From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** A tale of two parties: To paraphrase Dickens, the last six weeks have been the best of times for Obama and the Democrats, and the worst of times for the Republicans. Just consider the latest findings from our NBC/WSJ poll: Obama's favorability rating is at 68% (an all-time high in our survey), 67% say they feel more hopeful about his leadership, 60% approve of his job in the White House, and 49% have a positive view of the Democratic Party (which is also near a high). On the other hand, just 26% view the GOP positively (an all-time low in the poll), respondents blame Bush and congressional Republicans for most of the partisanship in DC, 56% think the GOP's opposition to Obama is based on politics, and Republicans lose by nearly 30 percentage points on the question about which party would do a better job of leading the country out of recession. While we have covered all the new administration's ups and downs, it is absolutely clear which party has suffered the most in public opinion these first six weeks: the GOP. NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter Hart (D) says Republicans "have been tone deaf to the results of the 2008 election… They never heard the message. They continue to preach the old-time religion." Adds co-pollster Bill McInturff (R), "These are difficult and problematic numbers."

Video: Chuck Todd discusses the latest poll results and how Americans view Obama and the economy.

*** Obama's long leash: Ironically, Obama's high marks come at a time when Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the state of the economy. Only 7% say they're satisfied about the economy, which is an all-time low in the poll. Moreover, 76% believe the economy still has a ways to go before it hits rock bottom. What's going on here? The public doesn't blame Obama for the economy -- even as critics try to attribute the Dow's decline to Obama, and also even as Obama yesterday gave stock advice (!!!). Per the poll, 84% say Obama inherited this economy, and two-thirds of those people think he has at least a year before he's responsible for it. "That's a long leash," McInturff says. "It normally doesn't last that long. But believe me, that's a good place to start." But McInturff warns that while these numbers suggest a patient public, "Americans are notoriously impatient people." So how long does the honeymoon last if the economy doesn't get better?

*** Mind the gap: Another concern for Team Obama in the poll is that there's a sizable gap between the president's personal popularity and the popularity of his policies. While his favorability rating is 68% and his job approval is 60%, a slightly smaller percentage -- 54% -- say that Obama has the right policies and goals for the country. Per Hart, that 54% gives us a good idea where Obama's standing might be after his honeymoon is over. Another striking finding in the poll: 41% think the country is on the right track, which is up 15 points since January. This jump, the pollsters say, is fueled primarily by Democrats pleased so far by Obama's actions as president. As McInturff puts it, "If you're a Democrat, that's a pretty good six weeks compared to the last eight years in their mind."

*** A reminder of how things can change: Here's something else in the poll: Hillary Clinton's fav/unfav (59%-22%) and Michelle Obama's (63%-8%) are at all-time highs. And what's noteworthy here is that these women, of course, haven't always been this popular. Back in April 2008, Hillary had a net-negative fav/unfav (42%-44%), and 31% saw Michelle Obama in a negative light in September '08. The one person in Obama Land who isn't that popular? Answer: Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, whose fav/unfav is at 14%-18%. Also, despite all the attention surrounding Bobby Jindal's GOP response to Obama's address to Congress, a whopping 57% don't know who he is. His fav/unfav is 15%-15%.

*** A reminder of how things can change, part 2: After Obama's announcement Friday that combat operations will end in Iraq by Aug. 2010, the public has a much sunnier outlook about the conflict there. According to the poll, 53% think the war has been a success, which is up 10 points from July. Also, 67% say the U.S. has accomplished as much as can be expected there. And, overall, a whopping 80% approve of Obama's plan to pull most troops out of Iraq by that Aug. 2010 date.

*** Obama today: Per the AP, Obama today will sign a presidential memo "that changes government contracting procedures." The administration believes this could save taxpayers about $40 billion per year by introducing more competition into the bidding process. Also this evening, the president and first lady host a dinner at the White House for congressional committee chairs.

*** Quigley's the winner: In his bid to fill Rahm Emanuel's congressional seat, Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley won yesterday's Democratic primary, capturing 22% of the vote in a crowded field. He moves on to the April 7 general election, and is almost all but assured of winning in this Dem-leaning district.  

*** The never-ending recount: You knew this was coming, right? After being unable to significantly improve his standing in the Minnesota recount trial, Norm Coleman (R) yesterday said the judges will have to ponder whether they'll be able to declare a winner -- suggesting that there might need to be a do-over election. In its recount, the canvassing board had Al Franken (D) up by 225 votes. Responding to Coleman's comments, DNC chairman Tim Kaine fired off this statement: "The people of Minnesota have spoken. It's time for Norm Coleman to accept the voters' decision, do what is best for his state and country and stop standing in the way of a senator being seated. The stakes for our country are too high right now to suggest that the results of a democratic election, exhaustive recount, and legal proceedings be thrown out just because Norm Coleman doesn't like the results."

*** The Departed: South Carolina Rep. Gresham Barrett (R) is running for governor. Just asking, but how many other congressional Republicans are pondering a gubernatorial bid or another job? We've seen some safe Republican House members look for a way out, including Putnam in FL and Blunt in MO. Are they sending a subtle message by leaving right now?
 
Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 90 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 97 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 244 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 608 days

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In its write-up of the NBC/WSJ poll, the Wall Street Journal says Obama "is more popular than ever, Americans are hopeful about his leadership, and opposition Republicans are getting drubbed in public opinion… But there are also early warning signs showing risks if his plans don't show progress. The president's support, while still deep, looks increasingly partisan as Republicans move away from him. Americans have more confidence in the president himself than in some of his initiatives, such as the economic stimulus package, and have some hesitation about his plans to raise taxes to expand health coverage." 

Here is our write-up: "After Barack Obama's first six weeks as president, the American public's attitudes about the two political parties couldn't be more different, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds. Despite the country's struggling economy and vocal opposition to some of his policies, President Obama's favorability rating is at an all-time high. Two-thirds feel hopeful about his leadership and six in 10 approve of the job he's doing in the White House."

More: "By comparison, the Republican Party -- which resisted Obama's recently passed stimulus plan and has criticized the spending in his budget -- finds its favorability at an all-time low. It also receives most of the blame for the current partisanship in Washington and trails the Democrats by nearly 30 percentage points on the question of which party could best lead the nation out of recession." 

Meanwhile, Obama's approval rating in a new Quinnipiac poll is at 59%.

The AP says Obama will sign a presidential memo today that changes how government contracts are awarded -- "a move his aides say would save taxpayers about $40 billion a year by making the process more competitive." More: "Obama's directive would order Peter Orszag, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to work with Cabinet and agency officials to draft new contracting rules by the end of September. Those new rules, officials said, would make it more difficult for contractors to bilk taxpayers and make some half-trillion dollars in federal contracts each year more accessible to independent contractors." 

