Every day we ask influential politicos to send us their top three bullet points that are driving the day's conversation inside and outside Washington.

RedState.Com Editor Erick-Woods Erickson:

– The Senate GOP and Senate Democrats both appear hell bent on not producing a budget this year. Neither side wants to own the fiscal problems we are in or present clear actions to solve those problems lest they get beat up.

– Rush Limbaugh went on Facebook yesterday to say glowing things about Governor Tim Pawlenty. Jeb Bush echoed Limbaugh this morning. Conservatives seem to be gravitating more and more to Pawlenty as, if nothing else, the least bad in the field.

– Keep up the prayers for Missouri. The Red Cross and Salvation Army could both use help right now.

Senior Political Columnist for TheDailyBeast.com John Avlon:

– NY-26: Special Election D-Day is here, with momentum (measured by the Sienna poll) shifting decisively to the Democrat Kathy Hochul in Jack Kemp's old district. The results will be analyzed and over-analyzed for weeks as the parties search the tea leaves for 2012 messages. Bottom line – the GOP is running into a buzz-saw as it tries to balance its deficit and debt rhetoric (read entitlement reform) with the fact that its base is aging. Mediscare unfortunately works – with ugly attack adds showing grandma getting pushed off a cliff. The GOP is going to have to do a better job of defending Paul Ryan's plan or risk renouncing their claim to being serious on the deficit and the debt.

– T-Paw's Rough Launch: Tim Pawlenty's new campaign theme is that he is going to be the tough truth teller in the race.

– Don't Count Huntsman Out: On the heels of John King's interview with Jon Huntsman, I've got a column coming up on CNN.com taking a look at the chances for the sole standard bearer of the center-right.

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