Barack Obama: Latest News on the Former President - Page 169

Dec 17, 2008 12:55 PM CST

Hillary to Supporters: Lay Off Caroline

Clinton's not holding any primary grudges, and not taking sides

(Newser) - To those Clintonites bashing Caroline Kennedy—the Democratic scion who threw her weight behind Barack Obama in the hard-fought primaries—Hillary Clinton has a message: Pipe down, the New York Daily News reports. Clinton insiders say the soon-to-be secretary of State understands "She's got to be part of the...

Obama Is Time's
Person of the Year

Glossies

Dec 17, 2008 9:59 AM CST

Obama Is Time's Person of the Year

Winning election was remarkable, but quick, confident transition seals deal for mag

(Newser) - Barack Obama “hit the American scene like a thunderclap, upended our politics, and shattered decades of conventional wisdom” on his way to the White House, David Von Drehle writes, and those things alone might make him Time’s person of the year. But already Obama has moved into a...

Obama Dials GOP Just to Say Hi

Dec 17, 2008 9:10 AM CST

Obama Dials GOP Just to Say Hi

Prez-elect on charm offensive with key Republican legislators

(Newser) - As Barack Obama readies a massive agenda, he’s been keeping key Republicans on speed-dial, the Hill reports. Though he seemed more comfortable with big crowds during the campaign, the prez-elect is reaching out to touch Republicans likely to be both adversaries and collaborators alike. “I think this seems...

Obama Reviews
Abortion Rules

Dec 17, 2008 8:07 AM CST

Obama Reviews Abortion Rules

Bush's abstinence initiatives, Reagan's 'gag rule' could go way of dodo.

(Newser) - Barack Obama’s transition team is hard at work deciding how and when to undo the Bush administration’s abortion policies, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bush’s ban on federal stem cell research funding will be among the first to go—a move that has broad bipartisan support—along...

Obama Will Face
Shuttle Dilemma

Dec 17, 2008 6:37 AM CST

Obama Will Face Shuttle Dilemma

NASA to transition team: We have a problem

(Newser) - America's aging space shuttle fleet will pose some tough questions for Barack Obama, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Bush administration has recommended the shuttle be mothballed by 2010. To avoid leaving a potentially crippling 5-year gap in America's manned space flight program, Obama's NASA team will need to decide...

White House Preps Crisis Scenarios for Obama Team

Dec 17, 2008 6:15 AM CST

White House Preps Crisis Scenarios for Obama Team

Bush administration strives to stop transition period becoming a security weak spot

(Newser) - The White House has drawn up more than a dozen contingency plans to help Barack Obama if a crisis erupts early in his presidency, the New York Times reports. The briefings go way beyond what other administrations have prepared and deal with potential threats ranging from a North Korean nuclear...

Obama on Ed Pick: Gifted Leader (and Great Jump Shot)

Dec 16, 2008 1:29 PM CST

Obama on Ed Pick: Gifted Leader (and Great Jump Shot)

Also promises reform and stuff

(Newser) - Barack Obama introduced Arne Duncan as his secretary of education pick today, lauding the Chicago educator's accomplishments in reforming the country's third-largest school district, and noting that he's also a longtime basketball buddy who has a better jump shot than the president-elect. “I didn't pick Arne because he's a...

Obama Picks Duncan
for Education Secretary

Dec 15, 2008 6:49 PM CST

Obama Picks Duncan for Education Secretary

(Newser) - Barack Obama has chosen Chicago schools reformer Arne Duncan for secretary of education, the Wall Street Journal reports. During his 7 years as Chicago schools chief, Duncan has been known for hiring new teachers and closing struggling schools without alienating unions. He is also friendly with Obama and plays pick-up...

Electoral College Needs Rehab

OPINION

Dec 15, 2008 6:32 PM CST

Electoral College Needs Rehab

State-level apportioning is the only viable way towards electing the president by popular vote

(Newser) - The 538 electors chosen to represent the will of the people cast their ballots for president today, officially ending the contest between Barack Obama and John McCain, writes Randall Lane for the New York Times. The otherwise-predictable ritual included a twist: a Nebraska elector voting for the candidate who won...

Obama Unveils Energy Team

Dec 15, 2008 5:24 PM CST

Obama Unveils Energy Team

Green leaders will help America kick the oil habit, fight global warming, he says

(Newser) - Promising to end America's oil addiction and combat global warming, Barack Obama rolled out his environment and energy team today, the Boston Globe reports. He chose Nobel laureate Steven Chu for energy secretary; New Jersey official Lisa Jackson for EPA; Los Angeles deputy mayor Nancy Sutley to lead a White...

