Politics Today: Obama in Russia, Palin News Continues
Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in Politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
**President Obama's visit to Russia...
**Latest on Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska...
**Congress returns, health care dominates agenda...
**Sen.-elect Al Franken, D-Minn., to be sworn-in tomorrow...
"Obama's distinctive Air Force One jetliner touched down with drizzly gray skies blanketing Moscow," reports the Associated Press' Ben Feller. "He continued down a formal reception line on the airport tarmac, introducing his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters to the Russian officials waiting to greet them. The entourage then headed directly to a wreath-laying ceremony at Russia's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, brilliant sun breaking over the city's center through the days of clouds as they drove in. The president walked slowly behind three high-stepping Russian soldiers, then straightened the wreath's ribbon where they placed it in front of the eternal flame and stood alone briefly.
"From there, Obama was meeting at the Kremlin with President Dmitry Medvedev, a full-scale, two-day U.S.-Russia summit that is the first of its kind since the early part of the George W. Bush presidency."
In a brief photo op during a break in their meeting, CBS News' Jeff Goldman reports that Medvedev told reporters that he hopes he and President Obama can tackle the problems of security and the economy successfully.
Mr. Obama thanked Medvedev for the "hospitality" and added he is "confident" that they can build on their April meeting in London and pointed out that they have "more in common than they have differences."
The AP's Feller continues, "It presents a test for Obama, with Russia home to a wary public, a two-headed leadership and lingering hard feelings. What much of the world will watch are signs of Obama's relationship with Russia's two leaders, Medvedev and his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The foundation set now could affect how much cooperation Obama gets in areas in which the U.S. needs help from Russia — chiefly pressuring Iran and North Korea to give up their nuclear weapons ambitions, but also in tackling terrorism, global warming and the economy."
5135696The Washington Post's Philip P. Pan adds, "President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will try to break a deadlock in talks to replace a vital nuclear-arms-control treaty when they meet here Monday, with U.S. missile defense plans and Russian demands for sharper cuts in launchers presenting the key obstacles. ...
"If the presidents emerge without the outline of a deal, it may be impossible to adopt an accord to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty before it expires in December, analysts say. That would unravel verification mechanisms that have been critical to reducing both countries' nuclear arsenals and could undermine global efforts against nuclear proliferation. It would also cast a shadow over the three-day summit, as both leaders have made replacing the treaty, known as START I, the centerpiece of their efforts to 'reset' bilateral relations badly strained during the Bush administration."
NY Times' Ellen Barry, "For Obama Visit, Russia Mutes TV Ranting at U.S."
5132045SARAH PALIN: "The FBI is taking the unusual step of declaring that Gov. Sarah Palin is not under investigation, as Palin herself left for Western Alaska and communicated to the world through her Twitter account," reports the Anchorage Daily News' Sean Cockerham.
"'We are not investigating her,' FBI spokesman Eric Gonzalez said on Sunday. 'Normally we don't confirm or deny those kind of allegations out there, but by not doing so it just casts her in a very bad light. There is just no truth to those rumors out there in the blogosphere.'
"Palin has ignored requests for an interview since she abruptly announced Friday that she will be resigning as governor after two and a half years in office. She's used her Facebook page and Twitter account to speak for her and declare that she'll defend herself against attacks as she leaves office."
"As speculation swirled about Gov. Sarah Palin's reasons for deciding to step down, some Republicans here said she was increasingly troubled by growing criticism in her home state since she returned from her run as vice-presidential nominee," adds the Wall Street Journal's Jim Carlton.
"Over recent months, her tenure has been marked by sparring with local bloggers and other citizen activists in the state, some of whom bombarded her office with public-records requests. In all, Gov. Palin has faced 16 ethics inquiries of one sort or another in Alaska since last year.
"Her abrupt move and explanations prompted widespread speculation about her future. One theme was that she was freeing herself to prepare for a 2012 presidential run. Others said her resignation with 18 months to go in her first term would be damaging politically. Still others found her move so unusual they said there must be more to the story. In a statement posted Saturday on Facebook, Gov. Palin criticized the coverage. 'Every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it's right for all, including your family,' she wrote."
Politico's Jonathan Martin, "Sarah Palin attorney warns press on 'defamatory material'"
CBS News, "Did Palin Quit to Cut Losses in Alaska?"
New York Times, "Legal Bills Swayed Palin, Official Says"
The Juneau Empire's Jeremy Hsieh and Kim Marquis look back at Palin's political career:
**FOR MORE on Palin, watch "Washington Unplugged", live at 12:30 p.m. ET on CBSNews.com. Moderator John Dickerson will talk with CBS News producer Scott Conroy and former Fox News producer Sushannah Walshe, authors of the upcoming book, "Sarah From Alaska."
