TUESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* In a change, the Bush administration now supports an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. The AP added, however, that U.S. officials “quickly stressed they would not budge from their stance that it must be durable, sustainable and indefinite.”
* The shift in U.S. position came shortly after an Israeli bombardment hit outside a U.N. school where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge. At least 30 people, many of them children, were killed.
* There’s a lot of talk about who might replace Bill Richardson at Commerce. Sebelius and Becerra are out, Gregoire was never in, and Parsons might be in.
* Obama seems serious about his opposition to wasteful earmark spending in the stimulus bill.
* Norm Coleman held a press conference this afternoon, not to concede, but to announce that he’s filing yet another lawsuit.
* Nancy Pelosi was the unanimous choice among Democrats to continue serving as Speaker of the House.
* If you read one article today, make it this one about Muhammad Saad Iqbal.
* A gender-neutral House. Sounds good.
* For all of CNN’s work promoting its “Planet in Peril” series, it still has Lou Dobbs on every night, repeating all manner of ignorant nonsense about global warming. It’s an embarrassment.
* Credit where credit is due: Bush’s new protected marine areas in the Pacific Ocean is a good move.
* Publius makes the case that Roland Burris is destroying his reputation.
* Gary Farber wants to know why Dennis Blair, Obama’s choice to be the Director of National Intelligence, isn’t drawing closer scrutiny, especially for his ties in 1999 to the Indonesian military. Kevin Drum takes a closer look.
* Congrats to Matt Stoller for his position on Capitol Hill.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
