Wednesday, January 10, 2007
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Compiled by Stephen Bach CNN Washington Bureau Making news today... Bush intends to hand control of the country to Iraqi forces by November, the official said Tuesday. "In consultation with Generals, military experts and troops who have served on the ground in Iraq, I believe securing Iraqi civilians requires additional troops," Romney said. President's Schedule: Also on the Political Radar: ================================================================= Political Hot Topics (Today's top political stories from news organizations across the country) BUSH PLANS TO SEND 20,000 MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ: President Bush on Wednesday night will announce a plan to send about 20,000 more troops to Iraq in an effort to pacify Baghdad, a U.S. official said. Bush intends to hand control of the country to Iraqi forces by November, the official said Tuesday. Most of the additional troops will be deployed in Baghdad, where American and Iraqi troops fought a 10-hour street battle with insurgents on Tuesday. But about 4,000 would be deployed to restive Anbar province, the heart of the Sunni Arab insurgency, the official said. The first troops in the new wave could be a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division that is already in Kuwait, Pentagon sources said. The official cautioned that the November date for Iraq control does not mean U.S. troops would withdraw by then. CNN: Official: Bush plans 20,000 more troops for Iraq "BUSH TO PULL AWAY FROM HIS GENERALS": When President Bush goes before the American people tonight to outline his new strategy for Iraq, he will be doing something he has avoided since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003: ordering his top military brass to take action they initially resisted and advised against. Bush talks frequently of his disdain for micromanaging the war effort and for second-guessing his commanders. "It's important to trust the judgment of the military when they're making military plans," he told The Washington Post in an interview last month. "I'm a strict adherer to the command structure." Washington Post: With Iraq Speech, Bush to Pull Away From His Generals DEMS WILL HOLD "SYMBOLIC VOTES" ON NEW PLAN IN HOUSE AND SENATE: Democratic leaders said Tuesday that they intended to hold symbolic votes in the House and Senate on President Bush's plan to send more troops to Baghdad, forcing Republicans to take a stand on the proposal and seeking to isolate the president politically over his handling of the war. Senate Democrats decided to schedule a vote on the resolution after a closed-door meeting on a day when Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts introduced legislation to require Mr. Bush to gain Congressional approval before sending more troops to Iraq. The Senate vote is expected as early as next week, after an initial round of committee hearings on the plan Mr. Bush will lay out for the nation... The office of Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, followed with an announcement that the House would also take up a resolution in opposition to a troop increase. New York Times: Democrats Plan Symbolic Votes Against Bush's Iraq Troop Plan "ESCALATION" VS. "SURGE": "Cut and run" versus "stay the course" is so 2006. This week has ushered in a new political battle over the language of the war: "Surge," meet "escalation." The Democrats introduced the latter word to portray President Bush's expected proposal for a troop increase in Iraq in a negative light. "An escalation, whether it is called a surge or any other name, is still an escalation, and I believe it will be an immense new mistake," Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, said Tuesday in a speech critiquing Mr. Bush's as-yet-unannounced Iraq plan. New York Times: Democrats Rush to Frame Political Debate Over Troops "100 HOURS" STARTS... AN HOUR LATE: Underneath the clack of the speaker's gavel and the steady hum of political machinery, there was a faint ticktock heard throughout Capitol Hill yesterday. The 100-hour clock had started to run, marking the beginning of the Democratic reign, which the new majority party said officially started at noon -- sort of. At first, the Democrats said the clock, found on Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer's Web site, would start at noon -- marking the beginning of their promise to push through a package of legislation that Americans want in the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress. Then they corrected their estimate, explaining the clock would not start counting the seconds until the opening of debate on the first piece of legislation, a measure related to the September 11 commission recommendations. It began just after 1 p.m. Washington Times: Time's ticking on Democrats' goals NO HURRY FOR SENATORS: Two planks of the House Democrats' "100 Hours" agenda are headed for swift passage this week but risk delay in the Senate, where Republicans and Democrats must navigate intra-party disputes over how to raise the minimum wage and amend the Medicare drug benefit. Unlike their party colleagues in the House, Senate Democratic leaders are sending high-priority bills through regular order, a move that underscores their promise of bipartisanship. But this could deny them the political benefit of demonstrable progress when there are fractious conference negotiations with the House over different approaches to the minimum wage and Medicare. The Hill: Success of 100 hours hinges on few uncertain Senate votes THE 5-DAY WORK WEEK... HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? Senators are adjusting their travel plans to comply with the