"[T]he revelation that revamping the nation's healthcare model could greatly exceed $1 trillion over the next 10 years, along with an intra-party debate in the House on climate change legislation, has lawmakers feeling the weight of the packed agenda and sensing the need to narrow the list," The Hill reports.

Video: Senate Democrats have reportedly cut about $400 billion off their health care proposal, bringing the $1.6 trillion price tag under $1.2 trillion. Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, discusses how this is still more than most lawmakers are willing to spend.

MoveOn continues to apply heat to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, after the Democratic senator from California said on Sunday that Democrats might not have the votes for health-care reform. The liberal group is now running this TV ad in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

Roll Call reports, "Judiciary ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)

sounded a new GOP alarm Wednesday about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, arguing that if installed she could put Second Amendment rights at risk. The nominee's track record on the issue 'is fairly scant, but we do know that Judge Sotomayor has twice said that the Second Amendment does not give you and me a fundamental right,' Sessions warned."

The New York Times examines Sotomayor's record on the death penalty.

"Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday he plans to press Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to allow cameras inside the nation's highest courtroom. Specter, who is still a committee member although with less seniority since converting to the Democratic Party this year, told The Hill he is sending a letter to Sotomayor after personally raising the issue in a private meeting. 'I hope to do it tomorrow, on the issue of televising the Supreme Court proceedings,' Specter said. 'If I get it done, I'll go to the (Senate) floor and talk about it… She's the first one who I know has had experience with her courtroom being televised, so she'll have some special insights.'"

"Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's

favorability rating has spiked since the 2008 presidential primary, according to a Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday," Politico reports. "The Republican's favorability rating has climbed to 40 percent — a 10-point increase over the past 16 months. The Pew poll found that 28 percent of Americans view him unfavorably and another 32 percent don't know."

NEW JERSEY: President Obama said he was "confident" that Governor Jon Corzine would be re-elected in the November gubernatorial election. "But the president cautioned that the governor's race will be driven by state issues and New Jersey politics -- and won't be an early referendum on his own administration." Corzine stumped for Obama during the presidential race, although he supported Hillary Clinton in the primary. Calling Corzine a "friend," Obama said he would provide aid to the campaign, though he did not say how. Corzine, a former Goldman Sachs CEO, is funding his own campaign.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie will appear at 11:00 a.m. ET today before the Democratically-controlled House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law to testify about million-dollar no-bid monitoring contracts he awarded while U.S. attorney. The panel seeks to reform such "deferred prosecution agreements," like the one Christie gave his former boss John Ashcroft, "worth as much as $52 million," for monitoring a medical device maker Christie was investigating for Medicare fraud.

The hearing could be unprecedented. Political scientists who watch governors and Congress could not remember another time a gubernatorial candidate was called before a committee controlled by the opposing party. "It's obviously political, but that doesn't mean it's illegitimate," said Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia.  "He's running as the clean, untouched, unblemished alternative to Jon Corzine," Sabato continued. "Well, then you touch him, you blemish him. It's a perfectly legitimate subject, he's a legitimate witness, but it's political."

VIRGINIA: Virginia Republican Bob McDonnell "became the first candidate for governor to go on television in the general election campaign." McDonnell spent about $300,000 on the ad, "Resurgence," which focuses on job creation and entrepreneurship.

From NBC's Mike Viqueira

The House is on course to take up the energy bill on Friday, after a deal was struck between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Colin Peterson.

The pair appeared late today at a presser to announce their agreement. Peterson had been an influential holdout as he sought the best possible deal for farmers.

Now, suddenly, the push is on for the energy bill, which many had originally given a smaller chance of passing than the ballyhooed health-care legislation.

Video: President Obama explains the benefits to his proposed clean energy bill by saying it will 'create a set of incentives that will spur the development of new sources of energy, including wind, solar, and geothermal power.'

Al Gore will appear tomorrow with Pelosi and other Dem potentates at 2:00 pm ET to rally for cameras.

So put down those actuarial tables you have been studying in preparation for the health-care debate, and dust off phrases like "cellulosic ethanol," "woody biomass," etc.

One other thing: The Democratic leadership is threatening to come in on Saturday to get this bill done if they have to. This is the last week before recess, and they don't want the deal to sit out there for a week.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Mark Murray
Over the last 10 years or so, American politics has seen its fair share of sex scandals -- both big and small. In fact, we've identified 23 since the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinksy affair in 1998. That comes to more than two per year. There were six each in 2008 and 2007, two so far in 2009 as well as two in 2006. That's 16 in just the past four years. There were five admitted in 1998.
 
-- Democrat Bill Clinton (1998): His affair with intern Monica Lewinsky

may very well go down as the biggest sex scandal in American history. It resulted in his impeachment (although he wasn't convicted by the Senate), the Starr Report, and the introduction of a cast of characters, including Linda Tripp and Lucianne Goldberg.
-- Republican Bob Livingston (1998): In the aftermath of the Lewinsky scandal, Livingston was chosen to replace Newt Gingrich as speaker. But he, instead, admitted an affair and stepped down.
-- Republican Helen Chenoweth (1998): The archconservative Idaho congresswoman, who blasted Bill Clinton's infidelity, copped to a six-year affair with a married rancher from her home state in the 1980s. "I've asked for God's forgiveness," she said in 1998, "and I've received it."
-- Republican Dan Burton (1998): Another conservative and outspoken critic of President Clinton admitted to -- 15 years earlier -- having an extramarital affair and fathering a child out of wedlock. He admitted it after reporters said they were set to report on it.
-- Republican Henry Hyde (1998): When confronted by a reporter, the former House Judiciary Committee chairman became yet another Republican -- in the wake of the Lewinksy scandal -- to admit to having had an extramarital affair. His occured decades earlier.
-- Democrat Gary Condit (2001): The California congressman's affair with an intern became exposed after the girl, Chandra Levy, disappeared. It dominated national news before Sept. 11th. Levy was eventually found dead in a DC's Rock Creek Park and someone else was charged her murder this year.
-- Republican Rudy Giuliani (2002):

There was no greater New York tabloid story than former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's high-profile divorce from wife Donna Hanover. She accused him of "notorious adultery," and Giuliani is now married to then-girlfriend Judith Nathan.
-- Democrat Jim McGreevey (2004): The married with children former New Jersey governor -- with his wife by his side -- resigned as governor after dropping the bombshell that he was having a gay affair. "My truth is I am a gay American," left watchers slack jawed and serves still as one most stunning political press conferences of all time.
-- Republican James West (2005): The Spokane mayor, who long opposed gay rights bills, was recalled from office after a gay Internet sex scandal and more were revealed. He died a year later from complications with cancer.
-- Republican Don Sherwood (2006): The then-65-year-old Pennsylvania congressman lost his House seat after it was revealed that he'd had an extramarital affair with a 29-year-old woman who'd called 911 from a closet in Sherwood's DC apartment, charging that he'd choked her. He claimed he was just giving her a back rub. The woman had filed a lawsuit against him for $5.5 million, charging he'd repeatedly abused her during their relationship. She settled for about $500,000.

Video: Nov. 12, 2008: Former Rep Mark Foley breaks his silence on the scandal that forced him from office.

-- Republican Mark Foley (2006): A text message gay page scandal ended Foley's career and gave his Florida congressional seat to Democrats – albeit for one term.
-- Republican Newt Gingrich (2007): As he was weighing a 2008 presidential run, the former speaker acknowledged -- in an interview with the Christian conservative group Focus on the Family -- having had an extramarital affair during the 1990s.
-- Democrat Gavin Newsom (2007): The married San Francisco mayor admitted to sleeping with the wife of a top aide. But was it a career-ender? No. He's running for governor.
-- Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa (2007): Weeks after separating from his wife, the Los Angeles Mayor admitting to having a secret affair with a TV reporter. It, too, wasn't a career ender. He was poised to run for California governor before deciding against it this week.
-- Republican David Vitter (2007): The married Louisiana senator got caught up in the DC Madam prostitution scandal. But after his wife chastised the media at Vitter's mea culpa press conference, he's stuck it out. And despite the scandal, he's favored to win re-election in 2010 – because of Democrats' current lack of a committed candidate.
-- Republican Larry Craig (2007): "I'm not gay," were the words that made headlines from the press conference where the Idaho senator professed his innocence of charges that he had solicited gay sex in a bathroom stall in the Minneapolis airport after he'd pleaded guilty to those charges.
-- Democrat Tim Mahoney (2008): The man who replaced Foley was eventually derailed by his OWN sex scandal, and the seat went back to the GOP.
-- Democrat Eliot Spitzer (2008): Always to be remembered as "Client No. 9," the meteoric rise of the career of Spitzer came crashing down after it was revealed he'd spent tens of thousands of dollars on hookers -- despite being married with kids.
-- Democrat David Paterson (2008): Soon after assuming office, the man who replaced Spitzer, acknowledged that both he and his wife had slept with people other than each other several years ago during a rocky period in their relationship.
-- Democrat John Edwards (2008): After the National Enquirer exposed Edwards' affair, the one-time Democratic shooting star finally admitted to sleeping with a woman his campaign hired to shoot Web videos despite his wife's very public bout with cancer and his 2008 presidential run.
-- Republican Vito Fossella (2008): The married former congressman from Staten Island, who had three children with his wife, admitted he'd had a secret affair with a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel -- who'd birthed his love child in Virginia -- after he was arrested for drunken driving. Democrats took over his seat in 2008.
-- Democrat Kwame Kilpatrick (2008): The Detroit mayor eventually ended up in jail after he was convicted of lying about a text message/sex scandal.
-- Republican John Ensign (2009): The Nevada senator admitted an affair with a staffer last week, stepped down from his GOP leadership post and all but eliminated his 2012 aspirations.
-- Republican Mark Sanford (2009): The South Carolina governor admitted to having an affair with a woman from Argentina after not being heard from for six days, his staff telling the media he'd been "hiking on the Appalachian Trail," and state legislators -- and even his wife -- not knowing where he was.

Are we missing any?

Video: Rachel Maddow is joined by Gina Smith, a reporter for "The State" newspaper who broke the story of Sanford's affaird.

*** UPDATE *** We've now updated the post with New York Gov. David Paterson and, as many readers pointed out, Newt Gingrich. We were unsure to include Gingrich originally because we were just looking at the past 10 years, but since he acknowledged it in 2007, then we included.

*** UPDATE 2 *** As our former colleague Andy Merten points out, Viagra received its patent in 1996. Coincidence?

*** UPDATE 3 *** We have updated with three more affairs revealed by Republicans in 1998 following the Lewinsky scandal -- Henry Hyde, Dan Burton and our first woman on this list, Helen Chenoweth.

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
Fighting back tears at a news conference he assembled, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) admitted that he had an affair with a woman living in Argentina. "I have been unfaithful to my wife," he said. "I hurt you all. I hurt my wife. I hurt my boys. And all I can say is I apologize."

Sanford also announced he was resigning his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

The governor's stunning revelation caps a three-day media frenzy, in which it was first reported that the governor was missing; then his staff said he had been hiking the Appalachian Trail; and this morning, the State newspaper discovered he had been in Argentina.

Video: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford holds a news conference to explain his absence from the state, and admits he's been having an affair with an Argentinean woman.

In the news conference, Sanford revealed that the affair began about a year ago, that he's seen the woman three times since it began, and that his wife and family found out about it five months ago. Sanford said he and the woman exchanged e-mails and the relationship began as a "casual" friendship. He seemed to suggest that his reason for traveling to Argentina was to end the extramarital affair. He said he spent five days "crying" there, so "repeat it when I came back here."

