In the airy, expansive room known as 216 Hart Senate Office Building, the site of many highly anticipated and attended congressional events, Hillary Clinton is in the midst of her confirmation hearing to become Barack Obama's secretary of state.

Clinton is as close as Washington comes to a shoo-in, but that doesn't mean her testimony is without genuine drama. Conservative Republicans on the Foreign Relations Committee -- particularly Sens. Bob Corker (TN), David Vitter (LA) and Jim DeMint (SC)-- are determined to give her as rough a ride as they can, which means plenty of questions about foreign donors to Bill Clinton's presidential library and foundation.

Meanwhile, the media is still casting panel chairman John Kerry (D-MA) in the beleaguered second-fiddle role he assumed after the 2004 election, citing his dashed hopes to head Obama's state department as a possible indication of confirmation tensions.

But beneath the surface maneuverings, Clinton's nomination to State is one of those storied transitions that members of Congress -- no matter their party -- love to guide to fruition. The hearing is packed with members of Clinton's family and has already inspired a look back to Kerry's famous "Winter Soldier" testimony on Vietnam before the foreign relations panel 38 years ago.

When the curtain falls on Clinton's appearance today, the TV cameras and pack of reporters will disperse to the next confirmation event -- one hopes they'll continue talking about the issues that are raised while the microphones are on.

Obama Meeting Senate Dems Today, Will Press On Bailout
Barack Obama is heading to Capitol Hill today for the weekly lunch of the Senate Democrats, part of his outreach to Capitol Hill. Obama is expected to lobby the Senate Dems on obtaining the authorization for the remaining $350 billion of the Wall St. bailout, and it seems reasonable to expect he'll also work on getting his economic stimulus package approved.

Today: Hillary's Confirmation Hearing
Hillary Clinton will be appearing at 9:30 a.m. ET before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for her confirmation hearing to be Secretary of State, and is expected to easily win confirmation. Hillary will reportedly tell the committee: "I believe American leadership has been wanting, but is still wanted."

Bernanke: Obama Stimulus Would Lift Economy, But Other Reforms Also Needed
Speaking today at the London School of Economics, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that Barack Obama's stimulus plan would give a "significant boost" to the economy. However, he also cautioned that other reforms are needed for the financial system, and that a fiscal stimulus alone isn't likely to produce a lasting recovery.

NYT: Closing Gitmo Will Take A While
The New York Times reports that Barack Obama's plans to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay will face numerous logistical difficulties: "One transition official said the new administration expected that it would take several months to transfer some of the remaining 248 prisoners to other countries, decide how to try suspects and deal with the many other legal challenges posed by closing the camp."

Obama Transition Team: He Looks Forward To Working With Burris
Obama transition team spokesman Dan Pfeiffer released this statement last night, welcoming Roland Burris to Washington: "As the President-elect has said repeatedly, he knows Roland Burris and has high regard for him. He looks forward to working with Senator Burris and the rest of the United States Senate to rebuild our economy and meet the great challenges of our time."

Obama Will Address House GOP In A Few Weeks
The Hill reports that Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to address the House Republican caucus a few weeks after being inaugurated. "We hope this will be the beginning of a positive working relationship with House Republicans at the start of your administration," the GOP leadership wrote in their invitation.

Cheney Writing A Book
Dick Cheney told Sean Hannity yesterday that he's writing a book about his experiences in public services. "I've got 40 years since I came to town to stay 12 months," Cheney said. "I've got a lot of stories to tell. And a few scores to settle."

Poll: Plurality Says Obama Most Admired Man Living Today
A new USA Today/Gallup poll shows Barack Obama continuing to have high personal ratings, with 32% naming him the most admired man living today. Trailing way behind were George W. Bush at 5%, John McCain with 3%, and Pope Benedict XVI, Billy Graham and Bill Clinton tied at 2% each.

Hillary The Most Admired Woman, Followed By Palin
The same poll showed Hillary Clinton to be the most admired woman living today, at 20%. Sarah Palin is at 11%, Oprah Winfrey 8%, Condoleezza Rice 7%, and Michelle Obama 3%.

