Daily Briefing: 'Don't Tell Us'

*Cheneyurged to address the hunting accident "as early as today." [ WP ]

*Scott McClellandid not disclose hunter's heart attack to reporters during White House press briefing; hunter's death could spark a grand jury investigation, possibly with criminal charges. [ WP , NYT , NYT , W$J , USAT ]

* Reporters corneredMcClellanat the briefing.David Gregory: "Don't tell us that you're giving us complete answers when you're not actually answering the questions."David Sanger: "This is our briefing; we get to ask the questions." [ WP ]

* Tension between the White House andCheney's staff is "palpable";Cheney"plays by rules of his own making." [ NYT , USAT ]

* White House successfully suppressing House investigation of NSA eavesdropping. [ WP ]

*Jack Abramoff's "reputation for close relationships with the White House and congressional officials enabled him to charge stratospheric fees from his lobbying clients"; lobbyist's successful work for Malaysia "suggests closer ties than previously acknowledged between the disgraced lobbyist and the highest levels of theBushWhite House." [ LAT ]

* Sen.Reid(D-Nev.) wrote at least four letters on behalf of tribes thatAbramoffrepresented; staffers were in frequent contact about legislation. [ LAT ]

* The rise of the Lincoln Group "has been built in part by exaggerated claims about its abilities and connections." Associate of the company: "They appear very professional on the surface, then you dig a little deeper and you find that they are pretty amateurish." [ NYT ]

* "Organizational chaos" of the Senate is worsening, likely due to politics. [ NYT ]

* National Counterterrorism Center manages database of 325,000 names with suspected links to terrorism. [ WP ]

* Asbestos bill falls short of needed votes in the Senate. [ WP , NYT , W$J ]

* Proposed restructuring of FEMA "only scratch the surface of needed changes." [ WP ]

*Harry Whittingtonhas always been "a die-hard Republican." [ NYT ]

* Sen.Hillary Clinton: "We are approaching a real turning point" on Medicare. [ WT ]

*George Lucashelps Democrats with "innovation agenda." [ LAT ]

* Firstgov.gov -- upgraded. [ WP ]