Chris Good
Recently by Chris Good
Feb 9 2010, 2:37PM
President Obama, Eternal Optimist, Meets The Press
The press has been murmuring about a lack of presidential press conferences, but today President Obama obliged, taking questions from reporters solo for the first time since July 22.
Obama gave some long answers and generally kept up a good rapport with the press corps in attendance--joking when they moaned at his calling on NBC's Chuck Todd, "What's wrong with Todd?"--fielding questions on health care reform, Anthem Blue Cross's decision to raise premiums, small business hiring, and sanctions on Iran.
And, on the biggest political challenge confronting his administration--the need to get Republican support to pass anything major through Congress--Obama told the press that he he remains eternally optimistic, despite the difficulties his party is facing.
Obama gave some long answers and generally kept up a good rapport with the press corps in attendance--joking when they moaned at his calling on NBC's Chuck Todd, "What's wrong with Todd?"--fielding questions on health care reform, Anthem Blue Cross's decision to raise premiums, small business hiring, and sanctions on Iran.
And, on the biggest political challenge confronting his administration--the need to get Republican support to pass anything major through Congress--Obama told the press that he he remains eternally optimistic, despite the difficulties his party is facing.
Feb 9 2010, 12:53PM
Opposing Michelle Obama's Obesity Push
Michelle Obama is rolling out a campaign to fight childhood obesity today, but she may be wading into complicated political territory, with states' rights advocates and civil libertarians opposed to federal intervention in school lunches and fearful of a "nanny state" in which the government tells kids what to eat. The Atlantic Wire's Heather Horn captures the debate over the first lady's initiative among bloggers on the left and right.
Feb 9 2010, 12:38PM
Dicks Seeks Votes For Defense Appropriations Chairmanship
When Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) died Monday at the age of 77, he left open his chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee, the most influential position in the House for Defense appropriations. Seniority would indicate that Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) would take over Murtha's old position, and Dicks told a Seattle radio station that he's called fellow committee members to line up votes in his favor when the new subcommittee chairman is decided, Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson reports, noting that Dicks and Murtha joined the subcommittee on the same day in 1979.
Feb 9 2010, 11:43AM
Obama Wants More Bipartisan Meetings
President Obama convened a meeting with House and Senate leaders of both parties today, he has invited lawmakers of both parties to a health care summit at the White House Feb. 25, and this morning he said he wants such meetings to be a regular thing.
"My hope is this is not going to be a rare situation--we're going to be doing these on a regular basis," Obama said this morning, speaking to reporters at the meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders.
"And I'm very thankful that everybody here has taken the time to come. I'm confident that if we move forward int he spirit of keeping in mind what's best for the American people that we should be able to accomplish a lot," the president said.
"My hope is this is not going to be a rare situation--we're going to be doing these on a regular basis," Obama said this morning, speaking to reporters at the meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders.
"And I'm very thankful that everybody here has taken the time to come. I'm confident that if we move forward int he spirit of keeping in mind what's best for the American people that we should be able to accomplish a lot," the president said.
Feb 9 2010, 11:19AM
Obama Pushing For Deficit Commission
Republican and Democratic senators alike have rejected the idea of a bipartisan deficit commission (even though some of them formerly supported it), but President Obama says he will push for consensus on the idea. "Another area where I hope we can find some agreement is on the issue of getting our deficits and debt under control. Both parties have stated their concerns about it...I have put forward the idea of a fiscal commission, and I'm going to be discussing [it] with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues," Obama said this morning, speaking to reporters at a meeting with congressional leaders of both parties. "I think the American people want to see that concrete action."
Feb 9 2010, 10:29AM
How And Why The Senate Won't Change
Talk has percolated over the past few weeks of reforming Senate rules--finding some way to get around the 60-vote cloture requirement, and possibly to do away with "holds"--as Democrats have publicly lamented their inability to accomplish the big items on their agenda (thanks largely to the campaign they lost in Massachusetts).
There are a few ideas for how to change Senate procedure--one being Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-IA) proposal to set expiration dates for filibusters, with the 60-vote threshold diminishing eventually to 51 as the days go by--but it's not too likely that any serious reforms will happen. But the options and unlikelihoods abound, and Slate's Christopher Beam runs through all the ways Democrats could--but won't--be able to change the rules of the Senate. Two fundamental problems seem to exist: changing Senate rules takes 67 votes (if you can't get 60, how do you get 67?), and senators actually like their power to obstruct, even if they're in the majority for now.
There are a few ideas for how to change Senate procedure--one being Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-IA) proposal to set expiration dates for filibusters, with the 60-vote threshold diminishing eventually to 51 as the days go by--but it's not too likely that any serious reforms will happen. But the options and unlikelihoods abound, and Slate's Christopher Beam runs through all the ways Democrats could--but won't--be able to change the rules of the Senate. Two fundamental problems seem to exist: changing Senate rules takes 67 votes (if you can't get 60, how do you get 67?), and senators actually like their power to obstruct, even if they're in the majority for now.
Feb 8 2010, 5:31PM
Why Murtha Mattered
The Atlantic Wire's Ben Carlson takes in analysis of Rep. John Murtha's (D-PA) life and death. Comments on Murtha's significance range from his respect among the other party, his status as a hero to his constituents in Johnstown, PA, and his impact on the Iraq war debate when he came out against the war in 2005, becoming one of Congress's strongest and most influential war critics.
Feb 8 2010, 5:27PM
Pence Endorses Rubio
It's yet another high profile endorsement for Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio: Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), chairman of the House Republican Conference and a possible contender for the 2012 GOP White House nomination, has thrown his support behind Rubio. Rubio has long been a national conservative darling, enjoying the enthusiastic support of conservative activists and the influential Club for Growth, and now he's got the polling edge to back it up: polls taken since Jan. 20 by Quinnipiac, Rasmussen, and Fabrizio McLaughlin have shown Rubio ahead by three, 11, and 14 percentage points respectively.
