Caroline Kennedy Ends Senate Seat Bid

Caroline Kennedy tonight withdrew her name from consideration to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate after learning that Gov. David Paterson wasn’t going to choose her.

Kennedy’s decision removes the highest-profile name in the ring to step into Clinton’s now-vacant seat, as she departs after getting confirmed today as  Secretary of State.

Sources said the reason Paterson had decided not to tap the daughter of John F. Kennedy was her poor performances in media interviews and in private sessions with various officials.

Aides to Kennedy couldn’t be reached for comment.

Paterson has said he is not yet sure who he will select, but plans to announce his pick by this weekend – and an announcement is expected either Friday or Saturday.

For the first time on Tuesday, shortly after Obama was inaugurated, Paterson acknowledged publicly that he is considering state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for the slot.

Cuomo, who has soared in public polls over Kennedy in the past two weeks in popularity for the seat, has not said whether he’s interested in the job, but has not tamped down speculation that he’s making a play for it.

Kennedy’s entrance into the bidding for Clinton’s seat was intended to have the effect of clearing the field, and forcing other contenders to see her as the inevitable choice for the post once held Robert F. Kennedy.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg privately backed her and publicly praised her abilities, and his top deputy, Kevin Sheekey, worked the phones aggressively on Kennedy’s behalf, and set her up with powerhouse consulting firm Knickerbocker SKD.

But her rollout received stiff criticism, as she ducked press questions during her first trip upstate, fared poorly in her initial round of media interviews – and several critics said she had a lack of a clear rationale for her candidacy.

The decision to appoint Clinton’s successor is solely Paterson’s, and he has offered conflicting comments about where he is in the process over the past few days – suggesting almost simultaneously that he’d made up his mind, and then that he hadn’t.

The surprise decision leaves a crowded field of about 15 people, mostly elected officials, to replace Clinton – including Long Island Rep. Steve Israel, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, upstate Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Carolyn Maloney and teachers union head Randi Weingarten.

Kennedy’s brief foray into politics lasted just under a month, from the time she roiled New York politics shortly before Christmas to say she was interested in being picked for the seat to today.

So it looks like Paterson is trading Kennedy’s fundraising ability for Cuomo’s popularity. The timing of this news is interesting indeed, the day after Ted Kennedy has an episode. This move will put Caroline Kennedy in a prime position for Ted Kennedy’s seat.

Obama’s First Executive Orders – the American People Lose Again

In the first hours of his presidency, Obama directed an immediate halt to the Bush administration’s military commissions system for prosecuting detainees at the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Notice of the decision came in a legal filing in Guantánamo by military prosecutors just before midnight Tuesday. The decision, which had been expected as part of Obama’s pledge to close the detention camp, was described as a pause in all war-crimes proceedings there so that the new administration can evaluate how to proceed with prosecutions.

Among other cases, the decision will temporarily stop the prosecution of five detainees charged as the coordinators of the Sept. 11 attacks, including the case against the self-described mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

Later this week, the new administration is expected to issue an executive order that is to start what could be a long process of closing the detention camp, where about 245 detainees remain.

That’s right, put the well-being of these murdering, oppressive, fascist, dirtbags before that of the the American people…

Also…

Obama is bringing some belt-tightening to the White House. In one of his first official acts, Obama announced an immediate pay freeze at current levels for senior White House officials. According to the A.P., the freeze would apply to about 100 aides earning over $100,000 a year.

“This will enable the White House to stretch its budget to get more done for the country. The Obama and his staff recognize that in these austere times, everyone must do more with less, and the White House is no exception,” the White House press office announced in a statement.

Seeking to make good on his campaign pledge to limit the influence of lobbyists on his administration, Obama also signed an executive order banning executive branch employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists, as well as tightening restrictions for lobbyists seeking jobs in his administration, and for administration officials who may leave to lobby.

So, the 2012 presidential campaign has begun. Right off, this sounds good until you think about what he says. Who cares what these people make? I do not know anyone whose financial condition will improve because these folks are not paid – besides there’s nothing mentioned about per-diem

Day One Final score:

Obama – 1

the terrorists – 1

the American people – 0 (zero baby!)

Pelosi draws her lines with Obama

Two days before Obama’s Inauguration, the speaker showed off a new move — using the media to keep even a Democrat president from wandering onto her turf.

Pelosi used a Fox News appearance Sunday to break with Obama on two key issues: the fate of President George W. Bush’s tax cuts for families earning $250,000 or more and the possibility of congressional investigations into the actions of Bush administration officials.

While Pelosi’s words showed that she and Obama don’t always agree on matters of policy, the signal they sent was more important: Yes, you can use the media to speak straight to the public.

But so can I — and I will when you’re invading my turf.

“She trusts him greatly because they share the same agenda and vision, but she always keeps the interests of the caucus in mind,” said a top House Democratic aide. “She has to move the process forward and is extremely strategic.”

The speaker, Democratic aides say, is committed to pushing Obama’s broad agenda and isn’t looking to pick a fight. Nonetheless, she needs to retain leverage in upcoming negotiations with Obama, and she wants to defend her members’ interests in upcoming battles over the details of the massive stimulus package — and how to disengage the U.S. from Iraq.

This is starting sooner than I thought it would, the thing with Pelosi and Obama, that is. Don’t you know Obama’s already looking forward to 4 years of Pelosi and her garbage?

Heh, heh, heh.

read more here @ The Politico

U.S. Stocks Slide in Dow Average’s Worst Inauguration Day Drop

(Bloomberg) — U.S. stocks sank, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its worst Inauguration Day decline, as speculation banks must raise more capital sent financial shares to an almost 14-year low.

State Street Corp., the largest money manager for institutions, tumbled 59 percent after unrealized bond losses almost doubled. Wells Fargo & Co. and Bank of America Corp. slumped more than 23 percent on an analyst’s prediction that they’ll need to take steps to shore up their balance sheets. The Dow’s 4 percent slide was the most on an Inauguration Day in the measure’s 112-year history, according to data compiled by Bloomberg and the Stock Trader’s Almanac.

This is not funny. Really.