:: Roland Burris to be sworn in to the senate on Thursday.
“Roland Burris will take his seat in the Senate Thursday – a day later than planned so that his family can be on hand for his swearing in, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday.”Source: POLITICO
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:: Pelosi's Cat Cam. 
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:: Breaking News: Timothy Geithner, Obama's nominee for SOTT, under some scrutiny re his personal taxes and his housekeeper's immigration status.
From everything I have read up till now, it seems that this will not cause Democrats to withdraw their support. But, we'll see.
“"He made a common mistake on his taxes, and was unaware that his part-time housekeeper's work authorization expired for the last three months of her employment," incoming White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a written statement.
Gibbs went on to say the Obama team hopes the Senate will confirm Geithner "with strong bipartisan support."”Source: MSNBC
“The Senate Finance Committee has known about Geithner’s tax problems since Dec. 5, but the details are just being made public now, Senate aides said. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus says Geithner made a “serious mistake” but adds that the allegations are not enough to “disqualify” Geithner from consideration.
"I believe that these errors, although serious, do not rise to the level of disqualification, Baucus said. “He's an extremely competent man. The errors were, in my judgment, honest mistakes ... The country needs a Treasury secretary quickly given the economic straits were in. In my judgement, these errors, although serious, were corrected immediately and do not rise to the level of disqualification. I hope very much that Mr. Geithner can be confirmed quickly before the president-elect is inaugurated.".”Source: POLITICO
:: Geithner's Tax Error Is Common, Expert Says
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:: IPD [almost] daily political cartoon find.
Copyright-free artwork by Brazilian cartoonist Latuff.
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::New Feature in the IPD Political News Summary: Daily links to reports on Media Matters.
Jan. 13 on Media Matters:
Hannity criticized lyrics that call women "B's" and "ho's," but didn't object to his "friend" Ted Nugent calling Clinton a "worthless bitch" Morris attacked Obama's DOJ choices with falsehood. CNN's Lou Dobbs claimed Obama "didn't talk about NAFTA" during meeting with Calderón -- but Obama spokesman said they did Boston Globe, Wash. Post echo discredited accusation that Clinton did not condemn Suha Arafat's remarks Ignoring pre-election remarks, media advance theme that Obama only now acknowledges he may have to "scale back" campaign agenda Like other Fox News hosts, Hannity falsely claimed Obama's economic recovery plan gives money to people who "don't pay any taxes" Fox & Friends hosts, Beck cite fictional congressional testimony by 24's "Jack Bauer" in defense of torture Boehlert: Palin, the press, and her pregnancy Gibson, Couric uncritically aired Bush's comment calling Abu Ghraib a "disappointment" ABC, CBS report Bush's defense of Katrina response without noting congressional criticism
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:: Obama chooses anti-tobacco lobbyist Bill Corr as deputy to Tom Daschle, Health and Human Services Secretary.
“WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of an organization focused on reducing tobacco use is President-elect Barack Obama's choice as deputy secretary at the Health and Human Services Department.
If confirmed, William Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, would serve as deputy secretary under former Sen. Tom Daschle, Obama's choice for HHS secretary..”Source: AP via Google News
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:: The malevolent cowboy, Dick Cheney, considering a tell-all book. He says he has "scores to settle".
Now I gotta admit, this is one book written by a GOP hack that I would definitely have to read. Not that it will actually be truthful. A good title for it might be "All the Lies".
“But Cheney, the silent sly one who's words were mostly saved for the ears of the president, just told Sean Hannity today that he's seriously considering writing a book.
"I never have," Cheney said. "and my family has been bugging me about it. I've got 40 years since I came to town to stay 12 months. I've got a lot of stories to tell. And a few scores to settle."”Source: Los Angeles Times
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:: Obama-Bush drill for fake terrorist emergency.
“During the drill, they will respond to a scenario in which transportation facilities and other targets are hit with explosive devices. The exercise is part of an effort to smooth the transition from the Bush to Obama administrations without jeopardizing the nation's preparedness in the event of a terrorist attack, pandemic or natural disaster.
"Whether we're Democrats or Republicans, we will have our policy differences," Rahm Emanuel, Obama's incoming chief of staff, told reporters outside the White House. "There is no policy difference when it comes to protecting the American people."”Source: HUFFPOST
AP photo by Ron Edmond.
:: Obama-Bush teams test preparedness - MSNBC
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:: More senate losses expected for GOP in 2010.
And the Republicans have my complete sympathy on their expected losses. :)
“A spate of retirement announcements by Senate Republicans this year have further complicated attempts by GOP strategists to begin rebuilding a party devastated by across-the-board losses in recent elections.
So far this year, no Democrats have announced plans to retire after the current Senate term.
The rapid pace of Republican retirement announcements has dispirited many in the party who thought the 2008 election, in which the party lost seven or eight seats (depending on the outcome of the Minnesota contest), marked the GOP's nadir.”Source: Washington Post
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:: Justice Department says that Fox News misused U.S. Marshall Service.
I am stunned. Misuse of taxpayer $ from the network which hosts Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and other such GOP luminaries. Ha! ;)
“WASHINGTON — Investigators say a lawyer for the U.S. Marshals Service used government cars and armed deputies to drive himself and broadcasters to major sporting events like the Super Bowl and the World Series.
A report issued Monday by the Justice Department's inspector general was highly critical of the lawyer, Joseph Band, who worked in the agency's Washington office.
Band also worked as a part-time statistician for Fox Sports, and he came under scrutiny after he received rides to two World Series games in 2007 in Boston, as well as the 2008 Super Bowl in Phoenix.
The report issued Monday by Inspector General Glenn Fine found Band sometimes got escorts not just for himself, but for broadcasters as well.”Source: HUFFPOST
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:: Obama chooses another of his advisors, technology exec, and former Harvard Law classmate, Julius Genachowski, to head up the FCC.
“Genachowski served as chief counsel for former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, the chairman under former President Bill Clinton, and held various positions at IAC/InterActiveCorp, as well as other technology posts.
Genachowski, who has been advising Obama, had been considered the front-runner for the job.”Source: Reuters
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