Top Items:
New York Times:
The Travails of Tom Daschle — When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author of a book on health care reform, knew a lot about one of the president's signature issues.
Discussion:
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Associated Press:
Official: Performance czar withdraws candidacy … WASHINGTON (AP) - Nancy Killefer, who failed for a year and a half to pay employment taxes on household help, has withdrawn her candidacy to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government, the White House said Tuesday.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Reuters, Commentary, Michelle Malkin, Washington Monthly, USA Today, Breitbart.tv, Don Surber, Neptunus Lex, Wizbang, Washington Post and Moonbattery
MSNBC:
Daschle withdraws as Obama nominee — He tells NBC that NY Times editorial had a role; Killefer also withdraws — WASHINGTON - Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle on Tuesday withdrew his nomination to oversee the Health and Human Services Department, citing controversies over his taxes …
Discussion:
CBS News, CNN, TPMDC, Crooks and Liars, Hot Air, Associated Press, The Raw Story and DownWithTyranny!
Mark Murray / MSNBC:
ANOTHER TAX PROBLEM FOR OBAMA? — From NBC's Lisa Myers, Chuck Todd, Savannah Guthrie, and Ken Strickland — NBC News has learned that the president's choice for “chief performance officer” — technically a deputy OMB director post — could end up having to withdraw over a number of issues, including tax problems.
Discussion:
Power Line, Pajamas Media, Riehl World View, Weekly Standard, Political Machine, Emptywheel and Say Anything
Fox News:
Daschle Withdraws Nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary — With “sadness and regret,” President Obama has accepted the decision of Tom Daschle to withdraw his nomination to be health and human services secretary. — FOXNews.com — Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination …
Ezra Klein / American Prospect:
DASCHLE WITHDRAWS. — According to The New York Times, Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services and director of the White House Office of Health Reform. — Instant reaction: This is good for the cause of ethics in government.
Josh Gerstein / The Politico:
Daschle withdraws nomination — President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle, withdrew from consideration Tuesday, citing the “distraction” posed by his failure to pay more than $100,000 in income taxes. — “This morning Tom Daschle asked me to withdraw …
Peter Baker / New York Times:
Obama's Pledge to Reform Ethics Faces an Early Test
Obama's Pledge to Reform Ethics Faces an Early Test
Discussion:
Washington Post, JustOneMinute, Boston Globe, Associated Press, MSNBC, TalkLeft and The Caucus
Washington Post:
Obama's Choice for Chief Performance Officer Withdraws Name
Obama's Choice for Chief Performance Officer Withdraws Name
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, The Hill's Pundits Blog, White House Watch, Wonkette, The Daily Politics and American Power
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
“The Cabinet” — Update: NBC is reporting that Tom Daschle …
“The Cabinet” — Update: NBC is reporting that Tom Daschle …
Discussion:
Weekly Standard
David S. Cloud / The Politico:
Secret report urges new Afghan plan — The Pentagon's top military officers are recommending to President Barack Obama that he shift U.S. strategy in Afghanistan — to focus on ensuring regional stability and eliminating Taliban and Al Qaida safe havens in Pakistan, rather …
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John Distaso / UnionLeader.com:
In 2010, Rep. Hodes will run for U.S. Senate — CONCORD - Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes will announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate “within the week,” a source close to Hodes told UnionLeader.com this morning shortly before Judd Gregg's nomination as commerce secretary became official.
Discussion:
The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, TPMDC, Senate Guru, DownWithTyranny!, D-Day and Daily Kos
Jonathan Allen / CQ Politics:
Gregg Voted to Kill Commerce Before He Agreed to Lead It — President Obama's new candidate to run the Commerce Department voted in favor of abolishing the agency as a member of the Budget Committee and on the Senate floor in 1995. — Sen. Judd Gregg , R-N.H., whose nomination was expected …
Tony Halpin / Times of London:
Passengers stop flight after ‘drunk’ pilot sparks panic — It is normally a moment of cheery reassurance when an airline pilot greets passengers during preparations for take-off. But Alexander Cheplevsky sparked panic on flight Aeroflot 315 when he began to speak.
David Brooks / New York Times:
Ward Three Morality — I've become increasingly concerned about the rising number of rich people who are being caught unawares by shifts in the sumptuary code. First, there were those auto executives who didn't realize that it is no longer socially acceptable to use private jets for lobbying trips to Washington.
Jared Allen / The Hill:
Dems warn leaders to resume regular order — A group of more than 50 House Democrats has penned a letter to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) imploring him to “restore this institution” and see that the House returns to a “regular order” process of legislating.
Wall Street Journal:
Daniel Pearl and the Normalization of Evil — When will our luminaries stop making excuses for terror? — This week marks the seventh anniversary of the murder of our son, former Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. My wife Ruth and I wonder: Would Danny have believed that today's world emerged after his tragedy?
Frank Gaffney / Washington Times:
GAFFNEY: S-U-B-M-I-S-S-I-O-N — How appropriate that Barack Obama featured Aretha Franklin in his Inaugural festivities since her signature song is “Respect.” Literally from the moment she finished belting out “My Country 'Tis of Thee” on Jan. 20, the new president has been conveying his “respect” the Muslim world.
Discussion:
Power Line
Fox News:
Obama Getting Heat for Turning Up the Oval Office Thermostat — President Obama is facing criticism for keeping his office warm enough to “grow orchids” in — after he called on Americans to protect the environment and turn down their thermostats. — FOXNews.com
Discussion:
Townhall.com
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
PAINFULLY STUPID — Sen. Thune (R-SD) explains Republican thinking about the economic crisis ... Country's on the precipice. And idiots like this are holding the floor. — Late Update: A Hill staffer chimes in ...
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
CNN:
GOP leaders list ‘waste’ in Senate stimulus bill — (CNN) — On Monday, House Republican leaders put out a list of what they call wasteful provisions in the Senate version of the nearly $900 billion stimulus bill that is being debated: — • $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen …