The American Spectator

“Some of us just can’t understand why they can’t find left-leaning opinion journalists to fill that slot,” says the CNN staffer. “There are some online commentators who could do a good job, why create headaches with conflicts of interest with guys like Carville? This [Lux story] would be a great topic for the show, now they can’t touch it.”

p> BOISE BODIES br> Grover Norquist has been encouraging Republican governors to boycott and even quit the National Governors Association, and his campaign appears to be succeeding … with Democrats. /p>

The NGA has long been criticized as left-leaning and liberal, even though its leadership rotates between Republican and Democratic governors. Many of the complaints are in response to its professional staff, which issues position papers on legislation that tends to side with Democratic agendas.

Now comes word that Jeb Bush won’t be attending the NGA national conference that get underway this Saturday in Boise, Idaho. Nor will Texas Gov. Rick Perry. And Colorado’s Bill Owens took a pass. But more surprising are the Democrats who jumped ship: Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Roy Barnes of Georgia and Gray Davis of California. Perhaps they didn’t know Boise is lovely this time of year.

But a more likely reason, according an NGA staffer, is that each either is seeking election or re-election this year, or considering a national political run. “Shaheen is running for the Senate, Davis is in a race for his governorship and Barnes is probably thinking down the road about running for president.”

p>But why miss a silly meeting? “Just to be able to say they showed some spine and didn’t just play along with the other Democrats,” says the NGA-er. “We’re impressed that our group is now a litmus test for political freedom.” br> /p>