44 - Politics and Policy in Obama's Washington - October 25, 2009

Obama says growth a sign of stimulus success

President Obama warned in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday that the U.S. economy is likely to shed more jobs in the coming days, but said the recent quarter of growth marked an important turning point in the country's recovery from deep recession.

By Web Politics Editor | October 31, 2009; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (37)
Categories: Economy
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New lobbying totals show mixed spending

Health-care companies and energy firms spent record amounts of money on lobbying in Washington during the first nine months of the year as Congress wrangled over legislation vital to their industries, according to new data released Friday.

By Web Politics Editor | October 30, 2009; 6:22 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Green Zone
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White House releases visitor logs

Updated 8:53 p.m. By Garance Franke-Ruta In a move it is hailing as "transparency like...

By Web Politics Editor | October 30, 2009; 5:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (47)
Categories: Cast of Characters
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White House announces end to HIV travel ban

President Obama announced regulations formally ending the 22-year ban on travel and immigration by HIV-positive individuals.

By Web Politics Editor | October 30, 2009; 11:43 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (64)

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Health reform inches closer to endgame

By Ben Pershing President Obama and congressional Democrats moved closer to the end of a...

By Ben Pershing | October 30, 2009; 8:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: The Rundown
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Uprooting a fall harvest at the White House kitchen garden

First lady Michelle Obama led groups of fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary and Kimball Elementary schools in the fall harvesting of the White House Kitchen Garden Thursday afternoon.

By Web Politics Editor | October 29, 2009; 4:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (39)
Categories: B_Blog, Washington Life, White House
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Inside the Obama campaign: Former campaign manager Plouffe's book revisits 2008

By Garance Franke-Ruta Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe's book about the 2008 contest, The...

By Web Politics Editor | October 29, 2009; 3:02 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Noted
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Obama push for Deeds continues

About 330,000 Virginians are about to get a letter from President Obama as the Democratic Party of Virginia puts a letter in the snail mail to voters who helped elect him last year.

By Web Politics Editor | October 29, 2009; 1:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: 50 States
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House health bill ready for its closeup

By Ben Pershing After months of closed-door negotiations and irritated lawmakers parading in and out...

By Ben Pershing | October 29, 2009; 8:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: The Rundown
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Obama in Dover as fallen troops arrive home

President Obama made a solemn pre-dawn visit to this military outpost Thursday to honor 18 Americans killed in Afghanistan earlier this week. Obama is deliberating over how to reshape his war strategy in the face of growing violence and political unrest in Afghanistan and deepening public unease at home.

By By Michael Fletcher | October 29, 2009; 6:06 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (243)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, B_Blog, Barack Obama, National Security, White House
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Mrs. O gets the full icon treatment

Just out in bookstores Wednesday, "Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy" is the carefully curated offspring of the Mrs.-O.org blog maintained by Mary Tomer since shortly after the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

By Web Politics Editor | October 29, 2009; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Barack Obama
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Obama to attend return of fallen soldiers, DEA agents

By Michael A. Fletcher President Obama left the White House late Wednesday aboard Marine One...

By Washington Post Editor | October 29, 2009; 12:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Obama signs defense authorization bill, says 'waste' still remains

President Obama signed a $680 billion defense authorization bill Wednesday that he said begins the difficult process of eliminating "some of the waste and inefficiency" from the defense budget.

By Web Politics Editor | October 28, 2009; 6:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: National Security
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White House refutes allegation that big donors get special access to White House

The White House fought back hard Wednesday morning against the suggestion by top Republicans that money can buy untoward access to his administration.

By Web Politics Editor | October 28, 2009; 2:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: B_Blog, The Green Zone
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Obama names co-chairs of intelligence advisory board

President Obama has chosen two former senators with deep experience in foreign relations and the work of the nation's spy agencies to co-chair his independent advisory board on intelligence.

By Web Politics Editor | October 28, 2009; 1:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: National Security
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Obama bestows medal on Edward Brooke

President Obama honored Edward Brooke, the first African American to be elected to the Senate by popular vote, praising him Wednesday as a political pioneer who broke racial barriers and bridged divides to move "the arc of history."

By Web Politics Editor | October 28, 2009; 12:09 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: B_Blog, Cast of Characters, Washington Life
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Scozzafava contest a bellwether for GOP battle between ideology and electability

The contest in New York's 23rd District has become an early example of the fights likely to play out in the future as Republicans argue among themselves about how best to rebuild their party after two devastating defeats in 2006 and 2008.

By Web Politics Editor | October 28, 2009; 11:22 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (69)
Categories: Dan Balz's Take
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Dangers increase as Afpak decision nears

By Ben Pershing As President Obama's decision nears on how to proceed in Afghanistan, the...

By Ben Pershing | October 28, 2009; 8:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: The Rundown
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Obama girls vaccinated against swine flu

The White House on Tuesday revealed that Sasha and Malia were both vaccinated last week, after the vaccine became available to children in the District.

By Web Politics Editor | October 27, 2009; 3:09 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: B_Blog, Health Care
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National security adviser Jones to Russia Wednesday

National Security Adviser James L. Jones will travel to Moscow Wednesday to help push along talks over a new strategic arms-control treaty, the Obama administration has announced. The two-day trip takes Jones out of town as President Obama continues to refine his thinking about what to do in Afghanistan

By Web Politics Editor | October 27, 2009; 2:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: B_Blog, National Security
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Network News

44: October 25, 2009 - October 31, 2009

Obama says growth a sign of stimulus success

New lobbying totals show mixed spending

White House releases visitor logs

White House announces end to HIV travel ban

Health reform inches closer to endgame

Uprooting a fall harvest at the White House kitchen garden

Inside the Obama campaign: Former campaign manager Plouffe's book revisits 2008

Obama push for Deeds continues

House health bill ready for its closeup

Obama in Dover as fallen troops arrive home

Mrs. O gets the full icon treatment

Obama to attend return of fallen soldiers, DEA agents

Obama signs defense authorization bill, says 'waste' still remains

White House refutes allegation that big donors get special access to White House

Obama names co-chairs of intelligence advisory board

Obama bestows medal on Edward Brooke

Scozzafava contest a bellwether for GOP battle between ideology and electability

Dangers increase as Afpak decision nears

Obama girls vaccinated against swine flu

National security adviser Jones to Russia Wednesday

Obama touts smart grid grants

Ladies who've got game, too

Reading Harry Reid

Obama to announce billions in energy-efficiency grants

Obama appears with Deeds in Virginia

Obama says he will not 'rush' decision on troop levels

Obama girls stay out of the picture

The (political) dangers of H1N1

Obama heads to Fla. for 28th fundraiser and to address troops

Obama's 'trigger' stance irks the Hill

Woman joins Obama on the links

Abdullah supports troop increase, but within a broader plan

Afghan challenger not interested in joining Karzai