TPMDC Hillary Clinton
Iran
U.S. Opens 'Virtual Embassy' For Iran
The United States on Tuesday launched a new "virtual embassy" for Iran. Except it's not really an embassy at all. It's a website with resources and links for the Iranian people.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Hillary Clinton, Iran, State Department
Iraq
Clinton: U.S. 'Fulfilled Commitment' In Iraq
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Speaking with Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended the timing of the Obama administration's effort to withdraw American troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Pointing to the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq reached by the previous administration, Clinton said, "Bush also committed to withdrawing all troops by end of this year, so you have a bipartisan commitment to remove combat troops" by the end of 2011.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Pres '12
Environment
Why Far-Off Canadian Tar Sands Have Become A Make-Or-Break Issue For Obama With Enviros
For six days and counting now, hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the White House to demand President Obama intervene and stop the construction of an oil pipeline that will span the breadth of the United States -- from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico. Over 300 of them have been arrested -- and not just wild-eyed idealistic college students, but high-profile advocates including environmental leader Bill McKibben. Despite all this, the administration says this is a question for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
What the heck is this all about?
At issue isn't just NIMBYism or standard concerns about oil spills, but the question of whether the United States should accelerate an extraction process that some environmental experts say will lose the fight against global warming forever.
Topics: Barack Obama, Climate Change, EPA, Energy, Environment, Global Warming, Hillary Clinton, Oil, Oil Spill, State Department
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney's Big Donors May Be Finite Resource
The results are all in and Mitt Romney's prodigious fundraising has erased any doubts that, for all his weaknesses, the former Massachusetts governor is the only true frontrunner in the GOP primaries.
The Romney campaign's $18 million quarter easily overshadows rivals like Tim Pawlenty ($4.2 million) and Michele Bachmann ($4.2 million, about half from her Congressional campaign). But there is a cloud to the silver lining: Romney's cash advantage is overwhelmingly powered by big-money donors.
Topics: 2012, 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, Nation-Building By Any Other Name Is Still Nation-Building
President Barack Obama
One line more than any other in President Obama's primetime speech about gradually withdrawing troops from Afghanistan is coming back to haunt him.
"America, it is time to focus on nation-building here at home," Obama said towards the end of the speech.
The dramatic line was music to the ears of many of his fellow Democrats and voters who supported him. The words tapped into the populist, isolationist tendencies of many voters across the country who have an acute case of combat fatigue after nearly a decade of wars initiated by another president who promised the very same return to domestic concerns before the 9/11 attacks.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Bob Corker, Hillary Clinton, Jay Carney, Jim Webb, State Department, USAID
Libya
Clinton Addresses Skeptical House Dems On Libya
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
The Obama administration deployed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to appeal to House Democrats not to tie the President's hands when it comes to Libya when a House bill defunding the Libya operation comes to the floor as expected Friday.
The White House is leaning on Clinton to defend Obama's decisions on the two war fronts Thursday -- both the incremental Afghanistan withdrawal plan he announced Wednesday night and the controversial U.S. military action in Libya.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, House Democrats, Libya, Nancy Pelosi, White House
Israel
Obama Didn't Shift U.S. Policy On Israel -- A Look Back At The Record
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu
There has been so much uproar in the last week over President Obama's statements about Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations beginning around 1967 borders - along with land swaps -- that TPM wanted to lay out the record on whether this policy really amounted to a shift - if even ever so slightly - from the policies of previous administrations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu flat-out rejected any return to 1967 boundaries a week ago Friday during a tense meeting at the White House, saying that such a plan was "indefensible." Days later, to rapturous applause at a joint session of Congress, he once again turned down any suggestion that Israel withdraw to its 1967 borders, although by then he and Obama appeared to have mended some fences after Obama gave a speech to the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee reiterating his commitment to Israel as close friend and ally.
But does Obama's position constitute a tangible shift in U.S. policy towards the peace process, or is it merely an affirmation of a long-recognized understanding?