The Washington Post is the latest to look into the Obama Team's struggles to fill out its administration. "An intensified vetting process has left dozens of President Obama's picks to run the government mired in a seemingly endless confirmation limbo, frustrated and cut off from the departments they are waiting to serve and unable to perform their new duties… In recent days, two more of Obama's choices withdrew abruptly. Susan F. Tierney, who had been the leading candidate for the Energy Department's No. 2 official, said she was no longer interested. And Jane Garvey, a former Federal Aviation Administration chief who had been rumored to be the top choice for deputy transportation secretary, also said she was no longer a candidate."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addresses a joint session of Congress today. Brown said yesterday: "I am going to say to Congress: 'Seize the moment when the whole of the world wants to work with America. This is a moment where we can't solve the problems of the banking system without us all working together. I think you will find that members of Congress -- not just President Obama -- want a way out of this problem and the method of cooperation will actually commend themselves to them."

The Guardian calls Brown's speech "possibly the most important of his political life." The speech "will be watched closely by Obama to see if Brown could act as a significant ally in the battle to persuade the international stockmarkets that European politicians have answers to the collapse of confidence. It will also be pored over by domestic audiences to see if Brown will join his chancellor, Alistair Darling, in admitting that the government has made mistakes. Brown has told friends that he has no intention of apologising since he believes the banking crisis that started in the US cannot be laid at his door."

The AP's headline on McCain's earmarks amendment failing yesterday: "Senate ignores McCain, keeps thousands in earmarks."

The Washington Post has more on the battle over earmarks. "Congressional Democrats pushed back yesterday against suggestions from President Obama that they rein in spending on narrow special interest provisions, defending these 'earmarks' as a sliver of the trillions of dollars in federal spending and part of their constitutional duty to their constituents. Noting Obama's past pursuit of earmarks while he was senator, Democrats set up a squabble with the president over the ingrained culture of the congressional prerogative to direct federal spending as lawmakers see fit. They reacted coolly to proclamations from a top White House aide that Obama would change the 'rules' for future spending bills once the current $410 billion catch-all spending bill, a leftover from last fall, clears the Senate later this week." 

The New York Times: "At the core of the debate about earmarks, however, remains a longstanding tension between the desire to end wasteful spending and the impulse of lawmakers to finance local priorities and protect the interests that they firmly believe they were sent to Washington to serve." 

Sen. Max Baucus says he's frequently consulting with Sen. Ted Kennedy on health care, and that they plan to have lunch this week to discuss a major overhaul. (By the way, Kennedy was awarded an honorary British knighthood.) 

Also, a compromise deal was struck on the pending mortgage-relief bill. Moderate Democrats "wrote a compromise to a housing bill that requires bankruptcy judges to consider whether banks offered homeowners reasonable loan restructuring deals before they weigh in with judicial remedies. The new language is expected to ease the bill onto the House floor for a vote as early as Thursday. 'The concern is that we want to ensure that those people who get relief have tried other avenues,' House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday."

In an interview with liberal blogger Jane Hamsher, Speaker Pelosi denied that she had fast-tracked the stimulus bill over White House objections.

Is this Politico piece the first of more stories to come doubting RNC chair Michael Steele's tenure so far? "Steadily becoming a dependable punch line, Steele has brushed back Rush Limbaugh, threatened moderate Republican senators, offered the 'friggin' awesome' Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal some 'slum love,' called civil unions 'crazy' and promised more outreach to 'urban-suburban hip-hop settings' via an 'off the hook' public relations campaign. He even threw a shout-out to 'one-armed midgets.' That's in just 30 days on the job -- and that's just the PR part. On the organizational side, Steele does not have a chief of staff, a political director, a finance director or a communications director. Last week, one of the two men sharing the job of interim finance director was forced to resign."

And here come the blind quotes: "There's frustration that there's no discipline, no planning," said a well-known Republican consultant. "He's risking being overexposed by accepting every interview, which makes gaffes more likely." 

In an interview on TODAY, Steele said this about his little dust-up with (and then apology to) Rush Limbaugh: "This has been a great little distraction… Let's move forward." On the GOP's poor poll numbers: "We've got a lot of work to do. The polls show it."

Video: Steele talks about Limbaugh's controversial comments.

The Democrats' "GoldRush?" Politico's Martin: "Top Democrats believe they have struck political gold by depicting Rush Limbaugh as the new face of the Republican Party, a full-scale effort first hatched by some of the most familiar names in politics and now being guided in part from inside the White House."

More: "The strategy took shape after Democratic strategists Stanley Greenberg and James Carville included Limbaugh's name in an October poll and learned their longtime tormentor was deeply unpopular with many Americans, especially younger voters. Then the conservative talk-radio host emerged as an unapologetic critic of Barack Obama shortly before his inauguration, when even many Republicans were showering him with praise." 

Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe further stokes the Rush Limbaugh storyline with a Washington Post op-ed. "The 2008 election sent many messages. At the top: Americans wanted to turn the page on the politics of division and partisan pettiness, and they wanted a government -- and country -- that would put the middle class first. Watching the Republicans operate this past month, it would appear that they missed that unmistakable signal. Instead, Rush Limbaugh has become their leader."

The DCCC has more fun with Rush.

MINNESOTA: "Norm Coleman said Tuesday that the three judges hearing the U.S. Senate recount trial will have to ponder whether they'll be able to decide who won the election," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "Coleman … questioned whether the panel will be able to certify him or DFLer Al Franken as the candidate with more legitimate votes. 'I think the court is going to have to reflect on that,' Coleman said during a break in the trial, which is in its sixth week as he challenges recount results showing Franken ahead by 225 votes."

"Coleman's team finished its side of the case on Monday -- the same day that Coleman attorney James Langdon wrote the judges to suggest that problems with the election were so serious that the panel may not be able to declare a winner. Franken's campaign began presenting its case on Tuesday in the St. Paul courtroom."

The Pioneer Press adds, "Election law experts say ordering another election is not within the judges' purview -- a position strongly adopted by Franken's attorneys. 'There is no precedent. There is no law. There is no statute. There is no rule. There is nothing in Minnesota that would suggest that one could simply suggest that one could simply start over again,' said Franken attorney Marc Elias. He said the suggestion might reflect how the Coleman team believes their case went over the past six weeks. On Monday, the Republican's lawyers 'provisionally' rested their case, saying they wanted to give the court more information before resting completely." 

New DNC chairman Tim Kaine issued this statement responding to Coleman's suggestion that it might be impossible to have a winner. "The people of Minnesota have spoken. It's time for Norm Coleman to accept the voters' decision, do what is best for his state and country and stop standing in the way of a Senator being seated. The stakes for our country are too high right now to suggest that the results of a democratic election, exhaustive recount, and legal proceedings be thrown out just because Norm Coleman doesn't like the results."

