Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Open to Suggestions
President Obama said during Thursday’s news conference that when it comes to the Gulf oil spill, “We are relying on every resource and every idea…. We will take ideas from anywhere.” Yet the president has failed to return two phone calls from a congressman whose Louisiana district includes wetlands affected.
A spokesman for republican Steve Scalise tells Fox News the congressman wanted to discuss Governor Bobby Jindal’s plan to build sand berms to trap some of the oil. A White House staffer replied the president was too busy to talk. The president did find time to play golf, and go to California for political fundraisers.
Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu says she is not satisfied with the administration’s response to the spill so far: “The president has not been as visible as he should have been on this, and he’s going to pay a political price for it.”
Memorial Day
The president will not be visible at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day — a tradition for many of his predecessors. He will instead visit a national cemetery outside Chicago.
One veterans’ rights activist says, “Arlington is hallowed ground, and the center of our nation’s attention on Memorial Day. Unfortunately, President Obama and his family will not be there with us.”
But another says, “We don’t really see the big deal, so long as he’s taking the time to honor our fallen war heroes throughout Memorial Day weekend… Arlington is certainly not the only place our fallen heroes are buried, so why not pay your respects to veterans around the country?”
President Obama did go to Arlington last Memorial Day. President Reagan went four times in his eight years. And the first President Bush didn’t go at all.
Taking Action
Florida and Massachusetts are the latest states to discuss crackdowns on illegal immigration.
A high-ranking legislator says he will consider an Arizona-type law in Florida and it has become an issue in the gubernatorial campaign.
The Massachusetts state senate passed a measure dealing with issues such as hiring and government entitlements after a poll showed 84 percent support tough new immigration rules.
— Fox News Channel’s Lanna Britt contributed to this report.
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