Daily Briefing: ‘Theater of the Absurd’

• Administration and Sen. Frist (R-Tenn.) agree on 45-day review of Dubai port deal. Scott McClellan: “We believe, however, the additional time and investigation at the request of the company will provide Congress with a better understanding of the facts, and that Congress will be comfortable with the transaction moving forward once it does.” [WP, NYT, NYT, W$J, USAT]
• States make decisions on the “morning-after” pill as the FDA wavers. [WP]
• Army will reimburse Halliburton subsidiary for nearly $2.4b despite findings of overcharges. [NYT]
• Bush sets off on whirlwind two-day tour of India. [NYT]
• Mike McCurry on the White House press briefings: “It has turned into a theater of the absurd.” Ari Fleischer: “The public perceives the press not as watchdogs but as attack dogs.” [NYT]

• American Red Cross dropped $500,000 on public relations expenses over the past three years. [WP]
• Sen. McCain’s vote to extend Bush tax cuts is viewed as strategic move for ‘08 — and a “political flip-flop.” [WT]
• Governors complain the administration has reduced the effectiveness of the National Guard. [NYT]
• Texas nonprofit critical of Rep. DeLay is cleared by the IRS. [WP]
• RNC begins e-mail blitz against Sen. Clinton. [WT]

READ MORE: 2006, 2008, White House, ari fleischer, army, bill frist, dubai, fda, george w. bush, halliburton, hillary clinton, homeland security, india, john mccain, mike mccurry, morning after pill, national guard, port deal, red cross, rnc, scott mccellan, white house press briefings