Flight 253

Flight 253 Fallout: Obama, Congress To Probe National Security Intelligence

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 5:22PM

President Obama meets with Denis McDonough from his national security team while on vacation in Hawaii. Official White House photo.

Expect Congressional hearings exploring what happened in the weeks before the attempted terror attack on Flight 253 in the new year.

President Obama returns to Washington next week and plans a private huddle with intelligence officials and his national security team to evaluate the findings of a probe into the communication breakdown that allowed a Nigerian man to board a plane with explosives in his underwear.

Already the administration has put in place new measures and homeland security officials are coordinating with international airports.

Congress will be back mid-January and if the political chatter this week is any indication, Flight 253 will dominate their return.

In the week since the incident, there have been statements from Obama and other top White House officials, a preliminary review and a host of political fundraising attempts and accusations coming from GOP members of Congress and former President Dick Cheney.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kit Bond announced Jan. 21 hearings of their Senate Select Committee on Intelligence but will start the investigation sooner by collecting "all intelligence related to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab held by various intelligence agencies in order to determine who had what, and how the information was handled."

The panel also will review national security policies on sharing information and terrorist watchlisting, they said. The House intelligence panel also is looking into the incident.

Read more »

Flight 253

Napolitano Sending DHS Officials Overseas To Coordinate With International Airports

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 4:07PM

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

Top Homeland Security officials next week will do international outreach at major international airports in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America as the U.S. government continues to probe how a Nigerian man with explosives in his underwear was able to board a trans-Atlantic flight.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced in a statement this afternoon that Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary for Policy David Heyman and other senior DHS officials to the airports. They will review security procedures and technology being used to screen passengers on flights bound for the United States, she said.

"As part of the ongoing review to determine exactly what went wrong leading up to Friday's attempted terrorist attack, we are looking not only at our own processes, but also beyond our borders to ensure effective aviation security measures are in place for U.S-bound flights that originate at international airports," Napolitano said.

She said the officials will find ways to "collectively bolster our tactics for defeating terrorists wherever they may seek to launch an attack" and said she will follow-up with them in meetings in January.

President Obama received a preliminary review today that sources say will reveal communication and process breakdown within the intelligence community before the incident.

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Featured In Dem House Candidate's Fundraising Letter -- In Another District

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2009, 3:45PM

Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) notoriety is clearly spreading outside her district -- not just as a star among conservatives, but as a menace to liberals. And now, a Democratic candidate in a different House district is invoking her name against the Republican incumbent there.

Maureen Hackett, a Democratic candidate against Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), has sent out a new fundraising letter addressed to her fellow Democrats, blasting Paulsen for frequently voting the same way as Bachmann.

"While Bachmann's extremism has won her great reviews from her right-wing base, it's not acceptable here in the 3rd District," Hackett writes. "We have a long record of electing reasonable people from both sides of the aisle. By standing with Bachmann on the economy, health care and women's rights, Paulsen has proven time-and-time again that he's hopelessly and completely out-of-step with the people he was elected to represent."

The retirement in 2002 of Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) deprived Democrats of a long-time bogeyman in fundraising letters. It now looks like the new pantheon of right-wing menaces in Dem fundraising will include the likes of former White House adviser Karl Rove, former Vice President Dick Cheney, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin...and a second-term Congresswoman named Michele Bachmann.

Flight 253

Reyes Asks For 'Blatant Politicization Of National Security' To Stop

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 3:44PM

Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX)

House Intelligence panel Chairman Rep. Silvestre Reyes bemoaned the politics that have taken over the investigation into Flight 253 and said Congress must take a "hard look" into what happened leading up to the failed Christmas Day terror attempt.

Reyes (D-TX) said he is closely following the developments and is being briefed by White House and committee staffers. President Obama received the preliminary review today in Hawaii.

"This incident is an incredibly serious and disturbing reminder that intelligence sharing and U.S. security systems are better than they once were, but they're not where they need to be," Reyes said in a statement. "As soon as Congress returns, the Committee will be taking a hard look at what could have been done better in this case and what changes to our intelligence processes may be necessary."

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FreedomWorks

FreedomWorks Looking To The 2010 Election Year

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2009, 3:40PM

Dick Armey, chairman of FreedomWorks

FreedomWorks, the top-tier Tea Party organizing group run by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX), is gearing up for a very busy 2010.

The group sent out an e-mail yesterday to its list, "The Freedom Movement: A Historic 2009 Gives Way To A Busy 2010," promising an increased range of activities in the big election year of 2010. There will be sustained activism against the Democrats' health care bill, an April 15 Tax Day Tea Party at the White House itself, and electoral activity by the FreedomWorks PAC.

FreedomWorks spokesman Adam Brandon told me that the PAC will enable the organization to get directly involved in elections, instead of the issue advocacy to which they've been limited. In addition, it will help activists in one state point their money and energies to targeted Democrats in other states, such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) or Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), and help out favored Senate candidates like former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-FL).

What's more, FreedomWorks will help to mobilize a national grassroots effort that has been just taking shape this year. Tea Party groups have sprung up in large numbers; some have merged, some have died away, and the movement has gone through a process of formation, which will need to have a more orderly makeup going into a national election.

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White House

Leaving So Soon? A Look At Ten Departures From President Obama's Team

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 3:13PM

Obama administration nominees or members who split, quit, withdrew, or were let go.

It's been an eventful year for President Obama's White House, which has seen several top hands come and go.

Some left before he was even inaugurated, others on friendly terms and just a handful under circumstances that were all around bad PR for Team Obama.

TPMDC took a look and realized more than ten people had departed Obama's circle of advisers in the year 2009 - from a press hand who always planned to leave to a forced resignation over the Air Force One Manhattan photo-op debacle.

A few, such as First Lady Michelle Obama's original chief of staff Jackie Norris, didn't make our Top 10 list. We also left off the Secret Service agents placed on leave thanks to the Salahi couple's party crashing.

It's a demanding White House and staff changes are nothing unusual for an administration, but it made sense to collect the moves for posterity.

After the jump, we delve into the Top 10 departures from the Obama White House.

