Joe Scott 3: The Body Politic

Annals of Hypocrisy: Rush Limbaugh

30 April 2006 |permalink | email article

Famous people are often treated differently than most of us when they get in trouble. Consider the case of Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talk-show radio host, who was charged with prescription drug fraud, pleaded not guilty and made a deal Friday in Florida to avoid prosecution on whether he improperly used painkillers.

An iconic conservative voice since the mid-80ís, heís played a central role both in rallying support for the Republican sweep of Congress in 1994, in leading the drum beat to impeach President Bill Clinton in 1998 and regularly demonizing Democrats.

Limbaughís arrogant posture has long set the tone for a generation of extreme conservative television and radio hosts - and yes, wing-nut bloggers ñ for absolute legal, moral and political certainty on every issue affecting the body politic.

In October 1995, Limbaugh said on his former television show that ìif people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.î

In 2003, Florida law enforcement officials began a three-year investigation of Limbaugh after a tabloid report quoted his maid as saying that she had helped him obtain OxyContin, a time-release narcotic. That October he said on the air that he was addicted to painkiller and would enter a rehabilitation program which he did.

Rush got a sweetheart deal in avoiding a criminal conviction with prosecutors agreeing to drop the fraud charge in 18 months if he agrees complies with all the court guidelines. “They slapped his hand and thatís all,î said Debra Opri, a celebrity lawyer and frequent television analyst. ìHe doesnít have to stand trialÖand thatís it. He walks.î

Itís Limbaughís rant about cracking down on drug users and his own actions that should raise questions about hypocrisy among his devoted but brainwashed fans. 

(First in an occasional series)

Democratic Gubernatorial Showdown

27 April 2006 |permalink | email article

California convention delegates will decide Saturday in Sacramento whether the party should officially endorse either state Treasurer Phil Angelides or state Controller Steve Westly for governor before the June 6 primary. The winner needs 60 % of the delegate votes.

The party has not endorsed a gubernatorial candidate in a contested primary since 1990 when state Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp beat Dianne Feinstein when he topped the 60% hurdle by six votes in a recount. It didnít matter. Feinstein won the primary.

On paper, Angelides, the more liberal candidate, is the heavy favorite of the party establishment. Heís backed by U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, the California Labor Federation and the California Teachers Assn.

Recently, Angelidesí advisers have dampened expectations, saying he will be happy to simply outpoll Westly among the estimated 1,800 delegates. Westlyís goal is to block an outright nomination. Both candidates are multi-millionaires, with Westly having far deeper pockets.

Until February, the populist Angelides led by 8% before the more centrist Westly introduced himself to voters in a series of feel-good TV ads. He’s now ahead in every area of the state with an 11% lead that represents a 19-point turnaround in just two months.

Now an admitted underdog, Angelides, who may have made a strategic mistake by pledging to raise business taxes, is being heavily outspent on television. A controversial committee, funded by a longtime friend and former business partner Angelo K. Tsakopoulos and his daughter, has contributed $5 million to the candidate representing firefighters and law enforcement for ads to get him back into the race.

With over a third of Democrats still undecided, the last month of the campaign will be a negative and nasty donnybrook. The advantage remains with Westly unless union leaders decide to go all out for Angelides now instead of saving their war chest to unseat Arnold Schwarzenegger, their real enemy, in November. For the governor, Angelides presents a far juicer target. 

Can Rove Save GOP Majority?

26 April 2006 |permalink | email article

Karl Rove has been relieved of his responsibilities for White House domestic policy but keeps the title. George W. Bushís ìbrainî is now the indispensable force in plotting Republican political strategies ahead of the November midterm elections.

But yesterday Rove testified for three hours before a federal grand jury investigating the 2003 leak of a CIA operativeís identity, appearing voluntarily at the request of the chief federal prosecutor. His appearance marked the fifth time he has appeared to testify. U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald advised his attorney that he was ìnot a target of the investigation,î but added no decision has been made about charges. 

Should Rove be indicted, and given the free fall in Bushís approval ratings, it would be a potentially fatal blow to GOP hopes of retaining their majority in the wake of damaging new poll data. 

A national survey by the Pew Research Center of 1,501 Americans this month suggests voters are mad as hell with Congress, with independents heavily leaning Democratic and, with Bush fatigue, signs Republican candidates may bear the brunt of public disillusionment.

A strong appetite for change in Washington has two thrusts: 1) a majority of voters would like to see most members of Congress defeated, and 2) a sizable minority want their representative turned out in the midterms.

Both indicators reflect anti-incumbent sentiment not seen since late in the historic 1994 campaign, just before Republicans gained control of Congress. The Democratsí current 10-point lead is only one of a handful of occasions since 1994 when either party has held such a sizeable advantage in the congressional horse race.

The Democratic candidate is favored over the Republican by 17% among white, non-Hispanic Catholics, by 8% among white mainline Protestants, and by 12% among voters in the Midwest.

The Democratic candidate is tied with the Republicans among other groups that the Democrats lost in recent elections, including whites, men and Sourthners.The Democrats have wide leads in the West (23%) and Northeast (19%); in February 2002, the GOP held a slight advantage in both regions.

Whatís most impressive throughout the 15-page Pew report is the crucial swing role of independent voters. Half of them (51%) favor the Democratic candidate in the district compared with just 31% who say they will vote Republican. More than in any recent election, far more independents (62%) say the issue of who controls Congress will be a factor in their vote this fall.

Especially worrisome for Republicans is the current 20-point Democrat lead among independents. Four years ago, the Democratic and Republican candidates were essentially tied among independents (42% R, 39% D).

Assuming he is not charged Rove’s greatest challenge will be to offset the strong desire expressed by the public for policies and programs that are different from the current administration. The survey is the most negative evaluation of Congressís record since 1997.