Just before noon today, President-elect Obama boarded a vintage train at the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia on a whistle-stop tour of cities along the mid-Atlantic seaboard with a final destination of Washington DC, where he will remain until his inauguration takes place this Tuesday. Obama then picked up his VP-to-be Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware on the "two-hour journey stretched into more than seven, as other invited guests boarded along the way—the final pickup being in "O"-Baltimore. The Times called the mood "more serious one than it was on most days of the presidential campaign." Just today in his weekly address, Obama said, "There will be false starts and setbacks, frustrations and disappointments. And we will be called to show patience even as we act with fierce urgency.” The train recalled Lincoln's initial inaugural trip to DC by rail and even followed some of the same route, but Obama never referred to the 16th president by name. more ›

Today, President George W. Bush gave his final press conference as his administration winds down. It was a way for him to thank the White House press corps as well as yet another of his "exit interviews." Bush admitted some mistakes—"Clearly putting a'Mission Accomplished' (banner) on an aircraft carrier was a mistake. It sent the wrong message"—while defending himself on other matters, such as Hurricane Katrina and whether America's stature in the world fell during his presidency:

I've thought long and hard about Katrina -- you know, could I have done something differently, like land Air Force One either in New Orleans or Baton Rouge. The problem with that and -- is that law enforcement would have been pulled away from the mission. And then your questions, I suspect, would have been, how could you possibly have flown Air Force One into Baton Rouge, and police officers that were needed to expedite traffic out of New Orleans were taken off the task to look after you? more ›

Mayor Bloomberg, as well as other mayor from large cities, was on hand to head President-elect Obama outline an ambitious economic stimulus plan, one that includes a $1,000 tax cut for working families, a payroll tax cut and an infusion of $800 billion. Obama urged Congress to pass a stimulus plan, “I don’t believe it’s too late to change course, but it will be if we don’t take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years. The unemployment rate could reach double digits.” more ›

No, it wasn't a gathering to mourn the recent death of the First Cat, but rather just a meeting of the minds when the four living presidents were invited to lunch by the president to be. President Bush said he was happy to give a holler to former Presidents Clinton, Carter and Bush 41 (his father). It was the first time all of the living presidents had gathered at the White House since the funeral of assassinated Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat in 1981. more ›

After what has been notably a smooth transition, the would-be Cabinet put together by President-elect Obama suffered its first hiccup today with Bill Richardson withdrawing his name from becoming the next secretary of Commerce. The withdrawal was sparked by a federal grand jury investigation that is underway in Richardson's home state of New Mexico into whether a financial services company won state contracts after its CEO contributed to a political committee controlled by the governor. Richardson emailed a statement saying, "I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process." Obama accepted the withdrawal "with regret" but praised the governor by saying,"It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time." Politico says that there was a nervousness among some senators of any associations between the investigation on Richardson and the pay-to-play scandal of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. more ›

In between returning to Chicago from his weeklong vacation in Hawaii and his imminent move to Washington, President-elect Obama took a moment to drop his weekly address, where the focus was the economic stimulus package that he is putting together to present before Congress. more ›

Last week, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn issued a letter to President-elect Obama's inauguration committee to express her dismay over the selection of Rick Warren as pastor. Quinn, who is openly gay, wrote, "Yet what is so offensive here is not the mere selection of a religious leader who is opposed to same-sex marriage. It is the selection of a man who has used his position to try to deny others their civil rights, and to create huge divisions among Americans." On the other hand, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., a Democrat and a Pentecostal minister who opposes discussing gay marriage in the next legislative year, thinks Warren's invitation is important, "The Democratic Party should not be a party of only two issues: Abortion and homosexual marriage. Everybody should be accepted: Orthodox Jews, Evangelical Christians, Catholics, Muslims, and those with religious beliefs that oppose abortion and homosexual marriage. YES WE CAN!" more ›

Embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich made his first public remarks after being accused of trying to sell a soon-to-be vacated Senate seat and other charges. Besides saying he would not resign, Blago started off with, "I'm here to tell you right off the bat that I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing, that I intend to stay on the job, and I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath." more ›

President Bush just announced loans to the GM and Chrysler totaling $17.4 billion: $13.4 billion now and $4 billion in February, if they, according to Times, "undertak[e] sweeping reorganizations to show that they can return to profitability." The money will come from the TARP bailout. more ›

