The Note

W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 2&#151;<br> -- Today's Schedule (all times Eastern):

—8:15 am: Sen. Joe Lieberman meets locals at a diner, Littleton, N.H.—9:25 am: President Bush signs H.R. 3182, the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003, White House—9:30 am: Sen. John Edwards meets with Wayne County Democratic activists, Corydon, Iowa—10:00 am: The Supreme Court convenes—10:15 am: Sen. Lieberman speaks to students at New Hampshire Community Technical College, Berlin, N.H.—10:45 am: Sen. Edwards meets with Decatur County Democratic activists, Lamoni, Iowa—10:45 am: Sen. Lieberman opens regional field office, Berlin, N.H. —10:55 am: Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun speaks at Rock Valley College, Rockford, Ill.—11:30 am: Gov. Howard Dean discusses the economy at IBEW Union Hall Local 405, Cedar Rapids, Iowa—12:05 pm: President Bush attends a Bush-Cheney 2004 fundraiser, Pittsburgh—12:30 pm: Sen. Lieberman speaks to students at Kennett Sr. High School, Conway, N.H.—12:35 pm: Gov. Dean meets with Marshalltown residents, Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, Iowa—2:00 pm: Sen. John Kerry addresses Boston University students, Boston—2:45 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Taylor County Democratic activists, Bedford, Iowa—3:00 pm: President Bush participates in a photo opportunity with NASCAR drivers, White House—3:00 pm: Rep. Dennis Kucinich meets with labor leaders, New York City—3:45 pm: Gov. Dean meets with students at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa—4:00 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Adams County Democratic activists, Corning, Iowa—4:15 pm: Rep. Kucinich and labor leaders hold a press conference, New York City—5:15 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Page County Democratic activists, Clarinda, Iowa—5:30 pm: Gov. Dean meets with Newton residents, DMACC-Newton Conference Center, Newton, Iowa—5:30 pm: Sen. Lieberman speaks to disabled veterans at bingo dinner, Portsmouth, N.H.—6:15 pm: Gen. Wesley Clark participates in a youth forum, St. Anselm College, Manchester, N.H.—6:30 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Fremont County Democratic activists, Sidney, Iowa—7:00 pm: Sen. Lieberman attends a town hall meeting, Rochester, N.H.—7:15 pm: Gen. Clark attends an event with Alpine Club endorsers, Manchester, N.H.—7:15 pm: Sen. Lieberman will appear live and take calls on C-SPAN from Rochester, N.H.—7:45 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with Mills County Democratic activists, Glenwood, Iowa—11:30 pm: Rep. Richard Gephardt appears on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

NEWS SUMMARY

Is Howard Dean dominating another Invisible Primary news cycle?

Yes.

Does he have a tight-knit, shockingly ad hoc group of advisers?

Yes. LINK

Are questions being raised — still and again — about his draft history?

You betcha. LINK

Is there something fishy about his sealing of Vermont records?

Sure. LINK and LINK

Does Dean get "exasperated" when "asked the same question repeatedly"?

We have seen it with our own eyes. LINK

Is helping raise money for Congressman Boswell in Iowa another brilliant Trippi-ng-the-light-fantastic move?

Yup. LINK

Is Dean's own fundraising advantage over his Democratic rivals getting bigger?

Oh, yeah. LINK

And, because of all of the above, are there plenty of Democratic members of Congress (and Bush political operatives) who share the view of Yale junior Zack Jones (of dear old Davenport College), who writes in the Yale Daily News:

"Dean has run a fantastic campaign by tapping into a very real anger that exists among many Democrats, including this one. I believe Dean when he says he wants to be the candidate for everybody, even guys with Confederate flags on the backs of their pickup trucks. Unfortunately, the reality is that Dean can only be the candidate for people with Darwin fishes on the backs of their Volvos and rainbow decals on the backs of their Jettas. He's not a bad guy, but if he's our standard bearer, Democrats are in deep poop." LINK

And, thus, the Nation's political eye turns to the head of the pass — one week from tonight, when Dean's 8 rivals face off against him in the Dust-up in Durham, the year's final debate — before a huge New Hampshire audience on mega-powerhouse WMUR, and a huge national audience on Nightline and C-SPAN.

There are four additional must-reads today.

--Kit Seelye in the New York Times on the Electoral College map and the Big 15. LINK

There's nothing quite like seeing Jim Mulhall pull out words like "destiny" a mere 48 days from the Iowa caucuses.

--The Wall Street Journal 's Jeanne Cummings smartly lays out the land of 5-plus-2-equals-7. We ask you to take our quiz to find out which influential Dem in the World of Outside Groups is not mentioned in this piece?

1) Ellen Malcolm2) Steve Rosenthal3) Mike Lux4) John Podesta5) Cecile RichardsWinners receive our undying respect (we are all out of T-shirts, what with the holiday rush and all!) and affection. LINK

--The New York Times lead story — and others — on the suddenly gushing-like-a-geyser economy. LINK;

--The Wall Street Journal 's Greg Jaffe on the Army's decision to allow combat units returning from duty to temporarily fall below combat-readiness levels. Anyone got a copy of the 2000 debates handy?

