Pete King's Thoughts & Whereabouts: 6/22 - 6/25

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Fundraiser at Capitol Hill Club. Great turnout.

6:10 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. - Votes on House floor.

Wednesday, June 23rd
9:00 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. - GOP Conference at Capitol Hill Club.

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. - Homeland Security Committee markup of Pascrell-King WMD bill (HR 5498). Passed 26-0.

1:40 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. - President Obama removes General McChrystal, appoints General Petraeus to succeed him. I have great respect for General McChrystal but his comments were out of line. General Petraeus, of course, is an outstanding choice who prevailed in Iraq against great odds and the partisan opposition of then Senator Obama and Senator Biden. I put out a statement supporting President's decision but urging them to bring his civilian team - including VP Biden - into line and stop undercutting our military.

2:10 p.m. - Bob McManus from NY Post asks me to write OP/ED for tomorrow. (see here)

4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - To House floor for votes.

5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. - Meeting in NRCC with Leader Boehner and all Ranking Members.

7:00 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. - To CNN for John King show on Petraeus and McChrystal. (see here)

Thursday, June 24th
12:05 p.m. - 12:25 p.m. - to House floor for votes.

1:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. - meet with Dr. Lurie, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response. Discussed pandemics and biological warfare. Very sobering.

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - to House floor for votes. Vote against so-called DISCLOSE Act which will severely limit free speech.

A lot of discussion today about the McChrystal-Petraeus matter. I believe the pro-military wing has been strengthened because Petraeus is coming as the rescuer and with a lot of clout. This should quiet down VP Biden and others who keep talking a large troop pullout in 2011. Petraeus will fight for "condition based" decisions on troop strategy and will prevail.

6:55 p.m. - 7:10 p.m. - votes on House floor: H.R. 3962 - increases doctors' Medicare reimbursement (I voted yes). H.R. 2194 - Sanctions on Iran (I voted yes - - even though I wish the bill was stronger).

8:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. - US Air Shuttle to LaGuardia.

Friday, June 25th
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. - retired FDNY breakfast at Nautilus Diner in Massapequa.