NDN Blog

1/26 Roundup: Shaky Stimulus, Stealth Lobbying, Cigar Rapprochement

LMcCain: BFFL?eader: Shaky Stimulus

- The stimulus will remain topic number one in DC this week, as the fire from the right heats up.  John McCain, so recently billed as Barack's BFFL in the Senate, went on the talk shows yesterday to tell the world: Like hell I'm voting for that bill.

- This on a morning when major US companies announced 45,000 job cuts coming soon, and astrologers see only inauspicious and portentous signs for this, the year of the ox.  

- Politico wonders: Will it work? And then they wonder: What if it doesn't work? Apparently, the Dow is waiting to fall off a 4,000 point cliff if the latter proves to be the case.

- Paul Krugman runs through the common lies you're likely to hear from conservatives about why the stimulus won't work.  

Politics

- Obama is likely to direct federal regulators today to reconsider the Bush Administration's ban preventing states from setting their own, tighter regulations on auto emissions.

- John Heilemann looks at Obama's growing base of enemies on both sides of the aisle.  Everyone, it seems, needs to stay angry to stay relevant.

- House Democratic Whip James Clyburn told the Hill that major healthcare reform is likely not in the cards for this year.

- The WaPo profiles our youngest, greenest senator-- Michael Bennet of Colorado.  Could someone give the guy a metro map?

- Bill Kristol announces that we've reached the end of a conservative era. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the NY Times Op-Ed page... Long live liberalism! So says Timothy Garton Ash, who is glad to see Obama embracing the concept, and hopes we can some day revive the word.

- Politico breaks down how Obama's economic team will divide their work.

Economy

- Congress is considering granting the Fed major new powers as an oversight body, with the right to look inside banks to determine whether they are taking on too much risk.

- Are we serious about nationalizing our banks? It could happen.

International

- Pakistan will be a serious test for Richard Holbrooke, writes Time. And Laura Rozen over at FP rounds up the rumors that "stealth lobbying" by India kept the Pakistan-India conflict out of Holbrooke's portfolio. Obama, meanwhile, seems to be continuing the policy of conducting airstrikes inside Pakistani territory, taking out two suspected terrorist hideouts and killing twenty.

- Hamas is back on its feet in Gaza, and leading the recovery efforts for families left devastated and homeless after Israel's 22-day siege.  Tom Friedman thinks this year is critical if we are ever to create a two-state solution to the conflict. If not now, maybe never.

One More Thing

- Cigar Afficionado, despite its conservative leanings, thinks it's high time for rapprochement with Cuba.  For exactly the reasons you would imagine.

- If you thought Ikea and Pepsi were tacky with their marketing campaigns leeching off Obama, how about Ty, which has introduced two new Ty Girlz dolls named Marvelous Malia and Sweet Sasha.  Ew.

- Last, some are still calling it the President's weekly radio address, but let's get real-- it's the President's weekly YouTube address.  Here's his first: 

 

 

1/23 Roundup: Stimulus Trouble, Senator Gillibrand, A Matter of Milli Vanilli

MoneyLeader: Stimulus Trouble

- The $850 billion stimulus package authored by the Obama administration is running into greater resistance in congress, as Republicans are complaining at having been left out of the drafting of the document, which they say won't effectively stimulate the economy.

- David Brooks thinks the stimulus package is an unholy marriage of short-term and long-term investments, and combines the worst of both sides into a package that will be ineffective and costly.

- Paul Krugman listened to Obama's speech and only heard more conventionality on economic issues.

- Also on the NY Times Op-Ed page, Chairman of the World Bank Robert Zoellick argues that every country should pledge 0.7 percent of its stimulus package to help developing countries that can't bail themselves out.

Politics

- New York Governor David Patterson has chosen Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Hillary Clinton's vacated Senate seat. The Hill writes that with this pick, the electoral dominoes have been lined up for 2010. With Caroline Kennedy's demise, Anne Kornblut at the WaPo reports on whether it indicates a persistent glass ceiling.

- The electoral drama in Minnesota will go on.  A panel of judges rejected Al Franken's request to throw out Norm Coleman's challenge to the results.

Economy

- John Thain, the former head of Merrill Lynch, has been ousted from his position at Bank of America, as revelations of his mismanagement at Merrill came to light.

