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NEWS SUMMARY

The incumbent has his first formal fundraiser (Wait until you hear how much he has raised in the last few weeks with checks over the transom without any events … .).

In one way or another today candidates Graham, Dean, Kerry, and Lieberman will address the New Democrat Network (the campaign wing of the New Democrat movement), with Lieberman giving majorish remarks, and Kerry and Dean addressing the confab remotely or on tape.

John Edwards is talking tax policy in Washington, with an attempt to make a Third Wayish argument that is also populist.

And Dick Gephardt is in Calfornia, trying his hand at a major energy policy speech.

But the main event is the presidential kickoff of what will become (again) one of the most extraordinary political stories any of us have ever covered: George W. Bush's capacity to raise hard money.

Or, should we say, "easy money."

If the president stays on schedule (and in the "late is rude" Administration, that seems likely), he will log less than two hours at the Hilton tonight, and suck in at least $4 million.

We bet it ends up being more, what with this crew being highly skilled at playing the expectations game — on cash and everything else.

This morning at his gaggle, Ari Fleischer added July events in Dallas, Houston, and Detroit to the presidential fundraising schedule.

And while the focus tonight and then will be on $2,000 check writers, and those who bundle much more, at some point soon you will see the lists of those housewives and small business people who have given $100, $50, or even less, to support the re-election of their beloved leader and commander in chief.

While an extraordinary percentage of the money Bush-Cheney '04 raises will be from $2,000 checks, the percentage of donors who give less than $100 will some day impress you.

Such giving (including the $2,000 variety) reflects the grassroots support that this man collects from all over the country, the DNC's hot-button class rhetoric notwithstanding.

Now, a point of professional privilige and a plea to our journalistic colleagues:

As of this writing, tonight's event is open to pool coverage only.

Networks, newspapers, and photographers often pool their resources by request of the White House when events are designated.

The practice is common.

Events are usually designated as "pool" when space and/or resources are limited.

And the presidential pools enter and depart with the president.

Some pools are necessary.

We'd bet that most voters, not to mention U.S. citizens, don't know or care about pools.

But they SHOULD care.

The Washington Hilton, which has hosted literally hundreds of presidential events, has plenty of space, even with several thousand donors crowding the room. For obvious reasons, security at that particular hotel tends to be as tight as it can get. A few extra press folks won't change the footprint.

It's easy to dismiss the complaint that tonight's event is pool only as the carping of a querulous press corps not used to not getting its way.

But the free press exists in part to ensure that a panoply of eyes and ears be present when the sausage making machine revs up.

It's all the more important at events where campaign contributions and public policy intersect.

Why should the president of the United States be able to raise $4 million from U.S. citizens with the only press access being subject to control of the president's staff?

Pooling access to very large events this early sets a bad precedent for future presidential fundraisers, many of which will be smaller and more space restricted.

We urge the Bush-Cheney campaign to engage in the kind of openness that they celebrate as their most basic principle of good campaign finance laws and practice, and make this event (and all future fundraisers, space permitting) open to the full media.

Ari Fleischer told the gaggle that he would see what he could do about the event tonight, but he didn't express optimism.

We urge media organizations who cover the White House and the campaign to press for access and openness to protect the public interest.

Before the event, for the second day in row, the president is stressing his commitment to fostering a better economy in America.

Today, it is job training in Northern Virginia, and it's not a moment too soon.

ABC News' Schindelheim pulls out the news from the widely-watched Manpower, Inc. employment survey: "20% of employers surveyed expect to do some hiring, but 60% expect no change in employment. According to Manpower, this is the 'weakest job outlook in 12 years.'"

And stepping ahead of fellow Big Four cabinet members Rumsfeld, Powell, and Ashcroft, Treasury Secretary Snow comes front and center with a widely-watched speech on the economy in Manhattan today.

The New York Times David Sanger behaves like one of those revisionist historians in fetishizing over the president's failure to talk WsMD in his Elizabeth, New Jersey speech yesterday. LINK

Fresh back from whale watching with the family, Sanger nearly deigns to cover politics, and quotes the president in his kicker in a manner that gives us an idea for the Bush-Cheney re-election slogan:

The presidential quote: "We have had one of the shallowest recessions in our nation's history as a result of the tax relief plan."

Our suggested slogan: "Re-elect George Bush: For the Shallowest Recessions You'll Ever See!"

As for the Democrats, besides the wavering Carol Moseley Braun and the apologizing (again) Howard Dean, center court is the Hyatt on the Hill, down whose grand escalator will descend many leading Democrats, including some who want to be president in 2005, and some whose thinking about the job involves planning several cycles down the road.

The AP's Nedra Pickler writes, "Faced with Republican domination of offices across the country, a group of moderate Democrats is calling for the party's factions to reorganize with a set of values that will convince Americans they will provide the best leadership." LINK

"The schedule for the New Democratic Network's annual meeting Tuesday included speeches from presidential candidates Bob Graham and Joe Lieberman, who called for help for people living in poverty."

Pickler reports, "NDN President Simon Rosenberg says the first step Democrats have to take is to acknowledge that the GOP has built a superior political machine, then try to start building their own."

The Los Angeles Times' Ron Brownstein writes that today's New Democrat Network gathering will feature a poll "showing that many of former President Clinton's gains in moderating the party's image have eroded." LINK

Senator Kerry has arranged to telephone the audience; Governor Howard Dean will participate via taped remarks.

NDN's Maria Cardona said that all Democratic presidential candidates were invited.

Senator Kerry travels to Alabama for fundraising events. Congressman Gephardt is in California. Governor Dean is in Iowa. Congressman Kucinich is in Washington.

ABC 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect, the money:

Knight Ridder's Diego Ibarguen outlines President Bush's cross-country fundraising trip. LINK

"Campaign and Republican officials wouldn't predict how much Bush would raise in the 14-day period. However, his campaign said that by November 2004 it expects to bring in $150 million to $170 million, which would dwarf the $101 million he collected for the 2000 race."

The Hartford Courant's David Lightman previews tonight's big fundraiser and estimates the take will be somewhere in the $4 million ballpark. He goes on to repeat the $20 million figure the campaign intends to have raised by the end of June. And then this: LINK

"He's eventually expected to raise between $150 million and $170 million, according to campaign spokesman Dan Ronayne."

Is that Dan Ronayne's first attribution for Bush-Cheney 2004, Inc.? The very same Dan Ronayne who worked the Northeast corridor tirelessly on behalf of the RNC last cycle and was horrifically misidentified as a DNC spokesman by the Concord Monitor? LINK

The New York Daily News' Austin Fenner and Kenneth R. Bazinet get bellicose, as President Bush "launches a preemptive strike on his Democratic rivals today with a $20 million campaign fund-raising blitz." LINK

Fenner and Bazinet anticipate the fundraising record-breaking, but temper the tone with the White House's awareness of its vulnerabilities on the economy and Iraq.

ABC 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:

Ralph Z. Hallow writes up the Gillespie/Racicot announcement in The Washington Times . LINK

The New York Times David "David" Rosenbaum focuses on the lobbying life of new RNC chair Ed Gillespie , leaving out "golf" in the sidebar summary of Ed's hobbies (inexcusable), and stopping on Marc Racicot only long enough to include this bit of bizareness : LINK

"Mr. Gillespie will replace Marc Racicot, the former governor of Montana, who will become chairman of the Bush-Cheney re-election committee, a title with no discernable obligations or responsibilities."

We take Mr. Gillespie at his word that he won't lobby or set up meetings for clients. And if people think an 18-month stint as head of the RNC will eventually (if Mr. Bush is re-elected) get Ed's clients more access to top Administration officials, well, you don't realize how much access they ALREADY have.

Sometimes "more" just isn't possible.

Mike Allen in the Washington Post plays up the DNC-Public Citizen view that lobbyists Gillespie and Racicot shouldn't be the face of the Republican party. LINK

The AP's Jack Sullivan writes up the shuffle. LINK

USA Today 's Richard Benedetto looks at how "problems in the Middle East and an economy that has generally been stuck in neutral are impeding (President Bush's) upbeat message." LINK

The AP's Deb Reichman reports from Elizabeth, New Jersey, where the president on Monday "promoted his program of tax breaks, especially those meant to spur small businesses to invest in new equipment, arguing that investment incentives for Main Street employers can pull the national economy out of the doldrums." LINK

Reichman Notes: "The White House said it was not a political speech, but Bush touched on a large number of domestic and foreign issues that undoubtedly will be heard throughout next year's campaign. He even noted his campaign platform of 2000, saying that America's great strength is not its military muscle but the 'great compassion of the people who live here.'"

The check is in the mail, come July, reports the New York Post 's Brian Blomquist. LINK

The Newark Star-Ledger's Jeff Whelan writes, "President Bush swept through North Jersey on a three-hour tour yesterday, stopping off at a family-owned pasta factory in Orange and telling a group of small-business leaders gathered in Elizabeth that new tax breaks can help them make investments that will boost the sluggish economy." LINK

(The Note thinks that lead just screams for lyrics set to the tune of Gilligan's Island, and welcomes any submissions.)

Dana Milbank's finely tuned ear heard a triumphant return of a Bush 2000 campaign slogan while the president was in New Jersey yesterday.LINK

"Addressing a ballroom full of business executives at an airport hotel here, Bush used his old slogan like this: 'We all have what I call a charge to keep, which is to do everything we can to protect the American homeland.'"

"And like this: 'We were shocked into recognizing that oceans can no longer protect us from harm, and therefore we have the serious charge to keep.'"

"And like this: 'This government will use whatever technologies and skill is necessary to secure America by hunting down those who would harm us, one person at a time. It is a charge we have been given and it is a charge we will keep.'"

"The phrase, Bush and ghost-author Karen Hughes wrote in the 1999 book, is from a hymn that inspired a painting that adorned the wall in Bush's office as governor. The 18th-century hymn, by Charles Wesley, is in turn based on Leviticus 8:35: 'Keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not.'"

"Bush had used the phrase during his first campaign for president as part of his "compassionate conservative" agenda of aid to the poor. Recycling it for the war on terrorism should not be a strain for the versatile verse. In the Bible, the phrase follows a passage about ritual sacrifice."

The AmeriCorps cuts make the New York Times and Washington Post , with Democrats asking the Richardsian "Where is George?" : LINK and LINK

ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary:

The AP's Leigh Strope writes, "Organized labor, the mobilizing and financial force of the Democratic Party, is in disarray over how best to spend the millions of union dollars that no longer can go to the national party." LINK

"The uncertainty of the new campaign finance law, along with infighting and divergent interests among unions, have raised concerns about Democrats' prospects in next year's elections."

"State lawmakers appear poised to pass a law that could bring the state millions of dollars in federal funds and help prevent another debacle like the infamous 2000 Florida presidential election," the Orlando Sentinel reports. The bill would also suspend a primary run-off in 2004. LINK

KERRY

Part the Third of the Boston Globe 's John Kerry series begins on April 28, 1971, at 4:33 p.m., as President Richard Nixon and Charles Colson are discussing Forrest Gu-er, John Kerry, who was, according to Michael Kranish, the White House's most feared protester, with his charisma, leadership abilities, JFK parallels, and medal-winning tours of duty. LINK

Kranish offers a sample of the tantalizing tape transcript of Nixon-Colson conversations, which, apparently, Kerry himself had never before heard (before the Globe, in their intense "This Is Your Life" mode brought him more of his never-known-to-him past) , as President Nixon agrees Kerry is a "'phoney,'" and about whom Colson says "'He's politically ambitious and just looking for an issue'" and, "'He came back [from Vietnam] a hawk and became a dove when he saw the political opportunities.'"

