From NBC's Ali Arouzi
Pro-government militiamen assaulted university students demonstrating for a second straight day, and hard-liners on motorcycles harassed the top opposition leader at his office Tuesday -- signs of a possible intensified crackdown.

The new unrest came as Iran's top prosecutor warned of even tougher action against protesters following marches the day before by tens of thousands at universities around the country.

Meanwhile, plainclothes men on motorcycles -- likely Basijis -- confronted the top opposition figure Mir Hossein Mousavi at his Tehran office.

Up to 30 men on motorcycles, some in masks, blocked Mousavi as he tried to drive out of his office garage and chanted slogans against him, two opposition Web sites said, citing witnesses.

Mousavi got out of his car and shouted at them, "You're agents. Do whatever you've been ordered to do, kill me, beat me, threaten me," before his aides hustled him back inside, the Gooya News Web site reported. The men left several hours later and Mousavi was able to leave.

From NBC's Pete Williams and Mark Murray
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued her first opinion for the court today, a 9-0 ruling on a technical issue of legal appeals procedure. 

The court handed down three other minor decisions today, getting a late start on issuing rulings in argued cases. It did NOT issue a decision in that Citizen United vs. Federal Election Commission.

We have one more potential decision day this month -- next Monday, Dec. 14. We'll know later this week whether we'll get anything that day.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
The group of 10 progressive and moderate Democratic senators negotiating a deal on the public option may be close to a deal. The group is meeting this morning and will be throughout the day, according to senators in the group.

"This is the first time we've said, 'We're going to go in here, and we're going to keep going,'" said Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) before going into the meeting this morning.

When asked if a deal would be reached today following last night's meeting, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) said, "Yeah. But having said that, I just feel like I've jinxed it."

While going out of his way to say there was no deal yet, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) acknowledged momentum within the group.

"We have very good vibes in the room," he said, "which is that people want to come to an agreement but we've got a lot of bumps in the road still. We're going to be meeting all day today."

The likely deal will involve a package of fixes. The most talked about -- but not solidified -- include the establishment of a national healthcare plan administered by the government, but run by private insurance companies. It will be similar to the plans offered to members of Congress and their staff.

The other two often discussed programs would be expanding Medicaid to those whose incomes are within 150% of poverty and allowing more people to buy into Medicare, starting a 55 years of age.

"The overall framework, the way I've put it, is some in our caucus want more government involvement, some in our caucus want less government," Schumer said today. "The question is how do you thread that needle."

Yesterday, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pushed members of the group "to get it done," according to a leadership aide. The aide said that Reid hoped to start the complex procedural hurdles this week that would lead to final passage, and having a deal on public option would be critical to start that process.

Feingold said the group's work "is key" to Reid efforts.

"It's probably the biggest thing left other than this vote today" on an abortion amendment, he said. There is still no definitive word on when exactly the vote on the Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) abortion amendment to the Senate healthcare bill will happen.  The debate continued through this morning, and the vote is expected today, probably in the afternoon.

But members were quick to signal that even a deal today reached within the group would not be the high-water mark. 

"I don't think [the group] agreeing to something -- if we do -- constitutes passage in the Senate," Rockefeller said after the meeting broke up Monday night. Some Democrats outside the group have expressed skepticism about parts of the potential deal. "It's so intense. We can't lose anybody, so the stake are so high."

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Jumpstarting job creation: For the fifth time in the past week, President Obama today will be addressing the politically potent issue of jobs and the economy. (His previous remarks, by our count, came at Thursday's jobs summit, Friday's speech and town hall in Allentown, Saturday's radio/internet address, and yesterday's brief remarks with Turkey's prime minister.) Today's speech, which will take place at the Brookings Institution at 11:25 am ET, will focus on additional ways to jumpstart job creation at a time when the unemployment rate is at 10%. The few previews we've received from the White House suggest that the address isn't going to be as big of a push as some might have expected. Per an administration official, the speech will focus on three key priorities for investment -- "steps to help small businesses grow and hire new staff; an additional investment in infrastructure to continue modernizing our highways and railways, bridges and tunnels, airports and seaports; and a new program to provide rebates for consumers who retrofit their homes to become more energy efficient."

*** Solving the credit crunch: In his remarks with Turkey's prime minister yesterday, Obama also said he's looking for ways to spur more lending. "Although we've stabilized the financial system, one of the problems that we're still seeing all the time … was the fact that small businesses and some medium-sized businesses are still feeling a huge credit crunch. They cannot get the loans that they need to make capital investments that would allow them to then expand employment." Obama also said this: "What my speech tomorrow will focus on is the fact that having gotten the financial crisis under control, having finally moved into positive territory when it comes to economic growth, our biggest challenge now is making sure that job growth matches up with economic growth." By the way, is it time to start referring to the TARP program as the $200-billion plan to bailout the country's financial system? All estimates now are that, at most, it's the amount of taxpayer money that's going to be lost. Losing money is never something to brag about, but the fact that this bailout is going to cost us a number FAR lower than $700 billion seems like a big deal.

*** A big SCOTUS decision coming? Obama's speech on jobs, however, could very well be overshadowed today by the U.S. Supreme Court. There's buzz that the court might issue its decision in that Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission case, and the expectation is that the court will knock down the precedents banning direct corporate and union contributions to political campaigns. If that happens, it could transform the political landscape in a GIGANTIC way. It would also hammer home the point that while Democrats control most of Washington, they don't control the Supreme Court. And it would call attention to this promise John Roberts made during his Senate confirmation hearing back in 2005: "Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ball game to see the umpire... I will remember that it's my job to call balls and strikes and not to pitch or bat." One could easily make the argument that Roberts' decision re-hear this case to address corporate contributions was precisely stepping into the batter's box… 

*** One other reminder here: Be careful of the initial analysis and spin if the court indeed overturns most of the campaign finance restrictions. When campaign finance rules change, it's not about which party benefits at the time; it's about which party is nimble enough to change its ways.

*** Developments in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan: While the focus has been on Afghanistan, violence in Iraq has returned as a series of car bombings in Baghdad have killed more than 100 people… The New York Times front-pages how the Obama administration has been pressuring Pakistan to fight the Taliban… Defense Secretary Gates arrived in Afghanistan (along with NBC's Matt Lauer and Al Roker)… And today, General Stanley McChrystal and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Eikenberry testify on the Afghanistan troop surge before House Armed Services Committee (9:30 am ET) and Senate Armed Services Committee (1:30 pm). 