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: AIPAC, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Israel/Palestine
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Set For Outreach To Skeptical Arab World
Reuters reports: "President Barack Obama will lay out a new U.S. strategy toward a skeptical Arab world on Thursday, offering fresh aid to promote democratic change as he seeks to shape the outcome of popular uprisings threatening both friends and foes. In his much-anticipated 'Arab spring' speech, Obama will try to reset relations with the Middle East, but his outreach could falter amid Arab frustration over an uneven U.S. response to the region's revolts and his failure to advance Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive his daily briefing at 10:30 a.m. ET, and meet at 11 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 11:40 a.m. ET, he will deliver a speech on the events in the Middle East and North Africa, and U.S. policy in the region. At 2:55 p.m. ET, he will be interviewed by the BBC. He will meet at 3:30 p.m. ET with Treasury Secetary Tim Geithner. At 7 p.m. Et, he will deliver remarks at the Women's Leadership Forum. At 8 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks at a DNC event.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Gang of Six, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Pres '12, Robert Gates, Roundup, Tom Coburn
Pakistan
Kerry: Pakistan And U.S. Are At A Critical Crossroads
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), fresh from a trip to Pakistan aimed at repairing deeply frayed relations with the United States, said Tuesday the two nations are at a critical crossroads and cautioned against either side taking precipitous action.
Kerry spent the weekend meeting with Pakistani officials and trying to determine steps that would assuage the deep distrust between the two nations after the discovery of Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan and his subsequent killing in a covert operation by a Navy SEALs team.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Al Qaeda, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, State Department, Taliban
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Hillary Clinton Says The U.S. Will Stand By Pakistan
Reuters reports: "The United States said on Thursday it would stand by its ally Pakistan despite the strains in the relationship exposed by the discovery and killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. troops close to the Pakistani capital. 'It is not always an easy relationship, you know that,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on a visit to Rome. 'But, on the other hand, it is a productive one for both our countries and we are going to continue to cooperate between our governments, our militaries, our law-enforcement agencies, but most importantly between the American and Pakistani people.'"
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 10:35 a.m. ET in New York City. At 1:25 p.m. ET, he will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial, and meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with 9/11 family members. He will depart from New York at 3:10 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 4 p.m. ET, and arriving back at the White House at 4:15 p.m. ET. Then at 6 p.m. ET, the President and the First Lady will host a Cinco de Mayo reception.
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Pakistan, Pres '12, Roundup
Osama Bin Laden
FLASHBACK 2008: McCain, Clinton Slam Obama For Saying He'd Go Get Bin Laden In Pakistan (VIDEO)
Remember back during the 2008 election when John McCain -- and Hillary Clinton -- pummeled Barack Obama for saying he would go into Pakistan to get Osama bin Laden if the Pakistani government wouldn't?
We do...
Topics: 2008 campaign, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan
Libya
Obama Sends $25 Million To Libyan Rebels
President Barack Obama formally ordered up to $25 million in urgent -- but non-military -- aid for Libyan rebels fighting Muammar Qaddafi as a fears of a open-ended stalemate escalated.
Obama granted the funds to Libya's Transitional National Council in a memo from the President to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton early Tuesday evening.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Britain, Hillary Clinton, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, NATO, Robert Gates, State Department, pentagon
Barack Obama
State Department Signed Off On McCain's Libya Trip
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
The U.S. State Department signed off on and supports Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) Friday trip to Libya where he met with rebel forces engaged in a fierce battle with Muammar Qaddafi over control of the country.
"We were aware that Sen. McCain would be making the trip and State supported the codel," White House spokesman Jay Carney told TPM in an e-mail Friday afternoon.
When asked whether McCain was there as an official emissary for the State Department or White House, Carney told reporters earlier only: "No. No that I'm aware of."
