Tree-huggin’ GOP
Somebody alert Al Gore.
“Republicans are committed to making next year’s nominating convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul the ’greenest’ in party history. From transportation to venue selection to staff workspace — convention planners are working to implement the best environmental practices,” Maria Cino noted yesterday.
She is president of the 2008 Republican National Convention, scheduled for Sept. 1-4. By then, the GOP better be green, green, green.
It could be a bilious green for some Republicans. Convention headquarters have been furnished with “recycled furnishings” — which might have been called “used” in a less-excruciating era. Recycled office supplies are a must, along with room-to-room climate control, which shuts down automatically at 5 p.m. every day to save energy. And all staffers “live within walking distance, or utilize public transportation to travel to work.”
News clips are distributed electronically to preserve paper, and employees are expected to utilize two-sided printing and recycle their paper, plus cans and bottles.
“A greener convention will use fewer resources and leave a smaller footprint, showcase Minneapolis and Saint Paul as leaders in environmental preservation and sustainable development, and underscore the Republican Party’s commitment to responsible stewardship of the environment,” Ms. Cino explained.
Staying green may be a challenge. Some 45,000 people — a few who may not recycle — are expected to attend the convention, which will take place at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Girl talk
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton seems to inspire pollsters to pick apart their numbers. Here’s the latest from Gallup on the New York Democrat, revealing her appeal to women, including 12-year-olds, apparently.
“The largest increases in support for Clinton have come among the following Democratic subgroups: rural residents (+20), women with a college degree (+15), single women (+13), younger women (+12), and those with no children under 18 (+12). Obviously, there is much overlap in membership among these groups, but clearly, a stronger appeal to certain subgroups of women within the Democratic Party has been a key to Clinton’s expanded lead.”
Overall, 52 percent of Democratic women favor Mrs. Clinton, compared with 41 percent of Democratic men, plus 55 percent of both single women and women without a college education. Low-income Democrats (56 percent) and Eastern residents (53 percent) also are marked Mrs. Clinton fans.
Her weakest showing among any Democratic subgroups is among college-educated men — just 34 percent support her candidacy.
Democrats debate
All seven Democratic presidential hopefuls descend on Drexel University in Philadelphia for yet another debate today, a mere 65 days from the Iowa caucuses, which begin Jan. 3. For those keeping count, this is debate No. 8.
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois already has gotten aggressive, recently proclaiming “now is the time” for him to distinguish himself from the pack. Somebody else is getting feisty, too.
Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina also should be ready to rumble, according to Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore’s 2000 bid for president.
“I want to see if John Edwards will say to Hillary Clinton in front of everyone: ’You’re not electable, and you know it, and you’re going to hurt people down the ballot,’ ” she told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s time to stop whispering. It’s getting to be midnight.”
Some say Mrs. Clinton has been canny in the last seven debates, which has buoyed her standing in polls.
“Everybody has been standing around waiting for her to make a mistake,” said Gary Jacobson, a political scientist at the University of California at San Diego. “As long as she avoids mistakes, there’s no reason for people to change their minds.’ ”
The debate will be telecast live at 9 p.m. tonight on MSNBC.
Medal for mettle
Could it be that continued civility on the airwaves has at last paid off? Perhaps.
President Bush revealed recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom yesterday, the nation’s highest civilian award. Among them is C-SPAN founder and uber-host Brian Lamb.
“Brian P. Lamb has elevated America’s public debate and helped open up our government to citizens across the nation. His dedication to a transparent political system and the free flow of ideas has enriched and strengthened our democracy,” Mr. Bush said yesterday.
Established by executive order in 1963, the medal may be awarded to any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the U.S., world peace or other significant public or private endeavors.
Former Illinois congressman Henry Hyde also garnered a medal, cited as “a powerful defender of life and a leading advocate for a strong national defense and for freedom around the world.”
The other luminaries: “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee, economist Gary S. Becker, civil rights leader Benjamin Hooks, genetic researcher Francis Collins, Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Cuban freedom advocate Oscar Elias Biscet. The group will be lauded by Mr. Bush on Nov. 5 at a White House ceremony.
McNulty bows out
Rep. Michael R. McNulty, New York Democrat, announced yesterday he will retire from Congress after two decades of representing seven eastern New York counties. The 60-year-old lawmaker denied rumors that illness is forcing him to step down after 10 terms as representative for a district that includes the heavily Democratic Albany-Schenectady-Troy region.
He said his health is fine but acknowledges that childhood polio has reduced his stamina and mobility in recent years, according to the Associated Press.
“It would be hard for me to find a more honest, dedicated, sincere public official than Mike McNulty,” said Rep. Charles B. Rangel, a fellow New York Democrat.
Mr. McNulty, whose family has been prominent in local politics for generations, was elected to Congress in 1988.
Possible successors for his seat next year include Schenectady’s Democratic Mayor Brian Stratton, whose father, Sam Stratton, held the congressional seat before Mr. McNulty. On the Republican side, state Assemblyman George Amedore is considered a potential candidate.
• Contact Jennifer Harper at 202/636-3085 or jharper @washingtontimes.com.
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