Leader: Caroline Who?
- Caroline Kennedy's hat is clearly in the ring in the contest to become Hillary Clinton's successor as junior senator from New York. She's taken on a few veteran political advisors, begun making calls to her formidable network in New York politics, and gotten serious coverage in all the relevant papers. Karen Tumulty at Time wonders if Caroline is ready, and, also importantly, if she will even like working in the Senate.
- She's already racked up the endorsement of Rep. Louise Slaughter from upstate New York-- a good start. Slaughter applauded her experience as a lawyer (among other, more significant, accomplishments), which brought to light the slightly embarrassing fact that, until last week, Kennedy's legal registration in NY was delinquent. It's not clear that she's ever practiced law.
- After seeming uninterested in politics for so long, what's driving Caroline to Washington now? The Caucus thinks it might be the brutal experience of turning fifty last year.
Politics
- Arne Duncan, the superintendent of Chicago(!) public schools, is Obama's choice to be Secretary of Education. His choice is a compromise-- he is one of few notable educators not to have taken sides in the hard-line teacher accountability vs. teachers' unions fight.
- Ken Salazar will be the next Secretary of the Interior. With defections mounting on Capitol Hill, Josh Marshall observes that the Senate really must not be much fun these days. Why is everybody leaving? Perhaps because congress isn't so good at the "Internet."
- With Obama and Salazar on the way out, and Mel Martinez planning to step out in two years, Sen. Menendez could be the only member keeping the Senate from becoming a total cracker barrel.
- It has looked like confirmations of Obama's cabinet would hurtle through congress at record speed. Republicans may be throwing a wrench into the machinery by asking that Attorney General-selectee Eric Holder's hearing be delayed until the end of January. Sen Leahy, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has obligingly obliged.
- Mike Madigan says: You're done, Blago. After giving him six days to resign, the Illinois House Speaker says it's time to move forward in the legislature with impeachment hearings. Those begin today.
Economy
- Retail prices fell dramatically in November, leading to a month of flat inflation and even sparking fears of deflation. Oil prices led the way, putting the big plans of some oil companies in jeapordy.
- Bernard Madoff's mega-Ponzi scheme has hit Jewish individuals and groups particularly hard, reports the LA Times.
International
- The Iraqi shoe hurler has quickly gained fame around the world, and has become something of a cult hero in parts of the Middle East. Yet more evidence of the power of one short video.
- Writing in Sunday's WaPo, Sarah Chayes had an extraordinary Op-Ed on home for the past seven years: Kandahar, Afghanistan. Use of the Taliban by the Pakistani military has gradually resulted in "invasion by proxy" she says.
One More Thing
- With more than 70 candidates in the race, no single breed was able to garner more than 13% of the vote in the race to become the Obamas' new dog. It's unclear how the impasse will be resolved.
- Joe Biden and Barack Obama will roll into DC by train, making whistle stops in Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. How cool is that?! (Or is it just me...?)
- Last, the Illinois legislature gets ready to tear Crooked Rod into a million crooked pieces: