TPMDC Morning Roundup

Hillary Clinton Calls For Political Freedom In Russia
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at Moscow State University, calling for human rights and political freedom in Russia. "In an innovative society, people must be free to take unpopular positions, disagree with conventional wisdom, know they are safe to challenge abuses of authority," said Clinton. "That's why attacks on journalists and human rights defenders here in Russia is such a great concern: because it is a threat to progress."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 9:45 a.m. ET with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan. At 2:05 p.m. ET, he will join Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to tour the Fairfax County Parkway Extension construction site, and he will speak at 2:20 p.m. ET. AT 3:50 p.m. ET, he will sign an executive order restoring the White House Advisory Commission and Interagency Working Group, concerning the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. He will also observe the holiday of Diwali. At 7:10 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks at an event celebrating the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will meet this morning with General David Petraeus, and the two will then join the President's meeting with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Later in the afternoon, Biden will receive a briefing on the Recovery Act. He will spend the remainder of the afternoon in private meetings at the White House.

Obama To Sign Pakistan Aid Bill After Easing The Country's Concerns
President Obama will sign a $7.5 billion economic aid bill for Pakistan today, the Washington Post reports -- after Congress will issue a statement placating the Pakistanis' objections to some of the conditions. "Pakistan will not compromise on its sovereignty. I have put on the table our concerns,"said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

NYT: Biden No Longer Lone Voice On Afghanistan
The New York Times profiles how Vice President Joe Biden has become a leading skeptic on greater involvement in Afghanistan: "For Mr. Biden, a longtime senator who prided himself on his experience in foreign relations, the role represents an evolution in his own thinking, a shift from his days as a liberal hawk advocating for American involvement in Afghanistan. Month by month, year by year, the story of Mr. Biden's disenchantment with the Afghan government, and by extension with the engagement there, mirrors America's slow but steady turn against the war, with just 37 percent supporting more troops in last week's CBS News poll."

The Hill: Democrats Face Uphill Climb On Immigration
The Hill reports that a small group of House Democrats continue to push immigration reform as an issue -- but that it has been sidelined by other issues. "What we have found," said Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), "is that we're encountering calendar issues with some of these big, heavy, but very important policy issues that we're confronting... It's just a matter of finding the space on the calendar when you deal with the economy, jobs and healthcare."

Wexler Resigning From Congress To Head Think Tank
Rep. Robert Wexler is resigning from Congress to head a think tank, the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation. A strong progressive from a safe Democratic district, Wexler is perhaps best known for his book, Fire-Breathing Liberal, and for a highly amusing appearance years ago on the Colbert Report.