Roland Burris

Burris Now Won't Rule Out Running For Senate In 2010

Rachel Slajda | August 10, 2009, 1:55PM

Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL), who last month said he won't run for his Senate seat in 2010, seems to have changed his tune.

"You never say never," he told ABC News.

"What I'm still hearing," Burris said, is "people from all over the country and they are saying, 'Don't give up that seat.'"

Burris was appointed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was thrown out after allegedly trying to sell the seat vacated by President Obama.

Burris has raised very little money so far, and polls consistently show him losing the Democratic primary.

Rod Blagojevich

Blago Makes Cameo In Musical About Himself

Eric Kleefeld | June 15, 2009, 2:46PM

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich made a special public appearance over the weekend -- at the Second City production about himself, "Rod Blagojevich, Superstar":

"What they say to you before you go out on stage I thought is very interesting and that is 'we got your back,'" Blagojevich told the audience. "I've been in politics and that's not anything anybody said to me."

This sort of thing does have a precedent. Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating would often attend performances of a comedic opera about himself, which was a tribute both to his policies and his monumental ego and vanity -- and he'd even get up and dance during the curtain call.

Rod Blagojevich

Judge Rules That Blago May Not Leave Country To Be On Reality Show

Eric Kleefeld | April 21, 2009, 12:49PM

In yet another setback for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel has just ruled that Blago is not allowed to travel to Costa Rica to appear on a Survivor-style reality show for celebrities.

Blago would have needed to this special permission to leave the country during a time when he is under indictment. The Chicago Sun-Times quotes the judge as saying: "I don't think this defendant in all honesty ... fully understands the position he finds himself in."

Besides, this whole thing seemed pretty superfluous: Blago already starred on a really fun reality show.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 15, 2009, 8:58AM

NYT: White House Making Plans To Reveal Bank Information
The New York Times reports that the Obama Administration is drawing up plans to publicly reveal key information from the stress tests for the 19 biggest banks in the country. All are expected to pass the tests, but some would do so better than others. After initial reluctance to make this move, it has been decided that doing so will better help prevent the kind of market uncertainty that would send investors fleeing.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will be delivering a speech at 11:55 a.m. ET from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, recognizing Tax Day by discussing his efforts to make a fairer tax code and provide more tax relief for working families. Obama will meet for lunch with Vice President Biden at 12:30 p.m. ET, and at 4 p.m. ET he will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

Read more »

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 14, 2009, 8:59AM

Obama Giving Economic Speech Today, While Administration Warns Of More Immediate Bad Times
President Obama will be giving a speech on at the economy at Georgetown University, at 11:35 a.m. ET. Obama will discuss the steps his administration has taken to fix the economic crisis. At the same time, the administration are hedging their rhetorical bets and bracing the country for less than stellar news. Appearing on NBC's The Today Show, economic adviser Christina Romer said that there are "small little signs that maybe some parts of the economy are stabilizing," but also that there will likely be "several more months of job losses."

Report: Obama To Tap Fannie Mae's Herbert Allison To Administer TARP
The Washington Post reports that the Treasury Department plans to tap Fannie Mae CEO Herbert Allison to run the financial recovery program. Note that Allison became head of Fannie Mae after the government took it over this past September, and would be replacing the current Bush-appointed TARP head Neel Kashkari.

Read more »

Afghanistan

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 3, 2009, 9:03AM

Obama Seeking International Agreement On Afghanistan
President Obama is meeting with NATO leaders today in France and Germany, seeking international backing for his new plans for Afghanistan and Pakistan. And so far he is picking up support, as French President Nicolas Sarkozy said at their joint news conference today: "We completely support the new American strategy in Afghanistan."

Obama's Day Ahead: France And Germany
President Obama and Michelle Obama arrived this morning in Strasbourg, France, at about 4:45 a.m. ET. AT 5:35 a.m. ET he met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and at 6:35 a.m. ET the two briefly addressed the press pool. He held a town hall at 7:25 a.m. ET. At 9 a.m. ET the Obamas will leave for Baden-Baden, Germany, with Obama meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel at 9:45 a.m. ET. Obama and Merkel will address the press pool at 10:45 a.m. ET. President Obama and Michelle Obama will attend the NATO Concert at 1 p.m. ET, and President Obama will attend a NATO leaders working dinner at 2:15 p.m. ET. The Obamas will depart from Germany, going back to Strasbourg, at 5 p.m. ET.

