2003 Note Archives, updated weekly.

Click here for The ABCNEWS Political Unit's exclusive major futures calendar and today's daybook.

E-mail us: Tips, Compliments, Complaints and Questions.

Who we are ... And What We're About.

NEWS SUMMARY ——————————————————————————

… .the Democrats continue to prep for Saturday's first-in-the-nation presidential debate, and to display more machismo than is typically found at a Ron Kaufman poker game.

The group picture of the nine Democratic contenders from the CDF joint appearance that graces the cover of the current issue of Columbia's weekly give-away paper, Free Times, shows a lot of smiling faces, but Note the Dean and Kerry body language and it's pretty clear that there was some foreshadowing going on. LINK

The New York Daily News' Joely-on-the-spot, Herr Siegel, writes that Howard Dean was talking tough during a trip through New York City yesterday, where he addressed a union forum on health care and the Daily News ed board. LINK

Dean stressed his own positives and his rivals' negatives:

"Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the doctor-turned-politician running for President, offered a diagnosis yesterday of the other top Democrats in the race: 'They need a backbone transplant.'"

To which Chris Lehane, unimpressed that the Canadian military never once crossed the border when Dean headed the Vermont National Guard, responded to Siegel: "John Kerry was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for his service to his country. I really don't think that Howard Dean wants to get into a compare and contrast on courage and backbone."

"During a whirlwind day in New York City, Dean threw more of the rhetorical elbows that have begun to annoy his rivals for the party's nomination."

Siegel reports that Dean emphasized his impressive first quarter fundraising, his poll strength in New Hampshire, and his uncompromising strategy: "'The only way to beat this President is to go right at him, say, 'This is where I disagree with him, this is why," he said."

Dean also reiterated his objections to the war in Iraq, despite the apparent success of the conflict, Noting "'(i)t remains to be seen'" if his stance affects his chances.

"'The only way to beat George Bush is to be as very direct and clear as he is. The reason people like George Bush has not much to do with his policies. It has to do with the fact he has a clear, unambiguous message.'"

But making one of the most muscular (and politically optimistic) arguments yet, the Progressive Policy Institute's Will Marshall writes about "Blair Democrats" Lieberman, Kerry, Edwards, and Gephardt, and says: LINK

"As internationalists, the Blair Democrats are poised to itemize for Americans the high political costs of the Bush administration's belligerent unilateralism. While successful in war, the White House was anything but in the months leading up to the attack on Iraq, triggering the most virulent wave of anti-American sentiment in decades. Count on the Blair Democrats to hold President Bush accountable for these diplomatic failures as the presidential election heats up."

He claims Howard Dean is toast because of his anti-war stance.

And not since Alvy Singer pulled Marshall McLuhan from the movie line in "Annie Hall" ("I happen to have Mr. McLuhan right here.") LINK have we seen something like this:

Dan Balz wanted to know what Bill Clinton thought of his being invoked in the Kerry-Dean feud, so/and somehow he got him on the phone from Mexico City, and they chatted. LINK

Shows the time-release benefits of going to all those NGA meetings in the '80s, we guess.

Anyway, Clinton said he needed to stay out of the tiff (although his words would seem to tilt towards the Dean view), and out of the Democratic nomination fight generally, and he also told the Democrats and the world that Secretary Rumsfeld's military reform efforts (which The Note has long touted, because we are suckers for bureaucratic reform of entrenched bureaucracies that aim to save the taxpayers money) are great.

Hint: Balz is a total must-read. And the "how'd he do that" story is one we would like to read, too.

The Boston Globe editorial page chides John Kerry and Howard Dean for tossing around controversial remarks only to back peddle later LINK

The New York Post 's Deborah Orin addresses the Democratic candidates' hurdle of the "stature gap" as she anticipates Bush's triumphant speech tonight on board the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. LINK

Orin suggests the recent Democratic squabbling is no way to take on a Republican president.

"Instead, the Dems seem to be getting into their own intramural food fight as they head toward their first debate Saturday night in South Carolina, a very pro-military state."

