Morning Bulletin – Friday, Jan. 9, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect Obama will officially announce Leon Panetta as his choice for CIA Director and retired Adm. Dennis Blair as his choice to be Director of National Intelligence at a 10:30 a.m. news conference in Washington, D.C.
He is also expected to announce John Brennan, who was reportedly seriously considered for CIA Director, to be Mr. Obama's top counterrorism adviser, reports CBS News' Bob Orr.
Continue »
(AP)
He is also expected to announce John Brennan, who was reportedly seriously considered for CIA Director, to be Mr. Obama's top counterrorism adviser, reports CBS News' Bob Orr.
Continue »
Morning Bulletin – Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect Obama will detail his economic stimulus plan today but not without dire warnings of what might be if his plan isn't passed.
"I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible," Mr. Obama will say during his 11am speech at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
Continue »
(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
"I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible," Mr. Obama will say during his 11am speech at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
Continue »
Morning Bulletin – Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect Obama holds a news conference today in Washington, D.C. at 10:15am ET where, per the Wall Street Journal's Jonathan Weisman, he's "set to speak about deficit-control measures he plans to include in his first budget, due next month, an Obama aide said. The aide stressed that the president-elect is inheriting a fiscal disaster not of his making."
After warning of "trillion dollar deficits for years to come", calling for budget reform and bringing "a long-overdue sense of responsibility and accountability to Washington" yesterday, he "was expected to announce Nancy Killefer as his chief performance officer, a White House official who will work with federal agencies to set performance standards and hold agency managers accountable for progress. Killefer is director of a management consulting firm and served as an assistant secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton," reports the AP's Jim Kuhnhenn.
Continue »
President-elect Obama holds a news conference today in Washington, D.C. at 10:15am ET where, per the Wall Street Journal's Jonathan Weisman, he's "set to speak about deficit-control measures he plans to include in his first budget, due next month, an Obama aide said. The aide stressed that the president-elect is inheriting a fiscal disaster not of his making."
After warning of "trillion dollar deficits for years to come", calling for budget reform and bringing "a long-overdue sense of responsibility and accountability to Washington" yesterday, he "was expected to announce Nancy Killefer as his chief performance officer, a White House official who will work with federal agencies to set performance standards and hold agency managers accountable for progress. Killefer is director of a management consulting firm and served as an assistant secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton," reports the AP's Jim Kuhnhenn.
Continue »
Morning Bulletin – Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
It's the first day of the 111th Congress and 14 days before Inauguration Day. President-elect Obama continues his focus on the economy as he meets with his economic team this afternoon at his D.C. transition headquarters.
According to Mr. Obama's office, the meeting will focus on the budget as he and his budget team "will review the medium-term budget outlook and discuss their commitment to crafting a budget for 2010 that puts us on a path to bring down the deficit as the economy recovers," a deficit that looks like it could be an obstacle for Mr. Obama and Congress.
Continue »
It's the first day of the 111th Congress and 14 days before Inauguration Day. President-elect Obama continues his focus on the economy as he meets with his economic team this afternoon at his D.C. transition headquarters.
According to Mr. Obama's office, the meeting will focus on the budget as he and his budget team "will review the medium-term budget outlook and discuss their commitment to crafting a budget for 2010 that puts us on a path to bring down the deficit as the economy recovers," a deficit that looks like it could be an obstacle for Mr. Obama and Congress.
Continue »
Morning Bulletin – Monday, Jan. 5, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
Fifteen days before Inauguration Day and President-elect Obama heads to Capitol Hill today for meetings with Congressional leadership to lay out details of his economic stimulus plan while his visit is bracketed by a couple of distractions – namely Bill Richardson's withdrawal as the next Commerce Secretary and the chaos surrounding Mr. Obama's Senate replacement.
After arriving at his temporary home at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C., and sending his daughters Sasha and Malia off to their first day at their new school this morning, Mr. Obama will head to the Hill to first meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Following that meeting, the three will be joined by Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader John Boehner, among others. Mr. Obama will also meet separately with his economic team at his D.C. transition headquarters.