CALIFORNIA: The AP says LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa "easily won re-election after a bumpy first term in the nation's second-largest city, fueling speculation that he will be among contenders next year to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger… Villaraigosa, the first Hispanic mayor in more than a century, was rewarded Tuesday with a second, four-year trip to City Hall despite an uneven first term that saw the breakup of his marriage and the defeat of his signature plan to reform city schools. 'I stand before you all humbled tonight, humbled by your support and by your confidence,' Villaraigosa told supporters at an election night rally. Unofficial returns from all but one precinct and a tally of vote-by-mail ballots early Wednesday gave the Democratic mayor 56 percent of the vote. He needed to capture more than half the vote to avoid a May runoff." 

ILLINOIS: Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley won the Democratic primary to replace Rahm Emanuel in Illinois' fifth congressional district. He "was first with 22 percent of the vote, while Fritchey and Feigenholtz were second and third, respectively, with both around 17 percent."

The Chicago Tribune writes that Quigley overcame "disadvantages in campaign cash and union support." Low voter turnout may have helped him, because he started out with higher name recognition than the other candidates. "Like Emanuel," the Trib writes, "he is media savvy, quick to offer a tip or pointed quote. But Quigley also is a wonk, known for writing policy papers on such arcane topics as tax-increment financing and government restructuring."

NEW YORK: Gov. David Paterson (D) is in a free-fall. "On Tuesday, the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion released a poll that pegged Mr. Paterson's job approval rating at the lowest point in the 27 years that Marist has been surveying public opinion of New York governors," the New York Times says. "Only 26 percent of the 1,045 registered voters surveyed said Mr. Paterson was doing either a good or excellent job, while 71 percent said he was doing a fair or poor job."

Also, "The Marist poll follows a similar showing for Mr. Paterson in a Quinnipiac University poll; both showed that he would be trounced by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo in a hypothetical primary matchup. Mr. Cuomo has said he likes the job he has, but has also not ruled out a run for governor."

PENNSYLVANIA: Yesterday, the conservative Club for Growth -- which is led by Pat Toomey, who is thinking of challenging GOP Sen. Arlen Specter in a primary -- gave a mocking "Comrade of the Year" award to Specter, Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe for supporting the stimulus. 

SOUTH CAROLINA: Rep. Gresham Barrett is jumping in the race for South Carolina governor in 2010. A Republican source tells First Read that Barrett "never had any interesting in serving in" Washington "for life" and that with Sanford being term-limited, Barrett "sees a real opportunity."

From NBC's Ken Strickland
In his weekly news conference today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made not-so-subtle references to the Republican infighting between RNC Chairman Michael Steele and conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. 

Reid said it's clear the American economy is in trouble and needs help, "but I guess the Republicans haven't gotten that message. Maybe they're not reading the papers or watching the news; maybe they're focused on talk radio. I don't know."

Minutes later, the majority leader criticized Republicans for slow-walking a government-funding bill being debated on the floor. 

"The Republicans have made a decision to 'just to say no' to everything," he said. "It's very clear they've made a decision that they want President Obama to fail."

Sensing Reid was enjoying himself, one reporter threw him some more bait asking, "Which Republicans want the president to fail, and what do they want him to fail at?"

"I'm not going to name individual Republicans," Reid responded, "but I think it's very clear, as a result of the actions, since Obama was elected, that people want him to fail. Some have said so; others have just acted accordingly. And I think that as a result of what's been going on in the press the last few days, we know that there's a significant number of Republicans out there who want the president to fail."

From NBC's Jay Blackman
First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Arlington National Cemetery today to tour the Women In Military Service For America Memorial as part of her commemorating Women's History Month. It is the only memorial that pays tribute to al women who served in the Armed Forces since the Revolutionary War.

Dedicated in October of 1997, the memorial includes displays of exhibits showcasing artifacts, text and memorable images donated by servicewomen and their families. The memorial also includes a database with the names, records of service, photographs and memorable military experiences of individual service women.

Obama was introduced by Brigadier Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, USAF, (Ret.) and president of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. Vaught told Obama that the fondest memories some women who served in World War II have of their service is being invited to tea at the White House by Eleanor Roosevelt. 

She then asked assembled members of the audience whether they would like to go to tea at the White House. The First lady said, "It's a great idea; you are all invited."

She began by saying she was impressed with the memorial and that she was going to spend more time here "and bring my girls because it's something I want them to see. ...I will work hard to be sure that this memorial continues to be … part of our nation's heritage.

Obama went on to mention the accomplishments of many women who served in the armed services. Toward the end of her speech, she called on Americans to do all they can to support service members and their families, pointing out what military families go through when their loved ones are serving their country.

She told the assembled military families that they have done their duty, and the country is grateful.

"We must do everything in our power to honor them by supporting them not just by word but by deed," said the first lady, who during her husband's campaign focused on the trials of military families.

From NBC's Athena Jones

WASHINGTON -- Pepsi and Southwest have done it. Small-time entrepreneurs on city streets across America have done it. Now the new administration appears to be reclaiming the Obama brand -- or something like it -- to highlight what it deems the symbols of the new $787 billion recovery plan's expected successes.

The president also seemed intent Tuesday on talking up depressed stock markets as he met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss global economic, regulatory and security issues -- though a top official denied the president was focused on day-to-day market moves.

The new logos are the latest manifestation of the kind of marketing phenomenon the record-breaking Obama campaign represented. One of them is a circle with a dark blue background, white stars and the words "recovery.gov" on the top half and a red-and-green bottom half that is divided into two, one side is red with an image of white gears and the other is green with an image of a plant.

The signs will be displayed at transportation and other projects being funded with taxpayer dollars under the new stimulus package.

"These emblems are symbols of our commitment to you, the American people -- a commitment to investing your tax dollars wisely, to put Americans to work doing the work that needs to be done," Obama said. "So when you see them on projects that your tax dollars made possible, let it be a reminder that our government -- your government -- is doing its part to put the economy back on the road of recovery."

(Incidentally, the Works Progress Administration under Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, also had a logo.)

The president was speaking at an event at the Department of Transportation where, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, he said the $28 billion in recovery act investments in infrastructure would save or create 150,000 good-paying jobs by the end of next year and that the next few weeks would see more than 200 construction projects launched across the country.

He also spoke about a new lending facility the Treasury Department launched today -- called the Consumer and Business Lending Initiative -- that would eventually generate up to $1 trillion of new lending to help unlock frozen credit markets.

The economy talk, which has dominated everything the president has done since taking office, continued at the Brown meeting when Obama addressed the sagging stock market -- the Dow Jones industrials closed at their lowest level since April 25, 1997 yesterday.

He compared the markets to political tracking polls that "bobs up and down day to day," arguing that if you pay too much attention to day-to-day movements, you were likely to get long-term strategy wrong and he argued that a market recovery could be in the offing.

"What you're now seeing is profit and earning ratios are starting to get to the point where buying stocks is a potentially good deal if you've got a long term perspective on it," he said. "I think that consumer confidence as they see the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act taking root, businesses are starting to see opportunities for investment and potentially hiring. We are going to start creating jobs again."

Profit and earning ratios -- more commonly called price to earnings ratios -- are one way investors measure a stock's value and affordability. The P/E ratio represents how much an investor will pay for a dollar of a company's earnings.

When peppered with questions about whether the president's comments were a calculated way to try to talk up the market, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs pushed back, arguing Obama had not said anything markedly different today than he has in the past and that it was not the president's job to comment or react on what the market does on any given day, but to look at the long term.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Here's one set of numbers we're releasing before the entire NBC/WSJ poll comes out at 6:30 pm ET: By a 48-20 percent margin, Americans believe the Democratic Party would do a better job of getting the U.S. out of recession than the Republican Party.

When this same question was asked back in 1990, the public was essentially split. In an October 1990 poll, 36 percent said Republicans would do a better job, versus 31 percent who picked the Democrats. And in December of that year, an equal number -- 33 percent -- sided with the Democrats and Republicans.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Today Sen. John McCain failed in his effort to strip thousands on earmarks from a government funding bill moving through Congress. His amendment would also have reduced the funding for several government departments to last year's lower spending levels.

His amendment failed 63-32, with a simple majority needed for passage. Only two Democrats voted with McCain: Evan Bayh and Claire McCaskill. 

There were eight Republicans who voted against McCain, thereby supporting the earmarks and the higher levels of spending. All but one of those Republicans (Snowe) sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee. That panel is tasked with writing the spending bills and are best positioned to add earmarks. Those GOP committee members voting against McCain were Bennett, Bond, Cochran, Collins, Murkowski, Shelby and Specter.

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
In Israel for her first venture into the tangled Middle East process that her husband tried desperately -- and unsuccessfully -- to resolve, Secretary of State Clinton announced today that the U.S. is sending two envoys to Damascus -- one from State, and one the from White House's National Security Council -- reopening talks with Syria for the first time in four years, when the Bush administration cut off relations after the assassination of Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
 
The Obama administration believes that Syria is critical to any resolution of the other Mid East problems, including Hamas's role in Gaza, Hezbollah, and the broader Palestinian-Israeli relationship.

The Obama team is also moving on other fronts to reverse Bush policies: Clinton implicitly acknowledged that the administration is offering to cancel the planned deployment of missile defenses in Eastern Europe, if Russia helps stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

She told a news briefing at the foreign ministry in Jerusalem that missile defense "was always intended to deter any missiles that might come from Iran."  

She will be following up with Russia's foreign minister in Geneva on Friday. (As has been reported overnight, President Obama offered the possibility of canceling the missile deployment in a letter to Russia's President Medvedev. Foreign Minister Lavrov is expected to reply when he meets with Clinton according to the Russian press.)

On the stalled peace front: the outlook is worse than before not only because of Gaza, but also because when Israel does get a new government, it will be led by Bibi Netanyahu, who takes a harder line toward a Palestinian state.

In advance of meeting with him later today, Clinton reiterated the U.S commitment to a two-state solution. There's also family history here: In the past, Netanyahu had a tough relationship with President Clinton, and the Palestinians also face elections and an uncertain leadership issue.

Tomorrow, she goes to Ramallah before leaving the Middle East for NATO meetings.

During meetings today, Clinton repeatedly spoke out against Hamas' rocketing of Israel, but also stressed the need to get relief into Gaza.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Nebraska Republican Sen. Mike Johanns will undergo lung surgery today "as a cautionary step after a spot was found on his left lung," according to a written statement from his office.

"The surgery could involve removal of the lower lobe of the left lung," the statement continued. "The exact nature of the spot, including whether it is cancerous, will be determined following the surgery."

Doctors discovered the spot on his lung after a routine physical in November and decided to monitor it with follow-up visits. But after an examination yesterday, doctors opted for surgery today.

The procedure will happen at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.  Johanns office says the anticipated recovery time is 10 days. 

"Senator Johanns fully expects to return to the office by March 16," per the statement, "and he is eager to get back to representing the people of Nebraska in the U.S. Senate."

*** UPDATE *** Johann's office says no cancer was found.

After part of Johanns' lung was removed today during surgery, his office says doctors "found no cancer." According to a written statement, "Senator Johanns is in recovery after three hours of surgery today. Doctors have indicated they found no cancer."

The statement described removing Johanns' lower lobe of his left lung as "a cautionary step."  He's expected to be released from the Virginia hospital tomorrow.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Backflips for Rush: Rush Limbaugh might not be the "voice and intellectual force" behind the Republican Party, as Rahm Emanuel asserted on Sunday. But this has become increasingly true: When Limbaugh says jump, Republican officials quickly respond, "How high?" First, Georgia Rep. Phil Gingrey (R) criticized Limbaugh back in January, but then immediately called into to apologize after receiving a slew of complaints from Rush listeners. "I regret and apologize for the fact that my comments have offended and upset my fellow conservatives," Gingrey told Limbaugh. Now, after RNC chair Michael Steele told CNN over the weekend that Limbaugh is an entertainer who can be "ugly" and "incendiary" -- and after Limbaugh gladly returned the fire -- the chairman called Limbaugh to smooth things over. "My intent was not to go after Rush," Steele told Politico. "I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh. I was maybe a little bit inarticulate… There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership." Of course, there is now an open invitation for some ambitious Republican to become the first to have the guts to stand up to Rush.

Video: RNC Chairman Michael Steele apologizes to Rush Limbaugh.  NBC's Chuck Todd reports. 

*** Steele's rocky start: Steele's apology yesterday was the second time he has said something during his month-old chairmanship that he has had to backtrack from. Earlier, in a FOX interview, Steele suggested that the three Senate Republicans who voted for the stimulus -- Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Arlen Specter -- would face primary challenges, and left open the possibility that those three might not receive funds from the RNC. But the committee reversed course, telling First Read: "The RNC has no intention of getting involved in primaries. We work with state parties to elect Republicans and will continue to do that." These reversals come as Steele has raised eyebrows with his language (examples: "off the hook," saying he wanted to give Bobby Jindal some "slum love"). To put it charitably, Steele has gotten off to a rocky start as RNC chair (as Rush himself said) -- primarily due to a lack of message discipline. And some Republicans might agree with this statement from Limbaugh yesterday: "It's time, Mr. Steele, for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you're having a tough time pulling off."

*** Pulled pork? Meanwhile, President Obama is potentially testing the limits of his popularity, as well as the good will he's engendered from some independents who believe he's not just another politician. How? By expressing so much disappointment in the omnibus spending bill that he also plans to sign. The White House hinted yesterday that the president will lay out requirements for the future on how many earmarks that spending bills can have before the president will veto them. It's amazing the things the White House isn't doing -- like getting current administration officials who have earmarks to renounce them, or threaten a veto to get the Congress to rethink some of these earmarks. Still, the argument the White House makes is that it would be too much of a mess to send this back to Congress. Still, the line in the sand the president draws on earmarks later this will be intriguing to use as a future marker.

*** Tease time: Just how popular is President Obama? How about his GOP opposition? Whom does the public blame for the partisanship in Washington? And what are the thoughts about the state of the economy? Be sure to tune into Nightly News, or click on to MSNBC.com, beginning at 6:30 pm ET for the answers to these questions in our latest NBC/WSJ poll.

*** The British are coming! The British are coming! Today, at 11:30 am ET, President Obama meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the Oval Office, and the two men have a working lunch afterwards. Sources close to both leaders say the purpose of the today's meeting is to make sure Brown and Obama are speaking with one voice on the economy, going into next month's meeting of world economic leaders. This visit is much more politically relevant to Brown, who isn't so popular at home and would like to bask in the glow of Obama's popularity. The British leader was hoping for a longer public event with the president, but is only getting a small amount of pool coverage. Also today, Obama delivers remarks at the Transportation Department at 9:45 am and then at the Interior Department at 2:00 pm.

*** Explaining AIG: Just askin', but shouldn't the government -- in particular either President Obama or Treasury Secretary Geithner -- spend some time with the American people and explain exactly how $162 billion is need for AIG, and what would happen if AIG failed? This amount of money is war-like spending, and a president would take time to explain what the money is being used for if this were a war and peace issue. Shouldn't the White House view this similarly and explain exactly what the heck AIG does and why it is so important, arguably more important than any other bank or insurance company? Seriously, we hear all the time that AIG has tentacles connected to the entire global economy. OK, fine. Then unwind the issue for the American people. Show us charts, graphs etc., sell the public on the idea that AIG is truly too big to fail. And if you can't make the case in a 15- to 30-minute presentation where the president or Geithner walks us through the issue, then maybe the public will never have buy-in on these bailouts.

*** Replacing Rahm: Question: How many people does it take to replace Rahm Emanuel in Congress? Answer: 23 people. Well, that's at least the number of people running (12 Democrats, six Republicans, and five Greens) in today's special election in Illinois to fill Emanuel's seat. The top vote-getter from each party advances to a general election that will take place next month, and political observers say the top Democrats in this Dem-leaning district are County Commissioner Mike Quigley and state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz. Quigley has been endorsed by both the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times, and he has the highest name ID. Feingenholtz, meanwhile, has the backing of women's groups and the state SEIU. But given that turnout is expected to small and given that it takes just a simple plurality to advance, today's race is wide open. By the way, this isn't just Emanuel's congressional seat -- it's also the one held by Rod Blagojevich and Dan Rostenkowski. As the Cook Political Report's David Wasserman told the New York Times, "How do you follow Rostenkowski and Blagojevich and Emanuel? What will this person be notorious for?"

*** L.A. Story: Also today, Los Angeles holds its municipal elections, and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to cruise to victory. As the Los Angeles Daily News writes, "None of Villaraigosa's nine opponents is considered a serious threat, and he is anticipating an easy win to raise his profile as he considers a run for governor in 2010."

*** Three races to watch in '09: Of course, today's contests won't be the only 2009 races we'll be following this year. Plenty of Republicans -- after the stimulus battle, after their post-Nov. 4 victories in Georgia and Louisiana, and at last week's CPAC conference -- have been talking about their political comeback. But as one of us wrote yesterday, the best signal whether or not the GOP is on the road to political recovery is how it performs in the three big races of '09: the special on March 31 to fill Kirsten Gillibrand's congressional seat, and the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. Victories in those races would demonstrate that the GOP can win outside the South (New York and New Jersey), as well as in a state that Republicans must carry in future presidential contests. 
 
Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 91 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 98 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 245 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 609 days

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In naming two to the health care team -- rather than giving Sebelius the whole enchilada -- the president added to the collection of folks in his shop who want to have a say in health care. Interestingly, Robert Gibbs indicated yesterday at the press briefing that Nancy-Ann DeParle will coordinate the health care reform legislation efforts over and above Sebelius.

Q: Robert, you said that the entire economic team will be working on this health care plan and you said it will be a group effort. Who is leading the way on this? Who will be the point person, specifically, in dealing with the House and the Senate on this from the White House?
MR. GIBBS: Well, certainly Nancy will. But, again, she will head health care reform here in the White House. But then -- you know, look, anytime you deal with Congress, you're going to involve many different people that work here, whether it's folks like Phil that deal with Congress every day; whether it's others. I think this is a big enough job for -- that it's going to take a number of people to do.
 
More from the New York Times: "In separating the roles of health czar and health secretary, Mr. Obama is adding to an already large stable of experts who will help him in his effort to overhaul the health care system, one of his priorities. It was not immediately clear who would dominate, or who would corral members of the ever-growing team, with their varying viewpoints."

Also, the Washington Post made DeParle the lead, not Sebelius. Yet another hint at who is in charge of health care reform for Obama?

Time: "The good news for DeParle is that her new job won't require much public salesmanship. The White House already has a handful of health care reformers who spend a lot of time talking to the American people, from the President himself to Peter Orszag, the budget director, to the newly nominated Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, the popular Kansas Governor who was introduced alongside DeParle on Monday. DeParle, by contrast, is being tasked with what she has always done best, working behind the scenes to make health care work better."

The Hill sees Obama's approach to tackling health care as far different from that of Clinton's. "Obama is trying to show he's learned from those mistakes, and the summit is a part of that effort… The president and his senior aides have deliberately left many key questions unanswered, even though Obama campaigned on a platform that included a framework for health reform. His administration is deferring to Congress to work out the sticky details." 
 
The fight for health care is going to be very public. A group of conservatives announced $20 million dollar campaign to promote what they believe should be "free market health reform, fight Obama-care, i.e. government run health care." The group is called Conservatives for Patients' Rights founded by former Columbia/HCA Founder Rick Scott.

The Dow dipped below 7,000 for the first time since Oct. 1997. For those looking to blame Washington… "Analysts said an accumulation of troubling events, not a single development, drove stocks down yesterday for the fourth straight trading day and 10th of the past 12 sessions. Troubled insurance giant American International Group posted a $61.7 billion loss, the largest in a single quarter in corporate history, as the US government said it will inject another $30 billion into the firm. British bank HSBC, meanwhile, said it needed to raise $17.7 billion to shore up its financial position. And fabled investor Warren Buffett told his shareowners the economy could be 'in shambles' through 2009.

More: "In the short term, analysts said, investors will be searching for signs that the financial shocks battering the market since last fall are over. Yesterday's news that AIG will get $30 billion in US loans, on top of $150 billion already invested, raised fresh questions about the health of the financial system. Just last week, the government raised its ownership stake in Citicorp to 36 percent to bolster the bank's capital base. 'People are worrying about what's next,' said Putnam. 'We've seen some of the biggest names in American finance fail, or almost fail. Investors need to see the end of that to restore their confidence.'"

"The financial crisis has made it increasingly dangerous to let AIG fail because its tentacles continue to extend throughout the global financial system," the Los Angeles Times writes. "Therefore, its implosion could set off a chain reaction of failures at banks and other institutions worldwide." 
 
Will OMB Dir. Orszag indicate whether he needs to re-calculate his estimates for the 2010 budget now that the GDP numbers are worse than expected when he first came up with his budget plan?

NBC News has also confirmed the news that the president sent a letter to the president Russia indicating the missile defense shield is on the table in exchange for the Russians helping to deal with the Iranian threat. But realize this, the letter was sent to Medvedev, not Putin. Just sayin.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to deliver tough words to the White House and Congress warning against protectionism, the AP reports. But what's behind some of the words? Politics. "Brown has been falling significantly behind the conservative opposition in British opinion polls. Supporters hope an appearance with Obama and a leading role in next month's economic summit will change his fortunes."

More tax problems? Obama's pick for US Trade Rep. Ron Kirk "owes an estimated $10,000 in back taxes from earlier in the decade and has agreed to pay them, the Senate Finance Committee said yesterday. The committee said the taxes arise from Kirk's handling of speaking fees he donated to a scholarship fund that he set up at his alma mater, and for his deduction of the full cost of season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team. Kirk also agreed to make changes in his accounting of charitable deductions, including reducing the claimed value of a donated television from $3,000 to $1,500."

And: "The CIA destroyed nearly 100 videotapes of terror suspect interrogations, far more than previously acknowledged, the Obama administration said yesterday as it began disclosing details of post-Sept. 11 Bush-era actions," the AP reports.

"It's an elephant on elephant slapfest -- and the White House is likely loving every minute of it," the New York Daily News writes of the spat between Rush Limbaugh and RNC Chair Michael Steele. After Steele dismissed Limbaugh as an "entertainer" who is "incendiary" and whose rhetoric is "ugly," Limbaugh lashed out from his radio perch. Limbaugh said he'd be "embarrassed" to run the Republican Party right now and added this coup de grace: "It's time, Mr. Steele, for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you're having a tough time pulling off."

Steele later called Limbaugh to apologize, Politico writes. "Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an 'entertainer' whose show can be 'incendiary.' 'My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh,' Steele said in a telephone interview. "I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. … There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership.'"

The RNC gave First Read this statement from Steele: "I respect Rush Limbaugh, he is a national conservative leader, and in no way do I want to diminish his voice. I'm sure that he and I will agree most of the time, but will probably disagree some as well, which is fine.
 
More: "The Democrats are doing everything they can to find ways to take people's attention off of their massive 36 Billion dollar a day spending spree that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have embarked on.  To the extent that my remarks helped the Democrats in Washington to take the focus, even for one minute, off of their irresponsible expansion of government, I truly apologize."

"Bracing for President Barack Obama's aggressive legislative agenda, Senate Republican leaders recently began tasking key members of their Conference with drafting policy alternatives and message points to try to counter the popular chief executive's plans," Roll Call reports. 
 
The Hill looks at Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's approach to what the Republican Party needs to do, including modernizing.

By the way, conservatives will be happy to know that David Brooks refers to himself as a "moderate" not a conservative.

ILLINOIS: Roll Call on today's contest to succeed Rahm Emanuel in Congress: "While there is no clear frontrunner in the race, the likely winner will be one of three leading contenders, and the victor of today's primary is all but certain to win the April 7 special general election in the heavily Democratic northside Chicago district. State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz has the financial edge, after announcing last week that she had raised $900,000 -- including $100,000 from her own bank account -- eclipsing all other candidates in the field. The only viable female candidate in the race has also been boosted by the Service Employees International Union, which has spent at least $250,000 on TV ads on her behalf." The two other leading candidates: state Rep. John Fritchey and Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley.

The AP: "Sen. Roland Burris isn't saying whether he'll run for a full term in the Senate next year, but he has laid the groundwork on the Internet" with a 2010 Web site SupportBurris.com. There isn't much there except a fundraising and e-mail sign up link. 
 
LOUISIANA: Rothenberg Political Report's Nathan Gonzales takes a look at the Louisiana Senate race and sees a clearing path for the re-election of David Vitter. 
 
PENNSYLVANIA: Pat Toomey is weighing a Republican primary rematch against Sen. Arlen Specter. 
 
TEXAS: Politico looks at the impending Republican gubernatorial primary between Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.

From NBC's John Yang
As the Obama administration conducts a policy review to clarify U.S. goals in Afghanistan, Robert Gates offered a few clues about where that process is heading in his first television interview on Sunday as President Obama's Defense secretary.
 
The key is to provide "a level of stability in Afghanistan that at least prevents it from being a safe haven from which plots against the United States and the Europeans and others can be put together," Gates told NBC's David Gregory on "Meet the Press."

Mr. Obama said much the same thing to PBS's Jim Lehrer this past week: "I can articulate some very clear, minimal goals in Afghanistan, and that is that we make sure that it's not a safe have for Al Qaeda, they are not able to launch attacks of the sort that happened on 9/11 against the American homeland or American interests."
 
Achieving those ends, the president said, requires "the entire arsenal of American power. We've been thinking very militarily, but we haven't been as effective in thinking diplomatically, we haven't been thinking effectively around the development side of the equation."
 
The deteriorating security situation in the region adds urgency to the administration's policy review, which has included consultations with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and European allies. The goal is to have a new policy by the time Mr. Obama attends the NATO Summit in Germany and France on April 3-4 -- where he's likely to ask allies for financial and military support.
 
Mr. Obama and his Defense secretary have also emphasized the need for a regional approach to Afghanistan. Safe havens on the Pakistani side of the border give the Taliban and other fundamentalist Muslim groups a base for operations inside Afghanistan.
 
Gates knows first-hand their value. "After all," he said on "Meet the Press," "I was on the other side of that border as deputy director of the CIA fighting the Soviets [who occupied Afghanistan], and we had the safe haven in Pakistan, and let me tell you -- it made a big difference."
 
In both Iraq and Afghanistan, the Obama team seems to be rejecting the broader Bush administration goal of establishing stable, democratic, centralized regimes whose authority extends over their entire countries.
 
Mr. Obama said as much Friday when he announced a timeline for ending U.S. combat operations in Iraq.
 
"We cannot ... stay [in Iraq] until Iraq's union is perfected," he said. "We cannot sustain indefinitely a commitment that has put a strain on our military and will cost the American people nearly a trillion dollars."
 
By breaking with President Bush, Mr. Obama is agreeing with Candidate Bush. In 2000, then-Gov. George W. Bush derided the idea that the U.S. military could be used to build a nation.
 