International

- Massimo Calabresi at Time wonders if Clinton's squadron at State can rebuild US diplomacy.  It seems, increasingly, that Obama intends to promote diplomacy and development, rather than focusing exclusively on matters of Defense in foreign policy, as his predecessor did.

- George Mitchell and Richard Holbrooke have been named as special envoys to the Middle East and the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, respectively.

One More Thing

- A matter of Milli Vanilli?  It turns out that the  mournful and beautiful rendition of "Air and Simple Gifts" played by that all-star quartet at Tuesday's inauguration was, in fact, pre-recorded. Apparently, the risk of instruments breaking or going wildly out of tune due to the cold was too great.

- The newest fundraising weapon for the DSCC?  Who else but Morgan Freeman!

- Think you have what it takes to make it onto the Very Special List? No, no you don't.

1/22 Roundup: Day One, Goodbye Caroline, Spy-Proof and Bullet-Resistant President

Leader: Day One

- President Obama got right down to business on day one yesterday, signing a flurry of official memos, executive orders, and presidential directives in his opening hours. He issued several orders establishing a new model of ethics for the executive branch. Most notably, he froze the salaries of all White House staffers making more than $100,000 per year, and made other changes to increase accountability and decrease the power of lobbyists.

- He is expected to follow on a successful day one with a new round of orders today, including an order for the CIA to shutter its global network of secret prisons, and another to shut down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

- In his first foreign policy-related action, Obama called four leaders in the Middle East yesterday morning--  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, King Abdullah of Jordan and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. This serves as an important signal that Obama will prioritize US relations in the Mid East.

- Mike Madden at Salon looks at how Obama used his day-one directives to put his own, unique stamp on the Presidency.

Politics

- Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn her name from consideration for the Senate seat left vacant by Hillary Clinton's assumption of the Secretaryship of State. She cited "personal reasons," which were presumed to relate to her uncle Teddy's health issues, but this excuse did not ring true for many, who saw her star as falling already.

- And yes, Hillary was officially confirmed yesterday, with a 94-2 vote in the Senate.

- I promised you yesterday that, despite stumbling during the swearing-in, Obama was really the president. Evidently, Obama was less confident this was the case, and so reconvened yesterday with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts for a re-swearing-in. According to White House Counsel Greg Craig, the do-over was undertaken out of an "abundance of caution."

- Wired has a great piece looking at how Obama can "reboot the White House."

- Emily Bazelon and Chris Wilson at Slate line up the ten Bush executive orders that Obama should put on death row.

International

- George Mitchell will be Obama's special envoy to the Middle East-- a great choice, by all accounts.

- Pakistani forces arrested a Saudi man who is believed to have been been involved in the 2005 London bus bombings.

One More Thing

- Mercifully, Obama gets to keep his BlackBerry-- but it will be a special, spy-proof variety.  

- At the inauguration, Obama was wearing "bullet-resistant clothing..." which is, what, exactly?  Slate's explainer explains.

- Last, somewhat inexplicably, Obama still hasn't sat down for an exclusive interview with star reporter Damon Weaver. Mr. President, Damon is available at your convenience:



1/21 Roundup: Inauguration Sensation, Rhetorical High Notes, Extraordinary Oratory

Leader: Inauguration Sensation

- Barack Obama was sworn in yesterday as the 44th president of the United States, calling in his inaugural address for "a new era of responsibility," and rejecting as false "the choice between our safety and our ideals. Despite stumbling during the swearing-in itself (as much the fault of Chief Justice John Roberts as Obama's), Obama did, in fact, accede to the presidency, and paraded his way to the White House, walking the final stretch to enter his new home.

- The vast throng of Americans assembled to witness the event numbered about 1.5 million, and stretched from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.

- No clear theme emerged from Obama's speech, which bore the burden of towering expectations from the start.  A call for responsibility and a marrying of pragmatism and ideals were two recurring emphases.

- The address hit several more bellicose notes, particularly in its occasionally scathing condemnation of the Bush presidency. As the NY Times points out, the experience was surely an odd one for the outgoing president, who has rarely been forced to sit and listen to a speech about how he took America off course.

- Barack hit his rhetorical high note in the peroration, recalling inspiring words delivered by George Washington at Valley Forge-- an analogy perhaps a touch highfalutin, but deeply effective in the moment:

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

- William Safire and other former White House speechwriters offer their take on the inaugural address at NYTimes.com. 

