Daily Briefing: "Die On The Vine"
•Conservative intelligentsia begins to splinter on private accounts: "[N]ow they're getting nervous. Even if they're not speaking out, they just figure it will die on the vine." [ WP ]
•Presidential commission rails against pre-war intelligence gathering;Tenetparticularly criticized. [ NYT ]
• Santorum, Kennedyseparately seeking common ground in divisive wake ofSchiavofrenzy;Santorumreconsiders death penalty. [ WSJ ]
• Schiavo, Social Security threaten Republican dominance of Florida. [ LAT ]
• Bushmoves beyondSchiavo; week ahead devoted to Middle East, Social Security. [ WT ]
•Justices seek distance from case of Mexicans on death row; matter complicated byBush's compliance with international law. [ NYT , WT ]
•Politics is best option for aging intellectuals; 22 senators are over 70. [ WP ]
•59 ex-diplomats urge rejection ofBoltonfor ambassadorship to United Nations. [ WP ]
•Polarization edged higher in '04 election; only 59 congressional districts split vote between president and representatives. [ WP ]
• Bush's domestic advisor humbled by position and background: "Our job is to help bring the issues to the president so he can apply his vision to the decision-making process." [ WP ]