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  • Fishing ban? No way, officials say
    Mar 17, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    In recent weeks, fishing groups and bloggers across the country have raised concerns that the president's was set to impose new restrictions, or even an outright ban, on a treasured national pastime. Task force recommendations aren't final yet, but they're due to Obama soon. Fishing groups worry that the task force could advocate restrictions on catches and the designation of protected areas, where fishing would be banned altogether.
  • Report: Obama picks his Final Four basketball teams
    Mar 17, 2010 — USA Today
    The Hoopster in Chief has weighed in on the Final Four teams for the men's and women's college basketball championships. ESPN will have coverage on Wednesday on Obama's picks to win the two championships. You can read The Oval's coverage on Obama and the top four seeds in the men's tournament right here.
  • 'Deem and pass' tactic sparks partisan debate ahead of health-care endgame
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    It's about, is there a health care package or not. We want to kill the bill."The "deem and pass" tactic has been commonly used, although never to pass legislation as momentous as the $875 billion health-care bill. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has been a stalwart no vote on health-care reform.Kucinich, an uncompromising liberal, has rejected any measure without a government-run insurance plan.
  • 'Sunshine Week' shines light on transparency
    Mar 16, 2010 — The Hill
    Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill Tuesday that would put all publicly available government information online in a user-friendly format.In addition, Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican from California, and Rep. Announced in December 2009, the Open Government Directive instructs federal agencies to post “high-value” information online in easy-to-use formats.
  • Ad watch: A closer look at dueling health care spots
    Mar 16, 2010 — USA Today
    Health care costs will go even higher, making a tough economy worse. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has projected that health care insurance premiums will remain largely unchanged for most people who get health insurance through their employers. Local versions target specific members of Congress, Latoff said.
  • Delay in Blagojevich trial opposed
    Mar 16, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
    Jeff Coen Mar. 16, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Federal prosecutors oppose a bid by lawyers for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to delay his corruption trial until November.
  • Democrats defend "deeming," GOP attacks as the clock ticks down
    Mar 16, 2010 — The Hill
    Both members voted no on the House bill last November.Rep. Republicans blasted the “deem and pass” rule as “Slaughter House rules,” after Rep. Herseth Sandlin rejected the House health bill in 2009 and is expected to vote no again.Rep.
  • Democrats look to industry for help in climate bill
    Mar 16, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Brown is one of a handful of senators trying to line up support for a climate bill that would put new limits on greenhouse gas emissions and spur production of renewable energy. Democrats have also met with environmentalists and renewable-energy executives. Limiting greenhouse gas emissions almost certainly will lead to higher prices for fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
  • Dems defend 'deem and pass'
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    It's about, is there a health care package or not. We want to kill the bill."The "deem and pass" tactic has been commonly used, although never to pass legislation as momentous as the $875 billion health-care bill. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has been a stalwart no vote on health-care reform.Kucinich, an uncompromising liberal, has rejected any measure without a government-run insurance plan.
  • European nations allege U.S. protectionism in tanker deal
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    The partnership of Airbus and Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract after a second round in 2008.
  • Five Ways To Pass Or Sink Reform
    Mar 16, 2010 — Politico
    Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) has said at least a dozen Democrats would vote against the Senate bill unless it’s amended to include the House language barring federal funding of abortion. So if Stupak is right, that’s more than enough votes to tank reform.But Democratic leaders don’t buy it, and they’re calling Stupak’s bluff. But a new set of numbers released Monday by Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway will sow fresh seeds of doubt.
  • For Israeli leaders, snubbing the U.S. may not be a political win
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    Many Israeli analysts attributed the defeat to his fight with the United States. Picking a fight with the Bush administration cost Shamir his job. Who succeeded him as prime minister?Rabin, who immediately pledged to cease construction of what he called "political" settlements in the territories.
  • Health care changes felt immediately?
    Mar 16, 2010 — CNN
    The idea is to make the legislation more acceptable for House Democrats opposed to the Senate's version. Pre-existing conditions: The Senate bill includes $5 billion in immediate support to provide temporary coverage to uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions. Children and pre-existing conditions: Another thing that's going to be very important, CNN Senior Political Analyst Gloria Borger said, is that there will be no exclusion of children with pre-existing conditions.
  • House Dems Under Pressure To Deliver
    Mar 16, 2010 — Politico
    Patrick O'Connor,Jonathan AllenAs health care lobbying heats up, some members are getting calls from President Barack Obama, like the three Rep. Aides to conservative Democratic lawmakers describe intense pressure tactics, including one who said his office has received calls from donors. And for every person prodding lawmakers to vote yes, it’s easy to find someone else asking them to vote no.Ohio Rep.
  • House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    But when we bring the bill to the floor, we will have the votes," she told reporters.Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the Democratic leader tasked with protecting politically vulnerable incumbents, said Republicans would twist the nature of the vote, no matter how Democrats proceed. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), a retiring lawmaker who opposed the original House bill and is undecided on the new package, mocked Republican criticism of the process.
  • If you listen to supporters of Israel, they essentially act as if Americans criticizing the Jewish nation is akin to committing treason against the United States.
    Mar 16, 2010 — CNN
    And other Arab nations had to be smiling with the United States' rebuke of Israel, its closest ally. In 1993, President Clinton hosted the signing of the Oslo Accords, for which Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli leaders Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. In this case, Israel's actions aren't helpful.
  • Justices v. Obama, round III
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    She most recently worked in Washington for Hillsdale College, a small liberal arts school in Michigan.Hamblen said other judges have had politically active spouses. For instance, Judge Marjorie O. Rendell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia is married to Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Ed Rendell. Following the judicial Committee on Codes of Conduct, Marjorie Rendell does not accompany her husband to political events.
  • Kirk Predicts One Term For Obama
    Mar 16, 2010 — Politico
    Jonathan MartinAppearing before a Republican audience in the Chicago suburbs Friday, Rep.
  • Letter from China: China's Rich Debate Tax on Property
    Mar 16, 2010 — New York Times
    BEIJING — Zong Qinghou, China’s richest man, says that a property tax will hurt homeowners. “A property tax isn’t appropriate,” Mr. Wang, chairman of the property developer Dalian Wanda; Mr.
  • Martin: U.S. was right to chastise Israel
    Mar 16, 2010 — CNN
    And other Arab nations had to be smiling with the United States' rebuke of Israel, its closest ally. This is the tit-for-tat nonsense that has blocked a true peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. In 1993, President Clinton hosted the signing of the Oslo Accords, for which Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli leaders Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.
  • Media Matters Unloads On Cnn Hire
    Mar 16, 2010 — Politico
    BarrThe liberal media watchdog group Media Matters is fuming over CNN’s hiring of conservative RedState blogger Erick Erickson.In a document provided POLITICO that Media Matters plans to post on its blog Tuesday, the group accuses Erickson of having a “long history of incendiary, sexist and racially charged statements.”“If you need any further proof that the liberal media bias is a myth, CNN just hired someone who called David Souter a...
  • Middle East peace efforts: lessons from healthcare reform
    Mar 16, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Healthcare reform efforts have dragged on so long that opponents have had time to mount one hyperbolic attack after another. But the good news is that many difficult issues have already been negotiated. The majority of American Jews (including the 78 percent who voted for Obama), and the majority of American Muslims, American Christians and American Arabs all agree with the president's reading of this conflict.
  • More than 100 injured in Israeli-Palestinian clashes
    Mar 16, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Tourists were prohibited from entering the Temple Mount compound, police officials said.Neither Israel nor Palestinian officials expressed much enthusiasm for the U.S. proposal to restart indirect talks.
  • Obama Extends Fraud Fight
    Mar 16, 2010 — Politico
    Republicans talked a lot about cutting waste and fraud during last month’s bipartisan summit on health care reform, and Obama noted it was an area on which the two parties could agree. Louis instead of Washington, in part, to fire up the public to help push reform over the finish line. In particular, some say, it’s unfair to lump the subsidies insurance companies get for administering private Medicare Advantage plans into the same category as waste, fraud and abuse.
  • Obama talks to ESPN about hoops picks -- including women's tourney
    Mar 16, 2010 — USA Today
    We haven't seen any undecided House Democratic health care voters today, but two other special guests have been spotted at the White House: ESPN college basketball analysts Andy Katz and Doris Burke. As he did this time last year, Katz will interview President Obama about his picks in the upcoming NCAA men's basketball tournament. We're not sure if ESPN will broadcast the president's predictions tonight or tomorrow.
