| | February 24, 2015 | |
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A day after Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate last November, Mitch McConnell promised that things would be different with the GOP in control of both chambers of Congress. "The American people have changed the Senate. So I think we have an obligation to change the behavior of the Senate and to begin to function again." When a reporter followed up asking McConnell how the American people could believe him (after what happened in the last Congress and the Congress before that), he replied, "Well, we have to demonstrate it." But not even two months into this new GOP-controlled Congress, it appears we're headed for yet another shutdown -- this time over the Department of Homeland Security. Republicans claim that Senate Democrats are the ones obstructing things, because they are filibustering a DHS funding bill that contains riders rolling back President Obama's executive actions on immigration. Yet as we learned during the last government shutdown, the side that's using government spending to demand changes to existing law or directives is going to be side that gets blamed if the government (or just part of it) shuts down. But don't take our word for it. Take the word of GOP Sen. (and likely presidential candidate) Lindsey Graham. "If we don't fund the Department of Homeland Security, we'll get blamed as a party," he said on Sunday.
Remembering what happened to the GOP during the last shutdown
While the shutdown of 2013 ultimately didn't hurt the Republican Party in the midterms the following year, it is worth pointing out what happened just days after the shutdown began, according to our Oct. 2013 NBC/WSJ poll. The GOP's fav/unfav rating DECLINED from 28% positive/44% negative in Sept. 2013 to 24% positive/53% negative right after the shutdown began; the Democrats' advantage on the generic ballot INCREASED from three to eight points; and President Obama's approval rating went UP from 45% to 47%. Now there are two ways to look this one. One, you can say that the GOP took a short-term hit but ultimately didn't get punished. Or two, you can say that the problems associated with HealthCare.Gov and the federal health-care law -- which became a two-month story -- bailed out Republicans.
McConnell's possible way out
After Democrats -- for the fourth time -- filibustered the GOP attempt to tie DHS funding to the rolling back of Obama's immigration actions, Senate Majority Leader McConnell offered a POTENTIAL way out of the shutdown standoff. Per NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, McConnell has proposed a stand-alone bill that denies funding for the implementation of Obama's 2014 executive action. This bill, O'Donnell adds, is not attached to DHS spending. The glass-half-full take here is that Republicans, for the first time, are now legislatively separating the immigration rollbacks from the DHS funding, which offers a potential way out of the impasse. (Indeed, NBC's Frank Thorp reports that Dem Sen. Joe Manchin could likely support this McConnell bill if it comes AFTER a clean bill to fund DHS.) The glass-half-empty take is that we have NO IDEA if House Republicans will buy this gambit. There's another potential way out: McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner could propose language promising to prohibit any funds implementing Obama's executive actions on immigration as long as they're tied up in the courts. (And from those reading the tea leaves, that looks to be a while.) Such a proposal could give Republicans higher ground than they enjoy now. Saying, "Hey, we shouldn't have the government spend any funds on actions that the courts are currently considering" could be more popular than essentially saying, "The only way we're funding the Department of Homeland Security is by ripping up Obama's executive actions." The shutdown countdown clock is ticking...
Hillary goes to Silicon Valley
There are several 2016 storylines today, and we start with Hillary Clinton's speech in Silicon Valley. The San Francisco Chronicle: "In her appearance before a Silicon Valley women's conference Tuesday, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is staking an early claim to voters who could be key to her 2016 presidential ambition: upwardly mobile professional women who might be called "Lean In" voters... Clinton will be keynote speaker at the gathering at the Santa Clara Convention Center that has attracted scores of other prominent women - among them designer Diane Von Furstenberg, tech columnist Kara Swisher and former New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson." Per the guidance we've received, Clinton will take the stage around 4:45 pm ET and will speak for about 25 minutes. After her speech, Clinton will sit down with tech journalist Kara Swisher and take questions for another 25 minutes.
