Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | November 20, 2009, 5:51PM

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

• ABC, This Week: Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Senate candidate Carly Fiorina (R-CA).

• Fox News Sunday: Guest list not yet announced.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

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

Tomorrow's Cloture Vote Could Predict Bill's Success (Or Failure)
Roll Call reports that tomorrow's vote on cloture to proceed to debate on the health care bill could indeed be very crucial, and not simply a procedural motion. A Congressional Research Service report, requested by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), shows that on the 41 bills where such a vote has been held since 1999, the Senate ultimately passed the underlying bill in 40 of those occasions.

No Obama Events Today
President Obama does not have any scheduled public events today.

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Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2009, 9:00AM

Hillary Criticizes Pakistan On Terrorism Fight
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized Pakistan's performance in fighting terrorists, telling a group of Pakistani journalists that she thought it was "hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and couldn't get them if they really wanted to."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will sign at 11:50 a.m. ET the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. At 1:30 p.m. ET, he will meet with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 16, 2009, 1:00PM

Obama On Death Panel Smear: "I Just Lost My Grandmother Last Year"
At his town hall meeting on health insurance reform yesterday, President Obama fired back at the "death panel" smear. "I just lost my grandmother last year. I know what it's like to watch somebody you love, who's aging, deteriorate and have to struggle with that," Obama said, attacking those who would put forward "the notion that somehow I ran for public office or members of Congress are in this so they can go around pulling the plug on grandma."

Sebelius: Death Panel Scare Attack Is "Horrific"
Appearing on This Week, of Sec. of Health and Human Services fired back at the "death panel" attack, -- but also conceded that end-of-life counseling is likely to be taken out of the bill. "And I think it's really horrific that some opponents of the health reform bill have used this painful, personal moment to try and scare people about what is in the bill," said Sebeilus.

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Tom Coburn

Coburn Supports Palin And Grassley, Says Dems Plan To Limit Care

Eric Kleefeld | August 13, 2009, 12:55PM

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is now backing up Sarah Palin's "death panel" line and Chuck Grassley's assertion that the Democrats would "pull the plug on grandma," citing as proof that the Democrats shot down an amendment he'd offered for an absolute prohibition on rationing based on comparative effectiveness research:

"Their plan -- they're not gonna speak it, because they know if they speak it, it'll never pass -- their plan is to control costs by limiting options," said Coburn. "That's how England controls costs, that's how Canada controls costs. They give you access to a waiting line. And unfortunately, tons of people die every year."

Health Care

FLASH: Republican Health Care Plan Would Be A Huge Disaster

Brian Beutler | July 30, 2009, 6:00PM

Despite all the obvious temptations, I haven't written very much about the Republican alternative health care bill, coauthored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). It's always fun--and indeed instructive--to highlight these sorts of policy proposals, and perhaps I'll circle back to it. But right now there's so much news out there about the more serious efforts, and the fate of reform is so uncertain, that there's relatively little time to devote to lampooning the GOP's legislation.

Enter the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. CBPP isn't exactly the sort of organization you think of when you hear the word "lampooning." But it's hard not to read their analysis of the Republican bill and conclude they thought it was all a joke.

You can find the entire report here, but I've summarized it for you in the form of a dialogue between myself and the CBPP's own subtitles.

• "Plan would significantly erode employer-based coverage"

  Not a bad thing per se but terrible if there's no viable alternative for those who lose their coverage.

• "Plan Fails to Create a Viable Alternative for People Losing Employer Coverage"

  Ah, I see. Fair enough. But no doubt the market will be there to rescue people, right?

• "Bill Fails to Institute Needed Market Reforms"

  Eesh. How so?

• "Optional State Exchanges Would Be Highly Vulnerable to Adverse Selection"

  Meaning what?

• "Tax Credit and Subsidies Would Be Inadequate to Purchase Comprehensive Coverage"

  Ok...But at least nobody who currently benefits form social insurance would be forced into this system. I'm confident of that.

• "Tens of Millions of Medicaid Beneficiaries Would Be at Risk of Becoming Uninsured"

  Oh.

Bill Posey

Coburn Endorses Birther Bill

Eric Kleefeld | June 19, 2009, 5:02PM

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has now signed up with the Birther cause -- the people who think Barack Obama isn't a natural-born citizen and should be required to produce a birth certificate (which he already did, anyway) -- World Net Daily reports.

Coburn has now voiced his support for a bill offered by Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) and five House co-sponsors so far. "The bill requires any federal candidates' campaign committee filing with the Federal Election Commission to produce a copy of the candidate's birth certificate," wrote Coburn. "If the bill makes it to the Senate, I will likely support it."

Coburn also endorsed a similar bill in the Oklahoma legislature: "I hope the Oklahoma State Legislature will give serious consideration to this bill and I hope more states will reform their ballot access laws to ensure federal candidates must affirmatively prove their eligibility."

(Via Ben Smith.)

Jim Inhofe

Inhofe Turns Down Meeting With Sotomayor -- Mind Already Made Up

Eric Kleefeld | June 19, 2009, 12:18PM

It may be saying something that of the two Senators from Oklahoma, Tom Coburn is the calm and open-minded one.

The Oklahoman reports that Coburn met yesterday with Sonia Sotomayor, and walked away form the meeting with an apparent friendly attitude, describing her as "a bright lady, very smart and well-coached." He added: "She's got the demeanor of a judge."

Coburn's co-Senator Jim Inhofe, meanwhile, turned down an invitation to meet with Sotomayor -- on the grounds that his mind is already made up to vote against her. "That was a foregone conclusion," Inhofe told the Tulsa World, noting that he'd already voted against her for the appeals court back in 1998. However, he also predicts that she will be "definitely confirmed."

Tom Coburn

Coburn Running Again In 2010

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 4:24PM

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), a champion of the Christian Right who had been the subject of some speculation that he might not run for a second term in 2010, has now announced that he is in fact running.

Coburn added that if re-elected, he will stick by the pledge from his 2004 campaign to not serve more than two terms. And for the record, he previously honored a term-limits pledge back in 2000, when he retired from his House seat after six years.

Coburn had been publicly undecided about whether to make the race, and wasn't actively raising money. But in all truth, he didn't need to raise money -- he's a popular conservative from a deep-Republican state, and insofar as he'll need some money he will be able to get it easily. This might have been a competitive race as an open seat, but as it is now Coburn is in all likelihood a safe bet for re-election.

Guantanamo Bay

The Mark-Up, 05-20-2009

Brian Beutler | May 20, 2009, 4:40PM

TPMDC's daily update on the biggest legislative initiatives on the Hill:

• Guantanamo: The Senate stripped Guantanamo detention center closing funds from a war funding bill by an overwhelming vote of 90-6.
• Credit Card Reform: The House passed--and the President will soon sign--legislation cracking down on credit card companies. House leaders split the bill in two because of a measure sponsored by Tom Coburn (R-OK) allowing people to take guns into national parks. Both parts of the bill passed, but the move allowed liberal Democrats to go on record against the idea.
• EFCA: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) tells potential EFCA opponents to get serious about compromise, or they'll have to go on record, one way or another, on the question of the original bill.
• Defense Spending: Defense Secretary Robert Gates isn't backtracking on his decision to cancel the (well over-budget) presidential helicopter program. But he does envision the possibility of a "escape helicopter," to make the President's job seem more awesome.

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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OK-SEN

Poll: Oklahoma Senate Race Could Be Close If Coburn Retires

Eric Kleefeld | May 19, 2009, 12:52PM

A new poll of Oklahoma from Public Policy Polling (D) suggests that the 2010 Senate race in this deep-red state could potentially be a competitive one -- that is, if GOP Sen. Tom Coburn retires.

Coburn easily beats two prominent Democrats, leading popular Gov. Brad Henry by 52%-40% and Rep. Dan Boren by 53%-36%. But if Coburn is out, the new match-ups are close calls. Former GOP Rep. J.C. Watts edges Henry 45%-44% and leads Boren 46%-41%, while Rep. Tom Cole edges Henry 44%-43% and just barely leads Boren 42%-40%. The margin of error is ±3.7%.

Coburn has said he's genuinely undecided about whether he'll run, and he hasn't done much fundraising. We'll see what happens there.

That said, my own opinion is people shouldn't get their hopes up too much. This was John McCain's single best state last year, giving him a 66%-34% win over Barack Obama. And the 2004 open-seat Senate race saw a lot of close polls between Coburn and Dem Congressman Brad Carson, only to have Coburn win by 53%-41%.

Afghanistan

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 6, 2009, 9:00AM

Specter Loses Seniority On Committees
The Senate Democratic Conference voted unanimously last night to deny seniority to Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), putting him near or at the very bottom of the Democratic rankings in each of his five committees during this Congress. He will be the last Senator to ask questions during the upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings. This matter could potentially be revisited after the 2010 elections.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) at 11:30 a.m. ET. Obama and Vice President Biden will then meet at 12 p.m. ET with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-MT). At 2 p.m. ET, Obama and Biden will meet with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, and then at 2:40 p.m. ET with President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, followed by a 3:30 p.m. trilateral meeting with both Karzai and Zardari. Obama will then deliver public remarks at 4:15 p.m. ET.

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Arlen Specter

Will Specter's Switch Make It Easier For Republicans To Filibuster Judges?

