Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 9, 2009, 8:59AM

NYT: Withdrawal From Iraq Daunting, Complicated
The New York Times reports that the withdrawal from Iraq is an enormous logistical task: "By itself, such a withdrawal would be daunting, but it is further complicated by attacks from an insurgency that remains active; the sensitivities of the Iraqi government about a visible American presence; disagreements with the Iraqis about what will be left for them; and consideration for what equipment is urgently needed in Afghanistan."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 10:30 a.m. ET, presumably on his having been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He will meet with Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) at 11:35 a.m. ET. He will meet with Vice President Biden at 12:30 p.m. ET for lunch. At 1:40 p.m. ET, he and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner will meet with five Americans who have been hurt by outdated rules regulating the financial sector, and Obama will deliver remarks on regulatory reform at 2 p.m. ET. Obama will meet with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan at 2:30 p.m. ET. Finally, the President and First Lady will host a barbecue for Secret Service members and their families on the South Lawn.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 15, 2009, 9:07AM

Obama Privately Calls Kanye West A Jackass; ABC Apologizes For Publishing It
During an interview with CNBC, President Obama called Kanye West a "jackass" for his behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards -- which ABC News then published on Twitter, even though that was intended to have been an off-the-record comment. ABC has now apologized: "This was done before our editorial process had been completed. That was wrong. We apologize to the White House and CNBC and are taking steps to ensure that it will not happen again."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart form the White House at 9 a.m. ET, arriving at 10:15 a.m. ET at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Ohio. At 10:40 a.m. ET, he will host a roundtable discussion with workers at the Lordstown Complex General Motors Plant in Warren, Ohio, and he will deliver remarks on the economy at 11:10 a.m. ET. He will depart from Warren at 11:50 a.m. ET, arriving at 12:20 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He will speak at 1:40 p.m. ET at the AFL-CIO Convention, then leave at 2:45 p.m. ET for Philadelphia. At 4:10 p.m. ET, he will speak at a fundraiser for Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), and also at another Specter fundraiser at 6 p.m. ET. He will depart form Philadelphia International Airpot at 6:55 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 7:55 p.m. ET.

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Ted Kennedy

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 9:01AM

Hundreds Line Up To Visit Ted Kennedy's Grave
The Washington Post reports that hundreds of people turned out on Sunday to visit the grave of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), after he was buried Saturday night at Arlington National Cemetery: "Arlington had been closed to the public for Kennedy's burial, which was attended only by family members and a few close friends. When the cemetery opened at 8 a.m. Sunday, a small group of people was already waiting. By 11 a.m., the line had swelled to more than 100 people."

U.S. Ramping Up Withdrawal From Iraq
The United States is working to withdraw forces from Iraq, picking up the pace a year ahead of the August 2010 deadline: "The goal is to withdraw tens of thousands of troops and about 60% of equipment out of Iraq by the end of next March, Brig. Gen. Heidi Brown, a deputy commander charged with overseeing the withdrawal, told The Associated Press in one of the first detailed accounts of how the U.S. military plans to leave Iraq."

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Fourth Of July Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 4, 2009, 1:04PM

Obama Recognizes Fourth Of July -- And Goes After His Naysayers
In this weekend's Presidential YouTube Address, President Obama paid tribute to the Independence Day Holiday, and the spirit of those who built America. Furthermore, he tied this into his own agenda on energy, health care and other issues, and against his critics who say he's doing too much:

"These naysayers have short memories," said Obama. "They forget that we, as a people, did not get here by standing pat in a time of change. We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America. We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it. And on this July 4th, we need to summon that spirit once more."

McCain Stands With Iranians In GOP's Independence Day Address
In this week's Republican Address we have President Obama's rival in last year's general election, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who also paid tribute to the founding ideals of the United States. For his part, McCain took the opportunity to stand with the dissidents of Iran

"They do not ask us to arm them or come to their assistance with anything other than public declarations of solidarity, and public denunciations of the tyrants who oppress them. We have a moral obligation to do so," said McCain. "There are those among us who warn that a strong and unequivocal declaration of moral support for Iranians would be used by the cruel regime in power there to convince their subject people that the United States is behind the civil unrest they have attempted to hide from the world. But the regime will make that claim no matter what we say or do."

