Obama To Tell U.N.: Don’t Wait For America To Solve World’s Problems Alone
In his upcoming speech to the United Nations today, President Obama will call for international cooperation — and declare that America can’t fix the world’s problems alone. “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility,” Obama will say, also adding: “Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 9 a.m. ET with Prime Minister Hatoyama of Japan. At 10 a.m. ET, he will address the U.N. General Assembly. At 12 p.m. ET, he will attend a meeting with leaders of peace-keeping troop contributing countries. At 1:05 p.m. ET, he will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony for fallen U.N. staff members. At 1:15 p.m. ET, he will attend a lunch hosted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, for heads of state and government. At 3:30 p.m. ET, he will meet with President Medvedev of Russia. AT 7:05 p.m. ET, the President and First Lady will host a reception for heads of state and government.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel this morning to Silver Spring, Maryland, where he will deliver remarks and hold a discussion on health care reform with seniors, accompanied by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle. In the afternoon, he will meet with senior staff at the White House. In the evening, he will attend a reception at the State Department, for the National Energy Summit and International Dialogue.
Today: Massachusetts Legislature To Finalize Senate Appointment Law
The Massachusetts legislature will hold the final votes today on enacting the law to provide for a temporary appointment to Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat. However, as we found out yesterday, a key issue will be whether the legislature can get to two thirds for this final vote — if not, they could be left open to a court challenge under the state constitution’s procedures for enacting emergency legislation.
Palin Speaks To Investors In Hong Kong
Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) spoke to investors in Hong Kong yesterday, accompanied by former McCain campaign adviser Randy Scheunemann. The New York Times reports that Palin pitched herself as a down-to-Earth politician, and stayed away from incendiary rhetoric: “Mrs. Palin said she was speaking as ‘someone from Main Street U.S.A.,’ and she touched on her concerns about oversized federal bailouts and the unsustainable American government deficit. She did not repeat her attack from last month that the Obama administration’s health care proposals would create a ‘death panel’ that would allow federal bureaucrats to decide who is “worthy of health care.’
McCain Blasts Obama “Disconnect” With Military, Putting “Young Americans’ Lives In More Danger”
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) spoke yesterday at a Foreign Policy Initiative event in Washington, criticizing President Obama for a “disconnect” with military leaders on Afghanistan policy. “Apparently the administration does not want Gen. McCrystal’s recommendations on troop strengths,” said McCain. He later added: “Every day that goes by if you are not pursuing a strategy for success and implementing it as quickly as possible it puts young Americans’ lives in more danger.”
WaPo: Rising U.S. Death Toll In Afghanistan Stirs Unease On Capitol Hill
Also on the Afghanistan front, Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s new guidelines from July, which created greater risk for U.S. troops in order to minimize civilian deaths, are coming under increased criticism as American casualties mount. “I am troubled if we are putting our troops at greater risk in order to go to such extremes to avoid Afghan casualties,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
Cantor: Pelosi “Living In Another World” On Worries About Protests
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) blasted Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s public warning against violence from right-wing protestors, in an interview with the Politico. “I think she’s living in another world — I really do,” said Cantor. “I’m not condoning any of the things that, you know, the media may catch in terms of messages on the signs and what have you. But I have not run into any violence. I have not run into crowds running over people.”
