American Morning
Primary races test anti-incumbent sentiment
(CNN) – There's a healthy dose of voter anger out there as folks head to the polls in a handful of primaries. Today's must-watch contests could wipe out some incumbents who are trying desperately to hang on to their jobs. That includes Arkansas, where Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln is locked in a tough battle against Lt. Gov. Bill Halter.
In Kentucky, Tea Party favorite Rand Paul, son of Rep. Ron Paul, is hoping to topple Sec. of State Trey Grayson, even though Grayson has the backing of the GOP establishment. And in Pennsylvania's Democratic primary, Rep. Joe Sestak is going after Sen. Arlen Specter, who was a Republican up until last year. CNN chief political correspondent Candy Crowley joined us on Tuesday's American Morning for a preview of the races.
Read more: Primaries put incumbents on line
New face of the GOP?
(CNN) – It's primary day in three states, a Super Tuesday of sorts. Democrats have traditionally had a lock on the African-American vote, but this year there's been a surge of black Republican candidates for Congress. One of them is looking to shake things up in Arkansas, and our Jason Carroll spent some time with her.
Elena Kagan makes the rounds on Capitol Hill
(CNN) – It's become the modern day ritual for a Supreme Court nominee. The meeting, greeting and smiling. Now it is Elena Kagan's turn.
She's back on Capitol Hill today for another round of courtesy calls. A tsunami of press, following her like she's Tiger on the back nine, and dying for her to exercise her First Amendment rights. But they probably won't get much. Our Dana Bash takes a look at the process like you've never seen it before.
Senator Inhofe discusses opposition to Kagan
(CNN) – Just hours after the president announced Elena Kagan as his pick for the Supreme Court, Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe made his opposition clear.
He says Kagan has a "lack of impartiality" with those who disagree with her, has demonstrated "poor judgment" as the head of Harvard's law school, and he's concerned that she's never been a judge.
Sen. Inhofe joined us from Capitol Hill on Wednesday's American Morning to discuss his stance against Kagan.
Read more: Kagan to meet with senators amid Republican criticism
What does Britain's power shift mean for U.S.?
(CNN) – It's the first full day on the job for Britain's new prime minister, David Cameron. The torch was passed yesterday after Gordon Brown resigned, ending more than a decade of rule by his Labour Party.
Cameron said he wants to form a coalition government with the liberal Democrats. So what does the changing of the guard mean here at home? Former Asst. Secretary of State James Rubin and Time International editor Michael Elliott gave us their thoughts on Wednesday's American Morning.
Read more: Britain's new PM starts work
Avlon: Oil spill disaster turned ugly partisan football
Editor’s note: John P. Avlon is a senior political columnist for The Daily Beast and author of the new book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America." Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/13/john.avlon.art.jpg caption="CNN independent analyst John Avlon says partisan politics won't help the people who live along the Gulf or the local fishing industry which is being impacted by the oil spill."]
By John Avlon, Special to CNN
The wingnut wars have escalated to such an extent that we can’t even deal with a natural disaster without the partisan attacks and counter-offensives coming full force. That’s why this week we’re looking at the shameful attempts to turn the devastating oil spill in the Gulf into an ugly partisan football.
We’ll start with El Rushbo – Senor Limbaugh was inevitably among the first to wade into the muck, questioning whether the oil spill was caused by environmental saboteurs and asking his audience whether it was timed to impact the energy bill:
“I want to get back to the timing of the blowing up, the explosion out there in the Gulf of Mexico of this oil rig. Since they're sending SWAT teams down there now this changes the whole perspective of this. Now, lest we forget, ladies and gentlemen, the carbon tax bill, cap and trade that was scheduled to be announced on Earth Day. I remember that. And then it was postponed for a couple of days later after Earth Day, and then of course immigration has now moved in front of it…But this bill, the cap-and-trade bill, was strongly criticized by hardcore environmentalist wackos because it supposedly allowed more offshore drilling and nuclear plants, nuclear plant investment. So, since they're sending SWAT teams down there, folks, since they're sending SWAT teams to inspect the other rigs, what better way to head off more oil drilling, nuclear plants, than by blowing up a rig? I'm just noting the timing here.”
As conspiracy theories go, this one is pretty ornate – environmental terrorism backed by a well-timed attempt to derail legislation. I particularly love how the Obama administration’s centrist policy outreach to increase off shore oil exploration and nuclear power plants – a core piece of the GOP’s proposals – is summarily dismissed by Limbaugh, saying Obama “supposedly” backed the proposals. Guess you can’t give fair credit when it means supporting the policies of the president from a different party.
But we’ve come to expect these hyper-partisan bloviations from Rush – they are part of this expert political entertainers shtick – his audience doesn’t expect responsibility, they tune in for the outrage.
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