Feb 1st/Sunday: President Obama had members of congress over to watch Super Bowl
Feb 2nd/Monday: In an interview with Matt Lauer, President Obama said some more banks will fail in spite of stimulus, that the banks have not fully acknowledged all the losses they have experienced. He told Lauer banks will have to write down those losses, and some banks won't make it. All deposits for ordinary depositors will remain safe, he assured. The President acknowledged that should the economy not be improved substantially in 3 years, his would be a one-term presidency. He, also, declared to Lauer that most soldiers in Iraq will be home for the next Super Bowl.
President Obama spoke with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
The President met with the National Governors Association Vice-Chair, Jim Douglas,
Republican Governor of Vermont.The President met with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
President Obama met with Democratic leaders from House & Senate in the afternoon at the White House in the West Wing to discuss what is in the stimulus bill, how the process is likely to change, and how to reconcile both House and Senate bills in a timely fashion.
First Lady Michelle Obama addressed the Department of Education, stating the proposed stimulus would allow for the renovation and modernization of 10,000 schools, increase Pell Grants to make college more affordable for 7 million students and provide tuition tax credits for 4 million more, and prevent teacher layoffs and education cuts in hard hit states, preserve early childhood education programs; all those elements collectively bringing about education reform. Mrs. Obama praised Arne Duncan and assured those gathered that Duncan will be a great leader as Secretary of the Department of Education.
Eric Holder won confirmation in the Senate to become US Attorney General. The vote was 75-21. Mr. Holder is the first Afro-American United States Attorney General.
Hillary Clinton was sworn in as Sec of State by Vice-President Joe Biden.
Feb 3rd/Tuesday: New Hampshire United States Senator Judd Gregg, a Republican, was
Nominated to the post of Secretary of Commerce. CQPolitics.com reported Gregg had to
voted to abolish the Commerce Department in 1995.
Eric Holder sworn in as the United States Attorney General Joe Biden at 10:12AM.
Tom_Daschle withdrew his nominination as Secretary of Heath & Human Services due to the scandal of his failure to pay 128,000 dollars in taxes and, as revealed by the NewYorkTimes.com , ..." Daschle admitted he owed Medicare taxes equal to 2.9 percent of the personal value of the car service he received from Leo Hindery, Jr., a big Democratic donor and founder of a private equity firm to which Mr. Daschle was an adviser." Daschle's salary was a million dollars a year in salary. Revealed in Daschle's financial disclosure form: $390,000 for giving speeches to groups that included America's Health Insurance Plans(a trade organization representing healthcare) and $100,000 from health related companies under federal regulation, including more than $5000 for giving policy advise to the insurance company United Health.
Nancy Killefer withdrew her nomination as Chief Performance Officer over a $1000 dollar tax lean on her house from 3 years ago a when she failed to pay state unemployment taxes on household help.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).