The View From Here

Best reads on the Web this Friday

1. The director of the Office of Management and Budget and the president's health care czar penned an op-ed stating that fiscally responsible health care is doable.  But Charles Krauthammer writes that the bill will be an expensive failure.
2. Paul Krugman thinks Sen. Bunning's blockade this week proves that both parties live in two different universes.
3. The former prime minister of Iraq questions if the fragile democracy can survive this critical moment.
4. The Washington Post reports that the Obama administration is "nearing a recommendation that Khalid Sheik Mohammed...be prosecuted in a military tribunal."  Here is reaction from writers around the Web.

Lieberman, Bunning, and Palin - What I have my eye on, 3/4

1. Joe Lieberman introduces legislation to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military.
2. EJ Dionne calls Republicans hypocrites for trying "to turn reconciliation into a four letter word" and accuses the GOP of misleading the public about the legislative process.
3. Embattled senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) defends his recent votes to withhold payment of federal unemployment benefits.
4. Is America in a throw-the-bums-out anti-incumbent mood?  The Wall Street Journal analyzes the differing fortunes of Charlie Crist and Rick Perry, and concludes that Americans are more anti-Washington than anti-incumbent.
5. Sarah Palin is pitching a television show to LA entertainment executives.

What I'm reading this Wednesday, 3/3

1. Ruth Marcus writes about how the House ethics committee "never fails to disappoint."
2. The spotlight has fallen on the president's chief of staff at the wrong time, writes the AP's Jennifer Loven.
3. The U.S. is facing a crisis that is not getting much attention, according to The New York Times' Thomas Friedman; technological innovation is no longer dependent on American talent.
4. Sen. Orrin Hatch's op-ed  in The Washington Post caught the eye of bloggers who say the piece was inaccurate.

What I'm reading today, 3/2

1. Reconciliation has been getting a lot of attention lately as a means to pass health care reform.  Slate takes a look at the math behind passing health care legislation.
2. Sen. Orrin Hatch writes that passing health care reform through reconciliation would "degrade our system of government." 
3. Harold Ford declares he will not run for Senate in New York because, "If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary - a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened."
4. Sen. Jim Bunning is taking fire from all sides for blocking a bill that would continue benefits for government employees.   

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.