Kranish adds that Colson drafted a secret memo in which he advised ""Destroy the young demagogue before he becomes another Ralph Nader.'"

Kransish's rickety link between the DC image of Kerry then and now notwithstanding, he traces Kerry's thorny return home, and his emergence as an antiwar leader, his flirtation with politics and a three-month 1970 bid for Congress, and his May 1970 marriage to Julia Thorne, his girlfriend of six years.

We get a nice slice of the couple's "glittering" society column-wedding, with an actual excerpt from the New York Times announcement: "'Miss Julia Stimson Thorne, whose ancestors helped to shape the American republic in its early days, and John Forbes Kerry, who wants to help steer it back from what he considers a wayward course, were married this afternoon at the 200-acre Thorne family estate' on Long Island." (Nothing about them meeting at Drip … .)

The Times Noted Miss Thorne's founding father family tree, with Alexander Hamilton and George Washington attending an ancestor's wedding: "'Whether today's wedding becomes a similar footnote to history may depend on the bridegroom, a graduate of Yale and a veteran of the Vietnam war, who is considering running for Congress from his native Massachusetts."

After the honeymoon in Jamaica, Kerry ambitiously stepped up his antiwar activities, eventually becoming the "face of the organization, and a media sensation," raising money, arranging high-profile events, and further annoying the Nixon White House.

Kranish depicts Kerry's April 22, 1971 , appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, wearing his army fatigues and Silver Star and Purple Heart ribbons, to deliver, according to the Globe, "the most famous speech of his life, the speech that defined him and made possible his political career."

Kranish quotes the speech ("'How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam … How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake … This administration has done us the ultimate dishonor. They have attempted to disown us and the sacrifices we made for this country'") describes the fall-out from affronted fellow veterans, and cites Nixon's impressed reaction, calling Kerry "'a real star'" who "'was extremely effective,'" listening to Haldeman's assessment "'A Kennedy-type guy, he looks like a Kennedy, and he, he talks exactly like a Kennedy,'" and agreeing to have his team dig up some dirt.

Kerry's celebrity continued to grow; he was featured in a Morley Safer "60 Minutes" segment called "First Hurrah," (Safer: "'Do you want to be president of the United States?'" Kerry: "'No … That's such a crazy question when there are so many things to be done and I don't know whether I could do them'" ), and then parodied in a Doonesbury strip (One segment of which had him thinking "You're really clicking tonight, you gorgeous preppie.") .

Um, did we mention that whole Forrest Gump thing yet? Well if we didn't make ourselves clear, get ready for John Kerry's "iconic moment" with Beatle John Lennon at a protest in New York City.

Kranish finishes up with a long section on Kerry's debate with White House-selected Navy veteran John O'Neill on "The Dick Cavett Show" and Kerry's struggles with his participation in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War group.

Numero Tre closes with a John Kerry, who, having survived the war, grappled with the White House, debated on television, and become a celebrity, is now ready for a political future.

(Note Note: the Globe provides worthwhile links to the Doonesbury cartoon and the Nixon transcripts.)

And only The Note would join the Globe in revisiting Part II.

Kranish wrote that Kerry met with Commander Horne to ASK for a transfer. Then Horne filled out the paperwork.

"But Kerry thought he had seen and done enough. The rules, he said, allowed a thrice-wounded soldier to return to the United States immediately. So Kerry went to talk to Commodore Charles F. Horne, an administrative official and commander of the coastal squadron in which Kerry served. Horne filled out a document on March 17, 1969, that said Kerry "has been thrice wounded in action while on duty incountry Vietnam. Reassignment is requested … as a personal aide in Boston, New York, or Wash., D.C. area.'" LINK

"Horne, in a telephone interview, said the transfer request was allowed under then-existing naval instructions and was 'above board and proper.' Transfer was not automatic and was subject to approval by the Bureau of Naval Personnel, he said."

"'I never once in any way thought my decision was wrong,' Horne said. 'To get three Purple Hearts and not be killed is awesome.'"

"The bottom line is that Kerry could have remained but he chose to seek an early transfer. He met with Horne, who agreed to forward the request, which Horne said probably ensured final approval. The Navy could not say how many other officers or sailors got a similar early release from combat, but it was unusual for anyone to have three Purple Hearts."

"Kerry's early departure meant that he was leaving behind a crew that had suffered through many bloody battles with him. Worried that crew members would be killed, he arranged for them to receive a safer assignment. When one crew member, Medeiros, tried to stay, Kerry 'came and talked to me and said, 'I really would like you to go. … I'd like to know you are safe, or safer.'"

Kerry spokesman Robert Gibbs says that commanders sent Kerry a letter informing him of the transfer. Kranish implies that Horne said that Kerry initiated the discussion about the transfer under the 1300.39 regulation.

Gibbs said Kerry's campaign disputes the idea that Kerry met with Horne prior to receiving a letter about the transfer.

"Kerry was informed did not request [re-assignment and] learned per the letter," Gibbs said.

In other words, the Kerry campaign contends Kerry's transfer was simply a consequence of a naval regulation being enforced. Someone noticed that Kerry had been wounded thrice — he had just been awarded another Purple Heart — and set in motion the paperwork to follow the Navy guideline.

The regulation, a copy of which the Kerry campaign provided to ABC News, does say that prospective transferees can request a waiver. Both Kranish and the Kerry campaign agree that Kerry did not ask for a waiver.

So the question boils down to whether Kerry met with Commander Horne before Horne drew up the transfer paperwork to remind him of the regulation or whether he sped its implementation.

