White House Morning Meeting With Robert Gibbs

President Clinton:
Former President Clinton will meet with President Obama and NSC/State department staff on the situation in North Korea and his talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
The White House will release a still photo from the meeting. President Clinton has had previous meetings with the NSC staff but not with President Obama. Asked if President Clinton would give remarks to the press at the stake out, Gibbs replied that he does not control who comes to the stake out anymore. President Obama has spoken with President Clinton only one time about North Korea which was when the two women landed in the United States on August 5, 2009.

Health Care: 
Gibbs described an over-reaction to what Health and Human Service’s Secretary Sebelius said was "based on many of your stories".
He said "we have been boringly consistent. Asked if this was a signal, Gibbs said " if it was signal it was a dog whistle we have been blowing for three months." He also said if there are other options/plans "we're certainly happy to look at those plans". Concerning choice and competition he said you may find yourself in a state or group of states where only one insurance company is active in the area and having the ability to choose between plans assures quality and ability to get insurance. 
Asked about car insurance he said that he is not sure that health insurance and auto insurance are totally analogous and that the notion of a public option is to guarantee choice in a market that
is closed to choice. In terms of phone calls, the President has made he has not made any calls either to liberals or lawmakers.

President of Egypt Mubarak Visit to the White House:
Gibbs said that there are responsibilities we see for them [Egypt]. 


Israeli Settlements:
Gibbs said that both sides believe we are making progress on the settlement issue. 


Guns:
Questioned about guns being carried around outside the event in Arizona, Gibbs said laws that govern firearms are state and local laws and that you "can't take one of those into an event with 
the President"

Lockerbee Bomber:
The President's position is that he should continue to serve his full sentence.

Chelsea's Clinton's Possible Wedding:
Did not say if there was an invitation and quipped, "Do you know where she is registered?"

Napolitano: U.S. Cracking Down On Borders From North To South

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said that the United States, Mexico and Canada all rely on trade but with the increase in illegal immigration and drug and weapon trafficking, it is time for more modern and safe border security.

Today Napolitano spoke at the 2009 Border Trade Alliance International Conference and addressed not only border security issues but trade issues.

The Border Trade Alliance is a grassroots non-profit that serves as a forum for participants to address key issues affecting trade and economic development in North America.

Before heading to Mexico City with President Obama last week, Napolitano visited several American southern states to address the escalating violence in Mexico and the rise in drug and weapon trafficking among Mexico and the U.S.

Since 2006, when Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon increased his efforts against drug cartels, more than 10,000 people have been killed in Mexico due to drug-related violence.

Because of the increase in violence at the U.S.-Mexico border, President Obama has dispatched hundreds of federal agents along with high-tech surveillance gear and drug-sniffing dogs, to the Southwest border to help Mexico in it’s fight with drug cartels.

Napolitano said that the U.S. is engaged and focused on border issues not only from a security standpoint but from a trade standpoint.

“The two go together, we cannot separate one from the other,” she said.

Napolitano said the United States is not only working to end illegal immigration, drug and weapon trafficking and unlawful trade with the Mexican government but also with the Canadian government as well.

“We don’t want to appear to go heavy on the southern border and light on the northern border. We will have a balanced approach consistent with effective security for our entire country,” she said.

Napolitano said that the U.S. needs to respect the differences between the northern and southern borders.

“There needs to be a level of parity between the two borders,” she said.

But Napolitano said that the two borders share similar concerns regarding security, trade, illegal entry, and drug smuggling.

“We need to deal with circumstances on the ground. On the southern border it means protecting against drug cartel violence in combating illegal entry.... We’ve added more personal and technology. We’ve created a southbound strategy to stop the flow of guns and bulk cash into Mexico,” she said.

Napolitano said that the U.S. is providing new technology for Canada and have added five new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Marine and air branches, and 24 integrated border enforcement teams that include Canadian law enforcement officials.

“We don’t want to damage economic security in the name of homeland security,” she said.

Napolitano also spoke about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which will require all travelers coming into the U.S. from Canada or Mexico to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship.

“These are real borders, this is a real law, and I am really charged with implementing it and I take that charge very seriously,” she said.

Although the Mexican and Canadian borders are different in climate and geography, both share a common goal to have a “modern border, an efficient border and a safe and secure border for both people and for commerce," Napolitano said.

Weapons and money crossing U.S. border into Mexico

The Crime and Drugs Subcommittee and Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a joint hearing today on "Law Enforcement Responses to Mexican Drug Cartels."  Senator Feingold (D- Wisc.) explained the need for this topic to be brought to the attention of the government, “This problem, as we’ve heard today, has taken on increasingly troubling dimensions as the violence in Mexico and along the border has exploded over the last two years and this has had devastating consequences... We must address this crisis in a proactive and coordinated manner focusing on improving law enforcement while also supporting efforts to enhance the rule of law in Mexico.”

