Daily Briefing: Card Trick Edition
![His Lips Arent Even Moving His Lips Arent Even Moving](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fwonkette.substack.com%2Fp%2Fhis%2520lips%2520arent%2520even%2520moving.jpg)
•New details emerge aboutGonzales: some complain he too often acquiesced and lacks political judgment; a memo in his name was ghostwritten byCheney's counsel;Rice, Hadley, others were bypassed in tribunal decision-making." Republicans expect confirmation; MoveOn will run television ads. [ WP , NYT , LAT , USAT , USAT , WT ]
•Republicans adjust House rules, requiring at least one Republican to agree to ethics investigations; inquiries now less likely. [ WP , NYT , LAT , USAT , BG ]
•Seven new Republican Senators on board for GOP agenda.Thune: "It will hopefully change the psychology of the Senate, by going from 51 to 55." [ WP , NYT , WT ]
• Bush's medical malpractice bill would protect drugmakers from consumers seeking punitive damages due to Vioxx, Celebrex; provision may be altered. [ WP ]
• Bushlaunches campaign for tort reform as popularity of issue falters: "The dirty little secret in Washington is the trial lawyers have a few Republicans in their pocket." [ WP ]
•Administration, aware of political sensitivity, will go-slow on Social Security restructuring;McClellaninsists nothing is finalized. [ WP , LAT , USAT , WT ]
• Conyersprepared to formally object to Ohio count during tomorrow's electoral certification. [ WT ]
• Gossannounces deputy, ends afternoon counterterrorism coordination meetings. [ NYT ]
•Representatives can now address Senators by name during floor debates. Scholar: "The distance between 'Crossfire' and the House floor is shrinking all the time." [ LAT ]
• Bushclose to namingMack, Breauxto lead tax reform panel. [ NYT ]
• Regula, Lewis, Rogerscompete to chair Appropriations Committee; decision expected shortly. [ WP ]
• Obamatries to lower expectations. [ LAT ]
• Ickes, Kirkwill not run for DNC chairman. [ WP ]
• Card's work resides in imaginary kitchen. Friend: "[His desk is] almost empty, there's no paper anywhere. But he's created this whole system in his head with this mind discipline of his."Cardloves to doodle; he wakes at 4: 20, often works late and on weekends; was a night manager at McDonald's. [ WP ]
•SenatorSalazarshares apartment with brother, RepresentativeSalazar. [ WP ]
•WillGonzalesremove $8,000 curtain that shields semi-nude statues? [ WP ]
•Linguistics professor wants Dems to reframe debate;Deanis listening. [ LAT ]
• Whitman, in new book, argues GOP is "dictated to by a coalition of ideological extremists." [ WT ]