And whether the regulation was binding enough that unless Kerry requested NOT to be transferred, he would have eventually been transferred, regardless of whether he asked about it.

But even if he did, the regulation appears clear: those wounded "three times, regardless of the nature of the wound or treatment required … will not be ordered to serve in Vietnam and contiguous waters or to duty with ships or units which have been alerted for movement to that area … ."

So there.

Slate's Will Saletan found Kerry light and fluffy in Iowa. LINK

The Boston Globe 's Rick Klein writes that "10 members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation" including Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, took the unusual step of asking state leaders to restore recent cuts to Medicaid. LINK

EDWARDS

The Raleigh News & Observer's John Wagner curtain raises Senator Edwards tax speech set to be delivered at Georgetown University this afternoon. LINK

"Senator John Edwards today will unveil a new package of tax cuts to benefit the middle-class — paid for by rolling back some of President Bush's tax cuts for the nation's wealthiest taxpayers."

"The move is intended to highlight what the North Carolina Democrat claims is "a fundamental difference" between his values and those of the president he wants to replace."

"'I believe America should value work. He only values wealth,' Edwards says in excerpts of his prepared remarks made available to The News & Observer. 'He wants the people who have the most to get more. I want to make sure everybody has the chance to do well.'"

Some of the highlights:

- $5,000 tax credit to help homebuyers with their first down payment

- Cut in taxes on capital gains and dividends for middle income families

- Match 401(k) payments for workers earning less than $50,000 per year.

Mr. Wagner reports Senator Edwards intends on paying for his plan by raising the capital gains tax from 15% to 25% for those people earning more than $400,000 per year.

The AP's Ron Fournier also got his hands on the advanced text of Senator Edwards tax policy speech for Tuesday. LINK

Edwards "promises to slash middle-class taxes by $160 billion over 10 years, his unique counterpunch to President Bush's re-election strategy of casting Democrats as tax-and-spend liberals."

DEAN

USA Today 's Jill Lawrence looks at "the aggressive tactics" Howard Dean is using to "boost his profile and put pressure on rivals." LINK

Lawrence Notes that "[his new] ad is called 'Straight Talk,' evoking the theme of Arizona Republican Senator John McCain's presidential campaign in 2000."

Lawrence describes the ad as "a gentler version of (Dean's) stump speech in which he rails at contenders in Congress who supported the war in Iraq and a Bush bill on schools that some Democrats say has too little money and too many penalties for not meeting performance standards."

Lawrence also elicits a paid media timeline from the campaign of Senator John Edwards.

"Spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri says Edwards will wait at least until August, although he is at only 4% support in Iowa."

"'Dean's made the calculation that he needs to make a move now,' she says. 'We have a longer-term game plan. We'll wait until the fall, when we think more voters are paying attention.'"

Lawrence also draws a connection between Dean's Iowa advertising and his New Hampshire ambitions.

"Steffen Schmidt, an Iowa politics expert at Iowa State University in Ames, calls Dean's move an investment not just in Iowa but in New Hampshire, which holds the season's first primary Jan. 27. 'He needs to come in first or second in Iowa to give him a giant bump in New Hampshire,' Schmidt says."

Lawrence also gets Schmidt to make the obligatory "kissing pigs" reference.

"Though ground troops and a good organization are the main way to win caucuses, Schmidt says, Dean's TV campaign may have 'a psychological impact' on Iowa Democrats. 'It makes them think he's a serious candidate. It's another level beyond kissing pigs and going to VFW posts.'"

It's worth taking a look at a hard copy of "the nation's newspaper" if only to see a still frame of Governor Howard Dean (no mention of his status as a "former" governor of Vermont) in shirtsleeves speaking in front of a tractor with his website address emblazoned across the screen.

From the start, Howard Dean's Internet campaign has been underestimated by the establishment media for a few reasons.

One, 2000 campaign boasts about hyperspace organizing, fundraising, and support-building often proved to be hype.

Two, it's totally new; it defies the conventional calculus of 20th century politics; it's organic and dynamic.

But it doesn't exist in a vacuum.

The American Prospect's Garance Franke-Ruta has a somewhat sobering Note for those who've given the Dean campaign the benefit of our doubt.

"According to Myles Weissleder, vice president for communications of Meetup, the highest concentration of the 32,353 people registered, as of early June, to Meetup for Dean in the United States resides right here inside the Beltway. There were more than 1,429 signed up in DC for Dean shortly after the last Meetup, making Washington's Meetup for Dean registration second in size only to the chapter found in New York City — a place that is about 10 times the size of Washington and home to more than 2,000 online Dean supporters. LINK

"Meanwhile, the early primary and caucus states, where Internet organizing might be expected to be of greater importance, had very low levels of Meetup registration. As of the last Meetup, Iowa had only 363 registered to Meetup for Dean, New Hampshire had 552 and South Carolina had 206, says Weissleder."

"'Those are the three states we're in the most,' exclaimed Trippi when I rattled off the paltry numbers. 'We've had this experience for quite a while. As you start traveling, it's pretty difficult to get people to come to a meeting without Howard Dean at it when they can come to several of them per month with Howard Dean at them. He can be there seven days a month in Iowa and four days in New Hampshire, so people ask, 'Why am I going to go to a meeting the first Wednesday of each month when I know Sunday he's going to the picnic I'm going to?'"

"Though that may well be the case, it somewhat undermines Trippi's earlier assessment in The New Republic that the Meetup organization, which was founded a year ago, would likely help Dean in the Iowa caucuses. "What do you do in a caucus? You go to a meeting," Trippi told TNR's Ryan Lizza."