Feb 8 2010, 5:09PM
The Invisible Primary, 2/8
Tracking the GOP race to 2012
Sarah Palin delivered the keynote address at the Tea Party Nation convention in Nashville over the weekend, delivering some campaign-style lines and aided by some crib notes on her hand; Kathryn Jean Lopez wonders if Rick Santorum could be the Tea Party candidate for president; Mike Pence endorsed Marco Rubio; Eric Cantor likes President Obama's idea for a health care summit but doubts Nancy Pelosi will go along with GOP ideas; and Tim Pawlenty spoke to the annual Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh, NC.
Sarah Palin delivered the keynote address at the Tea Party Nation convention in Nashville over the weekend, delivering some campaign-style lines and aided by some crib notes on her hand; Kathryn Jean Lopez wonders if Rick Santorum could be the Tea Party candidate for president; Mike Pence endorsed Marco Rubio; Eric Cantor likes President Obama's idea for a health care summit but doubts Nancy Pelosi will go along with GOP ideas; and Tim Pawlenty spoke to the annual Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh, NC.
Feb 8 2010, 4:29PM
Bill Clinton Likes Queen Latifah
Bill Clinton was in Miami on Friday attending a BET telethon fundraiser for Haiti, and, other than his personal investment in Haiti's rebuilding efforts, one of the take-away points from this interview with EXTRA was that the former president is a fan of Queen Latifah: "You know whenever I see Queen Latifah doing well, it reminds me that once in a while the good guys win. I think she's a really fine human being, and she's also beautiful and talented and smart, but she's a good person," Clinton said.
Feb 8 2010, 4:10PM
Rep. John Murtha Dies At 77
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), the longtime congressman from Western Pennsylvania, legendary earmarker, and leading Iraq war critic has died after suffering complications from gallbladder surgery.
One of Congress's undisputed kings of earmarks, Murtha steered millions upon millions in federal spending to his home district throughout his 35 years in Congress. He was also the House's chief broker of Defense appropriations spending, serving as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee.
One of Congress's undisputed kings of earmarks, Murtha steered millions upon millions in federal spending to his home district throughout his 35 years in Congress. He was also the House's chief broker of Defense appropriations spending, serving as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee.
Feb 8 2010, 3:17PM
Trial And Error
The trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the accused 9/11 conspirators has been a point of political dispute ever since Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Nov. 13 that they would be tried in a federal criminal court in lower Manhattan. Predictable battle lines were drawn: national security conservatives said this was a terrible idea, the administration's supporters said it wasn't, pointing to shoe bomber Richard Reid's trial.
But now the administration has backed off its plan for the New York trial, having found opposition not just from New York's mayor, but from some prominent Democrats in its congressional delegation, and Andrew Cohen says the trial plans were essentially botched from the beginning.
But now the administration has backed off its plan for the New York trial, having found opposition not just from New York's mayor, but from some prominent Democrats in its congressional delegation, and Andrew Cohen says the trial plans were essentially botched from the beginning.
Feb 8 2010, 1:56PM
Tea Partier For Congress
A Tea Party favorite is mounting a challenge to Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS), Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson reports: Fox News analyst Angela McGlowan, who addressed the Tea Party Nation convention in Nashville over the weekend, will run for Childers's seat, entering a prime race for Republicans in 2010--the Cook Political Report rates Mississippi's third district as a toss up, and the district's partisan voter index sits at R+14--and she'll square off in the primary against a Republican that has gotten some attention from the NRCC; state Sen. Alan Nunnelee is a member of the Young Guns program, having hit fundraising goals that put him at the "Contender" level.
Feb 8 2010, 12:53PM
Will Obama's Summit Work?
President Obama has invited Republicans and Democrats to the White House for a televised summit on health care Feb. 25. It's the latest in the president's series of high-profile policy summits--which have turned out to be a staple of his political and governing style--and it will mark the White House's first big, concerted, public drive to pass health care reform since Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts (unless you count the State of the Union, which touched on health care along with many, many topics).
So will it work? The Atlantic Wire's Max Fisher runs through analysis on the topic, and commentators are divided: some see it as a good move, allowing Obama to highlight GOP obstructionism, while others point out that it will give Republicans a platform to sell their ideas.
So will it work? The Atlantic Wire's Max Fisher runs through analysis on the topic, and commentators are divided: some see it as a good move, allowing Obama to highlight GOP obstructionism, while others point out that it will give Republicans a platform to sell their ideas.
Feb 8 2010, 12:17PM
A Very Speculative Matchup: Obama Crushes Palin, Bloomberg In 2012
Another tidbit from Marist's new poll: in what Marist bills as a "VERY Hypothetical Matchup" for 2012, President Obama dominates a presidential race against Sarah Palin and an independent Michael Bloomberg, who have hypothetically stepped up to challenge him.
Marist's results: Obama 44%, Palin 29%, Bloomberg 15%, with 12% unsure of how they'd vote. The question was asked of 910 registered voters nationwide Feb. 1-3, margin of error +/-3.5%.
Obama is helped by Bloomberg's independent run, which collects votes from 20% of Republicans while only taking 4% of Democrats.
Marist's results: Obama 44%, Palin 29%, Bloomberg 15%, with 12% unsure of how they'd vote. The question was asked of 910 registered voters nationwide Feb. 1-3, margin of error +/-3.5%.
Obama is helped by Bloomberg's independent run, which collects votes from 20% of Republicans while only taking 4% of Democrats.
Feb 8 2010, 11:38AM
Independents Disapprove Of Obama
President Obama's approval ratings have slid to an average of 49.1% disapproval and 47.7% approval--some of the lowest numbers of his presidency so far--and Marist released a poll today that highlights the slide Obama has experienced among independents: 57% of independents now disapprove of Obama's performance as president, while 29% approve and 14% are unsure.
Compare that to Marist's last poll, taken in the first week of December, when 44% of independents disapproved, 41% approved, and 15% were unsure. Obama's disapproval rating among independents has climbed 13% among independents over the past two months, according to Marist's data.
It's the first time, in Marist's polling, that a majority of independents have disapproved of Obama as president.
Marist polled 910 voters (Democrat, Republican, and independent) Feb. 1-3 for the survey; margin of error was +/-3.5%.
