Daily Briefing: Sodomy for Soldiers
• Chafeerescinds support ofBolton, making confirmation uncertain and putting White House on damage control.McClellan: "It's an ugly side of Washington D.C." [ WP , NYT , WSJ , LAT , WT ]
•New allegation of harassment: Bolton"once threw a file folder and a tape dispenser at an American businesswoman in Moscow, disparaged her weight and alleged she was gay in an attempt to get her to withdraw criticism of a foreign-aid project." [ USAT ]
•Republicans offer to investigateDeLay; Democrats rebuff.Mollohan: "If we're going to have an ethics committee, we have to do it right." [ WP , USAT , WSJ , LAT , WT ]
•Public wants parties, lawmakers to focus on domestic economy. Analyst: "People feel vulnerable and besieged and they don't hear anybody talking about it." [ WP ]
• Bushspeaks of energy independence and alternative fuels: "With oil at more than $50 a barrel, by the way, energy companies do not need taxpayers'-funded incentives to explore for oil and gas."Kerry, meanwhile, says the president lacks solutions. [ WP , USAT , LAT , WT ]
•As markets sink, private accounts look less attractive. [ NYT ]
• Grassleyon Social Security: "If my partisan approach doesn't come around to a bipartisan coalition, nothing's going to happen." [ USAT ]
•Filibuster maneuver is all aboutFrist's presidential ambitions.Wittmann: "Fristis hearing footsteps, and they are the footsteps ofBrownback, SantorumandAllen." [ LAT ]
• Riceattempts to "gently pressPutinon democracy and the rule of law without losing Russia's cooperation on nuclear proliferation, counterterrorism and other global issues." [ WP , NYT ]
•NEA files suits in three states against No Child Left Behind: "The rebellion is growing." [ WP , NYT , USAT ]
•Census predicts seniors will outnumber kids in 10 states by 2030. [ USAT ]
•Pentagon reconsiders ban on sodomy. [ NYT ]
• DeLayFoundation for Kids has close corporate ties. [ NYT ]