All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** Senate health care bill pleases most Democrats...

** President Obama gives a stern message to North Korea and Iran...

** Sarah Palin hits the road...

HEALTH CARE: "Senate majority leader Harry Reid unveiled his long-awaited version of a sweeping health care bill last night, setting the stage for a tense Senate showdown pitting Republicans against a fragile and fractured Democratic majority," report the Boston Globe's Lisa Wangsness and Susan Milligan.

"The proposal would expand coverage to most Americans and is predicted to cut the deficit by $127 billion over 10 years, a benefit Senate leaders hoped would help it attract fiscally conservative moderates who will decide the bill’s fate. It also includes a so-called public option, a government-backed insurance plan in states that want one, a concession to liberals.

"With President Obama calling for a bill to be sent to his desk by the end of the year, Reid is hoping to bring the historic health care package up for a test vote on Saturday.”

"Sixty votes are needed to begin debate on the measure, and Senate leaders said they're confident they'll get the votes to proceed after talking with three wavering moderates, Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln, Louisiana's Mary Landrieu and Nebraska's Ben Nelson," adds McClatchy Newspapers' David Lightman.

"Nelson said that while he remained undecided, the possible Saturday vote shouldn't be seen as a judgment on the bill's substance. 'It is a motion to start debate on a bill and to try to improve it,' he said.

Other moderates were also cautious. 'We'll wait and see,' Lincoln said. Added Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., 'I'm going to reserve judgment until I've had a chance to read it, but the numbers on deficit reduction are encouraging.'

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Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** Obama gathers doctors in support of health care reform...

** A deadly attack in Afghanistan...

** Snubbing the Dalai Lama...

PRESIDENT OBAMA TODAY: As health care reform legislation is expected to move out of the Senate Finance Committee this week, the president will hold an event with doctors in the Rose Garden to push, yet again, for Congress to continue moving forward on reform.

"Despite months of outward ambivalence about creating a government health insurance plan, the Obama White House has launched a behind-the-scenes campaign to get divided Senate Democrats to take up some version of the idea for a final vote in the coming weeks," report the Los Angeles Times' Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook.

"President Obama has cited a preference for the so-called public option. But faced with intense criticism over the summer, he strategically expressed openness to health cooperatives and other ways to offer consumers potentially more affordable alternatives to private health plans.

"In the last week, however, senior administration officials have been holding private meetings almost daily at the Capitol with senior Democratic staff to discuss ways to include a version of the public plan in the healthcare bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring to the Senate floor this month, according to senior Democratic congressional aides."

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Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** Will the president's trip to Copenhagen pay off?...

** Obama meets face to face with McChrystal...

** The Senate Finance Committee finishes amending its health care bill...

2016 OLYMPICS: President Obama made his speech on behalf of Chicago's 2016 Summer Olympics bid in Copenhagen overnight and at 12:30pm ET, we'll know if he helped the Windy City's chances when the International Olympic Committee announces the two finalists, followed by the announcement of the winning city just before 1pm ET.

"President Obama described himself as a 'passionate supporter' of the Games and as 'a proud Chicagoan,'" reports Chicagobreakingnews.com.

"He said he looked forward to welcoming the world to the shores of Lake Michigan and America in 2016. 'America is ready and eager,' he said.

"He described his own association with and love for the city. ... He also referenced the Great Chicago Fire and how Chicago rose from its ashes and is a place 'where visionaries who make no small plans rebuilt ... and taught the world to reach new heights.'

"'It's not just the American dream that is the Olympic spirit; it's the essence of the Olympic spirit, and that's why we see so much of ourselves in these Games,' he said. 'That's why we want them in Chicago, that's why we want them in America.' He concluded by saying Chicago would make the IOC proud."

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Updated 3:53 p.m. ET

President Obama said today that talks with Iran in Geneva represented a "constructive beginning" but that "it must be followed with constructive action by the Iranian government."

"Talk is no substitute for action," the president said, stating that the United States is prepared to apply increased pressure to the country. "Our patience is not unlimited."

