CQ Politics' Web Picks

National Review: Thanksgiving, 1777

The first national Thanksgiving was observed by Congressional decree on December 18, 1777. But this celebration was not tied to the tradition of the Pilgrims at Plymouth; it arose from the politics of the American Revolution, and in particular was the result of congressional intrigue against General George Washington.

New York Times: Common Ground for Defense Chief and Obama

While Mr. Obama campaigned on a promise to withdraw all American combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months, or by May 2010, Mr. Gates has spent his time at the Pentagon arguing a Bush administration position that has opposed setting strict timetables for withdrawal. While that statement would appear to set Mr. Gates on a collision course with the president-elect, there have also been signs of a possible emerging consensus.

Slate: Keeping Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense is a Great Idea

It's a good bet that President Barack Obama will be more receptive to Gates' agenda than President George W. Bush ever was. First, Obama is open to new ideas generally. Second, at his Nov. 25 press conference, Obama said he would direct his new budget director to go over every program, every line item, with an eye toward eliminating those that don't work or aren't needed--and he pointedly included the Department of Defense among the agencies to be audited.

Daily Beast: Will Karl Rove Get a Pardon?

One of the hottest topics in Washington these days is whether Karl Rove will get a pardon. At present, Rove, who withstood five grand jury appearances in the case concerning the illegal outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson, has not been charged with a crime. But he has been linked to the case involving Justice Department firings of U.S. Attorneys which is still under investigation. He also could face legal exposure on a number of other incidents.

Los Angeles Times: Obama Has a Headstart in Working with Congress

The president-elect's team expands on already close ties to gather facts and seek support for his agenda -- a stark contrast to the approaches of his Democratic predecessors. That effort could produce a remarkable result: Democrats may try to pass an economic stimulus bill before Obama takes office Jan. 20, and have it on his desk to sign immediately.

Newsweek: The Turf Wars Ahead

Turf wars at high levels are an almost inevitable consequence of crisis management in Washington. And there is reason to think that Lawrence Summers--passed over for the Treasury secretary job he had wanted to reclaim in favor of his onetime subordinate, Timothy Geithner--is not going to be shy about seeking to dominate the new administration's economic policy, including the Treasury Department.

Stateline.org: States Ask Feds for Health Care Help

As the economy worsens, states are seeing boosts in enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP while they struggle with their own fiscal problems. They're asking for relief from the federal government to prevent cutting benefits and people from these programs.