TPMDC China
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart Reports On 'Chensanity'
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart on Thursday turned his attention to the United States' "current debt holders and future overlords" -- China.
The U.S. and China are involved in a sensitive diplomatic situation involving blind human-rights activist Chen Guangcheng, who last week escaped house arrest and fled to the U.S. embassy in Beijing days before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner arrived for diplomatic talks.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Chen Guangcheng, China, Jon Stewart, the daily show
Iran
Gallup: Iran, China Top America's 'Greatest Enemy' List
America needs adversaries. And according to a new Gallup poll, Americans are happy to place Iran and China at the top of its "greatest enemy" list.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Benjamin Netanyahu, China, Economy, Gallup, Iran, Israel, Mitt Romney, President Obama
Keystone XL
How Republicans Killed Their Own Pet Oil Pipeline Project
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Houser Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA)
At the peak of December's payroll tax cut showdown on Capitol Hill, two top Republican aides discussed with me the pros and cons of making the Keystone XL pipeline a centerpiece of the debate.
They relished the idea of forcing President Obama to take a public stand on the pipeline early in an election year, instead of after the election as he had wanted. And they were eager to force him to choose between supporters in the labor movement, some of whom are pushing for the pipeline, and others in the environmental movement who vehemently oppose it. So they decided to go for it.
At the same time they knew he'd likely have to reject the project, and for them that created a dilemma.
"It's a question of whether we'd rather have the pipeline or the issue," said one of the GOP aides. Black or white.
In the end they chose the issue.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, China, Jobs, John Boehner, Keystone XL, Nancy Pelosi, Oil
China
Dems, GOP Divided Over Picking Major Economic Fight With China
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Public anger over the weak economy and populist resentment of the developing world's role in eliminating U.S. jobs will divide both parties on Capitol Hill this week, as a coalition of Democrats and Republicans make a major push to punish China for keeping its currency artificially weak.
Led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senate is expected Monday to advance long-standing legislation intended to stop Chinese currency manipulation by making it easier for companies and workers to take legal action against illegal Chinese trade practices, and by forcing the federal government to impose economic penalties on China until Beijing allows the exchange rate between the dollar and the yuan to fall.
Economists say the yuan is undervalued by up to 40 percent -- a distortion that likely explains the massive trade imbalance between the U.S. and China, and the loss of hundreds of thousands (or more) American jobs as manufacturers set up shop there to save money. Reversing this would act as a form of monetary stimulus in the United States, and the idea is that the threat of these penalties will force China to raise the value of its currency.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Chuck Schumer, Jobs, Stimulus, Unemployment
China
China Stealing U.S. Jobs? Not Quite What You Think, Experts Say
Americans in recent years have taken to wringing their hands over leakage of U.S. jobs to China and other developing nations. But on this side of the Pacific, Chinese businesses are quietly making deep investments in the United States that could play a significant if little acknowledged role in the American economic recovery.
That's the message coming out of the Global China Summit, a day-long event at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) involving former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, among other statesmen, scholars and officials Tuesday.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Economy
China
Conservatives Spin Biden's Comments On China's One Child Policy
Vice President Joe Biden is in a fix: he criticized China's one-child policy, but then found himself in trouble for *not* criticizing it.
The trouble began on Sunday, when Biden was delivering a speech at a Chinese university. Discussing a possibly looming entitlements crisis, he told the crowd: "You have no safety net. Your policy has been one which I fully understand -- I'm not second-guessing -- of one child per family. The result being that you're in a position where one wage earner will be taking care of four retired people. Not sustainable."
Right now, Biden's office is engaged in stating the obvious: that this was a criticism of the policy. Despite the polite diplomatic throat-clearing that preceded his attack, he was still, as his spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff states, "point[ing] out, in China, that the policy is, as a practical matter, unsustainable."
However, conservative critics seized on quite a different part of the remarks: they lathed onto the word, "second-guessing."
Topics: China, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry
China
Chinese Minders Forcefully Shove American Reporters During Remarks By Joe Biden
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Vice President Biden
Chinese press minders twice broke into altercations Thursday with American reporters covering Vice-President Joe Biden's visit to China.
The trouble began when the press were allowed to watch the start of a meeting between Biden and the Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. According to the LA Times, an agreement had been reached that the two Vice Presidents would deliver brief opening remarks, and then the press would leave so the meeting could go on in private.
