Political Bulletin

WASHINGTON NEWS

Obama: No Pork In Stimulus Bill

President-elect Barack Obama is receiving extensive, largely positive media coverage for his warning about the growing Federal budget deficit. NBC Nightly News reported Obama warned "the nation" yesterday, "in blunt terms, that though he is committed to budget reform and more responsible government spending, this country is facing massive budget deficits, possibly for the foreseeable future." Obama was shown saying, "We are already looking at $1 trillion budget deficit. We are close to a trillion dollar budget deficit. And potentially, we have got trillion dollar deficits for years to come." The President-elect said "he will not allow Congress to attach any of those earmarks -- lawmaker's pet projects -- to the stimulus bill." CNN's The Situation Room showed Obama saying, "We're not having earmarks in the recovery package, period." The Financial Times, however, notes that "it was unclear how Mr Obama would carry through on that pledge given that the US president only possesses a simple veto as opposed to the 'line item' veto that some argue the executive should possess."

The Washington Times reports that Obama's "vow to forgo earmarks applies only to the stimulus spending bill, but the pledge puts Mr. Obama and congressional Democrats in a good position to outdo Republicans on fiscal responsibility." The Times adds that "under President Bush and the Republican-led Congress, earmarks ballooned to peak at nearly 14,000 in 2005." McClatchy, USA Today, The Politico and the AP also report on Obama's comments.

Obama Flexible On Details, But Not On Deadline On ABC World News, George Stephanopoulos said, "I've been told...to expect the [stimulus] bill to be introduced probably on Monday, for hearings and mark-ups to happen in both the House and the Senate as early as next week, and for votes to begin in the House shortly after...Obama is inaugurated on January 20th." Obama "has signaled a lot of flexibility in the meetings he's having with congressional leaders. One thing he is adamant about, though, is that this bill is on his desk for signature by President's Day, February 16th."

Obama To Name "Chief Performance Officer" The New York Times reports that today, "Obama plans to name a chief performance officer with the task of finding government efficiencies. He has chosen Nancy Killefer, who is director of McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm, and was an assistant secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton administration." The Washington Post, meanwhile, only notes Obama "has scheduled a news conference for today to make a 'personnel announcement' related to budget reform, aides said."

Progressive Caucus Glad It Was "Out-Liberaled" The Hill recounts that "the most liberal members of Congress huddled together in early December, and decided they needed to push their fellow Democrats to be bold with the economic stimulus legislation being drafted. So the Congressional Progressive Caucus fired off a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urging a stimulus of at least $1 trillion. ... '"We were figuring people would be talking about $300 billion to $400 billion,' said one participant. 'Who knew we were going to be out-liberaled?'" The Hill adds "the sheer size of the stimulus goes a long way toward explaining why there has been little liberal opposition to...Obama's decision to adopt the conservative Republican mantra of tax-cutting as part of his signature 'recovery' legislation."

Panetta Looks Strong On Capitol Hill

One day after what many commentators found to be a rocky introduction as the nominee to lead the CIA, media reports now suggest Leon Panetta stands a good chance of winning confirmation. One key factor is that incoming Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein also softened her criticism of Panetta. George Stephanopoulos said on ABC World News that the California senator "received a lot of phone calls today from the President-elect, apologizing for not consulting her earlier. Vice President-elect Joe Biden said it was a mistake not to call her," and "other transition officials have also reached out." The outreach "seems to be having an affect," and Panetta "is likely to get confirmed." The AP similarly predicts Democrats are "not expected to give" Panetta "a hard time during his confirmation hearing, and even key Republicans...may not lead opposition efforts." Adding to Panetta's improving prospects, the Wall Street Journal notes he "won support Tuesday from additional lawmakers on the intelligence committees. Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, called Mr. Panetta 'a sensible choice that would provide strong leadership and effective management to the Central Intelligence Agency.'" Meanwhile, "Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Evan Bayh of Indiana, members of the Senate intelligence panel, also threw their support behind Mr. Panetta Monday." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also defended the nomination in an interview with The Hill .

USA Today that in remarks yesterday, "Obama stopped short of confirming that Panetta is his choice for the post," although "two Democratic officials with knowledge of the selection confirmed" he is the President-elect's choice to lead the CIA. NBC Nightly News showed Obama saying of Panetta, "He brings extraordinary management skills, great political savvy, a impeccable record of integrity."

Former CIA Officer In Charge of Bin Laden Hunt Criticizes Panetta, Clinton CNN's The Situation Room, however, reported that Panetta's nomination could still "cause...Obama some sort of a headache." Former CIA officer Michael Scheuer, "who oversaw the agency's unit devoted to Osama bin Laden," was shown saying, "I think the impression that will be brought in the intelligence community is that the Obama administration means to punish those people who were defending America through the rendition program or through Guantanamo Bay."

Scheuer also appeared on Fox News' Special Report (1/6, Baier), where he said, "The agency officers will be well aware that bin Laden is a problem today because Mr. Panetta and Mr. Clinton and their colleagues chose to do nothing to protect America."

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Businessman In Richardson Probe Contributed To Obama

KOAT-TV Albuquerque reported last night that "a prominent businessman at the center of the grand jury probe that dashed Governor Richardson's cabinet hopes also donated money to Barack Obama." David Rubin, president of California-based CDR Financial Products is "under investigation for how he won lucrative state contracts while giving $100,000 to the governor's political committees. Federal records uncovered today show Rubin donated nearly $30,000 to Obama's campaign and the Democratic Party in September."

The AP and Washington Times also report the story this morning. Under the headline, "Legal Run-Ins Dog The Firm In Richardson Probe," meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports CDR Financial Products "has a history of making campaign contributions in the states and localities where it has worked in a largely unregulated corner of municipal finance." Much of CDR's business "involves helping cities and states invest the funds raised by the sale of government bonds slated for such projects as housing and transportation." In 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission "settled a civil case against the firm involving three Florida bond issues going back to 1999. The commission contended the firm had a secret deal to collect fees on bond proceeds that had been invested and not yet spent for housing or health care."

Obama Team Urged To Strengthen Vetting Process In a Washington Post analysis story, Paul C. Light of New York University says Gov. Richardson's "unexpected withdrawal from the Senate confirmation process for commerce secretary underscores a simple fact about the presidential appointment process: It is up to the vetters to get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth out of appointees." Light notes it "remains unclear how" Richardson "got through the vetting before he was nominated on Dec. 3," but it is "safe to say that, as Obama aides select future candidates for senior-level positions, the sheer number of appointees undergoing background checks virtually guarantees that more mistakes will be made."

CNN Says Gupta Tapped For Surgeon General Post

The possible selection of CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General attracted significant attention in prominent US media outlets. His selection was generally characterized in positive terms, with most sources expecting his high public profile and communications skills could assist in passing healthcare reform. Commissioned Officers Association executive director Gerard Farrell's reservations about his qualifications were also frequently noted. CNN's "Newsroom" cut into a report to announce that the network's medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta "has been approached by the Obama administration as possibly becoming the next Surgeon General of the United States of America. You go, Sanjay!" Later CNN's The Situation Room reported, "One source says the Obama team is impressed with Dr. Gupta's communication skills, his work as a neurosurgeon, and his past work as a special adviser to Hillary Clinton when she was the first lady. He was a White House fellow." CNN's Wolf Blitzer noted that CNN "has made sure Dr. Gupta does not report on anything connected to the new administration since learning he was approached about the post."

The Hollywood Reporter notes "Gupta has been one of the bigger stars of late on CNN, covering the presidential campaign as well as huge stories like the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina, all from the medical perspective. His harrowing reports from New Orleans in the aftermath of the hurricane helped CNN win a Peabody Award in 2006. He also has won Emmys." In a front page story the Washington Post reports Gupta's selection suggests "that the incoming administration values visible advisers who can drive a public message," while USA Today says the pick "drew mixed reactions." The New York Times and Los Angeles Times also report the story.

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CAMPAIGN NEWS

Coleman Contests Minnesota Senate Loss

Republican Norm Coleman is going to court to challenge his 225-vote loss to Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race after a contentious recount. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Coleman "vowed Tuesday to wage a court battle to challenge the outcome. 'Not every valid vote has been counted, and some have been counted twice,'" said Coleman. USA Today says that the decision by Coleman "means the outcome of the race could remain undecided for several months."

