GOP Voters Are Ready For The 2012 Race. Now Somebody Tell The Candidates
The New York Times reports: “The 2012 presidential campaign is beginning, whether the candidates are ready or not. Republicans have been far more eager to criticize President Obama than to formally jump into the race and start jockeying for the right to challenge him. But their hesitation, or strategic patience, has done little to slow the early stages of the party’s nominating contest.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and receive the economic daily briefing at 10:15 a.m. ET. He will depart for the White House at 12:45 p.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 1:05 p.m. ET, arriving at 2:10 p.m. ET in Boston, Massachusetts. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will visit a classroom at TechBoston Academy, with Melinda Gates and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and deliver remarks on education at 3:15 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at a 7:05 p.m. ET DCCC fundraiser. He will depart from Boston at 8 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 9:20 p.m. ET, and arriving back at the White House at 9:35 p.m. ET.
Biden Visits Finland Today
Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden spent the day in Helsinki, Finland. Biden met with Finnish President Tarja Halonen, and had a working lunch meeting with Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi. The Bidens then departed from Finland, en route to Russia.
Biden Visits Russia To Keep Up New START Momentum
Reuters reports: “U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Russia on Tuesday to build on two years of improving ties capped by the New START nuclear arms reduction pact’s entry into force last month as elections in both nations draw closer. The White House and Russia also want progress toward turning decades of disputes over missile defense into cooperation.”
Gary Locke To Be Named New Ambassador To China
Reuters reports: “President Barack Obama will nominate Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who this year criticized China for not opening its markets, as next U.S. ambassador to Beijing, two administration officials said. Locke would be the first Chinese American to serve as Washington’s envoy to China and he would be the Obama administration’s second appointment of a high-profile politician to the increasingly important and tricky post.”
Republicans Divided Over Muslim Hearings
Politico reports: “The top two House Republican leaders are divided over how to handle the bubbling controversy surrounding Homeland Security Chairman Peter King’s hearing into “radicalization” in the American Muslim community. Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress, is squarely behind King as he takes shots from civil libertarians and religious groups over his decision to target one group in his investigation of the causes of terrorism…But Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are keeping their distance from King, perhaps trying to avoid letting this issue become a distraction for the GOP majority.”
