Eric Kleefeld | September 26, 2009, 1:05PM

Obama: "The International Community Is More United Than Ever Before" On Iran
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama spoke of international cooperation at the G-20 Summit -- including on the crucial issue of dealing with Iran's nuclear program:

"On this, the international community is more united than ever before," said Obama, later adding: "Iran's leaders must now choose - they can live up to their responsibilities and achieve integration with the community of nations. Or they will face increased pressure and isolation, and deny opportunity to their own people."

Isakson Blasts Dems For "Demonizing Regular Citizens" On Health Care
In this weekend's Republican video, Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) criticized the Democrats on health care, accusing Democrats of a "heavy-handed approach" that has involved "demonizing regular citizens":

"Americans are rightly concerned about the rush to pass a massive overhaul that will raise their taxes, lower their quality of care and put government between them and their doctor," said Isakson. "They also are concerned about the heavy-handed approach the Democrats have taken, such as demonizing regular citizens for asking questions about their plans and imposing a gag order on insurers for suggesting anyone might lose benefits under the Democrats' plan."

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Topics: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Congressional Black Caucus, Gay Marriage, Guantanamo Bay, Health Care, Iran, Johnny Isakson, VA-GOV

Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann Action Figure Now Available For $34.95

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 6:22PM

Action figure of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Look out, Barbie -- here comes the Michele Bachmann action figure!

As Minnesota Public Radio reports, the increased fame of the second-term Congresswoman had spurred a Connecticut company, Herobuilders, to manufacture a new posable toy in her image.

This puts Bachmann among the ranks of the company's other comedic offerings, which includes Obama as the Joker, Joe the Plumber, and Sarah Palin in a schoolgirl outfit.

It really is a great likeness. They managed to get her eyes just right.

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Topics: Michele Bachmann

MA-SEN

Paul Kirk Sworn In As Interim Senator From Massachusetts

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 3:55PM

Sen. Paul Kirk (D-MA) was just sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden, to serve in the Senate until the Massachusetts special election in January.

Kirk is not running in that election, and is serving in a caretaker capacity in Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. He is himself a former Kennedy staffer and longtime family friend, and was recommended for the appointment by Kennedy's family.

This also follows a judge's rejection of a Massachusetts Republican Party lawsuit, which attempted to stop the appointment.

The Boston Globe reported that when Kirk arrived in Washington today, he first paid a visit to his late friend's grave, in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Topics: MA-SEN, Paul Kirk, Ted Kennedy

Bill Clinton

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 2:14PM

Former US Pres. Bill Clinton

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

• Fox News Sunday: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO); Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell (R); Anti-ACORN activist James O'Keefe.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Former President Bill Clinton; Gov. David Paterson (D-NY); Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA).

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Topics: ACORN, Bill Clinton, David Paterson, Dianne Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, Jim Webb, John McCain, Jon Kyl, Kit Bond, Lindsey Graham, NY-GOV, Robert Gates, VA-GOV

Rahm Emanuel

Chicago Sun-Times: Rahm Wanted Blago To Appoint County Commish As Seat-Warmer

Rachel Slajda | September 25, 2009, 1:40PM

Fmr. Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) and WH Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

The Chicago Sun-Times reports today that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel asked then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint a Cook County commissioner to Emanuel's House seat. Blagojevich claims in a new book that Emanuel wanted to be able to run again in 2010 or 2012.

But House members, unlike senators, can never be appointed. Instead, they must be elected -- it's written into the Constitution.

So how could it be that Emanuel -- who served in the House for six years and was chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- didn't know that?

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Topics: Corruption, Rahm Emanuel, Rod Blagojevich

MA-SEN

Massachusetts GOP Blasts Judge's Ruling In Favor Of Senate Appointment -- No Mention Of An Appeal

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 1:20PM

Sen.-designate Paul Kirk (D-MA)

The Massachusetts Republican Party has issued a statement in the wake of a judge's ruling against their effort to stop the appointment of Sen.-designate Paul Kirk -- and there is no mention of an appeal. So it looks like this thing is probably over, and Kirk will be sworn in this afternoon.

Key quote from the statement:

I urge the voters of Massachusetts to not allow the courts the final say in this matter. I believe the ultimate remedy to the untenable situation on Beacon Hill can be found in the voting booths.

It is up to the voters of Massachusetts to finally decide enough is enough and to refuse to re-elect the entrenched incumbents responsible for raising our taxes in the middle of a recession, turning a blind eye to public corruption, and manipulating the law to keep their grip on power.

Shortly before the statement went out, a spokesperson for the state GOP told us that there would be no further comment on their plans, beyond the statement itself. So it looks like they're very angrily waving the white flag.

Full statement after the jump.