Read more »

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | February 16, 2009, 8:59AM

Hillary Warns North Korea -- And Slams Bush
During her overseas trip to Asia, Hillary Clinton simultaneously warned North Korea about their nuclear program -- and blasted the Bush Administration for creating the conditions that have helped it get this far. "There is no debate that, once the Agreed Framework was torn up, the North Koreans began to reprocess plutonium with a vengeance because all bets were off," said Clinton. "The result is they now have nuclear weapons, which they did not have before."

Obama Going Back To Washington Today
President Obama is heading back to Washington today, after having spent the weekend in Chicago. He is scheduled to leave O'Hare at 11 a.m. ET, and to arrive back at the White House at 12:45 p.m. ET.

Biden Meeting With Fire Fighters Union Head
Vice President Biden is in Washington today, where he'll be meeting with Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Report: Obama To Form Auto Task Force, Drop "Car Czar" Plan
President Obama will reportedly appoint a special task force, co-chaired by Tim Geithner and Larry Summers, to oversee the restructuring of the auto industry, replacing the prior proposal to appoint a single "car czar." This comes as General Motors and Chrysler face a deadline tomorrow to submit a business plan for how they can become viable again after receiving $13.4 billion in aid from the Bush Administration.

Burris: "I Responded To All Questions"
At a press conference yesterday, Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) responded to his critics over his failure to disclose during the Blagojevich impeachment hearings that Blago's brother had asked him for political contributions this past November -- though Burris says he didn't actually donate. "I responded to all questions that were asked of me by the impeachment committee in the time allotted," said Burris. "At no time did I ever make any inconsistent statements."

Cornyn: Coleman Knows How Important Keeping The Seat Is To Us
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the chairman of the NRSC, told the Politico that Norm Coleman will keep contesting the MInnesota Senate race "however long it takes" -- and it's important to the GOP. "I encourage him to see it through the end," Cornyn said. "He feels like he owes it to the voters of Minnesota and his colleagues here. He realizes how important retaining that seat is to us."

Stimulus Includes Money For Health Care Effectiveness Study
The New York Times reports that the stimulus bill now includes a key piece of health-care reform: $1.1 billion, and a 15-member advisory council to the president, to compare the costs and benefits of different treatments for the same illness. Rep. Peter Stark (D-CA) said the new research "will save money and lives," while Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) was less than enthusiastic, warning that "federal bureaucrats will misuse this research to ration care, to deny life-saving treatments to seniors and disabled people."

Ken Starr Predicts Trouble For Obama's SCOTUS Nominees
Speaking on Friday to a group of attorneys in Boston, Ken Starr hinted at some more partisan rancor to come when Barack Obama appoints a Supreme Court Justice. Starr gave this line about Obama, which is sure to be repeated by any Republicans who might filibuster a nominee: "He is the first president of the United States ever in our history to have participated in a Senate filibuster of a judicial nominee. Never before has that happened."

Barack Obama

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | February 15, 2009, 1:04PM

Obama: I'm An Optimist -- But Not A Sap
In an interview with National Journal, President Obama said he is open to reaching across the aisle, but policy results matter. "My bottom line is not how pretty the process was," he said. "My bottom line was: Am I getting help to people who need it?" He also added: "I am an eternal optimist [but] that doesn't mean I'm a sap."

Obama Heading To U. of Chicago Campus
President Obama and Vice President Biden do not have any scheduled public events for today. However, Obama is visiting the University of Chicago campus today, where he formerly taught as a part-time law professor.

Obama To Sign Stimulus On Tuesday, Discuss Foreclosures Wednesday
President Obama will sign the stimulus bill on Tuesday, in a special trip to Denver -- the city where he formally accepted the Democratic nomination. Then on Wednesday he will head to Phoenix, Arizona -- John McCain's home state -- to put forward a plan to fight home foreclosures.

Axelrod: Obama To Take Action On Stem Cells
David Axelrod said on Fox News Sunday that President Obama will soon take action on stem-cell research, and is considering an order to formally lift the ban on federal funding that was put in place by George W. Bush.

Burris: Blagojevich's Brother Asked Me For Contribution Last November
Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) has now admitted that Rod Blagojevich's brother asked him for campaign contributions last fall, which Burris says he declined to do. Burris didn't disclose this when asked by the state impeachment committee to name any contact he'd had with Blago's people about the Senate seat.

Cantor: I Get Advice From Gingrich
In a new profile in the New York Times, Eric Cantor said he has regularly sought out the advice of a previous House Republican Whip who faced similar circumstances as he did, and then put his party in the majority: Newt Gingrich. Said Cantor: "I talk to Newt on a regular basis because he was in the position that we are in: in the extreme minority."

McCain: Stimulus Bill A 'Bad Beginning' For Obama
Appearing on CNN today, John McCain lambasted President Obama's performance in passing the stimulus bill. "It was a bad beginning because it wasn't what we promised the American people, what President Obama promised the American people - that we would sit down together," said McCain, adding that "almost all of our proposals went down on a party-line vote."

GOP Senator Graham: 'The Country's Screwed'
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) expressed his dissatisfaction today with the legislative process that led to the stimulus bill. Appearing on This Week, Graham had this to say about Democrats dominating the process: "If I may say, if this is going to be bipartisanship, the country's screwed."

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 30, 2009, 9:00AM

Today: RNC Elects Its Chairman
Today is a big day for the Republican National Committee, as they hold the chairmanship election pitting incumbent Mike Duncan against a field of four challengers who say they can do a better job of rebuilding the party. Nobody is expected to win a full majority on the first ballot, and the big question is whether Duncan will be able to pick up support on successive ballots or whether the opposition will solidify around another candidate.

Obama And Biden To Speak On Middle-Class Task Force
President Obama and Vice President Biden are holding a series of closed meetings with advisers this morning, and then at 10:45 a.m. ET they will both speak about the Middle Class Working Families Task Force. Biden is heading up the Task Force, which is charged with conducting outreach to labor, business and other advocacy groups to formulate policies helping the middle class.

Obama Meeting With Senior Military Officials
The president is also holding a meeting at 1:45 p.m. ET today with senior enlisted military officials, as the new president works with the Armed Forces on his foreign policy.

Obama Expected To Undo Bush Executive Orders On Unions
President Obama is also expected today to undo Bush-era executive orders on some key issues for organized labor. The Bush orders made it easier through various means for federal contractors to discourage workers from unionizing.

Day Five Of Minnesota Senate Trial
This is the fifth day of the Minnesota Senate trial, with the court scheduled to reconvene at 10 a.m. ET. Norm Coleman's legal team has been questioning Ramsey County (St. Paul) elections director Joe Mansky, trying to build their case that some absentee ballots that favored Al Franken were accidentally counted twice.

Obama: Blago Removal "Ends A Painful Episode For Illinois"
President Obama released this statement last night, regarding the removal from office of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich: "Today ends a painful episode for Illinois. For months, the state had been crippled by a crisis of leadership. Now that cloud has lifted. I wish Governor Quinn the best and pledge my full cooperation as he undertakes his new responsibilities."

Holbrooke To Travel To South Asia
Richard Holbrooke, who has been named as the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be traveling to the region next week.

Obama Reportedly Eyeing GOP Sen. Gregg For Commerce Pick
The White House is reportedly considering Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) for the role of Commerce Secretary. If this nomination were to in fact go through, it would have huge ramifications for the Senate -- New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) would presumably appoint a Democrat, and along with an Al Franken win in Minnesota this would give the Dems a filibuster-proof 60 seats.

Rod Blagojevich

Blagojevich Removed From Office

Eric Kleefeld | January 29, 2009, 5:46PM

Rod Blagojevich has been convicted in his impeachment trial by the state Senate, removing him from office, making him as of now the former governor of Illinois.

The vote by the Illinois state Senate just came to a close, with a unanimous 59-0 verdict against him. A threshold of 40 was required to convict, and the impeachers definitely got more than that.

Late Update: The Illinois Senate has just taken the next step in this process, voting unanimously that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is disqualified from holding public office in the state of Illinois ever again.

Rod Blagojevich

Blago: If You're Going To Fire Me, Obama Has To Fire Rahm

Eric Kleefeld | January 29, 2009, 12:39PM

Rod Blagojevich is on a roll in his 90-minute speech to the Illinois state Senate, the chamber that is poised to remove him from office as early as today, lambasting them for removing him with no evidence that he did anything wrong.

