The Hill Articles: August 6, 2009

Alaska freshman pegs Sotomayor as a moderate Senate approves $2 billion for ‘cash for clunkers’ Schiff up with Senate site, raises $465k Obama raises money for Deeds, sans healthcare talk Cantor swipes at Obama policy on Mideast trip DCCC raises the stakes in healthcare message fight with new website Medicaid costs fueling dispute between states, Senate Axelrod gives Dems their health talking points Lobbyists gain upper hand in Obama battle DAY’S END ROUNDUP Reid: Sotomayor confirmation a ‘testament’ to American dream House GOP chair: W.H. should clarify or remove controversial blog post Gregg: Retirement didn’t affect Sotomayor vote GAO: Postal Service in financial disarray Vitter justifies opposition to ‘Sotomayer’ OFA decries insurance company ‘scare tactics’ and ‘smears’ Scary Scare Tactics Sotomayor confirmed, 68-31 Local GOP plans ‘pep rally’ for town hall while giving Dem ‘kudos’ Rep. Moran ‘looking forward’ to town hall protesters Thompson jokes Twitter down because it’s on W.H. ‘enemies list’ Conrad, Issa spar over Countrywide probe President Obama: Withdraw citizen reporting program TOP TWEETS Q&A with Peter Navarro: Macroeconomic Expert and Best-Selling Author on China Obama ratings may be aiding GOP in Virginia Democrats slam town-hall protests as ‘phony’ Demoratic Governors Association touts Obama appearance with Deeds Ten Dem senators write Obama about climate bill NRCC calls Pelosi a ‘puppeteer’ Reid opposes effort to fill Senate vacancies by election MIDDAY ROUNDUP Brownback, Roberts force showdown over Gitmo detainees McCaskill: ‘NO WAY’ Congress will buy private jets Tea partiers plan on crashing Carnahan’s town hall Ebay auctioning Palin-signed video game system for over $1 million TARP lobbying rules just now in final stages Police called to Rep. Murphy’s town hall UPDATED Twitter crashes, political world disintegrates WH: Obama focused on healthcare progress Wicker unsure if health bill will reach Senate floor this year Senate cuts deal on cash for clunkers Judge refuses to OK $33M BofA settlement Gibbs: Couldn’t sell birther story in Hollywood Nonplussed by the Health Reform Bill Drudge Report Ling and Lee and the Al Gore Religion Huffington Post The Daily Beast Weekly Standard Firedoglake Hot Air MyDD The Corner Daily Kos Red State MORNING READ Union boasts of influence it has on White House