• Bush nominates Henry Paulson, chairman of Goldman Sachs Group, to replace John Snow at the Treasury Department; White House sought Paulson for months. [WP, W$J, USAT, LAT]
• White House acknowledges that Bush withheld the news at his press conference last week; Paulson’s net worth is estimated to be more than $700M. [NYT, NYT]
• Paulson is described as “the kind of guy who thrives in a crisis” and “a committed environmentalist and bird watcher.” [WP, NYT, LAT]
• Justice Department claims Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) tried to hide documents from the FBI. [WP, LAT]
• Former chief of staff to Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) testifies that Abramoff “identified his ‘champions’ in government and then showered them with favors to get inside information and help for his clients.” [WP, NYT]
• Democrats are slow to provide a specific party platform; “this cautious strategy is generating intensifying debate within the party.” [LAT]

• House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) begins hearings on FBI raid during congressional recess; plans to call Gonzales and Mueller to testify. [WP, NYT, USAT]
• Supreme Court ruling viewed as setback for whistle-blowers; lack of legal protection may increase retaliation. [NYT, USAT]
• 10,000 bricks have been delivered to Capitol Hill by anti-immigration groups. [NYT]
• Rep. Harold Ford Jr.’s Senate campaign in Tennessee may carry Democrats’ chances for ‘06. [NYT]
• Supervisor of the data analyst who removed data resigns from the Veterans Affairs Department. [NYT, USAT]
• New website wants to reshape the two parties in ‘08. [WP]

Seriously, is it just us? The one one the right is a like a John Turturro/John Waters-lookin’ guy.

Bush’s announcement: boring. Though we did learn that the Treasury Secretary has some sort of role in fighting terror. We suppose we shouldn’t be surprised, but we do want to know if there’s a single job in this administration that doesn’t directly involve fighting terror. Cook? First lady?

Anyway, new guy’s name is apparently Hank, which is just obnoxious for a public official.

Heck, he’s probably a nice guy — seems to have given a lot of money to conservation groups, and no one who loves trees can be all bad.

Awww, John Snow’s making one last half-assed effort to pretend that the President gives a **** about sound economic policy and that Snow had any authority. Treasury: “Key role in the war on terror.”

Paulson: does he have a cold or does he always talk like “Macho Man” Randy Savage?

Bush to Name Goldman’s Paulson to Succeed Snow at Treasury [WSJ]

Holy **** , really?!?

Treasury Secretary to Step Down [WP]
Related: Wonkette coverage of John Snow

• Bush, “in an unusual admission,” says he regrets using the phrases “bring it on” and “dead or alive”; joint press conference with Blair has “contrite tone” because “both leaders have reached the lowest point of their careers.” [WP, WP, NYT, NYT]
• Bush orders documents seized in raid of Rep. William Jefferson’s office to be sealed for 45 days. [WP, NYT, W$J, LAT, USAT]
• Senate approves immigration legislation by vote of 62 to 36 but the next steps are “enormously difficult.” [WP, NYT, W$J, LAT, USAT]
• John Snow has told the White House he is resigning; Don Evans and Carlos Gutierrez are among those mentioned as replacements. [WP, NYT, W$J]
• Military investigation reportedly concludes that a group of marines “carried out extensive, unprovoked killings of civilians” in Iraq. [NYT]
• ABC News stands by its story about Speaker Hastert. Reporter Brian Ross: “There may be a semantics issue here as to what constitutes being under investigation.” [WP]

• Drilling in ANWR is approved by the House for the 12th time. [WP, NYT]
• Battle over immigration legislation will determine “what strain of conservatism the Republican Party carries into the midterm elections and beyond.” [NYT]
• Critics say the Senate’s immigration legislation is filled with “hidden traps” that curtail rights. [WP]

You came through again, everyone. This week’s sightings are all over both the map and the stratified Washington hierarchy. Helen Thomas apparently likes to eat with the kewl kids, even if she’s just gumming it. Kevin Nealon, Newt Gingrich, and Marion Barry pull some nice trim. Ted Koppelhas a death wish. Morgan Spurlock keeps trying to supersize his career and Tom Friedman’s mustache of wisdom has nothing to do with Napoleon.

A whole rack more, as standard, after the jump.

Please don’t forget that Wonk’d is entirely tipster driven. So when you spot someone famous out there, make a note in your PDA, ‘cause you’ll have other hazy memories to sort through in the morning. Once you feel that reminder buzzing you, email us here, with “Wonk’d” or “Sighting” in the subject line (along with the name of the celeb that you saw). Thanks!

And speaking of sights to see: YES, we are aware of the frightening photos of Katherine Harris “getting her cougar on” with a cute young college journalist. We will be blogging about them shortly.

• Helen Thomas was on the patio of St. Ex last Friday evening [4/14]. Everyone in her party was significantly younger than good old Helen. But I don’t think they were of any relation to her because they were all sort of normal looking (as in, they didn’t look like villains from a bad Disney cartoon). How awesome would it be if Helen Thomas was pulling tail with a 20-something guy!

• I saw Helen Thomas leaving the White House yesterday [4/19] while I was walking by. I know, I know - who would have thunk it? My only reason for mentioning it is that I was taken aback at how really short and ugly she is in person. Also she does that weird thing old, jowly people do where they smack the dry roof of their mouth and move their jaw around slowly like they’re chewing denture cud on quaaludes.

• The mainstream media is in more trouble that I realized. I saw Ted Koppel on the Saturday before Easter, and he was doing a very poor job of crossing the street near the corner of Bradley and Arlington in Bethesda. The guy jumped right out in front on my big gas guzzling SUV. He is lucky I had just gotten my brake pads replaced.

• I was just [4/19] in Farragut Square for lunch and saw Morgan Spurlock of Supersize Me fame with a camera crew interviewing some woman at 17th & K near the Orioles Store. Any idea what muck he’s raking today? Really — it’s not like anything nefarious happens on K Street.

• I saw that supersize me guy interviewing people on Wednesday. He was on 16th st, between K and I. He’s taller, shinier, and shadier looking than I expected. He actually looked like he’s been hanging out with John Basedow since his “all-McDonald’s all the time” publicity scheme, down to the cheesy hair and shiny shirt.

• Saw former SNL-er Kevin Nealon last night [4/19] at Daily Grill on 18th about 9:30. He looks better in person than he did on SNL - younger and thinner or something. He was with a super-blonde trophy-style chick.

• Saw Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Air baggage claim area today [4/17] at DCA. He was seated in a corner next to the U.S. Air office, which was right next to a belt with luggage coming from a Boston flight. He was waiting for his two (adorable) dogs to come off the flight. He seemed very happy to see his dogs and petted them, etc., but didn’t speak or make eye contact with anyone else. He was very recognizable, splotchy red face and all, but not many people seemed to notice that he was there. His wife was also with him — she seemed sweet and was chatting with airport employees. They made a beeline for the door after getting the dogs and left a staffer behind to get the rest of their luggage.

• Saw Newt Gingrich at the Greenberry’s in McLean last Saturday [4/15] afternoon having coffee with a young attractive woman. He is portly and has a really big head. He shouldn’t have been wearing shorts. Another young attractive woman approached him, introduced herself, shook his hand and told him how much she enjoyed listening to his radio show. I didn’t even know he had a radio show.

• A couple of Fridays ago [3/31?] I saw Marion Barry dining and imbibing white zinfandel with a woman 2/3 his age at Tony and Joe’s on the Georgetown Waterfront. He walked in tall and proud, and wearing a giant fedora. He was gracious and kind when he saw me trying to snap his picture with my cameraphone. I introduced myself and told him that I hoped he was “taking care of himself” which is code for “laying off the crackpipe.” He said he was “doing much better” which is code for “I’m smoking up later on tonight.”
  I see why he keeps getting elected though. He asked me all kinds of questions about how long I’ve lived in the area and what I do for a living.

• During Easter weekend in New York City, who did I spot in Barney’s, the gay mecca of the world? None other than DC Council Member at Large David Catania! He was seen on the ground floor on Saturday morning [4/15], accompanied by two younger “gentlemen” who didn’t resemble his life partner and an older woman (who may or may not have been a fabulous drag queen.) Catania looked truly confused, as if he had never been inside Barney’s before. I think he was wondering where all the glittered gowns were.

• [From the same tipster as prior item] Spotted this evening [4/20] at Busboys & Poets was DC Council Member and Proud Gay Man Jim Graham. He was dining alone at the bar, alas (No admirers?) although he was chatting it up with some locals. This is my second sighting in less than a week of a gay DC Council Member! (But no I have not seen any members of said DC Council Members.)

