White House

Chris Cillizza: The Political Dangers Of Passing A Health Care Bill

Washington Post | Posted 12.17.2009 | Politics


The White House -- as we wrote yesterday -- is dead set on passing the health care bill and will stop at nothing politically to get it done. But, ...

The Parable of the Unmerciful Bankers

Jim Wallis | Posted 12.17.2009 | Business


Jim Wallis

It's estimated that the bonus pool of just one of these big banks would have been enough money to prevent or significantly delay foreclosure for all 2.3 million people who lost their homes last year.

Wall Street Tells the President of the United States to Bugger Off

Raymond J. Learsy | Posted 12.17.2009 | Business


Raymond J. Learsy

With the nation up in arms about the perversity of pouring billions into the coffers of the banks the symbolism of the three CEO's tone deaf failure to be present in Washington is beyond understanding.

Greenwald: The Bill Obama Wanted All Along

Salon | Glenn Greenwald | Posted 12.16.2009 | Politics


Of all the posts I wrote this year, the one that produced the most vociferious email backlash -- easily -- was this one from August, which examined su...

Obama Transfers Balls to Lieberman in White House Ceremony

Andy Borowitz | Posted 12.16.2009 | Comedy


Andy Borowitz

Called the "Balls Summit" by White House aides, the ceremony was intended as an official acknowledgment of Mr. Lieberman's complete control of the nation's health care future.

Obama Writes Letter To North Korea's Kim Jong Il, Says AP Source

AP | KWANG-TAE KIM | Posted 12.17.2009 | World


SEOUL, South Korea — Washington's recent bid to persuade North Korea to return to nuclear disarmament negotiations included a personal letter to...

Copenhagen Climate Talks Near Deal On Preservation Of Forests

New York Times | ELISABETH ROSENTHAL | Posted 12.15.2009 | Green


COPENHAGEN -- Negotiators have all but completed a sweeping deal that would compensate countries for preserving forests, and in some cases, other natu...

Bailout Banks Keep Tax Breaks As They Repay Loans

AP | STEPHEN OHLEMACHER | Posted 12.16.2009 | Business


WASHINGTON — Citigroup and other banks starting to repay the billions of dollars they borrowed from the government are getting another boost as ...

Arianna On "The Ed Show": It Is Absurd To Cede Control Of Health Care Reform To Joe Lieberman

Huff TV | Posted 12.15.2009 | Media


Huff TV

Senator Joe Lieberman has pushed the health care debate to a level of absurdity that can't be ignored, Arianna argued on Tuesday evening. During her a...

Dan Brown, Mitch Albom, Bestselling Authors Pick Books To Give (VIDEO)

msnbc.com | Posted 12.15.2009 | Books


Bestselling authors recommend their favorite books: Dan Brown, Jeff Kinney, Mitch Albom and more tell us which books--non-fiction, novels, cookbooks, ...

The Middle Class Collapse

Les Leopold | Posted 12.16.2009 | Business


Les Leopold

Do the super-rich really earn their wealth? Financial wealth is a slippery concept especially as it slithers through a mountain of bailouts now running somewhere near $13 trillion.

Keeping the Wheels on the Obama Presidency

Lincoln Mitchell | Posted 12.15.2009 | Politics


Lincoln Mitchell

Because he cannot provide peace and prosperity, Obama needs to pass some meaningful legislation to demonstrate that he is doing something positive. Just getting a health care bill passed will mean nothing to many Americans.

Thomson Correctional Center To House Some Guantanamo Detainees: White House

AP | HENRY C. JACKSON | Posted 12.15.2009 | Politics


WASHINGTON — Taking an important step on the thorny path to closing the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, the White House plans to...

General David Rodriguez: Afghanistan Troop Surge Will Take Longer

AP | ANNE GEARAN and AMIR SHAH | Posted 12.15.2009 | World


KABUL — The military may not finish its surge of 30,000 American troops to Afghanistan until nearly a year from now, a senior U.S. commander sai...

Behind The Scenes White House VIDEO: History And Significance Of The Cabinet

Posted 12.14.2009 | Politics


The White House blog has released a rare behind-the-scenes video showing how a White House cabinet meeting comes together. (Hint: there are a lot of ...

Obama Summons Senate Democrats To White House

AP | Posted 12.14.2009 | Politics


WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will meet with Senate Democrats at the White House Tuesday to press for action at a make-or-break moment for...

"Christmas At The White House": Bo Obama Gives Oprah A "High Five" (VIDEO)

Posted 12.14.2009 | Style


Cuteness alert! When Oprah arrives at the White House for her Christmas at the White House special, First Lady Michelle Obama leads her on a tour aro...

Rahm Emanuel Lights National Menorah At White House (PHOTOS)

AP/ The Huffington Post | Posted 12.13.2009 | Style


WASHINGTON -- White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel lit the National Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah. The Sunday ceremony marked the 30th annive...

TARP For Small Businesses: White House Looks To Bring Wall Street Rescue To Main Street

Washington Post | David Cho | Posted 12.10.2009 | Business


The Obama administration is developing a major initiative to tackle the economic and political problem of unemployment by getting federal bailout fund...

Salahi Watch Fake: Patek Philippe Watch Handed Over To Pay Debt Is Fake, Jeweler Says

AP | By BRETT ZONGKER | Posted 12.10.2009 | Politics


WASHINGTON -- A couple that crashed a White House party turned over a watch to pay a landscaping debt, but a jeweler is saying it's a fake luxury time...

Only in America: Ambassador Sichan Siv - From the Killing Fields to the White House

Jim Luce | Posted 12.12.2009 | World


Jim Luce

I first met Ambassador Sichan Siv in 2004. He spoke on surviving Pol Pot's Killing Fields in Cambodia - and coming to America. He ended up working in the White House and then the United Nations.

Making Job Creation a Priority

Lincoln Mitchell | Posted 12.10.2009 | Politics


Lincoln Mitchell

If you commissioned an ad firm to come up with a two word description of the economy that would provoke great feelings of anger and resentment, they'd have a tough time coming up with something better than "jobless recovery."

Memo to AFL-CIO's Trumka

Jeff Ballinger | Posted 12.10.2009 | World


Jeff Ballinger

Now that you've submitted a five-point plan to the Jobs Summit (the "official" position of the labor movement), it is time to plan a return-trip to the White House for a less formal session with President Obama.

White House Holiday Visitors "Eat Like Crazy"

AP | NANCY BENAC | Posted 12.10.2009 | Style


WASHINGTON — Christmas at the White House isn't for sissies. Take quantities that might work in a private home – guests, cookies, parties...

Hiding Help in Financial Reform

Harry Moroz | Posted 12.10.2009 | Politics


Harry Moroz

As a result of good, old-fashioned political pressure, the financial reform bill that the House will vote on on Friday has become a dark horse for job creation and housing assistance.