First Read: Now what?

First Read from NBC News
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First Read: Now what?

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg

FIRST THOUGHTS.
*** Now what? All the pieces for our 2011 Washington chess board are now in place, or are about to be. John Boehner is the newly minted House speaker; the Tea Party members of Congress have been sworn in; and President Obama appears ready to tap a new chief of staff (Bill Daley?) as well as other new senior aides. The question becomes: Now what? Well, the day after taking power, House Republicans will read the U.S. Constitution in full on the House floor, beginning at 10:30 am ET. After that comes the House vote -- on Jan. 12 -- to repeal the health-care law, which is unlikely to go anywhere in the U.S. Senate. And there will be the showdown -- sometime in March -- over raising the debt ceiling. What does Boehner think about these and other issues? Tune into NBC's "Nightly News" tonight for Brian Williams' exclusive interview with the new speaker and the new face of the Republican Party.

*** Why read the Constitution? Regarding today's reading of the Constitution, the Washington Post notes, "The House historian's office found no record of the Constitution ever having been read aloud on the chamber's floor, although twice lawmakers have submitted the text into the Congressional Record. Roswell Flower (D-N.Y.) did so in 1882 and Thomas Reilly (D-Conn.) in 1915, according to House Historian Matthew Wasniewski." Why are Republicans reading the Constitution? Look no further than our NBC/WSJ poll right before the midterms. In it, 38% of conservatives, 41% of Republicans, and 50% of Tea Party supporters said one of the top messages they wanted to send in the election was returning to "the principles of the Constitution." By comparison, just 8% of Democrats, 8% of liberals, 17% of moderates, and 22% of independents said that. Simply put, this is a hat tip to the GOP's fired-up base that the party believes propelled them into the House majority. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283A4:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

*** A major retooling? Today -- or tomorrow -- could very well be when we get the news if former Clinton Commerce Secretary Bill Daley becomes Obama's new chief of staff. Yesterday, per NBC's Savannah Guthrie, Daley met at the White House with the president and interim chief of staff Pete Rouse, who's also being considered for the job permanently. At his press briefing, outgoing White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs admitted that there was a "pretty major retooling" going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. And he's right: In the next month or two, it could very well be that Rouse (possibly returning to his role as senior adviser, if Daley becomes chief of staff), Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer, and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett are the only remaining old members of Obama's top leadership team. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283A5:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

*** New Order: The two biggest players in this new White House order, by the way, would be Daley and Plouffe. They would have the largest portfolios of any senior aides in the building. Now it doesn't mean the influence of others would be diminished, but the expansive portfolio of Plouffe, in particular, does say a lot. And one other reminder about the signal the Daley hiring would send: Daley and Plouffe are not being brought in to manage Washington and a legislative agenda (a la Rahm, Rouse, Messina, Schiliro). Daley and Plouffe and the new team are coming in to retool the West Wing to become more responsive to OUTSIDE Washington needs; more responsive to governors and mayors -- you know, the folks that matter a heckuva lot more in an election year.

*** Gibbs' exit interview: By the way, Gibbs will sit down for an exclusive interview today on MSNBC's "Daily Rundown."

*** Pelosi's final pitch: While critics have accused Republicans of re-litigating the past -- like with next week's health-care vote -- the same could be said of Nancy Pelosi's speech yesterday introducing Boehner. In it, Pelosi once again touted the successes of the past Congress. "As I now prepare to hand over the gavel, I know one thing above all else. Thanks to you, we have stood for those children and for their families-for their health, their education, the safety of the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the food they eat, she said. "Thanks to you, for those children and families, we -- made the largest-ever commitment to making college more affordable; enacted Wall Street Reform with the greatest consumer protections in history; and passed a strong Patient's Bill of Rights." By the way, the San Francisco Examiner notes that Pelosi's speech introducing Boehner was longer than Boehner's speech. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283A6:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

*** Breaking down the anti-Pelosi 19: As we observed yesterday, these 19 House Democrats didn't vote for Pelosi: Altmire (PA), Barrow (GA), Bishop (GA), Boren (OK), Cardoza (CA), Cooper (TN), Costa (CA), Donnelly (IN), Giffords (AZ), Holden (PA), Kind (WI), Kissell (NC), Lipinski (IL), McIntyre (NC), Matheson (UT), Michaud (ME), Ross (AR), Schrader (OR), and Shuler (NC). Of these 19, seven hail from districts McCain won in '08; 12 hail from Obama-won districts; seven voted for the Obama agenda (both cap-and-trade and health care); eight voted against the Obama agenda; eight won re-election with 55% or more; and 11 won re-election with less than 55%. House Dem leadership aides believe there's nothing to see here about these 19 members. But it was a much bigger number than many privately believed would ultimately go public. And it probably means Pelosi is on a much shorter leash as leader of her caucus than many would like to admit. These 19 can't simply be explained away as disgruntled Blue Dogs. It's a more ideologically and geographically diverse group of dissenters.

