1.) Saudi SportsCenter — it’s all you imagined and so much more — Some say the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has radical policies. That may be true, but their sports commentary seems rather rational. TheDC’s Caroline May reports:
“While a few Americans might find women’s Olympic sports to be a little less exciting than men’s, likely none would take death over watching their countrywomen participate on the international stage. That does not appear to be the case in the Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In video provided to The Daily Caller and translated by the non-profit Middle East Media Research Institute, Saudi sports commentator Fahd Al-Raoughui explains in an interview on Saudi Arabia’s Line Sport TV that he would rather be ‘slaughtered by Allah’ than see Saudi women participate in the Olympics.”
The good news for Al-Raoughui is that whether or not Saudi women are permitted to participate in the Olympics, they aren’t likely to compete in NASCAR events anytime soon. That’s because in the beacon of modernity we call Saudi Arabia, it is illegal for women to drive cars.
2.) Romney-Rubio 2012? — Marco Rubio may say he doesn’t want to be Mitt Romney’s VP nominee, but his schedule sure suggests he’s not entirely given up on the idea. TheDC’s Alex Pappas reports:
“Marco Rubio insists he’s not angling to be Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate, but his schedule this week might indicate otherwise. After stumping with Romney on Monday, the Florida senator will now ‘deliver a major speech on the future of U.S. foreign policy at an event hosted by The Brookings Institution’ on Wednesday, according to a news release from his office. ‘Rubio’s remarks will focus on whether U.S. global leadership is sustainable and even necessary in the 21st century,’ the release said.”
Rubio may think it wise to take it slow and wait until he has more experience. But if the opportunity arises, he ought to strike while his political brand is hot.
3.) The party ain’t over? — One tea party leader — yes, we know the movement doesn’t have leaders but what else do you call their leaders? — argues that despite their seeming absence this primary season, the tea party is anything but dead. TheDC’s Jamie Weinstein (ME!) talks to Michael Patrick Leahy, co-founder of The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition and author of the recently released book, “Covenant of Liberty: The Ideological Origins of the Tea Party Movement “:
“Leahy also pushed back against the notion that the tea party is becoming increasingly irrelevant. ‘[T]he tea party’s grassroots get-out-the-vote activities will be the deciding force of the 2012 presidential election,’ he contested. ‘There are over 3,000 local tea parties around the country, and new tea parties are forming every day. The number of Americans who support the tea party movement — 66 million — is slightly higher than it was two years ago.’ ‘We’ve just changed our tactics,’ he went on. ‘Instead of holding high profile rallies, we’re focused on the nuts and bolts of building local get-out-the-vote organizations.'”
We shall see.
4.) Claire McCaskill may be in McTrouble — A Democratic senator may be in some hot water, reports TheDC’s Alex Pappas:
“A Democratic lawmaker may have violated prohibitions against soliciting campaign contributions on government property while appearing on MSNBC on Monday night. ‘I’m asking regular folks to be my super PAC,’ Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said on MSNBC’s ‘Hardball with Chris Matthews’ from inside the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building while discussing how super PACs are targeting her … If the Senate Ethics Committee would deem these comments a campaign activity, McCaskill could be in hot water. Rules prohibit campaign activity and the solicitation of campaign funds in government office buildings.”
5.) Poll of the Day: Arizona’s immigration law popular — Quinnipiac University poll asks registered voters whether they approve of Arizona’s strict immigration law, which is being challenged in the Supreme Court: 68% approve, 27% disapprove, 5% unsure.
6.) Tweet of Yesterday — John Tully: @Jamie_Weinstein Your “DC Morning” this am was hilarious in it’s assholishness. Well done, douchebag! (Jamie Weinstein=super prissy name)