He also said he told his staff that the Appalachian Trail where he was thinking about going.

Sanford apologized to a myriad of people, including his wife, four sons, friends and the state of South Carolina. He asked for forgiveness, but said he understood that would not come easily.

"I'm committed to trying to get my heart right," he said.

From NBC's Mark Murray
In advance of President Obama's meeting tomorrow to discuss immigration reform with congressional Democrats and Republicans, immigration advocates held a conference call today with reporters, urging the Obama administration to make immigration a priority -- this year.

Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento said that tomorrow's meeting will tell them whether the White House is serious about enacting comprehensive immigration reform or whether it's timid. "Delaying immigration reform will be a mistake," he said, arguing that the country can no longer accept the status quo.

Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of ImmigrationWorks USA, added that when the economy begins to recover, employers will need immigrant labor. "This is the time to do it. This is the time to start preparing for the economic recovery."

Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, said it was smart policy and smart politics to take up immigration reform. He noted that Obama was elected in no small part because independent voters thought he and the Democrats were best able to find solutions to challenging problems like immigration. He also said Republicans "will have a huge price to pay" if they are seen as blocking immigration reform and scapegoating immigrants and Latinos.

Asked about Robert Gibbs' recent comment that the "math" might be against immigration reform this year, Sharry replied, "When it comes to counting votes in the U.S. Congress, we tend to look to Harry Reid before Robert Gibbs."

Senate Majority Leader Reid, per Sharry, has said that the votes are there.

From NBC's Winston Wilde
Republican members on the House Energy and Commerce Committee wanted Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

to promise this morning that the president demands his broad health care overhaul will not add to the deficit.

Rep. Joe Barton asked Sebelius: "I want to establish on the record: there'll be no increase in the deficit?" 

To which Sebelius assured: "That's what the President has stated: it will be paid for."

Sebelius echoed that she shared the President's philosophy: "Protect what works, and fix what's broken," she said. She also said in her testimony that the president has already pinpointed inefficiencies in the current health-care system from which about $950 billion in revenue can be generated over the next decade.

Video: Senate Democrats have reportedly cut about $400 billion off their health care proposal, bringing the $1.6 trillion price tag under $1.2 trillion. Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, discusses how this is still more than most lawmakers are willing to spend.

Many Republican members remained skeptical that these funds could finance the lofty health-care reforms proposed in the House's draft legislation. 

Sebelius cautioned that she is still waiting on the Congressional Budget Office score report that would actually put a number on how much the proposed health-care legislation would cost.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Don't look now, but an AP wire just crossed that shows, "At least 56 killed, 104 wounded in bombing in Baghdad's main Shiite district," per Iraqi officials.

There really are so many moving parts in the early months of this Obama presidency. They all seem to have a feeling of either all working out -- or coming off at the hinges.

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
With the disappearance of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, it prompted us to take a look at the other potential Republican 2012 candidates. Just how have they fared in these first five months of Obama's presidency? It's been a tough stretch for many in the group.
 
Who's up? Who's down? And who comes out ahead?
 
We took a brief stab at this in First Thoughts, but here's a more detailed look.
 
DOWN.
MARK SANFORD: The words "I'm hiking the Appalachian Trail" will forever be engrained in the American lexicon to be colloquially akin to "AWOL" or "MIA." But, in a stranger twist, Sanford, himself, revealed he didn't go hiking at all. He thought about it, but, in fact, he took off for Buenos Aires, Argentina. When it first came to light that Sanford had been missing for days, his staff said, in part, the governor was "taking some time away from the office this week to recharge after the stimulus battle and the legislative session." Sanford stepped into the 2012 spotlight, taking on President Obama on the stimulus and taking the bold move of rejecting funds for his state. Critics -- Democrat and Republican -- hammered away, particularly because the stimulus money would have gone to help crumbling schools. He was then rebuffed by his state's Supreme Court and forced to take the money. Then, he bolted.
|

                                     
Video: Rachel Maddow reports on Sen. John Ensign's, R-NV, warm reception by fellow Republican senators in spite of his scandalous behavior.

JOHN ENSIGN: What's worse than disappearing for days and not telling anyone, not even your wife? How about revealing an affair with a former staffer? Just weeks after testing the 2012 waters by gripping and grinning in Iowa, the married Nevada senator admitted to an affair. While Nevadans appear ready to accept the transgression, any 2012 hopes Ensign had were dashed.
 
SARAH PALIN: First, there was her refusal of stimulus funds. Then, her debt fueled by those pesky state ethics grievances. And her slipping approval ratings. But what took the cake was the continued bad blood between her and Washington Republicans. There was the controversy over whether or not she would speak at the biggest Republican fundraiser of the year. The NRSC and NRCC announced she was speaking. The GOP then replaced her with Newt Gingrich, when her staff said it was never confirmed that she'd do the dinner. She eventually did attend, but was not allowed to speak -- so as not to upstage Gingrich. And that's not mentioning the Bristol-Levi break-up messiness.

Video:  A political panel debates whether the Republican Party really thinks former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the man to lead them back into the majority especially with all the outlandish remarks he makes against the Obama administration.

NEWT GINGRICH: Speaking of Gingrich, his star seemed to rise, until it fell with one fell Tweet. Gingrich had flirted with a 2008 presidential bid. And the party seemed to turn to him for ideas. That is until he Twittered that Obama's Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor -- the first Latina nominated for the post -- was a "racist." Gingrich backtracked just days before he was set to keynote the biggest Republican fundraiser of the year.
 
