Lynn Sweet

Six Illinois GOP House members snubbed by Obama White House on Gitmo North. Democrat senate candidate Giannoulias gets briefing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:43:41 -0600

Senate ethics panel admonishes Burris, but no charges coming

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:43:16 -0600

WASHINGTON-- Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) was admonished today by the U.S. Senate ethics committee over his testimony in Springfield concerning how he got appointed to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

But his actions following his appointment by then Gov.-Rod Blagojevich did not rise to level of pursuing ethics charges against Burris, the committee ruled.

Gov. Quinn dozing at health care forum

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:43:53 -0600

The Dan Hynes for Illinois campaign likes this clip....posted on YouTube....of rival Gov. Quinn dozing during a health care forum with WTTW's Elizabeth Brackett.

Obamas visit Sasha's school Friday morning. Pool report

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:27:43 -0600

WASHINGTON--No sleeping in after returning yesterday from an eight day trip to China, South Korea and Japan, President Obama on Friday morning with First Lady Michelle went to an event at daughter Sasha's school. Here's the pool report from Newsday's Tom Brune, a former Chicago Sun-Times reporter.

Pool report...
President, First Lady visit daughter's school

Though still on far Eastern time, the president, and the first lady, made the
trek out through morning rush hour traffic to Sidwell Friends Lower School in
Bethesda, where Sasha goes, for a non-official visit.

A WH press aide said first couple were attending a school function, but would
not elaborate. Pool was kept outside, and walked to nearby shops for coffee.
Visit lasted about 45 minutes.

For the record: Left White House at 8:30 a.m. Arrived at school in Bethesda at
9:04 a.m. Left school at 9:49 a.m. Arrived White House at 10:18 a.m.

Tom Brune at Newsday

Senate confirms David Hamilton for Appeals Court in Chicago

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:51:09 -0600

WASHINGTON--After a stall, the Senate voted 59-39 Thursday to confirm U.S. District Court Judge David Hamilton--who now presides in an Indiana courtroom--to the Chicago based 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

President Obama official schedule and guidance, Nov. 20, 2009. No public events

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:28:19 -0600

Oprah Winfrey to end TV show in 2011: ABC News reporting

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:29:16 -0600

Oprah Winfrey, fresh from a ratings hit with Sara Palin, will end her television show in September, 2011, ABC News is reporting.

Winfrey, one of the most influential and richest women in the world has her Harpo Production Company based in Chicago.

Obama home from China

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:03:01 -0600

WASHINGTON--President Obama is back in the U.S. after a swing through Japan, China and South Korea. Air Force One touched down at Andrews Air Force Base at 3:48 p.m. eastern on Thursday afternoon; by 4:01 p.m. est Obama was bounding down the stairs to the tarmac. He motorcaded from Andrews AFB to the White House, arriving at the White House at 4:22 p.m. est.

RNC Chairman Steele in Chicago; will meet with Illinois GOP leaders and 10th CD hopeful Coulson

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:55:56 -0600

WASHINGTON--Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, fresh from winning governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, hits Chicago on Friday for meetings in the Loop with Illinois GOP leadership to map strategy on Illinois contests for governor and Senate and House seats.

Steele will huddle with state Rep. Beth Coulson (R-Glenview), running for the 10th congressional district seat being vacated by Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), a Senate hopeful.

From Coulson: She "will join Illinois' House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Chris Radogno, as well as Illinois Republican Chairman Pat Brady in the meeting with the chairman to talk about the upcoming midterm elections in Illinois and how to keep the 10th Congressional District in Republican hands."

Illinois voters have a Feb. 2 primary.

Before Illinois prison sold for Gitmo North, State of Illinois must conduct economic impact analysis

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:17:45 -0600

WASHINGTON--Illinois State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) briefed me Thursday on what is involved on the state end in selling Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois to the federal government.

The Obama administration is considering asking Illinois Gov. Quinn to sell the nearly vacant Thomson to the federal Bureau of Prisons, which in turn would lease a portion to the Defense Department to run a military prison for Guantanamo detainees. Sen. Dick Durbin is leading the drive for Thomson; Illinois House Republicans and Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) are against the plan.

Schoenberg is the Senate co-chair of the 12-member state Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which plays an advisory role in the decision.

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton in Washington D.C.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:39 -0600

WASHINGTON--Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) met with members of the Illinois congressional delegation on Thurday on a trip here that included a fund-raiser Wednesday night for the state senate political committee.

Michelle Obama talks about her test taking anxiety

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:10:20 -0600

On a trip to Denver on Monday for a mentoring event with high school girls, First Lady Michelle Obama talked about how as a kid she was anxious and nervous when she had to take tests. Read my story on this here.

Like Obama, not his policies: Quinnipiac Poll finds disconnect

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:19:20 -0600

President Obama official schedule and guidance, Nov. 19, 2009. South Korea, Alaska, Washington

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:12:45 -0600

Obama's weighty issue; talks about weight loss

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:08:27 -0600

WASHINGTON--Here's the lighter side of President Obama, about five pounds worth.

Two male network correspondents asked Obama about his weight, after a serious discussion about other issues during one and one interviews in Bejing, China.

Obama told NBC's Chuck Todd, "My weight fluctuates about five pounds. It has for the last 30 years. It's unchanging. I still wear the same -- some of the same stuff I did when I got married 17 years ago. My hair's gotten a lot grayer; there's no doubt about that. But I'm not sure whether that's just because I was about the age where my hair was going to start getting gray."

Chip Reid from CBS also asked Obama about his health. "Well, look, my weight doesn't fluctuate too much. It goes in a five-pound band width," Obama said.