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INSIDE WASHINGTON
Political Insiders Poll
Click here to see how prominent political bloggers responded to these questions.
Q: Would it be politically smart for Republicans to try to block the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor?
Democrats (92 votes)
Yes 8% No 89% Depends 3%
Yes
"It's their only way to appear relevant. And they know it."
"They can't give Obama a free ride on anything. Also, there are kinks in her armor."
No
"If they try to stop the first Hispanic nominee who is clearly qualified and a woman, they will be committing political suicide."
"But, gosh, how I hope they do! Let's be clear: The West is the new national battleground, and Senate Republicans are about to do for Democrats in Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and perhaps Arizona what [then-Gov.] Pete Wilson did for us in California."
"Opposing a Latina with her degree of experience would be unwise. The Republicans are boxed in on this one."
"Going after a woman with an incredible life story who is a former prosecutor would all seem to be only a play that Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh would recommend."
"Not unless they want to continue their decline as the party of only white people."
"Waging a high-profile, bloody battle which they are doomed to lose is the last thing the Republican Party needs now as they try to right their ship."
"If they oppose her out of the gate, they feed into the 'Party of No' image, and it looks partisan."
"Appointed by Bush I, Hispanic, moderate in many ways."
"Republicans should make their case, but save their fire for battles they can win."
"Their base is unified. They need to win over independent voters. And blocking a qualified nominee over ideology will not help with indie voters."
"You want to heighten the already-growing rift between Limbaugh and the [Colin] Powell-led moderates? Fine, be my guest."
"First they block immigration reform; then they block a clearly qualified Latina judge: minority party against minorities."
Depends
"It would be wise for them to stir the dust and then see which way the wind blows. In other words, don't appear to oppose unless and until there is good reason."
Q: Would it be politically smart for Republicans to try to block the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor?
Republicans (89 votes)
Yes 24% No 64% Depends (volunteered) 12%
Yes
"She makes Ruth Bader Ginsburg look moderate."
"Republicans can illustrate in a respectful manner how her judicial philosophy is not in line with mainstream America."
"If they don't act to block confirmation, then a restive conservative base will be out for blood--Republican blood."
"We need to stand for something. Draw lines. A Supreme Court fight gives us that opportunity."
No
"Demographics 101: Don't pick another fight that appears anti-Hispanic."
"It makes no sense to try to block something you can't block. She will either get through easily, or will self-destruct."
"Blocking a Court appointment only continues us down the path of the anti-everything party, a position that gains us nothing."
"Sotomayor won't change the philosophical makeup of the Court, so why should Republicans oppose her and risk alienating Hispanic voters?"
"Careful scrutiny, yes. A holy war against her, not unless your name is Rush, [Karl] Rove, or [Mike] Huckabee--none of whom votes in the United States Senate."
"Don't rain on big Latino parades, especially when the outcome is already certain."
"But it definitely ought to get slowed down. Watch for affirmative action--New Haven firefighter case--to be front and center."
"Appointed by Bush I, compelling life story, not crazy Left, elections do matter. We didn't really expect Obama to nominate [Robert] Bork, now did we?"
"It would be lunacy. Woman; Latina: two groups the GOP needs to court."
Depends
"Blocking for the sake of blocking? Of course, not. But let's see what her record is. And if there is a smoking gun or excessive legislating from the bench, then maybe."
"Depends on how much comes out about her during the next month. Right now, not so smart. Remember [Timothy] Geithner looked great until he turned out to be a tax cheat."
Q: What is Vice President Biden's impact on the Obama administration?
Democrats (84 votes)
Helps a lot 30 percent Helps a little 50 percent Hurts a little 11 percent Hurts a lot 0 percent No impact 10 percent
Helps a lot
"I am told that he helps Obama a lot, is someone that the president consults with on practically everything. If that is true, the relationship could be invaluable even with some of the public mistakes he makes."
"To use a sports analogy, he is one of those 'glue guys' whose stats may not always show up in the box score but who keep a team winning."
"The stimulus bill and the [Arlen] Specter conversion have been thehigh-water marks for the administration's political agenda so far. Biden was huge on both."
Helps a little
"He fills in ably and certainly represents the president well within the Beltway and among the embassy class. It's unfair to expect more of anyone serving under someone enjoying 'superstar' status."
"Congressional contacts are invaluable, national security credentials unassailable, verbal gaffes unstoppable."
"His institutional knowledge and legislative experience of the Senate is a plus. And he's become organized labor's go-to guy in the administration. His verbal gaffes prevent him from helping a lot."
"The president trusts him; he's an honest broker and a creature of the Senate if there ever was one."
"Helps a little because he seems real. Better develop a little discipline."
Hurts a little
"He ought to concentrate on serving the president and leaving it to others to tell the story of how indispensable he is."
No Impact
"Let's face it, this is the Obama era. It's all about Obama. Biden's gaffes are already discounted by the public."
Q: What is Vice President Biden's impact on the Obama administration?
Republicans (83 votes)
Helps a lot 4 percent Helps a little 13 percent Hurts a little 52 percent Hurts a lot 5 percent No impact 26 percent
Helps a lot
"The complaint is, he talks too much, but it's Biden's friendships with members that keep the wheels on."
Helps a little
"He certainly doesn't upstage the president, which is a plus for a VP."
"Sure, he helps behind the scenes with Senate insight and former colleague maintenance--and the occasional comic relief."
Hurts a little
"Mr. Fumblethumbs, a distraction to Obama."
"He's the monkey wrench in the message machine. And he can't be fired--yet."
"Hard to dislike the guy, but his ongoing trips off message have to really frustrate an administration so fixated on agenda control."
"He is becoming a late-night TV joke. He could become a problem."
"Like a broken key on a well-tuned piano so far, but he has a chance to redeem himself with Supreme Court confirmation role if POTUS trusts him to talk outside the bunker."
Hurts a lot
"This Drudge Report headline says it all: 'Obama Distracted by Biden's Indiscipline, Book Asserts.' "
No impact
"Let's be honest, except for the occasional entertainment we get from Biden's foot-in-mouth disease, this is all Obama, all the time."
"Perhaps he is driving policy and politics inside. If so, it is one of Washington's best-kept secrets, a town that can't keep secrets."
National Journal Insiders
Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bjornson, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Deb Callahan, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Jerry Crawford, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Eric Eve, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Don Fowler, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery, Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Kam Kuwata, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bill Lynch, Bob Maloney Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Scott Parven, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Larry Rasky, Bruce Reed, Mame Reiley, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, John Ryan, Wendy Sherman, Terry Shumaker, Kevin Shuvalov, Sean Sinclair Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Darry Sragow, Katrina Swett, Sarah Swisher, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Mike Veon, Rick Wiener, Bridgette Williams, JoDee Winterhof, and Jim Zogby.
GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Danny Carroll, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Charlie Crist, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Steve Duprey, Debi Durham, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bruce Keough, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris Lacivita, Jim Lake, George LeMieux, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Robin Smith, Javier Soto, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Tom Wilson, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, and Fred Wszolek.