Daily Briefing: ‘Josh Bolten’s Josh Bolten’

• Tony Snow will “likely” replace Scott McClellan. [CNN, NYT]
• Bush and Republican lawmakers face blame for high gas prices yet have “few if any” available short-term solutions; president will call today for the strict enforcement of price gouging laws. [WP, W$J]
• Attorney for fired CIA officer denies his client leaked classified information to the Washington Post. [WP]
• Bush presses for bipartisan agreement on immigration, though he is not backing a specific proposal. Bush: “I know this is an emotional debate, and I can understand it’s emotional, but one thing we cannot lose sight of is that we’re talking about human beings, decent human beings.” [WP, NYT, W$J, USAT]
• Many Republican candidates are plotting how to distance themselves from Bush and the war; approval of the president dips to 32% in CNN poll. [NYT, CNN]
• Excessive supplemental provisions to emergency spending bill receive renewed criticisms. [NYT]

• Sen. Arlen Specter secured $200,000 grant for foundation represented by the son of his top aide; senator says he’s changed his ways. [USAT]
• Republicans seek business-friendly tax credits for research and development. [W$J]
• Joel Kaplan, the recently named deputy chief of staff for policy, “has been thrust into a high-profile White House job in which he will play a crucial role in the effort to salvage Mr. Bush’s second-term agenda.” Strategist: “Kaplan is Josh Bolten’s Josh Bolten.” [NYT]
• Negroponte’s attempts at humor “provoke thoughts mostly of nap time.” [WP]
• Clintons attend unveiling of their portraits at the National Portrait Gallery. [WP]

READ MORE: 2006, 2008, CIA, Democrats, Republicans, arlen specter, bill clinton, gas prices, george w. bush, hillary clinton, immigration, joel kaplan, john negroponte, josh bolten, leaking, polls, scott mcclellan, spending, tax cuts, tony snow, washington post