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TPMDC Morning Roundup

Today: Obama's And Cheney's Big Speeches On National Security
The big headline event will be a dueling pair of speeches from President Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney, each laying out their visions for national security. Obama will be discussing at 10:10 a.m. ET the steps his Administration is taking on such issues as Guantanamo Bay and fighting terrorism, while Cheney will be speaking at 10:45 a.m. ET from the American Enterprise Institute, laying out a thorough defense of the Bush Administration's policies and condemning Obama's approach.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver his speech on national security at 10:10 a.m. ET, from the National Archives Museum Rotunda. At 1:30 p.m. ET, he will welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House, at the South Portico. At 4:15 p.m. ET, he will meet with President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden is traveling today to Pristina, Kosovo. He met earlier with President Fatmir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni, Minister of the Kosovo Security Force Fehmi Mujota, and Assembly President Jakup Krasniqi. At 7 a.m. ET, he addressed the Assembly of Kosovo. Later, he will travel to Camp Bondsteel to meet and speak with U.S. troops serving in the NATO mission in Kosovo, at 12 p.m. ET.

Poll: Americans Continue To Have Unfavorable View Of Cheney
A new CNN poll finds that former Vice President Dick Cheney's favorable and unfavorable ratings continue to be awful -- though there has been some improvement. The survey finds that only 37% of Americans give him a favorable rating, with 55% unfavorable, compared to a a 29%-58% rating this past January.

Senate To Vote Today For War Funding
The Senate is expected to vote today in favor of President Obama's request for war funding for Iraq and Afghanistan. The $91.3 billion package is mostly a victory for Obama -- though the Senate has conspicuously stripped out $80 million for closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay. The Senate vote won't be the end of the process, with a final House-Senate compromise package expected to pass in June.

Pro-Obama Business Group To Launch Today
A new group of business executives supporting President Obama's economic policies, called Business Forward, will officially announce its formation today. Founding members include executives from AT&T, Facebook, Hilton, IBM, Microsoft, Pfizer and Time Warner. "When it comes to health care, education, and other critical issues, business leaders are among America's strongest advocates for reform," said executive director Jim Doyle.

After Filibuster Last Week, David Hayes Wins Confirmation For Interior Post
The Senate last night confirmed David Hayes to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior, after Republicans had previously filibustered the nomination last week. The GOP dropped its opposition after Interior Sec. Ken Salazar promised to review the decision to revoke 77 oil and gas leases in Utah, and Hayes was allowed to be confirmed by a voice vote.

Serrano Considering Primary Challenge Against Gillibrand
CQ reports that Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY) is openly considering a primary challenge against appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in 2010. "If Rahm Emanuel is making calls, he has a few more to make," said Serrano, who also added: "She's vulnerable on just about every issue, from guns to immigration."


10 Comments

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>> "If Rahm Emanuel is making calls, he has a few more to make," said Serrano, who also added: "She's vulnerable on just about every issue, from guns to immigration.">>

Oh, my. Somebody is feeling left out and want some attention from the WH.

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I'm not sure why Cheney's approval ratings matter at all. He's not running for office, so this metric is useless and, quite frankly, a little desperate.

But the fact that the White House rushed to get Obama invited is noteworthy because despite all the posturing from Gibbs, WH is clearly listening and clearly worried.

It would have been much easier for Obama if he hadn't adopted most of Bush's policies on national security.

But if there is an Obama/Cheney contest going on, then Obama just blinked.

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No, that is absolutely pure rubbish. The point is that Americans thoroughly rejected Cheney as a man, as a policy-maker and as a torturer. He has no standing what so ever except with the foam-at-the-mouth wingnuts and of course his fawners in the MSM (Gregory, Stephanopolous, Schieffer, Scarborough, Dobbs, etc.)

Goodness, the WH is most definitely *not* worried about Cheney! It is the other way around, by far. Cheney knows it and he is desperately trying to defend his atrocities. And the latest poll shows Americans are behind and believe Obama's policies on security more so than the Republicans.

The simple fact that Obama has turned the attention to Afghanistan (where it should have been on 9/12) from Iraq is proof that he has not "adopted most of Bush's policies". That is ludicrous. That was/is the most important issue to Americans re: terrorism. The Iraq War was wrong from day 1; Obama was elected in part (aside from the economy) for the reason that he stated so. And has acted so.

As for any Obama/Cheney contest going on, it is no contest. Cheney is clearly running scared or he would not be out there desperately trying to defend his 20 percent approval rating. And grabbing all the media invites from his MSM friends that he can.

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Obama and Cheney agree on:
1. Maintaining Bush position on "extraordinary rendition," (i.e. outsourced torture)
2. Using expansive state secerets claims to shut down lawsuits and keep information on torture secret.
3. Obstructing the investigation and prosecution of torture in violation of U.S. and internatioanl law.

At least Cheney doesn't bother to even pretend he is against torture, unlike our current President. Points for honesty.

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I can't wait for this day and the ensuing Cheney v Obama to be over. This was a boneheaded move by Obama imo. The White House should have just let Cheney punch himself out.

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What you spookily intone sounds right to me, Cowboy. Hard to see how their approach helps Obama or hurts Cheney.

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You might want to reconsider that statement after reading Obama's speech.

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Let's see, a popular president is laying out his foreign policy for the future while an unpopular former veep is defending his failed foreign policy of the past.

Bring it on.

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This would have been more dramatic had Obama made a cleaner break from the Bush-Cheney policies by setting a withdrawal date for Iraq, releasing the detainee photos, closing Guantanamo, etc.

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You may have missed it tj, but Obama did sign an executive order to close Guantanamo back in January. In that instance it's congress and not Obama who are having difficulty breaking from the past.

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