- Time has the day in photos.

Politics

- WhiteHouse.gov got a major makeover at 12:01 yesterday, and the Presidency 2.0 has begun.

- In one of his first acts as President, Obama halted all legal proceedings involving prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, suggesting the beginning of the end for the detention facility.

- The helicopter took off in dramatic fashion, and he's been spirited back to Midland, Texas.  Now what's next for George W. Bush?  It's hard to imagine.

Economy

- Wall Street delivered a less than friendly welcome to Barack Obama, as the Dow Jones tumbled four percent.  Stocks are regaining some ground this morning.

International

- President Obama is meeting today with his top military advisers, in what will likely mark the beginning of the shift of emphasis from Iraq to Afghanistan.

One More Thing

- Last, don't tell Barack I said this, but the most extraordinary oratory delivered yesterday was given by Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery as the benediction. Read along here, and watch: 

1/19 Roundup: The Fierce Urgency of Now

MLK Jr.In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we at NDN encourage all Americans to reflect on the life, work, and mission of Dr. King on this day. Whether by listening to one of his great speeches, re-reading his extraordinary letter written in Birmingham jail, or by  joining in the national day of service as Barack Obama has called on Americans to do.

- The Associated Press covers the National Day of Service here, and Chris Dodd has published a brief statement encouraging all to participate.

- On WashingtonPost.com, the children of Dr. King talk about how the election of Barack Obama intersects with the vision of their father.

- And if there's one non-MLK item you read today, I'd encourage you to choose David Maraniss's profile in the WaPo, in which he traces Barack Obama's unlikely journey to the presidency.

- Last, listening to Dr. King's last speech always gives me chills:

Inauguration Preparation

With inauguration quickly closing in, we're right in the thick of it here at NDN. Just eight blocks from the National Mall, one block from the White House, and half a block from the parade route, the preparations are going on all around us. For those readers wise enough to steer clear of this city throughout the festivities, here's a glimpse of some of the changes going on around DC:

The presidential viewing platform, being erected just in front of the White House. As the parade parades by, Barack will sit there behind bulletproof glass, and smilingly observe.

This city is mad for bunting-- mad for it, I tell you.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee takes the bodily functions of inaugural spectators very seriously, as you can see.

Rachel Maddow made off with the other three letters, and she won't give them back.

Here's the block of Pennsylvania Avenue that passes in front of the White House, just half a block from the NDN offices! The stands are built, the trees are boxed.

Our hallowed Capitol, from where Obama will address the nation on Tuesday morning.

The PEBO's motorcade, screeching around the corner just outside the NDN offices.

1/16 Roundup: US Air in NY Water, McCain-Obama Alliance, Biden's Got Balls

US WaterLeader: US Air in NY Waters

- Unless you've been under a rock (hiding from the cold?) you've probably seen the dramatic pictures of a US Airways Airbus A320 bobbing in the Hudson River with 150 frigid passengers huddled on the wings. Just a few minutes after taking off from LaGuardia Airport on his way to Charlotte, NC, the pilot had to ditch in New York harbor, attracting the alarmed attention of nearly everybody on the west side of Manhattan (and inspiring more than a few panicked 9/11 flashbacks). 

- Thanks to quick, professional work on the part of the US Air crew, all 155 people aboard the plane survived, with just some minor injuries and a few cases of hypothermia after a dip in the 40 degree Hudson. The plane's pilot, Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III has risen to hero status, after coolly executing a difficult maneuver, and ensuring the rescue of all his passengers. Sully for New York Senator?

- If you thought you hated Canadian Geese before (angry, dirty birds...), it appears the plane was brought down after a flock of birds undertook a suicide mission flying into the jet engines. Read more here on the growing hazard of bird strikes.

Politics

- Obama scored his first major legislative victory (before even taking office! what a guy...) yesterday, as the Senate approved the second half of the TARP funds to be spent at his discretion. The victory was a relatively narrow 52-42 roll call vote.

- CQ comments on the diversity of the 18 "real people" riding in the inaugural train with PEBO.  Only one major demographic group is unrepresented: The effete, liberal, New York Times-reading snobs of the coastal USA. You know-- me.

