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Back in the days when the two men were still inclined to hug each other on the House floor, the president would have surely said: "Tom and I both married above ourselves." (Laughter)

That might still be the most salient answer, but the men who head our two major political parties in Washington also share something else: both continue to stake out postures on a war against Iraq that would test far worse than 70-30 (the Mark Penn standard) if you polled them.

The president loses support in the polling when his failure to get United Nations' approval is factored in. Dachle's harsh criticism of the president on the eve of war causes many we-want-the-White-House-back Democrats to cringe, because they feel intuitively that the stance is bad politics.

Watching buttery-smooth Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson on Paula Zahn this morning trying to defend Daschle's withering criticism was a window into the torture that the Minority Leader's position is causing many within the party.

Both sides will certainly hate us for saying it, but the conclusion we have drawn is that both Bush and Daschle are making these somewhat risky, unpopular decisions because they are elevating their respective perceptions of the public good above what a mercenary, results-oriented pollster would tell them to do.

While much ink has been spilled looking at the president's motivation, let's pause a bit to try to figure out why Senator Daschle (along with Leader Pelosi, Senator Byrd, Senator Kennedy, and just a few others of Note and prominence) is not "tongue-biting" (as the Boston Globe put it) in the face of an apparent repudiation of the United Nations, and what nearly every Democrat in Congress seem in their hearts to consider to be a premature move to conflict.

Initially, much of the opposition to war coming from Democratic activists pressured some in the leadership to be wary of supporting the president. The activists' opposition, however, appeared for a long time to be driven by a reflexive opposition to all things Bush, because they view him as an illegitimate cowboy president, rather than by specific opposition to THIS war.

Publicly and privately, there is actually a fair amount of consensus within the Democratic party: Bush diplomacy: bad. Troops: good. Saddam Hussein: very bad.

But there IS clearly more dissent among the Democrats than there is within the GOP — at least publicly.

Still: have a "Crossfire" PA get ready to make a graphic for whoever is hosting from the left tonight out of this blind quote from a David Sanger New York Times news analysis: "In moments of candor, even some of Mr. Bush's most senior national security aides say they have no idea what they will find after they lift the top off a dictatorship." LINK "'If it's not post-war Japan — if it's more like post-war Yugoslavia — we will have a huge and expensive problem on our hands,' one of those advisers conceded recently. 'And I can't honestly tell you we are prepared for that, because there is no way to prepare for that.'"

But except for the stray Chuck Hagel quote, the GOP public echo machine is monolithic on this. The Washington Post 's Jim VandeHei, per usual, nails that sweet spot between policy and politics for both parties: "Bush enjoys near-universal support among congressional Republicans for attacking Iraq when he chooses, although several of them privately raised concerns about his tactics and timing … ." LINK

"Democrats remain split into three camps: those who support war, those who oppose it and those who want a U.N.-sanctioned encounter … "

Now, Daschle himself says that he plans to vote for the expected pro-forma resolution supporting the conflict to be brought up right at the end of the run up.

But it appears that his Plain State concern for getting along with the world is causing him not to get quietly in line just yet.

Amidst the national call for unity in support of America's troops, there was a pretty bitter back and forth.

Daschle said yesterday that Mr. Bush failed "miserably" at diplomacy, forcing the United States to go to war with Iraq.

The fact that Daschle made the remark in a speech to AFSCME surely didn't do anything to endear him to 1600. Daschle's comments were denounced by the restrained Republican National Chairman Marc Racicot as "divisive and brazen political posturing."

The fact that the White House used its SOP of attacking leading Democrats via the committee to keep the government "above the fray" surely didn't do anything to endear itself to 509 Hart.

And then the mild-mannered Jay Carson, Mr. Daschle's spokesman, replied that it is "brazen and political" for a party chairman to be responding to a national security issue with "with such divisive and political language."

The RNC's oppo memo blares this headline in bolded ALL CAPS: "BLAME AMERICA FIRST? ON THE EVE OF WAR, DASCHLE TRIES TO GAIN PARTISAN ADVANTAGE."

Salon's Jake Tapper, who, if it weren't for his abject objectivity, might develop a crush on Daschle, says this: "Somewhat inexplicably, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle … told a union audience that he was 'saddened, saddened, that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to go to war. Saddened that we have to give up one life because this president couldn't create the kind of diplomatic effort that was so critical for our country.' The administration's diplomatic stumbling aside, it was unclear how getting a larger multi-lateral coalition together to fight a war would have prevented war or saved a life." LINK

The New York Post 's Deborah Orin catalogues the range of sadness and disheartenment Daschle and Racicot feel about each other . LINK

So, who said this, Tom Daschle or Paul Krugman: "So now the administration knows that it can make unsubstantiated claims, without paying a price when those claims prove false, and that saber-rattling gains it votes and silences opposition. Maybe it will honorably refuse to act on this dangerous knowledge. But I can't help worrying that in domestic politics, as in foreign policy, this war will turn out to have been the shape of things to come." LINK

The Sioux Falls Argus-Leader offers a corollary to The Note thesis, placing Senator Daschle's comments in their political context, right next to tax cuts and judicial nominations, as if the Democrats are the opposition party simply for the sake of being the opposition party, as if war is the same type of thing as a budget deficit.

"Using remarkably combative language with the nation at the brink of war, Daschle told labor leaders that Democrats will reject any tax cuts during this week's budget debate and said they will continue to block conservative judicial appointments such as Miguel Estrada's." LINK

"The broad-based criticism sent an unmistakable signal that Democratic leaders in Congress see no political harm in condemning Bush even on the eve of war. That suggests they think public opinion is not solidly behind Bush and they are prepared to cater to such reservations by opposing him across the board — something they did not do in the first 14 months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001."

"Democratic losses in last November's congressional elections led party leaders to revive their commitment to being the nation's opposition party."

"In statement released to South Dakota press following Bush's speech to the nation Monday evening, Daschle said that if the president decides that force is the only remaining option Democrats and Republicans would unite behind the troops. It is important, however, to continue diplomatic efforts to build a coalition to help during and after a military conflict, he said."

"'America will need the support of our allies to rebuild Iraq once Saddam's regime is toppled. We must begin working immediately with the United Nations and our friends around the world to delineate the principles that will guide our reconstruction efforts,' he said."

And this Washington Post Pincus/Milbank lead is only going to make both Daschle AND Bush (if he bothered to read such things) angrier: "As the Bush administration prepares to attack Iraq this week, it is doing so on the basis of a number of allegations against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that have been challenged — and in some cases disproved — by the United Nations, European governments and even U.S. intelligence reports." < a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42517-2003Mar17.html> LINK

Let's all sit back and see how much Leader Pelosi echoes Daschle before that same labor audience today, and whether she brandishes that Post story, or the Blair government resignations.

Emboldening non-candidate Daschle even more, and giving rise to the new joke making rounds in Democratic circles ("It's too bad the party has to actually have a nominee.") are polls such as the one written up by USA Today 's distinguished Dick Benedetto, who provides some gratis data/research to the Matt Dowd operation. LINK

"President Bush stands on the threshold of war with Iraq in his weakest political position since before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks."

"Nearly six in 10 Americans approve of the job Bush is doing overall. But a USA TODAY /CNN/Gallup Poll taken Friday and Saturday found that if the presidential election were Tuesday, Bush's chances of re-election could be in doubt."

"Asked whether they would vote for Bush or an unnamed Democrat, 45% of registered voters said Bush and 42% said the Democrat … ."

"He has lost considerable support among independents, the voters who decide elections. Independents now say the would vote for the Democratic candidate, 43%-36%."

Meanwhile, the conventional wisdom among the Democratic presidential campaign strategists is, no matter how the war comes out, hitting Bush on homeland security (see "funding for" and "effectiveness of") is going to be a winning issue in 2004. The fact that Bill Clinton is constantly emphasizing this theme is surely purely coincidence.

Almost all the first-tier wanna-bees have taken a whack or two at that piñata, and today, Senator Kerry grabs the bat.

Dan Balz previews John Kerry's homeland security speech today before the International Association of Fire Fighters in the Washington Post . LINK

" … Kerry … will outline a series of steps today to increase homeland security, from the hiring of more police and firefighters and reorienting the role of the National Guard to the creation of a volunteer community defense force … ..The presidential candidate will recommend creation of a new domestic intelligence unit … ."

Surely anticipating (and trying to ward off) a series of tetchy calls from some of the other campaigns, crafty/fair Dan writes, "The proposals follow many of the ideas offered earlier by other Democratic presidential candidates, including Senator John Edwards (N.C.), long a proponent of a domestic intelligence agency, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), who recently offered a $16 billion package to strengthen security at home."

Surely anticipating (and trying to ward off) a series of "hey, big spender" press releases from the RNC, the Kerry campaign this time comes ready with a price tag, however back-of-the-enveloped: "Kerry's package would cost an estimated $50 billion over five years, according to an aide."

Taking only the shortest of breaks from her morning sugar-free, non-fat, vegan muffin, Edwards' spokeslady Jennifer Palmieri couldn't help but blurt out to The Note: "This is an idea whose time has come. Senator Edwards is glad to see Senator Kerry join him in supporting the creation of a domestic intelligence agency which Senator Edwards first proposed in October of 2002."

She didn't say "nah, nah, nah" at the end of the sentence, but we felt it was implied.

Pegged to tonight's National Republican Congressional Committee fundraising dinner, the Washington Post 's Juliet Eilperin looks at both parties' focus on rich (but not necessarily mega-rich) donors in the McCain-Feingold era. LINK

But she skirts the more timely issue, which is that both parties are warily eyeing each other, waiting for the slip up that makes it seem like the other guy is improperly raising money (in the mail, through events) during a time of national security crisis.

Finance committee types all over town are hoping and praying for the safety of America's troops, but also that their events can occur before the window of toleration of such things closes for the duration of conflict.

Everybody in politics is about to have to make a lot of choices about what to cancel, and what not to cancel, with the cold, calculating eye that those political types bring to such decisions.

The Invisible Primary and the war:

The always-ahead-of-the-curve Kevin Landrigan of the Nashua Telegraph rounds up the candidates' plans in event of war, and even gets Tom Rath and Kathy Sullivan to go on the record. LINK

Although, Kevin, we know you won't mind us telling you in front of the class that you might have some of your Lieberman "facts" a bit off.

Paragraph two: "Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman announced on ABC-TV's 'Good Morning America' that he would suspend campaigning during the conflict. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry had earlier made the same vow."

Lieberman spokesman Jano Cabrera had this to say to The Note: "Given that Joe was a no-show on ABC's morning show, I simply don't know how the Nash Tel can say so. Or simply put, the Senator was not on Good Morning America yesterday and hasn't been for awhile. As we've been saying, we will proceed in an appropriate manner. Even if we are at war abroad, it's important to remember that our Democracy continues here at home, and that means that the basic mechanics of the campaign and the demands of the Senate will also continue."

"Mechanics," by the way, is a sneaky word for fundraising and trip planning.

The New York Times says "Most major Democratic presidential candidates also said they would abandon their criticism of Mr. Bush's diplomatic efforts and support him now that it appeared the nation was about to go to war. One Democrat, former Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont, broke from the pack." LINK

"'This is not Iraq, where doubters and dissenters are punished or silenced — this is the United States of America,' Dr. Dean said in a statement issued shortly after Mr. Bush spoke. 'We need to support our young people as they are sent to war by the president, and I have no doubt that American military power will prevail. But to ensure that our postwar policies are constructive and humane, based on enduring principles of peace and justice, concerned Americans should continue to speak out.'"

On the war announcement, Dean said last night he's " never been in doubt about the evil of Saddam Hussein or the necessity of removing his weapons of mass destruction."

"The Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson and Wayne Washington do the Democratic tongue-biting reaction to the president's speech. LINK

Senator Kerry, who "watched President Bush speak from his home in Boston," issued his version: "'Even having botched the diplomacy, it is the duty of any president, in the final analysis, to defend this nation and dispel the security threats, both immediate and longer term, against it. Saddam Hussein has brought military action upon himself by refusing for 12 years to comply with the mandates of the United Nations,"' while home-grown Senator Kennedy and the very sad Senator Daschle have other ideas about the need for war and the efficacy of diplomacy.

Senator Kerry's office released an extensive, somewhat wandering, "announcement."

Senator Lieberman issued a short statement supporting the C.I.C. and the troops.

Filling his pro-war niche, Senator Lieberman is expected to be on "Inside Politics" on Iraq this afternoon and on with the very classy Bill O'Reilly this evening. Tomorrow, don't be shocked if you see him on CBS's morning show. Or be shocked. It's your life, anyway.

