Washington in 60 Seconds: 'Shattered Expectations' for Obama Faithful

Good morning, Capitolists! In honor of Congress' return to a full work schedule and the primary elections happening across the country today, how about a return to Washington in 60 Seconds?

Here's what's making news in your nation's capital today.

- Ass-Kicker in Chief. After weeks of getting criticized for his flat-line emotional response to the horrendous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, President Obama opened up this morning about the can of whoop-ass he has ready for whoever caused the mess. "I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar," Obama told Matt Lauer on NBC's "Today" show, explaining his tendency to huddle with PhDs in his office instead of shrimpers in the Gulf. "We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick."

- Primary Challenges. If it's a Tuesday in 2010, it's probably an election day somewhere -- and today that means 20 percent of the country has some decisions to make. PD's Carl Cannon has the roundup of the retreads, redemption seekers, rehabilitated CEOs and sitting ducks on the ballots in 11 states across the country today. Our favorite races to watch will both be in the Palmetto State, where Nikki Haley has weathered a character assassination with a smile and no polygraph. South Carolina's 1st district will pit the sons of Strom Thurmond and former Gov. Carroll Campbell against the state's first black Republican state rep since Reconstruction. South Carolina, I love you.

- Whine and Cheese Reception. Eighteen months after they saw President Obama sworn into office, progressives meeting in Washington this week say they have "shattered expectations" about their new commander-in-chief. The New York Times has the write-up.

- Back to the Grindstone. After a week in their home districts, most House members and senators are back in Washington today. Votes will be light, since one-fifth of the members need to be at home to vote for themselves, but the rest are working on bills to extend unemployment benefits, holding hearings on lifting the liability caps for oil companies drilling offshore, and on an energy bill to somehow help get Americans off of foreign oil and onto wind and solar power.

- Royal Wedding on the Cheap? British Prime Minister David Cameron broke the news to his country yesterday that they need to prepare for decades of austerity and tax increases that will fundamentally "change our way of life." The new PM said in a speech that the budget was "even worse than we thought" and that tax hikes will be used to pay down the debt, not expand government services. The BBC writes today that Britons will have input on which services will be cut. A Capitolist tip for Kate Middleton: Buy the booze for your wedding reception at Costco and save the commonwealth a bundle.