Compare that to Marist's last poll, taken in the first week of December, when 44% of independents disapproved, 41% approved, and 15% were unsure. Obama's disapproval rating among independents has climbed 13% among independents over the past two months, according to Marist's data.
It's the first time, in Marist's polling, that a majority of independents have disapproved of Obama as president.
Marist polled 910 voters (Democrat, Republican, and independent) Feb. 1-3 for the survey; margin of error was +/-3.5%.
Feb 8 2010, 10:46AM
The Other Political Super Bowl Ad
Watching TV in Washington, DC--particularly cable news--carries the distinct drawback of exposing District viewers to more political ads out of election season, commonly run by interest groups seeking to influence the national discussion by gaining the ear of opinion makers.
The Super Bowl was no different: to the surprise of anyone consumed by anticipation of the Tim Tebow abortion ad, CBS's DC feed carried a political ad criticizing U.S. debt, featuring American children pledging allegiance to the Chinese government.
If the Tebow ad was demurely apolitical, this ad was anything but.
The Super Bowl was no different: to the surprise of anyone consumed by anticipation of the Tim Tebow abortion ad, CBS's DC feed carried a political ad criticizing U.S. debt, featuring American children pledging allegiance to the Chinese government.
If the Tebow ad was demurely apolitical, this ad was anything but.
Feb 8 2010, 10:07AM
Economic Anxiety Is Bipartisan
Gallup released findings today on economic confidence by state, and it appears anxiety doesn't give a clear partisan edge one way or the other.
Conventional wisdom says that an improved, or improving, economy is good for President Obama and Democrats, while economic anxiety is bad for the president's party. Of the 10 states with the highest confidence ratings, five voted for Obama in '08 and five voted for John McCain; of the 10 states with the least confidence in the economy, six voted for Obama and four for McCain.
Conventional wisdom says that an improved, or improving, economy is good for President Obama and Democrats, while economic anxiety is bad for the president's party. Of the 10 states with the highest confidence ratings, five voted for Obama in '08 and five voted for John McCain; of the 10 states with the least confidence in the economy, six voted for Obama and four for McCain.
Feb 8 2010, 9:27AM
The Controversial Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad That Wasn't
Women's groups protested; sports analysts mulled over whether it would hurt Tim Tebow's potential NFL career.
But the two TV ads that Focus on the Family ran during the Super Bowl and CBS's pregame programming were much milder than expected. They focused mainly on Tebow's mother, Pam, who decided to carry Tim to term against the advice of a doctor, while living in the Philippines with her husband and Tebow's father, who worked as a missionary. The word "abortion" was never used, nor were any other pro-life buzzwords. There was no moralizing, and no directly spoken advice that women should not have abortions.
But the two TV ads that Focus on the Family ran during the Super Bowl and CBS's pregame programming were much milder than expected. They focused mainly on Tebow's mother, Pam, who decided to carry Tim to term against the advice of a doctor, while living in the Philippines with her husband and Tebow's father, who worked as a missionary. The word "abortion" was never used, nor were any other pro-life buzzwords. There was no moralizing, and no directly spoken advice that women should not have abortions.
Feb 5 2010, 4:59PM
Can John Edwards Ever Come Back?
Can John Edwards ever come back to public life? His trust and reputation damaged again and again, with the whole of the political commentariat thoroughly disgusted by him, it would seem the answer is no.
But stranger things have happened, and both Bill Clinton and Eliot Spitzer saw comebacks, so it is a question worth posing.
Thankfully, The Atlantic's Nicole Allan and Niraj Chokshi did pose it, to the people whose opinions matter most: political and public relations operatives who know about image control, creation, and rebuilding, some whom have worked with Edwards on his previous campaigns.
Their conclusions vary, but some general camps are formed: those who say it can't happen, ever; and those who say Edwards can return to public life, most likely if he pours himself into good works.
Read the whole list of responses here.
But stranger things have happened, and both Bill Clinton and Eliot Spitzer saw comebacks, so it is a question worth posing.
Thankfully, The Atlantic's Nicole Allan and Niraj Chokshi did pose it, to the people whose opinions matter most: political and public relations operatives who know about image control, creation, and rebuilding, some whom have worked with Edwards on his previous campaigns.
Their conclusions vary, but some general camps are formed: those who say it can't happen, ever; and those who say Edwards can return to public life, most likely if he pours himself into good works.
Read the whole list of responses here.
Feb 5 2010, 4:29PM
A Big Mess In Illinois
Well, the incumbent Democratic governor won his primary in Illinois, which more often than not is a good thing for the incumbent's party in a major race. Except...
His new running mate--the candidate for lieutenant governor--has admitted he was on anabolic steroids in 2005, and he's accused of holding a knife to a woman's throat in that year (he denies that this is true). And the woman had pled guilty to a prostitution charge. And his ex-wife had previously alleged the candidate had choked her.
And the candidate says he won't drop out of the race.
His new running mate--the candidate for lieutenant governor--has admitted he was on anabolic steroids in 2005, and he's accused of holding a knife to a woman's throat in that year (he denies that this is true). And the woman had pled guilty to a prostitution charge. And his ex-wife had previously alleged the candidate had choked her.
And the candidate says he won't drop out of the race.
Feb 5 2010, 2:48PM
Where Does McCain Stand On The Shelby Hold? An AZ Resident Tries To Find Out
Arizona resident Jonah Gelbach wants to know where his senator, John McCain (R), stands on Sen. Richard Shelby's (R-AL) blanket hold on at least 70 nominees; he's tried to get an answer from McCain's office, but to no avail.
Shelby has placed a hold on President Obama's nominees over an Air Force contract an an FBI explosives testing center, which would bring millions of dollars to his home state. Gelbach says that, if there's a Senate office conservative filmmaker James O'Keefe should infiltrate to test its responsiveness, it's John McCain's.
Here's his story:
Shelby has placed a hold on President Obama's nominees over an Air Force contract an an FBI explosives testing center, which would bring millions of dollars to his home state. Gelbach says that, if there's a Senate office conservative filmmaker James O'Keefe should infiltrate to test its responsiveness, it's John McCain's.
Here's his story:
Feb 5 2010, 1:30PM
Obama: Hey, We've Been Through This
President Obama recognizes that things are looking tough for his agenda and his party right now, but at a DNC fundraiser last night at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, he compared all that difficulty to being written off during the 2008 campaign, telling the crowd, basically, that they've been through this before. From the White House transcript:
Feb 5 2010, 12:56PM
Not Without Tancredo
The Tea Party Nation convention in Nashville lost two of its biggest headliners as criticism of the event mounted and Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) pulled out (according to a convention organizer, it was because of conflicting information from the House ethics committee), leaving Sarah Palin as the only major Tea Party hero to speak there.
But the convention wasn't left completely stranded: former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), who rain a fiercely anti-illegal-immigration (and sometimes plain anti-immigration) campaign for president in 2008, spoke at the event this morning, The Wall Street Journal reports--and, as Tancredo is wont to do, he said some controversial things.
But the convention wasn't left completely stranded: former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), who rain a fiercely anti-illegal-immigration (and sometimes plain anti-immigration) campaign for president in 2008, spoke at the event this morning, The Wall Street Journal reports--and, as Tancredo is wont to do, he said some controversial things.
Feb 5 2010, 12:00PM
Anatomy Of The Tea Party Movement
Want to know who the players are in the disparate, fragmented Tea Party movement? National Journal provides a list of the most influential groups involved, from the citizen-activist-originated Tea-Party-centric networks to the borderline-AstroTurf PACs and conservative grassroots operations.
And, if you're wondering about the yet undetermined future of the movement, here's Theresa Poulson's video on reason #3 (#'s 1-5 are here) of why the Tea Parties could fail--being subsumed by the Republican Party:
And, if you're wondering about the yet undetermined future of the movement, here's Theresa Poulson's video on reason #3 (#'s 1-5 are here) of why the Tea Parties could fail--being subsumed by the Republican Party:
Feb 5 2010, 11:35AM
How Brown Has Changed Washington
He just became a U.S. senator Thursday afternoon, and he hasn't even voted on a single bill yet, but The Atlantic Wire's Heather Horn takes a look at how Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) has already changed Congress, and all of Washington: Brown has forced Democrats to seek compromise, and, one analyst suggests, he's taught Democrats something about "gentry liberalism" and the concerns of the working class.
Feb 5 2010, 11:05AM
Dems Hit GOP In National TV Ad On Wall Street Reforms
It's the first national political TV ad from either of the parties this election cycle: the Democratic National Committee is hitting Republicans for opposing Democratic financial reforms, in a TV ad that starts "as early as this week," according to the DNC, on national and DC cable TV:
Feb 5 2010, 10:34AM
Jobs! Nevermind The 20,000 Lost--Double-Digit Unemployment Is Gone
The January unemployment figures are in, and the national unemployment rate has fallen below 10%, now at 9.7%, but the economy lost 20,000 jobs. So what's the political take-away?
Double digits have always been the psychic barrier for unemployment: the White House braced itself for double-digit unemployment for months after it took office, amid rising GOP criticism in anticipation of the 10.0% mark being broken. It did, and now it's back down. Time to celebrate? Perhaps.
Double digits have always been the psychic barrier for unemployment: the White House braced itself for double-digit unemployment for months after it took office, amid rising GOP criticism in anticipation of the 10.0% mark being broken. It did, and now it's back down. Time to celebrate? Perhaps.
Feb 4 2010, 4:47PM
In Winning Over Helmand, U.S. Forces Have A Way To Go
The U.S. is slated for withdrawal from Afghanistan in June of 2011--just months before voters go to the polls and decide whether or not to sent President Obama back to the White House. Between now and then, much work and fighting remains to be done. In the Taliban stronghold of Helmand province, which has proven difficult for U.S. and U.N. coalition forces throughout the nine-year war, ABC News polling guru Gary Langer reports that residents have little confidence in the U.S. forces: according to ABC's polling in Helmand, just 19 percent give positive ratings to the U.S. performance there, and the Taliban leads the U.S. 25 percent to 18 percent in terms of strong local support.
Feb 4 2010, 4:19PM
A Birther E-Mail
A colleague forwards a forwarded birther e-mail, which appears to have originated Jan. 9. In case you've never seen one, here is, for your voyeuristic pleasure, an e-mail forward suggesting that President Obama is a Muslim born in Indonesia. Click on the image to see it larger:
Feb 4 2010, 3:29PM
Meeting The Dalai Lama
Obama will do it, over China's objections. It should be noted that, in terms of priority and propriety, the Dalai Lama has taken a backseat to China: the exiled Buddhist leader was in Washington, DC Oct. 6 to receive a human rights award in honor of the late Rep. Tom Lantos. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had brought the Dalai Lama to DC before to award him the Congressional Gold medal, presented him with the Lantos award, but President Obama did not meet with the Dalai Lama then.
At that time, Obama hadn't yet met with Chinese President Hu Jintao--he would meet with Hu the next month in Beijing--and the Lama would not come first. Today, Obama has met with Hu several times, and though China warned Obama not to meed with the Dalai Lama, it's not as if Obama has put him before the Chinese leader.
At that time, Obama hadn't yet met with Chinese President Hu Jintao--he would meet with Hu the next month in Beijing--and the Lama would not come first. Today, Obama has met with Hu several times, and though China warned Obama not to meed with the Dalai Lama, it's not as if Obama has put him before the Chinese leader.
Feb 4 2010, 3:13PM
Is Palin's Tea Party Speech A Mistake? Tea Partiers Have Mixed Opinions
The first-ever Tea Party convention kicks off today at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, and, when it closes with a banquet on Saturday night, Sarah Palin will take the stage as the event's only marquee speaker--and opinions vary on whether it's a good or bad move, politically, for her to be there.
The convention has been fraught with criticism from segments of the Tea Party movement--activists who protest the $549 ticket prices and the for-profit status of the group that's putting it on as a sign that it's not truly "grassroots"--and Palin's appearance has driven some of that criticism. She's rumored to be getting $100,000 for her keynote speech (her going rate, according to documents obtained by Politico), and the big bucks have turned off some Tea Party activists who don't want to be associated with the convention, which is being put on by the group Tea Party Nation.
Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) were scheduled to speak but dropped off the list (convention organizers say it was because of conflicting information from the House ethics committee), leaving Palin as the only conservative star in attendance.
Now, some of those activists who have criticized the convention say Palin could be making a mistake in appearing there: it may cost her some support among the conservative grassroots, they suggest, and opinions conflict on whether Palin's speech is a mistake or a boon to the movement.
The convention has been fraught with criticism from segments of the Tea Party movement--activists who protest the $549 ticket prices and the for-profit status of the group that's putting it on as a sign that it's not truly "grassroots"--and Palin's appearance has driven some of that criticism. She's rumored to be getting $100,000 for her keynote speech (her going rate, according to documents obtained by Politico), and the big bucks have turned off some Tea Party activists who don't want to be associated with the convention, which is being put on by the group Tea Party Nation.
Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) were scheduled to speak but dropped off the list (convention organizers say it was because of conflicting information from the House ethics committee), leaving Palin as the only conservative star in attendance.
Now, some of those activists who have criticized the convention say Palin could be making a mistake in appearing there: it may cost her some support among the conservative grassroots, they suggest, and opinions conflict on whether Palin's speech is a mistake or a boon to the movement.
Feb 4 2010, 2:00PM
Obama Will Campaign For Bennet
President Obama's late intervention in the Massachusetts Senate race didn't go so well, but he's getting into campaign mode this month to help some of his party's embattled Senate candidates. Not only is Obama planning to campaign for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada this month, Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson reports that Obama will travel to Colorado in February to attend two fundraisers for Sen. Michael Bennet (brother of Atlantic Editor James Bennet), who faces a tough re-election bid, including a primary challenge from former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D).
Feb 4 2010, 1:20PM
Tea Party Seeks To Become A Political Party In Connecticut
Today kicks off the Tea Party convention in Nashville, but it may be another landmark day for the movement: the Tea Party is trying to become a political party in the state of Connecticut.
The Hartford Courant's Daniela Altimari reports that activists have registered the CT Tea Party with the Connecticut Secretary of State's office. The party's goal: "To ensure that the Democratic and Republican caucuses are prepared to put forth candidates that are ready to go to to work for the people, and not continue the status quo that's caused the problems both locally and at the state and federal levels,'' one of the organizers told the Courant.
The Hartford Courant's Daniela Altimari reports that activists have registered the CT Tea Party with the Connecticut Secretary of State's office. The party's goal: "To ensure that the Democratic and Republican caucuses are prepared to put forth candidates that are ready to go to to work for the people, and not continue the status quo that's caused the problems both locally and at the state and federal levels,'' one of the organizers told the Courant.
Feb 4 2010, 11:55AM
Club For Growth: Make 2010 About Issues
It's not the conventional wisdom for Republicans, but Club for Growth President Chris Chocola is proposing that the GOP eschew the "safe" route in 2010 and make their midterm campaigns about issues.
In a Forbes op-ed, Chocola writes:
In a Forbes op-ed, Chocola writes:
Feb 4 2010, 11:27AM
Clarence Thomas Doesn't Like The State Of The Union
If you thought President Obama's Supreme Court criticism as this year's State of the Union was a bit uncomfortable, Justice Clarence Thomas appears to have seen it coming.
Thomas skipped the State of the Union, so he missed the episode of President Obama criticizing the Court's campaign finance ruling--and Justice Samuel Alito's partially verbal rebuke of the rebuke. Why? Because the event is too partisan.
Thomas skipped the State of the Union, so he missed the episode of President Obama criticizing the Court's campaign finance ruling--and Justice Samuel Alito's partially verbal rebuke of the rebuke. Why? Because the event is too partisan.
Feb 4 2010, 11:17AM
Worst Campaign Video Ever?
Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO and John McCain economic adviser, has put out a video attacking her primary opponent, the conservative Tom Campbell, and it's...laden with sheep...and a man dressed as a sheep, with evil, glowing, red eyes.
Is it the worst campaign video ever? The Atlantic Wire's Max Fisher poses the question; see his post for bloggers' reactions to it. In the meantime, you be the judge:
Is it the worst campaign video ever? The Atlantic Wire's Max Fisher poses the question; see his post for bloggers' reactions to it. In the meantime, you be the judge:
Feb 4 2010, 9:26AM
Obama Jabs At Birthers
In his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, President Obama took a shot at birthers. In calling for comity amid policy dispute and "disagree[ing] without being disagreeable," the president said that "hopefully you can question my policies without questioning my faith, or, for that matter, my citizenship."
The line was met with applause.
The birthers--those who believe Obama is not a U.S. citizen--have faded from national discussion, but the concept may get raised again before the 2010 elections, as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, in a strategy memo, suggested that Democratic Senate candidates force their opponents to go on the record on a host of issues that divide some conservatives from the mainstream--one of those issues being Obama's U.S. citizenship.
The line was met with applause.
The birthers--those who believe Obama is not a U.S. citizen--have faded from national discussion, but the concept may get raised again before the 2010 elections, as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, in a strategy memo, suggested that Democratic Senate candidates force their opponents to go on the record on a host of issues that divide some conservatives from the mainstream--one of those issues being Obama's U.S. citizenship.
Feb 3 2010, 6:03PM
Brown Will Be Sworn In Thursday
After Sen.-elect Scott Brown made it known that he wanted to be sworn in as soon as possible, Democratic leaders have given the go-ahead: Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), tells The Hill that he expects Brown to be sworn in by 5 p.m. Thursday, and a senior GOP aide reportedly gave the same timeline. No specific time has been set. Manley indicated earlier that if Brown wanted to be sworn in, that was fine by Democrats--as Marc noted, it wasn't a fight they were going to pick--though Sen. Paul Kirk, the appointed stand-in who had replaced the late Sen. Ted Kennedy until Massachusetts voters could pick a replacement, had continued to vote on several measures opposed by Republicans.
