TPMDC
Karl Rove

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.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (11) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Bailout, Barack Obama, Dick Lugar, Iran, Joe Biden, Karl Rove, NRCC, NRSC, Roundup, Sarah Palin

Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama Seeks Additional Study On Afghanistan Situation
The Washington Post reports that President Obama has asked for a province-by-province analysis of the situation in Afghanistan, on the performance of local leaders and the different needs for additional help. Said a U.S. official who request anonymity: "How do you separate those who have taken up arms because they oppose the presence of foreigners in their area, because they're getting paid to fight us because we're there, from those who want to restore a Taliban government? How many of the people who we're fighting actually share al-Qaeda's ideology?"

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama last night visited the remains of fallen Americans, returning home from Afghanistan. Today, Obama will deliver remarks at 11:50 a.m. ET, on the administration's plans to help small businesses. He will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. He will meet at 2:40 p.m. ET with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). At 3:15 p.m. ET, he will sign the Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. He will meet at 3:45 p.m. ET with senior advisers. and at 5:05 p.m. ET with representatives of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (2) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, DNC, Fundraising, GOP, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Jon Kyl, Karl Rove, Pakistan, Roundup, Senate, Stimulus

Health Care

Clash Of Titans: Rove, Dean Debate Health Care At Penn State

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 28, 2009, 11:28AM

Frmr, Sr. Advisor/Deputy Chief of Staff to Pres. George W. Bush Karl Rove and DNC Chairman Howard Dean (D-VT)

It may not have been held in an octagon, but a debate last night at Penn State between Karl Rove and Howard Dean was still a rhetorical brawl, according to reports. The pair clashed over the basic battle lines of the reform debate, with Dean arguing that a public option is "imperative" for reform's success, and Rove claiming the entire Democratic reform model is sure to drag the country in to debt, despair and destruction.

Overall it was a "cerebral" affair, according to the AP. But the crowd wanted fireworks, and they made sure they got their wish.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (12) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Health Care, Howard Dean, Karl Rove

Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 3:23PM

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod.

• CBS, Face The Nation: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH).

• CNN, State Of The Union: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).

• Fox News Sunday: Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Sen. John Thune (R-SD), former Bush White House adviser Karl Rove, former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe.

• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), California First Lady Maria Shriver, Center for American Progress president John Podesta.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (10) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Arlen Specter, Chris Dodd, David Axelrod, John Kerry, John Thune, Jon Kyl, Karl Rove, Kent Conrad, Rahm Emanuel, Sunday Shows, Terry McAuliffe

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

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

CBO: Budget Deficit Reaches Record $1.4 Trillion
The federal budget deficit for the just-completed fiscal year 2009 reached $1.4 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. This record number was due to multiple factors, including falling tax revenues due to the recession, corporate bailouts and stimulus spending. This was triple the previous record of $459 billion, which was reached last year.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will have lunch at 12 p.m. ET with business leaders. At 2:30 p.m. ET, he will visit the National Naval Medical Center Marine Wounded Warrior basketball game. At 3:15 p.m. ET, Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, and they will meet at 3:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At 5 p.m. ET, Obama will play basketball with cabinet secretaries and members of Congress.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (9) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Karl Rove, Levi Johnston, Sarah Palin, Timothy Geithner

Charlie Crist

Karl Rove Supports Marco Rubio In Florida Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | October 5, 2009, 2:06PM

Karl Rove, former Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush

Marco Rubio, the former Florida state House Speaker and current insurgent conservative candidate in the 2010 Republican primary for Senate, has just picked up a big-name supporter: Karl Rove, who has donated $1,000 to the campaign.

Rubio is facing an uphill battle against the big favorite in the race, moderate Republican Gov. Charlie Crist. Rubio has hoped to mobilize conservative resentments against Crist, especially over Crist's backing of President Obama's stimulus bill. And as of right now, it appears he has a big ally in his battle against the national GOP establishment.

(Via Political Wire)

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (6) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Charlie Crist, FL-SEN, Karl Rove, Marco Rubio, Senate '10

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 1, 2009, 8:57AM

WaPo: Obama May Have To Seek GOP Support On Afghanistan
The Washington Post says that the emerging Democratic opposition to a heavily increased troop presence in Afghanistan could put President Obama in an awkward situation: "The emerging Democratic position could compel Obama, whose domestic agenda is facing stiff Republican criticism in Congress, to rely on those same opposition lawmakers for support if he decides to send more combat troops to Afghanistan."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at a 1:50 p.m. ET fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association. He will meet at 3:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and at 4 p.m. ET with Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner. He will depart form the White House at 6:35 p.m. ET, headed to Copenhagen, Denmark, to lobby for the 2016 Olympics to be held in Chicago.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (12) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Climate Change, John McCain, Karl Rove, Mike Pence, Mitt Romney, Olympics, Pres '12, Sarah Palin, Sherrod Brown, Stimulus

Karl Rove

Karl Rove: Will Beer Industry Be Next To Face Obama's Anti-Profit Agenda?

Eric Kleefeld | September 24, 2009, 12:24PM

Karl Rove

Forget the death panel stuff -- Karl Rove may have hit on a scare tactic that could really get people angry about a government takeover of health care.

In one paragraph in his latest Wall Street Journal column, Rove wonders which industries might be next to face President Obama's criticism of health insurance profits. Here's the key quote, with emphasis added:

Mr. Obama's dig at profits reveals a certain disdain for markets. Health insurers have a 3.3% profit margin, less than the 4.6% average for all businesses in the country. Drug companies do enjoy, on average, a 17% profit margin. But that's still less than software companies, which earn on average a 22% profit margin. Brewers make 18%. Are these industries the next targets for a revenue hungry Obama administration?

Sure, Obama can pull the plug on grandma -- but if our freedom is threatened on beer, he can count on losing a whole lot of swing states!

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (33) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)
Topics: Health Care, Karl Rove

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 10, 2009, 9:29AM

Biden: Health Care Bill By Thanksgiving
Vice President Biden told ABC's Good Morning America that President Obama has "re-centered" the debate on health care, and that a bill will be passed soon. "I believe we will have a bill," said Biden. "I've been in the Congress for a very long time, eight presidents. I believe we will have a bill before Thanksgiving."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks on health insurance reform at 10:15 a.m. ET, from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. He will meet with the Cabinet at 10:45 a.m. ET, and have lunch with Vice President Biden at 12:30 p.m. ET. At 1:45 p.m. ET, he will meet with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, with Sec. of State Hillary Clinton at 2:45 p.m. ET., and with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner at 3:30 p.m. ET. At 6 p.m. ET, he will welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to the White House. At 7:30 p.m. ET, he will chair a meeting with the Homeland Security Council on H1N1 preparations.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (8) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Barack Obama, Health Care, Joe Biden, Joe Wilson, Karl Rove

Education

Rove: I Bet "A Dime To A Dollar" That White House Rewrote School Speech

Eric Kleefeld | September 8, 2009, 12:00PM

Karl Rove

Karl Rove appeared on Fox News today, and joined in on the emerging right-wing line that the White House changed the text of the back-to-school speech -- which they say would have originally been aimed at political indoctrination of schoolchildren -- after conservatives objected. And Rove also charged that the whole speech is an improper use of government resources to advance President Obama's political profile.

"Oh, I bet it was," Rove said, when he was asked whether it was rewritten. "I mean, look, the White House was tone deaf, they clearly had a purpose here, which was, let's have the President speak to every student in the country, let's have a study guide, let's have them write the President and the President can write them back.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (11) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)
Topics: Education, Karl Rove

Ted Kennedy

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 9:00AM

Kennedy Memoir Does Not Ignore Personal Lows
The New York Times reports that Ted Kennedy's upcoming memoir, True Compass, does not gloss over his personal flaws -- notably calling his behavior after his 1969 car accident, which killed Mary Jo Kopechne, "inexcusable." Kennedy also wrote: "I have enjoyed the company of women. I have enjoyed a stiff drink or two or three, and I've relished the smooth taste of a good wine. At times, I've enjoyed these pleasures too much. I've heard the tales about my exploits as a hell-raiser -- some accurate, some with a wisp of truth to them and some so outrageous that I can't imagine how anyone could really believe them."

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will deliver a speech at 10 a.m. ET today from the Brookings Institution, on progress that has been made under the stimulus bill. He will spend the remainder of the day in private meetings at the White House.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (11) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Health Care, Joe Biden, Karl Rove, Mitch McConnell, Stimulus, Ted Kennedy, Tom Daschle

Dick Cheney

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 13, 2009, 9:01AM

Report: Cheney Frustrated That Bush Went Soft, Didn't Follow His Advice
The Washington Post reports that former Vice President Dick Cheney's upcoming memoirs will show a great sense of disappointment at former President George W. Bush -- that Bush didn't take his advice as much in the second term. "The implication was that Bush had gone soft on him, or rather Bush had hardened against Cheney's advice," said a participant at a recent gathering. "He'd showed an independence that Cheney didn't see coming. It was clear that Cheney's doctrine was cast-iron strength at all times -- never apologize, never explain -- and Bush moved toward the conciliatory."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive his routine daily briefings this morning. There are no scheduled public events.