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:

– Given Moody's Investor Services' statement yesterday that they will downgrade the U.S. credit outlook if there is no long-term deal that helps right the footing of the U.S., it seems McConnell's short term deal to give the President free pass to raise the debt $2 trillion without cuts would be a nonstarter.

– On the other hand, Moody's statement that "such an agreement should include a deficit trajectory that leads to stabilization and then decline in the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue beginning within the next few years" seems to give Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity" some credibility. It does the same with the conservative "cut, cap, and balance" proposal.

– It is worth remembering in all of this that the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 0-99, rejected Barack Obama's budget proposal and it has now been over 800 days since the Congress passed a budget. Likewise, in all the haranguing over what to do, the President has yet to release a detailed series of cuts he finds acceptable.

Senior Editor of MarioWire.com Mario Solis-Marich:

– Big Bird: Sarah Palin’s once huge political footprint shrinks each day in direct relation to our country’s problems, the bigger the problems faced the less relevant she becomes.

– Angry Birds: Obama’s patience has its limits and we can thank Eric Cantor for doing what the “professional left” could not do: convince the President that the GOP’s only goals are tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and his Presidency’s destruction.

– Rodan: The Tea Party monster is stomping all over independents – Wisconsin, Arizona, and Minnesota are all raising alarm bells for voters all over the country, the GOP has created it’s own demise.

Editor’s Note: The blog is a place for a freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions. CNN does not endorse anything said by its contributors.