"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called 'nation-building'," Bush said in an Oct. 11, 2000 debate with Al Gore at Wake Forest University (moderated, coincidentally enough, by Jim Lehrer). "I think our troops ought to be used to fight and win war. I think our troops ought to be used to help overthrow a dictator when it's in our best interests."
 
Gates is the only cabinet secretary to serve both presidents and has a unique perspective on the two.
 
"Probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical," he told Gregory on "Meet the Press. "And he makes sure he hears from everybody in the room on an issue. And if they don't speak up, he calls on them.
 
"President Bush was interested in hearing different points of view but didn't go out of his way the make sure that everybody spoke if they hadn't--if they hadn't spoken up before," he said.

From NBC's Mark Murray
It has been just six weeks since their party lost control of the White House, but plenty of Republicans are already talking about a political comeback.

After every House Republican voted against President Barack Obama's stimulus plan -- demonstrating party unity and a commitment to lower spending that didn't always exist when the GOP was in power -- Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told The Washington Post: "We're so far ahead of where we thought we'd be at this time."

"It's not a sign that we're back to where we need to be," he added, "but it's a sign that we're beginning to find our voice."

Republicans also touted they were on the road to recovery after winning three races after Nov. 4 — a Senate run-off in Georgia and two congressional contests in Louisiana. In one of those Louisiana victories, little-known Anh "Joseph" Cao defeated Democratic incumbent Rep. William Jefferson, who had been indicted on corruption charges. The win prompted House GOP Leader John Boehner to fire off a memo declaring, "The Future is Cao."

And at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, former (and possibly future) Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney asked audience members not to dwell on the battles they've lost. "We are here to get ready for the battles we're going to win," he said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who also spoke at the conference, added, "The reports of the demise of the conservative movement are greatly exaggerated."

Yet opposing one piece of legislation, winning three post-election races in the GOP-friendly South or holding a conservative pep rally in D.C. doesn't really signal a political comeback.

But what could, analysts say, are Republican victories in three upcoming races this year -- a congressional special election in New York, and gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia.

Those wins would demonstrate that the GOP can win outside of the South (New York and New Jersey), and in a state that the party must carry in future presidential contests (Virginia).

Click on MSNBC.com for the rest of this story.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Pat Toomey, the head of the conservative Club for Growth who almost ousted Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter in a 2004 GOP primary, appears to be eyeing a rematch.

Toomey released this statement today: "As this disastrous recession worsens, I have become increasingly concerned about the future of our state and national economy. Unfortunately, the recent extraordinary response of the federal government - more corporate bailouts, unprecedented spending and debt, higher taxes - is likely to make things worse. I think we are on a dangerously wrong path. Pennsylvanians want a US Senator focused on real and sustainable job creation that gets our economy growing again. That is why I am considering becoming a candidate for the US Senate."

Specter, of course, was one of three GOP senators who voted for Obama's stimulus plan. You can bet that vote will be a big issue in a Specter-Toomey primary.

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Ron Kirk, the administration's nominee to be U.S. Trade Representative, is the latest Obama nominee to apparently have tax problems.

The Senate Finance Committee, which has addressed tax issues before with the Tim Geithner and Tom Daschle nominations, has also discovered tax issues with Kirk.

The committee estimates that as a result of their findings, Kirk has paid approximately $9,975 in back taxes. The panel raised questions about "clarification of his practice of assigning honoraria to Austin College and whether the honoraria should have been reported as taxable income, substantiation of various charitable donations and other miscellaneous tax questions."

Committee Chairman Max Baucus supports Kirk, calling him "the right person for the job" and will work for his speedy confirmation. "I am confident he can successfully restore the confidence of Congress and the American people in a balanced international trade agenda," Baucus said in a written statement.

From NBC's Pete Williams

The Justice Department today released several Bush-era legal memos, issued in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, that were rescinded in the later days of the Bush presidency or since President Obama took office.

"Americans deserve a government that operates with transparency and openness," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a written statement accompanying the release.

The memos argued:

1. The president has the authority to use the military to detain foreign or international terrorists inside the U.S.

"A military commander carrying out a raid on a terrorist cell" inside the US would not need a search or arrest warrant.

Traditionally observed restrictions on military activity inside the U.S. is limited to using the military to carry out law enforcement functions and arresting a foreign terrorist in the U.S. would come under a president's war-fighting authority. 

That conclusion appears to have been withdrawn by another memo issued in the closing days of the Bush Administration -- in October 2008.

2. A president would have authority to transfer a prisoner held by the military overseas to another country but would have much less ability to do so for a detainee held inside the U.S.

From NBC's Athena Jones

Calling health-care reform not just a moral imperative but a fiscal one, President Obama today named Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

The president -- who was joined on stage by a bipartisan cast including former Sen. Bob Dole, Sen. Max Baucus, Rep. Henry Waxman, and Sen. Pat Roberts -- said Sebelius had a reputation as a bipartisan problem-solver and that her experience would be important in meeting the challenge of expanding access to health care while reducing costs.

Video: Obama nominates Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as his choice for secretary of Health and Human Services.

"As governor of Kansas, she inherited billion-dollar deficit. But by eliminating waste and inefficiency while making smart choices, she balanced the state budget without raising taxes. And time and again on energy and education, jobs and health care, she's bridged the partisan divide and worked a Republican legislature to get things done for the people of Kansas," Obama told an East Room audience.

The president also named health-care expert Nancy-Ann DeParle as counselor to the president and director of the White House Office for Health Reform.

The announcements represented a shift in focus to health care reform, a major goal of the Obama administration and one he and his aides have argued is inextricably tied to the country's long-term economic health. The White House is hosting a health-care summit on Thursday to begin to discuss what can be accomplished this year on health-care reform.

Obama said health-care premiums had risen four times faster than wages over the last eight years and eight million Americans had lost their insurance. He said health-care costs caused a bankruptcy every 30 seconds and could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes by the end of this year.

But Obama also warned that reforming health care would not be easy, much as he has said that pulling the country out of the current economic crisis will not happen overnight.

"I realize that there are those who simply don't believe Washington can bring about this change and the odds are long," he said. "It's failed too many times. There are too many special interests and entrenched lobbyists invested in the status quo."

But he again sought to remind his listeners that the American people had voted for change. "That's the conventional wisdom, and I understand those doubts," he continued. "But I also know this: I didn't come to Washington to take the easy route, or to work for the powerful and the well-connected interests who have run this city for too long. I came here to work for the American people. I came here to deliver the sweeping change that they demanded when they went to the polls in November."

The president repeated a new favorite line -- that his administration had done more to advance the cause of health-care reform in the last month than had been done in the last decade, as he announced that $155 million in money under the recovery plan he signed into law last month would go to help support 126 new health centers. He said these centers would help some 750,000 low income Americans, relieve pressure on emergency rooms and create thousands of jobs.

