Barack Obama

Dems Add Entitlement Reform To Packed Agenda Ahead of 2010 Elections

Brian Beutler | November 30, 2009, 1:04PM

President Barack Obama, Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Moderate and conservative Democrats want to empower an outside entitlement commission to reshape major domestic spending programs like Medicare and Social Security, and they're threatening a truly nuclear option to get their way. If Congress does not create this commission, they say, they will vote against must-pass legislation to raise the nation's debt ceiling, which would trigger a default, and, perhaps, economic calamity.

"I will not vote for raising the debt limit without a vehicle to handle this," Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) told McClatchy. "This is our moment."

On the one hand, the threat is so outlandish as to be self-defeating. Would Democrats really extract such a devastating toll, both on their own political fortunes, but also on the national and global economy, just to prove that they're serious about entitlement reform?

But on the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may not want to rock the boat too hard in the midst of a health care debate in which Democrats are hanging their political fortunes on many of the same centrist senators making the threat. And the Obama administration has been broadly supportive of the idea of reining in deficits and paying down the national debt for some time now.

So it seems fairly likely that, whether this commission passes in the form deficit hawks would like to see, debt reduction will be a key theme, both at the White House and on Capitol Hill, after the fight over health care is over.

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Republicans

From Dollars To Death Panels: How Republicans Distorted Debates On Capitol Hill

Brian Beutler | November 27, 2009, 8:42AM

With Thanksgiving recess now upon us, it seems an appropriate time to revisit the hysterical Republican whoppers and talking points about the Democratic party agenda that have dominated this Congress. Herewith a top-five list:

Number Five: Paul Ryan Draws Line On Graph

Back in the Spring, when Democrats were putting together the federal budget, House Budget Committee ranking member Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a much-mocked Republican alternative, which would have basically canceled the stimulus and instituted a spending freeze of sorts. The ideas in the Republican alternative budget were roundly rebuked by experts, but Ryan wasn't deterred. Instead of accepting defeat, he unveiled some graphs suggesting that, under Republican budgets, spending would be restrained, while under Democratic budgets, it would blow through the roof.

Except his numbers weren't based on any analysis at all. Instead, Ryan used CBO numbers through 2018 and then drew an upward-sloping line on the graph completely at random. It didn't take long for Republicans to catch on and begin claiming that Democratic policies would make government spending half of GDP before the end of the century.

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Copenhagen

Al Gore Also Going To Copenhagen

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 12:48PM

Fmr. Vice President Al Gore

Vice President Al Gore will travel to Copenhagen next month for the climate change talks.

We reported earlier that President Obama will be going with the aim of giving "momentum" to the U.S. team's negotiations.

TPMDC has learned that Gore, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on global warming, also is making the trip.

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He's In!

Obama Will Attend Climate Talks In Copenhagen

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 9:52AM

President Barack Obama

A White House official tells TPMDC President Obama will attend the climate talks in Copenhagen on Dec. 9. The trip coincides with Obama's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

In addition to the president's address, the White House will send a large delegation, including Obama's "Green Cabinet" who aim to "maximize" chances of success at Copenhagen.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the move would "give momentum" to the U.S. position on climate talks.

EPA administrator Carol Browner told reporters he would lay out clear goals for cutting carbon emissions, in metrics that are "fairly similar" to the bill which passed the House and what is being considered by the Senate.

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Alex Castellanos

In Quest To Reform Steele's Image, RNC Hires Republican Attack Dog Castellanos

Brian Beutler | November 24, 2009, 11:28AM

RNC Communications Director Alex Castellanos

Pretend for a moment that you're Michael Steele. You won the RNC chairmanship earlier this year, and have been at the helm of the GOP for months as it has waged a fierce internal battle over the future of the party. You also have a reputation for being a bit of a buffoon. So the off-year elections roll around, and things go OK. Dede gets Scozzafav'd, but for the most part the media trains its eyes on gubernatorial pick ups in New Jersey and Virginia and declares victory for the GOP.

You might think that's a pretty good outcome. But Steele apparently wanted more credit for the Christie and McDonnell wins. So what's a political chief to do?

According to Politico the answer he arrived at was 'fire my communications director and fill the void with CNN's celebrity GOP talking head Alex Castellanos."

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India

Obama Says India-U.S. Relationship A 'Defining Partnership'

Christina Bellantoni | November 24, 2009, 9:44AM

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama

President Obama welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today at the White House, saying it was "fitting" that India was the first country to be hosted for an official state visit.

Obama said the nations can work together to curb the effects of climate change, end poverty and strive for a world without nuclear weapons. He said they each are "speaking out and standing up for the rights and dignity" that all humans deserve.

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Climate Change

WH Officials Say Decision On Copenhagen Attendance Coming Soon

Christina Bellantoni | November 23, 2009, 2:13PM

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the planet Earth, and President Barack Obama

The White House will announce soon whether President Obama will attend the climate change meetings in Copenhagen, a long anticipated decision that will signal how much effort and political capital the United States wants to spend on promising to curb carbon emissions.

