John Brummett advances the theme suggested here yesterday — that Sen. Blanche Lincoln comes out of the health care debate with a record of moderation and some achievement, perhaps sufficient to help her survive an election challenge next year.

Sen. Harry Reid even got on the horn to say he wasn’t talking about Lincoln when he seemed to criticize senators who didn’t get pork for their states in the horse-trading. Lincoln got plenty for Arkansas, he said, detailed here. These include tax breaks for small business and other preferences for business up to Wal-Mart, which I guess is as big as it gets.

The New York Times parachutes into darkest Arkansas to assess Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s troubled standing. The anecdotal lead finds troubles even among ladies who lunch with her mama.

HELENA, Ark. — When the subject of Senator Blanche Lincoln came up at a women’s luncheon last week at the historic Pillow-Thompson House in this Mississippi River town, there was an awkward pause in the chatter.

“We’ve known Blanche all her life, and we love her,” one woman explained delicately while Mrs. Lincoln’s mother, a town fixture beloved for her pimento cheese sandwiches and homemade cookies, ate at a nearby table. “We just don’t think she’s been making very good decisions lately.”

Ouch. It gets worse with quotes, by name, from a farmer and a hunting buddy of her daddy’s who aren’t planning to vote for Lincoln.

Republican politico Bill Vickery is quoted as saying that survival of the primary could help Lincoln in the fall and I think that’s probably true. Particularly if the lacklustre Dr. No Boozman awaits.

The New York Times parachutes into darkest Arkansas to assess Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s troubled standing. The anecdotal lead finds troubles even among ladies who lunch with her mama.

HELENA, Ark. — When the subject of Senator Blanche Lincoln came up at a women’s luncheon last week at the historic Pillow-Thompson House in this Mississippi River town, there was an awkward pause in the chatter.

“We’ve known Blanche all her life, and we love her,” one woman explained delicately while Mrs. Lincoln’s mother, a town fixture beloved for her pimento cheese sandwiches and homemade cookies, ate at a nearby table. “We just don’t think she’s been making very good decisions lately.”

Ouch. It gets worse with quotes, by name, from a farmer and a hunting buddy of her daddy’s who aren’t planning to vote for Lincoln.

Republican politico Bill Vickery is quoted as saying that survival of the primary could help Lincoln in the fall and I think that’s probably true. Particularly if the lacklustre Dr. No Boozman awaits.

I went to the Clinton Library today to catch a few minutes with Sen. Blanche Lincoln who was speaking to the Delta Grassroots Caucus. While they a met a couple of sarcastic supporters of hers – William O’Naire and Ollie Garch with “Big Banks for Blanche Lincoln.”

“We are here to express our great pleasure with Blanche,” said Garch. “She is one of the best employees big banks have ever had. We have paid her quite a lot over the years.”

“$450,000 just in the last five years,” interjected O’Naire. “It seems like a lot but we look at it as a good investment.”

I asked them if they had considered supporting Bill Halter and they said he is a “bad investment” primarily because he does not support eliminating the estate tax as Sen. Lincoln does, “which is a terrible thing for people worth more than ten million dollars.”

The duo attempted to present Sen. Lincoln with a blank check that she could feel out for any amount but she declined. “We usually do this thing not in public,” said Garch. “We present the checks in the mail and in behind the scenes agreements. She wants to be subtle and I understand. She is a classy employee and we appreciate that.”

To check out more about them, check out their Facebook group, although they did say they do not want to many members and would prefer to keep it more of a “country club atmosphere.” The due is quite entertaining and you can expect to see a lot more of them in the weeks ahead.

Carol Butler, Halter for Senate campaign manager, passes along word tonight that their campaign disagrees strongly with Sen. Lincoln’s latest ad going so far as to call it “a flat lie.”

“Lt Governor Halter was looking forward to an improved economy where additional revenues come from growth in the economy and increased employment,” said Bulter. “Better economic conditions mean that revenues go up and Social Security disability payments go down. Lt Governor Halter has never supported cutting benefits and any such statement by Sen. Lincoln is a flat lie that contradicts Lt. Governor Halter’s years-long record of protecting Social Security.”

“While Social Security currently enjoys a surplus, one of the biggest pressures on the program is the size of the federal deficit,” continued Butler. “Senator Lincoln’s votes in favor of the Bush tax cuts, along with her repeated votes and support for fiscal policies that have run up a $7 trillion debt, are what have put Social Security in jeopardy.”

