/staff/articles/chris+cillizza/2009-11-24T20:24:14Z2009-11-24T20:24:14Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-24:/TheFix/statuses/6018114163

TheFix: The most important number in politics today http://bit.ly/7KEnKW

2009-11-24T19:53:00Ztag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2009-11-24:/thefix/most-important-number/the-most-important-number-in-p-71.html?wprss=thefix

148.5 That's the number of dollars -- in millions! -- that has been spent this year on ads by the outside interest groups advocating for and against President Barack Obama's health care plan, according to a comprehensive document detailing the air wars over the legislation. As of this week, groups favoring the bill have spent $73.5 million on ads while those opposing the plan have dropped $75 million -- a stunningly large total that shows the massive political stakes tied to the legislation. For much of the fall, the groups opposed to Obama's plan -- led by the Chamber of Commerce and the 60 Plus Association -- drastically outspent those supportive of the legislation. In the first week of November, the opposition spent $12 million to just $2.5 million for the those who support the package. That margin narrowed to a $600,000 edge for the opposition in the second

2009-11-24T18:14:58Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-24:/TheFix/statuses/6014894870

TheFix: CT-Sen: Foley reconsiders, weighs gov bid http://bit.ly/8alo68

2009-11-24T17:45:00Ztag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2009-11-24:/thefix/senate/ct-sen-foley-reconsiders-weigh.html?wprss=thefix

Former Ambassador Tom Foley (R) issued a statement moments ago making clear that he is re-evaluating his candidacy for the U.S. Senate and may well jump into the now-open Connecticut governor's race. "I have had a number of conversations with people who are encouraging me to consider running for Governor because they believe I could better serve Connecticut today as Governor than as a Senator," said Foley, adding that he will make an announcement on his plans next week. Foley's statement today marks a significant reversal from the stance he took in an interview with the Fix late last week. At that time, Foley insisted he would not be switching races, adding: "I am involved in this race. I am committed to this race." Foley along with former Rep. Rob Simmons and former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon are running for the right to challenge embattled Sen. Chris Dodd

2009-11-24T17:07:32Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-24:/TheFix/statuses/6013202592

TheFix: Obama's Afghanistan dilemma http://bit.ly/7raHv3

2009-11-24T16:58:00Ztag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2009-11-24:/thefix/most-important-number/the-most-important-number-in-p-70.html?wprss=thefix

Politicians publicly pooh-pooh polling -- the only poll that matters, after all, is on election day! -- but every elected official privately pays close attention to the tides of public opinion. Which is why President Barack Obama's announcement next Tuesday on troop levels in Afghanistan is so fraught with political peril since a survey of recent national polls shows an American public deeply divided on what to do next in the country. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey showed 50 percent supportive of sending 34,000 more U.S. troops to the region -- a number that seems to have become cemented conventional wisdom in recent weeks -- while 49 percent oppose such a move. The Washington Post/ABC News survey showed a similarly divided public. Forty six percent of those polled said that if Obama decides to send more troops into Afghanistan they wanted him to send a larger force to "fight Al

2009-11-24T15:24:45Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-24:/TheFix/statuses/6010473610

TheFix: Resolved: "Sunrise Earth" is the best show on television. "Swallow Sea Cave" is on right now. SO GOOD.

2009-11-24T14:35:54Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-24:/TheFix/statuses/6009224105

TheFix: Eric Mangini (Browns coach) accuses Lions players of faking injuries. That kind of paranoia is ready made for a political career.

2009-11-24T11:31:27Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-24:/TheFix/statuses/6005484846

TheFix: Morning Fix: More RNC troubles to come? http://bit.ly/6cdka9

2009-11-24T10:44:33Ztag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2009-11-24:/thefix/morning-fix/morning-fix-23.html?wprss=thefix

1. The resignation of Republican National Committee communications director Trevor Francis on Monday is a sign of significant unrest within the ranks of the committee, according to several party sources. While stories differed over whether Francis jumped or was pushed from his perch, what was clear in the aftermath of his departure was that some within the committee believe that RNC Chairman Michael Steele's press-friendly approach had made Francis's job untenable. Steele allies insist that the chairman's tendency to pop off in media interviews has been significantly curtailed since the start of his chairmanship but there remain dissenting views on that idea. "Trevor did an outstanding job in a very challenging workplace environment," said one senior party official who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the party chair. Interestingly, one of the main arguments for Steele when he won a contested election for party chair back in January was

2009-11-24T03:50:55Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-24:/TheFix/statuses/5998052461

TheFix: Sarah Palin's dad at Ft. Bragg:"People used to be afraid of us and respect us, (but) they're not afraid of us and don't respect us anymore."

