Daily Briefing: Will the Real Bill Frist Please Stand Up?

• Federal spending has grown faster under Bush than any president since Franklin Roosevelt. John Kasich: “Republicans have gotten the sense that they’re going to get elected by passing out money to people.” [USAT, USAT]
• Republican divisions over the budget and immigration reduce chances of passing legislation this week. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.): “There’s a chasm between the House and Senate.” [NYT, LAT, USAT]
• GOP strategists see the strong economy as a ticket to victory in November elections. [WT]
• Josh Bolten will have to “reunify Republicans behind the administration and keep Mr. Bush’s presidency from sinking into lame-duck status.” [NYT]
• Gen. Anthony Zinni calls for Rumsfeld to resign: “Integrity and getting on with the mission and doing it right are more important than loyalty.” [NYT]
• Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) treads carefully in the Senate with his sights set on the White House: “The real Bill Frist, [voters] don’t really see.” Strategist Scott Reed on his immigration bill: “He really needs to deliver if he’s going to look at exploring a presidential race.” [NYT]

• 26 Hispanic lawmakers represent diversity of opinion on immigration reform. [USAT]
• Campaigns are increasing their use of online video to provoke emotional responses. Ad guru: “If you’re running a congressional race and [the candidate has] 300,000 voters in his district and he’s got to spend money on television that reaches outside the boundaries of his district, he’s really wasting money.” [WP]
• Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) criticizes the administration’s energy policy: “Saying that America is addicted to oil without following a real plan for energy independence is like admitting alcoholism and then skipping out on the 12-step program.” [AP]
• Pro-choice groups are invoking God like their pro-life counterparts. [NYT]

READ MORE: 2006, 2008, Campaigning, Democrats, Republicans, abortion, anthony zinni, bill frist, donald rumsfeld, economy, franklin roosevelt, george w. bush, iraq, john kasich, josh bolten, richard durbin, scott reed

Daily Briefing - Alito: ‘Revenge of the Nerd’

• WP-ABC poll: 49% of Americans want Samuel Alito confirmed, 30% do not; 73% of Republicans, 33% of Democrats support him; 44% believe his positions are “about right.” [WP]
• Gang of 14 might be “fraying” over Alito; Ben Nelson has a “comfort level” with the nominee. [USAT, WT]
• Alito’s record on civil rights is “a significant cleavage point between his supporters on the right and detractors on the left, even before activists on both sides have completed poring over his opinions.” [WP]
• Alito told Richard Durbin that he carefully deliberated over ‘91 abortion judgment: “He said he had spent more time worrying and working over that decision than over any other decision he made when he was a judge.” [NYT]
• Alito has been private with his personal political opinions. [LAT]
• Alito “dissents slightly more often than the typical appeals court judge, and his dissenting opinions are almost always more conservative than the majority’s.” [NYT]
• Democrats want to take their time with Alito. [LAT]
• Alito favored some gay rights in college. [LAT]
• Alito joined ROTC at Princeton to be an officer if drafted. [WP]
• With Alito, the “revenge of the nerd” strikes the Senate, writes Milbank. [WP]

READ MORE: Democrats, Republicans, SCOTUS, ben nelson, dana milbank, gang of 14, george w. bush, richard durbin, samuel alito