Daily Political Wire 5-22-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama will deliver the Commence Address at West Point - the last time he was at West Point, the president discussed the increase of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. Obama will surely discuss both the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as the graduates are likely to be deployed there. You can read more here.

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Sunday morning "Talking Heads" lineup - the results from last Tuesday's primaries in four states will be a major topic as DNC chair Tim Kaine and RNC chair Michael Steele appear on two of the morning shows. Both chairs will spin the results for their benefit in the November mid term elections.

Rand Paul, the winner in the Republican Kentucky senate primary, canceled his scheduled appearance on NBC "Meet the Press". The not-so-ready for prime time tea party supported candidate stepped in deep doo-doo as he was quoted saying he did not support government intervention in the area of civil rights. In other words, it would be ok for a restaurant owner to refuse to serve Blacks. After this initial roll out by Paul, look to see Democratic senate candidate Jack Conway pick up ground in a state dominated by Republicans.

CBS "Face The Nation" - Representative Joe Sestak who just won handily the Pennsylvania Democratic primary beating incumbent Arlen Specter. Also White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Interesting pairing as the Obama White House was supporting Specter and a big unanswered question to date is "did the White House offer Sestak a job in the administration to induce him to drop out of the primary"? Let's see if moderator Bob Schieffer asks this question. also appearing will be Senator Lamar Alexander (R).

Fox News Sunday - the network darling Sarah Palin. Michael Steele, Tim Kaine.

CNN "State of the Union" - Governors Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) and Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.). Also BP Managing Director Bob Dudley. The conversation with Dudley could prove enlightening if Candy Crowley presses on the permitting and approval process on the offshore oil well and rig which continues to spew oil into the Gulf coast.

ABC "This Week" - Tim Kaine and Michael Steele

NBC "Meet the Press" - will Rand Paul post? or will he be just the third guest to cancel an appearance in the 62 year history of this show. Paul would then be in the company of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan (1996) and Saudi Prince Bandar (2003).

Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak and Senators John Cornyn (R-Tex.) and Bob Mendendez (D-NJ).

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Andrew Cuomo announces bid for Govenor of New York - hardly a secret, the question has been when would he announce.

The Plan from Andrew Cuomo on Vimeo.

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Obama to meet with Republicans on Tuesday - the President requested the meeting and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) set up the meeting with Senate Republicans during their regularly scheduled policy meeting on Tuesday. The meeting will not be televised. TheHill.com has more here.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to China next week - to continue the strategic and economic dialogue which began when Chinese President Hu Jintao and a large Chinese delegation met with President Obama and U.S. representatives in D.C. in April. Over 200 U.S. representatives of government agencies will acompany Clinton on her trip. CNN.com has more here.

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