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Hotline On Call: Reed Declares Win, Norwood Won't Concede

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:59:46 -0500

By Reid Wilson

Ex-state Rep. Kasim Reed (D) declared himself the next mayor of Atlanta Tuesday night, though his opponent can still request a recount.

With all 170 precincts reporting, Reed led city councilor Mary Norwood (D) by 758 votes out of 83,000 cast -- about 0.92%, according to the Atlanta [...]

Swampland: Congress's Tepid Reaction to Obama's Afghanistan Plan

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:50:19 -0500

Number of comments: 6
Congressional reaction to the 30,000-troop surge in Afganistan was as tepid as President Obama's West Point speech. As details of the plan leaked out throughout the day -- with more than 30 members traveling to the White House to be personally briefed -- few spoke with passion: no one – [...]

Ben Smith: A sober speech

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:34:00 -0500

My story tonight:

President Barack Obama largely bypassed his usual appeals to American hopes and values Tuesday night in a speech in [...]

Scorecard: Tanner retires, more to come?

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:20:00 -0500

Tanner retires, more to come? [...]

Political Punch: The Words Not Mentioned

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:52:00 -0500

Back in March, in his first major speech on Af-Pak, President Obama did not mention a "democratic" Afghanistan as one of his goals. He did, however, say the return of Taliban rule would mean, among other things, "the denial of basic human rights to the Afghan people – especially women" [...]

Political Intelligence: Kerry offers qualified support to Obama

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:27:31 -0500

Senator John F. Kerry, a key ally for President Obama on his new Afghanistan strategy, offered a qualified endorsement tonight of the troop surge. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in statement that he... [...]

The Caucus: Qualified Support From G.O.P.; Skepticism From Democrats

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:21:08 -0500

Number of comments: 6
Congressional leaders begin weighing in on President Obama'a speech.' [...]

CNN Political Ticker: McCain challenges Obama in private meeting

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:02:20 -0500

In a private meeting held hours before his prime-time address, President Obama was challenged by his 2008 presidential campaign rival Sen. John McCain. Washington (CNN) - Hours before he was set to address the nation on his new Afghanistan strategy, President Obama and members of his war council spent about [...]

Top of the Ticket: Obama's Afghan speech: The CliffsNotes version

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:54:00 -0500

President Obama's speech on Afghanistan at West Point tonight covered much ground. Here are some key excerpts to digest before bed (U.S. time):

Over the last several years, the Taliban has maintained common cause with Al Qaeda, [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama's Afghanistan decision meets with mixed reaction

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:44:52 -0500

Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama's decision to send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan met Tuesday with a mixed reaction among the nation's leaders. Leading Republicans backed the additional deployments, but questioned the creation of a three-year withdrawal timetable. The sharp disagreement among members of Obama's own party indicates potential [...]

Political Intelligence: Obama's speech on Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:30:00 -0500

Remarks of President Barack Obama "The Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan" United States Military Academy at West Point December 1, 2009 Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our Armed Services,... [...]

Political Punch: Admiral Mullen Tweets Support

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:29:00 -0500

In case you were wondering what the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff thought, he tweeted it: @thejointstaff: Fully support the President's strategy for Afghanistan. Ready to EXECUTE. -jpt [...]

On Politics: Sen. McCain: Right decision, wrong date

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:21:47 -0500

Sen. John McCain -- the Vietnam P.O.W. who lost to Sen. Barack Obama in last year's presidential election -- praised the president for making the "right decision" on Afghanistan. But he criticized Obama for setting an "arbitrary date" for beginning...

[...]

Political Intelligence: Obama: In sooner, out sooner in Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:18:54 -0500

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Marc Ambinder: Key Democrats React To Obama

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:16:25 -0500

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), in a terse statement: "President Obama asked for time to make his decision on a new policy in Afghanistan. I am going to take some time to think through the proposal he presented tonight."

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA): "I oppose sending 30,000 additional American troops to Afghanistan because" [...]

Blog Briefing Room: Reports: Tanner to retire

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:16:00 -0500

Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) will become the second targeted Democrat in a little more than a week to announce his retirement, according to reports.

