The Cabinet Working Late This Weekend

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: White House

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

"Honey, I have to work late. The boss is having a big meeting tonight."

You might have heard that at certain breakfast tables in and around Washington this morning as members of the Cabinet and White House senior staff informed their spouses they wouldn't be home for dinner.

With his Administration just having passed its six-month mark, President Obama has summoned his top subordinates to a two-day retreat to discuss what they've done and have yet to do.

They'll "talk about the agendas both past and forward," says White House

(AP)

spokesman Robert Gibbs.

The get-together will be staged at Blair House, the presidential guest house across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, seen left. It's so close, Mr. Obama and Vice President Biden will walk to the gathering. (It's such a short distance that the front of a presidential motorcade would likely arrive at Blair House before the tail of the convoy departed the White House.)

Gibbs is quick to caution reporters that the talks tonight and tomorrow are not meant to be seen as a "mid-course correction or a report card." And he says it was not precipitated by any recent turn of events – such as the failure of Mr. Obama to get health care plans through both the House and Senate by his August recess deadline.

"This is something that's long been on the docket," says Gibbs. He does not want anyone to view the "retreat," as a sign of panic on the part of the Administration. He says such gatherings are routine "with virtually every President since Eisenhower" convening such get-togethers.

Gibbs concedes that Blair House is "a little less scenic" than some other places that might have been selected. Past presidents have held strategy sessions at Camp David – which after all – is a "presidential retreat."

And don't look for the White House to make much use of the word "retreat." Dictionary.com defines it as "the act of withdrawing, as into safety or privacy." It can also mean a "forced or strategic withdrawal" as with an army. That's not the image the White House wants to convey. And the official press schedule of the President refers to tonight's gathering simply as a "meeting."

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by SouthwestisBest August 3, 2009 10:23 AM EDT

I find it strange that he's waited six months to hold a meeting with his cabinet who are responsible for running all sixteen divisions of legislated mandates from the US government.

Maybe it's because it took so long to get them all appointed since he chose tax cheats and crooks and couldn't get them confirmed or volunteered because they didn't want their finances scrutinized in the confirmation process. Or because nobody would accept the appointment and tie themselves to his regime to protect their political seat.

At their salaries, they should be working 24/7 like most Americans have to do to earn that kind of dollar and their nice gold health insurance plans, and their retirement money for life no matter how long they serve.

Why isn't he meeting once a week with all these people? Could it be because he's too busy standing in front of the camera spouting lies fed into his teleprompter by his controllers, the Federal Reserve, and CAIR?

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by pasmalltown August 3, 2009 10:40 PM EDT: "Why isn't he meeting once a week with all these people?"
Do you really believe this to be an educated question??

And you honestly believe that "he's waited six months to hold a meeting with his cabinet "??

About the only reasonable statement you've made was about the White House health plan - it is second to none. But what you failed to mention is the Congress and their staffers, both Republicans and Democrats, have a similar health plan. AND, where are they? On vacation.

As to federal salaries, they are pennies when compared to the salaries of CEOs of major US companies(not even mentioning the perks and golden parachutes top US execs receive). Do you believe they work 24/7? How on earth do they find the time in get in 18 holes?, oops, I guess you believe this is actually work.....


by brooke50 August 3, 2009 3:32 AM EDT: If Obama truely wanted a retreat with his (so called) Cabinet, for the sole purpose of analysing his first 6 months and to see where improvements could be made and make plans for the future, then why all the media reports?

Obama is such a media wh---e, and the press, just can't seem to keep their head out of his ---. Matter of fact, it is almost impossible to find one news agency that has honestly reported both sides - usually they report more on who supports Obama and agrees all his plans are gold! I have to ask, did we elect a TV personality, or the most qualified candidate for President -

Thanks to the media, Obama got two things, FIRST AND FORMOST Obama once again gets to say LOOK AT ME! I AM MAKING MY TOP ADVISERS WORK THIS WEEKEND - AM I NOT GREAT! And Second, he will get to say his Wonderful All Powerful Health-Care Plan was not passed, because Congress would not stay and work - for the American people.; Reply to this comment


by sjc_1 August 1, 2009 1:58 AM EDT: I think that they just got together for beer and poker. They have been working hard for 6 months and decided to get a little R&R at Joe's house.; Reply to this comment