Congress returns from a long weekend celebrating Rosh Hashanah, and this time they mean business, as everyone has a busy week scheduled. The Senate takes up consideration of the Defense Department Authorization bill today, while the House tackles the a regional economic and infrastructure development plan. Later this week, the House takes up legislation dealing with FHA loan limits, terrorism insurance, election reform and FAA reauthorization. Democratic presidential candidates meet at the Washington Hilton for a forum with SEIU. And President Bush meets with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates while Vice President Cheney emerges from his undisclosed location to raise money for Rep. Sam Graves, the Missouri Congressman who faces a stiff challenge next year from former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes.

Oh, and it's likely we'll have a new AG pick later today as well. More on that later.

Meanwhile, yesterday was all about steak, and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's steak fry, which National Journal's Aswini Anburajan likened to high school homecoming. Doing some quick math (~18,000 Democratic activists x $30 per ticket), it seems like Harkin had a very successful day. He can thank Barack Obama for at least part of his success: The Obama campaign claimed responsibility for about a quarter of the turnout, using 15 buses to bring people from 10 locations around the state.

By most accounts, no candidate stumbled too much, while none did an outstanding job. The theme: Indecision among the top three candidates. Still, a strong performance before what Harkin estimated as 12,000 caucus-going Democrats -- the largest gathering of party members before the caucuses themselves -- could be a game-changer for any candidate. Like the GOP's straw poll, the first post-steak fry poll will suggest whether any candidate can really break through.

For those not obsessed with politics, yesterday may have been about the Primetime Emmys, where Al Gore won an award last night for his Current TV. As Gore went backstage after the show, one reporter, apparently convinced the Gore bubble had burst, lobbed a new question at the ex-Veep: "Any advice for Britney?"

Addressing the crowd at the steak fry, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson talked about the environment: "Al Gore had it right," he said. "We all should hope he doesn't get into the race." Ben Smith wonders if the joke is proof that Gore won't make a bid.

Speaking of candidates who once created buzz for their potential candidacies, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has figured out what comes after someone is finished teasing the U.S. media: Tease the foreign press. Bloomberg is set to address a Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, England, as party organizers look for a model from which to build a more centrist platform. Bloomberg got the invite after another moderate, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, pulled out.