All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

WASHINGTON – This much is undeniable: These people are angry.

Angry about the state of the economy. Angry about the possibility of losing health care benefits under a wide-ranging, complex piece of legislation. Angry at the thought of losing control over their future.

Thousands of these angry people gathered at the Capitol building on Thursday to protest what they’ve dubbed as "Obama-care" or "Pelosi-care." They were encouraged in their effort by conservative legislators focused on killing Democrats' health care proposals.

The protesters on the National Mall revealed varying degrees of knowledge about the issue, as well as wide-ranging political perspectives on other issues. Nearly all, however, displayed simmering resentment towards the current leaders in Washington.

"Bring out Pelosi!" the crowd outside the Capitol Building chanted during today's hour-long rally, spearheaded by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who is quickly becoming the face of the conservative branch of the Republican party. They furiously booed the mention of "Pelosi-care" and, prompted by the crisp notes of a bugle, yelled "Charge!"

"It is not Michele Bachmann's fault" the activists are angry, Bachmann reportedly said on a conference call Wednesday night. "It is [House] Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi's."

The protesters were fueled -- literally and figuratively -- by lobbying organizations like Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, the groups behind the August town hall protests and "tea party" events. Freedomworks promoted this week's event on their Web site DontKillGrandma.com with recommendations for protest tactics. Americans for Prosperity brought protesters from areas like New Jersey and North Carolina to the rally on buses, free of charge. Once there, they were happily passing out donuts to the crowd.

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Former president George W. Bush lobbed the opening pitch of Game Three in the Japan Series - the country's version of the World Series - last night in Tokyo.

The game took place at Tokyo Stadium, and was played between the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon Ham Fighters. Mr. Bush, who once co-owned the Texas Rangers, attended the game with former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who is also a professed baseball fan. The two have held a close relationship since Mr. Bush's presidency. U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos and record-setting home run hitter Sadaharu Oh were also present at the game with Mr. Bush, reports the Associated Press.

Not everyone, however, was glad to see the former president, AP reports. Outside the stadium, dozens of demonstrators marched and carried signs, which bore messages such as "Bush, Go to Jail" and "Arrest War Criminal Bush," to protest the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq initiated by the Bush administration. One protester even hurled his shoes at the former president in an apparent imitation of Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, who got prison time for throwing his own shoes at Mr. Bush during a 2008 press conference in Baghdad.

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PHOENIX - A few thousand people have gathered in downtown Phoenix to protest or show support for President Obama. Various groups are on all sides of the Phoenix Convention Center where Mr. Obama is scheduled to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention.

At first, the most vocal of the protestors were pro-health care reform and pro-Obama. Many were sporting Obama-Biden campaign t-shirts, buttons, stickers -- the works.

A spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party says that people have been calling their offices wanting to get involved. After seeing the rage and rancor at congressional town halls around the country, many Democrats here have been looking for ways to have their voices heard, calling or e-mailing the state party asking "where can we show our support." The state party and groups such as the Obama campaign arm, Organizing for America, used social networking, e-mails and traditional word of mouth to mobilize their supporters.

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President Obama heads to Portsmouth, N.H., Tuesday for a town-hall meeting on the health-care legislation still pending in Congress. Protesters plan to voice their opposition for the Democrats' plan outside the meeting and could possibly bring the kinds of disruptions found at similar meetings for members of Congress inside the gym at Portsmouth High School.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told CBS' "The Early Show" Anchor Harry Smith Tuesday how Mr. Obama would respond should anyone disrupt this afternoon's town hall.

"I think what the president will do is turn to that person and probably ask them to be civilized and give them an answer to their question," Gibbs said.

Gibbs noted he's attended more than 500 town-hall meetings Mr. Obama hosted throughout his political career.

"We've been to a lot of meetings where people didn't agree with us, but the tradition of a town-hall meeting is to give people information so that they can make a decision about a policy that impacts their lives," Gibbs said. "I know the president is excited about engaging the public again."

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The opening remarks of members of the Senate Judiciary Committee at Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination hearing this morning were interrupted by an anti-abortion protester who called abortion "genocide."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein was speaking Monday morning when the protester shouted out, "Senator, what about the unborn?"

Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy quickly slammed down the gavel and called for order.

"You are guests of the Senate while you are here," he said. "Everybody is a guest of the Senate. Judge Sotomayor deserves the respect of being heard." Leahy called for police to remove the protester from the chamber, and they did so.

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The Senate passed a resolution Friday that denounces the "ongoing violence" and other crackdowns against anti-government protestors in Iran, the Associated Press reports.

The Senate's resolution follows a similar measure in the House. Both houses condemned the use of violence against protesters and the obstruction of telephones and other communication methods in Iran following the disputed elections.

The Iranian government has previously shut down cell phone communication during the elections. It has recently moved to block Internet communications, including social networking sites such as Twitter.

This is the strongest measure Congress has taken in addressing the situation in Iran. Some view the resolution as a criticism of President Obama, who has been somewhat cautious in discussing the Iranian government's behavior post-elections, citing fears of being seen as “meddling.”

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UPDATE, 6:20 pm ET: President Obama discussed the situation in Iran late this afternoon, following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. According to the Associated Press, he said he is troubled by situation in Iran and that any investigation into Iranian election results must not result in bloodshed. Read more here.

Amid allegations of fraud in the recent Iranian elections, Republicans are criticizing President Obama for not personally addressing violence against the protesters demonstrating on behalf of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor released a statement Monday that calls on Mr. Obama to "take a strong public position in the face of violence and human rights abuses." Cantor suggests the lack of a statement from the president cuts against America’s responsibility "to lead the world."

“We stand with the people of Iran in their struggle to participate in a democratic election and who deserve the right to freely assemble and voice their opposition to its questionable outcome," Cantor said. "The Administration’s silence in the face of Iran’s brutal suppression of democratic rights represents a step backwards for homegrown democracy in the Middle East. We have a moral responsibility to lead the world in opposition to Iran’s extreme response to peaceful protests."

Indiana Representative Mike Pence told Reuters that it is Mr. Obama's duty to make a statement regarding Iran.

"It is appropriate for the leader of the free world at this time to speak a word of encouragement to those dissidents in the street," Pence said.

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President Barack Obama travels to South Bend, Indiana, Sunday to deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame.

His visit has rallied anti-abortion rights activists who say the Catholic university should not have invited a president who favors abortion rights to speak at such an event, nor confer on to him an honorary degree.

The Catholic Church condemns abortion.

On Saturday, dozens, and at times perhaps 100 demonstrators, lined the sidewalks at the gates of university, holding anti-abortion rights signs. Nineteen were arrested for trespassing onto university property. None of the people taken into custody were students.

A small airplane flew overhead towing a sign that said "Abortion is terror," accompanied by a picture of an unborn, bloodied fetus.

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If there is one thing that the thousands of protesters who hit the streets Friday for May Day demonstrations on immigration policy can agree on, it's this: The current system isn't working.

In Los Angeles, where at least seven marches were scheduled, immigrant advocates are calling for illegal immigrants to be given legal status, as well as the end of raids and deportations that can separate families, the Los Angeles Times reports. Though turnout at the May Day protests is significantly down from previous years – in part because of N1N1 flu concerns – thousands came out to protest for immigrant rights in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Seattle and other cities.

In Orange County, meanwhile, a small group of anti-illegal immigration activists marked the occasion with a counter-protest that reflects the beliefs of those who strongly oppose granting citizenship to illegal immigrants. (On some conservative blogs, there have also been complaints that illegal immigrants are responsible for bringing H1N1 into the U.S.A.)

"Amnesty rewards lawbreakers who crashed the border," Evelyn Miller told the Orange County Register.

Added Minuteman Project member Raymond Herrera: "We're protesting the (Mexican) government for their lack of being able to provide for their people. We will not tolerate amnesty on American soil."

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As you probably know by now, there are several "tea parties" going on today in cities coast-to-coast to protest taxes and government economic policy.

Here’s a roundup of CBSNews.com coverage of the demonstrations so far, which has appeared around the site and in our companion EconWatch blog:

Overview Of The Protests

Summary Of Happenings At "Tea Parties" So Far

First Hand Account From San Francisco

Photos from across the country

Check back to our EconWatch blog later for a first hand account from the events in New York.