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In the Post -Magaziner era, most political reporters approach candidates' major health care proposals by passing through the same six stages:

1. annoyance at having to cover something substantive

2. concern (stoked by semi-unconscious self-loathing) that the plan will be too hard to understand, let alone explain

3. excitement over anticipating all the attacks that rivals will make as the details get released

4. blustering, bullying questioning of the campaign policy advisers who are eventually trotted out to explain the thing

5. sheer giddiness in watching the plan being inevitably pounded simultaneously as both costing too much and doing too little

6. hand-wringing over the fact that America is the only industrial democracy without universal health care

With the best story in politics residing in the Texas legislature (see below); the president off selling tax cuts for another day (more free, live cable coverage!); little Democratic presidential candidate activity; and Senator Daschle having another day of being the anti-Bush, former Vermont governor Howard Dean moves center stage today, offering his party and the nation a health care plan that, well, let's just say The Note is somewhere between stages (2) and (3) at this writing.

Befitting a campaign that is still playing by its own rules, Dean for America didn't do much curtain-raising for a speech which to some seems timed to beat Senator Kerry's health care launch by 48 hours. Not that they're still feuding or anything.

As best we can tell, only Christopher Graff, writing for the AP with a Montpelier dateline, previews things this cycle, using Dean's speech to take a look back at his health care record as governor, about which Graff writes mostly favorably. LINK

"In a speech in New York, Dean will lay out a proposal that expands subsidized health care for children of the working poor as well as ensuring eligibility for parents up to a certain poverty level. His goal is coverage for some 30.9 million of the nation's estimated 41 million uninsured."

"Much of what Dean is proposing is in effect in Vermont, which ranks high among the states in providing health insurance coverage. About 96 percent of Vermont children and 91 percent of adults have coverage. It also reflects a political truth of recent health care reform efforts — when major overhaul fails, focus on smaller steps."

"Dean focused instead on small expansions of the existing health care programs, including preventive care for children. Dean concentrated on the state's Dr. Dynasaur program, which now covers children through age 17 living in households with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty line."

His national plan seeks to expand on that.

"Dean's national health care plan will expand eligibility of the State Children's Health Care Insurance Program to children and young adults up to age 25 — in households with incomes of 300 percent of poverty. Parents and noncustodial adults would qualify up to 185 percent of poverty."

"In addition, individuals and small businesses — with fewer than 50 employees — would be able to purchase health insurance coverage in line with that available to federal employees."

Dean himself did some previewing on Good Morning America, where he exhibited his normal level of self confidence, which is always turned up notch when it involves medicine, since the Good Doctor surely knows a thing or three about that.

There is no question that the abandonment of fiscal discipline in Washington makes offering up expensive health care plans that much easier for these Democratic candidates.

There is no question that Democratic consultants believe that of the 48 categories of "security" cases that the Democratic nominee will make against President Bush that "health security" will be right up there.

There is no question that, by yielding to the pressure to put their health care plans out so early in such detail, the Democrats lower the chances of ending up with a nominee whose package hasn't been ripped to shreds by other Democrats.

There is no question that Democrats are going to "steal" each others best ideas on this.

And there is no question that the broad lack of health insurance in America is a real problem. (Whatever happened to that very pricey business-labor ad campaign to put this on the agenda?)

Dr. Altman's second-favorite medical writer, Robert Pear, has a New York Times story making the real-life stakes clear:

"Nearly 60 million people lack health insurance at some point in the year, the Congressional Budget Office said today, adding that official estimates fail to distinguish between people who lack coverage for a few months and those who are uninsured for a full year or more." LINK

"Members of Congress, administration officials, lobbyists and advocates often cite the Census Bureau when they declare that 41 million people have no health insurance."

"But in a new report today, the budget office said the bureau's figure 'overstates the number of people who are uninsured all year,' while significantly understating the number who are insured for only part of the year."

"The report said 57 million to 59 million people, 'about a quarter of the nonelderly population,' lacked insurance at some time in 1998, the most recent year for which reliable comparative figures were available."

Setting the table for Dr. Dean are four pieces that illustrate (as if more illustration was needed) how tough this issue is.

Political consultant John Richard Starkey has a cheeky look at the Democrats and health care. LINK

The Boston Globe 's Tom Oliphant urges John Kerry to separate himself from the pack and offer a real challenge to President Bush by presenting a sensible, comprehensive health care plan that addresses the problems of the insured and uninsured alike.LINK

The Des Moines Register ed board comes out against privatization of Medicare. LINK

The Washington Times ' editorial page renews its call for "association health plan" pools for small businesses. LINK

Now: let's not all rush through the six stages any more quickly than usual.

