U.S. In Talks Over Possible Mubarak Departure
Reuters reports: “U.S. officials said on Thursday they were discussing with Egyptians different scenarios for a transition of power, including one in which President Hosni Mubarak leaves office immediately. ‘That’s one scenario,’ said a senior Obama administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity. ‘There are a number of scenarios, but (it is) wrong to suggest we have discussed only one with the Egyptians.'”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and meet with senior advisers at 10 a.m. ET. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at 2:10 p.m. ET. The two will hold an expanded bilateral meeting at 2:30 p.m. ET, and will hold a joint press availability at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will attend President Obama’s daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. He will meet with senior advisers in the afternoon.
Finger-Pointing Begins On Egypt
Politico reports: “Critics are openly questioning the quality of information and analysis given to President Barack Obama by U.S. intelligence agencies in the days leading up to the dramatic uprising against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. And they are raising questions about the effectiveness of his efforts to force the 82-year-old strongman to step down. Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, admit that some mistakes were made and some signals were missed.”
Geithner Discusses Tax Overhaul With Wide Range Of Groups
The Washington Post reports: “Timothy F. Geithner can’t seem to talk enough these days about corporate tax reform. From D.C. to Davos, the Treasury secretary has chatted up chief executives and academics, bankers and labor groups, Republicans and Democrats, all in the name of fixing a tax code that most everyone agrees could use a major overhaul.”
Republican Leaders Work Hard To Prove Their Budget-Cutting Credentials
The Hill reports: “House Republican leaders under pressure from conservatives worked hard Thursday to prove their budget-cutting credentials, even taking to Twitter to fight reports they were cutting spending by $32 billion…The problem with the GOP’s preferred figure is that the $74 billion refers to President Obama’s budget request from a year ago, which never became law.”
Beware of Ad Campaigns With More Bark Than Bite
Roll Call reports on a recent Democratic Congressional CAmpaign Committee radio ad campaign — which Republicans say only aired $10,000 worth of buys across 17 media markets: “If a campaign ad airs and no one hears it, does it exist? Partisan strategists are determined to find out…The strategy is to spend as little as possible in order to garner free media coverage and create the impression that a campaign-changing event is taking place.”
