Daily Briefing: Cool, Calm, and Breathing Deep
* Senate votes 72 to 25 to hold roll call onSamuel Alito's confirmation today; Sen.Kerrydefends his filibuster attempt. [ WP , NYT , LAT , WT , USAT ]
*Bushwill promote alternative fuels and nuclear power in tonight's State of the Union. Senior official: "What's interesting about this discussion is that he isn't talking about oil exploration at home. Nobody wants to get bogged down in those arguments again." [ NYT , USAT ]
* 76% of Americans deem health care "an absolute priority" for '06 and only 28% support maintaining the current force in Iraq, according to new WSJ-NBC poll.Bush's approval rating is steady at 39% as leadership and honesty numbers have fallen over the past year; 63% say Democrats lack a "clear agenda." [ WSJ , MSNBC ]
* Sen.Russ Feingold(D-Wis.) questions Attorney GeneralAlberto Gonzales' statements on warrentless eavesdropping. During his confirmation,Gonzalessaid the practice was "not the policy of the agenda of this president" and offered to tell Congress if that changed. [ WP ]
* Administration official explains White House strategy onAlito: "Any time they are yelling, preaching, lecturing, and you are cool and calm and breathing deep, you are winning. What that means on television sets where the American people are watching this is, you look good and they look bad. It was the central operating premise." [ NYT ]
* Lawmakers and Senate groups cancel meetings with lobbyists. [ WP ]
* House leadership candidates woo conservatives at Republican Study Committee retreat. [ NYT , LAT ]
* 42% of Americans support bombing Iran's nuclear sites in WP-ABC poll. [ WP ]
* Spending bill includes "impossible" work standards for welfare parents. [ LAT ]
* White House seeks $2b more for Iraq. [ WT ]
* Anti-war liberals may threaten recent Democratic gains in public opinion. "It is time for the Democrats to eat their own," writesDana Milbank. [ WP ]
*Alitois seen as "ready to fulfill"Reagan's vision. [ LAT ]
* WithAlitoon the court, JusticeKennedybecomes the middle swing vote. [ WP ]
* Republicans may limit 527 groups in bill aimed at lobbyists. [ WSJ ]
* Evangelicals are increasingly advocating for the poor and the environment. [ LAT ]
* Fed ChairmanAlan Greenspanretires today. [ USAT ]
* Vote againstAlitomay hurt Sen.Lincoln Chafee's (R-R.I.) re-election chances. [ WT ]
*Bushreceives "nearly unanimous" support in Randolph, Utah; 95.6% of the town supported his re-election. [ WP ]