Tanner joins Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) in becoming the first two House incumbents this cycle to not seek reelection in 2010 and also not seek another office. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Pelosi: Bush 'did not have a plan to get the job done'

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:15:48 -0500

Washington (CNN) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after President Obama's speech Tuesday night: “President Obama inherited a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan because the Bush Administration did not have a plan to get the job done. “Tonight, the President articulated a way out of this war with the [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Borger: The bullet points

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:13:18 -0500

(CNN) - Now we know what the 20 hours of Situation Room sessions were about. This was a forceful, methodical case for sending 30,000 more troops – with a clear exit strategy by July 2011. A few important things: · He made it very clear the safety of the American people is at [...]

The Fix: First Thoughts: Obama's Afghanistan Speech

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:05:00 -0500

President Obama tonight delivered a speech outlining his long-awaited strategy for Afghanistan -- adding 30,000 more troops in the country beginning in early 2010 -- in a sober address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point that sought to lay out the stakes of the conflict while also making [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Crowley: Obama says it's imperative U.S. sends a clear message

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:04:13 -0500

(CNN) – President Obama turned straight to camera for his closing remarks. "And the message that we send in the midst of these storms must be clear: that our cause is just, our resolve unwavering." Men and women embarking on military careers are all around him now. They are so….young. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Crowley: Obama differentiates between Afghanistan and Vietnam

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:02:09 -0500

(CNN) - President Obama on the difference between Afghanistan and Vietnam: " … (U)nlike Vietnam, the American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border." [...]

CNN Political Ticker: A closer look at Obama's Afghanistan strategy

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:00:43 -0500

[...]

The Page: Bases Touched

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:59:19 -0500

HALPERIN'S TAKE: All that President Obama achieved in one speech. ' [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Bash: Alexander is on message

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:55:46 -0500

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, said he supports the mission change, but he has concerns about the exit strategy. (CNN) – Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, said he supports the mission change, but he has concerns about the exit strategy. "My major concern is that the administration is more focused on an exit" [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Crowley: Obama says 'status quo' is unacceptable

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:55:39 -0500

(CNN) – President Obama refutes Vietnam comparisons and warns that to leave now would put the U.S. in danger of another attack on the homeland. He rejects idea of not sending any troops as an unacceptable "status quo." The president notes that without a timetable there would be no sense of [...]

Ben Smith: McCain: 'Success is the real exit strategy'

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:55:00 -0500

McCain's response to the speech:

“The President has made the right decision to embrace a counterinsurgency strategy for Afghani [...]

Political Intelligence: Democrats tangle in Senate debate

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:53:39 -0500

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff Attorney General Martha Coakley said tonight that she believed the controversial USA Patriot Act could be structured so that it would both protect people from terrorism and protect their civil liberties. But one of her... [...]

The Page: The Searches Are On

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:50:34 -0500

Find a Republican offering unqualified support for Obama's AfPak proposal. And/but Find a liberal Democrat offering unqualified support for Obama's AfPak proposal. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Bash: The liberal take

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:49:34 -0500

(CNN) – Liberals said today that they appreciate President Obama's plan not to have an open-ended commitment. But anti-war lawmakers told me it doesn't make sense to send all these new troops to Afghanistan and bring them right home. They're very skeptical of it. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Steele: Obama's speech 'must be the beginning, not the end'

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:49:12 -0500

Washington (CNN) - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement in response to President Obama's speech about Afghanistan: “Although this decision took far too long and it should not have, I am glad the president will finally provide General McChrystal with the troops he needs. However, tonight’s speech [...]

Blog Briefing Room: Reid on board with Obama plan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:46:38 -0500

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) issued a statement tonight supporting President Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan.

"President Obama made a convincing case that sending additional troops to Afghanistan to fight al Qaeda and other terrorist groups is critical to our national security," Reid said.

"After years of the previous" [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama calls for American unity on Afghanistan war effort

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:42:44 -0500

President Barack Obama called Tuesday for Americans to unite in support of the Afghanistan war effort. WEST POINT, New York (CNN) - President Barack Obama called Tuesday for Americans to unite in support of the Afghanistan war effort. "It is easy to forget that when this war began, we were united" [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Bash: Comparing Afghanistan to Vietnam

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:42:16 -0500

(CNN) – Multiple Democrats said today that the similarities between Vietnam and Afghanistan are eerie. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Crowley: Obama's message to Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:40:52 -0500

(CNN) - The U.S. wants to be your partner not your patron. [...]

The Page: McCain Worries About Karzai Assassination

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:40:24 -0500

Tells Katie Couric U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan could have dire consequences. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama: Firm timeframe for U.S. commitment necessary

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:37:58 -0500

President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he was setting a timetable for the U.S. military commitment in Afghanistan to raise pressure for progress. WEST POINT, New York (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he was setting a timetable for the U.S. military commitment in Afghanistan to raise pressure [...]

Marc Ambinder: Lunch With The President: The Politics Of Obama's War Plan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:37:00 -0500

President Obama said today he is "painfully clear" that his revised Afghanistan strategy is "politically unpopular" -- especially within his own party -- and that he expects to be held "fully accountable" if the strategy fails.
Obama, speaking with a group of columnists and reporters at a White House lunch [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Henry: Afghanistan may define Obama's presidency

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:36:43 -0500

(CNN) - Interesting that with the 30,000 new troops President Obama is sending now – coupled with the 21,000 he sent in March – the recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has sent 51,000 troops to Afghanistan in less than one year in office. Sign of the high stakes of [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama: Afghanistan not another Vietnam

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:35:31 -0500

WEST POINT, New York (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday the Afghanistan war is different than the Vietnam war that divided America in the 1960s and 70s. "Unlike Vietnam, we are joined by a broad coalition of 43 nations that recognizes the legitimacy of our action," Obama said in [...]

The Fix: Tanner to retire

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:34:00 -0500

Tennessee Democratic Rep. John Tanner will retire next November, creating an open seat in an area that strongly favors Republicans. Tanner's decision, according to those familiar with it, was made weeks ago and based on his desire to return to the Volunteer State after more than two decades in Washington. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama: No interest in occupying Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:33:42 -0500

WEST POINT, New York (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday the United States has no interest in occupying Afghanistan. Announcing the deployment of 30,000 more U.S. troops to the country, Obama said in a message to Afghanistan: "We have no interest in occupying your country." "We will support efforts" [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Bash: Will tough words reassure Democrats?

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:32:04 -0500

(CNN) – It is unclear if President Obama's tough words for President Hamid Karzai are enough to reassure skeptical Democrats. Even hawkish Democratic Rep. Jane Harman opposes the president, in large part, because of the corruption problems surrounding the Afghan president. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Crowley: What happens if border is not secure?

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:29:09 -0500

(CNN) – Big question on "deadline." What happens if the border on the Pakistani side is not under control in 18 months? Does the U.S. still begin to leave Afghanistan? [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Henry: Obama sounds 'a bit like Bush'

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:25:50 -0500

(CNN) – Interesting how much President Obama sounds a bit like President Bush. Immediately, the president went to 9/11 at top of speech, talking about threat from al-Qaeda. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama: More troops to be deployed in early 2010

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:22:47 -0500

(Photo Credit: Getty Images) WEST POINT, New York (CNN) – President Barack Obama said Tuesday that additional troops for Afghanistan will begin deploying in early 2010. "The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 - the fastest pace possible - so that" [...]

Ben Smith: Missing from the speech: Afghan women

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:22:00 -0500

Previous presidential addresses on Afghanistan -- including President Obama's in March -- have added the human rights cause to the case for war, and [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Crowley: A picture is priceless

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:21:06 -0500

(CNN) – President Obama doesn't have to say a word about the price of war. He can just let the cameras pan along the rows of faces in the audience. ' [...]

Political Punch: President Obama Makes Two Immediate References to What He Sees As Bush-Cheney Policy Failures

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:21:00 -0500

President Obama made two immediate references to what he sees as Bush-Cheney failures -- one obvious, one a bit more oblique. [...]

Ben Smith: Defending the process

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:20:00 -0500

Obama's most detailed defense yet of the long process is that he had no formal option for sending troops earlier than he is now sending htem: [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Bash: President pushes back at critics

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:19:52 -0500

(CNN) – President Obama took a not so veiled hit at former Vice President Dick Cheney and other Republicans who accused him of dithering. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Bash: GOP weighs in quickly

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:18:20 -0500

(CNN) – The first Republican statement reacting to President Obama's speech arrives. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, sounds what will likely be a common Republican theme: "Announcing an arbitrary withdrawal deadline before these troops even set foot in Afghanistan undercuts their efforts and calls our resolve into question," says Thune. [...][...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama: Afghanistan moving backwards

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:18:01 -0500

President Obama said Tuesday night that for several years, Afghanistan has 'moved backwards.' West Point, New York (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the situation in Afghanistan has been moving backward. "Afghanistan is not lost, but for several years it has moved backwards," Obama said in announcing [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Crowley: Goal #1

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:16:28 -0500

(CNN) - Speech Goal #1: Remind people why the U.S. is in Afghanistan. Check. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama: 'I do not make this decision lightly'

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:15:28 -0500

[...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama: We did not ask for Afghanistan war

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:11:43 -0500

WEST POINT, New York (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that America "did not ask for" the war in Afghanistan. In a nationally televised speech announcing the deployment of 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, Obama recounted the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. "Al Qaeda's base of operations was" [...]

