THURSDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* As far as the administration is concerned, the stimulus package has already saved/created a million jobs.
* Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner sees growing confidence in the markets.
* Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) believes every Republican senator will reject reform, including Maine Sens. Snowe and Collins.
* ABC’s Jake Tapper reports that President Obama scheduled a meeting today with 16 Senate Democratic moderates and Joe Lieberman. It’s not yet clear what the meeting was all about.
* Obama kept his pitch going today, delivering a speech to a group of nurses.
* Vice President Biden believes a health care bill will be done “before Thanksgiving.”
* Sounds like he’s stalling for time: “Iran is not prepared to discuss halting its uranium enrichment program in response to Western demands but is proposing instead a worldwide control system aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s top political aide said in an interview Thursday.”
* Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) hasn’t exactly been a cheerleader for the White House’s reform plan, but today, he said the president gave reform “a big boost last night.”
* Censure is still on the table for Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).
* Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) thinks Wilson’s outburst was the Democrats’ fault.
* Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the new chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, supports a public option, but said today it’s not a deal-breaker.
* House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) wasted no time in starting to lie once again about the details of health care reform.
* Sen. George LeMieux (R) was sworn in today as the new/temporary senator from Florida.
* The Kennedy Caucus Room? Sounds good to me.
* In light of this week’s round of musical committee chairs, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) is going to be the new chair of the Agriculture Committee. That’s not especially good news.
* It took long enough: “Cass Sunstein, President Obama’s pick to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, was confirmed handily by the Senate just now by a vote of 57 ayes to 40 nays. Glenn Beck will no doubt rue this day for as long as he shall live.”
* Time Fortune magazine offers a new list of the 10 most powerful women in Washington.
* Good new ad from the Clean Energy Works coalition.
* And finally, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) appears to have perfected the half-clap, which looks like it might be applause, but isn’t.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