Rubio's in New Hampshire
On the GOP side, Marco Rubio is in New Hampshire, and he sure sounds like someone who's more than exploring a possible presidential bid. "I'm grateful that you would come here to listen to me this afternoon, and I look forward to coming back again and talking to you many, many more times," he said yesterday in the Granite State, per NH1's Paul Steinhauser. More from the New York Times: "[T]hough he is not expected to make any official announcement until April, he is quietly telling donors that he is committed to running for president, not re-election to the Senate. (During a stop in Las Vegas, Mr. Rubio met privately with Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate and major Republican donor. Neither Mr. Rubio nor Mr. Adelson's team would comment on what the two men had discussed.)" But as NBC's Perry Bacon wrote last week, Rubio -- once hailed as a the GOP's "savior" -- now finds himself as the underdog with fellow Floridian Jeb Bush also in the race. "A number of one-time Rubio fundraisers, including Washington lobbyist and longtime Rubio adviser Dirk Van Dongen, have said they will back Jeb Bush instead of the Florida senator."
Good news, bad news for Christie
Meanwhile, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie -- now far removed from the GOP's 2016 top tier - is announcing a truce with his state's teachers. The Newark Star-Ledger: "The governor and the state's largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, are working on 'groundbreaking changes' to fix the state's ailing pension system, Christie's office said Monday. Christie will also announce plans to make a $1.3 billion pension payment in the state budget that begins July 1. That payment is almost double what he put into the system for the current fiscal year, but far below what the state is supposed to contribute under the 2011 pension reform law." So that's the good news for Christie. The bad news? "A state judge ruled Monday that Gov. Chris Christie broke a law he signed by cutting nearly $1.6 billion from pension payments and must work with state lawmakers to restore the money in the current state budget," the Star-Ledger adds.
What makes Walker so formidable: He has a (conservative) record of turning words into action
While the DC political world is focused about what Scott Walker is saying (and not saying) about Rudy Giuliani or President Obama's Christianity, don't miss what the Wisconsin governor is about to do in his own state -- break the state's unions once and for all. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: "Leadership committees in both houses of the Legislature voted Monday along party lines to approve an extraordinary session to take up so-called right-to-work legislation later this week in committee and on the Senate floor. Right-to-work laws ban labor contracts in the private sector that require workers to pay union fees." The paper adds that even union officials acknowledge that they're unable to stop these labor-law changes. Yes, Walker has received lots of bad press in recent days. But what separates himself from other GOP 2016ers is that he has a RECORD of turning words into action. And that is what makes him potentially formidable in a GOP presidential primary.
Will Rahm avoid a runoff in Chicago?
Finally, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is up for re-election today. He needs 50% plus one to avoid an April runoff, which would be embarrassing for the well-known mayor. "Emanuel is poised to get the most votes after having raised millions of dollars, plastering the airwaves with ads and winning an endorsement from his former boss, President Barack Obama. However, his four challengers say Emanuel's tenacious style and handling of some major city issues have left voters wanting a change," the AP writes. This is what happens when you have to run against yourself rather than well-known opponents.
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OBAMA AGENDA: A different kind of problem over at the VA
In a statement, VA Secretary Bob McDonald is apologizing for suggesting to a homeless veteran that he served in special forces. "That was inaccurate and I apologize to anyone that was offended by my misstatement."
In an op-ed in The Hill, the president writes that "It's time to end the era of manufactured crises, put politics aside and focus on doing what's best for America. So while I will fight any attempt to turn back the progress we've made or break up families across our country, I welcome the opportunity to work with anyone who wants to build on the improvements we've put in place, and fix our broken immigration system once and for all."
The AP notes how Obama is facing opposition from both parties on his trade proposals as well as his request for congressional authorization to continue the fight against ISIS.
The Wall Street Journal reports: "The European Commission on Tuesday backed proposals made by the Greek government for reworking its bailout program, putting Athens one step closer to securing a four-month extension to its expiring bailout."
Ukraine alleges that separatists haven't really begun pulling back heavy weaponry as they claim.
Bloomberg: "For anyone hoping a nuclear deal with Iran might stop the Tehran government from destabilizing the Middle East or free its political prisoners, the Obama administration has some bad news: It's just an arms control agreement. As details of a proposed pact leaked out of the Geneva talks Monday, administration officials told us they will ask the world to judge any final nuclear agreement on the technical aspects only, not on whether the deal will spur Iranian reform."
