44 With timing uncertain, focus shifts to Senate

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:39:18 -0500

By Ben Pershing Believe it or not, that was the easy part. Proponents of health-care reform got their chance to take a brief breath and celebrate Sunday, after a sweeping bill passed the House Saturday night. Now it's on to the next, likely much harder step. So when will the Senate get its work done? In a Rose Garden appearance Sunday, President Obama urged the chamber to ""take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line." Harry Reid can't pick up any batons until he gets a score for his bill back from the Congressional Budget Office, likely later this week. "The delay could push Senate consideration of the bill until after Thanksgiving, which could in turn make it very difficult for Congress to meet Mr. Obama's goal of signing a health bill into law by the end of this year," the New York Times writes. Since

Restraint urged in Fort Hood speculation

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:49:20 -0500

By John Amick Today on the Sunday talk shows: CNN: STATE OF THE UNION - Casey calls for more attention to stresses on military General George William Casey Jr., chief of staff of the United States Army, said Sunday the Army is conducting a thorough investigation into the mass shooting at Fort Hood Army base in Texas that left 13 dead and 38 wounded, but he stressed that no assumptions should be made surrounding the motives or religious beliefs of alleged shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. "We have to be careful," Casey said. "Because we can't jump to conclusions now based on little snippets of information that come out. And frankly, I am worried -- not worried, but I'm concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers. And I've asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that. It would be

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Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:49:20 -0500

Did Obama Just Convict the Suspected Fort Hood Shooter?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:06:00 -0500

By Scott Butterworth President Obama began his weekly Internet and radio address on Saturday with these words: "This past Thursday, on a clear Texas afternoon, an Army psychiatrist walked into the Soldier Readiness Processing Center, and began shooting his fellow soldiers." Did the president, speaking directly about the man suspected in the killings, prejudice any jury that might be called to hear the case? At the least, he appeared to fall afoul of a lesson that every journalism student -- and law student -- learns early: The safest way to avoid yourself some trouble is to couch such a flat assertion of guilt. That is why news organizations scrambled to rewrite their stories Thursday night after an Army general changed his story about the suspected gunman. You can't libel the dead, goes the legal doctrine, and the general had said the gunman was dead. So the media felt pretty comfortable

Obama mourns the shootings at Fort Hood

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500

By Anne E Kornblut President Obama extended his condolences to families of the Fort Hood victims in his weekly address Saturday -- deploring, on a third day of grieving, that a tragedy of that kind occurred in a place "where our soldiers ought to feel most safe." "It is an act of violence that would have been heartbreaking had it occurred anyplace in America. It is a crime that would have horrified us had its victims been Americans of any background. But it's all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable because of the place where it occurred and the patriots who were its victims," Obama said. He intends to attend a memorial service when it is scheduled, the White House said. Obama has ordered the flags over federal buildings flown at half-mast until Veterans Day on Wednesday. The full transcript of Obama's speech is after the jump:

Duckworth recalls Obama at Walter Reed

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:57:09 -0500

By Ed O'Keefe President Obama made his first visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center as commander in chief on Friday, but one administration official recalls seeing him there several times as a senator. "He visited my hospital bed in the middle of the night as a junior senator," Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth recalled during a recent interview for a forthcoming profile. VA Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth Duckworth lost both of her legs five years ago next week after her Army Blackhawk helicopter was shot out of the skies over Baghdad. She recuperated at Walter Reed and joined VA in April as head of public affairs and intergovernmental affairs. In her new role, Duckworth regularly quotes Obama's statement that, "American has a covenant to keep with her veterans," or a deep responsibility to ensure vets receive the benefits and services they need. She travels at least twice a

Midday Quiz: Military Matters

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:02:01 -0500

Take a moment to chew on some political trivia. Here's a sample question from today's Political Stump quiz: About how many U.S. troops have been injured in combat in the past three months in Afghanistan? • Between 200 and 400 • Between 400 and 600 • Between 600 and 800 • More than 1000 Answer this question and more at washingtonpost.com/politicaltrivia.

Texas attack reverberates in D.C.

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:39:30 -0500

By Ben Pershing The major political debates of the moment suddenly appeared small Thursday, after an army psychiatrist walked into a medical building at Fort Hood and opened fire, killing at least 13 and wounding 30. The Texas army base is roughly 1,500 miles from Washington, but the reverberations were quickly felt in the nation's capital. Statements poured forth from members of Congress, the Pentagon became a vital source of information and reporters worked the local angle, as the suspect hailed from Virginia, worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and attended mosque in Silver Spring. Nidal Malik Hasan "began having second thoughts about a military career a few years ago after other soldiers harassed him for being a Muslim, he told relatives in Virginia," the New York Times reports. "He had also more recently expressed deep concerns about being sent to Iraq or Afghanistan." The Washington Post writes that

Obama Delays Trip to Hill, Will Pay Visit Friday to Walter Reed

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:35:02 -0500

Associated Press President Obama is pushing back a trip to Capitol Hill to discuss the proposed health-care overhaul with lawmakers. Obama had planned to head to the Capitol on Friday. Now the White House schedule shows Obama planning to visit the Capitol on Saturday. On Friday afternoon, Obama plans to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center. White House officials say the trip to Walter Reed had been scheduled before the fatal shootings Thursday at Fort Hood, Tex. They insist that the visit to Walter Reed, Obama's first as president, is separate from the incident at Fort Hood.

Obama touts endorsements by seniors, doctors groups

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:17:07 -0500

By Scott Wilson President Obama said Thursday he is "extraordinarily pleased and grateful" for the AARP and American Medical Association endorsements of the health care reform legislation moving through the House of Representatives. "We are closer to passing this reform than ever before," Obama said. "And now that the doctors and medical professionals of America are standing with us; now that the organizations charged with looking out for the interests of seniors are standing with us, we are even closer." Obama made his remarks during a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, and his decision to do so appeared designed to generate momentum for the bill heading into a decisive weekend. Obama is scheduled to travel to the Hill Friday to speak with House Democrats about the importance of passing the legislation. A House vote is scheduled for Saturday, the first of several key Congressional floor votes

Obama addresses Native American leaders

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:07:07 -0500

Wearing a tradition headdress, Marcus Levings, chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes, gestured as he asked President Obama during the White House Tribal Nations Conference, held at the Interior Department in Washington. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) By Scott Wilson President Obama told what he called the largest gathering of Native American tribal leaders Thursday that "you will not be forgotten by this White House," pledging to work with them to address the community's chronic problems with health care, economic development, land management and education. Obama fulfilled a campaign pledge by bringing the leaders of the 564 federally recognized Native American tribes to Washington during his first year in office. He began his remarks with an accounting of the historically troubled relationship between the federal government and Indian Nations, telling them "few have been marginalized for as long by Washington as Native Americans." "You have every right to wonder why this time

Tuesday's message to incumbents

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:29:32 -0500

By Ben Pershing It's the morning after the morning after, and already the conventional wisdom about Tuesday's elections has begun to shift. The initial reaction -- Republicans had a great day -- has shifted to this: Republicans had a great day, but both parties should watch their backs. After much of Wednesday's coverage focused on the GOP's banner wins, Thursday's hones in on a broad-based undercurrent of anger and frustration in the electorate that could hurt incumbents of all stripes next fall. Associated Press ledes: "Voters' memo to politicians: We're angry and fearful, mostly about jobs and the economy. We want tangible solutions, not partisan bickering or intraparty spats. And we'll vote either party out of office if we don't think you're listening." E.J. Dionne picks up that theme, saying "the disaffection in Virginia and New Jersey -- and the unexpected narrowness of New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg's reelection margin,

Obama nominates two to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:31:16 -0500

By Michael A. Fletcher President Obama Wednesday named two new nominees to serve on the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which has a reputation as one of the most conservative appeals courts in the country. Obama nominated Judge Albert Diaz, a North Carolina superior court judge who handles complex business cases, and Judge James Wynn, of North Carolina's state Court of Appeals, to serve on the federal appeals court. "Judges Diaz and Wynn have been exceptional public servants for the people of North Carolina," Obama said in a statement. "Their distinguished judicial careers leave no doubt that they will be esteemed additions to the Fourth Circuit." Obama has now named a total of 25 nominees to the federal bench since taking office. So far, he has won confirmation for only three of the nominees -- including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The others have been caught in anonymous holds

Lunchtime quiz: Name that number

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:51:44 -0500

Take a moment to grab a bite and chew on some political trivia. Here's a sample question from today's Political Stump quiz: How many times did President Obama stump this year for New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine (D) ahead of Tuesday's election? • 1 • 3 • 5 • 7 Answer this question and more at washingtonpost.com/politicaltrivia.

Steele assumes 'the Heisman position'

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:15:47 -0500

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Updated 1:09 p.m. By Perry Bacon Jr. and Garance Franke-Ruta The chairman of the Republican National Committee took a victory lap Wednesday morning. "Assume the Heisman position. Yeah baby. That's my moment," said Michael Steele on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," crowing over GOP gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey. As for a Democrat winning New York's 23rd district in a special-election contest -- the first such win by a Democrat there since 1872 -- Steele said, "We'll be back in that game next year. We'll take the seat back. I'm not worried about that." Later, at news conference at party headquarters, he declared the wins a rebuke to the "incredibly arrogant government in Washington." "As recently as a couple of months ago, Republicans were being written off," he said. "Many of you were writing our epitaphs."

Does two make a trend?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:27:14 -0500

By Ben Pershing When reporters look for patterns worthy of coverage, they usually follow a rule -- three makes a trend. Three or more similar examples are enough to merit a story. So what exactly does it mean that Republicans won governor's races Tuesday in two states that backed President Obama in 2008? Does two make a trend in this case? And what about the race in New York's 23rd district that supposedly heralded the rise of conservatives but instead just became a Democratic pickup? The morning-after analysis shows little consensus on the answers to those questions. The results surely matter, but no one can say yet quite how much. The GOP wins in New Jersey and Virginia, Adam Nagourney writes, "put the party in a stronger position to turn back the political wave President Obama unleashed last year, setting the stage for Republicans to raise money, recruit candidates and