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 30, 2009, 9:01AM

Iraqis Gain Control Of Cities As U.S. Troops Pull Back
U.S. combat troops have officially pulled out of Iraqi cities and towns, handing control over to the Iraqis. "This day, which we consider a national celebration, is an achievement made by all Iraqis," said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. At the same time, there was a significant increase in violence over the last few weeks, in the run-up to the pullback, leaving questions as to what the future will hold.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will speak at 2 p.m. ET from the East Room, highlighting innovative nonprofit programs from across the country. At 3:15 p.m. ET, he will meet with Sec. of Energy Steven Chu.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 28, 2009, 1:12PM

Axelrod: Obama Won't Rule Out Middle-Class Tax Hike
Appearing on This Week, Senior White House David Axelrod did not rule out the idea of President Obama raising taxes on people making under $250,000 -- which Obama pledged not to do during the 2008 campaign -- in order to fund health care. "One of the problems we've had in this town is that people draw lines in the sand and they stop talking to each other. And you don't get anything done," said Axelrod. "That's not the way the president approaches us. He is very cognizant of protecting people -- middle class people, hard-working people who are trying to get along in a very difficult economy. And he will continue to represent them in these talks."

McConnell: We Have Best Health Care System In The World
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) attacked the Democrats' health care proposals. "Well, listening to them, you wouldn't recognize that America has the finest health care system in the world. We have some problems with access and with cost, which can -- addressed without wrecking the best health care system in the world," said McConnell. "What they really have in mind, Bret [Baier], is to create a government-run plan after which there won't be any private insurance companies."

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Afghanistan

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 19, 2009, 9:01AM

New Health Care Draft Leaves Out Public Option
The Washington Post reports that a new draft health-care proposal from the Senate Finance Committee includes an individual mandate expands Medicaid coverage -- and leaves out the public option: "Yesterday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) met with four Republicans, including Sen. Charles Grassley (Iowa), the ranking GOP member on the panel, along with two Democratic colleagues in an attempt to find bipartisan consensus. Baucus dubbed the group 'the coalition of the willing.'"

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 9:30 a.m. ET, at the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference. At 3:15 p.m. ET, he will mark Father's Day weekend by holding an event in the East Room to discuss fatherhood and mentoring. At 4 p.m. ET, he will meet at the South Lawn with young men from local schools. At 8 p.m. ET, he will attend the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2009, 9:02AM

House Passes War Funding Bill Over GOP And Left-Wing Dem Opposition
The House of Representatives passed the $106 billion funding bill for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, by a 226-202 margin. The roll call vote shows that only five Republicans voted in favor -- due to a GOP effort to derail the bill over the inclusion of money for the International Monetary Fund -- along with 32 Democrats voting No, on the grounds that the bill did not do enough to end the wars.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with financial regulators at 11:40 a.m. ET. At 12:50 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks laying out a comprehensive regulatory reform plan. At 2 p.m. ET, he will meet with Sec. of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan. At 5:45 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks and sign a Presidential Memorandum to grant benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

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John Boehner

Flashback: Boehner Attacked Obama And Hillary For Voting Against A War-Funding Bill

Eric Kleefeld | June 16, 2009, 3:57PM

As The Hill reported late last night, House Republicans plan to vote as a bloc against the Iraq-Afghanistan war funding bill, due to included funding for the International Monetary Fund. Obviously, this is a big change for the party that routinely attacked then-Sen. Obama in last year's campaign for allegedly voting to de-fund the troops when he voted against a funding bill that didn't include a timetable for withdrawal.

In fact, check out this Town Hall column by House Republican Leader John Boehner, from April 2008:

But there is a clear distinction between saying you support the troops and backing up those claims with genuine action. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) once said "we shouldn't play chicken with our troops" when it comes to funding our troops in harm's way, and his colleague Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) urged General Petraeus at the start of the surge to request "every possible piece of equipment and resource necessary" to keep our troops safe. These words turned into little more than empty rhetoric when both proceeded to vote against funding our troops last year.

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Guantanamo Bay

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 16, 2009, 8:57AM

WaPo: Documents Suggest CIA Mistakes In Torture Of Detainees, False Confessions
The Washington Post reports that new documents show that key Guantanamo detainees told the Combatant Status Review Tribunal that they either lied to the CIA in order to stop being tortured, or were later informed of mistakes in their capture. "They told me, 'Sorry, we discover that you are not Number 3, not a partner, not even a fighter,'" said Abu Zubaida. And Khalid Sheikh Mohammed described his interrogation: "Where is he? I don't know," Mohammed said. "Then he torture me. Then I said yes, he is in this area."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet one-on-one with President Lee Myung-bak, of the Republic of Korea, at 10:30 a.m. ET. They will have an expanded meeting at 10:45 a.m. ET, and then a joint press availability at 11:35 a.m. ET, and a working lunch at 12 p.m. ET. At 4:30 p.m. ET, Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Sec. of Defense Robert Gates.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 11, 2009, 9:02AM

Senate GOPers Ask Sotomayor For More Information
The Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent Sonia Sotomayor a letter complaining that her questionnaire is incomplete, asking her to submit another supplement: "If you believe that your questionnaire is fully responsive, we would appreciate an explanation to that effect." They also ask her for copies of materials she edited for the Yale Law Review, and to explain why an all-female organization that she belongs to does not violate the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will hold a town hall meeting at 1:10 p.m. ET today in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The subject of the event will be to discuss the need for health-care reform. He will arrive back at the White House at 5:10 p.m. ET.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 30, 2009, 1:04PM

Obama Praises Sotomayor -- And Dismisses Criticism -- In YouTube Address
In this week's Presidential YouTube Address, President Obama discussed his nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, praising her qualifications -- and rebutting the critics:

"There are, of course, some in Washington who are attempting to draw old battle lines and playing the usual political games, pulling a few comments out of context to paint a distorted picture of Judge Sotomayor's record," said Obama. "But I am confident that these efforts will fail; because Judge Sotomayor's seventeen-year record on the bench - hundreds of judicial decisions that every American can read for him or herself - speak far louder than any attack; her record makes clear that she is fair, unbiased, and dedicated to the rule of law."

RNC Address: Daniels Blasts "Imperialistic" Cap And Trade Proposal
In this weekend's Republican address, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels blasted President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi for supporting cap and trade:

"It's become clear that the Pelosi bill has little to do with a cooler planet and everything to do with raising money for the out-of-control federal spending now underway in Washington," said Daniels. "Please excuse us Midwesterners for feeling a bit like the targets of an imperialistic policy, devised in places like California, New York, and Massachusetts for their benefit, at our expense."

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Sonia Sotomayor

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 27, 2009, 8:59AM

Liberal Group Launches Pro-Sotomayor Ad
A new group called the Coalition for Constitutional Values, a joint venture of the the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Alliance for Justice and People for the American Way, is going up on the air today with this new six-figure ad buy on national network news and cable news to promote Sonia Sotomayor:

The ad uses on-screen text to go into Sotomayor's background and rise from humble roots, while using audio of President Obama from a few weeks ago, discussing what he would seek in a Justice: "Someone who understands that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory -- it is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of peoples' lives."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will be touring the solar photovoltaic array at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, at 2 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks on the progress made in the first 100 days of the stimulus act, at 2:40 p.m. ET. He will depart from Vegas for Los Angeles at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will attend a DNC fundraiser at 10:05 p.m. ET at the Beverly Hills Hilton.

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Alan Keyes

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 22, 2009, 9:00AM

WaPo: White House To Steer G.M. Into Bankruptcy
The Washington Post reports that the Obama Administration is preparing to send General Motors into a planned bankruptcy as the end of next week, with the intention to give the company nearly $30 billion more in aid to help them restructure.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will sign the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, at 9 a.m. ET in the Rose Garden. At 10 a.m. ET, he will deliver the commencement at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. At 3 p.m. ET, he will return to the Rose Garden to sign the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 21, 2009, 8:56AM

Today: Obama's And Cheney's Big Speeches On National Security
The big headline event will be a dueling pair of speeches from President Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney, each laying out their visions for national security. Obama will be discussing at 10:10 a.m. ET the steps his Administration is taking on such issues as Guantanamo Bay and fighting terrorism, while Cheney will be speaking at 10:45 a.m. ET from the American Enterprise Institute, laying out a thorough defense of the Bush Administration's policies and condemning Obama's approach.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver his speech on national security at 10:10 a.m. ET, from the National Archives Museum Rotunda. At 1:30 p.m. ET, he will welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House, at the South Portico. At 4:15 p.m. ET, he will meet with President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 20, 2009, 9:00AM

Rumsfeld Spokesman Denies Accusations Of Biblical Quotes In Iraq War Briefings
Keith Urbahn, the spokesman for former Sec. of Defense Don Rumsfeld, is strongly denying the GQ report that Rumsfeld approved Iraq War briefings for President George W. Bush that incorporated Biblical quotes. "Rumsfeld was fully aware that words and actions could be harmful and counterproductive to the war effort. It's safe to say that some of these cover slides could be considered in that category," Urbahn said. "The suggestion that Rumsfeld would have composed of, approved of, or personally shown the slides to President Bush is flat wrong. It did not happen."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will attend the first quarterly meeting of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, at 10 a.m. ET in the Roosevelt Room, focusing at this meeting on clean energy jobs. At 3 p.m. ET, he will participate in a credentialing ceremony for foreign ambassadors in the Oval Office. He will hold a bill signing at 4:30 p.m. in the East Room, signing the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act and the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act. At 5:45 p.m. ET, he will call the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. At 7:30 p.m. ET, the President and First Lady will host a bipartisan reception in the Blue Room for members of the House and their guests.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 15, 2009, 9:00AM

Report: Military Tribunals To Return, With More Detainee Rights
The Obama Administration will reportedly announce a restart of some military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, under revamped conditions with new legal protections for terror suspects. Detainees will have greater leeway to choose their own attorneys, evidence obtained through torture will be banned, and hearsay evidence will be restricted.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will welcome the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team to the White House at 12:20 p.m. ET, at the South Portico. At 1:05 p.m. ET, he will meet with Sec. of State Hillary Clinton in the Oval Office.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 10, 2009, 1:04PM

Obama Plays Comedian At Correspondents' Dinner
President Obama told all manner of jokes last night at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, roasting himself, his administration, his party, the opposition, and the press:

My personal favorite: "Now Sasha and Malia aren't here tonight, because they're grounded. You can't just take Air Force One on a joyride to Manhattan. I don't care whose kids you are."

Cheney: Opponents "Prepared To Sacrifice American Lives"
Former Vice President Dick Cheney appeared today on Face The Nation, and he had a tough response to the Obama Administration's opposition to his approved methods of interrogation: "Well, then you'd have to say that, in effect, we're prepared to sacrifice American lives rather than run an intelligent interrogation program that would provide us the information we need to protect America."

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 9:01AM

Gates Asks For War Funding; To Testify Before Committee Today
Sec. of Defense Robert Gates is asking Congress to pass $83.4 billion in funding by Memorial Day for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Gates will testify today at a 10 a.m. ET hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined by Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, where he will say: "After Memorial Day, we will need to consider options to delay running out of funds."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meeting at 1:30 p.m. ET with Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Carl Levin (D-MI), and Reps. Ike Skelton (D-MO) and John McHugh (R-NY). At 2:30 p.m. ET, he will speak at the "White House to Light House" Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride, a program to raise awareness about the challenges facing wounded veterans. At 3 p.m. ET, Obama will meet with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner, and at 3:45 p.m. ET he will meet with Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, joined by Vice President Biden.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2009, 9:00AM

NYT: Exceptions To Iraq Deadlines Are Proposed
The New York Times reports that the American and Iraqi governments will begin negotiating possible exceptions to the June 30 deadline for withdrawing U.S. combat troops from cities, focusing on Mosul in the North and some parts of Baghdad. Iraqi officials have agreed to classify U.S. bases in the Baghdad area as technically outside the city limits, thus holding to the letter of the agreements.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama is speaking at 9 a.m. ET, to the National Academy of Sciences annual meeting. At 2 p.m. ET, he will welcome the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team. And at 5 p.m. ET, he will attend a reception with foreign economic, finance and environmental ministers.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 25, 2009, 1:11PM

Obama: Fiscal Discipline Needed
In this weekend's Presidential YouTube address, President Obama discussed his goal of making government more efficient and controlling spending, such as the re-introduction of PAYGO principles:

"We cannot sustain deficits that mortgage our children's future, nor tolerate wasteful inefficiency," said Obama. "Government has a responsibility to spend the peoples' money wisely, and to serve the people effectively."

GOP Address: Dems Have Put Us Behind France
In this weekend's RNC YouTube message, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) warned that the Democrats have put behind the French on issues like fiscal discipline and energy -- so much so that the United States would be ineligible to join the European Union:

"Now of course we don't want to be in the European Union," said Alexander. "We're the United States of America. But French deficits are lower than ours, and their president has been running around sounding like a Republican -- lecturing our president about spending so much."

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 22, 2009, 9:00AM

Senate Confirms Christopher Hill As Ambassador To Iraq
The Senate last night confirmed Christopher Hill to be President Obama's Ambassador to Iraq. The nomination had previously been delayed by some Republican Senators, including John McCain and Sam Brownback, but Hill was finally able to win confirmation on a 73-23 vote.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama is traveling to Iowa for Earth Day today, accompanied by former governor and current Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack. He will depart the White House at 9:45 a.m. ET, and take off from Andrews Air Force Base at 10 a.m. ET. He will arrive in Des Moines at 12:15 p.m. ET, and will tour the Trinity Structural Towers Manufacturing Plant, which makes wind-energy towers, at 1:20 p.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks on his energy plan, laying out a strategy focused on clean energy. He will leave Des Moines at 3:15 p.m. ET, and is scheduled to arrive back at the White House at 6:30 p.m. ET.

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Bailout

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 21, 2009, 9:05AM

Geithner To Face Questions On TARP
Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner will be testifying at 10 a.m. ET today before the Congressional Oversight Panel for the TARP program, where he is expected to face tough questions on the progress of the program -- and regarding a recent report by Inspector General Neil Barofsky criticizing the program for benefitting business and being potentially unfair to the taxpayer.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with King Abdullah of Jordan one-on-one at 10 a.m. ET, and the two will hold an expanded meeting at 10:30 a.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET, Obama will present the Commander in Chief's trophy to the Naval Academy football team. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will meet with Ted Kennedy and Bill Clinton to discuss national service, and at 4 p.m. ET he will sign the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law, at the SEED School in Washington.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 12, 2009, 1:04PM

Odierno: "I Believe It's A Ten" That Troops Will Be Out Of Iraq In Late 2011
Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, Gen. Ray Odierno reaffirmed that U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by late 2011, in accordance with the current timeline. When asked by John King about the chance of this, on a scale of one to ten, Odierno said: "As you ask me today, I believe it's a ten - that we will be gone by 2011." On the other hand, he also said he would continue to reassess the schedule of reducing combat troops over the next 18 months, but the final decisions would be up to the Iraqis.

Obama Family Attends Easter Services
President Obama and his family celebrated Easter this morning at St. John's Church, an Episcopal church located across from the White House, in his first public worship service since becoming president. Obama previously attended a service there on Inauguration Day, and church tradition states that every president since James Madison has visited.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 10, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama Requests $83.4 Billion For Iraq And Afghanistan
President Obama has requested $83.4 billion from Congress, for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which would raise the total costs of the two wars to almost $1 trillion. The Associated Press notes that the request will disappoint the more anti-war Democrats, but at the same time the continued commitment to the withdrawal of combat troops means it is sure to pass without the legislative battles that occurred during the Bush Administration in 2007.

Obama Meeting With Top Economic Officials
President Obama will be meeting at 11 a.m. ET with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, FDIC Chair Sheila Bair, SEC Chair Mary Shapiro and Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan. The group will update Obama on the current efforts to stabilize and repair the financial system, and afterwards Obama will deliver brief remarks to reporters after the meeting.

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Barack Obama

Under Obama Progressive Reps Still Opposed To War Spending

Brian Beutler | April 9, 2009, 5:29PM

In 2007 and 2008, when George Bush was still President, Democrats took a lot of heat from their supporters for their inability or unwillingness to end the war in Iraq. To the extent that they tried, though, the challenge within the party fell to leaders to convince their right flank to sign on to the efforts.

Now that a Democrat is president and the war in Iraq is (or at least seems to be) coming to an end, the situation's somewhat flipped. Obama wants to ramp up U.S. efforts in a different war and--with most Democrats in support, but without an exit strategy--the new challenge may lie in convincing their left flank to play along.

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Barack Obama

Message to Conservatives: Troops Like Obama Just Fine

Brian Beutler | April 7, 2009, 2:23PM

A few months ago, when Barack Obama gave his big Iraq speech at Camp Lejeune, conservatives pounced on what they (and some in the mainstream media) described as the Marines' iciness to their new commander in chief, particularly compared to a previous reception for President George W. Bush.

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Iraq

Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Approve Obama's Iraq Plan

Eric Kleefeld | March 19, 2009, 1:43PM

A new CNN poll finds widespread approval for President Obama's Iraq withdrawal plan.

The question: "Barack Obama has announced that he will remove most U.S. troops from Iraq by August of next year but keep 35,000 to 50,000 troops in that country longer than that. Do you favor or oppose this plan?"

Those who favor the plan come in at 70%, with only 29% opposing it.

The data released so far doesn't tell us how many people oppose it from the right for withdrawing troops from Iraq, and how many oppose it from the left for not going far enough. Then again, the makeup of the opposition doesn't appear to be much of a concern if it's only at 29%.

Iraq

Obama Nixes Plan to Charge Veterans For Service-Related Health Care

Elana Schor | March 18, 2009, 5:32PM

TPMDC first reported last week on the Obama administration's plans to consider charging veterans' private health insurance for injuries suffered during their service. The proposed move ignited a firestorm on the right in recent days, with the Drudge Report picking up on a critical press release from the American Legion and sparking a letter of protest to the administration this morning from 61 House members.

The scandal abruptly cooled this afternoon, however, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told a gathering of veterans' groups that the White House had agreed to kill the idea of charging third parties for service-related veterans' health care. Pelosi said:

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John McCain

Graham, McCain: What about Negroponte?

Matthew Cooper | March 13, 2009, 5:25PM

Reader CT Voter notes that John Negroponte, Bush's ambassador to Iraq, and another much esteemed career diplomat--although his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Honduras came under criticism--didn't have Mideast experience. He'd been at the U.N. dealing with Mideast issues as part of his tenure there but that's not the kind of specific expertise Graham and McCain seem to want. It's all very odd. TPM readers are encouraged, though, to search for more examples of McCain and Graham not asking for regional expertise for a major appointment.

Iraq

White House Stands Behind Hill

Matthew Cooper | March 13, 2009, 3:57PM

Just to add to what my colleague, Elana Schor had earlier on Chris Hill: At his press briefing today, Robert Gibbs stood behind Chris Hill as the President's choice to be the next Ambassador to Iraq. So for the moment at least, there's no backing down to the McCain-Graham assault on Hill as being unready for Iraq. Hill is one of the most accomplished career diplomats at State but his assignments have all been European and Asian. He speaks Polish and Serbo-Croatian, according to the State Department web site.

But here's something interesting. McCain and Graham had no problem voting for Hill to be come George W. Bush's Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs even thought his previous experience was overwhelmingly European with one tour in Seoul. In general the country's supported the idea that senior State Department officials can move around the world and not have to prove their credentials each time they're assigned to a new region. McCain and Graham are imposing a new standard that seems odd. It's not wildly irrational to want an Iraq ambassador with Mideast experience but it's a bar that I've never heard Senators ask of any other career diplomat before. Perhaps TPM readers can think of other examples where Graham and McCain had no qualms about supporting a nominee for a key diplomatic post who had no previous experience in the region?

Barack Obama

Reid Defends Obama's Iraq Ambassadorial Nominee

Elana Schor | March 13, 2009, 3:15PM

We mentioned earlier this morning that the AP got a little ahead of itself in reporting that Chris Hill's chances of getting confirmed as ambassador to Baghdad were "dimming" thanks to opposition from Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has just released a statement declaring in no uncertain terms that Hill's right on track:

Chris Hill is a strong, skilled and effective negotiator and an accomplished career foreign service officer who demonstrated his significant expertise in some of the most protracted and complex diplomatic challenges in the world, including those in North Korea and Bosnia. Hill is precisely the kind of diplomat America needs in the Middle East and Iraq, where a long-term resolution must be achieved politically and diplomatically, not militarily. I look forward to confirming him as quickly as possible.