*** The inside game: Remember when Obama, who campaigned as an outsider, received flak from appointing the ultimate insider -- Rahm Emanuel -- as his chief of staff? Well, Roll Call reports that many of the new Tea Party-backed members of Congress have also tapped insiders as their chiefs of staff. "A Roll Call analysis of new Members' picks for chief of staff found that of the 96 chiefs, at least 60 have previously worked for a Member of Congress or a committee…. GOP leadership had nudged new Members to hire experienced staffers, even putting together a list of about 75 potential chiefs of staff, including current and former Capitol Hill staffers and lobbyists." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283A7:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

*** Daniels' mixed signals: Earlier this week, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) signaled that his family might not have the stomach for a presidential run. "It scares them to death," he said of the media's scrutiny. "And it should." But now Politico's Martin is reporting that Daniels will speak at next month's CPAC cattle call. "It's another sign that Daniels is thinking seriously about a White House bid," Martin says. "He has previously eschewed the Republican cattle call circuit, insisting that he's entirely focused on his day job. The CPAC appearance offers Daniels a high-profile platform to address his comments last year that there ought to be a 'truce' on cultural issues to address the country's pressing fiscal problems." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283A8:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

*** Bachmann ducks the 2012 question: Asked on "TODAY" about if she was serious about a White House run in 2012, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) essentially ducked the question. "What I'm serious about is focusing on the issues." When NBC's Meredith Vieira pressed her for a firmer answer, Bachmann replied that she's giving a speech in Iowa. "If you speak in Iowa today, most people think you're running for president." What is Bachmann up to? Well, if Sarah Palin decides not to run for president, there certainly would be a Tea Party and female void in the GOP field. But here's something else to chew on: Is Bachmann simply keeping the door open to a presidential run to build up a donor base for a possible Senate run against Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D)?

Countdown to release of the monthly jobs report: 1 day
Countdown to the RNC chair election: 8 days
Countdown Chicago's mayoral election: 47 days
Countdown to Election Day 2011: 306 days
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: 396 days
* Note: When the IA caucuses take place depends on whether other states move up
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CONGRESS: Wrapping up Boehner's big day
"The 112th Congress opened a new era of divided government Wednesday, and newly empowered Republicans immediately moved to advance their agenda of attacking government spending," the Wall Street Journal writes. "Mr. Boehner, in his maiden speech as speaker, acknowledged his party has been thrust into the majority in an era of great political volatility, capping two decades in which control of the House has changed parties three times. 'The American people have humbled us,' Mr. Boehner said. 'They have refreshed our memories as to just how temporary the privilege to serve is. They have reminded us that everything is on loan from them. That includes this gavel.'" http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283AC:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
The New York Times on yesterday's congressional activity: "To reverse what they say is a Congressional process tilted toward spending increases, the new Republican majority in the House — over strong Democratic objections — approved rules that would require spending increases to be directly offset with cuts elsewhere. But the rules would allow future tax cuts to be enacted without offsetting spending reductions, and would permit repeal of the health care legislation, which was estimated to save the government more than $140 billion over 10 years, without any requirement that those revenue losses be made up elsewhere."
"Democrats criticized the changes, saying Republicans were returning to the policies that had put the government on a path to deep deficits in the first place and would open the door to "Enron-style accounting" that covered up the costs of tax cuts and their other legislative efforts." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283AD:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
Politico on the GOP's broken promises: "After calling for bills to go through a regular committee process, the bill that would repeal the health care law will not go through a single committee. Despite promising a more open amendment process for bills, amendments for the health care repeal will be all but shut down. After calling for a strict committee attendance list to be posted online, Republicans backpedaled and ditched that from the rules. They promised constitutional citations for every bill but have yet to add that language to early bills." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283AE:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
The Boston Globe's front-page goes with a centerpiece photo of Boehner's head buried in his handkerchief before Pelosi handed over the gavel. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283AF:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
In a nod to the Tea Party, there will be a full reading of the seven articles and 27 amendments of the U.S. Constitution beginning around 10:30 am ET today. And AP reports, "Also on Thursday, the House is to take up its first spending cut measure, a proposed 5 percent trim in the budgets of leadership, rank-and-file member and committee offices. Republicans have estimated that this will save $35 million over the next nine months." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B0:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
The New York Times notes, "Congressional historians say they believe this has been done only twice before." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B1:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
The Washington Post has more: "The House historian's office found no record of the Constitution ever having been read aloud on the chamber's floor, although twice lawmakers have submitted the text into the Congressional Record. Roswell Flower (D-N.Y.) did so in 1882 and Thomas Reilly (D-Conn.) in 1915, according to House Historian Matthew Wasniewski." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283A4:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

