Capitol View: August 18, 2008 Archive

Out of order! Judge Jesse?

Posted at 10:46 AM on August 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The publication TV Week is reporting that former Gov. Jesse Ventura is negotiations to host a court show.

As television syndication companies this year seek high-profile names and show formats, Mr. Ventura, the former governor, actor, author and professional wrestler, is deep in negotiations with Twentieth Television to host a court show aimed at daytime television, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

If the deal is completed, the half-hour court show would debut in fall 2009, joining a number of other personality-driven series being readied for the season. That's in stark contrast to recent years, when cheap formats and under-the-radar names drove shows.

(h/t Capitol Chatter)

RNC location helps Coleman attend

Posted at 11:24 AM on August 18, 2008 by Tim Pugmire

Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman says he understands why some of his colleagues have said they will skip next month's Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

North Carolina's Elizabeth Dole and Alaska's Ted Stevens lead a list of GOP Senators who've reportedly said they won't attend the four-day event. Coleman says convention attendance is a simple election-year decision for many Senators who are facing tough re-election battles.

"So I think those who come here will have an extraordinary time," Coleman said." But the colleagues who don't come are staying at home only because they have tough races. If the convention wasn't in St. Paul, I wouldn't be at the convention."

Coleman, who's also running for re-election this fall, says he plans to be active and involved during in the four-day-event. But the first-term Republican says his schedule, including a convention speaking slot, hasn't been finalized.

VP Olympics: Pawlenty did not medal

Posted at 1:05 PM on August 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Fix goes through the winners and losers in Sunday's VP Olympics. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine won the gold. Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh won the silver and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the bronze. Here's what The Fix wrote about Bayh's performance (he sat opposite Gov. Pawlenty on Face the Nation):

SILVER: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) on "Face the Nation -- Bayh is criticized -- usually fairly -- for his lack of flair as a candidate. Democratic insiders worry he is too nice to serve as the lead attack dog on the ticket and that his record -- voting for the war in Iraq, most notably -- is too different from Obama's to make him an effective surrogate. Bayh and his campaign team are surely aware of that criticism and yesterday's performance on "Face the Nation" seemed to suggest that there is more to Evan Bayh than first meets the eye. (The Fix: a poet and he didn't know it!). Bayh had the line of the morning -- "We are not all Georgians now" -- and repeatedly and aggressively went after not just McCain but also his foe on the show -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R). After Pawlenty attacked Obama for standing by his opposition to the surge, Bayh responded incredulously: "Tim, you opposed the surge....I read about it in your hometown newspaper." Pawlenty was rocked back on his heels, noting that he had said at the time that he was "skeptical" of the surge. Bayh even found a way to use the anti-Obama book by Jerome Corsi ("The Obama Nation") as a talking point against the Arizona senator -- noting that the "old John McCain" would have denounced it while the "new John McCain" embraces it. Did Bayh do enough? Who knows. But he acquitted himself quite well in what was widely being cast as a preview of the vice presidential debate.

Question of the Day: Fair characterization of the picks?

Update: Marc Ambinder picks up that a GOP blog in Ohio says McCain's camp is looking for a big Ohio venue for the day after Obama's speech. The sentence was later removed from the site.

Pawlenty on the surge

Posted at 1:41 PM on August 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck

There has been a lot of discussion regarding Gov. Pawlenty and his initial thoughts on the surge in Iraq. Here's audio from the governor when President Bush announced that he was sending more troops to Iraq in January, 2007.

Goin' nuclear

Posted at 5:23 PM on August 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Gov. Pawlenty campaigned in Wisconsin today on behalf of Republican John McCain. He was scheduled to attend two fundraisers in Madison and Milwaukee. He also talked energy policy at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

He held his news conference at UW's Mechanical Engineering Building, which has a nuclear reactor in the basement. Stories here and here on the event. Here's the audio from his news conference.

For the record, Obama's campaign said Obama supports increased drilling and building more nuclear reactors but is also focused on more renewable energy options like solar and wind.

Wisconsin Democratic Congressman David Obey also addressed the impact of McCain adding Pawlenty to the ticket. He said Wisconsin voters won't care if McCain picks the governor of their neighbor to the west.

"I don't think people are interested in the mileage between their community and the hometown of the nominee. I think they're more focused on the distance of the needs of average Americans and the politicians who are trying to get their votes."

During his stop in Wisconsin, Pawlenty again declined to talk about his VP chances and whether or not he's being vetted by McCain's campaign. We get to try again tomorrow since he has two events on his official schedule.

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NY Times: Obama all but settled on running mate

Posted at 9:55 PM on August 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The paper, however, doesn't say whom it is.

Politico: McCain to name VP on August 29th

Posted at 10:59 PM on August 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Politico says McCain will name his VP one day after Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination. McCain will hold a rally in Dayton, OH.