answer to that is a big YES. Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Lieberman Haters Need a Little Self-Awareness

It’s amusing to watch the swarm of enraged Democrats promising revenge against Joe Lieberman for his daring to oppose the Medicare buy-in. Isn’t this the party that has spent the last year constantly ridiculing Republicans for supposedly demanding ideological purity in their ranks? What’s particularly amusing is that the Democrats screaming bloody murder don’t seem to have the slightest self-awareness of the contradiction in their positions. Even putting the hypocrisy aside, the accusation that Republicans seek philosophical purity is belied by the contrast between Democrats’ calls for revenge and the GOP’s treatment of its moderate senators. Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. Do Conservatives Need to Look in on Illinois’s Senate Race?

Mark Kirk, the front runner in the race for the GOP nomination for Illinois’s Senate seat, appears to be cruising to a sure primary victory in February. His challenger, Patrick Hughes, has not made ad buys yet, has no name recognition, and for all intents and purposes has barely put on a political campaign. Hughes also only has $340,048.00 on hand compared to $2.3 million on Mark Kirk’s side. If conservatives united behind Hughes, Kirk could be in serious trouble in the primary. Republicans, however, have got it in their heads that Mark Kirk is the only Republican who can win the general election. Talking to more and more Republicans in Illinois, I have a few concerns. I have said for a while that I would be fine with Kirk in Illinois, and I would. I think taking about Bob Bennett in Utah must be a much higher priority for conservatives. But conservatives who are happy to “grin and bear it” with Kirk may at least want to consider the following . . . Please click here for the rest of the post..

6. House retirement watch

Interest in the recent spat of Democrat retirements from the House of Representatives has highlighted interest in a House Retirement Watch. So far, 23 members of the House — 11 Democrats and 12 Republicans, have announced plans to leave the House by the January 3, 2011 end of the 111th Congress. We’ve got the list. Please click here for the rest of the post.