Be in the know: Today's political bullet points

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.

Good day, and an interesting one whether your interest is presidential politics or the pressures to speed up the U.S. military drawdown in Afghanistan. I took a lot of heat yesterday for taking the show on the road to cover Sarah Palin. No apologies here. Yes we probably overdo it. And yes she is a master at self promotion. But a presidential election is a defining event in our country – and she is the biggest wild card in the next presidential election right now. The reaction is proof to me of her unique – and yes polarizing place – in our politics. And in any event I spent a day enjoying the best part of this job: interacting with everyday Americans who with just a few words about their lives or an observation about current events – or Governor Palin’s prospects – teach me more about politics than any politician or consultant. Take a peek at the observations from Erick and John today: three points each – and all dedicated to presidential politics. The times they are a’ changing...Enjoy the day. – John King

RedState.Com Editor Erick-Woods Erickson:

– So which is it, a hack or a prank? When it first happened, Congressman Weiner said the now infamous tweet was a hacking incident. Now he says it was just a prank. Now he says he is going to lawyer up instead of report it to the FBI and Capitol Police. Surely Speaker Boehner will demand the FBI make sure members of Congress aren't having their twitter accounts used to send porn.

– Remember yesterday's CNN poll that showed Rudy in the lead? The biggest surprise is probably that Herman Cain is now number five, ahead of people like Tim Pawlenty. I keep saying he'll be this year's Huckabee. Full disclosure: I took over Herman's radio show in Atlanta and he better not disappoint on the campaign trail, because I have no intention of getting out from behind the microphone.

– John King was right yesterday. He said people would not be lined up for hours to wait on any of the Republican Presidential candidates, but they would for Sarah Palin. However, given all the leaks and buzz about Fox News pressuring Mike Huckabee, Gingrich, Santorum, etc. to make up their minds and that we don't hear the same about Sarah Palin should be a cautionary flag that they may just know something we don't.

Senior Political Columnist for TheDailyBeast.com John Avlon:

– Sarah Palin Hits the Road: Her mystery tour is raising more questions than it answers. Enthusiasm for Palin even among the base has been declining for months. Now an attention-getting trial balloon tour has been thrown together – alienating the organizers of The Rolling Thunder tour, among others. Someone should give the Palin camp a heads up that 'One Nation' was also the slogan Obama used at the outset of his campaign in 2008 (see his first ad). Not the contrast it's intended to be.

– Romney 3.0: Set to officially launch this week, the embattled former governor suffers from an enthusiasm gap and a multitude of political personalities but he should still be considered the front runner.

– Rudy 2012?: He's said that he's keeping the door open to another run and a CNN poll late last week showed why. A Harris poll a few months back also found him ahead of the GOP pack when it comes to a head to head contest with President Obama.

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