TPMDC Morning Roundup

NYT: Petraeus' Voice Becomes Harder To Hear
The New York Times reports that Gen. David Petraeus has become a less prominent voice in the policies of the Obama administration than he was under George W. Bush: "The change has fueled speculation in Washington about whether General Petraeus might seek the presidency in 2012. His advisers say that it is absurd -- but in immediate policy terms, it means there is one less visible advocate for the military in the administration's debate over whether to send up to 40,000 additional troops to Afghanistan."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks from the Rose Garden at 11:10 a.m. ET, with doctors from across the country on the need for health care reform this year. Obama will meet at 4 p.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will spend the morning in Greenwich, Connecticut, attending an event for Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT). Then he will go to Fairfield, Connecticut, to promote the local benefits of the stimulus program. Later, he will travel to New York City to attend an event for Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH), who is running for the Senate in 2010.

O'Connor: My Rulings Have Been "Dismantled"
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor publicly bemoaned that in the time since her retirement, the Supreme Court has undone rulings that she had played key roles in crafting. "What would you feel? I'd be a little bit disappointed. If you think you've been helpful, and then it's dismantled, you think, 'Oh, dear.' But life goes on. It's not always positive."

Reid Faces Tough Job In Crafting Health Care Bill
The Associated Press reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Democratic colleagues all say he has a tough time ahead of him, in hammering out a health care bill. "He's on the hot seat," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). "I don't even want to think about it," said Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND). "What a daunting challenge."

Roll Call: Senate Moderates Falling In Line
Roll Call reports that moderate Senate Democrats are coming under increased pressure to support a health care bill that includes a public option -- and that those same moderates want a bill they can sell in their home states. "All of us have no question in our mind that we must have health care reform and insurance reform, and we need to move a bill," said Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK). "I think we have not done as good a job delivering the message as to what all this means in health care reform."

House Liberals Float Bill To Oppose Surge In Afghanistan
A group of 22 House liberals have put forward a bill to bar a surge of troops in Afghanistan. "History tells us that there will not be a military-first solution to the situation in Afghanistan," said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA). "Open-ended military intervention in Afghanistan is not in our national security interest and will only continue to give resonance to insurgent recruiters painting pictures of foreign occupation to a new generation."