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The Note: Curve Ball -- Another Week, Another Set of Obstacles to Health Care Reform

We’re seeing sticker shock spread through the Capitol. We’re seeing Democrats fight with each other. We’re seeing middle-of-the-night committee votes. We’re seeing the unemployment rate rising. We’re seeing a presidential approval rate falling.

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July 17, 2009 in Congress, Democratic party, Obama Agenda, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (76)

The Note: Pitches and Presses -- Obama Steps Up Pressure on Health Care

It’s a fresh pitch and a full-court press from the Obama White House on health care, as stakeholders start giving up their seats at the table, and new polls show signs of softening support for the president’s top priority, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Thursday in The Note. And with Day Four of Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings upon us, is it time to start thinking about the next fight instead?

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July 16, 2009 in Health Care, Obama Agenda, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (85)

Note: ‘It’s Time’ -- Leadership Critical in Health Care Debate

As health care reform starts passing some real legislative marking points, the debate is reaching a critical phase -- with White House leadership, plus some outside pushes from the Democratic National Committee, calculated to turn illusions of momentum into real votes, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Wednesday in The Note. And does it take a wise Latina to frustrate Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee?

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July 15, 2009 in Democratic party, Obama Agenda, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (29)

The Note: A Bit Outside -- Sotomayor Hearings Could Boost Obama Agenda

Get ready for political posturing and baseball metaphors: Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings will dominate the week -- and that may be a good thing for a Democratic agenda that’s stalling and could use a few days outside the scrutiny of the hour-by-hour news cycle, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Monday in The Note. And Sarah Palin isn’t even gone yet, but already she’s talking about how she’ll make a political return.

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July 13, 2009 in Obama Agenda, Senate, Sonia Sotomayor, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (27)

The Note: Verdicts & Visits -- Agenda delayed, Obama seeks to grab back narrative

When an administration that asked to be judged starts doing judgment-worthy things, there's no shortage of people who stand ready to serve as judges.

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July 10, 2009 in Environment, Financial Reform, GOP, Gov. Mark Sanford, Gov. Sarah Palin, Health Care, Obama Agenda, Sen. John Ensign, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (15)

The Note: Buckeye Brawl -- Ohio Hosts Latest Round in Stimulus Fight

President Obama is traveling abroad, but matters domestic are at the fore, with debate raging over jobs and the impact of the stimulus bill -- and Ohio (where else?) serving as ground zero for the fight on the day of a vice-presidential visit, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Thursday in The Note. And is this the president’s least productive foreign trip to date? Plus -- what ever happened to health care month on the Hill?

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July 9, 2009 in Obama Agenda, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (37)

The Note: Economies of Sale -- Obama Agenda Threatened by Economy

It never really went away, but the economy is back as a top political issue, with job losses creating pressure for a new stimulus bill, and mixed messaging on health care leaving President Obama’s domestic agenda in the balance -- even while he travels abroad, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Wednesday in The Note. And Sarah Palin is explaining her decision -- while repercussions are felt throughout the Republican Party.

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July 8, 2009 in Democratic party, GOP, Obama Agenda, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (44)

The Note: Palin’s Gone Fishing -- for a Future Role

She wasn’t gone long: Sarah Palin is off fishing -- for salmon, yes, but also for her future role in the party, as Republicans ponder a way to come back when one of their most polarizing yet popular figures declines to go away, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Tuesday in The Note. And pressure builds for a second stimulus package -- giving President Obama another political battle that he’d rather put off until long after his return home.

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July 7, 2009 in GOP, Gov. Sarah Palin, Obama Agenda, President Obama, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (89)

The Note: Rogues & Reset -- Out of GOP Chaos, Dems Take Control

President Obama’s foreign trip starts Monday amid an extraordinary run of Republican scandals and stunners that leave Democrats more in control than ever -- if that’s something they really want, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Monday in The Note. And Sarah Palin drops out of sight (though very much not out of mind) after shocking the political establishment by announcing her resignation.

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July 6, 2009 in 2010 , GOP, Gov. Sarah Palin, Obama Agenda, President Obama, Republican Party, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (34)

The Note: Job One -- Pressure on Obama to Show Stimulus Results

It’s a job-numbers day in Washington, and that means fresh scrutiny on the stimulus, as the White House argues that jobs are being saved and created even as more Americans are losing their jobs, ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein writes Thursday in The Note. And Gov. Mark Sanford loses more allies by the hour -- as the Republican Party continues to reel.

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July 2, 2009 in Financial Reform, Obama Agenda, The Note | Permalink | User Comments (90)