POLITICO notes that Barack Obama is wooing the Warren wing of the Democratic Party by taking on legislation targeting financial advisers. "After years of dragging its feet on the issue, the White House is getting fully behind a proposal strongly opposed by the industry to police financial advisers who steer clients toward products that may not be best for them but bring in bigger commissions and fees."
Our Perry Bacon Jr. writes that there's little hope for an immediate fix to Obamacare as the Supreme Court's ruling on federal subsidies looms.
CONGRESS: McConnell's possible way out
NBC's Frank Thorp reports that Mitch McConnell has introduced a bill specifically targeting the president's immigration action in an effort "to get the Senate unstuck."
The Washington Post has more.
The Washington Post editorial board, on the DHS standoff: "Whatever its merits or shortcomings, a federal judge's decision last week blocking the Obama administration's immigration policy offered congressional Republicans an escape path from the corner into which they had painted themselves by imperiling funding for the Department of Homeland Security and its 240,000 employees. Thus far they have not shown the wisdom to accept this gift."
Mitch McConnell and John Boehner write in a joint USA Today op-ed: "Keystone is a no-brainer in every way, but the White House says the president will veto this jobs bill. Americans deserve to know why, and what a veto would mean."
The Aaron Schock story continues, per the AP: "Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock, a rising Republican star already facing an ethics inquiry, has spent taxpayer and campaign funds on flights aboard private planes owned by some of his key donors, The Associated Press has found. There also have been other expensive travel and entertainment charges, including for a massage company and music concerts."
OFF TO THE RACES: 2016 - a foreign-policy election?
The New York Times writes that foreign policy is becoming a top issue for GOP 2016 hopefuls. "Doubts that crept into the minds of conservatives about engagement abroad after George W. Bush's presidency and the protracted war in Iraq are dissipating, and they are increasingly pressing for more action against the Islamic State."
The AP notes how the earlier primary date for Texas is creating a new sense of urgency in the Lone Star State.
CHRISTIE: "In a major blow to Gov. Chris Christie, a New Jersey judge ruled on Monday that he violated state law when he declined to make the full payment into the state's pension system for public employees last year and ordered him to find a way to fund it now," the New York Times reports. "The decision further complicates Mr. Christie's hopes of reviving his presidential ambitions, which have suffered in recent weeks as his approval ratings in New Jersey have sunk to the lowest point of his tenure, and Republican donors have moved to other contenders for the party's nomination."
CLINTON: National Journal reports on how Hillary Clinton plans to bring gender into her 2016 campaign in a way she shunned in 2008.
CRUZ: Ted Cruz urges no votes against Loretta Lynch's AG nomination in a POLITICO op-ed: "Personally, I wanted to support Ms. Lynch's nomination. Six years of Eric Holder has done enormous damage, and Ms. Lynch's service as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York has earned her a reputation as a relatively no-nonsense prosecutor. However, the answers she gave at her confirmation hearing are, in my view, disqualifying for serving as our nation's chief law enforcement officer."
JINDAL: The Baton Rouge Advocate: "Jindal, who is flirting with a presidential run, spent about 165 days - or 45 percent - of 2014 in places other than Louisiana. In 2013, he was gone about 74 days."
RUBIO: The New York Times writes on how Marco Rubio is being dogged by the question of how Jeb Bush's candidacy affects him.
WALKER: The right-to-work fight is on: "Leadership committees in both houses of the Legislature voted Monday along party lines to approve an extraordinary session to take up so-called right-to-work legislation later this week in committee and on the Senate floor," writes the Journal Sentinel. "Right-to-work laws ban labor contracts in the private sector that require workers to pay union fees."
And around the country...
ALASKA: Alaska today becomes the third state in the U.S. where recreational pot is legal.
PROGRAMMING NOTES.