"Might it be that residents of the early primary and caucus states are simply not as Internet savvy as those in New York and Washington? Certainly Senator John Edwards (D-N.C.), who made a point of promising to expand broadband Internet access as part of his rural agenda during a campaign stop in Nevada, Iowa, seems to think so. But according to Jane Smith Patterson, executive director of the Rural Internet Access Authority in North Carolina, that's simply not the case — thanks in part to groups like hers."

"For at least the second time in five days," PoliticsNH.com's James Pindell reports, "former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean implied Senator Bob Graham, his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, was not a major candidate." LINK

"When asked at events in Manchester last Thursday and in Bedford Monday how he would fill vacancies on the Supreme Court, Dean began his answers by saying he was the only major candidate who, as a governor, had ever appointed a judge. Graham, after all, was the governor of Florida before becoming a Senator and during his tenure as governor he also appointed judges into the state court system there."

"When Dean was asked Monday if he had misspoke or intentionally meant to imply Graham was not a major candidate, Dean was direct."

'''Bob Graham is a wonderful, decent human being, but at this time he's in single digits in all the states you can't be in single digits. I have enormous respect for Bob Graham, but at this point he's not one of the top-tier candidates. I think that's widely recognized,' Dean said after addressing the 'Politics and Eggs' luncheon."

"He later added about Graham: 'That's not to say he couldn't get to be one.'''

"When told about Dean's comments, Graham spokesman Jamal Simmons said he wasn't sure why Dean wanted to pick fights with other Democrats."

"'I don't know why Dr. Dean continues to pick fights with other Democrats, but he underestimates the former governor of the fourth largest state at his own peril,' Simmons said. 'With all due respect, Bob Graham created twice as many jobs as there are people in the state of Vermont.'"

"Later in the day, the Associated Press reported Dean called their organization to apologize for the remark."

The Manchester Union Leader's DiStaso reports: "The federal government should recognize gay and lesbian civil unions by providing domestic partners with the same rights and responsibilities afforded married heterosexual couples, Democratic Presidential hopeful Howard Dean said yesterday." LINK

"In 2000, then-Vermont Gov. Dean signed what is still the nation's only civil unions law. He predicted yesterday other states will soon follow and said he'd carry his same support for gay rights to the Oval Office."

"'A lot of people say to me, 'How are you going to get elected President of the United States if you are in favor of gay rights?' ' Dean told a 'Politics and Eggs' forum. "'Well, I think most Americans believe everybody ought to have equal rights under the law.'"

"Dean said the federal government does not have a right to force states to recognize gay marriages or civil unions. He said he has no intention of proposing such a federal law. But he said he would 'ask the Congress to federally recognize civil unions or other arrangements that the states approve of.'"

LIEBERMAN

After David Lightman races through the POTUS, FLOTUS, and VPOTUS fundraising schedules in today's Caucus Column, he tells his readers how Senator Lieberman intends on closing out the quarter. LINK

"Then there's the parallel financial universe, the one where Joe Lieberman and his eight Democratic rivals live." "The Connecticut senator plans to wrap up a frenzied must-produce quarter of fund-raising June 29 with what he calls 'Super Sunday.'" "He'll dispatch volunteers to Glastonbury, Stamford and New Haven to hit the phones in 2½-hour shifts, one in the morning and one in the evening. Callers, who will be given food, bumper stickers and door prizes, will be asking residents to contribute to their senator's presidential campaign." "Lieberman will personally anchor the blitz, making stops at all three sites and, in between, appearing at fund-raisers in Orange, Westport and Stamford."

The Lieberman campaign also plans on hosting 10 "debate parties" throughout Connecticut on June 22nd for supporters to gather and watch the Senator's performance at Rev. Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition presidential forum.

Tovah Ravitz-Meehan, bundler??

Yes, it's true; as the end of the second quarter approaches, many measures are being taken to ensure that every potential supporter is solicited for every last (up to $2,000) cent.

Ravitz-Meehan, Lieberman's deputy communications director, recently sent an e-mail to compadres asking their help:

"As most of you probably know, I've been working for Joe Lieberman on his presidential campaign the past three months. I'm learning a lot and am really proud to be a part what we are doing. I'm writing to ask for your help. You know I don't normally do this, but I feel strongly that Joe Lieberman should be our next President. Though money isn't everything in a presidential campaign, it is a key ingredient in getting organized and spreading our message."

"As I've caught up with friends in the last few months, many have asked how they can be helpful," Ravitz-Meehan told ABC News.

In fairness to Ms. Ravitz-Meehan, we're almost certain she's not alone in sending e-mails like this; and her devotion to her candidate is quite clear.

MOSELEY BRAUN

The AP's Nedra Pickler reports that Ambassador Braun "is consolidating her presidential campaign in her home town of Chicago as she struggles to raise money, but her spokesman says she is committed to staying in the Democratic primary race." LINK

Pickler Notes: "Braun's spokeswoman, Allison McLaurin, (sic) left the campaign on Sunday to work for a startup magazine in the Washington suburbs. Braun spokesman Kevin Lampe, who is volunteering his time, said the two or three staffers closest to Braun will be concentrating on fund raising from a Chicago office until she builds a professional staff for the rest of the campaign."

"Asked if Braun was getting out of the race, Lampe said, 'No, with a capital N.'"

The Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet reports, "Moseley Braun dropped an issues consultant who had been based in Boston but retains her campaign finance lawyers, who are in Washington. Moseley Braun's campaign headquarters, at the Ada S. McKinley Community Center at 2907 S. Wabash, is not yet fully up and running." LINK

GEPHARDT

The Denver Post's Arthur Kane reports that Gephardt "swept through Denver for a quick fundraiser Monday and said Colorado is a state he can win." LINK

The New York Post 's Cindy Adams objects to Dick Gephardt's strawberry blond eyebrows. LINK

GRAHAM

The Associated Press reports that former Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Anderson will run Graham's campaign in the Sunshine State. LINK

Senator Graham's campaign castigates Gregg Easterbrooke's contention that their candidate inflates environmental harm caused by President Bush. LINK

Senator Graham will attend a $500 (at least) a head fundraiser tomorrow night at the Watergate.

