Daily Briefing: "You May Not Feel It"
• Bushtouts 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 ]
• Lottcalls for new Secretary of Defense within the year: "I am not a fan ofSecretary Rumsfeld. I don't think he listens to his uniformed officers." [ WP ]
• Bushbalances 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 ]
• WaxmanonTauzin's move to lobbying industry: "The appearance is terrible. . . This will only reinforce the public's disillusionment with Congress." [ LAT ]
[ AFP/Luke Frazza ]