Category: asia

Daily Briefing: 'Playing Politics'

• In 1985, Alito "wrote that 'the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,' declared his firm opposition to certain affirmative action programs, and strongly endorsed a government role in 'protecting traditional values.'" [WP, NYT, LAT, WT, USAT]
• Graham (R-S.C.) and Levin (D-Mich.) achieve passable compromise on treatment of detainees; McCain's amendment will likely be included. [WP]
• Frist (R-Tenn.) and Warner (R-VA) want increased accountability of the administration's Iraq policy; proposal calls for quarterly updates. [NYT, WT]
• GAO finds political manipulation of the FDA's decision on the morning-after pill. [WP, NYT, LAT, WT]
• Bush continually shadowed by questions about pre-war intelligence. [NYT]
• Approval of Bush slips to 37% in USAT/Gallup poll, a new low; Republicans losing faith in the president. [USAT]
• Rice delays departure from Israel, citing "progress" in talks between Israel and Palestine. [WP]
• Bush heads to Asia seeking to influence the region and escape domestic woes; says Democrats are "playing politics" by criticizing the war. [WP, LAT]

• Supreme Court to hear case about prisoners' rights that Alito dissented. [WP, LAT]
• Dow Jones is fighting Patrick Fitzgerald for access to government materials in the Libby case. [WP]
• Sept. 11 commissioners criticize the lack of progress against in combating terror. [NYT]
• HIllary Clinton avoids controversy on trip to Israel. [NYT]
• DeLay wants his trial in early December. [WP]
• Director of CBO is resigning. [NYT]

READ MORE: Democrats , Republicans , SCOTUS , abortion , asia , carl levin , condoleezza rice , fda , george w. bush , hillary clinton , israel , john mccain , lindsey graham , middle east , patrick fitzgerald , plan b , pre-war intelligence , samuel alito , tom delay , treatment of detainees , war on terror

Daily Briefing: 'Chin Up and Head Down'

• Approval of Bush rests at 36% in Newsweek poll: most Americans are pessimistic about the direction of the country and do not believe Bush can be effective; 65% disapprove of his handling of Iraq; and the Republican "base seems to be cracking." [Newsweek]
• Alito, in 1985, wrote that he believes "very strongly" that "the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion." [WT]
• Coalition of liberal groups including Naral, Planned Parenthood, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, and the NAACP are set to launch an anti-Alito television campaign; line of attack will expand beyond abortion. [NYT]
• Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) says senators have learned to be critical of intelligence findings before approving military action: "We don't accept this intelligence at face value anymore." [WP]
• Brownstein says the GOP "has tilted its agenda so heavily to the demands of its conservative base that moderates feel alienated. Over the next year, the choice for Republicans is whether to adapt to that evidence." Democrats, meanwhile, must "coalesce behind comprehensive solutions to the problems most concerning the country." [LAT]
• Bush leaves today on four-day trip to Asia. [USAT]
• Time magazine names Mike Huckabee, Mark Warner, Kenny Guinn, Janet Napolitano, and Kathleen Seblius as the country's top governors. [Time]
• With close ties to Bush loyalists, "Progress for America often functions like an unofficial extension of the White House, advancing the president's policies alongside the Republican National Committee." [NYT]

• Congress is rushing to submit budget reductions before Friday deadline; Republicans "are caught between party loyalty to tax cuts and growing pressure to cut spending." [USAT, WSJ]
• Republican candidate for governor of New Jersey blames Bush's unpopularity for his loss. [NYT]
• Dean does not rule out filibustering Alito. [USAT]
• Clintons visit site of terrorist bombings in Jordan. [NYT]
• U.S. and Saudi Arabia begin ongoing "strategic dialogue" on terrorism, energy, military affairs, and development, but not democracy-building. [WP]
• Chertoff still intends to overhaul DHS. [WP]
• Harriet Miers is back to her "familiar role": "chin up and head down." [NYT]

READ MORE: 2005 , 2006 , Democrats , Republicans , SCOTUS , White House , abortion , asia , bill clinton , budget , congress , george w. bush , hillary clinton , howard dean , janet napolitano , jordan , mark warner , michael chertoff , mike huckabee , pat roberts , progress for america , ronald brownstein , samuel alito , saudi arabia

Daily Briefing: The 'Cool' Governor

• Bush, visiting New Orleans, fields complaints about government's response. [WP, NYT]
• White House dismisses doubts about Miers. Thune: "It has been my expectation that President Bush would nominate someone in the mold of Justices Scalia and Thomas and it is my hope that Harriet Miers will prove to be such a person." [WT]
• Michael Leavitt outlines flu pandemic fears: "What if it weren't just New Orleans. What if it were Seattle, San Diego, Corpus Christi, Denver, Chicago, New York? Make your own list." [USAT]
• Documents related to Miers from 1995-2000 released by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission "provide a glimpse into her views on the proper separation of powers and the debate over making the civil justice system more fair and predictable." Miers considered Bush to be "cool" and "the best governor ever." [WP, NYT]
• Fitzgerald considered relentless, aggressive, and apolitical. [USAT]
• Military considers special force for natural disaster relief. [NYT]

• Cuts in programs proposed by Republicans will likely to be scaled back due to Katrina and rising energy prices. [WP]
• Liberals worried the window of opportunity to tackle issues of health care, housing, jobs, and poverty has closed with conservatives winning out. [NYT]
• Angela Merkel to become first female chancellor of Germany. [USAT, FT]
• Rice calls for "elections that are free and fair" in Central Asia. [NYT]
• FBI may loosen hiring standards to accept applicants who used marijuana in their youth. [WP]
• Lawmakers take up blogging. [WP]
• McCain stumps for Schwarzenegger. [LAT]
• Medicare Q&A. [NYT]

READ MORE: Democrats , Republicans , Rita , SCOTUS , White House , angela merkel , arnold schwarzenegger , asia , avian flu , blogging , condoleezza rice , disaster response , fbi , george w. bush , germany , harriet miers , john mccain , john thune , katrina , leak investigation , marijuana , michael leavitt , military , new orleans , patrick fitzgerald , texas

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