  • Obama to go on Fox News to promote health care
    Mar 16, 2010 — USA Today
    President Obama is so anxious to reach conservative House Democrats on health care, he's willing to go on Fox News. Gibbs also cited strategic considerations with respect to House Democrats who are wavering on the health care bill. "They watch and a lot of their constituents watch this news," Gibbs said.
  • Obama's day: Getting ready for House health care vote
    Mar 16, 2010 — USA Today
    USA TODAY's Kathy Kiely sums up the state of the play. In other news: Retiring pols are spending donor money on their way out the door, reports Fredreka Schouten of USA TODAY. Justice Clarence Thomas' spouse gets involved with the Tea Party movement.
  • Obama: hard on Israel, easy on China
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    Charles LaneClearly, President Obama blew his famous cool when Israel announced new apartments in East Jerusalem during a visit by Vice President Biden last week. If anyone has been artificially depressing its exchange rate to boost exports, it’s China. As a growing consensus of governments recognizes, a change in China’s policy would benefit not only U.S. exporters but global trade in general.The Obama administration’s response?
  • Ohio Gets Full Court Press
    Mar 16, 2010 — Politico
    Dennis Kucinich.One of the most liberal members of the House, Kucinich never­theless voted against health care reform last year, saying the bill didn’t go far enough. In Cincinnati, Biden was raising campaign money for Rep. John McCain (R-Ariz.), 51 percent to 47 percent.The unemployment rate has shot up from 7 percent in November 2008 to more than 11 percent today.
  • On Washington: Testing Obama, at Home and Abroad
    Mar 16, 2010 — New York Times
    Obama’s first test was a global financial crisis — not quite what Mr. Abroad, Israel poses a very different kind of challenge. Obama and his foreign-policy speechwriter, said on Monday.
  • President Obama fills out his NCAA tournament brackets (men and women)
    Mar 16, 2010 — USA Today
    And for the women's Final Four, President Obama picks Connecticut, Notre Dame, Stanford and Tennessee. Obama Tuesday taped his entire NCAA men's and women's brackets for ESPN, which will air those picks on SportsCenter at noon ET Wednesday. Last year, Obama picked men's brackets for ESPN -- correctly picking North Carolina to win the tournament -- but this is the first year he's publicly filled out NCAA women's brackets.
  • Reform strategy keeps focus on process over policy
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    Driehaus voted for the House version of the overhaul last fall but is now on the fence. Biden largely avoided the topic of health care, but praised Mr. We will live amid the relationships of group versus group, party versus party, inhumanity versus inhumanity.
  • Snubbing U.S. not good for Israel
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    Many Israeli analysts attributed the defeat to his fight with the United States. Picking a fight with the Bush administration cost Shamir his job. Who succeeded him as prime minister?Rabin, who immediately pledged to cease construction of what he called "political" settlements in the territories.
  • The Case Against Threatening Iran
    Mar 16, 2010 — Politico
    Even if destroyed, they can be rebuilt.A strike might actually set back Iran’s bomb program, but just one to three years. Washington would need to more forcefully project a U.S. nuclear umbrella policy to protect regional friends. Aboveground facilities, like reactors, are easier to strike — especially before they become operational.These arguments alone cannot prevent Israel from carrying out an attack.
  • U.S. Chamber targets vulnerable Democrats
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    The organization has supported a handful of Democrats in recent years, including centrist Sens. But, Josten said, "I don't think they've helped themselves by these populist rhetorical attacks from sector to sector to sector.
  • U.S. pushing Netanyahu to accept demands for peace talks
    Mar 16, 2010 — Washington Post
    But Israel is expected to provide a formal response on Tuesday. But we want to make sure that we have the commitment from both sides that, when he travels, we can make progress."Publicly, Netanyahu on Monday was giving no quarter. The United States accepted a 10-month moratorium, with caveats that excluded East Jerusalem and existing projects in the West Bank.
  • U.S. taking relations with Israel to the brink? Probably not
    Mar 16, 2010 — CNN
    After years of lukewarm reactions to such statements about new settlements by Israel, the United States chose to push the envelope, turning the incident into a crisis. Maybe it was to show Israel that the United States is not going to accept everything Israel tries to do. Most importantly, a crisis such as this between the Obama and Netanyahu administrations will not shift the United States commitment to Israel's security.
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