Continue »
Fifteen days before Inauguration Day and President-elect Obama heads to Capitol Hill today for meetings with Congressional leadership to lay out details of his economic stimulus plan while his visit is bracketed by a couple of distractions – namely Bill Richardson's withdrawal as the next Commerce Secretary and the chaos surrounding Mr. Obama's Senate replacement.
After arriving at his temporary home at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C., and sending his daughters Sasha and Malia off to their first day at their new school this morning, Mr. Obama will head to the Hill to first meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Following that meeting, the three will be joined by Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader John Boehner, among others. Mr. Obama will also meet separately with his economic team at his D.C. transition headquarters.
Continue »
Morning Bulletin – Monday, Jan. 5, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
Fifteen days before Inauguration Day and President-elect Obama heads to Capitol Hill today for meetings with Congressional leadership to lay out details of his economic stimulus plan while his visit is bracketed by a couple of distractions – namely Bill Richardson's withdrawal as the next Commerce Secretary and the chaos surrounding Mr. Obama's Senate replacement.
After arriving at his temporary home at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C., and sending his daughters Sasha and Malia off to their first day at their new school this morning, Mr. Obama will head to the Hill to first meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Following that meeting, the three will be joined by Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader John Boehner, among others. Mr. Obama will also meet separately with his economic team at his D.C. transition headquarters.
Continue »
Fifteen days before Inauguration Day and President-elect Obama heads to Capitol Hill today for meetings with Congressional leadership to lay out details of his economic stimulus plan while his visit is bracketed by a couple of distractions – namely Bill Richardson's withdrawal as the next Commerce Secretary and the chaos surrounding Mr. Obama's Senate replacement.
After arriving at his temporary home at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C., and sending his daughters Sasha and Malia off to their first day at their new school this morning, Mr. Obama will head to the Hill to first meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Following that meeting, the three will be joined by Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader John Boehner, among others. Mr. Obama will also meet separately with his economic team at his D.C. transition headquarters.
Continue »
Obama To Meet With Dem, GOP Leaders
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
CBS News has confirmed that President-elect Barack Obama plans to meet on Monday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., before meeting with Republican leaders to discuss his economic stimulus plan.
CBS News has also confirmed that those GOP leaders are Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. John Boehner.
President-elect Obama and his family returned to Chicago from their Hawaiian vacation early this morning. They will be moving to Washington, D.C. this weekend and they'll be staying in the Hay Adams Hotel, a block north of the White House, before moving to Blair House on Jan. 15, across the street from the White House – the traditional pre-inaugural accommodations for incoming presidents. Mr. Obama's daughters begin class at Sidwell Friends School on Monday.
The 111th Congress convenes on Tuesday and new members will be sworn in that day in both the House and Senate. The fate of Roland Burris, who was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., earlier this week to succeed Mr. Obama, is still unclear. Senate Democrats are allied against seating him; Burris has filed a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court to force Illinois' Secretary of State to certify his appointment, hoping that will bolster his argument to Senate Democrats that they must seat him.
Mr. Obama will also attend a lunch with President Bush and former Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton at the White House on Wednesday.
Upcoming Obama cabinet confirmation hearings: Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Daschle, Thursday, Jan. 8, 10am, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee; Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis, Friday, Jan. 9, 9:30am, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. Future hearings: Education Secretary nominee Arne Duncan, Jan. 13; Energy Secretary nominee Steven Chu, Jan. 13; Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee Eric Shinseki, Jan. 14; Attorney General nominee Eric Holder, Jan 15; Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar, Jan. 15. TBA: Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton, Secretary nominee Shaun Donovan, Treasury Secretary nominee Tim Geithner, HUD Transportation Secretary nominee Ray LaHood, Homeland Security Secretary nominee Janet Napolitano, Commerce Secretary nominee Bill Richardson, Agriculture Secretary nominee Tom Vilsack. Defense Secretary Robert Gatesdoes not need to be reconfirmed.
BLAGO / OBAMA SENATE SEAT
Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet is not high on Burris's chances of getting seated next Tuesday: "Burris will arrive with no floor privileges because Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will not certify his appointment. The Senate will likely refer the matter to the Rules Committee, where it will be handled as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible. For example, the rules panel will require a very, very, very complete investigation to make sure the appointment is stain-free. While the Senate Democrats are slow-walking, they want the Illinois House to fast-walk the Blagojevich impeachment proceedings, and then have a swift state Senate trial, conviction, and installation of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn as governor. Quinn then can make the pick, preferably a Democrat with an excellent chance of winning either a special election or the 2010 contest. Given Burris' string of statewide defeats for senator and governor, he does not fit that profile."
