Politics Today: Sotomayor on the Hot Seat
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:
**Sotomayor confirmation hearings continue...
**President Obama talks about community colleges, attends baseball's All-Star game...
**Congress continues hammering out health care legislation...
**Democrats continue calls for investigation over secret CIA programs...
**Palin slams Obama's energy plan...
"The question dominating the hearing today and Wednesday for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will not be whether she will win confirmation, but whether Senate Republicans can fix her in the public's mind as a biased judge unlikely to follow the law," write the Los Angeles Times' David G. Savage and James Oliphant.
"The possibility of lively exchanges became clear Monday with the opening of the Sotomayor hearing, even as Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee acknowledged that President Obama's nominee was almost certain to win confirmation.
"[T]he GOP made clear, despite the Democrats' Senate majority that makes her confirmation likely, it will not let Sotomayor's hearings pass without raising questions about her impartiality," adds the Associated Press' Mark Sherman.
"By extension, Republicans also are attacking President Barack Obama for what they see as a double standard in calling for her quick confirmation after voting against President George W. Bush's two high-court appointees.
"'No surprise attacks,' the Alabama senator cautioned, adding that the judge's record left him troubled and looking for clarification about her judicial philosophy."
"Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings opened yesterday against the backdrop of demographic changes that continue to alter the nation's politics," writes the Washington Post's Dan Balz.
"What drama exists this week is less the question of whether she will be confirmed than what the first Latina Supreme Court justice might contribute to those changing politics.
"Though the adage that the justices follow the election returns may still apply, grubby politics are not supposed to intrude on the dignified proceedings of the Supreme Court. But any barrier-shattering nomination brings with it broader political implications of which Democrats and Republicans are keenly aware."
**For in-depth analysis of the Sotomayor hearings, watch "Washington Unplugged" on CBSNews.com during the lunch break of today's session.
CBS News Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen on day 1 of the Sotomayor hearings:
Politico's Josh Gerstein, "First day sets framework for Sonia Sotomayor hearings"
CBSNews.com's Stephanie Condon, "'Jane Roe' Arrested at Sotomayor Hearing"
Washington Post's Anne Gearhart, "Culture Wars Intrude on a Day of Cordiality"
"Among his goals: to modernize community college facilities, to increase the quality of online courses and to ensure that more students complete their programs," reports USA Today's Mary Beth Marklein.
"About $500 million will be used to develop online curriculum for community college students. ...
"The bulk of the money, $9 billion, would be spent on competitive challenge grants to community colleges and states aimed at encouraging two-year colleges to experiment with strategies to create and improve programs that prepare students for good jobs and improve program completion rates. The idea is to 'let colleges try some new things. Those that work get new funding,' [special assistant to the president for economic policy James] Kvaal said."
Tonight, President Obama heads to Busch Stadium in St. Louis for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game where he'll throw out the first pitch – his first first pitch of his presidency.
CBS News has confirmed that the president will also head up to the broadcast booth at the beginning of the game to spend some time with Fox Sports broadcasters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.
HEALTH CARE: "House Democrats are moving ahead with sweeping health care legislation as President Barack Obama prods a Senate committee chairman to take faster action on a companion measure," report the Associated Press' David Espo and Erica Werner.
"Moving forcefully on his top domestic priority, Obama told Sen. Max Baucus he wants legislation ready by week's end in the Finance Committee that Baucus chairs, according to numerous Democratic officials.
"These officials said Obama made his wishes known directly to Baucus, D-Mont., at a White House meeting Monday attended by administration officials and senior Democratic lawmakers. The virtual deadline underscored Obama's determination to push legislation through both houses of Congress before lawmakers go home for their August summer break."
"The effort to pass a health-care overhaul is being frustrated by divisions among Democrats over a wide range of issues, from how to pay for the measure to its impacts on small business and rural areas," add the Wall Street Journal's Greg Hitt and Laura Meckler.
"A House bill is expected to be released Tuesday, but concerns voiced by moderate Democrats prompted party leaders to delay release of details over the weekend and have spurred a round of high-level meetings on Capitol Hill to corral the restive members. With few Republicans, if any, expected to support the legislation, Democrats, who control the chamber with a 255-178 majority, can't afford major defections in their ranks. They need 218 votes to ensure passage. ...
"Late last week, more than 35 moderate Democrats raised their concerns with Mrs. Pelosi, writing in a letter that the measure didn't do enough to shield small businesses from higher costs and urged steps be taken to increase payments for health-care providers in rural areas. The lawmakers said 'significant progress' would be needed on those issues. 'We cannot support a final product that fails to do so,' they said. Similar complications are blocking progress on companion measures in the Senate."
Washington Post's Ceci Connolly, "On Health-Care Reform, Obama Looks to Johnson's Model"
Los Angeles Times' Noam N. Levey and Peter Nicholas, "Pressure on Obama mounts over healthcare"
Politics Daily's Jill Lawrence, "The Last Worst Hope for Health Reform"
"That's what Democrats say the CIA director Leon Panetta told them when he met with the Intelligence Committees last month immediately after he learned about the program and killed it.
"'You can't have anybody, you can't have a vice president or a president or a senator say 'Don't follow the law,' said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
Cheney's direct involvement is fueling calls for an investigation... 'This can't stand to have something operating for almost a decade with not one member of Congress ever having been informed,' said Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif."