But don't dawdle: we have to do it all again starting Thursday in Iowa.

Lone Star face-off:

An extraordinary moment in (Texas) legislative politics.

For the first time since 1979, an entire caucus of lawmakers locked their voting machines and skedaddled, immediately putting a halt to legislative business and leaving angry Republicans searching frantically for a quorum before Thursday, when a good deal of pending business will be rendered null and void unless acted upon.

53 House Democrats were not to be found. The House needs 100 members to operate. (See LINK)

Governor Rick Perry ordered state troopers to round them up, but the wily Democrats slipped through the dragnet. Some of them were found across the border in Oklahoma but "legislators declined to return to the state Capitol," reports the AP. LINK

They're holed up in a Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

One of them happens to Pete Laney ( LINK ), who, as the then-speaker of the Texas House, introduced then President-elect Bush to the Texas legislature on the night Al Gore conceded in 2000. Bush's speech from the well of that chamber was meant to showcase his bipartisan credentials, him having built solid links to Democrats during his tenure as governor. Institutionally, cooperation is crucial because certain statewide elected officials, like the lieutenant governor, have much sway over rules and assignments.

Whatever goodwill existed is apparently gone.

Democrats say this is all about principle: opposing Representative Tom DeLay and his desire to manipulate state politics and reduce minority representation. They say DeLay is frustrated by the propensity of conservative Texans to elect conservative Democrats to the U.S. Congress and forced his followers in the Texas House to draft a new map that racially gerrymanders poorer white districts together.

Republicans say that Democrats are simply immature, being out of power for the first session in 130 years. They point to two bills currently pending, one of which would enhance liability reform efforts in the state, and the other, which would cut spending for programs Democrats support.

The Texas and national newspapers are wild with coverage:

"The Democrats' maneuver came, not coincidentally, as Republicans were preparing to redraw congressional districts, allowing the GOP to take as many as seven congressional seats away from Democrats in the next election cycle. Democrats currently hold a slim majority of the state's congressional seats, and the GOP plan could cement the Republican Party's hold on power in Washington," the Los Angeles Times reports.. LINK

"Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, a Republican, was not impressed by the walkout. 'Get back to Austin and get back to work,' he warned the Democrats."

"As his compatriots whistled the Star Spangled Banner on the floor of the House, Craddick ordered the chamber's doors locked. Then, citing an obscure provision in the Texas Constitution allowing members of the House to demand a quorum of their peers, he asked the chamber's sergeant-at-arms to find the Democrats."

"Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger confirmed Monday night that three of his department's law enforcement divisions, including the fabled Texas Rangers, were on the case."

"In a ploy audacious even by the standards of Texas politics, one of the GOP's new congressional districts would be composed of two Republican-leaning areas, one north of Austin and one in the Rio Grande Valley — 300 miles away. The two areas would be connected by a mile-wide ribbon of land and have been dubbed a "community of interest.'"

"Mr. Craddick said taking up the partisan topic was necessary because he believed that drawing districts was the responsibility of the Legislature, not the courts," according to the Dallas Morning News.

"'The majority of the members want to vote on redistricting,' Mr. Craddick said."

"Democrats charged that the proposed map was intentionally hidden, introduced at the last minute in a late-night meeting without public comment from around the state."

"Mr. DeLay was not available for comment, but his spokesman, Jonathan Grella, said: 'This is going to backfire on Democrats.'"

"The people elected their representatives to cast difficult votes, not to run away from them,' he said. 'It's a good thing these Democrats weren't there during the Alamo."

Who are these Democrats? LINK

"Staff members claim their bosses kept them in the dark about their plans," the Houston Chronicle reports. LINK

Republicans say "thousands" of pending bills are endangered now; the San Antonio News Express points out that many of them are supported by Democrats, too. LINK

This has happened before: LINK

The Chronicle's editorial page says the walk-out is "not a bad strategy given the realities of the GOP juggernaut on the divisive and bad redistricting plan. Sometimes you have to be creative in your opposition and the now-missing." LINK

Here's a quickie guide: LINK

ABC 2004: CREEP:

A Welch-Keen-Stone triline in the USA Today takes a page from political science and declares that President Bush's personal relationship with members of Congress, including Republicans, is frayed at just the moment when he needs all the leverage he can get.

