Category: economic agenda

Daily Briefing: 'No Mood For A Circus'

• Katrina relief costs estimated between $100b and $200b; Bush could be forced to trim his economic agenda. [NYT, WSJ, USAT, USAT]
• Bush promises to carefully study "wide open" list of potential justices. Senior administration official: "People are in no mood for a circus. The country is dealing with a terrible tragedy. The American people want a dignified process." [WP, NYT, LAT]
• Emotions run as Rehnquist's flag-draped coffin lies in Supreme Court building. [WP, NYT, USAT]
• Bush will order internal investigation to "find out what went right and what went wrong" with hurricane planning. Lott: "Nothing will be the same again." [WP, NYT, WT, USAT]
• Katrina crisis has increased polarization of the country, unlike period after 9/11. Professor: "Bush is the most partisan president in modern American history. As a result, voters in both parties are focusing on him, rather than on the specifics of the policies." [WP]

• The Coast Guard's chief of staff named to oversee Katrina-related operations for FEMA. [WP, USAT]
• Specter, after one-on-one with Roberts, says nominee displays confidence and humility. [WP]
• California legislature sends gay marriage bill to Schwarzenegger. Gay activist: "This is it. This is the tipping point." [WP, LAT]
• Roberts is from a Rehnquist mold. [USAT, USAT]
• Prosecutors in Plame leak case have a "long shot" loophole to try to convict administration official for leaking. [WP]
• Analyst: "Clearly we didn't get a coordinated governmental response in the case of Katrina. The same thing happened in Iraq. The mechanisms to integrate efforts across the government were just lacking.[WSJ]
• Pentagon defends response. Myers: "Not only was there no delay, I think we anticipated in most cases --not in all cases, but in most cases-- the support that was required." [USAT]
• Bush's trips to Europe have not helped his image there. [WP]
• Lawmakers at hearing on gas prices voice frustration over rising prices. [NYT]
• Democrats and labor groups in Ohio win drive for ballot initiatives. [NYT]
• D.C. loves podcasts. [LAT]

READ MORE: Democrats , Republicans , arlen specter , arnold schwarzenegger , congress , deficit , economic agenda , europe , fema , gay marriage , george w. bush , john g. roberts , katrina , ohio , plame leak case , podcasting , william h. rehnquist

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