John Yarmuth Faces Down Green-headed Monster; Monster Wins

The only thing saving Rep. John Yarmuth's hide this election year is that Republicans have so many opportunities for picking up seats that the NRCC has to prioritize. Yarmuth is vulnerable all right, but until Todd Lally can close the gap, the NRCC money will flow elsewhere.

Yarmuth is able to avoid the onslaught of NRCC ads only because it is such a target rich environment for Republicans.

As a smart man, Yarmuth knows this. And he knows that as Nancy Pelosi's designated "messenger," that voters no longer like the "message." All that he cheerfully advocated -- bigger bailouts, single-payer health care, more government at every turn --is about to be rejected by voters. It has begun to dawn on Yarmuth is that he is "messaging" a product that did not work, that nobody wants. All that leaves him with is a hope that voters don't sack the messenger.

This is probably why Yarmuth, who is generally an affable guy, melted down on the Mandy Connell Show when asked about Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's point that raising taxes on individuals hurts small businesses that file taxes as individuals. For a small business considering hiring new employees, the prospect of a tax hike creates uncertainty about costs, and thus deters job creation just when the country needs it most.

Yarmuth responded by calling McConnell "devious" and "rarely honest." But even as he ranted on about why he supports tax hikes, Yarmuth acknowledged that McConnell was "meticulously accurate."

The subject arose on Connell's show after a listener email questioned why Yarmuth refused to stand up when McConnell entered the Kentucky Farm Bureau ham breakfast at the State Fair, and why Yarmuth muttered that McConnell was lying when McConnell discussed the danger of Democrats raising taxes during a recession.

Even coverage in the Courier-Journal, Yarmuth's biggest cheerleader, made Yarmuth look like a petulant jerk over the incident.

It seems so out of character for Yarmuth. Has the spectre of Democrats losing the House really put him in such an ill mood?

Yarmuth didn't suddenly lose his manners over a question of tax policy. Or ideology. Or even electoral prospects, though all of those things undoubtedly soured his mood.

McConnell and Yarmuth started out together 40 years ago, back when Yarmuth was a Republican. McConnell went on to become the most powerful Republican in Washington. Yarmuth clipped coupons, perfected his golf game (best handicap in Congress!) and now serves as Nancy Pelosi's "messenger." He may get to keep his job another term, but Yarmuth knows that he is becoming irrelevant -- at a time when McConnell is becoming more relevant.

This is perhaps not the outcome Yarmuth had envisioned and so bitterness got the best of his good manners. It doesn't happen often, but this week Yarmuth lost the ability to conceal how much he envies McConnell.

Yarmuth's "Messaging"

James R. Carroll of the Courier-Journal reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped Representative John Yarmuth to serve on her "messaging group" of "10 Democratic lawmakers who advise Pelosi . . . about how to do better in getting her party's message out." According to Carroll, Yarmuth "has been part of the group since October, meeting about once every two weeks."

One wonders what sort of "messaging" Yarmuth has in mind as Pelosi's publicist, given his record. In September he was one of just 79 House members who voted against a House Resolution condemning MoveOn.org's advertisement that referred to General David Petraeus as "General Betray Us." A substantial bipartisan majority -- 341 Congressmen -- voted in favor of the resolution. According to TheHill.com, Yarmuth was the only one of "the most vulnerable Democrats" in the 2008 election to defend the ad.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Pelosi's Money Talks For Yarmuth

The Democrats apparently are worried about Congressman John Yarmuth's losing his seat to challenger Anne Northup. According to the Associated Press, Yarmuth is one of only 31 members of Congress who are receiving funds from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for television advertising. No doubt this is payback for Yarmuth's "messaging" the far left agenda of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Yarmuth's Remedy For Pelosi

We knew Congressman John Yarmuth is into "messaging" for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but last week he became literally a mouthpiece for San Fran Nan. At her weekly press conference on Thursday, Pelosi had lost her voice, so she brought along Yarmuth, as well as Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts, to speak for her. According to the Washington Post,

Pelosi said she'd been advised that "something stronger" might really help her recovery, particularly a "good shot" of alcohol. She said that the Kentuckian Yarmuth might endorse that kind of liquid cure. "Some specific brands as well," Yarmuth joked.

No need to dilute it with all the water Yarmuth carries for Pelosi.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Pelosi's Valentine For Yarmuth

Rep. John Yarmuth must be doing a swell job "messaging" for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Yesterday, while issuing contempt-of-Congress citations to former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, Pelosi gave Yarmuth a valentine:

To the new Members of Congress on this issue of Article 1, led by John Yarmuth, Article 1 protects the prerogatives of the Constitution of the Congress of the United States. I thank our new Members for their leadership on honoring their oath of office.

Too bad Yarmuth is more interested in courting attention from the House Speaker (and mixing it up with baseball players, as discussed below) than serving Kentucky constituents.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Run, Anne, Run!

It's unfortunate that Erwin Roberts has been called up to active military duty and will therefore have to put his plans to run for Congress on hold. We wish him and his family all the best as they await final word of his deployment, and thank him for his willingness to serve -- both in Congress and in the military.

But what a blessing that we have such a talented leader as Anne Northup available to jump in the void. She brings substantial experience and name ID as well as an ability to bring together broad segments of our community. She is a formidable campaigner.