Biden's remarks, however, seemed to go on a little long for the taste of the Chinese organizers. According to the Financial Times, as he launched into some anodyne remarks on the economy, Chinese officials began to whisper, "Why is he talking for so long?"
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Joe Biden
China
Report: Importing Chinese Goods Isn't All Bad
With the American economy stuck in neutral, there has to be someone to blame. Wall Street has certainly taken the brunt of criticism in the last few years, mostly because the financial sector almost went down and then the taxpayers had to bail them out. But recent major economic crises aside, the longer term economic complaint has been trade.
The argument is mainly that as America loses our manufacturing base to other countries (and for many reasons, this point is most associated with China), our more service based economy can't replace the jobs for laborers from that sector. In other words, giving a laid off autoworker a gig at Starbucks isn't really comparable, and it contributes to underemployment.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Economy
Jon Huntsman
Huntsman 2.0's Latest Body Blow: Is Mitt Romney A Manchurian Candidate?
Jon Huntsman and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
Jon Huntsman's new groove is going on the attack. The one-time Mr. Nice Guy has been sticking it to Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney over health care, the debt ceiling, and that mysterious $1 million donation in the hopes of tearing down the Romney colossus.
On Friday, Team Huntsman floated a new line of attack: Romney may be too close to the Chinese for comfort.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, China, Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney
Debt
A Debt To Ourselves: Who Really Owns It?
Just after the 2010 elections produced a new balance in Washington, as the House went from a strong Democratic majority to an equally sturdy GOP one, as the Senate added new members who carried the mantle of the Tea Party (Sen. Rand Paul) and the Club for Growth (Sen. Pat Toomey), there was talk of the debt ceiling. Would these hard charging conservatives vote for an increase in government's ability to borrow? That question would kick-start a national debate over the deficit, and many months later, we are staring both at that very debt ceiling and the possibility of an over-arching reduction in spending.
With all the talk of debt obligations, default, markets crashing and general economic collapse, came the notion that the debt issue needed to be resolved not just for fiscal reasons, but for geopolitical ones. It was common to hear insinuations that foreign governments were collecting American debt and storing it away, weakening our economic power as we leveraged ourselves more and more. We signed up for a VISA card from the Bank of China, and we maxed it out, so we are told. But that is totally incorrect.
Well, it's 92% incorrect.
Topics: China, Debt, Debt Ceiling, Spending
NV-02
GOPer's Ad Depicts Chinese Army Marching On Capitol, Thanks To 'Obama's Debt Ceiling' (VIDEO)
Ad from NV-02 candidate Mark Amodei (R)
Former Nevada state GOP chair Mark Amodei, who was selected this weekend as the party's nominee in the upcoming NV-02 special election, has a new ad out making the national debt his big issue -- with the specter of the Chinese army marching on Washington!
The ad shows a mock-up of a Chinese news broadcast in the near future, with an anchorwoman speaking while a separate English-language voiceover speaks in a heavy accent. "Once upon a time, America became its own worst enemy," the voiceover says. "When all their borrowed money ran out, they kept spending out of control. Their President Obama just kept raising the debt limit -- and their independence became a new dependence. As their debt grew, our fortune grew -- and that is how our great empire rose again."
As the Chinese army marches on the Capitol, the ad then cuts to Amodei speaking in front of a photo background of the same building: "It's not too late to stop this nightmare. I'm Mark Amodei, and I approve this message, because as your congressman, I'll never vote to raise Obama's debt limit and risk our independence."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2011 Elections, China, Debt Ceiling, Mark Amodei, NV-02
Balanced Budget Amendment
Huntsman Supports Radical Balanced Budget Amendment
Jon Huntsman
In a private conference call with a handful of university students across the country, GOP Presidential hopeful -- and President Obama's former Ambassador to China -- Jon Huntsman argued in support of one of the most far-reaching, controversial elements of the conservative political agenda.
As first reported in a broader piece by the Huffington Post, Huntsman argued in favor of a constitutional amendment requiring the federal government to maintain a balanced budget -- an innocuous-sounding, but radical plan pushed by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and numerous other congressional conservatives.