Obama Staying Out Of Public Eye On Hawaii Vacation
Barack Obama has stayed out of the public eye during his family's trip to Hawaii -- or least he has done so as much as possible. During a visit to a golf range on Sunday, Obama told photographers snapping off pictures: "Come on... How many shots do you need?"

Obama Visited Troops On Christmas
Barack Obama visited Marine Corps Base Hawaii yesterday, greeting troops and their families on Christmas. The stop lasted for more than an hour.

Obama Sets New Record For Speaking To Prosecutors
The New York Times points out that because of the Blagojevich scandal, Barack Obama appears to have set a new record for a president giving an interview with prosecutors -- in this case, before he even takes office. "With no known legal exposure himself, of course, that was an easier decision for Mr. Obama," the Times says.

Hillary's Appointment Could Deprive Dems Of Fundraising Machine
The Hill reports that Hillary Clinton's move to the State Department could deprive Democratic candidates of a prolific fundraising machine, due to a combination of legal restrictions and cultural taboos against a Secretary of State raising money for politicians. Indeed, Hillary's fundraising might continued well past her presidential candidacy, bringing in $1.2 million for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee alone.

D.C. Adds More Inauguration Parking For Buses
D.C. officials have decided to allow an estimated 10,000 charter buses to park inside the city during the inauguration, so as to accommodate the rush of tourists and lessen the burden on public transit. This is double the amount of buses they'd previously been willing to let in.

Today: Obama Team To Release Blago Report
The Obama transition team is expected today to release their internal report on staff communications with Rod Blagojevich and his office, and which is reported to absolve Rahm Emanuel and other staffers from any allegations of impropriety. "You're going to see this is a lot about nothing," a Democratic source told CNN.

Today In Minnesota: New Official Vote Numbers, Plus State Supreme Court Litigation
It's a big day in Minnesota today, with the state canvassing board meeting at 10 a.m. ET to review the new vote totals with the allocation of challenged ballots -- and Al Franken is expected to be ahead by around 48 votes. There will also be a crucial state Supreme Court hearing at 3 p.m. ET, regarding a complaint by the Coleman campaign that some absentee ballots were allegedly counted twice.

Biden Subbing In For Vacationing Obama At Today's Economic Briefing
Joe Biden is holding an economic briefing this morning with a group of top Obama economic advisers, essentially stepping in to provide the image of competent national leadership on the economy while Barack Obama himself is on vacation in Hawaii with his family. The briefing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. ET, in Washington.

Hillary Seeks Expanded Role At State Dept.
The New York Times reports that Hillary Clinton is seeking an expanded sphere of influence for the State Department, with a higher budget to deal with problems ranging from economic affairs to an expanded role for diplomacy in the post-Bush years. A key appointment she will reportedly be making is that of Jacob Lew, the former White House budget director under Bill Clinton, who will focus on increasing the financial resources for the diplomatic corps.

Obama To Be Sworn In On Lincoln's Bible
The Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced that Barack Obama will be sworn into office upon the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used at his first inauguration. Obama will be the first president to use this Bible for his swearing-in since Lincoln himself, back in 1861.

The Hill: Economy Going Down, But K Street Doing Just Fine
The Hill reports that the lobbying business is dodging the economic downturn hitting almost everyone else, thanks to the expectation that the new Obama White House will seek broad legislation to deal with the economy and other issues -- thus creating a greater market for lobbyists. "Anytime government gets more active and more involved in your business, you'll look for more help in Washington," said Steve Elmendorf, a lobbyist and former aide to Dick Gephardt.

Amtrak Increases Service For Inauguration Day
Amtrak is boosting its capacity for the Inauguration Day crowd, currently predicted to be about two million, with increased trains for people without hotel reservations to come in for the day, watch the big event, and then go back home.

Biden Heading Up "White House Task Force On Working Families"
The Obama transition team announced this morning the creation of the "White House Task Force on Working Families," which will be chaired by Joe Biden and also include the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Health and Human Services, plus many other top economic advisers. The task force's goal is to craft policies furthering the areas of education, work/family balance, labor standards and workplace safety, and income and retirement security.

Obama Expands Stimulus Targets To Cope With Rising Unemployment Projections
Barack Obama has reportedly expanded his economic stimulus plan to have a target of creating three million new jobs, up from a prior goal of 2.5 million jobs. However, the New York Times points out that even this would fall short of the projected four million jobs that many economist believe would be lost if no action were taken in an economy that is only getting worse and worse.

Report: Obama Team To Say Rahm Only Spoke With Blago Once
George Stephanopoulos reports that an upcoming internal report from the Obama transition team will say that Rahm Emanuel only had one conversation with Rod Blagojevich, a courtesy call after Rahm was named as White House Chief of Staff. The alleged conversation was mostly about Rahm's own House seat, with only a "passing reference" to the Senate seat and with no deals over it being discussed.

Poll: Public Optimistic About Obama
The new ABC/Washington Post poll finds 68% of adults saying they are optimistic about the policies that Barack Obama will pursue upon taking office, and 65% support a large infrastructure-based economic stimulus plan such as the one he's laid out. In addition, a 51% majority wants him to make major changes to the health care system right after taking office, compared to 26% who say he should wait and only 20% who say he shouldn't do it at all.

Hillary's Debts At $6.4 Million
Hillary Clinton's campaign debt is now $6.4 million, lower than it was at any previous time this year -- and the amount is owed to just 16 specific creditors, the most notable one being Mark Penn. Hillary is in a bit of a race against the clock to get the money paid off, as she will be unable to personally conduct fundraising activities after she is sworn in as Secretary of State.

Cheney On Biden's Rhetoric: "I Don't Take It Seriously"
During an interview aired today on Fox News Sunday, Dick Cheney ridiculed Joe Biden for having attacked Cheney's performance in office, and said it was Biden who doesn't understand the Constitution. "I write that off as campaign rhetoric," said Cheney. "I don't take it seriously. And if he wants to diminish the office of vice president, that's obviously his call."

The Clinton Foundation has released its list of donors, domestic and foreign, as part of the agreement reached with the Obama team to make Hillary Secretary of State, and the Associated Press takes first crack at framing the story by focusing on the foreign part:

Former President Bill Clinton's foundation has raised tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments that his wife will engage as the next secretary of state...

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave more than $10 million to the foundation, which pays for Clinton's presidential library and his charitable work around the world. Other foreign government givers include Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy and Jamaica. Indian interests are represented.

The coverage of this will be heavy with innuendo to the effect that there's something vaguely sinister about the fact that foreigners will be giving money to a charitable foundation doing good works around the world in order to influence Hillary. Obama doesn't seem to think there's a problem here, obviously, except perhaps for the bad press it has and will produce.

More on this in a bit.

Caroline Kennedy is picking up support in her quest to grab Hillary's Senate seat from none other than the Dems' Senate leader, Harry Reid.

Reid privately told New York Governor David Paterson, who will pick Hillary's replacement, that he backed Kennedy.

"Senator Reid called Governor Patterson a week or so ago to voice support for her," a Senate leadership aide emails. "He thinks that she would make an outstanding senator."

It's unclear how or whether Reid's backing will impact Paterson's thinking.

Late Update: Reid himself explains his thinking in an interview set to air tonight:

"She's 52 years old. I've spoken to her. She was part of a vetting process for vice presidential choices for Obama. She's lived in government and politics her whole life. I think it would be a tremendous thing...We have a lot of stars from New York. Bobby Kennedy. Hillary Clinton. I think Caroline Kennedy would be perfect."

Now that Caroline Kennedy has declared her interest in Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, what will Hillary herself do or say in order to influence New York Governor David Paterson's efforts to choose her successor?

Nothing, her spokesperson tells us.

The questions swirling in New York political circles, as First Read puts it this morning, are:

"Will we see Clinton speak soon? And just what will she say? While Clinton supporters still might be miffed at Kennedy for going against the state's favorite daughter, will the Clintons themselves like the fact that a Kennedy wants to follow a Clinton in the Senate? Answers to those questions would give us our best clues as to whether we're really going to see a Camelot return to DC.

According to Hillary spokesperson Phillippe Reines, however, we won't be hearing from her; and furthermore, any Clinton "supporters" who speak out don't speak for her. Reines emails over this:

This is entirely Governor Paterson's decision, Senator Clinton completely respects the privacy of his process so will not be commenting on it or any individual candidate, nor does any third party speak on her behalf.

