All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

A leading human rights organization today harshly criticized President Obama for failing to sign on to the Mine Ban Treaty. The treaty, which has been signed by 156 countries, bans the use, stockpiling, production or transfer of land mines.

"President Obama's decision to cling to antipersonnel mines keeps the U.S. on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of humanity," Steve Goose, Arms Division director at Human Rights Watch, said in a released statement.

The international campaign against land mine use drew attention in part thanks to the efforts of Princess Diana of Wales, who died in 1997. Since its introduction in December of that year, 158 countries have signed on to the Mine Ban Treaty, including all but two Western Hemisphere countries and all but one NATO member.

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Nothing a president does lends itself more easily to a punch line – deliberate or inadvertent - than the annual pardon of a Thanksgiving turkey.

"I think it's kind of funny, and it's an annual ritual," said President Clinton at his first turkey pardon ceremony in 1993.

He said the pardon was easy for him "because I've been around turkeys all my life." Upon realizing the double meaning of his statement, Mr. Clinton was quick to add: "I didn't mean it like that."

At the turkey pardon in 2001, President George W. Bush observed that "our guest of honor looks a little nervous. Nobody's told him yet that I'm going to give him a pardon."

In 1990, then-President George H. W. Bush sought to allay the fears of his audience that a "terrible fate" awaited the turkey presented him.
"We've decided to spare him. He will not be subjected to questions from the Washington press corps after this ceremony."

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CBS News has confirmed that President Obama will attend the United Nations climate change summit next month in Copenhagen, according to senior administration officials.

Mr. Obama will be in Denmark on December 9 for the summit, which is expected to have at least 65 world leaders, according to the Associated Press. It was unknown until now whether Mr. Obama would attend the meeting, which is designed to create a new global treaty on climate change.

The president's visit to Copenhagen comes just before he heads to Oslo, Norway, to accept the Nobel Peace Prize the following day.

In the morning, President Obama will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. Later, he will participate in the traditional turkey pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden.

In the afternoon, the first family will participate in a service event in the Washington area.

Here is the full schedule from the White House (all times Eastern):

10:30AM: President Obama receives the Presidential Daily Briefing

11:35AM: President Obama participates in turkey pardoning ceremony

The White House has released the guest list for tonight's state dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This is the first state dinner of Mr. Obama's presidency, and the guest list includes politicians, entertainers and journalists, among others. The list also includes the Indian Prime Minister's daughter, Amrit Singh, who works for the American Civil Liberties Union in New York.

Below is the full list of expected attendees, as provided by the White House:

The President & First Lady Michelle Obama

Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, India & Ms. Gursharan Kaur

The Honorable (Rep) Gary Ackerman, United States Representative
Mr. Sant Singh Chatwal (Guest)

His Excellency Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of the Republic of India, Indian Delegation

Mr. Mukesh D Ambani

Mr. Tim Dutta (Spouse of Ms. Pia Awal)

The Honorable (Mr.) David Axelrod, White House Communications
Mrs. Susan Axelrod

Ms. Preeta Bansal, OMB - General Counsel

The Honorable (Ms.) Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Council
Mr. Marland E. Buckner

The Honorable (Rep.) Howard Berman, United States Representative (D/California)
Mrs. Jane Berman, Spouse of United States Representative (D/California)

Mr. Om Prakash Bhatt

Mr. Hunter Biden
Mrs. Kathleen Biden

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A recent CBS News Poll suggests there may be some cracks in support among a group that was instrumental in bringing Barack Obama to the White House – independents.

According to a CBS News Poll conducted November 13-16, a declining percentage of independents now approve of the way Mr. Obama is handling his overall job as president as well as some key policy areas compared to last month.

Even though more independents continue to approve (45 percent) than disapprove (40 percent) of the president's overall job performance, the percentage that approves is down 7 points from last month, and the number that disapproves is up 5 points.

In February 2009, when CBS News took its first measure of the president's job rating, 56 percent of independents approved of the job he was doing and that number soared to 65 percent as Mr. Obama marked his 100 days in office. Support for the president among independents has mostly declined since then.



The latest CBS News Poll finds that independents give Mr. Obama his lowest approval rating on his handling of Afghanistan. Just 30 percent approve of the way he is handling that conflict, down 14 points from October. In addition, 71 percent of independents think the war is going badly, up from 48 percent in September. Sixty-nine percent of Americans overall say the war in Afghanistan is going badly for the U.S.

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Crave dressing up in a tuxedo or evening gown? Long to mingle with world leaders and high-ranking officials? Aspire to dine on haute cuisine prepared by world class chefs?

Then you'll want to be at tonight's first State Dinner of the Obama presidency. Just show up at the East Wing Entrance of the White House by 7:00 p.m. ET.

Oh. Did I mention you'll need an invitation?

What? You didn't get one of the engraved, gold-embossed notes from the president requesting the pleasure of your company and addressed to you by top tier calligraphers? Well, then you won't have to change plans for meat loaf night.

Since taking office, President Obama has met with 70 foreign leaders. Tonight he honors Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India with a State Dinner. (at left, Mr. Obama welcomes Singh at a ceremony this morning)

"This is a very important relationship with a very important country," says White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "That's why India was chosen to be the first (State)Visit."

Some 320 guests will gather in a heated tent on the South Lawn this evening for the black tie event that includes an exchange of toasts by two leaders, a very fancy dinner and after-dinner entertainment.

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Update 3:55 p.m. ET

CBS News has confirmed that Jennifer Hudson will perform at the State Dinner that President Obama is hosting tonight in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Hudson rose to fame on "American Idol" in 2004, but is also known for her role in the movie "Dreamgirls" in 2006 -- which led to her winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She previously sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last year. Like the Obamas, the 28-year-old is from Chicago.

The dinner is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. ET in a large tent on the South Lawn of the White House.

The first lady's office has released the full list of performers, in addition to Hudson:

• Critically-acclaimed jazz vocalist Kurt Elling. The Chicago-based singer is an eight-time Grammy nominee.

• A.R. Rahman. The Indian film composer has won numerous awards for his music, including two Academy Awards for his score of the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

• National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Marvin Hamlisch. One of the country's top composers, Hamlisch has been awarded an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony, a Pulitzer Prize and a Golden Globe.

• U.S. Marine Corps Band, the oldest professional musical organization in the United States.

Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics. Because of the holiday, the column will not appear again until Monday. Happy Thanksgiving!

**President Holds Final Meeting on Troop Levels

**Said to be Planning to Add 34,000; Announcement to Come Next Tuesday

**Obama Hosting First Official State Dinner

Afghanistan: Following his latest (and apparently final) meeting with his national security team on a new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan last night, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Obama "has the information he wants and needs to make his decision and he will announce that decision within days."

According to McClatchy Newspapers, which cites unnamed U.S. officials, the president will announce that he will send 34,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, slightly fewer than then 40,000 being sought by the top U.S. commander there, Gen. Stanley McChrystal. There are 68,000 U.S. troops in the country now, including the 21,000 already deployed by the president.

The president will make a primetime address Dec. 1 on the Afghanistan decision, CBS News confirmed.

"Obama is expected to announce his long-awaited decision on Dec. 1, followed by meetings on Capitol Hill aimed at winning congressional support amid opposition by some Democrats who are worried about the strain on the U.S. Treasury and whether Afghanistan has become a quagmire, the officials said," reports McClatchy's Jonathan S. Landay, John Walcott and Nancy A. Youssef.

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In the morning, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome Prime Minister Singh of India and Mrs. Kaur to the White House in an East Room ceremony.

The president and the prime minister will then meet in the Oval Office. They will then hold an expanded bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. Following the meeting, they will hold a joint news conference in the East Room.

In the afternoon, Mr. Obama will hold separate meetings with his senior advisers, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Secretary of Defense Gates and the Vice President in the Oval Office.

In the evening, the president and first lady will greet Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur on their arrival for the State Dinner. The president and first lady will host a State Dinner in honor of Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur on the South Lawn.

Here is the full schedule from the White House (all times Eastern):

9:15AM: President Obama and Michelle Obama welcome Prime Minister Singh of India and Mrs. Kaur to the White House

10:20AM: President Obama holds bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Singh

10:55AM: President Obama holds expanded bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Singh

11:35AM: President Obama and Prime Minister Singh hold joint press conference

2:00PM: President Obama meets with senior advisers

3:10PM: President Obama meets with Speaker Nancy Pelosi

4:30PM: President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with Secretary of Defense Gates

7:00PM: President Obama and Michelle Obama greet Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur on arrival for the State Dinner

8:15PM: President Obama and Michelle Obama host State Dinner in honor of Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur