Obama Reaches Out To Iran In New Video
President Obama has posted this new video, reaching out to the people of Iran in celebration of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year:
“So on the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and leaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek,” Obama says. “It’s a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It’s a future where the old divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live in greater security and greater peace.”
Obama’s Day Ahead: Discussing Stimulus With Top State And Local Officials
President Obama and Vice President Biden are speaking at 12:35 p.m. ET today to representatives from the National Conference of State Legislatures, about oversight and transparency in the implementation of the stimulus program. At 2:15 p.m., Obama will be meeting with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ed Rendell and Mike Bloomberg. At 2:45 p.m. ET, the President and First Lady will attend a reception of the National Newspaper Publisher Association, where they will be presented a Newsmaker of the Year award.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will be swearing in Ron Kirk as U.S. Trade Representative at 12 p.m. ET. In the afternoon he will speak to the representatives of the National Conference of State Legislatures. And then afterwards he will be meeting with former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Obama Apologizes For Special Olympics Remark
President Obama last night called Tim Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, to apologize for a remark he made on The Tonight Show — that his bowling score was like the Special Olympics. Shriver said Obama’s apology was very moving: “He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population.”
Obama: We Need To Change Financial Laws
Appearing last night on The Tonight Show, President Obama said that the financial scandals show the need for new regulations. “Here’s the dirty little secret, though,” Obama explained. “Most of the stuff that got us into trouble was perfectly legal. And that is a sign of how much we’ve got to change our laws — right?”
Senate Republicans Could Slow Or Block Bonus Tax
CQ reports that the bonus tax could face serious Republican opposition in the Senate. Although Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has worked with Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) to draft a bonus tax bill that is a bit different from the House version, others such as Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) are not on board. As Gregg said: “it’s a bill of attainder, it’s blatantly unconstitutional, it sets a precedent just if it even gets to the Senate of pettiness that’s hard to equal.”
Devaney: Stimulus Oversight “Huge”
The Washington Post profiles Earl Devaney, the former Interior Department inspector general who has been appointed by President Obama to manage oversight of the stimulus program. “This is huge,” said Devaney. “I’ve been involved in building and fixing things in the past, but quite frankly I’ve never built something this big.”
Romney: Obama “Learning On The Fly”
Appearing last night on Larry King Live, Mitt Romney criticized President Obama’s ability to handle the economy: “This is a president who is learning on the fly. He’s never turned anything around before. He hasn’t had the experience of leading a nation or a business or a state in trouble. And the first rule I can tell him is focus, focus, focus.”
