First Read: One week later

First Read from NBC News
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First Read: One week later

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

FIRST THOUGHTS.
*** One week later: The questions that arose after the tragedy in Tucson -- can American politics be more civil, can the political volume be turned down a notch or two? -- will be put to the test this week as House Republicans resume their effort to repeal President Obama's signature health-care law. Per NBC's Luke Russert, the House is slated today to begin debate on the repeal legislation for seven hours, with the final vote scheduled for tomorrow. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor holds a pen-and-pad briefing at 2:00 pm ET, while Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Joe Crowley hold a conference call at 12:30 pm ET to argue against repeal. In addition, the liberal-leaning group Americans United for Change has announced it's airing a TV ad (a five-figure buy running on cable) criticizing the repeal effort. "The Affordable Care Act gave your family the same health protections that members of Congress get," the ad goes. "But Republicans want to take that protection away from your family." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A67F:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

*** Obama's approval ticks up: A week after the Tucson shootings, a new Washington Post/ABC poll finds that President Obama's approval rating has spiked up to 54% (the poll was conducted after the president's speech). More: "Evaluations of President Obama's handling of the Jan. 8 tragedy are highly positive across the political spectrum, with nearly eight in 10 giving him high marks for his response to the incident. A robust 71 percent of Republicans say they approve of his leadership following the shootings." And: Americans overwhelmingly describe the tone of political discourse in the country as negative, verging on angry ... but more than half say the culture did not contribute to the shootings in Tucson that killed six people and wounded 13." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A680:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

*** Giffords' congressional seat ISN'T in jeopardy: The Washington Post notes that a little-known provision in Arizona law says that if a public officeholder ceases to "discharge the duties of office for the period of three consecutive months," then that office would become vacant -- thus jeopardizing the Democrats' hold of Gabrielle Giffords' House seat. But this ISN'T going to happen because federal law trumps state law regarding members of Congress. "The U.S. Constitution provides the qualifications for service in Congress and makes the House the sole judge of those qualifications," the Post adds. "Courts have consistently held that states cannot add qualifications to those in the Constitution and have rejected efforts to remove members of Congress, even through term limits and recalls." Bottom line: Nothing to see here. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A681:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

*** Moving to the middle on regulations: In yet another sign that Obama is tacking toward the middle as 2012 comes into focus -- as well as trying to seek some sort of détente with the business community -- the president pens a Wall Street Journal op-ed saying that he will sign an executive order to ensure that federal regulations strike the right balance. "This order requires that federal agencies ensure that regulations protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth," Obama says. "And it orders a government-wide review of the rules already on the books to remove outdated regulations that stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive." More: "For instance, the FDA has long considered saccharin, the artificial sweetener, safe for people to consume. Yet for years, the EPA made companies treat saccharin like other dangerous chemicals. Well, if it goes in your coffee, it is not hazardous waste. The EPA wisely eliminated this rule last month." Per a senior administration official, OMB Director Jack Lew is overseeing this effort, and it will be run out of Cass Sunstein's office at OMB. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A682:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

*** Look Hu's coming to dinner: Over at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the big event this week is President Hu's state visit on Wednesday. This afternoon, Vice President Biden leads the U.S. delegation to greet Hu at Andrews Air Force Base at 4:00 pm ET. Later in the evening, at 6:30 pm, President Obama hosts a private dinner for the Chinese leader. The formal state dinner takes place tomorrow.

*** The Dick Cheney interview: In his interview on "TODAY" with NBC's Jamie Gangel, former Vice President Cheney talked about the heart pump that saved his life. "I'd reached the point after 30 years and five heart attacks where I really needed to do something… And it's a wondrous device. It's really a miracle of modern technology. And now I'm here today because we have that kind of technology." Will he get a heart transplant? "I haven't made a decision yet." Why does he believe Obama will be a one-term president? "Well, because I think he embarked upon a course of action when he became president that did not have as much support as he thought it did… I think his overall approach to expanding the size of government, expanding the deficit, those are all weaknesses." But Cheney also softened his critique of Obama's on national security. I think he's been through the fires of becoming president and having to make decisions and live with the consequences… I think he's learned that what we did was far more appropriate than he ever gave us credit for while he was a candidate."

*** T-Paw opposes raising the debt ceiling: Speaking of interviews, former Minnesota Gov. (and potential presidential candidate) Tim Pawlenty (R) will appear on MSNBC's "Daily Rundown" to discuss his opposition to increasing the debt ceiling. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Pawlenty "challenged even leaders in his own party, who have said Congress must increase the federal debt ceiling rather than risk a default that could send interest rates skyrocketing and the economy back into recession." More: "Mr. Pawlenty said Congress should pass legislation that would put interest and debt payments ahead of other federal spending and allow the federal government to pay its creditors as tax revenue flows in. With the surge of tax payments that come in between April and June, that would at least buy time to try to cut spending dramatically, he said." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A683:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

*** Bill Clinton stumps for Emanuel: A month before Chicago's mayoral election, former President Bill Clinton stumps today at noon ET for front-runner Rahm Emanuel: Per NBC Chicago, "Former President Bill Clinton, whom Emanuel once served as senior adviser, is due in Chicago today… But Clinton isn't the only big name in Emanuel's corner. Emanuel announced Tuesday that he's inviting Saturday Night Live's Andy Samburg (who plays Rahm on TV) to campaign for him. Samberg will headline a $50 a ticket fund-raiser this Friday." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A684:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

*** LePage, Bentley raising eyebrows: From their campaigns, you just knew some of the more controversial gubernatorial candidates would raise eyebrows if they became governor. And, voila. Here's Paul LePage (R) of Maine: "LePage changed his Monday schedule to attend a Martin Luther King's Birthday breakfast in Waterville, days after he directed a graphic insult at N.A.A.C.P. leaders who questioned why he had declined invitations to other such events... On Friday, Mr. LePage said N.A.A.C.P. leaders could 'kiss my butt' after they expressed concern that he had turned down several invitations from them." And here's Robert Bentley (R) of Alabama: "Gov.-elect Robert Bentley in a speech at a Baptist church this afternoon said he plans to be the governor of all Alabamians and be color-blind, but he also said people who aren't 'saved' Christians aren't his brothers and sisters." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A685:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3& and http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A686:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
Countdown Chicago's mayoral election: 35 days
Countdown to Election Day 2011: 294 days
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: 384 days
* Note: When the IA caucuses take place depends on whether other states move up
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OBAMA AGENDA: Regulatory review
"President Barack Obama plans a government-wide review of federal regulations, aiming to eliminate rules that stymie economic growth," the Wall Street Journal says. "In an article published in the opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Obama said he intends to issue an executive order initiating a review to "make sure we avoid excessive, inconsistent and redundant regulation,' focusing on rules that "stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive.' He also suggested future regulations must do their job 'while promoting economic growth.'" http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A68A:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
Dick Cheney claims President Obama "learned from experience" that Bush administration policies were good. "I think he's learned that what we did was far more appropriate than he ever gave us credit for while he was a candidate," Cheney told NBC's Jamie Gangel. "So I think he's learned from experience. And part of that experience was the Democrats having a terrible showing last election… "As I say, I think he's found it necessary to be more sympathetic to the kinds of things we did. They've gotten active, for example, with the drone program, using Predator and the Reaper to launch strikes against identified terrorist targets in the various places in the world." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A68B:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
(Although, "gotten active" with drones would seem to be inaccurate. There was plenty written about the Obama administration's use of drones early on in his administration. Here's Foreign Policy from April 2009, and here's the New Yorker from October 2009. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A68C:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3& and http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A68D:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
NBC Chicago: "Former President Bill Clinton, whom Emanuel once served as senior adviser, is due in Chicago today. He will campaign for Emanuel at a rally at 11 a.m. … But Clinton isn't the only big name in Emanuel's corner. Emanuel announced Tuesday that he's inviting Saturday Night Live's Andy Samburg (who plays Rahm on TV) to campaign for him. Samberg will headline a $50 a ticket fund-raiser this Friday." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A684:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
The Chicago Tribune: "Clinton's appearance in Chicago for the mayor's race has raised the eyebrows of some of Emanuel's opponents. Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun said Clinton is 'an outsider coming to town to support another outsider.' When Braun ran for re-election in 1998, Hillary Clinton campaigned for Braun in the Chicago area." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A68E:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