*** Developments in the health care debate: It's expected that the Senate vote over Ben Nelson's (D) abortion amendment -- which is identical to the anti-abortion Stupak amendment in the House -- could take place today. But it's unlikely that it will get the 60 votes it needs to pass. In addition, with momentum seeming to fade on the public option's prospects in the Senate bill, liberal Democrats are turning to this compromise: expand eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid.

*** Our interview with Geithner: In an interview yesterday with NBC News, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said that TARP will be shut down in months once housing stabilizes a tad more. "We want to wind down the whole thing and we don't want to have it any longer than we have to." (Geithner ducked the question about whether TARP could be used to bail out state budgets.) He also was asked about the White House economic team's business experience (or lack thereof). "We spend a lot of time talking to people running businesses around the country… We want people with experience from all walks of life, coming for working for the country. Nothing will make me happier we've got extraordinary people working for us now." And when asked about how he feels the economic pain, Geithner responded, "I have friends who've lost their jobs. I have friends that work as teachers, as nurses, as social workers as part of America in the real world. I have a very good sense of how much basic pain and damage this crisis has caused them, and I feel a huge personal obligation to work as hard as I can for this president to make sure we have trying to fix what was broken in our economy."

*** Go your own way: Per the Washington Post's Cillizza, it appears Sarah Palin has left the door open to a possible third-party presidential bid. The entire Tea Party movement is something that has many establishment Republicans excited and nervous at the same time. Why? Because of this kind of threat. The worry that these new conservative activists are not invested in the GOP, and so if they don't like the nominee or don't like the party, they'll go another way (see NY-23). 

*** Programming note: MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports," which airs beginning at 1:00 pm ET, will interview Al Gore on Wednesday, as well as Rachel Maddow.

*** Election Day in Massachusetts: After Ted Kennedy passed away in the summer, and after the state legislature changed its law to allow Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint a temporary replacement (Paul Kirk), Massachusetts today holds its Democratic and GOP primaries to permanently fill Kennedy's seat. The Democratic side -- and the Democratic winner will be the overwhelming favorite in the Jan. 19 general election -- features state Attorney General Martha Coakley (the favorite, according to the polls), Congressman Michael Capuano, investor and Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, and City Year co-founder Alan Khazei. The Republican primary pits state Sen. Scott Brown versus Jack Robinson. Polling places open no later than 7:00 am ET and they close at 8:00 pm ET. As the AP notes, this is the first time since 1984 when a Massachusetts Senate contest hasn't featured an incumbent.

Countdown to MA Special Election: 42 days
Countdown to IL primary: 56 days
Countdown to TX primary: 84 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 329 days

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Previewing Obama's speech on jobs and the economy today, the Washington Post says that "aides have been weighing several proposals to help the jobless over the past few months. The president's Economic Recovery Advisory Board has recommended a weatherization program, dubbed 'cash for caulkers,' that would provide financial incentives for people to make their homes more energy-efficient. Other initiatives under consideration include extending jobless benefits and health-care aid for people out of work, providing a new round of federal aid to states to prevent them from laying off public employees, freeing credit for small businesses, and establishing an infrastructure bank that would allow the federal government to float bonds for large public works projects." 

The AP adds, "In a speech prepared for delivery Tuesday, Obama plans to talk about what he wants to see in the coming weeks and months -- chiefly, more Americans in the workplace and fewer on unemployment, which now stands at 10 percent. The White House worked around the clock in recent days to pull together the president's speech."

Politics is a pretty simple thing sometimes, as Dan Balz notes this morning. "President Obama's renewed focus on the economy underscores an elemental truth of politics. For all the attention the White House and Congress have given to health care and Afghanistan this fall, no problem poses a greater political threat to the Democrats in 2010 than joblessness and slow economic growth."

The Washington Post: "The Obama administration moved closer Monday to issuing regulations on greenhouse gases, a step that would enable it to limit emissions across the economy even if Congress does not pass climate legislation. The move, which coincided with the first day of the international climate summit in Copenhagen, seemed timed to reassure delegates there that the United States is committed to reducing its emissions even if domestic legislation remains bogged down. But it provoked condemnation from key Republicans and from U.S. business groups, which vowed to tie up any regulations in litigation." 

The Obama-John Conyers feud continues… "Conyers, the second-longest-serving member of the House, said, '[Obama] called me and told me that he heard that I was demeaning him and I had to explain to him that it wasn't anything personal, it was an honest difference on the issues. And he said, 'Well, let's talk about it.' Sitting in the Judiciary Committee's conference room two days after Obama delivered his speech on Afghanistan, the 23-term lawmaker said he wasn't in the mood to 'chat.' Obama's move to send in 30,000 troops to Afghanistan by the summer of 2010 has clearly disappointed Conyers. He said he intends to press his case in writing soon. 'I want something so serious that he has to respond in writing, like I am responding in writing to him,' he said. 'Calling in generals and admirals to discuss troop strength is like me taking my youngest to McDonald's to ask if he likes french fries,' Conyers said."

With momentum seeming to fade on the public option's prospects in the Senate, USA Today reports that liberal Democrats are now turning to this compromise: allowing those 55 and older to participate in Medicare. "Details of that proposal, including who would be allowed in and how much it would cost enrollees, are unclear, but talk of the Medicare 'buy-in' approach gathered support from Democrats who have been otherwise split over the idea of a government-run insurance plan intended to compete with private insurers." Progressive Dems also are eyeing expanding eligibility for Medicaid. 

The Wall Street Journal adds: "The question of whether to create a government-run plan, or "public option," has divided Democrats, and the trade-offs may not settle the debate. Some moderates, for example, have concerns about expanding Medicare and Medicaid. But the push for compromise Monday dramatized the urgency felt by top Democrats to move forward on legislation coveted by the White House. 'We have to find the right balance that satisfies the party,' said Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.)." 

Meanwhile, "The battle over abortion is threatening to derail the health care overhaul package in the Senate, as liberals refuse to accept new abortion restrictions demanded by key moderates, who say that without the limits, they are inclined to vote against the overall bill," the Boston Globe writes. 

The Washington Post notes how Joe Lieberman -- once again -- has been in a thorn in the side of many Democrats and liberals, this time on the subject of health care. "Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) has once again inserted himself into the middle of an inflamed partisan debate, raising questions about his motives, his ego and his fickle allegiance to the Democratic Party, which forgave him after he supported Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president… Although he has been more in line with Republicans on national security issues, Lieberman has tended to stick with Democrats on domestic politics. So it has been startling for even his detractors to hear the four-term senator vowing to join a Republican filibuster against any bill with a government-run plan."

The Post also fact-checks some of Lieberman's claims about the public option. 