(The Note Notes how far 43 has come that Deborah Orin describes him as a man of "stature")

And the Dean campaign uses its Notepad licks to keep up the dialogue. CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTEPAD

Also in Notepad today: Lieberman's Adam Kovacevich fills in for Jano and badly underestimates the number of Googling monkeys; Al Sharpton writes on race and the GOP; Erik Smith channels George F. Will; Jamal gets ready for the Big Week; Kathleen Connery writes about John Edwards; Carol Moseley Braun's vision for America; and Senator Kerry takes his turn on the 'Pad.

In this cycle, there's also Democratic squabbling over taxes (detailed below), with Dean becoming more of a counter-target than even Bob Graham.

As for the likely nominee of the majority party, the San Francisco Chronicle's Marc Sandalow delivers a priceless lead in a fabulous curtain raiser:

"Six weeks and a day after sitting alone in the Oval Office and telling the American people that a U.S. attack on Iraq had begun, President Bush will stand before thousands of homebound soldiers off the California coast to declare that major combat is over." LINK

And Sandalow just keeps getting better …

Though the president won't announce that the war is over, "after surviving a military campaign that some called the biggest political gamble in modern presidential history, Bush will make a triumphant statement from the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln as it steams home from the Persian Gulf, and toward a state whose support would virtually guarantee him a second term."

"The choice of Southern California for Bush to celebrate the U.S. military success, to be followed Friday with a visit to Silicon Valley, marks an opportunity for Bush to thank returning troops with a magnificent Pacific tableau behind and to promote tax cuts in a region devastated by job losses."

"Bush will spend the night on the aircraft carrier, less than 100 miles from the California coast, along with several thousand soldiers and 100 news reporters. He will arrive dramatically in a four-seat S3 aircraft, rather than the more typical Marine helicopter."

"Several Republicans said footage of the president's stay on the Abraham Lincoln — along with pictures of Bush standing beside rescue workers just days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — might provide dramatic material for television commercials in the next campaign."

"Even as protesters in Santa Clara — where Bush will talk at the plant of a defense contractor Friday morning — began scoping out spots to voice their disapproval, some suggested the timing of the visit allows Bush to portray dissenters as a small and unrepresentative lot."

About 500 of you were smart enough (read: "obedient enough") to sign up in the last 24 hours for our email notification.

In normal times, that notification tells you each day when The Note is Ready on the web — which is a fine thing to know.

Tomorrow, we repeat, The Note will NOT be on the web; it will only be available by email, to those who have signed up. Same with The Notepad.

So if you aren't signed up, and you don't want to miss out on our final special pre-debate issue, follow these hyper-simple instructions:

It will take you less than a minute, even if you have weak point-and-click skills. LINK

Scroll down and click on "Political Unit."

Then, enter the appropriate information: your e-mail, a password of your choice, your name, age, and zipcode. (You won't have to enter these again, and ABCNEWS.com has a rigorous privacy policy.).

You'll get a confirmation e-mail in seconds.

Otherwise, you will not get to read Friday's Note.

Did we make ourselves clear: The Note will NOT be posted on the web this Friday, but it will be published by e-mail. So sign up now.

Big Casino budget politics:

The Washington Post 's Weisman says: "House leaders have embraced an effort to replace President Bush's complex plan to eliminate the 'double taxation of dividends' with a simpler proposal to lower taxes on capital gains and dividends to a new, uniform rate, congressional sources said yesterday." LINK

"The decision could prove fatal to the president's embattled proposal, which faces slim prospects in the narrowly divided Senate … ."

"Administration officials said they have all but given up hope that Snowe or Senator George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) will agree to a larger tax cut worked out between House and Senate negotiators. Instead, they are wooing at least three Senate Democrats — John Breaux (La.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) — in hopes that two will back a larger bill and allow Vice President Cheney to cast the tie-breaking vote."

The Wall Street Journal has this oddness: "Tax writers in both chambers hope to finish their bills within a week. During a White House meeting Wednesday morning, Mr. Bush didn't offer specific guidance to Republican congressional leaders."

"The lack of White House cues has contributed to a chaotic atmosphere in Congress as lawmakers try to wedge in all of the items on Mr. Bush's wish list, rather than write a narrow bill with a few substantial provisions … ."

"Anticipating disappointment, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee told the White House he will revisit omissions in a second tax bill. That is a tall order, considering the Senate is narrowly divided, and some moderate Republicans are supporting the pending version only reluctantly."