Continue »
CBS News has confirmed that President-elect Barack Obama plans to meet on Monday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., before meeting with Republican leaders to discuss his economic stimulus plan.
CBS News has also confirmed that those GOP leaders are Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. John Boehner.
President-elect Obama and his family returned to Chicago from their Hawaiian vacation early this morning. They will be moving to Washington, D.C. this weekend and they'll be staying in the Hay Adams Hotel, a block north of the White House, before moving to Blair House on Jan. 15, across the street from the White House – the traditional pre-inaugural accommodations for incoming presidents. Mr. Obama's daughters begin class at Sidwell Friends School on Monday.
The 111th Congress convenes on Tuesday and new members will be sworn in that day in both the House and Senate. The fate of Roland Burris, who was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., earlier this week to succeed Mr. Obama, is still unclear. Senate Democrats are allied against seating him; Burris has filed a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court to force Illinois' Secretary of State to certify his appointment, hoping that will bolster his argument to Senate Democrats that they must seat him.
Mr. Obama will also attend a lunch with President Bush and former Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton at the White House on Wednesday.
Upcoming Obama cabinet confirmation hearings: Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Daschle, Thursday, Jan. 8, 10am, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee; Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis, Friday, Jan. 9, 9:30am, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. Future hearings: Education Secretary nominee Arne Duncan, Jan. 13; Energy Secretary nominee Steven Chu, Jan. 13; Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee Eric Shinseki, Jan. 14; Attorney General nominee Eric Holder, Jan 15; Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar, Jan. 15. TBA: Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton, Secretary nominee Shaun Donovan, Treasury Secretary nominee Tim Geithner, HUD Transportation Secretary nominee Ray LaHood, Homeland Security Secretary nominee Janet Napolitano, Commerce Secretary nominee Bill Richardson, Agriculture Secretary nominee Tom Vilsack. Defense Secretary Robert Gatesdoes not need to be reconfirmed.
BLAGO / OBAMA SENATE SEAT
Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet is not high on Burris's chances of getting seated next Tuesday: "Burris will arrive with no floor privileges because Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will not certify his appointment. The Senate will likely refer the matter to the Rules Committee, where it will be handled as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible. For example, the rules panel will require a very, very, very complete investigation to make sure the appointment is stain-free. While the Senate Democrats are slow-walking, they want the Illinois House to fast-walk the Blagojevich impeachment proceedings, and then have a swift state Senate trial, conviction, and installation of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn as governor. Quinn then can make the pick, preferably a Democrat with an excellent chance of winning either a special election or the 2010 contest. Given Burris' string of statewide defeats for senator and governor, he does not fit that profile."
Continue »
Morning Bulletin: Friday, January 2, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect OBAMA and his family returned to Chicago from their Hawaiian vacation early this morning. They will be moving to Washington, D.C. this weekend and they'll be staying in the Hay Adams Hotel, a block north of the White House before moving to Blair House on Jan. 15, across the street from the White House – the traditional pre-inaugural accommodations for incoming presidents. Mr. Obama's daughters begin class at Sidwell Friends School on Monday;
The Associated Press, Reuters and Politico are reporting that Mr. Obama plans to meet on Monday with Senate Majority Leader Harry REID, D-Nev. and House Speaker Nancy PELOSI, D-Calif., before meeting with Republican leaders to discuss his economic stimulus plan.
Continue »
President-elect OBAMA and his family returned to Chicago from their Hawaiian vacation early this morning. They will be moving to Washington, D.C. this weekend and they'll be staying in the Hay Adams Hotel, a block north of the White House before moving to Blair House on Jan. 15, across the street from the White House – the traditional pre-inaugural accommodations for incoming presidents. Mr. Obama's daughters begin class at Sidwell Friends School on Monday;
The Associated Press, Reuters and Politico are reporting that Mr. Obama plans to meet on Monday with Senate Majority Leader Harry REID, D-Nev. and House Speaker Nancy PELOSI, D-Calif., before meeting with Republican leaders to discuss his economic stimulus plan.