"With Senate Democrats and the White House courting Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, McConnell is working to keep her -- and the rest of his caucus -- in the 'no' column," CongressDaily writes. "At the same time, McConnell is positioning his party to reap political benefit if what he believes will be a widely unpopular measure passes." And what's behind Obama's push for health care, according to McConnell? "Every new Democratic president wants to be [President Franklin Delano Roosevelt]," he said. "It's in their DNA to want to be the next FDR." He went on later, "Our Democratic friends have 60 [votes] on paper - on paper - but many of them are beginning to understand they're having to choose here between their constituents and the president's desire to be FDR."

"Republicans attacked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Monday after Reid compared opponents of healthcare reform to those who opposed the abolition of slavery. 'If you think you've heard these same excuses before, you're right,' Reid said. He continued: 'When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, 'Slow down, it's too early, things aren't bad enough.' Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele suggested Democrats should strip Reid of his leadership position if he does not apologize for the comments." And, "Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said the comments were an indication that Reid was 'cracking' under the pressure of enacting healthcare reform." John McCain also called on Reid to apologize or clarify.
 
"In a statement, Reid spokesman Jim Manley said it was hard to believe that Republicans could make the charge with a straight face. 'Today's feigned outrage is nothing but a ploy to distract from the fact they have no plan to lower the cost of healthcare, stop insurance-company abuses or protect Medicare,' Manley said. 'And for those who are counting, Republicans have now held one press conference on manufactured anger and have issued one manual on how to grind the Senate to a halt -- but have held zero press conferences and issued zero plans on how to help Americans afford to live a healthy life.'" 

The AP previews Gen. Stanley McChrystal's appearance at hearings in the House and Senate today. "Many Democrats opposed to the escalation will try to get the general to say Obama's plan is inconsistent, congressional aides said Monday. Based on his statements ahead of the decision, it's clear McChrystal would have made different choices. Nevertheless, he is expected to salute the new program. On the other side, Republicans are likely to press McChrystal to apply the most elastic terms possible to that 18-month timeline for the surge."

A new Quinnipiac poll indicates the president is receiving more support for his Afghanistan decision. But a look inside the numbers shows the country has little patience.

"The House Homeland Security Committee will vote Wednesday on whether to subpoena the White House party crashers," The Hill writes. "The Salahis declined a non-binding request to testify last week. With Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-N.Y.) eager to bring the couple before his committee, it seems pretty likely the measure will pass."  

A man was arrested for throwing tomatoes at Sarah Palin in Minnesota.

COLORADO: Democratic Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff has pledged not to accept funds from corporate-backed political action committees, releasing a list of corporate contributors to his primary opponent Michael Bennet. The Denver Post notes, "A handful of the corporations on Bennet's list also wrote checks to Romanoff when he served in the state House."

CONNECTICUT: PoliticsDaily calls Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon's (R) involvement in the race the "best hope" for Sen. Chris Dodd (D) to retain his seat. "Should McMahon win the nomination, Dodd and the Democrats would try to use her involvement in the seedy business of pro-wrestling against her (currently, her TV ads mentions she operated a highly successful business with her husband, but do not mention the faux wrestling). In addition, it is likely that some social conservatives who would be turned off by McMahon -- and decide stay home in a general election."

KENTUCKY: Attorney General and Senate hopeful Jack Conway has hired the deputy campaign manager to New York Comptroller Bill Thompson, who came close to besting Mayor Michael Bloomberg last month, to manage his campaign. 
 
LOUISIANA: Not surprisingly, Democrats' goal against David Vitter in 2010 is to highlight women's issues. 

MASSACHUSETTS: "For three months, the candidates for US Senate have tried to generate voter excitement for a special primary election that has often seemed to be off the public's radar," the Boston Globe writes. "Today, with low turnout expected across the state, their campaign organizations will pull out all the stops to get those voters who were paying attention into the polling booths." Turnout is expected to be fewer than 500,000.
 
"The winner of the Democratic race will face off in the Jan. 19 special election against the winner of today's Republican primary, state Senator Scott Brown or Duxbury businessman Jack E. Robinson, who appeared in their only televised debate last night on WGBH-TV." 

"The race is notable for other reasons, too. Voters are doing something they have not done in Massachusetts since 1984: vote in a U.S. Senate race with no incumbent," AP notes. "Not since Paul Tsongas decided to step down after a cancer diagnosis have they had an unfettered chance to fill a Senate seat. John Kerry, who went on to be the Democratic Party's 2004 presidential nominee, won that race."

NEVADA: Sue Lowden = John Thune? Republican strategist and Colorado GOP chair Dick Wadhams wrote a letter in support of Republican Senate candidate Sue Lowden which "boiled down [Republicans'] sentiments into a single, potent message: We can get another scalp here," CQ Politics reports. He compared Lowden to Sen. John Thune, whose campaign Wadhams ran in which Thune defeated then-Democratic leader Tom Daschle by two points. Wrote Wadhams, "Tom Daschle was a mere obstructionist of the Republican agenda," Wadhams wrote. "Harry Reid is the chief architect of the worst parts of the Obama-Democratic agenda. ... Tom Daschle was a rank amateur compared to Harry Reid." 

NEW YORK: "Former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno yesterday was found guilty on corruption charges for collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in private consulting fees from a businessman with interests before the state Senate," the New York Post writes, adding, "Bruno will face up to 20 years in federal prison per count when he's sentenced on March 31."  

NORTH CAROLINA: "Former North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham (D) on Monday announced that he will challenge Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) next year," The Hill writes. "Cunningham, who previously declined to enter the race but changed his mind, will face a tough Democratic primary with North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. But the Democratic establishment has rallied around Cunningham, an Iraq veteran, and he should have its help in his primary."

From NBC's Ali Weinberg
The Monday blogosphere is filled with Sunday talk show post-mortems, pulling apart administration officials' statements on President Obama's announcement that a conditions-based troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will begin in July 2011.
 
Glenn Greenwald is among the commentators who perceive a difference of opinion among White House and cabinet officials on President Obama's plan to withdraw troops. On Friday, Greenwald wrote that "statements from key officials [on President Obama's strategy] aren't merely in tension with one another, but are exact opposites." He cites an Agence France-Press story quoting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: ""I do not believe we have locked ourselves into leaving," said Clinton, who added the goal was "to signal very clearly to all audiences that the United States is not interested in occupying Afghanistan." He contrasts Clinton's statement with a Wednesday report by CBS's Chip Reid, in which press secretary Robert Gibbs tells Reid: "Troops WILL start coming home in July 2011. Period. It's etched in stone. Gibbs said he even had the chisel."