"Now is the time to unite the country," Congressman Gephardt told Scripps Howard. LINK

Senator. Edwards' short statement on Iraq:

"Saddam Hussein has brought us to the brink of war by refusing to give up his weapons of mass destruction. He now has one last chance to choose peace or to be disarmed by force. My prayers are with our troops, their families and our commander in chief.'"

Anti-war protesters are expected to occupy Senator Edwards's Charlotte office. LINK

Senator Bob Graham issued his statement before the president's address.

"At a time like this, all Americans must come together to support our commander in chief and our men and women in uniform. We pray for a rapid completion of our forces' mission and their safe return home. I remain concerned that the start of a war will mean an escalation of terrorist activity. I again call on this administration to step up its preparedness — both here at home and abroad — to protect the safety of Americans."

At press time, we didn't get statements from Kucinich, Moseley Braun, or Sharpton, although Kucinich seems to still be pursuing legal, constitutional action to stop the war.

The Washington Times 's write-up of how Democrats will talk during war includes statements from Senator Edwards and Graham. LINK

Roger Simon notes that the gulf between Democrats and their leaders has narrowed somewhat.

"The fact is that many Democratic leaders voted for the war resolution last year because they either believed it was the right thing to do or the politically wise thing to do. They thought back then that their party was behind them. Now, they know better." LINK

But it may re-open once the war ends.

"But the top tier is not worried: They think the war will be swift and victorious, that Saddam will be removed and that the liberated Iraqi people will happy to see us. Then, they say privately, Howard Dean will have no issue to get cheers with and the Democrats will return to their senses."

The politics of war:

The New York Times ' John Tierney must-reads a piece on life in Washington on the eve of war: "After months of debating questions about the future of Iraq, many Washingtonians are now absorbed with questions about their own future. What day will a war start, and how late will I be stuck at work? When will it be politically safe for the Democrats to criticize the president? How long until anyone in town pays attention to anything besides the war? Will terrorists strike nearby? … " LINK

"When officials from around the country gathered this afternoon at the National Press Club for a news conference devoted to "making housing and community development a national priority," the audience seemed to consist mainly, if not entirely, of their own aides and colleagues."

"After several officials, including Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston, spoke about the urgent priority of housing, the floor was opened to questions, but there were none, and the news conference ended."

"'We recognize that at this particular time, domestic issues are drowned out,' said the organizer of the news conference, Saul Ramirez, the executive director of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials."

Is there something we are missing here? USA Today 's lead editorial is headlined "Bush's Case for War Leaves Key Questions Unanswered," while the "opposing view" is headlined "War Is Not in U.S. Interest." LINK and LINK

In what we hope and trust is homage to us, Lloyd Grove has an update on the Radio & Television Correspondents' Association, the fate of which may be decided today. LINK

"To dine or not to dine? C-SPAN congressional producer Annie Tin, chairwoman of the Radio & Television Correspondents' Association, says her board will meet today and decide whether to hold Thursday's scheduled dinner for 2,000 at the Washington Hilton. 'Everything is up in the air,' Tin told us yesterday. 'This morning I was thinking we'd go forward, and now I don't know.' If the dinner is canceled because of war in the Middle East, it would be the first time in the event's 59-year history. Vice President Cheney and wife Lynne are confirmed guests, and President Bush is a possibility, while comedian Henry Cho is the scheduled entertainment. It might be time to bring back Ben Stein."

Oh, and Susan Sarandon's mother seems to be a Republican.

What with Howie Kurtz writing yet ANOTHER story about Bill Kristol today, we felt compelled to offer this Note contest, with the usual prize: LINK

If you do a Nexis search in the Washington Post for "Kristol and Kurtz," do you come up with
A. 8 hits?
B. 18 hits?
C. 83 hits?
D. 183 hits?
E. 183 X 83 X 18 X 8 hits?

Big Casino/budget politics:

What's going on with GOP efforts to keep their squishes on board with the president's budget vision?

We dunno; we were distracted by the war.

Lucky for us, USA Today 's Bill Welch took Big Casino duty for today and says that with war cost initial estimates between $70 and $100 billion, some members are getting edgy. LINK

In fact, things are tightening up so much that Ray LaHood makes a strong play to win the Ray LaHood award, which is, not surprisingly named after him: "'That's the $100 billion question,' said Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill. 'I think everyone feels we're going to have to vote … in less than six months to fund the war, and it's going to be $100 billion and continue to just run up the deficit. Those of us who have been concerned about deficits and debt think this budget doesn't reflect our priorities.'"

And George W. Bush is eventually going to rue the day that he didn't have the foresight to funnel money to Emily's List to try to stop a certain Monster of the Midway from winning a seat in Congress: "Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., said Monday that Bush's post-war planning would build more housing, rebuild more schools and go further in providing health care for pregnant women in Iraq than his budget gives Americans. He said estimates of $100 billion or more to fight Iraq, without being provided for in the budget, are contributing to growing opposition in Congress."

"'What business, knowing they are about to incur a $100 billion expense, doesn't put that on the books,' he said. 'The only company that did that was Enron.'"

It don't get much starker than Amy Goldstein's Washington Post lead: "For the first time in nearly a decade, Medicare's financial condition has deteriorated significantly, according to a government forecast that says the health insurance program for the elderly will be depleted of money four years sooner than expected." LINK

In what James Carville would consider a classic act of this government, " … (T)he Bush administration made plain that it did not want to discuss that most significant feature of this year's report."

"A statement from President Bush did not mention Medicare. A briefing on the report was conducted by Treasury Secretary John W. Snow and four senior officials of the Social Security Administration, but no one with expertise in Medicare."

"'We wanted the focus to be on the Social Security issue,' said Bill Pierce, spokesman for Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, one of the trustees."

David Broder suggests that MOCs should be in "fool-me-twice-shame-on-me" mode with the Bush budget: "The members of Congress who so willingly endorsed his Iraq policy last autumn will be debating his budget this week. It behooves them to consider the consequences carefully this time." LINK

The The Wall Street Journal looks at Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the new director of the Congressional Budget Office, and George Yin, the new staff director of the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Teeing up the stakes for tax cuts and health care reform, the Journal intones, "As lawmakers try to determine whether White House proposals fit into budgetary reality, they will turn to the judgments of these two analysts whom almost none of their constituents have ever heard of … ."

And neither man seems particularly enamored with dynamic scoring.

Legislative agenda:

The New York Times says ANWR RIP. LINK

ABC 2004: The Invisible Primary:

Those USA Today /Gallup numbers on the Invisible Primary read thusly: " … Gephardt leads the race; 19% of registered Democrats support him. … .Kerry and … Lieberman follow, each with 16%." LINK

" … .Edwards and … Moseley Braun have 7% each. They're followed by … .Sharpton, 6%; … Dean, 5%; Florida Senator Bob Graham, 4%; and … , 3%."

Note Special Correspondent "Buddy Hackett" (a pseudonym, like that "Lexington" thingy in The Economist) sent us this dispatch involving this past weekend's Las Vegas getaway about which young (but top-most) Democratic operatives across the fruited plain are still buzzing.

Warning: this is mostly for insiders only. Some of this stuff can't even be Googled. And get into the spirit of this by imagining a rim shot at the end of each line.

"While most of the Democratic candidates for President showed up for the cattle call in Sacramento, many of their top advisers were calling for cattle at steakhouses in Las Vegas."

"Senior strategists for Dean, Edwards, Lieberman, Gephardt (and Gore) came together for the first early clash of the nominating contest — the Vegas Caucuses at Mandalay Bay, a trip that has its origins in the 1997 bachelor party of then-Gore guy Nick Baldick." (Note note: Nick is now oh-so-Edwards.)

"This many rival operatives haven't gathered under one roof since the folks who work at 2141 Wisconsin Avenue went home on Friday. One thing is clear — there are lots of alibis in the Mysterious Matter of the Liberated Laptop."

"Noteable trip highlights:"

"Lieberman campaign manager Craig Smith is, in fact, allowed to gamble on the Sabbath."

"You can use a BlackBerry in the Sports Book to engage in post-California Convention analysis if you're careful not to let the floor manager see you … but the Sports Book will not put C-SPAN on the big screen no matter how many ponies you bet on."

"Technet executive Donnie Fowler continued to strictly hedge his bets in the Democratic race even while placing them at the craps table, declaring himself strongly for 'the Democrat' over and over (while singing the praises of the Doctor's delivery in Sacramento and offering admiration for Edwards' Sister Saddam moment)."

"This crowds conviction that Bush economic policies do nothing except help the rich get richer was underscored by the massive wins the Citigroup/Rubin caucus racked up at the gaming tables."

