President Bush, President-elect Obama and the three living former presidents met for lunch at the White House yesterday. Media coverage of the gathering highlighted the event's historic dimension, and reflected very positively on the current White House and its ongoing efforts to aid the transition of power. USA Today reports that "in a brief Oval Office photo opportunity, Bush told Obama that he and his colleagues agree that 'we want you to succeed. Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country.'" The AP says it was a "moment of statesmanship that tends to happen when presidents get together, no matter how bitter their previous rivalries." The CBS Evening News also reported a "friend of Obama's who said that he really took it to heart when the President said that they all wanted him to succeed."
ABC World News reported, "Talk about a power lunch. ... Before lunch, they gathered in the Oval Office for a quick picture and remarks. But once alone, what did they talk about? Well, most certainly, the economy." NBC Nightly News reported, "It was apparently...Obama's idea to have lunch as a group, as the newest member of the nation's most exclusive club." CNN's The Situation Room referred to a "dramatic passing of the torch. Four white men welcoming the first African-American into one of the world's most exclusive clubs."
The New York Times mentioned the White House meeting as a part of a story on Obama's stimulus plan. The Washington Post reports, "Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University in Houston, said the lunch was a 'smart move' by Obama as he faces a devastated global economy, skyrocketing federal deficits and ongoing military conflicts overseas." The Hill reports "Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president-elect found advice he got from his predecessors to be 'helpful,' and that Obama is 'anxious to stay in touch with all of them in the coming years.'"
Australian PM Bumps Obama At Blair House The CBS Evening News reported we "now know why the Obamas can't move into Blair House until five days before the inauguration. For one thing, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard will be staying there before he receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom." CNN's The Situation Room noted Howard will "be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom on the 13th, along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe."
The "In the Loop" column of the Washington Post reports that Howard defended his "keeping...Obama and his family from checking in early at Blair House," as he is the only overnight visitor during the first two weeks in January when the Obamas had hoped to occupy the house. A Howard spokesman defended the move as not being "at the expense of Australian taxpayers."
Media commentators believe a new report forecasting a stratospheric budget deficit for next year could impact the ongoing debate over President-elect Obama's economic stimulus plan. Fox News' Special Report reported, "The Congressional Budget Office said the trillion dollar deficit amounts to 8.3% of GDP, and that new stimulus spending will send the deficit even higher." The New York Times reports some Republicans "warned that the deficit would be even larger than the Congressional Budget Office has projected, perhaps as much as $1.8 trillion once additional spending bills are approved." ABC World News showed David Walker, former US Comptroller General, saying, "The Congress and the current Administration have not shown leadership in the fiscal area. Washington has been totally out of control. And now it's catching up with us."
The Washington Post reports this morning the "startling tide of red ink that could dampen enthusiasm on Capitol Hill for some of...Obama's most ambitious priorities." The Financial Times says in "addition to rising Republican concerns about the size of the stimulus, which has not been factored into the CBO's 2009 fiscal deficit projection, fiscally conservative 'blue dog Democrats' are now more likely to drag their feet on the measure."
McClatchy reports the deficit "will make it harder for...Obama to win broad support for" his "massive stimulus package." Roll Call reports, "Though lawmakers in both parties are quickly lining up behind a massive economic stimulus plan, a series of smaller fights is percolating just below the surface as various factions push for larger slices of the pie."
Under the headline "Obama, Dems Face Hard Sell On Stimulus," The Politico reports Obama and Hill Democrats face "record deficits and a skeptical public." Comparing the country's current predicament to the Great Depression, The Politico says "Obama comes to power sooner after the downturn, and also after a period of extraordinary intervention already by Treasury and the Federal Reserve."
On its front page, the Los Angeles Times runs a similar report under the headline "Political Wrangling Bogs Down Economic Stimulus Package." Yet, the New York Times reports, "To a degree that would have been unimaginable two years ago, economists and politicians from across the political spectrum have put aside calls for fiscal restraint and decided that Congress should spend whatever it takes to rescue the economy."
The Financial Times, AP, The Politico and The Hill run additional stories noting the CBO report.
Bush "Silent" On Deficit Report The Washington Times reports that as the deficit data was released, "about the only person who was silent on the deficit projection was Mr. Bush, who took office facing a surplus but who saw spending balloon and the country notch the highest deficits on record."
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Reporting on that NBC Nightly News called "the biggest drama in town," whether or not Ronald Burris "will be allowed to become the next US senator from Illinois," ABC World News noted last night that "a week ago, the Democratic leadership said firmly they would not seat him. And now it looks increasingly like they will." Democrats "may have realized they were on shaky legal ground," and "on Monday, Obama privately urged Senator Reid to come to a 'amicable resolution' with Burris."
The Politico reports "Sources say Reid and other Democratic leaders underestimated the spectacle that would be caused by blocking Burris' appointment and that they'll now have to explain themselves as they clear the way for him to take...Obama's vacant Senate seat." CNN's The Situation Room reported that a "senior Democratic source admits to CNN" that "Rod Blagojevich called their bluff by appointing Burris, despite their warnings." Democratic sources "acknowledge all the hype -- images of a rain-soaked fellow Democrat turned away from the Senate -- was incredibly problematic. So were accusations of racism which Democratic leaders raised unsolicited."
Meanwhile, Fox News' Special Report said Reid is "increasingly alone in his belief that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has to sign off on Burris' appointment. White told a radio reporter that Senate Democrats were trying to make him the fall guy in the Burris affair." In the Chicago Tribune "Cloud Street" blog, Ray Long and Monique Garcia write White says "that Washington Democrats are throwing him 'under the bus' as a way to prevent Burris from being seated."
The New York Times similarly reports "the fact that the leadership is now discussing a path for him to become senator was a major retreat from last week." The Chicago Tribune reports Reid praised "the former Illinois attorney general as 'candid and forthright' and" outlined "a process through which Burris could be seated." The Washington Post notes Reid added that "the Senate would consider seating Burris if his appointment is certified by the Illinois secretary of state and the testimony he delivers today in Springfield...reveals no impropriety."
The Wall Street Journal, under the headline "Democrats Retreat On Burris," USA Today, AP, Financial Times and AFP run similar reports.
The New York Times reports that the ""dustup" over President-elect Barack Obama's selection of Leon Panetta "to lead the CIA appeared to cool Wednesday" after Senator Dianne Feinstein, incoming chairwoman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, "dropped her criticism," saying, "I believe all systems are go."
In an interview on Wednesday with CNN, the AP reports, Feinstein said she "intends to support" Obama's choice of Panetta, "despite earlier comments that she had reservations about the choice." The senator's backing, the Wall Street Journal says, represents the clearing of "a key hurdle" for Panetta. Feinstein's "reversal" on Panetta, the Los Angeles Times says, "came after an intense lobbying effort by the Obama team." Feinstein, CQ reports, voiced support for Panetta "after speaking Tuesday with President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden, who each called her."
Other Lawmakers Also Weigh In Panetta Pick The AP reports that in addition to Feinstein, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden also said in an interview yesterday that he plans to vote for Panetta, but "said he expects Panetta will be 'seriously grilled' during his confirmation hearing." Senator Jay Rockefeller also "spoke with both Obama and Panetta on Tuesday, according to an aide to the senator." Sen. Kit Bond, meanwhile, "is reserving judgment on Panetta until after the nomination hearing."
The Wall Street Journal also reports that "in recent days, Mr. Panetta has gained the support of several Democrats on the Senate intelligence committee, including Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Evan Bayh of Indiana and Ron Wyden of Oregon."
Obama Stops Short Of Official Announcement The AP also notes that President-elect Barack Obama has not "made an official announcement about his choice for CIA chief." In an interview yesterday with CNBC, the President-elect said, "All I can say is Leon Panetta is an outstanding public servant with impeccable integrity, somebody who's worked on national security at the highest levels and if I were to select him, I think he would do an outstanding job."
