Roll Call: "Durbin spokesman Joe Shoemaker said the phone call between his boss and the former governor did occur but said the context of the AP story was seriously flawed," Roll Call reports. "Rather than a single 10-minute phone call between Durbin and Blagojevich that was strictly about Madigan, as the AP story suggested, Shoemaker said the conversation lasted about 15 minutes and involved a discussion about some 20 possible replacements to the seat. Blagojevich asked Durbin his opinion of the potential Senate appointments, and Durbin delivered a very brief response."

As we reminded folks when this Blago story broke late last year, it shouldn't be surprising that top Illinois leaders would be talking to Blagojevich about replacing Obama's Senate seat.

The Washington Post tees up today's confirmation hearing for Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Obama's choice to command U.S. troops in Afghanistan, saying he will answer questions "about the future -- including his plans for reshaping U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan -- and a past marked by both acclaim and controversy… During his confirmation hearings for his current position, lawmakers probed McChrystal's knowledge of alleged abuse of detainees by Special Operations task force members at a secret facility in Iraq known as Camp Nama and at other locations."

And the TARP congressional oversight panel will be holding an oversight hearing of the auto bailout. "I am pleased that the Congressional Oversight Panel will hold this important oversight hearing in July," said GOP Rep. Jeb Hensarling, the lone congressional member of the panel. "While I opposed giving TARP money to the automakers, taxpayers deserve transparency and need to know that their tax dollars are being spent fairly and to promote financial stability."

The Boston Globe's lead on Romney's speech yesterday: "In a hard-hitting speech designed to build his credentials as commander in chief before a possible second presidential run in 2012, Romney said Obama has made a 'grave miscalculation' with budget cuts to a strategic missile defense system that would protect the nation and its allies from nuclear threats."

Nevada GOP Sen. John Ensign's stop in Iowa yesterday made the front page centerpiece of the Sioux City Journal with the headline: "Ready for 2012? Ensign: GOP can solve problems." Subheadline: Republican says he's a 'fresh face' but not seeking the White House." The paper's lead: "U.S. Sen. John Ensign's visit Monday afternoon to The Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center in Le Mars looked every bit like a campaign stop, right down to the Fox News camera and boom mike that followed him around. But 'I'm not running for president,' the Nevada Republican said when asked directly if he was. 'I think it's really important the Republican Party has some new, fresh faces.'"

Whoops. Cheney's Osama-Obama mix up: At the National Press Club, Cheney said, per The Hill while speaking about Al Qaeda: "The important thing is that I don't think he can have much impact in terms of managing an organization, because that link between Obama [sic] and the people under him is pretty fragile. I don't think he has the capacity to do as much harm as he did at one point, but we ought to still continue to chase him."

MINNESOTA: The Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that yesterday's "vigorous interrogations" by the state Supreme Court "left no decisive signals about the justices' thinking. They challenged the arguments of both candidates, but leveled their toughest questions at a lawyer for Coleman, who is appealing a lower court verdict awarding Minnesota's disputed Senate election to Franken."

Both the Coleman and Franken lawyers urged observers not to read too much into the justices' questions, the New York Times adds. "But an election law expert who listened to the proceedings online said Mr. Franken had emerged a very likely winner. The expert, Richard L. Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said that while Mr. Coleman's side might argue that the election had problems, 'the position of the justices appears to be: "You need to do more than that. You need to show us that whatever problems there were likely affected the outcome of the election." And that's a tough standard to meet.'"

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine released a statement that called on Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) to certify the results once the Minnesota Supreme Court rules. "Today's Minnesota Supreme Court hearing hopefully marks the end of the line for Norm Coleman and his extensive legal battle that has left Minnesota without proper representation in Congress," Kaine said. "Nearly seven months after Election Day, the fact remains that Coleman has lost at every turn – he lost the recount, he lost his lawsuit to overturn the results of that recount, and we expect Norm Coleman to lose in the Minnesota Supreme Court."

"Minnesotans realize that there is too much work to be done for their state and for the nation to allow divisive political tactics like Norm Coleman's legal battles to continue. The people of Minnesota deserve better, and I reiterate my call on Governor Tim Pawlenty to certify the result and bring an end to this should the Minnesota Supreme Court make a definitive ruling." 

NEW JERSEY: "New Jersey voters go to the polls today to choose who they want to battle it out for the governor's mansion this fall," the Star Ledger reports. "Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine is seeking a second four-year term in office. He is opposed in the party's primary by three little-known Democrats: Roger Bacon, Carl Bergmanson and Jeff Boss. The more intense race is on the other side of the ballot, where Republicans will select the party's standard-bearer to run against Corzine. Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan spent months sparring over taxes, spending, the state Supreme Court and a host of other issues."

Also: "[P]ast primaries have been marked by low turnout. In 2005, just under 580,000 people -- or 12 percent of those registered -- turned out to vote. It's been 20 years since as many as one-fifth of New Jersey's eligible voters cast ballots in a gubernatorial primary."

Politico: "With New Jersey Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine lagging in the polls, Republicans couldn't be more enthusiastic about their chances of ousting him in November. But first they must settle an intraparty conflict over who's best suited to do the job — former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie or former Bogota, N.J., Mayor Steve Lonegan. … The contest pits two wings of the Republican Party against each other...."

VIRGINIA: One week until the primary, Terry McAuliffe has a HUGE financial advantage over his opponents for the Democratic nomination, the Washington Post says. McAuliffe … raised $1.8 million in the two-month period ending Wednesday. His $6.9 million war chest allowed him to start airing TV ads in January and this week expand his TV blitz into the expensive Northern Virginia market. [Brian] Moran raised $844,000 during the same period, bringing his total to $4.8 million, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan group that tracks Virginia political money. [Creigh] Deeds raised $676,000 and pushed his total above $3.8 million."

More: "Moran had aired $43,000 worth of TV ads as of Wednesday, all of them in Norfolk and Richmond, according to Evan Tracey, who tracks political advertising for the Campaign Media Analysis Group. By contrast, McAuliffe spent $900,000 during that period, advertising in every Virginia market except the D.C. suburbs. Deeds had spent almost $400,000. Moran has added $85,000 worth of spots since then, and Deeds has purchased another $400,000 worth of advertising through next Tuesday, according to two sources who track TV ad buys for all three campaigns."

From NBC's Chuck Todd
In yet another briefing with a few reporters, leaders of the auto task force attempted to clarify exactly how and when the U.S. could sell its shares of the new General Motors. In short, if everything goes swimmingly with the government's taxpayer investment, the government could be out of the auto business for good within 5 years, but that's probably an optimistic timeline. Let me explain further.

First, let's clear up a few things. The new GM will buy the necessary assets of the old GM sometime in the next 60-90 days when a bankruptcy judge allows the sale to take place. After that, the actual sale of old assets to the new GM could take several more weeks. So at this point on the calendar, we're looking at October or November before this new private company, once again called General Motors, will come into existance.

So at this point, New GM, will be a privately-held company, not traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (or any stock exchange for that matter). However, it is the intention of the Obama administration to get New GM to become a publicly traded company as soon as reasonably possible. In this case, auto task force czar Steve Rattner, a private equity expert himself, believes that sometime in 2010 (probably mid-late 2010), New GM will have an "I.P.O." -- or an initial public offering. And it's at that point where the taxpayer can have an easier time tracking just what the U.S. government's shares are worth.

In fact, Rattner said it's very possible the first round of shares that the government sells will be at I.P.O. time, perhaps as much as 10% of the government's holdings. One thing Rattner and others on the task force assured reporters is that you wouldn't see the government sell its 60% stake in one fell swoop. It would be a gradual sell-off, starting at I.P.O. time and gradually getting out, which is why Rattner believes it's probably a 2-5 year process, AT BEST, for the government's investment.

BTW, since New GM will be a private company until the I.P.O., it means LEGALLY, the New GM could keep a lot of sales and other key business data private. However, Rattner said that because of the significant taxpayer investment, they know New GM has to be as transparent as other public companies even during its temporary private phase.

Finally, as for the government's influence on the makeup of New GM's board of directors. Some of Old GM's board members will be asked to be on New GM's board. However a majority of New GM's board will be new members. It appears there will be 13 members of this new board, 11 of whom the U.S. government will have direct influence over. Rattner says he'd like to have the new board in place sooner rather than later but notes they have until the end of the bankruptcy proceedings to name the new board of New GM.

From NBC's Abby Livingston, Katelin Schartz, and Mark Murray
At a speech today in DC sponsored by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, Mitt Romney called for increased defense spending, and also again criticized President Obama for going on a "tour of apology" while traveling abroad.

"It's not because America hasn't made mistakes -- we have -- but because America's mistakes are overwhelmed by what America has meant to the hopes and aspirations of people throughout the world," he said, adding: "Britain's Guardian newspaper noted that Mr. Obama has been more critical of his own country, while on foreign soil, than any other president in American history. That would be a most unfortunate distinction at any time."

Seeking to bolster his national security credentials, especially if he makes another White House bid, the one-term Massachusetts devoted much of his speech to calling for more defense spending. "We cannot allow the economic crisis to conceal the very real threats to our nation's security," Romney said. "We cannot ignore the intentions of competitors who would replace America's leadership with their own, and set back the cause of freedom."

In fact, Romney was fiercely critical of Obama's "domestic" spending at the expense of funding for national defense. "I fear ... that he will look to the military budget to find the biggest cuts and finance his domestic priorities."

The potential 2012 presidential candidate detailed a litany of other criticisms of the Obama administration -- including its handling of North Korea. "Arrogant, delusional tyrants can not be stopped by earnest words and furrowed brows. Action, strong bold action coming from a position of strength and determination, is the only effective deterrent."

After the speech, Romney spoke to reporters about GM filing for bankruptcy. He cited a November op-ed he penned advocating for bankruptcy and showed frustration that the action has taken so long and that the federal government has been a party to that delay. When asked if either the Bush or Obama administration were to blame for the drawn out bankruptcy, he expressed a hesitancy to "point fingers" but ultimately said, "Both."

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
WASHINGTON -- Howard Dean said a public health insurance option is more important than bipartisanship, and that Democrats should pass health-care legislation that includes the option with 51 votes if necessary.

Dean added that Democrats should have "no intention" of working with Republicans if it's not the strongest possible legislation that could be passed with a simple majority.

"If Republicans want to shill for insurance companies, then we should do it with 51 votes," Dean said during a news conference at the first day of the liberal America's Future Now! conference here.

Dean, though, also praised what he called President Obama's "realist" approach to trying to pass health care reform.

"What I like about Barack Obama's plan is he's a realist," Dean said, adding that private insurers aren't going away and that polling shows people are generally happy with their private health care -- if they have it. He said it should be all about giving people a "choice" of signing up for a public option, but "on the other hand, you don't want to take something away either."

Dean repeated a line of the president's, giving him credit in doing so: "If you like what you have, you can keep it."

Dean told NBC News that he thinks the best way to pay for health care is through a carbon tax.

"It probably won't pass, but it's what they should do," Dean said of a carbon tax to benefit health care. That and other details of his "prescription" for health care will be laid out in a forthcoming book this summer.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
The confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor starts in earnest this week in the Senate. Beginning Tuesday, Sotomayor begins the requisite courtesy calls with members. Her first meetings will be with Senate leadership and top members of the Judiciary Committee -- the panel which conducts the confirmation hearings. The first one is with Majority Leader Harry Reid at 10:15 am ET.

Days after General Motors filed for bankruptcy, GM CEO Fritz Henderson will testify in a Senate hearing on dealership closures on Wednesday. He will be joined by Chrysler president James Press, the chairman of National Automobile Dealers, and others. The hearing is called "GM and Chrysler Dealership Closures: Protecting Dealers and Consumers."

Several cabinet secretaries and senior officials will be before the Appropriations Committee, making the case for their 2010 budget requests. On Wednesday Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will testify. And on Thursday, FBI Director Mueller and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will appear.

On the floor, moreover, the Senate is poised to take up bill that would give the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco. That could happen as early as Tuesday. Those new powers would the allow more control over the marketing, advertising, and nicotine levels of cigarettes. It's expected to pass, but still must be merged with the House version before going to the president.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Promising "the beginning of a new GM," President Obama today announced that General Motors was entering bankruptcy protection, and that the federal government was giving it an additional $30 billion, making taxpayers a 60% owner of the auto giant. "Understand we're making these investments not because I want to spend the American people's tax dollars, but because I want to protect them. Instead of taking so much stock in GM, we could have simply offered the company more loans."

Video: President Obama says he has "no interest in running GM," but that the U.S. and Canadian government both understand the company's survival is important to their economies.

Obama continued, "But for years, GM has been buried under an unsustainable mountain of debt. And piling an irresponsibly large debt on top of the new GM would mean simply repeating the mistakes of the past. So we are acting as reluctant shareholders -- because that is the only way to help GM succeed."

The president also stressed that he has no interest in running GM. "GM will be run by a private board of directors and management team with a track record in American manufacturing that reflects a commitment to innovation and quality," he said. "They -- and not the government -- will call the shots and make the decisions about how to turn this company around."

He concluded, "I recognize that today's news carries a particular importance because it's not just any company we're talking about -- it's GM.

"But while the GM of the future will be different from the GM of the past, I am absolutely confident that if well managed, a new GM will emerge that can provide a new generation of Americans with a chance to live out their dreams, that can out-compete automakers around the world, and that can once again be an integral part of America's economic future. And when that happens, we can truly say that what is good for General Motors and all who work there is good for the United States of America."

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
This is a new position for liberals -- being in charge.

For the eight years of the George W. Bush administration, lefties lamented the state of America -- some even vowed to leave the country. (Most stayed.)

The yearly Take Back America conference, organized by the liberal Campaign for America's Future, served as a sounding board for that angst.

But now that Democrats have, well, taken back America, regaining the House, Senate and the White House, what's next?

First, they changed the name of the annual Washington confab to the tamer (yet more punctuated) America's Future Now! At today's kick-off of the event, organizer Roger Hickey noted the name change. "The reason for that change is you," he said, adding, "Last year, we took back America. We took it back from the edge of disaster."

But he continued, "Taking it back from the radical right-wingers -- that was just a first step... Now that we've taken back America, our job is to affect real change."

Anna Burger, who runs the SEIU's political arm and also serves on the president's Council of Economic Advisers said, "It was just a year ago we came here to take back America, and we did it... We have saved our capital and our country and have our leader in the White House."

She stressed, however, that pragmatism and working together were the reasons progressives won out. "We've learned to work together to get out of our silos," Burger said. She said that pragmatism might mean that working together might not get "perfect" results, but it would move the country in the desired direction.

"Sure, there are days when I think, 'Couldn't he do more?'" she said. "But look at what's already been done."

Ilyse Hogue, of MoveOn.org, said that saying "no" is a lot easier than pushing a progressive agenda. She added that in order to accomplish that, though, pragmatism is important, but progressives should hold members of Congress and the White House accountable -- referring especially to newly minted Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter.

She said progressives would not "blindly support" Specter. She added if he proves he'll vote with the constituency, then "we will help you." If not, "all bets are off."

She cited health-care reform, energy, and the Employee Free Choice Act (a.k.a. "card check") as issues where Specter can prove his progressive stripes. "Our primary mandate," Hogue said, "is to represent our constituency."

There are still some issues in which liberals aren't completely satisfied with when it comes to this president -- for example, banking, Afghanistan, and an iron-clad promise to have a public option for health care.

And murmurs of that could be heard here. During the Q&A session here, there were shouts from the audience of "single payer" and "Afghanistan".

Burger, at one point, got into a back-and-forth over single payer with a mic-less shouting audience member perfectly audible in the back of the large ballroom.

"I just don't think it's going to happen this year," Burger told the audience member, who continued to speak.

Fellow panelist Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change, got loud cheers when he chimed in that "A lot of us in the room do think single payer is best." But he stressed that at least a public option would be a "step on the path."

[Editor's Note: Deepak Bhargava was incorrectly identified as having been affiliated with the Center for American Progress. He is not; he is the executive director of the Center for Community Change.]

From NBC's Mark Murray
Earlier this morning, we wrote that Republicans had been mostly quiet about the Obama administration pushing GM into bankruptcy protection.

Well, not anymore.

Shortly after we published our morning note, the Republican National Committee released a Web video (see below) criticizing the move. Said RNC Chairman Michael Steele: "No matter how much the president spins GM's bankruptcy as good for the economy, it is nothing more than another government grab of a private company and another handout to the union cronies who helped bankroll his presidential campaign. President Obama will now own 60% of GM, and his union buddies will own almost 20%. And what do the taxpayers get? They'll get stuck with up to a $50 billion tab for the taxpayer dollars Obama is using to pay for his takeover of GM."

[Youtube:TofiMLv6xrg]

GOP congressional leaders also weighed in with statements. Said House Minority Leader John Boehner: "This agreement may buy some time, but does nothing to ensure GM's success. The only thing it makes clear is that the government is firmly in the business of running companies using taxpayer dollars. Does anyone really believe that politicians and bureaucrats in Washington can successfully steer a multinational corporation to economic viability? It's time for the Administration to fully explain what the exit strategy is to get the U.S. government out of the board room once and for all."

Added House Minority Whip Eric Cantor: "The nature of this bankruptcy agreement raises serious questions about the ultimate cost to millions of Americans. While the government has now subsidized GM to the tune of $50 billion, the administration has not demonstrated the ability to account for this enormous taxpayer expenditure. That must change -- taxpayers deserve far better oversight and accountability."

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Culture wars return? On such a busy day in politics -- GM's bankruptcy announcement, President Obama's upcoming trip to the Middle East and Europe, today's oral arguments before the Minnesota Supreme Court in the never-ending Franken-Coleman contest, Sen. John Ensign's speech in Iowa, Mitt Romney's address in DC, and the liberal "America's Future Now!" confab in DC -- the biggest story could very well be yesterday's slaying of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller. The killing (along with the Sotomayor SCOTUS nomination and the president's recent speech at Notre Dame) has the potential to return the culture wars to prominence in American politics. Obama, who has sought to find common ground on abortion and campaigned in part to "turn the page" on the culture wars, released a statement yesterday saying that he was "shocked and outraged" by Tiller's murder. "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence," he added. Both pro-choice and pro-life groups condemned the murder. But there was one exception: Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry. "George Tiller was a mass-murderer," he said in a statement. "We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God." The mainstream anti-abortion community has to be nervous about Terry's comments and actions over the next 48 hours.

Video: A suspect has been arrested in the killing of Dr. George Tiller, one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions, who was shot and killed in his church in Wichita, Kan. NBC's Janet Shamlian reports.

*** Government Motors? At the White House at 11:55 am ET, Obama will announce that the U.S. government is pushing GM into bankruptcy protection and will give it another $30 billion, bringing the taxpayer investment in the auto giant to $50 billion. Obviously, the Obama administration is pretty confident it knows what it's doing now, but GM is no Chrysler. And while it does look like some form of Chrysler will survive -- thanks to a merger with Fiat -- just what will the new GM look like? The fact that the government will own a majority stake in the new GM is both good news and bad news for taxpayers. The good news: The government is getting something for its money; it's not a bailout with no strings attached. The bad news: It's government intervention at its most obvious. We don't expect the government ownership of GM to be a political liability in the short term, but what about long term? What if GM doesn't perform or doesn't start to turn things around in the next three to four years? Will Republicans be able to use this as proof that too much government is a bad thing? By the way, will this new $30 billion be enough for GM? Or now that we're in for a penny, doesn't that mean we'll be in for a pound (or more dollars?).

Video: General Motors, the auto giant that ruled American industry for more than 50 years, is filing for bankruptcy today. The move is likely to result in thousands of additional job cuts. CNBC's Phil LeBeau and Erin Burnett report.

*** The GOP's (near) silence: Six months ago, remember when Sen. Bob Corker and other Republicans were essentially saying, "Let GM go into bankruptcy." They probably never thought the young Obama administration would end up doing this. Strikingly, we haven't seen any real criticism from Republicans on this bankruptcy (although the RNC did distribute a press release with the headline "Government Motors"). The likely reason: because they would be doing the same if they controlled the White House. However, organized labor trusts a Democratic administration to put them in bankruptcy, and probably wouldn't be as cooperative if this were a Republican administration.

Video: Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., discusses Judge Sonia Sotomayor's 2001 comments about her judicial perspective with NBC's David Gregory on "Meet the Press."

*** Sotomayor update: On Tuesday, Sonia Sotomayor will go up to Capitol Hill for meetings with Sens. Harry Reid (D), Pat Leahy (D), and Jeff Sessions (R). But let's not beat around the bush: Barring an unforeseen fact or a dreadful performance at the confirmation hearing itself, Sotomayor will be on the Supreme Court by October 1. The weekend rhetoric from elected Republican senators seemed to suggest that whatever comfort level they had for attacking the nominee last week completely disappeared -- thanks to the overheated attacks by Gingrich, Limbaugh, et al. In particular, Sessions signaled the change in tone on "Meet," when he refused to condone the "racist" chatter. The thing that must frustrate a Sessions and some other elected Republicans is that Sotomayor's "wise Latina woman" comments were fair game until Rush and Newt spoke. So instead of Sessions' criticism of the remarks as proof of some sort of judicial bias, only the part of Sessions' statement that criticizes Limbaugh gets covered.

*** Obama's European (and Middle Eastern) vacation: On Tuesday evening, Obama departs on a five-day trip through the Middle East and Europe. On Wednesday, Obama will be in Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with King Abdullah. On Thursday, he's in Cairo, Egypt, where he gives his big speech on America and the Muslim world. On Friday, he'll be in Germany visiting the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. On Saturday, he's in Normandy for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landing. And he returns to the United States on Sunday.

Video: Jordan's King Abdullah II discusses U.S. foreign policy under former President Bush and President Obama with NBC's David Gregory on "Meet the Press."

*** I am liberal, hear me roar: So what does the left think of Obama and his administration? We'll get an answer starting today, when the liberal version of CPAC takes place in DC. The three-day event, organized by the group Campaign for America's Future, has been previously known as the "Take Back America" conference. But now that Democrats control the White House and Congress, the group has changed the name to the tamer (yet more punctuated) "America's Future Now!" Even though Obama has disappointed some liberals with his decisions to send more troops to Afghanistan, to oppose releasing photos of detainee abuse, and to oppose nationalizing the banks, organizers tell First Read that -- for the most part -- they're very happy with the course the White House has charted. Today's prominent speakers include Biden economic adviser Jared Bernstein, Organizing for America's Mitch Stewart, Howard Dean, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. And here are some of today's more notable panels: The Economy: OMG!; Progressives in the Age of Obama; Kick Them When They're Down? How the Right Plans to Come Back and What Can Be Done about It; and the Grand Inquest: Torture, Presidential Abuse and Accountability.

*** The never-ending recount: Also today, the Minnesota Supreme Court begins hearing oral arguments in the ongoing Franken-Coleman race, which has now lasted a whopping 209 days beyond Election Day. As the Minneapolis Star Tribune puts it, "Almost seven months after a U.S. Senate election that was too close to call, five justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday on whether problems with absentee ballots justify reversing a lower-court ruling that declared DFLer Al Franken a 312-vote winner over Republican Norm Coleman… A decision upholding the lower-court ruling could end the protracted struggle and allow Franken to join the Senate, giving Democrats an invincible majority. A ruling for Coleman wouldn't return him to the Senate, but could keep his hopes alive and delay a final decision for months."

Video: MSNBC's Ed Schultz talks with Minnesota's Secretary of State Mark Ritchie about why the Senate needs to seat Al Franken immediately.

*** 2012 watch: Tonight, Nevada Sen. John Ensign (R) dips his toes into the 2012 waters when he delivers a speech in Sioux City, IA at 8:00 pm ET.

An Ensign spokesman tells First Read that the senator's speech will discuss GOP ideas on education, health care, and national security -- and their differences with the Democrats' ideas. Of course, the words "John Ensign" and "presidential candidate" haven't appeared together much, if ever. But clearly, Ensign has looked around the Senate, looked around the GOP, and realized what a lot of us have realized: There's no obvious front-runner for 2012 or even a group of front-runners. So why not, right? We've wondered what Obama's election would do to other senators. For years, senators were told they'd never get to the White House, and the stats proved it. Now, with governors in general less popular now than before, having a well-rounded issue experience that a senator gets may mean more to voters than so-called executive experience. Ensign is the son of casino executive, and who knows if the social conservative wing of the GOP will be ready to embrace him? But the guy has both the looks and conservative bona fides on many other issues to make him an interesting potential candidate to watch. 

*** 2012 watch, part II: Also today, at 11:00 am in DC, Mitt Romney gives a speech (sponsored by the conservative Heritage Foundation) on the need for a stronger military.

Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 1 day
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 8 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 155 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 519 days

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"The Obama administration plans to take the next step toward resuscitating the American auto industry today, sending General Motors, the storied manufacturer, into bankruptcy protection," the Washington Post front-pages. More: "The purpose of the bankruptcy is to restructure the automaker, as the government has been attempting do with Chrysler, having GM emerge from the process smaller, with fewer workers and brands, less debt, but also more viable… The United States will invest another $30 billion during and after the GM bankruptcy process, bringing the U.S. commitment to $50 billion."

USA Today adds, "The government … says this will be the end of the taxpayers' financial support of GM. Under bankruptcy-court supervision, GM and the task force aim to create two companies: a new GM with its best and profitable assets and the old company left with the rest. They hope the new GM can emerge within 60 to 90 days able to succeed in a smaller market; the old one will be liquidated."

But, per the Wall Street Journal: "The question now facing 56,000 auto workers, 3,600 GM dealers and the Obama administration: Will it work?... The reorganization faces myriad risks, ranging from legal challenges to the uncertainty of when consumer demand for new cars will rebound. In becoming GM's new owner, the government is also entering largely unexplored terrain filled with political minefields, notably the possibility of meddling by Congress in the company's daily operations and business plans." 