5099149HEALTH CARE: "For the next five weeks, Congress will attempt the daunting feat of turning a mishmash of half-written proposals into health-care reform legislation that can pass the House and the Senate before the August recess. Let the trade-offs begin," report the Washington Post's Shailagh Murray and Lori Montgomery.
"Who would benefit from expanded coverage, who would pay for it, and how extensively the insurance and health-care systems would be restructured were a few of the big questions left unresolved when House and Senate negotiators took a break for the Fourth of July recess. In the Senate, Democratic leaders face the additional tasks of merging vastly different proposals from two committees and foiling efforts to shrink or derail the bill as it advances on the floor.
The Los Angeles Times' Janet Hook adds, "Some of the "bluest" states that propelled Obama into the White House are among those most likely to pay more in taxes to fund expanded health insurance coverage and make other changes to the system, analysts say.
"People in states such as Illinois, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York have a higher share of wealthier taxpayers and residents who get generous healthcare plans through work -- and both sets of people may be tapped to raise money for the healthcare overhaul. Moreover, those states have less to gain from a national effort to expand health insurance coverage because their residents already are more likely to have insurance than are Americans as a whole."
Meantime, Grassley and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sparred over a government-run health care option on CBS' "Face the Nation" yesterday.
CBSNews.com's Michelle Levi writes: "Grassley of Iowa has been an opponent of a government-funded health care option. 'I am going to make sure we are not going to nationalize health insurance, and a public plan is the first step to doing that,' Grassley told guest moderator John Dickerson Sunday. ...
"Both senators see the option of an alternative patient-owned cooperative system as a possible point of agreement between committee members."
Associated Press, "A look at health care plans in Congress"
Politico's David Rogers, "Drug deal may be bad news trip for Dems"
NY Times' Abby Goodnough, "In Maine, Two Sides on Health Care Step Up Competition for Senators' Votes"
Washington Post's Dan Eggen and Kimberly Kindy, "Familiar Players in Health Bill Lobbying"
USA Today's John Fritze, "Franken's Senate tenure no laughing matter"
Minneapolis Star Tribune's Pat Doyle and Kevin Diaz, "Senator Al Franken: Goodbye to the Class Clown"
St. Paul Pioneer Press' Rachel E. Stassen-Berger, "It's a Franken-filled Fourth of July on the Iron Range"
CONGRESS
Politico's Glenn Thrush and Manu Raju, "More votes equals more stress for Harry Reid"
ECONOMIC STIMULUS
Wall Street Journal's Deborah Solomon, "Calls Grow to Increase Stimulus Spending"
Associated Press, "Biden predicts more jobs because of stimulus money"
IRAN
NY Times' David E. Sanger, "Despite Crisis, U.S. Policy on Iran Is Engagement"
NY Times' Brian Knowlton, "Biden Suggests U.S. Not Standing in Israel's Way on Iran"
SOTOMAYOR
Associated Press' Julie Hirschfeld Davis, "GOP struggles for anti-Sotomayor message"
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
Associated Press' Jim Kuhnhenn, "Obama faces economically delicate summer": "The pace of the economic recovery heading into the fall — electric smooth or diesel rough — will determine whether Obama can prod Congress on the key features of his agenda with momentum or from a defensive crouch. Steady economic improvement that is perceptible to the American public would boost his political standing and give him the thrust to get Congress to complete action on his ambitious plans to overhaul health care, attack climate change and put the financial sector under greater government oversight. But a stumbling recovery would erode Obama's currently high approval ratings, a source of much of his political power. At the same time, continued high unemployment might force Obama to ask Congress for another boost in spending to stimulate the economy — a political challenge that could delay if not undermine his other goals. So far there is little cause for cheer."
OBAMA'S SUMMER VACATION
NY Times' Jeff Zeleny, "President's Vacation: Not Much of a Secret"
Politico's Pia Catton, "Barack Obama's Martha's Vineyard days to come"
FUTURE RACES
2009 NJ Governor: Newark Star-Ledger's Josh Margolin, "Democratic powerbrokers say Christie is Corzine's best asset"
2010 IL Senate: Politico's Manu Raju and Josh Kraushaar, "Washington Democrats want Lisa Madigan to move east"
2010 NV Senate: Las Vegas Review-Journal's Molly Ball, "Reno attorney looks at challenging Reid"
2010 PA Senate: Pocono Record's Beth Brelje, "Joe Sestak, a Democrat, joins race against Specter"
ETC.
Richmond Times-Dispatch's Jim Nolan, "Stakes high for Kaine's DNC duties"
Washington Post's Tim Craig and Jenna Johnson, "The Charge Against Barry: Stalking His Ex-Girlfriend"
Editor's Note: A previous version of Politics Today said that Al Franken will be sworn-in today. He will instead be sworn-in tomorrow.