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September 11, 2009 —

Gallup shows division on health care

The latest Gallup Poll on health care reform, taken Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, before President Obama’s special address on the subject, showed 39% of Americans want their member of Congress to oppose a health care reform bill while 37% want a vote in favor of the measure. Watch for results taken since the President’s speech to see if there is any substantial change.

Dixie Democrats oppose health care reform

President Obama was aiming his health care remarks chiefly at conservative-to-moderate Democrats, say many analysts, having given up on Republican support. Accordingly, on Thursday, the day after his speech, the President invited a number of wavering Democratic senators to the White House. On the House side, reports The Hill newspaper, prior to the President’s speech, 24 Democrats had announced they would oppose his health care reform legislation. Fourteen of the 23 are from the South: Artur Davis (AL), John Barrow (GA), Dan Boren (OK), Rick Boucher (VA), Allen Boyd (FL), Bobby Bright (AL), Travis Childers (MS), Henry Cuellar (TX), Parker Griffith (AL), Charlie Melancon (LA), Tom Perriello (VA), Heath Shuler (NC), John Tanner (TN) and Gene Taylor (MS). Will any of these maverick Democrats return to the fold? Stay tuned.

Southerners among new faces for 2012

Former Florida Congressman and MSNBC News host Joe Scarborough is among the Republicans getting some buzz for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, says Politico. In addition to serving four terms in Congress, representing the conservative 1st District (Pensacola, etc.), Scarborough -- who once had US Senate ambitions -- now has a nationwide following from his “Morning Joe” show, over which he presides with a large dose of likeability and some worthy insights.  The other Southerner on Politico’s GOP list is Tennessee’s US Sen. Bob Corker (R), who got a lot of credit for a knowledgeable and level-headed participation in the auto industry bail-out debate. This comes amid speculation, most recently on Rasmussen Reports Daily Update, which cited the Huffington Post web site, that some “leading liberals” are thinking about finding a leftwing, true-believer liberal to oppose President Obama in the Democratic primaries.

Alabama: Davis’s outreach to women

US Rep. Artur Davis (D), a candidate for governor of Alabama, is working both sides of the street in his campaign for women’s votes. On the same day that he announced would be addressing Birmingham’s upper crusty Junior League, he announced his endorsement by Lily Ledbetter, the Alabama grandmother whose lawsuit for employment discrimination led to legislation -- named for her -- extending the statute of limitations for such actions. Ledbetter supported him because “he will fight for working women and working families.”

Florida: Foley is back

Three years ago, then-US Rep. Mark Foley (R) left Congress after revelations that he sent sexually oriented emails to teenage male congressional pages. No criminal charges were filed, but Foley was disgraced. Now, he’s returning to the public eye with a radio talk show in North Palm Beach. The show, which will focus on Washington politics, will begin airing on WSVU on Sept. 22.