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Flight 253

Obama Says He'll Meet With Aides On Flight 253 Review Tuesday

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 3:06PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama held secure conference calls with his top national security team today in Hawaii to receive the preliminary review of the events leading to the failed terror attempt on Flight 253.

Obama did not reveal the contents of the review, expected to show some communication failures in the intelligence collection process, but issued a short statement previewing his actions when he returns from his Hawaiian vacation next week.

This morning, I spoke with John Brennan about preliminary assessments from the ongoing consultations I have ordered into the human and systemic failures that occurred leading up to the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas Day and about our government-wide efforts at continued vigilance on homeland security and counterterrorism efforts. In a separate call, I spoke with Sec. Napolitano to receive an update on both the Department of Homeland Security review of detection capabilities and the enhanced security measures in place since the Christmas Day incident.

I anticipate receiving assessments from several agencies this evening and will review those tonight and over the course of the weekend. On Tuesday, in Washington, I will meet personally with relevant agency heads to discuss our ongoing reviews as well as security enhancements and intelligence-sharing improvements in our homeland security and counterterrorism operations.

Chris Van Hollen

Turning The Tables: Democrats To Run Against GOP Record On National Security

Brian Beutler | December 31, 2009, 2:49PM

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

In the wake of the botched attempt to blow up an airliner on Christmas day, Republicans are seeing dollar-signs. But the returns may be fleeting.

In an interview with Huffington Post, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, says that going into the 2010 mid-term elections, Republicans will have plenty of questionable national security votes to answer for.

For starters, House Republicans opposed a Homeland Security funding bill that included funding for airport security. But it goes beyond the House, too. "I think we are going to be very interested in the rationale for those votes," Van Hollen said. "I mean in the Senate you have the situation where Republicans were delaying a vote on the defense appropriations bill for the purpose of slowing down health care reform and I think the American people don't want our national security to be held hostage to Republican procedural gamesmanship on health care."

In other words, Democrats hope cheap shots like those taken by Republicans this week will backfire. We'll know soon enough.

Flight 253

Ka-Ching! GOP Goes For Big Flight 253 Payday

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2009, 1:15PM

In a move that would have been hard to imagine in previous years, the GOP has launched multiple fundraising efforts in the wake of the failed attack on Flight 253, seeking to turn the Christmas Day event into not just a political attack on the Obama administration, but also a boost for their year-end fundraising.

• The first fundraising play was done by Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), who is running for governor, and sent out this e-mail for his gubernatorial campaign: "My promise to you, as your governor, my first duty and most solemn responsibility is to keep Michigan safe! ... If you agree that we need a Governor who will stand up the Obama/Pelosi efforts to weaken our security please make a most generous contribution of $25, $50, $100 or even $250 to my campaign."

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Blue Dogs

Conservative House Dems Coming Around On Health Care Reform?

Brian Beutler | December 31, 2009, 12:15PM

A blue dog.

I just updated our running tally of Democrats who voted 'no' on the House health care bill. If a pattern's emerging, it's this: The most conservative, and vulnerable Democrats are still going to oppose reform after a final bill emerges from the House-Senate conference. So, it seems, will members like Eric Massa and Dennis Kucinich who opposed the House bill on the grounds that it wasn't far-reaching enough.

But for the first time, we're seeing signs that some of the members who opposed the bill the first time around are keeping their options open--even leaning towards supporting the final bill if it closely resembles the Senate package.

Freshman Blue Dog Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO) says some positive things about the Senate bill, and is keeping an open mind. Blue Dog Jason Altmire (D-PA) is on the record saying that the Senate bill is stronger than the House bill, and that "a lot" of Blue Dogs might flip their votes from 'no' to 'yes' if the Senate bill prevails in conference.

This is roughly as expected--but we'll let you know if the trend changes in the days and weeks ahead.

Health Care

Ohio Democrat Tells Local Supporters Why He Oppses Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | December 31, 2009, 11:31AM

Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH)

Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH) is one of those two-dozen or so House Democrats who voted for the restrictive Stupak abortion amendment, and then turned around and voted against the overall bill. So it's no surprise that he's leaving Democrats in his district the distinct impression that he'll remain a 'no' even if the final health care bill closely resembles the less-progressive Senate bill.

Boccieri met with 26 local Democrats recently to explain his vote. Here's a first hand account from readers DB and JK:

"In his remarks and answers to questions, Mr. Boccieri reminded everyone that before his election in 2006 the district had not been represented by a Democrat for more than half a century," the readers write. "He also mentioned several times that he had carried the district by eleven points while President Obama had lost it by four. So the politics of HCR was clearly on his mind as he defended his vote."

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Flight 253

Poll: Majority Favor Waterboarding Flight 253 Suspect

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2009, 10:47AM

Flight 253 suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

A new Rasmussen poll finds that voters want to go to great lengths against Flight 253 bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, with a majority saying he should be waterboarded to extract information.

The poll asked: "Should waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques be used to gain information from the suspected bomber?" The result was 58% yes, to only 30% who said no.

The internals shouldn't be too surprising: "Men and younger voters are more strongly supportive of the aggressive interrogation techniques than women and those who are older. Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party favor their use more than Democrats."

The poll also found that 71% want the event to be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act, to only 22% who want it to be investigated by civilian authorities as a criminal act. (Note, however, that this phrasing of the question is a bit different than if respondents had been asked about trying the suspect at a military commission or a criminal court.)

Flight 253

White House Grants Waiver For Brennan To Work On Flight 253 Review

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 10:34AM

Dep. National Security Advisor John Brennan

Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser John Brennan was granted an ethics waiver so he can be part of the review into the incidents leading up to the Flight 253 attempted terror attack.

The White House announced and posted the waiver in a blog post last night, just before Brennan delivers the preliminary review to the president.

Norm Eisen, special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform, wrote in the blog that Brennan deserves a waiver to get around the Obama administration's rules related to former employers because he "brings a unique mixture of know-how and understanding to this assignment."

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Democrats

NRSC: 'When A Foreigner Tries To Blow Up An Airliner,' It's Terrorism

Brian Beutler | December 31, 2009, 10:09AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tx)

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is making a direct appeal to donors on the grounds that President Obama doesn't understand the "scary" threats posed by foreigners who try to blow up airliners, and Democrats are infuriated.