Kumar Kibble, Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Investigations addressed the fact that weapons coming to Mexico from the U.S. add to the problem. “Southbound weapons smuggling is a grave concern amid the growing violence along our border with Mexico.”

Senator Durbin (D- Ill.) noted that guns crossing from the U.S. into Mexico are a source for violence among drug cartels, citing a Brookings Institute study which found that 2000 guns cross the border every day. Sen. Durbin explained, “We would at least agree that if it’s hundreds or thousands, the best efforts that we’ve put in it to date are really not addressing the volume of the problem when it comes to weapons smuggling.  We have to look to additional ways to fortify our efforts and make them more effective.”

The second problem the hearing addressed was the “insatiable” drug appetite of the United States.  Approximately 35 million drug users in this country create draw and supply money to cartels across the border.  Attorney General of Arizona, Terry Goddard, stated that the U.S. must work to decrease the demand for drugs.  “The United States has put a great deal of money into interdiction but we put very little into demand reduction.  And frankly we can have a very profound effect as a country in trying to stop the apparently insatiable demand for these illegal drugs.”

The need for commitment of the U.S. government to do more in this effort was echoed by witnesses in the hearing.   Kibble stated, “Part of what fuels this violence in Mexico are the weapons and money South and we have to do more.”

While the U.S. government seeks to put into action policies to alleviate the issue of violence related to Mexican drug trafficking, there is positive news.  Anthony Placido, Assistant Administrator and Chief of Intelligence at the Drug Enforcement Administration, stated, “I’ve been closely following Mexico since about 1985 and what I can tell you in my view, the commitment and resolve of the Mexican government is unprecedented under this administration.  They are making great strides to improve the situation.”  He believes that part of the increase in violence is a sign of success, as cartels experience pressure they have never seen before, causing them to lash out against themselves and the government.

DC police say looser guns laws would make their jobs harder

The House Oversight and Government Reform committee held a very one-sided hearing today on H.R. 6691, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act. Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) described the bill as a "wholesale evisceration" of DC's gun laws it would allow "military-style rifles" to be carried on the streets of Washington, DC. He repeatedly referred to the bill as "the NRA bill." Other Democrats, including DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, also criticized the bill for imposing changes on DC rather than allowing the DC city council to come up with its own solution. Republicans, including Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) criticized the partisanship of the hearing and said it served no purpose.

The witnesses at the hearing were DC Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier, US Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse, US Park Police Deputy Chief Kevin Hay, and Washington Nationals Park Director of Securrity Robert Campbell. All espoused the same view: guns are dangerous and would make their work harder. In questioning, Chief Lanier went into some detail about the special considerations ensuring security in Washington, DC. She pointed out that no other city has the number of dignitaries and sensitive areas that Washington has. While other cities can shut down major streets for motorcades, the number of motorcades in DC makes such blockages impossible without seriously disrupting city life. She described a common motorcade attack plan, in which small arms are used to take out security personnel, bringing the motorcade to a stop, after which explosives can be used against the car carrying the VIP. Loosening DC's gun laws, she implied, would make this attack more likely.

Chief Lanier also pointed out that shotguns had been allowed in DC for home defense before the Supreme Court's Heller decision, and revolvers are now allowed as well. Tomorrow DC Delegate Norton and Rep. Waxman will introduce a replacement bill in the House.

NRA means "No rentals available."

My sister is a proud Republican. She loves lower taxes, big business (She has told me "what's good for business is good for people." repeatedly) and an individual-rights approach to the Second Amendment. She's among the many that are thrilled by the Supreme Court's ruling to lift the handgun ban in the District of Columbia, especially since she 's living in DC for the summer. To celebrate she and a family friend went to the National Rifle Association's shooting range this past week.

They toured the museum and paid for the range. My sister had to fill out paperwork and get a 30-minute evaluation on using a hand gun. She's been shooting before and has had training. When she passed the written test they indicated a lane for shooting. She asked how much for gun rental. And that is when she got a shock.

There are no guns for rental at the National Rifle Association's shooting lanes.

Many shooting ranges provide rental for a variety of handguns for those who are recreational shooters but don't bring or own guns. The leading lobby for gun-owner's rights takes their mission quite literally-- it is helpful to be an actual gun owner if you are interested in shooting there. Hearing this story from my sister was pretty amusing, especially since they had administrated the whole vetting process with her plainly standing there in a tank top and jeans. How many 20-year-old interns do YOU know with a conceal and carry permit? And in that clothing where on earth was she supposed to be packing heat?

Beyond defending the right to keep and bear arms, the NRA kindly suggests you bear them if you want to shoot on their range. Bring your own or go home.