Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is continuing to celebrate his state's independence today -- independence from Mexico, that is.

Amidst talk last week of a potential Texan secession from the United States, Perry tweeted Tuesday in celebration of San Jacinto Day, which commemorates a decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, the battle to win the state's independence from Mexico.

Perry tweeted:

Running on a hallowed Texas holiday. Sunrise and reflecting how blessed we r to live n this great state!!

Sounds like Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) should have stuck with public transportation this morning. His tweet from about an hour ago:

Traffic! They can figure out how I can instantly communicate with you, but not how to move a disabled car from the left lane of I-95 in DC!

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) is back from recess, and we're betting he has some stories to tell.

The California conservative tweeted Tuesday:

Just returned from observing the Russian Navy in Sevastopol and verbally sparring with European parliamentarians in Prague.

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough is advising President Obama's critics to take it easy on the president when it comes to his handshake with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez over the weekend.

The former Florida Republican congressman tweeted:

I would not obsess over a handshake. I would be more concerned over the President's silence following a 55 minute anti-American screed.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is taking glee in his paper's fine showing in this year's Pulitzer Prize awards.

Kristof tweeted Monday:

Times won 5 more Pulitzers! Helps to soothe the pain. Dick Cheney must be stewing.

He then added:

A great day for the Times. Now we just need to win the Pulitzer for Best Business Model for a Newspaper.

Representatives from nine high-tech companies with emphases on new media technologies like Twitter will travel to Iraq next week, the State Department announced Monday.

CEOs, vice presidents and senior representatives from AT&T, Google, Twitter, Howcast, Meetup, You Tube, Automattic/Wordpress, and Blue State Digital will travel to Iraq April 19-23 to meet with Iraqi officials and discuss new media opportunities.

"During their visit to Iraq, they will provide conceptual input as well as ideas on how new technologies can be used to build local capacity, foster greater transparency and accountability, build upon anti-corruption efforts, promote critical thinking in the classroom, scale-up civil society, and further empower local entities and individuals by providing the tools for network building," the State Department said. "As Iraqis think about how to integrate new technology as a tool for smart power, we view this as an opportunity to invite the American technology industry to be part of this creative genesis."

The trip is the first of its kind for the new media pioneers.

Conservative blogger Matt Lewis of Townhall.com and AOL's Political Machine is waiting with bated breath for the call from Columbia University, where the Pulitzer prizes will be annouced this afternoon.

Lewis tweeted Monday:

Pulitzer Prize announcements come today around 3pm. Keeping my fingers crossed ...

Alarm bells at DNC finance? - Reid Wilson (The Hill)
It's a feisty start - Chris Cillizza (Washington Post)
What if Obama spied on GOPers? - Markos Moulitsas (kos)
Say no to Sebelius - Fred Thompson
Arrow toward the Hoover building - Atrios
Obama's message to Chavez's prisoners - Kevin Madden
The Harman links smell to high heaven - Aaron Keyak (NJDC)
Criticizing Obama while abroad? - Jake Tapper (ABC)
Russia shares Iranian concerns - Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
About to go on Bloomberg - Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)

You heard it hear, um, second. From Chris Cilliza's HyperFix tweet:

BREAKING: President Obama to appear at fundraiser for House/Senate Dems on June 18 in DC.

Obama previously held two fundraisers for the DNC in late March--a gala dinner and a small-donor event with Tony Bennett.