Daily Briefing: Farewell, Orange

•Debate begins overOwen, and validity of filibusters.Frist: "We must restore the 214-year-old principle that every judicial nominee with majority support deserves an up-or-down vote."Reid: "If Republicans roll back our rights in this chamber, there will be no check on their power." [ WP , WP , NYT , NYT , LAT , USAT , WT ]

•NBC/WSJ poll: 65% say Congress doesn't share their priorities; 42% say their representative deserves re-election; 56% are against mixing Social Security and the markets;Bush's approval unchanged at 47%. Filibuster showdown isn't helping. [ WSJ , LAT ]

•White House quietly pulls strings to bring votes on nominees;Cheney, Mehlman, Roveon the case. [ NYT ]

•Democrats issue 64-page report onBolton; Republicans counter that he's "a highly qualified nominee." [ WP , NYT ]

• Bush: "Democratic change and free elections are exhilarating events. . . but history teaches that the path to a free society is long and not always smooth." [ NYT ]

•Grenade found nearBushnow deemed a threat. [ USAT , NYT , WT ]

• Stevensfirst spoke of "nuclear option" in February, 2003. [ WP ]

• Owenviewed as "thorough and careful judge" who often sides with business. [ LAT ]

•House votes 424 to 4 to drop color-coded threat system. [ WP ]

•House Republicans want to undo campaign spending limits. [ WP ]

• DeLay"adamantly opposed" to stem cell research bill; vote expected next week. [ NYT , LAT ]

•Congress ready to legislate steroids in MLB. [ LAT ]