Daily Briefing: 'Bracing for the Worst'
•White House officials anticipate indictments from the leak investigation; scandals "have converged to disruptPresident Bush's agenda, distract aides and allies, and exacerbate political problems for an already weakened administration." Senior administration official: "Everyone is going about the work at hand while bracing for the worst case." [ WP , NYT ]
• McClellandismisses suggestion thatHarriet Mierswithdraw; press secretary tells reporters to focus on "her record and her qualifications." [ NYT , WT ]
• BushtoldBlairin January 2003 that he "wanted to go beyond Iraq" to contain WMDs; he specified Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. [ NYT ]
• DeLay's phone records are subpoenaed. "The thing is no big deal," says his attorney. [ WP , NYT ]
•In private practice,Miersshowed "a practical approach to the law with a commitment that everyone has a right to legal representation"; at times her efforts hinted at liberalism. [ WP , LAT ]
• Busha holds scripted video conference with ten troops in Iraq.Harry Reid: "The American people and our brave troops deserve better than a photo-op for the president and a pep rally about Iraq. They deserve a plan." [ WP , NYT , USAT ]
•CIA heralds establishment of National Clandestine Service to coordinate spying worldwide; DoD and the FBI will maintain autonomy. [ WP , NYT , WT ]
• Fristsays the Senate will deal with border security before immigration reform. [ WT ]
• Brownback"hopes that his combination of a humble, earnest style and broader focus on human rights, prison reform and other humanitarian issues will enable him to capitalize" on the issue of faith in 2008. [ NYT ]
• John Snowvisits China to promote consumption and consumerism. [ NYT , WSJ ]
•Former FDA commissioner would not participate in GAO inquiry of the agency's Plan B decision. [ WP ]
• Rice, in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, repeats call for "free and fair elections" across Central Asia. [ NYT , USAT ]
• Kerrycampaigns against California's Proposition 75.[ LAT ]