Odds And Ends, Let The Confirmation Hearings Begin

Confirmation hearings for Pres.-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet commenced today with Tom Daschle's appearance in front of his former colleagues. The HHS Sec nom cautioned that "as we face a harsh and deep recession, the problem of the uninsured is likely to grow."

Sarah Palin explains why Katie Couric isn't the center of the universe.

Sorry, Sanjay. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) works to block Pres.-elect Obama's selection of the CNN doc for Surgeon General.

The Samoa News reports that local Dems are gearing up to welcome DNC chief Howard Dean. A paper editorial: "A visit to the territory by Governor Howard Dean, currently chair of the National Democratic party is historic by any measure. It gives those of us out in 'the territories' hope that we will not be forgotten by the Obama administration."

VP Dick Cheney confirms that Obama is indeed the pres.-elect.

Expect Obama to officially name Leon Panetta as his CIA director tomorrow during a 10:30 event at the transition office in Washington.

And per the transition: Obama will meet 1/12 with Mexico's President Felipe Calderón in Washington at the Mexican Cultural Institute. "There is a long-standing tradition, since 1980, of U.S. presidents meeting with the Mexican president prior to being sworn in to underscore the important relationship between the United States and Mexico. This meeting is in keeping with that tradition."