Blago is taking particular pride in his decision to circumvent the legislative process during his first term in order to help Illinoisans get prescription drugs from Canada, teaming up with governors from other states. Blago pointed out how national Democratic leaders like Rahm Emanuel have actively promoted this issue.

So if you're going to throw him out of office, Blago argued, "let's demand that President Obama fire Rahm Emanuel, because Rahm Emanuel is the one who gave me this idea."

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 29, 2009, 8:59AM

Today: Blago Speaking To Illinois Senate
Rod Blagojevich will be speaking to the Illinois state Senate, the body that is poised to remove him from office in his impeachment trial, delivering a closing argument in his own defense at 12 p.m. ET. This should be very interesting to watch.

Obama's Day Ahead -- Signing Ledbetter Bill
President Obama will be signing the Lily Ledbetter Bill, a law to make it easier for women to sue for pay discrimination, at 10 a.m. ET. He will also be holding a series of closed meetings throughout the day with his economic advisers, Hillary Clinton and others. There will also be a pooled press meeting with Vice President Biden and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.

Biden Meets With Daschle
Vice President Biden is meeting for breakfast this morning with Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle. He will then join with President Obama for the meetings and events listed above.

NYT: Stimulus Varies In Speed, Efficiency
The New York Times takes a look at the stimulus plan as it currently stands in the House-passed package, finding that its various components vary in terms of just how quickly they will spread through the economy. The quickest portions will be in unemployment benefits, food-stamp increase and tax cuts, while infrastructure spending would take a while to get going.

Minnesota Senate Trial Continues
This is the fourth day of the Minnesota election trial, scheduled to reconvene at 10 a.m. ET. Al Franken's legal team will continue their cross-examination of Deputy Secretary of State Jim Gelbmann, who was originally called by the Coleman campaign to examine the fallibility in the system -- and which the Franken camp has rebutted by pointing out that Coleman's team fought against the fallibility case right up until he fell behind.

Senate Expected To Pass Children's Health Care Bill
The Senate today will likely pass a bill expanding the SCHIP program, extending health insurance to 11 million children who are currently not eligible. The bill passed in the last Congress, but was vetoed by President George W. Bush.

Mitchell Speaks To Palestinian Leaders In West Bank
Middle East Envoy George Mitchell travelled to the West Bank today to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, in an effort by the Obama Administration to restart the Middle East peace process. He did not meet with Hamas.

Obama To Make First Foreign Trip To Canada
President Obama will be making his first trip outside the United States as president next month, the White House has announced. Obama will be visiting Canada, the United States' largest trading partner, on February 19.

Senate '10

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 28, 2009, 9:03AM

National GOP Targeting Reid -- And Bailouts -- With New Ad
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is running its first ad of the 2010 cycle -- against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in the Reno media market. The ad also cements the GOP's new message as the anti-bailout and anti-stimulus party, as opposed to the leadership's pro-bailout policies last Fall:

The GOP successfully took out the previous Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, back in 2004. The Dems made a similar play against Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in 2008, but only managed to keep him to a 53%-47% win.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama is holding a series of meetings this morning, receiving his regular daily briefing, an economic briefing, conferring with senior advisers, and meeting with business leaders. At 11:15 a.m. he will be speaking on the economy after his meeting with business leaders. At 3:30 p.m. he will be meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Minnesota Trial Keeps Going
Today is the third day of the Minnesota election-contest trial, scheduled to reconvene at 10 a.m. ET. Norm Coleman's legal team is expected to continue their argument that Coleman voters have been unfairly disenfranchised compared to Franken voters, due to election officials in GOP areas being more strict on the matter of improperly-rejected absentee ballots.

House Voting Today On Stimulus
The House of Representatives will be voting some time later today on an $825 billion stimulus package. Democrats are expected to vote overwhelmingly for the mix of public spending and tax cuts, while the Republican leadership has signaled their opposition.

Illinois Senate Hears Blago Tapes
The Illinois state Senate yesterday got to hear Rod Blagojevich's own voice on the FBI wiretaps, in a trial that Blago himself is boycotting as unfair. "It sounds like a couple of organized crime figures out preparing to break some kneecaps," said GOP state Senator Dan Cronin. "It's just horrible. It's nauseating. It's sickening."