Ok, ignore the fact that the first two on-the-record quotes are from Senators Lott and Voinovich. And the third is from Congressman Shays.

The rest of the story works well as a primer about the causes of friction between the executive and legislative branches of government.

"Why can't the president get what he wants?" LINK

"White House style: Some Republican leaders in Congress complain that Bush doesn't seek their advice often enough. Senate moderates are frustrated that he sometimes doesn't seem willing to negotiate. Some Republicans say the president is disdainful of their co-equal branch of government. "

"House-Senate differences: The House hierarchy is more conservative than Senate leaders and more in tune with Bush's philosophy. As a result, some initiatives that pass the House have no prayer in the Senate, such as limiting medical malpractice awards, opening Alaskan wilderness to oil drilling and banning flag burning."

"Minuscule margins: In the House, there are 229 Republicans, 205 Democrats and one independent; the loss of 12 GOP votes jeopardizes Bush's agenda. In the Senate, where it takes 60 votes to pass almost anything controversial, there are 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and an independent."

"Political revenge: Democrats are more united as a minority in the Senate than they were when they ran it. Those who might be inclined to cut a deal with Bush for a big tax-cut plan, such as Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, took a lesson from last year's campaign. She had voted for the president's 2001 tax cuts, but he still campaigned aggressively against her."

"Economic fallout: The economy's poor performance during Bush's tenure has emboldened Democrats. Unable to challenge him on national security after the victory in Iraq, Democrats say they believe that rising joblessness, Wall Street declines and deflated consumer confidence will weaken him and help their party's candidates. Many members of Congress also are more worried about growing federal budget deficits than the White House."

"Election tension: As the 2004 campaign nears, lawmakers are weighing how their votes will affect their own re-election chances. They are under more pressure than Bush is to keep their constituents happy. When the president didn't want to include a bailout for struggling airlines in a supplemental spending bill, for instance, Republicans put the money in the legislation anyway."

"Some Republicans feel neglected, and others feel bullied. White House officials, they say, often are unwilling to temper their initiatives, even in the face of political realities."

"Bush's advisers say he sees no reason to temper his ambitions to suit what he views as Congress' occasional timidity. He believes he must reach for grand accomplishments, such as reforms in Medicare and Social Security. He believes all Republicans share his successes and should be eager to follow his lead."

ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary:

The Washington Post 's Howard Kurtz must-read profiles the profilers, writing about the indefatigable "home-state" journalists Note readers know and love: Johnson, Lightman, Wagner, their candidate intimacy, and the influence they have on the campaigns they cover. LINK

Kurtz opens his piece by observing that the Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson's intense familiarity with Senator Kerry's habits and appearance enabled him to break the story about the Senator's cancer.

"No news organization is more important to Kerry's campaign than the Boston Globe , and no Globe reporter is more important than Johnson, who has covered the senator since he worked for the Lowell, Mass., Sun a decade ago. He is one of a handful of home-state journalists who stalk their local prey on a daily basis, churning out detailed stories that often set the tone for the national coverage."

"Such sustained scrutiny 'does lead to some ups and downs,' Johnson says. 'But our knowing each other and being able to work together benefits readers more than any friction bothers me personally.'"

Kurtz writes that the Johnson-Kerry relationship is indeed occasionally strained by negative stories (and includes Jim Jordan's reaction to the story about Kerry's heritage: "'distorted, insignificant, irrelevant and vindictive'"), but has Johnson claiming a foundation of trust and Chris Lehane's comment: "'We may have disagreements, but we recognize the Globe is a good paper with good reporters.'"

Kurtz writes that Hartford Courant Washington bureau chief David Lightman's close coverage of Senator Joe Lieberman has prompted complaints from the Senator himself:

"'They've been very annoyed with a lot of things we wrote,' Lightman says. 'They think somehow we're out to get him, which we're not.'" Of course, Kurtz includes a number of snippy Lightman headlines, as well as the irritations of Lightman's encyclopedic knowledge of Lieberman's record and potential hypocrasies. ("'He's happy to sit in Washington and rip into Hollywood, and he's also happy to go out to L.A. and talk about how much he loves movies and take their money'")

Yet here's an acknowledgement from Jano that Lightman, who, Kurtz writes, has covered Lieberman since he joined the Senate in 1989, knows his stuff:

"'David is someone who knows Joe Lieberman better than I do,' says campaign spokesman Jano Cabrera. 'He comes to the table with a better understanding than not only many on the candidate's staff but many in the press corps. What he writes matters. I may disagree with the way he's framed a story, but no one can disagree he's an expert on Lieberman.'"