An NRSC fundraising email sent yesterday doesn't pull any punches. "Even more scary was knowing this country was one faulty detonator away from an American airliner being blown out of the sky," the letter reads.

Remember right after the inauguration, it was revealed President Obama no longer wanted to acknowledge the 'global war on terror' and referred to terrorist acts as 'man-made disasters'? Back then you and I knew that showed a remarkable lack of understanding of the threat America faced but in the face of what nearly happened a couple days, it is even more infuriating.

To you and me and our friends throughout America, the healthcare bill is a man-made disaster. And when a foreigner tries to blow up an airliner, it is an attempted terrorist attack.

Now Dems are punching back.

"Republicans have gone beyond crass political opportunism - using a potential terrorist attack as an opportunity to play partisan games and raise campaign cash - it's unbelievable - and the American people are not going to tolerate it," says a new statement from DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan. "Let's be clear - we will not be lectured to by Republicans who are more interested in scoring cheap political points and cashing-in on an attempted terrorist attack than in protecting America. And certainly not when it was these same Republicans who implemented a radical foreign policy that alienated our allies, emboldened our enemies, depleted our resources, distracted our focus and who made the nation less secure."

You can read the entire email below the fold, along with the DNC response.

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Flight 253

Obama Getting Preliminary Flight 253 Report Today

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 10:06AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will learn preliminary results from the review he ordered of the leadup to the attempt terror attack on the Christmas Day Flight 253.

Sources tell TPMDC that Obama, on vacation in Hawaii, will receive a basic readout before the full review is completed. The probe will reportedly show that U.S. government intelligence agencies failed to share key information, a similar criticism in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

It is unlikely the information will be shared with the press and the public.

The Associated Press reported that White House homeland security and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan was planning to send Obama the first summary of the review. The final report also will include recommendations for how to prevent future missteps.

Administration officials believe the review will show a link between Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and al Qaeda.

Late Update: Brennan also was granted a waiver to participate in the review. More on that here.

Barack Obama

Polls Show No Political Backlash Against Obama After Flight 253 -- Even A Possible Improvement

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2009, 9:50AM

President Barack Obama

Have the Republican political attacks on President Obama over the Flight 253 attempted bombing been working? So far the answer is no, from the polls that have come out since then -- if anything, Obama's approval rating may have gone up slightly.

In the Gallup daily tracking poll released on December 24, before the attack, Obama's approval rating was 51%, with 42% disapproval. In the daily Rasmussen daily tracking poll, conducted during that same baseline period of December 21-23, Obama was at 44%-56% (Rasmussen consistently has Obama's approval lower, and disapproval higher, than other outlets).

In the polls released yesterday, which were both conducted entirely after the attempted bombing, Gallup has Obama at 53%-41%, and Rasmussen has him at 47%-52%. Today's Rasmussen poll is 46%-53%. Although the two polls are in different positions, the movement is roughly the same, with a very slight increase in Obama's approval compared to the week before.

While this movement is obviously too small to suggest there's been a definite improvement for Obama, and there certainly hasn't been any sort of rally-around-the-flag effect, we can definitely rule out any sort of political backlash that Republicans have been trying to create.

DSCC

Dems Raise Money Off GOP Threat To Repeal Health Care

Brian Beutler | December 31, 2009, 9:43AM

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and President Obama

In the past week, Democrats and Democratic strategists have tried to publicly box in Republicans on the question of whether they will do the bidding of their right wing base, and try to repeal health care reform if voters send them back to power. But in a sign that Democrats think they've hit a sweet spot, they've begun using the threat of "repealism" as a fundraising tool.

"[T]he GOP is so desperate to stop our progress, before that [health care] vote Republican Senator Tom Coburn literally called on supporters to pray for some Democratic Senator not to be able to make it to the Capitol for the vote," reads an email from Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), sent to a large list in the middle of last week. "And already, Newt Gingrich proclaimed, 'When we get a majority, we're repealing the whole thing.'"

"We can't let them do this," the letter goes on. "We need to not only keep the gains we've made, but expand them."

Kendrick Meek in Florida, Paul Hodes in New Hampshire, and Lee Fisher in Ohio all stood with us in 2004, and they are fighting for us now. They all supported a strong public option in the health care fight, and all stand up for real clean energy reform.

And they're all running in seats currently held by Republicans. Just imagine the change that will bring to the Senate, replacing three Republicans with three great progressives.

Apparently the drive is proving successful.

Read more »

Jim Clyburn

Clyburn Compares Health Care Battle To Struggle For Civil Rights Act

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 8:55AM

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn compared health care reform to the struggle to pass the Civil Rights Act, telling a Democratic colleague that people forget the compromises needed decades ago for the legislation to break a filibuster.

In comments at the start of a conference call, Sen. Claire McCaskill made a crack that the political climate has gotten tougher since Fox News became more powerful and said that's one reason why there is opposition to the health care plan.

"The 30-second soundbyte is what's got all this up in the air," agreed Clyburn (D-SC). "Every big social change you go through this. It will take six to eight years before this all settles down."

Their remarks were captured as a Wednesday afternoon conference call about the Democratic National Committee's proposed changes to the presidential 2012 nominating calendar began. The call was open to the press and the public.

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Visitors Logs

Help TPM Scour White House Visitors Logs

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 6:36PM

Today the Obama administration released a monster document with more than 25,000 names of people who visited the White House - the first time any executive branch has given a full accounting of who is there and when.

It's the very first batch since the White House fully implemented its new transparency push, and covers from Sept. 16 through Sept. 30. There also was a limited release of people who came to the White House earlier in the year as requested by news organizations and open government groups.

(More details on that here.)

Some names pop out right away, while others are more obscure or were reported earlier this year when we wrote up the limited releases.

TPM could use your help scanning the visitors logs.

You can view the spreadsheet here at WhiteHouse.gov on the bottom of the page, but it is in a fairly unwieldy format. It's probably easiest to download as a CSV file and then import into a spreadsheet program for easy sorting.

If names jump out at you, please let us know. Pop the person's full name, date they visited and who they met with into the comments section below. You can also email us here, but please put Visitors Logs in the subject line.

Bloomberg has a good write up here and the Examiner details the lobbyists who were there.

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Flight 253

WH Hits Back: Obama 'Doesn't Need To Beat His Chest To Prove' Nation Is At War

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 4:27PM

President Obama

In an unusually direct and aggressive blog post, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer today criticizes former Vice President Dick Cheney for his constant critique of the administration's national security policies.

Pfeiffer wrote, "it is telling that Vice President Cheney and others seem to be more focused on criticizing the Administration than condemning the attackers."

Pfeiffer said that in his statement to Politico today Cheney makes a "clearly untrue" claim that Obama doesn't realize we're at war.

"I don't think anyone realizes this very hard reality more than President Obama," Pfeiffer wrote, detailing the times Obama and his top advisers have used the term.

"The difference is this: President Obama doesn't need to beat his chest to prove it, and - unlike the last Administration - we are not at war with a tactic ("terrorism"), we [are] at war with something that is tangible: al Qaeda and its violent extremist allies. And we will prosecute that war as long as the American people are endangered," he wrote.

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Visitors Logs

White House Releases Name Of Every Visitor For First Time Ever

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 3:34PM

Fulfilling one of the transparency goals of President Obama's administration, the White House today released more than 25,000 records of visitors who came through the gates at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this year.

Check out the names here, and TPMDC will update readers as we go through the names.

The spreadsheet posted at WhiteHouse.gov offers the visitor's full name, date of visit, who they met with and in what room. These records cover from Sept. 16 to Sept. 30, and the monthly visitors logs will be a regular release going forward.

There also are records of visitors who met with Vice President Joe Biden and his staff, but the system that collects the names is not in place yet for the vice president's residence at the Naval Observatory.

Vice President Joe Biden office released for the first time the names of visitors who have come to his residence at the Naval Observatory for official events. The office also is working with Secret Service to get the automated system that collects names of visitors in place at the residence.

Those records are marked with VPR on the data sheet.

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John McCain

McCain Fundraising E-mail: I Provide 'Passionate' Opposition

Eric Kleefeld | December 30, 2009, 3:14PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has a new end-of-the-year fundraising e-mail, urging his supporters to help him fight the Democrats -- and depending on how you read it, also fight against a possible hard-right primary challenger.

McCain declares:

Whether it's fighting Medicare cuts, tax increases, earmarks or any other issue, my approach to policy is the same as it's always been: I call things like I see them. When I see decisions that I disagree with, I offer criticism. Yes, I can be passionate in my opposition, but I always try to ensure that it is loyal, civil, and constructive opposition.

(Emphasis in the original.)

Chuck Todd suspects that McCain's appeal for civility could be a subtle message against the Tea Party crowd, in light of the possible primary challenge by former Rep. J.D. Hayworth.

Check out the full e-mail after the jump, and decide for yourself.

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Hillary Clinton

Poll: Hillary Viewed More Favorably Than Obama, Gates Liked Evenly By GOPers And Dems

Eric Kleefeld | December 30, 2009, 2:41PM

Secretary of Defense Gates, President Obama, and Secretary of State Clinton.

A new CNN poll contains a fun result, finding that President Obama is not the most popular person in his administration -- and that he's edged out by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom he had narrowly defeated for the Democratic nomination in 2008.

Obama's personal favorability rating is 58%, with 40% unfavorable. Hillary Clinton is at 64% favorable, with only 30% unfavorable. Secretary of Defense Robert gates is close behind Obama at 52% favorable, 18% unfavorable.

Interestingly, Gates' favorability is spread very evenly across partisan and demographic groups: 54% favorable among both whites and blacks, 55% favorable among Republicans, and 54% among Democrats.

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Scott Brown

Republican Candidate For Ted Kennedy's Seat Invokes John F. Kennedy In New Ad

Eric Kleefeld | December 30, 2009, 1:15PM

President John F. Kennedy

Massachusetts state Sen. Scott Brown, the underdog Republican candidate in the special election for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, has a new ad that ties him to the Kennedy legacy. To be specific, Brown is linking himself to the John F. Kennedy legacy, using the common depiction by modern Republicans of President Kennedy as a supply-side conservative.

The ad opens with footage of Kennedy proposing a tax cut in 1963 1962, and then fades into Brown reciting the words of Kennedy's speech about how tax cuts will spur growth:

Besides the obvious joke that Scott Brown is no Jack Kennedy, it should be noted that any tax cut being proposed today is no Kennedy tax cut (or more properly a "Kennedy-Johnson" tax cut, since it was proposed by Kennedy but not enacted into law until LBJ came into office), and the circumstances are wildly different. At the time of the Kennedy-Johnson tax cuts, the top marginal income tax rate was over 90%, which was then lowered to 70 percent. By modern conservative standards, this would be considered a tyrannical socialist regime plotting to confiscate all private property.

Today, the current top federal income tax rate is 36%. If the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire for the upper brackets, the top rate will be 39%. Even if the Democrats were to propose increasing the top income taxes beyond that, it's hard to imagine them going anywhere near the tax rates of the Kennedy-Johnson era.

Ben Nelson

Sen. Ben Nelson Buys Airtime In Nebraska To Defend Health Care Vote

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 12:14PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).

Sen. Ben Nelson will defend his support for the health care bill to Nebraska voters in a new political television ad tonight - even though he won't face them again until November 2012.

Nelson says the health care plan will not create a government-run system and lowers the deficit, and boasted of his role in improving the bill, saying he did so because "I listened to you."

The Lincoln Journal-Star got a look at Nelson's 30-second ad, which will air tonight during the Holiday Bowl game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Arizona Wildcats.

The newspaper reported that he speaks straight to the camera and says he wanted voters to hear from him instead of listen to "distortions" about the debate.

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Richard Burr

Rove To Raise Money For GOP Sen. Richard Burr

Eric Kleefeld | December 30, 2009, 11:14AM

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Karl Rove.

Karl Rove will be hitting the political trail again, with an upcoming fundraiser for Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).

Rove will headline the fundraiser in Raleigh on January 28. Back when Rove was a top adviser to then-President George W. Bush, he helped recruit Burr to run for the Senate seat that John Edwards vacated in 2004 when he ran for the presidency. Look for the North Carolina Democrats to use this Rove appearance to tie Burr to the unpopular Bush administration.