Greenwald: "How can you have the Defense Secretary and the Secretary of State testifying in front of the Senate that the July, 2011 date is "not set in stone," that they "have not locked oursleves into leaving," and that "the target date could change," while the President is saying exactly the opposite:  that "it IS locked in – there is no flexibility" and "it's etched in stone"? 
 
And ThinkProgress has a video compilation of officials' statements made over the weekend, showing, the blog writes, how "they underscored that the U.S. troops may not be coming home in 2011." 
 
Liberal blogs are also abuzz with a TV spot we cited this morning in First Read put out by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee against Democrat-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman's opposition to a public health insurance plan.
 
Writes the Huffington Post: "This [ad] is unusually personal, accusing Lieberman of operating out of self-interest in saying he'd filibuster a public plan." Of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, the blog writes that " it was started as a way to enable Lieberman to run for senate even if he lost the Democratic primary election (which he did.) The group has since been taken over by progressives, many of whom have expressed bitterness to the Democrat turned Independent."
 
While not directly addressing the ad, Talking Points Memo analyzes how Lieberman opened the floodgates for other left-of-center public option opponents, calling it a "case study on the importance of leverage in political negotiations... Lieberman's explicit threat to use his veto was, in effect, checkmate on the public option in the Senate, and created breathing room for other public option skeptics to create the bloc that is now negotiating away the public option entirely. "

From NBC's Kelly Paice
The conservative blogosphere today has weighed in on climate change, health care, and Afghanistan.
 
RedState headlines, "If you are an industrialist who contributed to Democrats ... here is your reward," as they point to an AP article stating: "The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded greenhouse gases are endangering people's health and must be regulated, signaling that the Obama administration is prepared to contain global warming without congressional action if necessary." RedState's Moe Lane adds, "And by 'reward' I mean of course 'betrayal.' The intention here is to use the EPA to impose by executive fiat what the Senate has sensibly refused to do by legislative action: use the Clean Air Act to shut down businesses that they don't like."
 
Michelle Malkin calls out, "Eco-czars of the Obama administration, activate!" She continues, "Timed for maximum impact on the Copenhagen global warming treaty talks, the Obama EPA is set to announce that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, paving the way for the green bureaucrats to radically regulate emissions." Malkin concludes, "I declare the Obama eco-apparatchiks a public danger whose regulatory emissions must be contained."

On health care, National Review Online's Robert Costa analyzes the Republican strategy so far -- that of offering "lots of amendments." As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid works to gather those precious 60 votes needed to pass health-care legislation, Costa writes, "The GOP hopes to make Democrats squirm by forcing tough votes on Medicare cuts, malpractice reform, and taxes." However, Costa recognizes that "Republicans face a dilemma: Either continue to offer amendments and try to generate more public opposition to the legislation, or just sit back quietly and hope that Reid's bill collapses on its own. The fact that Republicans have pursued an amendment strategy shows that they're worried."

On Afghanistan, the Weekly Standard's Mary Katharine Ham highlights "Deadlines That Aren't Really Deadlines": "We've heard from the Obama White House that July 2011 is 'etched in stone' for beginning of withdrawal from Afghanistan. At the time that statement was released, I took comfort in the fact that an Obama stone usually operates like an Etch-a-Sketch, so there would remain a chance at changed strategy if the conditions on the ground didn't allow for Obama's initial promise." Ham points out "the wiggle room the administration gave itself on the Sunday shows this week, with Clinton and Gates being very nuanced indeed about whether the deadline is hard or soft, immediate or gradual, conditions-based or absolute."

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson today filed an amendment to the Senate health-care bill that places strict restrictions on federal funds going toward abortion services. The amendment is co-sponsored by fellow Democrat Bob Casey and eight Republicans.

"As written, the Senate health-care bill allows taxpayer dollars, directly and indirectly, to pay for insurance plans that cover abortion. Most Nebraskans, and Americans, do not favor using public funds to cover abortion and as a result this bill shouldn't open the door to do so," Nelson said in written statement that was just released.

Nelson says his amendment mirrors the provision in the House-passed bill offered by Rep. Bart Stupak. Both measures expand the current government prohibition of federal funds for abortions. Nelson says his measure ensures "that no federal funds are used to pay for abortion in the health-care reform legislation currently being considered."

According to his written statement, "The amendment would prohibit the use of the affordability tax credits to purchase a health insurance policy that covers abortion along with prohibiting federal funding for abortion under the community health insurance option."

The Republican Senate co-sponsors are Orrin Hatch, Sam Brownback, John Thune, Mike Enzi, Tom Coburn, Mike Johanns, David Vitter, and John Barrasso.

Abortion-rights supporters in the Senate say they are confident they have the votes to defeat Nelson amendment. And Thune predicted as much at a health-care news conference earlier today.

*** UPDATE *** According to leadership aides, debate over this amendment will likely begin tonight, and the vote will take place tomorrow.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Democrats control all of Washington -- the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

But for about one hour yesterday, in a sign of historic and rare cooperation, Republicans controlled the United States Senate. GOP Sens. Jon Kyl and Sam Brownback presided over the health-care debate while Democrats met with President Obama behind closed doors.

In most cases when the Democrats vacate the for floor for a party meeting, Majority Leader Harry Reid usually puts the Senate in a temporary recess, suspending action on floor activity. But in the midst of a heated health-care debate, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell wanted to give his members a chance to speak on the floor.

"I did suggest [Saturday] that since the president was not meeting with us, we had nothing constructive to do that hour," McConnell said yesterday on the Senate floor. "So I suggested to the Majority Leader that we be allowed to speak."

Turning over the floor to the opposition party is unheard of. It could allow unspeakable procedural shenanigans, which might include killing and passing bills without Democratic objections. (Consider the fox-guarding-the-hen-house metaphor.)

But Reid said he was confident Republicans would not throw a Grand Ole Party on the floor. "I trust implicitly Sen. McConnell, Sen. Kyl. And I hope that's kind of a breakthrough here," Reid said of their bipartisan deal. "We've got to start trusting each other. It's rarely done. I've been in the Senate a long time. I've never seen that happen before."

McConnell added, "We worked that out on our first bipartisan moment on this bill." Of course, Republicans used their time for a free-flowing, unfettered, blistering critique Reid's health-care bill. 

From NBC's Athena Jones and Mark Murray
In addition to his meetings today with Turkey's prime minister and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, President Obama also will meet in the Oval Office with former Vice President Al Gore at 4:40 pm ET (closed to the press).

This Obama-Gore meeting comes as Obama heads to Copenhagen next week for the climate-change conference taking place there.
  
Gore will appear on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" on Wednesday.

From NBC's Joey Bell
FAIRFAX, Va. -- Neither the first snow of the winter nor the slushy, untreated roads could deter hundreds of fans from coming here Saturday morning to get a copy of "Going Rogue" signed by it's author, Sarah Palin. The BJ's in the Fair Lakes Shopping Center welcomed hundreds of people to line up and wait for hours to meet the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate.

People came prepared to withstand the elements. Winter coats, umbrellas and most importantly plastic shopping bags, protected their books from the chunky, wet falling flakes. Some cuddled an armful of books for their favorite hockey mom to sign.

The lines stretched down the sidewalk outside BJ's and continued across the street into the parking lot. That part of the line zig zagged multiple times giving the appearance of everyone waiting to experience the newest attraction at an amusement park.

Police and store employees were strategically placed outside to direct traffic and ensure crowd safety. Brian Watson works at the BJ's in Fredericksburg, VA, and was brought to the Fair Lakes store to help with the big event. He was notified about the book signing about a month ago and has been part of the preparation ever since. Watson arrived at 6 a.m. that morning to see dozens of people already in line. He said the very first person got in line the day before at noon, camped out overnight and continued to wait until the signing began that morning at 10 a.m.

Beatriz Garcia and Betty Hall are friends from nearby Chantilly, VA, who got in line at 6:30 a.m. They initially planned to drive four hours to Roanoke, VA, for a book signing there. They changed their minds upon finding out about this one scheduled for Fairfax. Both women have the utmost respect for the way Palin has weathered the criticism she's had to endure during the 2008 campaign and since. They identify with Palin's pursuits in life as a wife and mother with professional ambitions. 

Garcia is a registered Democrat who voted for the McCain-Palin ticket because of Palin.

"She's refreshing," Garcia said. "She's a good image for a lot of people."

This, coming from a woman who initially supported Hillary Clinton. Garcia shifted her support immediately over to Palin after Clinton bowed out of the 2008 race for the White House.

Hall noted that Palin may be "rough around the edges," but, like everyone, "has their quirks." This only seems to make Palin more human and relatable to fans like Hall. She was impressed that Palin, her husband and father, took the time to talk to everyone. Meeting the family left Hall with a warm feeling reminding her of another family -- the Reagans.

When asked if she stood in line for hours to see and meet the former vice-presidential candidate, the author, or the future potential presidential candidate, Hall simply responded, "Yes."

From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski
Later today, the Pentagon will announce the deployment of the first 16,000 of the president's 30,000 surge of U.S. forces into Afghanistan.

The 16,000 includes:
-- 1,500 Marines from Camp LeJeune to southern Afghanistan next week

-- 6,200 Marines from Regimental Combat Team 2/Camp LeJeune, early spring

-- 800 Marines from lst Marine Expeditionary Force/Headquarters, Camp Pendleton,
   early spring

-- 3,400 soldiers from lst Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum
   to train Afghan security forces, early spring

-- 4,100 Army Combat support troops, including military police from a variety of
   bases and units, early spring

Defense Secretary Gates signed the deployment orders for these forces late last week.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Another crazy week: Last week was certainly an eventful one for President Obama (the Afghanistan speech, the jobs summit, the trip to Allentown, PA). And this week won't be much different. Yesterday, the president made a rare visit to Capitol Hill to rally Senate Democrats on the issue of health care. Today, at the White House, he meets with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan (at 11:30 am ET) where Iran will be on the agenda, and then with Gen. Stanley McChrystal and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry (at 3:30 pm). On Tuesday, he delivers yet another speech on the economy, which will include a new initiative for job creation. And in the middle of the week, he heads to Oslo to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize. This week was supposed to be even busier with Obama scheduled to participate in the Copenhagen talks on climate change, which begin today. But on Friday afternoon, the White House announced that Obama would fly to Copenhagen next week.

*** Yesterday's pep rally: Obama's visit yesterday to Capitol Hill on health care was more of a Democratic pep rally than anything else. "He reminded us why we are here. He reminded us why we run for office. And he reminded us how many people are counting on us to come through," said Sen. Dick Durbin, per the New York Times. "Decades from now," Obama also said, according to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, "this will be the kind of vote you remember. It will be written in the faces of children and families who are relieved of the burden of anxiety and sorrow." But what Obama DIDN'T discuss were two of the thorniest issues in the health-care debate: the public option and abortion. Today, Sen. Ben Nelson (D) is supposed to introduce an amendment -- identical to the Stupak one -- to place tight restrictions on any federal funds being used for abortion. The vote could take place today...

*** The Gang of 10: Perhaps the biggest development in Senate health-care debate over the weekend was the creation of a 10-member group (consisting of five liberals and five centrists) to hammer out a compromise on the public option, NBC's Ken Strickland reports. The group had several closed- door sessions over the weekend, but most of its members have been uncharacteristically tight-lipped on their negotiations. "I'm not going to get into any details of any type," said Chuck Schumer (D) following a meeting Sunday night. "Nobody in that room, neither me nor any of the others, have signed off on anything." Per Strick, the moderates are Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Tom Carper, and Mark Pryor. The liberals are Schumer, Jay Rockefeller, Sherrod Brown, Tom Harkin, and Russ Feingold. "We have had a really intense three hours of discussion and we are not there yet by any stretch of the imagination," Schumer said. "But we're finding a good deal of give and take that leads to common ground." This Gang of 10 will again meet later this afternoon.

*** The OPM compromise: By the way, the latest potential public-option compromise is what many Americans say they want: the same access to health care that government workers and members of Congress have. "One potential alternative being discussed Sunday would create a national coverage plan operated by private insurers but run by the Office of Personnel Management, which administers health coverage for federal workers," the Washington Post says. "Senators participating in the talks said the OPM idea had been well received across the ideological spectrum, although details were sketchy. 'I think it has potential,' said Nancy-Ann DeParle, Obama's top health aide. Another key lawmaker in the mix is Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (Maine), the only Republican who has supported Democratic reform efforts. She called the OPM's approach 'a very novel and innovative idea.'" Is it just us, or did it take Congress a LONG time to come around to something like this? Many Americans are going to look at this and say, "Well, common sense suggests this should have been the framework for a public plan the entire time." 

*** Baucus and his girlfriend: Here's something else that some believe COULD impact the health-care debate in Senate: a new controversy surrounding Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. Over the weekend came reports that Baucus had recommended his girlfriend, Melodee Hanes, to be U.S. attorney for Montana. In March, Hanes withdrew her name from consideration and now works at the Justice Department. However, it's important to note that Baucus is no longer really the point man in the Senate health-care debate. This story would have been a bigger problem two or three months ago when Baucus' Senate Finance Committee was the epicenter of the action. Still, this news will only make the public more cynical about elected officials in general.