Kurtz observes that the Raleigh News and Observer has a separate web site for John Wagner's massive, detailed output on Senator John Edwards, and quotes Jennifer Palmieri giving Wagner his due, although she insists "'I don't think anyone would accuse John Wagner of being a cheerleader:'"

"'It's like having a very tough inspector general on the campaign … Any change in strategy or tone, he's going to pick up on. . . . Wagner is looked to by the rest of the press as an arbiter for what's news about Edwards and what's not.'" (and be sure to check out the amusing exchange between Wagner and Palmieri over skepticism).

Kurtz writes: "The era when the locals were writing only for their circulation area is also a relic of the past. Home-state reports are regularly picked up on such Web sites as the Hotline or ABC's "The Note," giving them instant national impact." (Yeah — we know — that's us.)

The Boston Herald's Joe Battenfeld picks up on the Dean campaign claim "to back off its feud with [Senator] Kerry a day after Dean charged Kerry with making 'down and dirty,' Massachusetts-style attacks." LINK

Battenfeld cites Dean's New York Times interview, and offers a comment from Joe Trippi:

"Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi said yesterday the Vermont Democrat 'meant it as a compliment' when he complained about Bay State politics."

"'Every place has the rules of the road and Massachusetts is rough and tumble,' Trippi said."

"Dean could not be reached for comment. But Trippi said Dean has no interest in escalating the ongoing rhetorical battle." (And the Kerry camp also declined comment.)

Battenfeld briefly reviews the feud, but his final sentences do not suggest the campaigns are quite ready to move on:

"Kerry and Dean's hostilities have dominated the early part of the Democratic presidential race. The feud culminated in an angry exchange during the first debate in South Carolina on May 3."

"Kerry's campaign aides charge that Dean is the one who initiated the personal attacks, but Trippi said yesterday Kerry lashed out when polls showed Dean and Kerry even in New Hampshire."

Some Florida Democratic dates for all y'all:

The Jefferson-Jackson dinner is scheduled for June 28 in Broward County.

The famed state convention is scheduled for December 5 through 7, either in Tampa or Orlando. (The Note votes for Orlando.)

Gannett's Mike Madden looks at Democratic efforts to court rural voters. LINK

He Notes: "Each of the first three 2004 caucus and primary states — Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina — has nearly twice the percentage of rural residents as the 21 percent in the nation's population as a whole."

The Associated Press does gays and Democrats: LINK

BOSTON CONVENTION

The Boston Herald's Elizabeth W. Crowley reports that the federal government will pick up a chunk of the steep $10 million security costs for the 2004 Democratic convention, given its designated status as a "national special security event." LINK

The Boston Globe 's Scott S. Greenberger writes that the pledged federal aid for the Democratic convention's security costs is essential, stating: "Boston and state officials hailed the confirmation as a significant milestone, especially as they grapple with their worst fiscal crisis in a decade," and quoting Mayor Menino: "the designation will 'help us immeasurably.'"LINK

DEAN

Jim Farrell, former spokesman for the late Senator Wellstone, urges progressives to think twice about Howard Dean before rushing to support his candidacy.

In this week's edition of The Nation, Farrell says that using Senator Wellstone's line about representing the "Democratic wing of the Democratic party" may be where the similarities between the two Democrats begin and end.

"While Dean may share some measure of Wellstone's passion, his record and his agenda are very different. As governor of Vermont, Dean targeted for elimination the public-financing provision of the state's campaign finance law-a law similar to the one Wellstone pushed in the Senate. In February, Dean told the Associated Press that his big donors are given special access. And while Wellstone fought for people on welfare, Dean said 'welfare recipients don't have any self-esteem. If they did, they'd be working,' later declaring that 'liberals like Marian Wright Edelman are wrong.' And Dean scaled back Vermont's welfare program, reducing cash benefits and imposing strict time limits on single mothers receiving welfare assistance."

"Dean is not without some redeeming policies-he deserves credit for signing the civil union law in Vermont, for example. But when held up to the progressive standards of a Paul Wellstone, his deeds are sorely lacking." "And let's not let progressive style or language replace progressive substance simply because we no longer have a senator who is one of us."

