THURSDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Yesterday’s rally on Wall Street didn’t last long.
* G.M. is in big trouble.
* The California Supreme Court is considering whether the right to marry can be taken away by a popular vote.
* Secretary of State Hillary Clinton invites Iran to participate in regional talks about Afghanistan’s future.
* I heard a rumor that Sanjay Gupta is withdrawing from consideration for the Surgeon General position. No confirmation yet.
* Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner seems ready to trade away some of the caps on itemized deductions.
* Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is worried about Chas Freeman’s role as head of the National Intelligence Council.
* Like President Obama, Vice President Biden supports EFCA.
* Sen. Ted Kennedy may be ailing, but he told attendees at the White House health care summit today, “I commit… to be a foot-soldier in this undertaking.”
* The White House is getting its first Chief Information Officer.
* Harvard economist Robert Barro has been trying to quantify the odds of a depression. He puts the likelihood at 20%.
* In the meantime, the Fed’s “beige book” shows a whole lot of pain.
* I’m kind of worried about Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-Minn.) mental stability.
* No, really, Bachmann’s mad as a hatter.
* Sometimes I get the impression that the Republican Party literally writes the on-air script for Fox News’ on-air personalities.
* Now would be a very good time to crack down on voter caging.
* Let’s not take that “Thelma and Louise” metaphor too far, okay?
* VoteVets is helping go after DADT. Good move.
* And the DNC isn’t quite done with Limbaugh yet. The party is now holding a contest, soliciting a “slogan in ten words or less,” which will appear on a billboard in Limbaugh’s hometown.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