Feb 3 2010, 5:34PM
2012 Candidate Crossover Special: Romney Raises Money For Thune
So reports CongressDaily's Erin McPike, writing at Hotline OnCall: Mitt Romney will make one of his first high-profile fundraising stops of the 2010 midterms in South Dakota, raising money for Sen. John Thune's (R) reelection race Feb. 19. Why is this significant? Because Thune is being talked about as a possible contender for the White House in 2012 (Sen. Lindsey Graham recently listed him as a top contender from Congress's ranks, although Reps. Eric Cantor and Mike Pence could have something to say about that). Thune also has had no trouble raising money--he's already got $6 million in his campaign accounts, this far from Election Day.
But at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Sioux Falls roughly two weeks from today, two possible White House contestants will be in the same place at the same time for some glad-handing, money getting, and face time. If Thune doesn't enter or win the GOP presidential primary, he'll figure prominently in discussion of the Republican VP nomination...
But at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Sioux Falls roughly two weeks from today, two possible White House contestants will be in the same place at the same time for some glad-handing, money getting, and face time. If Thune doesn't enter or win the GOP presidential primary, he'll figure prominently in discussion of the Republican VP nomination...
Feb 3 2010, 3:01PM
Murray Hill, Inc. For Congress
Via Miller-McCune's Emily Badger: in an test of the Supreme Court's recent campaign finance decision--and its logic that corporations should be treated as people, when it comes to political money--a Maryland-based progressive PR firm is planning to run for Congress.
Murray Hill, Inc. announced its candidacy in a press release on its website; it plans to enter the Republican primary to challenge Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen in the state's eighth congressional district, as a corporation.
"Until now," the firm says in its release, "corporate interests had to rely on campaign contributions and influence peddling to achieve their goals in Washington. But thanks to an enlightened Supreme Court, now we can eliminate the middle-man and run for office ourselves."
Murray Hill, Inc. announced its candidacy in a press release on its website; it plans to enter the Republican primary to challenge Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen in the state's eighth congressional district, as a corporation.
"Until now," the firm says in its release, "corporate interests had to rely on campaign contributions and influence peddling to achieve their goals in Washington. But thanks to an enlightened Supreme Court, now we can eliminate the middle-man and run for office ourselves."
Feb 3 2010, 12:33PM
DNC Takes Its Shots At Chauvinism
It's been a fruitful couple days for Democrats who like to point out chauvinism on the right: yesterday, the Democratic National Committee e-mailed reporters to highlight a quote from Republican National Committee co-chair Jan Larimer (who is a woman) that "Women sometimes need a little more handholding, or they need their friends to help them make a decision," in discussing the GOP's shortage of female candidates with Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson.
Feb 3 2010, 12:15PM
China Rules Glenn Beck's World
The U.S. has made a series of moves that aren't too popular with China, The Atlantic Wire's Jake Simpson points out--the Google/censorship standoff, more arms sales to Taiwan, and President Obama's plans to meet with the Dalai Lama--but that hasn't stopped Glenn Beck from suggesting that "China now rules the world," "us," and "our children." The U.S. does owe China about $800 billion, and we do pay China $50 billion per year in interest, but Simpson notes that news of the recent moves must not have reached Beck.
Feb 3 2010, 12:04PM
Are Congress, Conservatives Responsible For Civilian Terrorism Trials?
A bipartisan group of senators, led by Lindsey Graham (R-SC), are proposing a bill to cut off funding for federal trials of suspected 9/11 conspirators (including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) in civilian courts, but Atlantic Correspondents blogger Andrew Cohen says these senators have themselves, and other national security conservatives in Congress, to blame for where terrorist trials stand: congressional Republicans overreached repeatedly when the Bush administration was drafting its policies on military tribunals, effectively eliminating military trials as a viable possibility for terrorism suspects--since those schematics were shot down by the Supreme Court. Cohen writes:
Feb 3 2010, 11:39AM
Gillibrand Well Ahead Of Ford
Though there's been a lot of talk about transplanted New Yorker Harold Ford, Jr., the former Tennessee congressman and current chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, possibly running for Senate in in that state, incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) leads him comfortably: Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson reports that Gillibrand holds a 38% to 18% edge in Quinnipiac's survey on the potential matchup.
It's a significant deficit to overcome, but not necessarily insurmountable, especially given that most New Yorkers don't know enough about Ford to have an opinion. When Quinnipiac asked for general opinions of Ford, 70% said they hadn't heard enough to say, vs. 44% who hadn't heard enough about Gillibrand to voice an opinion (of those who did, 33% liked her and 22% didn't). Gillibrand was appointed by Gov. David Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate last year; since then, her name recognition has steadily grown.
Quinnipiac polled 921 registered Democrats on Ford vs. Gillibrand questions.
It's a significant deficit to overcome, but not necessarily insurmountable, especially given that most New Yorkers don't know enough about Ford to have an opinion. When Quinnipiac asked for general opinions of Ford, 70% said they hadn't heard enough to say, vs. 44% who hadn't heard enough about Gillibrand to voice an opinion (of those who did, 33% liked her and 22% didn't). Gillibrand was appointed by Gov. David Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate last year; since then, her name recognition has steadily grown.
Quinnipiac polled 921 registered Democrats on Ford vs. Gillibrand questions.
Feb 3 2010, 11:09AM
Palin Defends Her Appearance At The Tea Party Convention
The Tea Party convention slated to begin in Nashville Thursday has drawn a lot of criticism, both from within and without the Tea Party movement, but Sarah Palin still plans to keynote the event--and, in an op-ed published this morning in USA Today, she explained why.
Palin stressed that: 1) she was drawn to the movement by its grassroots vision, 2) the organic and often disparate nature of the movement means disputes are bound to arise, 3) she believes the Tea Party convention offers a valuable thing--a chance for activists to connect, 4) that she made a commitment and she'll honor it, and 5) that she's not going to benefit financially.
Palin stressed that: 1) she was drawn to the movement by its grassroots vision, 2) the organic and often disparate nature of the movement means disputes are bound to arise, 3) she believes the Tea Party convention offers a valuable thing--a chance for activists to connect, 4) that she made a commitment and she'll honor it, and 5) that she's not going to benefit financially.
