Post Politics

Shorthand

Rachel Weiner — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:40:25 GMT

* President Obama and Chris Christie reunited. * The NDU explained how a heckler got in. * One Senate candidate called his rival “pond scum.” * Hillary Clinton’s book got a release date. * And Victoria Nuland got some GOP … Continue reading →

Jindal: GOP scandal response should focus on big government

Aaron Blake — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:13:43 GMT

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) says in a new op-ed that Republicans should focus their scandal response as much on President Obama’s role in growing government as on who in his administration knew what and when. Jindal, a potential 2016 … Continue reading →

Senate Republicans praise Victoria Nuland

Rachel Weiner — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:33:00 GMT

If Victoria Nuland is going to take heat from Republicans in her confirmation hearing, it won’t come from the party’s traditional leaders on national security. President Obama plans to nominate Victoria Nuland as assistant secretary of state for Europe. In … Continue reading →

Hillary Clinton book due out in June 2014

Aaron Blake — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:28:09 GMT

Hillary Clinton’s new memoir doesn’t have a title yet, but it does have a scheduled release date: June 1, 2014. That’s according to the new Amazon.com entry for the book, which features a plain book jacket with the former secretary … Continue reading →

Gomez compares Markey to ‘pond scum’

Rachel Weiner — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:14:58 GMT

The Massachusetts Senate race has gotten quite heated, with Republican Gabriel Gomez calling Democratic Rep. Ed Markey “pond scum” for a web video that invokes Osama bin Laden. “You know I’ve got four young kids, and they’ve got to sit … Continue reading →

Cuomo’s swipe at Weiner was a joke, office says

Rachel Weiner — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:46:59 GMT

When New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appeared to condemn mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner he was only joking, his office says. Cuomo told the Syracuse Post-Standard’s editorial board on Thursday that it would be “shame on us” if New Yorkers elect Anthony … Continue reading →

How Medea Benjamin got to heckle Obama

Rachel Weiner — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:35:50 GMT

How did Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin, a well-known anti-war protester, get into President Obama’s speech Thursday at the National Defense University? By listing herself as press. In a statement, the university explained that Benjamin “was given access via the … Continue reading →

David Young running for Senate in Iowa

Rachel Weiner — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:20:50 GMT

The chief of staff to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will try to join his boss in the Senate, strategists familiar with his plans confirm. As first reported by the Iowa Republican Web site, David Young plans to quit his job in … Continue reading →

Obama, Christie to tour Sandy recovery on Jersey Shore

Philip Rucker — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:29:39 GMT

President Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose embrace in the wake of Hurricane Sandy was a memorable show of bipartisanship on the eve of last fall’s election, will reunite on the Jersey Shore next week. Obama plans to … Continue reading →

Shorthand

Aaron Blake — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:06:39 GMT

* Lois Lerner got put on leave (with pay) * Obama got heckled * Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) got a new job * Sri Srinivasan got a vote * Anthony Weiner got a bunch of unhelpful headlines

Lois Lerner put on administrative leave by IRS

Ed O'Keefe — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:27:58 GMT

Lois Lerner, the director of the tax-exempt organizations division at the Internal Revenue Service, has been placed on administrative leave, sources in Congress and the administration confirm. Federal workers are given pay and benefits when put on administrative leave. “My understanding is the new … Continue reading →

Obama’s toughest GOP foreign policy critics weigh in

Ed O'Keefe — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:11:44 GMT

Some of President Obama’s most vocal Republican foreign policy critics said Thursday that they’re willing to work with him to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — but only if he comes up with a clear plan to do … Continue reading →

Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin heckles Obama repeatedly

Aaron Blake — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:37:47 GMT

President Obama had a run-in with a heckler on Thursday, when a founder of the anti-war group Code Pink interrupted his speech on drone policy and other national security issues. Toward the end of Obama’s address, a woman identified in … Continue reading →

Obama raises concerns with DOJ over press leaks

Rachel Weiner — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:55:57 GMT

In a lengthy speech at the National Defense University in Washington, President Obama outlined the future of his counterterrorism polices and addressed a controversy over the Justice Department seizure of Associated Press phone records. Stressing the need to balance civil liberties and national … Continue reading →

Rep. Jo Bonner to resign for Univ. of Alabama job

Aaron Blake — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:33:23 GMT

Updated at 5:17 p.m.: Bonner has made the announcement official and will resign in August. “I come before you today to announce I will be retiring from Congress on Aug. 15 in order to take a newly-created position of Vice Chancellor … Continue reading →

House Republicans send warning on immigration

David Nakamura — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:12:11 GMT

House Republicans vowed Thursday to have their own say in the debate over immigration reform, two days after a Senate committee gave approval to a sweeping border control bill. GOP leaders said in a statement that the House “will not … Continue reading →

Sri Srinivasan confirmed to judicial seat in unanimous Senate vote

Juliet Eilperin — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:07 GMT

Sri Srinivasan – the principal deputy solicitor general President Obama has nominated to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, was confirmed in a 97 to 0 vote Thursday. The vote is significant for several … Continue reading →

Anthony Weiner’s N.Y. mayor Web site features skyline … of Pittsburgh?

Aaron Blake — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:45:52 GMT

Anthony Weiner just launched his campaign for mayor of New York City. His campaign Web site, though, suggests he’s running for mayor of another Eastern city — Pittsburgh. Here’s a screenshot of his just-launched campaign site. And now a close-up … Continue reading →

Boehner: ‘Don’t ask me how’ House immigration reform will happen

Rachel Weiner — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:55:48 GMT

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) promised Thursday that the House would pass its own version of immigration reform. Just don’t ask him how. “We’re not going to be stampeded by the White House or stampeded by the president,” Boehner told … Continue reading →

Issa inclined to recall Lois Lerner to testify on IRS scandal

Juliet Eilperin — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:35:39 GMT

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is inclined to recall Internal Revenue Service official Lois G. Lerner to testify before his panel, but will await recommendations from committee lawyers, the nonpartisan House Counsel, other outside legal experts and … Continue reading →

Obama’s speech: Live updates

Scott Wilson — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:27:09 GMT

President Obama is delivering a major speech today designed to fulfill a promise in his State of the Union address in January to make elements of his controversial counterterrorism policies more transparent and accountable to Congress and the American public. Obama … Continue reading →

National GOP sends staff to Massachusetts for Senate special election

Aaron Blake — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:31:23 GMT

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is sending staff to Massachusetts for the tail end of the campaign for John Kerry’s (D) old Senate seat — a reflection of the party’s hopeful posture toward the race. An aide with knowledge of … Continue reading →

Levin, Stabenow back Gary Peters for Senate

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:38:10 GMT

Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) continued to solidify the establishment support behind his Senate candidacy Thursday, adding official endorsements from Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow. “Like me, Gary has spent his whole life in Michigan. Gary’s parents, a public school … Continue reading →

Cuomo: ‘Shame on us’ if New York elects Anthony Weiner

Rachel Weiner — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:32:27 GMT

Just yesterday, all New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) had to say about Anthony Weiner’s mayoral prospects was this: Andrew Cuomo on Weiner (priceless) “None. No reaction. None. Look, my face didn’t move. No reaction.” — Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) May … Continue reading →

David Plouffe dismisses ‘blowhards like Lanny Davis’

Rachel Weiner — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:57:00 GMT

In defending White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler’s handling of the Internal Revenue Service scandal, longtime Obama adviser David Plouffe dismissed those who criticized her for leaving the president in the dark. From Philip Rucker and Juliet Eilperin: Clinton White House … Continue reading →