Obama Raises $86 Million for 2012 Campaign

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President Obama’s campaign announced early Wednesday that it has raised $86 million for its reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee in the second quarter, setting a new record for off-year fundraising by a president.

Obama’s huge haul looks even bigger next to his GOP opponents, none of whom managed to crack even $20 million in the second quarter, and only one of whom broke $5 million (though Rep. Michele Bachmann, who has not yet announced her totals, could still exceed that amount).

Raising the Debt Ceiling: Mitch McConnell's Plan

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Yesterday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a new plan for dealing with the debt ceiling.

What kind of solution can we expect from this Republican "leader" whose stated goal is making Barack Obama a one term president?

For those who have not had time to untangle it, here is what Sen. McConnell is proposing as explained by Bill Egnor , FireDogLake. Over the next two years the president can raise the debt ceiling on his own but he has to see if Congress likes it or not.

Carly Fiorina's New Job- NRSC Vice Chair

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National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced Tuesday that former Hewlett Packard CEO and 2010 California GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina will be the committee’s new vice chair.

The Fix, Washington Post Blog The Fix reported Cornyn's statement:

“I’m pleased to welcome my friend Carly Fiorina to the NRSC team, where her many business and civic achievements will make her an invaluable leader and fundraiser during this critical election cycle,”

Fiorina  raised nearly $16 million before losing to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) by 10 points.

Republicans are hoping to retake the majority in the Senate this cycle, which would require them to win four Democratic seats if President Obama is reelected and three seats if a Republican wins the White House.

Related articles

• Cornyn Taps Fiorina to Help Win Control of Senate (politicalwire.com)
• New GOP honcho Carly Fiorina is "focused on 2012,'' but on future run for office? "Never say never" (sfgate.com)
• Fiorina Joins Senate GOP Campaign Arm (blogs.wsj.com)

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Rep. Ron Paul will not seek reelection to his Texas congressional seat next year, regardless of his fate in the Republican presidential race. Paul, who is currently serving his 12th term in Congress, will instead spend the bulk of his time on the 2012 Republican contest.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., hasn’t made a definitive decision yet on whether she will seek to return to the House if her presidential bid fails. The conservative Republican presidential candidate has said she is not "actively seeking re-election".  However, she has not ruled it out entirely. Minnesota has a late Congressional filing deadline so she’s got plenty of time before she has to make a go-no-go decision.

Related articles

• For Ron Paul, It's The Presidency Or Nothing In 2012 (huffingtonpost.com)
• Texas Rep. Ron Paul retires from Congress (sfgate.com)
• Ron Paul Will Not Run for Re-Election (politicalwire.com)

Republicans Undermine Financial Overhaul Law

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President Barack Obama’s financial overhaul law is nearly a year old. For congressional Republicans, the fight to weaken it is just starting.
Wary of trying to repeal the entire statute and being portrayed as Wall Street’s protectors — banks rank among the country’s least popular institutions — GOP lawmakers are trying to nibble away at the behemoth measure. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, a leader of the House Financial Services Committee says “So Republicans in the House will be examining each and every one of the 2,000-plus pages” of the law..." It’s a crusade they’re waging despite lacking the White House and Senate control they need to prevail.

“It’s mostly setting a marker for the election. And it helps with their campaign contributions,” said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who chaired the Financial Services Committee last year and was a chief author of the law. “But it also tells people in the financial community that if they win the next election, they’ll be able to undo it all.”

Fox Twitter Feed Falsely Reports President Obama Assassinated

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Tweets posted by hackers on a Twitter feed operated by Fox News falsely claimed that President Obama had been assassinated.

Reports of Barack Obama’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Fox News said that on Monday morning its Twitter feed covering political news was hacked, with tweets posted reporting the death of the president. The tweets stated that Obama had been shot in a restaurant in Iowa while on the campaign trail.

On its website, Fox News said that “hackers sent out several malicious and false tweets claiming that President Obama had been assassinated.”

The news organization was keen to point out that the president is, in fact, alive and well and enjoying the Fourth of July holiday together with his family at the White House.

Senate Finally Confirms DOJ Nominees

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The Justice Department’s top leadership, some of which had been in flux because of partisan battles over nominees, has stabilized with the Senate’s confirmation of three high-level officials.
The Senate last week gave final approval to James M. Cole as deputy attorney general, Lisa Monaco as assistant attorney general for national security and Virginia Seitz as assistant attorney general of the Office of Legal Counsel. Cole’s confirmation ended a year-long battle with congressional Republicans, while Seitz’s position was at the center of a standoff lasting more than two years.