Democratc Chatter 1-12-2009

George Wenschhof Bio

Today, President-elect Barack Obama will meet with Mexico President Felipe Calderon - The meeting will be held in Washington D.C. at the Mexican Cultural Institute. Time.com has more here. It is now eight days until Inauguration Day.

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Obama begins public service announcements asking people to make commitments to serve their communities - these announcements will be on TV as well as radio. The Presidential Inaugural Committee website has a video here. The President-elect encourages everyone to get involved through USAService.Org.

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Vice President-elect Joe Biden is in Iraq - after traveling to Pakistan and Afghanistan, he arrived in Baghdad today and is expected to meet with President Talibani. Reuters.com has more here.

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Israel continues fighting in Gaza - the aerial bombardment and ground invasion continued as the death count neared 900 with another 3700 Palestinians injured, many of them civilians. This recent flare up between Hamas and Israel has President-elect Obama committed to breaking the deadlock between them. CNN.com has more here.

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Roland Burris may be seated in the Senate this week - Democratic leaders continue to backpedal from their earlier stance they would not seat the Senator appointed by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Seems that now they are awaiting a statement from the Senate Parliamentarian and legal counsel after Burris submitted documents including the signature of Illinois Secretary of Sate Jesse White. Politico.com has more here.

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Democratic Chatter 1-11-2009

George Wenschhof Bio

President-elect Barack Obama appears on ABC "This Week" airing this morning - make sure you check it out. He discusses the economy, tax cuts, and how all Americans must sacrifice. He says his stimulus bill should be introduced in Congress tomorrow. If you miss the show, ABC News has some video clips of segments of the show you can watch here.

Yesterday, Obama was busy getting around his new home town. In the afternoon, accompanied by D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, he stopped by Ben's Chili Bowl for some good eats. In the evening, his family visited the Lincoln Memorial.

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Confirmation Hearings for Eric Holder for Attorney General to begin Thursday - this may not be smooth sailing as republicans have been bringing up his role in the pardon of Marc Rich at the end of the Clinton administration. The more recent scrutiny has been on his private sector consulting business and his client list. The NY Times has more here.

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Will Roland Burris return to D.C. and demand his Illinois Senate seat? - the Governor Blagojevich saga continues.... After the Supreme Court ruled the Burris appointment was legitimate, secretary of state Jesse White certified the appointment, removing the obstacle that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said prevented him from seating Burris in the Senate. Democratic leadership has not handle this situation well to date and another refusal of seating Burris in the Senate will likely result in a lawsuit which will further exacerbate a bad situation. Politico.com has more here.

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Israel continues ground offensive in Gaza - over two weeks of fighting now has Israeli tanks and troops entering the Gaza Strip's largest town, Gaza city. Repeated calls for a cease-fire has been rejected and there is no indication as to when Israel would begin to withdraw it's troops from Gaza. Reuters.com has more here.

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Democratic Chatter 1-4-2009

George Wenschhof Bio

President-elect Barack Obama heads to Washington D.C. today - he will join his wife and daughters who arrived in D.c. yesterday. It is now 16 days until Inauguration Day.

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Israel begins military ground campaign in Gaza - after eight days of air strikes, Israel has invaded Gaza. CNN.com has more here. This was a highly expected move by Israel as they want to disrupt the military presence of Hamas. This is one more serious international issue to confront the incoming Obama administration and his national security team. Over 400 have died and another 2500 have been injured since Israel began their air strikes.

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Will Roland Burris, Illinois Governor Blagojevich's appointment to fill the vacant Obama Senate seat show up Tuesday when Congress convenes on Tuesday? - we will find out shortly. Mr Burris, former Illinois State Attorney did schedule a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for Wednesday. Also at that meeting will be Illinois senator and Assistant Majority Leader dick Durbin (D-Ill.) The Chicago Tribune Swamppolitics.com has more here.

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Terry McAuliffe announces run for Governor of Virginia - He was referred to by many as "McAwful" when he served as chair of the Democratic National Committee. He recently served as a national chair of Senator Clinton's Presidential campaign. His national contacts are sure to help him in fund raising but how he comes across to the voters is yet to be determined. TheHill.com has more on his announcement here.

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Al Franken's lead increases in Minnesota - the contested race for the Minnesota Senate seat continued with Democrat Al Franken increasing his lead to 225 over Republican incumbent Norm Coleman. This after 900 absentee ballots were counted. The Coleman campaign has asked the state Supreme court to add additional absentee ballots and that ruling is expected soon. However, it is not possible for the candidate to be certified prior to when Congress convenes on Tuesday. In addition, the losing candidate has seven days after the state canvassing board has indicated the winner to file suit in court. Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has indicated he will not have the state certify the winner until all legal challenges are over. Politico.com has more here.

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Democratic Chatter 12-29-2008

George Wenschhof Bio

President-elect Barack Obama and family continue Hawaii vacation - yesterday, he visited a friend from high school. The Honolulu Star Bulletin has more here. He also continues to receive daily briefs and spoke to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice about the violence in the Gaza Strip.

For now, the standard reply from Obama is there is only one President at a time and currently it is George W. Bush. He now has only 22 days he will be able to use that line until he is sworn in as the 44th President.

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Israel may send troops into the Gaza Strip - this ongoing Israel-Palestine problem that erupts periodically is in danger of further escalation. There is no question of Israel military superiority, but the longer term political and domestic solution remains elusive. McClatchydc.com has more here.

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"Blago-watch" Update - The attorney for embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is now requesting the internal report prepared by the Obama Transition Team be admitted in testimony before the Illinois state legislative committee considering impeachment of the Governor.

Another strong move by Ed Gensen, who earlier requested subpoenas of key incoming Obama administration officials and was denied. His position is the report shows the Governor did nothing wrong. Time.com has more here.

The longer U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald waits to formally introduce evidence against the Governor, the weaker his case appears to the public.

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Bill to end minimum tax on Municipal Bonds to be introduced - Representative Richard Neal (D-Mass.) who is chair of the House Ways and Means Committee plans to introduce this bill for inclusion in the Obama stimulus program. Bloomberg.com has more here.

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GOP Party chairs call special meeting to conduct forum for those vying for the RNC Chair - seems party chairs, led by North Dakota chair Gary Emineth used by-laws language to call a special meeting for the sole purpose of conducting a forum. This would be held in Washington D.C. on January 7 for the candidates interested in the chair of the Republican National Committee. TheHill.com has more here.

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Democratic Chatter 12-28-2008

George Wenschhof Bio

Power restored to President-elect Barack Obama's vacation home and the rest of the Island of Oahu - the power was only out for approximately nine hours Friday night and although generators were brought to the vacation house the future first family were staying in, they waited it out as did the rest of the Islanders. Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle was pleased at how fast power was restored. The Hawaii Star Bulletin has more here.

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Israel Air Strikes continue in Gaza - Hamas targets continue to be bombarded as the death toll from yesterday's bombing exceeds 275. Hamas also continues to fire missiles at Israel as the UN Security Council calls for an immediate cease-fire. CNN.com has more here.

President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice issued statements in support of the action taken by Israel to defend itself. President-elect Barack Obama continues to receive the Daily Intelligence Briefs but has stated as he has on other recent issues, we only have one President at a time.

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RNC Chairman Mike Duncan denounces CD sent by Saltsman - Chip Saltsman, who is vying for the Chair of the Republican National Committee sent out a Holiday CD entitled "Barack the Magic Negro" which is clearly offensive. Saltsman was the campaign manager for Mike Huckabee's recent failed Presidential bid. Politico.com has more here.

Former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele, who is an African-American is also running for the chair of the RNC. He has not commented on this issue to date.

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Illinois state legislative committee considering impeachment of Governor Blagojevich denies subpoena requests - Ed Gensen who is the defense attorney for the Governor had requested subpoenas of Rham Emanuel who is the incoming Obama White House Chief of Staff, Valarie Jarret, an incoming White House adviser, Illinois Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. and Chicago Tribune executive Nils Larsen. U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald had asked the committee not to subpoena them as it would adversely impact an ongoing investigation. The NY Times has more here.

There is surely more to come to this story as we will hear the response from Mr. Gensen. This action also makes it more difficult for the state legislative committee considering beginning impeachment proceedings against Governor Blagojevich. A question that has not been asked but will certainly come up will be did U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald act too early in his arrest of the Governor?

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