Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick wasted little time Monday making it clear he wants to fill the vacancy created by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy quickjly.

          Shortly before he died Tuesday night, Kennedy wrote Patrick that he wanted the state law changed so an interim senator could be named and serve immediately. Congress returns to work Sept. 8, and health care, the issue Kennedy called "the cause of my political life," is likely to dominate debate.

          Patrick said Monday at a Boston news conference, “

Massachusetts

          The primary will be held Dec. 8, with the election Jan. 19, and Patrick, as Kennedy wished, said he would get "personal assurance" from the appointee that he or she would not seek to run.

     A joint legislative committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Sept. 9, and Patrick could approve legislation as soon as late September. He could apparently then appoint a new senator the same day he signed the bill.

.     Among the appointees mentioned are former Gov. Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, and Kennedy's widow Vicki,though ABC News is reporing she is not interested in the seat.

Jenna Bush Hager, one of former President George W. Bush’s daughters, is joing NBC’s Today program as a contributing correspondent.

The release from NBC:

“Jenna Bush Hager has been named Contributing Correspondent for NBC News' "Today."  The announcement was made by "Today" Executive Producer, Jim Bell and is effective September 14.  Hager will be based in Washington, DC and will cover a variety of human interest and feature stories for America's number-one morning news program. 
 
"Jenna is a terrific addition to the 'Today' team," said Bell. "In previous appearances, she displayed a natural ability to communicate and connect. She has great passion about important subjects, especially education and literacy, and we look forward to having her bring her unique perspective to 'Today.'"
 
Hager is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, and she serves as the Young Leadership Ambassador & Chair for UNICEF's Next Generation committee, which aims to save, protect and improve the lives of children around the world.  Hager is currently a reading resource teacher at a public school in Baltimore, Maryland, where she will continue to work while at the "Today" show. 
 
Hager began her career as an elementary school teacher in 2005 in Washington, D.C.  Then, from September 2006 to May 2007, she embarked on an internship with UNICEF, which took her through Latin America and the Caribbean documenting the lives of children in need. 
 
Based on her work with UNICEF, Hager's first book, ANA'S STORY: A Journey of Hope, is both the true story of a 17-year-old single mother living with HIV in Latin America, and a call to action for kids of all ages to make a difference in the fight against poverty, abuse, and HIV/AIDS.  Since the book's publication, Hager has given over 50 speeches at libraries, schools and bookstores across the country to share the inspirational story of Ana and raise awareness about programs that benefit children in need. 
 
Hager's second book, READ ALL ABOUT IT!, is a picture book co-written with her mother, Mrs. Laura Bush.  The educational children's book was inspired by Hager and her mother's mutual love of reading and teaching.  Hager has also written articles for The New York Times and CosmoGIRL!
 
Hager graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 with a degree in English.”

Despite President Obama's determination to avoid every mistake made in Bill Clinton's pitch for a health care overhaul, he's getting almost exactly the same results in the polls.

A new survey by respected Republican pollster Bill McInturff released today finds remarkably similar results from an identical poll taken in June 1994, with both finding that the more people learned about the president's proposal, the less they liked it.

The key questions:

Familiar with the plan: 67 percent in 1994, 64 percent in 2009.

Favor the plan: 23 percent in 1994, 25 percent in 2009.

Oppose the plan: 35 percent in 1994, 37 percent in 2009.

No Opinion: 42 percent in 1994, 37 percent in 2009.

"The more I hear about the plan, the less I like it:" 52 percent in 1994, 49 percent in 2009

"The more I hear about the plan, the more I like it:" 34 percent in 1994, 38 percent in 2009.

"This data is hauntingly familiar to what we saw in 1994," McInturff said Thursday morning over breakfast with reporters. 

Before you write that McInturff is a Republican and somehow suspect, we find him to be a fair-minded pollster and find the wording of his questions straight and objective.

The poll of 800 registered voters was conducted Aug. 11-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is jumping into the fray over FOX News talk show host Glenn Beck, whose assertion last month that President Barack Obama is "a racist" led to a boycott of the companies advertising on his show, and ultimately, led some to drop their sponsorship of his show. (Although many have simply shifted advertising to other time slots on Fox, Politico reports.)

Palin on Wednesday had this to say on Facebook, the social networking website that, since she stepped down as governor, has been the former Republican vice presidential candidate's main platform for communicating with, well, just about everyone: (After the jump)

"FOX News' Glenn Beck is doing an extraordinary job this week walking America behind the scenes of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and outlining who is actually running the White House.

"Monday night he asked us to invite one friend to watch; tonight I invite all my friends to watch."

Palin is referring to Beck’s attack this week on the background of Van Jones, who the Los Angeles Times
describes as "a White House environmental advisor and co-founder of an African American political advocacy group that organized an advertising boycott of his program."

Color of Change launched the boycott of Beck's advertisers for remarks he made July 29 on "Fox and Friends," the cable channel’s morning program. He was talking about Obama’s "beer summit" between Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. and James Crowley, the Cambridge, Mass., police sergeant who arrested him. Here’s what Beck said: "This president, I think, has exposed himself as a guy over and over and over again, who has a deep-seated hatred for white people, or the white culture, I don’t know what it is," Beck said, going on to add that "I'm not saying he doesn't like white people, I'm saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist."

James Rucker, the executive director of Color of Change, told the L.A. Times that Jones hasn't been active in the organization for almost two years. In the same article, Rucker called Beck's effort to shift the focus to Jones "baseless fear mongering." Some 36 advertisers -- including Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble and AT&T -- stopped advertising on Beck's show, according to Brandweek Magazine. (For a provocative look at boycotts, read this column by Miami Herald TV critic Glenn Garvin.)

