Kula ran away for the week on a well-deserved vacation. I've taken it upon myself to write today's Morning Reaction but I am no egocentric guy. So let's share the column many of us have come to love early in the day.
Volunteers that wish to cover the next few days should step forward. We'll give Kula a series of "Guest Reactors" to enjoy reading upon her return. :D
Email me via my profile if you have the time, inclination and desire to write one of the five open days of Morning Reaction. I'll assign the days for writing based on the responses I receive. Now to the news.
Yesterday, The Next First Family visited their future residence with the current occupants as hosts. It wouldn't be MR without a wrap up of the reactions to this monumental event.
During their visit to the White House, Mr. Obama and Mr. Bush discussed many of the Nation's most pressing issues in private. Without the presence of their top aides in attendance, only now (through the media) are some of the topics just beginning to become public.
Plus, three members of the Obama Transition Project each make great cases for being at the White House. Period.
Finally, the Secret Service "code names" the Obamas.
::::::
ABC News offers a strong summary that may have been missed from Sunday
John Podesta, who heads Obama's transition team, was blunt about the drilling order on Fox News Sunday. He said the Bush administration wants drilling, "in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah that they're going to try to do right as they -- walking out the door. I think that's a mistake."
Podesta continued with, "But I think that [the Obama Transition Team is] looking at — again, in virtually every agency to see where we can move forward, whether that's on energy transformation, on improving health care, on stem cell research."
::::::
CNN has learned from a top Obama aides that, "Valerie Jarrett will not be appointed to replace him in the U.S. Senate."
Considering it was CNN that was originally projecting this possibility it's good to know that they're staying on top of things.
::::::
President-elect Obama stressed to President Bush the need to present short-term aid to the Union-backed labor groups and auto industries in particular. According to an article in today's New York Times, Mr. Bush was willing to concede fiscal aid in the form of a stimulus package if Mr. Obama and other Congressional Democrats were willing to permit the opening of free-trade agreements between the U.S. and Columbia. A position that Mr. Obama himself has opposed due to a history of abuse of the Colombian workers human rights.
Mr. Obama went into his post-election meeting with Mr. Bush on Monday primed to urge him to support emergency aid to the auto industry, advisers to Mr. Obama said. But Democrats also indicate that neither Mr. Obama nor Congressional leaders are inclined to concede the Colombia pact to Mr. Bush, and may decide to wait until Mr. Obama assumes power on Jan. 20.
How cute. "Shrub" wants to play poker with the "Five-card Stud". Yeah, good luck with that, because if GM fails before 20 January, guess who gets the blame? Hint: Not, That One.
::::::
Apparently the Obama Transition Team is aware of speculations and media-spin on the potential "Obama's Shadow Presidency" crap that's just starting to creep into the bylines. In a brief snippet by Reuters UK, a reporter caught the tail-end of a post-White House visit cell phone conversation that President-elect Obama had aboard his plane.
"I am not going to be spending too much time in Washington over the next several weeks," Obama [reportedly] said.
As a follow up, Reuters also reports something a little more concrete regarding the rumormongering.
Underscoring Obama's assertion he will not act as a shadow president during the transition, an aide confirmed what the White House had been saying -- that he will not attend a global financial summit in Washington on Friday and Saturday.
::::::
On to healthcare for the Transition Team. Yesterday's Reaction focused on the ACLU's and other human rights organizations' increasing pressure on the closing of Gitmo. As the L.A. Times reports today reports today, it's all about healthcare reform.
Reporting from Washington -- Four leading advocacy groups representing business, labor and retirees are starting a campaign today to press Barack Obama to enact comprehensive healthcare reform, upping the pressure on the president-elect to tackle the issue quickly after he takes office.
In a letter to Obama, the Business Roundtable, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, AARP and the Service Employees International Union urge that a healthcare overhaul be a priority in the administration's first 100 days.
::::::
Today is Veterans Day.
If you know a veteran, or are one yourself, thank you.
I'm thinking of my family today, of whom many are/were veterans themselves.
A lot of coverage will go to honor our veterans today, as it should. However, I think that what can be found in today's The San Fransisco Chronicle and what it adds with it's coup de grace (Thanks, Tony!) -- as to the need to overhaul how we care for our chronically ailing veterans -- that hits me best with it's first paragraph.
It starts with the single sentence of, "Old habits die hard."
::::::
DNC Chair, Gov. Howard Dean, M.D., confirmed that he would not remain Chair of the Democratic Party in 2009 according to a committee spokeswoman yeasterday and as reported in The Washington Post today.
"Governor Dean has been honored to serve as chairman of the Democratic Party for the past four years and is very proud of the work our party has done and that, in Barack Obama, we have a leader who is committed to reaching out to people in all 50 states. Governor Dean looks forward to the next challenge -- whatever that may be -- when his tenure ends in January," said DNC communications director Karen Finney.
::::::
Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin...
Yeah... I really can't add anything to that. Also. (BBC News.)
In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News, the 44-year-old said: "I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door. Show me where the open door is."
::::::
POST SCRIPT ADD:
This was too good not to add.
Apparently the Secret Service has already added new codenames for the Obamas and Bidens.
As covered by the Chicago Tribune.
The Secret Service traditionally has given pithy, private names to those whose lives they protect. The monikers are a throwback to a time when electronic communications were not encrypted, and they no longer serve a security function. Still, they give an occasional peek at the players' personalities, in addition to serving as great trivia questions.
President-elect, Barack Obama: Renegade
Michelle Obama: Renaissance
Malia Obama: Radiance
Sasha Obama: Rosebud
Vice President-elect, Joe Biden: Celtic
Jill Biden: Capri
::::::
Finally, my quick take on yesterday's White House meeting. Some are now suggesting (as witnessed by the White House image below) that we have proof positive about how our nation's viewpoint of race has changed. That the Presidency itself is now something to be viewed through the eyes of equality.
I beg to differ. Not all Presidents are equal.
By the way: Someone needs to get that "McCain 'Country First' Star" out of the carpet there. Also.
::::::
So there's your Reaction for this morning. We miss you, Kula! Enjoy the break and have fun.
Now, what's on your mind this day? Don't forget to email me if you're interested in covering a shift for Morning Reaction this week. :D