Defense Secretary Robert Gates boards a C-17 after visiting U.S. troops at Forward Operating Base Howz-E-Madad in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan December 8, 2010. (REUTERS/Win McNamee)
–The Senate begins debate on Obama’s tax compromise today and Dems there are beginning to thaw. House Dems not so much; some
Two Democratic constituencies are likely to end the day disappointed: Hispanics and gays. This afternoon Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will try and move to the DREAM Act, which would grant a path to citizenship to millions of illegal children who are getting college degrees or serving in the armed forces. After that he will attempt …
This morning, ABC’s Jake Tapper reported that the White House wanted a fight but congressional Dems “wouldn’t throw a punch.” From his story:
The White House has two arguments for what they acknowledge are “frustrated” Democrats:
1) We wanted a fight on these tax cuts, and Congressional Democrats never took up the charge and
…
On Meet the Press yesterday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took a victory lap, gloating that he’d forced the administration to bend to Republican will.
We’ve had more conversations in the last two weeks than we’ve had in the last two years, and I think that’s a good sign, a growing awareness that the power’s going to be more
…
(White House/Pete Souza)
–After the weekend, a deal extending all the Bush tax cuts temporarily (1-3 years) in exchange for Recovery Act tax credits and a year or so of unemployment benefits still appears to be the only way forward in the Senate. The timing of the expiration, of course, has implications for Obama’s re-election …
Congress tomorrow – yes, on a Saturday – will be holding their second round of just-for-show votes on extending the Bush tax cuts. On the heels of the House vote, the Senate will be tackling the tax cuts, which expire at the end of January if action isn’t taken. Don’t expect real progress, though: the legislation isn’t expected to …
The House today passed 234-188 a permanent extension of Bush’s tax cuts for those making $250,000 or less. A handful of Dems – mostly moderates and surviving Blue Dogs — defected and voted against the measure, which was, essentially, sock puppet theater for the benefit of the Democratic base. Even if the Senate takes a similar vote, …
–Julian Assange fronts this week’s newsstand issue of TIME. Inside: Massimo on how overclassiffication created the secrecy beast, Fareed Zakaria on how the cables show competent diplomats in action, Crowley on the designs to slaughter sacred cows and Nancy Gibbs on Palin’s push to the past.
–Extending all the Bush tax cuts …
Former Missouri state treasurer Sarah Steelman announced her challenge to Senator Claire McCaskill on Wednesday. Jim Talent, who held the seat before McCaskill did, is reportedly close to joining the race himself. It’s the very beginning of what’s likely to be a long, crowded and wild 2012 primary season for Republicans nationwide. …
There are a lot of bills floating around this lame duck – most of them lacking the mojo to pass – the ratification of the nuclear START treaty with Russia, the DREAM Act helping the children of illegal immigrants, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the defense reauthorization bill, the renewal of the Bush tax cuts and a …
(Getty Images/Alex Wong)
–The final Bowles-Simpson deficit commission report is out. You can read it here. After a cursory glance, the tweaks from the draft proposal look minor. The panel’s vote isn’t until Friday, but it looks unlikely to get 14 of 18 votes for official recommendation.
–As Democrats and Republicans head into …
Sarah Palin raised $469,000 between Oct. 13 and Nov. 22 bringing her total for the year to over $3 million, Tim Crawford, SarahPAC’s treasurer, told TIME exclusively. Crawford attributed the surge of funds to energy surrounding the midterm elections, Palin’s endorsements and her TLC reality show “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” Her …
(White House Photo/Pete Souza)
–Ben Smith writes Cablegate calls into question the potency of American diplomacy.
–It’s no revelation that many leaders in the Arab world privately sweat Iran, but Mark Lynch argues the greatest potential for political blowback is in that sphere.
–Matt Yglesias questions whether private …
