Archive - January 11, 2009 - The Page by Mark Halperin

No, that's not President-elect Obama at the inauguration rehearsals, but his stand-in, Sgt. Derrick Brooks. See a NY Times slideshow of the inauguration rehearsals here. Plus: Early weather forecasts show little chance of rain. Permalink

Kennedy is "Impressive" at Brooklyn Pol Confab

Caroline Kennedy meets with a group of key black lawmakers in Bedford-Stuyvesant Sunday who came away "impressed" with the U.S. Senate hopeful. Permalink

Congress Convenes Sunday

NY Times on Sen. Reid "sending a message that Democrats mean business with his decision to schedule a vote on public lands on a Sunday." Permalink

Obama Team Offers Stimulus Concessions

Top aides Summers and Furman hold two-hour meeting with dozens of Senate Democrats Sunday. Reportedly agree to boost energy credits and detail TARP spending, among other changes. AP: "A request for the remaining $350 billion in financial industry bailout funds could come as early as Monday as the Bush administration and President-elect Barack Obama tag-team uneasy lawmakers for the money." Conrad: "It was very, very healthy." Plus: NYT on how Obama is drawing on techniques from his campaign and lessons from predecessors as he seeks to shape public attitudes about the economic downturn. Permalink

Obama Hits the Court

The president-elect plays basketball in Washington Sunday. Travels to a community learning center in Adams Morgan. No immediate word on who joined him. Read pool report here. Permalink

Europe, Asia Stocks Decline

Bloomberg: "Stocks in Europe and Asia fell, sending the MSCI World Index lower for a fourth day..." Permalink

"Everybody's Going to Have to Give"

The president-elect tells ABC's Stephanopoulos that fixing the economy will require sacrifice from every American. "Everybody’s going to have give. Everybody’s going to have to have some skin the game." But adds: "I think we can fix this." Watch video here. Also says he does not expect to close Guantanamo within the first 100 days, as he pledged during the campaign. "It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize." Interview airs on "This Week." Read full transcript. Plus: Klein on Swampland: "I thought Barack Obama gave a strong, confident performance ... especially when you remember how halting and cautious he could be in these interview settings during the campaign." Permalink

Bush: GOP Must Not Become "Anti-Immigrant"

President Bush sounds a warning for his party on "Fox News Sunday." Tells Brit Hume that Republicans "got whipped in 2008" and will have a tough time coming back "if the party is viewed as anti-immigrant." Also says "I gave it my all" in the White House, jokes that his father is "a nut" to be skydiving at his age. Permalink

Broder: An "Early Drubbing" for Obama

The WashPost's dean gets tough on the new POTUS over Richardson and Burris. "When and if Roland Burris claims the Senate seat from Illinois... it will represent the greatest climb-down by an incoming president since Sam Nunn turned Bill Clinton around on the issue of gays in the military at the start of Clinton's first term." Also says Sen. Reid "once again, failed to do his homework or line up his votes." WashPost front: Obama's baptism by friendly fire. Permalink

The First YouTube Administration

Another top Obama official uses YouTube to speak directly to the public. Christina Romer, soon-to-be head of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, discusses job-creation policy in a 9-minute video. Click above to watch. Permalink

Burris Attorneys in Washington Monday

Lawyers for the Illinois Senate hopeful will meet with Senate attorneys and press for their client to be seated. Burris allies hope he'll be seated by mid-week. Sen. Durbin: "This thing just keeps gnawing at us.” Permalink

Cheney: Obama Inauguration "Really Remarkable"

On CNN's "Late Edition," the outgoing VP says electing an African-American president is "a record of tremendous success and progress for the United States." Also says Biden must allow Obama to shape the VP's role. Read transcript here. Permalink

Narrowing the Search for the First Puppy

Contenders for the Obama family puppy have narrowed to a labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound. Obama to ABC's Stephanopoulos: "We're closing in on it. This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary." Permalink

Burris: Blagojevich Did the Right Thing

The Illinois Senate appointee praises Blago for selecting him on CBS' "Face the Nation." "A person who does bad can also do good. What Governor Blagojevich did was good for the U.S. and the people of Illinois...." Also says he should be seated before Inauguration Day. Permalink

A Moonlight Visit to Mr. Lincoln

The Obamas swing by the Lincoln Memorial Saturday evening. The soon-to-be first family spends about 25 minutes at the landmark before returning to their hotel. Read pool report. Permalink