Palin herself was one of Beck’s first guests this winter when his show moved from CNN to FOX. (Here’s a link to the video on You Tube, where Beck grows emotional talking about how they both have special needs children. He also tells Palin she is "one hot grandma.") It has been her only appearance on the program, according to Media Matters for America, a liberal-leaning media watchdog group.

On the subject of race, Palin had this to say to Beck on Jan. 19, when he asked her whether, when Obama was sworn in the next day, if he was "your president tomorrow?"

Palin: "Absolutely, he is. We are all Americans and united we stand. I am proud of our country. I am proud to be able to acknowledge, finally, that color will never be a barrier henceforth. It should never be. Gender should not be a barrier for promotion, for elections, for anything else. Barack Obama represents that. So I am proud of where our country is today, and I look forward to the optimism and to the promise that I have faith in that his administration will help to usher in."

An aide woke the president at 2 a.m. to tell him Sen. Ted Kennedy was dead, and, according to a spokesman, the president spoke with Kennedy's widow about 25 minutes later.

Vacationing on Martha's Vineyard, not far from Kennedy's Cape Cod home, the president called his press pool together to make a statement about 10 a.m.

He said of one of his most important political backers and Senate mentors that "even though we have known this day was coming for some time now, we awaited it with no small amount of dread" and spoke of the courage with which Kennedy faced his fight with brain cancer.

"His fight has given us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye."

The president said Kennedy's social welfare ideals had left a mark on American policy "and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including myself."

"The Kennedy name is synonymous with the Democratic Party, and at times Ted was the target of partisan campaign attacks. But in the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle."

A group opposing President Obama’s health care proposals on Wednesday suspended a TV ad campaign it was running in Boston and on Martha’s Vineyard, out of deference to the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy.

“With the sad news of Senator Kennedy’s passing Conservatives for Patients Rights is immediately suspending our ad campaign for health care reform out of respect to the Kennedy family as well as the Senator’s colleagues and supporters,” th egfroiup said in a statement.

“We know the debate will continue – a debate Senator Kennedy embraced with vigor – and we look forward to engaging in the debate in the months ahead.  But now is a time for respect, reflection and remembrance. 

“Senator Kennedy’s lifetime of dedicated public service transcended multiple generations.  His devotion to many issues and his relentless passion made him a hero to his supporters and worthy adversary to his opponents.  His voice and presence will be missed.”

They were the most prominent political family of a half century, the family of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. They also were the most prominent Roman Catholic family in the country, with John F. Kennedy the first and only Catholic ever elected to the presidency.

In a very interesting speech back in 1983, the late Sen. Kennedy spoke with humor and insight about his own Catholic faith, and the intersection of faith and politics. The speech to the late Jerry Falwell’s Liberty Baptist College came just three years after Kennedy’s own failed attempt to win the White House. David Brody of CBN.com uncovered the speech, and provided some excerpts:

"I have come here to discuss my beliefs about faith and country, tolerance and truth in America,” Kennedy said.

“I know we begin with certain disagreements; I strongly suspect that at the end of the evening some of our disagreements will remain. But I also hope that tonight and in the months and years ahead, we will always respect the right of others to differ, that we will never lose sight of our own fallibility, that we will view ourselves with a sense of perspective and a sense of humor. After all, in the New Testament, even the Disciples had to be taught to look first to the beam in their own eyes, and only then to the mote in their neighbor’s eyes….

“I am an American and a Catholic; I love my country and treasure my faith. But I do not assume that my conception of patriotism or policy is invariably correct, or that my convictions about religion should command any greater respect than any other faith in this pluralistic society. I believe there surely is such a thing as truth, but who among us can claim a monopoly on it?"

"There are those who do, and their own words testify to their intolerance. For example, because the Moral Majority has worked with members of different denominations, one fundamentalist group has denounced Dr. Falwell for hastening the ecumenical church and for "yoking together with Roman Catholics, Mormons, and others." I am relieved that Dr. Falwell does not regard that as a sin, and on this issue, he himself has become the target of narrow prejudice. When people agree on public policy, they ought to be able to work together, even while they worship in diverse ways. For truly we are all yoked together as Americans, and the yoke is the happy one of individual freedom and mutual respect."

Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.

For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. 

I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague.  I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency.  And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.

An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time.

And the Kennedy family has lost their patriarch, a tower of strength and support through good times and bad.

Our hearts and prayers go out to them today--to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family.

News reports say that former Cuban president Fidel Castro is expressing sympathy for President Barack Obama, quoting Castro as writing that "the racist right" will do everything it can to defeat Obama.

"In an unusually conciliatory column in the state-run media," Reuters wrote, "Castro said Obama had inherited many problems from his predecessor, George W. Bush, and was trying to resolve them. But the 'powerful extreme right won't be happy with anything that diminishes their prerogatives in the slightest way.'

"Obama does not want to change the U.S. political and economic system, but 'in spite of that, the extreme right hates him for being African-American and fights what the president does to improve the deteriorated image of that country,' Castro wrote."

Actually, we don't get to know. The CIA Inspector General, in his May 2004 assessment of the CIA's secret detention program, made 10 recommendations. But every one of them is blacked out in the version of the report released Monday by the Obama administration.

The recommendations begin on Page 106 of the report and run through Page 109. But with the exception of the numerals every line is blacked out (somehow the person doing the blacking out missed a "g" at the end of a line on Page 107, but without more context, it's hard to know what word that might have been part of).

So here's what we get to know about the recommendations: No. 1 was the longest, filling all of Page 106 and a third of Page 107. No. 3 was the next longest, spilling over onto page 108. No. 5 was the shortest, edging out No. 4 by one line.