newly implemented five-day work schedule, but few believe Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will actually keep the chamber operating at that clip for long. Opinions vary over how long Reid will insist on the Monday-through-Friday calendar, but Senators and aides on both sides of the aisle have little faith it will last beyond August and the unofficial start of the 2008 election season. About a third of the Senate is up for re-election in two years, and the contest for the White House - likely featuring several sitting Senators - already is in play. "Five-day workweeks will likely last until roughly the Presidents Day recess," offered one Senate Democratic aide. Roll Call: Skeptical Senate Eyes 5-Day Week HOUSE PASSES 9/11 COMMISSION BILL: In a lopsided vote that masked underlying divisions, House Democrats approved legislation yesterday to implement many of the remaining recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission even as portions of the sprawling package faced immediate problems in the Senate. Voting 299 to 128, congressional Democrats, backed by scores of Republicans, delivered on a key part of their "100 hours" agenda. The nearly 300-page anti-terrorism measure sets new mandates to scrutinize air- and ship-borne cargo, send more federal aid to areas at the greatest risk of terrorism, improve emergency communications, fight nuclear proliferation overseas, and strengthen a civil liberties watchdog board. Washington Post: House Passes Bill to Implement More of 9/11 Panel's Suggestions MINIMUM WAGE BILL EXPECTED TO PASS IN HOUSE; SHOWDOWN LOOMS IN SENATE: As part of their 100-hour legislative blitz, House Democrats are expected to vote today to increase the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, to $7.25 an hour, in a move that economists say will raise pay for 13 million workers. The bill's chances are less certain in the Senate, largely because of friction over a Republican push to include tax breaks for small business in the bill. Senate Republicans have hinted that, without such tax cuts, they will filibuster the measure, a move that the bill's supporters would need 60 votes to overcome. The legislation would lift the federal wage floor, currently $5.15 an hour, to $7.25 in three steps between now and 2009. New York Times: Tax Cut Measure Could Be a Stumbling Block for Increase in Minimum Wage DHS TO DIVY UP $445 MILLION TO CITIES: Seaports, rail and bus systems, trucking companies and other private industries at risk of terrorist attack will divvy up nearly a half-billion dollars in anti-terrorism grants this year, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced Tuesday. "We're investing resources where risk is greatest and where the funds will have the most significant impact," said Chertoff, responding to critics who complained that the highest-risk cities didn't get a big enough share of federal homeland security money last year. Chertoff said the process of deciding which cities would get the grant money this year was driven by threat-based intelligence information and "common sense." USA Today: Homeland chief: Risk determines who gets 2007 anti-terror grants JOHNSON'S CONDITION UPGRADED TO "FAIR": Sen. Tim Johnson, who has been slowly recovering from brain surgery after suffering stroke symptoms, was upgraded Tuesday from critical to fair condition and will be moved from the intensive care unit to inpatient rehabilitation later this week. "He is breathing independently and no longer requires the assistance of a ventilator," said Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, neurosurgeon at George Washington University Hospital. "This is wonderful news," said Johnson's wife, Barbara. "Tim has come a long way, and we have a long way yet to go, but we celebrate each victory. For me, it is like watching a miracle unfold each day." Johnson had been listed in critical condition since being admitted to the Washington, D.C., hospital Dec. 13 after suffering a brain hemorrhage and undergoing subsequent surgery to correct the blood vessel defect that caused it. Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Johnson upgraded to fair; 'a miracle ... each day,' wife says IN "CONCESSION TO POLITICAL REALITY," BUSH WON'T RENOMINATE 3 JUDICIAL PICKS: In an apparent effort to lower the temperature in the fierce battle over federal judges - and in a concession to political reality - President Bush said Tuesday that he was dropping plans to nominate three of his choices for the federal appeals courts who have been vigorously opposed by Senate Democrats. The White House announced that the three candidates, all conservatives, had themselves asked for their names to be withdrawn. But the announcement was widely taken to mean that the president had decided that renominating them would be a needlessly provocative act, one that would anger Democrats without sufficient political payoff from conservatives for sticking by the nominees. New York Times: Bush Drops Plans to Renominate 3 Judges FEDS TELL GRILES HE'S TARGET OF PROBE: Federal prosecutors have notified a former deputy secretary of the interior, J. Steven Griles, that he is a target in the public corruption investigation of Jack Abramoff's lobbying activities, sources knowledgeable about the probe said. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that among the possible criminal charges being investigated is whether Griles made false statements to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 2005 about job discussions Abramoff initiated while Griles was deputy secretary. Griles's attorneys did not return calls seeking comment yesterday. Washington Post: Ex-Interior Deputy a Target in Abramoff Probe GIULIANI WOULD HAVE TO MAKE "SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS" TO BUSINESSES: As Rudy Giuliani prepares to run for president, it is increasingly clear he will have to revamp the global businesses that bear his name and link him to everything from jogger backpacks to nuclear power plants. The former New York City mayor has created an exploratory committee to prepare to run for president next year, and aides concede that competing for the nation's highest office will force major changes in how Giuliani handles his businesses. "Obviously, there would have to be significant adjustments," said his spokeswoman Sunny Mindel. She did not elaborate. Extricating himself from that work may be tough: His name is on the door, on the stationery, and on the minds of many of their clients. AP via Yahoo! News: Giuliani's business dealings may hurt bid GILMORE FILES FOR EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE: Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, describing himself as "a consistent conservative," set out yesterday to explore a presidential candidacy. He filed the papers to form an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. Gilmore joins a crowded Republican field as a distinct underdog. "There is no one in Iowa or New Hampshire who has ever heard of Jim Gilmore," said Washington political analyst Stuart Rothenberg. Rothenberg said he could envision a scenario in which Gilmore's anti-tax philosophy would prevail in a crowded Republican field but said that scenario is highly unlikely. Richmond Times-Dispatch: Gilmore a step closer ROMNEY GETS A BOOST FROM DeMINT: Sen. Jim DeMint has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2008 presidential race, according to a letter the South Carolina senator is sending to state Republicans. The endorsement letter, obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, marks a split between the two Republican senators representing South Carolina, which holds the first southern presidential primary. Sen. John McCain of Arizona is favored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina's senior senator. DeMint's split is seen by some as a move to find a conservative alternative to McCain, but it's not that much of a surprise. AP via Yahoo! News: DeMint endorses Romney for president WHY IS OBAMA A "ROCK STAR?" There's been some controversy over Barack Obama's middle name, but it's his new title that's puzzling. Why do we have to label the senator a rock star? Are we talking about a rock star in the vein of The Beatles or Hanson? Actual musical rock stars generally gain their status through their performance and their product. In contrast, newly-minted political "rock star" Obama is characterized largely by his style and the promise of future performance, rather than his short resume. So, who decides who is a rock star? In music, it's determined by selling albums, concert tickets, and merchandise. In politics, it's much more subjective, and in the case of Obama, apparent laziness on the part of a media unable to characterize the senator in a more creative and correct way. Rothenberg Political Report: The Fate of a Rock Star BLOOMBERG ON NEW D.C. MAYOR: "I PREDICT GREAT THINGS": New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's fingerprints are all over D.C. City Hall — and he's only visited the building twice. After all, District Mayor Adrian Fenty patterned his education reform proposal on the New York City school system, over which Bloomberg has full control. And Fenty borrowed the idea for his "bullpen" headquarters from Bloomberg's wide-open operational hub. "I predict great things," Bloomberg said of Fenty Tuesday during a rare visit to the John A. Wilson Building. "I think this mayor is a breath of fresh air for Washington." Bloomberg praised the District's 36-year-old mayor as aggressive, innovative and willing to run risks and take responsibility for failure. He praised Fenty's plan to assume control of the city schools, just as Bloomberg did in 2002. Examiner: Bloomberg visits Fenty, tours City Hall PIRRO TO HOST TALK SHOW: Next on "Jeanine": Hubbies who cheat and the GOP women who love them! Ex-Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro has inked a deal to host a syndicated talk show, The Post has learned. Brainy Pirro, 55, will be paid around $1 million, which is typical for a start-up talk show with unproven talent. If the show proves successful, she could make 15 to 20 times that much in the lucrative syndication market. The pillow-lipped Pirro, unemployed since losing her November bid for state attorney general, is a frequent TV talking head known for speaking her mind - which would be perfect for a "Judge Judy"-type show. New York Post: CHAT'S ALL IT IS ON PIRRO'S TALK SHOW |
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The CNN Political Ticker provides the latest political news.To sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails, visit CNN.com member services page. If you do not have a CNN.com account, you can register here. If you have any feedback, suggestions or news tips, drop us a line here. THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
 Senator admits 'serious sin'  Bush opens new briefing room What the Iraq war costs youNEW IN THE TICKER
• Source: Bush to call for Iraqis to take control by...• Snow: Dems 'have to make a choice' • Famous Nixon-Elvis meeting remembered • Norton and Davis introduce bill to give DC a House... • Kennedy says no to troop surge • Obama the "rock star"? • First wave of troops will go to Iraq by month's en... • Vilsack urges Iowa lawmakers to denounce Bush plan... • Senate to debate resolution opposing Iraq war • Ohio Senator down for the count -- 55 times -- aft... SUBSCRIBE
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