Hotline After Dark -- Teach Your Children Well

"World News" led with the stock market rally. "Evening News" led with the Bernard Madoff case. "Nightly News" led with the Madoff case.

Pres. Obama laid out his vision for education in a 3/10 speech in DC. Education Sec. Arne Duncan was in the "Situation Room" to discuss it.

CNN's Blitzer: "The president has drawn a line in the sand with a traditional ally of the Democrats, teacher unions, right now. They don't like several parts of what the president is proposing, do they?"

Duncan: "I actually disagree. I've talked to Dennis Van Roekel, from the president of the NEA today. Randi Weingarten is actually in Angola, but we talked to her. They actually were thrilled with his speech."

Blitzer: "Thrilled about the fact that teachers could be fired for merit?"

Duncan: "I think they realize the president is not some wild ideologue, that he cares passionately about children. He wants us to get dramatically better and that we all have to work differently."

After the jump, Obama's first 50 days and the Gingrich/Limbaugh power battle.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Duncan, on vouchers: "The results have been pretty mixed. And, ultimately, again, I think we have to be more ambitious than that. Again, I'm just speaking for myself personally, I don't think that's the answer. The answer is to really dramatically change what's going on in public education so that every child -- not just a few, not a handful, every child has a chance to get a great education."

Duncan, asked about Obama mentioning a year-round school system: "There were a couple of huge themes in his speech. One, he talked a lot about talent and that talent matters tremendously. Getting great teachers, great principals into our schools and into the schools that have historically been under served is hugely important. So talent matters tremendously. Secondly, guess what? So does time. And he talked a lot about our academic calendar is based upon the agrarian economy. Most places around the country today, children are not working in the fields in the summer. ... I think our schools should be open 11 or 12 months out of the year."

More Duncan: "This is an historic opportunity. And we think we can dramatically improve the quality of education around the country. It is a remarkable chance to do the right thing by our children" (CNN, 3/10).

Among the other reaction to Obama's education speech:

CNN's Dobbs: "Does he give it to the nation from a classroom, from say a college campus? No, he spoke to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The president pandering to the pro amnesty open borders lobby as he addresses an issue of concern to all Americans" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 3/10).

Harlem Children's Zone pres. Geoffrey Canada: "This president did something I have been waiting for my entire life, have a Democratic president that absolutely touched the third rail of Democratic politics. He said, our schools are failing. We're going to hold teachers accountable. We're going to fund education, but we're going to expect results. And, if you don't produce results, out you go. This has never happened in a Democratic president before. And I think we're getting ready for change in America."

UCLA prof. of education Patricia Gandara, in response: "I'm very encouraged by the focus on education, but I don't hear too much different here than what we heard under the last administration. We're hearing higher standards, more accountability, charter schools. I'm hoping to hear a little bit different message and a little bit more detailed message about how exactly we're going to do this" ("AC 360," CNN, 3/10).

50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR AGENDA

Yesterday also marked Obama's 50th day in office. Pols and pundits weighed in on how he has done thus far:

Ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R): "This president has made the decision that he's going to govern with the left wing of the Congress. ... He's going to do it even if it breaks all of his campaign promises. ... The fact is, very rapidly, he is becoming a normal politician with a normal pattern of breaking his word. It's very sad. And it certainly eliminates the concept that this was change we could believe in. This is politics as usual" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/10).

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), asked if there's anything Obama has done concerning the economy that he's liked: "Yes, I think he's done a couple of things. His budget, he puts means testing of Medicare on the table. ... He's put AMT tax relief into the budget. He's done some good things. But quite frankly, the spending bill, the stimulus package was way too large. ... Overall, I would give him poor marks in terms of financial management. But there are some ideas, like health care reform as being a priority and Social Security solvency, I do agree with him and want to help him where I can" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/10).

Obama transition chair John Podesta, asked if Obama is trying to do too much too soon: "No, I don't think so. I think the country is in a ditch. ... He's got to stabilize the economy. He's got to get jobs growing again. But he's also got to build for a sustainable future. That starts with reforming health care" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/10).

Karl Rove: "They have got too much on their plate. They are not focused on the important things. They have got a decision-making structure that doesn't appear to stay focused on the big things. And they have failed to put people in place in critical agencies, particularly the Treasury Department. ... You know, it's 50 days, so you can't expect them to get everything right and get everything done. But, on the other hand, when it comes to the economy, they are off to, I think, a bad start" ("Hannity," FNC, 3/10).

Newsweek's Fineman, on how realistic it is to hold the Obama admin. accountable for issues left at their doorstep: "I don't think it's a question of whether it's realistic. I think it's the facts. I think people expect quick results. ... They think he's effective and capable -- the American public does -- and they expect him to do a lot in a hurry. ... On the other hand, if you look at the polls, in terms of his personal approval rating, I think they're going to be patient for a while. ... I think the American people are crossing their fingers and hoping that as well as he ran the campaign with the long-range plan, he'll have one for us and the economy as well" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 3/10).

WILL THE REAL LEADER PLEASE STAND UP?

And there continues to be discussion about who is the leader of the GOP. During an appearance on "On the Record," Gingrich was asked about his "battle" with Rush Limbaugh.

Gingrich: "First of all, I'm not in a battle. I've said over and over again this was a cynical White House ploy that doesn't create a single job, doesn't solve a single problem, was an effort by the White House to distract people. ... The White House understands they can't defend what they're doing, so they decided to pick a fight. The only major difference that Rush and I have is that, frankly, I believe, as an Army brat whose father spent 27 years in the infantry that you have to want to help a president of the United States."

More Gingrich: "I just think that psychologically, as a country, every Republican I knew was deeply offended when the left attacked Bush and said they hoped he failed. ... The election is over for right now. I'm happy to join Rush in fighting individual policies, but I would like to convince the president of the United States to do the right thing because I'd like the country to succeed in the next three-and-a-half years, not have the country fail" (FNC, 3/10).

CNN's Borger, asked if Gingrich or Limbaugh better reflects the mood and the thinking of GOPers right now: "They both do. You know, conservative Republicans I talk to like what Rush Limbaugh is doing because he's taking on President Obama, the man they want to beat in four years. But I think that's as far as it goes. They look at Newt Gingrich as someone who actually has ideas. And if you're going to run in a presidential campaign, you've got to run on ideas and at least Gingrich has them."

GOP strategist Tony Blankley, in response: "I know Newt very well and Rush a little bit, and I admire them both. I think they are both vital to the conservative movement when they're moving together. Once in a while they bump into each other. We've seen that. But Newt continues to have really stunning insights into policy solutions in health care, in energy. He's developing work on financial issues. And look, starting in 2007, I know a number of presidential Republican nominees candidates were consulting with Newt for guidance. I think he is clearly still the source of the best ideas, and not just intellectual ideas. He understands politics, so he sees how the idea fits into the political process. He's a tremendous asset" ("No Bias, No Bull," CNN, 3/10).

Ex-DNC chair/ex-VT Gov. Howard Dean (D), on whether Gingrich is positioning himself in the middle of the GOP to take advantage of the power vacuum in the party: "I have no idea what Newt's up to" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 3/10).

Radio talk show host Mike Gallagher: "I think Newt doesn't like being part of a phony debate that's been set up by the left as to whether or not Rush Limbaugh is the face of the Republican party. Newt has always been great at defining what Republicans are about, what Republicans are for, and putting Democrats on the defensive. And I think that Newt is probably mildly annoyed that a radio host, even one as prominent as Rush, has created so many headlines over all this" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 3/10).