A "top New York education official" tells today's Post that local education authorities don't want Linda Darling-Hammond, head of President-elect Obama's education-policy working group, to have a big role at the US Department of Education. The concern is that Hammond won't support Mayor Bloomberg and Joel Klein's reforms and that she opposes the state-required Regents exams, which students must pass in order to graduate (some schools are exempt). In a 2001 legal brief, Hammond said exams like "Regents exams are a limited measure of actual learning and performance, are prone to substantial error, and have limited predictive validity regarding students' abilities to accomplish other real-world tasks or to succeed in college." A Bush administration education official criticized Hammond as one of many who "don't like standards, don't like testing, don't like accountability," while high school students are more likely to favor her as longtime opponents of "taking tests up until July." more ›

The Posts reports that Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. will be named to the White House Office of Urban Policy as the director of urban affairs. Rumored to be headed to the Obama White House in some way, Carrion was frequently mentioned as a possible HUD secretary, but NYC Housing Commission Shaun Donovan got the job. Politico's Ben Smith writes, "Carrion is a well-liked, pro-development official who has tried to enhance his limited power through an alliance with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and gives the New York mayor...another ally in the White House, and suggests a New York-centric urban policy... The appointment could also position Carrion for a run for mayor, an office he has coveted, in 2013, should Bloomberg win another term next year." This also makes the race for NYC Comptroller in 2009 interesting. more ›

President-elect Barack Obama has named NYC's Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Shaun Donovan to lead the cabinet position of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Barbara Sard, director of housing policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, tells the NY Times, “Shaun is brilliant, really thoughtful and creative, and knowledgeable about a broad range of housing policies in ways that unfortunately is very unusual." more ›

With the Senate's failure to pass the $14 billion auto industry bailout bill, world stock markets fell: Asian markets fell over 5% and European markets are down more than 3%. Futures suggest that Wall Street will open lower as well, also due to news from JPMorgan Chase (it had a "terrible" November and December) and Bank of America (cutting 35,000 jobs over three years). more ›

President-elect Obama, during a press conference to announce former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as the head of Health and Human Services, discussed Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged corruption. Obama emphasized that his staff has not been involved with deal-making for the Senate seat Obama is vacating, "That would be a violation of everything that this campaign has been about." more ›

Who doesn't love an embattled, corrupt governor? Especially when he was apparently trying to sell President-elect Obama's Senate seat? Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is on the cover of the NY Post and Daily News, which devote a serious amount of ink to the scandal. Of course, we're a little disappointed there's no board game imagery on the Post's front page—it Operation Board Games and all. more ›

During today's Meet the Press, Tom Brokaw noted President-elect Obama's recent admission that he slipped up a few times during the campaign and returned to his smoking habit. He then asked Obama if this would be a problem, considering the White House's no-smoking policy. "I have, but what I said was that at times I have fallen off the wagon." Brokaw then interjected, "But wait, that means you haven't stopped." To which Obama replied, "Fair enough. Well then, what I would say is that I have done a terrific job under the circumstances of making myself healthier and you will not see any violations of these in the White House." Could we be looking at the "no new taxes" promise that will haunt him in 2012? In 2007, a Fox News story revealed what they called "Obama's dirty little secret" and asked viewers, "Would you vote for a smoker for president?" more ›

President-elect Barack Obama is about to announce his national security team, which includes announcing Senator Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State-designate. more ›

Finally: Senator Hillary Clinton will be announced as President-elect Obama's choice for Secretary of State tomorrow. And with that comes news that former president Bill Clinton has agreed to publicly name his donors. The NY Times reports that the disclosure of "more than 200,000 donors to his foundation" and library is "part of an accord" with the Obama team "that clears the way" for his wife's nomination. The announcement will be made at 10:40 a.m. EST in Chicago. more ›

President-elect Barack Obama's weekly radio address was made available today as he reflected on the Thanksgiving holiday and the "great trial" Americans are facing now, with wars abroad and an economic crisis. He discusses his economic plan and his economic but adds, "But this Thanksgiving, we are reminded that the renewal of our economy won't come from policies and plans alone -- it will take the hard work, innovation, service, and strength of the American people."