The New York Times ' dashing Michael Janofsky has what is arguably the ultimate Big Casino story, as he writes about how states are turning to increased gaming to deal with their budget problems. LINK

Here is our favorite part (and not just because the person quoted wears no fewer than three hats that are relevant to our lives):

"Enough ideas are under legislative scrutiny that industry officials are starting to rebel, fearing that so much competition will mean that there will not be enough profits to go around."

"'They're squeezing the golden goose by its neck,' the executive director of the American Gaming Association, Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., said. 'That is going to result in fewer eggs or a dead goose.'"

(Note quiz: can you list the three hats?)

Has the White House stopped looking for their "Jim Jeffords" moment?

Roll Call 's Mark Preston takes a look at the pressure being applied by the Bush administration on some centrist Senators.

"Senate centrists are warning President Bush that he's jeopardizing his future legislative agenda as the White House uses strong-arm tactics to go for broke in its efforts to win passage of a $500 billion-plus tax cut."

"It is high risk and many times it blows up and gives you the opposite result than what you desire," Senator John Breaux (D-La.) said of the White House's win-at-all-costs strategy. "I think you are sort of seeing some of that here."

"'It is not a good strategy,' said Senator Ben Nelson (Neb.), a conservative Democrat whom the White House has been targeting. In addition to sending Commerce Department and Treasury Department officials to Nebraska in recent weeks to drum up support for the tax cut, the White House has also directed influential Nebraska businessmen to call Nelson directly to urge him to support the plan."

"'I had the opportunity to present them with my ideas and more people agreed with me than didn't agree with me on my position,' Nelson said. 'If this is their strategy, my comment is, 'keep it coming.'"

However, Senator Lott calmly explains why the White House strategy is a necessary one.

"I think they would be liable to legitimate criticism if they didn't do it," said Lott.

"Congressional leaders are searching for sources of revenue that could offset the loss of money from Bush's tax-cut proposal," USA Today 's Welch reports. LINK

Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley just wants to unify his party. LINK

Legislative agenda:

A Robin Toner story in the New York Times touting the rise of health care as a cutting political issue, citing Kaiser studies, and quoting Bob Blendon, Bill McInturff, Geoff Garin, and some pro-healthcare lefties? LINK

C'mon now — we don't even have to task a Googling monkey to check in order to tell you that we have all seen this one before.

Which doesn't mean that THIS time it isn't true.

The Wall Street Journal 's David Rogers writes about the difficulties of doing Medicare reform that makes rural patients (and voters) happy.

Judicial nominations:

New senators want a new system for confirming judges, says the Washington Post 's Dewar. LINK

Economy:

There are some new, and soft, job and productivity numbers out today.

The Note has no idea what Alan Greenspan thinks about the prospects for growth and about the Bush economy, and that is after reading everything he said, and everything ABOUT what he said, including this. LINK

ABC 2004: The May 3 South Carolina Democratic presidential candidate debate:

On yesterday's Children's Defense Fund conference call, the Associated Press's Will Lester asked Representative James Clyburn why they were having this conference call in the days leading up the Collision in Columbia, and he got this response:

"All these presidential candidates will recognize that this campaign, as all campaigns, is really about the future not about the past. It really bothers me tremendously to see all the headlines out of South Carolina about the confederate battle flag and the NAACP boycott. That's not what this campaign ought to be about. It ought to be about the future. It ought to be about the healthcare for every child, every person in the country … for a workforce that is healthy and valuable."

The Beaufort Gazette ed board says that Representative Gephardt's health care proposal; the brewing battle between Senator Kerry and former Governor Dean; and other issues "may make the debate a lot more lively than many think it will be. The debate puts South Carolina in the spotlight, even if only secondarily. But it also should point out the importance of the state's first-in-the-South Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 3." LINK

Keying off Senator Lieberman's post-Sabbath participation in the debate this Saturday, the New York Times ' Adam Nagourney looks at the modern campaigning of an observant Jew running for president, as his non-Jewish, non-observant aides try to brush up, literally, on "Judaism for Dummies." LINK

A too-kind Howard Fineman tees up the debate on the web. LINK

It's an insiders' must-read on all sorts of Invisible Primary topics, including a "Who Is Tom Edsall?" item.

