Democratic Chatter 2-9-2009

George Wenschhof Bio

Today, President Barack Obama is in Elkhart, Indiana - Elkhart, which has a population of 53,000, leads the country in unemployment. In December, the unemployment rate hit 15.3% in this town where the recreational vehicle industry is a major job source. The President will hold a town hall meeting to discuss his Stimulus bill at Concord Community High School at noon. The Indianapolis Star has more here.

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Tonight, the President will hold a press conference at 8:00 PM ET - part of his push this week to sell his stimulus bill known as the America Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. He will be back at the White House and will take questions from the Press from the East Wing. Read more here.

Meanwhile, the Senate continues to debate the bill with a vote to end discussion possibly taking place tonight. 60 votes are needed and presently it looks as though there will not be more than one or two more votes than are needed. The bill would then go to a full vote in the Senate tomorrow before heading to committee to reconcile differences with the House version of the bill. After reconciliation of the bill, it would be sent to the White House for signature.

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While the economy currently has the spotlight, the Obama administration is hard at work addresses the foreign policy issues facing the country - Vice-President Joe Biden just returned from a trip to Germany where he set a new tone for U.S. relations in Europe.

Also attending the conference in Munich was special envoy to Afghanistan-Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke. Holbrooke warned the stabilization of Afghanistan could be tougher than Iraq. The NY Times has more here.

An ABC-BBC-ARD German TV poll released today shows public support of U.S. plummeting in Afghanistan. In regard to is the country headed in the right direction?, the results were 40%, down from 77% in 2005. As to views favorable to the U.S.? the results were 47%, down from 83% in 2005. ABC News has more here.

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Howard Dean receives support for Secretary of HHS - we reported after Tom Daschle withdrew from consideration for the cabinet position that Howard Dean should be considered. Bernie Sanders, the Independent Senator from Vermont voiced support for the former Governor of Vermont. The Hill.com has more here. Others being considered are Governors Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) and Phil Bredesen (D-Tenn.). Dean, the former chair of the DNC has not been considered for any positions within the Obama administration leading some to speculate there is a rift that exists.

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Terry McAuliffe receives early shot across the bow at Virginia annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner - many look at the former national chair of the Hillary Clinton for president campaign and former DNC chair as an interloper in Virginia. One of his opponents in the Democratic primary is Brian Moran who took a swipe at Mcauliffe's bringing in national dollars to a local race and showing up after the tough battles had been waged to turn the state blue. CNN.com has more here.

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Democratic Chatter 2-6-2009

George Wenschhof Bio

Welcome to Washington, Mr. President - President Barack Obama is finding his first weeks in office to be anything but easy. He has had Cabinet nominees withdraw due to tax issues and others have their confirmations delayed due to questions that should have been addressed during the vetting process.

Now, the 900+ Billion Stimulus bill vote in the Senate is being delayed due to lack of consensus. It was expected to be voted on last night. But, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could see the writing on the wall and postponed further discussion until today. A major question from both sides of the aisle is the low level of funding in the bill for infrastructure improvement across the country and questions surrounding funding a myriad of other items unrelated to what had originally been proposed.

Reid is saying if the bill does not come to a vote today, he will get the necessary 60 votes on Sunday to call for the vote to pass the bill. Expect many changes and compromises to have transpired overnight. Reuters.com has more here.

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598,000 Jobs lost in January adds urgency to pass Stimulus bill - unemployment now is 7.6%, the highest since September 1992. The number of jobs lost in the last four months now exceeds 2 million. The NY Times has more here.

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President Obama to name Economic Advisory Board today - we reported yesterday that Paul Volcker, a former Treasury Secretary was in a little bit of of a snit as he had not been named to head the special committee appointed by the President to offer advise on getting the country out of the economic mess it is in. Well, today, he gets his time in the spotlight when he appears with the President. Let's hope he and the committee gives good advise. CNN.com has more here.

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On Monday, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will spell out new Economic Stability Plan - this will be a revision of (TARP) the Troubled Assets Relief Program which the remaining 350 Billion was recently authorized by for the Treasury to spend. Expect more help to go to troubled mortgages to help Homeowners with more transparency and accountability to be included in the revisions put forward by Geithner. What is unknown is whether he intends to up the current budgeted amount of 350 Billion and ask Congress for more funds. CNN.com has more here.

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Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis confirmation delayed - taxes pop up once again for a nominee for the President's Cabinet. This time it pertains to the husband of the nominee. Solis is already facing opposition due to her support of Labor so this recent issue is not so surprising to have popped up at this late date. Politico.com has more here.

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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has pancreatic cancer - she had surgery yesterday in what has been said to be very early stages of cancer. She is 75 years old. During the Presidential campaign, due to the age of some of the Justices on the Supreme Court, it was often discussed that the next President could easily be responsible for appointing several Supreme Court Justices. Let's hope for a rapid recovery for Ginsburg. The Wall Street Journal has more here.

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Meanwhile, the Minnesota Senate race saga continues - the state mandated recount resulting in the canvassing board verifying Democrat Al Franken the winner by 225 votes. Then incumbent Republican Norm Coleman filed suit asking for additional previously rejected absentee ballots be counted. The court just recently said up to 4800 ballots could be argued to be counted by the Coleman campaign.

Now, the Franken campaign is asking the court for more previously rejected absentee ballots to be counted. The issue of contention is where the ballots are from with some areas favoring conservative and other areas, more liberal candidates. How about just reviewing all the remaining 20,000 rejected absentee ballots? Just a thought. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has more here.

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Democratic Chatter 1-23-2009

George Wenschhof Bio

President Barack Obama to meet with Democratic and Republican Congressional Leaders today - the discussion will center on his economic stimulus plan. Time.com has more here.

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New White House Press Secretary does well on first day - the first briefing was delayed one day due to WH press staffers still moving in. Yesterday, Robert Gibbs performed well in what will be a totally different experience than he had as the Obama campaign communications director. The toughest grilling from the press pertained to the do-over swearing in of President Obama by Justice Roberts and why the Press had not been invited. Future questions from the Press promise to be much tougher than that. Politico.com has more here.

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NY Governor David Paterson to name Senator today at noon - after all the media frenzy following the announcement by Caroline Kennedy that she was withdrawing from consideration, the Governor moved up a day his announcement of the person to fill the vacant Hillary Clinton Senate seat. Rumors are flying that NY Representative Kristen Hillibrand is the pick. The other name most mentioned is NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Interestingly, it is being reported the Governor has invited all of those who were being considered to be present at 12:00 PM ET when he makes his announcement. We'll all know soon! CNN.com has more here.

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Hillary Clinton begins first day as Secretary of State, Obama names two special envoys - The President showed he is serious in showing new resolve in U.S. foreign policy by yesterday naming George Mitchell as special envoy to the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke as special envoy to Pakistan-Afghanistan. Both regions are flash points and both gentlemen named are experienced negotiators in foreign policy. Reuters.com has more here.

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Senate passes pay equity bill - this bill failed passage last year. This time the vote was 61-36. While the House needs to agree with the Senate version of the bill, it is expected to be the first bill signed into law by President Obama. TheHill.com has more here.

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