Late Update: A potent takedown of Hill's conservative critics is just out from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), who asserts that Hill's effectiveness during the North Korea nuclear talks was "hamstrung by in-fighting among senior members of the Bush administration":

I have every confidence that Ambassador Hill is the right person to represent the United States in Baghdad. By nominating Ambassador Hill to serve in Bagdad, President Obama has chosen one of our very best to help bring lasting peace to Iraq. I look forward to his confirmation hearings, and am confident that those of my colleagues who may not yet be familiar with his service to the nation will be as impressed by his skill and dedication as I have been.

Some of my colleagues, frustrated by North Korea's dogged pursuit of nuclear weapons, have implied that Ambassador Hill is somehow responsible for the fact that North Korea exploded a nuclear device on President Bush's watch. But the responsibility for that lies first and foremost with North Korea and second with President Bush and his senior advisers, who did not empower Ambassador Hill to engage in direct talks with Pyongyang until after the North had withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, exported nuclear technology to Syria, and tested a nuclear bomb. In fact, had Ambassador Hill not been hamstrung by in-fighting among senior members of the Bush Administration, President Obama might not have inherited such a dangerous problem on the Korean Peninsula.

There are limits to what any one person can do in the realm of foreign affairs, but individual talent still matters. Hill has it in abundance.

Senate

Battle Brewing Over Iraq Ambassadorial Nominee

Elana Schor | March 13, 2009, 12:22PM

Christopher Hill, the Obama administration's nominee to become the next ambassador to Baghdad, hasn't made many friends on the right since his time as the Bush administration's chief negotiator on the North Korean nuclear deal.

And now Hill has drawn fire from Senate Republicans who could make serious trouble for his nomination. John McCain (AZ) and Lindsey Graham (SC) released a joint statement last night blasting Hill's "controversial legacy" in the Pyongyang talks and alleging that he lacks the Middle East experience required in a Baghdad envoy.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) echoed the criticisms in a later interview with the AP. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) is already out in front with a defense of Hill, telling Fox News that his conservative critics should take up their North Korea beef with the departed Bush administration.

The AP reports that the trio of critical Republicans means Hill's chances of confirmation are "dimming," which seems to be something of an overstatement given that he would only need one GOP supporter to break a filibuster. But the GOPers' move clearly signals intense political jockeying to come -- with the accompanying media coverage that McCain often draws.

Late Update: Another Democratic senator on the Foreign Relations panel, Jim Webb (VA), has joined Kerry in sending a positive signal on Hill's nomination. Here's Webb's statement:

I have tremendous regard for the service Christopher Hill has given our country. He is one of the best negotiators in the Foreign Service today. There will be ample opportunity to fully explore the full range of his qualifications during the confirmation hearings.

Health Care

Could Obama Go Farther Right Than McCain on Privatizing Veterans' Care?

Elana Schor | March 11, 2009, 2:09PM

TPM alum Spencer Ackerman points to a genuinely inexplicable revenue-raising move being considered by the Obama administration: charging veterans through their private health insurance companies for injuries suffered during their service.

Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed yesterday that the administration is weighing whether to start charging veterans for their combat-related injuries -- an admission that got strongly shot down by both Democratic and Republican senators.

It's worth noting that progressives hammered Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) during his presidential bid last year for suggesting that veterans should be able to seek private treatment for health problems unrelated to their service. Should the Obama VA follow through with the plan it's now considering, it would arguably be moving farther right than McCain on the sensitive question of privatizing veterans' health care.

Late Update: The Navy Times offers more background on the private-insurance proposal under consideration by the Obama VA, explaining:

Whether private insurers would pay anything [on service-related claims] would depend on their policies on serving as the second payer on medical expenses. Some insurance policies cover such costs and others do not.

