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A Washington version of that joke would go: there are only 1,850 people in the world who understand how Congress works, and unfortunately, they all agree, and they all live in Washington.

There are so many strange, tribal rituals; so many arcane rules; so much patent irrationality; so many fiefdoms — it's really not like anything else, and the reporters who write about what goes on atop The Hill are constantly trying to figure out how to convey to their lay audience what is actually happening without lapsing into the kind of insider-ese that passes for success in The Note.

So on this Friday when Iraq is still rightfully filling the broadcast and print newshole, and Democratic presidential candidates are filing into and out of key early states, much of the political news in America will be made in the co-equal branch of government that is most overtly like a three-ring circus, even when things are working well.

Even as the House of Representatives continues to churn out one legislative victory after another, largely with the impressive discipline of the majority, Congress works today to finish both a budget blueprint and the military supplemental bill.

Events are swirling too fast and the possible outcomes are too varied for us to spell them out here, but suffice to say, some deals still need to be cut. See "The politics of war" and "Big Casino budget politics" below for the best sense of where things stand.

Also on Capitol Hill, the battle to define how America's two major political parties will be viewed in the war's aftermath by real people is taking place right before our eyes.

Readers of the New York Times continue to benefit from the new-to-the-beat-and-thus-clear-eyed takes of Sheryl Gay Stolberg, who writes today about how "beyond the warm words about loyalty, bravery and sacrifice, Democrats and Republicans (on Capitol Hill) spent the day trying to capitalize on the fall of Baghdad, each party in its own way. While the military maneuvered in Iraq, the political maneuvering in Washington proceeded apace … " LINK

"Despite the bipartisan show, some Republicans complained privately that the House Democratic leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi, a passionate opponent of the war, was among the featured speakers (at a bipartisan, bicameral rally yesterday). One top Republican aide dug up Ms. Pelosi's quotes in opposition to the war and shared them with reporters."

"Ms. Pelosi later defended her views, saying: 'My objection to the war was and still is that I do not think it was the best way to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction at the time that we went in. So I'm rejoicing with every other person in America that many of our men and women in the armed services are not in harm's way to the extent that is possible. But it's not over yet.'"

Ms. Pelosi's young Leadership can be judged by many indices, but if you listen to the sense sharper Democrats and analysts have of how she is doing positioning the party to be competitive on national security matters, there would seem to at least be room for improvement.

Per a Pelosi quote printed in the Washington Times , bannered on Drudge, and, owing to all sorts of things that Bernie Goldberg could brief you about, featured almost nowhere else: "'I have absolutely no regret about my vote on this war,' she told reporters at her weekly briefing yesterday, saying the same questions still remain: 'The cost in human lives. The cost to our budget, probably $100 billion. We could have probably brought down that statue for a lot less. The cost to our economy. But the most important question at this time, now that we're toward the end of it, is what is the cost to the war on terrorism?'" LINK

If you want to understand a slice of Capitol Hill, see if you can get Congressman Hoyer to tell you what he thinks of that quote.

The politics of war

The defense supplemental continues to creak and careen its way through Congress, with all those unrelated items included in the Senate's version, and the lobbyists who love/hate them, still holding things up, along with White House concerns about flexibility (read: "executive branch hegemony"), and the appearance of a new dramatis personae (a certain e-mail-happy governor of Florida) entering the narrative. LINK

A big part of the delay is the view of the White House and House Republicans that the special interest provisions added by Senator Stevens and others are unacceptable.

Somewhere along the lines in the '80s and '90s, the establishment press became VERY anti-pork, and portions of the political media can't get enough of inter-cameral tensions (count The Note in that group … ), so this quote from the New York Times makes us pretty darn bouncy:

"'Mr. DeLay and the speaker have made the determination that they will not bring the bill to the floor as long as it has the Senate pork in it,' said Stuart Roy, a spokesman for Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the House majority leader. 'We had an agreement to move a clean bill, and we don't need those extraneous provisions in it.'" LINK

Spokespeople such as the estimable Mr. Roy are admirably fearless when it comes to taking on Members of the World's Most Exclusive Club. For those readers still trying to understand how Congress works, read the second rule listed here LINK on why the "Senate is the enemy" of the House.

Or, to see that this idea has gone pop, do a search on this insane, fanmanic "The West Wing" site for the words "Leo: There was a freshman democrat … " LINK

The New York Daily News says the Iraq rebuilding war is getting started. LINK

Reason #104 why a Democratic presidential candidate with Bill Clinton's skills would have a lot of partisan material with which to work running against Bush-Cheney in 2004: Halliburton's Pentagon deals. LINK

Come to think of it, that same story is Reason #218 why Begala will never run out of things to say on "Crossfire."

Michael Kinsley, sharp as a pack of tacks, raises some questions about the war (still) and mocks the Democrats running for president, all in one column. LINK

And hawkish Sandy Berger focuses on winning the peace in a Washington Post op-ed. LINK

The Ken Adelman Victory Tour goes to … .Paris. LINK

Big Casino budget politics

With differing deadlines and overnight action, the major budget stories are all over the map in emphases, analysis, and descriptions of the state of play.

The Associated Press says that Senator Snow of Maine is the key to the whole budget deal. LINK

From looking at MaineToday.com (the website for a bunch of Maine newspapers from Kennebec to Portland), you wouldn't know that Olympia Snow even existed, however.

Also according to the AP: "Citing the return of federal deficits, the moderate Snowe has said she wants to limit tax cuts to $350 billion. She was lobbied virtually all day Thursday by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., White House chief of staff Andrew Card and other Republicans."

The Washington Post 's Jim VandeHei on the latest in the budget from where he stands: LINK

And the New York Times ' David Rosenbaum seems as confused by the views of the Senate parliamentarian as we are. LINK

The The Wall Street Journal 's Washington Wire has this: "White House weighs options for shrinking tax-cut plan."

"One possibility is removing smaller elements and asking Congress to pass the centerpiece dividend-tax abolition by itself. The White House would later try to attach the smaller items, such as popular proposals for marriage-penalty relief and a child-credit increase, to separate legislation. Other options include phasing in the dividend tax cut, or limiting it to five years to hold down the cost."

"White House aides exploit favorable war developments to turn up the heat on moderate Republicans holdouts Snowe of Maine and Voinovich of Ohio. Though both held out for no more than $350 billion in tax cuts during budget talks, the administration tries to generate constituent pressure in advance of Senate Finance Committee action."

"Senator Grassley and Rep. Thomas begin jousting to lead conference committee that will draft final bill."

In our in-box, having arrived at 4:36am, was this statement by the president: "I commend House and Senate negotiators for their hard work and success in ensuring that the Congress has a budget resolution in place that reflects my priorities of winning the war against terrorism, protecting Americans at home, and strengthening economic growth. I particularly congratulate Chairmen Nickles and Nussle for their leadership, not only in accomplishing agreement, but in doing so ahead of schedule. The compromise budget resolution funds our priorities, restrains spending, and provides opportunity for passage of a robust jobs and growth package. I commend the House for passing this measure and look forward to prompt passage in the Senate."

Jack Oliver of the RNC and the Show Me State would like all of us to sign an open letter demanding that Congress cut "the" taxes. LINK

The economy

There are two virtually identically themed Wall Street Journal stories today.

One is about how CEOs have mixed feelings about whether the Post -war economy will get better fast. The other looks at the general sense that growth will remain modest, attributing concerns to "fiscal woes," "boardroom blues," and "stretched consumers," only one of which would make a good movie title.

The Washington Post 's John M. Berry reports on the differing statistics regarding the number of lost payroll jobs during President Bush's term. LINK

Not much good news either way, but perhaps a forecast of nit-picking fights to come.

And Paul Krugman, again and still, is all gloom and doom about the president's status as a (in Bill Bradley's phrase) good steward of a good economy. LINK and LINK

ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary

Arizona's state legislature passed a resolution Thursday to ax the state's presidential primary as a cost-cutting measure, and Governor Janet Napolitano immediately vowed to veto the measure that would save the state about $3 million. LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Thomas Beaumont talked to both Joe Lieberman and Dick Gephardt on their separate swings through the state Thursday and found that both of them "feel some vindication for supporting the war in Iraq." LINK

"Gephardt was less eager than Lieberman to claim vindication, but said the celebrations in the streets of Baghdad Wednesday show the United States was justified in invading Iraq."

"'The jubilation you saw on the faces of some of the Iraqis yesterday gives you an indication, I think, of how bad this regime was,' Gephardt said. "It's a continuation of a historic, long-term trend that we stand on the right side.'"

The New York Daily News' Joel Siegel reports that, according to a ("relatively small") Marist poll of registered New York Democrats, Senator Kerry's "regime change" comment may have cost him support in the state, as he went from 20% in December to 10% now. LINK

"Almost every Democrat in the new poll lost support, a trend caused largely by the Iraq war, said Marist pollster Lee Miringoff."

"But no candidate saw as much of a decline as Kerry. 'They all suffered from a lack of attention, but Kerry suffered from adverse attention,' Miringoff said."

Also: "The number of undecided Democrats soared to 35% from 19% in December. Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) received the most support, 21%, down from 23% in December. "

Dean

John Harwood has this item in the Wall Street Journal 's Washington Wire: "After earlier borrowing a Wellstone line, Democratic 2004 hopeful Dean echoes a 1960 JFK refrain that 'If by a liberal they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind … I'm proud to say I'm a liberal.' Dean told the Children's Defense Fund this week: 'If being liberal means balancing the budget … then you may call me a liberal.' The ex-Vermont governor's campaign director, Joe Trippi, calls the similarity in rhetoric 'a happy coincidence.'"

Dean tells the AP that his candidacy is about much more than his anti-war stance, it's about being a Democrat's Democrat. LINK

And the article even has its very own straw poll: "A Dean lunchtime appearance in New Hampshire last month attracted 300, triple the number the Dean campaign anticipated. Most of two dozen people interviewed said they were drawn to Dean not because of his opposition to the war but by his clarion call to stand up for Democratic principles."

Kerry

The Boston Globe 's Beth Healy writes that Senator John Kerry "yesterday proposed tax cuts that could save small businesses as much as $20 billion over the next decade, arguing that President Bush's tax-cut package offers no stimulus for the economy." LINK

Healy Notes that Kerry voted for the $350 billion package, and seems keen on using the issue to his political advantage, hence the quotes:

"'Few of the proposals offered by President Bush will truly stimulate the economy or be helpful to the millions of small businesses that need help making ends meet,' Kerry said."

And: "Kerry said his cuts were aimed at 'trying to help the greatest number of people at the least cost, because we have a deficit.'"

Edwards

The Union Leader's John DiStaso reports on John Edwards' plan "to spend $50 million to help low- and middle-income National Guard and military Reserve members and their families." LINK

PoliticsNH.com's James Pindell reports on Edwards plan. LINK

Pindell highlights this Edwards' factoid: "From 1945 to 1989, Edwards noted, the national guard was only called up four times to active duty. From 1990 to the present they have been called up six times."

The Raleigh News and Observer's John Wagner rounds up some treats, from the sour to the tasty. LINK

Sour: the flying accusations of "racially insensitive remarks on the House floor during a debate over a gun bill" when "after noting that her two sons are 'blond-haired and blue-eyed,' Rep. Barbara Cubin, a Wyoming Republican, asked, 'So does that mean if you go into a black community, you cannot sell a gun to any black person?'"

Tasty (for non-vegetarians): Citizens Against Government Waste reported that the "North Carolina congressional delegation brought home the smallest amount of 'pork' per person of any in the nation," which included the "'Pig Book'" record of the "$450,000 grant for improvements at the water-treatment plant in Robbins, the town where U.S. Senator John Edwards, a Democrat from Raleigh, spent much of his childhood."

As Wagner points out, the organization's standards of "pork" may not be recognized by all.

Very Tasty: Erskine Bowles joined the board of North Carolina-based Krispy Kreme, as a honeyed place from which to eye John Edwards' senate seat.

Mmmmmmm. Doughnuts. Arggghhhhhhllllll.

Graham

The Miami Herald reports that Senator Graham will travel to San Francisco Sunday for a fundraiser. LINK

Politics

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Click here, register (the number of required fields is low), and then vote and post a comment. LINK

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The AP's Scott Lindlaw writes that Arnold Schwarzenegger had a meeting yesterday at the White House with Karl Rove, ostensibly to discuss the Terminator's potential gubernatorial in 2006. LINK

But before we get Terminator vs. Meathead (Rob Reiner may run for the Democrats.) to determine who rules the land of fruits and nuts, the AP story points out that Schwarzenegger might have to face off against National Security Adviser Rice, who has just maybe made inquires to Republican players about a possible bid. Anonymous sources in Lindlaw's AP story say Rice has ruled out a 2004 Senate bid.

While sources in the White House say Rice is not an inherently political creature, Lindlaw writes that the word is she wants to take on a "more executive role."

When we learned last month that Republican National Committee chair Marc Racicot had spoken to a meeting of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, we asked then-spokesperson Mindy Tucker about it.

She confirmed the meeting, but wouldn't really provide details and told us (not for the first time, although, sadly, for the last) that the Chairman's schedule isn't really a matter of public record.

Anyway, we dropped the matter because, well, we don't remember why.

And lo and behold, the Washington Post has an item about it today, picked up from the Washington Blade, and it seems some conservative groups are having upsettness over this. LINK

If you asked us, "What is your favorite part of the item?", we would say, "This:"

"'When you meet with a group that holds values that are antithetical to those of your base, you're sending the signal that your base is being taken for granted or is not respected — that's what Mr. Racicot has done here,' said Robert Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, a think tank associated with the conservative Concerned Women for America. 'It would be like Al Gore meeting with the John Birch Society.'"

Governor Racicot's commitment to a more inclusive Republican party has rarely made him confront things such as this, and/but we bet this one drifts away too.

Even as the committee's impressive fundraising number gets pretty big play in the papers, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has its uphill climb chronicled by the Associated Press. LINK

There continue to be titanic judicial confirmation battles in the Senate that get virtually no attention. LINK

The Note can pretty easily work up nostalgia for the days when Washington news was driven just as often as not by the sound and fury of various independent counsels, so we got a wee bit teary reading this Los Angeles Times piece about the Henry Cisneros IC. LINK

We refreshed our browser TWICE to make sure we weren't dreaming!

Bill Clinton had a Michael-Moore-at-the-Oscars experience when he took the stage at a Willie Nelson concert and apparently was simultaneously booed and applauded.

The New York Post 's Page Six had a "spy" on hand. LINK

The New York Daily News offered more direct quotes from 42:

"Bill Clinton heard a round of boos when he made a surprise appearance at Willie Nelson's 70th birthday concert at the Beacon on Wednesday. The former President acknowledged the backlash by joking, 'I want to thank the vast majority of you for the reception.' He also spoke to 'the few angry, weird Republicans in the house — thank you for being here to prove Willie Nelson's [broad] appeal.'" LINK

The Washington Post 's Rene Sanchez has a juicy story about "charming socialite and political player" Katrina Leung, Republican fundraiser, hostess, civic activist, "great neighbor," FBI operative known as the "'Parlor Maid,'" and … double agent working for the Chinese government. LINK

"Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, she has ties to several prominent Republican officials in California — from former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan to the party's gubernatorial candidate last year, Bill Simon — and has been a leader or member of many Chinese American civic groups."

Lloyd Grove catches up with Robert Novak--not so easy when his target is driving at 80mph. LINK

"'I've wanted to be a race car driver all my life, and anyone who has watched me drive can tell you that,' Novak told us during a break from a rigorous three-day training course that ends this afternoon. 'It's never too late.' Novak insisted that the 'road rage' business 'was a figment of your imagination,' and in any case we hear that a big grin is plastered on his face as he rounds the track at a prudent 80 mph."

"'That's not a high speed for me, but what's thrilling is riding in a race car,' Novak said. 'It is a great thrill at my age to drive a race car around on hairpin turns on the Sebring International Raceway — one of the most famous in the world.'"

"Road Rage Bob"? "The Prince of Darkness"? "R"? There are so many nicknames from which to choose.

This weekend on "Here's the Point," it's the Two Marks — that is, Mark Halperin talks to Mark Leibovich, the Washington Post Style writer who is doing the best feature/profile work of this presidential cycle.

Leibovich answers the hard and fast ones: what animal would John Edwards be if he were an animal; what food Dick Gephardt would be if he were a food.

He also suggests that the key to changing the tone in Washington is more meals together for Ken Mehlman and Steve Elmendorf (we kid you not).

You get the point. So listen to "Here's the Point" this weekend, on your finer ABCNEWS radio affiliates, or by clicking here, starting Friday night. LINK

Bush Administration strategy/personality

Sometime in the last few cycles, the Associated Press' dreamy Ron Fournier wrote this:

"When war ends in Iraq, President Bush will quickly shift focus to his 2004 re-election campaign and the issue that kept his father from winning a second term: a weak economy. The money, message and much of Bush's political machine are already in place." LINK

Fournier goes on to examine the "sins of the father" thing and looks at how Bush is going to help the economy rebound, or, at least, make it look like he's really trying.

Lloyd Grove reports that the White House Correspondents dinner remains on schedule for April 26, with the president and Mrs. Bush confirmed to attend, and the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney likely. LINK

Entertainment is a "'is a surprise,'" says association president Bob Deans, which we take to mean particular sensitivity over the jokes this year.

We LOVE the fact that Ari Fleischer has time these days to call Al Kamen (early!) and correct a rare error in "In the Loop," and we aren't just saying that. LINK

We love it because:

1. It shows Ari is still reading the paper closely.

2. It must mean that The Note hasn't made any factual errors lately. (And, yes, we are kidding about this one.)