Daily Briefing: 'Red-Hot Rhetoric'

•Administration says economic growth will slow and inflation will rise slightly this year; deficit will be less than previous years. Congressional Budget Office Director: "These are the good ol' days. These are the best of times. After this, it gets worse." [ WSJ ]

•The end of stubbornness? "There are signs [Bush's] determination to do things his way is beginning to be counterproductive, and the stakes are high," writesUSAT. [ USAT ]

•Senate confirmsJanice Rogers Brownto D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in roll call of 56 to 43. [ WP , LAT , USAT ]

•Ethics Committee could take months to decide onDeLay. [ WP ]

• Bush"exploring alternatives" for Guantanamo Bay prison;Rumsfelddisagrees. [ WP , NYT ]

• McClellansays revision of climate report part of business as usual. [ NYT , USAT ]

•Democrats worried aboutDean's "penchant for red-hot rhetoric." [ WP ]

•62% disapprove ofBush's handling of Social Security in WP/ABC poll;Bushreiterates call for overhaul. [ WP , NYT ]