Politics. On Point.

Eight days after her nomination and five days after receiving the questionnaire, White House staff will deliver  Elena Kagan ’s answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee today at 3:30 in room 224 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Kagan come under fire early in her appointment regarding her practice of military recruiting . Earlier this week, the White House also requested the expeditious release of Kagan’s Clinton White House records which includes 160,000 pages of paper, including e-mail. "Those documents may well hold the best clue as to her views and her attitudes, in terms of the role of the federal government and how she would perform as a Supreme Court justice," said Senator John Cornyn . The White House will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that the Committee is fully informed and can act in a timely fashion in deliberating on and confirming the nominee.

(via Press Release) Today, Gil Kerlikowske , Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), presented the Obama Administration’s National Drug Control Strategy at the National Methamphetamine Pharmaceuticals Initiative (NMPI) annual conference in San Diego, California. Director Kerlikowske was joined by William Blair, President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police/Toronto Police Chief, and experts in methamphetamine and pharmaceutical diversion, including participants from Canada, Mexico, and other countries. The Administration’s inaugural National Drug Control Strategy establishes five-year goals for reducing drug use and its consequences through a balanced policy of prevention, treatment, enforcement, and international cooperation, including efforts to reduce methamphetamine production and trafficking and prevent and treat methamphetamine and prescription drug abuse. In remarks to some 440 participants, Director Kerlikowske thanked State and local law enforcem...

Mark Souder Wants to "Renew His Walk With God". Another politician comes clean about cheating on his wife, and then tries to reconcile with God. Add Indiana representative, Mark Souder to the long list of politicians caught in the whirlwind of extramarital mischief. Souder goes as far as blaming Washington for his not being able to keep his snake in his pants.  Souder stated that his role as a public servant left little time for a normal life. He was "too busy to find time for family, friends, church, and community", all the while finding the time to have a ("mutual") fling with a part-time staffer. I'm sure his family, and his generous supporters that he credits during his brief, tell-tale presser must be thrilled. Souder, standing alone at the podium, did not have his ("committed") family at his side. Oh, the dreadfulness of it all. "I'm sick of politicians who drag their spouces up in front of the cameras ra...

Efforts Should Help Close Food 'Energy Gap' The First Lady with Dr. James Gavin III, HWCF chairman (left), with David Mackay, chair of the Healthy Weight Commitment. Photo/CD Brown.   First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign to get Americans healthier continues to gain momemtum, and support. Today, Mrs. Obama joined forces with  A Partnership For A Healthier America  and The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation in an effort that will focus on reducing 1.5 trillion product calories by the end of 2015. In a press release Mrs. Obama said, "Solving the obesity epidemic requires far more than anything government can do alone and today's announcement represents an important step forward to providing Americans with healthier choices so that they can choose to lead healthier lives." Last week, the First Lady, along Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes unveiled the findings of the her Let's Move! task force. The First Lady With ...

Last week Afghan President Hamid Karzai , visited Washington and the White House for a series of  wide-ranging discussions with President Obama aimed at deepening cooperation on the shared and mutual priorities of the United States and Afghanistan. These discussions included topics on governance, security, economic and social development, and regional issues. While the two were said to have been reaffirming their growing cooperation and their commitment to the solid, broad, and enduring strategic partnership between the governments and peoples of the United States and Afghanistan, those in media were having their say as well. One such PIM (person in media), MotherJones had this to say about Karzai's visit: "Afghan President Hamid Karzai made it out of Washington last week alive—that is, without having to answer in public the allegations that his government is profoundly corrupt and fundamentally inept. Nor did he have to explain the bizarre remarks he made earlier this spr...

Addresses GWU's 2010  Graduating Class The 2010 graduates of GW University met the challenge set forth by First Lady Michelle Obama to become more involved in their communities, through volunteerism. The First Lady addressing 2010 GWU grads on the National Mall Sunday. After logging 100,000 hours of service (a number suggested by the First Lady ), the students wish to have the First Lady address the 2010 graduating class was granted. "Now, I’m here today for a reason -- and not just because it’s a quick commute", joked the First Lady. "I am here because, as you’ve seen, eight months ago, I used you all in great ways. I issued a challenge to the students, faculty, staff, and trustees of GW. I promised you that if you performed 100,000 hours of service to the greater Washington community this school year, that I’d come and speak at your commencement. Well, I am a woman of my word!" The students, faculty, staff, and trustees of GW showed such leadership...

Interior Department Announces Reforms to Enhance Oil and Gas Oversight As part of an ongoing agenda to change the way the Department of the Interior does business, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a set of reforms that will provide federal inspectors more tools, more resources, more independence, and greater authority to enforce laws and regulations that apply to oil and gas companies operating on the Outer Continental Shelf. Salazar has also enlisted the National Academy of Engineering to provide a set of fresh eyes on the issues surrounding the Deepwater Horizonincident and an independent, science-based understanding of what happened. NOAA Modifies Fishing Closed Areas in Gulf; 93 Percent Remains Open NOAA’s Fisheries Service modified the area closed to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico due to the spill, which will include federal waters seaward of Louisiana state waters in the vicinity of Timbalier Island to waters off Florida’s Choctawhatchee Bay. These changes w...