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Week Ahead: Saturday Night Fever
THE WEEK AHEAD: Congress is back for another Saturday night health care vote, Obama's first state dinner, Palin's tour continues, plus a special peek inside the First Read Man Cave with a special goateed guest. Happy Thanksgiving.
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White House
Barack Obama
Sarah Palin
Obama Gallup approval drops below 50%
From NBC's Domenico MontanaroPresident Obama has now dropped, for the first time, below 50% approval in the Gallup poll. It's the second poll this week to show that result.
This puts Obama on par with Ronald Reagan, who also fell below 50% 10 months ...
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White House
Barack Obama
Gallup Poll
Ronald Reagan
Bill Clinton
Approval Ratings
Nelson's a 'yes'
From NBC's Ken Strickland As was expected after Sen. Ben Nelson 's (D-NE) statement yesterday explaining what a vote for cloture would mean, he has now released a statement saying that he will vote with Democrats.
His full written statement ...
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Congress
Bill Nelson
Lincoln 'still reviewing' health bill
From NBC's Ken StricklandAfter reading reports that Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) has already told Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) how she'll vote tomorrow on issue of whether to bring the healthcare bill to the floor, Lincoln's office was ...
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Congress
Blanche Lincoln
Harry Reid
Dick Durbin
Durbin: Lincoln has told Reid
From NBC's Ken StricklandAt a news conference this morning, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) pre-emptively gave the his answer to the question everyone's been asking over the past few weeks: does Majority Leader Harry Reid have the 60 votes needed to bring the ...
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Congress
Dick Durbin
Harry Reid
Blanche Lincoln
First thoughts: More Sat. Night Fever
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** More Saturday Night Fever: The Senate is expected to take its vote to proceed on Senate Majority Leader Reid’s bill on Saturday. Democrats will need 60 votes -- i.e., their entire ...
Obama agenda: A very rough Thursday
“Growing discontent over the economy and frustration with efforts to speed its recovery boiled over Thursday on Capitol Hill in a wave of criticism and outright anger directed at the Obama administration,” the Washington Post writes. “President ...
Congress: Opt out of opt out?
Per the Washington Post, the Congressional Budget Office said the public option “opt out” in Reid’s bill “would have relatively little impact on the current system, would charge ‘somewhat higher’ premiums than its private competitors and would draw ...
GOP watch: Don't call it a comeback?
Covering the RGA meeting, Salon’s Mike Madden wonders if the GOP talk about a comeback is just, well, talk. “So what if the only thing voters like less than the Democrats in Congress might be the Republicans in Congress? Who cares if the GOP has ...
2010: Rudy, Rudy, Rudy
COLORADO: Denver Post columnist Mike Rosen outlined a GOP policy platform drafted by several Republican gubernatorial candidates yesterday, calling it the “Contract for Colorado:” “The agenda [is] modeled on the winning reform recipes of Chris ...
Profiling and Palin's trip to Fort Hood
From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro Sarah Palin released the second leg of her “Going Rogue” book tour yesterday, including a stop in Fort Hood.
“I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in every stop on the tour, but I'm especially looking forward ...
GOP: Tax on breast reconstruction?
From NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell and Domenico Montanaro In the Reid healthcare bill, there is a new 5% tax on elective cosmetic surgery.
Today, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn , who is a physician and staunchly opposed to this legislation, ...
Germany cautious on more troops
From NBC’s Courtney Kube Despite the fact that Germany decided to extend their current commitment in Afghanistan earlier this week, the German Defense Minister said today that they will not commit to any additional troops there until after ...
Barbour wants KBH to remain in Senate
From NBC's Mark MurrayCEDAR CREEK, Tex. -- Given that this year's Republican Governors Association meeting is taking place here in Texas, reporters today asked RGA Chairman Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi, to weigh in on the Rick ...
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Congress
Haley Barbour
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Republican National Committee
Rudy: Will he or won't he?
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Mark Murray The New York Times reported that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani "has decided not to run for governor of New York next year after months of mulling a candidacy," citing "people who have ...
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Other
Rudy Giuliani
The New York Times
Republican National Committee
Reid: Crucial vote Saturday
From NBC's Ken Strickland Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today said the crucial vote to bring the legislation to the floor will happen "sometime" Saturday. But he was uncertain he had to 60 votes required to start debate.
"We'll find out ...
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Congress
Harry Reid
Joe Lieberman
Susan Collins
Mullen: Obama Afghan. decision soon
From NBC’s Betsy ClineChairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen said today the president's decision on troop levels was imminent for Afghanistan, though he didn't know exactly when.
In response to a question about what worries him most, Mullen ...
