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Rep. Brian Bilbray was one of several California Republicans to endure a closer-than-expected reelection win in 2008, and he

The National Republican Senatorial Committee launched a web ad Tuesday morning that attacks President Obama for not living up to his campaign promises.

The ad, titled

President Obama is practicing the stereotypically ruthless Chicago-style politics despite having pledged to move beyond typical partisan squabbles, one Republican senator alleged Tuesday.

Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) said that the administration is steamrolling those who disagree with their budget by threatening to use the budget reconciliation process to pass the budget resolution.

"In this post-partisan time of Barack Obama, we're seeing a little Chicago politics," Bond told National Public Radio. "They steamroller those who disagree with them, then, I guess in Chicago, they coat them in cement and drop them in the river."

The reconciliation process is an option available to Congress that allows them to sidestep rules allowing for a filibuster, and only requiring a simple majority to pass the budget.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) warned that the administration would be taking a risk by shutting out Republicans' minority votes, reasoning that he would then totally own the budget politically.

"It's a big gamble, because if you do it with no bipartisan buy-in at all, you own the whole thing politically," McConnell told NPR.

Listen to the NPR segment here.

The Obama administration laid out its priorities to securing the Southwest U.S. border amidst a drug war in Mexico, committing to send some additional forces to the border.

Led by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano -- former governor of border state Arizona -- the U.S. government will spend $700 million to work with Mexican law enforcement to stem the drug war, and will invest in reducing the demand for drugs in the U.S. that is fueling the war in Mexico.

"The President is concerned by the increased level of violence, particularly in Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana, and the impact that it is having on the communities on both sides of the border," the White House said in a statement announcing the policy. "He believes that the United States must continue to monitor the situation and guard against spillover into the United States."

And, touching on the hot-button issue of illegal immigration, the White House was sure to note that the president is "firmly committed" to secure borders and reducing the flows of illegal immigration.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appears to be in good shape for his re-election bid for his third term, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday.

Bloomberg carried a 64 percent approval rating in the poll. He also defeats both of his potential challengers in the poll, but doesn Read more...

A new poll by John Zogby, due to be released today, is already causing a stir among the right-wing blogosophere. The poll, which the Boston Herald got its hands on first, says President Obama's approval rating has dipped to 50 percent.

As he looks ahead to his first G-20 summit, President Obama Read more...

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) will reform its presidential nominating process to shorten the window of primaries and caucuses, and reduce the number of controversial "superdelegates," which dominated the 2008 process.

Gov. Tim Kaine (D), chairman of the DNC, established a special commission -- headed by House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) -- to reform the process that dragged out the primary battles between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

According to the DNC, the commission will have three official goals: 1) changing the dates between which primaries and caucuses may be held, 2) reducing the number of superdelegates, and 3) improving the caucus system.

"This Commission will focus on reform that improves the presidential nominating process to put voters first and ensure that as many people as possible can participate," Kaine said in a statement. "I want to thank all the members of the Commission who have agreed to serve, including Congressman Clyburn and Senator McCaskill who have graciously agreed to serve as co-chairs."

The recommendations of the commission will be due by Jan. 1 of next year, and, Kaine said, it would work with the Republican National Committee (RNC) on some issues.

Former Rep. Scott McInnis (R) is privately eyeing a run for governor of Colorado, he has told associates.

McInnis, who served in the House until 2004, is privately telling supporters, "I'm in," the Denver Post reported.

McInnis would take on Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D), though not before likely facing state Sen. Josh Penry in the Republican primary.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) welcomed the newest member of her family on Sunday: Isabella Pelosi Kaufman, who was born in San Francisco to Pelosi's daughter, Christine Pelosi, and her husband, Peter Kaufman.



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