Daily Briefing: Bewildered at Priorities Edition
• Bushinterview: "I understand there are many who say, 'Bushis wrong,' I assume I'm right." On Social Security: "I have an obligation to lead on this issue. I have the responsibility to lay out potential solutions." On Iraq: "I fully understand that freedom abroad does not mean Americanization." [ WSJ ]
•Some congressional Republicans already down onBush's Social Security plan.Kristol: Republicans are "bewildered why this is such a White House priority." [ WP ]
•Conservatives privately gloating over CBS report. Scholar: "If you're aBushperson, it confirms in your mind that the press is out to getBush." [ WP ]
•Administration tells city to cover inauguration costs by diverting $12m from homeland security fund. [ WP ]
• Bushon tsunami relief: "The intense scrutiny may dissipate, and probably will, but our focus has got to stay on this part of the world." [ WP , WT , NYT ]
•Poll finds stark age gap in support of Social Security restructuring: "These older voters who voted 'values' in 2004 hold the potential for a revolt in 2006." [ USAT ]
•Pentagon considers creating post for intelligence; sign of a turf war. [ USAT ]
• Snowhits Wall Street to build support of Social Security plan; many economist skeptical. [ NYT ]
•Administration wants to restructure funding of private pensions. [ WP , NYT , WSJ ]
• Allan Hubbardnamed to direct National Economic Council.Bush: "He was the top of the class, which is why I'm the President and he's the adviser." [ WP , NYT , WSJ ]
• Laurachoses Oscar de le Renta for inaugural gown; described as "youthful and feminine, not sexy -- the epitome of good taste." [ WP , NYT ]
•Big business loves the big inaugural. [ WSJ ]
•Inauguration tickets are high-tech to prevent counterfeiting. [ USAT ]
• Gingrichis back: "I'm interested in people taking up the ideas and talking about the ideas." [ WT ]