•Bush touts effects of privatization on the markets, seeks bipartisanship for Social Security reorganization as AFl-CIO, AARP, NAACP, NOW prepare for fight; administration considers borrowing to covering transition costs. Bush: "You may not feel it, your constituents may not be overwhelming you with letters demanding a fix now, but the crisis is now." [WP, NYT, NYT, WSJ, LAT]
•Lott calls for new Secretary of Defense within the year: "I am not a fan of Secretary Rumsfeld. I don't think he listens to his uniformed officers." [WP]
•Bush balances hype of tax cuts with dire assessments of Social Security and tort rules. [WP]
• New director of national intelligence may present president with daily briefing instead of CIA boss. [WP]
•Bernanke, Federal Reserve Board member, sought to head Council of Foreign Advisors. [WP]
• Without Senate action, term of DHS inspector general expires. [WP]
• Judge dismisses challenge to Ohio results. [BG]
• Democratic 527s outspent Republican 527s three to one, though gap narrowed in final months of campaign; grand total of $550m sets record. [NYT]
• Inauguration estimated to cost $40m. [NYT]
•Leavitt's Medicaid plan for Utah was innovative but inadequate. Leavitt: "During a difficult time, it's better to have everyone have basic health care than a few to have all the health care." [WSJ]
• Young Democrats clamor for attention. [USAT]
•Waxman on Tauzin's move to lobbying industry: "The appearance is terrible. . . This will only reinforce the public's disillusionment with Congress." [LAT]