President Bush signs an adoption bill, attends a Pittsburgh fundraiser, and takes a picture with NASCAR drivers today.

Gov. Dean campaigns and speaks about the economy today in Iowa.

Rep. Gephardt appears on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

Sen. Kerry speaks to students in Boston today.

Gen. Clark campaigns in New Hampshire.

Sen. Edwards campaigns in Iowa.

Sen. Lieberman speaks about the economy and tax policy throughout New Hampshire.

Amb. Moseley Braun is in Rockford, Ill. this morning.

Rev. Al Sharpton continues to rehearse in New York for Saturday Night Live.

Rep. Kucinich is in New York City meeting with labor leaders.

The Dust-up in Durham:

Precisely one week from today, on Dec. 9 at 7 pm ET, ABC News and WMUR will host a debate in Durham, N.H., on the campus of the University of New Hampshire, with all nine Democratic presidential candidates.

As you know, the whole shootin' match will be seen that evening on an extended version of Nightline, shown live on WMUR and on C-SPAN.

Also: ABC News Radio will provide a specially formatted two-hour version of the debate, including post-debate analysis, to its 4,000 affiliates at 9 pm ET. ABC News Live, the 24/7 streaming video news network available at ABCNEWS.com, will carry the debate also.

And the C-SPAN pre- and post- bonus coverage is going to make those of you foolish enough not to come up for the debate feel ALMOST as if you are there.

Although some have mocked Walter Shapiro for publishing a book about this campaign before the voting starts, we say it's never too early for campaign history.

Here, then, to get you in the New Hampshire mood, is a timeline of what has happened to date this year in the Granite State's political firmament. It makes for a great read, but it is also perfect for making flash cards and suitable for framing.

Feb. 1, 2003: "PrimarilyNewHampshire.com" begins documenting contemporary campaign culture by photographing and recording a year in the lives of 25 young campaign staffers dedicated to democracy.

Feb. 1, 2003: Senator John Kerry's campaign is inundated with grey Eddie Bauer sweaters with the arrival of former Shaheen operative Ken Robinson as state director.

Feb. 14, 2003: Karen Hicks appointed New Hampshire State Director by Gov. Howard Dean; veteran Democratic spokesperson Colin Van Ostern has yet another birthday.

Feb. 19, 2003: Senator John Edwards has a magic moment at Page Belting in Concord.

Feb. 23, 2003: Julie Teer named communications director of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

Feb. 29, 2003: Howard Fineman and Chris Matthews speculate about Senator Hillary Clinton's entering the New Hampshire primary.

March 13, 2003: Ray Buckley endorses Senator Joseph Lieberman.

March 21, 2003: American Research Group poll shows Gov. Dean catching Senator Kerry in New Hampshire.

March 27, 2003: Gary Hart comes to New Hampshire to test the waters about possible '04 race. He finds them polluted by too much money.

April 5, 2003: Rev. Al Sharpton attends the New Hampshire Democratic 100 Club annual fundraiser. He promises to come back but doesn't say when.

April 9, 2003: At least three "Draft Clark" sites spring up.

April 28, 2003: Time.com posts story quoting Gov. Dean telling New Hampshire audience that the U.S. "won't always have the strongest military." Dean's comment is instantly attacked by Senator Kerry adviser Chris Lehane, who says Dean's comment raises "serious questions" about his "capacity to serve as commander-in-chief."

April 31, 2003: Howard Fineman and Joe Scarborough speculate about Hillary Clinton's entering the New Hampshire primary.

May 3, 2003: The Old Man of the Mountain collapses in a rock slide.

May 27, 2003: Mike Palamuso (Team Edwards) takes first place at PoliticsNH.com's campaign karaoke championship with a dazzling and moving rendition of Will Smith's "Getting Jiggy With It."

June 25, 2003: House Democratic Leader Peter Burling endorses Rep. Gephardt.

June 30, 2003: Senator Edwards holds the first of 100 "Town Hall Meetings" in Concord.

July 3, 2003: Senator Lieberman unveils two "Joe Mobiles" in 4th of July Parade in Amherst and Merrimack. Howard Dean and John Kerry prove that they barely and rarely perspire.

July 25, 2003: Late night, inter-campaign BBQ hosted by Delana Jones (Dean Team) and Kinsey Casey (Edwards Team) draws SRO crowd and spawns multiple, inter-campaign trysts.

July 30, 2003: Dorie Clark and Judy Reardon do their best Alexis and Krystal imitations, making even Kevin Landrigan smile.

Aug. 18, 2003: Gov. Dean and Rep. Gephardt win opening round of softball games: Gov. Dean's campaign defeats Senator Lieberman's team, 13-7; and Dick Gephardt's gang topples John Edwards' team, 14-5, in the opening day of a softball tournament of New Hampshire presidential campaign staffs.

Aug. 22, 2003: New campaign bar tab record set at the Black Brimmer, surpassing the previous record set the previous night at the Wild Rover, which had surpassed a new record set the previous night at Strange Brew.