Morning Must Reads

Comparing the incident to the failed Haitian incursion and Somali Blackhawk disaster of the Clinton administration and the tragic end of the Iranian hostage rescue effort by Jimmy Carter, Shear says that the pirate showdown may set the tone for Obama.

Shear also makes it clear that the president understood the consequences of failure beyond the life of the captain.
“Throughout the past four days, White House officials played down Obama’s role in the hostage drama. Until yesterday, he made no public statements about the pirates.

In fact, aides said yesterday, Obama had been briefed 17 times since he returned from his trip abroad, including several times from the White House Situation Room. And without giving too many details, senior White House officials made it clear that Obama had provided the authority for the rescue.”
 
The Hill — Chavez loves Obama, loves him not, loves him
 
Having already won over the Castro brothers, the only Latin American dictator yet to withhold his endorsement of President Obama is Hugo Chavez.

The kooky despot of Venezuela is on the fence about whether he loves Obama or hates him, with conflicting statements coming out of Caracas for weeks. Now as their first encounter looms later this week, the socialist strongman must make up his mind.
As writer Bridget Johnson deftly shows, Chavez may be feeling pro-Obama, especially if the president makes a little one-on-one time on his trip south this week.

“Banking on his most recent statement, Chavez would love the chance. Not to just talk with Obama and rekindle soured relations, but to wipe out nuclear weapons together.

According to Spanish news agency EFE, Chavez on Tuesday said Obama had ‘good intentions,’ and he ‘hopes to reinstate normal relations’ with the United States. ‘I hope that (Obama) will succeed in imposing his fresh presence. Hence, we will support him completely,’ Chavez told reporters on a visit to Japan.
In reference to Obama’s anti-proliferation speech in Prague, Chavez expects Obama ‘to reach an agreement with the countries in possession of atomic bombs, in order to destroy them and use the nuclear technology to generate electric power. …We Venezuelans do not want more atomic bombs.’”
 
Wall Street Journal — New Ads Intensify Fight on Union Bill
 
With Congress reconvening in a week, big business and big labor are looking to gain the final advantage on the issue of card check legislation. Enough senators have said they “can’t support the bill in its current form” to make passing the full version that includes ending mandatory secret-ballot elections for workers impossible.

But, as writer Brody Mullins explains, labor is looking to start applying pressure early for a compromise bill with television spots in key states, just as management is responding with spots of its own. Unions have spent $10 million on advertising since last fall. The U.S. Chamber spent $1 million on this round of ads in key states.

The labor plan for half a loaf would include binding arbitration for disputes and perhaps organization by petition if a large supermajority of workers signed up.

“Now, industry is shifting its focus to a binding-arbitration measure included in the same legislation. Steven Law, who leads the Chamber’s lobbying effort on the bill, said the Chamber doesn’t want to see a compromise that involves accepting arbitration in exchange for unions dropping the ballot provision. ‘Mandatory binding arbitration is anathema,’ he said.

Congressional Democratic leaders, some business executives and unions are discussing possible compromises that would open a path to achieve at least some of labor’s goals this year.”
 
New York Times — Plan to Change Student Lending Sets Up a Fight
 
Writer David Herszenhorn shows that the president’s effort to finance free college educations for millions more Americans with a projected savings of $94 billion over the next decade from eliminating private student loans may be tricky.

Banks love the loans because they are 95 percent government secured so they can focus on recruiting borrowers, collection efforts on the other five percent and making big profits.

But the banks, like Sallie Mae, who provide the loans also provide big job numbers for key districts. Lawmakers of both parties are already gearing up to preserve their status.

Anticipating a ferocious legislative battle, Representative George Miller, Democrat of California and chairman of the education committee, is weighing all options.

‘Chairman Miller’s priority is to make our federal student loan programs as reliable, sustainable and efficient as possible for students, families and taxpayers,’ his spokeswoman, Rachel Racusen, said.”
 
Washington Post — Give-and-Take With Emanuel Advances President’s Agenda
 
Writer Shailagh Murray does some beat sweetening with a piece that explains how White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel only seems likes a rankly partisan enforcer (did you know he even sends cookies to lawmakers working late?).

Murray explains that the president’s budget passing the House by the biggest margin in a decade and the improved rapport between the executive and legislative branches to Emanuel’s charm and salesmanship not the fact that Democrats have the White House and biggest advantage in Congress since 1993.

Murray, though, does provide some insight into the depth of coordination between the White House, led by a former lawmaker with a former lawmaker chief of staff, and Congress.

“Emanuel speaks with House and Senate leadership aides multiple times every day, and consults with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) at least four times a week. During a recent Senate debate, Reid asked Emanuel to lean on three Democratic holdouts. When Emanuel reported back with a single convert, Reid chastised him that “batting .333 isn’t good enough for the major leagues” of Congress. Emanuel responded with a string of expletives but tried again and produced a second vote.”