Inspire Political Discourse: Political News Summary, Tuesday, January 6, 2009

06 January 2009

Political News Summary, Tuesday, January 6, 2009

:: IPD Daily Political Cartoon FInd.

Cartoon by Bob Lang.
__________________________
:: CNN Chief Medical Correspondant, and neurosurgeon, Sanjay Gupta, is believed to be Obama's choice for Surgeon General.

According to one source, the Obama team has not yet made a final decision, so this is pure speculation. Also of note, Obama has said that the SG will have an expanded role in his administration, working with Tom Daschle on health policy among other things.

“The offer followed a two-hour Chicago meeting in November with Obama, who said that Gupta could be the highest-profile surgeon general in history and would have an expanded role in providing health policy advice, the sources said. Gupta later spoke with Tom Daschle, Obama's White House health czar and nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, and other advisers to the president-elect.”Source: The Washington Post

__________________________

:: The FBI on a massive hiring jag.

“The FBI said on Monday it had launched one of the largest hiring blitzes in its 100-year history involving 2,100 professional staff vacancies and 850 special agents aimed at filling its most critical vacancies.”Source: HUFFPOST

__________________________
:: The Bush family is packing to leave the White House.

And you thought that this day would never happen. I keep wanting to break in to a bad rendition of that song from the "Wizard of Oz" --- you know, the one that goes kinda like this...."ding dong the witch is dead, the wicked witch.....". On the other hand, I have a feeling that Bush is very happy to be leaving. ;)

“The White House said Tuesday that President Bush, never one to procrastinate, has started the process of packing his belongings for when he leaves the White House later this month.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the president and the first lady do not have a lot to move to their newly purchased house outside of Dallas, and joked that reporters shouldn’t expect to “see a big Ryder truck pulling up to the White House.””Source: The Hill

__________________________
:: The 111th Congress is seated, without the senators from Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.

“Within the Senate chamber just after noon, a noticeable shift in desks to the Democratic side — signaling the growth of its majority — marked the start of the 111th Congress.

Four by four, new senators and those re-elected to another term walked up to be sworn in just moments ago. Senator Joseph Biden Jr., the vice-president elect, beamed as he stepped forward to be officially sworn in, and carried a large Bible. He will soon be resigning his Delaware seat to assume the vice-presidency, and Ted Kaufmann, a longtime aide to Senator Biden, has already been named to replace him.”Source: NYT

AP image.

»The 111th Congress-New Member Information - HuffPost
»New Faces of Congress: The Senate - NYT
»New Faces of Congress: The House - NYT
__________________________
:: Roland Burris not allowed to take his seat, as the 111th Congress convenes.

This was expected. Franken will also not be able to take his seat, as Norm Coleman, rather than conceding with a bit of grace, has decided to sue. The loser is of course the state of Minnesota, with only one senator at work for them.

“Standing amid a huge throng of reporters and television cameras in a cold and steady rain, Burris, 71, declared that he had been informed that "my credentials are not in order and will not be accepted.".”Source: HUFFPO

__________________________
:: Levi Johnston resigns from his oil field job; Palin denies helping him to obtain the position, for which he is unqualified.

More of the Palin cronyism we have learned to expect.

“Levi Johnston, the teenager planning to marry Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol, has quit his North Slope oil field job over questions about his eligibility to participate in an electrical apprenticeship program, Johnston's father said Monday. Johnston this fall began working at the Milne Point oil field through the ASRC Energy Services apprenticeship program.
However, radio talk show commentator Dan Fagan, in a column published Sunday in the Anchorage Daily News, questioned how Johnston could take part in the apprenticeship program without the required high school education.”Source: McClatchy - Washington DC

Image courtesy of HuffPost.

»Levi Johnston quits oil field job/PUBLIC SCRUTINY: Rules say he needs diploma for apprenticeship - Anchorage Daily News _________________________

**:: Obama's choice of Leon Panetta for CIA chief, engenders criticism, and sends a clear signal.**

The criticism is engendered by Panetta's lack of experience in the area of intelligence, but with this choice, Obama has sent a clear signal that torture, and other controversial policies from the Bush era related to the war on terror, are a no go in his administration.

“WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama's decision to fill the nation's top intelligence jobs with two men short on direct experience in intelligence gathering surprised the spy community and signaled the Democrat's intention for a clean break from Bush administration policies.

Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, an eight-term congressional veteran and administrative expert, is being tapped to head the CIA. Retired Adm. Dennis Blair is Obama's choice to be director of national intelligence, a selection expected for weeks, according to two Democrats who spoke on condition of anonymity because Obama has not officially announced the choices.” Source: HUFFPOST

»Dianne Feinstein Not Too Pleased With Panetta Pick - The Washington Independent
»Panetta Is Chosen as C.I.A. Chief - NYT
»A “Just Say No” Program I Can Support The Relevant Rhino
»Feingold Very "Pleased" With Panetta - HuffPost
»Blogtalk: The Panetta Surprise - NYT
__________________________
:: Gov. Christine Gregoire (D-WA) to be new commerce nominee?

Speculation on the hill is rampant, re Gregoire's trip to DC yesterday. From The Hill:

“Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) canceled a Tuesday lunch appearance with the Associated Press late Monday and two Washington State sources confirmed to The Hill she is in Washington, D.C. The governor's actions over the last 24 hours have triggered a wave of speculation in the Evergreen State that Gregoire could replace New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) as President-elect Obama's Commerce Secretary-designate.”

__________________________
:: On Fox News last night, Ann Coulter announced that NBC had indeed canceled her upcoming scheduled appearance on the "Today" show.

The horse-faced Coulter is promoting her latest book, which will be released today.

The Republican ~~author~~ hack, has once again produced a truly nasty missive, filled with slams at people such as single moms, Michelle Obama, and even the children of single moms, calling them "future strippers". For more about the content, go to Media Matters.

“Coulter was a guest on the Fox News show "Hannity and Colmes" tonight, where she harshly criticized NBC for canceling her planned appearance on the "Today" show. The controversial author accused the network of orchestrating a "set up to block me from other TV shows.".”Source: HUFFPOST