Election Central Morning Roundup
Obama Rolling Out National Security Team
Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be holding a 10:40 a.m. ET press conference today in Chicago, where Obama will be rolling out his foreign-policy team: Hillary Clinton as Sec. of State, current Sec. of Defense Robert Gates staying on, and retired Marine Gen. James Jones as National Security Adviser. Obama could also be naming Janet Napolitano as Sec. of Homeland Security, Susan Rice as Ambassador to the UN, and Eric Holder as Attorney General.
Obama To Address Rick Warren's AIDS Forum, Meeting With Dem Governors
Barack Obama will also be addressing Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health in Washington, held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, via videotaped remarks. Later tonight, Obama will be meeting with members of the Democratic Governors Association in Philadelphia.
Biden Attending Event Honoring Ted Kennedy
Joe Biden will be in attendance at a special convocation ceremony tonight at Harvard, at which Ted Kennedy will be given an honorary degree.
Sarah Palin Criss-Crossing Georgia Today
Sarah Palin is touring through Georgia today, hoping to fire up the GOP base to come out for Sen. Saxby Chambliss in tomorrow's runoff election. Palin has an 8:30 a.m. ET rally in Augusta, an 11 a.m. ET rally in Savannah, a 1:30 p.m. ET rally in Perry, and a 4 p.m. ET rally in the northern metro Atlanta area.
WaPo: Senate Dems Expect Crossover Votes From GOP Moderate -- But GOP Expects Dem Division
The Washington Post reports that even though Senate Democrats have fallen just short of a 60-seat supermajority, they still think they can pick up votes from Republicans such as Arlen Specter -- and oddly enough, John McCain -- on an issue-by-issue basis. On the other hand, Republicans expect the Dems' newfound position of power to reveal their own internal divisions, with a caucus that ranges from die-hard liberals to a couple genuine conservatives.
NYT: Susan Rice A Strong Voice Against Genocide
The New York Times points out that Susan Rice, expected to be named as Barack Obama's Ambassador to the UN, could end up being a strong advocate for intervention against genocide, and has previously called for strong action in Darfur. The Times quotes Rice from a 2001 interview with the Atlantic, describing her visit to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide: "I swore to myself that if I ever faced such a crisis again, I would come down on the side of dramatic action, going down in flames if that was required."
Iran: "Nothing Has Changed" With Obama
Barack Obama's election doesn't seem to have warmed up Iran to better diplomatic relations with the United States, Reuters reports. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Sheikhuleslam bluntly told the ISNA news agency, "nothing has changed with the coming of Obama."
Iran: "Nothing Has Changed" With Obama
Some of our fellow liberals agree. Irony.
It's troubling the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister isn't bright enough to kno Obama hasn't taken office yet.
December 1, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Iranian statement is partly bellicose kabuki for the constituents, partly a statement of fact. While I'm certain they welcome a U.S. head of state willing to engage in dialogue, I doubt if they can be convinced to give up uranium enrichment... whatever it's intended purpose.
December 1, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I very much want Jim Martin to win the Georgia runoff. Being a realist, however, I recognize that this seems a bleak prospect. So here is a consoling thought in the event that Martin loses:
Saxby Chambliss--in addition to being a thoroughly odious politician--is also as dumb as a sack of hammers. (For recent evidence, see his continuing failure to understand the criteria that define a recession--much less actually recognize one that arrived.)
If Chambliss is returned to Senate, I would rather have an oatmeal-brained doofus in the Republican caucus, rather than a clever and competent opponent.
December 1, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe, but it's not much fun for those of us who are stuck with the "doofus" as our Senator.
December 1, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am clinging to the slim hope that the early voting in the runoff will tip it to Martin.
December 1, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time to roll out the HEAVYWEIGHTS
December 1, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Qualified and competent people running our government, that's going to take getting use to again.
While it would great to have yet another Democrat in the Senate and I hope Jim Martin pulls it out, we have to remember Georgia is a red(neck)state.
Nothing may have change for Iran at the moment, but I think we'll see a gradual softening of their position when they realize that the Obama Administration is different than the previous one. They will relax their defensive stance, that is, after all, the source of their bellicosity.
December 1, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Slight change of topic, but
>his biggest regret was the so-called "intelligence failure" regarding Saddam's WMDs, and said he wishes "the [Iraq] intelligence had been different..."
Bush never takes responsibility for anything!
December 1, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink