The Obama administration should stay out of New York's likely-to-be-contested Democratic Senate primary, the dean of the New York congressional delegation said this weekend.

"I really don't understand why President Obama got involved in our primary," Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) told the New York Daily News.

"I don't want to use the word wrong, but it doesn't seem like the astute political thing to do," Rangel added.

Political figures across the spectrum in Democratic politics have lined up for an expectedly contentious primary between appointed first-term Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and longer-serving Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).

Gillibrand was appointed to fill the Senate seat left vacant by now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

New York Gov. David Paterson's (D) selection of Gillibrand, a relative newcomer, over more experienced politicos had driven the ire of some more senior members of the state's congressional delegation.

President Obama called on Americans to reflect on their freedoms while working toward a better future in an email to supporters Saturday.

"Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course," Obama wrote in an email through his campaign website.

Echoing remarks from his weekly radio address, Obama urged Americans to ensure the viability of the American Dream.

"As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own," Obama said. "As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content."

The president highlighted the sacrifice of troops and celebrated their sacrifices, while urging readers to involve themselves in some kind of community service.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) broke his silence on Saturday about the sudden resignation of his onetime running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R).

"I have the greatest respect and affection for Sarah, Todd, and their family," McCain said. "I was deeply honored to have her as my running mate and believe she will continue to play an important leadership role in the Republican party and our nation."

McCain had selected Palin to fill out the Republican ticket during last year's presidential election. After the two lost, some reports had emerged to depict a rocky relationship between some of McCain's most loyal aides and Palin.

Indeed, McCain's daughter, Meghan, has made it clear that Palin is the one issue on which she won't comment — reiterating as much in a tweet yesterday.

The Honduran government, which ousted its democratically elected president in a military coup Sunday, has quit the Organization of American States (OAS) as the international entity set to work to condemn the Central American nation's actions.

According to a report in the New York Times, new Honduran President Robert Micheletti made the announced on state television Friday evening. The OAS is meeting on Saturday to consider sanctions against Honduras, including revoking its membership.

The Times characterizes Honduras maneuver as preemptive and reports that Micheletti notified the OAS in a letter Friday.

Roberto Micheletti, who was sworn in by the Congress to replace Mr. Zelaya, said Honduras would no longer recognize the O.A.S. charter because of the "unilateral and indignant resolutions" coming from the body. In a letter to Jose Miguel Insulza, the secretary general of the body, Mr. Micheletti called the group "a political organization, not a court, and it can't judge us."

After the Honduran military seized the elected president, Manuel Zelaya and transported him to Costa Rica, President Obama condemned the coup [http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-denounces-honduras-ouster-as-not-legal-2009-06-29.html].

"I am deeply concerned by reports coming out of Honduras regarding the detention and expulsion of President Mel Zelaya," Obama said Sunday. "As the Organization of American States did on Friday, I call on all political and social actors in Honduras to respect democratic norms, the rule of law and the tenets of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Any existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside interference."

-Jeffrey Young

Vice President Biden seemed to give Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) some space after she suddenly announced Friday she'd resign from office.

"I'm not going to second guess her," Biden told ABC News in an interview to be aired tomorrow morning.

Biden was Palin's Democratic counterpart during the 2008 presidential election, when the Alaska governor ran as the running mate of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

Far from reveling in Palin's resignation, Biden seemed to give Palin the benefit of the doubt.

"I don't know what prompted her decision to not only not run again and also to step down as a consequence of the decision not to run in 2010," Biden said. "And I take her at her word that it had a personal ingredient in it and you have to respect that."

Biden said that politics can often be very personal and difficult on families. Biden famously took office after his wife and daughter were killed in an automobile accident shortly after being elected at the age of 30.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed diplomats to U.S. embassies around the world, stressing the need for international partnerships to solve global problems.

"Our fates and our fortunes are intertwined like never before," Clinton said in a pretaped message. "No one nation can meet today's global challenges alone."

"It is fitting that we open our doors and share this day with our friends and neighbors around the world," Clinton said, citing the outreach detailed in President Obama's speech in Cairo last month. Clinton expressed a desire to "renew our commitment to democracy, tolerance, and justice" in the embassy gatherings.

"So I hope that today's celebration will become tomorrow's partnership," she added.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) had made up her mind to resign from office as early as Wednesday, her successor implied Saturday.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell (R) said that Palin had informed him of her decision to quit the governorship on Wednesday evening,

"The governor called me to her office Wednesday evening, and she described it to me pretty much how she described it to the public yesterday," Parnell said during an interview on NBC's "Today" show this morning.

Parnell echoed the sentiments of many political observers in his reaction.

"I was surprised, just like the rest of America has been," he said.

Parnell, who unsuccessfully challenged longtime Rep. Don Young in last year's Republican primary, said he "can't speculate" on Palin's long-term political future, explaining that he'd never discussed it with the former vice presidential nominee.

Lawmakers took to Twitter on Saturday to send constituents and citizens well wishes for the Fourth of July holiday.

Not the least of the celebratory tweets came from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), who continued with business as usual after stunningly announcing her resignation from office yesterday afternoon.

Palin tweeted: "Happy for hard working Alaskans who get a sunny break tomorrow to celebrate the Fourth of July - be safe, enjoy friends, thank the troops!"

By contrast, of her other four tweets on Friday, all but one were about her decision to not only decline reelection but also leave office.

Cross-posted to the Twitter Room

Vice President Biden took a shot at the deceased former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during a trip to Iraq this weekend, saying Hussein would be "rolling over in his grave" at the naturalization ceremony held in one of his palaces on Saturday.

Biden oversaw a ceremony for members of the armed services to be sworn in as American citizens as part of his weekend-long trip to Iraq.

"We did it in Saddam's Palace and I can think of nothing better than," Biden said at a luncheon afterward, according to a pool report. "That S.O.B. is rolling over in his grave right now."

According to an earlier pool report, the ceremony took place in the rotunda of Hussein's Aw Faw Palace, which is located on the premises of what is now Camp Victory in Baghdad.

"As corny as it sounds," Biden said at the ceremony, "Damn I'm proud to be an American."

Hussein was executed by hanging after having been convicted by Iraqis of committing various atrocities during his time in power.

Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) took a more muted tack than his Senate colleague, Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), in reacting to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) announcement yesterday that she'd resign at the end of July.

"I'm as surprised as all Alaskans by Governor Palin's decision to step down with nearly two years left in her term," Begich said in a statement. "There was speculation she would not seek re-election, but she gave no indication of a resignation when I met with her for 45 minutes in her Anchorage office two days ago."

The first-term Senator also pledged to work with Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell (R), who will assume Palin's position by the end of the month.

The statement is in sharp contrast with Murkowski's reaction, which attacked Palin for "abandoning" Alaska.