VOL. 5 NO. 75 POLITIthursday, june 2, 2011 CO www..com R epublicans Boehner Calls In Illinois For Debt Deal Brace for Bloodbath In One Month Even opponents see White House meeting fails redistricting plan as to break political stalemate evil ‘work of art’ By John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman

By Alex Isenstadt House Speaker John Boehner said he doesn’t want to run up against an August deadline for Illinois Republicans always boosting the nation’s debt limit — fearing that it knew this round of redistricting could unnerve Wall Street — but he’s refusing to was going to be bad. back away from his calls for major spending cuts But not this bad. in return for a debt deal with the White House. Both in Springfield and in And Boehner, for the first time, said he wants Washington, the GOP reaction to to raise the limit within one month’s time. the grim reality of the state’s new “I just think we’re now in June, this really congressional map is downright needs to be done over the next month if we’re se- funereal, with some Republicans rious about no brinksmanship, no rattling inves- shaking their heads and marvel- tors,” the Ohio Republican told a group of report- ing at the evil genius behind a ers in his Capitol office suite on Wednesday. “But gerrymander that could end up JAY O WEstC TT — POLITICO I will reiterate something I’ve said many times costing the GOP as many as five Rep. Anthony Weiner was quick with quips when he met the media Wednesday, but he side- before: The biggest risk we face as a country is House seats. stepped questions about a photo sent from his account, which he says had been hacked. doing nothing.” Just seven months ago, Re- publicans were euphoric over See white house on Page 15 the capture of four seats in a blue state dominated by Demo- crats for decades. Now, with the new map expected to be signed Weiner Media Blitz into law by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, they’re staring at the pros- pect of losing every one of them Fans Twitter Brouhaha and more — a handful of promis- ing freshmen and maybe even a Fellow N.Y. Dems shed few tears for House liberal

Seel il inOIs on Page 12 By Scott Wong and Ben Smith appeared on his Twitter feed last week. When asked on MSNBC if he was the Rep. Anthony Weiner built his national man pictured in the close-up photo of liberal brand by delivering zingers on ca- a man’s crotch, he replied: “You know, I ble news, a PR strategy that threatened to can’t say with certitude.” He followed up Reuters turn a Twitter flap into a full-blown scan- with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer later in the day, House Speaker John Boehner said that “the sooner dal Wednesday. saying coyly, “It certainly doesn’t look we deal with” the debt limit, the “better off we are.” And his fellow Democrats familiar to me.” Even when pressed by a are shedding few tears for the man they group of reporters in a corri- see as a newcomer to liberal piety and a dor, he would say only: “There are photo- media hog. graphs of me in the world, yes.” Geithner to visit the lion’s den Weiner’s TV-friendly style was on full The awkward interviews didn’t seem as House freshmen lie in wait JOHNINKL SH E — POLITICO display when he launched a media blitz to The new map puts GOP first-termer quell questions about a lewd photo that Seen wei er on Page 14 By Marin Cogan and Jake Sherman Joe Walsh’s seat up in the air. The Obama administration is wading into en- emy territory Thursday as Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner heads to the Hill to address the GOP House freshmen — the driving force behind Obama Faces Ticking Clock on Nominations Republican opposition to a straight debt limit in- Dozens of jobs remain vacant as the of this year likely will become crease. tangled in election-year politics, INSIDE Geithner’s appearance is another sign that the prospect of election-year politics looms given Republican hopes of taking Court vacan- White House, which hosted the Republican Con- the White House, the Senate or cies have taken ference on Wednesday, wants to get moving to- By Abby Phillip Dozens of top posts in both the both. If Obama wants a good shot a particularly ward a deal. A symbolic vote Tuesday night on a and Josh Gerstein executive branch and the judiciary at getting his nominees through tough toll on “clean” debt ceiling increase failed, clearing the remain vacant, while some of those this year, Hill veterans say, names Arizona. way for serious negotiations. It’s crunch time for the White who started near the beginning of need to reach the Senate by the Page 3 The freshmen, who said they were disappoint- House to get key executive branch the administration are bailing out. summer recess. ed by President ’s remarks at the jobs filled before the end of Presi- Nominees who aren’t con- dent Barack Obama’s first term. firmed by the Senate by the end See nominations on Page 17 See frosh on Page 18 inside C ongress Defense Thec G eorge Politics Allen and GOP sidesteps resolution in bid to Pricey F-35 sustains friendly fire Net loss: Skype, other VoIP provid- Tim Kaine The dozen most compelling contests, avert showdown over Libya. from cost-conscious pols. ers may have to pay to parlez. from to Michigan. Page 4 Page 6 Page 11 AP Page 19