*** Tuesday's "News Nation with Tamron Hall" line-up: Tamron Hall speaks with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) about funding for The Dept. of Homeland Security, Former Congressman and Iraq War Veteran Patrick Murphy about VA Secretary McDonald falsely claiming that he had served in the United States Special Forces legal analyst Lisa Green about the American Sniper trial, Chicago Tribune City Hall reporter Bill Ruthhart about the Mayoral race in Chicago, and domestic abuse survivor Destiny Mabry and Day One Supervising Attorney Andrew Santa Ana about Teen Violence awareness month
*** Tuesday's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" line-up: NBC's Andrea Mitchell interviews Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Atlantic's Jeff Goldberg, Fmr. RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Fmr. Gov. Ed Rendell, the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart, the AP's Julie Pace and NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin, Luke Russert, Kelly O'Donnell and Charles Hadlock.
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Neither the Obama administration nor the states nor Congress is taking aggressive action to fix a potential problem with the Affordable Care Act, even with a Supreme Court decision looming that could raise the prices for health insurance for more than 6 million people in 34 states.
A group of conservative plaintiffs are challenging the law, arguing that the way it is written does not allow tax credits under the ACA to go to people whose states have not chosen to set up their own health care marketplaces. Only 16 states have these marketplaces, while the remainder of the states, many with either Republican-controlled legislatures or governors, have declined to create them, deferring to the marketplace run by the federal government through healthcare.gov.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on this issue next week in the case King v. Burwell, with a ruling expected in June. The Obama administration is arguing the writers of the ACA clearly intended for people in all 50 states to get the subsidies, whether or not their state set up an exchange.
But for now, there is no obvious alternative if the Court rules against the administration's position. Obama administration officials have refused to offer publicly any kind of contingency plan, arguing they are confident in their legal position and any fix to the law would require Congress anyway.
The GOP-controlled Congress, which has uniformly opposed the health care law from its inception, is not attempting to change the language in the law to make it more clearly state that people in these 34 states can get subsidies. Republicans are instead preparing plans to use a ruling against the administration in the case to force Obama to make wholesale changes to the ACA.
And at a National Governors Association meeting in Washington over the last several days, governors from both parties said they are taking a careful approach, not rushing to set up exchanges under the ACA until after they see what the Supreme Court will do.
"We don't know what's going to happen there. I suspect we will react," said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican whose state is one of the 34 without exchanges. He is the vice-chair of the NGA.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat whose state has also not created an exchange, said, "There's not much we can do at this point."
"I'm hoping that the court upholds the constitutionality," he added.
In a closed-door meeting at the NGA on Sunday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell was pressed by governors of both parties on what the administration's plan is if the Court rules that states must have their own exchanges in order for their citizens to get the tax credits. She declined to say, according to several of the governors, instead emphasizing her belief that the administration will win the case.
Her approach was not surprising: even conservatives concede it would be not smart for Burwell to lay out a detailed contingency plan from the administration, which might signal to the Supreme Court that Obama's team does not believe its legal argument in the King case is sound.
But now, for the second time in three years, the Supreme Court holds the fate of Obamacare in its hands. In 2012, in a 5-4 decision, the Court upheld the controversial provision of the law that requires most Americans to purchase health insurance or face a fine. But the Court also made a key plank of the law, expanding Medicaid, voluntary instead of mandatory as originally written. Twenty-two states, all with a GOP-controlled state legislature or governor, have declined to expand the Medicaid program, which covers people whose incomes are below $16,000.
Setting up exchanges, like Medicaid, is controversial in states. Many conservative governors and state legislators are deeply opposed to all parts of Obamacare. And setting up a health care exchange is also a huge administrative challenge. Traditionally liberal states like Maryland and Massachusetts have struggled to establish them.
Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who is the governor of Arkansas, said, "We are exploring a state exchange, but it's simply a gleam in the eye."
By not offering any kind of obvious solution, politicians at the national and state level are increasing the impact of a potential Supreme Court decision. Chief Justice John Roberts broke with his conservative colleagues to uphold the individual mandate in 2012, and close watchers of the Court say Roberts or Justice Anthony Kennedy could join the court's four liberals in upholding the ability of people in those 34 states to get the subsidies.
