Bluey Blog - Official Blog of Robert B. Bluey

Gmail 2.0

I was a late convert to Gmail, but I’m one of the first to experience Gmail 2.0, a modified version that includes a few tweaks and will reportedly run faster. So far, so good for this user. Screenshots are available at Google Blogoscoped and there are more details on Slashdot. (Hat tip to Ben Domenech.)

Four Republicans Reject Law of the Sea Treaty

Just as I predicted last night, the Law of the Sea Treaty won approval from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, but the 17-4 vote was a significant improvement from just three years ago when the treaty advanced without any opposition. The four Republicans opposing the treaty included Sens. Norm Coleman (Minn.), Jim DeMint (S.C.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.) and David Vitter (La.).

David Ridenour of the National Center for Public Policy Research summed it up this way:

Although the Committee voted to send the treaty to the full Senate for consideration, there was a marked increase in opposition to it from just three years ago. In 2004, it was approved 19-0. This morning there were four nay votes.

The tide is turning against the Law of the Sea Treaty. The full Republican Senate leadership opposes it as well as presidential candidates Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Senator Fred Thompson, Governor Mike Huckabee, Rep. Tom Tancredo, Rep. Ron Paul and Rep. Duncan Hunter.

Michelle Malkin provided updates throughout the debate, making special note of Sen. David Vitter’s (R-La.) reasonable request for another hearing on LOST. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joe Biden (D-Del.) rejected any attempts by conservatives to delay consideration and chastised conservatives Frank Gaffney and Fred Smith for their opposition.

So where do we go from here? The good news is that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is standing firmly against the treaty. With four Republicans now also on the record opposing LOST — Coleman and Isakson were key votes today — there’s clearly a tide turning against this U.N. power grab.

Romney Scores Big With Wichterman

I’ve known Bill Wichterman dating back to his days with then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). We clashed from time to time on Frist’s tactics (particularly his handling of judicial nominees), but I always found Wichterman to be helpful and a passionate conservative.

David Brody reports today that Wichterman will work for Mitt Romney after jumping off the Fred Thompson bandwagon. Thompson’s refusal to support the Federal Marriage Amendment (or at least the one Wichterman favors) prompted the move. Romney’s quick catch should bolster his standing among social conservatives.

21st Century Reagan

Two of most principled members of Congress, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.), launched a new caucus today called Reagan21, which they hope will bolster the GOP’s standing on fiscal restraint, ethics and national defense. Roll Call ($) reported the details this morning.

The group — which in addition to DeMint and Hensarling is made up of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) — will officially announce the creation of their new caucus — dubbed Reagan21. They also will unveil their “statement of policy commitment,” which includes 10 key positions on issues ranging from Congressional earmarks to health care reform.

While participants are billing the new caucus as a complement to the leadership teams in place in the House and Senate, Republicans familiar with the project acknowledge that to a certain degree it is a challenge to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), because implicitly the call for a new direction is a rejection of the course they have steered along with President Bush.

DeMint is chairman of the Senate Steering Committee and Hensarling leads the Republican Study Committee in House. Both institutions draw membership from the conservative wing of the GOP. By joining forces, DeMint and Hensarling will solidify their influence and pose an even greater threat to leadership in both houses. At this stage, however, the new caucus didn’t seem to worry Boehner, who released a statement praising the endeavor.

Republicans earned the majority in 1994 by showing that we are the party of reform – a party committed to the priorities the Reagan21 caucus emphasizes. I congratulate Congressman Hensarling and Senator DeMint for their work in founding the caucus and their commitment to the ideals of President Reagan.

As I’ve often said, our party is not in need of new principles; our principles have stood the test of time, and they will endure long after the torch has been passed from today’s leaders to the next. But Congressional Republicans are using our time in the minority as an opportunity to renew our commitment to our principles. And we’re using our principles to craft reforms that will promote freedom and security and help to restore the bonds of trust between Americans and their elected leaders.

Then again, a story from Monday’s Roll Call ($) must have been disheartening for the GOP leader, who survived a challenge last year from conservative Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) to become minority leader. The article put it bluntly for the House GOP leadership:

House Republicans have taken a sharp turn to the right this year, with the long-disaffected conservative Republican Study Committee finding its clout growing within the party even as the GOP’s fortunes have tumbled.

As someone who strongly supported Pence and Shadegg in last November’s leadership elections, I’m glad to see conservatives asserting themselves. Boehner has done an admirable job as leader, but conservatives need to keep him and McConnell honest. I hope what DeMint and Hensarling have created serves that purpose — and helps the Republican Party reshape its brand.