BOBBY JINDAL: Jindal seems to be exactly whom the party was looking for: experienced, smart, young, and a minority -- that is until his response to President Obama's first address to Congress. His too-folksy approach (and those volcanoes) was widely panned. He didn't sound or look like the Jindal political observers had come to know and the 37-year-old Louisiana governor has since taken a step back from the spotlight.
 
RICK PERRY: Fired up at a "tea party," Perry -- a fierce Palin ally who likely faces the fight of his political life in 2010 against Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison -- intimated that Texas should secede from the union. "We've got a great union," he said. "There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot." It's hard to run to lead the UNITED States when you talk about seceding.
 
UP/EVEN.
MITT ROMNEY: By default, Romney perhaps comes out of this first five months looking the best of any of the GOP potential candidates. He hasn't had any major fumbles, stumbles or gaffes. And he's kept himself as a prime booking on the morning shows to serve as the tempered opposition to Barack Obama.
 
WHAT'S LEFT?

TIM PAWLENTY: Pawlenty's job approval took a hit when he wavered on whether or not he'd sign a certification for Democrat Al Franken if the state Supreme Court ruled in his favor after the never-ending Senate race between Franken and Republican Norm Coleman. He has announced he's not running for a third term, fueling speculation that he might run in 2012. In a wide-open field, Pawlenty -- who has bucked the conservative hard line, calling for a big-tent party -- could see a resurgence, if he can keep himself in the spotlight.

CHARLIE CRIST: Front-runner for the Senate in 2010. Who knows what's next. He's certainly ambitious, was on the short list for McCain's VP and has high approvals as governor. He's struck a more moderate tone, but his outspoken support for the stimulus still provides a significant hurdle with the GOP base. But first, he's got to win his primary against Marco Rubio and then the general election...
 
HALEY BARBOUR: The Republican Party has gotten whiter, more Southern and older, but Barbour -- who fits those three boxes – appears to be testing the 2012 waters. He's in New Hampshire today and Iowa tomorrow. The outspoken Barbour, a former Republican National Committee chairman and vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association, has upped his profile this year. On Monday, Barbour campaigned with Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Bob McDonnell and was on Capitol Hill yesterday attacking Obama's and Democrats' health care proposals. (By the way, the chairman of the RGA is Sanford).
 
MIKE HUCKABEE: Has bucked his party, going after the National Republican Senatorial Committee for its endorsement of Charlie Crist in the GOP primary. He's taken a tougher tone toward the president and tried to keep himself in the spotlight with his FOX TV show and Huck PAC. Going after the GOP establishment is risky business. But his top finish in Iowa in '08 will keep his name out there. Huckabee's problem was always that he didn't have a real campaign organization, and he admitted he doesn't like raising money. So far, there aren't any signs he's ramping up any of this. But it's very early.

OTHER 2012 POSSIBILITIES.
BOB CORKER:

The freshman senator made his name during the auto bailout hearings. He has stayed generally quiet and out of the spotlight since. But he's clearly ambitious and has made sure to get his office's press releases in national reporters' e-mail inboxes.
 
JOHN THUNE: Clearly ambitious, he's maneuvered to be the favorite to replace Ensign to the No. 4 elected GOP leadership spot. The election to replace Ensign happens tomorrow.
 
MIKE PENCE: Pence has led the House GOP opposition to Democrats' energy plan, labeling cap-and-trade "cap-and-tax" over and over and over. He took a really tough tone at CPAC, criticizing President Obama on the stimulus and more with red meat for the activist crowd. He's made the cable rounds, but it remains to be seen if average voters could pick him out of a lineup – as is the case for all on this list.
 
PAUL RYAN: Seen as one of the party's rising stars -- he's young, affable and articulate. He's been given some opportunities to speak out. This past weekend, he was on FOX Sunday and criticized the administration for wanting to take the U.S. to a more "European" model, and he criticized a public/government option this way: "[H]aving the government compete against the private sector -- it's kind of like my 7-year-old daughter's lemonade stand competing against McDonald's. It's the government being the referee and player in the same game." The words are as tough as any House Republicans, but his tone isn't as hot.
 
OFF THE TABLE.
JON HUNTSMAN: Obama's former Campaign Manager David Plouffe named Huntsman as one potential 2012 threat. Soon after, the former Utah governor – a fluent Mandarin speaker and health reform advocate – was named Obama's U.S. ambassador to China.

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Earlier in the "First Thoughts" update, we hinted about how politically treacherous it can be to cross the Democratic Party campaign apparatus that is supporting the president on health care reform. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is finding out the hard way.

Here's that previously referenced release put out by AFSCME pres. Gerald McEntee, who has been keeping somewhat of a low profile these last few months. It was a rocket.

From the release:

"Senator Feinstein's comments today take the discussion of health care reform in the wrong direction. Fixing our health care system simply can't wait. The millions of Americans who pay too much and still don't get the care they need can't wait. And the economy can't wait. To fix the economy we must fix health care."  

"It is clear to every American that our health care system is in crisis. The cost of coverage is out of sight and getting worse. Health care is the single biggest drag on our nation and we cannot fix the economy without fixing health care. The debate has long since moved beyond the question of whether to reform our health care system – we have to fix health care this year.

"Every senator should ask themselves how they can help make quality, affordable health care for all a reality. AFSCME agrees with the President that by giving Americans a choice of insurance plans, including a public health insurance option, we can help lower costs and keep the insurance industry honest."  

Sen. Feinstein, what say you?

From NBC's Ken Strickland
On the Senate floor, the Senate has begun impeachment proceedings for U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent, a process which will take several weeks to complete. Kent is alleged to have sexually assaulted two employees and then lied about it to federal investigators. As part of a plea deal, he is serving a 33-month prison sentence.

In a letter to President Obama, Kent said he'd resign from the bench in June 2010. But some House members want him out sooner to prevent him from collecting his taxpayer-funded salary while he's in jail. House Republican Lamar Smith says that amounts to $465 a day.