During her brief remarks, Sebelius also called the November election a vote for change and said nowhere was change more important than in health care.

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Enter Kathleen Sebelius: The tone of Obama's health-care week gets set today when the president formally introduces his second choice for HHS secretary: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Expect Obama to talk about her ability to work across party lines (she has a Republican lieutenant governor (CLARIFICATION: Sebelius' lieutenant governor was a Republican, but switched parties in 2006 to run as a Democrat), and her husband's father was a Republican congressman), as well as her experience dealing with state health-care issues. But what's going to matter most? Her relationship with one man: Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, who is going to be the single-most important person on the Hill in crafting any health-care legislation. For those wondering if there will still be a desk at the White House for Sebelius -- a la the Daschle arrangement -- don't bet on it. There are a lot of players in the White House who are going to be involved in the details of health care, including Rahm Emanuel (who will get a lot of back channel advice from the non-Hollywood brother); Peter Orszag (who has set the table for health care as a budget crisis); and Larry Summers (whose shop wasn't thrilled with giving up health care to Daschle in the first place). Also, as we've written before, a sidebar story to Sebelius' confirmation will be a heated debate over abortion. Look for the pro-life community to start test-driving some of its abortion messages on this confirmation hearing as a prelude to the fight over Obama's first SCOTUS nomination.

*** The White House gets its sea legs: We shouldn't let last week go without acknowledging how well the Obama White House dominated the messaging of each and every day last week, and also stayed on its chosen message. No outside event disrupted the administration's day-to-day goals last week -- the fiscal responsibility summit on Monday, the address to Congress on Tuesday, the budget on Thursday, and the Iraq pullout announcement on Friday. It was an impressive feat for those who admire the ability of any political shop to walk and chew gum at the same time. The White House, though, is not trying to be nearly as dominant with its message events this week, given that one issue will dominate more than any other: health care.

*** The budget battle: Meanwhile, the initial battle lines over the president's budget seem to be drawn. It started with Obama's radio address on Saturday, when he said: "I know these steps won't sit well with the special interests and the lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they're gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this: So am I." For their part, Republicans want to define everything Obama is doing through big-government prism. By the way, Rahm Emanuel admitted that Obama will sign the omnibus bill unhappily -- because of the earmarks in it -- but apparently warned Congress not to do it again. 

*** The straw-man battle: The two parties seem to be engaged in an interesting competition. The Obama White House and Democrats want to define the Republican Party through Rush Limbaugh -- from paid advertising (via the labor-funded Americans United) to Rahm Emanuel, who did his best on Sunday to "honor" Limbaugh's intellectual leadership of the GOP. Meanwhile, the GOP talking point over the weekend was directed at the president's budget, which Republicans defined as the return of big government and the biggest wealth transfer attempt since LBJ or FDR. (As the New York Times' Mark Leibovich also noted, Republicans and conservatives have increasingly compared Obama's actions to socialism and communism. Talk about hyperbole.) Obviously, these straw-men arguments are used as a way to hammer home a message. But who is having more luck right now? Well, it's early, but clearly the White House is ecstatic by how its Limbaugh gambit is working. The talk-show host appeared to have taken the bait by giving the concluding remarks at CPAC. Are any Republicans nervous about having Limbaugh becoming the face of the GOP? RNC chair Michael Steele tried to dismiss Limbaugh over the weekend as nothing more than an "entertainer." We can't wait to hear what Rush thinks of THAT description.

Video: Rush Limbaugh offers his views at CPAC on how Northern Trust managed bailout funds.

*** Mitt's win: By the way, Mitt Romney finished first in the CPAC presidential-preference straw poll -- his third-straight CPAC victory. Bobby Jindal came in second; Ron Paul and Sarah Palin tied for third; and Newt Gingrich was next, followed by Mike Huckabee. Riddle us this, though: Why does the Romney victory not seem to have a lot of buzz?

*** Focus on the evangelical movement: James Dobson's resignation as head of Focus on the Family was yet another reminder of the aging leadership of the evangelical movement. Pat Robertson and Dobson are now both semi-retired and in their 70s. Jerry Falwell's recent death also left a bully-pulpit vacancy. So who speaks for this very important constituency group? Is it Tony Perkins? Huckabee? Sarah Palin? Rick Warren? There's no go-to person right now. We've always wondered what would have happened had Huckabee chosen to stay in the religious side of the evangelical movement rather than move into elective politics. Our guess: He'd be the go-to voice of the movement. He still may be, but he clearly has the presidential bug to get out of his system. In the meantime, all the names above will have some say over the next few years.

*** A diplomatic answer: Was there a more fascinating moment over the weekend than watching Defense Secretary Robert Gates answer David Gregory's question comparing working for Obama and Bush? First, Gates' silence was, well, deafening. It took him a while to formulate his answer. He finally went the "analytical" route with Obama, which only plays into the stereotype some have for Dubya "I think that … probably President Obama is, is somewhat more analytical, and, and, he makes sure he hears from everybody in the room on an issue," he said. Gates' response should keep liberal columnists in business for the next few days. Given the difficult question to answer, we admire Gates' diplomatic response. Heck, maybe Gates has another job in mind after his stint at DOD is done: Secretary of State. (That's a joke Madame Secretary!)

Video: Robert Gates discusses a potential end date for his term and the differing leadership styles of Obama and Bush.

*** Obama and Afghanistan: We hate looking back so much on a Monday: But we urge folks to take another look at Obama's Iraq speech from Friday. It had everything -- the actual new mission accomplishment, the attempt to politically win over the military community, an outline of how Obama will use the military during his tenure, and a clue as to what's coming next in Afghanistan. It was a rich speech and maybe more memorable than the address he gave to Congress. Specifically on Afghanistan, we want to point folks to this section: "We have learned that America must go to war with clearly defined goals, which is why I've ordered a review of our policy in Afghanistan. We have learned that we must always weigh the costs of action, and communicate those costs candidly to the American people." A few minutes after delivering that speech, Obama said this to PBS' Jim Lehrer: "Now, I can articulate some very clear, minimal goals in Afghanistan, and that is that we make sure that it's not a safe haven for al-Qaida, they are not able to launch attacks of the sort that happened on 9/11 against the American homeland or American interest. How we achieve that initial goal, what kinds of strategies and tactics we need to put in place, I don't think that we've thought it through… Obviously, we haven't been thinking regionally, recognizing that Afghanistan is actually an Afghanistan/Pakistan problem, because right now the militants, the extremists who are attacking U.S. troops are often times coming over the border from Pakistan." Now read between the lines here: Is Obama setting up the possibility that we won't surge into Afghanistan militarily as some might expect? And could our Afghanistan strategy simply be defined by Pakistan, meaning that Pakistan's stability becomes the driving reason behind sticking it out in Afghanistan? 
 
Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 92 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 99 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 246 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 610 days

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