An early proponent of U.S. military strikes in Libya, McCain arrived in the country Friday just hours before Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. military's joint chiefs of staff, publicly warned that the conflict was moving into a stalemate as Qaddafi's troops pressed on in an attempt to take back the rebel-controlled areas in Misrata.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Jay Carney, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, State Department, democratic reforms
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
As Debt Ceiling Vote Nears, The Pressure Is On House Republican Freshmen
The Washington Post reports: "They ran against debt. They swore and swore again that they'd cut up the nation's credit card. But now the 87 freshmen House Republicans are facing intense pressure from administration officials and even some natural allies on why they should -- indeed, why they must -- vote to allow the federal government to go even deeper into debt.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and Obama will meet at 11:45 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 1:45 p.m. ET, Obama will present the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Air Force Academy football team. At 3:05 p.m. ET, Obama will be interviewed by KCNC Denver, WRAL Raleigh, WFAA Dallas and WTHR Indianapolis. At 4:30 p.m. ET, Obama and Biden will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Debt Ceiling, Hillary Clinton, Japan, Joe Biden, Roundup, Senate '12
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Urges Democrats Help Him 'Finish The Job'
Reuters reports: "President Barack Obama urged Democrats on Thursday to help him "finish the job" at the first events of his 2012 re-election bid, appealing for higher taxes on the wealthy and a rejection of Republican budget policies. Obama, seeking to reignite the energy of supporters that propelled his candidacy in 2008, said 'extraordinary progress' has been made during his two years in the White House but 'we've still got work to do.' 'If you're just as fired up now despite the fact that your candidate is a little older and a lot grayer, then I have every confidence that we're going to be able to finish the job,' he said."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from Chicago, Illinois, at 12:55 p.m. ET. He will arrive at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:35 p.m. ET, and arrive back the White House at 2:50 p.m. ET. Obama and Vice President Biden will meet at 3:20 p.m. ET with the leadership of the National Conference of State Legislators.
Topics: 2012 elections, Afghanistan, Budget, Grover Norquist, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Paul Ryan, Roundup, Taxes, Tom Coburn
Barack Obama
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama To Lay Out U.S. Deficit Plans
AFP reports: "U.S. President Barack Obama is set to try and wrest control of Washington's fevered debate over the economy and bulging deficit, sure to be a dominant theme of his 2012 reelection bid. The White House says the president will lay out his vision for constraining the fiscal gap, as fresh political battles over spending escalate less than a week after the dramatic climax to a 2011 budget fight."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10:10 a.m. ET. They will meet at 10:40 a.m. ET with bipartisan House and Senate leadership to discuss fiscal policy. At 1:35 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver his speech on fiscal policy, at the George Washington University.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, Deficit, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Israel/Palestine, John Cornyn, NRSC, Roundup, Senate '12
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Democrats Allow Trims To Favored Programs
The New York Times reports: "After a bruising battle with Republicans over financing the government through the rest of the fiscal year, Democrats spoke proudly of their success in staving off painful cuts to programs near and dear to them, ones that became the centerpiece of their fight against huge cuts sought by Republicans. But as some details of the plan to cut roughly $38 billion in federal spending came trickling out Monday, it was clear that many of those programs, while cut nowhere near as much as Republicans had hoped, were significantly nibbled at."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and meet at 10 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 12 p.m. ET, the President, Vice President, First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden will deliver remarks at the launch of the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden's national initiative to support and honor America's service members and their families. Obama will meet at 2:15 p.m. ET with Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry. Obama and Biden will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and meet at 5 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, Hillary Clinton, Japan, Joe Biden, RNC, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Invites Top Lawmakers, Spending Feud Rages
AFP reports: "President Barack Obama invited top US Congress leaders for talks to break an impasse on spending cuts, with an elusive deal needed by week's end to avert a partial government shutdown. But Republican House Speaker John Boehner, expected to attend the Tuesday meeting, blasted a tentative compromise with Senate Democrats to slash $33 billion through October 1 as 'not enough' and heavy on 'smoke and mirrors.'"
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9 a.m. ET, and hold a meeting on Libya at 9:30 a.m. ET. They will meet at 10:15 a.m. ET with Congressional Leadership, to discuss ongoing negotiations on a funding bill. Obama will meet at 11:45 a.m. ET with Israeli President Shimon Peres, and they will hold a working lunch at 12:10 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 2:50 p.m. ET with Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Daniel Yohannes, and meet at 3:05 p.m. ET with Overseas Private Investment Corporation CEO Elizabeth Littlefield.
Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, Chris Van Hollen, Debt Ceiling, Government Shutdown, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Joe Biden, Roundup, Shimon Peres, Timothy Geithner
Hillary Clinton
Clinton To Congress: Obama Would Ignore Your War Resolutions
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Update: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), who asked Clinton about the War Powers Act during a classified briefing, said Clinton and the administration are sidestepping the measure's provisions giving Congress the ability to put a 60-day time limit on any military action.
"They are not committed to following the important part of the War Powers Act," he told TPM in a phone interview. "She said they are certainly willing to send reports [to us] and if they issue a press release, they'll send that to us too."
The White House would forge ahead with military action in Libya even if Congress passed a resolution constraining the mission, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during a classified briefing to House members Wednesday afternoon.
Clinton was responding to a question from Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) about the administration's response to any effort by Congress to exercise its war powers, according to a senior Republican lawmaker who attended the briefing.
Topics: 'Obama's Wars', Barack Obama, Congress, Hillary Clinton, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, War Powers Act, no-fly zone
Libya
Senate Dems to Delay War Powers Resolutions Until After Briefing
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has asked his caucus to postpone any Libya resolutions until after they receive a classified briefing Tuesday evening.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to brief senators Wednesday night. Afterward, Reid said, all bets are off and Democrats can offer any type of War Powers Resolution they want.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Congress, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Libya, Mike Mullen, Muammar Qaddafi, Robert Gates, Senate, War Powers Act, no-fly zone
Libya
Obama: 'I Refused' To Let A Massacre Happen In Libya
President Barack Obama
President Obama delivered a clear and determined defense of his decision to authorize U.S. military-led air strikes in Libya, stressing that he could not allow an impending massacre in the country to occur but would not use military might to topple Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi from power.
The speech, delivered Monday night, was cloaked in broad statements about American values and U.S. responsibilities to support democratic movements against brutal and repressive regimes.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 112th Congress, Barack Obama, Britain, Fort Hood, France, Hillary Clinton, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, State Department, United Nations, no-fly zone
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Hillary Clinton: Libya Mission's Progress 'Demonstrates Really Remarkable Leadership'
Appearing on This Week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said of the mission in Libya: "But what is quite remarkable here is that NATO assuming the responsibility for the entire mission means that the United States will move to a supporting role. Just as our allies are helping us in Afghanistan where we bear the disproportionate amount of sacrifice and the cost, we are supporting a mission through NATO that was very much initiated by European requests joined by Arab requests. I think this is a watershed moment in international decision making. We learned a lot in the 1990s. We saw what happened in Rwanda. It took a long time in the Balkans, in Kosovo to deal with a tyrant. But I think in -- what has happened since March 1st and we're not even done with the month demonstrates really remarkable leadership."
Gates: 'No, No,' Libya Did Not Pose Threat -- 'But It Was An Interest'
Appearing on This Week, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was asked whether Libya posed an actual threat to the United States. "No, no. It was not -- it was not a vital national interest to the United States, but it was an interest and it was an interest for all of the reasons Secretary Clinton talked about," said Gates. "The engagement of the Arabs, the engagement of the Europeans, the general humanitarian question that was at stake. There was another piece of this though that certainly was a consideration. You've had revolutions on both the East and the West of Libya...Egypt and Tunisia. So you had a potentially significantly destabilizing event taking place in Libya that put at risk potentially the revolutions in both Tunisia and Egypt. And that was another consideration I think we took into account."
Topics: Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Libya, Richard Lugar, Robert Gates, Roundup, Sunday Shows
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Clinton To Attend London Conference On Libya
AFP reports: "US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend a London conference Tuesday to discuss coalition military action against Libya, the State Department said. The visit was announced Thursday after a four-way telephone conversation between Clinton and foreign ministers William Hague of Britain, Alain Juppe of France and Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the conference would discuss the Libyan crisis, implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, and the humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 4:35 p.m. ET, he will host a reception for Greek Independence Day.
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, Libya, Mitt Romney, Pres '12, Robert Gates, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Cost Of Military Campaign In Libya Could Wipe Out GOP's Spending Cuts
The Hill reports: "U.S. military operations in Libya could wipe out a significant chunk of the budget cuts won by congressional Republicans in recent weeks, defense analysts say. GOP leaders have trumpeted enacted spending reductions that amount to more than $285 million per day since the beginning of March. But defense analysts say the Pentagon could be burning through more than $100 million per day in Libya, putting those budget savings at risk."
Obama's Day Ahead
The First Family departed from Santiago, Chile, at 8 a.m. ET, and will arrive at 2:45 p.m. ET in San Salvador, El Salvador. The President and First Lady will participate in an arrival ceremony at 3:30 p.m. ET. Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes at 3:50 p.m. ET, , with an expanded bilateral meeting at 4:20 p.m. ET, and a joint press conference at 4:55 p.m. ET. The President and First Lady will attend an official dinner hosted by President Funes at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, Education, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Libya, Robert Gates, Roundup, Russia
Libya
Libyan Ambassador to U.S.: Ceasefire Is Not Enough
The Libyan Ambassador to the United States, who has broken with the ruling regime, is urging the U.S., Britain and France to employ the full extent of a U.N. resolution passed Thursday and use military airstrikes to contain Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi as soon as possible.
A cease-fire in Libya does not go far enough to quell the humanitarian crisis in the country and the brutal policies of the Muammar Qaddafi's regime, Ambassador Ali Aujali, who joined the opposition in the early days of the crisis, told reporters Friday morning at the National Press Club.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Britain, France, Hillary Clinton, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, State Department, United Nations, no-fly zone
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton: No Second Term In Obama White House, And No Pres. Run
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer that she will not serve in a second term of the Obama administration -- and she also does not want to be president, the office for which she narrowly lost the Democratic nomination to Obama in 2008 after she had previously been the frontrunner.
Key quote:
Q- Would you like to be president of the United StatesPERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
No
Q- Why not?
Because I have the best job I could ever have. This is a moment in history where it is almost hard to catch your breath. There are both the tragedies and disasters that we have seen from Haiti to Japan and there are the extraordinary opportunities and challenges that we see right here in Egypt and in the rest of the region. So I want to be part of helping to represent the United States at this critical moment in time, to do everything I can in support of the president and our government and the people of our country to stand for our values and our ideals, to stand up for our security, which has to remain first and foremost in my mind and to advance America's interests. And there isn't anything that I can imagine doing after this that would be as demanding, as challenging or rewarding.
Q- President of the United States?
You know, I had a wonderful experience running and I am very proud of the support I had and very grateful for the opportunity, but I'm going to be, you know, moving on.
Topics: Hillary Clinton
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Strategy: Share Credit (And Blame?)
The New York Times reports: "As they prepare to wage political war against President Obama, the potential 2012 Republican candidates are doing everything they can to draw sharp distinctions with him. But Mr. Obama isn't cooperating. Rather than emphasize his differences with potential Oval Office rivals or Republican adversaries on Capitol Hill, the president is taking every opportunity he can to embrace members of the other party as co-conspirators in his efforts to confront the country's challenges."
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 1:35 p.m. ET with USAID Administrator Raj Shah, and will meet at 2 p.m. ET with senior advisers. At 2:55 p.m. ET, he will accept an award in conjunction with Sunshine Week, from a coalition of good government groups and transparency advocates. Obama and Biden will meet at 3:05 p.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. At 5 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee event.