Grab a copy of the Free Times when you get down to Columbia and read the cover story on the debate. Sadly, we can't find it on the web, but the thumbnails of the campaigns are worth the price.

The Charleston Post and Courier's Schuyler Kropf reports that Senator Hollings "will speak to nearly 2,000 Democrats at the state party convention Saturday, but aides expect him to spend more time blasting George Bush and the Republicans than settling his uncertain political future." LINK

"Others say Hollings, 81, and a seven-term incumbent, is so unpredictable he could blurt out his intentions once he gets in front of the crowd."

"Laurie Thompson of Charleston, a long-time Hollings friend and supporter, said the senator's mindset may be that he wants to wait and see who else may come forward so that he can make sure Democrats are well-represented before deciding to step down."

Two Columbia tips from "someone on the ground": "Cool with the campus kids — if you need a quick place to eat near the media center the cafeteria is called the Grand Market Place but if you want to sound like you are in the know and are willing to risk sounding like a Bush judicial appointee — you will call it the GIMP."

"A place you won't see John Edwards: Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center; however, media can apply for the non-student membership."

ABC 2004: CREEP:

The Chicago Tribune reports that "Alabama isn't the only state wondering what it must do to ensure Bush's name appears on the state ballot next year." LINK

ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary:

The Des Moines Register 's Tom Beaumont answers our silent prayers and has a must-read that looks into the suggestion made by Senator Bob Graham that he was the only Senate presidential hopeful to be on the record as opposing all of Bush's tax cuts (and Howard Dean's gloating, despite his not having had access to the vote itself).

"'Obviously, if you support $350 billion worth of tax cuts you're closer to the president than my position, which is you shouldn't have any additional tax cuts because it's bad for the economy,' Dean said in an interview with The Des Moines Register ." LINK

Neither Robert Gibbs nor Jano Cabrera are very happy with Dean, talking respectively of an apology and a mischaracterization.

"The debate reveals a gap opening over domestic issues in the field for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. As candidates who supported Bush on the war now seek to distinguish themselves from the GOP president on economic policy, Dean and other candidates who opposed the war hope to paint their congressional rivals as closer to Bush's domestic agenda."

"Dean said opposition by U.S. Sens. Edwards, Kerry and Lieberman to a Senate amendment in March that sought to strip all new tax cuts from the budget demonstrates their support for new tax cuts at a time when federal deficits are growing."

"Edwards of North Carolina, Kerry of Massachusetts and Lieberman of Connecticut voted against the amendment, sponsored by Senator Ernest Hollings of South Carolina. The amendment was defeated."

"They supported a second budget amendment that same day capping new tax cuts at $350 billion over 10 years. President Bush had originally sought $726 billion in tax cuts."

"But Edwards, Kerry and Lieberman say that by voting [for] the overall budget resolution in April, which allowed up to $350 billion in new tax cuts, Dean is wrong to say they support tax cuts on the scale Bush proposes."

We find all this interesting, but the Manchester Union Leader's ed board has run out of patience with the candidates. LINK

The Hotline's Chuck Todd looks at why so many Republicans tout Dick Gephardt's chances, and snapshots the field, on the invaluable nationaljournal.com.

As usual, ace political reporter John DiStaso has tons of stuff in his Granite Status column, including a wrap-up of the week's events, info on a new Kerry volunteer and lots and lots of staff news. LINK

The Boston Globe 's Susan Milligan writes that the Democratic candidates are emphasizing their hardscrabble backgrounds not only to appeal to traditional Democratic working class voters, but to relate to the broader spectrum of Americans affected by the bad economy. LINK

In classic "man from Hope" tradition, "millionaire trial lawyer" and Senator John Edwards talks about his family's mill work; Dick Gephardt observes his father was a milkman and his daughter struggles on a teacher's salary; Dennis Kucinich had to sleep in cars during his youth.

Bob Graham and John Kerry? Uh, not so much with the poverty, but still trying to relate.

Milligan quotes Doug Hattaway: "'Bush can never say, 'I feel your pain,' and mean it,"' but observes that despite President Bush's privileged background, he remains preternaturally accessible.

"Even Bush's detractors agree he has an uncanny ability to connect with regular Americans, with a cowboy-casual manner and direct way of speaking."

(And the Note Notes how far 43 has come that he is described as someone who "'speaks with great clarity'" even if the quote is from RNC spokesman Dan Ronayne.)

The Boston Globe 's Wayne Washington writes that watchdog groups don't think the FEC will ban soft money use in the 2004 conventions, when it announces the rules on July 19. LINK

The Boston Globe 's Corey Dade observes that normally unassuming Boston mayor Thomas Menino, whose city will soon host the Democratic convention, is "having a grand time" in glamorous Washington D.C., hobnobbing, making speeches, assessing John Kerry, and cracking jokes about running for national office. LINK

Mark Warner: kingmaker, dreamshaper, Al From praisee. LINK

This Florida wire story about state legislators, the Everglades, and Governor Jeb Bush has a good deal of reaction from Senator John Kerry but none at all from Senator Bob Graham (D-Fla.) LINK

The Hill's Hans Nichols suggests that one of the most influential politicians for Democratic presidential candidates might be Republican Senator John McCain. LINK

"'To be frank, almost any Democrat would like to have the ex-McCain … [mantle]. There's a tremendous benefit there,'" said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who is not affiliated this year with any presidential campaign."

"Although McCain has longstanding relationships with Sens. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and John Kerry of Massachusetts, Dean still is emerging as the favorite in the McCain primary."

EDWARDS

The Raleigh N&O's John Wagner has a second day story on the letter Senator Edwards sent to potential campaign advisery committee members. LINK

In the letter, "Edwards said he wanted to show the country 'that the Old South of Trent Lott and Strom Thurmond is in the past, and the New South can produce true leaders who can unite and not divide.'"

South Carolina Republican state legislators (and one Democrat too) are rolling out the Palmetto State's welcome carpet by going on the record with Mr. Wagner and attacking Senator Edwards' remarks.

"David Wilkins, the speaker of South Carolina's state House, on Wednesday said Edwards' remarks were 'just plain disrespectful,' especially coming from someone who was born in South Carolina. Edwards lived there most of his first 12 years."

"'For a freshman senator who hasn't even filled out his first term to suggest he's the true leader and mock the contributions and legacy of Senator Thurmond is remarkably immature and arrogant,' Wilkins said."

But the Edwards campaign isn't backing down. "Edwards spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said the senator stood by his remarks, which she said were being presented out of context by Republicans."

"Edwards' point, she said, was to criticize former Senate Majority Leader Lott's seeming endorsement last year of Thurmond's pro-segregationist 1948 presidential campaign."

"'Senator Edwards believes that those views are out of step with Southern voters and he stands by that,' Palmieri said. 'If people want to criticize him for that, so be it.'"

The State's Lee Bandy reports that few people think Senator Edwards' comments "would have little, if any, impact on the outcome of the primary" in South Carolina. LINK

But that didn't stop Mr. Bandy from writing up the South Carolina Republican Party's press release about it, which is, of course, the point of the whole thing anyway.

A year after Stu Rothenberg panned Edwards' "Meet the Press" performance, he takes another look at the presidential aspirant in today's Roll Call and seems somewhat impressed. Instead of excerpting Rothernberg's column for you here, we'll just refer you to the full story, as well as to the Edwards campaign submission for today's installment of The Notepad.

Who would have ever thought that Kakie/Kaky would make the 'Pad before John Norris!! We aren't in 2002 any more, quite clearly.

Bob Graham isn't the only candidate packing up the family and sending them off to Iowa.

Wagner has this tidbit: LINK

"U.S. Senator John Edwards' parents, Bobbie and Wallace Edwards, are making their first foray onto the presidential campaign trail next week, appearing at the Iowa State Association of Letter Carriers annual convention in Davenport."

"Bobbie Wallace's final job before retirement was as a rural letter carrier. While in Davenport on Monday, she and her husband also have breakfast and lunch scheduled with Democratic activists and leaders. Iowa is home to the nation's first presidential caucuses"

DEAN

The AP has details of Dean's health care plan, which was outlined yesterday at the SEIU's 1199 local headquarters in New York City.

"Dean's proposal calls for state governments to make more aggressive efforts to provide health care, including making everyone under the age of 25 eligible for Medicaid and giving prescription drug benefits to those over the age of 65." LINK

"He said the government should help small businesses buy health insurance for their employees between 25 and 65. The plan would place the burden of acute care for senior citizens on the federal government, making it easier for state governments to provide the rest."

"His plan would also raise reimbursement rates to doctors and hospitals."

"Dean said he was closely examining a proposal unveiled last week by The Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based foundation that supports research on health care policy. The plan would combine tax credits for private insurance, public program expansions and other steps to cover 39 of the 41 million Americans who are uninsured."

KERRY

The Associated Press's Nedra Pickler tells us that Senator Kerry wants to make news in the days ahead with a new policy speech, and he plans to make plenty of them in the coming weeks. LINK

The Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson writes that Senator Kerry has disavowed his frequent assertion that his first speech on the Senate floor was about Roe v. Wade. LINK

"Senator John F. Kerry said yesterday that he will stop declaring that his first speech on the floor of the US Senate highlighted his support for the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion rights, a recollection he has learned is not true."

"As he has campaigned for the presidency, the Massachusetts Democrat has on numerous occasions stated that his maiden speech as a senator was about abortion rights. Kerry did so last month before a group of women in Des Moines, as he pledged to nominate only supporters of abortion rights to the Supreme Court."

Johnson reports that, according to the Congressional Record, Kerry's March 19, 1985 speech was about his opposition to MX missiles, and adds the humbling detail from a contemporaneous State News Service account, that, as a newbie, he got only 4 minutes to talk.

"When a Globe reporter told him that the States News account from 1985 raised questions about the accuracy of his statement, Kerry paused and said he may have been misled by a former staff member. He also pledged that if he were mistaken, he would never make the comment again."

"An aide said later that the campaign will remove from its website a statement on Kerry's website declaring that 'Senator Kerry's first speech on the floor of the United States Senate was in strong support of Roe v. Wade."'

Johnson provides a thorough account, with help from the Congressional Record, of the brand new Senator's 1985 activity: his first written statement from January 22 was indeed in support of Roe v. Wade; his first spoken words were made on February 7, about civil rights; and then on March 19, the first speech itself, about the MX missiles, which, Johnson Notes, is "usually is a momentous occasion sometimes marked by applause from fellow senators."

The campaign plans to correct the inaccuracy, but reiterated Kerry's longtime support of abortion rights.

"Certainly it would've been more precise to have referred to John Kerry's 1985 remarks on Roe as his 'first statement as a United States senator' than as his first 'speech,' " said a statement issued yesterday by Kelley Benander, a spokeswoman for his campaign. "The confusion was just that, confusion, and was unintentional. The record will be corrected, but will always reflect that John Kerry has throughout his 18 years in the Senate vigorously supported a woman's right to choose."

And those inclined to the "says one thing and does another" thematic will add this to the clip file.

A month before the ban on soft money went into effect, Senator Kerry raised more than $878,000 of it for his PAC, according to the Associated Press. LINK

Veterans for Kerry … the doghunters are on the prowl. LINK

SHARPTON

The Associated Press Notes that the Reverend Sharpton was on hand in Puerto Rico to celebrate the Navy's departure from Vieques, two years after his arrest for protesting against military training exercises on the site. LINK

IOWA

The Iowa caucuses will convene at 6:30 p.m. on January 19, 2004. The party's delegate selection plan can be found here: LINK

LIEBERMAN

Favorable polling for Senator Lieberman in South Carolina. LINK

Campaign finance:

If you didn't get your fill of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations and the differences between the two in yesterday's Note, don't fret.

Roll Call 's Chris Cillizza has a beauty of a story today about the Democratic think tank (501(c)(3))/ rapid response (501(c)(4)) operation being created with heavy Clinton influence. Although, perhaps not as heavy as originally planned.

"'The goal is to take the old-fashioned notion of the Heritage Foundation and build an operation that can take the Democratic message and Democratic policies into facets beyond Capitol Hill,' said one Democratic strategist familiar with the group."

