Joe Miller appeals; Senate advances tax cut deal; Holbrooke Stabilized But Still Critical

Tea Party favorite Joe Miller has filed an appeal in his lawsuit challenging write-in votes for Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska's Senate race.
A lower court had given Miller until today to file the appeal with the Alaska Supreme Court. Miller contends the spelling of Murkowski's last name should matter on the write-in ballots. (Continues here)

Richard C. Holbrooke’s medical condition stabilized Monday after more than 20 hours of emergency surgery, but he remained in “very critical condition,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.

“He’s had excellent care, including many hours of surgery in the last three days,” Mrs. Clinton said to reporters in Wakefield, Canada, where she was meeting with the foreign ministers of Canada and Mexico.

Mr. Holbrooke, the administration’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, became ill on Friday during a meeting with Mrs. Clinton at the State Department. He was able to walk out of her office, but later collapsed and was taken to nearby George Washington Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a tear in his aorta.

Doctors performed a 21-hour operation on Friday and Saturday and an additional procedure Sunday to improve blood circulation to Mr. Holbrooke’s legs, administration officials said. Officials have described Mr. Holbrooke as fighting a ferocious battle in the face of traumatic surgery. (Source NYT)

6:39 p.m. | Updated The Senate on Monday advanced the tax-cut package agreed to between President Obama and congressional Republicans, virtually assuring that the Senate will approve the bill on Tuesday and send it to the House, where Democrats are threatening to make changes to a provision granting a generous tax exemption to wealthy estates. (Full Story)