Hundreds Line Up To Visit Ted Kennedy’s Grave
The Washington Post reports that hundreds of people turned out on Sunday to visit the grave of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), after he was buried Saturday night at Arlington National Cemetery: “Arlington had been closed to the public for Kennedy’s burial, which was attended only by family members and a few close friends. When the cemetery opened at 8 a.m. Sunday, a small group of people was already waiting. By 11 a.m., the line had swelled to more than 100 people.”
U.S. Ramping Up Withdrawal From Iraq
The United States is working to withdraw forces from Iraq, picking up the pace a year ahead of the August 2010 deadline: “The goal is to withdraw tens of thousands of troops and about 60% of equipment out of Iraq by the end of next March, Brig. Gen. Heidi Brown, a deputy commander charged with overseeing the withdrawal, told The Associated Press in one of the first detailed accounts of how the U.S. military plans to leave Iraq.”
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will spending the morning in Philadelphia, attending a fundraiser for Rep. John Adler (D-NJ). He will return to Washington in the afternoon, and at 1:30 p.m. ET he will host conference calls with governors and mayors from across the country to discuss Recovery Act implementation. At 4:30 p.m. Et, he will meet with Gen. Raymond Odierno, the commander of multi-national forces in Iraq.
NYT: U.S. Sees Profit From Bailout
The New York Times reports that the U.S. Treasury has made a profit of $4 billion so far from the Wall Street bailout. The money has come from eight of the biggest banks that have fully repaid their debts to the government.
Vicki Kennedy Floated As Possible Senate Appointee
Ted Kennedy’s widow Vicki is increasingly being mentioned as a possible appointee as interim Senator from Massachusetts, if the state legislature were to change the law to allow for it. “I think Vicki ought to be considered. She’s a very brilliant lawyer,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), a Kennedy friend. “She’s a very solid individual. She certainly made a difference in Ted’s life, let me tell you. And I have nothing but great respect for her.”
Former Rep. Joseph Kennedy A Possible Candidate For Ted’s Senate Seat
The Boston Globe reports that former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (D-MA) is now being widely watched as a possible candidate for his late uncle Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat. Said Democratic media consultant Dan Payne: “I’m not saying he is going to run, but he wouldn’t be human and he wouldn’t be a Kennedy if he didn’t give serious thought to running for the so-called Kennedy seat.”
Bush Daughter Joins Today Show
Jenna Hager, one of the daughters of former President George W. Bush, has joined NBC’s Today show as a correspondent, and will contribute segments about once a month on education. Said Today executive producer Jim Bell: “I think she knows something about pressure and being under some scrutiny. When she came here for a handful of appearances, she knocked it out of the park.”
DeMint: My Wife Would Shoot Me If I Ran For President
In a New York Times profile, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) was asked whether he would run for president. “I wouldn’t get out of my driveway without my wife shooting me in the back,” said DeMint. “You’ve got to find somebody who’s smart enough to be a great president but dumb enough to want to be president. Right now, I think I’m still too smart to be president.”
