TPMDC Morning Roundup

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Obama’s Day Ahead: Announcing Sebelius For HHS
President Obama will announce at 1 p.m. the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Then at 2 p.m. ET, he will meet with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

NYT: Washington Offers Sebelius Big Chance On Health Care
The New York Times examines Kathleen Sebelius’ record on health care, finding a Democrat whose efforts to expand health coverage have faltered against a heavily-Republican state legislature. “Now, with the backing of a Democratic Congress,” the Times says, “Ms. Sebelius will have a chance to achieve in Washington what she failed to accomplish in Topeka, and then some.”

Dean: I Would Have Liked Health And Human Services Post
In an interview with the Huffington Post, Howard Dean discussed his previous desire for the HHS post. “I was pretty clear that I would have liked to have been Secretary of HHS but it is the president’s choice and he decided to go in a different direction,” Dean told Sam Stein. But he made sure to compliment Kathleen Sebelius: “I think she will be very good. She is a very nice person and I think she will be fine.”

WaPo: Geithner And Summers Steer Obama’s Economic Policy
The Washington Post profiles the partnership that has developed between Tim Geithner and Larry Summers. “I’m struck in meetings by the fact that when Tim says something, it was exactly what I thought needed to be said,” said Summers, also adding that the two of them will often finish each other’s sentences, and can communicate through a single glance.

Reid Reopens Senate Debate, Allowing More GOP Amendments
Roll Call reports that Harry Reid has made a decision to open up Senate debate in a much less controlled manner than he did during 2007 and 2008, in the hopes that such an environment can make it easier to adopt amendments and attract the necessary Republican support to pass bills. Thus far, the paper notes, the decision has attracted praise from Republicans and some consternation from Dems.

Durbin: Race Factored Into Burris Controversies
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has acknowledged that race became a factor in the discussions surround Roland Burris’ appointment to the Senate. “My colleague from Illinois, Congressman Bobby Rush, made strong statements along those (racial) lines,” said Durbin. “They were painful and hurtful, and it became part of this calculation.”

Hillary Promises Aid For Palestinians, Says No Funds For Hamas
Hillary Clinton is pledging $900 million in U.S. aid for humanitarian help for the Palestinians, including $300 million for Gaza. Hillary has also promised that the money will not go to Hamas: “We have worked with the Palestinian Authority to install safeguards that will ensure our funding is only used where and for whom it is intended and does not end up in the wrong hands.”

Canada’s Harper: Afghan War Can Never Be Won
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is making it clearer that his county will not be providing more troops for Afghanistan, a war that President Obama is trying to beef up, without a clear exit strategy. “My own judgment is, quite frankly, that we are not going to ever defeat the insurgency,” the Conservative prime minister said, adding: “We have to have an Afghan government that is capable of managing that insurgency and improving its own governance.”

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: