The Capitolist's morning must-reads

Good morning, Capitolists! Today in Washington, President Obama talks tax havens at 11, Israeli President Simon Perez talks to AIPAC, the five-day bible Read-a-Thon continues on the Capitol Steps, and the Senate continues consideration of Sen. Chris Dodd's bill for homeowner relief, cue the Countrywide jokes.

For everything else a Capitolist should know today, read on...

Mexico may re-open schools and businesses by Wednesday, if the H1N1 virus continues to abate, but it won't be in time to prevent more damage to the economy. Tourism is down 85% in some areas, with today's Cinqo de Mayo celebrations finito this year.

Speaking of Chris Dodd, The Hartford Courant ran a piece over the weekend revealing that Dodd's wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd sits on five corporate boards, for which she brings in about $500,000 per year. The Courant also notes that while Mrs. Dodd's credentials include founding "the international strategic consulting firm Clegg International Consultants, LLC," the firm has had no clients for more than three years.

Republican leaders gathered Saturday to launch the National Council for a New America, a non-partisan (?) effort to find new ideas among the GOP establishment. Amid the feel-good pizza party atmosphere, Jeb Bush delivered the bad news that he thinks it's time to look beyond Reagan for inspiration, adding, "You can't beat something with nothing.." [Washington Times]

Condoleezza Rice got grilled over the weekend by a fourth grader after a speech to a Washington, D.C., elementary school. When Misha Lerner asked Rice's opinion on theAmerican treatment of detainees, Rice responded, "After September 11, we wanted to protect the country. But (the president) was also very clear that we would do nothing, nothing, that was against the law or against our obligations internationally." [Washington Post]

Future Democratic challenges notwithstanding, a new poll shows Sen. Arlen Specter's (D-PA) party switch makes electoral sense, for now. Unlike last week's polls that showed the veteran lawmaker losing by 21 points to opponent and Pat Toomey in a Republican primary, the Quinnipiac poll shows Specter beating Toomey by 20 points in a general election. [The Hill]