Daily Briefing: What Makes Miers Blush

• Judith Miller recalls June 23, 2003 conversation with “Scooter” Libby about Joseph Wilson during her last day of testimony in the leak investigation; contempt-of-court threat is lifted. Attorneys believe Patrick Fitzgerald “is looking into a broad conspiracy charge against a group of administration officials or into charging one or more officials with easier-to-prove crimes such as disclosing classified material, making false statements or perjury.” [WP, WSJ, NYT]
• NBC/WSJ poll: 27% support Miers while 51% don’t know enough to venture an opinion; approval of Bush rests at 39% and only 28% of Americans believe the country is heading in the right direction — a ten year low. [WSJ]
• SEC subpoenas Frist for personal documents related to sale of health care stock; he is expected to testify under oath. [WP, NYT, WSJ]
• Bush defends use of religion to sell Miers: “[P]art of Harriet Miers’s life is her religion.” Alberto Gonzales: “I believe that she is pro-life.” [WP, NYT, WT, USAT]
• Democrats are hopeful about their political opportunities in 2006. Charlie Cook: “Right now, if I had to bet would the Democrats take the House and Senate back, I’d say no. But are the odds a heck of a lot better than they were three months ago or six months ago? Heck, yes.” [NYT]

• Study finds the Bush administration “apparently paid little or no attention” to the CIA’s prewar assessments of Iraq. [NYT]
• Miers “has wielded formidable power with fairness and attention to detail — but rarely was a strong voice in policy decisions the administration has faced.” Margaret Spellings: “She blushes when the rest of us got a little raunchy.” [WP]
• White House plan puts the CIA in command of overseas intelligence gathering and creates National Clandestine Service managed by Porter Goss. [WP]
• Rice, in Afghanistan, remains optimistic despite uptick in violence; 84 Americans have died there this year. [NYT]
• Amtrak board approves spin-off of Northeast Corridor service; Congress has final say. [NYT]
• Christian Coalition scales back; budget falls to $1.3m. [WT]

READ MORE: 2006, CIA, Democrats, Republicans, SCOTUS, White House, afghanistan, alberto gonzales, amtrak, bill frist, charlie cook, condoleezza rice, george w. bush, harriet miers, iraq, joesph wilson, judith miller, karl rove, leak investigation, lewis libby, margaret spellings, patrick fitzgerald, polls, porter goss, prewar intelligence, sec, valerie plame, war on terror