Washington in 60 Seconds: Lou Dobbs Crosses Chuck Schumer's Borders

Good morning, Capitolists! Great news on the economic front -- the American economy grew by 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009. That seems like information President Obama wishes he had before giving his State of the Union address, but better late than never.

Speaking of better late than never,: How about a mid-morning report of what's making news in Washington today?

* Lou Dobbs Ventures Into Foreign Territory. As Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) updated reporters yesterday about progress on immigration reform, he let slip that he met Wednesday with Lou Dobbs, the one-man border patrol, about immigration. "We're meeting with all different kinds of groups, trying to get everybody together to come out for one bill," Schumer said proudly. "In fact, yesterday, I met with Lou Dobbs, who, as many of you know, is changing his views on immigration." Hounded by reporters looking for more details, Schumer made a quick escape from the Capitol.

* Did Somebody Lose a Credit Card? I ask because Congress found one -- and increased your debt limit yesterday to $14.3 trillion. The Senate voted along party lines to bump the spending limit up by $1.9 trillion (yes, trillion), but only after a measure to create a commission designed to rein in federal deficits failed.

* A Big GOP Aloha, 'Desperately Struggling' Americans! From the sunny shores of Oahu, GOP Chairman Michael Steele fired off a screed yesterday slamming President Obama as being out of touch in these troubled times. Steele said the Senate's vote yesterday to increase the debt is "another example that the president has failed to live up to his responsibility. . . . at a time when millions of Americans are desperately struggling to live within their means." Steele is in Hawaii for the Republican National Committee's winter meeting.

* Osama Bin Laden, Environmentalist. The Washington Times reports on Osama bin Laden's latest video chat, calling on people of the world to boycott American goods to punish the U.S. for causing global warming. He also said "drastic solutions" must be taken to stop global warming, and "not solutions that partially reduce the effect of climate change." Who knew?

* He Ought to Know. Former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer, a.k.a. "Client 9" in the New York madam scandal, has given an awkwardly open interview about life, love, marriage and how to stay out of trouble. The New York Post reports Spitzer has some advice for Tiger Woods, John Edwards and other famous philanderers of past or present: "When you know something is stupid, don't do it."