TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Obama: Remember Our Adversaries Are The Terrorists, Not Each Other
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama said his administration is taking steps to address the Flight 253 attempted bombing, and directly blamed al-Qaida for plotting the attack. And he spoke against politicizing the event, in a seeming rebuttal to Republican political attacks:

"So as our reviews continue, let us ask the questions that need to be asked. Let us make the changes that need to be made. Let us debate the best way to protect the country we all love. That is the right and responsibility of every American and every elected official," said Obama. "But as we go forward, let us remember this-our adversaries are those who would attack our country, not our fellow Americans, not each other. Let's never forget what has always carried us through times of trial, including those attacks eight Septembers ago."

McConnell Cites The American Revolution
In this weekend's Republican address, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell hearkened back to the American revolution, and the bravery shown on New Year's Day 1777 at the Battle of Trenton, as an example of Americans overcoming great difficulties. This might be a dog-whistle for the Tea Party movement, which ties its opposition against President Obama to the spirit of the American Revolution:

"Political disagreements will continue in the year ahead. This is an essential part of any vibrant democracy. But Americans expect and deserve their elected leaders to put country first, and work together to solve our common problems," said McConnell. "Powerful forces may be aligned against us, just as they did against the Continental Army on that cold January night in 1777. But when the challenges are greatest, Americans always join ranks. It was true in Trenton. It's no less true today."

Bill Clinton Releases List Of 2009 Donors To His Charity
Former President Bill Clinton has released a list of donors to his charitable foundation, fulfilling an ethics promise from the confirmation of his wife Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Top donors in 2009 include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Canadian mining businessman Frank Giustra, and UNITAID. Politically sensitive foreign governments that had been on the list in the 2008 disclosure, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, did not give in 2009, though the charity also received donations from the governments of Australia and the Dominican Republic.

Limbaugh Released From Hospital: 'I Don't Think There's One Thing Wrong With The American Health Care System'
Rush Limbaugh was released from the hospital Friday, after entering the The Queen's Medical Center in Hawaii for chest pains on Wednesday. Upon his release, Limbaugh continued his political attacks against the Democrats' health care proposals. "I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system," said Limbaugh. "I got no special treatment other than what anybody else that would have called 911 and had been brought in with the same kinds of symptoms."

Hatch: Health Care Bill Has 'Target-Rich Environment' For Legal Challenges
In a new guest column in the Wall Street Journal, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) predicts vigorous legal challenges to the health care bill's constitutionality: "President Obama's health-care bill is now moving toward final passage," says the piece, co-authored by Hatch, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and conservative legal analyst Kenneth Klukowski. "The policy issues may be coming to an end, but the legal issues are certain to continue because key provisions of this dangerous legislation are unconstitutional. Legally speaking, this legislation creates a target-rich environment."

Blue Dog PAC Gives Members A Hand
CQ reports that the Blue Dog PAC has been busy distributing its money -- the majority of it coming from trade association and corporate PACs -- to its members as they head into an election in which they will be aggressively targeted by the Republicans: "The Blue Dog PAC has made $635,000 in donations thus far this cycle, $500,000 of which went to members of the coalition and their PACs. The rest went to home state party committees of a number of Blue Dogs, including many facing competitive re-election contests, and to one House candidate, Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards, who is running for the open seat in Florida's 12th district."

Hawaii Considering New Holidays, Parks And Schools To Honor Obama
Hawaiian state legislators are considering proposals to commemorate President Obama as the first Hawaiian president, including a state holiday on his birthday, designating his childhood home as a historic site, and other possibilities. "That sends the message to Hawai'i kids that it's true," said Democratic state Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran, who has proposed renaming two public schools after Obama. "It's nice to know that as we're growing up in America, everyone has the opportunity to be as successful as possible."