An unprecedented coalition of domestic charities, aid agencies, unions, faith organisations and green groups is calling on the leaders of the UK's political parties to support a global tax on the banks to help repair the human damage caused by the global economic crisis, protect public services at home, fight poverty abroad and help foot the bill for climate change.

But House Democratic leadership aides tell POLITICO they are growing increasingly worried over the lack of a detailed White House road map for passing a repeal -- and that without such a road map, repeal will end up in the same kind of Senate gridlock that hobbled health reform.

And hopes that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) would galvanize moderates in both parties to the cause by introducing the repeal bill have yet to materialize despite months of negotiations between Lieberman and the White House, according to people familiar with the situation.

"Not only did Obama toss [`don't ask, don't tell'] to a Congress that's preoccupied with the economy and the midterms -- he tossed it to perhaps the most dysfunctional Congress in the history of the country," said a senior aide to a Senate Democrat who has been pushing for repeal.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) cast the issue in the context of Obama's recent dual-track political approach of soothing liberals in his national messaging while stressing centrism inside the Beltway.

"There's frustration, and `don't ask, don't tell' is one small part of it," says Weiner. "The frustration has been that while the president has said the right things when he's on the road, he's emphasized bipartisanship and not [moved] towards issues of importance to the Democratic base when he comes back to Washington."

Addressing the Tea Party, Sarah Palin wrote three notes on her hand: "Energy, Taxes, Lift American Spirits." Why? She already had notes in front of her on the podium. Surely she could remember three simple themes. Why write notes on her hand?

Here's my take on why: she knew that they would be visible when she gave the speech. And she knew that she would be made fun of -- as so stupid that she needs to write notes on her hand. And that's one of her most effective tactics -- to be made fun of. It's an integral part of her strategy of standing in for hardworking, Middle Americans, derided by the condescending, know-it-all liberal elites.