Sunday, February 1, 2009

Obama Administration Summary - January 2009

Inauguration Day - January 20. 2009

Cabinet Confirmations:

Steven Chu (Energy), Arne Duncan (Education), Janet Napolitano (Homeland security), Ken Salazar (Interior), Eric Shinseki (Veterans Affairs), Tom Vilsack (Agriculture), Tim Geithner (Treasury Secretary), Hillary Clinton (Secretary of State), Susan Rice (US Ambassador to the United Nations)

Pending Confirmation

Eric Holder (Attorney General) expected confirmation February 02, 2009

Tom Daschle - Undergoing review. In question due to non-payment of taxes.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/01/20/1752515.aspx

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/26/2009-01-26_senate_votes_6034_to_confirm_timothy_gei.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/21/clinton.confirmation/

http://www.afro.com/tabid/456/itemid/2774/Senate-Set-to-Confirm-Holder-as-Attorney-General-o.aspx

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101891.html?hpid=topnews

It should be noted that Bill Richardson (Commerce Secretary) pulled out of his nomination due to an ongoing grand jury probe.

Noted - Timothy Geither. Failure to pay taxes. China currency manipulation (1) and China currency manipulation Financial Times Article (2).

Other nominations of note:

Leon Panetta - Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Story here

Major Legislation

Domestic: H.R. 1 - The American Recovery and Investment Act. Click here for entire bill.

Highlights: January 30, 2009: President Obama's First Week in Office

In Focus: Stats

The Gallup Organization survey: 68 percent of Americans approve of Obama's
performance as the nation's chief executive. - AP,

1-25-09

What History Foretells for Obama’s First Job Approval Rating: Barack Obama can expect to receive a rating above 50% when Gallup reports his first job approval rating this weekend. All elected presidents since Dwight Eisenhower began their terms in office with approval ratings above 50%, generally low disapproval ratings, and high "no opinion" levels. - Gallop.com,

1-22-09

The Headlines...
After Jabs at Cheney, Biden Pursues an Activist Role: Vice President Follows Initial Gaffes by Diving Into Wide Range of Issues; Drawing Contrasts With Predecessor Vice President Joe Biden, in a bid to become an influential second-in-command, is striving to carve out meaty roles for himself quickly. - WSJ, 1-30-09

Obama Signs Equal-Pay Legislation: President Obama signed his first bill into law on Thursday, approving equal-pay legislation that he said would "send a clear message that making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody." - NYT, 1-29-09

Obama's busy, bold first 10 days in office could rival Roosevelt's pace: Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt passed 15 major bills in three months during his first term as president in the early 1930s, American presidents have been judged by their first 100 days in the Oval Office. - Canadian Press, 1-29-09

Republicans take a back seat: Lacking strong leadership and the political capital to oppose a popular president, the fractured GOP can only agree on one thing: This really isn't their moment. As Republicans fight President Obama's gargantuan economic plan, they have plenty of ideas. What they don't have is a party-wide consensus: They can't agree among themselves on the best alternative, or on whether government action is even needed to pull the economy from its nose dive. - LAT, 1-29-09

House OKs $819B stimulus bill with GOP opposition: In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night with spending increases and tax cuts at the heart of the young administration's plan to revive a badly ailing economy. The vote was 244-188, with Republicans unanimous in opposition despite Obama's frequent pleas for bipartisan support. - AP, 1-28-09

Stock Markets on January 20, 2009:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: 7,949.08 S&P 500: 805.22 Nasdaq Comp: $1,440.86

Interest Rates: 10 Year Treasury Note Yield: 2.40%

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