Amid a series of leaks on both sides and questions about the would-be nominee's desire for the job, media reports suggested that President-elect Obama will nominate Sen. Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State. The Wall Street Journal reports Obama is "'on track' to nominate" Clinton, and the announcement "is expected after Thanksgiving, the Obama transition official said late Thursday." The Obama transition team "has resolved the financial disclosure issues surrounding the work of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and the president-elect feels comfortable moving ahead with the nomination, barring unforeseen developments, the transition aide said."
The AP reports Clinton has "been mulling the post for several days, but the transition aide's comments suggested that Obama's team does not feel she is inclined to turn it down." The Politico also reports the story.
The Financial Times reports Clinton "appeared to be edging closer to accepting the position of top US diplomat as her husband...confirmed he was co-operating with the vetting process." MSNBC's Hardball reported that Clinton is "under consideration to Mr. Obama's secretary of state. Unless the fact that...nearly every detail of the vetting process so far has been leaked to the media may have already derailed her chances." Some in "the Obama camp are bristling at the leaks."
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports tension between Clinton and Obama foreign policy adviser Gregory B. Craig led to the latter's appointment was White House counsel. Several Obama advisers "acknowledged privately that Mr. Craig couldn't take a foreign policy job if Mrs. Clinton ended up at State - too much animosity and bad history there." The Times adds, "In fact, all of the foreign policy jobs in the administration have been held up because of the uncertainty over the appointment of Mrs. Clinton."
In her Wall Street Journal column, Peggy Noonan says, "On the face of it, the apparent offering of the secretary of state job to Hillary Clinton is a clever, interesting choice." But the "downside is equally obvious: To invite in the Clintons -- and it's always the Clintons, never a Clinton -- is to invite in, to summon, drama that will never end. Ever. This would seem to be at odds with the atmospherics of Obamaland."
Meanwhile, The Politico reports the "uncertainty over" Clinton's "potential appointment" is "rekindling interest in the creation of a new position for her in the Senate Democratic leadership, according to Democratic aides." On NBC Nightly News, political director Chuck Todd said, "Looks like Hillary Clinton might be having some second thoughts about doing this job of Secretary of State. She's got a decent backup plan if she decides to stay on the Hill, working on healthcare and getting a leadership post." The New York Times reports the "discussions about an enhanced position for Mrs. Clinton are factoring into her deliberations over joining the cabinet, the officials said."
A trickle of reporting Wednesday night that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano was President-elect Barack Obama's likely choice to head the Department of Homeland Security has given way to heavy coverage much of it positive. Meanwhile, her border state experience is being seen by some as an indication that immigration will be a priority in the Obama administration. The Washington Post reports that the "pending selection...was greeted yesterday as a sign that the new Democratic administration will fundamentally change the tone of the nation's post-Sept. 11 approach to domestic security. Immigrant advocates, business groups and civil libertarians said that the choice of" Napolitano "could lead to a reversal of policies that they contend unduly punish illegal immigrants, commerce and Americans' privacy." USA Today reports that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., "praised the selection and said Napolitano's experience as governor, state attorney general and US attorney 'warrants her rapid confirmation' in the Senate."
Also noting McCain's praise, the Washington Times reports, "Republicans lauded the Napolitano news, though the background review is not yet complete." Bloomberg News also notes McCain's praise for Napolitano, as did The Politico and the Washington Independent.
A Flood Of Leaks From Previously Tight Obama Team The Washington Post reports on its front page, "Barack Obama was famously able to impose discipline and control over his presidential campaign, but it didn't take long for him to discover that running a transition is something quite different." The Post adds "top aides to the president-elect had hoped to take a methodical approach to selecting and unveiling their new team, starting with the announcements of top national security and economic players shortly after Thanksgiving. But leaks and rumors have disrupted that plan" and while "Obama's political inner circle took great pride" during the campaign "in the dearth of public reports about personnel moves, fundraising numbers and staff friction inside his campaign," their "control has all but dissolved in the leak-centric world of Washington."
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The precipitous fall in the stock markets is generating extensive media coverage, much of it describing a sense of panic and uncertainty on Wall Street. All three networks led with the latest round of bad news bad new from Wall Street last night. NBC Nightly News reported, "It became official just today. ... The bull market that ran from 2002 to 2007 has been erased. All of that profit is now gone as of today. The market's down by almost half just this year, 15% just this week." The CBS Evening News opened its broadcast reporting, "That giant sinkhole on Wall Street just keeps getting deeper and deeper, sucking up years of gains, including the retirement savings of millions of Americans." ABC World News noted that "in the last two days the Dow has lost more than 10%." USA Today notes "this bear market now ranks as the third worst ever. ... You have to go all the way back to the 1930s to find bigger losses." The AP reports the DJIA fell "444.99, or 5.56 percent, to 7,552.29." Meanwhile, the S&P 500 "fell 54.14, or 6.71 percent, to 752.44...to its lowest close since April 14, 1997." The Nasdaq shed "70.30, or 5.07 percent, to 1,316.12."
Under the headline "Markets 'In Panic Mode," the Los Angeles Times reports on its front page, "An intensifying panic has gripped the stock market...leaving investors afraid that they'll never be able to recoup their losses." According to the New York Times, "a new bout of fear gripped the financial markets," adding "investors are growing increasingly worried that big banks like Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America...are still too weak." The Financial Times and Washington Post run similar reports. The Wall Street Journal says that "contributing to the decline is concern that the government's decision to inject capital directly into major banks isn't working. Since nine major financial companies agreed on Oct. 14 to accept partial government ownership, their stocks are down an average of 46%."
Crisis Seen As Opportunity For Obama Gerald F. Seib writes in the Wall Street Journal, "As the economic signs grow ever more grim, the opportunities for the Obama administration to drive through its agenda actually are getting better." A crisis "creates a sense of urgency. ... Therein lies the opportunity for" Obama. Paul Krugman, in the New York Times, asks, "How much can go wrong in the two months before Mr. Obama takes the oath of office? The answer, unfortunately, is: a lot." On ABC World News, George Stephanopoulos said, "The Obama transition officials do say that they expect that when the team is announced, it should be next week, Wall Street will get that vote of confidence."
Media reports are casting Rep. Henry Waxman's ousting of long-time House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell as a changing of the guard in the Democratic caucus. Moreover, a number of news outlets are reporting Waxman's victory is likely to have a positive effect on President-elect Barack Obama's agenda. On its front page, for example, the Los Angeles Times says Dingell, "an automobile-industry champion who represents greater Detroit, has been criticized for slowing or blocking action on stricter vehicle emissions standards, fuel-economy improvements and other regulatory efforts. Those stances have pitted him against Waxman, 69, for decades, and environmentalists feared that Dingell would be a drag on Obama's efforts to curb air pollution."
The New York Times also says that while "the vote was secret...many allies of Speaker Nancy Pelosi backed Mr. Waxman's move, and several members said they had voted on the assumption that Ms. Pelosi had tacitly approved." Moreover, "Democrats...read the signals coming from the president-elect's transition office, which this week announced the intention to name Philip Schiliro, a longtime aide to Mr. Waxman, as the White House director of Congressional relations." In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal calls Schiliro's appointment is "another sign of the Waxman ascendancy." The Washington Post reports Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. said, "It's the mantra of the Obama election. People want change. ... He'll work best with the new administration."
In an analysis piece, the Washington Times says "Wednesday's vote of Democratic leadership to recommend that Mr. Waxman take over the committee sharply foreshadowed Thursday morning's vote: The leadership committee favored him 53 percent to 47 percent over Mr. Dingell, as did the full caucus." According to the Wall Street Journal, "pending legislation on energy and climate change was clearly foremost on the Democrats' mind."
The Washington Post reports "Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey collapsed last evening while delivering a speech to a prominent legal group and was rushed to George Washington University Hospital." The Post adds "the status of Mukasey's health remained uncertain even 90 minutes after the incident, which occurred at an annual Federalist Society gathering. A person who attended the dinner said Mukasey was visibly shaking and perhaps slurring his words before he fell to the floor." Mukasey "remained at the hospital overnight for observation but a Justice Department spokesman said Mukasey had strong vital signs and was 'in good spirits' after the incident. The AP says Mukasey "lost consciousness, a Justice Department official said." TheWall Street Journal ) reports that according to the DC Fire Department," Mukasey "was taken to George Washington University Medical Center and appeared to be alert and in good condition." The Washington Times and Los Angeles Times run similar reports.
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The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the recount in the Minnesota Senate race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken continued on Thursday. With "about 46 percent of the 2.9 million ballots counted by Thursday evening, the gap between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and DFL challenger Al Franken continued to close. Coleman was leading by only 136 votes, a drop from his unofficial lead of 215 that was confirmed Tuesday by the state Canvassing Board."
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal accuses the Franken campaign of "suing in court to steal the election," saying that Franken is "trying to conjure up enough other, previously disqualified, ballots to overturn Mr. Coleman's 215-vote lead. The Democrat needs to invent votes because he knows it will be tough to win a normal recount."
The AP reports that ex-Sen. Fred Thompson has been trying "to gain support to head the Republican National Committee. But his former finance chairman B.C. 'Scooter' Clippard, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on its website, "said Thompson chose to remain in the private sector, working to resume his television acting career."
President-elect Barack Obama has cut a radio ad to bolster Democratic candidate Jim Martin in Georgia's Senate runoff. The AP reports there's "still no word on whether the president-elect will make a personal appearance. In the spot, Obama thanks Georgians who voted for him Nov. 4, then urged support for Martin." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, "The 60-second spot will begin airing statewide Friday, Martin's campaign said late Thursday."
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the Atlanta Press Club "officially canceled its plans for hosting U.S. Senate runoff debate for Sunday, executive director Lauri Straus said. Neither Democrat Jim Martin nor Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss would commit - each citing scheduling conflicts."
Sen. Ted Stevens, defeated by Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich in his bid for reelection, on Thursday delivered his final speech from the Senate floor. USA Today reports Stevens "stepped to the podium on the Senate floor Thursday and talked to his colleagues about his long career." Senators "came to the floor and staffers gathered in the Senate gallery during Stevens' address and gave the senator a long standing ovation after his speech."
In his "Washington Sketch" column in the Washington Post, Dana Milbank writes, "There, for a final time at his Senate desk, stood Ted Stevens: longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history, shepherd of Alaska statehood, convicted felon." Few will "shed tears for the irritable Stevens himself. ... But the scene had poignancy for another reason: As the old men on both sides of the aisle rose to bid adieu to Stevens, they seemed also to be saying farewell to their era, a time when the Senate was, for better or worse, a gentlemen's club."
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Early voting and absentee ballots proved to be the key to President-elect Barack Obama's Florida victory. The AP reports more Floridians "voted for John McCain than Barack Obama on Election Day, but the Democrat sealed his victory in the state by winning more early and absentee votes. An Associated Press study of 94 percent of the state's total shows that" McCain "beat Obama by almost 5 percentage points on Nov. 4, but Obama trumped McCain by 11 percentage points in early and absentee balloting."
The Washington Post reports Verizon Wireless "said last night that a number of its employees have 'accessed and viewed' President-elect Barack Obama's personal cellphone account without authorization." All employees who accessed the account have been placed "on leave with pay" while the company sorts out which ones did so improperly
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Jay Leno: "This weekend, the big auto show opens here in Los Angeles. It's $10 to get in, $25 billion to get out."
David Letterman: "There are some nice aspects during the transition period. For example, the Bush twins" gave "the Obama girls a tour of the White House." It was "very sweet," but the Obama girls "got really scared because they heard creepy organ music coming from Cheney's underground lair."
Conan O'Brien: "The auto executives for the Big Three" are "being criticized now," because, before "they asked Congress for billions of dollars, they all flew to Washington in private jets. Yeah, separately, in private jets." In "their defense, the executives said, 'We would have driven, but our cars only get three miles to the gallon.'"
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