Discourteous
Democrat
Robert Novak (archive)
January 24,
2004 | 
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WASHINGTON -- The most discourteous Democrat in Congress during this year's
State of the Union address was veteran Rep. Maxine Waters of California. She
refused to clap or stand when President Bush entered the chamber, even though
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a fellow Black Caucus member, tried to get her out
of her seat. The most courteous Democrat Tuesday night was Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of
Tennessee, another Black Caucus member. He was usually the first Democrat on his
feet for Bush's applause lines, sometimes was the only Democrat standing and on
occasion beat Republicans in getting up. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, known to grimace when Bush addressed Congress in
the past, was on her best behavior this time -- usually joining Republicans in
standing ovations. She retrogressed into eye rolling and head shaking, however,
when the president claimed "dozens of weapons of mass destruction" had been
"identified" in Iraq. UNHAPPY WITH ARNOLD Arnold Schwarzenegger's honeymoon with California's anti-tax activists has
ended quickly, with the new Republican governor abandoning his campaign promise
to install tight caps on spending. In a major test of strength with the legislature, Gov. Schwarzenegger
accepted a bipartisan compromise calling for a referendum to mandate a balanced
budget. That might force tax increases that the body builder-movie star
campaigned against. Rep. Darrell Issa's Rescue California, which launched the recall that removed
Democrat Gray Davis as governor, is seeking to put a strict spending cap on the
November ballot. Joining in sponsorship are the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers
Association and the California Taxpayers' Association. FAREWELL, IOWA? As Iowa Democrats participated in presidential caucuses Monday night, their
leaders privately and sadly predicted this would be the last time Iowa's unique
institution would lead off the Democratic presidential selection. Democratic National Chairman Terry McAuliffe had to stave off a challenge to
Iowa's favored position in 2004 from Michigan, led by the powerful Sen. Carl
Levin. Leading Democrats in Washington and Des Moines agreed that Iowa's
preferred position cannot be retained in 2008. However, this year's results could change that death sentence. Iowa
caucus-goers are getting high grades for not being stampeded and for making
their own decisions. ANTI-SPENDING REVOLT The House's hundred most conservative members traveled to Cambridge on
Maryland's Eastern Shore Wednesday through Friday for meetings protesting the
rise in federal spending condoned by the Bush administration and congressional
Republican leaders. A major complaint was directed at President Bush's State of the Union address
Tuesday night. The conservatives argue the president did not go far enough in
limiting increased discretionary spending to 4 percent and only halving the
budget deficit within four years. A footnote: Opposing the omnibus appropriations bill, Sen. John McCain in a
floor speech listed pork barrel lavished by Appropriations Committee Chairman
Ted Stevens on his home state of Alaska. McCain declared: "Somehow, Alaska keeps
coming back through all this, and back and back and back and back. I wonder how
the people of Alaska feel about being put on welfare." OKLAHOMA SUBSTITUTE Dr. Tom Coburn, the conservative country doctor from Muskogee, Okla., who has
published a scathing account of his six years in Congress ("Breach
of Trust"), is considering running for a U.S. Senate seat from Oklahoma that
Republicans are in danger of losing. State and national Republican leaders fear Rep. Brad Carson could be the
first Democrat since 1994 sent to the Senate from Oklahoma by winning the seat
left vacant by the retirement of former Senate Majority Whip Don Nickles. They
complain that the designated GOP candidate, former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk
Humphreys, is not connecting with the grass roots. State Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony is jumping into the Republican
primary, and Coburn is spreading the word that he may run as well. Coburn
limited himself to six years in the House (1995-2000), during which he often
challenged the Republican leadership.
Ugarte: You despise me, don't you? Rick Blaine: If I gave you any thought I probably would.
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