Burr is expected to be a top Democratic target in 2010. Burr's state has become a swing state after years as a Southern Republican area. It was narrowly carried by Barack Obama in 2008, and in another key election that year, Democrat Kay Hagan unseated incumbent Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole with a nine-point victory. Burr's approval ratings have been low in recent polls, but so have his disapproval ratings. It's not that he's unpopular, but many voters don't have an opinion at all about him, which will make his fate largely dependent on the overall political climate.

Health Care

Breather Over, Merger Talks Begin And White House In Health Care PR Mode

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 11:12AM

Pres. Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

The halls of Capitol Hill may be quiet for the holiday break, but the health care merger calls started this week.

Senate sources tell TPMDC that nothing formal has happened but after a short respite for team health care, the White House and Congressional leadership tasked with negotiating a final plan have gotten back to work.

Staff and members have started discussions but meetings won't start until next week, an aide says. The real talks between lawmakers are likely to start the second week of January.

Meanwhile, the White House is using the slow time to sell the health care plan in a less traditional way.

Jen Cannistra of the administration's health care team blogged on the White House Web site a long timeline with photos of the "road" to health care reform.

From community talks on health care one year ago to House and Senate passage of a bill, Cannistra's narrative was used as a tool to explain in detail the basics of what will be in the bill President Obama signs next year. (The sticking points aren't mentioned.)

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Steve King

Steve King: Obama Refuses To Share Info On Flight 253

Eric Kleefeld | December 30, 2009, 10:28AM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is accusing the Obama administration of refusing to share information with him and other Republican members of Congress on the attempted Flight 253 bombing. In response, King is calling for the relevant administration officials to brief all of Congress, for several hours behind closed doors.

"You can't ask Congress to support your effort if you can't at least have a sit-down conversation in a classified setting," King told Iowa Public Television. "So what I'm going to push for is a session of Congress that is a classified briefing on the floor of Congress that brings in all the administration personnel that have jurisdiction over this and then close and lock the doors, shut down the security and then keep them there for three or four hours so they have to answer the questions rather than filibuster the questions."

Typically, security information is shared with particular members of Congress on specific committees, rather than all of Congress, in order to avoid creating too many opportunities for information to leak out. The idea of briefing all of Congress would certainly be interesting.

Dick Cheney

Cheney On Flight 253: Obama 'Trying To Pretend We Are Not At War'

Eric Kleefeld | December 30, 2009, 9:00AM

Former Vice President Dick Cheney

Former Vice President Dick Cheney is adding his voice to the ranks of Republicans who are criticizing President Obama's response to the attempted bombing of Flight 253, declaring that Obama "is trying to pretend we are not at war," and that this is because being at war "doesn't fit with what seems to be the goal of his presidency - social transformation -- the restructuring of American society."

Here is the full statement Cheney gave to Politico:

"As I've watched the events of the last few days it is clear once again that President Obama is trying to pretend we are not at war. He seems to think if he has a low key response to an attempt to blow up an airliner and kill hundreds of people, we won't be at war. He seems to think if he gives terrorists the rights of Americans, lets them lawyer up and reads them their Miranda rights, we won't be at war. He seems to think if we bring the mastermind of 9/11 to New York, give him a lawyer and trial in civilian court, we won't be at war.

"He seems to think if he closes Guantanamo and releases the hard-core al Qaeda trained terrorists still there, we won't be at war. He seems to think if he gets rid of the words, 'war on terror,' we won't be at war. But we are at war and when President Obama pretends we aren't, it makes us less safe. Why doesn't he want to admit we're at war? It doesn't fit with the view of the world he brought with him to the Oval Office. It doesn't fit with what seems to be the goal of his presidency - social transformation -- the restructuring of American society. President Obama's first object and his highest responsibility must be to defend us against an enemy that knows we are at war."

Chamber of Commerce

Campaign Against Frivolous Lawsuits Coming To A Theater Near You

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 8:46AM

If you saw Avatar, Sherlock Holmes or Up in the Air this weekend, you also may have heard a little bit about Richard Singer, a small business owner in Bay City, Michigan who says he fell victim to a bogus lawsuit.

It seems like a friendly, well-produced public service announcement detailing the "Faces of Lawsuit Abuse" with a focus on small business. But it's a bit strange to see a commercial with a political message in between traditional pre-movie programming of Coca-Cola ads and spots pushing new television shows.

"America needs more jobs, not more lawsuits," is the tag line after Singer tells his story.

The four-minute video is airing in the pre-trailer commercial reel in movie theaters in Washington, D.C., Albany, Denver, Orlando and Tampa Bay, Florida and in Baton Rouge. It's part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform, which spent $4.2 million from June through September.

The Chamber is a major player, spending nearly $39 million lobbying Congress and government agencies in the third quarter of this year alone. Representing corporations both large and small, the Chamber has a goal of making it harder for people to sue their clients.

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Steve King

Rep. Steve King Thinks Palin Has A Shot At 2012 Iowa Caucuses

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 6:19PM

Sarah Palin and Rep. Steve King (R-IA).

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is predicting that Sarah Palin will run for president in 2012. And he thinks she can win the Iowa Republican caucuses.

"I think we'll see her in Iowa," said King, in an appearance on Iowa Public Television. "There are a good number of people who could win the Iowa caucuses and I would put her in the top five or so who would be in a good position to do so."

King also revisited comments he made this past July, when he was puzzled by Palin's resignation as Governor of Alaska. "I thought she had made a career decision that would be hard to bounce back from," King now says. "It looks like she's bounced back from it and gone from there."

King made it clear that he is not endorsing anybody yet -- but he also hinted that he could end up endorsing early in the race. King cited his experience when he endorsed Fred Thompson in the final weeks of the 2008 Iowa caucuses, only to see Thompson lose badly. "I learned from it," said King. "I think that I should have made an endorsement earlier in the presidential race."

Janet Napolitano

NRCC Uses Napolitano Blunder On Flight 253 To Hammer House Dems

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 5:55PM

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

The Republican Party is using Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to attack House Democrats in the wake of her much-derided comment that "the system worked" in response to the near-bombing of Flight 253.

