Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | November 29, 2009, 1:00PM

Levin: War Tax 'Probably Not' Going To Happen During Recession
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) downplayed the idea of a war tax. "In the middle of a recession we're probably not going to be able to increase taxes to pay for it," said Levin. "There should have been, as far as I'm concerned, tax increases for upper bracket folks who did so well during the Bush years - that's where the tax increases should have taken place. But that should have happened some time ago."

Graham: Can We Cut Stimulus To Pay For Afghanistan?
Appearing on This Week, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for cuts in domestic spending, including the stimulus package and the health care bill, to pay for the Afghanistan war. "Well, I'd like to see an endeavor to see if we can cut current spending and find some dollars that we're spending today to pay for the war, and prioritize American spending. Where does our national security rate in terms of spending?" said Graham. "Are there things that we can do in the stimulus package? Can we trim up the health care bill and other big-ticket items to pay for a war that we can't afford to lose?"

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Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | November 25, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama To Explain Surge, Exit Plan In Afghanistan
The Washington Post reports President Obama will use his speech on Afghanistan next week to simultaneously explain his plan to increase America's troop presence, and to lay out an exit strategy: "Obama's prime-time address, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, will begin the White House effort to sell his revised war plan -- one leading scenario calls for sending 30,000 additional U.S. troops -- to powerful skeptics within his party, reluctant allies abroad and an Afghan public uncertain whether international forces or the Taliban will win the war."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will hold the annual turkey-pardoning ceremony, at 11:35 a.m. ET in the Rose Garden. In the afternoon, the First Family will participate in a service event in the Washington area.

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Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | November 19, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama: U.S., Allies, Discussing Sanctions Against Iran
At a press conference in South Korea, President Obama said that the United States and allies could have a package of sanctions against Iran "within weeks." "We weren't going to duplicate what has happened with North Korea," said Obama, "in which talks just continue forever without any actual resolution to the issue."

Obama's Day In South Korea
President Obama visited U.S. Embassy staff and their families in Seoul, South Korea, at 10:10 a.m. local time (8:10 p.m. ET last night). He participated in an arrival ceremony at the Blue House, at 11 a.m. He held a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Myng-bak at 11:15 a.m., with an expanded bilateral meeting at 11:50 a.m., and a joint press conference at 12:30 p.m, and a working lunch at 1:10 p.m. Obama delivered remarks to service-members at at Osan Air Base at 3:20 p.m., and departed South Korea at 4:05 p.m. (2:05 a.m. ET). He will arrive in Anchorage, Alaska, at 9:40 a.m. ET, will depart form Anchorage at 11:40 a.m. ET, and arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington at 6:05 p.m. ET.

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John McCain

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 23, 2009, 1:00PM

McCain Defends Palin, Also Says: "I Don't Think They Were, Quote, 'Death Panels'"
Appearing on This Week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) defended his former running mate Sarah Palin on her claim that President Obama's health care plan would create "death panels," though he did admit her wording was off. "Look, I don't think they were, quote, 'death panels,' don't get me wrong," said McCain. "I don't think - but on the best treatment procedures part of the bill, it does open it up to decisions being made as far - that should be left - those choices left to the patient and the individual."

Grassley: End-of-Life Provision "Just Scares The Devil Out of People"
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) explained that he used the phrase "pull the plug on grandma" while trying to assuage fears that people have about the health care bill: "It won't do that, but I wanted to explain why my constituents are concerned about it, and I also want to say that there is an $8 billion cost with that issue, and if you're trying to save money and you put an $8 billion of doctors giving you some advice at the end of life, doctors are going to take advantage of earning that $8 billion and constituents see that as an opportunity to save some money. It just scares the devil out of people."

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Ted Kennedy

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 21, 2009, 12:50PM

Ted Kennedy Records TV Ad For Dodd
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has recorded this TV ad for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), a friend and ally on health-care issues, whose popularity has fallen sharply back in his home state going into the 2010 election:

"Quality health care as a fundamental right for all Americans has been the cause of my life," says Kennedy, "and Chris Dodd has been my closest ally in this fight."

Poll: Overwhelming Support For Public Option
A new CBS/New York Times poll finds overwhelming support for a government-run health plan that would compete with the private sector -- also known as the public option -- at 72% in favor to only 20% against. Also, 57% are willing to pay higher taxes in exchange for health insurance for all, to 37% against, with support falling to 43%-49% when a specific price tag of $500 is attached.

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Arlen Specter

In Limbo: Dawn Johnsen's Nomination Stalls Thanks to Democrats

Brian Beutler | May 15, 2009, 11:44AM

For several weeks--while torture revelations have dominated headlines and with the scandal still very much alive--Dawn Johnsen has been waiting. She's Obama's pick to head the Office of Legal Counsel--the same Justice Department shop that famously blessed Bush-era interrogation policies--and her strong stance on that issue has united Republicans against her. But that's not her biggest problem. Her biggest problem is that Harry Reid has not been able to muster enough Democrats to overcome a filibuster threat.

Here are the numbers as they stand right now:

Votes Against Johnsen: 37 Republicans

Votes for Johnsen: 57 Democrats plus Indiana Republican Richard Lugar

Undecideds: Republicans Olypmia Snowe and Susan Collins and Democrats Arlen Specter and Ben Nelson

Reid frames the issue by saying he needs a couple Republicans to cross the line before he has the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster. But as the numbers show, it's just as much an issue of Reid not being able to muster the entire Democratic caucus in support of Johnsen.

The nomination isn't dead yet, but with Reid trying to put the onus on the White House to shore up support for the beleaguered nominee and the White House staying mum about what it role in all this is, or should be, Johnsen's nomination isnt going anywhere fast.

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