Obama Reaches Out To Flood Victims In Video Address
In this weekend’s YouTube address, President Obama discussed the support the federal government is giving to people in flood-damaged areas of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota:
“For at moments like these, we are reminded of the power of nature to disrupt lives and endanger communities,” said Obama. “But we are also reminded of the power of individuals to make a difference.”
Gregg In RNC Address: Obama’s Budget An Extraordinary Move To The Left
In this weekend’s Republican YouTube, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) — who very nearly became President Obama’s Secretary of Commerce — lays out the Republican case against Obama’s proposed budget:
“These are staggering numbers and represent an extraordinary move of our government to the left,” said Gregg.
Obama To Bankers: Show That You Get This Is A Crisis
In a preview of President Obama’s interview with Bob Schieffer on Face The Nation, the president discussed his meeting on Friday with bank CEOs:
“Show some restraint. Show some — show that you get that this is a crisis and everybody has to make sacrifices,” the president said he told them. Obama added that “They agreed, and they recognized. Now, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
Obama At Camp David; Biden Meeting World Leaders In Chile
President Obama does not have any public events today, but is spending Saturday at Camp David and will arrive back at the White House on Sunday afternoon. Vice President Biden is in Chile, attending the Progressive Governance Conference, attended by the presidents or prime ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, plus the United Kingdom, Spain and Norway.
NYT: Afghanistan Strategy Came After Internal White House Debate
The New York Times reports that the new Obama strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan was the product of great debate within the White House, with military commanders arguing for more troops, Vice President Biden urging caution, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen tempering the requests from the commanders.
Afghan, Pakistani Leaders Praise Obama Strategy
Leaders In Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are praising President Obama’s new plan for the region. “The U.S. presidency’s new approach represents a positive change,” Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said in a speech to Parliament. And at a news conference, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said: “This is better than we were expecting as a matter of fact.”
NYT: Orszag A Self-Proclaimed “Supernerd,” But Also Much More
The New York Times profiles White House OMB Director Peter Orszag: “Mr. Orszag still plays the geek, passing out propeller hats and jokingly referring to himself as ‘supernerd.’ But nerds are socially inept, and he is anything but. He has worked in Washington on and off since he was 17 — he interned under Pete Rouse, now a senior adviser to the president — and he has intensely political instincts and aspirations.”