A Spooky Speech for Halloween

After months of adjusting to life in the minority, congressional Republicans have begun to show some life. They’ve thwarted the Democratic majority on one issue after another throughout the summer and early fall, and in recent weeks, the GOP appears emboldened by recent debates over children’s health care and intelligence gathering and a showdown over federal spending.

Even President Bush seems to be engaged unlike ever before — appearing yesterday at the White House with House GOP leaders to lecture Congress for its failures. It’s quite evident that spirits are brighter on Capitol Hill these days for Republicans, and there’s no better example of that than Rep. Adam Putnam’s speech to the caucus today.

The speech is getting so much buzz that I’ve decided to reprint it in its entirety on RedState.

Is McCain a Flip-Flopper?

The Republican candidate most often associate with the “flip-flopper” label is Mitt Romney, but in today’s Washington Times, reporter Stephen Dinan explores whether John McCain deserves to be called one as well.

Sen. John McCain has quietly been piling up flip-flops, including ditching his long-held support for the Law of the Sea convention and telling bloggers he now opposes the DREAM Act to legalize illegal alien students.

The sea treaty has become the latest litmus test for the 2008 Republican presidential field, and after a decade-long record of public support for it, Mr. McCain has pivoted to bring himself in line with the rest of the candidates.

I was a participant on the blogger call that Dinan references, and I’m quoted in his story because I asked McCain the question about the Law of the Sea Treaty. McCain’s answer — that he would oppose LOST in its current form — apparently contrasts with his previous statements on the treaty.

Every candidate running for president is going to face the charge of being a flip-flopper. I personally don’t mind as long as they take the right position. In this case, McCain is acting like a savvy politician and aligning with his base.

Senate Committee to Vote on Law of the Sea Treaty

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the Law of the Sea Treaty around 11 this morning. Keep an eye on Senators John Sununu (N.H.), George Voinovich (Ohio), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Johnny Isakson (Ga.). Their votes will send a strong signal to Majority Leader Harry Reid about the treaty’s chances on the Senate floor.

Several organizations have put together excellent resources on LOST, including Heritage, the National Center for Public Policy, Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty.

I also pulled together several videos on YouTube featuring LOST experts Baker Spring, Frank Gaffney and Cliff Kincaid (embedded below). Heritage’s Steve Groves also recorded a video explaining the dangers of LOST.

Talking Tax Policy and Presidential Politics Over Lunch

Joe Mansour of TechRepublican and Carter Wood of ShopFloor recap today’s Conservative Bloggers’ Briefing at Heritage with Rep. Tom Reynolds of New York and Ann Coulter (who joined by phone).

Reynolds dropped by to discuss Rep. Charlie Rangel’s “Mother of All Tax Hikes” and Coulter, author of “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans,” took questions about the 2008 field.

Giuliani on Law of the Sea Treaty: ‘Fundamentally Flawed’

Rudy Giuliani added his name to the growing chorus of opposition to the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) today, just in time for tomorrow’s important Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote.

I oppose ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty. I believe the treaty is well intentioned, and I appreciate the hard work of U.S. negotiators who sought to resolve problems in the treaty first identified by President Reagan. I also understand the arguments of those – particularly in our military – who claim that this treaty will enhance America’s ability to guarantee freedom of the seas for all peace-loving nations.

But I believe that the treaty is fundamentally flawed. I cannot support the creation of yet another unaccountable international bureaucracy that might infringe on American sovereignty and curtail America’s freedoms. I oppose ratification of this treaty as long as it fails to address these concerns.

Although there’s virtually no hope of defeating LOST in committee tomorrow, all eyes will be on the Republican senators. Enough votes against the treaty could rally others to oppose it. Key senators to watch include John Sununu (N.H.), George Voinovich (Ohio), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Johnny Isakson (Ga.).

Presidential candidates have certainly done their part. Last week Sen. John McCain came out against the treaty, following Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee. Securing Giuliani’s opposition was important for several reasons, perhaps none more important than it shows even Giuliani’s pro-LOST advisers connected to former Secretary of State George Shultz were swayed to oppose ratification.

Erick Erickson and Chuck Norris

What do the editor of RedState and the Hollywood movie star have in common? They’re both ranked on the Telegraph’s list of most influential conservatives in America. Erickson comes in at No. 69 and Norris is No. 71. The Telegraph is releasing a list of 20 each day this week. (Hat tip to my colleague Maggie Pitts.)