The Week Ahead

editors note: For some reason Kemp finds himself unable to gain access and post (maybe the windowless black vans are closing in around him...) so I am happy to post this look at the week ahead on his behalf- Scott

After a Sunday night of storms and sirens, Monday, a gray… cold… wet and windy Monday arrives. Here’s a short list of things to monitor as the week goes on…

• The immigration debate continues…Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) wants a vote on new immigration legislation THIS WEEK. Why? So he has a nice springboard for his 2008 Presidential aspirations. But…
  
• With Republican on the Hill sharply divided over immigration and the budget, the chances of either of the two legislations being passed this week are slim to none. As Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) stated, “There’s a chasm between the House and Senate.” Definitely something that we should all keep an eye on as this week progresses.
  
• The GOP and its strategists have a strategy (goes without saying, doesn’t it?) that foresees the strong economy as their ticket to victory in November’s mid-term elections. Good plan guys… but wouldn’t it work better if the economy was actually… what’s the word I’m looking for?? Ah… good? Let’s see how far this strategy takes ‘em. Having said that, at least they HAVE a strategy… hello?? Anyone home at the DNC or DCCC????
  This is something we all need to keep an eye on this week (and in the months, and years, to come) India, and nuclear weapons.
  
• This week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is poised to defend the landmark nuclear accord that she orchestrated with India. Hard sell is an understatement in my opinion.
  Florida Senate candidate Katherine Harris’ campaign is “leaking” staff faster than you can say ‘Hans Brinker’
  
• From the ‘someone’s been watching too much The West Wing lately’ files. As his approval numbers continue to drop faster than a staff-member in a Katherine Harris campaign, President Bush’s advisors have him adopting a new strategy to re-appeal to votes; Let Bush be Bush. They say it makes him seem plainspoken, folksy and appear as an ‘Average Joe.’ (Personally, it just reinforces my opinion that we have an someone in charge of our country who couldn’t add two and two together) Keep an eye on Bush this week as the roll-out of his new strategy continues in an attempt to boost his numbers. Not gonna happen my friend… but it should be fun to watch the train wreck continue…
  
• Bush is likely to name a nominee to head FEMA this week. Short list (meaning it’s the name that the Bush Administration has leaked) is acting-FEMA chief David Paulison. A Bush-crony, sure, but at least he has some background in disasters as he is a former fireman. (Interesting sidebar to this story, The New York Times reported yesterday that the “President” had to turn to Paulison after several candidates pulled themselves out of the running)