Like to laugh? Like to be informed? Then sign up for TheDC Morning email here.
1.) Rand Paul wants to kiss Chris Christie — Some explanation is probably necessary. TheDC’s Alexis Levinson reports:
“Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul thinks it’s time for him and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to ‘kiss and make up.’ Appearing on Neil Cavuto’s show on Fox News Wednesday afternoon, the Washington Post reported, Paul said he wanted to end his public feud with Christie, which has continued since last week, when Christie called the libertarian approach to foreign policy ‘dangerous.’ Since then, the two men, who will likely be rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, have traded insults back and forth that have been conveyed through the media. ‘I think with Gov. Christie it’s gotten a little too personal, so we’re ready to kiss and make-up,’ Paul said. ‘We’re going to have to patch things up. If we can sit down — I’m inviting him for a beer anytime he would like to come down and sit down at the pub right around the corner from the Senate,’ Paul said, adding that he will ‘formalize’ that invitation soon.'”
One suspects that Mr. Paul doesn’t really want to kiss Mr. Christie. But he does seem serious about the beer summit. Let them toast to 2016, when the two of them will likely find themselves squaring off against each other once again.
2.) Sen. Perplexed — Ted Cruz just doesn’t understand why people in his party are critiquing him for his defund Obamacare campaign. TheDC’s Patrick Howley reports:
“Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is ‘perplexed’ by GOP attacks on his effort to defund Obamacare and has no intention of backing down, despite complaints from other Senate Republicans that his crusade is not realistic and could potentially damage the party’s chances in the 2014 midterm elections. ‘There may be people who lob attacks at him, but he’s not going to return those attacks,’ Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told The Daily Caller, taking a firm stand in a battle that could determine the GOP’s strategic playbook heading into the 2014 midterms. Cruz and fellow junior Republican senators Mike Lee and Marco Rubio are involved in a ‘coordinated effort,’ according to Frazier, to urge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to block all continuing-resolution budget bills until Obamacare is defunded, either through budgetary means or by passing the Defund Obamacare Act, which has already failed three times in Congress.”
This “gee-willigers” act can wear think. Cruz did say those who oppose his Charge of the Light Brigade defund Obamacare strategy are part of the “surrender caucus,” after all. One would imagine that grates on some of his equally as conservative colleagues who agree with his goal of stopping Obamacare, but believe, with good reason, that his tactic is doomed to failure.
3.) Movin’ on up? — It appears Tom Cotton is ready to move on from being a freshman congressman to being a freshman senator. TheDC’s Alex Pappas reports:
“Republicans are about to get a ‘rock star’ candidate in what will likely become one of the most critical Senate contests in 2014. As had been speculated about for months, freshman Republican Rep. Tom Cotton will challenge sitting Democrat Sen. Mark Pryor, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. Cotton is expected to formally announce his intentions next week. ‘One of the weakest Democrats in the Senate this cycle is now facing potentially the strongest Republican challenger of the cycle,’ Steven J. Law, president and CEO of American Crossroads, said Wednesday.”
Cotton is a formidable opponent. His bio alone is intimidating: A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law, Cotton fought on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army Ranger. He may be ambitious, but his resume suggests he has every right to be.
4.) McCain hearts Rubio — John McCain may not love Marco Rubio, but he sure seems to like him a lot and see him as a future presidential contender. TheDC’s Jamie Weinstein reports
“McCain also showered praise on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was an ally of McCain’s in the push for comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate, saying Rubio ‘is a valuable candidate for president.’ ‘Marco Rubio has played a tremendously important role. He is very articulate, and he has been going out there on the talk shows,’ McCain said of Rubio’s role in the battle for a Senate immigration bill. ‘He has a bright future in the party. He is a valuable candidate for president.’ McCain said he doesn’t put Rubio in the ‘wacko bird’ category of Paul and Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas — colleagues McCain has had fierce policy and ideological clashes with.”
5.) Tweet of Yesterday — Paul Conner:It’s Wednesday RT @JGreenDC: Why is Chris Matthews publicly calling a sitting US Senator a terrorist?
6.) Today in North Korean News — BREAKING: “Kim Jong Un Enjoys Archery Games”