Daily Briefing: The Car Metaphor

* Two top judges questioned the legality of warrentless eavesdropping twice in the past four years. [ WP ]

* White House agrees to provide additional information to House Intel Committee about NSA eavesdropping. [ WP , NYT ]

*Bushcondemns violent reaction to cartoons that mocked Islam asCondoleezza Ricesays Iran and Syria "have gone out of their way to inflame sentiments and have used this for their own purposes."Bush: "We reject violence as a way to express discontent with what may be printed in a free press." [ WP ]

* Years of "significant cuts" will be necessary to meet deficit goals. [ WP ]

* Sen.Arlen Specter(R-Penn.) proposes that a special court provide oversight of eavesdropping. [ USAT ]

*Bush, aiming to "bring fiscal sanity" to Washington, signs bill limiting growth of Medicare and Medicaid.Bush: "People call it a cut in Medicare. That's not a cut. It's slowing down the rate of growth. It's the difference between slowing your car down to go the speed limit, or putting your car in reverse." [ WP , NYT , USAT ]

* Democrats strive for "understandable" agenda with their own "Contract for America."Paul Begala: "If it were up to me, I'd be tougher and meaner. But you're trying to unite a diverse party." [ USAT ]

* Officials are force-feeding Gitmo detainees to prevent suicidal starving. [ NYT ]

* Lawmakers increasingly clash on specifics of lobbying reform. [ NYT ]

* Russell Senate Office Building evacuated briefly after false detection of nerve agent. [ WP ]

* Budding friendship betweenBush-41andClinton-42alters dynamics forBush-43and maybeClinton-44. [ NYT ]

* Sens.John McCain(R-Ariz.) andBarack Obama(D-Ill.) engage in friendly fire on their first day back.McCain: "I'm particularly pleased to be sharing this panel with my pen pal." [ LAT ]

* Wikipedia blocks edit-ability from some Capitol Hill computers following misuse; investigation traces back to offices of Sens.Norm Coleman(R-Minn.),Dianne Feinstein(D-Calif.),Joseph Biden(D-Del.),Conrad Burns(R-Mont.), andTom Harkin(D-Iowa). [ WP ]

* Republican lawmakers use grass roots tactics to battleBushon immigration. [ WP ]

* Rep.Tom DeLay(R-Texas) rejoins Appropriations Committee. [ NYT ]