UPDATE – Katie Laning Niebaum from the Lincoln for Senate campaign defends the ad.  “He said it,” said Niebaum. “The tape doesn’t lie and neither does Sen. Blanche Lincoln.”

Carol Butler, Halter for Senate campaign manager, passes along word tonight that their campaign disagrees strongly with Sen. Lincoln’s latest ad going so far as to call it “a flat lie.”

“Lt Governor Halter was looking forward to an improved economy where additional revenues come from growth in the economy and increased employment,” said Bulter. “Better economic conditions mean that revenues go up and Social Security disability payments go down. Lt Governor Halter has never supported cutting benefits and any such statement by Sen. Lincoln is a flat lie that contradicts Lt. Governor Halter’s years-long record of protecting Social Security.”

“While Social Security currently enjoys a surplus, one of the biggest pressures on the program is the size of the federal deficit,” continued Butler. “Senator Lincoln’s votes in favor of the Bush tax cuts, along with her repeated votes and support for fiscal policies that have run up a $7 trillion debt, are what have put Social Security in jeopardy.”

UPDATE – Katie Laning Niebaum from the Lincoln for Senate campaign defends the ad.  “He said it,” said Niebaum. “The tape doesn’t lie and neither does Sen. Blanche Lincoln.”

Firedoglake blogger Jane Hamsher last night on MSNBC dared U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln to join a filibuster against Democratic health legislation. (It was reported during the show that such a step would be historic, a filibuster by a sitting senator against his/her own party.) Hamsher thinks a filibuster vote would draw a Democratic primary challenge.

. . but it’s not because I have any special ability to draw a primary challenger out of thin air.

 

It’s because there are credible challengers sitting on the sidelines, waiting to jump in if Lincoln does filibuster health care. And if I know it, she knows it.

Blanche’s numbers in Arkansas are weak. She’s vulnerable in the general, running behind all four of her Republican opponents. But before she can get to the general, she’s got to get through a primary, and 80% of Arkansas Democrats favor a public option.

Well. I believe a solid majority of Arkansas Democrats support a public health insurance option (70 percent of them in the 4th District, home to another insurance company defender, U.S. Rep. Mike Ross). But not so sure I believe there are credible Democrats poised to leap into the race if Lincoln caucuses with Republicans on health care. Unless she means Lt. Gov. Bill Halter.

And here it is, the much anticipated ad from President Barack Obama on behalf of Sen. Blanche Lincoln…

“This is President Barack Obama and I want to tell you why I support Senator Blanche Lincoln for re-election in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, May 18th. Blanche is leading the fight to hold Wall Street accountable and make sure that Arkansas taxpayers are never again asked to bailout Wall Street bankers. She is standing on the side of workers who’ve lost their jobs in this recession by extending unemployment insurance payments and health care while they try to get back on their feet. And she cast crucial votes to create new jobs in Arkansas and all across America. On health care, Blanche took on big insurance companies by voting to end discrimination against Arkansans with pre-existing conditions and fought for tax credits that will help thousands of local small businesses provide insurance to their employees. I urge you to join me in supporting Senator Blanche Lincoln for re-election on Tuesday, May 18th.”

And here it is, the much anticipated ad from President Barack Obama on behalf of Sen. Blanche Lincoln…

“This is President Barack Obama and I want to tell you why I support Senator Blanche Lincoln for re-election in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, May 18th. Blanche is leading the fight to hold Wall Street accountable and make sure that Arkansas taxpayers are never again asked to bailout Wall Street bankers. She is standing on the side of workers who’ve lost their jobs in this recession by extending unemployment insurance payments and health care while they try to get back on their feet. And she cast crucial votes to create new jobs in Arkansas and all across America. On health care, Blanche took on big insurance companies by voting to end discrimination against Arkansans with pre-existing conditions and fought for tax credits that will help thousands of local small businesses provide insurance to their employees. I urge you to join me in supporting Senator Blanche Lincoln for re-election on Tuesday, May 18th.”

If U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln thinks this is the way to electoral success, then perhaps her harshest critics are right about her intellectual throw weight.

She is joining forces with Lisa Murkowski and Mary Landrieu on proposals to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases.

Forget for a minute how bad this is as a matter of policy.

Voters aren’t stupid. Most of them don’t think pumping poison into the air is a good idea. Those that do — and who think cap-and-trade is a communist plot, that there’s no global warming, etc. — aren’t going to vote for Blanche Lincoln no matter how much she sells out for how little.

This is desperation politics. It’s going nowhere. It’s pandering to corporate interests. It’s bad for living things. Voters will see it exactly for what it is.