OBAMA AGENDA: Daley and Sperling to join the team?
The New York Times' Zeleny: "William M. Daley, who was commerce secretary in the Clinton administration, visited the West Wing to meet with the president and other advisers for a final series of discussions about serving as chief of staff. He has told associates he would accept the job if an offer was extended, and officials said Mr. Obama was favoring him. Gene Sperling, a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, was expected to be named on Friday as the director of the National Economic Council, the top economic policy job inside the White House. Mr. Sperling also held the position in the Clinton administration." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B2:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
"President Obama will address the U.S. Chamber of Commerce [on Feb. 7], underscoring his dramatic recent efforts to shed his administration's anti-business image," The Hill writes. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B3:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

GOP WATCH: Priebus still in the lead -- for now
Hotline's latest whip count for the RNC Chair race has Wisconsin party chair Reince Priebus continuing to lead, though he's not yet close to the 85 votes needed to win: 33-Priebus; 15-Michael Steele (current chair); 12-Ann Wagner (former MO party chair); 10-Saul Anuzis (MI committeeman); 7-Maria Cino (former Bush admin. official); 91-undecided. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B4:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

2012: Nothing 'off the table' for Bachmann
BACHMANN: "Rep. Michele Bachmann is beginning to consider a presidential run, according to close congressional aides," the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes. "As part of that effort, the Minnesota Republican is traveling to the early caucus state of Iowa on Jan. 21 to confer with state GOP leaders and address a group of conservative tax activists… While Bachmann has made no firm decision about a White House bid in 2012, 'nothing is off the table,' press aide Sergio Gor told the Star Tribune Wednesday, confirming an earlier ABC News report. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B5:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
BARBOUR: Local NBC affiliate WDAM says the Mississippi governor sounded "much like a national candidate for office" talking about national energy policy. "Barbour said the nation's high gas prices were related to the federal government's long term ban on new offshore drilling in parts of the country following the oil spill last spring. The Governor argued for an American energy strategy that requires more production from this country." He said, "We have always had as an advantage in the United States that we had abundant, affordable, reliable energy. And this administration is moving away from that. Their view is to drive up the cost of energy so people will use less of it." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B6:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
DANIELS: "Indiana Gov Mitch Daniels will attend CPAC, speaking to the annual conservative confab on Feb. 11," Politico writes. "It's another sign that Daniels is thinking seriously about a White House bid." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B7:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&

GINGRICH: "The No. 1 focus of House Republicans must be developing and implementing the right policies that will help entrepreneurs and small businesses create jobs and paychecks," wrote former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Wednesday in an e-mail sent out to supporters. "A booming economy will help balance the budget. It is also the best social policy we can have for American families. As President Ronald Reagan used to remind us, the best social program is a job because it allows the individual to take care of their family with dignity and independence. Many other activities and programs may make us feel good, but none are as important as creating the right policies for job creation." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B8:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
PALIN: Based on a Palin Re-Tweet of something written by commentator Tammy Bruce , Politico's Barr writes, "Former Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin -- whose lips have been sealed about the recent repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- is now hinting that she supports the move." More: "Palin aide Rebecca Mansour later relayed one of Bruce's comments questioning whether the mainstream media would take notice of Palin retweeting "something that stands [with] gays." But there was no clarity on Palin's actual position. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B9:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
PAWLENTY: He'll be on The View Tuesday. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283BA:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
"Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will sign an order Wednesday that reverses his Republican predecessor's policy barring state agencies from seeking certain discretionary federal health grants, his office announced Tuesday night," Bloomberg reports. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283BB:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
PENCE: He'll be in South Carolina this weekend, keynoting the black-tie Awakening Conference's annual dinner before "dozens of prominent conservatives," Politico writes. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283BC:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
ROMNEY: He said this yesterday of Republicans taking back the House: "We face many challenges, but in no area is leadership more important than in addressing the economy and the need for new jobs," noted Romney. "Let's face it: Washington has become a job-killing beast. It is slowly but surely smothering the very pioneering, entrepreneurial spirit that made America the freest, strongest nation on earth. Fortunately, we took the first step in slaying that job-killing beast by electing a Republican majority to the United States House of Representatives last November. But reclaiming majority control of the House is just the first step. We have a lot of work to do to change Washington and get our economy back on track." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283B8:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&
He's going to be on The View Feb. 1. It will be his second visit. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=283BA:B2CA5A050EF65E321F390F272C4AAB93&