Pollster John Zogby updates our weekly Obama Report Card with a grade on the president's performance. Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis, and interaction with major players to come up with a grade and some comments that capture how he sees the president's week ending.

John Zogby on Week 42:

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

There's an "only in Washington" moment coming up November 19, when longtime Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett is expected to walk across Lafayette Square to speak before a private group meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The irony: Not only are the Chamber of Commerce and the White House at war over several issues such as climate control and health reform, but it's Jarrett who's been at the head of attacking the business community's campaign.

On November 19, she's being touted as a key speaker before the business networking group "100 Days In." The one-day dinner and panel discussion take place at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters at 1615 H Street NW, across the park from the White House. The group describes itself as an organization that calls periodic meetings to discuss the progress of the new administration. From its latest meeting memo:

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Credit Mississippi Governor and former Republican Party National Chairman Haley Barbour and the Republican Governors Association he runs for helping push Republicans into the victory column in the two gubernatorial races this year, say several GOP and conservative insiders. "This was a huge victory for Haley and just the start of what could be a very big year next year," said an ally and GOP lobbyist. The RGA was heavily involved in the races, especially in New Jersey, as it tested out an election plan that will go into full force next year when Democrats will be trying to hold on to 22 seats, compared with 16 for the Republicans. Another Republican Party official said that part of Barbour's success came from winning over so-called Reagan Democrats, the moderates who are concerned about the economy and jobs. "The New Jersey victory is attributable to two things: Haley Barbour and a re-emergence of Reagan Democrats who 'cannot take it any more' on taxes, affordability," added another Republican official.

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has sent friends an update on the new charitable foundation he and wife Joyce founded in 2007. In the missive, the avid squash player also discloses that surgeons are rebuilding his 77-year-old frame. "Between working on my memoir and a few new joint replacements—one shoulder and three hips between the two of us—Joyce and I are pleased to report on the Rumsfeld Foundation's progress," he writes. "Joyce got a new hip. DR had two hips and a shoulder," says spokesman Keith Urbahn. Surgeons installed the second hip in August. Now Rummy is cane free.

Do you live, eat, and breathe politics? Well, here's a way for you to literally dress, eat, play, and drive like a Democrat or Republican, thanks to the teaming of the Center for Responsive Politics and the authors of Blue Pages, which adds up corporate political contributions. Democrats who want to follow the top donors should shop at the Gap, eat at Wendy's, wear Nikes, and drive a Ford. Republicans should wear Limited Brands, eat at Outback, tie up New Balance sneaks, and drive a Chevy.

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Mike Huckabee, the Fox celebrity, former 2008 presidential candidate, and former Arkansas governor, today slammed conservative third-party efforts as a way to guarantee that Democrats will win. Referencing the House race for the 23rd District in New York, he said that having three candidates in the race took votes away from Doug Hoffman of the Conservative Party. Democrat Bill Owens won there after Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the race over the weekend. A third party "ensures the election of the one you like the least in the first place," Huckabee, a likely 2012 GOP presidential primary candidate, said. Huckabee did not endorse anyone in the New York race, though Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty, other likely 2012 candidates, backed Hoffman before Scozzafava dropped out and endorsed the Democrat.

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

The administration is coming under fire for deciding to make terrorism suspects held at the Navy's Guantánamo base priority subjects for the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and GOP policy groups on Capitol Hill are angered because the decision comes at a time when the public—and even congressional staffers—are having difficulty getting vaccinated.

The issue has taken several turns this week, with the White House yesterday saying the detainees won't be getting the shots. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said, "There is no vaccine in Guantánamo, and there's no vaccine on the way to Guantánamo." Pentagon subsequently said that the prisoners would be getting the shots but after soldiers and other military officials got theirs.

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Those Amazon Kindle E-readers are popping up everywhere in Washington, a city that likes to be plugged in. Some lawmakers have been seen toting them around and reading local newspapers, books, and even legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi uses one. Wyoming Sen. Michael Enzi "loves" his, says aide Elly Pickett. "He is a speed reader and goes through books very quickly, so being able to have 1,500 books at his fingertips at all times is great. He likes the Kindle so much he had his chief of staff get one too," says Pickett. Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley also has one to read newspapers and staff memos. And, of course, there's already been a Kindle-gate. A recent article in the New York Times implied that political consultant Shayna Englin wasn't paying for books shared by a friend. Authors attacked her, and Republicans made a fuss over it because her hubby, Democratic Virginia Del. David Englin, represents the Alexandria district, where the overseer of intellectual property theft—the United States Patent and Trademark Office—is headquartered. Turns out Amazon allows the sharing of books among up to six Kindles. One author, romance novelist Courtney Milan, even defended Englin in a blog and sent her a Kindle gift card.

By Jessica Rettig, Washington Whispers

President Obama's gotten a lot of flak lately for overthinking big national issues like healthcare reform and the troop surge in Afghanistan. Yet maybe a large dose of thoughtfulness is just what it takes to better his—and the nation's—health. That, at least, is the view of physician Deepak Chopra, spiritual healer and the author of over 55 fiction and nonfiction books.

According to Chopra, consciousness can have a direct effect on the physiology of the body and can even transform a person's genes to prevent disease and prolong life. Over fab lobster risotto at a party held last night at Washington's Teatro Goldoni to promote his latest book, Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul, Chopra talked about the president, personal health, and even the pending healthcare reform legislation working its way to the House floor this week.

By Deborah Kotz, Washington Whispers

Add Planned Parenthood to the special interest groups assailing Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak for potentially holding up passage of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's health reform bill until it clearly states that public funds cannot be used for abortions. He says the current bill leaves open that possibility, while Planned Parenthood says he's trying to reduce the number of insurance plans that currently cover abortions. Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards described Stupak, the Michigan congressman, in ways the group normally reserves for talking about conservatives.

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

It hasn't been a dominating issue since the 1896 election of William McKinley versus William Jennings Bryan, but the gold standard might be making a comeback. The reason: If the slumping dollar is junked as the global trading standard, Americans think that gold is the best replacement.

In our latest Washington Whispers-Synovate-eNation poll, 49 percent chose gold when asked: "Which form of currency would be best if the world rejects the U.S. dollar as the standard for oil trading?"