President Obama promised to stamp out lobbyist influence in his administration, but "what he did not talk much about were the asterisks." (New York Times)
Top military brass are pushing Obama to shift course in Afghanistan to prioritize safety and stability over democratic and economic achievements. (Politico)
The Senate confirmed Eric Holder for attorney general by a 75-21 vote, freeing Obama up to lobby for Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle. (Washington Times)
Hillary Rodham Clinton was sworn in as secretary of state Monday by Vice President Joe Biden, with her husband, daughter and mother in attendance. (Washington Post)
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., "will no longer hold up" the nomination of former lobbyist William Lynn for the number two job at the Pentagon. (Boston Globe)
A growing number of former journalists are joining the ranks of the Obama administration, which, conservatives say, is yet further proof of a liberal media bias. (New York Times)
Name Games
Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., is set to be named Commerce secretary today, while the governor of the Granite State has promised to appoint a Republican to take his seat, denying Democrats their shot at 60 seats in the Senate. (Boston Globe)
Obama has nominated Christopher Hill, a career diplomat who tried to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear program, as the next ambassador to Iraq. (Washington Post)
Ron Sims, a county executive from Washington state, has been nominated to be deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (NationalJournal.com)
The Obama administration may be tipping its hand by retaining the services of Stuart Levey, the Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence who guided the Bush administration's policy of economic sanctions against Iran. (Los Angeles Times)
All Daschle, All The Time
Daschle's record since leaving office "looks, smells and tastes" like that of a lobbyist, but the Obama administration argued that he's not -- because he never registered. (Time)
Daschle spent most of Monday apologizing to senators for not paying more than $120,000 in taxes. (AP)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., isn't buying Daschle's mea culpa and wants his nomination pulled. (The Hill)
Daschle pushed a former client for the Commerce secretary and U.S. Trade Representative jobs, sources say. (Politico)
Daschle also "received speaking fees last year from two organizations that are aligned with health industry groups that opposed strong patient privacy protections in the health care section of the stimulus bill." (NextGov)
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Responded on February 3, 2009 12:46 PM
kevin bliss
My thoughts on the Daschle matter can be found in a posting here. While I find the monies Daschle accepted to "not lobby" but otherwise influence Washington decision-makers disgusting, I can see that there's no one who's better positioned to push Obama's health reform agenda through Congress. It's a dilemma.
Kevin Bliss, Washington DC
What Should Be