First Read : First Thoughts

First thoughts: Next week's decision

Domenico Montanaro — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:22:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** Next week’s decision: On “TODAY,” NBC’s Savannah Guthrie reported that President Obama is set to announce his decision on Afghanistan-Pakistan next week (likely on Tuesday, Dec. 1), and he’ll likely do it via a primetime address (although it probably won’t be from the Oval Office). Guthrie’s reporting comes after Obama last night concluded his ninth meeting with his national security team on Afghanistan. "After completing a rigorous...(read more)

First thoughts: No pain, no gain?

Mark Murray — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:17:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** No pain, no gain? In a way, last week epitomized President Obama’s 10 months in office. There was lots of seemingly short-term pain -- members of Congress calling for his Treasury secretary to resign, more P.R. snafus over the stimulus, the chattering class criticizing his Asia trip, and his approval rating dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup’s poll. But there also was long-term gain -- the Senate on Saturday moving...(read more)

First thoughts: More Sat. Night Fever

Domenico Montanaro — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:47:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** More Saturday Night Fever: The Senate is expected to take its vote to proceed on Senate Majority Leader Reid’s bill on Saturday. Democrats will need 60 votes -- i.e., their entire caucus -- to clear this initial procedural hurdle. Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, the vote is expected to take place around 8:00 pm ET. At this point, Strick adds, it doesn’t look like there will be any Senate work on Sunday, nor will there be any effort to...(read more)

First thoughts: GOP govs take the stage

Mark Murray — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:24:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali WeinbergCEDAR CREEK, Tex. -- At yesterday's public events at the Republican Governors Association’s annual meeting here just outside of Austin, there wasn’t anything resembling the boisterous Tea Party protests or those summer town halls. There weren't cries about President Obama's "radical" or "socialist" agenda. And there weren't any mentions of Sarah Palin (until a reporter brought her up at a press conference). Rather, the tone at this...(read more)

First thoughts: Still weeks away?

Domenico Montanaro — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:20:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** Still weeks away? In an interview with one of us from Beijing, President Obama said he was possibly still weeks away from making an announcement on Afghanistan. “I will announce my decision over the next several weeks… I'm confident that at the end of this process we will be able to present to the American people in very clear terms what exactly is at stake what we intend to do, how we're going to succeed, how much it's going...(read more)

First thoughts: A productive day

Mark Murray — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:17:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** A productive day: President Obama today finished up his most important and productive day of his trip. A day-long summit with the Chinese led to some new concessions from both countries on climate issues (“We are creating a joint clean energy research center, and have achieved agreements on energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleaner uses of coal, electric vehicles, and shale gas,” Obama said), on the economy and America’s $800...(read more)

First Thoughts: The lights go out...

Domenico Montanaro — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:18:00 GMT

Due to technical difficulties (a.k.a. a Washington Bureau power outage... as you'll read below), we were delayed in getting First Read out this morning. Thanks to our readers for your patience. Everything's not quite up to speed here (as of 12:50 p.m. ET). But we'll be doing our best to keep you updated on all your political news. From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** The lights go out in China (and in D.C.!): In a test of how much freedom the Chinese actually have,...(read more)

First thoughts: Here comes Sarah Palin

Mark Murray — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:12:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** Here comes Sarah Palin: It took advanced excerpts of her upcoming interview with Oprah, plus the AP and now Drudge getting their hands on her new book, to move Palin-palooza from next week’s story to today’s. According to the AP, Palin criticizes CBS’ Katie Couric over the infamous Couric-Palin interview; she takes issue with ABC’s Charlie Gibson; and she settles old scores with the McCain campaign. Yet the last thing the Republican...(read more)

First thoughts: Around the world...

Domenico Montanaro — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:15:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** Around the world in 8 days: Later this afternoon, President Obama departs on his latest big overseas trip -- a whirlwind eight-day, four-country journey that will take him to Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea. His previous trips (to Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East) helped bolster his domestic image. But that wasn’t necessarily the case back in July (when he traveled to Russia and Italy) or last month (with his...(read more)

First thoughts: Obama's four options

Mark Murray — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:20:00 GMT

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg*** Obama’s four options: On this Veterans Day, at 2:30 pm ET, President Obama meets with his national security team for the eighth and possibly final time to discuss what to do in Afghanistan. Obama received two new options yesterday, in addition to the other two that had been debated for some time, and all of them increase the number of troops there. On the low end, one option (supported by Vice President Biden) sends an additional...(read more)