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Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from December 20th, 2008
Poll: Public Has Many Priorities Besides Economy
ABC News/WashPost: The public's priorities for Obama administration include fixing health care, reducing global warming and withdrawing forces from Iraq. More details here. Permalink
Obama Expands Recovery Plan
Sunday NYTimes: The president-elect is planning to create or save 3 million jobs in the next two years, up from a goal of 2.5 million jobs set just last month. Permalink
Biden to be Briefed on Economic Recovery Package
The vice president-elect will get details from Obama's Director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers and other economic advisers on the latest developments. Will fill Biden in on the upcoming economic recovery package that Congress is set to begin debating next month. Briefing will take place at the presidential transition offices in D.C. at 10:45 am ET Tuesday. Details here. Permalink
Caroline Kennedy Takes Questions
The potential New York Senate replacement answers written questions Saturday submitted by Politico. Spokesman says she backs gay marriage, refuses to answer whether she'd support the Democratic nominee for New York Mayor in 2009. Permalink
Hawaii for the Holidays
The Obamas kick off their two-week trip to the Aloha State Saturday. And/But: The president-elect won't really be on vacation. He'll continue to do transition work during his stay. More details here. Permalink
Ferraro Gives Kennedy Thumbs Down for Senate
NY Post: The former VP candidate sent a letter to Gov. Paterson urging him to instead appoint one of New York's six sitting female Congress members to replace Clinton. Permalink
Obama Announces Science, Technology Team in Radio Address
The president-elect names Dr. John Holdren as an assistant and policy director and Dr. Jane Lubchenco to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Holdren, Dr. Eric Lander and Dr. Harold Varmus are also selected as co-chairs to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Watch video of address above. Read transcript here. Permalink
GOP GNIP GNOP
Republican leaders lash out at Bush's auto industry bailout in some of the party's toughest criticism of the Bush presidency. Permalink
NY Times: Cuomo "Fuming" at Kennedy Hype
New York's attorney general feels "outfoxed and frustrated" Caroline Kennedy has taken the spotlight in the battle for Clinton's Senate seat. One confidant: “It’s driving him crazy. He’s boxed in. He can’t do anything except fume, and he is fuming.” Permalink
ON THE SUNDAY SHOWS
This Week: Biden. Roundtable with Donna Brazile, Sam Donaldson, Cokie Roberts and George Will. Fox News Sunday: Cheney. Meet the Press: Condoleezza Rice. Roundtable with Erin Burnett, Carol Marin, Andrea Mitchell and Michele Norris. Late Edition: Reps. Frank, Cantor, former Clinton economic adviser Tyson, Carly Fiorina. Face the Nation: Kerry Kennedy, Reps. Reynolds, Ackerman, King, and NYC Dept. of Education Chancellor Joel Klein Permalink
Biden: Priority Is "Keeping the Economy from Absolutely Tanking"
In first interview since election, the vice president-elect tells ABC News that the country will need another stimulus package in 2009. "We've got to begin to stem this bleeding here and begin to stop the loss of jobs in the creation of jobs." Also talks about Clintons, Cheney, foreign policy and his new pup. Watch video clip above. Interview airs Sunday on "This Week." Permalink
Obama's Saturday
The president-elect gets in his morning workout before embarking on his trip to Hawaii. He'll leave the cold, snowy Chicago weather for the tropics, where temperatures are expected to be at about 80 degrees. Pool report here. Permalink
Caroline Kennedy Courts Union Leaders
The potential New York Senate appointee reached out to union leaders Friday, had coffee with the head of the city's teachers union. Kennedy and Randi Weingarten met in a Manhattan hotel restaurant, where they chatted about education and labor issues for an hour. Permalink
Adviser Profiling
WashPost looks at Obama's potential director of intelligence Dennis Blair. Permalink
Now It's Time to Get to Work
LA Times: Putting together the 15-member Cabinet team was the easy part. Permalink
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