Not long before some of the front-pagers started writing about the duplicitous nature of Lieberman, Politico ran this story:

W.H. to Reid: Cut deal with Lieberman

The White House is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to cut a deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), which would mean eliminating the proposed Medicare expansion in the health reform bill, according to an official close to the negotiations.

But Reid is described as so frustrated with Lieberman that he is not ready to sacrifice a key element of the health care bill, and first wants to see the Congressional Budget Office cost analysis of the Medicare buy-in. The analysis is expected early this week.

"There is a weariness and a lot of frustration that one person is holding up the will of 59 others," the official said. "There is still too much anger and confusion at one particular senator's reversal."

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Star Wars? Quite the contrary, in fact.
Effective and sensible leadership? Yes We Can.

Our Democratic President, along with his Defense Secretary and formidable White House staff, have pulled off a major accomplishment and can claim victory over the Industrial Military Complex. The people who follow such things say this is surprising. I, on the other hand, think it's just plain awesome!

NYT
By CHRISTOPHER DREW
Published: October 28, 2009

When the Obama administration proposed canceling a host of expensive weapons systems last spring, some of the military industry's allies in Congress assumed, as they had in the past, that they would have the final say.

Congressional lapdogs and revolving door aspirants, many who are seasoned geezers used to getting their way (and subsequent big $$$ from lobbyists), had a bit of schooling, it would seem, from the new kids up the street...

Military analysts said Mr. Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration, also aimed at the most bloated programs. And Senator John McCain of Arizona, the former Republican presidential candidate, who has criticized the Pentagon's cost overruns, provided Mr. Obama with political cover to make the cuts without being seen as soft on the military.

"They probably get an `A' from the standpoint of their success on their major initiatives," said Fred Downey, a former Senate aide who is now vice president for national security at the Aerospace Industries Association. "They probably got all of them but one or maybe two, and that's an extraordinarily high score."

I'll give you minute for that to sink in.

Still, even White House officials say they were surprised at how far they got in reshaping the weapons programs.

"In terms of sort of bringing fiscal responsibility to Washington and changing the way the place works, you couldn't have picked a more challenging area than the defense budget," said Rob Nabors, the deputy director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget.

Good work, Mr. President. Keep it coming.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/busine ss/29defense.html?_r=2&ref=politics

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To get serious reform, it seems that the Democrats must act without any Republican support. So President Obama must bring the recalcitrant Democrats into line. I suggested earlier that if the threat to run a primary challenge against them doesn't work, Obama should lock each one in a room where Rahm Emanuel can speak to them while Reggie Love hovers. Maybe he should add one more persuader - Serena Williams.

homer  www.altara.blogspot.com

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A few days ago I wrote a diary pointing out AP bashing Bill Clinton about donations to his foundation and I was poo-poophed by many of you.

They are at it again trying to bash our chief of staff Rahm. They are clearly trying to drive a wedge. Most repugs are really scared
of RE because they know he is quite capable of dislodging a part of their anatomy without notice.

He is what the cowards from AP say:

But there was always one call Blagojevich regularly took, say his aides, and that was from Rahm Emanuel -- his congressman, his one-time campaign adviser and, more recently -- and troubling for Emanuel -- one of his contacts with President-elect Barack Obama's transition staff.

The friendly rapport Blagojevich and Emanuel shared over the years has suddenly become a troubling liability for Emanuel and the new president he will serve as chief of staff.

So bloody what?? Is it a crime for Rahm to talk to Blogo? FU AP we don't care!

Emanuel did contact the governor's office about the appointment and left Blagojevich with the impression that he was pushing Valerie Jarrett, a close Obama friend, so he wouldn't have to compete with her in the White House for Obama's attention, said a person close to Blagojevich. The person was not authorized to talk about the governor's discussions regarding the vacancy and requested anonymity.

It was not clear whether Blagojevich inferred Emanuel's motive for advocating Jarrett, or whether Emanuel discussed the appointment with Blagojevich directly or with John Harris, the governor's then-chief of staff who also is charged in the case, according to the source.

Emanuel's refusal to discuss the matter publicly, and the few comments offered by Obama to date, have prompted questions about Emanuel's ties to Blagojevich and what fallout he'll face as the criminal case unfolds, although sources have said he is not a target of prosecutors. Even so, any hint of scandal for Emanuel threatens to tarnish Obama's promise of new political leadership free of scandal and corruption.

I think BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE and TAMMY WEBBER should get a life. Looks like they are paid by AP to bash. AP gives a cover for other to quote them.

The bottom line is the chief of staff of a President elect talked to the Governor about the President elect's vacant Senate seat. What is wrong with it??

I would like to assume that it is news because it is a slow news day bat I tell you I have my own doubts.

Here is the article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081220/ap_o n_re_us/illinois_governor_emanuel

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Why defund Cheney only as part of the Executive Branch?  Why not cut off all his funding?

You're probably aware that in response to the Cheney's/Addington's argument that the Office of the Vice President does not need to comply with executive branch recordkeeping requirements, Rahm Emmanuel has discussed offering legislation in the House that would de-fund the OVP as part of the Executive Branch.  

It's an interesting thought.  It also opens up another avenue for Congress to rein in Cheney.  Don't just cut the OVP's executive branch funding, which would essentially be a symbolic act (the OVP can borrow funds from other executive agencies, or have discretionary funds allocated to it) -- legislate to prohibit the OVP from spending federal funds for any purpose that is not constitutionally required of the VP.  And define violation of that legislation as a an crime and an impeachable offense.

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