Daily Briefing: Not Known for Sipping White Wines
• Riceendorsed 16-2; admits "bad decisions" on Iraq. [ WP ]
•Democrats postpone final votes forRice, Gonzales. [ LAT , NYT , NYT ]
•Analysis of exit polls finds overestimation ofKerryvote across 26 states; no evidence of fraud or rigging. [ WP , NYT , WT ]
•Nation still split, according to polls: minority are optimistic for second term; approval steady at 50%; approval of handling war on terrorism at 53%; 70% expect changes to Social Security. [ WSJ , NYT ]
• Mehlmantakes over RNC: "There's a word for this kind of victory, it's called a mandate." [ WP , WT ]
• Bush's broad goals may be sapped by "second-term curse"; administration looks to apply lessons learned. [ WP , WP , WSJ , WSJ , WT , USAT , BG ]
• Bush, Cabinet nominees repeat refrain: "no mistakes, no regret, no comment." [ WP ]
• Powellsays goodbye to State Department: "You are wonderful patriots who serve your nation in the far-flung outposts of American diplomacy." [ NYT ]
• Bush's ambitious agenda faces congressional discord. [ WP ]
•Democrats weigh options: wage total war or pick their fights with caution? [ WSJ ]
• Boxerstands out. [ NYT ]
• Cheney: "I think, in fact, there has been over time a restoration, if you will, of the power and authority of the president." [ WP ]
• Cheneyto play pivotal role in Capitol Hill fights. [ WP ]
• Laurato focus on same issues in second term. [ WP , NYT ]
• McCreryexplores funding options for Social Security. [ WP , NYT ]
• Bush, by avoiding restaurants and public places, "has led the most isolated, narrow Washington life of any chief executive in modern times."Fleischer: "He's not known for sipping white wines and going to the finer places." [ WP , WP ]
•Conservatives concerned with gayness ofSpongeBob SquarePants. [ NYT ]
•Four years changed the man. [ USAT ]