I almost forgot to tell you that Rep. Darrell Issa called Jay Carney a paid liar on CNN yesterday.
ISSA: The whole transcript will be put out. We understand -- these are in real time. And the administration is still -- they're paid liar, their spokesperson, picture behind, he's still making up things about what happens in calling this local rogue. There's no indication -- the reason the Lois Lerner tried to take the fifth is not because there is a rogue in Cincinnati, it's because this is a problem that was coordinated in all likelihood right out of Washington headquarters and we're getting to proving it.
For Rep. Darrell Issa to call anybody a paid liar is simply insulting to anyone who made it past the first grade. As we've reported many times, Arson Issa has a very shady business history that's been recounted by the New Yorker's Ryan Lizza (and many others) in a piece called "Don’t Look Back...Darrell Issa, the congressman about to make life more difficult for President Obama, has had some troubles of his own." The NY Times also ran a story called: A Businessman in Congress Helps His District and Himself.
Rep. Issa has been convicted of gun charges, been indicted for grand theft auto and has been accused of burning down his own business. Nice. Arson Issa was also the man who basically funded the recall of California's Gov. Gray Davis so he could become the governor, but abruptly dropped out when Arnold dropped in back in 2003.
Since the press has been virtually silent on his past since he's making good on his promise to try and burn down the White House, it was nice to see David Plouffe take to Twitter and call him out for what he is.
Strong words from Mr Grand Theft Auto and suspected arsonist/insurance swindler. And loose ethically today. thehill.com/video/house/30…
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) June 2, 2013
Plouffe was busy smacking around Karl Rove on ABC Sunday morning, but finally got around to Mr. Grand Theft Auto today.
Howie Klein wonders why the DCCC refuses to target Issa and I agree with him.
Last year, Darrel Issa skated to reelection, winning back his seat (CA-49) 139-127 (59%) to 97,454 (41%). There are parts of two counties in the district: Orange County, where he won 66% and, San Diego, where he won 56%. There's more than twice as much San Diego in CA-49 as Orange County. Does that seem too hopeless to tackle? Let's look a little closer.
In 2008, Obama and McCain basically tied, although Obama officially won the district by a few votes. Last year, Romney did better than McCain, besting Obama 52-46%. The PVI is R+4. Half a dozen Democrats won in districts that had PVIs of R+4 or worse.
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Probably the most hated incumbents in Congress are John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, Bachmann (who's retiring, so we'll leave her out of this discussion), Darrell Issa. Boehner and Cantor have very difficult districts for Democrats, respectively R+15 and R+10. Issa and Ryan are much more vulnerable, respectively R+4 and R+3.
It's time Steve Israel finds someone to take him out at the polls.
