The View From Here

This Sunday: What has changed in the health care debate?

There was no shortage of opinions and analysis from last week's health care summit, but the question I asked this Sunday was, "Has anything changed?"

The answer seems to be no.

Joining me this morning were two leaders from different sides of the debate - Republican Sen. John McCain and White House Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle.

McCain said a "fundamental problem" still exists between Republican's and Democrat's views of what health care reform should be.  He and Rep. Eric Cantor reiterated the GOP's call to start over, citing that the current bill was crafted in a partisan way and has been rejected by the American people.

But DeParle made clear that the White House has no intentions of starting from scratch and would not rule out the use of reconciliation to get the legislation passed.

McCain has been vocal in his opposition of passing health reform through reconciliation, saying the procedure that would prevent an attempted filibuster is not meant to pass such sweeping reform.  However, McCain has on nine occasions voted for bills that passed through reconciliation.

"Yes, I have voted for them, but I objected strenuously to us changing the rules of the Senate so that 51 votes would prevail," McCain told me.

That defense does not have much traction with Democrats who are quick to point out the parliamentary tactic has historically been used more frequently by Republicans. 

Whether it is through reconciliation or not, DeParle predicted Democrats "will have the votes to pass this in Congress."

More from McCain

Pundits have observed the Arizona senator has been shifting more conservative in the months leading up to his re-election bid.  One area of particular interest is the former POW's stance on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

McCain has said he supports the law because that has been the recommendation of military leaders.  But with Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Colin Powell recently calling for an end to the policy, McCain has been under increased pressure to change his view.

But even with Powell and Mullen's comments, the senator has yet to change his mind about Don't Ask.  He told he me he would only be willing to change his view if a comprehensive study recommended an end to the policy.

For more from McCain and DeParle, plus an explosive roundtable with Reps. Eric Cantor and Debbie Wasserman Shultz, visit our Web site.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What I'm reading this Friday

1. A lot has been written and said about yesterday's health care summit.  Here's a list of the major takeaways from the event.
2. A piece in The New Yorker examines the increasingly turbulent relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan.
3. Holding the KSM trial in NYC has caused some major debate.  A former judge has a solution in today's Washington Post - try the alleged 9/11 mastermind in DC.
4. It looks like NY Gov. David Paterson will not be campaigning anytime soon. The decision to drop out of the governor's race comes two days after The New York Times published a story questioning Paterson's intervention in a domestic abuse case involving one of his top aides.

What I'm reading today, 2/24

1. On the eve of the health care meeting, The New York Times looks at some of the big questions surrounding the event.
2. Republican Whip Eric Cantor lays out why he doubts the House can pass health care reform with reconciliation.
3. Around the Web today, journalists and policy experts are addressing how unprepared the U.S. is to leave Iraq. 
4. Scott Brown is getting some words of encouragement from his home state.  NBC's First Read asks the question: Who is Scott Brown? 

What I have my eye on, 2/23

1. Americans don't like Washington right now.  Here's a look at how polarized the country is and how that is affecting what does and does not get done in the nation's capital. 
2. Dexter Filkins examines what accounts for the reversal of fortune U.S. forces have had in Afghanistan since the start of the war.
3. Scott Brown is already having an impact in the Congress.  How much has changed in Senate's ability to pass legislation?
4. Marco Rubio's CPAC speech ignited the crowd last week.  The 39-year-old Cuban-American is now being touted as the next big thing for the right.
5. Anne Applebaum writes that Americans should prepare for war in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on Iranian nuclear sites.

MTP this morning: Petraeus and Pawlenty

Meet the Press this morning featured an honest assessment of U.S. progress in our two wars and an interview with a man who may make a run for the White House in 2012.

First up was Gen. David  Petraeus on the progress made in Afghanistan and the future role of the U.S. in Iraq.

Petraeus said the U.S. will face "tough loses" in Afghanistan and warned of the harm Guantanamo Bay has caused American forces in his first ever appearance on Meet the Press.

With the recent capture of a high-ranking Taliban leader and troop levels in Iraq at their lowest point since 2003, it would appear that there is reason to be hopeful about the future of our two wars in the Middle East.

But a military analysis  in today's New York Times is a somber reminder of how much work still needs to be done.  The paper reports that the day when Afghan troops are ready to operate independently seems a long way off.

Petraeus told me: "I have repeatedly said that the these types of efforts are hard. And they're hard all the time. I don't use words like optimist or pessimist, I use realist.  And the reality is that it's hard."

The general warned that Americans should expect similar results as the surge in Iraq - that means increased causalities will accompany our increased military presence.  The renewed Afghan campaign is part of a strategy that is likely to last 12 to 18 months.

Petraeus also avoided directly sharing his thoughts on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.  He would only go as far as to say "it's very important" that the policy continued to be reviewed.  It is unlikely we will get a true sense of what the general thinks about it unless he is called to testify before Congress.

While Petraeus was hesitant to share his views on gays in the military, Gov. Tim Pawlenty did not equivocate while sharing his. "I support don't ask, don't tell," he said.

On some of the other issues, he wasn't as clear.  He said the stimulus failed, based on the Obama administration's goals.

Check out the MTP Web sitefor Pawlenty's take on health care, climate change and the GOP outlook for the November midterms.

Plus, Reps. Pence and Van Hollen debate with E.J. Dionne and Peggy Noonan.  Hear Van Hollen chair of the DCCC, predict what will happen to the Democrats majority come November. And see why Pence is not excited about a health care summit with the president. 

 

Some reads for this Friday, 2/19

1. In an effort to reflect a new focus in Iraq, the Obama administration will now call the war in Iraq "Operation New Dawn." Gen. Petraeus will join me Sunday to discuss what this new focus means for the future of the U.S. in the Middle East.  
2. Charlie Cook writes that the makeup of Congress next year may be entirely different, but the "dysfunction will continue to reign."
3. A concerning report from the Department of Homeland Security - nearly 300 firearms were lost throughout the department's various agencies from 2006-'08.
4. Paul Krugman points to California as proof that the U.S. health care system is unraveling.

What I'm reading, 2/18

1. Reports emerge that two more Taliban leaders have been captured in Pakistan.  But despite some recent successes, Peter Brown of the Wall Street Journal expects the GOP to continue attacking President Obama as naive about terrorism.
2. The New York Times  reports that lawmakers are nearing agreement on the creation of a systemic risk regulator led by the Treasury Department. 
3. EJ Dionne argues that the Democrats haven't strayed from the center - they've strayed from the message discipline that carried them in 2008. 
4. The GOP challenges Democrats to a televised debate about the economy and unemployment.
5. Karl Rove urges the Tea Party movement not to explicitly align itself with the GOP, arguing that "if they merged, the sum would be less than the parts."

Some reads for today, 2/17

1. Joe Biden touts the success of the Recovery Act on its one-year anniversary, while RNC Chair Michael Steele counters with why the stimulus has failed.  
2. Dana Milbank writes that Steele treated tea party leaders "like an ugly date" when they met yesterday afternoon.
3. The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus thinks both parties lose with Sen. Bayh's retirement, while a Wall Street Journal editorial credits the senator's departure from politics as an example of "the failure once again of liberal governance."
4.  And health care reform has not been forgotten.  Here is a roundup of thoughts on what needs to be done to salvage reform.

Clinton, Bayh, and Palin - What I've got my eye on, 2/16

1. Hillary Clinton says that "Iran is moving towards a military dictatorship" in her strongest words yet against the Iranian government.
2. A joint operation by American and Pakistani forces results in the capture of the Taliban's #2 commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
3. The Chicago Tribune says that both the Democrats and the country will miss Evan Bayh.  Steve Kornacki of Salon says good riddance.
4. Richard Cohen says that the verdict on Sarah Palin is in, and both conservative hopes and liberal fears have proven to be fantasies. 
5. Newly elected Massachusetts' senator Scott Brown and his daughter Ayla issue a serious challenge to President Obama. 

This Sunday: Biden dismisses Cheney

The vice president rebuked criticism from his predecessor and defended the Obama administration's national security policy when he joined me Saturday night from Vancouver.

Joe Biden said, "I'm not gonna guess about [Dick Cheney's] motive.  All I know is he's factually, substantively wrong, on the major criticisms he is asserting.  Why he's insisting on that - he either is misinformed or he is misinforming.  But the facts are that his assertions are not accurate."

 

Since he joined the Obama ticket, Biden has taken on the task of responding to Cheney's many shots at how the president has made the country less safe.  But the VP has tried to mince his words when it comes to Cheney.  He prefaced his comments with, "Let me choose my words carefully."

 

"It's almost like Dick is trying to rewrite history.  I can understand where the-- why that would be, you know, an impulse," said Biden.

 

With Cheney making his own TV appearance this morning, it seems like this Valentine's Day is the closest the men will come to having an actual debate.

 

Also from Biden:

 

On the KSM trial

He did not rule out the possibility of KSM being tried by a  military commission and said  the alleged 9/11 mastermind "will not be acquitted."  He also maintained that such statements - which have come from various members of the administration - do not prejudice the outcome of the trial.

 

On the economy

Biden told me, despite the unemployment rate rising since he took office, "There's good tangible evidence, tangible evidence of the path we put the country on, that we're moving in the right direction."  The VP said this evidence is going to help Democrats come November, though was not more specific than saying "We're gonna do just fine."

 

On Iran

Biden said Iran's progress in becoming a nuclear power is "greatly exaggerated" and that the Obama administration has made significant strides in dealing with the hostile country.

 

Plus, our roundtable weighs in on Biden's comments and Rachel Maddow debates the youngest member of Congress, Rep. Aaron Schock. 

 

Also, Harold Ford talks about whether he is in or out of the New York Senate race.  Is he a real New Yorker, and how much was his Wall Street bonus?

 

You can find it all on our Web site.