TPMDC Morning Roundup

Obama's First 9/11 As President
The Associated Press points out that today is President Obama's first September 11 as president, looking at the changes in policy that have occurred between him and the Bush administration, and the challenges Obama still has ahead: "Eight years later, Obama has the bullhorn. And the way forward in the fight against terrorism is anything but clear. Obama approaches his first 9-11 anniversary as president saddled with two wars that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks, and confronted at every turn by difficult leftovers from Bush's response to them."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama observed a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. ET, remember the September 11 attacks. President Obama will deliver remarks at a 9:30 a.m. ET wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden have traveled to New York City, and attended the city's September 11th Commemoration Ceremony this morning.

Obama's Speech Seen As Unifying Dems
The New York Times says that President Obama's speech Wednesday night appears to be having a positive effect of unifying Democrats. "The president's speech breathed new life into what we are doing," said Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), who has been leading an attempt at bipartisan negotiations. "The president is talking about what we are talking about. That is very helpful. We're very close to being in sync here."

Pelosi And Levin Downplay Idea of Afghanistan Surge
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference yesterday: "I don't think there's a great deal of support for sending more troops to Afghanistan, in the country or in the Congress." She was joined by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), who did not rule out the idea but instead preferred training for Afghan forces: "I just think we should hold off on a commitment to send more combat troops until these additional steps to strengthen the Afghan security forces are put in motion."

Poll: Terrorism Concerns Dropping
A new CNN poll finds that Americans are much less concerned about a terrorist attack today, eight years after 9/11, than they were in the immediate aftermath. Only 34% of Americans in the survey said they think an act of terrorism against the United States is likely in the next few weeks, compared to 54% from three years ago, and 66% in late 2001.

Dodd, Kerry Propose Renaming Caucus Room After Ted Kennedy
Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and John Kerry (D-MA) have proposed renaming the Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building after Ted Kennedy. The room, first opened in 1909, is one of the more historically-important locations in the Congressional office buildings, having hosted the committee hearings on the sinking of the Titanic, Teapot Dome, Pearl Harbor, the Joe McCarthy investigations, Watergate, the Vietnam War, Iran-Contra, and the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas.

WaPo: Wilson's Outburst Pales In Comparison To World Political Behavior
The Washington Post has a fun roundup of insults that are routinely committed in legislative chambers around the world -- stuff that is far worse than Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-SC) "You lie!" outburst, but quite out of character for American political tastes. Check out, there's some funny stuff.