TPMDC Morning Roundup
Today: Obama's Big Trip To Canada
President Obama is making his first foreign trip as president today, arriving in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. ET. At 11:40 a.m. ET he will arrive Parliament Hill for a 12 p.m. ET meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, followed by a 2:45 p.m. ET joint press conference, and a short 4 p.m. ET meeting with opposition Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff. Then at 4:20 p.m. ET he'll meet with US Embassy employees and their families, before leaving the country at 5:15 p.m. ET and arriving back at the White House at 7 p.m. ET.
Canada Visit Focusing On Trade
The big issue today for Obama's visit is expected to be free trade, as Obama assures the United States' largest trading partner that there will not be any protectionist measures coming down. Afghanistan will also be an issue, as Canada is moving to remove its combat troops from that country.
Biden At CIA Today
Joe Biden will be at CIA Headquarters this afternoon, to conduct the ceremonial swearing-in of Leon Panetta as CIA Director, and to give a speech on the role the CIA plays in national security. Then this evening he will host a dinner for foreign policy experts.
Dem Lawmakers Visit Gaza, Hillary Also Pledging Help
John Kerry has now visited the Gaza Strip, while Reps. Brian Baird (D-WA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) also made their own separate trip to survey the situation and meet with aid groups -- a very rare thing for an American lawmaker to do. In addition, Hillary Clinton has announced she will attend a donors' conference in Egypt, on March 2, to help with rebuilding efforts.
Report: Sebelius Top Choice For HHS
The New York Times reports that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is currently President Obama's top choice to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Others are still under consideration, however, and it's not clear whether the beefed-up vetting process will be done by next week.
Scientists Await Action On Stem Cells
The Washington Post reports that scientists are awaiting White House action to reverse the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research -- and some are disappointed that it hasn't happened already. "The word the president is 'considering' it is too vague a word for me," said Amy Comstock Rick of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research.
Roy Blunt Expected To Declare Senate Run Today
Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who stepped down as House Republican Whip after the 2008 defeats, will reportedly announce today that he is running for the Senate seat of retiring GOP Sen. Kit Bond. He faces a potential primary against former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2008 gubernatorial primary, while Democrats have rallied around Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in what will likely be a close general election.
| TOPICS: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, MO-SEN, Senate '10
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
What's the hold up with stem cells? Obama should does do it already. If he wants to not start up a fight right now he should do it on a Friday afternoon,
I know he has said that he wanted Congress to do it but Congress will be spending the greater part of the year focused on the economy.
February 19, 2009 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Last week, Axelrod said he would do stem cells by executive order.
February 19, 2009 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anything else on your list of things Obama should do right this second? I mean hey, the guy has a one month anniversary coming up tomorrow. If we're going to tell him he's a big fat let down, we should make sure we have a list... Supporting documenatation is always nice.
February 19, 2009 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama must have twisted Sebelius' arm pretty hard to get her to take the HHS job. I'm glad she's the choice but sad that this means KS will not have a Democratic senator in 2010.
Well, there's always the consolation of having two women senators from MO.
February 19, 2009 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do we know for a fact Sebellius even wanted to run for Senate in Kansas? All I've seen is a lot of teeth-gnashing based no wishful thinking and projection.
February 19, 2009 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Blunt's candidacy is good news for Republicans as it gives them a credible candidate (the first one) of the race. But Blunt is certainly not a savior for the GOP: Beyond the issue of the competitive primary mentioned by Eric, the latest poll had him narrowly trailing Robin Carnahan.
February 19, 2009 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone really have doubt that Obama will reverse the ban on stem cell research? Amy Comstock Rick needs to take a deep breathe. Her comment is like that of an petulant, impatient child on Christmas eve. Does she not realize that our country is a train wreck and there's other things that have been occupying the president? Wait your turn, lady.
February 19, 2009 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
If a dead Mel Carnahan can beat John Ashcroft, a living Robin Carnahan can surely beat Roy Blunt. Blunt doesn't have nearly the state-wide stature here in MO that Ashcroft did.
February 19, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Partaaay!
February 19, 2009 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
CREW places Roy Blunt in the top 5 most corrupt members of congress. He was also involved in that hushed up by Ashcroft selling of states secrets case overheard by wire taps whose translator has been gagged. The only reason he kept getting elected to the House is because of the district he represented and 'name recognition' (which accounts for much of MO voting).
The mere thought of him getting elected for a six yr term is frightening. Hopefully the state will make sure that doesn't happen. Carnahan stands an excellent chance of making sure it doesn't. Name recognition and no record of corruption accounts for something.
The other Blunt just resigned as Governor after dismantling MO's medicaid program after running on the promise of not dismantling it. Total misuse of public records and questionable business dealings of associates makes one need more time to spend with the family. Blunt does not represent Missourians statewide and will be defeated. Now if we can just get him out of the House as well.
Obama's administration keeps wanting to give some office to Sebelius but once again there are so many more qualified and with what is getting ready to happen with healthcare I would like to see a more aggressively qualified person in the HHS position. Howard Dean would be excellent. He's a physician with experience in setting up healthcare systems besides being far more deserving of a cabinet position for being dedicated to good government.
If stem cell research had not been restrained these last 8yrs we might already have a cure for Alzheimer's and many other diseases and treatments for conditions such as spinal cord injuries.
GOP=Goobers On Parade standing for 'principled ignorance' and the integrity of selfishness. Lindsay Graham is still banned from public appearances due to being a national health threat which causes extreme nausea and vomiting. The GOP won't even recognize failure but instead hold up Michelle Backmann rhetoric as insightful. Now that Americans paid attention and took a good look we see why change is so necessary. Bye-bye GOP.
February 19, 2009 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink