TPMDC Peter King
Allen West
House Republicans Unprepared For Senate Rejection Of Boehner Debt Limit Plan
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) told his Republican caucus Thursday morning that he doesn't yet have enough committed support to pass his debt limit bill -- a high stakes vote that will take place just hours from the time of this writing.
Most of his members believe he'll get there quickly -- even among the opponents of his bill, it's hard to find anybody who believes with any confidence that Boehner's plan will go down.
Earlier this week, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) -- chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee -- told reporters Boehner lacked the votes to pass his legislation. Today he's not so sure. "[T]hey weren't there at the time, we'll see what happens," he told me.
But if it passes, Republicans will have to grapple with a key question -- one they haven't really considered, and which Boehner hasn't prepared them to answer: What happens when the Senate sends them back a different plan?
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Allen West, Debt, Debt Ceiling, Default, Deficit, Harry Reid, John Boehner, John Fleming, Mike Pence, Peter King
Islam
Democrat Delivers Emotional Speech On Prison Reform At Islam Hearing [VIDEO]
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Brushing aside protests from religious and civic leaders, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) held another Homeland Security Committee hearing on Wednesday investigating Islamic radicalization in America, this one focused on terrorist recruitment in prisons. Like past entrants in his radicalization series, Tuesday's event featured plenty of contentious words from committee Democrats, including a dramatic and emotional speech from a Detroit Democrat recalling his own friends' experience in prison.
Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-MI) used his question period to deliver an impassioned address about the broader problem of prison reform, at times holding back tears as he discussed how the issue impacted his own life.
"We talk about political correctness, you know what pisses me off? I'm a damned member of Congress here and my friends have rotted in prison and those that have gotten out, they've never been the same again," he said. "Some of you who are Tea Party members, this is the waste we got to stop. We're spending too much money incarcerating young men, young black men, whose lives can be saved. It's not about Islam, it's abut the sentencing policy, it's about this prison system. We got to change that."
He added that based on his own discussions with prisoners who converted to Islam, inmates did so largely to gain protection from dangerous gangs and to make a clean break from their criminal past, not to engage in any kind of radical behavior.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Hansen Clarke, House Homeland Security Committee, Islam, Laura Richardson, Muslims, Peter King
Osama Bin Laden
With Pakistan Under Fire Over Bin Laden Hideout, Officials Urge Patience
As elite opinion rapidly sours on Pakistani's government following the revelation that Osama bin Laden was hiding in an elaborate compound outside a major city there, key officials and regional experts are counseling patience with what they admit is a tense and difficult alliance.
While lawmakers on the relevant House and Senate committees acknowledged that bin Laden's discovery raised new questions about whether elements of Pakistan's government and military are tied to terrorism, many also warned that there are few alternative options when it comes to engaging the government. In doing so, they pushed back against growing calls from some lawmakers to review America's aid and ties to the country.
"Pakistan," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said at a press briefing Tuesday. "You can't trust them and you can't abandon them."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Jackie Speier, John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Peter King
Torture
Senate Intel Chair: Torture Did Not Lead To Bin Laden In Any Way
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
More and more evidence suggests a key piece of intelligence -- the first link in the chain of information that led U.S. intelligence officials to Osama bin Laden -- wasn't tortured out of its source. And, indeed, that torture actually failed to produce it.
"To the best of our knowledge, based on a look, none of it came as a result of harsh interrogation practices," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee in a wide-ranging press conference.
Moreover, Feinstein added, nothing about the sequence of events that culminated in Sunday's raid vindicates the Bush-era techniques, nor their use of black sites -- secret prisons, operated by the CIA.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Dianne Feinstein, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Lindsey Graham, Osama Bin Laden, Peter King, Torture
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
U.S. Nuclear Industry Faces New Uncertainty
The New York Times reports: "The fragile bipartisan consensus that nuclear power offers a big piece of the answer to America's energy and global warming challenges may have evaporated as quickly as confidence in Japan's crippled nuclear reactors."
Obama's Day Ahead
At 10:20 a.m. ET, President Obama will visit a classroom in Arlington, Virginia, and deliver a speech on education reform at 10:40 a.m. ET. He will meet with senior advisers at the White House at 11:55 a.m. ET. He will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and they will deliver statements to the press at 2:25 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 3 p.m. ET with General David Petraeus. At 7:30 p.m. ET, he will attend a DNC fundraising event at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, Continuing Resolution, Education, Muslims, No Child Left Behind Act, Nuclear Energy, Peter King, Pres '12, Roundup
Muslims
Gallup Poll: Barely Half Of Americans Think American Muslims Support the U.S.
Protesters against a proposed community center and mosque near ground zero called Cordoba House.
Not only are Muslims being viewed with a skeptical eye in Congress, but adults nationwide appear to be wary of fellow Americans who are Muslim, according to a new Gallup poll.
The results offer a surprising view of just how suspicious Americans are of not only Islam in general, but of Muslims living within the United States. The poll was released the same day that House hearings on the radicalization of American Muslims, led by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) got off to a highly emotional start.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Gallup, Islam, Muslims, Peter King, Polls
Islam
Only Majority Of Conservatives And Tea Partiers Think Muslims More Prone To Violence
As Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) hearings on the radicalization of American muslims get underway, a new Pew poll of American adults finds that conservatives and Tea Party sympathizers are the only two political demographics of which a majority believe Islam, more so than any other religion, encourages violence.
Overall, Americans are split fairly evenly on the question. Yet the stark ideological divide reveals how sharply the issue breaks down along party lines, with far more people on the right -- and particularly to the far right -- viewing Islam as a violent religion.
Topics: Conservatives, House of Representatives, Islam, Muslims, Peter King, Polls, Tea Party
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
House Panel To Examine Muslim Radicalization
Reuters reports: "The House of Representatives will investigate radicalization in the American-Muslim community, sparking outrage that the probe is a witch hunt akin to the 1950s anti-Communist campaign. With al Qaeda and its affiliates openly trying to recruit Americans and Muslims inside the United States for attacks, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King called congressional hearings on the subject 'absolutely essential.'"
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will meet at 10 a.m. ET with students and parents from the Conference on Bullying Prevention, and they will deliver remarks at 10:35 a.m. ET. The President will hold a meeting on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act at 2:05 p.m. ET. He will meet at 3:05 p.m. ET with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, Dmitry Medvedev, Eric Holder, Joe Biden, Muslims, Peter King, Roundup
112th Congress
Sen. Kirk: Expand Radicalization Hearings to Other Groups
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is uncomfortable with singling out Muslims in House inquiries into radicalization, telling reporters that he favors a broader look at terrorism. Rep. Pete King (R-NY) is set to conduct hearings on Islamic radicalization Thursday amidst complaints from critics that that they'll be used to stigmatize Muslim Americans.
"I mean I think it's a problem obviously that radical Islam led to the murder of 3,000 Americans, so it was the greatest mass murder ring in the history of our country," Kirk told reporters Tuesday. "But it would probably be pretty good for Pete to follow up with hearings on radicals of all types and then certainly including radical Islam in his purview."
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) defended the hearings Tuesday, telling reporters in a briefing that King had "credibility" on the issue and that "we are threatened by the spread of radical Islam."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 112th Congress, Eric Cantor, Mark Kirk, Peter King
Peter King
White House Promotes Engagement Strategy Ahead Of 'Muslim Radicalization' Hearings
President Barack Obama
The White House says its finalizing a strategy to combat violent extremism in America, and is speaking publicly about it just a few days before Rep. Peter King (R-NY) holds hearings on "Muslim radicalization." (On Sunday, in a move The New York Times called "no accident," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough gave a speech at a Muslim center in Virginia, laying out the administration's efforts.)
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Muslims, Peter King
Lindsey Graham
Graham: Obama's Gitmo Decree Is 'Confusing, Illogical'
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
President Obama signed an executive order Monday that ends a two-year ban on military trials at Guantanamo Bay, but one of the biggest critics of his detainee policy is still confused about what the decree means for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-declared mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and his co-conspirators.
"[The administration's policy on Guantanamo] has been on again and off again, and I can't tell from this order where KSM is going to go," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told TPM Monday evening. "He would gladly tell you he did it. He and his co-conspirators should be handled through the law of war and treated like our enemies."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 'Obama's Wars', 9/11, Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Eric Holder, Guantanamo Bay, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Lindsey Graham, Military commisions, Peter King, detainees
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Daley: People Talk About No-Fly Zone As If It Were A 'Video Game'
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley criticized those who call for a no-fly zone in Libya: "Well, you know, lots of people throw around phrases of 'no-fly zone,' and they talk about it as though it's just a game on a video game or something, and some people who throw, throw that line out have no idea what they're talking about," said Daley. "Bob Gates understands the difficulty of going to war. This is a man who spent his--almost his entire life working for the government. He, he knows the difficulty of war and the challenges, as does Admiral Mullen. So when, when people comment on military action, most of them have no idea what they're talking about."
McCain: Qaddafi 'Insane,' A No-Fly Zone Can Send Message To People Around Him
Appearing on This Week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) reiterated his support for a no-fly zone as part of an effort to oust Muammar Qaddafi. He's insane. But perhaps the people around him would begin to depart the sinking ship," said McCain. He also added: "Again, by a no-fly zone, by declaring our support for a provisional government, perhaps, which is being formed up now - there is a lot of steps we can take."
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, Donald Trump, John McCain, Keith Ellison, Lamar Alexander, Libya, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Muslims, Peter King, Pres '12, Roundup, Sunday Shows, Supreme Court, Westboro Baptist Church, William Daley
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama Calls For 'Sitting At The Same Table' On Spending Cuts
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama called for a bipartisan dialogue on spending cuts.
"We need to come together, Democrats and Republicans, around a long-term budget that sacrifices wasteful spending without sacrificing the job-creating investments in our future," said Obama. "My administration has already put forward specific cuts that meet congressional Republicans halfway. And I'm prepared to do more. But we'll only finish the job together - by sitting at the same table, working out our differences, and finding common ground. That's why I've asked Vice President Biden and members of my Administration to meet with leaders of Congress going forward."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Budget, David Koch, Diane Black, Peter King, Pres '12, Roundup, Scott Walker, Wisconsin , Wisconsin Protests, Wisconsin State Legislature
Al Qaeda
King Taps Journo As Senior Committee Investigator
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY), the fiery Irishman who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, may have attracted a rash of criticism for holding one of his first hearings on the radicalization of U.S. Muslims and homegrown terrorism, but his decision to hire a respected New York scribe as a top staffer is a sign he is serious about truly digging into holes in the nation's counter-terrorism programs and policies.
King has tapped James Gordon Meek, an eight-year veteran of the New York Daily News and a respected reporter on the terrorism beat, to join the committee staff as a senior investigator.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Al Qaeda, Homegrown terorrism, Homeland Security, House Republicans, House of Representatives, Peter King
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
House To Take Up Health Care Repeal Vote
The Washington Post reports: "The House is set to vote today on a repeal of the Democrats' health care law, and we've got a good idea how it's going to turn out. The bill is widely expected to pass in the GOP-controlled House on a largely party-line vote, will never pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and will die the death of the symbolic bill that it is. But there will be a certain amount of intrigue when the votes come in today -- both because Democrats have been trying to turn the issue against Republicans and because there are 13 Democrats left in Congress who voted against the bill in the first place."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden, with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, will welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House at 9 a.m. ET. Obama and Biden will meet with Hu at 10 a.m. ET, and hold an expanded meeting with U.S. and Chinese delegations at 11 a.m. ET. Obama and Hu will meet with business leaders at 12:20 p.m. ET, and will hold a joint press conference at 1:05 p.m. ET. The President and First Lady will welcome Hu at 6 p.m. ET, take an official photo with him at 6:30 p.m. ET, and attend a state dinner at 7:35 p.m. ET, and a state dinner reception at 8:55 p.m. ET.
