Republicans Old And New Agree On Spending Resolutions

A pair of resolutions to be introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) when Congress returns next week has garnered even support from a group of longtime and newly-elected Republicans.

The resolutions, to oppose the creation of new entitlement programs and the passage of any unfunded mandates, appears to represent a common ground of agreement between the party’s so-called ‘establishment’ and its new coalition of ‘Tea Party’ conservatives.

According to Alexander, the list of co-sponsors on at least one of the two resolutions includes Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), John Risch (R-Idaho), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).

GOP's Main Objective Is Not To Limit Obama To One Term, Says Issa

One of the most important members of the new Congress says Republicans must not prioritize defeating President Obama in the 2012 election over restoring the nation’s struggling economy.

In an interview with CNBC, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) responded to a question about whether or not his party will be able to block the White House’s agenda during the next two years.

“Our goal is not and should not be about winning a political campaign, but rather to get America and our economy moving again,” Issa said.

Issa is currently the top Republican on the powerful House Oversight Committee, and will become its chairman once the House changes hands in January. Earlier this week, Issa told Politico that he’d like to hold roughly 280 investigative hearings each year during the remainder of Obama’s first term in office…

Hoyer Considering Running For Minority Whip

Outgoing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) released the following statement on Friday:

“In the days since the election, I have received an outpouring of support from Democratic colleagues who have told me that I should remain in our party’s leadership, so that our Caucus can hit the ground running with a strong, tested leadership team. Over the next several days, I will continue to speak to my colleagues about serving our Caucus as Democratic Whip, and I will announce a decision after I have consulted with them.”

Hoyer is presently the Democratic Leader, but would lose that position should Democrats elect outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to the position. Hoyer has stated that he will not challenge Pelosi for the job.

Instead, he’ll likely battle current Democratic Whip, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), for the number two position. Clyburn has not yet declared any intention of ceding his title.

Obama Attributes Democrats' "Shellacking" To Failed Messaging

President Barack Obama believes Democrats would have fared better at the polls on Tuesday if he had been able to better communicate his agenda to the public.

In an interview with 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft that will air Sunday evening, Obama said rather than rejecting his policies, voters simply did not fully grasp them.

“Over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that, we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn’t just legislation…it’s a matter of persuading people.”

“I think that we haven’t always been successful at…making an argument that people can understand,” the President added.

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Hillary Clinton Rules Out 2012 Run

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a New Zealand television channel that she has no plans to challenge Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2012.

“I’m very pleased to be doing what I’m doing as secretary of state,” the former First Lady said.

The U.S, said Clinton, “should be” ready for its first female President, but it won’t be her. During the interview, she also ruled out running for President in 2016.