Budget

GOPers Criticize Obama for Doing What Worked For Bush 41

Elana Schor | March 6, 2009, 6:12PM

The budget debate has yet to reach critical mass on Capitol Hill, but here's one Republican talking point to watch out for in the coming days: criticism of President Obama's choice to put the cost of the Iraq war in the annual budget, rather than relying on "emergency supplemental" war funding that doesn't impact the deficit (as George W. Bush did).

Rep. Paul Ryan (WI), the senior GOPer on the House Budget Committee, was the first to raise this point during a hearing with White House budget chief Peter Orszag on Tuesday. Ryan derided as a "budget gimmick" the Obama team's decision to assume savings from a gradual end to the war in Iraq. As the AP put it, Ryan

told Orszag that administration claims of deficit-cutting are mostly bogus since the deficit would fall anyway as the war in Iraq winds down.

Orszag offered a rebuttal to this claim on his blog this afternoon, pointing out that former President George H.W. Bush assumed a similar savings from the gradual winding-down of the Cold War -- which ultimately panned out.

As Orszag's numbers show, assuming that defense spending would fall below the budget "baseline" (which Obama bases on 2008 previous war costs) ended up paying dividends for Bush 41.

The Senate Budget Committee's Republicans go into more detail in their critique of the president's budget, available for download here (second link from the top). The Senate GOPers argue that "the budget claims 'silly' savings by imagining new baselines," asserting that the real model for 2010 war spending is what was spent so far in 2009, or $70 billion.

Now, at the risk of attempting to analyze a budget debate that's far in the weeds, should the budget baseline assume a full year of war spending or a partial one? The former is a far more honest method.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | February 27, 2009, 9:00AM

Today: Obama Giving Speech On Iraq Pullout Timeline
President Obama will be speaking at 11:45 a.m. from the Camp Lejeune military base in North Carolina, where he will be laying out his plan for a withdrawal from Iraq. The plan will involve the withdrawal of combat troops by August 2010, with a residual force of 30,000-50,000 troops to continue training the Iraqis through December 2011.

Biden Holding Meeting On Middle Class Issues, Green Economy
Joe Biden is at the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia today, where he will be leading the first meeting of the Middle Class Task Force, focusing on the creation of green jobs, accompanied by several cabinet and task force members. This evening, Biden and his wife Jill will be speaking at the Delaware State Education Association Winter Advocacy Retreat in Rehoboth, Delaware.

WaPo: Obama Iraq Plan Faces Opposition On The Left
The Washington Post reports that Obama's Iraq withdrawal plan is not impressing other Democrats, and that not one member of the Dem Congressional leadership supported it during a meeting last night between Obama and members of Congress. Chuck Schumer declared that a withdrawal "has to be done responsibly, we all agree. But 50,000 is more than I would have thought, and we await the justification."

NYT: Obama Budget Repeals Reaganism
The New York Times examines President Obama's budget, marveling at its program of progressive taxation and other measures to address income inequality. The Times declares: "The budget that President Obama proposed on Thursday is nothing less than an attempt to end a three-decade era of economic policy dominated by the ideas of Ronald Reagan and his supporters."

Obama To Meet With Australian Prime Minister
The Obama Administration has announced that the president will be meeting March 24 with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, at the White House. The two leaders will discuss the financial crisis, Afghanistan, climate change, nuclear proliferation and other issues.

Report: Pelosi To Refuse Contributions From Banks
Roll Call reports that Nancy Pelosi will refuse campaign contributions from banks, in the wake of their opposition to a mortgage reform bill. Pelosi made the announcement at a Democratic caucus meeting yesterday morning -- perhaps a signal to other members that they should follower her lead on this.

Senate Votes For D.C. Representation In Congress
The Senate voted last night by 61-37 to pass a bill to to give the District of Columbia a full vote in the House of Representatives. The bill will be signed into law by President Obama, but will immediately face a court challenge on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

Another Ad Ties GOP Leaders To Rush Limbaugh
The labor-backed group Americans United For Change has this new ad out, attacking the Republican leadership for saying "No" to President Obama's stimulus plan, and connecting them to Rush Limbaugh's "I want him to fail" policy:

"So who are Republican leaders listening to?" the announcer asks, followed by Limbaugh's "I want him to fail." The ad is going up on national cable and in the D.C. media market -- essentially aimed at the political class and higher-information voters who watch the news.