By Steve Clemons

This is an intriguing exchange between Congressman Alan Grayson (FL-08-D) and Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn.

I will be hosting a live discussion with US Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad at a meeting at the New America Foundation today between 12:15 and 1:45 pm EST.

This just in from a loyal reader. Senator Norm Coleman’s (R-MN) office is now closed. But Senator Roland Burris’ office is painted and has his name on the wall. (website still on its way) Burris will nest at Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 523 — right across from the Senate Judiciary Committee offices.

Over at Foreign Policy magazine’s website, I have a quick review of Hillary Clinton’s performance yesterday at her confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. My first reaction listening to this just one-notch-short-of-a-love-fest hearing was that Norm Coleman’s absence has made a huge difference. Coleman was a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee….

Well, in the 2008 Weblog Awards Category for Very Large Blogs, The Washington Note has seen a huge surge. And with that surge, we are declaring success — in a Bush administration sort of way. In fact, TWN declares victory. . .

Free TV : Ustream This morning, from 9:00 am EST until 10:30 am, I will be chatting with journalist Elizabeth Becker and Mother Jones DC Bureau Chief David Corn on partisanship, journalism, and foreign policy. The meeting is sponsored by the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum and Search for Common Ground. More soon.

No matter what one may think of Condoleezza Rice’s diplomatic record — which I think is better than many liberal critics gauge — the fact that Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave her a kick in the teeth as she departs her office is obnoxious and harmful all around.

I’ve been more than a bit irritated by Vice President Cheney’s recent comment that no one saw the financial crisis coming. In response, Zachary Karabell has a very interesting essay on Robert Shiller and his prescience not only about the financial crisis but the character and drivers of that meltdown.

Well, I’m not losing real badly — but not winning either. I might make a big push on Monday to pull in a couple of thousand votes — but if you want to help by sending your ten or twenty or hundred best friends to vote for The Washington Note, we’d be quite pleased.

For those of you who can’t laugh now and then, move on. I’ll be serious again soon. Promise.