Dec 29, 2008
While you were away for the holidays . . .
Posted By John Isaacs
People looking for clues about the nuclear policies of the incoming Obama Administration tended to draw overly-broad implications from the big-dog appointments announced a few weeks ago: Sen. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, Robert Gates continuing as Secretary of Defense and General Jim Jones as National Security Advisor.
It is the next level of appointments that will tell us more about the direction of Obama's nuclear policies.
While you were away (or still are) celebrating the holidays, the first key appointments below the cabinet-level have been made and the news is good.
Take the announcement of Dr. John Holdren as the President's Science Adviser. Holdren is a leading expert on nuclear arms issues.
Dec 17, 2008
What’s on Obama’s plate?
Posted By livableworld
What’s on Obama’s plate?
We’re not talking chicken or fish, we’re talking more like nuclear terrorism and the war in Iraq.
When Obama gets sworn in on Jan. 20, 2009, he’ll have more than a full plate of items to deal with, addressing issues like the war in Iraq, the U.S. and now global economic crisis, global climate change, energy, terrorism, health care, the list – unfortunately – goes on and on, and on.
The Council for a Livable World’s research center has prepared – along with 60 leading national security experts – a transition report on how the Obama administration can effectively address the gravest threat to U.S. security: the spread of nuclear weapons and materials.
The executive summary and full report is available here.
The Council believes that given the rise of terrorist networks and the amount of unsecure nuclear weapons material worldwide, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism is one of the gravest threats to U.S. and international security.
“Every presidential candidate since 2000 has said that loose nuclear weapons are the most serious threat to international security. Yet for the past eight years we’ve done very little to address loose nukes seriously,” said John Isaacs, executive director of the Council and our research Center in a press release today. “What we need now is strong leadership as promised by President-elect Obama during the campaign.”
Besides unsecure nuclear weapons materials, we also have actual weapons to deal with. Almost twenty years after the end of the Cold War, Russia and the United States continue to maintain about 16,000 nuclear weapons. The arms control process has been stalled since the late 1990s when the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty was rejected by the Senate.
The experts in the report recommend that Obama Announce intent to seek ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and begin working to build the bipartisan support in the Senate needed for approval.
Basically, the Bush administration was not only was sleeping (though we wish it was only that) on arms control issues, it actually reversed arms control gains made in the past 40 years. When Obama and the 111th Congress gets in office, they’ll have an historic opportunity to provide some real leadership on the most serious component of our national security.
Now you know our priorities, what are yours?
Dec 03, 2008
Obama appoints his national security team
Posted By John Isaacs
President-elect Obama made his first significant appointments of officials who will focus on national security issues.
Confirming many stories, New York Senator Hillary Clinton will become Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will remain as Secretary of Defense.
In addition, General James Jones, USMC (Ret) wiill become National Security Adviser and Susan Rise was name U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Two more appointments related to national security: Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security: Governor Janet Napolitano and Attorney General: Eric Holder.
While there has been considerable buzz about whether the appointees represent the change promised by the President-elect, there is likely to be agreement on an early agenda for the team:
Begin the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq;
An exploration of negotiations with Iran;
Improved relations with Russia;
Continuation of the Bush Administration's efforts to persuade North Korea to eliminate its nuclear weapons;
Resurrection of serious talks to solve the Middle East morass;
Extension of the START I nuclear arms treaty and deep cuts in nuclear weapons;
Expansion of nuclear non-proliferation programs.
Click here for the full list of open key positions, including transition personnel.
Dec 03, 2008
Update on MN Recount for Al Franken
Posted By Katie
The recount in Minnesota for the race between incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman (R) and Council-endorsed Al Franken (D) is still underway - and seemingly far from over.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, two recent events have benefitted the challenger. They report,
Franken unexpectedly picked up 37 votes due to a combined machine malfunction and human error on Election Day that left 171 Maplewood ballots safe, secure but uncounted until Tuesday's final day of recounting in Ramsey County.
In addition, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's office,
asked local election officials to examine an estimated 12,000 rejected absentee ballots and determine whether their rejection fell under one of four reasons for rejection defined in state law. The Secretary of State's office asked that ballots that were rejected for something other than the four legal reasons be placed into a so-called "fifth category."
This is no guarantee that the ballots will be counted, but it is seen as a move that would benefit Franken, whose internal numbers show that the the candidates' vote totals could be within 50 votes of each other. Official results show a difference of 303 votes - significantly higher than Franken's internal numbers, but a tiny percentage of the more than two million votes cast.
The campaigns have challenged more than 6,000 ballots, moves which are sure to extend the fight for this seat beyond the date that all ballots are re-counted.
Know Minnesota well, and want the results county-by-county? Check out the recount on the Star Tribune's website.
Dec 03, 2008
Chambliss pulls out victory in GA run-off
Posted By Katie
Media reports last night indicated that progressive candidate Jim Martin of Georgia (D) lost his election bid to incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R). With 96% of precints in, according to the New York Times, Chambliss led Martin 57.5% to 42.5%.
Most sources attribute the substantial victory to the significantly lower voter turnout in the run-off than in the general election. Just over half the voters who participated in the general election came out for yesterday's run-off. Among those groups with significantly lower voter turnout were African Americans, who had been a key support group for Martin in the general election.
Chambliss's victory may prevent Democrats from attaining a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate, but the mere fact that this race - seen months ago as a lock for the incumbent - came down to a run-off can be seen as a victory for progressives in an election where voters overwhelmingly rejected the neo-conservative policies of the last eight years.
Dec 01, 2008
There’s not a dime’s worth of difference
Posted By Ashley
The media has been all abuzz with the formal announcement that Obama's former favorite foe has been appointed Secretary of State. But, most of that coverage has been focused on exaggerated disagreements during the presidential campaign and behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, all of which miss the point.
On policy, Obama and Hillary are not night and day, but more like 4:30 and 4:45.
“When it comes to foreign policy, Obama and Clinton agree far more than they disagree,” said John Isaacs, executive director of the Council for a Livable World. To paraphrase the late Alabama Governor George Wallace, Isaacs added: “There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between Obama and Clinton on foreign policy.”
Isaacs based his assessment on a thorough examination of Obama and Clinton’s Senate voting records; national security platforms as laid out in articles and op-eds; and responses to queries in debates, public appearances, and questionnaires.
Isaac's analysis compares and contrasts their policy positions on Iraq, Iran, nuclear weapons, missile defense, and other relevant foreign policy issues. Read his full analysis here.
Dec 01, 2008
It's Not Hillary, It's the Policy Stupid!
Posted By Ashley
Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, the chairman of our sister organization just published an op-ed co-authored with former congressional Rep. Tom Andrews. With all the media attention that the Hillary as Secretary of State has been receiving, Tom and Gen. Gard take us back to what really matters, the policy.
It's Not Hillary, It's the Policy Stupid!
by Lt. Gen. Robert G. Gard Jr. (USA, Ret.) and Tom Andrews
The media obsession over who's in and who's out of consideration for the Obama Cabinet brings the admonition on the famous "War Room" wall of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign to mind: "It's the Economy Stupid!" Those of us eagerly awaiting relief from the debacle called the Bush administration should avoid getting swept up the in DC parlor game of who is getting what position in the new administration and focus instead on the fundamental changes we need the Obama administration to start making. In short, "It's the Policy Stupid!"
President Obama will begin his presidency with enormous good will from the American people and great hope from the world at large. It is imperative that he seize this opportunity by quickly moving his campaign pledges into bold and decisive action despite the opposition that surely awaits him.