Topics: Barack Obama, China, Gabrielle Giffords, Health Care, Hu Jintao, Islam, Joe Biden, Muslims, Peter King, Roundup
Peter King
NY Rep. Peter King: 'I Have Nothing But Contempt' For The New York Times
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) reeeeally doesn't like the New York Times.
In an interview with The Hill, King responded to an editorial printed in the Times over the weekend that rebuked King for his plans to hold hearings on the "radicalization" of American Muslims. "I'm absolutely delighted that The New York Times would attack me," King said of the article. "I have nothing but contempt for them. They should be indicted under the Espionage Act. ... The New York Times is just basically being a mouthpiece for political correctness."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: New York Times, Peter King
Republicans
Meet The Chairmen! House GOPers Get Back To The Gavels
The Republicans' midterm sweep in the House of Representatives doesn't just mean that John Boehner will become Speaker -- it means a drastic shift of leadership and legislative priorities throughout the whole chamber.
This week, House Republicans officially rolled out the list of committee chairs in the new Congress. And as can be expected, some of them are really interesting personalities. It is these individuals who will be holding hearings on legislation and oversight of the executive branch -- that is, attacking the Obama administration and trying to dig up scandals, as typically occurs during periods of divided government.
So let's take a look at several of the key GOPers who will be heading up these important House panels: Their backgrounds, their positions, their histories -- and a few gaffes, too.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Buck McKeon, Darrell Issa, Fred Upton, Hal Rogers, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Paul Ryan, Peter King, Ralph Hall, Republicans
Peter King
Peter King: Declare Wikileaks A Terrorist Organization
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY), the incoming chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has called for tough measures against Wikileaks in the wake of the latest publication of diplomatic communications -- namely, that they be declared a foreign terrorist organization.
As The Hill reports:
"I am calling on the attorney general and supporting his efforts to fully prosecute Wikileaks and its founder for violating the Espionage Act. And I'm also calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to declare Wikileaks a foreign terrorist organization," King said on WNIS radio on Sunday evening.
"By doing that, we will be able to seize their funds and go after anyone who provides them help or contributions or assistance whatsoever," he said. "To me, they are a clear and present danger to America."
Question: Would King feel the same way about people who have been entangled with the IRA?
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Peter King, Terrorism, WikiLeaks
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: 'We Do Not Allow Ourselves To Be Defined By Fear'
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama marked the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. He also called for tolerance, telling Americans to remember that they are one nation, bound by common ideals.
"This is a time of difficulty for our country," said Obama. "And it is often in such moments that some try to stoke bitterness - to divide us based on our differences, to blind us to what we have in common. But on this day, we are reminded that at our best, we do not give in to this temptation. We stand with one another. We fight alongside one another. We do not allow ourselves to be defined by fear, but by the hopes we have for our families, for our nation, and for a brighter future. So let us grieve for those we've lost, honor those who have sacrificed, and do our best to live up to the values we share - on this day, and every day that follows."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 'Ground Zero Mosque', 2010 elections, 9/11, Bush Tax Cuts, Christine O'Donnell, Cordoba House , Islam, Jim DeMint, Jon Kyl, Peter King, Roundup
Cordoba House
Peter King: Gingrich Was Wrong To Compare Cordoba House Organizers To Nazis (VIDEO)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) says Newt Gingrich went too far when he compared developers behind the Cordoba House Muslim community center in New York City to Nazis. His comments echo those made by Pat Buchanan yesterday, who also called out Gingrich for bringing Nazi comparisons into the debate.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 'Ground Zero Mosque', Cordoba House , Newt Gingrich, Peter King
David Paterson
Peter King: Paterson And Cordoba House Developers Meeting This Week
Gov. David Paterson (D-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) said that he spoke to Gov. David Paterson today, and that the governor is planning a meeting for "later this week" with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Rauf is the developer behind the Cordoba House Muslim community center, and according to King, he and Paterson will discuss relocating the controversial building to an "alternate location."
Paterson has previously offered to help the developer acquire state land if he considered relocating farther away from Ground Zero, but was rejected.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 'Ground Zero Mosque', David Paterson, Peter King
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Gillespie: Obama 'Has A Very Disdainful View Of The American People' On Muslim Center
Appearing on Face The Nation, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie criticized President Obama's remarks in support of the Muslim community center in New York. "I thought it was a revealing comment by the president. He said that the 70% of Americans who are opposed to this controversial imam building this mosque at ground zero are denying the freedom of Muslims in this country. That's how he cast it," Gillespie said. "It was said in the reporting this morning that he made a conscious decision to weigh in on it in that regard. I think it tells you that he has a very disdainful view of the American people. I think that's why his favorability ratings have come down. People see that in him. There's a kind of condescension towards them they don't like."
Kaine: Religious Freedom Is In The Constitution For A Reason
Also appearing on Face The Nation, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine stood by Obama's remarks on the Muslim center. "I'm going with my Virginian, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson on this one. They put the religious freedom to worship in the First Amendment of the Constitution for a reason," Kaine said. "This wouldn't be a controversial if it was to build a synagogue or church. I'm not the New York zoning commissioner, don't know the reason for this decision, but we can't stop people from doing something that others could do because of the religion they practice."
Topics: 'Ground Zero Mosque', Afghanistan, Bob Corker, DNC, David Petraeus, Ed Gillespie, Jack Reed, Jerrold Nadler, Peter King, Roundup, Sunday Shows
Anthony Weiner
Joe Scarborough Fights With Anthony Weiner On 9/11 Responders Bill (VIDEO)
The bill to provide health care to 9/11 rescue workers has so far caused Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) to furiously rant on the House floor and to angrily debate Rep. Peter King (R-NY) multiple times.
Weiner's latest showdown was with Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough on MSNBC today. Scarborough accused Weiner of using theatrics to distract from the fact that the Dems used a procedural trick that was ultimately the cause of the bill's failure.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Anthony Weiner, Joe Scarborough, Peter King
Anthony Weiner
The Most Outraged Dem: Anthony Weiner's Greatest Hits (VIDEO)
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
After Rep. Anthony Weiner's (D-NY) impassioned rant against Republicans on the House floor last week, there was considerable buzz about Weiner's long and colorful history of quipping and snapping his way through the cable news shows, and into our hearts.
Here's a round-up of some of Weiner's sassiest moments this year...
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Anthony Weiner, Bill O'Reilly, Peter King
Peter King
Weiner And King Take Their Feud To Sean Hannity's Show (AUDIO)
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY) continued feuding Friday on Sean Hannity's radio show about the failure of a bill that would provide health care to 9/11 rescue workers. The result was, unsurprisingly, another ten-minute shouting match.
This time, though, it was Sean Hannity doing most of the yelling.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Anthony Weiner, Peter King, Sean Hannity
Anthony Weiner
Peter King And Anthony Weiner Shout Their Way Through A Fox News Interview (VIDEO)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) went on an apoplectic rant on the House floor last night, and apparently he hasn't cooled off much since then.
Earlier this morning, Weiner and Rep. Peter King (R-NY) shouted and finger-pointed their way through a Fox News interview over a bill that would provide health care to rescue workers effected by the dust from the World Trade Center, which failed in the House last night.
King accused the Democrats of orchestrating a "cruel hoax" with the bill, while Weiner called it "outrageous" that Republicans would vote against it.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)Topics: 9/11, Anthony Weiner, Fox News, Health Care, Peter King
Eric Holder
Peter King: Holder 'Doesn't Deserve To Be Attorney General' (VIDEO)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) declared on Fox News this morning that Eric Holder "doesn't deserve to be attorney general" and is "putting all Americans in danger."
King described Holder as "an attorney general who eight and a half years after September does not realize that our enemy is radical Islam, (and) is either so politically correct or so out of touch that he doesn't deserve to be attorney general."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Eric Holder, Islam, Peter King
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Attorney General Eric Holder
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: Attorney General Eric Holder, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R).
• CBS, Face The Nation: Senior White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Adm. Thad Allen.
• CNN, State Of The Union: Senior White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL).
• Fox News Sunday: Senior White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Rep. Peter King (R-NY).
• NBC, Meet The Press: Attorney General Eric Holder.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Bill Nelson, Chris Dodd, Eric Holder, Joe Lieberman, John Brennan, Peter King, Richard Shelby, Sunday Shows, Thad Allen
Peter King
Peter King Not Running For Senate...Again
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY), who had been courted by Republicans to run for the Senate against appointed Democratic incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, has announced that he will not run.
King had previously announced in August 2009 that he wouldn't run, but a week ago he left the door open again to a possible run. However, King has now withdrawn his name from consideration again, citing the importance of his work on the House Homeland Security Committee.
In his statement, King said: "While the political situation has changed dramatically in the Republicans' favor since September and I believe that Sen. Gillibrand can and will be defeated in 2010, I will not be a candidate for the Senate." While King might say Gillibrand will be defeated, his own withdrawal has the GOP running out of big names for this race, especially since Rudy Giuliani has also decided not to run.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-SEN, Peter King, Senate '10
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: Strong Health Care Reforms Will Take Effect Quickly
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama said that multiple reforms to the health care system will take effect immediately or within the first year of his signing the final bill -- a rebuttal to attacks from Republicans who say that the bill's benefits wouldn't kick in for several years:
"In short, once I sign health insurance reform into law, doctors and patients will have more control over their health care decisions, and insurance company bureaucrats will have less," said Obama. "All told, these changes represent the most sweeping reforms and toughest restrictions on insurance companies that this country has ever known. That's how we'll make 2010 a healthier and more secure year for every American - for those who have health insurance, and those who don't."
Pete King: 'We AreA Nation At War, And We Should Act Like It'
In this weekend's Republican YouTube, Rep. Pete King (R-NY) attacked the Obama administration's handling of the Flight 253 attempted bombing:
"We can't gather the intelligence we need to foil future attacks if we are blindly granting terrorists the right to remain silent. But for some reason, we've already done that with the terrorist who tried to bring down Flight 253," said King. "We're a nation at war, and we should act like it. We need to pull together, remain vigilant, and send a clear signal - both to our friends and our enemies - that this government will stop at nothing to protect our homeland. That's how America sets an example for the world."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Danny Tarkanian, Flight 253, Harry Reid, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, House '10, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Jim Gerlach, NV-SEN, Newt Gingrich, PA-06, Peter King, Pres '12, Public Option, Roundup, Senate '10, Sharron Angle, Sue Lowden
Flight 253
Peter King Says Obama Could Make Country Safer By Using The Word Terrorism (VIDEO)
Frequent White House critic Rep. Peter King (R-NY) said today on ABC's "Good Morning America" that President Obama should use the world "terrorism" more frequently.
Host George Stephanopoulos interviewed King, who said someone should be held accountable in the wake of the failed terror attempt on Flight 253.
The host asked "one other specific recommendation the president could implement."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Flight 253, Peter King, Terrorism
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Gibbs: Obama Ordering Security Reviews After Airline Attack
Appearing on Face The Nation, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that President Obama has ordered a thorough security review in the wake of the attack on a Northwest Airlines flight. "The president has asked for two reviews to take place as a result of this potential terrorist attack," Gibbs said. "The first is a watch listing review .. so we want to ensure that all of the information that needs to go to decision makers gets to where it needs to go. The president has asked for a review of the procedures that in some cases are several years old." The Second review will be of detection capabilities at airports, "to ensure that someone who that might be carrying explosives like this individual was can't get through a screening stage like they did in Amsterdam."
Napolitano: No Evidence That Airline Attack Was Part Of Larger International Effort
Appearing on State of the Union, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said that there is so far no evidence that the Northwest Airlines attack was part of a broad international effort. "Right now we have no indication that it is part of anything larger," said Napolitano. She also sought to reassure the public that the flight and overall security apparatus functioned smoothly: "While we continue to investigate the source of this incident, the traveling public should be very confident of what we're doing now."
Topics: Arlen Specter, Chris Van Hollen, Health Care, Janet Napolitano, Mitch McConnell, Newt Gingrich, Parker Griffith, Peter King, Robert Gibbs, Roundup, Sunday Shows
State Dinner Crashers
Peter King: Rogers Must Testify, But Salahis Have A Lot Going On
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Sounds like Michaele and Tareq Salahi have Rep. Peter King (R-NY) on their side.
King, who says he wants to subpoena White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers over Party Crasher Gate, seems to be more forgiving of the Salahi couple who started the whole affair.
He said this morning on CBS it was up to them if they wanted to testify.
"I think they have enough legal problems without increasing it by testifying," King said.
Rogers, on the other hand, is covering up for the White House by declining to testify, King suggested, asking today what she had to hide.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, Peter King, Robert Gibbs, State Dinner Crashers
Barack Obama
Fear Factor: The Four Ways Republicans Say Obama Will Kill You Now
Nidal Hasan, Pres. Obama, Khalid Sheik Mohammed
It's been a week since Attorney General Eric Holder announced that five terror suspects will be transferred from Guantanamo Bay to New York City to face trial. There are still a lot of questions to be answered about logistics, and it will likely be months before the first suspect sets foot in a federal courtroom.
Republicans have already told us what's going to happen, though: If you let President Obama have his way, you will die.
The GOP has returned to a familiar line on Obama and national security in the days since Holder's announcement. It's time to be afraid again, they say, hearkening back to the days of duct tape and Orange alerts even some Republicans thought they left behind on Election Day 2008.
So grab an assault rifle and keep the phone number for Operation TIPS close -- here are the four ways Republicans say Obama is putting your life at risk.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Barack Obama, Democrats, Eric Holder, GOP, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mark Kirk, National Security, Nidal Malik Hasan, Pete Hoekstra, Peter King, Rudy Giuliani
NY-SEN
Peter King Not Running For Senate, Further Boosting Gillibrand's Prospects For 2010
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) has announced that he will not run for Senate in 2010 against appointed incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, after having publicly eyed the race for months.
Polls had previously shown King running competitively against Gillibrand, with high undecided numbers due to a lack of overall brand recognition for the incumbent. But King admitted in his official statement that he would face tough obstacles: "The reality is that a statewide Democratic candidate starts the race with a voter registration edge of almost 3 million. To overcome such a large margin, there would have to be intensive media coverage of the race and I would need to raise at least $30 million."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Kirsten Gillibrand, NY-SEN, Peter King, Senate '10
Peter King
Peter King: You Wonder Which Side The Obama Administration Is On
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) is quite up in arms about the investigation of CIA interrogation techniques, airing his objections in an interview with the Politico. Indeed, he wonders which side the Obama administration is on:
"It's bulls***. It's disgraceful. You wonder which side they're on," he said of the Attorney General's move, which he described as a "declaration of war against the CIA, and against common sense."
...
"You're talking about threatening to kill a guy, threatening to attack his family, threatening to use an electric drill on him - but never doing it," King said. "You have that on the one hand - and on the other you have the [interrogator's] attempt to prevent thousands of Americans from being killed."
"When Holder was talking about being 'shocked' [before the report's release], I thought they were going to have cutting guys' fingers off or something - or that they actually used the power drill," he said.
King also asked this question: "Why is it OK to waterboard someone, which causes physical pain, but not threaten someone and not cause pain?"
And as we all know, it's okay to waterboard someone, since that has not in any way been the subject of arguments or controversy.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Peter King, Torture
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