blogging the beltway

  • Obama Scolds Congress, Again, on the Debt Limit

    President Obama and congressional leaders met again on Sunday, trying to hash out an agreement on deficit reduction and raising the debt ceiling before the Aug. 2 deadline. They parted ways, again, with no deal. In a Monday press conference, the president outlined the deal he’d like to see: a reduction in the federal deficit…

  • What Democrats Like About No Child Left Behind

    These days President Obama is focused on getting Congress to agree to a deficit-reduction deal in order to raise the debt ceiling, but not so long ago he’d asked lawmakers, again, to reform No Child Left Behind. He recently used one of his weekly addresses to call for changing the controversial Bush-era law, which mandates…

  • In Debt-Ceiling Talks, Why Give Up Anything?

    After reports surfaced that President Obama is willing to cut tens of billions of dollars from Medicare and Social Security, as part of a grand bargain in debt-ceiling talks with Republicans, Democratic leaders swiftly sounded off against the idea. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Thursday that she will oppose cuts to entitlements…

  • Dueling Views on New Crack-Sentencing Decision

    In the few days since the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to make changes in federal sentencing guidelines for crack-cocaine offenders retroactive, the decision has drawn both grumbling and applause from folks on either side of the issue — as is par for the course whenever things change in Washington. Crack sentencing had already undergone changes…

  • Obama Raising Pressure on the Debt Ceiling

    In not-so-coincidental timing, President Obama held a press conference on Wednesday morning, hours before meeting with Senate Democratic leaders on the status of debt ceiling negotiations. With the August 2 deadline to raise the debt limit looming, and the parties seemingly at an impasse, Obama used much of his hour with the press to shame…

  • National HIV Testing Day: Obama and Congress Weigh In

    Over the past couple of decades, numerous HIV/AIDS observance days have been established to address the epidemic’s impact in different communities. Among others, there are:  * National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 7) * National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10) * National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 20) * National Asian and…

  • Obama and Congress Observe National HIV Testing Day

    Over the past couple of decades, numerous HIV/AIDS observance days have been established to address the epidemic’s impact in different communities. Among others, there are:  * National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 7) * National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10) * National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 20) * National Asian and…

  • Obama's Not-So-Major Afghanistan Announcement

    When President Obama escalated the war in Afghanistan in 2009, deploying 30,000 additional troops there, he summarized the mission with three objectives: 1. Deny al-Qaida a safe haven. 2. Reverse the Taliban’s momentum. 3. Strengthen Afghani security forces in order to transfer responsibility of the country over to them. The president’s decision came with a…

  • What's Michelle Obama Doing in Africa?

    Whether speaking to students in Mexico, Brazil, the U.K. or Washington, D.C., first lady Michelle Obama has always focused on leadership, encouraging young people to excel academically, serve their communities and know that they control their destinies. Reflecting her own personal story, it’s an inspirational and sometimes emotional message that Mrs. Obama will revisit this…

  • 2012 Campaign: Who Is Katherine Archuleta?

    I’ll admit: Last week when the Obama 2012 re-election campaign announced its new political director, I thought: “Who?” But even if the president’s pick, Katherine Archuleta, doesn’t yet have national name recognition, she’s certainly a strong political operative: 1. She’s the chief of staff to Secretary Hilda Solis in the U.S. Department of Labor. 2.…