"We're going to have to fight for a balanced budget amendment," Huntsman said. "Every governor in this country has a balanced budget amendment. It keeps everybody honest. It's the best safeguard imaginable."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Balanced Budget Amendment, Barack Obama, Budget, China, Entitlement reform, Entitlements, Jim DeMint, Jon Huntsman, Spending
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Administration Fights To Save Healthcare Law
Reuters reports: "Lawyers for President Barack Obama go to court on Tuesday to try to save the cornerstone of his healthcare overhaul, arguing that the requirement for Americans to buy insurance is constitutional. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit will consider whether a lower court was correct in striking down the requirement. But they will not be the final arbiter in a fight that is expected to reach the Supreme Court. Legal scholars see the case as pivotal because it is the first to have oral arguments before an appeals courts. That means its ruling could affect other courts and become the first challenge to the law to reach the high court."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Obama will depart from the White House at 10:30 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:45 a.m. Et, arriving at 2:40 p.m. ET in El Paso, Texas. At 3:30 p.m. ET, he will deliver a speech on the importance of fixing the immigration system. He will depart from El Paso at 4:40 p.m. ET, arriving at 6 p.m. ET in Austin, Texas. He will deliver remarks at a DNC event at 6:50 p.m. ET, and at another DNC event at 8:25 p.m. ET. He will depart from Austin at 10:15 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 1 a.m. ET, and back at the White House at 1:15 a.m. ET.
Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, China, Debt Ceiling, Health Care, Immigration, Medicare, Roundup, Timothy Geithner
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Presses Pakistan On Bin Laden
AFP reports: "US President Barack Obama has pressed Pakistan to probe how Osama bin Laden managed to live for years under the nose of its military, saying he must have been supported by locals. Obama stopped short of saying the Pakistani government was involved, but the White House called on Islamabad to help counter growing mistrust by granting US investigators access to three of bin Laden's widows who are in Pakistani custody and could have vital information on Al-Qaeda."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:45 a.m. ET, and meet with senior advisers at 10:15 a.m. ET. He will meet at 3:20 p.m. ET with the crew of Discovery Space Shuttle. He will meet at 4:35 p.m. ET with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. At 6 p.m. ET, the President and Vice President will met with the co-chairs of the U.S. and China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, China, DNC, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Joe Biden, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Pres '12, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama To Meet SEAL Team Involved In Bin Laden Operation
CNN reports: "President Barack Obama will meet Friday with members of the U.S. Navy SEAL team involved in the assault on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, a senior administration official told CNN...'The president met with Adm. McRaven at the White House yesterday to thank him personally in the Oval Office and will have the opportunity to privately thank some of the special operators involved in the operation tomorrow at Fort Campbell' in Kentucky, the official said."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart form the white House at 9:30 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 9:45 a.m. ET, arriving at 11:20 a.m. ET in Indianapolis, Indiana. At 11:55 a.m. ET, he will tour Allison Transmission Headquarters, and deliver remarks to workers there at 12:15 p.m. ET. He will depart from Indianapolis at 1:30 p.m. ET, arriving at 2:25 p.m. ET at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. At 3:55 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks to service members who have recently returned from deployment. He will depart form Fort Campbell at 4:40 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 6:15 p.m. ET, and arriving back at the White House at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, China, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Debt, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Roundup
Libya
U.S., UK and France: Qaddafi Must Comply With No-Fly Zone
President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama and his British and French counterparts are demanding that Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi immediately comply with a U.N. Security Council resolution creating a no-fly zone aimed at protecting civilians from attacks.
Obama phoned British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy Thursday evening after the Security Council vote on the resolution authorizing the no-fly zone and "all necessary measures" to protect the Libyan people from Qaddafi's forces, the White House said in a statement.
Topics: Arab League, Barack Obama, China, David Cameron, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, Nicolas Sarkozy, Russia, democratic reforms, no-fly zone
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
GOP Voters Are Ready For The 2012 Race. Now Somebody Tell The Candidates
The New York Times reports: "The 2012 presidential campaign is beginning, whether the candidates are ready or not. Republicans have been far more eager to criticize President Obama than to formally jump into the race and start jockeying for the right to challenge him. But their hesitation, or strategic patience, has done little to slow the early stages of the party's nominating contest."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and receive the economic daily briefing at 10:15 a.m. ET. He will depart for the White House at 12:45 p.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 1:05 p.m. ET, arriving at 2:10 p.m. ET in Boston, Massachusetts. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will visit a classroom at TechBoston Academy, with Melinda Gates and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and deliver remarks on education at 3:15 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at a 7:05 p.m. ET DCCC fundraiser. He will depart from Boston at 8 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 9:20 p.m. ET, and arriving back at the White House at 9:35 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, China, Eric Cantor, Gary Locke, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Muslims, Roundup, Russia, START treaty
Debt Ceiling
Toomey Pushes 'Pay China First' Plan
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) is trying to attach a controversial debt-limit provision to an unrelated aviation bill, now on the Senate floor.
As described here, the measure would manage the fallout of a default on the national debt by prioritizing Treasury payments to investors -- foreign countries, financial institutions -- over other obligations like Social Security beneficiaries and veterans benefits, among others.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Debt, Debt Ceiling, Democrats, Pat Toomey, Senate Democrats, Social Security, Veterans
John Boehner
Boehner: Don't Get Attached To Those SOTU Investments Obama Mentioned (VIDEO)
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)
Speaker John Boehner took to the Fox News Sunday airwaves this weekend for his first Sunday show interview since ascending to the top job in the House this month. Previewing what is likely to be bitter budget fight this year, Boehner appeared to dismiss all the new government spending projects President Obama mentioned in his State Of The Union address last Tuesday.
Obama proposed boosting government support for education, internet access and infrastructure as part of a US response to a rising China, what Obama called America's "Sputnik moment." Boehner, who rode into power thanks to a surge of anti-spending tea party voters, told FNS host Chris Wallace not to hold his breath waiting for Obama's requests to make it into a House-passed budget.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, China, John Boehner, State Of The Union
Debt Ceiling
'Pay China First' -- Republicans' Wild Plan To Avoid U.S. Debt Default
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)
New Republican legislation in the House and Senate would force the U.S. government to reroute huge amounts of money to China and other creditors in the event that Congress fails to raise its debt ceiling.
"I intend to introduce legislation that would require the Treasury to make interest payments on our debt its first priority in the event that the debt ceiling is not raised," Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) wrote in a Friday Wall Street Journal op-ed.
If passed, Toomey's plan would require the government to cut large checks to foreign countries, and major financial institutions, before paying off its obligations to Social Security beneficiaries and other citizens owed money by the Treasury -- that is, if the U.S. hits its debt ceiling. Republican leaders insist they will raise the country's debt limit before this happens. But first, they're going to try to force Democrats to accept large spending cuts, using their control over the debt limit as leverage. That means gridlock, and the threat that they'll come up short.
That's where Toomey's idea supposedly comes in. And yet, according to the Treasury Department, his plan wouldn't actually avoid a default, or its catastrophic consequences.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Budget, Budget Committee, China, Chris Van Hollen, Debt, Debt Ceiling, Jim Jordan, John Boehner, Kent Conrad, Mitch McConnell, Pat Toomey
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama Talks Up Trade With Asia
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama talked up his recent work on trade deals with countries such as China, South Korea and India, saying that it would promote markets for American manufacturing and create jobs here.
"That's why I met with China's President Hu Jintao at the White House this past week. We're now exporting more than $100 billion a year to China in goods and services," said Obama. "And as a result of deals we completed this week, we'll be increasing U.S. exports to China by more than $45 billion, and China's investments in America by several billion dollars. Most important, these deals will support some 235,000 American jobs. And that includes a lot of manufacturing jobs."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Abortion, Barack Obama, China, DCCC, Health Care, House '12, John Barrasso, Nancy Pelosi, Roundup, Sarah Palin, Steve Israel
Sharron Angle
Angle's PAC 'Agrees' With Reid On China's Hu Being Dictator
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and 2010 Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) recent description of Chinese President Hu Jintao as a "dictator" has now attracted the somewhat backhanded agreement of an unlikely source -- the Patriot Caucus PAC, which was established after the 2010 election by his very right-wing GOP opponent, former state Rep. Sharron Angle.
"It's not often we can fully agree with something Harry Reid says," the PAC's online administrators write. "A statement made by Harry Reid yesterday, however, warrants strong agreement."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Harry Reid, Hu Jintao, Sharron Angle
China
GOP Rep: China A 'Gangster' -- And Religion-Suppressing Organ-Stealer (VIDEO)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) is not being shy about his opposition to friendly relations with China. In an appearance Wednesday night on Parker-Spitzer, Rohrabacher was asked about his description of the country as "the world's worst human rights abuser." And he didn't back down.
Kathleen Parker asked Rohrabacher whether this language was the best way to start the state visit of Chinese leader Hu Jintao.
"It certainly is, when you're talking to a gangster. If you treat him like a nice guy, he's not gonna respect you at all. Our trouble is, we've been dealing with these people as if they're Englishmen or Belgians, or something like that, when in reality, this is a gangster regime that murders their own people, and should be treated in that way, or they won't respect us."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Dana Rohrabacher, Hu Jintao, Parker-Spitzer
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
House Republicans Move On From Repealing Health Law To Replacing It
The Hill reports: "Having voted as promised to roll back the Democrats' healthcare reform law, the new GOP majority is now faced with following through on the second part of its "repeal and replace" pledge. Fresh off Wednesday night's vote in favor of repeal, the House will take up a resolution Thursday morning directing committees to develop alternatives to the reform law. And the GOP chairmen of the House panels tasked with drafting those alternatives will offer an initial look, at an afternoon press conference, at their efforts."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, with senior advisers at 10 a.m. ET, and receive the economic daily briefing at 10:30 a.m. ET. He will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with Vice President Biden, and at 2:25 p.m. ET Obama and Biden will meet with a bipartisan group of mayors to discuss jobs and the economy. At 7 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks at the Kennedy Center, at an event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's Inauguration.
Topics: Barack Obama, China, Gabrielle Giffords, Health Care, Hu Jintao, Joe Biden, Roundup
Rush Limbaugh
Limbaugh Mocks Chinese President Hu's Language (AUDIO)
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh is known for often using coded racist language, then accusing people of race-baiting if they complain. But this time, in commenting on the press conference held by President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, he's just gone for some straight-out racist caricature.
As Media Matters has picked up, Limbaugh complained on his radio show today that there was not a constant voiceover translation on the broadcast of Hu's speech. In imitation, he then proceeded to do a mocking impression of Hu's language, as might have been featured in a movie or radio show from the first half of the last century.
Give it a listen.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Hu Jintao, Rush Limbaugh
Harry Reid
Harry Reid: Chinese Pres Hu is A 'Dictator' ... Maybe I Shouldn't Have Said That
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has an interesting perspective on the differences between the political systems of America and China -- and what he should and shouldn't be saying about the matter.
As Jon Ralston reports, from an interview with Reid:
Only Harry Reid, when asked about whether he still thought the lame-duck tax cut deal was a good one, would begin his serpentine answer thusly:
"I am going to go back to Washington and meet with the president of China. He is a dictator. He can do a lot of things through the form of government they have. Maybe I shouldn't have said dictator. But they have a different type of government then we have and that is an understatement."
First, you might wonder what Hu Jintao has to do with the question I asked. (Reid would later make clear he was comparing China with America, where compromise is essential in "the best system ever devised to rule the affairs of men and women.")
Sure, what Reid said is not exactly false. But still, this might not be the right thing for a top American leader to say when Hu is embarking on a major state visit to this country.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: China, Harry Reid, Hu Jintao
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
House To Take Up Health Care Repeal Vote
The Washington Post reports: "The House is set to vote today on a repeal of the Democrats' health care law, and we've got a good idea how it's going to turn out. The bill is widely expected to pass in the GOP-controlled House on a largely party-line vote, will never pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and will die the death of the symbolic bill that it is. But there will be a certain amount of intrigue when the votes come in today -- both because Democrats have been trying to turn the issue against Republicans and because there are 13 Democrats left in Congress who voted against the bill in the first place."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden, with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, will welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House at 9 a.m. ET. Obama and Biden will meet with Hu at 10 a.m. ET, and hold an expanded meeting with U.S. and Chinese delegations at 11 a.m. ET. Obama and Hu will meet with business leaders at 12:20 p.m. ET, and will hold a joint press conference at 1:05 p.m. ET. The President and First Lady will welcome Hu at 6 p.m. ET, take an official photo with him at 6:30 p.m. ET, and attend a state dinner at 7:35 p.m. ET, and a state dinner reception at 8:55 p.m. ET.