As many of you told us yesterday and today, "Ho-Ho" was apparently invented by Vermont columnist Peter Freyne.

GRAHAM

Bob Graham gets a mention in Paul Krugman's column. LINK

LIEBERMAN

The Raleigh News & Observer's John Wagner apparently needed a little break from trailing Senator Edwards everywhere he goes. Today, Mr. Wagner kicks off his weekly series of profiles of all the candidates running for the Democratic nomination. Mr. Lieberman "won" the inaugural honors. <LINK

"On the night before the Democrats' first presidential debate in South Carolina, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut was parked near the vegetable tray in a VIP tent, sharing handshakes and broad smiles with party activists."

"Among those who dropped by to have his picture snapped with the Democrats' 2000 vice presidential nominee was Glenn Reese, a state senator. Lieberman graciously complied but must have been taken aback by the sticker on Reese's lapel: It advertised support for Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, a 2004 rival. 'Lieberman is a great statesman,' Reese later said, 'but I think people in general want a little more charisma to vote for.' Moreover, Reese said, Edwards asked for his support before it was clear Lieberman was going to run."

"Though by far the best-known of the nine Democrats, he has struggled to distinguish himself from the pack."

"Lieberman's first-quarter fund-raising total was less than half of that of Edwards and Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. And the most recent poll out of New Hampshire, the nation's first primary state, shows Lieberman running behind two fellow New Englanders, Kerry and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean."

"Lieberman's supporters attribute his slow start largely to a pledge he made to Al Gore to stay out of the race if Gore got in. Lieberman boosters also argue his candidacy will wear better with time."

Professor Kit Seelye leads her New York Times story thusly: "Responding to a request from Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut and a candidate for president, the inspector general of the Interior Department is investigating possible conflicts of interest involving a top Interior official who used to be a lobbyist for the oil, gas and mining interests he now regulates." LINK

The Nutmeg State senator plays a big role in the Wall Street Journal version too.

GEPHARDT

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Deirdre Shesgreen writes, "A coterie of House colleagues will endorse Rep. Richard Gephardt's presidential bid Wednesday, including his successor as House minority leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi." LINK

"Gephardt, the Democratic leader in the House for eight years, has been wooing his colleagues privately for months, hoping to demonstrate deep support from House members and to tap the fund-raising and political skills of his fellow lawmakers."

"A Gephardt adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity, declined to say how many House members would participate in the news conference Wednesday but confirmed that Pelosi, of California, would headline the event along with Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House."

Dick Morris calculates that Dick Gephardt has "dug himself an early grave in his pursuit of the White House" by missing 84% of House votes since the start of the year, and complains "Gephardt did not do the honest thing and resign since he wasn't planning to show up for work." LINK

KERRY

Teresa Heinz Kerry gets herself on the front page of the New York Time, as John Tierney gets his interview with the would-be first lady. LINK

The piece reviews Ms. Heinz Kerry's now legendary past interviews and statements, and gives Paul Costello and Bob Shrum their say, but is all framed around dueling quotes from Chris Lehane and Nelson Warfield.

"Chris Lehane, a senior adviser to the Kerry campaign, predicted that voters would warm to Ms. Heinz Kerry both for her charitable work and for her straight talk. 'By speaking her mind, she's going to be the John McCain of first ladies,' he said."

"That prediction seemed far-fetched to a Republican political consultant, Nelson Warfield. 'She's more likely to be the Sharon Osbourne of first ladies,' said Mr. Warfield, the press secretary for Bob Dole in the 1996 presidential campaign. 'I don't dispute that she's a fine human being, but whether she's an asset or not to the campaign depends on what the prenuptial agreement says. Anyone who can fund a campaign is a happy person to have around, but given her highly quotable outbursts, at best she's going to be a constant risk of distraction.'"

In the end, Mr. Tierney seems largely sympathetic and no new news is committed.

NBC's Jim Miklaszewski praised the heck out of Heinz Kerry on Imus this morning.

The Detroit News' George Weeks spends much of his column on John Kerry's weekend visit to the Motor City. LINK

"Kerry's trip 'was the first Michigan visit by a Democratic contender since the state party's April 26 decision to set Feb. 7 as the date for its 2004 presidential caucuses. It's Michigan's earliest shot in the Democratic nominating process.'"

"'As the first major industrial state to vote, Michigan will be a pivotal Democratic battleground.'"

"'At the Detroit dinner, Kerry stroked all the right folks.'"

