After a flawless start, Bill Richardson's Commerce withdrawal, flip-flopping on Illinois Senate appointee Roland Burris and miscommunication with Senate Democrats over incoming CIA chief Leon Panetta are bringing President-elect Barack Obama back down to Earth. (Washington Times)
Obama is concentrating power in a circle of White House advisers, potentially bypassing his Cabinet to a degree unseen since Richard Nixon tried to eliminate the majority of his Cabinet. (Washington Post)
When he arrives on the Hill today for confirmation hearings, Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle is expected to be grilled on Obama's proposal to allow a publicly-run heath insurance plan modeled on Medicare to compete with private insurance companies. (New York Times)
However, unlike previous administrations, most of Obama's appointments are looking forward to swift confirmation hearings, with the possible exception of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder. (Roll Call -- subscription)
Though she has not yet been confirmed, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton is already filling out her top tier of advisers in Foggy Bottom. (New York Times)
Obama promised Wednesday to rein in Social Security and Medicare spending to help close a projected $1.2 trillion budget deficit, though he did not offer any specifics about how he would trim those entitlement programs. (Washington Times)
Obama may spend up to $1 billion on biometric applications, mostly for defense and intelligence, a new report says. (Federal Computer Weekly)
After spending $85 million to help get Obama elected, the Service Employees International Union may spend up to $50 million pushing card-check legislation and health care reform. (Wall Street Journal)
Despite their usual aversion to government spending, moderate "Blue Dog" Democrats are signing onto Obama's stimulus plan. (The Hill)
President Bush hosted Obama and the three living former presidents at a White House lunch Wednesday, saying, "one message that I have and I think we all share is that we want you to succeed." (Washington Post)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., reintroduced legislation Tuesday that would criminalize the scalping of inauguration tickets. (NationalJournal.com)
Congress meets today to count the electoral votes and officially name Obama president. (AP)
The already-considerable influence of Michelle Obama's wardrobe choices may amount to a "one-woman bailout" for the American fashion industry. (New York Times)
Name Game
Obama will likely tap CIA veteran John Brennan, an early contender for the top job at that agency, to oversee domestic counterterrorism programs as part of a major intelligence overhaul. (New York Times)
Nancy Killefer will serve both as deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget and the nation's first-ever "performance czar." (NationalJournal.com)
Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate intelligence committee, smoothed any ruffled feathers over Panetta's nomination for the top job at the CIA, saying she now supports his candidacy. (Wall Street Journal)
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Responded on January 20, 2009 2:49 PM
HoryTrouppy
I am unable to understand this post. But well some points are useful for me.
Responded on January 13, 2009 12:36 AM
QUALLUCCULAGS
I think you are thinking like sukrat, but I think you should cover the other side of the topic in the post too...