Today in the West Wing: Wednesday, June 9

Palestinian Leader Visits

The intractable mess known as the Middle East is high on the President's agenda today. He'll host Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who is seething - as the President is privately - over that deadly Israeli raid on ships bringing aid to Gaza.

The raid left nine civilians, including an American, dead, sparking global fury against the Jewish state and setting back Obama's efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The White House calls the tight restrictions on Gaza "untenable," and has joined joined other foreign governments and the United Nations in calling for an inquiry into the raid.

Abbas's visit comes a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his own White House visit to deal with the crisis.

Quick Bites

National Debt: Up, Up and Away...Did you miss the Friday night data dump? The U.S. debt - expected to top $13.6 trillion this year - will soar another 44% to $19.6 trillion in just five years. That's according to a Treasury Department report sent to Congress very quietly just as the weekend began. The ratio of debt to GDP would rise to 102% by 2015 from 93% this year.

Back to the Gulf...Obama will travel to the Gulf region again on Monday and Tuesday for another close up look at the oil spill - and what's being done about it. This time, he'll visit Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Veto Threat...The White House is threatening to veto of legislation that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) is expected to ask the Senate Thursday to vote on her "disapproval resolution" tomorrow.

SCOTUS Watch...Confirmation hearings draw neart for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Today she'll visit more Senators on Capitol Hill: Inouye, Webb, DeMint, Begich, and Coburn.

Latest Obama Polls...Approve: 48.0%, Disapprove: 45.9% (Real Clear Politics avg)

President's Wednesday Schedule

EDT

9:00AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

9:45AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:00AM THE PRESIDENT meets with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:30AM THE PRESIDENT holds a bilateral meeting with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
Oval Office
Pool Spray at the Bottom (Gather Time 11:55AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT receives a briefing on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Oval Office
Closed Press