Daily Briefing: 'Happy Days Are Here Again'
• Libbyis expected to be charged today with making false statements to the jury; investigation ofRovewill continue asFitzgeraldwill extend the inquiry.McClellanwill not brief today andBushwill spend the weekend at Camp David. [ NYT , WSJ ]
• Libbyshops for an attorney;Rovelooks for a P.R. team. [ WP ]
•Next Supreme Court nominee could be named within days; "aggressive opposition from conservatives" causedHarriet Miersto withdraw. The "endgame" began early this week. [ WP , WP , NYT , NYT , WSJ , LAT , WT ]
•The worst week ofBush's political life is not over yet. Scholar: "Is there a Howard Baker moment? And if there's a Howard Baker moment, who's Howard Baker?" [ WP , NYT ]
• Miersnomination "was an episode that seemed wholly out of character with the president's style."Brownstein: "[T]he president no longer can consistently impose his will on his party, much less the Congress or the country." [ WP , LAT , USAT ]
•"Senators came to buryMiersyesterday, not to praise her,"Milbankwrites.Lottsings "Happy Days Are Here Again!" [ WP , WT ]
• Miersremained upbeat and loyal throughout the process. Former colleague: "The White House didn't pay attention, and the right just chewed her up. It was like a gang, a lynch mob." [ NYT , WP , WSJ ]
•Conservative pundits had their way.Charles Krauthammer: "I guess she reads my column." [ WP , LAT ]
• Bushwas apparently the last to know of her withdrawal. [ WT ]
•Gender thought to be less of a factor this time; the challenge is finding the nextJohn Roberts. [ WP , NYT , LAT , USAT ]
•Source of forged uranium reports is still unknown after two-year FBI investigation. [ NYT ]
•Senators outraged over record profits at big oil companies. [ WP , NYT , LAT ]
•Senate earmarks $8b for avian flu readiness. [ NYT ]
•Debate over prewar intel is at the heart of the leak investigation. [ WSJ ]
•EPA endorses Clear Skies legislation; said to be the most feasible plan. [ WP ]
•House approves first round of military base closings. [ WP ]
•The Senate Armed Services Committee challenges the nominee for chief spokesman at the Pentagon. [ NYT ]
•Coin dealer in Ohio indicted for illegal donations toBush's campaign fund. [ LAT ,]