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 9:53AM

Much of the day will no doubt be spent gaming the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Is it good for Democrats? For Republicans? Who will Obama nominate? How quickly and ferociously will charges of socialism and judicial activism begin to fly? And would Specter have switched parties if he'd known that he'd have had a golden opportunity to obstruct an Obama Supreme Court appointee in order to shore up his right?

All worthy questions, but all impossible to answer. At least for now.

What I want to focus on is a bit deeper in the weeds, but could prove very important, and, for Republicans, a potential source of poetic justice. (No pun intended.)

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Torture

Sen. Whitehouse: If Republicans Filibuster Johnsen, I'll Be Ready

Brian Beutler | April 17, 2009, 3:37PM

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) just held a conference call with reporters to discuss the nomination (and threatened filibuster) of Dawn Johnsen, President Obama's designated chief of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Council.

Whitehouse is a member of the Judiciary Committee and has repeatedly spoken out on Johnsen's behalf. Though it's uncertain whether Republicans will ultimately seek to block Johnsen's nomination, Whitehouse is prepared in the event that they do. "I actually have a little bit of ammunition gathered in the event that I happen to be...on the floor defending this," Whitehouse said.

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Tom Coburn

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | April 10, 2009, 4:20PM

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

• ABC, This Week: Pastor Rick Warren.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Arturo Sarukhan, Mexican Ambassador to the United States.

• CNN, State Of The Union: Gen. Ray Odierno, and Iraqi National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie.

• Fox News Sunday: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Special holiday weekend roundtable: Jeffrey Goldberg, from The Atlantic; Michele Norris, from NPR; Robin Wright, author of Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East"; and Byron York, of the Washington Examiner.

Arlen Specter

Potential Johnsen Ally: Tom Coburn?

Brian Beutler | April 6, 2009, 5:13PM

Arlen Specter maybe an unknown for now, but Dawn Johnsen may also find an unlikely ally in Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn.

Back in 2005, during the nuclear option imbroglio Coburn took a fairly absolutist position on the Senate's advise and consent powers, telling the newspaper Tulsa World that no presidential nomination should ever be filibustered. "There is a defined charge to the president and the Senate on advice and consent," he said.

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Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | February 23, 2009, 9:01AM

Obama To Pick Interior Dept. Inspector General To Oversee Stimulus
President Obama will reportedly appoint Earl Devaney, the Interior Department inspector general responsible for investigating the Abramoff scandal, to be the chairman of the new Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board, overseeing the economic stimulus program. Obama is expected to announce the pick today.

Obama And Biden Speaking to Governors, Addressing Fiscal Summit
President Obama and Vice President Biden are speaking at 10:15 a.m. ET to the National Governors Association, where they will discuss what governors can do to implement the economic stimulus program. At 1 p.m. ET they will be delivering opening remarks to the Fiscal Responsibility Summit, with closing remarks at 4 p.m. ET.

Biden Meeting With George Clooney To Discuss Darfur Conflict
Vice President Biden is holding a closed-door meeting tonight with George Clooney, to discuss the Darfur conflict and Clooney's recent travels there.

GOP Looks Back To Early 90's For Opposition And Comeback Strategies
The Politico reports that Republicans are quite consciously looking back to the strategies employed during the first two years of Bill Clinton's presidency, in their opposition to President Obama's policies now. Grover Norquist said there are two choices: "One is 1990, [President George H.W.] Bush gets together with the Democrats at Andrews Air Force Base, raises taxes and loses the next election. The other is 1993, Democrats have a series of proposals to spend and tax. Republicans vote no and regain the House and Senate."

Feingold And Dreier Pitch Special Senate Elections To Illinois
Russ Feingold and Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) have co-authored an op-ed piece for the Chicago Tribune, finding a likely positive audience in the push for a constitutional amendment to end gubernatorial appointments to Senate vacancies in the wake of the recent controversies. "In the age of the Internet and the 24-hour news cycle, the backroom dealing isn't staying in the backroom anymore," the two write.

Bunning Predicts Ginsburg's Death, Blasts GOP For Lack Of Support
In explaining his commitment to ensuring the appointments of conservative judges, Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) told a local Republican dinner on Saturday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has nine months to live. "Bad cancer. The kind that you don't get better from," Bunning said. He also criticized his national party for not giving him sufficient financial support, also claiming a lack of support for conservatives Jim DeMint, Tom Coburn and...David Vitter.

George P. Bush Attacks Pro-Stimulus Republicans On Fiscal Responsibility
George P. Bush, the son of Jeb Bush, spoke to a national conference of Young Republicans over the weekend and criticized certain unnamed Republicans -- understood to be Florida Gov. Charlie Crist -- for supporting the stimulus package. "We as conservatives have to ultimately balance the federal government's checkbook," the younger Bush said -- possibly unaware of certain events over the last eight years.

Stimulus

The Un-Funny Side of Removing Pastel Lights From the Stimulus

Elana Schor | February 12, 2009, 3:06PM

As we mentioned last week, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) offered a successful amendment to the stimulus bill preventing any of its dollars from going to zero-gravity chairs, saunas, and rotating pastel lights.

The comic value of Coburn's crusade aside, his amendment also barred any money for parks, museums, theaters or any other arts organization that is struggling to survive the current economic downturn. And it looks like Democrats have kept that limitation after final conference talks on the bill.

As New York magazine reports, that's distressing news for cultural groups that call the Big Apple home -- and they're laying blame at the feet of Chuck Schumer (NY), the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate. Alliance for the Arts Randall Bourscheidt tells the magazine that Coburn's blanket limitation was

very prejudicial and, I think, intended to appeal to a constituency of Senator Coburn's which finds the arts an easy target for things they don't like. The surprising thing is that Senator Schumer voted for it.

Stimulus

FutureGen 'Clean Coal' Earmark Removed From Stimulus

Elana Schor | February 12, 2009, 12:09PM

Thanks to a reader who sent us the final numbers on what's in and out of the final stimulus bill, we can finally start digging into the substance of the deal that's headed for approval by this weekend. (We have the charts of those internal numbers for you right here.)

Here's the first thing I noticed: Remember when we told you about the Senate's attempt to sneak in a $2 billion earmark for FutureGen, the Illinois "clean coal" plant? That's been zeroed out in the final stimulus pact.

As strange as this sounds, score one for Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK).

Late Update: N.B. Until legislative language is formally filed on the bill today, there's always the possibility that these numbers could change. What we're bringing you are the freshest details.

Democrats

Solis Clears One Hurdle, But Another Remains

Elana Schor | February 11, 2009, 6:29PM

As my colleague Matt reported, Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis got her long-awaited approval this afternoon in the Senate labor committee.

This means that her nomination is now before the full Senate for final approval -- but unfortunately, it also means that any GOPer can place one of those annoying anonymous "holds" that could create another delay. And given Republican eagerness to turn Solis' confirmation into a referendum on the Employee Free Choice Act, there's always the danger of another roadblock being thrown up.

Matt reports that Sens. Tom Coburn (OK) and Pat Roberts (KS) were the two Republicans who requested that their "no" votes on Solis be recorded today, so we'll keep an eye to see whether they take their opposition to the next level.

No matter what, however, this was a step forward for the Obama administration as well as major labor unions that mounted a full-court press for Solis this week. They deserve a victory lap.

Stimulus

Coburn Trying to Strip FutureGen Earmark

Elana Schor | February 5, 2009, 2:46PM

Looks like Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) reads TPMDC ... he's now threatening to hold up progress on the stimulus bill today until Democratic leaders allow a vote on 15 of his amendments limiting funding in the bill.

And at the top of Coburn's list is the $2 billion in funding for a "near-zero emissions" coal plant -- money that could go straight to FutureGen, the Illinois-based "clean coal" project that the Obama administration had said it would keep out of the stimulus.

Coburn's office has rustled up yet another reason to put the brakes on the FutureGen cash: impeached former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has lavished hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbyists to restart the cash flow to the project since the Bush administration canceled FutureGen funding one year ago.

It's unclear as of now whether Coburn's threat will win him a vote on the FutureGen amendment, but we'll keep you posted.

Republicans

What Does Tom Coburn Have Against Rotating Pastel Lights?

Elana Schor | February 4, 2009, 4:31PM

And zero-gravity chairs, for that matter?

What follows is the entire text of an amendment that Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), that stalwart foe of earmarks, has proposed to add to the stimulus bill. (emphasis mine)

None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project, including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture, zero-gravity chairs, big-screen televisions, beautification, rotating pastel lights, and dry heat saunas.

Late Vindication Update: As a commenter alerts us, Coburn actually has nothing against pastel lights -- it's the Centers for Disease Control's use of pastel lights that's got him down. Coburn's oversight subcommittee uncovered evidence in 2007 that the CDC spent $35,000 to add zero-gravity chairs, lights, and a sauna to its Atlanta employee gym.

The moral of the story is, do not piss off Sen. Coburn. So on that note, we apologize for insinuating any anti-pastel light vendetta.

Barack Obama

Judiciary Committee Approves Holder, 17-2

Elana Schor | January 28, 2009, 11:25AM

Attorney General nominee Eric Holder was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning on a 17-2 vote.

The full Senate must sign off on Holder before he can officially join Obama's DoJ, but today's vote effectively removes the political obstacles that stood in the way of full confirmation. We'll let you know soon which two Republicans voted no on Holder.

Late Update: The two GOP nos were Sens. John Cornyn (TX) and Tom Coburn (OK).