Topics: Barack Obama, China, Gabrielle Giffords, Health Care, Hu Jintao, Islam, Joe Biden, Muslims, Peter King, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Change Tugs At US-China Ties Ahead Of Hu Visit
AFP reports: "China's President Hu Jintao visits the United States this week at a time of flux and stress in Sino-US ties, with America weakened by crisis and Beijing flexing a new range of powers. While US President Barack Obama will lay on the pageantry of a state visit after Hu arrives on Tuesday, tensions on human rights, currency rates and North Korea, as well as military mistrust, are wobbling the key relationship."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10:15 a.m. ET, and meet with senior advisers at 10:45 a.m. ET. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 3:20 p.m. ET, and meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. At 6:30 p.m. ET, he will host a private dinner with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Topics: Barack Obama, China, Health Care, Hu Jintao, Joe Biden, K Street, Lobbying, Roundup
2010 elections
TPMDC Morning Roundup
G-20 Refuses To Back US Push On China's Currency
The Associated Press reports: "Leaders of 20 major economies on Friday refused to back a U.S. push to make China boost its currency's value, keeping alive a dispute that raises fears of a global trade war amid criticism that cheap Chinese exports are costing American jobs. A joint statement issued by the leaders including President Barack Obama and China's Hu Jintao tried to recreate the unity that was evident when the Group of 20 rich and developing nations held its first summit two years ago during the global financial meltdown. But deep divisions, especially over the U.S.-China currency dispute, left G-20 officials negotiating all night to draft a watered-down statement for the leaders to endorse."
Obama Arrives In Japan For Second Economic Summit
The Associated Press reports: "President Barack Obama has arrived in Japan to attend a regional economic summit. It is the fourth and final stop on the president's 10-day, four-country economic and goodwill tour of Asia. The president will spend Saturday and Sunday participating in meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The group of 21 economies is taking steps to create a sprawling Pacific-wide free trade zone."
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Ben Bernanke, Chamber of Commerce, China, Federal Reserve, G20 Summit, Health Care, Roundup
DE-SEN
Steele, Gillespie Standing By O'Donnell's Claims About Classified Info On China Plot (VIDEO)
Christine O'Donnell
Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell has put leading Republicans in a tough (and funny) spot. In response to her 2006 claim that she had seen classified information about a secret Chinese plot to take over the United States, the current Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele and former RNC chair Ed Gillespie are saying that hey, maybe she's right.
Back when she first ran for Senate in 2006, losing the Republican primary, O'Donnell claimed during a debate that China had a "carefully thought out and strategic plan to take over America," and criticized one of her GOP opponents for wanting the United States to pursue cooperation with the country. "There's much I want to say. I wish I wasn't privy to some of the classified information that I am privy to."
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]
Appearing last night on MSNBC's The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell, Steele was grilled by Lawrence O'Donnell (no relation) about this matter. "Michael, you know she`s lying about the classified information, right? I mean, reassure the country," said Lawrence O'Donnell.
"Do you know -- do you know that, Lawrence?" Steele replied. When Lawrence O'Donnell stated that he was certain that Christine O'Donnell was lying, Steele answered back: "Produce your evidence and invite me back on the program and talk about it."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, China, Christine O'Donnell, DE-SEN, Ed Gillespie, Lawrence O'Donnell, Michael Steele, Senate '10
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Axelrod to Democrats: Blame the GOP
White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod told Senate Democrats to go on offense against the Republicans in this November's election. "We're not interested in re-litigating the past but we don't want to relive it either," Axelrod said after a closed-door strategy session. "People need to know that when they cast that Republican vote they're casting that vote for those same discredited policies that punished the middle class and created this crisis in the first place."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 9:30 a.m. ET, then will depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 9:45 a.m. ET, arriving at 11:05 a.m. ET in Detroit, Michigan. He will tour the Chrysler auto plant at 11:50 a.m. ET, and will deliver remarks at 12:15 p.m. ET. He will then tour the General Motors auto plant at 12:55 p.m. ET, and deliver remarks at 1:40 p.m. ET. He will depart from Detroit at 3:10 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 4:25 p.m. ET, and at the White House at 4:40 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2010 elections, Afghanistan, Arizona, Auto Industry, Barack Obama, Budget, China, Deficit, Immigration, Robert Gates, Roundup, WikiLeaks
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Seeks Power To Force Congressional Votes On Spending Cuts
The Obama administration is proposing a new attempt at something resembling the line-item veto. The Associated Press explains: "The legislation would award Obama and his successors the ability to take two months or more to scrutinize spending bills that have already been signed into law for pork barrel projects and other dubious programs. He could then send Congress a package of spending cuts for a mandatory up-or-down vote on whether to accept or reject them."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive his daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET, and meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 11:15 a.m. ET, he will host award-winning small business owners from around the country, and deliver remarks on business jobs proposals. At 12:05 p.m. ET, he will address the Senate Republican Caucus. At 2 p.m. ET, he will meet with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. He will depart the White House at 2:55 p.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 3:15 p.m. ET, arriving at 8:35 p.m. ET in San Francisco. He will deliver remarks at a 9 p.m. ET fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, as well as delivering remarks at another fundraiser for Boxer and the DSCC at 9:30 p.m. ET, and he will attend a 10:50 p.m. ET reception for Boxer and the DSCC.
