Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says negotiators are discussing a new plan to save General Motors and Chrysler LLC. Reid, D-Nev., wouldn't give details but said it would be different than the plan passed by the House on Wednesday night or the alternative put forward today by Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker - which would place stricter demands on automakers and the UAW.
Right now, it is not believed that Reid and Senate Democrats have the 60 votes needed to end debate and approve the legislation as written. Reid said another senator had offered the new proposal but didn't say who.
But, he said, if negotiators are able to work out the proposal "the bill would overwhelmingly pass the Senate," perhaps as early as Thursday night, and then be sent to the House for consideration.
Obviously, the devil is in the details, which are currently not available. However, we have already given a lot away, so I am wary of what further concessions have been made.
NASA administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is "not qualified" to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.
In a heated 40-minute conversation last week with Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator who heads the space transition team, a red-faced Griffin demanded to speak directly to Obama, according to witnesses.
In addition, Griffin is scripting NASA employees and civilian contractors on what they can tell the transition team and has warned aerospace executives not to criticize the agency's moon program, sources said.
Warning people not to criticize certain governmental programs, restricting the flow of information, and calling the new administration "not qualified." Delightful. Time to fire Griffin. Obviously, this is a prime and particularly gratuitous example of why personnel matter: some personnel simply don't follow executive policy. Also, last year at Netroots Nation I made the case for why the netroots should care about space policy. You can read it here.
Also, the most recent poll in for the Democratic primary shows Attorney General Lisa Madigan at 32%, Illinois Veteran's Affairs head Tammy Duckworth at 18%, Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. at 11%, and Schakowsky at 10%. Jackson has fallen from a large lead two weeks ago, after he was identified as "Senate Candidate #5" in the Blagojevich investigation. He has not, however, been accused of any wrongdoing and is not under investigation.
In the increasingly heated battle for Secretary of the Interior, Raul Grialva (excellent choice, endorsed by over 100 environmental orgs) and Mike Thompson (bad choice, corporate Blue Dog) both appear to be out:
Last week, California Rep. Mike Thompson, D, and Arizona Rep. Raul M. Grijalva were considered top contenders, but sources close the transition say that "problems and concerns" have arisen with both candidates. New names emerging this week to fill the Interior slot include two former assistant secretaries of the Interior in the Clinton administration: Kevin Gover, now director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, and John Berry, now director of the National Zoo.
Looks like a compromise choice will be made. At least such an appointment will have loads of experience, and not suck.
However, can I just say that I do not enjoy having to cheer for my conference in addition to cheering for my team? I already expend enough emotional energy supporting Syracuse, that having to support the other 15 teams in the Big East when they play non-conference games is simply exhausting. Further, the other teams in the Big East are Syracuse's main rivals, so why should I even cheer for them at all when they are playing non-conference opponents? I don't get this aspect of sports fandom. Why do the teams you cheer against for most of the year suddenly become teams you support just because they represent your conference or division in the playoffs? Doesn't make any sense to me.
This is an open thread, too. Let those thoughts in your head seep out into the Internet in comment form.
Several weeks ago, I was at the bar in the National Democratic Club and Jesse Jackson, Jr. sat down a few stools away. He was apparently on a phone call with a hands-free set.
The conversation turned to Obama's seat if he is elected and he mentioned that Schakowsky was angling for it but that he thought it was "too soon" (ironic since this would be replacing Obama's seat).
Jesse Jackson, Jr. was elected to Congress in Illinois four years ahead of her... So does that mean he wants the seat? I guarantee it.
This email confirms a couple of things. First, Jan Schakowsky clearly is trying very hard to be Obama's replacement should he become President, and apparently this isn't even much of a secret in Illinois political circles. Second, as great as she is, Schakowsky is not the only potentially excellent replacement for Obama. If you want a ahrd core, progressive backbencher, Jesse Jackson Jr. would fill that role nicely.
So, now we have two potentially excellent replacements, Schakowsky and Jackson. Also, there have been rumors about two not quite so great replacements, Rahm Emanuel and Tammy Duckworth. Should be some interesting maneuvering. Frankly, I really wish this was a public primary, because this is the sort of primary campaign where I would jump at the chance to get involved.
Word is U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who's angling to be Obama's replacement, has been grabbing the Excedrin bottle lately -- ever since Duckworth's name appeared in Sneed's column.
Now, if you can get beyond the rather absurd self-aggrandizement of the columnist who, while writing in the third person, claiming that Schakowsky has someone suffered physical pain as a result of his column, you can focus on the very hopeful news that Rep. Jan Schakowsky is looking to be Obama's replacement in the Senate.
This is a hopeful sign. Obama in the White House, and Schakowsky in the Senate, would be a significant improvement on the current political situation. Not only would be get the trifecta, but we would continue to increase the budding progressive network in the Senate, too. She is the clear cut choice for Obama's replacement, and I'd love to find some ways to help her out.
To be a part of the Bush Dog Democrat campaign, sign up here.
First let me say that I live in Brian's district and am active in my county's Democratic Party chapter. Secondly, let me say that I have commented previously on this matter to the effect that we will have a primary opponent for Mr. Baird next August.
local activist Paul Spencer, commenting on Open Left
"It could well cost me the next election," Baird said at the end of the meeting. "That's alright."
The campaign was covered in USA Today, on Fox News, the Politico, and in the New York Observer. Anonymous Democratic strategists are attacking me with the straw man argument that criticism will jeopardize Democratic seats, wingnuts are flipping out, and some local Democrats are very very angry. I've heard of possible primary challenges in several districts where Bush Dog Democrats are in power.
It's really amazing what a little criticism from a few of us can do.
