44 - Politics and Policy in Obama's Washington - November 28, 2010

Tax cut extensions fall short in Senate

Two Senate bills that would have extended the Bush-era tax cuts for all but the wealthiest earners failed to reach the Senate floor in a rare Saturday morning session, a mostly symbolic exercise that underscores concerns about the weak economy.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 4, 2010; 1:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (347)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Obama issues his first pardons

President Obama issued the first pardons of his presidency Friday afternoon, granting clemency to nine people, many of whom were convicted of minor drug crimes and did not serve jail time.

By Perry Bacon Jr. | December 3, 2010; 6:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama
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Petraeus gives Obama 'manly man' shirt

Before speaking to troops in Afghanistan, President Obama got a present from Gen. David Petraeus -- a "manly man t-shirt" from the 101st Airborne Division. The reason? So no one ever elbows Obama in the face during a basketball game again.

By Rachel Weiner | December 3, 2010; 3:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (37)
Categories: 2010 Election, 44 The Obama Presidency
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Senate Democrats assail GOP over tax cuts ahead of Saturday vote

Scrooge, fat cats and terrorists -- those were just a few of the names hurled at Republicans Friday by a group of Senate Democrats led by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) over the issue of extending the Bush-era tax cuts, one day before a planned vote on the cuts and amid increasing pressure to reach a compromise before the end of Congress' lame-duck session.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 3, 2010; 2:47 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (76)
Categories: 1,000 Words, 44 The Obama Presidency
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Clinton says State job is her 'last public position'

Secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton firmly shut the door on another bid for elected office Friday, saying her current job is "my last public position."

By Glenn Kessler | December 3, 2010; 9:07 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Hillary Rodham Clinton
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Proposed deal on Senate tax-cut debate collapses

A bipartisan plan that would have brought four competing proposals for extending the Bush-era tax cuts to the Senate floor fell through Thursday night. A last-minute objection by a lone Republican senator scotched the deal, Democrats said, prompting them to accuse the GOP of opposing progress on the issue it has touted as its top priority for the lame-duck session.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 2, 2010; 10:57 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (67)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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House passes bill to extend Bush-era tax cuts to middle class

The House on Thursday passed a bill that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts only to the middle class, a mostly symbolic measure that nonetheless hands Democrats a victory in their effort to draw a contrast with Republicans on the issue.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 2, 2010; 5:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (205)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Obama weighs in on Lebron James

President Obama, after attending a meeting with newly-elected governors, refused to comment when reporters shouted...

By Perry Bacon, Jr. | December 2, 2010; 3:52 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Boehner goes off on House tax cuts vote

House Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-Ohio) had some sharp words today for House Democrats, who are bringing to the floor a vote on extending the Bush-era tax cuts for only the middle class even as bipartisan negotiations on the tax cuts are taking place.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 2, 2010; 12:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (71)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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House Democrats add Blue Dog Matheson to whip team

Blue Dog Democrats will have representation in their party's whip team when the 112th Congress convenes, a move that serves as an olive branch to conservative Democrats dissatisfied with their party leadership following last month's midterm elections.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 2, 2010; 10:33 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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House Republicans nix global warming committee

When the 112th Congress convenes in January, it will be without the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 1, 2010; 9:53 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Congressional GOP leaders accuse Democrats of playing "gotcha" on tax cuts

House Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-Ohio) took aim at House Democratic leaders Wednesday night for their plan to hold a vote Thursday on extending the Bush-era tax cuts for only the middle class, accusing them of springing a "gotcha" vote on House Republicans that undercuts this week's bipartisan discussions on taxes.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 1, 2010; 6:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Powell joins push for START treaty approval

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell urged the Senate to ratify a nuclear treaty with Russia in an appearance with President Obama on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the latest one-time Republican Secretary of State to provide his support for what has become a White House priority.

By Perry Bacon, Jr. | December 1, 2010; 5:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Hoyer: Vote on Charlie Rangel sanction slated for Thursday

The House will vote Thursday on what level of sanction to administer to beleaguered Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 1, 2010; 12:32 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Michael Bennet: 'It's all rigged'

During a moment of extreme candor that was picked up by a hot microphone, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) on Tuesday was heard voicing his displeasure with Democratic plans for the lame-duck session of Congress.

By Matt DeLong | December 1, 2010; 10:27 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (95)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Capitol Briefing, Democratic Party
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Gibbs defends Clinton amid WikiLeaks criticism

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs strongly defended Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday amid criticism of Clinton that has followed the release by WikiLeaks of controversial diplomatic cables sent under her name.

By Perry Bacon, Jr. | December 1, 2010; 9:55 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Meeting set on tax cuts negotiations

A group of administration officials and members of Congress designated by President Obama and congressional leaders will meet on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to start negotiations to determine how to deal with the tax cuts that are due to expire at year's end.

By Perry Bacon Jr. | December 1, 2010; 9:13 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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House GOP proposes rules changes on spending, commemorative resolutions

If House Republicans have their way, Americans soon may be bidding farewell to resolutions supporting the goals and ideals of "National Day of the Cowboy," "National Pollinator Week" and "National Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month."

By Felicia Sonmez | December 1, 2010; 8:54 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Republicans hedge on Palin bid (video)

In a Politico op-ed on Tuesday, former lawmaker and current MSNBC host Joe Scarborough called on his fellow Republicans to "man up" and come out against a Sarah Palin presidential bid.

By Rachel Weiner | November 30, 2010; 5:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (36)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Eye on 2012, Sarah Palin
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Sen. McCain delivers tribute to Sen. Feingold (VIDEO)

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) gave a tribute to departing Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) on the Senate floor Tuesday.

By Emi Kolawole | November 30, 2010; 3:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (45)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Capitol Briefing
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House ethics panel releases full report on Rangel

The House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct has released their report on Rep. Charlie Rangel's (D-N.Y.) ethics trial.

By Emi Kolawole | November 30, 2010; 1:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Capitol Briefing
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Obama's deficit commission delays vote on national debt plan

UPDATE, 4 p.m.: Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, co-chairmen of President Obama's deficit commission, have...

By Lori Montgomery | November 30, 2010; 1:24 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Ore.'s Greg Walden: Dems' push for tax-cut vote before White House bipartisan summit is 'ironic'

The chairman of House Republicans' transition team on Tuesday expressed frustration at House Democrats' efforts to force a vote on extending the Bush-era tax cuts, calling it "ironic" of Democrats to do so when the White House has convened a bipartisan meeting today aimed at finding common ground on the issue.

By Felicia Sonmez | November 30, 2010; 11:48 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency | Tags: Chris Van Hollen, Democratic, Government, Greg Walden, Leadership, Republican Party (United States), United States, White House
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By Perry Bacon Jr. | November 29, 2010; 1:21 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama | Tags: obama basketball; obama stitches; Reynaldo Decerega; obama injury; obama basketball injury; obama lip
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American exceptionalism: Does the U.S. have a unique character? Give us your examples

Do you believe America is inherently special? What does 'American exceptionalism' mean to you?

By Katie Rogers | November 29, 2010; 11:18 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (33)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Your Take
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McCain compares Sarah Palin to Ronald Reagan

Sunday Rundown: A quick wrap-up of the Sunday talk shows.

By Aaron Blake and Matt DeLong | November 28, 2010; 1:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (164)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Capitol Briefing, Eye on 2012, Sarah Palin
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44: November 28, 2010 - December 4, 2010