As world leaders and climate experts have criticized a lack of action in Washington in the leadup to the talks, the White House is trumpeting more action in the 10 months since Obama took office than the world saw under President George W. Bush.

When questioned about the delay, White House officials pushed back.

"We go into Copenhagen with a very, very strong hand - if we have an outline that's helpful, but we go in with 10 months of unprecedented leadership on these issues," a senior administration official told reporters in a briefing today.

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Asia trip

First News From Asia Trip: Agreements With Japan On Climate, Nuclear Weapons

Christina Bellantoni | November 13, 2009, 7:59AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama arrived in Tokyo about six hours ago for the start of his 8-day Asia trip and the White House has announced he's secured agreements on both climate change and nuclear weapons.

In a joint statement with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama the leaders said they aim to reduce carbon emissions in Japan and the U.S. by 80 percent by 2050. They also said they "endorse a global goal of reducing emissions by 50 percent by that year."

The U.S. and Japan also issued a joint statement complimenting "renewed international attention and commitment to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons" and said they are determined "to realize such a world."

The start of the trip is marked with big news back home - Attorney General Eric Holder will be announcing today that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison will face trial in New York. Also, White House counsel Greg Craig is leaving and being replaced with longtime Obama friend Bob Bauer.

The White House laid out more climate change details which you can read after the jump.

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Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Graham Censured By County GOP Organization In South Carolina

Eric Kleefeld | November 11, 2009, 2:42PM

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is usually thought of as a loyal Republican in Washington -- but he has now been censured by a county Republican organization back home, for working too much with the Democrats.

The Charleston County GOP has censured Graham, citing his work with Democrats on a climate change bill as the final straw, and saying that he he has weakened the Republican brand.

County party chairwoman Lin Bennett says a similar resolution will introduced at the state GOP convention next year.

Graham need not have any immediate worries about a primary challenge. He was just re-elected last year, and won't on the ballot again until 2014.

Late Update: Greg Sargent has the full text of the censure resolution. It's fun reading, including its line about how "U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham - in the name of bipartisanship - continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom, rule of law, and fiscal conservatism."

Climate Change

Senators To U.N.: We'll Make No Climate Change Before It's Time

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 10, 2009, 6:55PM

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon stopped by the Capitol today to lobby Senators to get on board with comprehensive climate change legislation in advance of next month's U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen.

The response he got from Senators mired in the debate over health care reform? Get in line, pal.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) joined Moon with reporters after his closed-door meeting with the Senators. All three said that there was no chance a climate change bill will make it out of the Senate by Copenhagen, and slim chance it will come after that. Kerry said the bill comes after health care and financial services reform in terms of Senate priority.

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Cap-and-Trade

Climate Bill Passes Senate Committee Amid GOP Boycott, Baucus Opposition

Brian Beutler | November 5, 2009, 9:58AM

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the planet Earth

A major climate change bill passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee amid a Republican boycott this morning, setting the stage for other panels to amend the legislation. The final vote was 11-1. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)--whose Senate Finance Committee probably have its own crack at the bill--was the lone hold out. No Republicans showed up to vote.

Baucus says he wants near-term emissions targets softened, and to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from stepping in to regulate carbon emissions on its own, pursuant to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling.

After the vote, ranking member James Inhofe (R-OK) appeared on Fox News and, in predictable fashion, lambasted the legislation, calling the committee's actions "unprecedented." He also claimed that the bill is "dead."

Chair Barbara Boxer wasn't nearly so glum.

"We found, after questioning the EPA extensively, that the Republicans' demand for another EPA analysis now would be duplicative and a waste of taxpayer dollars," Boxer said.

The absence of the Republicans during the EPA's presentation was a clear message that their criticism of the EPA analysis was not a substantive one....

We are pleased that despite the Republican boycott, we have been able to move the bill.

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VA-GOV

Deeds Thanks Supporters, Says 'Next Chapter Has Yet To Be Written'

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 10:23PM

VA-Gov. candidate Creigh Deeds (D)

In his victory speech tonight, Gov-elect Bob McDonnell (R-VA) thanked his rival Creigh Deeds (D) and promised to work for all Virginians.

He also said he'd keep working with Deeds, who will remain in the state senate.

Deeds just sent supporters a thank-you note and said he will keep fighting "for the working families of Virginia."

Full note after the jump.

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Lindsey Graham

Graham: I Understand The Concerns Of Republicans Boycotting Climate Hearing

Brian Beutler | November 3, 2009, 3:32PM

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

As you may have heard, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee kicked off an amendment process on a climate change bill sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today over the howls of the committee's Republican minority.

The back story's pretty simple, and not at all surprising. The committee minority, led by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), don't want a climate change bill to move forward. The most moderate among them--Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)--isn't pleased that official EPA reports don't paint a sufficiently gloomy picture of a post-cap and trade future and together, the GOP is boycotting committee proceedings at least until such time as they get their hands on such a study.

But then there's Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

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