Topics: Barack Obama, Barbara Boxer, CA-SEN, China, Financial Reform, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Korea, North Korea, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Republicans Meeting In New Orleans
Republicans are gathering today in New Orleans for the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, an early cattle call for several potential national candidates. The biggest speaker will be Sarah Palin, along with Newt Gingrich, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry and Haley Barbour. Not present will be Tim Pawlenty, who will address the event by video, as well as Mitt Romney, both of whom had scheduling conflicts.
Obama's Day In Prague
President Obama arrived in Prague, Czech Republic, at 9:25 a.m. CEST (3:25 a.m. ET). He arrived at Prague Castle and was greeted by Czech President Vaclav Klaus at 9:45 a.m. CEST. He took a family photo with President Klaus and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at 9:55 a.m. CEST. He held a bilateral meeting with Medvedev at 10:05 a.m. CEST, and an expanded meeting at 10:45 a.m. CEST. He attended a New START Treaty signing ceremony with Medvedev at 11:50 a.m. CEST. He attended a ceremonial lunch with Medvedev and Klaus at 1 p.m. CEST, and deliver toast remarks. Later, at 6:30 p.m. CEST, Obama will greet central and Eastern European leaders on arrival, and he will host a dinner for the leaders at 7:15 p.m. CEST.
Topics: Barack Obama, Ben Bernanke, China, Joe Biden, Repealing health care, Republicans, Roundup, Sarah Palin, Steve King, Timothy Geithner, Xavier Becerra
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Sarkozy Lays Into The U.S. On Health Care Debate
In a speech at Columbia University, French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke about the recent American debates on health care -- sharply criticizing Americans for a lack of compassion on the issue. "Welcome to the club of states who don't turn their back on the sick and the poor," said Sarkozy. He also added: "When we look at the American debate on reforming health care, it's difficult to believe. The very fact that there should have been such a violent debate simply on the fact that the poorest of Americans should not be left out in the streets without a cent to look after them ... is something astonishing to us."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. Obama will sign the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, at 11:05 a.m. ET, at Northern Virginia Community College. Obama will meet with senior advisers at 12 p.m. ET. He will have lunch with Vice President Biden at 12:20 p.m. ET. Obama and Biden will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at 2:45 p.m. ET, and with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at 3:30 p.m. ET. Obama and Sarkozy will hold a joint press availability at 4:45 p.m. ET. The President and First Lady will host a dinner for President Sarkozy and French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, China, Hamid Karzai, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Iran, Nicolas Sarkozy, Nuclear nonproliferation, Roundup, Russia, Tea Party
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Iraq War Being Renamed
The Iraq War is being officially renamed, ABC News reports, from its current label of "Operation Iraqi Freedom," to "Operation New Dawn." The change will take effect on September 1, coinciding with the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the country, and the official change of mission for the troops who will still be there.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will hold a town hall at 1 p.m. ET, in Henderson, Nevada. At 2:55 p.m. ET he will deliver remarks to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. He will depart from Las Vegas at 4:05 p.m. ET, arriving back at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, CO-SEN, CPAC, China, Dalai Lama, Health Care, Iraq, Joe Biden, Kathleen Sebelius, Michael Bennet, Public Option, Roundup, Senate '10
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama To Announce 'Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee'
President Obama will formally unveil today his proposed "Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee," a fee on 50 of the largest financial firms, in order to recoup taxpayers' money from the TARP bailout. The proposal is aimed at raising $90 billion over the next ten years, and will bring the total cost to the government of the bailout down to $117 billion, including both the fee and money that has been paid back..
