The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from December 1st, 2008
Bush: "I Was Unprepared for War"
In an especially candid interview airing on ABC's "World News" Monday, the president says he never anticipated the Iraq War. Calls the intelligence failure there the "biggest regret" of his presidency. On how he wants Americans to remember him: "I hope they feel that this is a guy that came, didn't sell his soul for politics, had to make some tough decisions, and did so in a principled way." Click above for a video clip. Read transcript here. Permalink
If It's Sunday....
Obama sits down with Tom Brokaw on this week's "Meet the Press." Read release here. Permalink
Biden Honors Kennedy at Harvard
The VP-elect is in attendance for the late afternoon Monday ceremony in Cambridge where Ted Kennedy is presented with an honorary degree. The Massachusetts Senator was originally supposed to be honored last spring. Permalink
Rice Says She Won't Hound Clinton
The Secretary of State tells reporters in London on Monday that she’ll offer some advice to Obama’s replacement pick privately and then get out of the way. "She won't -- and you won't -- hear from me again ... I will certainly not make the effort to comment on everything that is done." Rice gave Clinton a briefing Sunday on the aftermath of the terrorist rampage in India. Read Rice's full remarks on Clinton here. Permalink
Sen. Durbin Asks Bush for a Favor
The Illinois Democrat writes to the president asking him to consider commuting the sentence of former Gov. George Ryan. Ryan, a Republican who was convicted of racketeering, fraud and other charges in 2006, has served a year of his 6 1/2-year sentence. Permalink
Franken May Ask Senate to Intervene in Recount
The Democrat's campaign insists as many as 1,000 absentee ballots were improperly disqualified, it may appeal to courts or the U.S. Senate for them to be counted. Permalink
Georgia Polling Stations Reporting Weak Turnout
After nearly a month of intense GOTV efforts from both sides of the high-profile Senate runoff race, lines to vote appeared to be very short Tuesday. Polls close at 7 pm ET in the state. Permalink
Clinton Not Resigning — Yet
Obama’s choice for secretary of state will keep her New York Senate seat until she’s confirmed. Gov. Paterson says he’s consulting with “a wide variety of individuals,” will appoint a replacement once “the position becomes officially vacant.” Read statement here. Permalink
Who Will Be Education Secretary?
WSJ lists some contenders. Get all the details here. Permalink
The Recession Is Real
National Bureau of Economic Research confirms what most already suspected -- the U.S. economy has been in a recession for the last year. TIME's Justin Fox: Finally! A real recession! Permalink
Transition Team to Voluntarily Release Donors
Obama's team announces Monday that they will make the names of its contributors public on a monthly basis. Says as of Nov. 15, a total of $1,170,937.44 had been raised from 1,776 donors. Details here. They ban donations from registered federal lobbyists and foreign agents, corporations, labor unions, PACs. Individuals may contribute up to $5,000. Permalink
It's Official: Obama Unveils National Security Team
The president-elect picks Clinton as Secretary of State, Gen. Jones as National Security Adviser, Gates for Defense, Napolitano for Homeland Security, Holder for AG, Susan Rice as U.N. Ambassador. Get details on all of the announcements here. Obama compliments his team at start of presser. Watch video above. Full remarks here. Also takes questions from the press on India attacks, his high-profile "team of rivals," barbs traded with Clinton during the campaign, Iraq. All appointees and Biden make remarks following Obama, starting with Clinton. Earlier: Obama's motorcade arrives at the hotel about an hour ahead of the presser. Read pool report here. Permalink
Clinton to Obama: "I Am Proud to Join You"
The new Secretary of State nominee takes the podium briefly following Obama's opening remarks, thanks the president-elect for the nomination. "Leaving the Senate is very difficult for me, but during the last three weeks I thought often of our troops." Watch video of entire remarks above. Permalink
"As Her Husband, I Am Deeply Proud"
The former president sends out a congratulatory statement after his wife's appointment as secretary of state Monday. Read it here. Permalink
Reaction to Obama's National Security Team
Sen. Kerry — who was also thought to be in the running for the SecState position — sends out statement praising Obama’s choices. More here. EMILY’s List President Malcolm commends Obama for naming several women to top posts. More here. RNC highlights Clinton's past disagreements with Obama on foreign policy. More here. Rush Limbaugh endorses Clinton for Obama's cabinet. More here. Speaker Pelosi says team "reflects national priorities and will meet our global challenges." More here. Permalink
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