Gates: Don’t Wait For Afghanistan Election To Be Resolved
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the United States should not wait for the Afghanistan election to be resolved before deciding on a strategy for the country — putting him at odds with top White House officials. “We’re not just going to sit on our hands, waiting for the outcome of this election and for the emergence of a government in Kabul,” said Gates, also adding: “The outcome of the elections and the problems with the elections have complicated the situation for us. But the reality is, it’s not going to be complicated one day and simple the next.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 10:40 a.m. ET with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. At 11:50 a.m. ET, he will honor recipients of the Presidential Unit Citation, honoring the 11th Armored Combat Regiment of the U.S. Army for service in the Vietnam War. Obama will meet at 1:10 p.m. ET with senior advisers, and depart the White House at 2:20 p.m. ET, arriving in New York City at 3:30 p.m. ET. Obama will tour the Joint Terrorism Task Force Headquarters at 4:15 p.m. ET, and deliver remarks to staff members at 4:30 p.m. ET. He will attend a 7:10 p.m. ET fundraiser for Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate in the NY-23 special election, and deliver remarks at 8:10 p.m. ET at a DNC fundraiser. He will depart from New York at 9:50 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 10:55 p.m. ET.
Biden Traveling To Central Europe
Vice President Biden will depart from Washington today for his trip to Central Europe. He will arrive in Warsaw, Poland, in the evening. While in the region, Biden will seek to reassure leaders in the region that the Obama administration is not reducing their security in its efforts to court Russia.
Medicare Premiums Going Up Up — But Most Beneficiaries Won’t Be Affected
Federal officials have announced a 15 percent increase in Medicare premiums, bringing them to $110.50 per month. However only 12 million beneficiaries, or 27 percent of the total beneficiaries, will have to pay the higher cost. The other 73 percent will be shielded because Medicare premiums cannot go up more than their Social Security benefits, and because of negative inflation there has been no cost-of-living increase in Social Security this year.
WaPo: Obama Seeking To Replace Chamber Of Commerce As Voice Of Business
The Washington Post reports that the White House has been working to displace the Chamber of Commerce from its typical role as the voice of business, instead reading out to groups of friendly CEO’s. “The question we have is: Does the Chamber really represent the business community the way they used to?” said senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, the president’s main business liaison. “It seems as though their members are disengaging.”
Boehner Visiting New Hampshire
House Minority Leader John Boehner will be headed to New Hampshire, headlining a November 13 fundraiser for the state Republican Party, which hopes to compete for the state’s two House seats, which the GOP lost in 2006.
Hillary’s Debt Under $1 Million
Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has now paid off almost all its debt, with only $995,500 left in remaining money owed to Mark Penn’s polling firm. The campaign had previously paid back more than $500,000 owed to Penn. At its height, Hillary’s debt was $20 million, of which $13 million was a personal loan from the candidate herself, and which she has since written off.