Continue »
Transition Today – Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect OBAMA will ring in the New Year in Hawaii as he begins to wind down his holiday vacation with his family. Tuesday, Mr. Obama's transition office announced that he will move to Washington over the weekend. He and his family will live in an undisclosed D.C. hotel until Jan. 15, when the Obamas will move to Blair House, across the street from the White House – the traditional pre-inaugural accommodations for incoming presidents. Mr. Obama's daughters begin class at Sidwell Friends School on Monday; Mr. Obama himself will spend his time working with Congress on the stimulus package he's looking to sign after he's inaugurated on the 20th. Mr. Obama will also attend a lunch with President Bush and former Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton at the White House next Wednesday.
BLAGO
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday defiantly announced a replacement for Mr. Obama's vacant Senate seat: 71-year-old former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, the first African-American to win statewide office in Illinois. Senate Democrats vowed not to seat Burris when they reconvene next Tuesday; Mr. Obama agreed with them. "Burris does not appear to have deep or longtime connections to Blagojevich, nor was he among the five candidates the governor and his top aide were heard discussing as potential appointees on FBI surveillance recordings, portions of which were included in criminal filings accusing the governor of several felonies. For the past decade, Burris has been a partner in a consulting firm and a law firm that have received some government work, mostly, he said, to ensure that the state government was complying with regulations requiring that a certain portion of its contracts are awarded to minority-owned businesses," writes Paul Kane in The Washington Post. This morning, Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., repeated his suggestion that racism might be a factor here – Burris is African-American and would be the only African-American in the U.S. Senate if he's seated. "All these folks opposed to Gov. Blagojevich, they need to take a chill pill," Rush said this morning on CBS' The Early Show. "The people of the state of Illinois should not be deprived of a representative in the U.S. Senate."
Continue »
President-elect OBAMA will ring in the New Year in Hawaii as he begins to wind down his holiday vacation with his family. Tuesday, Mr. Obama's transition office announced that he will move to Washington over the weekend. He and his family will live in an undisclosed D.C. hotel until Jan. 15, when the Obamas will move to Blair House, across the street from the White House – the traditional pre-inaugural accommodations for incoming presidents. Mr. Obama's daughters begin class at Sidwell Friends School on Monday; Mr. Obama himself will spend his time working with Congress on the stimulus package he's looking to sign after he's inaugurated on the 20th. Mr. Obama will also attend a lunch with President Bush and former Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton at the White House next Wednesday.
BLAGO
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Continue »
Transition Today – Friday, Dec. 19, 2008
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect Obama holds a news conference at 2:15pm ET in Chicago where it's expected he'll roll out his choices for Labor Secretary, U.S. Trade Representative and Transportation Secretary. CBS News has confirmed that Mr. Obama will name Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., for Labor, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk for USTR and retiring Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., for Transportation. Tomorrow, Mr. Obama departs for Hawaii for a Christmas vacation with his family.
***NY Times, "Picks for Labor and Trade Positions Disagree on Policy": "With his choices of a labor secretary and a trade representative, Mr. Obama appears to have sought to appeal to each side in the battle over free trade. Ms. Solis, a longtime labor advocate who is of Central American heritage, has been skeptical about free-trade agreements, while Mr. Kirk, a lawyer with a political bent, comes from the Texas establishment and has spoken out in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement... Although Mr. Obama said in his primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton that Nafta should be re-negotiated, he did not emphasize that approach during the general election campaign. Free-trade proponents remain hopeful that Mr. Obama will moderate his stance, as his predecessors did, now that he has been elected president... Labor activists who would speak only on condition of anonymity expressed wariness about Mr. Kirk, but made clear their strong support for Ms. Solis, a close ally of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Ms. Solis was first elected to Congress in 2000 and represents a largely Hispanic and Asian district of working-class suburbs east of Los Angeles as well as part of East Los Angeles."
Vice President-elect Biden is in Delaware today and has no public events scheduled.
Continue »
President-elect Obama holds a news conference at 2:15pm ET in Chicago where it's expected he'll roll out his choices for Labor Secretary, U.S. Trade Representative and Transportation Secretary. CBS News has confirmed that Mr. Obama will name Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., for Labor, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk for USTR and retiring Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., for Transportation. Tomorrow, Mr. Obama departs for Hawaii for a Christmas vacation with his family.
***NY Times, "Picks for Labor and Trade Positions Disagree on Policy": "With his choices of a labor secretary and a trade representative, Mr. Obama appears to have sought to appeal to each side in the battle over free trade. Ms. Solis, a longtime labor advocate who is of Central American heritage, has been skeptical about free-trade agreements, while Mr. Kirk, a lawyer with a political bent, comes from the Texas establishment and has spoken out in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement... Although Mr. Obama said in his primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton that Nafta should be re-negotiated, he did not emphasize that approach during the general election campaign. Free-trade proponents remain hopeful that Mr. Obama will moderate his stance, as his predecessors did, now that he has been elected president... Labor activists who would speak only on condition of anonymity expressed wariness about Mr. Kirk, but made clear their strong support for Ms. Solis, a close ally of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Ms. Solis was first elected to Congress in 2000 and represents a largely Hispanic and Asian district of working-class suburbs east of Los Angeles as well as part of East Los Angeles."
Vice President-elect Biden is in Delaware today and has no public events scheduled.
Continue »
Transition Today – Thursday, Dec. 17, 2008
President-elect Obama holds a news conference at 10:45am ET today in Chicago to announce his choice of Mary Schapiro to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing Christopher Cox, who has said that he will leave the post at the end of the Bush Administration. CBS News has also confirmed that Obama will name retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois to be his Transportation Secretary. That announcement is expected to happen tomorrow. Vice President-elect Biden is in Delaware today for private meetings.
***Wall Street Journal, "Regulator Schapiro to Run SEC for Obama": "Ms. Schapiro, 53 years old, will take over an agency beset by problems, from its failure to catch red flags in the alleged $50 billion Madoff fraud to accusations of lax oversight of Wall Street banks. The announcement is expected Thursday in Chicago. She was credited with beefing up enforcement while at the National Association of Securities Dealers and guiding the creation of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which she now leads. But some in the industry questioned whether she would be strong enough to get the SEC back on track."
***Wall Street Journal, "LaHood to Get Transportation Post": "Mr. LaHood would be the second Republican picked to serve in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, helping to fullfill a pledge for a bipartisan panel of advisers. The first was Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, whom Mr. Obama has asked to stay on in that role. Mr. LaHood's resume on transport matters was seen as thin by some critics. He does not currently serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, although he has in the past. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee he did not work on transportation funding. But Mr. LaHood, who is retiring from Congress, is very close to Mr. Emanuel and won high praise from key Democratic lawmakers for his efforts to bridge the sometimes bitter partisan divide in Congress. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D., Minn.) said Mr. LaHood's skills as an arbitrator will be essential at the Transportation Department."
TRANSITION
Continue »
***Wall Street Journal, "Regulator Schapiro to Run SEC for Obama": "Ms. Schapiro, 53 years old, will take over an agency beset by problems, from its failure to catch red flags in the alleged $50 billion Madoff fraud to accusations of lax oversight of Wall Street banks. The announcement is expected Thursday in Chicago. She was credited with beefing up enforcement while at the National Association of Securities Dealers and guiding the creation of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which she now leads. But some in the industry questioned whether she would be strong enough to get the SEC back on track."
***Wall Street Journal, "LaHood to Get Transportation Post": "Mr. LaHood would be the second Republican picked to serve in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, helping to fullfill a pledge for a bipartisan panel of advisers. The first was Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, whom Mr. Obama has asked to stay on in that role. Mr. LaHood's resume on transport matters was seen as thin by some critics. He does not currently serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, although he has in the past. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee he did not work on transportation funding. But Mr. LaHood, who is retiring from Congress, is very close to Mr. Emanuel and won high praise from key Democratic lawmakers for his efforts to bridge the sometimes bitter partisan divide in Congress. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D., Minn.) said Mr. LaHood's skills as an arbitrator will be essential at the Transportation Department."
TRANSITION
Continue »
Transition Today – Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008
President-elect Obama holds a news conference at 11:45am ET today in Chicago to unveil his nominees for Interior Secretary and Agriculture Secretary. CBS News has confirmed that Mr. Obama has chosen Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., for Interior and former Gov. Tom Vilsack, D-Iowa, for Agriculture. Vice President-elect Biden is in Delaware and has no public events scheduled.
OBAMA & BLAGOJEVICH
Newsweek's Howard Fineman, "The Blago Distraction": "Political pros know that the best time of the year in which to bury a scandal is Christmas week. People are busy. Reporters are on vacation. Almost no one is watching the news. So perhaps you can excuse me for being a little suspicious about a recent announcement from Barack Obama's office. It said that he would release an internal report about his team's contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich—the man the Feds allege is a one-man influence-peddling crime spree—in 'the week of Dec. 22.' I'm betting on Boxing Day, Friday, Dec. 26. Or maybe at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve... Obama has said, publicly and repeatedly, that he is sure that no one on his staff did anything wrong. Emanuel, according to reports, has hired a lawyer to help him deal with the Feds—a prudent move—though Obama's staff won't confirm that or even identify the attorney. A source in the Obama inner circle told me Tuesday that Emanuel is on legally safe ground '100 percent.' Emanuel's famously foul-mouthed style may be heard, but that will do nothing more than 'authenticate the tapes,' said the source, who declined to be quoted because he was commenting about an ongoing legal matter... Still, however justifiable the silence and caution, Emanuel (and, by extension, Obama) could pay a price for both as the Chicago mess simmers on. Emanuel already has blown up at members of the Chicago press corps—a newspaper reporter and a cameraman. Obama's transition team, eager to show its openness and focus on naming cabinet nominees, has been forced to spend day after day dealing with the Blago story. There's too much focus on Emanuel, whose naturally abrasive personality clashes with his boss's cool demeanor. And Republicans are now piling on Emanuel—and are likely to continue to do so. At this point, there seems little doubt that Emanuel will survive, and will take his place on Jan. 20 as chief of staff in the Oval Office. But he is already a bigger story than is good for either him or his boss—and delay, however legally justified, just makes it bigger. We'll know more next week—at least those of us who are paying attention."
Continue »
OBAMA & BLAGOJEVICH
Newsweek's Howard Fineman, "The Blago Distraction": "Political pros know that the best time of the year in which to bury a scandal is Christmas week. People are busy. Reporters are on vacation. Almost no one is watching the news. So perhaps you can excuse me for being a little suspicious about a recent announcement from Barack Obama's office. It said that he would release an internal report about his team's contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich—the man the Feds allege is a one-man influence-peddling crime spree—in 'the week of Dec. 22.' I'm betting on Boxing Day, Friday, Dec. 26. Or maybe at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve... Obama has said, publicly and repeatedly, that he is sure that no one on his staff did anything wrong. Emanuel, according to reports, has hired a lawyer to help him deal with the Feds—a prudent move—though Obama's staff won't confirm that or even identify the attorney. A source in the Obama inner circle told me Tuesday that Emanuel is on legally safe ground '100 percent.' Emanuel's famously foul-mouthed style may be heard, but that will do nothing more than 'authenticate the tapes,' said the source, who declined to be quoted because he was commenting about an ongoing legal matter... Still, however justifiable the silence and caution, Emanuel (and, by extension, Obama) could pay a price for both as the Chicago mess simmers on. Emanuel already has blown up at members of the Chicago press corps—a newspaper reporter and a cameraman. Obama's transition team, eager to show its openness and focus on naming cabinet nominees, has been forced to spend day after day dealing with the Blago story. There's too much focus on Emanuel, whose naturally abrasive personality clashes with his boss's cool demeanor. And Republicans are now piling on Emanuel—and are likely to continue to do so. At this point, there seems little doubt that Emanuel will survive, and will take his place on Jan. 20 as chief of staff in the Oval Office. But he is already a bigger story than is good for either him or his boss—and delay, however legally justified, just makes it bigger. We'll know more next week—at least those of us who are paying attention."
Continue »
Transition Today – Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect Obama holds a news conference at 11:45am ET today at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago to unveil his choice for Education Secretary. CBS News has confirmed that Mr. Obama will announce Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Arne Duncan as his choice.
