Daily Briefing: Wait and See
•Democratic leaders believe the "ethics-corruption issue," notSamuel Alito, will win them seats in November. [ WP , W$J ]
•Rep.Roy Blunt(R-Mo.) says he has enough votes to be the next majority leader. Rep.John Boehner(R-Ohio): "We'll see where the votes really are." [ USAT ]
• Bushorders insurers to fill gaps in Medicare program; "Republicans have joined Democrats in asserting that the federal government botched the beginning of the prescription drug program." [ NYT ]
•Under pressure ofJack Abramoffscandal, Rep.Bob Ney(R-Ohio) will temporarily step aside as head of the House Administration Committee. [ WP , NYT ]
•Twenty-five year friendship withAbramoffis "proving highly inconvenient" forRalph Reedas he runs for governor of Georgia; his records have been subpoenaed. [ WP ]
•After signing bills,Bushmaintains the presidential power to override them. Political professor: "The president is basically saying that those structural changes are nice, but I don't have to listen to anybody in particular." [ NYT ]
•Sen.Specter(R-Penn.) vows to look "closely" at NSA eavesdropping: "I don't see any talk about impeachment here." [ NYT , WT ]
•Success ofAlitochallenges the conventional wisdom on the Supreme Court and abortion. Sen.Feinstein(D-Calif.): "I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster." [ NYT , WT ]
•At the hearings,Alitosaid "I don't know" 29 times, Democrats mentioned Vanguard 68 times, and Republicans uttered "integrity" 43 times. [ WP ]
• Laura Bushis "irritated" by criticism of the administration's AIDS prevention program in Africa. [ WT ]
•At the United Nations, the administration takes a defensive posture regarding human rights. [ WP ]
•Opponents of abortion are making strides outside of the political arena. [ NYT ]