Happy Tuesday, everybody!
Welcome to the Daily Briefing for January 13, 2009. Can you believe that inauguration day is exactly one week from today?
Washington, D.C. is always an interesting place to live even more so right now. There is a "buzz" in this city that is almost indescribable. Now, whenever you go to a store, the barbershop, a grocery store, or a restaurant, everybody is talking about inaugural festivities. And everybody in this great city seems to have their fingers crossed for good weather. As of this moment, next Tuesday is looking to be "partly cloudy" with a high of 36F and a low of 28F.
We will begin the 6 p.m. show tonight by looking at a fascinating day of confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill. Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton spent several hours testifying to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The questioning was polite and friendly. In fact, as of this note, I haven't seen a single abrasive question thrown at Clinton. However, the ranking Republican on the Committee, Indiana's Richard Lugar, opened his remarks by challenging the William J. Clinton Foundation to stop accepting foreign donations.
The issue of Bill Clinton's influence looms large in most discussions about Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Tonight, we will talk about that with Christopher Hitchens and Lanny Davis about that. They have very different views and it should make for a lively discussion.
Hillary Clinton's boss, President-elect Barack Obama, met with democratic congressional leaders today to talk about the second chunk of $350 billion that is part of the Trouble Asset Relief Program or TARP—also known by critics as the "Wall Street bailout." Our Muckraker of the Day has written in compelling fashion about this $350 billion and why he believes Congress should not approve it.
On the other side, we will chat with a moderate democratic member of Congress who is incredibly uncomfortable with the deficit spending that's coming but doesn't want to tie Barack Obama's hands on the TARP or on the economic stimulus package.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke takes a similar view.
Also tonight, we will talk with New York Times correspondent David Sanger. He has written a terrific new book about the foreign policy challenges facing the United States and the Obama administration. Sanger will take us through some of the biggest challenges, including Afghanistan and Iran.
Finally, we will have an update on the inauguration plans and logistics. Plus, if you are planning to visit Washington, D.C. for inauguration or any other time for that matter, there's a restaurant I strongly recommend: Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street. It was in the news over the weekend because Barack Obama and Mayor Adrian Fenty stopped by. The chili is amazing. The history is incredible. I'll tell you more about that tonight.
Our quote of the day is from Martin Luther King:
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."
Thanks in advance for watching. "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" airs at 6 p.m. in Washington, D.C., 5 p.m. in Hot Springs, Arkansas, 4 p.m. in Cheyenne Wyoming, and 3 p.m. in Sacramento.
Shuster
Shuster Daily Briefing
January 13, 2009: Can you believe that inauguration day is exactly one week from today? Washington, D.C. is always an interesting place to live even more so right now. There is a "buzz" in this city that is almost indescribable. Now, whenever you go to a store, the barbershop, a grocery store, or a restaurant, everybody is talking about inaugural festivities.