I have seen this strength firsthand over many months -- in workers who are ready to power new industries, and farmers and scientists who can tap new sources of energy; in teachers who stay late after school, and parents who put in that extra hour reading to their kids; in young Americans enlisting in a time of war, seniors who volunteer their time, and service programs that bring hope to the hopeless. more ›

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Politico reports, "Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has agreed to stay on under President-elect Obama, according to officials in both parties." Gates, who replaced Donald Rumsfeld in 2006, met with Obama's transition team last week; the Pentagon had said, "It was a very positive meeting.... All involved are very committed to a smooth transition. Their conversation covered a wide range of issues." Politico notes, "The selection of a member of President Bush’s inner circle allows Obama to deliver on his promise of a bipartisan Cabinet, even though Gates has an intelligence background and has not been an active Republican." Additionally, it's expected Obama will reveal his national-security team line-up-- including rumored Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton-- next week. more ›

President-elect Barack Obama unveiled his economic team, saying, "I've sought leaders who could offer both sound judgment and fresh thinking, both a depth of experience and a wealth of bold new ideas — and most of all, who share my fundamental belief that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers." But he added, "the economy is likely to get worse before it gets better." more ›

ABC News' George Stephanopoulous reports that President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan will be huge: Obama is "considering a stimulus package in the $500-billion range, which is 3 to 4 percent of GDP. That's a far larger stimulus package than the $175-billion Obama proposed on the campaign trail. Or the $300-billion stimulus which had been discussed as the upper limit." more ›

In the weekly Democratic radio address (which is also videotaped for Youtube), President-elect Barack Obama outlined his economic stimulus plan. Noting the "crisis of historic proportions," Obama wants to create 2.5 million jobs in a two-year period to stimulate growth:

"It will be a two-year, nationwide effort to jumpstart job creation in America and lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy. We’ll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing schools that are failing our children, and building wind farms and solar panels; fuel-efficient cars and the alternative energy technologies that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years ahead."

In what might be the worst-kept secret ever, multiple media outlets are reporting that Senator Hillary Clinton will resign from the Senate to become Secretary of State in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet. A top Clinton adviser says an announcement will come after Thanksgiving and added to Politico, "She knew this was the right thing to do but just needed to sit with it for a bit to make sure." more ›

Politico, which cast some doubts on whether Hillary Clinton would even want to be President-elect Obama's Secretary of State yesterday, now reports, "Negotiations between the Clintons and President-elect Obama’s transition team are rapidly moving toward a formal offer of secretary of State" for Clinton, with an announcement expected within the next seven days. And "a key part of satisfying Obama’s vetting team, former President Bill Clinton is open to giving up foreign sources of income if she becomes secretary of State, according to a close friend." Bill Clinton has made a lot after leaving office (their joint tax returns showed income of $107 million between 2000 and 2007). The NY Times adds he "has agreed to release the names of some major donors to his charitable foundation and...would subject future foundation activities and paid speeches to an ethics review," and if his wife serves, "He would also cede day-to-day responsibility for his foundation... and would alert the State Department to his speaking plans and any new income sources." more ›

A little cold water on the excited reports that Hillary Clinton will be--or is close to being--the next Secretary of State: Politico suggests that Clinton might not even want the job. A Clinton insider says, "A lot of the speculation and reporting is out ahead of the facts here. She is still weighing this, independent of President Clinton's work." Apparently NY's junior senator is "torn" between being a member of Obama's "Team of Rivals" and her Senate work, like helping "pass health care and work on a broad range of domestic issues," which Politico says "jibes with what others close to Clinton have been saying since the Secretary of State chatter began last week: that Clinton is conflicted and the deal far from done, despite screaming headlines in outlets including the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper claiming the offer was made and accepted." Still, Bill Clinton thinks his wife would be "really great as secretary of state"--that is, if Obama "decided to ask her." more ›

Senator Joe Lieberman, whose support of Republican candidate John McCain raised the ire of Senate Democrats, was allowed to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He was, however, ousted from the less showy Environment and Public Works Committee, a move the NY Times characterized as a "a slap on the wrist compared with the prospect of losing the homeland security leadership post." While many Democrats wanted to strip Lieberman of both committees, President-elect (and Senator!) Obama said he wanted Lieberman to remain in the Democratic caucus (Lieberman is an independent who caucuses with the Dems). After the Democratic caucus voted, Lieberman said of his anti-Obama comments, "There are some that I made that I wish I had not made at all." more ›

British newspaper the Guardian reports, "Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration," according to its sources. However, there are concerns regarding the vetting of former President Bill Clinton, not to mention possible conflicts--Politico points out, "it could prove problematic for Obama if the former president continues to arrange donations from foreign countries at the same time that his wife, as secretary of state, is asking them for diplomatic concessions." Clinton friend James Carville told the Washington Post, "There's a lot of momentum in the direction of this happening," but acknowledged the Bubba factor: "She's not married to Todd Palin." more ›