TPMDC Arne Duncan
2012 Presidential Primaries
Obama's Education Secretary Slams Perry's Texas: 'I Feel Very, Very Badly For The Children There'
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is taking a rhetorical shot at one of President Obama's possible election opponents, slamming the education system in Gov. Rick Perry's home state of Texas.
"Far too few of their high school graduates are actually prepared to go on to college," Duncan said on Bloomberg Television. "I feel very, very badly for the children there."
"You have seen massive increases in class size," Duncan also added. "You've seen cutbacks in funding. It doesn't serve the children well. It doesn't serve the state well. It doesn't serve the state's economy well. And ultimately it hurts the country."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012, 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Arne Duncan, Pres '12, Rick Perry, Texas
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Target In Libya Is Clear; Intent Is Not
The New York Times reports: "President Obama's decision to authorize military strikes against Libya exposed him to another set of political crosscurrents from right and left and further complicated his plan to keep his agenda focused on the domestic economy. As the air assault continued for a second day in Libya, Mr. Obama sought to project an air of normalcy and play down the role of the United States. He continued his visit to South America without altering his schedule, and barely mentioned, in a televised speech from Brazil, that allied forces were engaged in another military intervention in a Muslim world."
Obama's Day Ahead
The First Family departed from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at 8:15 a.m. ET, will arrive at 12:20 p.m. ET in Santiago, Chile, and the President and First Lady will participate in an arrival ceremony at 12:50 p.m. ET. President Obama and Chilean President Sebastian Piñera will take an official photo at 1 p.m. ET, hold a bilateral meeting at 1:05 P.M. ET, and hold an expanded bilateral meeting at 1:25 p.m. ET. Obama and Piñera will hold a joint press conference at 2:05 p.m. ET. Obama will deliver a speech at 3:20 p.m. ET, at Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda. The President and First Lady will attend a U.S. Embassy meet and greet at 4:30 p.m. ET, at the Sheraton Cristobal Hotel in Santiago. The President and First Lady will arrive at La Moneda Palace at 7:15 p.m. ET, and attend an official dinner hosted by PResident Piñera at 7:25 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, Education, Health Care, Israel, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, Pres '12, Roundup, Sarah Palin
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
With GOP Rifts On Cuts, McConnell Faces Test To Unite Colleagues
The Hill reports: "Rifts have already begun to emerge in the Senate Republican Conference over a House GOP proposal to cut $61 billion from the federal budget. Conservative and even some mainstream members are calling for Senate Republicans to go even further than the House in trimming government expenditures for the rest of this year. But centrists facing reelection in 2012 say it would be unwise to cut crucial funds for people who depend on federal assistance to heat their homes or feed their children.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Obama will meet with senior advisers at 10 a.m. ET, and meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 1:45 p.m. ET. Obama and Biden will meet at 2:20 p.m. ET with the Senate Democratic leadership. At 4:45 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks on the America's Great Outdoors initiative.
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, DCCC, Hillary Clinton, House '12, Joe Biden, Pres '12, Roundup, Steve Israel
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Beck On His Obama-Is-A-Racist Comment 'I Have A Big Fat Mouth Sometimes'
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Glenn Beck sought to correct his statement from a year ago, in which he said that President Obama had a "deep-seated hatred for white people." "I have a big fat mouth sometimes and I say things, and that's not the way people should behave," said Beck. He further explained: "I think that it is much more of a theological question that he is a guy who understands the world through liberation theology, which is oppressor and victim."
Joe Miller: Transfer Control Of Land Back To The States
Appearing on Face The Nation, Senate candidate Joe Miller (R-AK) said that the federal government should transfer control of lands to his state, in exchange for cutting federal subsidies. "The answer to this is to basically transfer the responsibilities and power of government back to the states and the people. That is really the only answer, I think, out of this crisis," said Miller, who may have defeated incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the GOP primary, depending on the final absentee ballot results. "As we continue to tighten our belts because fiscally that's critical for the economic solvency of this nation, we also transfer it to the states more power. That means more ownership of lands. It's not a situation where you just yank the financial plug, but at the same time you're transferring over discretion over the use of the resource base."
Topics: 2010 elections, AK-SEN, Arne Duncan, Charlie Crist, Education, FL-SEN, Glenn Beck, Housing/Foreclosures, Hurricane Katrina, Joe Miller, Mary Landrieu, Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans, Roundup, Shaun Donovan, Sunday Shows
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Republican candidate for US Senate in Alaska Joe Miller
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee.
• CBS, Face The Nation: Senate candidate Joe Miller (R-AK), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
• CNN, State Of The Union: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL).
• Fox News Sunday: Glenn Beck.
