Washington in 60 Seconds: Another Landrieu for New Orleans

Good morning, Capitolists! It's a joyous day in Who Dat nation, and a cold one in the capital. Here's what's making news in Washington today:

* New Mayor of Who Dat. Did you know that New Orleans had an election over the weekend? Neither did most Nola residents, who were so obsessed with their Saints going to the Super Bowl that just 89,000 showed up to the polls. The landslide winner was Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, brother of Sen. Mary Landrieu and son of former longtime mayor Moon Landrieu. The mayor-elect, who will be the city's first white chief executive since his father left office in the '70s, held his press conference yesterday and wisely focused his remarks on . . . the Saints. Nola.com has the story.

* Frozen in Their Tracks. Both sleet and snow have closed the federal government, postponed all action in the House and Senate today, and canceled President Obama's public schedule. We'll check back with your fearless leaders tomorrow to see if they've steeled themselves for the chilly walk to work tomorrow morning.

* Hot Tea. It was Tea time in Nashville this weekend, and the 600 attendees of the first-ever Tea Party convention delivered two messages for Washington along with their tricorn hats. First, they love them some Sarah Palin. Second, as one freedom-loving patriot told the Nashville Tennessean, "If the government thought we were a pain in the butt before, wait and see what happens now."

* Harder Than It Looks. Farther north of the Tea Party gathering and decidedly less rambunctious were the attendees at the DNC's winter meeting, ironically buried by an epic snowstorm, where members heard from the party's top brass, including President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. For an insider's view, we followed updates from DNC member Frank Leone, who said it all with his headline from day one: "Campaigning is easier than governing."

* Family Feud. If you're wondering what the next intra-party battle for Democrats will be, the Wall Street Journal says Obama's next pick for the Supreme Court is prime fodder for the moderates and liberals to battle it out. With Justice John Paul Stevens celebrating his 90th birthday this summer, a vacancy is judged highly likely by court watchers, but one warns Obama against tapping a candidate from the left side of the bench. "It's such an attractive target for a fight, it could screw up the whole summer."

* Who Dat Gonna Pass Dem Chips?! Super Bowl Sunday included a (sort of) bipartisan chips-and-dips party at the White House, with Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) making up the entire Republican delegation on the guest list. Coincidentally, Cao also made up the entire Republican coalition to support Obama's health care reform bill last year. Just before the Saint's victory, Cao Tweeted a little trash talk to fellow Republican Dan Burton: "Looking forward to winning my wager with @RepDanBurton -Who Dat Nation likes their steaks medium rare! Go Saints!!"