Topics: Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Budget, Chuck Schumer, Continuing Resolution, Egypt, Hillary Clinton, John Boehner, Roundup, Social Security
Libya
White House Lays Out New Option on Libya
As Muammar Qaddafi's forces push east and bare down on opposition rebels, the White House continues to deflect calls for a no-fly zone in Libya, instead offering up an entirely new option Tuesday.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the U.S. is trying to find ways to free up some of billions of dollars of assets seized from the Libyan leader's government to provide help for the opposition. He was short on details about the plan as reporters peppered him with questions about whether the tide has already turned in Qaddafi's favor.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Japan, Jay Carney, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, NATO, Nuclear Energy, State Department, Tsunami, no-fly zone
Barack Obama
Obama: U.S. 'Slowly Tightening The Noose' Around Qaddafi
President Barack Obama
President Obama says he is "absolutely" concerned about Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafi prevailing against opposition rebels but said the U.S. and its allies are "slowly tightening the noose" around him in an effort to push the dictator from power.
"I've not taken any options off the table at this point," Obama said in Friday press conference. "...We've moved as swiftly as any international coalition has ever moved to take sanctions...I have not foreclosed any options."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, Budget Committee, CIA, CIA/DNI/Intelligence, Hillary Clinton, House Democrats, House Republicans, James Clapper, Japan, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, Senate, Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans, State Department
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
House Sell Begins On Next Continuing Resolution
Roll Call reports: "House GOP leaders say they are confident they can muster enough support to pass a second stopgap spending bill before a government shutdown next week, despite pressure from their right flank. Conservatives have chaffed at the idea of moving any short-term continuing resolutions that do not include policy riders defunding the Democratic-written health care law and Planned Parenthood."
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 a.m. ET. He will meet at 11:10 a.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He will meet at 3:50 p.m. ET with Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander Richard Eubank. At 7 p.m. ET, he will host a party to watch the Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Bobcats game.
Topics: Barack Obama, Continuing Resolution, Government Shutdown, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Libya, Roundup, Russia
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Gingrich 2012 News Gets Mixed Hill Response
Roll Call reports: "The confirmation Tuesday that Newt Gingrich will explore a run for president was greeted by official Washington with a mixture of indifference, excitement and a general prediction that the former Speaker can't win...A Republican political operative based in Washington, D.C., added that Gingrich's personal life could be a major obstacle in the primary, even as this individual described his potential candidacy as a positive development. "
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET, and Obama will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. Obama and Biden will meet at 12:30 p.m. ET for lunch. At 1:45 p.m. ET, Obama will award the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal. Obama and Biden will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Newt Gingrich, Pres '12, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Walker: Public Employee Benefits 'LIke A Virus That Eats Up More And More of The Budget'
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) appeared on Fox News Sunday, advocating his budget package -- which in addition to requiring greater contributions from public employees to their benefits packages, would also strip public employees of most collective bargaining rights. "If we're going to be in this together, (cut) our $3.6 billion budget deficit, it's going to take a whole lot more than just employee contributions when it comes to pensions and health care," Walker said. "But it's got to be a piece of the puzzle because as I saw at the local level, it's like a virus that eats up more and more of the budget if you don't get it under control."
Schumer: 'There Are Lots Of People On The Hard Right Clamoring For A Shutdown'
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) accused Republicans of not wanting to avoid a government shutdown. "Here's the bottom line: we have said shutdown is off the table," Schumer said. "Speaker (John) Boehner, (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell, other Republican leaders have not taken it off the table when asked and there are lots of people on the hard right clamoring for a shutdown."
Topics: Budget, Chris Van Hollen, Chuck Schumer, Donald Rumsfeld, Government Shutdown, Hillary Clinton, Lindsey Graham, Roundup, Scott Walker, Sunday Shows, Susan Rice, Wisconsin , Wisconsin Protests, Wisconsin State Legislature
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)
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. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
• CNN, State Of The Union: Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
• Fox News Sunday: Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).
• NBC, Meet The Press: Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Chris Van Hollen, Claire McCaskill, Dick Durbin, Donald Rumsfeld, Hillary Clinton, Lindsey Graham, Paul Ryan, Scott Walker, Sunday Shows, Susan Rice, Tom Coburn, Wisconsin , Wisconsin Protests, Wisconsin State Legislature
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
Budget
Cantor Rejects Idea That House Budget Could Harm Nat'l Security
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton
There was a time when a cry of "national security!" set Republican appropriators buzzing, writing blank checks for surveillance, new agencies and wars that eventually went on the nation's credit card.
Those days are apparently over. This morning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ventured down to Capitol Hill to meet with House Speaker John Boehner and to implore him not to slash her department's budget in the ways described in the GOP's budget proposal. No less than the nation's security is at stake, she told reporters after the meeting.
"The scope of the proposed House cuts is massive," she said. ""The truth is that cuts of that level will be detrimental to America's national security."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Budget, Eric Cantor, Hillary Clinton, State Department
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Lawmakers Press Supreme Court For Verdict On Healthcare Law
The Hill reports: "Democratic and Republican lawmakers believe the Supreme Court will ultimately decide the fate of President Obama's healthcare law, and some of them are already exerting pressure on the justices. The high-stakes lobbying comes as the Senate is scheduled to vote on a healthcare repeal bill Wednesday. That effort is expected to fall short, and the spotlight of the intense debate is expected to pivot back to the judicial branch."
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 meet at 11 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 11:35 a.m. ET, Obama will sign the New START Treaty. He will meet at 2:05 p.m. ET with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Obama and Biden will meet at 3:45 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention, Egypt, Hillary Clinton, Pres '12, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Hillary Clinton Calls For Democracy In Egypt
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared on all five major Sunday morning talk shows, calling for a peaceful transition to democracy in Egypt. She said on State of the Union: "We want to see this peaceful uprising on the part of the Egyptian people to demand their rights to be responded to in a very clear, unambiguous way by the government, and then a process of national dialogue that will lead to the changes that the Egyptian people seek and that they deserve,"
Daley: Mubarak Must Support "Basic Human Rights"
Appearing on Face The Nation, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley called for the Egyptian government to show restraint in the current political crisis. "The determination of Egypt will be done by the people of Egypt," said Daley. "The U.S., again, can stand by, we can support, we can support the basic human rights of the people of Egypt."
Topics: Debt, Debt Ceiling, Egypt, Hillary Clinton, Hosni Mubarak, John Boehner, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Roundup, Sunday Shows, William Daley
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Senate Democrats Likely To Take Lead On Bipartisan Initiatives
The Washington Post reports: "It is the narrowly divided Democratic-led Senate - not the Republican House - that is most likely to tackle the bipartisan initiatives Obama laid out Tuesday, including free-trade deals, border security and immigration reform, and an overhaul of the corporate tax code. Although many Senate Democrats say that liberal priorities such as climate-change legislation have fallen off Obama's agenda, they also see an opportunity to begin a political recovery by pursuing more moderate legislative goals with Republicans' help."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:45 a.m. ET, and meet at 10:15 a.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Obama will meet at 11 a.m. ET with his national security team for his monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Obama and Biden will meet for lunch at 12:45 p.m. ET. Obama will hold a 2:30 p.m. ET interview on YouTube with Steve Grove.
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Budget, Defense Spending, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Michele Bachmann, Roundup, Senate Tea Party Caucus, Tea Party
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Under Scrutiny For Clues On Deficit In Speech
Reuters reports: "President Barack Obama aims to rise above party politics in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, but he must prove he is serious about tackling the budget deficit that could unleash a bitter partisan fight."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Obama will deliver the State of the Union Address at 9 p.m. ET.
Topics: Barack Obama, Darrell Issa, Elijah Cummings, Gay Marriage, Hillary Clinton, Mexico, Roundup, State Of The Union
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Boehner: Bipartisan Prayer Service Can Be 'Source Of Solace'
CNN reports: "Congress has responded to the Saturday shootings of 19 people, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, with a "collective embrace" rather than a 'torrent of accusations,' House Speaker John Boehner said at a bipartisan congressional prayer service Wednesday. 'Our nation mourns for the victims. It yearns for peace. And it thirsts for answers,' the Ohio representative said in his welcome statement at the service, according to a transcript of his remarks. The service, held for members of Congress, their spouses and some staffers, was not open to the public."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 1:30 p.m. ET with senior advisers. He does not currently have any scheduled public events.
Topics: Barack Obama, Gabrielle Giffords, Gun Control, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Roundup
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