Washington in 60 Seconds: Nuts, Nets and Newt
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
08/14/09
Good morning, Capitolists! President Obama heads west today for an all-American earful; Hillary Clinton ends what seems like the longest state visit in history; the Netroots network continues meeting in Pittsburgh; and the Capitolist tells you all about it.
Here's what's making news in Washington today.
* What do a book deal, some TV time and a condo in D.C. have in common? According to Politico's interview with Newt Gingrich, they could all help Sarah Palin get elected president. Discuss.
* The high volume and ugly tone of many health care demonstrators has the Secret Service working overtime. ABC News also reports that a sharp increase in militia groups has experts fearing for President Obama's safety. A former FBI agent says, "It's a scary time."
* Eunice Kennedy Shriver will be buried in Hyannis, Mass., this morning. Vice President Biden, a close friend of the Kennedy family, will attend.
* The kids from Netroots Nation are netrooting in Pittsburgh through Sunday. The lineup includes keynoter Bill Clinton (who spoke Thursday), a Valerie Jarrett chat on Saturday and a leadership forum with Sen. Arlen Specter and his primary opponent, Rep. Joe Sestak, today at 11.
* Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) is in Burma (also known as Myanmar) today, the BBC reports, where he will be the highest-ranking American official ever to meet with the military leader, Than Shwe. U.S.-Burmese relations have been strained since the announcement that Aung San Suu Kyi will be placed under house arrest for 18 months.
Here's what's making news in Washington today.
* What do a book deal, some TV time and a condo in D.C. have in common? According to Politico's interview with Newt Gingrich, they could all help Sarah Palin get elected president. Discuss.
* The high volume and ugly tone of many health care demonstrators has the Secret Service working overtime. ABC News also reports that a sharp increase in militia groups has experts fearing for President Obama's safety. A former FBI agent says, "It's a scary time."
* Eunice Kennedy Shriver will be buried in Hyannis, Mass., this morning. Vice President Biden, a close friend of the Kennedy family, will attend.
* The kids from Netroots Nation are netrooting in Pittsburgh through Sunday. The lineup includes keynoter Bill Clinton (who spoke Thursday), a Valerie Jarrett chat on Saturday and a leadership forum with Sen. Arlen Specter and his primary opponent, Rep. Joe Sestak, today at 11.
* Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) is in Burma (also known as Myanmar) today, the BBC reports, where he will be the highest-ranking American official ever to meet with the military leader, Than Shwe. U.S.-Burmese relations have been strained since the announcement that Aung San Suu Kyi will be placed under house arrest for 18 months.