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 White House is rejecting the GOP continuing resolution. Democrats would rather a shut down now on this than on the debt ceiling or Paul Ryan’s budget.

- Paul Ryan’s plan is good, but it should be where we get after negotiations, not where we start.

- Polling suggests the GOP in Wisconsin will get smacked down today. Governor Walker made a strategic error to push through reform before today’s judicial election.

Senior Political Columnist for TheDailyBeast.com John Avlon:

- Paul Ryan’s Gutsy Budget: The Budget Chairman has put forward the most serious proposal to reduce the long-term deficit and debt almost single-handedly. It will be debated, attacked and picked apart, but it should be the beginning of an adult conversation about real fiscal responsibility. He deserves credit for the courage to put forward a plan that deals with entitlement reform – and if Democrats don’t like it, they should put forward a plan of their own.

- Government Shutdown: But Ryan’s Plan could be politically derailed by a government shutdown at the end of the week. Folks on the radical right keep insisting for all or nothing when it comes to the comparatively small 2011 CR. Mike Pence is putting his social conservative litmus test forward by insisting that the rider to defund Planned Parenthood be part of any deal – despite the fact the Hyde Amendment already bands federal taxpayer funding of abortions. Another sticking point is the demand to defund PBS – that’s a sure way to lose swing voters: Soccer Moms don’t want to defund Sesame Street.

- Obama’s Re-Elect: Yesterday’s emailed announcement and video clearly presented the president’s strengths and weaknesses, focusing on swing states like Nevada, Colorado and North Carolina. Beneath the optimism of many Democrats (because of the weak GOP field) lies a stark reality – the electoral map looks much tougher for Obama in 2012 than it did in ’08, with little margin for mistakes. Here’s a link to a new CNN.com column I did on Obama’s obstacles in 2012.

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