Feb 3 2010, 10:23AM
Obama Vs. Vegas, Round Two
Last year, during a town-hall event in Elkhart, Indiana, President Obama ruffled some Nevadan feathers by warning that bailed out executives shouldn't go to Las Vegas for retreats; yesterday, he was at it again, telling his audience at an event in New Hampshire that, during a recession, "you don't blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you're trying to save for college."
Here's the full quote, from the White House transcript:
Here's the full quote, from the White House transcript:
Responsible families don't do their budgets the way the federal government does. Right? When times are tough, you tighten your belts. You don't go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college. You prioritize. You make tough choices. It's time your government did the same. (Applause.)
Feb 2 2010, 4:31PM
Dems Test The Polling Waters Early
So reports Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson: evidently nervous about the 2010 political landscape, 14 House Democratic incumbents paid for polling in their districts relatively early in the election cycle, according to their recent financial reports with the Federal Election Commission. Among them were some clearly vulnerable members, although some more established lawmakers decided to test the polling waters, too--namely, House Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) and prominent Blue Dog Mike Ross (D-AR). The polls were commissioned in the last three months of 2009.
It appears Democrats have gotten the message: 2010 is shaping up to be a tough year.
It appears Democrats have gotten the message: 2010 is shaping up to be a tough year.
Feb 2 2010, 2:31PM
Abstinence-Only Supporters Rejoice
The Washington Post reported on a study today that suggests abstinence-only sex-ed programs might work, and The Atlantic Wire's Heather Horn notes that it's becoming fodder for some conservative commentators who point out that Obama cut funding for abstinence programs and proclaim that science doesn't always support progressive ideals.
Feb 2 2010, 2:16PM
Scott Brown Talked To Palin Before He Didn't Talk To Her
Sen.-elect Scott Brown is his own brand of Republican, but that hasn't stopped analysts and political opponents from asking about his affiliations with Tea Partiers and other assorted facets of the conservative movement--including one of its heroes, Sarah Palin.
So it was a bit curious when, despite having talked to Palin on election night in Massachusetts, he told the Associated Press that he hadn't ever spoken to her.
"I don't know Sarah Palin. I've never spoken with her. She's never reached out, vice versa. I just know what happened in my race, ... it's all been very exciting and very, very positive," Brown told The Associated Press on January 28, nine days after his victory in the Massachusetts Senate race.
So it was a bit curious when, despite having talked to Palin on election night in Massachusetts, he told the Associated Press that he hadn't ever spoken to her.
"I don't know Sarah Palin. I've never spoken with her. She's never reached out, vice versa. I just know what happened in my race, ... it's all been very exciting and very, very positive," Brown told The Associated Press on January 28, nine days after his victory in the Massachusetts Senate race.
Feb 2 2010, 1:54PM
Primary Season Is Underway In Illinois
It's officially primary season, as Illinois voters are going to the polls today for the nation's first big-time primary elections of 2010. Up for grabs: President Obama's old Senate seat and the governorship of his home state.
The primaries have been tough--fraught with attacks that have fed a GOP storyline that Democrats in Illinois are "in disarray": State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the frontrunner in the Senate race, has faced attacks over the bank that his family owns. Not long ago, it seemed as if Giannoulias would have this race in the bag; but with low turnout today, Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman (endorsed by the Chicago Tribune) and Cheryle Jackson, the other challenger, could fare better than previously thought.
The primaries have been tough--fraught with attacks that have fed a GOP storyline that Democrats in Illinois are "in disarray": State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the frontrunner in the Senate race, has faced attacks over the bank that his family owns. Not long ago, it seemed as if Giannoulias would have this race in the bag; but with low turnout today, Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman (endorsed by the Chicago Tribune) and Cheryle Jackson, the other challenger, could fare better than previously thought.
Feb 2 2010, 1:06PM
Republicans Say Palin More Qualified Than Obama
According to a Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of 2,003 self-identified Republicans, the GOP base thinks Sarah Palin is more qualified than President Obama, Hotline OnCall reports. Purported lack of qualification, mind you, was the knock on both Obama and Palin in the 2008 campaign. Now, 53 percent of Republican respondents said Palin is more qualified, vs. 14 percent who say she's not. And 63 percent said Obama is a socialist.
Feb 2 2010, 12:10PM
Sarah Palin: The Magazine
If there's one politician with tabloid celebrity appeal, it's Sarah Palin. And now, perhaps befitting her cult of personality, a single-issue magazine devoted entirely to Sarah Palin is on shelves across the country, The Washington Post reports, published by the media entrepreneur who brought us In Touch. "Hundreds of thousands" of copies are circulating, according to the publisher, and for $8.99 you can get a glossy tabloid with previously unpublished childhood photos of Palin, plus quotes from the former governor, that purports to give Palin's "untold story...in her own words!" According to the publisher, the project was undertaken without Palin's knowledge.
Feb 2 2010, 11:56AM
Poll: Lincoln Trails...Badly
According to Public Policy Polling, things aren't looking too good for Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR): she trails GOP challenger Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) by a whopping 23 points--56% to 33%--with an approval rating of just 27%, in PPP's latest poll. Other potential Democratic candidates face similar deficits against Boozman. And it's not just bad for Lincoln: barring some compelling polling to indicate otherwise (progressives have done some of this to pressure her on the public option), Lincoln might be watching her right flank more than her left, making it that much more difficult for Demoratic leaders to win her support on narrow votes in the Senate.
Feb 2 2010, 11:18AM
O'Keefe Prosecutor Recuses Himself
The U.S. attorney handling James O'Keefe's alleged Senate-office infiltration case in New Orleans has rescued himself, his office announced yesterday, without saying why. Jim Letten, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, requested the recusal after consulting with Department of Justice officials in Washington, DC and considering "various relevant factors," his office said. His first assistant U.S. attorney, Jan Mann, will take over the investigation and potential prosecution.
Letten requested the recusal on Jan. 26, according to his office--the day after O'Keefe's arrest.
While the office wouldn't comment on the recusal, or what those "relevant factors" may be, one possible consideration is that one of the defendants, 24 year-old Robert Flanagan, is the son of Letten's counterpart in the Western District of Louisiana--acting U.S. attorney William Flanagan. It is unclear whether Letten and Flanagan have any kind of relationship, and Letten's office wouldn't comment on it.