Today proceedings in the Senate will look like this:
-- Five House members present four "articles of impeachment," which will be read aloud. Every senator is expected to be in attendance.

-- As is constitutionally required before the Senate trial begins, a senior Republican administers the oath to the acting President Pro Tempore, who in turn administers the oath to all senators.

-- The Senate will then pass two resolutions. The first summons Kent and sets a date by which he must file a response to the impeachment. The second resolution appoints a bipartisan impeachment committee, which starts the process of gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, etc.

The impeachment committee will take several weeks -- maybe months -- to complete its work before in the matter returns to the Senate floor. It takes two-thirds of senators present for a conviction.

From NBC's Mark Murray
The governor's office just announced that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will have a media availability at the statehouse at 2:00 pm ET.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Sanford's tango: Well, it turns out that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) wasn't hiking the Appalachian Trail after all. Instead, he was in -- get this -- Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here's South Carolina's State newspaper: "Gov. Mark Sanford arrived in the Hartsville-Jackson International Airport Wednesday morning, having wrapped up a seven-day visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina." Sanford "said he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over how to spend federal stimulus money… Sanford said he was alone on the trip. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline… When asked why his staff said he was on the Appalachian Trail, Sanford replied, 'I don't know.'" But "Sanford later said 'in fairness to his staff,' he had told them he might go hiking on the Appalachian Trial… It was a long session and I needed a break.'" Our question: Who goes to one of the world's most romantic cities in the world alone? That's going to be the question that nags at many folks following the Sanford story. And since there have been misleading statements for the last three days on this issue, who is going to believe the full story from Sanford now? Don't cry for me, Argentina…

Video: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford tells a local newspaper he was actually in Argentina, not hiking the Appalachian Trail, as his staff had said Monday.

*** A 2012 curse? Here's a quick quiz. Who has had the tougher last five months: A) President Obama, B) congressional Republicans, or C) GOPers who might be considering a White House bid in 2012? If you're answer is C), you're probably right. Let's start with Mark Sanford, who has inspired a new phrase -- "I went hiking on the Appalachian Trail" -- to describe any kind of mysterious disappearance. (Wife's question: "Honey, where have you been the past couple of days?" Husband's answer: "I went hiking on the Appalachian Trail.") Of course, that probably will change now that Sanford was in Buenos Aires. Next, there's Sarah Palin, who has had a rough last several months; after all, when your spat with a late-night comedian has been the highlight of your 2009, you've had a tough year. Then there's Bobby Jindal, who has since stepped back from the spotlight after his dreadful response to Obama's address to Congress. John Ensign dipped his toes in the Iowa waters, but then confessed last week to having an affair. And Newt Gingrich got in trouble -- and didn't do himself any favors among Latino voters -- when he called Sonia Sotomayor a racist. Even the person who was supposed to be the moderate in the 2012 field, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, has gone to work for … the Obama administration.

*** Lesson -- don't act like you're running: By process of elimination, the potential 2012 candidate who has probably had the best five months is Mitt Romney, who has delivered a few hard-hitting speeches at Obama but has largely stayed out of the spotlight. And that very well could be the lesson to this story. After all, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton did their best to stay away from the presidential buzz in 2005-2006. We didn't even know Obama was thinking about a presidential bid until right before the midterms, and Clinton didn't set foot in Iowa and New Hampshire until after she announced she was running for president in January 2007. On the other hand, John Edwards was running for president as soon as the 2004 contest ended, and that didn't work out so great for him…

*** Obama's tougher rhetoric: Turning to the man who hopes there isn't a 2012 curse on the Democratic side, President Obama covered a lot of ground during his press conference yesterday -- on health care, energy, even his smoking habit. But the issue that dominated, of course, was Iran. He unleashed his harshest rhetoric, saying he was "appalled and outraged" by the violence there. But Obama also maintained those new words shouldn't be interpreted as new policy. "Track what I've been saying right after the election. I said that we had profound concerns about the nature of the election… As soon as violence broke out, in fact, in anticipation of potential violence, we were very clear in saying that violence was unacceptable." And he denied that his new tougher rhetoric was a response to criticism from Republicans such as John McCain. "John McCain has genuine passion about many of these international issues, and I think that all of us share a belief that we want justice to prevail," he said. "But only I'm president of the United States." Finally, he clearly didn't want to publicly make any threat of consequences to the Iranian government.

Video: In a midday news conference President Obama says he's "appalled and outraged" by the actions taken by Iran's government after a disputed election. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.

*** Iranian diplomacy: Behind the scenes, there's been some news on the diplomatic front. On the record, the president clearly is doing his best to keep his options open regarding Iran. As the Washington Post's Balz points out, this president always finds a way to give himself wiggle room -- no matter the issue. And that's clearly the case with Iran. Also, an interesting report in the Washington Times about possible communication between the U.S. (via the Swiss) to the Supreme Leader in Iran (pre-election) sparked this response from a senior administration official, who wouldn't confirm the story: "We have indicated a willingness to talk for a long time and have sought to communicate with the Iranians in a variety of ways. We have made it clear that any real dialogue -- multilateral or bilateral -- needed to be authoritative. Not gonna get into the specifics of our different ways of communicating, but there is an outstanding direct request from the Perm 5 plus 1 that was made on April 8th. The Iranians have yet to respond to that." Couple this with NBC News' Libby Leist's reporting that a State Department official says any BILATERAL diplomatic outreach is now "on ice" and it's clear whatever policy the Obama administration wanted to pursue with Iran has now changed to something that's more multi-lateral.