"'I came here to bask in your 75 percent approval rating,' he quipped to Governor Jennifer Granholm, who introduced him. She's neutral at this point, but ex-Governor Jim Blanchard is on the Kerry team.'"

"Kerry, who met before the dinner with officials of several Michigan AFL-CIO affiliates, had a pitch for the United Auto Workers in his speech. Noting President George W. Bush's emphasis on fuel-cell vehicles, Kerry said: 'I know who I want to build that car. I want it built in America, I want it built in Michigan. And I want it built by the UAW.'"

"Nice line. But not so nice — to the UAW — was Kerry's support for the North American Free Trade Agreement."

The Keene Sentinel's editorial board has a late, though interesting take on Kerry's "regime change" remark. LINK

The Boston Globe enjoys Christopher Buckley's New Yorker "John le Kerry" piece. LINK

CLARK

"Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark emphatically denied he was testing the political waters with his trip to New Hampshire on Monday but his actions, namely jumping into a YMCA pool while reporters looked on, said otherwise," is how the AP lead its story. LINK

PoliticsNH.com's James Pindell notes that Clark sounded like a politician — sort of.

"People have advised me that the less partisan you talk the more support I'll get for what I say,' Clark told a small group of activists at the Merrimack Restaurant." LINK

"Clark did shed light that he thought large scale government programs like the interstate system, G.I. Bill, and the develop.m.ent of land-grant college proved government was 'important', he made the case of how he changed education for the 44,000 children who attended his military bases, and answered a question on President Bush's recently argued tax cut by saying he favored a stimulus package for small businesses."

"'I would like Democrats to speak out and say government is important. Government is important. Government does things for people that they can't do themselves. Why are people ashamed to say that? People say government is so inefficient, look government is just us. It is just a bunch of people like us who sit around and do things for people. The inefficiency is limited by the quality of people who work there. '"

"Along with saying he believed in the "importance of government" Clark also said he believed in a progressive tax system."

"'I happen to believe in progressive taxation. I am sure there are people out there who say everybody should pay the same rate of taxes, but I don't believe that. The same people who don't make as much money shouldn't have to pay the same amount of taxes. When you make more money you spend it more on luxuries so you can afford to pay more in taxes. And you ought to. And you should be proud of it. I've given five times more in taxes last year than I made as a general.'"

Here's John DiStaso's take: LINK

Big Casino budget politics:

While the Aberdeen paper reports on the Club for Growth ad assault on Senator Daschle for opposing the president's budget, the Senator himself will do a photo-op today to open the Democrats' economic "recovery room: from which Democratic members will do home state and national press during the tax cut debate on the floor.

As for the Club for Growth ad targeting Senator Daschle: LINK

"'This is a state that should have two votes in the Senate for the Bush plan and instead we're going to get, potentially, zero,' said Stephen Moore, president of Club for Growth, which has budgeted $50,000 for a South Dakota television campaign."

"Moore conceded that Daschle, who has proposed his own economic plan, would not side with Bush on the issue. But he said Club for Growth wants to underscore Daschle's stance in a state where the group thinks President Bush's agenda is popular."

Jackie Calmes of Dow Jones has a fabulous Big Casino must-read about Republican governors mostly absent from the effort by some senators to get federal aid to the states into the pipeline.

The always calm Ms. Calmes packs a couple of gallons of political and policy nuance into a breezy and readable treatise.

The Washington Post 's Jonathan Weisman, apparently tired of waiting for "class warfare"-wary Democrats to make the argument effectively themselves, produces an analysis of the Bush/Hill tax cut packages, and doesn't pull a single punch when he says that, despite the administration's clever rhetoric:

" … (T)he president's original $726 billion tax cut plan — and the smaller versions that passed the House and are under consideration in the Senate — clearly do favor the affluent." LINK

The Indianapolis Star's Mary Beth Schneider writes, "President Bush will be pleading his case for more tax cuts today to several thousand Hoosiers at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. But the person he most wants to sway will be sitting a whisper away — U.S. Senator Evan Bayh." LINK

Before his 9:50 am speech to about 7,000 in the Pepsi Coliseum, the president "will meet privately with a group of senior citizens to argue that his proposal to eliminate taxes on stock dividends will help them, and not millionaire investors."

The Omaha World-Herald's Paul Goodsell writes, "[speaking] before a mostly partisan and supportive Republican crowd in a brand new, brightly lighted plant that makes foam containers, Bush urged Nebraskans [Monday] to tell Congress that it needs to pass a tax cut that is big enough to create jobs and push the nation back toward prosperity." LINK

"Organizers said about 3,000 people, most of whom were invited by the state's Republican congressional delegation, attended Bush's speech at MCT Corp. in the town just north of Albuquerque," reports the Albuquerque Tribune's Shea Andersen. LINK

Despite the pre-selected guest list, the president's "military remarks coincided with shouts from protesters who had gotten inside the warehouse. From within the crowd, antiwar activists shouted 'Peace!' and 'Bush is a warmonger!' before they were ushered out by security guards."

The Washington Post 's Mike Allen ends his daily story quoting the president: "He told the audience that 'a lot of talk about the deficit' is actually 'an excuse not to cut taxes.'" LINK

Elisabeth Bumiller's New York Times write-up says the president was lookin' "tanned and peppy," and she makes fun of POTUS-speak. LINK

The Wall Street Journal 's Murray and Cummings end their wrap-up of Hill tax action with this: "Senate Republicans are considering making one last attempt to give Mr. Bush the dividend-tax repeal proposed as part of his original $725 billion economic plan, through an amendment that would phase out the tax over three years. The tax would be fully reinstated in the fourth year. Another option would boost the dividend-tax exemption to 50% for five years."

"One potential Democratic amendment has Republicans especially nervous; it would kill a provision to strike an $80,000 individual income-tax exemption available to U.S. nationals who work abroad. The measure is essentially a $32 billion tax increase Republicans inserted in the bill to offset the cost of the dividend provisions. Lobbyists who represent multinational corporations are reporting to senators that their clients are strongly opposed to the measure; Republican aides said the oil-and-gas industry is especially irate."

"Were the Democratic amendment to succeed, it would cause the whole package to fall apart, by driving up the cost beyond the Senate's self-imposed $350 billion limit."

Due to the unwieldy rules of the United States Senate, the tax cut legislation has not yet made it to the floor.

ABCNEWS' Ed O'Keefe explains.

"Only in Washington … "

"Last Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee voted 12-9 to "favorably report" a substitute to S. 2, a $350 billion tax-cutting economic stimulus bill, to the full Senate."

"Today, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that the substitute to S. 2 had not been brought to the floor under proper rules and, therefore, needed to be either sent back to the Finance Committee or subject to "Rule 14" by the Majority Leader."

"If Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) brought the bill directly to the floor via "Rule 14" (i.e., bypassing the Finance Committee), tax cut bill could be subject to endless debate and/or a Democratic filibuster. To prevent such a filibuster, the Republicans will send the bill back the Finance Committee for re-approval."

"But … "

"Several Democrats travel to Louisiana tomorrow for the Noon funeral services of Senator Russell Long (D-LA) and, as such, refuse to give the Republicans unanimous consent to re-pass the bill out of committee."

"So, Senate Finance will meet tomorrow night after 7p to vote again, this time on (hopefully) the right tax cut bill. If all goes well for the Republicans, S. 2 should be up on the floor and ready for debate on Wednesday."

E.J. Dionne quotes Charlie Cook doing his best Bob Kerrey imitation, rating the various lying capacities of 42, 43, and 43'. LINK

Economy:

Both the New York Times LINK and the Wall Street Journal have looks at Secretary Snow and the dollar, and the Journal leads the paper with it (hint: this might be the most important political story in the papers today):

"The dollar fell to a four-year low against the euro, underscoring what is becoming a central economic dilemma for the Bush administration: A weaker dollar may help give the U.S. economy a welcome boost, but it could be risky to say that out loud."

"That predicament became clear Monday when comments by Treasury Secretary John Snow convinced financial markets that the Bush administration secretly welcomes the dollar's decline. Mr. Snow's seemingly innocuous statement Sunday — that a weaker dollar helps American companies compete internationally — drove the already-weakening currency lower against the yen as well."

"The struggling U.S. economy is at a point where it benefits from both a weaker dollar and a stated government policy favoring a strong dollar. The weaker buck makes U.S. goods cheaper to foreign consumers and combats deflation by pushing up prices of imports. But strong-dollar rhetoric helps keep markets calm and discourages a potentially disastrous free fall in the currency … ."

"Mr. Snow, who was supposed to be a smoother-talking replacement for the famously loose-lipped Paul O'Neill, isn't yet fluent in the delicate language of dollar policy. Despite advice from underlings, he still strays from the script."

"Responding to a question Sunday on ABC's 'This Week,' Mr. Snow said: 'When the dollar is at a lower level it helps exports, and I think exports are getting stronger as a result.'"

"'What he has done is stated one of those obvious truths that the secretary of the Treasury isn't supposed to say,' said Princeton University economist Alan Blinder, a former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. 'When the secretary of the Treasury says something like that, it gets imbued with deep meaning, whether he wants it to or not … '"

"Despite the Treasury's assertions to the contrary, some traders still see Mr. Snow's comments as a signal that the administration would happily accede to an even lower dollar. Economically, a weaker dollar makes a good deal of sense right now. The U.S. economy is growing only slightly, if at all, and a weaker dollar would help American manufacturers sell more abroad, and fend off foreign competitors at home. In addition, the Fed last week warned that the risk of deflation, however small, is greater than the risk of inflation, the first time the central bank has sounded that alarm. A weaker dollar helps fend off such a debacle by pushing up import prices."

Swimming against the current, a former Clinton administration economic official says the economy ain't in that bad a shape after all. LINK

Judicial confirmation battles:

We wonder where the Wall Street Journal ed board was in the mid-'90s, when the confirmation process for judges seemed just as broken to The Note then as it does now.

BCRA:

This Washington Times paragraph is a rough approximation of where things stand vis-a-vis the legal haggling over the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act:

"Multiple appeals have been filed with the Supreme Court. Pending those appeals, the NRA and several parties have asked the three-judge panel to stay its own ruling. But the NRA yesterday said it must go further and ask the Supreme Court to get involved because it needs an immediate answer in order to know whether it can begin to run advertisements on gun issues." LINK

Incidentally, Chief Justice Rehnquist is the duty justice for the D.C. circuit, and his campaign finance opinions haven't been predictable.

Lawyers for both sides aren't sure whether the court will agree to a stay, but they are pretty sure that Rehnquist will poll his colleagues, at least informally, before deciding what to do.

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee asked the three-judge panel to refuse to stay its own decision, which would make its ruling on soft money the controlling legal authority. That ruling allows the RNC to raise soft money for generic or GOTV purposes (provided it doesn't use federal office holders to do so).

If the court grants a stay, the RNC would find that particular avenue barricaded and would effectively be out of the soft money business until the Supreme Court rules on the case itself.

Politics:

The Associated Press' Pete Yost reports that the president and GOP allies "are putting trial lawyers on the defensive, from immunizing drug makers from lawsuits to cutting into the fees of attorneys who sue major corporations." LINK

"'We've heard of enemies' lists, but this now looks like the White House and their friends in Congress want to start employing an enemies tax,' Democratic consultant Jenny Backus said."

The New York Post 's Page Six spotted Karenna Gore Schiff running in the Child magazine's Mother's Day Race. LINK

The Herald-Dispatch's Rebeccah Cantley-Falk reports, "Political insiders and state residents alike said they were shocked and saddened Monday by Governor Bob Wise's statement that he had been unfaithful to his family." LINK

"Many people, however, said it is too early to tell how the news will affect Wise's re-election bid in 2004."

Alex Sink, retired banker, Democratic activist, spouse of 2002 gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride, said yesterday she will not run for U.S. Senate LINK

Wither Hutchinson on Hutchinson lobbying, as chronicled in the New York Times . LINK

Amazingly, the Washington Post ed board doesn't think amending the constitution to ban flag burning is a good idea. LINK

Webby Awards update:

The latest poetic posting on the Webby Awards site by someone with the good taste to Vote The Note.

I vote the Note — a daily read
It makes me feel smart
To know what's in the PDA
Of guys like Gary Hart

And policy? Well, that's a start
But there, behind the scenes
The Note displays the politics
The Ways behind the Means

I read about the Toms and Deans
Back doors and hallowed halls
From those who catch the inside scoop
And often drop the Balz

From Bush-B-Qs and cattle calls
To ex-post-facto vetting
Nothing pays off like The Note
Not even Bennett's betting

The one thing that's upsetting?
Spin on spending? Hype on war?
Nah. It's how my knowledge of them both
Makes me a bore

-D

Our lead is still slipping away.

Please get at least two other people today to vote for us here. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE HERE

Thank you.

Bush Administration strategy/personality:

Television Pretty Boy Alan Murray uses his Wall Street Journal column to stand up for the eggheads and the Council of Economic Advisers.