Obama Calls For Increased Efforts For Two-State Solution
In a press conference earlier today, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Obama called for the international community to increase its efforts towards a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian disputes. “I think the moment is now for us to act on what we all know to be the truth,” said Obama, “which is each side is going to have to make some difficult compromises.”
Obama’s Day In Germany
President Obama arrived at Dresden Castle at 2:55 a.m. ET (8:55 a.m. local time), and held a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at 3 a.m. ET, then meeting with an expanded German delegation at 3:15 a.m. ET. At 4:10 a.m. ET, Obama and Merkel held a press conference, and then toured Church of Our Lady at 4:45 a.m. ET. Obama will tour Buchenwald Concentration Camp at 9:15 a.m. ET, and will then make a statement to the press at 10:05 a.m. ET. He will visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at 11:50 a.m. ET. He will depart from Ramstein Air base at 2:30 p.m. ET, en route to Paris, France.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with Christine Romer, the chair of White House Council of Economic Advisers, as well as his own chief economist Jared Bernstein. He will have other private meetings at the White House for the remainder of the day. In the evening, Biden and his wife Jill will kick off the 2009 Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure weekend, hosting a reception for breast cancer survivors and supporters at the Naval Observatory.
Israel Not Changing Settlement Policy After Obama’s Speech
The Israeli government is going against President Obama’s call for a halt to settlement activity in the West Bank. “With all due respect to President Obama, and there is respect, and to the deep friendship between Israel and the United States, no foreign leader of another country will set policy in Judea and Samaria,” said lawmaker Ofir Akonis, a member of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s conservative Likud Party.
White House To Name “Pay Czar” For Bailed Out Companies
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Obama Administration will appoint a new “pay czar” — officially called the Special Master for Compensation — to ensure that companies receiving bailout funds are following executive-pay guidelines. The White House is expected to appoint Kenneth Feinberg, who previously oversaw the federal government’s compensation fund for victims of the 9/11 attacks.
Pelosi Says She Pressed China On Human Rights During Trip
Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has used her trip to China to urge the country’s leaders to make changes on human rights. “Nineteen years ago, I stood in Tiananmen Square and unfurled a banner as an individual Member of Congress representing my views,” said Pelosi, adding that, “Eighteen years later, as Speaker, I could sit opposite the president of China, the premier, the chairman of the National People’s Congress, and express those views to them directly.”
Schweitzer, Rendell To Endorse McAuliffe In Virginia Primary
Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT), the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, is set to endorse Terry McAuliffe in this Tuesday’s three-way Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia. Schweitzer’s endorsement is being done only in his personal capacity, not as chairman of the DGA. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell will also be backing McAuliffe.
Palin Warns Against “Fearful Population, And Fearful Lawmakers”
In a speech yesterday in Anchorage, while introducing Michael Reagan, Sarah Palin warned against the use of fear in making public policy. “We need to be aware of the creation of a fearful population, and fearful lawmakers,” said Palin, “being led to believe that big government is the answer, to bail out the private sector, because then government gets to get in there and control it.”
