Archive for May 8th, 2009
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Obama to reach out to Muslims in Egypt speech (Reuters)
Reuters – U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver a much anticipated speech to the Muslim world in Egypt next month, seeking to repair ties that were severely damaged under his predecessor George W. Bush. -
AFGHAN NOTEBOOK: CIA past shapes Gates’ outlook (AP)
AP – Defense Secretary Robert Gates looked over his shoulder Friday, not at the craggy, snowcapped peaks of Afghanistan or men in tribal dress behind him, but at his own role in walking away from the country years ago. -
WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Calls on Congress to Pass Credit Card Reform Bill
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Official who OK’d Air Force One jet flyover resigns
President Obama has accepted the resignation of Louis Caldera, the director of the White House Military Office responsible for the controversial low-altitude flyover of New York by a 747 plane used as Air Force One, the White House said Friday.
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Pelosi still explaining interrogation briefing (AP)
AP – It’s a political squall that won’t die: What did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi know about harsh questioning of detainees, and when did she know it? On Friday, the California Democrat was forced to issue yet another press release, reiterating her past assertions that she had been briefed in 2002 only on new interrogation techniques that had been deemed legal and were planned for future use. -
Sources: Senators weigh 3 government health plans (AP)
AP – Senators are considering three different designs for a new government health insurance plan that middle-income Americans could buy into for the first time, congressional officials said Friday. Officials familiar with the proposals said senators plan to debate them in a closed meeting next week. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the controversial plans have not been released. -
Background briefings irk W.H. press (Politico)
Politico – As Washington prepares for President Barack Obama’s first White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, members of the White House press corps are grumbling about a spate of background briefings by “senior administration officials” who can’t be quoted by name.
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Obama, Yemeni president talk Gitmo (AP)
AP – President Barack Obama has spoken directly with the president of Yemen about what to do with almost 100 Yemeni nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay, potentially easing the way for a mass transfer of prisoners away from the soon-to-be-closed U.S. facility.
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Admin wants Fed to oversee “systemic risk”: sources (Reuters)
Reuters – The Obama administration is expected to propose legislation by June calling for the U.S. Federal Reserve to play a central role in regulating systemic risk in the economy, trade association sources said on Friday.
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White House aide resigns over NYC flyover (AP)
AP – The White House official who authorized a $328,835 photo-op of Air Force One soaring above New York City resigned under fire Friday as the administration tried to move past the embarrassing incident that sent panicked workers rushing into the streets amid flashbacks of Sept. 11.