The AP's Kuhneman writes that "Obama couldn't let General Motors fail… As GM enters into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Obama's economic team is stressing that its goals are to maximize the return to taxpayers and to exit from its involvement as quickly as possible. But as one administration official put it Sunday night, there is an inevitable tension between those two objectives. And the snap in that tension could sting -- politically for Obama, economically for the auto industry and fiscally for the taxpayer."

Looking at other issues… Politico examines Obama's China policy: "He leveled tough words at China during the campaign. But as president, Barack Obama is hewing close to the playbook drafted by his predecessor when it comes to economic engagement with the Asian giant." 
 
"The United States and Cuba are to start up immigration talks again, another sign that relations between the two countries are warming since President Obama's election. The communist country has agreed to resume talks discussing legal immigration of Cubans to the United States and direct-mail service between the two countries, a State Department official told The Associated Press on Sunday."

And here's the coverage of Saturday's date night in Manhattan… The New York Daily News: "Some of the loudest applause at 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone' Saturday night was for the First Couple, who received a five-minute standing ovation from before the show… The show finally started more than 45 minutes late at 8:47 while employees flickered the lights on and off in an attempt to calm down the clapping audience." Also in attendance Meryl Streep and Olympia Dukakis. Before heading off to New York the first couple took in daughter Malia's soccer game. 
 
And while they ate: "In typical Manhattan style, diners at a Greenwich Village restaurant Saturday night pretended not to notice the famous couple at dinner - until after dessert. ... Michelle Obama had two martinis, and the President had the wine that accompanied the tasting menu." Said one diner: "When they stood up to leave," she continued, "this blasé New York crowd stood up and exploded in spontaneous applause." And apparently Michelle's fitness secret, as told to a diner: "All about Pilates."

How about security logistics? "Diners said they were searched by Secret Service before going into the restaurant. The entire block of Washington Place was closed off and residents said they were ordered to keep their windows closed."

The Washington Post covers the Sunday show discussion on Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination. "Republican senators voiced skepticism yesterday about President Obama's choice for the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, but avoided the name-calling that has come from some conservative activists," who have called her a racist. "'I don't think that's an accurate description of her,' said Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee."

"Sessions agreed on NBC's 'Meet the Press' that Sotomayor's record -- former prosecutor, corporate lawyer, 17 years as a federal judge, at both the district and circuit levels -- is 'the kind of background you would look for, almost an ideal mix' of experience for the Supreme Court. 'That's very strong in her favor,' he said. But he said he and other members of his party are concerned about speeches Sotomayor has given about a judge's decisions being affected by life experiences. 'It goes against the heart of the great American heritage of an independent judge,' he said."

But as the AP's Elliott writes, "Republican Senate leaders won't call Sonia Sotomayor a racist. But they're fine with Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich playing the race card to rile up an out-of-power GOP."

The Sunday New York Times looked at how Sotomayor's SCOTUS nomination has thrust identity politics into the spotlight. "In the heat of his primary battle last year, Barack Obama bemoaned 'identity politics' in America, calling it 'an enormous distraction' from the real issues of the day. Many thought his inauguration as the first African-American president this year was supposed to usher in a new post-racial age. But four months later, identity politics is back with a vengeance. A president who these days refers to his background obliquely when he does at all chose a Supreme Court candidate who openly embraces hers. Critics took issue with her past statements and called her a 'reverse racist.' And the capital once again has polarized along familiar lines."

In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, President Obama didn't shirk from Sotomayor's "wise Latina woman" remark: "I'm sure she would have restated it," Obama said. "But if you look in the entire sweep of the essay that she wrote, what's clear is that she was simply saying that her life experiences will give her information about the struggles and hardships that people are going through - that will make her a good judge."

Sunday's Washington Post looked at Sotomayor's controversial ruling in that New Haven firefighter case. "It is the 134-word summary order in Ricci v. DeStefano, which upheld the decision of New Haven, Conn., to throw out the promotion test it had given city firefighters when no African Americans and two Hispanics qualified for advancement."

"The case is under review by the Supreme Court that Sotomayor would join. If the decision is reversed -- which, from the tone of oral arguments in April, seems a distinct possibility -- the high court's ruling will probably come at the end of June, just as the Senate and the nation begin to consider Sotomayor's qualifications."

Lindsey Graham, meanwhile, said Sotomayor's not a "racist" but he expects her to make an apology for her remarks during her confirmation hearing. Mitt Romney also said he doesn't believe Limbaugh's and Gingrich's remarks. And Arlen Specter seemed to indicate he's inclined to vote for her.

