thedrifter
03-27-09, 11:38 AM
Mar 27, 2009
Afghan plan due today; marathon battle ahead over financial regulation; budget moves forward
Good morning.
Today's news looks like it will be dominated by an announcement from President Obama that he's planning to send 4,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Those forces would be on top of the 17,000 additional troops the president has already ordered to go there. Once all the troops arrive, about 59,000 U.S. military personnel will be in Afghanistan.
The president is due to discuss his team's new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan during a 9:25 a.m. ET event at the White House. Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic writes that "people who have been briefed" tell him that the plan "codifies for the first time Iran's role in regional diplomacy, emphasizes counterterrorism as the primary mission of U.S. policy, and includes a multi-modal surge of civilians and economic aid to both countries."
(Photo: In southwestern Afghanistan on Thursday, U.S. Marines on patrol handed out candy to children. By John Moore of Getty Images. USA TODAY's Jim Michaels is with Marines in Afghanistan. Follow him on Twitter.)
Also today, Obama meets with CEOs from some of the nation's largest banks. The White House says he will "reiterate his belief that getting the economy back on track will require an understanding that each of us must look beyond our own short-term interests to the wider set of obligations we have to each other."
As for other stories making headlines, they include:
-- The New York Times -- Treasury's plan to reform financial regulation starts "marathon" battle: "Industry groups are already mobilizing to block restrictions they oppose and win new protections they have wanted for years. Even though (Treasury Secretary Timothy) Geithner carefully avoided specific details, laying out mostly broad principles for overhauling the system, financial industry groups are identifying issues they plan to pursue and lining up well-connected lobbyists and publicists to help make their cases. If history is any guide, Mr. Geithner's proposals will start an equally intense battle among the regulatory agencies themselves -- including the alphabet soup of banking regulators, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve -- to stay in business and enhance their authority."
-- The Washington Post -- Dems agree on $3.6 trillion budget: "Congressional Democrats have advanced a streamlined version of President Obama's first budget request, as committees in both chambers endorsed a $3.5 trillion spending plan that clears the way for lawmakers to pursue the president's most ambitious and costly initiatives."
-- The Wall Street Journal -- President goes "all in" with his budget plan: "The budget attempts to launch at the outset most of the big policy initiatives the president has in mind for his term. It has money for a new health plan, envisions a cap-and-trade system for limiting so-called greenhouse gases, invests big money in alternative energy, and continues the flow of dollars into education started in the economic-stimulus package. Its sweep is striking, which cheers Obama partisans who want bold strokes. But it also is a real gamble. It has scared some important constituencies, including moderate Democrats who fear the deficits it could create, and business backers such as Warren Buffett, who worry its broad ambitions will divert attention from core economic problems. It has drawn new attention to deficits, united Republicans in opposition, and made it easier for critics to paint the president as a traditional big-spending liberal."
-- Townhall.com (conservative) -- Republicans release budget "pamphlet": Townhall posts an Associated Press report that says, "House Republicans released their response to President Barack Obama's deficit-laden budget Thursday -- a glossy pamphlet short on detail and long on campaign-style talking points. It promises to simplify the tax code and cut income tax rates to 10% for people making $100,000 or less. The brochure itself promises to cut domestic spending below current levels, and that pledge seems to include Social Security and Medicare. Republican aide Matt Lloyd clarified later that the politically sensitive programs won't face outright cuts. It's impossible to determine the projected deficit based on their offering."
Talking Points Memo (liberal) -- White House spokesman Robert Gibbs "mocks House GOP ' budget.' "
The GOP release -- The Republican Road to Recovery -- is posted here.
-- Ben Smith at Politico -- Pentagon says it hasn't banned the phrase "global war on terror": "Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell calls to make clear that nobody has banned the phrase 'global war on terror.' 'I have used and continue to use that term, as do many here in the building. But there are alternatives that are just as fitting,' he said. 'We are not wed to any one nomenclature. ... We are still actively engaged in a global war against terror.' "
Ellie
Afghan plan due today; marathon battle ahead over financial regulation; budget moves forward
Good morning.
