TPMDC Morning Roundup

Podesta: The Health Of America's Political System 'Sucks'
Center For American Progress President John Podesta, a former White House Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton, told the Financial Times that the health of the American political system "sucks." "I think the president is trying to re-engage with Republicans, but, quite frankly, he's not dealing with the party of [Abraham] Lincoln. He's dealing with the party of [Sarah] Palin," said Podesta, who declared that intensified partisanship has made America "in essence, a parliamentary system without majority rule."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive his presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. He will tour a local job training center in Lanham, Maryland, at 10:40 a.m. ET, and deliver remarks on energy jobs at 11:05 a.m. ET, at the IBEW Local 26 Headquarters -- with an announcement of a loan guarantee for nuclear power plant construction. He will receive his economic daily briefing at 12 p.m. ET, back at the White House, and meet with senior advisers at 1:45 p.m. ET. He will meet with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan at 2:20 p.m. ET, with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at 2:55 p.m. ET, and with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel to Saginaw, Michigan. At 11:45 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks on the Recovery Act, at Delta College, joined by Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. Dale Kildee, and Administrator of the Small Business Administration Karen Mills. Later, he will meet with small business leaders, local officials and workers to discuss the stimulus program. He will return to Washington in the evening.

Obama Seeks To Return To Campaign-Style Discipline
The Obama administration is seeking to regain its political footing, including the kinds of rapid response and carefully managed press appearances that were employed so well in the 2008 campaign. "We ran everything through one strategic filter -- how does this help us win the election?" said White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer. "Anything that didn't help us do that, we didn't do."

Steele Meeting With Tea Party Activists Today
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele will meet today in Washington with a group of about 50 leaders of Tea Party groups from across the country. "From the get-go, the grass-roots movement emerged from people desiring to be heard and not feeling like their voices are being heard in Washington," said Karin Hoffman, founder of the South Florida-based Tea Party group "DC Works For Us." "This is the beginning of a formal discussion with the political establishment."

Freshmen Dems Taking Lead On Popular Bills
Roll Call reports that freshman House Democrats are taking a point position on key legislation headed into the midterm election season. This is exemplified by the upcoming bill to repeal the anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies, to be introduced by swing-seat Dems Betsy (CO) and Tom Perriello (VA). "All along, the strategy has been to help these guys show they could get things done in Washington and fix problems back home," said a House leadership aide.

Hillary Clinton Warns Of Mideast Nuclear Arms Race
Speaking to a group of Saudi college students, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned of the prospect of a Middle East nuclear arms race. "If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, that hope disappears," said Clinton, "because then other countries which feel threatened by Iran will say to themselves, 'If Iran has a nuclear weapon, I better get one, too, in order to protect my people.'