Daily Briefing: 'Better To Go Down Fighting'
• Michael Brownspreads blame and says FEMA was grossly unprepared for Hurricane Katrina: "I predicted privately for several years that we were going to reach this point [of crisis] because of the lack of resources and the lack of attention being paid to what was [once]...a very robust organization." [ WP , NYT , WSJ , USAT ]
•Democrats threaten to use "nuclear option" if next Supreme Court nominee is too conservative.Howard Dean: "If we lose, better to go down fighting and standing for what we believe in, because we will not win an election if the public doesn't think we'll stand up for what we believe in." [ WP ]
•The New York Times wrongly attributed unsigned memo about libel law toJohn Roberts. [ NYT ]
•New Supreme Court justices will decide future ofMcCain-Feingoldcampaign finance legislation. [ WP , WSJ , NYT , LAT , USAT ]
•Administration intends to expand domestic energy production on public lands, including ANWR and offshope. [ NYT ]
• Bushturns to domestic issues with modern-day New Deal. [ USAT ]
• Tony Blairsays British troops are committed to Iraq and Britain will "remain the strongest ally of the United States." [ NYT ]
• Dick Cheney"will certainly do his part" to conserve energy, says flack. [ NYT ]
•First Lady tapes episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" from Biloxi. [ NYT ]
•Supreme Court will hear appeal fromAnna Nicole Smithfor late husband's estate. [ WP ]
•Women in Saudi Arabia talk back toKaren Hughesat forum. [ NYT ]