Daily Briefing: Time to Recognize
• Bushcalls for oil conservation: "We can all pitch in. People just need to recognize that the storms have caused disruption." [ NYT , WT ]
• Bushmay endorse expansion of the military's responsibilities in responses to natural disasters. [ NYT , WT ]
•Congressional Republicans turn attention to unsteady oil market; proposals will likely become Energy Bill II.Bush: "The storms have shown how fragile the balance is between supply and demand in America." [ WSJ ]
•Republicans change rhetoric about fiscal policy, not the policy itself. [ WP ]
•Hundreds of anti-war protesters led byCindy Sheehanare arrested in front of the White House; they lacked a permit. [ WP ]
• Bushhints next Supreme Court nominee will not be a white male. [ NYT ]
•Government likely ripped off by FEMA's no-bid and non-competitive contracts for rebuilding the Gulf Coast. [ USAT ]
• Anthony Lewison howJohn Robertswould rule on libel: "He's not a fan of the press. He speaks of 'the zeal and insouciance with which the mass media assails public officials.'" [ NYT ]
•Justice Department and FBI are investigating the demotion of a federal prosecutor that delayed inquiry ofJack Abramoffthree years ago. [ NYT ]
•Senate Appropriations Committee proposes $440b Defense budget. [ WSJ ]
•Republican-led congressional inquiry into Katrina-related failures begins today with testimony fromMichael Brown. [ WSJ ]
• Fristsays his stock sale was planned months before it lost value. [ WP , NYT , USAT , WT ]
•Potential '08 Democratic candidates decide onRoberts: Bayh, Clinton, Kerry, Bidenwill vote no;Feingoldwill vote to confirm. [ LAT ]
• Richard Myers: "The outcome and consequences of defeat [in Iraq] are greater than World War II." [ USAT ]
• Ben Affleckfor Senate? Virginia Democrats dream. [ WP ]