Senate To Take Up Sotomayor Confirmation
The full Senate is set to begin debating the Sonia Sotomayor nomination today, with a final vote as early as Thursday. Sotomayor is on track to win confirmation by a comfortable margin, with all or nearly all Democrats plus a few Republicans supporting her.
Obama’s Birthday Ahead
Today is President Obama’s 48th birthday — but in terms of his schedule, it’s a regular work day at the White House. Obama will meet at 11:05 a.m. ET with Dave Rehbein, the National Commander of the American Legion. At 12 p.m. ET, he and Vice President Biden will have lunch with the Senate Democratic Caucus. Obama will meet with Biden at 3:45 p.m. ET, and with Sec. of Defense Robert Gates at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will have a breakfast meeting at the Naval Observatory with U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. At 11 a.m. ET, he will have a meeting with members of the White House economic team to discuss the economic impact of the Recovery Act. In the afternoon, he will join President Obama’s 12 p.m. ET lunch with the Senate Democrats, meet with Obama at 3:45 p.m. ET, and join the 4:30 p.m. ET meeting with Sec. of Defense Robert Gates.
Bill Clinton Arrives In North Korea
Former President Bill Clinton has arrived in North Korea, to negotiate the release of two American journalists who were arrested and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in March, for illegally entering the country. Analyst Scott Snyder, of the Asia Foundation, said that Clinton will likely succeed — or else suffer a great political loss: “For someone at his level to go without a prior assurance of some kind would be to risk a huge loss of face.”
House Lefties Angered At Dismissive Comment By Pelosi
The Hill reports that House progressives are offended that Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed their threat to oppose the health care bill as being too weak. “It didn’t take us very seriously,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). “She may be overlooking the strength behind the 60, and there are more who are absolutely committed to a robust public option.”
Obama Looks To Heal Dem Infighting
Roll Call reports that President Obama will be working to heal rifts within the Democratic Party on health care, by reminding Senators today that their political fortunes are tied to his own. “We all hang together or we all hang separately,” said a senior Senate Democratic aide.
Cash For Clunkers Extension Uncertain In Senate
The New York Times reports that the White House’s proposed $2 billion extension of the Cash For Clunkers program faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Republicans could potentially hold up passage. A spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that some Republicans had “real objections to it,” though McConnell himself has not directly spoken out against the extension.
Administration To Tout Economic Policy Successes
The Washington Post reports that President Obama and members of the Cabinet are set to travel to various swing states this week, to declare that recent economic numbers show that the administration’s policies are working. But there are still some pitfalls — while the rate of decline has drastically slowed down, the economy is still not yet in positive territory, and jobs are still being lost.