Letten requested the recusal on Jan. 26, according to his office--the day after O'Keefe's arrest.
While the office wouldn't comment on the recusal, or what those "relevant factors" may be, one possible consideration is that one of the defendants, 24 year-old Robert Flanagan, is the son of Letten's counterpart in the Western District of Louisiana--acting U.S. attorney William Flanagan. It is unclear whether Letten and Flanagan have any kind of relationship, and Letten's office wouldn't comment on it.
Feb 2 2010, 10:13AM
Democrats Want Rubio To Win
Last week, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee unveiled its strategy for 2010 in a leaked memo: try to force Republicans to take on-the-record stances on issues that divide conservatives and the mainstream. Use those issues to sow discord on the right, and you'll damage the center-right frontrunners in the eyes of either conservatives or the general electorate.
That's what the DSCC is doing in Florida. It sent out a press release this morning asking centrist Gov. Charlie Crist--long considered the frontrunner, who now trails conservative upstart Marco Rubio--to take a position on new financial regulations, highlighting the fact that Rubio has come out against Obama's bank tax.
That's what the DSCC is doing in Florida. It sent out a press release this morning asking centrist Gov. Charlie Crist--long considered the frontrunner, who now trails conservative upstart Marco Rubio--to take a position on new financial regulations, highlighting the fact that Rubio has come out against Obama's bank tax.
Feb 1 2010, 6:22PM
A Blueprint To Kill Democratic Financial Reforms
Financial reform could be a very important issue for 2010: if Democrats pass something they can be proud of, they can tell voters they did something to reform Wall Street and prevent the abuses that caused the economic crisis from happening again. If they don't, or if it gets watered down, well...
Meanwhile, GOP-aligned pollster and focus-group specialist Frank Luntz has compiled a memo for how Republicans can kill it.
Meanwhile, GOP-aligned pollster and focus-group specialist Frank Luntz has compiled a memo for how Republicans can kill it.
Feb 1 2010, 3:33PM
Palin's PAC Spent More Money On Books Than It Gave To Candidates
Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson reports that Sarah Palin's political group, Sarah PAC, spent more money buying copies of her memoir than it donated to candidates seeking federal office. Sarah PAC gave copies of the book to donors (effectively selling them for political contributions, just as many political groups hawk gear), so that's why it spent $47,777 on copies of "Going Rogue," a few thousand more than it donated to candidates.
Feb 1 2010, 3:24PM
The 2012 Money Leaders
Republican White House contenders spent 2009 getting their ducks in a row for primary bids, and a big part of that was fundraising--setting up political action committees and crisscrossing the nation to raise money for them.
So who came out ahead?
Based on their Federal Election Commission filings (which were due last night), Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin took in the most money for their PACs, while Tim Pawlenty set a speedy fundraising pace in the last few months of '09, entering a strong yearly total with his PAC only having launched in October.
So who came out ahead?
Based on their Federal Election Commission filings (which were due last night), Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin took in the most money for their PACs, while Tim Pawlenty set a speedy fundraising pace in the last few months of '09, entering a strong yearly total with his PAC only having launched in October.
Feb 1 2010, 1:00PM
Disowning The Nelson Deal
Democrats have taken a lot of heat for the process of health care reform, and, along with closed-door negotiations, the deal to secure Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-NE) vote has been a favored point of criticism. The White House has started to own up, without naming names, to the bad optics of the Nelson agreement--which granted federal funding for the Medicaid in Nebraska and let Nelson insert language on abortion--as President Obama said in his State of the Union address that health care became associated with "horse trading."
Feb 1 2010, 12:22PM
Selling The Budget: It's About Restraint
President Obama's FY-2011 budget proposal may carry a "record" deficit, as various outlets are reporting (more on that here), but as Obama explained it to the public, it's all about the spending cuts.
Obama rolled out his budget in a news conference at the White House this morning, and what we saw was Obama's tone of fiscal restraint--which he has showcased since Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts--in full effect. That, and reminders that he inherited the fiscal situation from his predecessor.
Obama rolled out his budget in a news conference at the White House this morning, and what we saw was Obama's tone of fiscal restraint--which he has showcased since Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts--in full effect. That, and reminders that he inherited the fiscal situation from his predecessor.
Feb 1 2010, 11:17AM
How Important Is Obama's Budget?
President Obama's budget proposal will dominate the news cycle today,
but how important is the document, really?
It's worth keeping in mind that the administration's budget proposal is exactly that--a proposal, a suggestion of what the White House wants Congress to spend and what it wants Congress to spend on. The legislature controls the purse strings.
ABC's Rick Klein sizes up budget day as "that annual Washington tradition of making far too much out of a proposed budget that needs to thrash its way through a Congress that has its own ideas."
It's worth keeping in mind that the administration's budget proposal is exactly that--a proposal, a suggestion of what the White House wants Congress to spend and what it wants Congress to spend on. The legislature controls the purse strings.
ABC's Rick Klein sizes up budget day as "that annual Washington tradition of making far too much out of a proposed budget that needs to thrash its way through a Congress that has its own ideas."
Feb 1 2010, 10:11AM
No Yucca In Obama's Budget; Reid Rejoices
The Obama administration will eliminate funding for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is happy about it.
Reid reported the good news to Nevadans Sunday in a statement on his website, announcing that the president had kept his word and will back away from the much-studied Yucca site. Obama had pledged not to develop it during the 2008 campaign, and Reid celebrated last year when the Obama administration decided, as it released its budget blueprint, to look for other options. Now, Reid is celebrating again, as President Obama's new budget proposal, being released today, won't include any funding for the dump.
Reid reported the good news to Nevadans Sunday in a statement on his website, announcing that the president had kept his word and will back away from the much-studied Yucca site. Obama had pledged not to develop it during the 2008 campaign, and Reid celebrated last year when the Obama administration decided, as it released its budget blueprint, to look for other options. Now, Reid is celebrating again, as President Obama's new budget proposal, being released today, won't include any funding for the dump.
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