Returning from its Memorial Day recess, Congress has a full plate on its agenda -- including health care and energy legislation, the New York Times says. "Either a health care or an energy bill would typically be enough to consume an entire Congressional summer. Now the Senate will also have to contend with a Supreme Court confirmation hearing, with Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the president's nominee to replace Justice David H. Souter, to begin meeting with senators on Tuesday. Members of the Judiciary Committee, which will review the nomination, are also engaged in the health care and energy debates, complicating the logistics of those issues."

"At the same time, Democrats are also trying to complete the 12 annual spending measures by the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year, a goal Congress has been unable to meet in recent years. Those measures contain scores of possibilities for potential conflict, including whether to provide money to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba."

"After months of on-again, off-again markups, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee appears on the verge of passing an energy bill that makes good on Democrats' pledge to tilt the energy balance heavily in favor of renewables," Roll Call reports. "But the regional nature of the energy debate will be on full display when the bill moves to the Senate floor, where the key fights will include a controversial first-time national renewable energy mandate as well as provisions to expand nuclear power, and onshore and offshore drilling of oil and natural gas."

"Amid speculation that powerful Democratic Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.) and Edward Kennedy (Mass.) are headed for a showdown over health care reform, the two committee chairmen on Saturday released a joint statement pledging to work together to shepherd a bill to the Senate floor in July," Roll Call says.

"House Republicans, hoping to put Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) back on defense, are weighing whether to take another run at a resolution calling for an investigation into her allegations that the CIA lied to Congress about its use of enhanced interrogation techniques," Roll Call reports. "Several GOP sources say minority lawmakers are looking at how to best keep Pelosi in the hot seat, just as she was when Congress left town for its weeklong recess on May 21."

The Las Vegas Sun says that Nevada Sen. John Ensign's visit to Iowa today "continues to stoke speculation that the rising conservative leader is testing for a presidential run in 2012. Ensign will speak before a conservative organization in Republican-friendly Sioux City, and make a few other stops. He admits he has thought about being president — what politician hasn't? — he recently suggested to an interviewer."

The AP looks at the GOP activity in Iowa. "Potential Republican candidates who have visited the state include Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the GOP caucuses in 2008. More politicians have trips planned, starting with … Ensign on Monday, followed by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and another appearance by Huckabee."

Stu Rothenberg, writing in Roll Call, looks at GOP infighting and concludes: "Times are indeed tough for the GOP, and the party may suffer more defeats before it starts to string together some victories. But most of the yapping about the ideological rift within the Republican Party simply isn't worth listening to any longer."

MINNESOTA: "Al Franken and Norm Coleman's Senate battle goes before Minnesota's Supreme Court today, a critical point in a race that has dragged on for about half a year since the final vote was cast," the AP says. "Coleman, the Republican incumbent, trails by 312 votes. He wants the state's justices to instruct a trial court to open 4,400 rejected absentee ballots."

The New York Times: "The outcome ... will determine whether Senate Democrats will have available the 60 votes necessary to kill filibusters. And while Mr. Coleman, who until recently held the seat, can continue to fight, the one-hour hearing before Minnesota's top court marks a crucial and potentially final stage, said Edward B. Foley, an election law expert at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University."

More: "If the judges rule in Mr. Franken's favor, [Foley] said, they could order the governor to issue a certificate of election allowing Mr. Franken to be seated. If they agree with Mr. Coleman's arguments, they could send the case back to the lower court for a new vote count using more relaxed standards that allow the consideration of several thousand absentee ballots that were previously excluded."

"Democrats launched a paid advertising offensive today against a half-dozen House Republicans whom they consider to be vulnerable this cycle," Roll Call reports, adding, "Radio advertisements, automated calls and e-mails will target Reps. Don Young (Alaska), Brian Bilbray (Calif.), Tom Rooney (Fla.), Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.), Peter King (N.Y.) and Charlie Dent (Pa.)."

NEW JERSEY: The New York Times covers some of the final campaigning for Tuesday's GOP gubernatorial primary between moderate Chris Christie and the more conservative Steve Lonegan. Polls show Christie with a comfortable lead. "Mr. Lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota, in Bergen County, ripped into Mr. Christie all day long and used even stronger language to criticize Republican moderates. He urged 40 people at Music Pier in Ocean City to 'stand up against the mushy, moderate middle' — perhaps also a figurative jab at Mr. Christie, who is not shy about professing his weakness for doughnuts."