The Politico notes that ahead of Coleman's press conference, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "pressured the incumbent Republican to forgo a challenge." Reid said, "I hope that former Senator Coleman and all our Republican colleagues will choose to respect the will of the people of Minnesota. They have chosen a new senator, Al Franken, and his term must begin and will begin soon."

ABC World News related, "Democrat leader Harry Reid called on him [Coleman] to concede, but in Minnesota, a defiant Coleman vowed to challenge the recount in court." Coleman: "This race will be determined by Minnesota voters, not by Harry Reid."

Meanwhile, the New York Times, in a report from St. Paul, says that "the forever process of recounting and lawyerly sniping that has gone on since Election Day" is wearing thin with some "in this capital city of flat-voweled upper Midwest niceness."

But the AP reports, "Coleman shrugged off the idea that he might concede the election to avoid a protracted fight that could leave Minnesota with only a single senator in Washington for months."

The Hill reports, "Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak said the campaign has already begun the discovery process, which will involve statements and depositions of local election officials across the state."

Jeb Bush Won't Run For Senate

Jeb Bush has decided against a bid for the Senate in Florida. The New York Times reports Bush (R) "said Tuesday that he would not run in 2010 for the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez, ending speculation about whether he could renew the Bush brand from Congress." Bush's "decision" says the Times, "surprised some supporters. Local fund-raisers; Mr. Bush's brother President Bush; and his father, former President George Bush, all encouraged him to enter the race, predicting he would re-energize the" GOP.

The Washington Times reports that "the former governor said he wants to focus on education, including working to build 'a system that lessens our populace's dependence on government.'" The Los Angeles Times reports that Jeb Bush "said he would continue to advocate for conservative ideas, and he offered a bit of advice to fellow Republicans: Don't target the new president with the same kind of partisan attacks that he said Democrats had hurled unfairly at his brother -- attacks that he summed up as 'Bush-hating.'"

The AP reports, "Those close to" Bush "have speculated for years that he wouldn't be interested in the Senate because his personality is more suited for executive leadership." The Washington Post calls Bush's decision reports "an early setback for Republican recruiters seeking to mount a comeback in the chamber," while The Hill says that "Bush, a popular two-term governor, was considered by political observers to be the favorite to succeed Martinez."

The Miami Herald, the St, Petersburg Times, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The Politico and the Palm Beach Post also report on Bush's decision.

Did Cuomo Aide Slow Kennedy's Momentum?

The New York Times reports even as Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo "insisted he was staying out of the competition for" New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's "seat, a top Cuomo aide urged labor leaders and upstate officials to refrain from embracing Caroline Kennedy for the job." Two sources "said the Cuomo aide, Joseph Percoco, had suggested the upstate officials give Ms. Kennedy a cold reception and had questioned her credentials."

In her New York Times column, Maureen Dowd discusses the criticism Caroline Kennedy has faced in her quest to be appointed to the Senate, saying, "...I found it bizarre that when Caroline offered to use her magic capital - and friendship with Barack Obama - to help take care of New York in this time of economic distress, she was blasted by a howl of 'How dare she?' People are suddenly awfully choosy about who gets to go to the former home of Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond and Robert Torricelli."

The Politico reported on its 'The Scorecard' blog, "A newly-released poll could give Gov. David Paterson serious reservations in appointing Caroline Kennedy to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat." The Public Policy Polling survey "suggests that Republicans would have a credible chance to win the...seat if Kennedy is appointed. Kennedy leads Republican congressman Peter King by only two points, 46 to 44 percent, in a hypothetical matchup."

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POLITICAL HUMOR

The Latest From Late Night Comedians

Jay Leno: "In an interview over the weekend, President Bush revealed that he has a prized collection of over 250 autographed baseballs, which would be very impressive if he were 10."

David Letterman: "On this date in 2001," George W. Bush "certified as the winner of the 2000 presidential election. How about that? That turned out pretty well, didn't it?"

Conan O'Brien: "Yesterday," President-elect Barack Obama "described the economy as 'very sick.' ... Historians say it was a childish way to describe a complex problem but still the smartest thing they've heard a president say in eight years."

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