More than 40 names — including Senator and Mrs. Bill Nelson of Florida — are listed as hosts.

"Presidential hopeful Senator Bob Graham sampled cheese, local root beer and New Hampshire politics while talking to customers at Calef's Country Store on Saturday," Foster's Daily Democrat reports. "Store owners Cleve and Lindy Horton talked with Graham about the 134-year-old store and after introductions, the couple brought Graham to the counter to sample their rat trap cheese." LINK

KUCINICH PoliticsNH.com's Pindell reports on the Kucinich New Hampshire team of Elkins, Smith Cowan, Romer, Budington, and Snyder., LINK

We're pretty sure we know the answer, but why are all these staffers given the title of "coordinator," rather than, say, "director" or "manager" or "secretary?" The Kucinich campaign is actively soliciting votes for the Moveon.org primary. They call it the "first primary."

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Sabrina Eaton noticed a spike in paid speaking appearances in Kucinich's financial disclosure form. LINK

"Kucinich, who officially joined the Democratic presidential race in February, went on 14 trips in 2002 compared with six in 2001."

"Last year, Kucinich traveled to Sweden at the expense of Parliamentarians for Global Action. The Praxis Peace Institute paid for him to visit Croatia. Americans for Democratic Action paid for Kucinich to visit Los Angeles, and the United Steel workers of America and the National Nutritional Foods Association paid for separate trips to Las Vegas. "

"Kucinich spokesman Doug Gordon said his boss traveled more last year because he was deluged with speaking requests after his popular February 2002 anti-war "Prayer for America" speech in Los Angeles. Gordon said that when Kucinich began to consider running for president and his trips became more political, his campaign commit tee began to foot the travel bills. The last trip listed on Kucinich's report was in August."

BIDEN

Joe Rogalsky of the Harrington Journal in Delaware pits Senator Joe Biden against Dr. Larry Sabato in a 12-round yes-I-can-no-you-can't analysis of a potential candidacy. LINK

"Senator Biden likes to note that former President Clinton did not kick off his campaign until 13 months be-fore the 1992 general election."

"Dr. Sabato said the opportunity for Senator Biden to declare his candidacy and have a chance to be successful has passed."

The Baltimore Sun's Paul West has a piece offering why it would be difficult for Senator Biden to get in now, let alone later. LINK

"Party officials say it isn't too late for another candidate to join the Democratic field. But with the first delegate test only seven months away, anyone starting now would find it extremely difficult to compete against rivals who have raised millions of dollars and recruited experienced workers for their campaign organizations." "'For someone like a Joe Biden, building an organization and raising money becomes difficult at this point,' said Kathleen Sullivan, the state Democratic chairwoman in New Hampshire. She added that Biden could have trouble distinguishing himself from a group of candidates that is Washington-heavy with four senators and two congressmen."

Big Casino budget politics, Medicare:

The New York Times Toner and Pear stay all over Medicare and Senate: LINK

Helen Dewar of the Washington Post was clearly peaking over their shoulders in the press gallery. LINK

The AP's Laura Meckler reports, "Debate over improving Medicare kicked off with a tone of bipartisanship in the Senate, but the mood was decidedly less cooperative in the House." LINK

The Washington Times ' Donald Lambro has "top conservative think tank officials" criticizing the White House for appearing "too hasty to acquiesce to the Senate bill's Medicare reforms." LINK

"Conservative Medicare reformers yesterday denounced the Senate's prescription-drug bill as a bureaucratic monstrosity that would lead to soaring entitlement costs for taxpayers and federal price controls for pharmaceutical companies."

"In the past two years, conservative policy advocates have been among the administration's biggest supporters in fights over tax cuts, energy development, defense spending and other domestic issues. But now for the first time, there appears to be a sharp break over health care reform between the White House and its allies, who complain that Mr. Bush is too eager to expand the size of government."

Big Casino budget politics, taxes:

After the long drawn out debate last month over the plusses and minuses of the president's tax cut on dividends, The Washington Post 's Juliet Eilperin cuts to the chase and looks at how the tax cut will affect members of Congress. LINK

"While many lawmakers reported little or no dividend income in 2002, others reported dividends ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. If they conduct similar transactions this year, they will enjoy substantial tax savings under the measure that President Bush initiated and the GOP-led Congress enacted. Retroactive to Jan. 1, the top tax rate for dividends, now 38.6 percent, will drop to 15 percent."

"Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who has expressed interest in running for governor of California — and whose money has helped finance the effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis (D) — reported dividends last year of $100,000 to $1 million from his Pioneer High Yield Mutual Fund account, and a similar amount from his Vanguard 500 Index Fund. That same performance this year would net federal tax savings of $47,200 to $472,000."

California recall:

"A recall campaign against Gov. Gray Davis backed by $800,000 from a conservative congressman seems poised to reach the ballot, and that possibility already has politicians scrambling," reports the AP's Erica Werner. LINK

"With Rep. Darrell Issa's money funding an army of paid signature gatherers, supporters claim to have 700,000 of the 900,000 signatures they must obtain by Sept. 2 to put the measure on the ballot. The most likely date for such an election would be March 2004. If supporters can gather the signatures by mid-July, however, they would have a shot at getting a special election scheduled in the fall."

The Clintons of Chappaqua:

Hillary Clinton appeared on Letterman last night (as Dave said in the opening monologue, "I was not aware of this, but apparently, she's written a book"), emerging in a sleek taupe pantsuit to the tunes of "Tell it Like it Is" and sitting, Julia Roberts-like, for three segments.