Don't expect anyone to pay any attention to what Hillary's office says, obviously. It's hard to see how Hillary could make a serious effort to wire her successor behind the scenes, since it would inevitably leak out. And it's not even that clear how much influence she would be able to have over the process, should she even try to exercise any.

Late Update: The Huffington Post reports that Caroline Kennedy has reached out to Hillary for her support, and adds that one hurdle for Caroline is to win over Clinton backers disaffected by the Kennedys' support for Obama in the Dem primary.

A private signal from Hillary to these backers could have an impact, though it's unclear how -- or whether -- that would have any material influence over Paterson's decision.

Hillary has officially agreed to the Obama transition team's request that she install former Clinton administration official James Steinberg as her Deputy Secretary of State, and Steinberg has accepted the post, according to a Democrat familiar with ongoing discussions over the appointment.

"It's done," the Democrat tells us.

The move has been widely anticipated since Politico reported that Democrats "expected" it to happen, but it's significant that it's now a done deal.

It means Obama and Hillary have successfully agreed on a major personnel appointment, installing a Deputy that will act as a good bridge between the Clinton and Obama camps. Steinberg was deputy national security adviser under Bill Clinton, but he was also an early skeptic of the Iraq War and a key adviser to Obama during the Democratic Primary.

The Democrat familiar with the discussions says that the Steinberg appointment was fundamentally Obama's decision, but that Hillary is happy with the pick. "She's excited by it," the Democrat says. "He's a knowledgeable longtime public servant. He's very smart, very good."

Steinberg was reportedly the author of a big speech Obama gave to AIPAC during the primary and helped craft Obama's positions on the Israeli peace process and Iran, among other things.

Spokespeople for Hillary and Obama both declined to comment.

Looks like the notion that Republicans might try to get Bill Clinton to testify at Hillary's Secretary of State confirmation hearings, as had been reported today in various places, is shaping up as a complete non-starter.

A spokesperson for Senator Richard Lugar, the head Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will hold the hearing, tells us that he isn't proposing to call Bill as a witness -- making it all but certain not to happen.

"He is not proposing it," Lugar spokesperson Andy Fisher emails us. "The agenda for the hearing will be determined by Senator Kerry."

The notion that Bill might be called to testify started making the rounds today after Politico reported that some conservative Senate Republicans were privately pushing the idea. Cable news has since been babbling about the possibility intermittently today.

But Lugar's office threw cold water on the possibility. "We know nothing about it other than what was reported in The Politico," Lugar's spokesperson emailed.

The quotes from Lugar's office pretty much ice the idea. While it's still possible that conservative Republicans on the committee could try to call Bill as a witness, the procedure holds that a majority of the committee would have to support the idea, Senate staffers point out.

When the hearings commence next year, Dems will outnumber Republicans on the committee (as they do now). The notion that Dems would back the calling of Bill as a witness, and the attendant media circus that would result, is daft, to put it charitably.

So don't expect Bill to be called to testify. Not gonna happen.

Poll: A Majority Of Republicans Approve Of Obama's Performance
The new AP-GfK poll shows 73% of Americans approve of Barack Obama's performance so far as president-elect -- with 54% of self-identified Republicans giving him a thumbs-up, too. Overall, approval so far spreads across all lines of age, gender, race and income.

Obama Press Conference This Morning, Then Meeting With War Powers Commission Heads
Barack Obama is holding a press conference on health care at 11 a.m. ET in Chicago, at which he is expected to announce the selection of Tom Daschle to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. In addition, he will be meeting with former Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher, the co-chairs of the bipartisan National War Powers Commission.

Biden Meeting With Hillary Clinton, James Jones
Joe Biden is meeting this morning with Hillary Clinton and retired Gen. James Jones, in their respective capacities as the incoming Secretary of State and National Security Adviser.

NYT: American Constitution Society On The Rise
The New York Times points out that Barack Obama's win is bringing whole new opportunities for the American Constitution Society, the liberal legal society formed as a counter-weight to the right-wing Federalist Society -- most notably with the appointment of ACS board member Eric Holder as attorney general. But with power could come the same pitfalls that the opposition faced, mainly the danger of crossing the line into favoring ideological allies for non-political jobs.

Chicagoans Rediscovering Cynicism
The New York Times reports that Chicago voters, after an election cycle in which their home-town candidate promoted a new politics of Hope and Change, are rediscovering their usual reputation for corruption and cynicism thanks to Rod Blagojevich. "In Chicago, we had just gotten past the old stereotypes," said one local man. "But now we're back to the jokes."

Trib: Blago's Potty-Mouth Shows Decline Of Etiquette
The Chicago Tribune has a new piece bemoaning that Rod Blagojevich's alleged ample use of profanity in the criminal complaint against him, and the lack of shock from the public, shows just how far our culture has fallen: "A cleaned-up version of the complaint would be cratered with blacked-out f-bombs, yet etiquette experts and anti-cursing crusaders say the language, which once would have made the nation blush, now comes across as almost de rigueur."

Obama: I Will Use My Middle Name At Inauguration
In a new interview with the Chicago Tribune, Barack Obama confirmed that he will use his middle name, "Hussein," as he takes the oath of office in January. "I'm not trying to make a statement one way or another," Obama said. "I'll do what everybody else does."

No Obama Or Biden Public Events Today
Barack Obama and Joe Biden are in Chicago today, holding private meetings. No public events are scheduled for today.

Hillary Meeting With Lugar
Hillary Clinton will meet today with Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana, the head Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as part of the transition into her new role as Secretary of State.

The Hill: GOP Gets To Attack Dem Corruption Now
The Hill reports that Republicans seem to be enjoying the new round of Democratic scandals, after the Dems took power in 2006 and 2008 thanks in part to GOP corruption. "The worm has turned," a senior Republican aide on Capitol Hill told the paper.

Chicago Papers: Blago Must Resign Or Be Impeached
Both major newspapers in Chicago have now released editorials calling for the removal of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The conservative Chicago Tribune and liberal Chicago Sun-Times, papers that usually don't agree on much, have come to the same conclusion: Blago should resign now, and if he doesn't then the legislature should impeach him.

RNC Chairman To Seek Another Term
RNC chairman Mike Duncan will reportedly run for another term at the helm of his party after an election cycle that did not exactly work out for them. Duncan is facing a crowded field of competitors who are all arguing for various changes to be made in the party, so there's no guarantee that he'll be able to hold on.

Senators Ask D.C. To Cancel 24-Hour Inaugural Bar Times
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) have sent a letter to the D.C. mayor and city council, asking them to reverse their recent decision to allow bars to remain open non-stop during the days before the presidential inauguration. The city passed this special bill in order to boost the local economy, but the Senators are worried that it would place too much strain on police.

Tuskeegee Airmen Given Free Tickets To Inauguration
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is giving free tickets to the surviving members of the Tuskeegee Airmen, the famed black fighter pilots of World War II who served at a time when most African-Americans were not even allowed the opportunity to distinguish themselves in combat. "I didn't believe I'd live long enough to see something like this," said one airman, who unfortunately is unable to make it because of physical limitations.

Hillary Clinton is beginning her own transition into the Executive Branch.

Hillary is meeting with Condoleezza Rice for dinner tonight, and is also holding meetings at the State Department today.

Rice has said she won't tell Hillary what to do in her new role, but obviously some amount of consultation is needed as she passes the baton to her successor. Rice also praised the Hillary pick during her appearances yesterday on the Sunday talk shows.

So Rice deserves some credit for making this a pretty smooth and civil transition.

Obama: Economy "Going To Get Worse Before It Gets Better"
In his new interview on Meet The Press, Barack Obama laid out a blunt assessment of the economy, declaring twice that, "The economy is going to get worse before it gets better." He also said he would support the proposed $15 billion loans to save the auto industry from bankruptcy during the lame-duck period, but with conditions for the companies to make changes.

Obama Holding Press Conference, Announcing Shinseki For Veterans Affairs
Barack Obama is holding a 2 p.m. ET press conference in Chicago, at which he will announce his pick of retired Gen. Eric Shinseki -- who was famously ridiculed by the Bush Administration after he accurately predicted in early 2003 that many more troops would be needed for the Iraq War -- to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Obama confirmed the pick during his interview on Meet The Press.

RNC: We Can Still Win Elections
RNC chairman Mike Duncan released a statement last night trumpeting the GOP's victories in yesterday's House elections in Louisiana. "Coupled with the recent Senate win in Georgia, it's clear that Republicans still know how to win elections as we continue to build a solid foundation for the elections in 2010," said Duncan.

It's Official: David Gregory Is New Host Of Meet The Press
NBC News has officially announced that they've picked White House correspondent David Gregory to be the new host of Meet The Press. "I'm filled with a great sense of purpose as I join a superb team to cover Washington and the world from a treasured platform in our country," Gregory said in the press release. "Above all, I want to make Tim proud."

Report: Matthews Inks New Contract With MSNBC, Won't Run For Senate
The Politico reports that Chris Matthews has signed a new contract with MSNBC, set to be announced on Tuesday. If this proves to be true, then Matthews will not be running for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania

Sebelius Withdraws Her Name From Consideration For Cabinet
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who endorsed Barack Obama in the run-up to Super Tuesday and helped deliver him a landslide win in her state's caucuses, has taken herself out of consideration for a cabinet post. Sebelius said she wanted to focus her time on solving Kansas' current fiscal crisis, but her decision has one other effect: It leaves her open and available for a possible run for Senate in 2010.

Obama's Speechwriter Favreau Caught In Facebook Antics
Barack Obama's top speechwriter Jon Favreau just got in a bit of trouble on Facebook, with photos posted that showed him apparently groping a life-size cardboard photo of Hillary Clinton at a house party. The reaction from a Clinton spokesperson: "Sen. Clinton is pleased to learn of Jon's obvious interest in the State Department, and is currently reviewing his application."

This isn't terribly surprising, but it's still worth a quick note: Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office is confirming that she'll support Congressional efforts to get Hillary past the legal hurdle that the wingnuts have thrown down between her and the Secretary of State gig.

As I noted below, the Senate leadership is working to craft legislation that will make it possible for her to take the post despite a Constitutional clause saying that members of Congress are ineligible to take an appointed post if the salary for the post in question has increased while the member was in elected office.

The Senate's efforts, which would cut the Secretary of State's salary back to what it was when Hillary was reelected to her current term, come in response to a declaration yesterday by the winger group Judicial Watch that the Constitution blocks her from serving.

Now Pelosi's office is confirming that the House will back the Senate's efforts. "There is precedent for how to address this issue and Congress will act if necessary," Pelosi spokesperson Brendan Daly tells us. "Speaker Pelosi looks forward to working with Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State."

So it's only a matter of when, not if, Congress will dispense with this roadblock.

Is Hillary really Constitutionally ineligible to be Obama's Secretary of State, as some right-wingers are claiming?

It's hard to believe, but the Senate leadership is actually being pressed into service to enable Hillary to be confirmed as Secretary of State because of a wingnut effort to derail her quest for the post with a frivolous legal technicality.

Yesterday, the winger group Judicial Watch, which has spent God knows how much time chasing the Clintons down all manner of legal rabbit holes, put out a statement saying that Hillary was ineligible to become Sec of State because of something called the "Emoluments Clause" of the Constitution. The clause in question says that no Senator or Representative can be appointed to any "civil office" if the salary for the post has gone up while the member has been in elected office.

As silly as this seems, it turns out that the Senate leadership will have to deal with it -- but it also turns out that this is an easy legal fix with plenty of precedent.

Senate leadership aides say they're assembling legislation that will cut the Secretary of State's salary back to where it was before Hillary started her current Senate term. This has been done in the past by Congress numerous times, most recently when incoming President Bill Clinton installed Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen into the treasury secretary post.

The Senate leadership says that there's no way this roadblock will work. "This is simply a technical fix we must make so that Senator Clinton can serve as our next Secretary of State," Jim Manley, a spokesperson for Senate leader Harry Reid, emails us. "It is not the first time Congress has had to address the issue of one of its Senators moving to a cabinet position. Based on the ample precedent that has been set, Senator Reid believes a resolution can be reached."

It's presumed that the House leadership will support whatever emerges from the Senate on this. The only outstanding question is precisely when this will happen, Congressional aides say.

Late Update: Pelosi's office confirms that she's on board.

A very nice piece by John Harris and Glenn Thrush of The Politico gets at a forgotten dimension to the pick of Hillary as Secretary of State: How extraordinary a moment it is in the context of Hillary's life, career, and persona:

Hillary Rodham Clinton has a favorite expression for turning setback into opportunity: "Bloom where you're planted."

Her three-decade career on the public stage has produced countless examples of Clinton sprouting a flower in a pile of manure.

Few of them are more vivid than this week's official announcement that she is the nominee to serve as secretary of state to Barack Obama -- the man whom she initially refused to talk to on the Senate floor two years ago when he first made clear he would challenge her for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clinton's planned ascension to Foggy Bottom is the culmination of a strenuous effort over the past several months to fashion a next act in a career that long has been defined by two distinct halves: flamboyant celebrity on one side and dogged, often lonely, distance runner on the other.

On this score, I recommend Harris' book on Bill Clinton, which displays the same startling tendency on display in the above piece: A willingness to treat the Clintons like human beings. That book is called The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House, which explains this piece's description of Hillary as "the new survivor."

Whatever you think of Hillary -- and the above depiction is of a person who's anything but flawless -- the conventions of political reporting tend to discourage this type of treatment of politicians, so it's worth savoring when a news org comes along and does it right.

Obama Presser Today; Expected To Name Richardson For Commerce
Barack Obama has a press conference scheduled for 11:40 a.m. ET in Chicago, at which he is expected to announce the nomination of Bill Richardson for Secretary of Commerce. This is another step in Obama's efforts to project the image of competent national leadership on the economy, in order to counteract the negative effects that the presidential interregnum seems to be having on the financial markets.

Biden And Napolitano To Receive Briefing On WMD
Joe Biden and Janet Napolitano will be in Washington this morning for a briefing from former Senators Bob Graham (D-FL) and Jim Talent (R-MO), who head up the Congressionally-created Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.

Obama Still Looking For Intelligence Chief
The Washington Post points out that while Barack Obama has filled out most of his national-security team, he still faces tough choices in selecting his appointees to the intelligence posts. After John Brennan withdrew his name in the face of liberal opposition, current top names floating around are retired Navy Adm. Dennis Blair, Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), and former Deputy Defense Secretary John Hamre.

Bush For Senate (Jeb, That Is) In 2010?
Jeb Bush says he is considering a run for Senate in 2010, for the open seat of retiring GOP Sen. Mel Martinez. On the one hand the Bush name at this point isn't exactly a positive in most of the country -- but Jeb himself still has a solid reputation in the state where he was governor, and would probably be a solid candidate for the GOP and even a slight favorite in this swing state.

Senate Dems Working On "Saxbe Fix" For Hillary
The New York Times reports that Senate Democrats were working last night on the so-called "Saxbe Fix" -- that is, to reverse a recent pay-raise for the Secretary of State in order to prevent Hillary Clinton from being ineligible for the office under the Emoluments Clause. The right-wing (and anti-Clinton) legal group Judicial Watch is already declaring her appointment unconstitutional, but expect this one to be resolved pretty easily and with a decent body of precedent in Hillary's favor.

Report: Becerra Considering Trade Representative Appointment, Hasn't Accepted Yet
Roll Call reports that Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) is considering -- but has not yet accepted -- an offer to become Barack Obama's trade representative. If he were to accept the offer, Becerra would have to give up 16 years of seniority in the House, which has earned him a seat on the Ways and Means Committee and the vice-chairmanship of the House Dem Caucus.

DC Council's Stimulus Plan: 24-Hour Bar Times For Inauguration
The DC City Council has passed legislation to allow bars to remain open for 24 hours a day from January 17 to the morning of January 21, right after the inauguration, with the ability to serve food the whole time and to serve alcohol until 5 a.m. This measure, which is being undertaken in order to boost the local economy and accommodate the expected avalanche of spectators for the big event, is either a really good idea or a really bad idea.

James Steinberg, the deputy national security adviser under Bill Clinton, is close to being named as Hillary's deputy at the State Department, with the support of the Obama team, according to a source close to discussions between Obama's transition team and Hillary advisers.

"It's pretty close," the source says.

Former ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who earlier was the focus of some speculation for the post, is not in line for the post, partly because the Obama team doesn't want him there, the source adds.

The upshot of Steinberg in the Deputy Secretary of State post would be that someone who worked with the Obama team for months during the campaign is in the State post close st to Hillary. Steinberg was reportedly the author of a big speech Obama gave to AIPAC and helped craft Obama's positions on the Israeli peace process and Iran, among other things.

The Washington Post reported today that the Obama team wants Steinberg in the slot, and The Politico wrote last week that Democrats close to the process "expected" him to get it.

The source says that the Obama team doesn't want Holbrooke in the post because his accomplishments come with "collateral damage."

"They don't want him," the source said of the Obama team. "The collateral damage that he brings is too great for them to want to deal with. There will be a role for Holbrooke, but not as deputy."

Spokespeople for Obama and Clinton declined to comment.

Late Update: Spencer Ackerman, who's been all over this, provides some invaluable explanation and context.

We asked Bill Clinton spokesperson Matt McKenna for a response to the speculation that Bill is eying a takeover of Hillary's Senate seat, now that she's set to become Obama's Secretary of State.

McKenna emailed over this:

"It's completely false. President Clinton is excited to expand the work of his foundation which has more than 1,000 staff and volunteers in 44 countries advancing projects on HIV/AIDS, climate change, sustainable economic development, and childhood obesity."

The response is actually noteworthy for another reason. Some critics had argued that Bill should disband his foundation or dramatically scale down his role, to avoid the appearance of conflicts involving Hillary in her new post. But this statement suggests that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Some more commentary on Secretary of State Hillary that will make the Obama transition team happy, this time from Hillary's predecessor in the gig:

"She won't -- and you won't -- hear from me again," Rice said on the day President-elect Barack Obama named Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the next secretary of state. "I will certainly not make the effort to comment on everything that is done."

Rice also hailed Hillary as someone with "enormous energy and intellect and skill" and cited her love of America. She also apparently briefed Hillary yesterday on the Mumbai situation, though that may be the last time Hillary will be hearing from her.

One prominent New York Democrat has already taken herself out of contention for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, with Rep. Nita Lowey announcing that she is not interested in getting appointed.

Lowey told the Associated Press that she wouldn't want to give up her seniority and her seat on the House Appropriations Committee -- she's been in the chamber for 20 years -- and the power that it gives her to affect the federal budget.

The seat will be filled by New York's Democratic Gov. David Paterson, who has a lot of things to consider: Sectional politics, race, gender, the potential to kick an intra-party rival upstairs, and hopefully merit. Most press speculation has centered on state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, but it could conceivably go to someone else. Whoever does get the appointment would be the heavy favorite to hold the seat in 2010, as the New York Republicans don't exactly have a strong bench at the moment.

A couple more quick points about today's Obama presser. First, it was striking how comfortable Obama appeared in a take-charge role when on a stage dominated by heavy hitters like Robert Gates and Hillary Clinton -- and how visibly they deferred to him.

Also, it wasn't until Obama himself announced the appointment of Hillary as Secretary of State that it became clear just how well it reflects on him. The sight of him hailing her strength, toughness and suitability to the huge challenges ahead -- even as he brushed off reporter chatter about the acrimonious Dem primary -- made for powerful political theater.

We've heard a lot of analysis about how Obama's "team of rivals" approach shows his mature willingness to extend a forgiving hand to rivals and his confidence that he can control them within his own orbit. But I'd argue this isn't so much about his interpersonal style as it is about the sense he is trying to project that he possesses a gravity and sense of seriousness appropriate to the enormity of the tasks before him.

The message is that only the best will do; previous rivalries or petty subplots generated in the press as a result of his picks be damned. Here's how Obama himself described his approach today:

"I assembled this team because I'm a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions. I think that's how the best decisions are made...

"I'm going to be welcoming a vigorous debate inside the White House. But understand: I will be setting policy as president. I will be responsible for the vision that this team carries out, and I expect them to implement that vision once decisions made. So as Harry Truman said, the buck will stop with me."