The Golden Report for Sunday January 17

It's been a busy news weekend, as the relief effort continues in Haiti, the Massachusetts special senate election looks like it is going to come down to the wire and as we close in on the one-year mark of the Obama Presidency. Here are some of the stories that I'm reading, and that I flagged to post some additional comments on:

POLITICO, "Shah, Keen Step Into Haiti Spotlight" -- If you watched any (or all) of the Sunday Shows this morning, then you saw Dr. Rajiv Shah and Lt. Gen. Ken Keen. Shah, the Director of USAID (Agency for International Development) and Keen (Deputy Commander of US Southern Command) both did a "Full Ginsburg"- the term used to describe when a person is interviewed on all Sunday morning shows in the same morning. Shah, just confirmed by the Senate three weeks ago, was particularly impressive this morning--his stature is likely to rise as a result of the calm but professional way in which he is handling this tragedy. Mike Allen reported in Playbook today that the Administration recognizes Shah's value, and had him fully staffed for the Shows, with the National Security Council & State Department traveling with him around town to the various networks. Shah was with Secretary of State Clinton in Haiti yesterday, returned home about 2am ET and was up at 5:58am to get ready for the Sunday Shows.

• There's more about Shah in a Washington Post article from last week "Officials hail USAID chief's crisis management skills" 

Washington Post Op/Ed "What Karl Rove Got Wrong on the US Debt" In Friday's paper, David Axelrod, a chief strategist to President Obama, refuted claims made last Sunday by Karl Rove, who argued that Pres. Obama would have run up "more debt by October than Pres. Bush did in eight years." That is a clearly false statement but what was significant was that Axelrod openly attacked and refuted Rove- a change in strategy for the Administration. To this point, the Administration has not directly responded when attacked. Another sign this was a strategic shift from deep inside the West Wing? Bill Burton, the deputy WH Press Secretary, this week created a Twitter account (@BillBurton44) in which he challenged claims made by a reporter (in this case, Ed Henry, @edhenrycnn). The debt is going to get some more attention this week as the Senate begins consideration of a bill to raise the national debt ceiling. 

NYTimes Op/Ed, "The Underlying Tragedy" by David Brooks -- Brooks takes the Haiti earthquake and asks the question, "Are we just going to rebuild and continue with the same old, same old?" while arguing that we should not- but the disaster in Haiti as a complete clean-slate to rebuild the country and prove that development can work. Interesting- and timely- but would have been better if Brooks had, let's say, taken a look back at the last major international disaster- the Sumatra Tsunami- and seen if what he proposes be done in Haiti happened there.

Newsweek, "Why Haiti Matters," by Barack Obama- It's a rare occasion when a sitting President writes an essay that is the cover of a national newsmagazine, but after the Earthquake this week, Newsweek editor Jon Meacham reached out to the Administration, and the President accepted. This line should speak to the patriotism of every American, "we act for a very simple reason: in times of tragedy, the United States of America steps forward and helps. That is who we are. That is what we do." Indeed. 

Washington Post, "One Year Later Assessing Obama: Testing the Promise of Pragmatism" -- Dan Balz takes a very smart and principled look back over the first year of the Administration, concluding that nearly any President would have made the economic decisions that the President did, as they were needed to avoid calamity. He finds the President's largest struggles coming from Americans who view government as the enemy, and now equate Obama as the President of Big Government. He sees Tuesday's special senatorial election in Massachusetts as an important bellweather to the midterm elections later this year 

• Also, be sure to read David Broder's analysis of the Obama First Year today, "To regain public favor, Obama needs a good economy and jobs" 

2010: What's on the Agenda?

It’s time to stop the reflections of the year that was and focus on the year that is, and all that it will bring with it. 2010 is an election year but, as the Christmas terror incident reminded us, we live in extraordinary times so this won’t just be any normal (read: predictable) midterm election.

The President returns to Washington tomorrow facing a full plate. Here are just some of the issues that are going to be dominating his agenda, and that of Congress, this year:

Health Care

In dramatic fashion on Christmas Eve, the US Senate took a historic step forward passing the President’s signature domestic policy initiative. An informal conference between House and Senate staffers started the week after Christmas. Expect those discussions to intensify in coming days and for the announcement of an agreement by the end of January. Final passage could come on or near the date of the President’s State of the Union Address, unless something unexpected causes it be bumped until February. Republicans will likely continue to use procedural hurdles to attempt to stop the bill, which will delay the inevitable passage. The President’s aides expect that his poll numbers will begin to rise after this bill is passed and the Administration transitions to discuss the economy

Jobs

Before leaving for Christmas, the House passed a job creation package (including over 12,000 new AmeriCorps positions). Perhaps in return for major concessions on health care, House leaders will put the Senate under immense pressure early this year to pass the bill and quickly send it to the President.

Financial Reform

The House took the first step in 2009 in passing comprehensive financial reform legislation. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd has said he expects the Senate to act early this year on that package. However, with an already full agenda, it does not seem as if the body will until after health care and jobs-so perhaps not until March or April, when appetite for a politically difficult vote will be less.

Global Warming/Energy

This is the big question looking at the Senate this year: will John Kerry and Barbara Boxer convince Majority Leader Reid to force consideration and a tough vote on global warming legislation. Senators facing re-election this year, especially moderate Democrats, will find this vote very difficult to swallow--as will their counterparts in the House should the bill get to a final Conference version. Progress will depend on the leadership of the President and how much he is insistent on passage.

Immigration

There have been reports in recent days of the White House reaching out to allies in the immigration debate, promising action in 2010 on immigration reform. Neither the House or Senate have acted and there are no clear proposals out there. Again, this will come down to Presidential leadership. One possibility: the Administration ties immigration to the economy & jobs and is able to pursue a reform overhaul.

Afghanistan

Liberal Democrats opposed to President Obama’s new Afghanistan war policy will find it hard to vote for additional funding. A Defense funding bill is likely to be needed in March and the Administration may have to expend a lot of capital convincing members of its own party to support the Commander-in-Chief’s decision.

Terrorism

After the failed Christmas Day terror attack, terrorism and homeland security are again at the very top of the national agenda. The Senate is under pressure to quickly confirm President Obama’s nominee for TSA Director, despite a hold by South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint. Majority Leader Reid has said that he will file cloture when the Senate reconvenes and force a vote on his nomination. Also, there will be more debate on the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the proposal to transfer inmates to Illinois, as well as aviation security. Congress will hold hearings into the attack, possibly issuing subponeas to intelligence officials in the Administration and may vote on funding for full body scan machines, which will again pit liberal Democrats, who are fierce privacy proponents, against their party leaders.

Other Issues

After passing a short term increase in the federal debt ceiling, the Senate will vote again on a more permanent extension on January 20th. The House will also need to approve the measure. President Obama is expected to make fiscal reform a key component of his State of the Union Address in late January (or early February).

How much this plays into the annual Appropriations Process remains to be seen. Given it is an election year, do not expect Congress to finish work on the 13 annual bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.

Finally, Congress passed short term extensions of many programs in 2009 and will have to decide whether to continue to extend, or pass reauthorization measures, in 2010. These include highway funding, the FAA, the Patriot Act, and No Child Left Behind.