George Wenschhof
President Barack Obama and family are home from their overseas trip - Russia, Italy and then Ghana. Today, the President has an op-ed in the Washington Post on the economy. You can read it here.
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CIA Director Leon Panetta says former Vice President Dick Cheney ordered CIA to not disclose to Congress secret counter-terrorism program - the NY Times has the report of this story here. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) has to be saying "and you said what again?".
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Attorney General Eric Holder close to naming Special Prosecutor in Torture probe - many Democrats in Congress have been clamoring for this for some time. Now, with fresh disclosures from CIA Director Leon Panetta pertaining to concealment of counter terrorism programs, expect this to become a reality. You can read more here.
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Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearing begins tomorrow - Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.) warns his fellow Republicans on how they conduct themselves during the hearings. On "Fox New Sunday" today, Cornyn expresses concern about republicans alienating Hispanics. TheHill.com has more here.
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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Daily Democratic Wire 7-12-2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Democratic News Chatter 4-13-2009
George Wenschhof Bio
Today, the President and Vice President will visit the Department of Transportation - they will talk about how the Stimulus bill is creating jobs in this area. Over 2000 projects are underway and president Obama is expected to say they are "ahead of schedule and under budget." You can read more here.
Yesterday, the Obama family attended Easter services at St. John's Church where they took Communion. This is a church many presidents have attended over the years as it is located conveniently a block away from the White House. President Obama and Michelle are still discussing which Church to join in Washington. You can read more here.
Today, the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll will take place and thousands are expected to participate.
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Navy Seals free U.S. Captain from Pirates - in what almost seemed like a scene from a movie ( it most likely will be one in the future), Navy Seal Snipers shot and killed the three pirates who were holding the captain hostage on board the lifeboat. It certainly made for a very happy Easter for Captain Richard Philips and his family. CNN.com has more here.
The OK for this action came from the very top - President Obama. While this may not have the same magnitude as the Bay of Pigs fiasco or the ill fated decision to attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran, it was a command decision with a successful outcome. This will only aid President Obama in his future relationships with the military.
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UN to finally issue statement condemning N. Korea missile launch - the security council had been mixed in their reaction to the launch with Russia and China saying it was only an attempt to launch a satellite. Their fear was also that N. Korea would break off any further 6-party discussions on the dismantling of their nuclear-arms program. The U.S. and Japan had pushed for sanctions. the UN statement is expected to be released today. the Wall Street Journal has more here.
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Panetta and Hagel pass on being Ambassador to China - this is a position once held by President George H.W. Bush. Chuck Hagel is a former Republican Senator from Nebraska and Leon Panetta was the White House chief of staff under President Clinton. Former Iowa Representative Jim Leach (R) is currently under consideration for the position. Politico.com has more here.
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Senator Evan Bayh explains why he was only one of two Democratic Senators to vote against Obama's proposed budget - interestingly, Bayh was on Obama's Vice President short list. He is from the moderate state of Indiana and says he feels the proposed budget does not lessen the national debt and yearly deficit as much as he would like to see. The other Democratic Senator to vote against the budget was Bill Nelson of Nebraska. TheHill.com has more here.
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Friday, April 10, 2009
Democratic News Chatter 4-10-2009
George Wenschhof Bio
This morning, President Barack Obama will hold a discussion with his economic team at the White House - Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, FDIC chair Sheila Bair, along with WH economic advisers Lawrence Summers and Dr. Christina Romer will all be present at the meeting. The President is expected to make some remarks to the press afterwards. The Wall Street Journal has more here.
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The President encourages homeowners to refinance - Yesterday, he spoke of the 7-9 million Americans who would benefit by refinancing their homes with the low interest rates that are currently available. He said they would realize savings of $1,600 to $2,00 per year. the NY Times has more here. The government website to check out for more information on how to save money by refinancing can be read here.
Perhaps, as a result of this presidential sales pitch, the Dow Jones was up almost 250 points yesterday to close above 8,000.
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Obama to request an additional 83 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan - this supplemental spending bill will fund the conflicts through the end of this fiscal year which ends on September 20. It includes 800 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza. CNN.com has more here.
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CIA to close secret prisons - the sites which the former George W. Bush administration was reluctant to disclose, will be closed according to CIA Director Leon Panetta. He also disclosed contractors who had been hired under the Bush administration to guard the prisons and it now also seems they were used to interrogate prisoners, have been fired. MSNBC.com has more here.
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Votes still being counted in New York District 20 special election - at the end of the day yesterday, Democrat Scott Murphy had retaken the lead by 8 votes over Republican Jim Tedisco. Only 1100 of the 6700 absentee ballots had been counted so far. Republican Jim Tedisco had been expected to win a majority of the absentee ballots. There were a little over 155,000 votes cast in the election. TheHill.com has more here.
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Democratic Chatter 2-20-2009
George Wenschhof Bio
President Barack Obama returns to Washington after a one day trip to Canada - his meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Halter in Ottawa, covered free trade and the use of environmental friendly technologies. While agreement was reached on the use of green energy, no agreement was reached on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Reuters.com has more here
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Today the President will host Mayors from across the country at the White House to discuss the Stimulus bill - You can read more here. On Sunday, the White House will be the site of the Governors Association Dinner. Earth, Wind and Fire will perform. WhiteHouse.gov has more here.
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Live-Blogging from the White House - how cool is this! The Website, WhiteHouse.gov has had a Blog since it's launch, but now it is providing live blogging as events unfold. The President's trip to Canada was the first use of the new feature. Check out the step by step posts, along with plenty of photos for you to view. Politico.com has more here.
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Dow Jones drops after gloomy economic forecast - the Federal Reserve forecast of a prolonged recession throughout this year lead to a drop in the Dow of 89.65 to close at 7465.95. This is a six year low. CNN.com has more here. The idea of nationalizing troubled banks may be picking up support as former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan feels it will be necessary. McClatchydc.com has more here.
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Pressure continues to mount for Senator Roland Burris (D-Ill.) to resign - Burris may face perjury charges based on his testimony to the Illinois impeachment panel and the Senate is taking up the issue in the Ethics committee. This, after revelations that former Governor Rod Blagojevich's brother had contacted him several times asking for campaign contributions and Burris attempted to hold a fund raiser for him. Now, it is being reported Black clergy who had previously supported his appointment, will be meeting with Burris to encourage him to resign. MSNBC.com has more here.
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Leon Panetta sworn in as CIA Director - Vice President Joe Biden handled the ceremonies making Leon Panetta official. There were concerns during the confirmation process, he did not have any experience in the intelligence field. Panetta, a former white House Chief of Staff under the Clinton administration vowed honesty from the agency. ThePage.time.com has more here.
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Friday, February 13, 2009
Democratic Chatter 2-13-2009
George Wenschhof Bio
The House to vote on the 789 billion Stimulus bill today - this is the House-Senate compromise that came out of conference committee. It is expected to pass easily in the House and the Senate is expected to vote on it tomorrow. Time.com has more here.
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President Obama continues to stumble with Cabinet picks - the first three weeks of his Presidency has not been kind as a third Cabinet nominee announces his withdrawal. This time it was Republican Senator Judd Gregg (NH) who said yesterday his philosophical differences with the Obama administration would not allow him to serve as Commerce Secretary. Questions continue regarding the vetting process. When Gregg was announced as the nominee, liberal bloggers pointed out Gregg has supported discontinuation of the Commerce Department. TheHill.com has more here
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New chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee targets nine seats in 2010 - never too early to start the rhetoric. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) recently took over the chair from Senator Charles Schumer from New York who was able to claim large gains and a new Democratic majority while he served as chair. Menendez pointed out five open seats in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Kansas and four other states where he feels Democrats will be competitive. The other states were Louisiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Out of the last four states, the Senate seat held by Republican Arlen Specter is the most likely pick up with Republicans going after Specter in the Primary due to his support of the Stimulus bill. CNN.com has more here.
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Leon Panetta confirmed by Senate for CIA Director - there was some initial hesitation by some Senators who questioned his total lack of experience in the intelligence field. however, in the end, he was approved by a voice vote in the Senate yesterday. Hilda Solis, the nominee for Labor Secretary, won approval in the senate committee and will be scheduled for a senate vote as early as today. The NY Times Caucus blog has more here.
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Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) proposes special commission to investigate possible wrongdoings by the George W. Bush administration - this is a hot topic among the more liberal Democrats who want investigation into possible illegal wiretapping, use of the Justice Department for political purposes, and the use of torture on detainees. A USAToday/Gallup poll conducted January 30 - February 1 showed 60% of Americans favored some type of investigation into these actions. While only 41% favored criminal probes. So far, the Obama administration has not indicated any desire to begin these proceedings. Gallup.com has more here.
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On the foreign policy front, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves today for her first official trip - she is off to Asia to visit China, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke is in Afghanistan and Senator John Kerry (D-Ma.) is scheduled to visit countries in the Middle East next week. Politico.com has more here.
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Saturday, February 7, 2009
Democratic Chatter 2-7-2009
George Wenschhof Bio
The weekly address by President Barack Obama this morning focused on his Stimulus Bill entitled "America Recovery and Reinvestment Plan". The Senate last night appeared to have reached a compromise with a vote expected on Tuesday. Bloomberg.com has more here. Part of the compromise included a reduction in spending from 900 to 780 Billion in the Senate bill. However, keep in mind the House bill was 819 Billion so the 780 Billion Senate version is only 5% lower than the House version. Click on the picture below to watch the weekly address.
privacy policy download .mp4 also available here
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Last night, The President and family watched the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Kennedy Center. Today, they will be taking their first trip to Camp David, the Presidential retreat in the Catoctin mountains near Thurmont, Maryland. CNN.com has more here.
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Vice President Joe Biden's foreign policy speech received warmly in Munich, Germany - he was speaking to a international conference on security policy. He pledged America would not use torture and promised diplomacy. Politico.com has more here.
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CIA Director nominee Leon Panetta says no prosecution for those who used harsh interrogation techniques - when questioned, he indicated this was an Obama administration policy. This answer, much to the chagrin of the liberal netroots. Panetta is expected to be confirmed next week. MSNBC.com has more here.
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Thursday, February 5, 2009
Democratic Chatter 2-5-2009
George Wenschhof Bio
Today, President Barack Obama attended the annual National Prayer Breakfast - ThePage.time.com has the text of his speech here. This evening he will speak at the House Democrats annual Retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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Two more Obama Cabinet nominees to face Senate Hearings today - Leon Panetta, the pick to head the CIA will go in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He is a former White House Chief of Staff under the Clinton administration and initial questions related to his lack of experience n the intelligence field. Recently. his financial disclosures show he worked for some of the major financial firms that have experienced difficulty of late. The Wall Street Journal has more here.
Hilda L. Solis who was nominated for Labor Secretary should receive a vote in the Senate committee reviewing her appointment today. Republicans had delayed the vote due to their concerns regarding her views on organized labor. The Washington Post has more here.
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A Paul Volcker - Lawrence Summers spat? - Volcker was picked by the president to head a economic advisory group to come up with new ideas for economic recovery for the country. He is upset that Summers, who is the White House Economic Council Director has not been communicating with him. Another distraction at a time when Obama is trying to pass his Stimulus bill. Bloomberg.com has more here.
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Unemployment jumps higher again - the labor department issued reports showing claims are the highest since 1982. The other distressing news is the length of time for the unemployed has increased which also shows how bad the job market has become. Reuters.com has more here.
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Stimulus bill continues to receive scrutiny - with the Senate version of the Stimulus bill now approaching 900 Billion, more and more Americans are questioning the bill. Even with the President's popularity, the bill has become a tough sell as voters are calling their elected officials on the Hill in record numbers. Politico.com has more here.
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Taxpayers at risk of fraud with TARP - that is what a 188 page report says that was prepared by Neil Barofky, a special inspector general, who delivered the report to Congress today. As everyone now knows, a lack of accountability surrounded the issuance of the first 350 Billion from the Troubled Assets Relief Program. TheHill.com has more here.
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