(Napolitano was speaking of the response to the attack after the fact, but her detractors are understandably more focused on the intelligence failures before the event.)

The NRCC has put out a new press release against swing-seat Democrats on the Homeland Security and Government Oversight committees, calling on them to demand that Napolitano testify to Congress: "Will (member name) finally demand answers from Secretary Napolitano, or will (he/she) continue to silently endorse her alarming statement that 'the system worked' in the face of building evidence that the administration is unable to confront serious threats against the American people?"

Interestingly, one of the Dems on the receiving end of this press release is Rep. Chris Carney (PA) -- who was being courted by the GOP last week to switch parties, and even got a phone call from Sen. John McCain. Carney then put out a statement turning down the offer, but also thanking the GOP and declaring "their outreach a sure sign that I have worked in a truly bipartisan manner." Now they're attacking him in a press release. It looks like that courtship was over as quickly as it began.

The full press release is available after the jump.

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Guantanamo Bay

Senators Lieberman, McCain And Graham Ask Obama To Halt Transfer Of Yemeni Gitmo Detainees

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 5:01PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Sen. Joe Lieberman, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote a letter to President Obama today asking he halt any transfer of the six Yemeni detainees being held in Guantanamo Bay.

The trio of senators, who often see eye-to-eye on national security issues, said the transfer of the detainees would be "highly unwise and ill-considered."

Lieberman (I-CT) McCain (R-AZ) and Graham (R-SC) asked that until the United States is sure the detainees "will not return to the battlefield," all transfers to Yemen should cease.

A senior administration official tells TPMDC that Obama's Guantanamo review specifically identifies each detainee.

The task force evaluates detainees and the threat they pose, to determine whether they should be prosecuted, detained, or transferred, the official said.

The administration has worked with the government of Yemen to make sure all appropriate security measures are taken when the detainees are transferred, and Obama "will not release any detainee who would endanger the American people," the official said.

The official said Gitmo has been used by Al Qaeda as a rallying cry and recruiting tool, and the administration maintains that closing it is a national security imperative.

Excerpts from the Lieberman/McCain/Graham letter after the jump, and read it in full here.

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Pete Hoekstra

DNC Says Hoekstra Fundraising Email 'Tells You All You Need To Know' About GOP

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 2:59PM

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)

Democrats say Rep. Pete Hoekstra went too far using the failed terror attempt on flight 253 to raise money for his campaign for governor.

As we reported earlier, Hoekstra (R-MI) fundraised off the Christmas Day incident and joined other Republicans who are calling the Obama White House weak.

DNC Spokesman Hari Sevugan sharply criticized Hoekstra:

"It was shameful that Republicans like Mr. Hoekstra would attempt to play politics with our national security at all, but raising money off it is beyond the pale," Sevugan said.

"Republicans are playing politics with issues of national security and terrorism, and that they would use this incident as an opportunity to fan partisan flames and raise money for political campaigns tells you all you need to know about how far the Republican party has fallen and how out of step with the American people they have become," he added.

"The American people simply will not tolerate the likes of Mr. Hoekstra and the Republican Party playing politics with the serious issues of national security and terrorism - especially after the mess they left this country in both domestically and on national security after eight years of failed leadership."

George Radanovich

GOP Congressman Radanovich To Retire

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 1:17PM

Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA).

Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA) is expected to announce today that he won't run for another term, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Radanovich was first elected in 1994. His district is clearly Republican-leaning. It voted 52%-46% for John McCain in 2008, and before that voted for George W. Bush in 2004 by even wider margin of 61%-38%.

A Republican source was optimistic about holding on to the seat, describing it to us as a very good Republican district.

Late Update: Radanovich has made the announcement official, citing his wife's battle with cancer as an important factor in the decision: "As many already know, Ethie has been valiantly fighting ovarian cancer for nearly three years. My family needs me, and I intend to be by their side to win this battle."

Radanovich also said that he recruited GOP state Sen. Jeff Denham, whose state legislative district partially overlaps with Radanovich's House district, to be the Republican candidate for the seat.

Jim DeMint

S.C. Dems Blast Sen. Jim DeMint As Endangering Lives With Hold On TSA Nominee

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 1:16PM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

South Carolina Democrats have wasted no time attacking Sen. Jim DeMint for blocking the confirmation of Erroll Southers to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, suggesting his moves have threatened the lives of "millions of American travelers."

DeMint (R-SC) had placed a hold on the vote to confirm Southers because he wanted to debate the nomination instead of approve it under unanimous consent.

Democratic leadership will vote on the nomination when they return from recess next month.

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TSA

Dems Vow Roll Call Vote On TSA Nominee Delayed By Sen. Jim DeMint

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 12:36PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will schedule a formal Senate roll call vote on the nomination of Erroll Southers to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration as soon as Congress returns from break.

Reid spokesman Jim Manley told TPMDC that Reid will file a cloture motion as soon as the Senate reconvenes the week of Jan. 19. He said it's a necessary step to overcome Sen. Jim DeMint's hold on the nomination.

"In light of recent incidents TSA deserves to have its leadership in place," Manley said. "It is long past time for Senator DeMint to stop trying to score cheap political points."

Confirmations rarely are subject to roll call votes - several passed the Senate by unanimous consent the day they adjourned.

Democrats are furious that DeMint (R-SC) blocked the confirmation over a question of whether Southers would allow collective bargaining for TSA screeners. They believe that if Democrats had delayed a national security nominee under a Republican president, their party would be excoriated.

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Ben Nelson

Poll: Ben Nelson Very Vulnerable In 2012 Thanks To Health Care Vote

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 11:45AM

Gov. Dave Heineman (R-NE) and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)

A new Rasmussen poll of Nebraska finds that Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson's vote on the health care bill has put him in a tough spot in his deep-red state. In a test poll for his re-election campaign -- which won't happen until 2012 -- Nelson trails Republican Gov. Dave Heineman by a two-to-one margin.

The numbers: Heineman 61%, Nelson 30%, and 4% "other." From the pollster's analysis: "Nelson's health care vote is clearly dragging his numbers down. Just 17% of Nebraska voters approve of the deal their senator made on Medicaid in exchange for his vote in support of the plan. Overall, 64% oppose the health care legislation, including 53% who are strongly opposed. In Nebraska, opposition is even stronger than it is nationally."