CONGRESS: Name game
The New York Times' Hulse points out from the House GOP retreat in Baltimore: "It was notable that Mr. Boehner, in his remarks, used 'job-destroying spending' rather than the 'job-killing' terminology that Republicans have typically favored. Some Democrats have suggested that the term is inappropriate in the wake of the shootings in Tucson last Saturday." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A68F:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
Boehner also doesn't reference the "job-killing" health care law, which is in the name of the actual bill, in a blog post on his Web site. Instead, he writes of "repealing the job-crushing health care law," and eliminating "the law's maze of job-destroying taxes, penalties, and mandates." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A690:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3& and http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A691:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
"Republicans pushing to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul warn that 650,000 jobs will be lost if the law is allowed to stand," AP writes. "But the widely cited estimate by House GOP leaders is shaky." A GOP report "cites the 650,000 lost jobs as Exhibit A, and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office as the source of the original analysis behind that estimate. But the budget office, which referees the costs and consequences of legislation, never produced the number. What follows is a story of how statistics get used and abused in Washington." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A692:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

2012: Palin says she won't "shut up"
"Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Monday joined former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in calling for spending cuts and opposing any increase in the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling without them," the Wall Street Journal reports. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A693:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&

BARBOUR: "An immigration measure that would let law enforcement officers check the immigration status of people who are stopped for traffic violations or other possible offenses is sparking intense debate and may be one of the most divisive topics of the 2011 Mississippi legislative session," Fox News Latino writes. "The issue is casting a spotlight on Republican Gov. Haley Barbour who can't seek a third term this year and is considering a presidential run in 2012." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A694:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
PALIN: "Sarah Palin said in a television interview on Monday evening that she agreed with bipartisan calls for civility in the wake of the Arizona shooting rampage, but she vowed to not be deterred from political debates while deciding whether to run for president," the New York Times says. 'Peaceful dissent and discussion about ideas, that is what makes America exceptional,' Ms. Palin said in a prime-time appearance on the Fox News Channel. 'We won't allow that to be stifled by a tragic event in Arizona.'"
"Ms. Palin, a former Alaska governor, said that she had not yet decided what course her political future would take, but declared: 'I'm not going to sit down. I'm not going to shut up.'" http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A695:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
The AP: "Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, defending herself against criticism following the Tucson, Ariz., shootings, said Monday that she used the term "blood libel" to describe comments made by those who falsely tried to link conservatives to the assassination attempt against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A696:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
Meanwhile, "Only 30% of those surveyed in a new ABC News-Washington Post poll approved of the way Palin responded to the deadly rampage [in Arizona], while 78% approved of the way President Obama handled it," the New York Daily News reports. "Forty-six percent of people surveyed disapproved with the way Palin handled the situation." http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A697:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
PENCE: Responding to news that two supporters started a campaign to draft him to run for president, the congressman said yesterday, "The first I've heard of this effort was this morning. We are obviously deeply humbled by the encouragement we've received," according to the Fort Wayne Gazette. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A698:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
SANTORUM: The Hill profiles Rick Santorum, saying he's "used to being an underdog," and that he's betting the house on Iowa. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A699:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
TEXAS: Former President George H.W. Bush endorsed Secretary of State Roger Williams to replace outgoing Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A69A:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&
UTAH: In a three-way race for Senate, Orrin Hatch (R) would trail both former Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R). http://broadcaster.msnbc.msn.com/t?ctl=2A69B:B2CA5A050EF65E3267AB7A260E7275A3&