The Note: Loving Arms Across the Land (Spreading)

— -- WASHINGTON, Mar. 6

While Democrats on Capitol Hill reach (again and still) their moments of truth on Iraq, and while Republicans ask themselves if the US Attorney story is a huge problem or a giga-mega problem, if you want to be certain you are tracking the long term of American politics, you need to re-check in on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign today.

Clinton steps into the warm public embrace of Emily's List at midday, a cosmic event that was previewed last night in a New England bar, where on a table surrounded by Republican campaign operatives, top political reporters, and some students, one lone, iconic, and brave soul stood and belted out today's Note anthem:

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore

And I know too much to go back an' pretend

'Cause I've heard it all before

And I've been down there on the floor

No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise

But it's wisdom born of pain

Yes, I've paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to

I can do anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

You can bend but never break me

'Cause it only serves to make me

More determined to achieve my final goal

And I come back even stronger

Not a novice any longer

'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh, yes, I am wise

But it's wisdom born of pain

Yes, I've paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to

I can face anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

I am woman watch me grow

See me standing toe to toe

As I spread my lovin' arms across the land

But I'm still an embryo

With a long, long way to go

Until I make my brother understand

Oh, yes, I am wise

But it's wisdom born of pain

Yes, I've paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to

I can face anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

Oh, I am woman

I am invincible

I am strong

I am woman

I am invincible

I am strong

I am woman

Testosterone-free roaring will be the order of the day when Sen. Clinton launches a grassroots effort to mobilize women on behalf of her candidacy today.

The "Women for Hillary" effort is a series of initiatives aimed at reaching women voters.

ABC News' David Chalian reports that in a 12:50 pm ET speech to EMILY's List at the Washington Convention Center, Sen. Clinton plans to pay tribute to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and announce that she is reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act, a measure that would ensure that women are paid the same as men who do equal work. LINK

EMILY's List has endorsed Clinton and will mobilize its activists and donors in support of her candidacy.

A key piece of the grassroots effort will be an online initiative called "I Can Be President." The Clinton campaign plans to launch an "I Can Be President" web site to invite women across the country to express their support for Clinton's candidacy.

Also speaking at today's EMILY's List luncheon will be Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who speaks at 12:30 pm ET, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who speaks at 12:40 pm ET.

Amidst the usual stupor-inducing Ann Lewis boilerplate, one finds this in the New York Times story by Pat Healy: Clinton campaign advisers "estimate that 60 percent of voters in the 2008 Democratic primary will be women, and their goal is to win at least twice as many female votes as any of Mrs. Clinton's rivals."LINK

The "legislative jujitsu" on the Iraq war continues in the backrooms of Capitol Hill today. Be sure to read Jonathan Weisman's Washington Post story on Democrats altering their plan to restrict the Iraq war. Seeknig to "placate" Democrats from Republican-leaning districts, "senior House Democrats" are "pushing a plan that would place restrictions on President Bush's ability to wage the war in Iraq but would allow him to waive them if he publicly justifies his position." LINK

"Under the proposal, Bush would also have to set a date to begin troop withdrawals if the Iraqi government fails to meet benchmarks aimed at stabilizing the country that the president laid out in January."

Prosecutorial independence will be front and center today when the Judiciary panels in the Senate and House hold 10:00 am ET and 2:00 pm ET hearings in Dirksen and Rayburn, respectively. The Democrats plan to argue that eight U.S. Attorneys were dismissed for politics -- not poor performance.

The White House announces at 9:30 am ET that former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala have agreed to head up a presidential commission looking into not just Walter Reed but the entire veteran health-care system, reports ABC News' Ann Compton.

After yesterday's House hearing, the Senate gets its turn today to grill top Army health officials about the troubles at Walter Reed Army Medical Center at 9:30 am ET. (Sen. Clinton was scheduled to be on hand).

At 2:00 pm ET, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Dick Durbin Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announce the HEROES plan- a new Democratic effort to fix the ailing VA medical system.

When Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson addresses the American Legion at 10:30 am ET he plans to announce measures to speed up processing of military benefit claims.

President Bush discusses the global war on terror in 10:00 am ET remarks to the American Legion at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. He is expected to talk about the Walter Reed situation. Later today, the President and First Lady participate in greeting King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani attends a 3:30 pm ET meet and greet with area residents at Point Loma Seafoods in San Diego, CA.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was scheduled to deliver 8:45 am ET remarks to the Federation of American Hospitals' Public Policy Conference at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt speaks to the same group at 9:45 am ET.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) holds a 12:30 pm ET "meet and greet" at the Knoxville Airport Hilton in Knoxville, TN.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) was scheduled to deliver 9:15 am ET remarks to the American Legion at the Renaissance Washington Hotel in Washington, DC.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) delivers 5:30 pm ET remarks at the opening reception of the National Council of La Raza at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. Also speaking to La Raza wil be Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL).

The AFL--CIO begins its two day winter meeting in Las Vegas, NV to set priorities for the coming year and to discuss how it will go about choosing which candidate to endorse.

Former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (R-TN), former Sens. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Bob Dole (R-KS) and George Mitchell (D-ME) hold a 10:30 am ET news conference in the Dirksen Senate Office Building to discuss the establishment of a new bi-partisan policy center.

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark join Iraq war veterans and family members of Iraqi soldiers at a 1:00 pm ET media availability at the National Press Club to discuss plans for the March 17 demonstration at the Pentagon.

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce continues its legislative conference at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. Secretary Leavitt leads a 10:00 am ET panel discussion on healthcare. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) leads an 11:00 am ET discussion on immigration. Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) deliver 12:30 pm ET keynote addresses, and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Colombian Ambassador Carolina Barco Isakson participate in a 3:30 pm ET panel discussion on trade with Latin America.