If Nelson were to now block the health care deal, though, he would still trail: Heineman 47%, Nelson 37%, plus 10% "other." In this case, Heineman would lose about a quarter of his voters to the Nelson or undecided column. But on the other hand, Nelson would also lose votes from the left, with some Democratic voters now wanting a third-party option.

The silver lining for Nelson, in the middle of all this controversy, is that he won't be on the ballot again until 2012. At that point, the politics of the health care debate will have changed in some fashion, and things could potentially improve for him -- they certainly can't get much worse.

Health Care

Progressives Press Feingold To 'Fulfill' Obama's Health Care Promises

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 11:28AM

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is running a new health care ad in Wisconsin pressuring Sen. Russ Feingold to fight President Obama on the public option.

PCCC members identified Feingold (D-WI) as a senator they would target to oppose the final health care compromise unless it includes a public option.

The new ad, which you can watch after the jump, says Feingold has the power to "fulfill" Obama's public option promise. The release was timed to coincide with an email to members saying the progressive senator could be a "hero" on improving the health care bill.

The ad, running in Madison, Green Bay, and Milwaukee, says "any final health care bill without a public option is not change we can believe in."

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Cementing Status As National Conservative Icon

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 10:52AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) celebrity status as a national conservative icon is just getting bigger, with the Congresswoman set to travel to Ohio in February, where she will speak to the Hamilton County (Cincinnati) Republican Party.

Hamilton County GOP chairman Alex Triantafilou told the Star Tribune that he personally invited Bachmann because of her new rising stature, and because the county has an active Tea Party movement.

"For me, it's about looking to the future," said Triantafilou. "And we could look back and have some ... of the grand poobahs of the party showing up or we can have somebody that is emerging onto the national scene. And that's why we thought she would be exciting."

Bachmann may only be a second-term Congresswoman in the minority party, but make no mistake -- she's a huge hit among the grassroots right nationwide.

This is not Bachmann's first venture outside of Minnesota or the D.C. area. As the Minnesota Independent points out, it was at an event in Colorado this past August that Bachmann called upon conservative activists to "slit our wrists" and become blood brothers, in a pact to stop the Democrats' health care proposals.

Parker Griffith

Dem Prospect Ron Sparks Not Running Against Parker Griffith

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 10:16AM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

The Democrats just missed out on recruiting a top-tier candidate to run against party-switching Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), with Alabama's Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks set to announce today that he won't be running.

Sparks is currently running for governor, but had been urged by national Dems to switch to the House race after Griffith switched from being a Democrat to the Republicans.

As of right now, Griffith's greatest danger is in the Republican primary, where he'll face plenty of criticism for his past Democratic allegiances, donations to Democrats like Howard Dean and Harry Reid, and the accusations of his detractors that his switch was motivated by political necessity instead of principle.

Health Care

Blue Dog Bright Tells Constituents He's Still A 'No' On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 10:15AM

Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL).

Blue Dog Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL) is unlikely to vote for the final health care bill despite House leadership's confidence they will earn support from fiscal conservatives.

Bright, in one of the state's reddest districts, said in a Kiwanis speech reported by the local paper he thinks both the House and Senate bills don't do enough to curb rising costs.

"After it comes back from conference committee, unless it significantly reduces the expense that I know it's going to add to our budget, I will not be able to support it," Bright said.

He restated his opposition to a public option and told Kiwanis attendees he was "proud" the Senate's version did not include one but said the Senate bill is still "entirely too expensive."

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Pete Hoekstra

Hoekstra Uses Airline Attack To Raise Money For Gubernatorial Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 9:44AM

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) is now jumping upon the the Northwest Airlines attack -- and using it to raise money for his gubernatorial campaign, the Grand Rapids Press reports.

In the letter, Hoekstra denounces the Obama administration on a whole range of national security issues -- ranging from Flight 253 itself to Guantanamo Bay, investigation of the interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration, and what Hoekstra calls Obama policies that "impress the 'Blame America First' crowd at home and his thousands of fans overseas."

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Terrorism

Congress Starts TSA Administrator Blame Game

Christina Bellantoni | December 29, 2009, 9:30AM

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)

Democrats are pointing fingers at Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) for blocking the confirmation of Erroll Southers as the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, and the conservative senator is pointing right back.

DeMint's office said it's not an issue of blocking Southers but instead that the senator is seeking debate on the nomination.

DeMint isn't planning on revoking the hold.

A Senate aide told TPMDC that DeMint's objection was to the procedure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid attempted to use to approve the nomination - unanimous consent.

DeMint thought there should be a debate and a roll call vote, the aide said.

"Leader Reid can schedule consideration of this nomination any time he wants," the aide said. "But he felt health care was more important. Our view is if the Democrats are upset they've only got themselves to blame because Obama took forever to nominate him."

Southers was nominated in early September and his confirmation hearings were wrapped up earlier this month.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said in a statement TSA needs a permanent administrator.

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Larry Sabato

GOP Faces Electoral Risks In Running On Health Care Repeal

Eric Kleefeld | December 28, 2009, 6:31PM

Larry Sabato, Director of the Center for Politics

With the GOP getting closer and closer to a 2010 campaign pledging to repeal the health care bill, what are some of the political pitfalls -- or potential benefits? We asked University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato, and he told us that the GOP could face risks because of the popular individual components of the bill.

"There are very popular parts of the health care bill, i.e., the insurance reforms. If the GOP doesn't exempt those from repeal, they'll be making a major error. Overwhelming majorities of voters want to stop insurance companies from cutting off insurance just when it is needed the most," Sabato said.

On the other hand: "There are also unpopular parts of the bill, potentially including new fees and taxes (depending on what is actually adopted). Politically, it could be popular for the Republicans to focus on repealing them or cutting them back. Of course, without the money, there can't be a restructuring of health care."

Sabato also made clear that the real problem is one of political credibility. If Obama is still president, then his veto pen should probably be enough to stop any repeal efforts even if the GOP took both houses of Congress.

