Liveblogging the Chertoff Testimony: Part 3

Coverage of Secretary Michael Chertoff’s Senate testimony (continued from this prior post):

12:43 PM: Sen. Dayton has been going on for 7 minutes… Was there a question in there?

12:45 PM: Chertoff: “There’s a lot to work on at FEMA.” Um, yeah…

12:47 PM: Sen. Dayton is showing Chertoff pictures. Chertoff: “Part of the problem is hardware ‘n stuff.”

12:50 PM: Sen. Norm Coleman (R- Minn.) has taken over from his colleague. Good teeth; don’t know about the hair, though.

12:59 PM: Sen. Coleman: “To many people, FEMA is a four-letter world.” Yes, to many people; people who can count! Secretary Chertoff is indignant: “FEMA you! If you think I’m going to FEMA-ing sit here and let you FEMA me over, you’ve got another thing coming.” (Okay, FEMA isn’t a great four-letter word…)

1:02 PM: Sen. Mark Pryor is going over the taxonomy of mobile homes with Chertoff. (Wonkette contemplates a bathroom break.)

1:12 PM: Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) to Chertoff: “Is the Coast Guard a part of the Department of Homeland Security?” Is that a trick question? Oh no, it’s a softball — the Coast Guard did fine work during Katrina.

1:17 PM? This isn’t nearly as exciting as the Brownie testimony. Time for lunch. If anything really exciting happens, we’ll get back to you later.

READ MORE: capitol hill, covering your ass, fema, hurricane katrina, liveblogging, mark pryor, michael brown, michael chertoff, norm coleman, robert bennett

Daily Briefing: ‘On to the Next Precipice’

• “Scooter” Libby has “a problem” in the leak investigation, his attorney says. Robert Bennett: “Fitzgerald is putting together a big case, and he’s looking for little pieces of a puzzle.” [WP, NYT, WSJ]
• Rejection of the Iraqi constitution by two Sunni provinces “guarantees the guerrilla war will go on,” says one historian. “As one official put it, every time the administration appears on the edge of a precipice, it manages to cobble together a result that allows it to move on to the next precipice,” according to The Washington Post. Per The New York Times, “Senior officials say the intelligence reports flowing over their desks in recent months argue that even if democratic institutions take hold, the insurgency may strengthen.” [WP, NYT, USAT, USAT]
• House Republican leaders are preparing to cut up to $50b from ‘06 budget; fiscal conservatives win out. [WP]
• Miers will provide answers to Senate questionnaire today; strategists hope nomination will gain traction. [NYT]
• Some Republicans are concerned that Bush’s go-slow approach to rebuilding the Gulf Coast will create additional problems. [LAT]

• Republicans worry Democrats could gain in ‘06 on ethics issue. GOP lobbyist: “You have Frist, DeLay, the Plame case, and you have Democrats with a theme: the culture of corruption and incompetence. [Republicans] are concerned that next year could be a bad year.” [LAT]
• DeLay raised nearly $1m in three months before his indictment; he has $1.2m on hand. [NYT]
• Media analysts criticize Judith Miller and The New York Times for their decision-making. [WP]
• Lautenberg suggests charges may be filed over Armstrong Williams’ contract. [USAT]
• Dan Bartlett, Nicolle Wallace choose topic of presidential radio address on Wednesdays; number of listeners is unknown. [NYT]
• Hillary reaps cash from Hollywood. [WT]

READ MORE: 2006, 2008, Democrats, Republicans, SCOTUS, armstrong williams, bill frist, budget, conservatives, dan bartlett, frank lautenberg, george w. bush, harriet miers, hillary clinton, iraq, judith miller, katrina, leak investigation, lewis libby, nicolle wallace, patrick fitzgerald, robert bennett, senate, tom delay, valerie plame, war on terror