–There are primaries in Michigan, Kansas and Missouri today. Among the marquee contests are Republican Reps. Todd Tihart and Jerry Moran clawing it out for a good shot at Sam Brownback’s Kansas Senate seat, GOP congressman Roy Blunt trying to fend off Tea Party-fueled challenger Chuck Purgason for Kit Bond’s open Senate seat, and of …
Budgets
Morning Must Reads: Incomplete
–Obama is set to deliver a speech on winding down the mission in Iraq at the Disabled American Veterans convention today in Atlanta.
–Lindsey Graham warns of a bipartisan “unholy alliance” against the war in Afghanistan.
–John Kerry says he wouldn’t support a request for more troops. He’s sounding Ted Kennedy-esque to …
Lame Duck or Red Herring?
I have a time.com story out today about the much-anticipated lame duck session expected this December. For all the hoopla, very little is likely to happen this lame duck. But what all this hyperbole surrounding the lame duck does do is rile up the respective bases. Democrats: Dear outraged environmental groups, worry not we pass climate …
Morning Must Reads: Unfinished Business
–Congressional leaders from both parties are meeting today with President Obama. There’s no official agenda, but they’ll probably discuss what needs to get done before the August recess.
–The House is poised for a vote on the war supplemental. The WikiLeaks doc dump may muddy the waters.
–The DISCLOSE Act, a campaign finance …
Morning Must Reads: WikiLeaks
–The emerging consensus on the Wikileaks documents seems to be that while they include few shocking revelations, they paint a picture of a faltering mission in Afghanistan that will likely feed growing unease about the sustainability of the American effort there. John Kerry released the following statement as chairman of the Senate …
Morning Must Reads: On the Scene
–In a show of solidarity, the Obamas will vacation on the Gulf Coast.
–Karen Tumulty writes the White House has skirted racial dialogue at times.
–Virginia Senator Jim Webb dives in head first with an op-ed on “the Myth of White Privilege” in the Wall Street Journal.
–Federal climate legislation is deader than dead for …
Morning Must Reads: Tough to Swallow
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
–Making the morning TV rounds, Shirley Sherrod stands by her account of her firing and says she received a phone call from her superiors insisting, “The White House wants you to resign.” She’s also openly asking for a conversation with the president, and I’d be shocked if she didn’t get one …
Morning Must Reads: Special
–Soon-to-be interim Senator Carte Goodwin is getting seated today, just before the vote to extend unemployment benefits. With his support it’s expected to pass.
–West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is getting his special election to permanently fill the seat this year. He’s expected to announce his intentions later in the …
Morning Must Reads: Counting Seats
–The GOP has a narrow but very real path to control of the Senate. Nate Silver updates his forecast.
–West Virginia’s legislature leaves the special election to fill Robert Byrd’s seat in doubt.
–Things are looking up for Harry Reid in Nevada. But the state’s economy continues to suffer.
–Obama enters full-blown campaign …
Morning Must Reads: Advice
Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
–BP’s cap appears to be working. But no one is high-fiving just yet.
–Ben Nelson comes out in opposition to a utilities-only carbon cap. That’s one less vote for the Dems’ scaled back energy bill.
–Alan Greenspan says Congress should let the Bush tax cuts expire in January. Pete Davis is floored, …
Morning Must Reads: Contenders
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
–Congress returns to work this week with plenty of business still on the table before August break. Unemployment benefits have run out for 2 million Americans, a Supreme Court nominee awaits confirmation, and the timing of the Senate’s vote on financial reform remains unclear.
—Hale …
Morning Must Reads: Angst
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
–The Fed, spooked by a floundering recovery, weighs growth measures.
—Karl Rove tells Republicans they need a positive economic agenda, suggests fighting to retain Bush tax cuts.
—Matt Bai writes Obama is relatively well positioned to make progress on the deficit, but he’ll need a …
Morning Must Reads: Workaround
Reuters/Molly Riley
–Obama plans to use a recess appointment to get Donald Berwick in at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, avoiding what was sure to be a nasty confirmation fight in the Senate. In its spin, the White House makes at least two good points: CMS has been without a permanent chief since 2006 and the Harvard …