• Last night [4/20] I inadvertently walked a good stretch of L Street between 20th and 18th next to Malcolm Jamal Warner at around 7:30 pm. I had to consult a friend about his post-Theo appearance (visible weight gain, dreadlocks) before I could be certain. He was having a conversation with a lady friend and seemed nice and well-spoken. [Another tipster informs us he was performing spoken word at Cafe Nema last night.]

• I just [4/14] saw Jonah Goldberg hard at work on his laptop outside of the Mudd House on M street.

• I saw Tom Friedman this morning [4/20] on H Street. I’m not 100% sure it was him, because he was/is really short, only about 5”7’. He did have his trademark moustache though, so that’s what convinced me.

• I saw Bill Kristol in an elevator… but I guess that doesn’t count because you said “celebrity” and not “douche bag.”

• I saw Patrick Gavin doing a karaoke version of Wind Beneath My Wings in Adams Morgan. It was both frightening and hilarious.

• Scott Stapp, formerly of Creed now solo rocker was seen hanging out on The Avenue at White Marsh yesterday [4/19]. Allegedly, he has in-laws that live up there.

• It’s getting warm in Chicago, so they’re leaving the door to the Soprafinna restaurant on Madison and Dearborn open to the sidewalk. At peak hours, the line to wait to get your salad tossed (simmer down) extends out the open doorway. Right next to the open door is a glass revolving door. I was in the tail end of aforementioned salad tossing line today [4/20], standing in aforementioned doorway, when I saw none other than Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney Extraordinaire, exiting through the revolving glass door right next to me. We locked eyes through the glass and time froze. I gave the one-up nod, as in “hey, I recognize you… what’s up?.” He gave the one-down nod, as in “I appreciate that you recognize me and I am a serious man.” It was effing awesome. I guess he’s spending some time in Chitown to suck up the credit for the conviction of our ex-governor, even though he didn’t do anything in the trial.

• Sunday night [4/16] at the Social Safeway in Georgetown , I kept running into Matt Cooper of Time Magazine and Plame fame. He’s just like he looks on TV: short, bald and fat. He drives a nice VW “sport wagon” and apparently does the shopping in the Cooper household.

• Wednesday morning [4/19] as I was leaving McPherson Square metro, I saw James Carville walking across K and up 15th toward the station. He looked remarkably serene and I almost didn’t recognize him.

• Walking home through an almost-empty Lafayette Park recently I spotted a lone, oh-so-obvious Secret Service agent walking about ten feet in front of a couple that turned out to be Treasury Sec. John Snow and, perhaps, an aide. I walked within two feet of the embattled cabinet secretary, which clearly made the agent a little nervous. (Maybe it was my backpack.) Anyhoo, like a good Washingtonian, I pretended not to notice the group.

• Saw Bill Clinton tonight [4/20] on NYC’s Upper West Side at Monaco, without the Mrs. C, and with a lovely blonde. We were having a 20-30’s Jewish singles event at the bar across the street. We thought he’d be terribly interested in attending (Lewinsky anyone?), but he declined our invitation.

Finally, here’s the Hamas sighting that we blogged about earlier:

About a week ago I was in Oman to work a conference (the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship—or some such acronym soup). On my way back to Qatar, a group of four bearded Arab gentleman in dark suits with security pins on the lapels walked past my seat with a fifth bearded, suit wearer of a slightly lighter hue (the suit, not the guy) between them.

After a Google images comparison, I’m convinced that it was the Foreign Minister of the new Palestinian Authority (a.k.a. a big shot in Hamas) Mahmoud Zahar . I can only assume that Zahar was begging alms from the stupidly rich Gulf countries in the wake of being cut off from American, Japanese and European tax dollars. The trip ended up going rather well for him— Qatar has pledged $50 million. Unfortunately for Zahar, the country needs something like $117 million a month to pay government salaries, so I suppose that I shouldn’t have been as shocked as I was that the guy was flying coach.

And those are all the sightings that are fit to print!

Really, this is just degrading — please, put John Snow out of his misery.

And given the state of the national debt, maybe the ninth graders should be giving Snow the “savings tips.”

Earlier: John Snow: The Next To Go?

SHAKE UP! SHAKE UP! SHAKE UP! SHAKE UP!

Signaling a possible shake-up among President Bush's senior advisers, the new White House chief of staff told top presidential aides Monday to expect changes that ''refresh and re-energize the team.'' He invited anyone who is thinking of leaving before year's end to do so now.