- Everybody's getting giddy looking forward to Barack's inaugural address.  Ted Sorenson thinks it will be the best we've heard in at least 48 years. Competitive by nature, Barack may be trying to top even the greatest.  Lincoln's second, anyone? Here's Ted Widmer on the history of inaugural addresses.  Mostly? Pretty lame.

- Sen. Rick Santorum expects a strong McCain-Obama alliance.  Interesting, and not improbable.

- Chris Cillizza takes a look at the many retiring Republicans, and the problems that will pose for the GOP in 2010.

Economy

- An $825 billion stimulus bill dropped in the House yesterday. We at NDN are overall quite pleased with its contents, which include major funding for clean infrastructure development, health IT systems, modernized education, and many more worthy programs.  But not everyone is pleased.

- Ever heard of James Oberstar?  That's what I thought.  He's the guy who will be spending $65 billion of your money on infrastructure. 

International

- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is urging Israel to call off their assault on Hamas in Gaza. The CS Monitor speculates that this could be Israel's last big offensive before a cease-fire. Time counts three ways the Gaza War, now three weeks old, could end.

- Zimbabwe will now issue a 100 trillion dollar note. American banks might like to get their hands on something similar.

One More Thing

- In one of his final acts as president, George Bush declared that January 18th would henceforth be known as "National Sanctity of Human Life Day."  I, for one, will be celebrating by attending the EMILY's List inaugural luncheon. How about you?

- In the race to prove how ridiculous our legislature is, Congress is acting upon Obama's statement of a few months ago in support of a college football playoff regime. Presumably, representatives from Utah and Oklahoma will be particularly supportive of this legislation.

- Sen. Orrin Hatch thinks Joe Biden has balls.  And I'm not talking about inaugural balls.

- Last, President Bush bid us farewell yesterday.  Time celebrates the occasion by looking back at the 10 best Bush-being-Bush-on-video of the past eight years. Remember this one?:

1/15 Roundup: Broken Banks, The Army of Obama, Bougie Barack Bling

Broken BankLeader: Broken Banks

- As another month's worth of losses for bank have been announced, demand for federal bailout dollars is fast outstripping supply. President-elect Obama is asking congress to release the second half of the TARP funding, but it's not at all clear that the full $700 billion will even be enough.

- Bank of America is the latest casualty-- like a homowner whose mortgage is more than the value of his home-- losses incurred by Merrill Lynch since BoA agreed to purchase the bank last year have made absorbing it a costly endeavor.

Politics

- Trouble has arrived in confirmation city: Daschle's confirmation has gotten stuck in committee,  Tim Geithner has a target on his back (though his confirmation is expected), his SEC nominee doesn't exactly have a history as a tough regulator, and the long-anticipated fight over Eric Holder's confirmation is set to begin today.

- What will become of the army of Obama, assembled during the campaign?  Details are gradually becoming clearer: A permanent, national political apparatus to advocate for legislation and wage a permanent campaign.  Pretty intense.

- Harry Reid could be in hot electoral water in 2010, and is gearing up for a fight.

- According to President Bush, the low point of his presidency was being called a racist in the aftermath of Katrina. Curiously, he chose that point, and not the point a week earlier when hundreds of Americans died because of poor planning and poor response under his watch.

- Caroline Kennedy's star is falling.

Economy

- IStockAnalyst writes on how green infrastructure spending intended for the stimulus has encountered hurdles.  Michael is quoted:  "Before you spend billions of dollars on new lines, you have to spend millions of dollars on design work. Nobody had been thinking about this much money [becoming available]. So the planning just has not been done."

- Steve Jobs announced he was taking six months off from Apple for health reasons.  Apple's investors freaked out.

International

- According to NY Times analysis, Israel's war in Gaza may have had the opposite of the intended effect, with Hamas weakened but not destroyed, and Fatah more irrelevant than ever. With officials from both sides working toward a truce in Cairo, the Palestinian death toll passed 1,000 yesterday. Not surprisingly, the two sides disagree as to whom is responsible for the death of about 500 civilians.

- Years after triumphantly nationalizing the oil production in his country, Hugo Chavez, dear friend of our own Comrade Dan Boscov-Ellen, is knocking sheepishly on the door of big Western oil companies, asking if they'd like to come back to Venezuela.

