President Obama took a harsher tone this week as he implored Congress to pass his economic plan in the next few days. "We are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that, for the last eight years, doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin." Obama went on to say that tax cuts alone as a way to stimulate the economy are "a losing formula." He chastised those who call the measure simply a spending bill: "What do you think a stimulus is? That's the whole point!"
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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent surgery yesterday for pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. The court released a statement saying that the cancer, in the very early stages, was uncovered during a routine scan in early January. Ginsburg, 75, had experienced no symptoms prior to the discovery.
Two of President Obama’s cabinet nominees withdrew their names from consideration on Tuesday, both because of failure to pay taxes. First, Nancy Killefer withdrew as Obama’s Chief Performance Officer, a new post in the administration, followed hours later with the withdrawal of Former Senator Tom Daschle as head the Department of Human and Health Services. President’s Obama’s response to this - “I screwed up.”
Leon Panetta, Obama’s choice to head the Central Intelligence Agency, appears to be headed to confirmation, though he has no intelligence experience. The former Democratic congressman was warmly greeted at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Even the committee's chairwoman, California Senator Dianne Feinstein, previously one of Panetta's sharpest critics, strongly praised him.
"It's very safe and fair for me to say that he has a reputation for intelligence and integrity, and that certainly has been my personal experience with him."
The White House is downplaying a link between Republican Senator Judd Gregg, nominated by President Obama for Commerce Secretary on Tuesday, and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A former legislative director for Gregg, identified as “Staffer F” in recent court documents related to the Abramoff scandal, allegedly took sporting tickets and other gifts valued at $10,000 in exchange for legislative favors. “Staffer F” left Gregg’s office four years ago, and has not been charged with a crime. There is no indication that Gregg had any involvement in the schemes.
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