Daily Briefing: The Real Question
• DeLay, "a politician in retreat," is viewed by fellow Republicans as a distraction and by business supporters as "radioactive." [ WP ]
• Bush, Putinact friendly in Russia.Hadley: Bush's "focus really is, without denigrating in any way the history, trying to focus, as I said, on moving forward." [ WP , NYT , WSJ , USAT , WT ]
• Ricebelieves releasing documents aboutBoltonwould have negative effect on "internal deliberations";LugarthinksBoltoncan win committee vote.Biden: "The real question here is how far didJohn Boltonstretch the truth or stretch the facts, regarding intelligence." [ NYT , USAT , WP , WT ]
•Showdown over filibusters probably will occur on eve of Memorial Day recess. [ WP ]
•White House is waiting for Democrats to offer alternative solution for Social Security.Emanuel: "Remove privatization and the adjacent ideas, and we will sit down at the table and discuss it." [ NYT ]
•Republicans want to reform Social Security, healthcare, and other benefit programs the way corporations have, says Brownstein. [ LAT ]
• Gonzalesis working to soften his image and that of the Justice Department. [ NYT ]
•Trial ofDavid Rosen,Hillary's former fund-raising director, begins tomorrow in L.A.; major spectacle expected. [ NYT ]
• General Myersevaluated as a "toady." [ LAT ]