One More Thing

- Seyward Darby of TNR has gone hunting for the kitschiest of Obama kitsch. You might be interested in purchasing senseless t-shirts, bougie O-bling, or perhaps even an Obama dildo!

- Politico helps you out by giving you the full scoop on the party scene over the next week.  As a side note, Rihanna is rather alluring.

1/14 Roundup: Secretary Clinton, Mo Money, Bored, Anonymous, Pathetic Bloggers

ClintonLeader: Secretary Clinton

- Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearings went swimmingly yesterday, and she appears flying toward a swift and painless confirmation. She talked about "smart power," asserted that she would seek to directly engage Iran, and took a relatively tough line toward Israel. Marc Ambinder describes the foreign policy she laid out as a marriage of principles and pragmatism.

- Some say the panel of Senators went a little too easy on their former colleague. The Hill calls it a "warm embrace," and Steve Clemons, despite fantasies of Hillary being pushed on discrepancies between her and Barack's worldviews, was disappointed. 

Politics

- Susan Crawford, the top Bush administration official in charge of deciding whether to bring Guantanamo detainees to trial, has concluded and announced that Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Saudi who purportedly intended to participate in the 9/11 attacks, has been tortured. As such, Crawford has refused to send him to trial.

- The Secretary-selectee of Energy, Steven Chu, said in his confirmation hearings that he would push both clean coal and nuclear as energy options.

- The House will vote today on whether to reauthorize SCHIP, the children's health insurance bill. Simon writes here on how the bill interplays with the immigration debate.

- Speaking of which, Hispanic congresspeople are talking about making anti-immigrant workplace raids one of the central targets in their next push for immigration reform.

Economy

- The word is that the banks will need more money-- a lot more money-- to stay afloat.  Citigroup is perhaps the most desperate. Once a "financial supermarket," the giant is breaking itself into parts, in an effort to ease the fears of investors. 

International

- Israeli intelligence asserts that Hamas has been damaged, but not yet destroyed, according to a NY Times report.  The conflict is stretching late into its third week, with casualties continuing to mount. Yesterday, several rockets were fired into Israel from Southern Lebanon.  This is the second time this has happened during the conflict.  The perpetrators are not known, and Hezbollah, which is up for elections in the coming months, and expected to do well, has denied responsibility.

- A new tape from Osama bin Laden urges Muslims to declare Jihad on Israel, and condemns Arab governments for making peace with the Jews.

One More Thing

- President Bush declared a state of emergency in Washington, DC in anticipation of next week's inaugural. If you've been out in the streets here recently, you know that the declaration is, if anything, coming a bit late.

- Can't get enough Barack Obama? Comcast has you covered with a 24-hour all-Obama all-the-time channel.

- In a recent interview, Sarah Palin lays into "bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie." Now, Madam Governor, I may be bored, anonymous, and pathetic...

- Last, this is, apparently, an important release from Nancy Pelosi's office:

NDN Weekly: Our Take on the Stimulus, Clean Infrastructure Event with Rep. Blumenauer & More

Welcome to our new weekly update! We hope this proves to be a useful forum for you to keep up with everything going on at NDN. To get this update via e-mail on Mondays, click here.

NDN ON THE STIMULUS

As President-elect Barack Obama discussed his economic recovery plan, NDN Globalization Chair Dr. Robert Shapiro argued that, in addition to unprecedented stimulus, we must address the underlying forces troubling the economy, including the incredibly weak housing market and the ailing financial sector:

The new Administration can address these challenges directly, as candidate Obama pledged to do with extraordinary foresight. For example, we can impose a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and use the time to renegotiate the terms of tens of thousands of distressed mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. One idea promoted by many economists is to convert those mortgages to 30-year fixed at 5.25 percent, which happens to be the long-term mean rate for Fannie and Freddie mortgages.

It won’t stop foreclosures, but it should bring down foreclosure rates to near-normal levels, which would do more to stabilize the financial system than the bailouts in the Bush Administration's own Wall Street version of tsunami stimulus. And some tough love from the new Treasury Secretary could help restart the lending process: having done what we can to stabilize the value of their portfolios, we should consider requiring institutions receiving federal aid to use a real share of that assistance to restart their lending.