GOP governors criticize Sen. health bill
From NBC's Mark Murray CEDAR CREEK, Tex. -- More than a dozen Republican governors held a press conference at the Republican Governors Association meeting here outside of Austin, TX, to argue that both the House and Senate healthcare bills would ...
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Other
Medicaid
First thoughts: GOP govs take the stage
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali WeinbergCEDAR CREEK, Tex. -- At yesterday's public events at the Republican Governors Association’s annual meeting here just outside of Austin, there wasn’t anything resembling the boisterous ...
Obama agenda: The final day in Asia
“After taking his message as the ‘first Pacific president’ through four countries in eight days, President Obama wrapped up his tour of Asia on Thursday with talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and a planned visit to U.S. troops stationed ...
Congress: Reid gets his score
The Boston Globe on the Senate bill: “Senate majority leader Harry Reid unveiled his long-awaited version of a sweeping health care bill last night, setting the stage for a tense Senate showdown pitting Republicans against a fragile and fractured ...
GOP watch: Palin heads to Indiana
Sarah Palin, a former high school point guard, heads to the basketball-crazy Hoosier state today on the second day of her “Going Rogue” book tour. Here’s Andrea Mitchell’s report on NBC Nightly News last night from Grand Rapids, Mich., including ...
2010: KBH to air first big TV ad
COLORADO : "The Republican race to challenge Rep. Betsy Markey (D) is getting crowded ." Markey knocked off a three-term Republican incumbent for Colorado's 4th Congressional seat last year, and, as of Tuesday night, faces a third Republican ...
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Congress
Betsy Markey
Axelrod answers critics of Asia trip
From NBC's Athena Jones SEOUL -- President Obama's trip to Asia was a success, so declared White House senior adviser David Axelrod in response to questions about just what has been accomplished during the president's weeklong first foray to ...
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White House
David Axelrod
Barack Obama
Washington, D.C
Lee Myung-bak
Senate health bill would cost $849 billion
From NBC's Ken StricklandThe Congressional Budget Office numbers on the Senate health bill are just in:
Cost: $849 billion
94 percent of Americans are covered
Reduces the uninsured Americans by $31 million
Reduces the deficit by $127 billion over the ...
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Other
Iraq veto could affect troop withdrawal
From NBC's Sue KrollU.S. offcials said Wednesday that the U.S. was disappointed by news that the Iraqi Vice President vetoed a key part of Iraq's election law.
"We urge the Iraqi leaders and parliament to to take quick action," State Department ...
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World
Iraq
Nelson's pre-defense?
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Sen. Ben Nelson sure sounds like he's leaning "yes" on a cloture vote with this statement below. He released the following after his meeting with Majority Leader Harry Reid this afternoon, and he sure goes out of ...
McCain defends Schmidt, Wallace
From NBC's Mark MurrayJohn McCain today picked up the phone and called Reuters to defend Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace -- who worked for him in the last year's presidential campaign -- from the charges that Sarah Palin has made about them in her ...
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White House
Sarah Palin
Jean Schmidt
Ft. Hood hearing tomorrow
From NBC's Amna Nawaz Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) confirmed in a press conference today, that their Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee investigation into the shootings at Fort Hood will continue, ...
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Congress
Joe Lieberman
Susan Collins
Homeland Security
9/11
Crucial meeting: Moderates meet with Reid
From NBC's Ken StricklandAre we getting close?
At 2:15 pm ET, Democratic moderate Sens. Ben Nelson (NE), Blanche Lincoln (AR) and Mary Landrieu (LA) all walked into Majority Leader Harry Reid's office together.
Democrats are clearly trying to get ...
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Congress
Harry Reid
Blanche Lincoln
Crist to attend RGA meeting after all
From NBC's Mark MurrayAUSTIN, Tex. -- Earlier today, we reported that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist would not be attending the Republican Governors Association meeting here. But an RGA official tells First Read that he will be attending the confab, and ...
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Congress
Charlie Crist
Marco Rubio
Giuliani criticizes NYC trial decision
From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani once again criticized the decision by the Justice Department to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who himself claims to be the 9/11 mastermind, in New York City.
On the day ...
Obama's last-minute health bill push
From NBC's Ken Strickland In what appears to be administration making a a last-minute push to curry votes for health care, Vice President Joe Biden is up there lobbying as is former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle .
Interior Secretary ...
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White House
Barack Obama
Joe Biden
Tom Daschle
Ken Salazar
Mark Pryor
Palin book means record sales in Mich.
From MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell and Adam VerdugoGRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Huge lines this morning meant a record number of book sales at the Grand Rapids Barnes & Noble.
A spokeswoman for Harper Collins tells NBC News more than 1,000 copies of "Going ...
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White House
Sarah Palin
Norah O'Donnell
Rudy's shift on terrorism trial
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro, Kelly Paice and Ali WeinbergWith Attorney General Eric Holder testifying on Capitol Hill today, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will take his shots on a conference call sponsored by the Republican National ...
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Law
Rudy Giuliani
General David Petraeus
Eric Holder
Republican National Committee
The New York Times
Chuck Todd's interview with Obama
From NBC's Ali Weinberg As we mentioned in First Thoughts , NBC's Chuck Todd sat down with President Obama to discuss Afghanistan, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, health care, the U.S. economy, and even reports about the president's weight loss. Below ...
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White House
Afghanistan
Barack Obama
Previewing today's RGA meeting
From NBC's Mark MurrayAUSTIN, Tex. -- When GOP governors huddled at the annual Republican Governors Association meeting a year ago in Miami, the party had just suffered another thumping at the polls, Sarah Palin was the unquestioned star attraction, ...
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White House
Republican National Committee
Sarah Palin
Tim Pawlenty
Charlie Crist
The media's hypocrisy on Palin
From NBC's Mark WhitakerSarah Palin hardly needs defending. She prides herself on being a supportive hockey mom, but she can lace on skates and deliver hard checks into the glass with the best of them. Still, while watching and listening to a lot of ...
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White House
Sarah Palin
The scene in Grand Rapids
From NBC's Andrea MitchellGRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- More than 1,500 people camped out overnight outside the Woodland Mall here for the chance to return later and get a book signed by Sarah Palin -- the first stop on her book tour.
People had driven for ...
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White House
Sarah Palin
Andrea Mitchell
First thoughts: Still weeks away
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** Still weeks away: In an interview with one of us from Beijing, President Obama said he was still weeks away from making a decision on Afghanistan. “I will announce my decision over ...
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World
Afghanistan
Obama agenda: Mission accomplished?
The New York Times : In six hours of meetings, at two dinners and during a stilted 30-minute news conference in which President Hu Jintao did not allow questions, President Obama was confronted, on his first visit, with a fast-rising China more ...
Congress: Byrd's milestone
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) today becomes the longest-serving member of Congress -- ever. There will be a resolution recognizing that today. “Setting records is old news to the white-maned Democratic lawmaker. Since June 12, 2006, Byrd has been the ...
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Robert Byrd
GOP watch: Deep in the heart of Texas
In a conference call yesterday previewing this week's two-day Republican Governors Association meeting in Austin, RGA Chairman Haley Barbour (also the governor of Mississippi) said the purpose of the meeting was "to celebrate and build on the ...
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Congress
Virginia Foxx
Haley Barbour
Republican National Committee
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Dick Cheney
2010: Jumping in on defense
The liberal group Americans United for Change says it’s announcing the first wave of a multi-million-dollar ad campaign to back up the 13 House Democrats (and one Republican) who voted for the health-care bill and who have been the target of the ...
Sen. 2010: local headlines
From NBC's Ali Weinberg A few weeks ago, First Read rated our top ten Senate races, in terms of the likelihood of switching parties. Here's our breakdown, again, starting with #1: CT, NV, CO, MO, NH, OH, IL, LA, PA, and KY. Below, a look at the ...
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Congress
Republican National Committee
John Ensign
U.S. criticizes Israeli settlement expansion
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Sue Kroll Despite Hillary Clinton 's recent praise for what she called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 's "unprecedented" steps on the controversial issue of settlements, the traveling White House has issued a ...
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White House
Andrea Mitchell
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Israel
Robert Gibbs
The fight over Ft. Hood hearings
From NBC's Pete WilliamsA group of House Republicans today called for a more aggressive schedule of congressional hearings into the Ft. Hood shootings, instead of waiting until the Army's investigation has run its course.
The Republicans say they want ...
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Congress
U.S. Army
Barack Obama
Brian Williams
Pete Sessions
Army suicides rise
From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube Despite the fact that the Pentagon just announced last Friday that 133 active duty soldiers have committed suicide so far in 2009, today the Army admitted that there have actually been 211 possible ...
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World
U.S. Army
Iraq
Afghanistan
GOP Reps bash Dem security, health care
From NBC's Wendy Jones Four members of the House GOP Conference, engaged in a little Democrat-bashing this morning, criticizing President Obama's antiterrorism strategy and "Speaker Pelosi's" health care plan.
Minority Leader ...
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White House
Homeland Security
Health care
Republican National Committee
John Boehner
Barack Obama
First thoughts: A productive day
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** A productive day: President Obama today finished up his most important and productive day of his trip. A day-long summit with the Chinese led to some new concessions from both ...
