Good evening and welcome to the Daily Strike. Make sure you read up on the previous post so that you know what's on tap this week in politics. Also, please leave some comments. We will post the most insightful comment in Friday's Daily Strike.
CUBA: As we mentioned earlier, President Obama announced a major change in U.S. policy in Cuba. He lifted all restrictions on the ability of individuals to visit relatives, as well as to send them their remittances. Cuba is such a lightning rod issue politically, mainly because the Cuban-American community holds significant political power in the perennial swing state of Florida. The reaction from a couple leading Cuban-American politicians were surprisingly favorable (contrary to what I guessed in the previous post). Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) both expressed approval of the plan. The plan also got compliments from two unlikely sources. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), the leading fiscal conservative in the House, expressed strong approval to the plan. He advocates opening up trade with Cuba for economic reasons. On the other side of the coin was Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. Usually a populist who tends to be somewhat of a protectionist, he has also been an advocate for opening up relations with Cuba. I guess Cuban relations is one of the few issues that doesn't break down neatly along party lines.
EASTER EGG HUNT: I enjoyed watching President Obama play with little kids at the White House Easter Egg hunt. A lot of commentators have noted how Presidential Obama has looked in the past couple of days. He calmly handled the Somalian pirate crisis, he gets a cute little dog named Bo, and now he plays with kids on the White House lawn. Not that this stuff should be important to people like us, but or those who are only tangentially interested in politics, this has to seem pretty appealing. Then again, people in the mainstream media always seem to know what the "folks" are thinking, and they never really do.
CHENEY: Remember when Dick Cheney said that Obama's actions have made America less safe? Well today, CNN came out with a poll testing whether American agrees. It doesn't. 72% of respondents said that Obama's actions have not made America less safe. 26% (including a majority of Republicans) think otherwise. Most notably, a large majority of independents disagree with Cheney. I'm sure this will be another incident of pundits saying that the public is "divided along party lines," but what they never mention is that there are significantly fewer Republicans than there were a few years ago. Most people who are willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt have already switched parties or become independents, so it's only natural that Republican views will be vastly different from the American public as a whole.
NY20: A quick update from New York's 20th Congressional district race. Democrat Scott Murphy now leads by about 25 votes with absentee ballots outstanding from two counties (as we mentioned earlier). The latest development is that Jim Tedisco is challenging a lot of absentee votes of people who have out of state addresses. The law does not prohibit these people from voting in New York, as long as they register at a New York address. A lot of these people are snow bird Jews who migrate to Florida during the winter. Murphy's camp pointed out that the challenged ballots disproportionally have names like "Cohen." This one's gonna be a doozy.
That's it for today. See you tomorrow!
Showing posts with label Pirates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pirates. Show all posts
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Weekly Strike-4/13-4/19
Good Monday morning and welcome to the Weekly Strike. I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekends (I enjoyed my matzah/string bean diet). Let's get you up to date on what to expect this week in politics. Congress is out of session for one more week, so the focus again is on the President.
THE WHITE HOUSE: The White House has a very busy week, mostly focused on the economy. Today, the President starts with the White House Easter Egg hunt (why do they do this on a Monday?). The Presidency is amazing, isn't it? One day you're saving an American from a pirate attack, and the next you're taking pictures with giant bunnies on the White House lawn. The President then will give a speech on implementation of the economic recovery package. Obama will be accompanied by Vice President Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The great Chuck Todd of MSNBC said that this speech will be somewhat of a victory lap. The $48 billion appropriated is apparently under budget, meaning that states will be able to start some new projects. Todd pointed out that the administration wants some tangible results to highlight, and in this case, it will be the 2,000th transportation project to receive funding under the recovery act. The Big Picture says he hopes the speech will be entitled, "Jobs, Baby, Jobs." I concur.
Tomorrow, the President first welcomes the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies to the White House. You have to think that players like Chase Utley, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer are probably Republicans (just a wild guess), so we may see some slightly awkward moments. More importantly, the President is expected to give a major speech on what they see as the "new normal" in the economy. This speech could be talking about a whole variety of things, but my guess is that it centers around changing our economic structure away from the "bubble" dynamic of the past couple of decades. I don't know how much they'll build up this speech, but this could turn out to be a major stuff. Nothing is quite as ambitious as trying to change the entire base of the U.S. economy.
The President travels to Mexico City later to talk drug cartels and other topics with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. He then flies to Trinidad for the "Summit of the Americas." Either before or during this trip, the President will make a major announcement on a new U.S. policy towards Cuba. Obama is expected to say that the U.S. is willing to ease relations with Cuba, but the country first must take steps toward democratization before being fully welcome into the Western Hemisphere's political and economic community. I'll be interested to hear what the major anti-Castro members of Congress have to say about this, like Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Mel Martinez (R-FL). Polling seems to indicate that the American public is open to new relations with Cuba. The President returns to the U.S. next Sunday.
No word yet on when he'll sign the public service bill, but he may be waiting until members of Congress return from their recess so that more of them can attend the signing ceremony.
ELECTIONS: In the razor-thin race in New York's 20th District, Democrat Scott Murphy leads Jim Tedisco by 35 votes (out of 125,000 cast!). Paper ballots still need to be counted in Washington county (which Murphy won) and Saratoga county (the population hub of the district, which Tedisco won). So far, Murphy has done slightly better among absentee ballots than he has among votes cast on election day. About 1,000 military ballots still have to counted as well. I would say it's a total toss up at this point.
We should also find out more, potentially, about that never ending Minnesota Senate race, including whether Norm Coleman will take his case to the State Supreme Court or into the federal courts (he probably will). We'll keep you posted.
That's it for today. Please leave your comments! See you tonight for the Daily Strike!
THE WHITE HOUSE: The White House has a very busy week, mostly focused on the economy. Today, the President starts with the White House Easter Egg hunt (why do they do this on a Monday?). The Presidency is amazing, isn't it? One day you're saving an American from a pirate attack, and the next you're taking pictures with giant bunnies on the White House lawn. The President then will give a speech on implementation of the economic recovery package. Obama will be accompanied by Vice President Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The great Chuck Todd of MSNBC said that this speech will be somewhat of a victory lap. The $48 billion appropriated is apparently under budget, meaning that states will be able to start some new projects. Todd pointed out that the administration wants some tangible results to highlight, and in this case, it will be the 2,000th transportation project to receive funding under the recovery act. The Big Picture says he hopes the speech will be entitled, "Jobs, Baby, Jobs." I concur.
Tomorrow, the President first welcomes the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies to the White House. You have to think that players like Chase Utley, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer are probably Republicans (just a wild guess), so we may see some slightly awkward moments. More importantly, the President is expected to give a major speech on what they see as the "new normal" in the economy. This speech could be talking about a whole variety of things, but my guess is that it centers around changing our economic structure away from the "bubble" dynamic of the past couple of decades. I don't know how much they'll build up this speech, but this could turn out to be a major stuff. Nothing is quite as ambitious as trying to change the entire base of the U.S. economy.
The President travels to Mexico City later to talk drug cartels and other topics with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. He then flies to Trinidad for the "Summit of the Americas." Either before or during this trip, the President will make a major announcement on a new U.S. policy towards Cuba. Obama is expected to say that the U.S. is willing to ease relations with Cuba, but the country first must take steps toward democratization before being fully welcome into the Western Hemisphere's political and economic community. I'll be interested to hear what the major anti-Castro members of Congress have to say about this, like Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Mel Martinez (R-FL). Polling seems to indicate that the American public is open to new relations with Cuba. The President returns to the U.S. next Sunday.
No word yet on when he'll sign the public service bill, but he may be waiting until members of Congress return from their recess so that more of them can attend the signing ceremony.
ELECTIONS: In the razor-thin race in New York's 20th District, Democrat Scott Murphy leads Jim Tedisco by 35 votes (out of 125,000 cast!). Paper ballots still need to be counted in Washington county (which Murphy won) and Saratoga county (the population hub of the district, which Tedisco won). So far, Murphy has done slightly better among absentee ballots than he has among votes cast on election day. About 1,000 military ballots still have to counted as well. I would say it's a total toss up at this point.
We should also find out more, potentially, about that never ending Minnesota Senate race, including whether Norm Coleman will take his case to the State Supreme Court or into the federal courts (he probably will). We'll keep you posted.
That's it for today. Please leave your comments! See you tonight for the Daily Strike!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Daily Strike-4/12/09-Easter Sunday
Good Sunday evening and welcome to the Daily Strike. A busier Easter Sunday than usual because of that pirate attack in Somalia. Let's get to it.
PIRATE ATTACK: President Obama today took his first major action as the literal commander-in-chief today, ordering the Navy to take out Somalian pirates who had kidnapped American captain Richard Phillips. The Navy was able to kill three of the attackers, and the other one is now in U.S. custody. Apparently Obama, who has not said much publicly about this, had been talking to top military people and reading briefings. He laid out a guidance to the Department of Defense to use force if necessary. Phillips, thank God, escaped pretty much free of injury.
Earlier in the week, Newt Gingrich had criticized Obama for not taking more aggressive action against the Somalian pirates. I'm sure Newt will be effusive in praise not that the situation is resolved. This is another extraordinary example of the unending responsibilities of the Presidency. You never think about having to issue these types of commands when you're campaigning in Iowa. I'm just happy that the captain was able to escape. Attorney General Holder may file charges against the pirate in custody.
EASTER SUNDAY: The President was able to take a break this Sunday morning to attend an Easter ceremony at St. John's Church across from the White House in Washington DC. I know this because while driving Lady Strike's friend to the bus station, we happened upon a police blockade at 16th Street, and saw a crowd gathering to catch a glimpse of the President. We tried to stop, but alas, we could not find a parking space. This was the first time the President has attended church services since the day after inauguration.
SUNDAY TALK SHOWS: The most interesting nugget in the Sunday Talk Shows today came from General Ray Odierno, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq. He said that it's a "10" on the one-to-ten scale that troops will be back by 2011. Let's hope that a "10" is more reliable than a "slam dunk." Odierno also said that he has a strong working relationship with Obama. Odierno, back in 2007 at least, was more combative than General Petraeus when dealing with anti-war lawmakers at home. He probably wasn't Obama's biggest supporter in the Presidential election. Yet, Odierno said Obama is very attentive, he listens and is incredibly intelligent.
The increasingly absurd Democratic Senator Evan Bayh (IN) was on Fox News Sunday today. He explained his opposition to Obama's budget, saying that it was nothing personal, but that the plan will just lead to too much debt in the long term. Of course, Bayh voted to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to the richest 100 families in the country when he supported the Kyl-Lincoln estate tax amendment.
My other favorite Sunday talk show moment was Paul Krugman pointing out the incredible hypocrisy of Republican lawmakers, who during the stimulus debate claimed that government spending couldn't create jobs, but now decry cuts in the Pentagon budget because it will cause "job losses." Enjoy.
That's it for tonight. See you tomorrow morning for the Weekly Strike. Please leave your comments.
PIRATE ATTACK: President Obama today took his first major action as the literal commander-in-chief today, ordering the Navy to take out Somalian pirates who had kidnapped American captain Richard Phillips. The Navy was able to kill three of the attackers, and the other one is now in U.S. custody. Apparently Obama, who has not said much publicly about this, had been talking to top military people and reading briefings. He laid out a guidance to the Department of Defense to use force if necessary. Phillips, thank God, escaped pretty much free of injury.
Earlier in the week, Newt Gingrich had criticized Obama for not taking more aggressive action against the Somalian pirates. I'm sure Newt will be effusive in praise not that the situation is resolved. This is another extraordinary example of the unending responsibilities of the Presidency. You never think about having to issue these types of commands when you're campaigning in Iowa. I'm just happy that the captain was able to escape. Attorney General Holder may file charges against the pirate in custody.
EASTER SUNDAY: The President was able to take a break this Sunday morning to attend an Easter ceremony at St. John's Church across from the White House in Washington DC. I know this because while driving Lady Strike's friend to the bus station, we happened upon a police blockade at 16th Street, and saw a crowd gathering to catch a glimpse of the President. We tried to stop, but alas, we could not find a parking space. This was the first time the President has attended church services since the day after inauguration.
SUNDAY TALK SHOWS: The most interesting nugget in the Sunday Talk Shows today came from General Ray Odierno, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq. He said that it's a "10" on the one-to-ten scale that troops will be back by 2011. Let's hope that a "10" is more reliable than a "slam dunk." Odierno also said that he has a strong working relationship with Obama. Odierno, back in 2007 at least, was more combative than General Petraeus when dealing with anti-war lawmakers at home. He probably wasn't Obama's biggest supporter in the Presidential election. Yet, Odierno said Obama is very attentive, he listens and is incredibly intelligent.
The increasingly absurd Democratic Senator Evan Bayh (IN) was on Fox News Sunday today. He explained his opposition to Obama's budget, saying that it was nothing personal, but that the plan will just lead to too much debt in the long term. Of course, Bayh voted to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to the richest 100 families in the country when he supported the Kyl-Lincoln estate tax amendment.
My other favorite Sunday talk show moment was Paul Krugman pointing out the incredible hypocrisy of Republican lawmakers, who during the stimulus debate claimed that government spending couldn't create jobs, but now decry cuts in the Pentagon budget because it will cause "job losses." Enjoy.
That's it for tonight. See you tomorrow morning for the Weekly Strike. Please leave your comments.
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