Daily Briefing: 'Josh Bolten's Josh Bolten'
*Tony Snowwill "likely" replaceScott McClellan. [ CNN , NYT ]
*Bushand Republican lawmakers face blame for high gas prices yet have "few if any" available short-term solutions; president will call today for the strict enforcement of price gouging laws. [ WP , W$J ]
* Attorney for fired CIA officer denies his client leaked classified information to the Washington Post. [ WP ]
*Bushpresses for bipartisan agreement on immigration, though he is not backing a specific proposal.Bush: "I know this is an emotional debate, and I can understand it's emotional, but one thing we cannot lose sight of is that we're talking about human beings, decent human beings." [ WP , NYT , W$J , USAT ]
* Many Republican candidates are plotting how to distance themselves fromBushand the war; approval of the president dips to 32% in CNN poll. [ NYT , CNN ]
* Excessive supplemental provisions to emergency spending bill receive renewed criticisms. [ NYT ]
* Sen.Arlen Spectersecured $200,000 grant for foundation represented by the son of his top aide; senator says he's changed his ways. [ USAT ]
* Republicans seek business-friendly tax credits for research and development. [ W$J ]
*Joel Kaplan, the recently named deputy chief of staff for policy, "has been thrust into a high-profile White House job in which he will play a crucial role in the effort to salvage Mr. Bush's second-term agenda." Strategist: "Kaplan isJosh Bolten's Josh Bolten." [ NYT ]
*Negroponte's attempts at humor "provoke thoughts mostly of nap time." [ WP ]
*Clintonsattend unveiling of their portraits at the National Portrait Gallery. [ WP ]