***Chicago Tribune, "Duncan to join Obama cabinet": "Since Mayor Richard Daley plucked Duncan from obscurity to head the country's third-largest school district in 2001, Duncan has gained a reputation as a reformer who isn't afraid to rankle the teachers union or punish underperforming schools. His decisions to pay students for good grades, back an unrealized plan for a gay-friendly high school and consider boarding schools often polarized the community while bolstering his renegade image."
***NY Times, "Chicago Schools Chief Is Obama's Education Pick": "Mr. Duncan, a 44-year-old Harvard graduate, has raised achievement in the nation's third-largest school district and often faced the ticklish challenge of shuttering failing schools and replacing ineffective teachers, usually with improved results. He represents a compromise choice in the debate that has divided Democrats in recent months over the proper course for public-school policy after the Bush years. In June, rival nationwide groups of educators circulated competing educational manifestos, with one group espousing a get-tough policy based on pushing teachers and administrators harder to raise achievement, and another arguing that schools alone could not close the racial achievement gap and urging new investments in school-based health clinics and other social programs to help poor students learn. Mr. Duncan was the only big-city superintendent to sign both manifestos. He argued that the nation's schools needed to be held accountable for student progress, but also needed major new investments, new talent and new teacher-training efforts. In straddling the two camps, Mr. Duncan seemed to reflect Mr. Obama's own impatience with what he has called 'tired educational debates.'"
Continue »
President-elect Obama holds a news conference at 11:45am ET today at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago to unveil his choice for Education Secretary. CBS News has confirmed that Mr. Obama will announce Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Arne Duncan as his choice.
***Chicago Tribune, "Duncan to join Obama cabinet": "Since Mayor Richard Daley plucked Duncan from obscurity to head the country's third-largest school district in 2001, Duncan has gained a reputation as a reformer who isn't afraid to rankle the teachers union or punish underperforming schools. His decisions to pay students for good grades, back an unrealized plan for a gay-friendly high school and consider boarding schools often polarized the community while bolstering his renegade image."
***NY Times, "Chicago Schools Chief Is Obama's Education Pick": "Mr. Duncan, a 44-year-old Harvard graduate, has raised achievement in the nation's third-largest school district and often faced the ticklish challenge of shuttering failing schools and replacing ineffective teachers, usually with improved results. He represents a compromise choice in the debate that has divided Democrats in recent months over the proper course for public-school policy after the Bush years. In June, rival nationwide groups of educators circulated competing educational manifestos, with one group espousing a get-tough policy based on pushing teachers and administrators harder to raise achievement, and another arguing that schools alone could not close the racial achievement gap and urging new investments in school-based health clinics and other social programs to help poor students learn. Mr. Duncan was the only big-city superintendent to sign both manifestos. He argued that the nation's schools needed to be held accountable for student progress, but also needed major new investments, new talent and new teacher-training efforts. In straddling the two camps, Mr. Duncan seemed to reflect Mr. Obama's own impatience with what he has called 'tired educational debates.'"
Continue »
Transition Today – Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
President-elect OBAMA holds a news conference at 11:45am ET today at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago to unveil his choice for Education Secretary. CBS News has confirmed that Mr. Obama will announce Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Arne Duncan as his choice.
***Chicago Tribune, "Duncan to join Obama cabinet": "Since Mayor Richard Daley plucked Duncan from obscurity to head the country's third-largest school district in 2001, Duncan has gained a reputation as a reformer who isn't afraid to rankle the teachers union or punish underperforming schools. His decisions to pay students for good grades, back an unrealized plan for a gay-friendly high school and consider boarding schools often polarized the community while bolstering his renegade image."
***NY Times, "Chicago Schools Chief Is Obama's Education Pick": "Mr. Duncan, a 44-year-old Harvard graduate, has raised achievement in the nation's third-largest school district and often faced the ticklish challenge of shuttering failing schools and replacing ineffective teachers, usually with improved results. He represents a compromise choice in the debate that has divided Democrats in recent months over the proper course for public-school policy after the Bush years. In June, rival nationwide groups of educators circulated competing educational manifestos, with one group espousing a get-tough policy based on pushing teachers and administrators harder to raise achievement, and another arguing that schools alone could not close the racial achievement gap and urging new investments in school-based health clinics and other social programs to help poor students learn. Mr. Duncan was the only big-city superintendent to sign both manifestos. He argued that the nation's schools needed to be held accountable for student progress, but also needed major new investments, new talent and new teacher-training efforts. In straddling the two camps, Mr. Duncan seemed to reflect Mr. Obama's own impatience with what he has called 'tired educational debates.'"
