Political Intelligence

War council No. 9 on Afghanistan

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:34:42 -0500

President Obama isn't expected to announce his decision on Afghanistan until after Thanksgiving. But that doesn't mean the choice won't be weighing on him heavily during this holiday week. The White House announced this morning that he will hold his...

Obama vows not to rest on jobs

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:33:13 -0500

After huddling today with his full Cabinet for the first time in weeks, President Obama made clear that of all the issues clamoring for attention on his crowded agenda, his eye is squarely on jobs. "Our economy is growing for...

Capuano, Coakley split endorsements

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:05:30 -0500

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff US Representative Michael Capuano was endorsed today by the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters, a boost that came after the candidates last week held a virtual green-off during a campaign forum. �He is a proven...

Obama highlights science education

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:34:53 -0500

In his latest bid to spotlight science education, President Obama today kicked off an �Educate to Innovate� campaign to help boost US students from middle-of-the- pack mediocrity internationally in science and math achievement to the head of the class over...

GOP slams key Democrats

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:51:32 -0500

The partisan posturing continues apace from Saturday night, when Senate Democrats barely rounded up enough votes to open formal debate on the health care overhaul. Three moderates -- Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, and Ben Nelson...

Obama: Asia sojourn was about jobs

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500

President Obama met with one foreign leader after another, ate at banquets in his honor, and even walked on the Great Wall of China. But according to the president, his eight-day tour of Asia was, in large measure, all about...

Republicans tell Obama time to decide on Afghanistan

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:24:50 -0500

House Republicans are trying to ratchet up the pressure on President Obama to decide the new strategy -- including the number of troops -- for Afghanistan. The commander he sent to turn around the eight-year war is asking for as...

Democrats getting more blame for economy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:49 -0500

A new poll out this morning suggests that Americans are starting to shift blame on the jobless economic recovery to Democrats from Republicans. The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey found that 27 percent of respondents say Democrats are mostly responsible for...

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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:49 -0500

Obama group targets Palin on health care

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:58:11 -0500

President Obama's grassroots organization is targeting Sarah Palin by name, showing how large a public figure she has become and hinting perhaps that it sees her as a potential rival in 2012. Organizing for America sent an email to supporters...

Northern Ireland loves Neal

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:42:34 -0500

By Farah Stockman Globe Staff Shaun Woodward, Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary, met today with Congressman Richard E. Neal to thank him for helping to nudge the peace process in Northern Ireland along into its final stages. "He has been...

Bundlers get plum diplomatic posts

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:36:43 -0500

President Obama, far from changing the ways of Washington, is perpetuating one of its most established -- rewarding big fund-raisers with plum ambassador posts around the world. The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics said today that fully one-fourth of his...

Kennedy's legacy on health bill

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:50:54 -0500

The late Senator Edward M. Kennedy's legacy goes on and on in the health care debate. The legislation that top Senate Democrat Harry Reid unveiled Wednesday night includes a bill that Kennedy had championed for years. Known as the CLASS...

Abortion rights group wants fewer restrictions

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:38:00 -0500

A leading abortion rights group said today that the Senate health care bill, while less objectionable than the House version, would still unfairly burden women. The House bill bans a proposed public insurance option from covering abortion, and also prevents...

Making sense of House health bill

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:58:10 -0500

The health care debate is complicated enough to confuse even policy wonks. So the House health committee has built a web application to help Americans figure out how the bill approved by the House earlier this month would affect them....

Big labor happier with health bill

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:45:39 -0500

One of the most important interest groups in the health care debate -- Big Labor -- gave a qualified endorsement today to the bill finally unveiled by top Senate Democrat Harry Reid. Union support is crucial to Democrats and President...