Washington in 60 Seconds: Tom Delay's Near-Miss; the Obamas' Olympic Games

Good morning, Capitolists! President and Mrs. Obama have announced that they will make their very own hometown pitch to the International Olympic Committee this week for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Games. What athlete wouldn't want to sit down to a training table full of brats and beer?

Here's what else is making news in Washington today:

* President Obama and SoS Clinton meet with the NATO secretary general at the White House this morning. Does that make you wonder who the secretary general of NATO is? It's Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Stick with us, Caps.

* Michelle Obama heads to Copenhagen to sell Chicago to anyone who's buying. (Burkina Faso, we're looking at you.) Next, President Obama goes to Copenhagen on Thursday, despite his earlier statement that health care was too important to abandon for a trip to bid for the Games.

* Strap on your protective head gear for the start of the Senate Finance Committee's debate over the public option this morning. Fireworks and hot rhetoric expected.

* The full Senate debates funding for the Pentagon, including troop levels in Afghanistan and the future of Gitmo detainees.

* The Wall Street Journal previews the new court session that starts on Monday. On the docket are life sentences for minors; whether a cross can stay in the Mohave Desert; First Amendment rights in depictions of animal cruelty; and rearranging the swivel chairs to make room for a new associate justice.

* The BBC reports: At least 128 people were killed when troops in the West African nation of Guinea fired on protesters Monday, rights groups and opposition figures claim. Yikes.

* And if the suspense is killing you, Tom Delay almost dropped his lady partner last night on "Dancing With the Stars." Politico watched so you didn't have to, and they've got a little montage for you HERE.