Letterman asked after her senatorial duties ("not bad," "very hard work", she loves representing New York, it's a privilege), and her Republican colleagues ("not easy" to interact with former foes, but some are "pretty good guys").

On the 2004 contenders, Clinton asserted "we have a very good chance of winning in '04," assured the host "You know, I like 'em all," to which Letterman retorted "Even Dennis Kucinich?" and addressed the notion of Bush vulnerability.

Clinton sucked up a bit to Top-Ten announcer Roger Clemens and to Letterman himself ("You are so smart!"), had harsh words for the Bush tax plan ("it's a shell game"), and laughter for a photo of shaggy 70s-era Bill Clinton, whom Letterman dubbed "Grizzley Adams."

After the break, Letterman asked his question about her presidential plans, having earlier mused to Paul "What's the harm in saying ' yes ' now, as opposed to ' yes ' later?", only to have the Senator remark "actually, I want to go on the road with Paul," then reiterate "I've said I had no intention to run."

As for the appeal of the presidency itself: "Obviously, I saw it, uh for eight years … it is a really hard job … I mean, you have to be a little bit, uh, focused … we put the entire burden on to one person … it's an awesome and overwhelming responsibility."

She's not running in '04, but put forth her senatorial record rather than the history of her husband's administration in an oblique response to the notion of 2008.

Letterman uttered the names Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky (although without actually looking his guest in the eye), and got the "personal and private" reply, with a dash of unspecified right-wing conspiracy, then asked about the past possibility of divorce.

Response: " It had to cross my mind … you have to make the decisions that are right for you."

On his own frequent on-air mocking: "Does it bother you now … that people like myself continue to make jokes about your husband?"

Response: "Well, you know, part of the reason I came on this show was that I didn't know you did." (Laughter all around . )

Letterman came back from yet another break to discuss the chilly Martha's Vineyard vacation, Walter Cronkite, Buddy the Dog, Dorothy Rodham, the sales of "Living History," and Letterman's own mock-up "Look, I Have a Book Too!"

All ended cheerily, with a handshake but no kiss, and we wish good heart health to the host, who had emergency quintuple bypass surgery after Hillary Clinton's last visit.

The New York Post 's Keith Kelly compares and tallies up the various Clinton advances, with an in-the-black Simon & Schuster, an "A-list" book party at the Four Seasons, and party guest Bill Clinton remarking on his own tome "'I'm working like crazy on it and I'm on schedule … they might want to wait to give it a little more time after Hillary's book.'" LINK

On schedule, indeed. There doesn't seem to have been much commentary on the fact that GOP dreams of the book coming out before the 2004 election seem to have been shattered by the decision (reported in dribs and drabs for several weeks) to hold the book until early 2005, even if, somehow, the Big Guy finishes it in time to publish it before then.

The Associated Press has a piece about the Four Seasons party, complete with a sampling of guests, food, and comments from the author's husband: "'People keep asking to see my hands.'" LINK

Doug Struck covers a lucrative Bill Clinton trip to Japan as if he were Kranish writing about Al Gore at the Buddhist temple : LINK

Dick Morris puts in his own Clinton/Times two cents with a bizzarro summary of part of his own new book, with which several Timesmen, we are confident, will take issue. LINK

Campaign finance decision:

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the government's right to prevent non-profit corporations from directly contributing to election campaigns or political parties.

In the majority opinion authored by Justice Souter, the Court held that while non-profits enjoy special dispensation under the law, they are not insulated from the corrupting influences that might result from writing checks directly to political candidates.

"Since 1907, federal law has barred corporations from contributing directly to candidates for federal office. We hold that applying the prohibition to non-profit advocacy groups is consistent with the First Amendment," the court held today."

Campaign finance reform advocates feared that single issue non-profits, which are exempt from most disclosure laws, could amass huge war chests without public scrutiny and provide a major, behind-the-scenes source of funding for their preferred candidates.

Corporations--be they for profit or non-profit--can still set up political action committees to participate in federal elections. But the PACs require donors to disclose their names and occupations.

Justice Greenhouse Notes: "The decision overturned a ruling by the federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., holding that the ban on direct contributions contained in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 was unconstitutional as applied to a nonprofit anti-abortion group, North Carolina Right to Life Inc. While organized as a corporation, it has no shareholders and exists for the purposes of counseling pregnant women on alternatives to abortion and advocating for its agenda. It brought a First Amendment challenge to the contribution ban, based largely on a 1986 Supreme Court decision holding that organizations of this type could not be restricted in campaign expenditures." LINK

"In the decision today, Federal Election Commission v. Beaumont, No. 02-403, the majority made it clear that it had no interest in revisiting the constitutional distinction between contributions and expenditures that the court established in 1976 in the Buckley v. Valeo decision. That landmark ruling gave expenditures the highest possible First Amendment protection, striking down spending limits while upholding limits on contributions."

Still, some campaign finance lawyers who read the opinion said it has no bearing on what they consider the key issues of the BCRA case, particularly the new electioneering communication provision.

" … . Floyd Abrams, one of the lead lawyers challenging the constitutionality of McCain-Feingold, countered that supporters of McCain-Feingold are conducting a 'premature celebration.' Abrams said, 'There is a lot more agony that everyone, including the Supreme Court, has to go through. The ruling today does not change the dynamics of that decision-making process.'" LINK

John DiStaso wrote about it. LINK

SILVERDOCS:

Page Six does SILVERDOCS

We hear that … A veritable who's who of Washington cool will be gathered inside the newly-renovated Silver Theater for special screenings of "Only in America" and "We Wuz Robbed"

Sightings … A frazzled but adorable Jackie Calmes explaining to crusty editor John Harwood that he should get off his Lou Grant kick and let her hand in her Washington Wire column on Wednesday night, because Thursday, she'll be drinking martinis.