Parker Griffith

Alabama GOP Chair Forgives Ex-Dem Griffith's 'Sins' -- But Others Aren't So Magnanimous

Eric Kleefeld | December 28, 2009, 5:58PM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL)

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL) has been getting a mixed reception from his state's GOP officials, since he switched from the Democratic Party last week. Some of his new Alabama co-partisans are glad to have him in the party, while some are against it -- and others even want to go so far as to ban him from the Republican primary.

State GOP chairman Mike Hubbard is welcoming Griffith despite the party's past attacks on him, and Griffith's own jousting with the state GOP when he was a state legislator. "It's almost like coming to your church and asking forgiveness for past sins," Hubbard told the Montgomery Advertiser. "You don't turn them away. We'll forgive him for his sins."

On the other hand, state Treasurer Kay Ivey, a candidate for governor, hasn't been so hospitable: "Political self-preservation isn't a virtue. In fact, political expediency is an insult to every grassroots activist who commits untold hours in devotion to getting candidates elected."

In addition there is Hugh McInnish, a Fifth Congressional District Republican committee member, who is proposing a drastic push-back against Griffith: Banning him from receiving the GOP nomination altogether. However, McInnish admitted to me that this idea was not likely to succeed at this juncture.

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Arlen Specter

Specter: Republicans Plotted Early To Stop Bipartisanship, Beat Obama In 2012

Eric Kleefeld | December 28, 2009, 12:23PM

During his appearance yesterday on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) appeared to give out some inside dirt from his days as a Republican -- alleging that the GOP plotted early to stop any bipartisan cooperation with President Obama, and to instead look towards the 2012 election.

"I'd like to pick up on what Sen. DeMint says about the process. I think the process was very bad. But the process was really caused, in large measure, by the refusal of the Republicans to deal in any way," said Specter.

"Sen. DeMint is the author of the famous statement that this is going to be President Obama's 'Waterloo,' that this ought to be used to break the president," said Specter, referring to the political battle over health care. "So that before the ink was dry on the oath of office -- and I know this, because I was in the caucus -- the Republicans were already plotting ways to beat President Obama in 2012."

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Dawn Johnsen

Will President Obama Renominate Dawn Johnsen To Top DOJ Post?

Brian Beutler | December 28, 2009, 11:40AM

Nominee for Office of Legal Counsel Dawn Johnsen

Remember Dawn Johnsen?

It seems like eons have passed since newly-inaugurated President Obama nominated the Indiana University law professor to serve as head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, but in reality it's been about 10 months. After months of sitting in limbo, Johnsen has not received a confirmation vote in the Senate. And now, if Obama still wants her to serve in has administration, he will have to renominate her and start the confirmation process largely from scratch.

Senate rules require that nominees who have not received a vote by the end of the legislative session must either be carried over to the following session by unanimous consent, or be resubmitted by the administration. At the end of last week--presumably unable to achieve universal agreement--the Senate returned a handful of nominees to the White House, including Johnsen.

That prompted a number of posts by progressive bloggers--who admire Johnsen and blame the blame the administration for failing to push for her confirmation--declaring her nomination officially dead.

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Jim Webb

Poll: Webb-Allen Rematch In 2012 Would Be Close

Eric Kleefeld | December 28, 2009, 11:39AM

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) and former Sen. George Allen (R-VA)

It looks like Sen. George Allen (R-VA) could still be a viable political name in Virginia, according to newly-released (albeit months old) polling data from Public Policy Polling (D). In a potential 2012 rematch with Democratic Sen. Jim Webb, it's a dead heat.

PPP posts this on their blog:

Last week George Allen opened the door to a possible rematch against Jim Webb in 2012. Two polls we've conducted in the last year indicate such a contest would be about as much of a toss up as you can have.

When we looked at it in July of 2008, Webb led Allen 45-43. This August, in numbers we're now releasing publicly for the first time, Allen led Webb 44-43.

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Democrats

Moderate Dems: Climate Change Bill in 2010? Fuggedaboutit

Brian Beutler | December 28, 2009, 9:22AM

It's no secret that conservative Democrats from coal, oil, and manufacturing states have long been wary about capping greenhouse gas emissions, but in the wake of the health care slog, they're letting their leadership and the White House know they want cap-and-trade off the table in 2010. Stand-alone energy legislation might stand a chance, but nothing nearly as ambitious as a bill the House passed in July to create an economy wide market for global warming emissions.

And there's at least some signs leadership is listening.

"At this point I'd like to see a complete bill but we have to be realistic," Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said last week.

If the Senate fails to act on climate change this Congress, all of the House's hard work will be swept into the dustbin, and Democrats will have to start largely from scratch in 2011.

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Terrorism

In Wake Of Review, More Details On Watch Lists Alphabet Soup

Christina Bellantoni | December 27, 2009, 1:27PM

A frequent question being asked following the failed Flight 253 terrorist attack on Christmas Day is why wasn't suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's name on the watch lists that could have prevented the transport of explosive material in a second screening.

President Obama has ordered a review into the travel security and watch-listing procedures, and an administration official detailed for TPMDC the multiple agencies what the review will examine.

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Terrorism

Obama Orders Travel Security Review

Christina Bellantoni | December 27, 2009, 12:28PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama has ordered a review into travel security measures following the failed terrorist attack on Flight 253.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on ABC's "This Week," that Obama has asked for two reviews - into the watch-listing procedures and detection capabilities.

"What the president has asked for as a result of this incident are two look-back reviews," Gibbs said. "First, on our watch-listing procedures, did the government do everything that it could have with the information that they had? Understanding these procedures are several years old. Did we do what we needed to with that information, and how can we revise watch listing procedures going forward to ensure that there is no clog in the bureaucratic plumbing of information that might be gathered somewhere going to the very highest levels of security in our government."

Gibbs said Obama has asked the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration to "answer the very real question about how somebody with something as dangerous as PETN could have gotten onto a plane in Amsterdam."

The aim is to determine steps that can be taken to enhance the ability of airport screeners to detect such materials going forward, administration officials said.

Officials said Obama wants an accounting of all decisions related to the inclusion or not of suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's name in government databases related to known or suspected terrorists.

Administration officials said the reviews should be taken in wake of any similar incidents and don't imply anyone made any mistakes. The White House wants the reviews to be seen as an ongoing effort to improve security.

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