WaPo: RNC Race A GOP Referendum On Bush
The Washington Post reports that much of the opposition to RNC chairman Mike Duncan, who faced five different opponents, has come down to conservative resentments against the man who picked Duncan: Then-President George W. Bush. "Most of us strongly supported the Bush administration through the entire two terms," said RNC member Curly Haugland of North Dakota, "but in the last few months, this bailout and the abandonment of capitalism really kind of sealed it."

Bunning: Yes, I Am Running Again
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) is firing back at Republicans who are spreading the idea that he hasn't been working on his re-election campaign -- such as his own co-Senator Mitch McConnell. "He either had a lapse of memory or something when speaking to the Press Club last week when he said that he didn't know what my intentions were," said Bunning.

Jill Biden Starts New Teaching Job In D.C. Area
Jill Biden began her new job yesterday at Northern Virginia Community College, as an adjunct professor teaching two English courses. "A lot of them either didn't know that she is the wife of the vice president, or act any differently," said spokeswoman Courtney O'Donnell.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 27, 2009, 9:01AM

Obama Visiting The Hill Today
President Obama is headed to Capitol Hill today to work with lawmakers on crafting his economic stimulus plan. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that Obama wants to hear lawmakers' ideas, and will take good ones into consideration.

Minnesota Trial Continues Today
The Minnesota election trial is continuing all day today, beginning at 10 a.m. ET in St. Paul. Yesterday was very interesting to say the least, with the Coleman campaign having been revealed to be using altered evidence -- they say the changes were accidental -- and we'll see how today turns out. The pooled video feed is easily available at The Uptake.

Coleman Going On Hannity Tonight
Norm Coleman will be appearing on Fox News tonight, for an interview with Sean Hannity. This should be interesting.

Blago Impeachment Trial Keeps Moving
To the southeast of Minnesota, the Illinois state Senate's impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich is also going into its second day. The state Senate will be hearing from FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain, who will review wiretaps allegedly showing Blago shaking down horse-racing industry officials for campaign money, as Blagojevich himself continues to boycott the trial.

Mitchell In Egypt Today
President Obama's new Middle East envoy George Mitchell has arrived in Cairo for his tour of the Middle East today, a mission to help solidify the Gaza ceasefire and to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Mitchell will be traveling through Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, France and Britain.

Gillibrand To Be Sworn In Today
Senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) will be sworn in today as the newly-appointed occupant of Hillary Clinton's former Senate seat. Gillibrand will be sworn in by Vice President Biden in the afternoon.

NYT: Geography Divides Dems On Energy
The New York Times reports that the energy debate is revealing divides among Democrats between those from the coasts, who are more favorable to environmentalists, and the industry-friendly Midwesterners. "It's up to those of us in the Midwest to show how important manufacturing is," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). "If we pass a climate bill the wrong way, it will hurt American jobs and the American economy, as more and more production jobs go to places like China, where it's cheaper."

Terry McAuliffe: Virginia Political Outsider
Check out this new TV ad from Terry McAuliffe, in which the former Democratic National Committee chairman presents himself as a political outsider who hasn't been connected to the legislative fights in Virginia, but is instead a successful businessman:

"It goes to show, the best ideas don't always come out of Richmond," says McAuliffe.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2009, 8:59AM

Obama Set To Allow Tighter Emissions Standards By States
President Obama is expected today to clear the way for allowing California and other states to set their own emissions standards, something that the Bush Administration had previously blocked. Federal regulators are expected to formally approve the changes, which will then force car manufacturers to increase the efficiencies of their vehicles in order to sell their products in major states.

Obama Speaking On Economy This Morning
President Obama will be speaking from the White House today on the subject of the economy, at 10:30 a.m. ET. Vice President Biden will also be joining Obama at today's briefings and meetings.

Minnesota Election Trial Begins Today
The Minnesota Senate litigation enters a new phase today, with the trial beginning at 2 p.m. ET in St. Paul. Norm Coleman's legal team will have the opportunity to go first, calling witnesses and laying out their case that he, and not Al Franken, was the true winner of this super-tight race. A video feed will be available at The Uptake.

Blago Impeachment Trial Beginning Today, Minus Blago
The Illinois state Senate is set to begin the impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich today, though Blago himself is boycotting the proceedings. Instead, Blago is set to appear on the TV talk circuit, making his case that he is innocent and that the trial is rigged against him.