*** Health care day: The focus of Obama's Wednesday is on health care. At 2:00 pm ET, he discusses the issue with Govs. Jennifer Granholm (D), Jim Douglas (R), Jim Doyle (D), Mike Rounds (R), and Christine Gregoire (D). Then he participates in a televised town hall on health care, which ABC will televise beginning at 10:00 pm ET. Of course, Obama made plenty of news on the subject in yesterday's press conference. He suggested, as he has before, that reducing health-care costs is a higher priority than ensuring universal coverage; he advocated for a public/government option to compete with private insurance, but implied that it was negotiable (again, wiggle room); and he issued his strongest challenge to private insurers who are worrying that a government option will drive them out of business. "If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care, if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government -- which they say can't run anything -- suddenly is going to drive them out of business?" he asked. "That's not logical." However, Obama did seem to struggle a bit when asked a question about how he could ensure Americans that they would keep their health-care plans if there was a government option. But he replied that businesses are ALREADY dropping their plans…

*** Targeting DiFi: By the way, for those in the chattering class who somehow think health-care reform is in trouble, remember that there is a very sophisticated campaign apparatus that is in place to support the president on this issue. Just ask Sen. Dianne Feinstein about that apparatus. After her comments on Sunday suggesting the president didn't have the votes for health care, she found herself under the rhetorical siege by MoveOn and AFSCME's Gerald McEntee. Is this a warning to other wavering Senate Dems?

*** Just askin': Was anyone else surprised at the president's downcast rhetoric on the stimulus? He seemed to side with the public polls on this issue, admitting that the recovery act wasn't getting money out fast enough. In addition, he volunteered that he was not pleased how the mortgage assistance program was working. Congressional Republicans will likely attempt to use his surprisingly blunt stimulus talk against him politically. The president is counting on straight talk to buy him more time.

*** A planted questioner? Perhaps the most controversial moment at yesterday's press conference occurred when Nico Pitney of the Huffington Post got the second question and asked the president a question he had received from an Iranian. Some in the media wondered if Pitney was a planted questioner, and it does appear that the White House wanted him to ask his question. The Washington Post's Dana Milbank wrote, "The use of planted questioners is a no-no at presidential news conferences, because it sends a message to the world -- Iran included -- that the American press isn't as free as advertised." Politico originally said it was a "clearly coordinated" exchange. Pitney later said he was never promised a question, and Arianna Huffington responded that some in the media "can't seem to understand why the president would have the nerve to call on someone whose Iran coverage has been praised throughout the media, from Charlie Rose to Andrew Sullivan to the Economist." The ultimate irony to all this? The president didn't really answer the question -- specifically the part that asked him to lay out the conditions at which he'd accept Ahmadinejad's election. (Editor's note: We changed our original headline here from "Planted Question" to "Planted Questioner," because no one is accusing Pitney of asking a planted question.)

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The New York Times: "In his strongest comments since the crisis erupted 10 days ago, Mr. Obama used unambiguous language to assail the Iranian government during a news conference at the White House, calling himself 'appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings and imprisonments of the past few days.'" 

AP's Burns writes, "President Barack Obama described himself on Tuesday as being 'entirely consistent' in his expressions of concern about the disputed Iranian election and the government crackdown that followed street protests. But his language clearly has gotten tougher since his first statement that the suppression of dissent was 'of concern to me.'"

Video: During President Obama's afternoon press conference Tuesday, he refuted suggestions that he is only now getting tough on Iran. Is his measured approach still the right one? Rachel Maddow is joined by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Certainly, the president's rhetoric has gotten progressively tougher. But the White House would argue -- as the president did yesterday -- that his language has tracked with the situation. When Republicans first expressed outrage about what John McCain called a "fraud" election, Obama tempered his words. After all, the U.S. and the international community had no independent election monitors at polling stations in Iran. And as Obama said, he didn't want to inflame the situation and make the U.S. a "foil" or an excuse for the Iranian government to use violence against protestors. When the Iranian government threatened violence, Obama spoke out more strongly. And now that the government has acted, he has taken his toughest tone. That, the White House would argue, is consistent.

The New York Daily News' cover has a photo of an aggrieved Obama from yesterday's press conference with the headline: "Death that broke his heart." Subheadline: "Obama grieves for Iranian martyr Neda."

Today, Obama will "meet with a bipartisan group of governors who co-hosted regional forums on health reform earlier this year. They include Democrats Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Jim Doyle of Wisconsin and Christine Gregoire of Washington, and Republicans Jim Douglas of Vermont and Mike Rounds of South Dakota," the AP reports. "The White House says the meeting will serve as a forum for the governors to share what they learned and discuss the health care overhaul and skyrocketing health care costs."

"For President Barack Obama, the MRIs and other medical scans for Medicare patients that cost the government billions are prime targets for cuts to help finance health care overhaul," the AP adds. "The response from physicians and industry: a lobbying counterattack accusing Obama of denying patients the lifesaving tools they need. Patients, rural doctors and advocacy groups who back the procedures will gather in the House Wednesday for a panel discussion, part of the campaign. The industry spearheaded a bipartisan letter to Obama from 57 House members objecting to the cuts. It has staged events in North Carolina and other states where senators face re-election next year. And it is using a Web site and newspaper ads to encourage people to complain to Congress about the proposal."

Video: President Obama explains that proposed health care reform legislation 'must and will get paid for' while preserving what is best about the current American health care system.

Politico: "As Senate Democratic leaders voiced increasing skepticism about reaching a bipartisan health care compromise, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and a high-powered delegation of administration officials huddled with key Democratic senators on Capitol Hill Tuesday. The aim, according to one participant, was to 'compare notes' as pressure builds on the administration's goal of passing a health care bill this year with support from both sides of the aisle.

Politico: "Amid all its other budget woes, the Obama administration now estimates it will need $20 billion in new savings or revenues to shore up the finances for the highway trust fund until after the 2010 elections."

On his smoking, the New York Post ribs the president with this headline: "Inhale to the chief."

