Obama

I’m late on this, but Politico has a piece today about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) 2010 legislative/political strategy, and it involves taking a forceful stand on terrorism against the Obama administration. This must be something like the administration’s dream come true: The guy not only has absolutely no experience with any aspect of foreign policy [...]

Army Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and Arabic translator who famously challenged ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ last year, has been recalled to active duty, according to The Advocate. That’s a strong sign that even ahead of a full repeal of the so-called gay ban, proceeding at a deliberate, year-long pace advocated by the [...]

From Walter Pincus’ piece about how the Obama administration considered and rejected placing Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in military custody:
After Abdulmutallab decided to stop talking, was read his Miranda rights and got lawyers, the FBI devised a complex investigative plan, which was outlined to reporters last week.

D.C. snowpocalypse has closed government buildings for a second day — for those not subject to this winter siege, we’re told to expect another 10 to 20 inches of snowfall imminently — and the closure grinds policymaking to a halt. The Senate Armed Services Committee just canceled a closed-door briefing it was going to get [...]

Mark Hosenball checks facts. After the Obama administration averred that the Justice Department successfully secured the convictions or guilty pleas of about 300 people in terrorism cases during the Bush era, GOP apparatchiks like ex-White House spokeswoman Dana Perino and even Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) called Obama a liar. Oops:

Building off his Sunday retaliation at Republican critics over the Mirandization and (successful!) interrogation of would-be Christmas bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan goes much further in a USA Today op-ed.
It begins as an aggressive defense of the utility of law-enforcement approaches to interrogation — alongside an observation of the disutility [...]

Lietzau will be central to decisions about trying the remaining Guantanamo detainees in reformed military commissions or in federal courts, and to the construction of a new terrorism detention policy.

A surprisingly emotional statement from Defense Secretary Robert Gates about Rep. Jack Murtha’s passing.
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Murtha. America has lost a true patriot who served his country faithfully first in uniform as a decorated combat Marine, and then as an elected representative.

Just out from the White House:
Michelle and I were deeply saddened today to hear about the passing of Congressman John Murtha. Jack was a devoted husband, a loving father and a steadfast advocate for the people of Pennsylvania for nearly 40 years. His passion for service was born during his decorated career in the United [...]

As Republican leaders are urging President Obama to scrap the Democrats’ health care reform legislation and start the process from scratch, they’ve found an unlikely ally in Rep. Dennis Kucinich. The Ohio Democrat — a perennial presidential candidate — wants President Obama to consider government-sponsored, single-payer health coverage in lieu of the insurance industry-based reforms [...]