The Note: Agree to Disagree

ByABC News
February 2, 2007, 9:49 AM

— -- WASHINGTON, Feb.2

Whether you have a Lauriol Plaza brunch scheduled, a POTUS bike ride on the docket, or just plan to attend a boring Super Bowl party, once again, The Note is here to equip you with what you need to gab knowingly about the three (still) enduring rings of American politics.

Ring 1 -- Iraq:
The White House, lulled into a false sense of reality by Democratic squabbling over the non-binding Senate resolution and confirmation of its military bigs, apparently still doesn't realize that the war is politically over. The National Intelligence Estimate, the CBO report, and Dr. Howard Dean's manifest oats-feeling in an exclusive interview with ABC News' Teddy Davis all tell the current chapter of the tale. LINK

Ring 2 -- other legislative business:
The latest proof (as if any more were needed) that next week's Bush budget will be deader on arrival than, say, a vintage '80s Reagan budget: Robert Pear's Medicare/Medicaid story in the New York Times. LINK

Ring 3 -- 2008:
The Big Three in each party (Rs: McCain, Romney, Giuliani; Ds: Clinton, Obama, Edwards) are going at it with January, 2008 intensity. They are competing ferociously over money, endorsements, money, policy, money, travel schedules, staff, money, and money. Must-reads to get the point: the New York Times' Healy and Zeleny on fundraising among the Democrats' Big Three, with enough spinnin' and spittin' to keep insiders buzzing through lunch. LINK And the New York Post's Haberman and Dicker on Empire State jockeying. LINK

The super delegate festival (a/k/a: the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting) gets underway in earnest today, with marquee speeches at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC.

The day begins at 9:00 am ET with a speech by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) followed by words from DNC Chairman Howard Dean.

Then 2008 presidential hopefuls deliver back to back speeches beginning with Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.), former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY).

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) attends a George Mason University College Democrats rally in conjunction with Students for Barack Obama at the George Mason University Fairfax Campus at 1:00 pm ET.

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK), and former Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA) speak on Saturday.

Each candidate has been asked to keep their remarks to no longer than seven minutes.

"The long-awaited National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq will be released today," reports ABC News' Jonathan Karl. "The full classified report will be sent to Capitol Hill, and, in a shift from previous practice, a summary of findings will be declassified and publicly released."

At 12:30 pm ET, the DNI will post that summary of findings on its website.

ABC News' Karen Travers reports that NSA Stephen Hadley briefs on camera at 3:15 pm ET.

ABC News' Ann Compton reports that an NSC source tells her "the underlying intel in the NIE was used to formulate the President's new strategy, it's further, clear evidence why a new strategy is necessary. It paints a picture of a very serious and complex situation on the ground. It also says that rapid withdrawal would only lead to further deterioration."

ABC News' Dan Arnall reports, "The government says that American companies added 111,000 new workers to their payrolls during January. This is below the expected jobs growth of 150K that economists were predicting for the month."

Also today, the DNC Executive Committee holds a meeting at 6:30 pm ET, with Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ), Mayor Adrian Fenty (D-DC), Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin (D-GA), and DNC Vice Chair & ASDC President Mark Brewer.

At 11:30 am ET TODAY, National Security Advisory Stephen Hadley will hold a briefing at the White House.

President Bush meets 2006 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, for a photo op at 2:45 pm ET in the White House.

After some morning show business, First Lady Laura Bush promotes "Wear Red Day" for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Red Dress Project. Mrs. Bush Participates in a roundtable discussion with cardiologists, survivors and partners at 9:45 am ET at the Bryant Park Hotel in New York City, and then at 11:05 am ET attends the Heart Truth 2007 Fashion Show.

Govs. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) and Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) address the Center for American Progress on the subject of "Governing for the Common Good" at 2:00 pm ET in Washington, DC.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) addresses the Council for National Policy at 11:00 am ET at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) speaks at the Republican Study Committee retreat at 12:30 pm ET in Baltimore, MD. Romney's speech today is expected to continue the discussion of how, on the issue of life, this fiscal conservative became a social conservative as well. It will also offer a critique of Sen. Clinton's speech on Iran last night in New York City.

The New York Post's Haberman suggests the AIPAC crowd did not like Clinton's remarks. LINK

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) campaigns in Portland, ME, where he appears on Community Television Network's "We the People" at 6:00 pm ET, immediately followed by a reception, and then a public discussion at 8 pm ET.

Sen. McCain and Sen. Hagel each join ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on "This Week" to discuss the Senate clash over the President's plan to increase troops in Iraq and much more. David Brooks, Donna Brazile and George will appear on the 'Roundtable." Check local listings. LINK

See the end of The Note for the full weekend in politics schedule.

Politics of Iraq:
USA Today's Kathy Kiely reports that President Bush is inviting GOP senators to the White House today to sell the more skeptical members on his Iraq policy, including Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) who said, "I don't think there is any lack of appetite for clashing with the executive in both parties." LINK

"The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that Bush's plan to deploy roughly 20,000 additional U.S. combat troops to Iraq is likely to require at least 15,000 support personnel, and possibly as many as 28,000," write the Washington Post's Murray and Weisman. LINK

"That could mean the plan would involve up to 48,000 troops and contractors, at a cost of between $9 billion and $13 billion for the first four months and up to $27 billion for the first year."