Additionally, Melissa Merz and Jake Berliner took a look at the green jobs and green stimulus aspects of Obama's economic recovery plan. For more on the green stimulus, come to our event with Rep. Earl Blumenauer this Wednesday!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rep. BlumenauerClean Infrastructure: Transportation Policy for the 21st Century
Wednesday, January 14, 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Cannon House Office Building, Room 345

NDN's Green Project will host Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Chris Leinberger of the Brookings Institution, and Bob Peck of Jones Lang LaSalle in a discussion of policy options to create a clean, low-carbon transportation infrastructure, including ideas to be incorporated in the upcoming stimulus package and the 2009 Transportation Bill.

Click here for more information, and to RSVP, please click here.

IMMIGRATION UPDATE

To find out what's new in the world of immigration reform, be sure to check out Zuraya Tapia-Alfaro's weekly immigration update. This week, she speculates on what the debate over the economic stimulus could mean for immigration reform, and comments on the current Administration’s last-ditch effort to appear "tough" on immigration. She also looks at the potential impact on immigration reform from Gov. Kaine's appointment to DNC Chair, and continues to analyze the effect of our changing demographics on the political landscape, and the latest in the horror of hate crimes.

NATIONAL SERVICE & THE MILLENIAL GENERATION

Following on Gen. Colin Powell's call to national service last week, NDN fellows Morley Winograd and Mike Hais authored a short essay on the willingness and potential for the Millenial Generation to improve their country by rallying to public service. By asking us all to make a commitment to our cities, towns, and communities, Barack Obama is showing he understands that America has moved to a new era of public engagement, driven by the civic-mindedness of the Millenial Generation.

If you'd like to show your commitment to civic engagement by participating in the National Day of Service on Monday, January 19, click here to find an event, or here to get more information.

NEW TOOLS UPDATE

Dick Tracys Mobile PhoneIn this week's New Tools feature, Dan Boscov-Ellen explores how the development of mobile technology is changing the way Americans consume media and connect with others. The emergence of WiFi-capable phones, combined with ever-increasing WiFi penetration, means that more and more mobile users are able to access high-quality media on their devices. It also means that mobile phones are increasingly becoming the go-to devices for mobile Internet access.

For more on why mobile phones and Web video matter in politics and the world today, and how to use mobile technology and video to message more effectively, check out our New Politics Institute papers, Go Mobile Now and Reimagine Video.

NDN IN THE NEWS

Simon was quoted in the new cover story of New York Magazine, "A Party of One," on the unique character of this election and its implications for the future. The piece by John Heilemann echoes many of NDN's most important arguments:

Cover of New York MagazineObama is difficult to pigeonhole not simply because he’s new but because of the newness of the moment that he—and we—inhabit. It’s a moment dominated by an economic crisis that’s shaken bedrock beliefs about the infallibility of free markets. A moment when a revised architecture of power is arising globally, challenging America’s status as an unrivaled superpower. When the networked age has finally arrived, inciting the implosion of the broadcast paradigm that governed politics in the Industrial Age. When the country is being transfigured demographically, hurtling toward becoming a majority-minority nation.

This crescendo of forces produced Obama, made his ascension possible. Now he has a chance to shape the new era, to leave his stamp on it. "This really is the first presidency of the 21st century," says Simon Rosenberg, head of the Democratic advocacy group NDN. "Those who try to hold on to twentieth-century descriptions of politics are going to be disappointed and frustrated by what’s about to emerge in the new administration, because American politics no longer fits into the old boxes—and neither does Obama. For better or worse, what he is doing is building a new box."

Simon was also quoted in The Washington Times, and his essay on the need for "Progress, Not Motion" was featured in The Hill.

Rob was quoted in The National Journal, Washington Post Global, and The Street, and received a great shout-out from Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne in ECommerce Journal.

Finally, new NDN fellows Morley Winograd and Mike Hais were featured in USA Today on the realigning character of this election.

NDN JOBS

CFO - NDN is seeking a CFO with four to five years of experience in financial management to direct and oversee all financial activities of the organization, including preparation of current financial reports and forecasts for economic trends and future growth. For more details, visit our jobs page or contact jobs@ndn.org for more information.

Winter and Spring Interns - NDN is looking for interns to join our staff this winter and spring. If you or someone you know is interested in working at NDN during this exciting time, visit our internships page or contact jobs@ndn.org.

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