  
Video: At a news conference Tuesday, President Barack Obama admitted that he sometimes falls off the wagon in his struggle to stop smoking. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

Obama will finally throw out that first pitch -- and it's at the All Star Game in St. Louis on July 14. "The appearance is part of a one-day, two-stop tour that will take him to the presidential battleground states of Michigan and Missouri. Obama's first appearance will be in Detroit, where he will hold a 'town hall' style meeting."

The Hill: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)

is moving forward with a floor vote on climate change legislation this week even though many Democrats are undecided on the controversial bill. Pelosi's gamble to schedule a Friday vote is one of the riskiest moves she has made as Speaker. There are at least eight Democrats who are firm 'no' votes, while many others are on the fence." 

Video: Officials in Washington, D.C., still don't know what caused two commuter trains to collide, but there are several clues they are considering. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.

"Public transit advocates seized on Monday's commuter rail crash in Washington to make the case for overhauling the country's transportation system."

"Senate Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a new narrative ahead of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings, questioning her commitment to constitutional guarantees on the right to keep and bear arms and equal treatment under the law regardless of race or gender," the AP writes.

"The senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee even questioned whether Sotomayor sufficiently opposes terrorism, citing what he said was the 'extensive work' she had done for a group formerly named the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. 'This is a group that has taken some very shocking positions with respect to terrorism,' Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama said." 
 
Roll Call: "In a series of Senate floor speeches, Republicans leveled their harshest criticism of Sotomayor to date, accusing the federal judge and President Barack Obama of espousing a view of the judiciary based on empathy that is little more than racial or gender prejudice."
 
More from Jeff Sessions:

"When there is empathy toward one, is it not prejudice toward the other? There are always litigants on the other side, and they deserve to have their cases decided on the law. ... What I've seen thus far in Judge Sotomayor's record -- and presumably some of her views are the reason President Obama selected her -- cause me concern that the nominee will look outside the law and the evidence in judging and that her policy preferences could influence her decision-making."
 
Mitch McConnell

""called Sotomayor's empathy 'troubling.' "Judge Sotomayor's writings offer a window into what she believes having empathy for certain groups means when it comes to judging. And I believe that once Americans come to appreciate the real-world consequences of this view, they'll find the empathy standard extremely troubling as a criterion for selecting men and women for the federal bench," he said.

Politico's Vandehei and Martin argue for a Republican comeback: "Polls show that the GOP is wise to focus most of its attacks on spending, government intervention and job losses. (Those same polls show the public has low regard for Republicans on these issues, but it's a significant development that President Barack Obama's numbers are slipping in these areas, too.) And just as importantly, GOP leaders on Capitol Hill privately recognize the need to distance themselves a bit from George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich -- even though they've done poor job of doing so thus far."

Video: Comedian Lewis Black comments on the Republican Party's funnier foibles including Gov. Mark Sanford's five day disappearance to go hiking. 
 
But are we seeing a shorter-than-expected bench? The AP: "South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's mysterious disappearance from his state is the latest sign that Republican governors, once thought to be President Obama's most credible adversaries, haven't quite lived up to their billing. From Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's cringe-inducing nationally televised response to Obama's first budget address to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's suggestion that his state might secede, GOP governors -- including those said to be eyeing a potential 2012 presidential bid -- haven't exactly looked like the political grown-ups many party strategists had promised. And none has had a rockier go of it than the party's best-known governor, Alaska's Sarah Palin."

Meanwhile, Dick Cheney has inked a book deal. "The book will be published in the spring of 2011 by Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, where Mary Matalin, a former close aide to Cheney is editor in chief, the newspaper said. Simon & Schuster is a unit of CBS Corp."
 

The New York Daily News: "The memoir by Cheney, widely considered the most powerful vice president in history, is expected to be published in Spring 2011, a few months after President George W. Bush's book comes out. Cheney's work is currently untitled and will cover his long career in government, from chief of staff under President Gerald Ford to vice president under Bush, from Vietnam and Watergate to the first Gulf War and the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks."
 
Who needs historians? Cheney tells the AP: "I'm persuaded there are a lot of interesting stories that ought to be told," Cheney said. "I want my grandkids, 20 or 30 years from now, to be able to read it and understand what I did, and why I did it."

Video: Former President Richard Nixon is heard making a blunt comment about abortion to aide Charles Colson.

Finally, new Nixon tapes were out yesterday that showed, most notably his views on abortion, including this choice bit, per the New York Times: "'There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,' he told an aide, before adding: 'Or a rape.'" As Ben Smith pointed out yesterday, Barack Obama, who was the product of a black father and white mother, was 11 at the time.

FLORIDA: "Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee (R)

on Tuesday lit into the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for endorsing Gov. Charlie Crist over another Republican in Florida's open Senate race. Huckabee announced his official support for former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) in a video Tuesday. In an interview with The Hill, he criticized the NRSC for turning its back on a true conservative. 'I'm disgusted that they would take a position in a hotly contested race when you have a quality candidate like Marco Rubio, who was the youngest Speaker in the Florida House,' Huckabee said. 'This is not just some nameless, faceless guy that decided to throw his name in, who had no chance and no credibility.'"

NEW JERSEY: "Corzine is ready to file a brief in support of an existing lawsuit claiming the 1992 federal sports betting ban is unconstitutional, a source said on Tuesday," per ESPN.

The move comes after state Sen. Ray Lesniak filed a lawsuit shortly after neighboring Delaware moved to reinstate sports betting there. Corzine's appears to be "reacting to Delaware approving it, the nationwide financial crisis and a recent poll indicating the majority of New Jersey residents want it."

VIRGINIA: Ad wars: Republican Bob McDonnell will launch a new campaign ad in markets across Virginia later this week. Although his opponent Creigh Deeds does not plan to retaliate with his own spot, his campaign manager emailed supporters, saying it signals the concerns of McDonnell and national Republicans about the race. McDonnell's spokesman reproached Deeds for "going negative right at the start of this campaign. Virginia wants new ideas, not baseless attacks." 

From NBC's Luke Russert

Republicans tried to broaden the debate on health-care reform today by calling on Americans to notice the effect that a government health-care plan would have on individual states.
 
In a rare appearance on Capitol Hill, Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi said, "My experience with the federal government is if the government runs something it usually costs me more and gives me less."
 
Barbour added, "As a governor I can tell you that states are worried about the great expansion of Medicaid."
 
Barbour, who campaigned yesterday with Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell, warned that Medicaid can account for up to 20% of a state's budget and that health-care issues often lead to long state legislature battles that tie down state budgets.

The governor also claimed that under a government health-care plan up to "300,000 Mississippians could be added to Medicaid."
 
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) made the point that health-care coverage varies from state to state and that "a Washington takeover of health care will limit the flexibility of our states and hurt working families around our country."
 
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) mocked the fact that a government run plan could be on the same level as one from the private sector.

Video: MSNBC's Ed Schultz is joined by Linda Doughlass, White House Communications Director for the Office of Health Care Reform, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., to discuss PresidentObama's aggressive demeanor toward the GOP on health care during his press conference on Tuesday.

"Most Americans know that the government competes with the private sector like an alligator competes with a duck," Pence said. "It consumes it."
 
On the topic of energy reform, the Republican lawmakers reiterated the party's rejection of the Democratic plan as a "national energy tax."

Barbour spoke at length on the issue, claiming that energy reform in the United States would end up hurting the environment in the long run. According to Barbour, more polluters would go overseas and thus be subjected to less regulation.

"The shame of it is a lot of these heavy energy-eating companies will go to Brazil or China or India and the use of coal there will have five times more greenhouse gas emissions than coal from Columbus, Miss.," he said.

Lastly, Barbour said that despite upcoming trips to New Hampshire and Iowa, that he has no intentions of running for president in 2012.

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
In advance of President Obama's televised town hall tomorrow on health care, the Republican National Committee is airing a new 60-second TV ad that criticizes Obama's plans to overhaul the system.

Per the RNC, the ad will air on "select national cable outlets." An RNC spokeswoman wouldn't disclose the size of the ad buy, but said it was neither small nor large.

[Youtube:EzyGFKA_PSw]

Script: 
"Today a national TV network turns its airwaves over to President Obama's pitch for government-run health care." 
"Shouldn't this be a bipartisan discussion?"
"Republicans want health care reform that reduces costs across the board."
"Republicans believe every single American deserves quality health care."
"Republicans also believe another government takeover would diminish health care choice and quality."
"President Obama talks about a "public option."  When he says "public option", that means putting government bureaucrats in charge…instead of patients and their doctors." 
"It's a bad idea."
"Republicans want bipartisan health care reform - a responsible plan that we can afford, where people are free to choose the best care for their families - without a government takeover."
"Tell President Obama to work with Republicans…and to stop rushing into another government takeover."
"The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

From NBC's Alex Beinstein
While Vice President Biden visited Perrysburg, Ohio, to promote the administration's green jobs initiative, Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) blasted President Obama's cap-and-trade proposal today on a Republican National Committee Conference call.

Latta argued that Democrats are insensitive about potential job losses, because they haven't gone out and talked to the people.

"I have talked to people at the gas pump and the grocery stores," he said, as evidence for his understanding of their energy concerns.

He also took his shots at California congressional Democrats -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi

and Rep. Henry Waxman

(D-CA), who has been shepherding the energy bill. Latta charged that they don't understand the effects the cap-and-trade legislation -- which he and other congressional Republicans continually call "cap-and-tax" -- because they come from what would be the the eighth least-affected state by it. Latta, on the other hand, would come from the eighth most affected one. 

He was citing a study from the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, from which he added that electricity costs would go up 90% by 2035 and gas prices would go up 58%. In turn he said this will lead to an additional 2.47 million people losing manufacturing jobs.

This is a similar tack used by congressional Republicans, particularly Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), during their weekly news conferences on Capitol Hill.

From NBC's Luke Russert

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) today expressed his desire to bring an energy reform bill to the House floor by Friday, he said in his weekly off camera briefing with reporters. 

"It is quite possible maybe even probable that we will go to the energy bill on Friday and complete the energy bill late Friday," Hoyer predicted.

The deadline has been set for Wednesday for any amendments to the bill, and Hoyer informed the press that there was "attentive work over the weekend" on the legislation.

Video: House Democrats just announced that they'll take a vote on a sweeping climate change bill by the end of the week. Venture capitalist Ira Ehrenpreis discusses why investing in green energy pays off in an economic downturn.

Asked if the Democrats were trying to bring the controversial bill to the floor on Friday night in order to play off representatives' desire to go home for the weekend and thus force a quick compromise, Hoyer said no and pointed out that the blueprint for the legislation has been public since May.

Like most pieces of environmental legislation, Democrats are attempting to find a consensus within their own party on how to move forward. Since May, the Democratic Leadership has said they would like the energy reform bill passed by the July 4th recess, which begins next week.

On health care, Hoyer cited a recent CBS News/New York Times poll from the weekend that showed 85% of Americans believe the health-care system is broken.

Hoyer said he took the poll results as evidence that real reform was needed. Hoyer said Democrats want to "build on the existing system and to "expand choice."

He was also emphatic that a Democratic plan would not force Americans into government-run health care.

"If you got it; you like it; you keep it," he said.

As he has previously done, the majority leader set the August break as the desired deadline to get a health-care bill out of the House.

Lastly, on what is now the seldom-mentioned topic of immigration reform, Hoyer said that it was still a Democratic priority and that it would receive attention in the coming months.