The talks in Geneva involve Iran and the so-called "P5-plus-1" countries – the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the U.S., Britain, China, France and Russia) as well as Germany.

They are focused on Iran's nuclear capability and come in the wake of revelations that Iran has been building a covert nuclear facility in Qom that appears to be designed for the production of a nuclear weapon. (Pictured below.)

The president said Thursday that Iran "heard a clear and unified message from the international community" at the talks in Geneva. He said the country must display a "commitment to transparency" in the coming weeks.

"The P5-plus-1 is united and we have an international community that has reaffirmed its commitment to nonproliferation and disarmament," he said.

To that end, the president said the country "must grant unfettered access to [International Atomic Energy Agency] inspectors within two weeks."

He also said Iran must also prove that its nuclear program is meant for "peaceful purposes," not the production of weapons.

"Iran must demonstrate through concrete steps that it will live up to its responsibilities with regard to its nuclear program," the president said.

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Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** The president makes an Olympic bid...

** Conflicting opinions on Afghanistan...

** Tim Pawlenty gets a PAC...

PRESIDENT OBAMA TODAY: The president will speak to a Democratic Governors Association fundraiser and hold closed meetings with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner before heading to Copenhagen to help pitch Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

First lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey are already in Denmark and the Chicago Tribune's Philip Hersh and Kathy Bergen report that Mrs. Obama "wasted no time in captivating some of the International Olympic Committee members who will decide a 2016 Summer Olympic host-city race considered too close to call.

"As she passed through the lobby of the Copenhagen Marriott, where the IOC members are staying, she gave two thumbs up and a hug to one of the first members she encountered, Nicole Hoevertsz of Aruba.

"Not only that, Hoevertsz said later, but the first lady congratulated her on having been named Tuesday as secretary to Aruba's council of ministers.

"It is that sort of preparation and attention to detail as much as the case she makes for her city that the Chicago 2016 bid committee hopes will make her a key player in Copenhagen. The second big name to arrive Wednesday, Oprah Winfrey, also hopes to influence the IOC's voting, which she called 'a decision that could be a landmark in Chicago history.'" On Friday, the IOC will choose Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid."

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Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** A setback for liberals in the health care debate …

** The Obama team takes on challenges in Afghanistan and Iran …

**The Senate readies its climate change legislation …

PRESIDENT OBAMA TODAY: The president heads to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., where he'll announce $5 billion in economic stimulus funds for the NIH to create jobs and support research for cancer and other diseases, reports the Associated Press.

The money comes from the $787 billion economic stimulus program that is designed to help create jobs and turn around the economy. Jared Bernstein, who is Vice President Joe Biden's chief economist, says the $5 billion will support some 12,000 existing projects and create thousands of jobs over the next two years for researchers and educators, as well as medical equipment makers and suppliers.

Mr. Obama will be joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

It wouldn't be a surprise if he also touched on the tsunami in the Samoas, which has left at least 99 dead.

The president has already declared a major disaster for American Samoa, a U.S. territory, and early this morning, he put out a written statement:

"Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the earthquake and tsunami in American Samoa and the region. I am closely monitoring these tragic events, and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is in close and constant contact with emergency responders, and the U.S. Coast Guard is fully supporting the deployment of resources to those areas in need of immediate assistance. We also stand ready to help our friends in Samoa and the region. Going forward, we will continue to provide the resources necessary to respond to this catastrophe, and we will keep those who have lost so much in our thoughts and prayers."

This afternoon, Mr. Obama has a meeting with his national security advisers to discuss the war in Afghanistan. Among those attending the meeting in the White House Situation Room: Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Adm. Mike Mullen, Gen. David Petraeus, CIA Director Leon Panetta, and National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones. Gen. Stanly McChrystal and others will participate by remote video.

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Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** The President meets with a NATO leader about Afghanistan...

** Weighing the threat in Iran...

**Tackling the hot button issues on health care...

AFGHANISTAN: Expect Afghanistan to be on the agenda when President Obama meets with Defense Secretary Robert Gates this afternoon and when he sits down with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen this morning. Rasmussen spoke out Monday about how the nations fighting the war there must change their tactics, reports Bloomberg News' Viola Gienger.

“'Reaching our goal in Afghanistan is not guaranteed,' Rasmussen told an audience at the Atlantic Council policy group in Washington yesterday. More troops will be needed at least to train the Afghan National Security Forces, Rasmussen said, while cautioning that a revised strategy must be agreed upon before decisions are made about the additional resources.

"'We cannot continue to do exactly what we’re doing now,' Rasmussen said, calling for more focus on civilian reconstruction to accompany the military campaign. 'Things are going to have to change.'..

"President Barack Obama is reviewing whether to continue with a strategy in Afghanistan that focuses on protecting and supporting the population against al-Qaeda and Taliban insurgents. Rasmussen, 56, a former prime minister of Denmark, met with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates yesterday and is scheduled to meet today with Obama at the White House."

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CBS News’ Washington Bureau Chief Christopher Isham said on “Washington Unplugged” Monday that we should stay tuned to see what Iran’s next move is after the upcoming October 1 meetings between Iran, the U.S. and five other nations.

“It will be interesting to see what the Iranians pull out of their hat,” he said. “These guys are very good at playing games and making it appear as if they are cooperating when in fact they are not. They have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves.”

Isham indicated that Iran was reminded they are under some serious international pressure when Russia said sanctions may be unavoidable at the United Nations last week.

“They could always count on Russia not to enforce, not to recommend harsh sanctions,” the bureau chief said.

“The real problem, I think down the road, is what happens if the sanctions don’t work? Then you are looking at increasingly an Iran that is going down the road of acquiring a nuclear weapon,” he said.

On Afghanistan, Isham said the White House and military commanders are at odds about how to proceed.

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Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** Obama heads to Copenhagen...

** Considering new sanctions against Iran...

** Mixed views on Afghanistan...

OBAMA TO PITCH FOR OLYMPICS: A White House official confirms to CBS News that President Obama will head to Copenhagen, Denmark later this week to pitch Chicago as the site for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"Valerie Jarrett told the Associated Press Monday morning that the president will leave Thursday and will join his wife, Michelle, and others in his administration, in making the pitch. Obama would be the first U.S. president to take on such a direct role in lobbying for an Olympics event.

"Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, both from Illinois, also are going. Chicago faces tough competition from Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo. Heads of state representing Rio and Madrid are also expected to attend the Copenhagen meeting."

"The White House, which earlier had announced that an advance team was headed to Copenhagen to prepare for a possible presidential trip to Copenhagen, confirmed this morning that Obama will travel Thursday night. The [International Olympic Committee] meets Friday," adds the Chicago Tribune's Mark Silva.

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President Obama said at a press conference at the G-20 summit Friday afternoon that the world has responded to the nuclear threat posed by Iran with an "unprecedented show of unity" and that a confrontational response from the nation will result in its further isolation.

He said countries around the world share "grave doubts" about Iran's presentation of its nuclear intentions.

The president said such solidarity on the part of a wide range of nations is "not typical" and speaks to the situation that Iran now finds itself in.

"Anybody who's been following responses to Iran would have been doubtful just a few months ago that that kind of rapid response was possible," he said, noting that China and Russia have called for an investigation.

On Friday morning, Mr. Obama and the leaders of Britain and France held a press conference to discuss the existence of a previously-unknown secret Iranian nuclear facility and call for it to be opened.

He said Iran "is breaking rules that all nations must follow, endangering the world non-nuclear proliferation regime ... and the security of the world."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded that his country had complied with United Nations rules and said the president's charges were a "mistake."

"I'm sure they'll definitely feel sorry about it. I think they probably already regret it and will be regretting it more down the road," he said."

The president said at his press conference Friday that Iran is "on notice" and that "they are going to have to come clean and they are going to have to make a choice" at meetings with the United States on October 1st.

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