January 13, 2009 – Capitol Hill Blue

Clinton v. Palin: Comparing two might-have-been vice presidents

January 13, 2009

Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin both came “this close” to being vice president. Obama could easily have selected the former to be his running mate and I have no doubt he would have won handily with her at his side. Had it not been for the financial melt-down, a victorious McCain would have elevated Palin to the vice presidency. Watching Clinton in her confirmation hearing for secretary of state I am unable to envision Palin displaying such a depth and breathe of knowledge about world affairs for hours on end.

Bush is going!

January 13, 2009

Whatever has got a beginning eventually gets an end. And so a week more to go and Bush is gone.

Thanks to Bush’s Press Conference we can now rest easily…

January 13, 2009

Thanks to Bush’s Press Conference we can now rest easily…

We all breathed a sigh of relief after Bush had his final Press Conference. After eight years of thinking that it was our President who was screwing up everything, he made it clear that it was other folks and that he leaves office with his head held high.

Like, now I know that he made an immediate response to Hurricane Katrina. When we thought he was really attending McCain Birthday Celebrations and playing the guitar at country music celebrations, he was actually removing 30,000 victims from New Orleans’ roofs.

Obama ready to pressure Congress on bailout funds

January 13, 2009

A week shy of taking office, President-elect Barack Obama already is putting his persuasion skills to a high-stakes test with Congress as he seeks access to the second half of the $700 billion financial bailout fund.

Obama planned to be in the Capitol on Tuesday to meet with Senate Democrats. And his transition team prepared to dispatch top aides to meet with Senate Republicans this week in anticipation of a possible vote Thursday on whether to release the money from the embattled Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Hillary Clinton intervened for some of Bill’s donors

January 13, 2009

Secretary of State appointee Hillary Rodham Clinton intervened at least six times in government issues directly affecting companies and others that later contributed to her husband’s foundation, an Associated Press review of her official correspondence found.

Senate leaders agree to seat Burris

January 13, 2009

Reversing course, Senate Democrats grudgingly accepted embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s hand-selected Senate appointee, Roland Burris, as they sought to break an impasse over President-elect Barack Obama’s former seat.

The new Illinois senator is expected to be sworn into office later this week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois made the announcement in a joint statement Monday, saying Burris "is now the senator-designate from Illinois and, as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a senator-elect."

George W. Bush at his best…and worst

January 13, 2009

Picture Lincoln, in the throes of the Civil War, suddenly mocking his critics in a nyah-nyah voice. Imagine Theodore Roosevelt, leaving office, lamenting out loud about how hated he was by Standard Oil. Summon an image of FDR cracking wise about his wheelchair and grousing about the nasty things Hitler was saying about him.

Clinton appears set for easy confirmation

January 13, 2009

From the disappointment of a failed White House bid, Hillary Rodham Clinton is on the threshold of the world’s stage as chief diplomat for the Democrat who defeated her.

Clinton appeared set to sail smoothly through a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, despite concerns among some lawmakers that the global fundraising of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, could pose ethical conflicts for her as President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state.