Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn met with the President in the Oval Office this morning, reportedly on Coburn's request. One of the most conservative members of the Senate, Coburn ended up being a somewhat of a mascot for bipartisanship during last year's campaign, with both Obama and McCain using him as an example of how they each could work with folks whose political philosophy that differed significantly from their own. Obama and Coburn's friendship is an unlikely one, which both men say is borne of mutual respect. In a March interview with The Oklahoman newspaper, Coburn said he received many angry letters from consitutents for hugging the President after his speech to the joint session of Congress earlier this year. "You need to separate the difference in political philosophy versus friendship. How better to influence somebody than love them?" Coburn told the paper. "We’re very good friends. We’re totally different, but we respect each other immensely, and we have a personal relationship that’s outside our politics. Who else does he have on my (Republican) side that he has a relationship with?"

But so far their friendship hasn't meant much in terms of GOP support for the President's initiatives. Coburn himself was a vocal critic of the stimulus package. Perhaps this meeting signals that Coburn wants to work with (influence?) Obama on two of the most important fights likely to arise this year: a Supreme Court nomination and health care reform. Coburn sits on the Judiciary committee, and the timing of the meeting ensures that talk of SCOTUS nominees will be high on the agenda. (Interestingly. Obama has yet to talk to the new Ranking Member on Judiciary, Jeff Sessions, who assumed the leadership position after Specter's defection.) Just as fascinating will be their chat about health care, a passion of Coburn's who is a licensed ob-gyn doctor. Coburn opposes the inclusion of a public plan in any reform package, which was a critical element of candidate Obama's proposal to expand coverage and tamp down on costs. The White House hasn't released any details on the meeting yet, but the flies on the wall will certainly have a valuable perspective on the likelihood of Obama receiving some or any Republican support in these looming battles.

** UPDATE ** Gibbs said at today's briefing that Obama has spoken with Sessions about SCOTUS nominations.

Our favorites this morning from around the web:

To banks: If you go out on a limb, then stay there
Bailed out banks that received TARP money are now eager to give it back to free themselves from compensation restrictions. The government says fine. But they'll also have to forgo cushy backing by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (AP)

New shuttle program earth bound?
President Bush expressed plans several years ago to ramp up space research with a new module to replace the space shuttle. White House sources say Obama plans to review the merits of the program this summer. (Denver Post Wire)

The morphing of former rivals
Barack Obama drew a clear line between himself and rival Hillary Clinton during the campaign. Now, observes a Politico writer, the new president has abandoned many of the convictions that differentiated himself from her. (Politico)

Hiring amid the firing
Unemployment might be high and rising (though more modestly than before), but part of any recession is robust hiring -- like the kind taking place in hospitals, schools and municipal departments. (NY Times)