Obama, the Wall Street Journal reports, "is expected to announce later this week his nominations of Mr. Panetta to be CIA director and retired Adm. Dennis C. Blair to be director of national intelligence. Both men appear likely to be confirmed."
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The Washington Times reports that while current RNC Chief Mike Duncan is likely to receive "the most first-ballot votes for election as" RNC chairman, the "eventual victory likely will go to one of the other two RNC members running for the post in the election scheduled for Jan. 30. Several members attending a first-ever special meeting of the national committee on Wednesday told The Washington Times that they expect either Michigan party Chairman Saul Anuzis or South Carolina party Chairman Katon Dawson to emerge as the party's top national official."
In a story headlined "Hill Leaders Are Split on RNC Battle," Roll Call reports that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) "have taken different approaches to the simmering contest" for the RNC chairmanship, with McConnell" backing Duncan, "who happens to also hail from the Bluegrass State," and Boehner "staying neutral, despite the fact that former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is among the six candidates."
Meanwhile, The Politico reports that Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer "announced Wednesday afternoon that he will not run for the" RNC chairmanship, "and instead endorsed the campaign of former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele."
The Washington Post reports that Chris Matthews "told his producers yesterday that he has decided against" running for the Senate in Pennsylvania. The Post adds that Matthews has a solid offer to renew his contract and "he had to weigh the risks of an all-out campaign...against the comforts of living in Chevy Chase and signing another lucrative contract." The New York Times and the AP also cover this story.
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The Hill reports on the possibility that Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) may make a primary challenge to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R): "Just her [Hutchison] decision to form a gubernatorial exploratory committee has touched off a battle between the state's two most prominent politicians and has pundits predicting a furious campaign to replace her in the upper chamber." Texas political observers "say they expect a much closer contest that could turn decidedly unpleasant."
The AP reports that ex-DNC Chief Terry McAuliffe "officially announced his candidacy for Virginia governor Wednesday, saying his main goal is to improve the bleak economy - including more jobs for Virginians - and that he'd do the work for free." Former Delegate Brian J. Moran (D) and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D) "entered the race early last year and each have long lists of endorsements."
In his Washington Post column, David Broder profiles Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho, who "found Idahoans 'so fed up with the partisanship in Washington' that his message resonated. He had the advantage of being up against a highly partisan Republican, Rep. Bill Sali, who had feuded even with other Republicans and carved out one of the most conservative records in the House." Minnick "won with less than 51 percent of the vote," which "means, of course, that he will be high on the Republican target list for 2010.'
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Jay Leno: "You know, President Bush keeps giving interviews about his eight years as President. Earlier this week, he said his greatest accomplishment...was his effort to privatize Social Security, even though he never actually did it. That's President Bush, isn't it? Your greatest accomplishment? Well, there aren't any. But if there were, by golly, here's what it would be."
Jay Leno: "Remember Joe the plumber? ... He's back. He's now going to the Mideast as a war correspondent for a conservative website. See, now, like you people, I'm going, 'Why, why?' I mean, on one hand, he's not really a war correspondent. On the other hand, he wasn't really a plumber either."
David Letterman: Top Ten Things Overheard At The Presidents' Lunch: "10. 'Sorry, you're not on the list, Mr. Gore."
9. 'If Hillary calls, I've been here since Monday.'
8. 'Laura! More Mountain Dew!'
7. 'You guys wanna see 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop.'
6. 'Call the nurse -- George swallowed a napkin ring!'
5. 'Hey Barack, wanna go with us to Cabo in March? Oh that's right, you have to work!'
4. 'Kissey kissey.'
3. 'Obama? I think he's downstairs smoking a butt.'
2. 'Did you ever see a monkey sneezing?'
1. 'I hope Clinton's unbuckling his belt because he's full.'"
David Letterman: "I understand the lunch went well. Only three shoes thrown."
Conan O'Brien: ""The Washington post'...reports today that Barack Obama wants to appoint CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta to be surgeon general. ... Obama said the CNN doctor must be pretty good because he's kept Larry King alive all these years."
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