Obama To Order Cabinet To Cut $100 Million
President Obama will reportedly use his Cabinet meeting today to order the Cabinet to cut a combined $100 million in costs from their departments. The move is intended so that Obama will be able to quickly point to savings that the administration is implementing, from cuts in government waste.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will hold his first Cabinet meeting today at 11:30 a.m. ET in the Cabinet Room. At 2:35 p.m. ET, he will meet at CIA headquarters with Director Leon Panetta, the deputy director and other CIA officials, and will deliver remarks to CIA employees at 3:30 p.m. ET. At 4:30 p.m. ET, he and Vice President Biden will meet with Robert Gates.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will be attending President Obama’s first Cabinet meeting today. At 3:45 p.m. ET, Biden will meet with Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou. He will then attend the president’s meeting with Robert Gates.
Congress Returning From Break
Congress is returning to Washington, after a two-week recess marked by Tea Parties, talk-show appearances and other public rhetorical jousting. The Associated Press says key issues that will be taken up this week include credit cards, health care and energy.
Senate Returns To Held-Up Nominations
The Washington Post reports that the Senate is poised to battle again this week over several stalled nominations from the Obama administration. Most notable is Christopher Hill, the nominee to be Ambassador to Iraq, whose nomination is being held up by John McCain and Lindsey Graham.
Al-Qaeda’s Zawahri Blasts Obama In New Web Audio
Al-Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri told Muslims in a new Internet audio posting not to trust President Obama: “America came to us with a new face, with which it is trying to fool us. He is calling for change, but (he aims) to change us so that we abandon our religion and rights.”
NYT: Obama’s Revenue Plans Hit Resistance In Congress
The New York Times observes that President Obama has run into resistance in Congress on key revenue-raising proposals needed to finance his agenda on health care and other issues. Key examples include Obama’s effort to limit itemized deductions and thus bring in $318 billion, as well as his big proposal to sell carbon emissions permits for $600 billion.
Republicans Bash Obama And “Fascism”
The New York Times reports that some Republicans are now taking up the word “fascism” to go after President Obama, an example of rhetorical inflation from “liberal” or even “socialism.” Explained former Michigan GOP chair Saul Anuzis, a former candidate for the RNC chairmanship: “We’ve so overused the word ‘socialism’ that it no longer has the negative connotation it had 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago. Fascism — everybody still thinks that’s a bad thing.”