Joshua Bolten, who took over the top staff job late Friday, did not ask for anyone's resignation in his first Monday morning staff meeting with the president's senior aides, presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said. No one stepped forward to say they would leave, either, McClellan said.

Oh man! A shake-up! And on the Note's day off, too! Well, not really a shake-up, but the possibility of a future shake-up is left open! It's like the same thing! Let's all speculate!

Who's Out
Snow, McClellan, uh... a couple guys we've never heard of... and Elaine Chao. Trust us. She's gone

Who's In
Domestic Policy Advisor: Lou Dobbs.

Bush's New Chief of Staff Signals Shake-Up [AP via NYT]

Wait, who?! Snow? McClellan? CHENEY?
…

Oh. Well, uh, good thing we can get a live feed of that for only 10 bucks a month.

CNN.com
Earlier: Free Live Helicopter Mountain Footage!

• Administration is underfunding democracy-building in Iraq; security costs receive an “enormous share” of funds as democracy and infrastructure goals are scaled down. [WP]
• Rep. Tom DeLay “set the terms of his departure” to ensure some dignity was not lost; he was “dispirited” and viewed his Republican primary challengers as “gadflies and traitors.” House ethics panel, meanwhile, will not investigate DeLay and other lawmakers. [WP, NYT, USAT, WSJ]
• Senate Appropriations Committee adds billions to hurricane relief package. [NYT]
• GAO criticizes bulk of Bush’s global AIDS initiative. [WP]
• John Snow said to be seriously mulling retirement; White House seeks successor. [NYT, WSJ]
• DeLay decision throws Texas political landscape into “electoral free-for-all.” [NYT, USAT]
• Democratic takeover of the Senate is deemed “distant” but “possible.” [USAT, LAT]

• Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl lead differing Republican packs on immigration; legislation is stalled. [WP, NYT, WSJ]
• Bush tax cuts have reduced “taxes on incomes of more than $10 million by an average of about $500,000.” [NYT]
• In wake of Rep. Cynthia McKinney incident, House Republicans issue resolution to applaud the Capitol Hill Police. [USAT]
• Sen. Russ Feingold endorses the legalization of gay marriage. [WP]
• Deputy press secretary for Homeland Security arrested for allegedly using the Internet to seduce a minor. [WP]
• DeLay “embodied the fierce partisanship of his era.” [NYT, USAT]
• DeLay follows a long history of politicians who resign while vowing to continue the fight. [WP, LAT]
• Most towns in Wisconsin approve referendum to bring the troops back from Iraq. [WP, USAT]

• Josh Bolten “is expected to press President Bush to assemble new economic and Congressional relations teams and overhaul the management of the West Wing.” John Snow rumored to be on his way out. [NYT]
• Senate approves lobbying restrictions by vote of 90 to 8; activists are disappointed. [WP, NYT, W$J, USAT, LAT]
• Jack Abramoff is sentenced to 70 months in jail in Florida fraud case. [WP, NYT]
• Republicans could alienate Hispanic voting bloc with stance on immigration; topic is front and center as Bush meets with Vicente Fox. [NYT, NYT, WP]
• Administration will impose fuel standards on SUVs, minivans, and pickups, but environmentalists are unsatisfied. [W$J]
• Bush tells Iraqis, “It’s about time you get a unity government going.” [WP]

• Democrats outline plan for national security in attempt to “neutralize the advantage Republicans have held on national security and terrorism issues.” Sen. Reid: “We are uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart, an agenda that will provide the real security President Bush has promised, but failed to deliver.” [WP, LAT, WT]
• Republican colleagues complain Sen. Frist is pursuing presidential dreams ahead of party unity. [WP, WT]
• House Republicans face criticism from conservatives, moderates, and Democrats while they draft $2.7 trillion budget. [W$J]
• Court rules that Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) acted illegally in the leak of a taped conversation with Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) ten years ago. [WP]

Yesterday, after Andrew Card’s resignation was announced, we speculated that Treasury Secretary John W. Snow might be the next Administration official to step down. A reader offered this support for the gossip: “I live across the street from Sec’y Snow, and I never see him or his security detail anymore. The guy’s **** in’ done.”

But Snow’s not the only one who may be on his way out. A Wonkette operative offers up two other names: White House counselor Dan Bartlett, and everyone’s favorite press secretary, Scott McClellan. In terms of timing, look for them to be gone “by the summer.” No word yet on possible replacements for Bartlett or McClellan; “Nicolle Wallace is likely to stay as communications director.”