"It concerns me greatly. If there's a major change to the way 34 states operate because they can't use the subsidies anymore, it could well have a dramatic effect on the law in general," said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat whose state has set up an exchange.
If the Court rules against the administration, it appears another round of tense debate over the law will start. With millions of Americans due to lose their subsidies, Republicans are already discussing plans to use this as leverage to soften some of the requirements for health insurance plans in the ACA and give states more control over how they implement the law in exchange. President Obama is likely to be highly resistant to such changes.
'If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiff, I believe the answer is for the Congress and the governors around the country to come together around legislation that would give states greater flexibility to craft market-based solutions on the state level," said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican who state does not have an exchange.
"There would be an opportunity there for the Congress and the states to really go back to the drawing board," he added. |
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| NBC's Mark Murray and Carrie Dann discuss how personal attacks against President Obama fire up a good chunk of conservatives, but also turn off swing voters and minorities that the Republican Party is trying to court. |
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Few issues fire up a good chunk of conservatives more than personal attacks against President Obama. At the same time, these attacks also turn off swing voters and minorities that the Republican Party is trying to court. And this is the situation that Scott Walker now finds himself in, after refusing 1) to comment on Rudy Giuliani's assertion that Barack Obama doesn't love his country, and 2) declining to weigh in on whether Obama is a Christian. Notable conservatives have cheered Walker's rhetoric (see Erick Erickson here) and blasted the media for asking these types of questions. (What was the point of asking Walker about Obama and Christianity? That's what many conservatives and Walker defenders are asking. It only feeds their skepticism of the MSM press.) Yet other conservative writers, like Matt Lewis, argue that this rhetoric is only going to alienate other voters. "In their minds, Walker is some sort of folk hero for providing that inept answer. But I can assure you, that's not how the majority of Americans (who aren't conservative activists on Twitter) will see it," Lewis contends. (After all, just look at the career trajectories of Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann). What's more, as Democrat Robert Gibbs said on "Meet the Press" yesterday, if you're stirring up controversies on the EASY questions, think what happens when they become HARDER as a presidential candidate. Here's the thing about playing with fire: Sometimes you frighten your opposition by doing something they couldn't do -- or ever dream to do. Other times, you get burned.
How the other GOP 2016ers responded to Giuliani's comments
By the way, here is how the different Republican 2016ers responded to Giuliani's comments:
Bush: "Governor Bush doesn't question President Obama's motives. He does question President Obama's disastrous policies." - per Bush's spokeswoman
Graham: "I have no doubt that he loves his country. I have no doubt that he's a patriot. But his primary job as president of the United States is to defend this country and he's failing miserably." - to ABC
Jindal: "The gist of what Mayor Giuliani said - that the President has shown himself to be completely unable to speak the truth about the nature of the threats from these terrorists - is true," Jindal said in a statement. "If you are looking for someone to condemn the mayor, look elsewhere."
Paul: "I think it's a mistake to question people's motives. It's one thing to disagree on policy."
Rubio: "Democrats aren't asked to answer every time Joe Biden says something embarrassing. So I don't know why I should answer every time a Republican does. I will suffice it to say that I believe the president loves America. I just think his ideas are bad
Walker: "Yeah, I mean, the mayor can speak for himself. I'm not going to comment on whether -- what the president thinks or not. He can speak for himself as well. I'll tell you, I love America." - to CNBC.
Giuliani walks it back
Meanwhile, Giuliani wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed that walks back his personal criticism of the president -- to a point. "My blunt language suggesting that the president doesn't love America notwithstanding, I didn't intend to question President Obama's motives or the content of his heart. My intended focus really was the effect his words and his actions have on the morale of the country, and how that effect may damage his performance." More Giuliani: "Obviously, I cannot read President Obama's mind or heart, and to the extent that my words suggested otherwise, it was not my intention. When asked last week whether I thought the president was a patriot, I said I did, and would repeat that. I bear him no ill will, and in fact think that his personal journey is inspiring and a testament to much of what makes this country great."
