New Clinton Ad: "There for You"

Days Until Bush Leaves Office = 448

Hillary Clinton is putting up a new ad in Iowa and New Hampshire, talking up her record on Social Security and respite care benefits for family members caring for ailing relatives. The obvious target audience: senior citizens.

Think this is because Hillary just turned the big six-o herself? Eh, no. Seniors are by far the age group most likely to turn up on caucus night in Iowa and vote in the New Hampshire primary. 'Nuff said.

Here's the script for the ad:

Announcer: When George Bush threatened to privatize social security,
Hillary was there fighting every step of the way to stop him.

And she was there for every senior who needs round-the-clock-
Care, creating a law to ease the burden on family caregivers.

She's still there fighting to stop long term care insurance scams that prey on the elderly.
These days, it seems like every candidate on earth is coming here for
You.

But which candidate has been there for you all along?

Hillary Clinton: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

And the ad itself:

Philadelphia Debate Watch Parties

Days Until Bush Leaves Office = 448

This morning I received a press release from Joe Biden's presidential campaign announcing a number of watch parties across Iowa for tomorrow's debate in Philadelphia. Details are below.

If anyone knows of watch parties being organized by other campaigns, email the details to iPol.blog@mac.com, and I'll add them as updates to this post.

Des Moines:
Angelo’s Pizza
1310 Grand Avenue
West Des Moines, IA
Time: 7:00 PM
Contact: Raena Davis/515-440-2008

Waterloo:
Monica's Piano Bar
324 East 4th Street
Waterloo, IA
Time: 7:30 PM
Contact: Josh Alcorn/319-433-6285

Elkader:
Home of Rosemary and Roger Thomas
17658 Domino Road
Elkader, IA
Time: 7:00 PM
Contact: Ryan Keenan /563-556-5106

Davenport:
Home of Pat Johnson and Cheri Canier
1800 East Deer Creek Road
Clinton, IA
Time: 7:30 PM
Contact: Andy Amsler/302-559-7310

Cedar Rapids:
Home of Sara Riley
390 Green Valley Terrace
Cedar Rapids, IA
Time: 7:30 PM
Contact: Jennifer Huson/319-366-0218

Iowa City:
Rick's Grille and Spirits
1705 South First Ave
Iowa City, IA
Time: 7:45 PM
Contact: Holly Savage/319-331-9389

Osceola:
Home of Linda and U.J. Booth
1011 Harken Hills Drive
Osceola, IA
Time: 7:30 PM
Contact: Katrina Arnold/720-936-7754

Dubuque:
Teri & John Goodman
1306 Tomahawk Drive
Dubuque, IA
Time: 7:30 PM
Contact: Ellen Goodman/563-542-6421

Council Bluffs:
Home of Linda Rhatigan
502 North Sierra Drive
Council Bluffs, IA
Time: 7:30 PM
Contact: David Sabados/712-322-1880

Ottumwa:
Home of John Anderson
101 Hill Avenue
Ottumwa, IA
Contact: John Anderson/641-226-2841

"As Basic As It Gets" - Dodd Announces Opposition to Mukasey as Attorney General

Days Until Bush Leaves Office = 448

In a conference call with reporters earlier today, Senator and presidential candidate Chris Dodd elaborated on his announcement that he will oppose confirmation of Michael Mukasey to be the next Attorney General of the United States.

Citing testimony by Mukasey, a former federal judge, that seems to defend the idea that a president is free to disregard federal statutes when acting in the capacity of Commander in Chief, Dodd said, "That's about as basic as it gets. [As president] you must obey the law. Everyone must." Dodd continued that the idea that presidential powers supersede those of Congress and the courts is "a continuation of the Alberto Gonzales mentality at the Justice Department...we are a nation of laws, and not [of] men."

Dodd's comments today go beyond the concerns raised by all the Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month over Mukasey's vague replies regarding the legality of waterboarding and other coercive interrogation techniques (yes, as a nation we now employ an entire suite of horrific interrogation methods; how nice for us) and go to more fundamental issues about whether Mukasey, as the country's chief law enforcement officer, would uphold the rule of law over presidential fiat.

In my view, Dodd is right in opposing this nomination, or the nomination of anyone who feels that laws passed by Congress can be ignored whenever a president says he (or she) is breaking those laws in pursuit of the national security. As a nation, we have already gone so far down that rabbit hole that restoring the Constitution is actually in play as an issue in the presidential campaign. Confirming Mukasey as attorney general would only compound and reinforce this trend, and I commend Chris Dodd for getting out in front on this issue. It really is, as Dodd said today, as basic as it gets.