CNN Political Ticker: McChrystal weighs in on Obama's Afghanistan plan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:10:13 -0500

General Stanley McChrystal. (CNN) - Gen. Stanley McChrystal has released a statement regarding President Obama's plan forward in Afghanistan. (Read statement after the jump) KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 2) – The statement of General Stanley McChrystal, Commander NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan regarding the address by The President of [...]

Ben Smith: The Afghanistan speech

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:07:00 -0500

Here's the prepared text:

Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our armed services, and to my f [...]

Top of the Ticket: Full President Obama speech text on Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:05:48 -0500

Number of comments: 10

Text of President Obama's speech on Afghanistan, Dec. 1, 2009, as provided by the White House

Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our armed services, and to my fellow Americans: I want to speak to you [...]

Hotline On Call: Tanner To Retire

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:04:04 -0500

By Reid Wilson and Tim Sahd

Rep. John Tanner (D-TN), a leading Blue Dog Dem, will retire at the end of his current term, Dem sources tell Hotline OnCall.

[UPDATE: Tanner released a statement late tonight confirming the news. "Betty Ann and I had considered retiring in 2007 at the end of" [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama on Afghanistan: 'None of this will be easy'

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:02:52 -0500

(Photo Credit: Getty Images) (CNN) - The White House released the full text of President Obama's remarks on military strategy in Afghanistan. (Read Obama's speech after the jump) Remarks of President Barack Obama—As Prepared for Delivery The Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan United States Military Academy at West Point December 1, 2009 Good evening. To [...]

The Trail: Obama's Afghan policy speech at West Point

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:00:00 -0500

Following is the transcript of President Obama's speech Tuesday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. (The Post's report on the president's address is here.) Thank you. Please be seated. Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our armed services, [...]

Ben Smith: McChrystal vouches for strategy and process

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:57:00 -0500

This makes it harder to accuse Obama of shorting the generals, as McChrystal praises not just the policy, but also the process:

&ldqu [...]

Political Punch: In the West Point Audience Tonight

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:55:00 -0500

In the audience tonight, a West Point graduate and Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan: First Lt. Dan Berschinski. Berschinski stepped on an IED on August 19, 2009 while his unit -- the Second Platoon of Bravo Company,... [...]

Washington Wire: Live Blog: Obama’s Address on Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:41:58 -0500

Number of comments: 10

At 8 p.m., before a sea of gray-uniformed cadets at West Point, President Obama will deliver an address on Afghanistan that hitches his administration to an increasingly unpopular war, with a surge of 30,000 troops and an 18-month time table for results. Wall Street Journal reporters at West Point and [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Palin aide downplays use of private jet

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:25:59 -0500

Number of comments: 50
Palin is beginning the second part of a nationwide book tour. (CNN) – An aide to Sarah Palin downplayed reports Tuesday about the former Alaska governor's use of a private jet during certain legs of a national bus tour to promote her memoir, "Going Rogue." While it's not unusual for political figures [...]

The Trail: Live: Obama's West Point Address on Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:16:20 -0500

President Obama addresses cadets as he speaks about the war in Afghanistan at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) 8:44 p.m. -- Timeline for withdrawal "I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan." [...]

The Trail: Featured Advertiser

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:16:20 -0500

[...]

The Page: "Afghanistan Is Not Lost"

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:00:26 -0500

Obama makes case for 30,000 troop surge during West Point speech Tuesday, declares "our security is at stake." First forces arriving by Christmas -- but also assures troops will begin coming home July 2011. New strategy expected to cost $30 billion. REMARKS: Read them here. [...]

Political Punch: Excerpts from Tonight's Speech

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:54:00 -0500

The White House provided these three excerpts from President Obama's speech tonight at West Point: "The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 – the fastest pace possible – so that..." [...]

The Page: Feingold Didn't Like It

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:50:15 -0500

Wisconsin Senator calls Afghan scale-up "an expensive gamble" in post-speech statement. STATEMENT: Read it here. And Baldwin didn't like it either. ' [...]

The Caucus: Analyzing Obama's Afghan Speech

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:47:05 -0500

Number of comments: 25
We'll be offering live updates as we follow President Obama's speech tonight.' [...]

Political Intelligence: Biden touts stimulus report

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:46:33 -0500

The Obama administration has some new numbers to defend its economic stimulus package, under fire after a barrage of reports of inflated job creation statistics. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reports that the $787 billion stimulus created or saved between... [...]

Blog Briefing Room: Reid praises Obama's deliberation on Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:43:23 -0500

Majority Leader Harry Reid praised President Obama today for taking his time on an Afghanistan decision.

Reid issued the following statement after a meeting with the president:

“We had a productive meeting with the President today. It is clear that the President’s deliberative approach to his decision, which allowed him [...]

Washington Wire: Prepared Text of President Obama’s Address

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:35:53 -0500

Number of comments: 2

Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our armed services, and to my fellow Americans: I want to speak to you tonight about our effort in Afghanistan the nature of our commitment there, the scope of our interests, and the strategy [...]

The Swamp: Obama: Afghan plan transfers control

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:35:15 -0500

by Mark Silva and updated again at 9:05 pm EST

President Barack Obama, swiftly deploying an added 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan, told a national television audience tonight that Americans "have no interest in fighting an endless war'' and promised to begin withdrawing forces from the embattled nation in" [...]

Blog Briefing Room: Geithner won't answer questions, GOPers claim

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:32:48 -0500

Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee said today that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has not submitted answers to written questions they presented him over a month ago.

The questions concern new financial regulations that the committee is set to vote on tomorrow. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), the ranking member of [...]

Washington Wire: Democrats, Republicans Trade Jabs on War Funding

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:29:41 -0500

By Naftali Bendavid

Its really about the money. Or is it?

As President Barack Obamas troop surge in Afghanistan was hotly debated in the halls of Congress Tuesday, much of the discussion revolved around the cost. In some sense, the usual roles were reversed, with Democrats complaining about the price tag and [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Just In: Key Obama speech excerpts released

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:26:29 -0500

(Photo Credit: Getty Images/File) (CNN) – The White House just released excerpts of President Obama's prime-time televised speech where he will outline his strategy on Afghanistan. (Read excerpts after the jump) "The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 – the fastest pace" [...]

Washington Wire: Poll: Record Number of Americans Feeling Isolationist

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:16:32 -0500

Number of comments: 1

By Jonathan Weisman

President Barack Obama may be swimming against the tide of public sentiment in ordering more troops to Afghanistan.

A new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Council on Foreign Relations results of which are set to be released Thursday — [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Obama tweaking Afghanistan speech

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:09:31 -0500

(CNN) – President Obama is still editing his speech on Afghanistan as he heads to West Point, White House aides said. As a result, the White House may not release excerpts of his remarks before he delivers this evening's speech, because it is still a work in progress. [...]

Blog Briefing Room: Republicans press for ACORN hearings, citing fraud allegations

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:07:38 -0500

Republicans today accused ACORN of intentionally targeting Republican candidates in the 2008 election and called on Democrats to use their subpoena power to hold hearings on the controversial organization.

GOP lawmakers made the claims at an unofficial "forum" on ACORN.

"According to documents obtained by [House] Oversight staff, it appears that ACORN" [...]

Real Clear Politics: Axelrod vs. the Afghan "Timetable"

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:03:05 -0500

David Axelrod had trouble making sense in an interview with Wolf Blitzer previewing the President's big speech tonight: BLITZER: Now, what is this talk of starting to withdraw troops, though, within three years? AXELROD: Well, the president will talk about this tonight. But there -- there will be a time frame under [...]

The Page: McChrystal "Encouraged"

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:00:04 -0500

General offers full-throated approval of Obama's Afghan policy and decision-making process. STATEMENT: Read it here. [...]

Washington Wire: Hoyer Says Bush Officials ‘Turned Tail’ in Afghanistan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:58:44 -0500

Number of comments: 4

By Naftali Bendavid

As President Barack Obama prepared to deliver a major speech on Afghanistan, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) lashed out at the Bush administrations handling of the country, accusing Bush officials of prematurely abandoning the effort there.

