TPMDC Morning Roundup
Today: RNC Elects Its Chairman
Today is a big day for the Republican National Committee, as they hold the chairmanship election pitting incumbent Mike Duncan against a field of four challengers who say they can do a better job of rebuilding the party. Nobody is expected to win a full majority on the first ballot, and the big question is whether Duncan will be able to pick up support on successive ballots or whether the opposition will solidify around another candidate.
Obama And Biden To Speak On Middle-Class Task Force
President Obama and Vice President Biden are holding a series of closed meetings with advisers this morning, and then at 10:45 a.m. ET they will both speak about the Middle Class Working Families Task Force. Biden is heading up the Task Force, which is charged with conducting outreach to labor, business and other advocacy groups to formulate policies helping the middle class.
Obama Meeting With Senior Military Officials
The president is also holding a meeting at 1:45 p.m. ET today with senior enlisted military officials, as the new president works with the Armed Forces on his foreign policy.
Obama Expected To Undo Bush Executive Orders On Unions
President Obama is also expected today to undo Bush-era executive orders on some key issues for organized labor. The Bush orders made it easier through various means for federal contractors to discourage workers from unionizing.
Day Five Of Minnesota Senate Trial
This is the fifth day of the Minnesota Senate trial, with the court scheduled to reconvene at 10 a.m. ET. Norm Coleman's legal team has been questioning Ramsey County (St. Paul) elections director Joe Mansky, trying to build their case that some absentee ballots that favored Al Franken were accidentally counted twice.
Obama: Blago Removal "Ends A Painful Episode For Illinois"
President Obama released this statement last night, regarding the removal from office of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich: "Today ends a painful episode for Illinois. For months, the state had been crippled by a crisis of leadership. Now that cloud has lifted. I wish Governor Quinn the best and pledge my full cooperation as he undertakes his new responsibilities."
Holbrooke To Travel To South Asia
Richard Holbrooke, who has been named as the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be traveling to the region next week.
Obama Reportedly Eyeing GOP Sen. Gregg For Commerce Pick
The White House is reportedly considering Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) for the role of Commerce Secretary. If this nomination were to in fact go through, it would have huge ramifications for the Senate -- New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) would presumably appoint a Democrat, and along with an Al Franken win in Minnesota this would give the Dems a filibuster-proof 60 seats.
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
The Top Ten Provisions of the GOP 'Primitive Stimulative' Plan
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=5839
January 30, 2009 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Getting to 60 by removing Judd Gregg is freaking brilliant. Here's hoping it comes to pass!
January 30, 2009 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
They are well north of a filibuster proof majority right now with the republicans that they will be able to peal off. I really don't think the magic 60 is the issue.
January 30, 2009 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, but I still think it's a damn clever move. Not every Democratic Senator is totally reliable, and every vote helps. And since nobody has ever cared about the Commerce Sec. anyway, why not?
January 30, 2009 9:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Symbolism matters, too, in this case.
January 30, 2009 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
But will the Senator except knowing what he will cause happen? Is he more concerned about his own career or the Party?
I'm praying he's thinking about himself first -- cause the Party would just USE him.
January 30, 2009 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did you just say he should let the Democrats use him so that the Republicans don't?
January 30, 2009 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
A thought just occurred to me -- what will the Republican leadership OFFER in return to keep Gregg in the Senate?
Pay for Play coming up?
January 30, 2009 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Warning: Lynch could very well appoint a Republican to replace Gregg.
Given his governing style and his history of past appointments, that is a very plausible scenario - and one that is now being discussed by a variety of news sources (including the AP, Reuters, SSP). There is also talk of a deal between Obama and Gregg that would have Lynch appoint a Republican... that would leave us with a conservative Cabinet pick AND a new GOP Senator.
January 30, 2009 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch. That would not be so hot. Thanks for the heads-up on that.
January 30, 2009 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
That wouldn't be so good. I don't get why you would appoint a new GOP Senator.
January 30, 2009 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
A deal couldn't exist between Obama and Lynch, because that would be entering Blago territory.
I don't think there is a change Gregg would take it without such a deal though, and I'm not sure I want him to even if he is replaced by a Dem because Commerce is in charge of the 2010 census and all that comes with it.
One benefit of the Dems getting the 60-seat super-majority would be to take that boogeyman away from the GOP in 2010, assuming Obama still worked with the GOP and didn't veer hard left. Right now the GOP will use the "boogeyman" in every race, and it will have certain pull with the voters, however if Obama had it and never used it and still reached out in a bi-partisan nature the GOP really couldn't run on it with any effect.
I think this is all gamesmanship to trick the Senate GOP into talking about partisan politics and Senate votes. They're not saying Gregg isn't qualified afterall, but saying he'd give the Dems 60-seats. Timing is also very interesting, just before the Senate vote on the Stimulus package - do they dare vote down party lines and attempt a filibuster, or do they give Obama the 75-80 votes he wants to show bi-partisanship which would lessen their cries to Gregg not to take the Commerce job.
January 30, 2009 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe not a deal per se, but I doubt that Gregg would go if he knows a Dem will replace him. I can see "McConnell/Limbaugh "2012 foaming at the mouth if that happened.
January 30, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off topic, but disgusting. The economy shrank 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Housing prices have plummeted. Unemployment is rising through the roof and . . . . Exxon/Mobil posted a 45.2 billion dollar profit in the fourth quarter shattering their prior record. WTF is wrong with this picture?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_exxon_mobil
January 30, 2009 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oops, that was annual profit, but still disgusting.
January 30, 2009 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Should've let them spend some of those profits on exploration and new oil leases...wouldn't disgust you with their profits and increase domestic supplies...win-win.
January 30, 2009 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
or they could actually spend it on research and development of renewable fuels--but that would actually involve more thought and foresight than parroting "drill baby drill".
January 30, 2009 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
This really is absurd. Our domestic supply is basically nothing and is really irrelevant. I don't want to get into those arguments again. More drilling is just more profit for them, more damage to the environment and no impact on gas prices. Just plane old gop propoganda.
January 30, 2009 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
A lot of those profits ARE being spent on leasing/exploration--just in other countries.
January 30, 2009 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The notion that Gregg would join the Obama administration was a brilliant move.
Add up the moves folks.
Obama goes to Congress and has meetings with the GOP House and the GOP Senate. He compromises and removes pieces from the stimulus bill.
All heavily publicized at the same time we're all reading about Wall Street bonuses and corporate jet purchases.
Yet, the GOP thought the best strategy in the House was to be the "loyal" opposition and vote on party lines? The American public is taking notes, folks.
Now, the warning shot in the Senate as well as radio ads. What fun!
The Democrats are playing hardball the way it should be played. Right out in the open. Gotta love this stuff.....
January 30, 2009 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink