links for 2010-11-18

Cornyn will surely consider “true conservative” candidates more carefully next cycle, if only because he knows primary challenges are likely under certain circumstances even without DeMint stirring anyone up. He’s basically obliged to support Snowe in Maine because she’s already an incumbent senator, but when it comes to centrist types from other levels of government like Charlie Crist — whom the NRSC endorsed before Rubio could even take a breath, to its eternal shame — he’ll tread very, very lightly. In fact, I wonder if he and DeMint will reach some sort of deal about that. No challenges to sitting senators like Snowe, Hatch, and Brown in exchange for increased input from the base in recruiting Republican challengers for the many, many seats Democrats have to defend. That’s basically what DeMint is suggesting in the quoted bit above. Could work.
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The arrangement could work.

Still, Republicans should sober up. It is always difficult to defeat a sitting president. Since World War II, three have been defeated for re-election and two decided not to run again. But five have sought and won second terms.

Moreover, the GOP lacks a clear frontrunner. Gallup found this week that no potential Republican candidate draws more than 19% support for nomination: Four contenders are essentially tied.

This shows how unusual the GOP presidential contest will be. Historically, the Republican faithful have displayed an almost genetic predisposition to settle early on a favorite who, by dint of previous service or campaigning, has a claim on their hearts and minds. Not this time. The dozen or so potential Republican candidates will all come out of the blocks from essentially the same starting line, ensuring a wide-open and unpredictable contest.

The contest will gel late in 2011, with the stronger candidates being those who do better at three essential tasks.
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Read it all

Pence said on Thursday that he was backing up that pledge with legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., to permanently extend the cuts for both the middle class and wealthy Americans.

“I really believe that the last thing we should do in the worst economy in 25 years is allow a tax increase on any American,” Pence told ABC’s Jonathan Karl and Rick Klein on “Top Line.” “And we shouldn't do it in 6 weeks, we should do it in 24 months or 36 months, we ought to start the road to recovery by saying to the American people all the current tax rates are the tax rates going forward, permanently. And then we can go to work on putting our fiscal house in order and pursuing the kind of pro-growth policy that'll really create growth.”
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The Dems will never vote for it and Obama will veto the bill in January/February. But, there will be political fallout.