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. Obama will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers, and at 11:05 a.m. ET with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. At 11:50 a.m. ET, he will deliver remarks to announce the new financial crisis responsibility fee, to be levied on large financial institutions. He will have lunch at 12:05 p.m. ET with Vice President Biden. At 1:45 p.m. Et, he will deliver remarks at the opening session of the Forum on Modernizing Government. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 2:15 p.m. ET, and meet at 3 p.m. ET with Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner. At 5:05 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks at the House Democratic Caucus retreat.
Topics: Bailout, Barack Obama, China, Google, Haiti quake, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, John Cornyn, Nancy Pelosi, Rick Perry, Roundup, TARP, Timothy Geithner
Climate Change
Climate Scramble In Copenhagen
President Barack Obama and the Earth
President Obama and his Green Cabinet are scrambling to salvage a possible deal during climate talks in Copenhagen, with the president hosting private meetings with world leaders and multiple reports of tension between delegates.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says Obama is huddling for the second time with world leaders he spoke with earlier, and notes Yu Qingtai, Special Representative on Climate Change Negotiations of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is representing China at the meeting.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, China, Climate Change, Copenhagen, Green Cabinet
Joe Barton
GOP Congressman Defends China Holding Up Climate Change Deal
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) has done something we wouldn't usually expect from a Republican: Sympathize with China, and otherwise consider international affairs from the perspective of a country not friendly to the United States. On the other hand, this does involve undermining the Obama administration on climate change.
Barton, one of the GOP members of Congress visiting the Copenhagen conference for the purpose of telling delegates that America won't pass cap-and-trade, told Politico yesterday : "I don't consider what China is doing to be obstruction, I consider it to be reality."
"They are not going to, all of a sudden, put aside all of the technology and economic development they are doing just to meet some political goal in the West... I don't hold it against them," he added. "What would we have done in 1850 if England, France and Germany said... 'You can't build factories'? We would have told them to go jump in a lake."
DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer put out a statement lambasting Barton and the GOP for siding with another country against America: "Republicans joined the Taliban in cheering when the U.S. failed to land the Olympics, they talk down any good economic news and now we have leading House Republicans siding with China and against America while abroad. Unfortunately, for the American people, today's Republican Party does not hesitate to throw America under the bus if the establishment thinks it will help return them to the failed policies of President Bush that left our economy in shambles."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: China, Climate Change, Copenhagen, Joe Barton
Climate Change
Obama Huddling With China To Salvage Climate Deal
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and President Barack Obama
The climate change summit in Copenhagen is nearing its conclusion and reports from the scene suggest the talks are hanging in the balance.
Upon arrival instead of his planned schedule, Obama joined 18 world leaders in hopes of salvaging a deal. After speaking to about 8,000 United Nations delegates, Obama held a private meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for nearly an hour.
Obama and Wen asked negotiators to get together one-on-one "to see if an agreement can be reached," a White House official told reporters.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, China, Climate Change, Copenhagen, Green Cabinet, White House
Barack Obama
Chinese Weekly Asks Obama About His Love Of Hoops
President Barack Obama
President Obama granted an interview to Chinese weekly Xiang Xi while traveling in Asia and detailed his view of economic and trade relations with the country.
It's not clear if the interview ran in full or if reports it was censored are accurate, but Obama told the weekly he viewed his trip as a success.
You can read the whole transcript at the White House Web site, but here's an amusing exchange:
Q I know you love basketball. So do you think you have time to play basketball while you're being President?PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, I do play, not as often as I used to, but I still play maybe once every week or two. And I enjoy going to games, as well. I wish I could have gone to see the Shanghai Sharks, but it wasn't in my schedule. And I'm looking forward to meeting Yao Ming, who is one of my favorite players.
Topics: Asia trip, Barack Obama, China, POTUS loves sports
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