As for incoming chief of staff Josh Bolten, our source opines that he has his work cut out for him: “What Bolten will find — and he probably already knows — is that the WH is full of supremely talented people who are awful managers of other people.”

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again (because it can’t be said enough): Good luck, Yosh!

Earlier: John Snow: The Next To Go?
Yosh Up, Card Down: Meet the New Chief of Staff

Now that Andrew Card has resigned as White House chief of staff, the parlor game has begun. Everyone is speculating: Is this just the first of a string of resignations? If so, who will be heading out the door next?

Last week, Fred Barnes recommended that President Bush make some sweeping personnel changes: Condoleezza Rice to replace Dick Cheney as VP, Cheney to replace Donald Rumsfeld as DefSec, and replacements of Scott McClellan, Andy Card, and John Snow. Now that part of Barnes’s plan has come to pass — Card’s departure — the question becomes: What other changes are on the way?

It’s unlikely that Bush will go as far as Barnes and others have suggested. If only one of these changes will come to pass, bet on John Snow to be replaced as Treasury Secretary. The mainstream media has been rife with rumors about his departure, including the gossip that he agreed last fall to resign sometime this year. In addition, his reduced visibility as of late has been noted.

One Wonkette source, who correctly predicted Card’s resignation, cites “strong indicators” of Snow’s imminent departure. “I’d look for an announcement soon. Don’t be surprised to see Snow depart within the next 10 days.”

Very interesting… If you have anything to add on this subject, feel free to drop us a line.

A ‘Third Term’ for Bush [WSJ]
Card Resigns as White House Chief of Staff [LAT]
Where in the World is John Snow? [NY Sun]

Earlier: Yosh Up, Card Down: Meet the New Chief of Staff

• Reliable Source: John Snow brings entourage of reporters, aides, and security to go holiday shopping. . . D.C. Style magazine believes sex sells. . . Bob Novak, Dan Snyder, Bernard Shaw spotted at Redskins-Cowboys game. [WP]
• Inside Politics: Media Research Center names CBS as the most liberal network in '05. [WT]

• Time reporter Viveca Novak says Karl Rove was the likely source of a July 2003 article about Valerie Plame. Novak: "I remember [Rove's lawyer] looking at me and saying something to the effect of 'Karl doesn't have a [Matt Cooper] problem. He was not a source for Matt.' I responded instinctively, thinking he was trying to spin me, and said something like, 'Are you sure about that? That's not what I hear around Time.' He looked surprised and very serious." [Time, NYT, WSJ]
• Sen. Frist threatens to use the "nuclear option" to save Samuel Alito from a filibuster. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): "We're not close to a deal." [WP, NYT, LAT]
• White House flack Trent Duffy: "What you will see more of next year is the president going back to the basics -- winning the war and growing the economy and creating jobs." [WT]
• Sen. Clinton's quiet, centrist approach to Iraq "is drawing increasing scorn from liberal activists." [WP]
• Ronald Brownstein on Alito's abortion memos: "It's still not clear these disclosures will seriously threaten Alito's confirmation. And if they do not, both sides might need to rethink basic assumptions about the politics of the Supreme Court." [LAT]
• Gov. Mark Warner (D-Va.) tours battleground states for a head-start on '08. Warner: "As Democrats, what we have to do is put forward ideas and candidates that can win in places like Florida, that can win in places like Virginia." [NYT]

• Administration officials warn of impending caliphate; Rumsfeld says Iraq could "serve as the base of a new Islamic caliphate to extend throughout the Middle East, and which would threaten legitimate governments in Europe, Africa and Asia." [NYT]
• House and Senate have different views to the future of Medicaid. [NYT]
• Attorney, professor, and author John Yoo believes "the constitution itself gives the president lots of leeway, allowing him to invade Iraq without congressional permission and to disregard such treaties as the Geneva Convention." [LAT]
• Gov.-elect Corzine's appointment of Robert Menendez to his N.J. Senate seat fulfills childhood dream. [USAT]
• Investigators conclude John Snow's ownership of bonds did not represent a conflict of interest. [WSJ]

Who do you get when you can't get Tom Arnold to star in your yuletide heartwarmer? Judging by "A Very Beazley Christmas," the White House's new 10-minute holiday epic, Department of Treasury Secretary John Snow and Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. Yeah, we never heard of them either -- this thing is going straight to video. (Johanns does deliver a surprisingly intense and earnest performance, though.) Also:

1. How soon until Henry Waxman launches an investigation into how much this lavish, multi-set production with a cast of dozens cost American taxpayers?

2. Why does a mysterious black cat (i.e. traditional symbol of Satan) get a prominent cameo when there's no mention at all of Baby Jesus? President Bush can't even bring himself to mention the word "Christmas." Instead, he scolds Barney for not embracing "the true meaning of the holiday season." Concerned Christians of America, you have your opening.

3. George Stephanopoulos, you look way too happy to be in this thing.

— GREG BEATO

A Very Beazley Christmas [White House]

• Bush will nominate conservative appeals court Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court; his resume is similar to John Roberts' and he has upheld restrictions on abortion. [WP, AP, Reuters]
• Filibuster fight may loom. Harry Reid: "If he wants to divert attention from all of his many problems, he can send us somebody that is going to create a lot of problems." Arlen Specter: "There could be a real tough battle here and a real tough fight, depending on whom the president puts up." [WP, NYT, WSJ, LAT]
• 55% in Gallup Poll believe the Bush presidency is a failure; Bush starts a busy week of his comeback strategy with Supreme Court nomination. Nicolle Wallace: "We'll be going around the [media] filter to communicate directly with the American people about the things they care about." [USAT]
• Reid calls for Rove's resignation and an apology from Bush; Rove, meanwhile, "remains in significant [legal] danger." [WP, NYT, WT]
• Bush pays tribute to Rosa Parks at Capitol Hill ceremony. Condoleezza Rice in Montgomery: "I can honestly say that without Mrs. Parks, I probably would not be standing here today as secretary of state." [NYT]
• Scooter Libby "has no sense of entitlement, no sense that he's been victimized. Just an attitude of 'circumstances have to be dealt with,'" says Mary Matalin; friends plan on establishing legal fund as his defense expands. [WP, NYT, WSJ]

• Tim Russert's testimony helped indict Libby. Russert: "We hate being in the middle of what we're reporting on, but it is what it is." [NYT, USAT]
• Bush is losing influence overseas. [WSJ]
• Congressional showdown seen over fiscal restraint. [NYT]
• John Snow is ready and willing for far-reaching tax overhaul. [WSJ]
• Gerald Ford set precedent for Cheney to testify. [WSJ]
• Clinton administration alumni sympathize with current White House scandal victims. [NYT]
• Ted Koppel on the American death toll in Iraq passing 2,000: "The whole mood of the country has changed." [NYT]
• Parties and candidates take in posthumous donations. [WP]
• The phrasing of another Washington scandal: "Government scandals allow ordinary people to use important-sounding language. They let us talk like insiders." [WP]

• White House officials anticipate indictments from the leak investigation; scandals "have converged to disrupt President Bush's agenda, distract aides and allies, and exacerbate political problems for an already weakened administration." Senior administration official: "Everyone is going about the work at hand while bracing for the worst case." [WP, NYT]
• McClellan dismisses suggestion that Harriet Miers withdraw; press secretary tells reporters to focus on "her record and her qualifications." [NYT, WT]
• Bush told Blair in January 2003 that he "wanted to go beyond Iraq" to contain WMDs; he specified Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. [NYT]
• DeLay's phone records are subpoenaed. "The thing is no big deal," says his attorney. [WP, NYT]
• In private practice, Miers showed "a practical approach to the law with a commitment that everyone has a right to legal representation"; at times her efforts hinted at liberalism. [WP, LAT]

• Bush a holds scripted video conference with ten troops in Iraq. Harry Reid: "The American people and our brave troops deserve better than a photo-op for the president and a pep rally about Iraq. They deserve a plan." [WP, NYT, USAT]
• CIA heralds establishment of National Clandestine Service to coordinate spying worldwide; DoD and the FBI will maintain autonomy. [WP, NYT, WT]
• Frist says the Senate will deal with border security before immigration reform. [WT]
• Brownback "hopes that his combination of a humble, earnest style and broader focus on human rights, prison reform and other humanitarian issues will enable him to capitalize" on the issue of faith in 2008. [NYT]
• John Snow visits China to promote consumption and consumerism. [NYT, WSJ]
• Former FDA commissioner would not participate in GAO inquiry of the agency's Plan B decision. [WP]
• Rice, in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, repeats call for "free and fair elections" across Central Asia. [NYT, USAT]
• Kerry campaigns against California's Proposition 75.[LAT]