The real problem with foreign governments giving money to the Clinton Foundation
On the Democratic side of the 2016 equation, observers are continuing to ask questions why the Clinton Foundation is accepting donations from foreign governments. As we asked last week, if these donations stopped when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state (due to an apparent conflict of interest), shouldn't they stop as she looks likely to pursue another White House run? The problem isn't how the Clinton Foundation is using this money -- no doubt it benefitting poor nations and furthering humanitarian efforts. The apparent problem here is WHY foreign governments might want to give this money to the Clinton Foundation.
It's going to be a busy week in the 2016 race
Finally on the 2016 front, it's worth noting that this week will be a BUSY week in the still-developing presidential contest. On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton is giving a speech at a Silicon Valley conference for women. Also on Tuesday, Marco Rubio is heading to New Hampshire to speak at the Politics and Eggs breakfast. And on Thursday through Saturday, there's the annual CPAC conference in the DC area. Speakers will include Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, and Scott Walker. So the speed of the 2016 contest will pick up this week in a big way.
More Senate Republicans urge GOP not to pick fight over DHS funding
The other big political story we're watching this week is the fight over spending for the Department of Homeland Security, which expires on Friday. On "Meet the Press" yesterday, Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Corker was the latest Republican to suggest that the GOP not pick a fight over this spending (by including riders rolling back the president's immigration actions). "I was gratified by the judge's ruling [on immigration]," Corker said. "The president 22 times had said he couldn't do this, he didn't have the authority. So, I was very gratified by what the judge ruled. At the same time, I do believe in this time where we have the kind of threats that we have from all over the world, we certainly need to make sure that Homeland Security is fully funded. And my guess is we'll figure out a way to make sure that happens this week." On ABC, Sen. Lindsey Graham was blunter: "I hope my House colleagues will understand that our best bet is to challenge this in court, that if we don't fund the Department of Homeland Security, we'll get blamed as a party." As we've said before, the party that is divided rarely wins these kinds of shutdown showdowns.
Does the Al Shabaab threat make a showdown over DHS funding even riskier?
You also have to wonder if the terror threat by Al Shabaab on the Mall of America makes a showdown over the Department of Homeland Security even riskier. Here was the dispatch from NBC's Kristen Welker on "Today": "Heightened security this morning as the iconic Mall of America in the wake of a video released by the Somali terrorist group Al Shabaab, calling for attacks against western shopping malls - specifically naming this one." More Welker: "The group has claimed responsibility for the 2013 terrorist attack against the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya, where more than 60 people were killed.
The impacts of a DHS shutdown
Meanwhile, Democrats have begun to list what could happen if the Department of Homeland Security isn't funded after Feb. 27. Here was DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson on "Meet the Press": "If we go into government shutdown, some 30,000 employees at my department will be furloughed, including a lot of headquarters personnel who I count on daily to stay one step ahead of groups like ISIL. A large part of the workforce will be required to come to work. But they'll come to work without pay." The office of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe -- who represents a sizable number of DHS employees -- tells First Read that a DHS shutdown could hinder communication when it comes to port operations, and it would stop the state from receiving some grant funds. "Should we have a great debate on immigration? Sure we should, but you should not use it as a partisan ploy to shut down an agency that is vital to the security of our nation and not only vital to the security of the nation, it's a huge employment driver for all 50 states, but really for this region. It's a big deal," McAuliffe told NBC's Perry Bacon.
Three points on the DNC's post-election "autopsy" report
Finally, on Saturday, the Democratic National Committee issued it's "autopsy" after the party's 2014 midterm losses. Three points here. One, the chief shortcoming the DNC highlighted was message. "In order to consistently win on every level, we have to reconnect with the reason we want to win-and that reason is the people." Two, this nine-page "preliminary" report PALES IN COMPARISON to the big report the RNC did after its losses in 2012. And three, the DNC omitted what is perhaps the organization's biggest shortcoming in the Obama Era: Obama's OFA (in many ways) has become a separate party organization that has diverted resources and attention away from the DNC. That's a real problem as the party moves away from the Obama years.
Click here to sign up for First Read emails. Check us out on Facebook and also onTwitter. Follow us @chucktodd, @mmurraypolitics, @carrienbcnews
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