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Topics: Deval Patrick, MA-SEN, Paul Kirk

Joe Biden

Biden Tells Two Swing-Seat Dems At Fundraiser: "You Got Some Tough Votes Coming Up"

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 1:02PM

Vice President Joe Biden

Vice President Biden last night helped raise money for three freshman House Democrats from Virginia -- Gerry Connolly, Glenn Nye and Tom Perriello -- and very prominently noted that two of them are from swing seats that could be in real danger in 2010. From the Washington Post pool report:

VPOTUS noted that two of the three Democrats in attendance - U.S. Reps. Glenn Nye and Tom Perriello - would face difficult challenges in their more rural, southern Virginia districts.

"I don't have to tell you that you're in a very competitive state," he said. "You got some tough votes coming up." He noted that the third Virginia House Democrat - U.S. Rep. Gerry Connelly - had a "few liberals" in his left-leaning Northern Virginia district. He called the triumvirate "independent minded" and "damn competent," but united on several core Democratic Party themes, including energy policy and health care.

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Topics: Gerry Connolly, Glenn Nye, House '10, Joe Biden, Tom Perriello

MA-SEN

Judge Rules In Favor Of Kirk Senate Appointment, Against Massachusetts GOP Challenge

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 12:57PM

Sen.-designate Paul Kirk (D-MA)

A judge in Massachusetts has just ruled against the state GOP's effort to stop the appointment of Democratic Sen.-designate Paul Kirk to Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.

From the Boston Globe: "Judge Thomas Connolly deliberated for more than four hours before dismissing the GOP's claim that Democratic Governor Deval Patrick overstepped his authority by declaring an emergency so Kirk's appointment could be made immediately."

Kirk is set to be sworn in this afternoon.

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Topics: Deval Patrick, MA-SEN, Paul Kirk

Senate Finance Committee

Kyl: 'I Don't Need Maternity Care.' Stabenow: 'Your Mom Probably Did'

Rachel Slajda | September 25, 2009, 12:22PM

Just before the Senate Finance Committee wrapped up for the long weekend, members debated one of Sen. Jon Kyl's (R-AZ) amendments, which would strike language defining which benefits employers are required to cover.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) argued that insurers must be required to cover basic maternity care. (In several states there are no such requirements.)

"I don't need maternity care," Kyl said. "So requiring that on my insurance policy is something that I don't need and will make the policy more expensive."

Stabenow interrupted: "I think your mom probably did."

The amendment was defeated, nine to 14.

Video after the jump.

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Topics: Debbie Stabenow, Health Care, Jon Kyl, Senate Finance Committee

Health Care

Poll: Even Republican Voters Favor The Public Option

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 11:39AM

Las Vegas tea party

The new CBS/New York Times poll not only shows overwhelming support for the public option -- it shows that a plurality of self-identified Republicans are for it, too.

The poll asked this question: "Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan -- something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get -- that would compete with private health insurance plans?"

The top-line result is 65% in favor, 26% opposed. Among Democrats only, it's 81%-12%, and independents are at 61%-30%. And among Republican respondents, 47% are in favor, to 42% opposed.

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Topics: Health Care, Public Option

Public Option

Baucus: We Won't Discuss Public Option Until Tuesday

Rachel Slajda | September 25, 2009, 11:21AM

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT)

Although they were originally scheduled to do so today, Senate Finance Committee members won't discuss public option amendments until Tuesday.

"We don't have time today to bring that up," Chairman Max Baucus said, according to the Washington Independent.

Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are pushing for a public option in the Finance bill. On a conference call last night, Schumer said today would be "the opening day in our big fight."

The committee is adjourning early today and won't meet Monday due to Yom Kippur.

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Topics: Chuck Schumer, Jay Rockefeller, Max Baucus, Public Option, Senate Finance Committee

NJ-GOV

Corzine Airs New Spanish-Language Ad, Starring Menendez

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 11:06AM

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) is up on the air with a new Spanish-language TV ad, with Sen. Robert Menendez making a pitch for Corzine to Latino voters.

Unstated in the ad is that Menendez was himself appointed to the Senate by Corzine. Instead, the ad has Menendez praising Corzine on the more broad-based issue of the economy: "In this economic crisis, New Jersey is one of the states that has suffered the least because of the stewardship of Jon Corzine. He has made difficult, but necessary measures, which is why he has been attacked unfairly."

The official English translation is available after the jump.

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Topics: John Corzine, NJ-GOV, Robert Menendez

Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi Office Shoots Down Fox Report: She's Not Working On Her Own Bill

Eric Kleefeld | September 25, 2009, 10:00AM

Fox News reported this morning that Speaker Nancy Pelosi was working on her own draft of the health care bill -- which a Pelosi aide tells us is false.

Fox had a breaking news item: "We are learning this morning that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is working on her own draft of the health care overhaul - including another push for government-run health insurance."

Again, we repeat: A Pelosi aide confirms to us that this is false.

So where do things actually stand? Well, the health care bills are making their way through multiple committees, and the Dem leaders and chairs of those committees have been working to iron out the differences. Perhaps the brilliant parliamentarians at Fox heard something about Pelosi's participation in that ongoing process, and concluded that she's working on her own bill.