Blago: I Thought About Appointing Oprah To Senate
Rod Blagojevich told ABC News that he had considered appointing Oprah Winfrey to Barack Obama's former Senate seat. But Blago says he didn't do so because it would make too much of a commotion: "she probably wouldn't take it, and then if you offered it to her, how would you do it in a way it wasn't a gimmick to embarrass her."

Cornyn To GOP: Forget The House, Give For The Senate
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, confirmed to Roll Call that he is recruiting potential candidates and courting donors by disparaging the status and comparatively limited power of the House GOP. "I would love to get a Republican majority in the House, I just don't think it's feasible this cycle," said Cornyn, describing the House campaign committee and himself as "friendly competitors."

Feingold To Introduce Amendment Banning Senate Appointments
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) has announced that he will introduce a constitutional amendment to end gubernatorial appointments to Senate vacancies, instead requiring special elections as is done in several states including Wisconsin. Said Feingold, in a statement: "The controversies surrounding some of the recent gubernatorial appointments to vacant Senate seats make it painfully clear that such appointments are an anachronism that must end."

Clyburn: No Health Bill In 2009
In an interview on C-Span this past weekend, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) said that it's unlikely a comprehensive health care bill will pass the Congress this year, with a slower approach being more feasible. "I would much rather see it done that way, incrementally, than to go out and just bite something you can't chew," said Clyburn. "We've been down that road. I still remember 1994."

Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 24, 2009, 1:02PM

Obama Promotes Stimulus, Government Accountability In Video Address
In his first Presidential YouTube Address as the sitting chief executive, Barack Obama promoted his stimulus plan, announcing that citizens will be able to hold the government accountable by monitoring the spending at a new Web site called Recovery.gov:

"I know that some are skeptical about the size and scale of this recovery plan," says President Obama. "I understand that skepticism, which is why this recovery plan must and will include unprecedented measures that will allow the American people to hold my Administration accountable for these results. We won't just throw money at our problems - we'll invest in what works."

Obama Meets With Economic Team
President Obama met with his economic team earlier this morning at 11 a.m. ET, in a closed-door gathering.

No Biden Events Today, Will Be On CBS Tomorrow
Vice President Biden has no public events for today. However, he will be appearing on CBS' Face The Nation tomorrow morning, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Obama On Mexico City Policy: We Must Find Common Ground
President Obama released a statement last night explaining his decision to rescind the Mexico City Policy, saying that family planning should not be made into a divisive political issue: "I have directed my staff to reach out to those on all sides of this issue to achieve the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies. They will also work to promote safe motherhood, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and increase educational and economic opportunities for women and girls."

Blago's Lawyer: I Quit
Rod Blagojevich's attorney Ed Genson has announced that he is quitting, due to personal difficulties with his soon-to-be-former client's behavior: "I never require a client to do what I say, but I do require them to at least listen." When Blago was asked for comment, he said this was the first he had heard about it.

WaPo: Obama Administration "In An Awkward Phase"
The Washington Post reports that the Obama Administration is still getting settled in, as 3,000 politically-appointed posts remain to be filled and the folks who have been hired are still becoming acclimated. Says the Post: "The big boss is at his desk at the White House, but the vast executive branch is in an awkward phase, lightly sprinkled with political appointees still trying to get permanent badges and locate the restrooms."

NYT Profile: Gillibrand Always An Up And Comer
In a new profile of Senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand, the New York Times depicts a woman skilled at forging political connections. "I wouldn't be surprised if this carried her even higher onto a national platform," said John Replogle, a Dartmouth classmate and CEO of Burt's Bees. "I could see her in the cabinet, indeed if not throwing her hat into the ring in eight years."

Michelle Obama Objects To Dolls Named After Malia And Sasha
First Lady Michelle Obama is stating her objections to a new pair of dolls being marketed by Ty, the creators of Beanie Babies, that appear to be named after her daughters. Said a spokeswoman for the First Lady: "We feel it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purpose."

Rod Blagojevich

Blago: My Arrest Was Like Pearl Harbor

Eric Kleefeld | January 23, 2009, 9:52AM

You've got to hand it to Rod Blagojevich -- he really does have a way with words, and with placing his story into the great American narrative.

"December 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States," Blago told the Associated Press. "It was a complete surprise, completely unexpected. And just like the United States prevailed in that, we'll prevail in this."

In the immortal words of U.S. Senator John "Bluto" Blutarsky: "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"