GOP’s Hopes Rekindled, But Internal Arguments Could Continue
The New York Times reports that the mixed election results from last night — with Republicans winning solidly in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, but losing the NY-23 special election — will simultaneously rekindle the GOP’s hopes and continue arguments about the party’s direction. “Conservatives can win when they emphasize the right things and don’t allow their message to get co-opted,” said former Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis. “The Democrats and some of their friends in the media attempt to paint all conservatives as fire-breathing cavemen.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will participate in a 10:30 a.m. ET credentialing ceremony for foreign ambassadors. He will depart the White House at 11:15 a.m. ET, arriving at 1:30 p.m. ET in Madison, Wisconsin. He and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will meet with students at Wright Middle School at 2 p.m. ET, and Obama will deliver remarks on strengthening the education system at 2:30 p.m. ET. He will depart from Madison at 3:55 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 5:55 p.m. ET. He and the First Lady will host an event at 7:15 p.m. ET, celebrating classical music.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will spend the afternoon in meetings with senior staff at the White House. In the evening, he will meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. At 8 p.m., Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will host a dinner at the Naval Observatory with the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Hillary: We Would Like To See Israeli Settlement Construction ‘Ended Forever’
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced skepticism of an Israeli offer to restrain, but not end, new settlement construction. “It is not what we would prefer because we would like to see everything ended forever.”
Obama’s Agenda Yet To Pay Off In Congress
Roll Call reports on the problems that President Obama has had passing the more ambitious parts of his agenda through Congress, due to a lack of total unity among Democrats. “There’s a lot of diverse beliefs and opinions within the Democratic caucus,” said Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), who cited a famous joke by Will Rogers: “I’m not a member of any organized party. I’m a Democrat.”
Centrist Dems Feeling Angst Over 2010
The Hill reports that some centrist Democrats in Congress want to slow down on a more ambitious Democratic agenda, and focus on jobs and the economy going into 2010. “For all of these big issues, the trick is — to use a football analogy — to go for a first down instead of an 80-yard Hail Mary,” said Rep. John Tanner (D-TN). “Some of the more philosophically driven people want to do an 80-yard Hail Mary, but getting first downs is how you legislate over time.”
In Tokyo, Bush Reminisces About Baseball
Former President George W. Bush spoke to an audience of Japanese college students — discussing his experiences in baseball, not politics. “Now I’m retired, so I’m glad to be talking about sports,” said Bush, a former part-owner of the Texas Rangers, who famously traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox in 1989.
