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Politics
The Page (TIME Magazine) » Happy Birthday, Mr. Vice President-Elect
Biden spends his 66th in Delaware with his family. He has no public events scheduled. For details — including what Obama got him as gifts Wednesday — click here. [Link]
The Page (TIME Magazine) » Another Quiet Day for Obama in Chicago
The president-elect will once again hold private meetings Thursday in the Windy City. He has no public events scheduled. Details here. [Link]
Washington Post » A Question of Justice
Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first full-fledged ideological battle of the fledgling Obama administration. [Link]
The Page (TIME Magazine) » Rahmbo to Reach Across the Aisle
Obama's incoming chief of staff is set to hold meetings on the Hill with House and Senate Republican leaders Thursday. Transition team says he will "discuss how to best work together and ensure they know that the White House will be open at all times for them." More details here. [Link]
The Page (TIME Magazine) » Kerry Poised to Cap Long Journey
The Boston Globe reports that, more than three decades after he first appeared before the panel, Sen. Kerry will be named chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, giving him enormous influence over President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy. [Link]
The Trail (Washington Post) » Obama's Transition Defying Expectations
By Ben Pershing When Barack Obama's transition began two short weeks ago, we thought we knew two things with a fair degree of certainty: The incoming president would likely try to fill the "Big 3" Cabinet posts — state, defense, Treasury — before turning to lesser offices, and he would strive to emphasize "change" with whatever choices he made. Neither … [Link]
Marc Ambinder (The Atlantic) » 2012 Watch: Mike Huckabee In Iowa Today
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) will be in Cedar Rapids, IA and Des Moines, IA today to promote his new book, "Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement To Bring Common Sense Back To America," which hit bookstores on Tuesday.To be sure, Huckabee is popular in Iowa, and he wants to sell books, so you shouldn't necessarily read much into … [Link]
Swampland (TIME Magazine) » Waxman-Dingell Showdown
The smackdown between two House chairmen for the Energy Committee gavel will be decided today. While Waxman won the first round, Dem sources tell me Dingell always expected to lose the committee vote and is confident he will win a referendum of the full caucus. Not only does he have the endorsement of Barney Frank, which carries a lot of … [Link]
The Trail (Washington Post) » Pritzker Is Frontrunner for Commerce
By Shailagh Murray and Matthew Mosk Hotel heiress Penny Pritzker, who commanded Barack Obama's record-shattering fundraising operation, has emerged as the frontrunner to become Commerce Secretary, the first campaign insider and "Friend of Barack" to surface as a Cabinet pick. Sources close to Obama said Pritzker is conducting an extensive review of her vast financial holdings and weighing whether she … [Link]
Hotline On Call » Just Wondering …
Two conflicting storylines are emerging in the "Hillary Clinton to Foggy Bottom" story these days: One, that B. Clinton will do "whatever it takes" to secure the State Dept. nom for his wife. And two, that HRC is "torn" between taking the sec/state job and remaining in the Senate. Could it be that the truth is something altogether different — … [Link]
Swampland (TIME Magazine) » Why Obama Wants Hillary at State
Massimo Calabresi and I have this story in the next issue of dead-tree TIME. [Link]
CNN Political Ticker » Obama brings Biden birthday cupcakes
Barack Obama gives Joe Biden cupcakes the day before the Vice President-elect’s 66th birthday. CHICAGO (CNN) – The day before Vice President-elect Joe Biden turns 66, President-elect Barack Obama presented his running mate with 12 candlelit cupcakes after their weekly lunch on Wednesday. He also gave Biden Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears hats as well [...] [Link]
The Fix (Washington Post) » Barack Obama and the Culture of Leaks
Throughout the election cycle President-elect Barack Obama and his campaign remained tight-lipped. These days, it's tougher to keep a secret. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images) Throughout President-elect Barack Obama's primary and general election campaigns, his political inner circle took an enormous… [Link]
CNN Political Ticker » POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Thursday Nov 20th, 2008
CNN: Senate offers Clinton new options The Democratic Senate leadership is considering a new role for Sen. Hillary Clinton should she decide to remain in the Senate and not accept the rumored offer of a position in President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet, a Democratic official told CNN Wednesday. CNN: New Congress members meet big-money donors Before being sworn in [...] [Link]
The Page (TIME Magazine) » Why Obama Wants Clinton on His "Team of Rivals"
TIME's Tumulty and Calabresi on the big risks that come with the President-elect potentially assembling a 'team of rivals.' [Link]
TIME Magazine » Why Obama Wants Hillary for His 'Team of Rivals'
By considering Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, Barack Obama is trying to put together a team of rivals. But that comes with big risks [Link]
The Page (TIME Magazine) » Kerry Poised to Cap Long Journey
The Boston Globe reports that, more than three decades after he first appeared before the panel, Sen. Kerry will be named chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, giving him enormous influence over President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy. [Link]
Politico » Marc Rich pardon may haunt Holder
As deputy attorney general, Holder famously let Rich’s last-minute pardon move across his desk. [Link]
Politico » 44 buzz: Who's headed for administration?
The talk continues about Clinton heading to State, and a woman seems poised to chair the SEC. [Link]
Top of the Ticket (Los Angeles Times) » Why Sid Voorakkara's vote for Obama matters more than yours
America strives to uphold the proposition that all men, women and votes, are created equal. But the archaic Electoral College requires that a group of extra-equal Americans cast their ballots before a President can officially take office. That's where Sid Voorakkara and 54 other Californians come in. The non-profit health advocate and former Democratic political operative from San Diego will … [Link]
Blogs
Talking Points Memo » Onward and Upward
Investors cheer as Saudi Prince buys bigger stake in Citigroup.
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AMERICAblog » Thusday Morning Open Thread
Good morning.
It’s another cold day in DC. Way too early to be this cold.
Congress is in session this week. Looks like no bailout for the automakers. They've been protected for years by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). Yep, Dingell has protected them into failure. His wife, coincidentally or not, works for General Motors. (They're apparently darlings of the D.C. social circuit, … [Link]
AMERICAblog » A North versus South fight with auto bailout?
Really? Is it a North versus South fight when every year hurricanes blow through the South and destroy the region? I seem to remember people from across America pitching in to help. It's disgusting to listen to politicians from the South from both parties play this line, especially considering the financial fact that it's their own states who are the … [Link]
AMERICAblog » Fed cuts growth rates again, hints at more rate cuts
The US is going to be fortunate to see positive growth in 2011 but even that may be optimistic. I can't say what the Fed is seeing out there that suggests the bad news will be gone by the end of 2009 but I don't see anything that hints of growth out there. As for cutting interest rates again (as … [Link]
AMERICAblog » Briton's "national pastime" is over
Shopping, of course. The US used to be the world leader in personal debt but today it's the UK, where it's even greater than the GDP. (The US is slightly lower.) As the economy melts down the endless shopping days are coming to an end. Here in France - where credit is a few decades behind the US and UK, … [Link]
Was out at a Drinking Liberally "End of the Bush years" event. Thanks CREDO for the food!
What are you up to tonight?
Tags: open thread (all tags)
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Man Eegee (Manny Guzman) » Say hello to Governor Jan Brewer
This makes me physically ill.
Gov. Janet Napolitano is President-elect Barack Obama's top choice to lead the department of Homeland Security, CNN is reporting.
Napolitano, according to reports airing this evening, has indicated she would accept the Cabinet post. The Governor's Office is not confirming the CNN report, but is not denying it, either.
AZCentral.com
Looks like I spoke …
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MyDD » Janet Napolitano To Head Up Homeland Security
Another cabinet member chosen:
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security's myriad functions.Napolitano brings law-and-order experience from her …
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AMERICAblog » Yet another reason why Big Auto is failing
Clueless. Absolutely clueless. Anyone who is serious about keeping their company afloat - let alone snag billions - needs to re-think the way they do business. Management always loves to criticize the unions for costing too much but this royal spending hardly makes sense for an industry in a death spiral.
The CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the …
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AMERICAblog » Housing starts fall to lowest levels since 1959
A nation of whiners or is the unrepentant Phil Gramm just an arrogant buffoon? From CNN:
Housing starts and permits, both of them key measurements of home construction, hit record lows in October, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.Housing starts reached an annual rate of 791,000 last month, the lowest level since the department began tracking starts in 1959. The rate tumbled …
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Open Left » Bratty Republicans Refuse to Meet with Rahm
Well this is just shocking
The House Republican caucus has so far balked at a chance to meet with Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the former House Democratic strategist who has been named the new White House chief of staff.
I’m tempted to just write 'Waaaaaahhh!' and leave it at that. But it's worth pointing out that the Republicans are going …
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Talking Points Memo » Not Reassuring …
From Reuters …
Citigroup Inc faced a crisis of confidence on Wednesday as investors questioned the survival prospects of the U.S. banking giant, and its shares tumbled 23 percent to a 13-year low.
The second-largest U.S. bank by assets has been reeling on concerns that mounting losses from credit cards, mortgages and toxic debt could overwhelm its efforts to slash costs and …
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AMERICAblog » BREAKING: Obama picks AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano to head Homeland Security
She's no Sarah Palin, but I guess she'll do:
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security’s myriad functions.Napolitano brings …
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Swing State Project » MN-07, SD-AL: Peterson, Herseth Being Considered for USDA Post
Let's just say that I hope Obama finds someone else:
Barack Obama's choice for secretary of Agriculture could take one Democrat from the 20-seat pickup the party gained by way of the recent elections. (Three House races have yet to be called and two seats in Louisiana will be filled on Dec. 6.)
According to reports, Obama is considering Reps. Collin Peterson …
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Senate Guru » MN-Sen: Franken Deficit Shrinks to 174
The Star Tribune reports:
By day's end, with about 18 percent of the vote recounted, Coleman continued to lead Franken — but by only 174 votes, notably narrower than the unofficial gap of 215 votes at which the recount had begun. Franken's gain owed much to a swing of 23 votes in the Democratic stronghold of St. Louis County — the …
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AMERICAblog » Today eHarmony, tomorrow the world
About time.
Online dating service eHarmony is adding another personality trait to its 29 dimensions of computability.The California-based company will begin providing same-sex matches under as part of a settlement with New Jersey's Civil Rights Division.
Garden State resident Eric McKinley filed a complaint against the online matchmaker in 2005.
Under terms of the settlement, the company can create a new or differently …
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Talking Points Memo » Latest out of Minnesota
Today was the first day recounting in Minnesota. And Al Franken made up some decent ground against Norm Coleman. The day started with Coleman ahead by 215 votes. And after recounting 18% of the precincts, Franken had picked up 41 votes, bringing the deficit to 174. As you can see, that's about the pace Franken has to keep up if he's …
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Swing State Project » AZ-Sen: Napolitano in Obama's Cabinet, After All?
CNN is reporting the following:
Barack Obama's top choice for secretary of homeland security is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, multiple sources say
If Napolitano does indeed accept this job, that both removes her from contention for a 2010 Senate race, and also would move up Republican Jan Brewer, Arizona's Secretary of State, into the Governor's mansion. Brewer is already mentioned as …
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Swing State Project » LA-04: Fleming Noses Carmouche in Two New Polls
After the Paul Carmouche campaign released a poll last week showing the Caddo Parish DA leading Republican John Fleming by 10 points in this open seat race, two new polls have been released tonight showing Fleming with a slight lead. Let's check 'em out.
SurveyUSA for Roll Call (11/17-18, likely voters):
Paul Carmouche (D): 45
John Fleming (R): 47
(MoE: ±3.9%)
Public Opinion Strategies …
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AMERICAblog » MoDo likes Hillary for State
Maureen Dowd:
One person who famously opposed Hillary’s presidential bid thinks she’d make a great secretary of state.“She’s smart and tough, a lot better than any of the old hacks like Holbrooke, Albright, etc.,” says David Geffen. “Barack Obama is going to run policy, and Hillary will be an effective communicator. It also takes Bill out of the game. It completely …
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