George Wenschhof
Obama makes four recess appointments - a move made while Congress was on vacation. All four under level positions had been blocked by Republicans. Reuters.com has more here.
Many of the mid level administrative positions in government agencies are by presidential appointment, leading to the question as to why? Instead, they should be merit based and the thousands of these brown bag appointments discontinued.
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Today, Vice President Joe Biden will address the DNC - at their meeting in St. Louis at the Marriott Hotel. He will be rallying the troops prior to the mid term elections. The DNC sent out an email blast to supporters yesterday inviting them to tune in the watch Biden's speech beginning this morning at 10:50 AM ET by clicking on this link: http://my.democrats.org/VPSpeech.
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Israel-Palestine Peace Talks To Resume - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to make the announcement today. Both Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are expected to arrive in Washington September 2 to begin the direct talks. The NY Times has more here.
Border issues, the status of Jerusalem, the return of Palestinian refugees, and the security of Israel are some of the many issues to be discussed. U.S. Middle East Envoy George Mitchell has been the go between in the so-called "Proximity talks" between the two leaders and it was his efforts which led to the announcement of the direct talks.
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O'Malley-Ehrlich tied in Maryland Governor race - In a rematch of the close 2006 election won by Democrat Martin O'Malley. The latest Rasmussen poll has it O'Malley with 45% and Republican former governor Robert Ehrlich at 44%. Only 3% prefer another candidate and 8% remain undecided. Rasmussen.com has more here.
This poll reflects the uneasiness of voters today as registered Democrats in the state outnumber Republicans 2-1. The Independent voters unaffiliated with a political party may well determine the outcome of this race.
While the state has been spared the the nationwide 9.5% unemployment rate (Md. is at 7%), O'Malley has been hurt with the sloppy and ineffective roll out of slots which were suppose to help raise revenue for the state. Increased scrutiny of the less than effective Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development will also surely come as the campaign heats up.
However, Ehrlich has yet to detail any specifics on his proposals to help business and economic growth. Yesterday, he refused to acknowledge Maryland Democratic Party communications director Issac Salazar who had attended a Ehrlich event and tried to ask a question. The Baltimore Sun reported Salazar was trying to point out that it was during the Ehrlich administration that the fees for personal property returns required annually by small businesses, increased from $100 to $300. The Baltimore Sun has more here.
FirstRead.com has Maryland rated as leaning Democrat. In their top ten list of takeovers in Governors across the country, seven favored the Republican candidate. You can read more here.
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Obama criticizes Republicans for blocking aid to small business - he wants the senate to take up the proposal again when they reconvene. The bill which would increase lending to small business and reduce their taxes was unable to break a Republican filibuster - the vote was 58-42. TheHill.com has more here.
Unemployment which stands at 9.5% across the country, appears ready to jump as the summer is coming to an end and the mid term elections near - a difficult scenario for Democrats.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
Daily Political Wire 8-20-2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Daily Political Wire 7-18-2010
George Wenschhof
President Obama and his family are enjoying their quick two day trip to Bar Harbor, Maine - visiting a Light House, fitness center, walking a scenic trail, and partaking in the great food. They return to D.C. today.
My first taste of Lobster came during a backpacking trip through the upper northeast and it was during a stay in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Back in the late 1970's, lobster pots were plentiful along the side of the road, and a sit down dinner with "Bib" and a paper place mat with instructions (very much needed!) was only five bucks!
For more details of the First Family trip, click here.
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So far, so good, as the newest cap on the Gulf BP oil well holds - continuing monitoring of the cap is needed to test build up of pressure to make sure there are no sub surface leaks from the well. With fingers crossed, this procedure could end the tremendous flow of oil into the ocean and the relief well is scheduled for completion within two weeks. The NY Times has more here.
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New Massachusetts Senator Carte Goodwin (D) to have an immediate effect when sworn in Tuesday - the interim replacement appointed by W. Virginia governor Joe Manchin (D) will make the 60th vote and enable the senate to pass a 34 billion unemployment benefits extension later in the week. TheHill.com has more here.
Republicans had been blocking the bill, saying there was no money to pay for it. Passage of the bill will provide for retroactive payments and up to 99 weeks of benefits through November.
Still absent from the Obama administration is a federally funded public service employment program which I have advocated, paid for with remaining Stimulus bill funds.
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U.S. Middle East Envoy George Mitchell still trying to set up direct talks between Israel and Palestine - a dubious task. he has been shuttling between the two countries in what has been dubbed "proximity talks" as the two leaders will not directly talk to each other. Hardly, an encouraging sign for long lasting peace between neighbors. After meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mitchell meet yesterday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Politico.com has more here.
Abbas wants a third part to guard the borders and Israel to agree to an equitable land swap for any West Bank settlement land it does not relinquish.
Both Netanyahu and Abbas meet with President Obama over the last two weeks as Obama continues to push for a two state solution and lasting peace.
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Pakistan - meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari. Improved relations and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is needed in battling al-Qaida and the Taliban. The U.S. has pledged 1.5 billion a year for five years in non military aid to Pakistan. MSNBC.com has more here.
The economies in both Pakistan and Afghanistan are terrible and the leadership weak and corrupt and Clinton's efforts could well be a fools errand.
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