Just asking … which big-as-all-Texas Democrat-turned-Bushman is planning to appear this Thursday night at SILVERDOCS with a local Silver Spring, MD boy who is known for his passions for physical fitness and designer eyewear?

It turns out that some of our Googling monkeys actually used to work at the New York Post 's Page Six, although, strangely, instead of having them help prepare the column, Richard Johnson and company had them fetch coffee and cigarettes.

Anyway, the monkeys say that you basically wouldn't believe how many hackneyed and unimaginative press releases the Page gets a day, including many in the following Heritage/Brookings style:

What: SILVERDOCS documentary film festival in featuring "Only in America" (about Joe Lieberman's historic run for the White House) and Spike Lee's "We Wuz Robbed."

Where: At the amazing new American Film Institute Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Who: The films will be followed by a panel discussion about politics 2000 and 2004, with Carter Eskew, Mark McKinnon, Jackie Calmes, and Mark Halperin, and then a martini party featuring the cult classic "Elvis and Us."

When: This Thursday night at 7:15 pm

Cost: $12.50.

Tickets for Thursday night and the rest of the festival are available now here. LINK

Politics:

Rich Oppel's excellent round-up of the House and White House financial disclosure forms runs through a lot of material, but nothing more interesting than the fact that Rahm Emanuel made more money last year than Bruce Reed, Gene Sperling, and Michael Waldman combined. : LINK

The New York Times ' Elissa Gootman has a lovely Metro story on how Senator D'Amato was lavished with praise and comedy by the Empire State's two Democratic Senators, with whom he has a checkered past. LINK

The Washington Post 's Lloyd Grove writes that Torie Clarke and Ari Fleischer are two people who won't be replacing Hilary Rosen , in what is widely considered Washingtons fifth best job. LINK

At a fundraiser for Senator Arlen Specter Monday, "About 300 luncheon guests contributed at least $500 each for a light meal and a chance to hear [Vice President] Cheney speak, and some paid $2,000 to also pose for a photograph with the vice president. Specter's aides said the event was expected to add between $150,000 and $200,000 to his $8 million war chest," reports the AP's Peter Jackson. LINK

The State's Lee Bandy reports that 100-year-old former Senator Strom Thurmond has finally become a grandfather for the first time. LINK

The AP's Ted Bridis writes, "Rep. Mary Bono, who is forming a new congressional caucus on music piracy and copyrights, sought Monday to defuse speculation over whether she wants to run the music industry's lobbying organization in Washington, saying she isn't actively seeking the job." LINK

In a possible attempt to avoid any BCRA stickiness, John Thune has shut down his 527 soft money operation so that he can hit the fundraising trail for President Bush.LINK

Homeland Security officials who helped Texas lawmakers track a plane full of absconded legislators thought the men were missing and therefore did nothing wrong, a report by the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general concluded.

The New York Times ' Shenon writes that the DHS I.G. "found that the department's Air and Marine Interdiction Coordination Center in Riverside, Calif., became involved on May 12 in a hunt for a private plane believed to be carrying the lawmakers. But the report said there was 'every indication' that the department employee who began the search believed that he was looking for a plane that was missing or had crashed, not because he was motivated by any political concern." LINK

"The California-based center's search lasted about 40 minutes on May 12 and came at the request of Texas police, who were pursuing the plane under instructions from the state's Republican leadership. The Republicans wanted to arrest Democratic state House members who had fled to Oklahoma in order to block a House quorum that would have allowed Republicans to enact a congressional redistricting plan benefiting the GOP," the Washington Post Notes. LINK

Obviously, this report does not say whether Texas police and/or Republicans did something wrong or improper. Other, Texas-based investigations continue.

Senator Elizabeth Dole, after receiving an extension, has filed her financial disclosure forms and Roll Call 's Nicole Duran reports that being an ex president is far more lucrative on the lecture circuit than being an ex presidential candidate.

"In addition to revealing stocks and investments worth anywhere from $755,000 to $2.3 million, the Senator also reported that husband and former GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole made more than $1 million on the speaking circuit."

"On average, he raked in about $40,000 per talk, delivered mainly to business leaders and a few universities."

"But Dole's speaking engagement earnings pale in comparison to those of another Senatorial spouse: the one who defeated him in the 1996 presidential campaign."

"Bill Clinton's words of wisdom earned him almost $10 million, according to disclosure forms filed by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.)."

National security politics:

Rand Beers is Paul Krugman 's kind of guy. LINK

Judicial confirmation battles:

The DNC has another one of those flashy Flash cartoons to follow up on their, uh, classic from last year that showed a Bush-like figure appearing to push an old woman down a flight of stairs. This time, they've created a cartoon "to highlight a scenario that is anything but funny — the nomination of extreme right-wing judges to the Supreme Court by President Bush. The animation likens President Bush to 'Doctor Frankenstein,' creating the ultimate right-wing Supreme Court nominee," according to a DNC release. You can watch it here: LINK

Bush Administration strategy/personality:

David Sanger makes either an unknowing reference, or Note-like insider reference to Ari Swiller in his New York Times Kennebunkport Notebook: LINK

Otherwise, Sanger just makes chatty, jokey references to such fun matters as strikes against Hamas, Qaeda operatives, and Middle East summit meetings.

Ah, the consistent tone of the presidential vacation Notebook!!

Dave Moniz's Victoria Clarke farewell story in USA Today includes a blind quote from "an official who knows her" saying that "it would not surprise him if Clarke resurfaced in the Bush administration, but he did not expect that to happen in the near future." LINK

The AP's Larry Margasak finds that the president's inner circle advisers "are better off than most Americans but — with one exception — do not have great wealth." LINK

"The exception: top economic adviser Stephen Friedman, who was co-chairman of the Goldman Sachs investment firm."

Margasak Notes: "National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice received an extension to file her report."