Frankly, they turned tail, Hoyer told reporters. Thats pretty tough language, [...]

Washington Wire: Some Lawmakers Warn Against Afghanistan Escalation

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:47:32 -0500

By Naftali Bendavid

Lawmakers opposed to President Barack Obamas decision to send more troops to Afghanistan are not waiting for his speech tonight to voice their opposition.

In a press conference, Democrats from both chambers of Congressas well as a Republican, Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolinawarned that a major escalation would [...]

The Caucus: Making the Case for War

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:44:07 -0500

Number of comments: 1
A look at how some of Barack Obama's predecessors presented their cases for war. [...]

Top of the Ticket: Is Obama more religion-friendly than his party? Many Americans think so, says new poll

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:39:04 -0500

Number of comments: 1

President Obama's administration is seen as more friendly toward religion than the Democratic Party as a whole, a new Pew poll has found.

Thirty-seven percent of Americans said they view Obama as religion-friendly, while only 29% said they see the Democratic Party that way, according to the [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Huckabee: 'I take full responsibility' for suspect's clemency

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:37:39 -0500

Number of comments: 31
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday said he accepts 'full responsibility' for granting clemency in 2000 to a man authorities say gunned down four Lakewood, Washington, police officers on Sunday. (CNN) - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday said he accepts "full responsibility" for granting clemency in 2000 to [...]

The Caucus: Political Google

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:30:53 -0500

Number of comments: 1
Who gets Googled the most? [...]

Washington Wire: McCain Fights Proposed Medicare Cuts in Health Bill

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:25:20 -0500

Number of comments: 1

By Peter Landers

The health-care debate is causing some strange political switcheroos. Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), previously had voted against adding a new prescription drug benefit to Medicare and has championed spending cuts to the program. Now, he’s opposing cuts proposed by Democrats as part of their sweeping health-care bill.

McCain, [...]

Ben Smith: Why wait for the speech?

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:24:00 -0500

Even as the details of President Obama's speech remainded a bit murky this afternoon, the "responses" -- intended for publication after th [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Palin reaches the 1 million mark

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:14:42 -0500

Number of comments: 50
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's memoir 'Going Rogue' has sold more than one million copies after debuting only two weeks ago, her publisher Harper Collins tells CNN. (CNN) – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's memoir "Going Rogue" has sold more than one million copies after debuting only two weeks ago, her [...]

Scorecard: Remainders: Hello, Balboni

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:04:00 -0500

Obama campaigning with Callahan in PA 15. [...]

Ben Smith: Briefing the Afghanistan speech

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:03:00 -0500

Pre-speech briefing [...]

Hotline On Call: Save The Date

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:05 -0500

by Abby Livingston

"World News" EP Jon Banner posted on the show's blog that anchor Charles Gibson has set the date for his retirement: 12/18.

Banner: "We've known this day was coming; Charlie first told us of his desire to retire in early September. ... So today I wanted to let'" [...]

Ben Smith: Remainders: Clemency

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:59:00 -0500

Approval of Obama's handling of Afghanistan has slipped.

Olbermann joins the opposition.

He's conflicting with "A [...]

Washington Whispers: PETA Ad Featuring Playboy Bunny Draws Catholic Ire

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:55:00 -0500

PETA has done it again, drawing anger from Catholics for featuring a Playboy bunny behind a cross. [...]

Washington Whispers: Gate Crasher Puts Spotlight Obama Social Secretary

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:42:00 -0500

White House social secretary Desiree Rogers feels the heat in gate crashing affair. [...]

CNN Political Ticker: RNC purity test designed to 'stick it' to Steele, ally claims

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:40:19 -0500

Number of comments: 33
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has not weighed in on the so-called 'purity test.' Washington (CNN) – An ally of Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele claimed Tuesday that the so-called "purity test" being circulated by some RNC members is a publicity stunt designed to "stick it" to Steele after [...]

CNN Political Ticker: Pelosi pours cold water on war surtax

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:39:44 -0500

Number of comments: 25
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says a war surtax does not have 'a good prospect.' Washington (CNN) - Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday poured cold water on a proposal by several top House Democrats to impose a new surtax to pay for the war in Afghanistan. Pelosi told CNN, "I think the war" [...]