RNC Race Up For Grabs
The Washington Post reports: “Uncertainty reigns in the race for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee despite the election being less than a month away. Conversations with a number of strategists close to the RNC - and its 168 voting members - suggest that none of the six candidates in the running are anywhere close to securing the 85 votes needed to claim the chairmanship.”
Obama Pays Christmas Visit To Hawaii Marine Base
Reuters reports: “President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle took time from their Hawaii vacation to drop by a Marine Corps base on Saturday, where they greeted service men and women during Christmas dinner. Obama, who has otherwise kept a low profile during the 11-day family holiday and stayed almost completely out of public view, visited the same base last year and the year before on Christmas Day.”
Bill Clinton To Campaign For Rahm
The Associated Press reports: “Former President Bill Clinton will campaign in support of former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel’s bid for Chicago mayor. Emanuel campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said Sunday that Clinton will be in Chicago in January to appear on Emanuel’s behalf. A date and place have not been determined.”
A Firmly Drawn Presidential Line Between Work And Play
The New York Times reports on President Obama’s relative seclusion from politics during his Hawaiian vacation: “Mr. Obama’s disappearance behind the palm trees reveals much about his presidential style, and also his thinking about how to balance work and play. He tends to separate the two, as much as any president can. Other presidents, especially those who owned secluded homes or vacation retreats, often mixed them, using their homes outside Washington as tools of the presidency — another means of advancing their goals and agendas.”
Liberals Fear Failure On Spending Bill May Come Back To Haunt Obama
The Hill reports: “Left-leaning think tanks already disappointed with President Obama’s tax-cut compromise fear its political and economic benefits will be wiped out by budget cuts in the next Congress. They argue Obama and congressional Democrats will come to regret not moving a yearlong continuing resolution or omnibus bill that would have locked in spending and administration policy for all of fiscal 2011.”
In Congress, A Harder Line On Illegal Immigrants
The Associated Press reports: “The end of the year means a turnover of House control from Democratic to Republican and, with it, Congress’ approach to immigration. In a matter of weeks, Congress will go from trying to help young, illegal immigrants become legal to debating whether children born to parents who are in the country illegally should continue to enjoy automatic U.S. citizenship.”
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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