Update: This blog post explains the executive orders a bit more clearly, as do its linked sources.

original post:

President Obama signed three executive orders today designed to reverse the Executive Branch's hostility toward organized labor. The text of the orders hasn't been posted on the White House website as of this writing, but should soon be available here for viewing.

In the president's words:

One of these orders is going to prevent taxpayer dollars from going to reimburse federal contractors who spend money trying to influence the formation of unions. We will also require that federal contractors inform their employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Federal labor laws encourage collective bargaining, and employees should know their rights to avoid disruption of federal contracts.

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desertwine reminds us that 127 years ago today, the greatest American President of the 20th Century, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was born.

Roosevelt, born in wealth, became a traitor to his class and the greatest champion and most revolutionary, in terms of our philosophy of governance, the nation has ever seen.

He was the father of modern progressive governance. On this day, living in these times, let us remember the great FDR. I want to refer you to his famous speech at Oglethorpe University in 1932, words that resonate today:

One of the bizarre strains of thought that has emerged in the blogs is the view that President Obama and Democrats will now be judged by the direction the opposition from the GOP takes. Here is Nate Silver:

[S]urely the phrase "ZERO Republicans voted for the Recovery Package" is more likely to escape Democratic lips on the campaign trail in 2010 than Republican ones.

Certainly that depends on whether the stimulus works no? More . . .

You might enjoy David Obey's remark that Republicans, by focusing on trivial details in the stimulus bill, are behaving "like 1,000 mosquitoes to harass the majority." It's more like 188 mosquitoes in the House, but it must feel like 1,000 to House Democrats. Obey should invest in some bug spray.

In particular, Obey singled out Republican grievances that roughly $50 million appropriated to expand funding of the arts won't stimulate the economy or create jobs. What nonsense. Not only will it create jobs for artists, curators, musicians, actors, writers, and dancers, arts funding will create jobs for staff and maintenance workers at museums, theaters, publishing houses, galleries, arts centers, and places where public art is on display. Art also creates a demand for the raw materials from which the art is made and for performance spaces.

Here we go again. House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers subpoenaed Karl Rove to testify about the U.S. Attorney firings and Don Siegelman case. Via Marcy, here's the subpoena (pdf).

The subpoena commanded Rove to appear on Feb. 2 for a deposition on the U.S. attorney firings and the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat.

Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey named a special prosecutor in September to investigate whether former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, other Bush administration officials or Republicans in Congress should face criminal charges in the firings of the U.S. attorneys.

Conyers is hoping having Obama in the White House may make a difference.

''Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk.''

Long Island House member Carolyn McCarthy is gearing up for a primary challenge to newly appointed NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola), who is leading the Democratic opposition to Gillibrand, will today begin building the structure of a 2010 primary challenge, a McCarthy aide said.

This is good news for progressives. But not because McCarthy is progressive. She really is not. But it is still good news for progressives. I'll explain why on the flip.

Courtesy of Steve Clemons:

The game plan -- whether real or fantasy -- is intriguing. It goes something like this. Caroline Kennedy would be appointed now to the Senate. She would perform well above the very low expectations many had for her and win handily the seat in the 2010 mid-term race in which that Senate seat needs to be contested again. She would then be in place until 2016. [Steve is inaccurate here as the NY Senate seat will be contested again in 2012.] Ted Kennedy's view "may be" that Caroline would instantly out-shine Hillary Clinton in the eyes of New York voters and in the American political scene and that in 2016, Caroline Kennedy would be 59 while Hillary Clinton would be 69.

So the yarn is Caroline Kennedy was going to run for President in 2016. Whoa! That strikes me as nuts. But what do I know.

Speaking for me only

Via Taylor Marsh:

Governor Paterson made a wonderful choice in appointing Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Secretary Clinton’s seat in the United States Senate. I am confident that she will continue Secretary Clinton’s distinguished service to the people of New York and to our country. During her career, Kirsten has been a strong voice for transparency and reform in government and shares the belief that government should be open, accessible and work for all of our citizens. In Congress and as special counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, she worked to strengthen public and private partnerships to invest in infrastructure and New York’s economy.

At this time of great challenge, I know that Kirsten has the integrity, character, and dedication to public service to help us achieve our greatest goals," said President Obama.

Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. Gillibrand must be "persuaded" to be a more progressive pol. But President Obama is a pol too.

Speaking for me only

Discussing the lay of the land now that Kirsten Gillibrand has been appointed to follow the now-Secretary of State as New York's junior senator, I think the focus on payback and finger-pointing by some folks is misguided. It seems to me that the idea should be to affect issue outcomes. In that vein, I believe a Senator Gillibrand will be especially susceptible to progressive influence. That should be the focus of progressives now.

The main pressure point Senator Gillibrand will face is a potential primary in 2010 from a credible progressive opponent. I have long believed that primaries need not topple an incumbent to be effective. The threat of the primary will often provide strong incentive for movement towards progressive positions by challenged Dem incumbents. In two cases, that of Reps. Jane Harman (who was primaried) and Ellen Tauscher (who was threatened with a primary challenge), the mere threat of the primary pulled the representatives to the progressive view on key issues. So it could and likely would be with a Senator Gillibrand. More . . .

Video of Paterson naming Gillibrand.

While this was pretty much known last night, it seems that the leaking is now of the official variety. The NYTimes:

Gov. David A. Paterson has selected Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, a 42-year-old congresswoman from upstate who is known for bold political moves and centrist policy positions, to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a person who spoke to the governor early Friday. The governor will announce his selection at noon in Albany. An aide to Ms. Gillibrand confirmed that she had accepted the appointment.

I hope Gillibrand faces primary challengers in 2010. Not because I do not expect Gillibrand to hew a more progressive path as Senator than she did when representing a GOP leaning district (a district Dems will be hard pressed to hold.) I do expect it. I hope she faces a primary challenge because I think every elected official should face a primary challenge. Accountability for all. That is what primaries are for.

Speaking for me only

Via the LA Times, a New York television station is reporting that New York Governor David Paterson has chosen Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, a moderate Democrat, to replace Hillary Clinton. WPIX reports:

PIX NEWS is being told that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand is the reported choice of Governor David Paterson to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Two Congressional sources say members of the New York delegation have been invited to join Governor Paterson for the announcement in Albany at noon tomorrow.

....One of the contenders, longterm Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney canceled a scheduled appearance on "PIX News Closeup" tomorrow because of a "conflict," which she did not disclose. She too will be in Albany. According to the sources, Gillibrand, now in her second congressional term, was favored by Secretary of State Clinton herself. Paterson has been under pressure to select a woman.

She is from upstate New York and viewed as being able to help Paterson in his re-relection bid in 2010.

Update: It's official. Caroline Kennedy released a statement just after midnight saying she withdrew her name.

Update: Commenters below are saying David Gregory reported on Maddow tonight that the media got it wrong and she has not withdrawn her name.

****With Hillary Clinton confirmed as Secretary of State, it will only be a matter of days before New York Governor David Paterson names her replacement.

It won't be Caroline Kennedy who withdrew her name from consideration this afternoon for personal reasons, specifically, the health of her uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy.

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