Nov 20, 2008
Update on Franken Race
Posted By Ashley
-----------------------
UPDATE: Huffington Post reports that a recent political study shows that if unrecorded ballots are counted, Al Franken is highly likely to win. -------------------------------
We've been following two still-undecided Senate races closely (we've endorsed the challengers in both races, and our supporters have raised thousands for them): Jim Martin in Georgia (challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss) and Al Franken in Minnesota (challenging Rebublican incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman). Martin's race is headed for a run-off ending December 2, while Franken's race is likely headed to the courts as the state does a full re-count of all ballots. Currently, Norm Coleman is up by a mere 206 votes, and many predict that the recount will prove more ballots cast for Franken. With a race so close and a chance that Franken could indeed prove the winner, the former comedian is headed to Washington, D.C. to prepare for a possible win.
According to Minnesota's Start Tribune, Al Franken will meet this week with Senate Democrat leaders to fully brief them on the recount and the process and to discuss the upcoming legislative agenda. "If he should win this election, it would be irresponsible for him not to get ready to take office," said Franken spokeswoman Colleen Murray. "Minnesota deserves a senator who is ready to take office on Day One."
Nov 19, 2008
60 Democratic Senators Is Not a Magic Number!
Posted By David Cohen
I wanted the Democrats to win each Senate race. They did quite well overall in the states where we know the results. We still don’t know the results for Alaska, Minnesota and Georgia. Georgia may be determined fastest because there is a run-off election on December 2.
The media shows its lack of understanding of the US Senate with its obsessive focus on the question of whether the Democrats will have 60 votes counting the two Independents who caucus with the Democrats. The media assumption is that 60 Senate seats lead to a filibuster proof Senate. Most of the media neither knows nor understands the way the Senate now works. Sixty Senate Democrats does not guarantee votes on major issues.
Senate Democrats rarely are unanimous, even though on most issues a substantial number vote together. They are mostly joined by the two Independents (Sanders of VT and Lieberman of CT). The consistent exception has been the Iraq war where Lieberman filibustered with the Republicans and blocked the Senate from voting on the merits of the issue numerous times.
Senate conservatives and reactionaries have mainly used the filibuster to block progressive change. Their use of the filibuster literally prevents an issue from being brought to a vote. Historically, its most notorious use prevented civil rights progress on basic issues such as anti-lynching, protection of voting rights, and outlawing racial discrimination. Its occassional use by liberals (rarely successful) does not justify it. The filibuster stands as the weapon of those determined to block necessary change with their fierce determination to prevent issues from being decided. It protects the status quo and privilege.
As the Republican party presidential election base narrows to southern and border states, southern, border, and small state Senators may resort to the filibuster as they did in the Bush years. In the 110th Congress (the one coming to an end), Republicans resorted to the filibuster 94 times, thereby setting a new and dubious record.
The way to overcome filibusters is to recognize that liberals and Democratic and Republican moderates have to negotiate workable compromises to isolate the Republicans who say no to everything constructive. That is likely to be more possible in an Obama Administration that will stand for pragmatic problem-solving changes, in contrast to the Bush record of blocking solutions to pressing public problems.
On issues such as energy and health care, negotiations will have to occur both among Democrats and between Democrats and Republicans to get that desired result.
I want Begich, Franken, and Martin to win respectively in Alaska, Minnesota, and Georgia. They will add progressive voices to the Senate. The need to bring the small band of Democratic and Republican moderates along to join the liberals, and thwart the likely filibustering opposition of the Senate Republican leadership, continues.
The ability to negotiate successfully is at the heart of moving the progressive and Obama agenda through the Senate minefield.
Nov 17, 2008
The Obama Administration: Who's In, Who's Out
Posted By Ashley
John Isaacs, our executive director, is maintaining a list of who's in and who's out for key positions in the new Obama administration (No, we haven't penciled Hillary in yet). Right now, there are only 8 positions filled (see below), but check back daily as we expect more to be announced soon.
Key positions announced:
White House Chief of Staff: Rahm Emanuel
Deputy Chief of Staff: Jim Messina Deputy
Chief of Staff: Mona Sutphen
Senior adviser and intergovernmental relations and public liaison: Valerie Jarrett
Senior adviser to the President: Peter Rouse
Legislative affairs: Phil Schiliro
White House counsel: Gregory Craig
Vice President Chief of Staff: Ron Klain
