Obama Slams ‘Fat Cat Bankers’
During his 60 Minutes interview, President Obama denounced Wall Street irresponsibility, in stark terms. “Now, let me say more generally I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of you know, fat cat bankers on Wall Street,” said Obama. “Nothing has been more frustrating to me this year than having to salvage a financial system at great expense to taxpayers that was precipitated, that was caused in part by completely irresponsible actions on Wall Street. And I’ve spoken out repeatedly about this.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Obama will meet at 11:10 a.m. ET with members of the financial services industry, and he will deliver a statement on the economy at 12:10 p.m. ET. Obama and Biden will have lunch at 12:25 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 1:30 p.m. ET with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman. Obama will meet at 3 p.m. ET with Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will attend President Obama’s daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and have lunch with Obama at 12:25 p.m. ET. Biden will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske, and Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Dr. A. Thomas McLellan. Biden will meet at 3:15 p.m. with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman. At 4:30 p.m. ET, Biden will swear in formers Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and David Boren (D-OK) to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
Mullen In Afghanistan, Concerned About ‘Growing Level of Collusion’ Between Taliban And al-Qaida
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen is visiting Afghanistan today, and voicing his concerns about the situation on the ground. “I remain deeply concerned by the growing level of collusion between the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida and other extremist groups taking refuge across the border in Pakistan,” said Mullen. “Getting at this network, which is more entrenched, will be a more difficult task than it was just one year ago.”
Lindsey Graham: McCain Is ‘Really Engaged’ In Senate
The New York Times reports on how Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has found a new life in the Senate as an opponent of President Obama’s domestic policies, after Obama defeated him in last year’s election. “His presidential aspirations are over — he knows he’s never going to be president,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a close McCain friend. “Most people in that position have a hard time re-engaging, but he’s really engaged. I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s really going down there, he’s really making it tough for them.”
Senate Schedule Crimps Money Chase
CQ reports that the busy schedule of the Senate is interfering with Senators’ usual ability to raise money during the holiday season: “With Reid forcing the chamber to remain in session on weekends and holding votes on Fridays and Mondays, numerous lawmakers, including Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), have been forced to back out of events, rearrange their fundraising schedules or completely cancel fundraisers. Even Reid (D-Nev.), who is facing the re-election fight of his career, has been forced to scrap events.”
Cornyn Uses Judiciary Committee As Political Platform
Roll Call reports that Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is making the most of his position on the Senate Judiciary Committee as a political platform to mobilize conservatives. “The Judiciary Committee is a committee that considers some of the most emotional and intense issues in the Senate,” Cornyn said. “Some are frankly boring, like patent reform, but others like immigration light up the sky.”