Today's news looks like it will be dominated by an announcement from President Obama that he's planning to send 4,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Those forces would be on top of the 17,000 additional troops the president has already ordered to go there. Once all the troops arrive, about 59,000 U.S. military personnel will be in Afghanistan.
The president is due to discuss his team's new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan during a 9:25 a.m. ET event at the White House. Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic writes that "people who have been briefed" tell him that the plan "codifies for the first time Iran's role in regional diplomacy, emphasizes counterterrorism as the primary mission of U.S. policy, and includes a multi-modal surge of civilians and economic aid to both countries."
(Photo: In southwestern Afghanistan on Thursday, U.S. Marines on patrol handed out candy to children. By John Moore of Getty Images. USA TODAY's Jim Michaels is with Marines in Afghanistan. Follow him on Twitter.)
Also today, Obama meets with CEOs from some of the nation's largest banks. The White House says he will "reiterate his belief that getting the economy back on track will require an understanding that each of us must look beyond our own short-term interests to the wider set of obligations we have to each other."
As for other stories making headlines, they include:
-- The New York Times -- Treasury's plan to reform financial regulation starts "marathon" battle: "Industry groups are already mobilizing to block restrictions they oppose and win new protections they have wanted for years. Even though (Treasury Secretary Timothy) Geithner carefully avoided specific details, laying out mostly broad principles for overhauling the system, financial industry groups are identifying issues they plan to pursue and lining up well-connected lobbyists and publicists to help make their cases. If history is any guide, Mr. Geithner's proposals will start an equally intense battle among the regulatory agencies themselves -- including the alphabet soup of banking regulators, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve -- to stay in business and enhance their authority."
-- The Washington Post -- Dems agree on $3.6 trillion budget: "Congressional Democrats have advanced a streamlined version of President Obama's first budget request, as committees in both chambers endorsed a $3.5 trillion spending plan that clears the way for lawmakers to pursue the president's most ambitious and costly initiatives."
-- The Wall Street Journal -- President goes "all in" with his budget plan: "The budget attempts to launch at the outset most of the big policy initiatives the president has in mind for his term. It has money for a new health plan, envisions a cap-and-trade system for limiting so-called greenhouse gases, invests big money in alternative energy, and continues the flow of dollars into education started in the economic-stimulus package. Its sweep is striking, which cheers Obama partisans who want bold strokes. But it also is a real gamble. It has scared some important constituencies, including moderate Democrats who fear the deficits it could create, and business backers such as Warren Buffett, who worry its broad ambitions will divert attention from core economic problems. It has drawn new attention to deficits, united Republicans in opposition, and made it easier for critics to paint the president as a traditional big-spending liberal."
-- Townhall.com (conservative) -- Republicans release budget "pamphlet": Townhall posts an Associated Press report that says, "House Republicans released their response to President Barack Obama's deficit-laden budget Thursday -- a glossy pamphlet short on detail and long on campaign-style talking points. It promises to simplify the tax code and cut income tax rates to 10% for people making $100,000 or less. The brochure itself promises to cut domestic spending below current levels, and that pledge seems to include Social Security and Medicare. Republican aide Matt Lloyd clarified later that the politically sensitive programs won't face outright cuts. It's impossible to determine the projected deficit based on their offering."
Talking Points Memo (liberal) -- White House spokesman Robert Gibbs "mocks House GOP ' budget.' "
The GOP release -- The Republican Road to Recovery -- is posted here.
-- Ben Smith at Politico -- Pentagon says it hasn't banned the phrase "global war on terror": "Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell calls to make clear that nobody has banned the phrase 'global war on terror.' 'I have used and continue to use that term, as do many here in the building. But there are alternatives that are just as fitting,' he said. 'We are not wed to any one nomenclature. ... We are still actively engaged in a global war against terror.' "
Ellie