News Roundup, 5/20/08: Reform is Still Needed

How about this for a blunt start to your day: former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is now openly campaigning for the number two spot on McCain's presidential ticket. If McCain is able to look past the criticisms that Gov. Huckabee lobbed at him in the primary, he would only have to worry about the addition of crazy to his campaign rather than another lobbyist. Thomas Loeffler quit the McCain campaign Sunday after he was revealed to have been a lobbyist. A trend appears to be emerging in the McCain campaign.

Conservative commentator Bill Kristol wondered if any party could nominate someone who had lost a primary by a margin of 41 points, a reference to Sen. Obama's loss to Sen. Clinton last week in West Virginia. The writers at ThinkProgress would like to draw Mr. Kristol's attention to the Republican primary in Utah where Sen. McCain lost to Gov. Romney by 85 points. To be fair to Kristol, an 85-point loss is not the same kind of margin as a 41-point loss. (Sarcasm alert!)

While Kristol muses about realities, Michelle Malkin complains about them. Malkin has become quite upset because Sen. McCain has not been allowing her to participate in his weekly New Media conference calls. It seems Malkin can not even obey her own personal no whining rule.

Voter ID legislation has been a mainstay for the Texas Republican Party. To justify a Voter ID bill, the Republicans have been arguing about nefarious campaign tactics by liberal advocacy groups which have been subverting the will of the people. The problem, however, is that the Texas Republican Party seems to be having some problems proving these problems exist.

Fort Worth State Rep. Lon Burnam comes to the rescue again. It seems Speaker Craddick's non-political government entity has been doing some research on several politicians who openly label themselves as opponents to the Speaker. State Rep. Burnam continues to act as a leader in Texas politics and calls Craddick out on his actions.

Republican Congressman Vito Fossella of Staten Island, New York has announced that he will not be seeking re-election this year. Two weeks ago, Rep. Fossella was arrested for drunk driving and was found to have been having an affair with a Pentagon staffer with whom he was raising a second family. The district has a slight Democratic lean, and Democratic candidate Domenic Recchia has already ended his bid, presumably to make way for some bigger Democratic names to enter the race. This was the last Republican-held seat in New York City.

The Kentucky and Oregon primaries are today. While both will feature Presidential primaries, both states will also hold contests for local party elections. In Kentucky, where Sen. Clinton is expected to take the gold, businessmen Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fisher will compete for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to take on Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Republicans will also host a competitive primary for the open seat in Kentucky's second congressional district.

In Oregon, where Sen. Obama is expected to do very well, activist Steve Novick and State Speaker Jeff Merkley are in a tight race to determine who will challenge Republican Gordon Smith this fall. In Oregon's fifth congressional district, both parties will hold competitive primaries to see who will replace retiring Democrat Darlene Hooley. Neither party holds a registration advantage in this district.

It is going to be a busy night, and we invite you to stay with The Texas Blue to observe results as they come in.