Continue »
President-elect OBAMA holds a news conference at 11:45am ET today at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago to unveil his choice for Education Secretary. CBS News has confirmed that Mr. Obama will announce Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Arne Duncan as his choice.
***Chicago Tribune, "Duncan to join Obama cabinet": "Since Mayor Richard Daley plucked Duncan from obscurity to head the country's third-largest school district in 2001, Duncan has gained a reputation as a reformer who isn't afraid to rankle the teachers union or punish underperforming schools. His decisions to pay students for good grades, back an unrealized plan for a gay-friendly high school and consider boarding schools often polarized the community while bolstering his renegade image."
***NY Times, "Chicago Schools Chief Is Obama's Education Pick": "Mr. Duncan, a 44-year-old Harvard graduate, has raised achievement in the nation's third-largest school district and often faced the ticklish challenge of shuttering failing schools and replacing ineffective teachers, usually with improved results. He represents a compromise choice in the debate that has divided Democrats in recent months over the proper course for public-school policy after the Bush years. In June, rival nationwide groups of educators circulated competing educational manifestos, with one group espousing a get-tough policy based on pushing teachers and administrators harder to raise achievement, and another arguing that schools alone could not close the racial achievement gap and urging new investments in school-based health clinics and other social programs to help poor students learn. Mr. Duncan was the only big-city superintendent to sign both manifestos. He argued that the nation's schools needed to be held accountable for student progress, but also needed major new investments, new talent and new teacher-training efforts. In straddling the two camps, Mr. Duncan seemed to reflect Mr. Obama's own impatience with what he has called 'tired educational debates.'"
Continue »
Obama Meets With National Security Team Today
Prior to a 5 p.m. ET news conference where he is expected to announce his energy and environment team, President-elect Barack Obama will meet with his national security team.
The meeting will include Mr. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden, White House Chief of Staff-designee Rahm Emanuel, Secretary of State designee Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Attorney General designee Eric Holder, Secretary of Homeland Security designee Janet Napolitano, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Ambassador to the United Nations designee Susan Rice, National Security Advisor designee Jim Jones, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and White House Counsel designee Greg Craig.
A transition official provided CBS News with some background on the meeting:
"There is one president at a time and this meeting is part of the work being done during the transition to be ready to hit the ground running on January 20."
"This is not the first national security meeting. President-elect Obama previously held a meeting with key members of his team on Monday, December 1st, the day he announced key nominees. That meeting included the Vice President-elect, Clinton, Gates, Holder, Napolitano, Rice, Jones. Focus of that meeting was Mumbai."
"There will be more meetings like this between now and January 20."
"Focus of these meetings is international opportunities and challenges -- will cover a range of topics."
"President-elect Obama has made clear that he has no higher priority than advancing America's security and keeping America safe."
The meeting will include Mr. Obama, Vice President-elect Biden, White House Chief of Staff-designee Rahm Emanuel, Secretary of State designee Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Attorney General designee Eric Holder, Secretary of Homeland Security designee Janet Napolitano, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Ambassador to the United Nations designee Susan Rice, National Security Advisor designee Jim Jones, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and White House Counsel designee Greg Craig.
A transition official provided CBS News with some background on the meeting:
"There is one president at a time and this meeting is part of the work being done during the transition to be ready to hit the ground running on January 20."
"This is not the first national security meeting. President-elect Obama previously held a meeting with key members of his team on Monday, December 1st, the day he announced key nominees. That meeting included the Vice President-elect, Clinton, Gates, Holder, Napolitano, Rice, Jones. Focus of that meeting was Mumbai."
"There will be more meetings like this between now and January 20."
"Focus of these meetings is international opportunities and challenges -- will cover a range of topics."
"President-elect Obama has made clear that he has no higher priority than advancing America's security and keeping America safe."
