President Obama walked down an empty corridor to the East Room of the White House on Sunday night to announce the killing of Osama bin Laden. It was like he was walking out of a forgotten dream. Remember that quest we began …
White House
Osama Bin Laden Killed, Obama Hails Moment of ‘Justice’
Updated at 2:30 a.m.
Nearly 10 years after he launched the deadliest domestic attack in U.S. history, al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has been killed by American forces. Late Sunday evening, President Barack Obama addressed …
While Claiming Transparency, White House Skirts Transparency Questions
After arriving in office, President Obama took a major step towards shining new sunlight on the comings and goings of lobbyists entering the White House grounds. As of January 28, 2011, there are now more than 1 million secret service visitor logs posted online by the White House, with an easily searchable and downloadable database. It …
Robert Gibbs Is Out, More Reshuffling Ahead
Shortly after President Obama departed for his vacation in Hawaii, Robert Gibbs found himself at his local DMV, waiting in his car to avoid the frozen lines outside. Such is the job of Press Secretary that such menial tasks, a trip to the grocery store, a license renewal, soon become all but impossible during the normal work week. But …
A Health Care Ruling Q&A
In the light of day, a few things about yesterday’s health care court decision are coming into focus. The White House clearly expected federal Judge Henry Hudson to rule the individual mandate unconstitutional. The judge telegraphed his intentions in earlier comments and the Administration was ready with talking points about how Hudson’s …
Public Perception of Oil Spill vs. Katrina
More Americans have a negative view of the federal government’s response to the oil spill than they did of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, according to a just released ABC News/Washington Post poll. According to the survey, conducted June 3-6, 69% of respondents would rate the federal government’s response to the oil spill …
Bill Clinton Linked to Joe Sestak Job Offer
According to a Greg Sargent exclusive followed by a Peter Baker story, Rahm Emanuel asked Bill Clinton to approach Joe Sestak about not running in the Senate Democratic primary in Pennsylvania. Obama endorsed Arlen Specter and, according to Sargent:
The White House maintains that Clinton’s overtures to Sestak merely constituted an
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Re: Re: Playing Politics With Goldman
I would point out two things about the SEC suit: The investigation began well before Obama was elected president and Goldman was warned in July 2009 — hardly the height of financial reform debate — that charges were coming. From the Wall Street Journal:
Goldman said it first heard from the SEC about the investigation in August 2008,
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RE: Playing Politics With Goldman
Republicans have been crying foul over the timing of last Friday’s Securities and Exchange Commission announcement of an investigation into wrong doing by Goldman Sachs. Yes, the timing – just as the Democratic push for financial regulatory reform seemed doomed and just as Goldman’s stock was approaching something close to where it …
The White House Confrontation Campaign
It was an odd scene. There was Karen Ignagni, head of the health insurance lobby, introducing President Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Before the two women shook hands today at the insurance industry’s annual conference at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington DC, Ignagni said to Sebelius, “It is a delight to …
The GOP Campaign to Scare House Dems
Is anyone else feeling a bit of déjà vu?
This stage in the health care legislative battle feels, to me at least, a lot like the period just before Christmas. Remember the constant threats from Republicans that they would use all the parliamentary tools available to indefinitely stall a final vote on the Senate health care bill? …
What Obama Will Say Today on Health Care
The White House has released parts of the health care statement President Obama will make today at 1:45 p.m. The President’s remarks are meant to give Democrats the confidence to follow the only available path left – a reconciliation package in the Senate and House passage of the underlying Senate bill. The statement will be a …
Why Heather Graham is Dangerous for Health Reform
Public option supporters inside and outside the Senate are still pushing Harry Reid to bring back the idea and pass it via reconciliation, Jay Rockefeller’s hesitance notwithstanding. My guess is Rockefeller’s opposition to this plan is based on concern that the public option could completely blowup the renewed push for Democratic health …