Fast-Track New Stimulus: Pelosi

Dec 15, 2008 5:02 PM CST

Fast-Track New Stimulus: Pelosi

(Newser) - Congressional Democrats are looking to fast-track a $600 billion economic stimulus package in the first weeks of the New Year, the Washington Post reports. Nancy Pelosi said today lawmakers are working with the Obama transition team to craft the plan, which is smaller than the $1 trillion scheme floated earlier....

Obama Camp Sits On List of Blago Contacts

Dec 15, 2008 3:27 PM CST

Obama Camp Sits On List of Blago Contacts

No 'inappropriate discussions' by staff, but details must wait

(Newser) - Barack Obama's transition team has completed its review of contacts with Rod Blagojevich and his staff, but the US attorney has asked that details not be released while the investigation of the disgraced governor proceeds, the Chicago Tribune reports. A rep cut to the chase: “The president-elect’s staff...

Kennedy Will
Pursue Senate Seat

Dec 15, 2008 1:55 PM CST

Kennedy Will Pursue Senate Seat

President's daughter, aiming to replace Clinton, has never held elective office

(Newser) - After weeks of mulling it over, Caroline Kennedy has decided to ask New York Gov. David Paterson to consider her for the US Senate seat Hillary Clinton is about to vacate, the New York Times reports. Kennedy, 51, an author and philanthropist, has never held elective office but has been...

Obama's Halo Undimmed by Blago: Poll

Dec 15, 2008 1:27 PM CST

Obama's Halo Undimmed by Blago: Poll

Voters want more info about prez-elect's involvement in scandal

(Newser) - The Rod Blagojevich scandal has done little to dent Barack Obama’s approval ratings, according to ABC’s polling guru: More than three-quarters of those surveyed give his handling of the transition a thumbs-up. But just 51% say Obama has done enough to explain his team’s discussions with the...

Aspirations Dashed,
Mac May Actually Be Helpful

Analysis

Dec 15, 2008 12:34 PM CST

Aspirations Dashed, Mac May Actually Be Helpful

Others have vowed to help victorious opponent, but GOP senator really might

(Newser) - Every losing presidential candidate pledges to put aside partisanship and help the new president govern, but John McCain might be the first to actually do it, writes Steve Kornacki in the New York Observer. McCain is still in office, yet, at 72, “has absolutely no illusions about ever running...

Obama Will Train It to Inaugural

Dec 15, 2008 12:00 PM CST

Obama Will Train It to Inaugural

Train journey from Philadelphia to capital via Baltimore echoes Lincoln's historic ride

(Newser) - Barack Obama will follow in Abraham Lincoln's tracks by taking a train to Washington for his inauguration, the New York Daily News reports. The president-elect plans to set off from Philadelphia on January 17, stopping in Wilmington—where Joe Biden will hop aboard—and Baltimore before entering the capital by...

Spouses Put Obama's
Lobbying Rules to Test

Dec 15, 2008 10:40 AM CST

Spouses Put Obama's Lobbying Rules to Test

President-elect struggles with ethical promises

(Newser) - The spouses of some of Barack Obama’s top appointees are lobbyists, the New York Times reports, presenting a test to strict ethics policies the Democrat pushed on the campaign trail. Health Secretary-designate Tom Daschle’s wife, Linda, is one of Washington’s top aviation lobbyists, and reported energy-czar pick...

Special Election Gains Ground With Blago

Dec 15, 2008 9:55 AM CST

Special Election Gains Ground With Blago

Guv unlikely to quit, but would give up naming Obama successor

(Newser) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, under indictment for trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat, would likely now approve a bill authorizing a special election to fill the post, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times. Blagojevich—who insiders now say has decided not to resign—wants the measure to apply to...

Brown Hints
He'd Nix Obama
Plea for Troops

Dec 15, 2008 2:44 AM CST

Brown Hints He'd Nix Obama Plea for Troops

Time for other nations to step up in Afghanistan, warns prime minister

(Newser) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hinted that Britain would defy a request by Barack Obama to send 2,000 more troops to Afghanistan, the Times of London reports. After hearing of bleak progress there against the resurging Taliban, Brown warned that other nations will have to shoulder further deployments....

GOP Video Spotlights Obama-Blago Ties

Dec 14, 2008 8:01 PM CST