Obama Weekly Address

George Wenschhof

President Obama continues to push for an extension of the payroll tax cut. The cuts expire at the end of the month and the President says Congress should not go home for the holidays until this is done.



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Republican Weekly Address

George Wenschhof

Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) gave the Republican address and pushed for the passage of a balanced budget amendment. She pointed out that 10 Trillion in debt had been added since 1997 when the Senate failed to pass a balance budget amendment by only one vote.



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Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Unemployment Drops to 8.6% - a refreshing surprise and the lowest level since March of 2009. A trend, which if continued, will certainly help the reelection efforts of President Obama. Bloomberg.com has more here.

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Payroll Tax Extension Fails in Senate - here we go again; two votes to extend the payroll tax deduction failed to reach the 60 votes needed to end discussion and proceed to a vote. the first plan offered by Democrats, failed 51-49 as Republicans objected to a millionaires surtax to pay for the extension.

The second vote, offered by Republicans, which included program cuts to pay for the extension, failed 72-28. The Washington Post has more here.

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Is Gingrich Getting To Romney? - so far, the Mitt Romney campaign has been able to stay above the fray as various Republican presidential candidates have risen and fallen in the polls. But, now with Newt Gingrich battling Romney for first place in the polls, the Romney campaign is reassessing it's strategy to bypass the Iowa caucuses. TheHill.com has more here.

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Say Bye-Bye to Cain - the rapid rise in the polls has been followed by numerous revelations of sexual harassment charges and now a long term relationship with Ginger White whom Cain has acknowledged he gave money to, threatens to end his campaign. CNN.com has more here.

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Mooney to Enter Maryland 6th District Race - the recently redistricted sixth congressional district has become even more interesting with the resignation of Republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett's chief of staff Bud Otis. Otis is heavily rumored to be exploring a run for his former boss's seat. All of this has led Maryland Republican chair Alex Mooney to file the paperwork to work an exploratory committee as he decides whether to run. RollCall.com has more here.

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Clinton Meets With Aung San Suu Kyi - Suu Kyi, the pro democracy leader of Myanmar had been under house arrest until being released last November. Suu Kyi welcomed the visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and hoped further relations with the U.S. would help set the path to democracy in her country. Reuters.com has more here.

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Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Obama, Clinton and Bush to Speak at Worlds AID Day - the panel discussion will be held at George Washington University.

Later today, President Obama will be on hand to officially light the National Christmas Tree.

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Biden Keeps Door Open For 2016 - the Vice President, speaking on The Today Show, once again kept the door open for a run for President in 2016. TheHill.com has more here.

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Jobless Claims Edge Up - the slight increase to 402,000 for the previous week shows the economy is still struggling to get on track. Reuters.com has more here.

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Will Thomas and Kagan Recuse Themselves From Health Care Ruling? - Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Clarence Thomas are being hammered by both the far left and the far right to recuse themselves for perceived conflicts in interests in the hearing of the heath care reform law. It is unlikely either will do so. The ruling is expected in the summer of 2012 in the middle of what is sure to be a closely contested presidential race. Politico.com has more here.

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Muslim Brotherhood Winning up to 40% of Egypt Vote - as expected, the political party banned form operating under the previous Mubarak regime. The early results also show a strict Islamic and ultraconservative party, Salafis winning up to 25% of the vote. The NY Times has more here.

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