Obama: U.S., Allies, Discussing Sanctions Against Iran
At a press conference in South Korea, President Obama said that the United States and allies could have a package of sanctions against Iran “within weeks.” “We weren’t going to duplicate what has happened with North Korea,” said Obama, “in which talks just continue forever without any actual resolution to the issue.”
Obama’s Day In South Korea
President Obama visited U.S. Embassy staff and their families in Seoul, South Korea, at 10:10 a.m. local time (8:10 p.m. ET last night). He participated in an arrival ceremony at the Blue House, at 11 a.m. He held a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Myng-bak at 11:15 a.m., with an expanded bilateral meeting at 11:50 a.m., and a joint press conference at 12:30 p.m, and a working lunch at 1:10 p.m. Obama delivered remarks to service-members at at Osan Air Base at 3:20 p.m., and departed South Korea at 4:05 p.m. (2:05 a.m. ET). He will arrive in Anchorage, Alaska, at 9:40 a.m. ET, will depart form Anchorage at 11:40 a.m. ET, and arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington at 6:05 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will meet in the morning with Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN). At 2 p.m. ET, he will attend a memorial service for Monsignor William Kerr. At 6 p.m. ET, he and Dr. Jill Biden will host a reception at the Naval Observatory, to honor members of the arts community.
WaPo: Bailout Program Could Be Extended
The Washington Post reports that the Obama administration is considering an extension of the TARP program, a move that would carry political risks for an unpopular program: “Administration officials are grappling with how best to announce the extension of the Troubled Assets Relief Program at a time when the economy is struggling and the unemployment rate is at its highest point in 26 years. The officials are hoping that by putting roughly $200 billion toward paying down the $12 trillion national debt, they could mitigate the political fallout, the sources said.”
Palin’s Convention Stylist Speaks Out
The New York Times reports that Lisa A. Kline, the New York-based stylist who handled clothes for Sarah Palin during the Republican National Convention, is now seeking to correct some misconceptions about the job that have circulated in the media — and also in Palin’s own book: “Ms. Kline is not, as some news reports suggested, the same Lisa Kline who owns a boutique in Los Angeles. She is not, as Ms. Palin’s book suggests, Katie Couric’s stylist; she has never met Ms. Couric. Most important, the six-figure tab for the Palin family’s clothing during the convention was not as outrageous as it seems, Ms. Kline insists, considering the scope of the job.”
GOP Congressional Committees Won’t Hold ‘President’s Dinner’ Next Year
The NRSC and NRCC have decided to not hold their regular annual joint fundraising dinner next year, which was called the “President’s Dinner,” and had been a 30-year tradition, due to efficiency concerns. “However, both committees have realized the joint dinner model isn’t as cost-effective when you don’t have a president in the White House or a nominee on the presidential campaign trail,” said NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh. “So for the time being, we’ve decided to look at other fundraising options that will serve to both energize the base and raise the money needed to win back seats in both chambers next year.”
Rove Criticizes Permanent Campaign By Obama White House
In his latest Wall Street Journal column, Karl Rove criticizes the Obama administration for running a permanent campaign, as evidenced by the use of Friday news dumps. “What we are seeing with the White House’s timing in releasing its decision on KSM and other terrorists is a presidency clinging to campaign tactics that aim to dominate the 24-hour-news cycle,” Rove writes. “The problem is that ploys that work in a campaign don’t work nearly as well when you’re in charge of the executive branch. Once in office, you have to live with the consequences of a policy decision.”
