Good morning, Capitolists! Congress goes from high to low today as it turns its attention from the war in Afghanistan to the war of words between the White House and the Secret Service over who let the stray cats into last week's state dinner.
Here's what else is making news in Washington today:
* More Afghanistan Questions. Sec. of Defense Robert Gates, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Mike Mullen will be back on the Hill today to answer senators' questions on the president's plans to increase troops in Afghanistan. Given yesterday's confusion over what the meaning of "withdraw" is, expect continued focus on that issue.
* P.R. Job. The White House will host a "jobs summit" today at 1:30 to talk about ways to reverse the job losses plaguing the economy. No word on exactly what those ways will be, but RNC Chairman Michael Steele calls the event another example of Obama's "P.R. presidency."
* Bernanke Saved the World? Speaking of jobs, Fed Chief Ben Bernanke heads to the Senate today for a hearing on renewing his job for another term. Sen. Bernie Sanders has put a hold on Bernanke's nomination, but Steve Rattner, the administration's former car czar, writes in the Washington Post today that criticism of B.B. is unfair and ignorant and that Bernanke, along with Tim Geithner and Henry Paulson, saved the world.
* Form Blackwater to Blackboard. Erik Prince, the founder of ginormous government contractor Blackwater, is telling Vanity Fair that he is leaving his post because of multiple federal investigations into the company's conduct in Iraq. His legal bills are costing the firm, renamed Xe Services, $2 million a month. He also tells the magazine that he has been a spy for the CIA since 2004 and that he's decided on his next step: becoming a high school teacher.
* Sis Boom Whah? The plot thickens with the Salahis, as former Washington Redskins cheerleaders tell The Washington Post that Mrs. S. never wore the gold and burgundy, despite her bizarre visit to a cheerleader reunion with her Bravo-TV film crew in tow. One Redskins alumna says, "I'm resentful. . . . For her to get out there and think she can just shake her pompoms is upsetting." Indeed. Meanwhile, the House Homeland Security Committee is holding a hearing this morning on how the Virginia couple got into last month's state dinner at the White House without an invitation.
Here's what else is making news in Washington today:
* More Afghanistan Questions. Sec. of Defense Robert Gates, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Mike Mullen will be back on the Hill today to answer senators' questions on the president's plans to increase troops in Afghanistan. Given yesterday's confusion over what the meaning of "withdraw" is, expect continued focus on that issue.
* P.R. Job. The White House will host a "jobs summit" today at 1:30 to talk about ways to reverse the job losses plaguing the economy. No word on exactly what those ways will be, but RNC Chairman Michael Steele calls the event another example of Obama's "P.R. presidency."
* Bernanke Saved the World? Speaking of jobs, Fed Chief Ben Bernanke heads to the Senate today for a hearing on renewing his job for another term. Sen. Bernie Sanders has put a hold on Bernanke's nomination, but Steve Rattner, the administration's former car czar, writes in the Washington Post today that criticism of B.B. is unfair and ignorant and that Bernanke, along with Tim Geithner and Henry Paulson, saved the world.
* Form Blackwater to Blackboard. Erik Prince, the founder of ginormous government contractor Blackwater, is telling Vanity Fair that he is leaving his post because of multiple federal investigations into the company's conduct in Iraq. His legal bills are costing the firm, renamed Xe Services, $2 million a month. He also tells the magazine that he has been a spy for the CIA since 2004 and that he's decided on his next step: becoming a high school teacher.
* Sis Boom Whah? The plot thickens with the Salahis, as former Washington Redskins cheerleaders tell The Washington Post that Mrs. S. never wore the gold and burgundy, despite her bizarre visit to a cheerleader reunion with her Bravo-TV film crew in tow. One Redskins alumna says, "I'm resentful. . . . For her to get out there and think she can just shake her pompoms is upsetting." Indeed. Meanwhile, the House Homeland Security Committee is holding a hearing this morning on how the Virginia couple got into last month's state dinner at the White House without an invitation.
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