Anne's political instincts were correct when she predicted last year that Ernie Fletcher could not be reelected. It stung to see her prophecy vindicated, because it stuck us with a Governor Beshear.

In a turn of events that I could never have forecast, however, things have worked out for the best. Preliminary polling shows that Anne Northup -- without having done a lick of campaigning -- would start the race essentially tied with John Yarmuth.

Yarmuth, moreover, has lost the one issue that propelled him into office: the perception that America could not win the war in Iraq. In addition, Yarmuth now has a real record, as opposed to his psychedelic musings from the Leo. Indeed, he is part of Nancy Pelosi's advisory group to help with "messaging" her "progressive" agenda.

Notwithstanding that Democrats have the registration edge in this district, Yarmuth is way to the left of many Kentucky Democrats and probably most independents. He has aligned himself with the Moveon.org fringe of his party: he refused to condemn the Moveon.org advertisement in the New York Times that called General David Petraeus -- a national hero -- General Betrayus.

He sponsors earmarks for Kentucky and then votes against them. He votes to honor Ramadan and Diwali, but not Christmas. These are votes that Anne Northup would never have made.

John Yarmuth is an embarrassment to this district, and Anne Northup is just the candidate to send him packing. If you know Anne or her family, urge her to run. Then write her a check.

Chandler in NRCC Sight

Rep. Ben Chandler's Republican opponent, Andy Barr, has made the NRCC's Young Gun's list -- a list of 39 house races that it is targeting, the number needed to attain a majority. The significance is extra cash for the campaign.

Todd Lally has not made the list in his bid against Rep. John Yarmuth, but is on the NRCC's "radar" according to Joe Arnold.

The NRCC really needs to send some money Lally's way. Notwithstanding the Democrats' voter registration advantage, and the fact that he's a nice guy, Yarmuth is simply too liberal for Kentucky. On health care, for example, Yarmuth has long championed a single-payer system. Nancy Pelosi tapped Yarmuth to help with "messaging."

If Lally can get enough money to inform Kentuckians of how far left Yarmuth is, this can be a Republican pick-up. The NRCC needs to help Lally as well as Barr.

Thanks, Mama Pelosi, For That 700 Point Stock Market Plunge!

We can thank House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's partisan rhetoric for the Wall Street legislation going down in flames today in the House. No doubt she was suffering from severe lack of sleep, but there really was no excuse for her standing up before the vote and trying to place the entire blame on Republicans -- and specifically President Bush -- for the financial market crisis.

Wasn't it the Democrats who just last week decried injecting "presidential politics" into the legislative debate? Well, that is exactly what Pelosi did today -- and House Republicans were understandably furious at her for trying to spin the vote even before it was taken.

So it's back to the drawing boards for the Administration and Congress to come up with Plan B. Here's one suggestion to get things started: gag the House Speaker.

If Congressman John Yarmuth is still "messaging" for Pelosi, he's got his work cut out for him. It's time for Anne Northup to run an ad hanging Pelosi around Yarmuth's neck.

Update: Make that a 777.68 point plunge.

Update: I guess Yarmuth has resigned his position on Pelosi's "messaging" team: he voted against the bill. So did Congressmen Ben Chandler, Geoff Davis and Ed Whitfield. Congressmen Ron Lewis and Harold “Hal” Rogers voted for it.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Pelosi Blames the Messaging

Politico reports that Nancy Pelosi's letter to members of the House Democratic caucus regarding her bid to be Minority Leader blames Tuesday's drubbing on bad messaging, rather than bad policies (i.e., she still doesn't get it).

Of course, John Yarmuth was a member of Pelosi's messaging team. If the caucus elects Pelosi as Minority Leader, will Yarmuth get to remain her "messager"? The odds work in his favor, given how few Democrats remain.

Pelosi told Democrats "Now, we must further modernize not only that message but the way in which we communicate with constituents." You hear that, John?

Congressional Democrats Drill Themselves A Hole

Ed Morrissey at Hotair suggests that the last poll numbers could be registering the beginning of a GOP resurgence to retake the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. He attributes the Republicans' gain to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's mishandling of off-shore oil drilling legislation:

The erosion began last month, and may result from a double whammy of sorts. The Palin effect may have energized the base, but the gain among independents may be more likely the result of the Democratic punt on energy in August. Nancy Pelosi shut down Congress rather than allow a vote on expanded drilling, a huge miscalculation with an electorate favoring that policy by more than 2-1.
. . . .
If Democrats lose the House, they can look back to Pelosi’s adjournment as their tipping point. She may have singlehandedly transformed her party, which looked like it couldn’t lose this year, into a minority in the House.

So much for Congressman John Yarmuth's "messaging" on behalf of Pelosi.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Let's Reelect the Messager!

President Barack Obama is taking the position that his self-described "shellacking" was due to poor messaging, not policy.

Obama told 60 Minutes,

I think that, over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that, we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn’t just legislation. That it’s a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone,” Mr. Obama told

“Making an argument that people can understand,” Mr. Obama continued, “I think that we haven’t always been successful at that. And I take personal responsibility for that. And it’s something that I’ve got to examine carefully … as I go forward.”

Wait a second: John Yarmuth was one of the Democrats in charge of "messaging." And yet he escaped the "shellacking." There must be about 62 Democrats wondering about the justice in that outcome.