4798811"The secret CIA program halted last month by Director Leon E. Panetta involved establishing elite paramilitary teams that could be inserted into Pakistan or other locations to capture or kill top leaders of the Al Qaeda terrorist network, according to former U.S. intelligence officials," reports the Los Angeles Times' Greg Miller.
"The program -- launched in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- was never operational. But officials said that as recently as a year ago CIA executives discussed plans to deploy teams to test basic capabilities, including whether they could enter hostile territory and maneuver undetected, as well as gather intelligence and track high-value targets."
New York Times' Mark Mazzetti and Scott Shane, "C.I.A. Had Plan to Assassinate Qaeda Leaders"
SARAH PALIN: For those who thought Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, would lower her profile after announcing her resignation, check out today's Washington Post op-ed page.
"Unfortunately, many in the national media would rather focus on the personality-driven political gossip of the day than on the gravity of these challenges. So, at risk of disappointing the chattering class, let me make clear what is foremost on my mind and where my focus will be: I am deeply concerned about President Obama's cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage," she wrote in her op-ed titled, "The 'Cap and Tax' Dead End".
Meantime, as 52% of Americans think Palin is resigning at the end of the month to further her political career, according to a CBS News poll released yesterday, that's not affecting her fund-raising spigot.
Her political action committee pulled in almost $733,000 this year, according to Federal Election Commission reports filed this week. Her PAC, launched in January, raised $732,868 through June 30.
ALSO TODAY: Voters head to the polls in California's 32nd Congressional District for the special election to fill the seat of former U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, who is now President Obama's Labor Secretary.
"Voters will choose from Democrat Judy Chu, Republican Betty Chu and Libertarian Christopher Agrella, all of whom emerged from the May primary as the top vote getters in their respective parties," reports the Pasadena Star-News' Rebecca Kimitch.
"Judy Chu is the heavy favorite in the largely Democratic district, which stretches from East Los Angeles through Monterey Park, Rosemead, South El Monte, El Monte, Baldwin Park, West Covina, Azusa, Duarte and Covina."
ECONOMY
Wall Street Journal's John D. McKinnon, "$1 Trillion Deficit Complicates Obama's Agenda"
Politico's Jeanne Cummings, "President Obama's rosy scenario on the economy turns thorny"
AUTO INDUSTRY
Detroit News' David Shepardson and Christine Tierney, "Fed auto adviser steps down"
Wall Street Journal's Neil King Jr., "Auto Czar Quits Post Six Months Into the Job"
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
CBS News' Mark Knoller, "Obama Makes Speech Number 200"
NY Times' Christopher Drew, "Obama Repeats Threat to Veto Bill Over F-22 Jet"
Washington Post's Carrie Johnson and Krissah Thompson, "Holder Faces Avalanche of Work, and Scrutiny"
Wall Street Journal's Jane Zhang, "Surgeon General Is Designated"
Washington Post's Spencer S. Hsu, "Administration Considers Revamping Color-Coded Warning System"
FOREIGN POLICY
Politico's Ben Smith, "Hillary Clinton plans to reassert herself with high-profile speech"
Reuters, "Obama talks of progress on Israeli settlements"
LA Times' Paul Richter, "Doubts in White House on approach to N. Korea"
GOV. MARK SANFORD
The State's Gina Smith and John O'Connor, "Sanford's office couldn't locate missing governor"
SEN. JOHN ENSIGN
Las Vegas Sun's Lisa Mascaro, "Ensign to stay in Senate, seek reelection"
FUTURE RACES
2009 NJ Governor: Quinnipiac University Poll: "Republican challenger Christopher Christie is pulling away from Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine and now holds a 53 - 41 percent lead among likely voters in the New Jersey Governor's race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a 50 - 40 percent lead for the former federal prosecutor in a June 10 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University. In a three-way matchup among likely voters, Christie leads Gov. Corzine 47 - 38 percent, with 8 percent for independent candidate Christopher Daggett."
2009 NJ Governor: Press of Atlantic City's Daniel Walsh, "Republican national chief stumps for Christie in Vineland"
2009 NJ Governor: Newark Star-Ledger, "Report says Gov. Jon Corzine is close to picking Randal Pinkett for lieutenant governor run"
2009 VA Governor: Washington Post's Sandhya Somashekhar, "Deeds raises $3.4 million"
2010 TX Governor: Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Dave Montgomery, "Hutchison says she's 'ready to go' in Texas governor's race"
2010 CT Senate: Hartford Courant's Daniela Altimari, "Dodd Leading In 2nd Quarter Fundraising With $1.2 Million"
2010 FL Senate: Roll Call's John McArdle, "Rubio Calls in Armey for Endorsement"
2010 IL Senate: Vernon Hills Review's Todd Shields, "Kirk: I'll decide on Senate run in a week"
2010 IL Senate: Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson, "More jockeying for Senate seat"
2010 NY Senate: The Hill's Aaron Blake and Roxana Tiron, "Gillibrand mulls move left on gays in military"
2010 PA Senate: NY Times' Janie Lorber, "For Pa. Senate Seat, Words Fly Between Specter and Sestak"