"The twin entities create a 'purity of academics and ideas with just enough political flavor,' one observer noted."

People with names such as Podesta and Hattaway plan to serve on the board of the new organization.

Santorum fall-out:

Salon's Jake Tapper writes that by largely staying silent and letting events overtake them, the White House rather quickly diffused its own role in the Santorum hullabaloo. LINK

Politics:

This Heard on the Hill item deserves the fully Monty. Not a partial recounting. The whole thing. Not a slice. "It turns out that one of the Republicans trying to slice up Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle's (D-S.D.) political career used to represent John Wayne Bobbitt, the man of severed penis fame," writes Mr. Henry.

"Paul Erickson, a GOP operative helping the Rushmore Policy Council spearhead the Daschle Accountability Project that's vowing to 'destroy' the Senator's credibility heading into next year's re-election campaign, worked for Bobbitt in 1994."

"A wire service story at the time revealed that Erickson had booked Bobbitt on a worldwide tour billed as 'Love Hurts' in order to milk the injured fellow's infamy as much as possible. With Erickson advising him, Bobbitt went so far as to market official "private parts protectors" for $4.99."

"No one who has come to instant celebrity will have systematically exploited as many avenues as John Wayne Bobbitt,' Erickson boasted at the time."

"When HOH asked Wednesday whether he will be able to do the same for ex-Rep. John Thune (R), who may run against Daschle, Erickson stressed that he doesn't deal with the potential candidate because the Rushmore Policy Council is an 'independent' group."

"Erickson said he only worked for Bobbitt because the client was 'a kid who needed help and had nobody to turn to.'"

"'I would hope that that case, out of the hundreds that I've been involved with, would not represent the totality of my career,' he added."

"Erickson said Daschle does not represent South Dakota values. 'Everybody hates Daschle,' he charged. 'His negatives are through the roof.'"

"'When asked whether the people of South Dakota will think that a former front man for Bobbitt can reflect their values,' Erickson responded, 'You're missing the point.'"

California Governor Gray Davis (D) will attend his first fundraiser since his re-election and a spokesman admits that some of the proceeds could potentially be used to fight the recall effort. LINK

There's a grass-roots clarion call from the Wall Street Journal ed board to its foot soldiers 3,000 miles away to recall Davis, and Al Hunt writes his column on the same topic.

The Washington Times is about the only paper to cover the latest news about the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights . We are thankful for their comprehensiveness. LINK

Connecticut Governor John Rowland has more than just a budget problem to solve.

It took both Elizabeth Hamilton and David Lightman to write up the governor's abysmal poll numbers for the Hartford Courant with this unbelievably illustrative lead.LINK

"In the decade that Quinnipiac University has been polling in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, only one politician has had a job approval rating lower than Governor John G. Rowland — Democrat Robert Torricelli, the disgraced, former U.S. senator from New Jersey."

We always thought the McCain adviser with the best chance of making People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" issue was Rick Davis.

But only because Rick assures us each year that he is in the running.

In any event, Lloyd Grove got an exclusive interview with actual namee Nancy Ives, who Grove says is "hot," but we think of as more "classically beautiful," and, as Senator McCain correctly points out, is also a lovely, lovely person. LINK

We are certain that if Trista had known about this when the two gals sat at contiguous ABC News tables at the White House Correspondents Dinner last weekend, the Bachelorette would have been the one asking for an autograph from the Vaccine Fund's Ives.

Cindy Adams writes about the "major D.C. buzz" surrounding the Soderbergh/Clooney/HBO "K Street" venture. LINK

Bush Administration strategy/personality:

Bob Novak looks at the Thomas White firing. LINK

The Chicago Tribune's Jan Crawford Greenburg reports that the "Bush administration asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to reverse a California-based federal appeals court decision that barred children in public schools from reciting the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance." LINK

For real Washington insiders, the true proof that the war is over is NOT the president's speech tonight, but, rather, Johnny Apple is back to writing about food. LINK

Webby Awards:

The Cincinnati Enquirer's William Croyle reports that Northern Kentucky University's spring convocation was a great success and administrators are optimistic about the school's future. LINK

On the other hand, The Note's lead is down to 15%, and you complacent people are setting a really bad example.

Please Vote The Note. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE