Daily Briefing: No Interest Like Self-Interest
• Bushwould withdraw troops if new Iraqi government wanted; toTimes: "We are watching history being made, history that will change the world." [ NYT , NYT ]
• Bushpromotes medical savings accounts in Ohio whileKerrytouts legislation to insure 11m children. [ NYT , WP , USAT , WT ]
•Congressional Republicans seek distance fromBush; feasibility of second-term agenda unclear. Aide: "It's the 'no interest like self-interest' rule, and it's every man for himself." [ WP ]
•HHS admits it paid another columnist. [ USAT ]
• Ricewill visit Israel, eight European nations soon. [ NYT ]
•Administration gives up relaxing media ownership rules. [ NYT ]
• Kennedycalls for troop pullout, says Iraq policy is "fanning the flames of conflict." [ WP , USAT , WT ]
•House Republicans say constituents are unnecessarily scared by automated phone calls about Social Security. [ LAT , USAT ]
•Black Baptists --15m strong-- want to set unified agenda; hope to energize voters and influence Congress like conservative evangelicals. Priorities include health care, education, jobs, voting rights. [ CT ]
•Congressional study finds billions are lost annually to overseas tax havens. [ NYT ]
•Unions sue administration to halt implementation of new personnel system. [ NYT ]
• Rumsfeldmay or may not attend Munich Conference on Security Policy. [ WP ]