Morning Reads from the DCExaminer

Obama's 'Star Trek': From Mr. Spock to Capt. Kirk
The president's supporters had grown tired of their model of cool logic. They wanted the anti-Spock. They wanted Capt. Kirk -- the impetuous leader who ignores the probabilities because he trusts his gut and has enormous self-confidence.
Obligingly, Obama has been doing his best James T. Kirk imitation since the beginning of the year.

Byron York - Democrats aren't suicidal. They're self-executing
Using the self-executing rule strategy, Democrats could conceivably pass the rule, the Senate bill, and the House reconciliation "fixes" to the Senate bill all in one vote, without a single House member voting for any specific health care measure.

Michael Barone - Tea party brings energy, change and tumult to GOP
The Republicans for the last two decades have been a party whose litmus tests have been cultural issues, especially abortion. The tea partiers have helped to change their focus to issues of government overreach and spending. That may be a helpful pivot, given the emergence of a millennial generation uncomfortable with crusading cultural conservatism.

Byron York - Axelrod threat to GOP: 'Make my day'
Top White House adviser David Axelrod says that if Congress passes the Democrats' national health care bill, it will be politically impossible for Republicans to undo the changes brought by the massive legislation. "I say, Let's have that fight. Make my day," Axelrod said on "Meet the Press." "I'm ready to have that, and every member of Congress ought to be willing to have that debate was well."

Julie Mason - Think Washington is partisan now? Wait until after Obamacare
For Obama, the political calculation boils down to the risk of losing versus the risk of winning and having to deal with the political fallout later. Doubling down and failing on health care would make him look weak heading into midterm elections, and could hurt his party at the polls.

Susan Ferrechio - Democrats lack health care votes, but not bravado
House Democrats this week will embark on one of the biggest political quests in recent history as they attempt to pass a massive health care bill that still lacks the 216 votes needed for passage and faces universal Republican opposition.