*** What will Obama's tone be in Oslo? Here's a question we have: What is Obama going to say when he accepts his Nobel Prize this week? What will the tone be? Here is what he said upon learning about winning the prize back on Oct. 9: "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace. But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century." Here's another question: Can he get something else done while in Europe this week? Maybe sign the new nuclear arms reduction pact with Russia (new START)? Maybe visit Afghanistan?

*** Previewing Tuesday's speech: Speaking of speeches, the White House is previewing Tuesday's on the economy. "[T]he President will outline some key priorities for encouraging businesses to invest and create jobs. This is another stepping stone in a continuous effort to jumpstart job growth," Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer writes on the White House blog. "The American people should be assured that until Americans are working again our focus will continue to be job creation. We don't think there is one silver bullet, one plan, one speech or a singular piece of legislation that alone will solve double-digit unemployment. And the President's speech will not represent the totality of our plans for continued economic recovery." While the White House is tight-lipped on details, here's what we do know: He'll call for using SOME of the $700 billion in TARP funds (the leftover portion) to pay for these new short-term job creation initiatives. It'll be a combination of tax breaks for business, more incentives to loan money to small businesses, and a major effort to help underwrite things like weatherization.

*** No, no, no: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D) today gives a speech at the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress, where he'll criticize the GOP for being a "Party of No." An excerpt: "No one expects Republicans to roll over for President Obama. But the 'Party of No' strategy is so disappointing because the history of Congress is full of loyal oppositions that shared responsibility for governing in trying times and shaped some of the most important legislation of their eras. It is not asking too much for today's Republicans to rise to those examples. Rather than working to shape the Recovery Act—at a time when the rest of the industrialized world was working on comparable stimulus measures as a matter of economic survival—Republicans chose a strategy that could only profit from failure. It's easy to say that Democrats actually want extremism to be the face of the opposition—that we would be happy for the 'Party of No' to keep saying no. But that's not true. When we say no to the work of legislating, we do real harm to the institution of Congress and our nation's future."

*** The special in Massachusetts: Finally, the special primary in Massachusetts to permanently fill Ted Kennedy's Senate takes place tomorrow. The Democratic race features four candidates: state Attorney General Martha Coakley, (the front-runner according to the polls), Rep. Michael Capuano, investor and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, and City Year co-founder Alan Khazei. The candidates -- save for Coakley -- have been invoking Kennedy in their TV ads. Here's Capuano's; here's Paliguca's; and here's Khazei's. While the winner of this Democratic primary most likely will be the eventual winner, there is a GOP primary going on -- between state Sen. Scott Brown and Jack Robinson. If Coakley wins, she would be the first woman in Massachusetts elected either to the Senate or as governor (although the state has had a women serve as governor by ascension. The general election is on Jan. 19. One other bit of news here: Bill Clinton is now endorsing Coakley.

Countdown to MA Special Primary: 1 day
Countdown to MA Special Election: 43 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 330 days

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"President Obama made a rare Sunday visit to Capitol Hill yesterday, imploring Senate Democrats in a closed-door session to resolve their disagreements on health care and finish work on the sweeping legislation," the Boston Globe writes. "Democrats worked into the evening, and although they reported some progress, they failed to reach agreement on one of the most vexing sources of discord: whether to establish a government-run health insurance option."

More troops from Turkey? Not likely. Per the AP, "President Barack Obama is looking for help in Afghanistan from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan even as tensions simmer between the two NATO allies on Iran and the Middle East. A White House meeting Monday between the two leaders comes at a time of rising Turkish influence in the Middle East and Central Europe. Before leaving for Washington, Erdogan said Turkey has already contributed the 'necessary number' of troops in Afghanistan, and that Turkish military and police will train their Afghan counterparts and press ahead with health, education and infrastructure projects there."

Defense Secretary Gates called the 2011 Afghanistan troop withdrawal date "firm."

So, where's bin Laden? Nobody knows. But the president's national security adviser Gen. James Jones said he may slip back and forth between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Jill Lawrence has an interesting take on what the president should say in Oslo.

"In a batch of Friday evening appointments, President Obama said he is nominating Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the widow of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, to the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The prominent Washington arts institution is named, of course, for the late senator's older brother."

"The Senate was to begin debate on Nelson's [abortion] amendment, reflecting the House language, on Monday, although the senator said he doesn't expect a vote before Tuesday," the AP notes. "The amendment appeared unlikely to gain the necessary 60 votes in the 100-member Senate, according to numerous lawmakers. Democratic leaders hope to soften the House's tougher language in eventual House-Senate negotiations designed to send a bill to President Barack Obama's desk."

"Senators indicated that Obama's appearance before a special Democratic caucus was mostly symbolic of his support for their efforts, considering he offered no specifics on the type of compromise he would like to see on contentious issues," Roll Call writes. " 'It wasn't a negotiation, it was a pep talk,' Obama said upon exiting the nearly hour-long meeting Sunday afternoon at which he took no questions from Senators in attendance." 
 
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee launched a new Web site, AllAboutJoe.com and an ad accusing Lieberman of being all about himself, not Connecticut. There is only about $40,000 behind the buy as of now and will run in DC and Connecticut this week. The group hopes the ad raises at least $100,000. 

Gen. McChrystal is testifying this week before Congress.

Roll Call: "Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus' office confirmed late Friday night that the Montana Democrat was carrying on an affair with his state office director, Melodee Hanes, when he nominated her to be U.S. attorney in Montana. According to a source familiar with their relationship, Hanes and Baucus began their relationship in the summer of 2008 -- nearly a year before Baucus and his wife, Wanda, divorced in April 2009. The Senator had informally separated from his wife in March 2008 and they were living apart when he began dating Hanes, according to Baucus' office. Hanes ended her employment with Baucus in the spring of this year."

"Mel and I have a wonderful relationship. We are living together and enjoying spending time with each other and our families. I'm as happy as I've ever been. Mel and I were both separated from our former spouses when we got together. It wasn't an 'affair.' As we grew closer and things progressed, we knew it was time to begin the process of Mel transitioning out of my Senate office," Baucus said in his first statement since his office acknowledged the relationship late Friday night."

"[T]he Republican National Committee called on the Senate Ethics Committee to launch an investigation… In a statement released Saturday afternoon, the RNC accused Baucus of using 'his Senate office to advance a taxpayer funded appointment for his staff-member girlfriend' and complained the issue 'raises a whole host of ethical questions.'"

"Moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) argues that the 'climategate' emails should be probed on Capitol Hill, but they have not changed her views on global warming." 
 
With the college football bowl game schedule set after this weekend's games, "House lawmakers are gearing up for a vote as soon as next week on a bill aimed at forcing a national college-football playoff," the Wall Street Journal reports, adding, "The House legislation – also sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R., Texas), among others -- wouldn't specifically bar the title game, but would bar marketing of the BCS game as a national championship game. It prohibits 'promotion, marketing, and advertising of any post-season NCAA Division I football game as a national championship game unless such game is the culmination of a fair and equitable playoff system,' according to the bill text." (Full disclosure: We, at First Read, have a preferred outcome.)

Sarah Palin spoke at Washington's Gridiron Club on Saturday. And so did liberal Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts. "Sarah Palin poked fun at herself in a speech to journalists Saturday night, drawing laughter when she announced she 'came down from my hotel room and I could see the Russian embassy.'" She also "joked that she had originally thought of titling her book 'How To Look Like a Million Bucks For Only $150,000.'"
 
And this is harsh: "If the election had turned out differently, she said, 'I could be the one overseeing the signing of bailout checks and Vice President Biden could be on the road selling his book, 'Going Rogaine.'"
 
But wait there's more: "McCain's campaign staff also came in for a barb from the former Alaska governor when she said she is touring the country by bus as she sells her book. 'The view is so much better from inside the bus than under it,' she said, referring to the poisonous relations between her and some of the McCain campaign staff."

Palin likes to have it both ways: attack the establishment but hang out with them at the same time.

The Des Moines Register's Beaumont on Palin's stop in Iowa yesterday: "It didn't matter to Judy Wagoner that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was 90 minutes late Sunday for her appearance in Iowa, or that most of the 16 hours she waited for her was spent outside in subfreezing temperatures. 'Who cares?' Wagoner said. 'I would have waited another 10 outside for her.' Wagoner was among about 500 people who waited in a line that snaked through Sioux City's Southern Hills Mall to meet the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and get Palin's signature on a copy of her memoir." 
 
The RNC's Michael Steele writes an op-ed: "To stop the slide of public confidence in his policies, President Obama hosted a 'jobs summit' last week at the White House. Unfortunately, this 'jobs summit' was not about creating jobs. It was about creating political theater -- a distraction from the president's failure to actually create jobs. However, this media event had an unintended consequence: It reminded us that America needs a government completely focused on empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses to create jobs and to reinvigorate the economy."

ARKANSAS: Republican strategists on Saturday called on Sen. Lincoln to donate to local charities the more than $550,000 in campaign money she has received over the years from insurance companies," The Hill reports. "In light of Lincoln's new healthcare amendment, which would cap the amount of money insurance company CEOs could claim as tax deductions in an attempt to rein in their profits, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said Lincoln ought to 'apply that same standard to herself.'"

CONNECTICUT: A general consultant to Senate candidate Linda McMahon's (R) campaign has been subpoenaed by the Senate Ethics Committee in connection to the Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) ethics probe, first reported by the Hartford Courant. McMahon's adviser, Mike Slanker, was formerly chief political adviser to Ensign.

FLORIDA: The New York Times profiles the chameleon-like political tendencies of Gov. Charlie Crist (R), like literally embracing President Obama over his stimulus package, then denying he endorsed it and agreeing to appear with President George W. Bush only at certain events.

"In an embarrassing blunder, Gov. Charlie Crist mistakenly directed parents of uninsured children to call a toll-free sex line," the AP reports.

ILLINOIS: Key interest groups doled out endorsements over the weekend, with the Sierra Club favoring Gov. Pat Quinn (D) in his first bid for a full term after succeeding ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, while treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) got the backing of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Chicago Tribune reports.

MASSACHUSETTS: The four candidates in tomorrow's special election primary hit parades, churches and schools in a weekend of last-ditch campaigning, the Boston Globe reports. 
 
Late Sen. Edward Kennedy's widow "says she's feeling bittersweet" about the election to fill his seat, telling the Boston Herald that she "refuses to pick sides" in Tuesday's election. 
 
Attorney General and Senate frontrunner Martha Coakley picked up two endorsements over the weekend: feminist Gloria Steinem and former President Bill Clinton.

PENNSYLVANIA: Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) is expected later today to endorse Rep. Joe Sestak in the primary for Sen. Arlen Specter's seat.

THE WEEK AHEAD: Obama on jobs, then off to Copenhagen and Oslo for Peace Prize ... Prescription drugs, abortion heat up Senate health care debate ... Ted Kennedy's replacement ... Palin in Iowa ... Clinton, Gates, McCain on Meet the Press.

*** UPDATE *** NBC's Chuck Todd reports that Obama will now NOT be heading to Copenhagen on Wednesday. He'll head there on Dec. 18th. He will still, however, go to Oslo Wednesday to pick up that Peace Prize.

Special thanks to NBC Investigative Correspondent Lisa Myers for letting us borrow one of her SEVERAL Emmys.

From NBC's Ali Weinberg
Liberal blogs have a basically coordinated response to the Labor Department's report that the unemployment rate decreased slightly, from 10.2% to 10% -- it's good news, but we're nowhere near out of the woods yet.
 
Andrew Sullivan notes a few "caveats" out of today's less-than-disastrous jobs report, linking to Noam Scheiber's blog at The New Republic: "There is one ominous note: long-term unemployment. Last month I noted that the number of long-term unemployed--people out of work 27 weeks or longer--was increasing at a decreasing rate... Unfortunately, the number of people unemployed for 27-plus weeks shot up again pretty sharply last month: up 293,000 versus only 156,000 in October." 

But Sullivan's colleague, Megan McArdle, seems a bit more sanguine, calling the report "basically dunalloyed good news." McArdle: "The labor force participation rate was basically unchanged, which means we're seeing an actual decline in the unemployment rate, not a spike in the number of people leaving the labor force because they can't find a job." But, she continues, "That's not to say that we're out of the woods yet. Presumably we got a little boost as seasonal hiring ramped up--and while the numbers are seasonally adjusted, the adjustments are never perfect. We also face a lot of unknowns, like what will happen as commercial real estate starts to unravel and foreclosures ramp up again."  
 
AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay also refrains from exuberance, linking to an AFL-CIO blog post with more sobering statistics: "When both unemployed and underemployed workers are counted, there still are some 26 million people without jobs or full-time work. At the start of the recession in December 2007, there were 7.5 million jobless workers and the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent.

From NBC's Kelly Paice
In light of the drop in unemployment numbers released today -- from 10.2% in October to 10.0% last month -- conservatives are taking what might look like a turnaround in the economy with a grain of salt. Conservative bloggers take a look behind the numbers...
 
The Weekly Standard's Matthew Continetti has "Your Place for Job Numbers Commentary"...get excited! WS points to Paul Krugman's analysis saying, "Today's unemployment report was good news. But in a real sense good news is bad news, because this month's not-too-bad number deflates the sense of urgency." Also, in his column today, NRO's Rich Lowry weighs in with a solution on the way forward and a recognition of what won't bring about a stable economy: "The ultimate source of jobs is the vast, chaotic entrepreneurial churn that has always characterized the American economy at its best. No recovery is sustainable without it, yet the White House remains fixated on the gewgaws of new government programs and quick gimmicks."

Samuel Staley asks on NRO today, "Jobs Going Rogue?" He said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the new job numbers released today: "Although a decline of just 11,000 is much, much better than previous numbers, it could reflect a 'blip' in the trend or a 'rogue' month." Staley suggests that in order to get a real grasp on what's going to happen with the economy in the near future, "we will need more than one month of data" to determine real progress. He also says, "If the economy is recovering, it probably has a lot more to do with effective monetary policy than the spending side of the stimulus package. Only 30 percent of the stimulus funds have been allocated, so federal spending really can't claim much in the way of economic success."
 
Daniel Foster adds, "The jobs report might, to borrow a phrase, 'hide the decline' in employment. Two economists who predicted that the November numbers would be better than expected say the improvement may be attributable to quirks in the Labor Department's statistical models."

And check out what RNC Chairman Michael Steele had to say about today's job numbers in an earlier post on First Read. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/12/04/2142841.aspx
 
Also, GOP12 spotlights an op-ed  in today's Washington Examiner written by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. After hosting a "jobs summit" at the White House yesterday, President Obama is taking his message and listening skills to Main Street today, speaking in Allentown, PA. Gingrich said, "[I]nstead of shutting out those who disagree with him like he did at his Washington gathering, the president needs to let some crashers into the jobs party in Allentown. He might not like what they have to tell him, but Obama needs to hear the voices of America's small- business men and women." Gingrich commends the president and his team for embarking on this "'listening tour'" starting in Allentown today, "[b]ut for the president to listen, America's job creators have to get a chance to be in the room. Perhaps they should consider crashing. It's worked before."
 
Also after the president's "jobs summit" yesterday, NRO's Robert Costa writes, "the White House is considering using leftover funds from the financial bailout to help boost job creation." In response to this proposal, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) told NRO, "President Obama is trying to apply 'Cash for Clunkers' to the entire American economy." Republican Whip Eric Cantor (VA) added, "TARP funds borrowed from the taxpayer should not become a slush fund for the political whims of Washington."

From NBC's Ken Strickland
At a news conference to promote her health-care amendment that would restrict executive compensation for some insurance companies, Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) spent most of her time fielding questions about the public option.

Lincoln is one of the key centrist Democrats who has said she'd block final passage of the Senate bill if it includes the government-run insurance program as currently written. "I've been very clear," she said right off the bat. "I don't support a public option that is government funded or government run, and that puts the taxpayers at risk in the long run."

But that didn't stop the questions from flying towards the podium: Has she seen a compromise proposals she'd support? Not yet.

Has she met with Sen. Tom Carper (D) about his compromise alternative? She's met with "everyone."

Does she like Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R) idea for a trigger? "It depends on what it triggers."

"I'm looking at everything," she said after the fifth public option question. "And I'll reassure you that I am going to look at everything and I'm going to judge it based on ... whether or not there is long term risk to the taxpayers and whether it's government funded and government run. I'm willing to talk to everybody."

She was explicit in expressing her concern that if a government insurance program failed, taxpayer funds would be used to prop it back up. 

"I have the fear that it will create a long-term risk for taxpayers. And I think that comes on the heels of this orgy we've had of government spending -- whether it's bailouts for multiple people, multiple groups. I think it's critical for us to look at how fiscally responsible we can be on behalf of taxpayers."

From NBC's Ali Weinberg
While welcoming what he said was "modestly encouraging" news that the nation's unemployment rate slightly declined last month, President Obama emphasized to his audience in Allentown, PA today that challenges remain in reviving the U.S. economy.

Today's Labor Department report shows that the nation lost 11,000 jobs in November and that the unemployment rate dropped from 10.2% in October to 10.0% last month. "Overall, this is the best jobs report we've seen since 2007," Obama said at a community college in Allentown.
 
"But I want to keep this in perspective. We still have a long way to go," he continued. "There will be more bumps in the road. But the direction is clear. When you think about how this year began, today's report is a welcome sign that there are better days ahead."
 
Obama expressed empathy with his audience, telling them that "too many members of our American family have felt the gut punch of a pink slip." Revisiting a familiar campaign refrain, he spoke about his own experience with economic woes: "Michelle and I were talking the other day; there are members of our family that are out of work. You know, we're not that far removed... Five or six years ago, we were still paying off student loans." 
 
The president mentioned some of the recent sources of economic instability, saying that "people got overextended on their credit cards." But he characterized the recession as the result of a long decline demanding broad solutions. "In addition to dealing with the immediate crisis we face today, we also have to face up to the challenges necessary to strengthen our economy for the long term," he said, linking education and health care reform, infrastructure spending, and clean-energy investment together as part of a wide-ranging package to retain and create jobs.
 
During a town-hall style Q&A session after the speech, Obama was asked whether he thought enough safeguards had been put in place on Wall Street "so we don't run over a cliff again."
 
"No," he said, attributing the lack of regulatory reform to the pace of Congress: "Congress works incredibly hard. But I think they'll testify to the fact that Congress moves, let's say, deliberately... Part of what makes our government stable is it's not easy to get anything done, but it's frustrating when we have emergency situations," he added.
 
The town hall featured a few light moments. At the beginning of the Q&A, a local college student asked Obama if he had "checked out some of the statistics about legalizing gambling, drugs, and non-violent crime [prostitution] in order to stimulate the economy?"
 
Obama responded with typical diplomacy -- but also a smile. "I appreciate the boldness of your question," he said, joining the audience in laughter. "Part of what you're supposed to do in college is question conventional wisdom. And that's what you're doing," he said.

The last question came from Leonard Martin, a three-year Army veteran who registered with the president his dissatisfaction with the Veterans Administration answering system. Martin said he had not yet received any benefits from the post-9/11 G.I. bill.
 
"Well, first of all, we will get your name," Obama said, again chuckling. "You went straight to the top here... I suspect somebody will be calling your cell phone in about two seconds."
 
He went on to address the question, saying "The truth is you shouldn't have to make a phone call, you should be able to get online. The fact you have to make a call means we haven't fully upgraded our information yet."