• NBC, Meet The Press: Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D), Brad Pitt.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, AK-SEN, Arne Duncan, Charlie Crist, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, FL-SEN, Glenn Beck, Haley Barbour, Hurricane Katrina, Joe Miller, Kendrick Meek, Mary Landrieu, Mitch Landrieu, Senate '10, Shaun Donovan, Sunday Shows
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Petraeus: We Must Demonstrate That 'We Are In This To Win'
Gen. David Petraeus formally took command of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan on Sunday. "We are engaged in a contest of wills," said Petraeus, who also added: "In answer, we must demonstrate to the people and to the Taliban that Afghan and international forces are here to safeguard the Afghan people, and that we are in this to win."
Biden To Iraqi Leaders: 'My Plea To You Is Finish What You Started'
Speaking in Baghdad, Vice President Joe Biden urged Iraqi leaders to end their political deadlock. "You should not, and I'm sure you will not, let any state -- from the United States to any state in the region -- dictate what will become of you," said Biden. "So my plea to you is finish what you started through legitimate representative government that meets the needs and aspirations of all Iraqi people."
Topics: 2010 elections, Afghanistan, Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, David Petraeus, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Joe Biden, Roundup, Social Security, Trade
Education
Administration Announcing New Program To Reduce Drop-Out Rate
President Obama today will detail the money in his budget proposal for a national effort to turnaround the nation's worst schools and a new plan aimed at reducing the drop-out rates among high schoolers.
The plan is built upon the idea that engaging students from as early as sixth grade can make sure they stay on track, and identifying troubled teens early and devoting alternative resources to those students will help keep them there. It looks to better prepare students for both college and going directly to a career.
Obama will outline the plan at an America's Promise Alliance Education event today at the Chamber of Commerce with Colin Powell and Alma Powell. The White House said Obama will talk about the need to reform the worst schools, and in some cases shut them down or take them over.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, Education
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Today: The Massachusetts Special Senate Election
Today is the special election for Senate in Massachusetts. Republican Scott Brown is widely viewed as the frontrunner to pick up the Senate seat formerly held for 47 years by Democratic icon Ted Kennedy -- which would deprive Democrats of their 60-seat supermajority -- with Democrat Martha Coakley hoping for the state's Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts to put her over the finish line. The polls will close at 8 p.m. ET.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9 a.m. ET. Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will hold a discussion with sixth grade students at 10 a.m. ET, at the Graham Road Elementary School in Virginia, and Obama will deliver remarks at 10:25 a.m. ET on the "Race to the Top" program. Obama will meet at 11:30 a.m. ET with Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), in the Oval Office. He will have lunch with Vice President Biden at 12:30 p.m. ET. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 1:30 p.m. ET, and meet at 4:25 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Topics: Afghanistan, Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, Eric Cantor, Harold Ford, Health Care, Joe Biden, Kirsten Gillibrand, MA-SEN, Martha Coakley, NY-SEN, Robert Gates, Roundup, Scott Brown
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Hillary Clinton, Sec. of State
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
• CBS, Face The Nation: Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT).
• CNN, State Of The Union: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod; Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH); Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT).
• Fox News Sunday: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY); Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• NBC, Meet The Press: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Rev. Al Sharpton.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Arne Duncan, Brain Schweitzer, David Axelrod, Hillary Clinton, Judd Gregg, Kent Conrad, Mitch McConnell, Newt Gingrich, Patrick Leahy, Pete Hoekstra, Sunday Shows
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
GOP's Hopes Rekindled, But Internal Arguments Could Continue
The New York Times reports that the mixed election results from last night -- with Republicans winning solidly in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, but losing the NY-23 special election -- will simultaneously rekindle the GOP's hopes and continue arguments about the party's direction. "Conservatives can win when they emphasize the right things and don't allow their message to get co-opted," said former Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis. "The Democrats and some of their friends in the media attempt to paint all conservatives as fire-breathing cavemen."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will participate in a 10:30 a.m. ET credentialing ceremony for foreign ambassadors. He will depart the White House at 11:15 a.m. ET, arriving at 1:30 p.m. ET in Madison, Wisconsin. He and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will meet with students at Wright Middle School at 2 p.m. ET, and Obama will deliver remarks on strengthening the education system at 2:30 p.m. ET. He will depart from Madison at 3:55 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 5:55 p.m. ET. He and the First Lady will host an event at 7:15 p.m. ET, celebrating classical music.
Topics: Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, Ben Nelson, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, House '10, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, John Tanner, NJ-GOV, NY-23, Roundup, Saul Anuzis, VA-GOV
David Axelrod
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Axelrod: Public Option A "Good Tool," But Shouldn't Define Whole Debate
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod said that President Obama "believes the public option is a good tool." However, Axelrod also added, "It shouldn't define the whole health care debate, however."
Van Jones Resigns
Van Jones, President Obama's adviser on green jobs, has resigned in the wake of controversy surrounding past attacks on Republican, and his having signed a petition by 9/11 Truthers years ago. "On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me," Jones said in his resignation letter, also adding: "I cannot in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past. We need all hands on deck, fighting for the future."
Topics: Amy Klobuchar, Arne Duncan, Ben Nelson, David Axelrod, Education, Health Care, Howard Dean, Lamar Alexander, Public Option, Van Jones
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