2009-11-23T21:28:58Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-23:/TheFix/statuses/5988111570

TheFix: http://bit.ly/5vI9j6

2009-11-23T21:16:08Ztag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2009-11-23:/thefix/republican-party/trevor-francis-leaving-rnc.html?wprss=thefix

Trevor Francis, the communications director at the Republican National Committee, is leaving his post, informed sources said Monday, an odd mid-cycle departure that suggests some level of turmoil within the GOP's chief campaign committee. Francis came to the job from the private sector, where he worked at the PR firm Burson-Marsteller. During the Bush administration, he was press secretary for Commerce Secretary Don Evans and worked press advance for President George W. Bush's 2004 campaign. His selection by the national committee surprised some observers as Francis had never worked with RNC Chairman Michael Steele previously. Steele is something of a free agent when it comes to his dealings with the press -- often serving as his own press secretary with mixed results. Steele's tendency to freelance makes him difficult to manage from a press perspective and, according to sources familiar with Francis's departure, that tension was part of the reason

2009-11-23T20:58:08Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-23:/TheFix/statuses/5987318640

TheFix: The most important number in politics today http://bit.ly/7dlDm3

2009-11-23T20:45:00Ztag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2009-11-23:/thefix/most-important-number/the-most-important-number-in-p-69.html?wprss=thefix

37 That's the gap in former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's favorability numbers among self-described conservatives (60 percent) and moderates (23 percent), according to a new independent poll conducted in the politically critical state of Iowa. The chasm between how Palin is perceived among the Republican base and independent voters is nothing new as national polling has shown that sort of split for some time. But, that the dichotomy exists in Iowa, the place where Palin would -- presumably -- make her foray into presidential politics in 2012, is worth noting. The numbers, which come courtesy of Ann Selzer aka the pollster who nailed the results of the 2008 Iowa Democratic caucuses, suggest that Palin is a potentially potent force in the state's caucus system but could well lose the swing state if she emerged as the party's nominee. Among only Republicans, Palin has a very solid 68 percent favorable

2009-11-23T19:41:04Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-23:/TheFix/statuses/5985383276

TheFix: RT@andyobrien "bad link on your song of the day." Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBDbUVXXp-U

2009-11-23T19:37:08Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-23:/TheFix/statuses/5985287762

TheFix: Sanford faces 37 ethics charges: http://www.thestate.com/local/story/1041023.html

2009-11-23T19:24:21Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-23:/TheFix/statuses/5984969072

TheFix: The Rising: Mike Beebe, Reluctant Star http://bit.ly/6Wy67Z

2009-11-23T19:18:56Ztag:twitter.com,2009-11-23:/TheFix/statuses/5984837003

TheFix: Fix song of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBDbUVXXp-U. (A good tune for a rainy, cold day in DC)

2009-11-23T19:00:00Ztag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2009-11-23:/thefix/the-rising/the-rising-mike-beebe----reluc.html?wprss=thefix

Arkansas Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe has all the tools to be a star but he lacks national ambition. AP Photo/Danny Johnston In a world filled with politicians whose ambitions far outstrip their talents, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe is the exact opposite. Beebe is among the most popular politicians in the country with polls regularly showing more than seven in ten voters in the Razorback State approving of the job he had done since coming to office in 2006. And yet, despite repeated urgings from state and national admirers, Beebe expresses no interest in following in the national footsteps of past Arkansas governors named Clinton and Huckabee. "I'm not a great traveler," Beebe told the Fix in an interview as part of our "Rising" series that profiles politicians you don't know but should. He added that the Democratic Governors Association had approached him several times in recent years to take