Washington in 60 Seconds: Obama Fights Back, Olbermann Targets Beck, and Joe Kennedy Says He's Out

Good morning, Capitolists! Did you have a nice summer? Are you rested? Good, because it's back to work for Congress today, back to school for Obama and get-ready-to-rumble for everyone else in Washington whose livelihoods depend on our fearless leaders. And did we mention the Supreme Court is having a special session tomorrow to talk campaign finance reform?

Hope you got some R&R over the summer, because you're going to need it. Here's what's making news in Washington today:

* At high noon, President Obama speaks to our nation's impressionable youth. Socialists looking for the president to spread their message to tiny young minds might be disappointed, though. It's the standard study-hard fare from a man who did OK in school himself. Also, Jim Greer, the Florida Republican who raised a red flag over the speech now says "it's a good speech" and he'll let his little ones listen in.

* The hot mess that is health care reform will be the topic of President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress tomorrow, a meeting between the Senate Finance Committee negotiators today, and a face-to-face between Obama and House and Senate leaders this afternoon.

* After a series of summer stumbles -- and in a throwback to the glory days of Campaign 2008 -- Obama rolled up his shirt sleeves yesterday at an AFL-CIO picnic in Ohio to give Big Labor an earful of populist-pleasing public-option rhetoric. The Wall Street Journal's Jonathan Weisman reports Obama called the public option in health care "a valuable tool" but did not say it's a must-do. "At some point it's time to act. Ohio, it's time to act and get this thing done," Obama said.

* And about that public option? Over the weekend, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus circulated a draft of his plan that would be smaller, cheaper and would not include a government-run option.

* Oyez! Oyez! USA Today reports that newly minted Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor will have her investiture ceremony today at the court. Lovers of pomp, circumstance and litigation can tune in to C-SPAN.org at 2 p.m.

* Joe Kennedy, the nephew of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, has taken his name out of the hat to replace his uncle. The Hill reports Kennedy said the best way to continue TK's legacy is to continue his work outside of Congress. Vicki Kennedy, the late senator's widow, has also said she's not interested in the job.

* And finally, Politico's Michael Calderone brings us up to date on the Glenn Beck-Keith Olbermann catfight. The latter has put out a call to his peeps on the Daily Kos for all "leads, tips and contacts" on Beck to save the world from "the Oligarchy of the Stupid." Call us when it's over.