"The laptop owner, despite a standing invitation and prior participation in the Vegas Caucuses, was not there to gamble away his share of the catsup money, but confidently predicted that front-running Maryland would cruise to victory in the ACC Championship, only to watch all of Maryland's vaunted strength evaporate under pressure from … North Carolina."

"The Glover Park Group still doesn't have any Nevada-based casinos as clients."

"The things you find out at the craps table: who knew that Senate Finance Committee Minority Staff Director Jeff Forbes and Lieberman pollster Mark Penn share the same nutritionist?"

"Jonathan Prince and Craig Hughes did not come to blows over anything anybody said in Sacramento that was patently untrue about anybody else."

"The last time this much presidential politics was discussed in Vegas was Nobu at New Year's."

IOWA

It seems obscenely far away, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that Polk County, Iowa will hold its annual dinner on May 10 with all the presidentials invited. Rep. Leonard Boswell hosts.

LIEBERMAN

As he nabbed Chris Dodd's endorsement yesterday, Lieberman showed off his green socks, and his staff served lime-green punch. They handed out "Irish Americans For Lieberman" pins.

We were struck by this sentence in the New York Times ' write-up: "Until yesterday, some of Mr. Dodd's most enthusiastic supporters had held out hope that despite his recent announcement declining to run for president next year, he might still change his mind." LINK

GEPHARDT

"The Missouri Republican Party thought it had a good case against Rep. Richard Gephardt, who it alleged had gotten special treatment with the free use of Mason Elementary School for the Feb. 20 kickoff of his Democratic presidential bid." LINK

But it turns out that President George W. Bush also has gotten free use of area schools — first as a presidential candidate in 2000, and since then as an incumbent. School records, bolstered by interviews with school officials, indicate that neither Bush's campaign nor his administration paid any fees for events held at five Missouri schools in the last 2 1/2 years."

KERRY

Even Cindy Adams likes to make jokes about John Kerry's hair. LINK

But she also thinks "(h)e's handsome, personable, impeccably groomed."

DEAN

Those who have heard Howard Dean describe the thought process behind his domestic partner decree will want to read his Advocate interview with Chris Bull. LINK

Depending on his audience, the tincture of Gov. Dean's words varies. He often portrays his decision as one of necessity — the state court ruled and he had no choice — as often as he claims the decision was one of conscience.

But maybe we're parsing too narrowly here; liberal and gay-friendly Democrats say that Dean did it, no matter what the reason.

GRAHAM

Florida law won't permit Graham to run for President and Senate at the same time, but he can always drop out of one race and join another, having until of May of 2004 before he's prohibited from refiling for Congress. Florida Democrats and Republicans who want his seat are watching and waiting. LINK

EDWARDS

Senator John Edwards held a conference call with New Hampshire reporters and proposed $50 billion worth of new spending for the states. LINK

Senator Edwards attended a fundraiser in Indiana yesterday and came off sounding like a moderate, according to the Indianapolis Star reports. LINK

CLARK

Wes Clark snares a USA Today op-ed about victory in Iraq "beyond" the battlefield. LINK

BOSTON CONVENTION

The Boston Globe 's Glen Johnson follows his own paper's weekend work and says the DNC isn't worried about the financing of the Boston convention. LINK . While Boston mayor Thomas M. Menino is concerned about the city's share of the $49.5 price tag for the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the DNC claims that when the stakes are so high, the money comes through, especially when the federal government has to pick up the tab for security.

Politics:

Look for the Democratic National Committee to wheel another key piece into place shortly, with Jim Mulhall becoming the party's communications strategist, in charge of planning and implementing all the major media initiatives.

Mulhall will be a consultant to the committee, while he continues to hang Senior Vice President hat over at Squier Knapp.

Mulhall recently advised the congressional campaign of Dario Herrera in Nevada and Tony Sanchez's Senate bid in Texas. Previously, he was, among other things, Nevada Gov. Bob Miler's Chief of Staff, worked for Senator Richard Bryan of Nevada, was Vic Fazio's press secretary, and did political advance for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale.

That is what we call a big-league resume.

We were sad to see that this Jake Tapper story titled "The Jim Whisperer" was not in fact about Mulhall, but about Harry Reid. LINK

Nonetheless, The Note intends to refer to Mr. Mulhall as "The Whisperer" for the foreseeable future.

A well-placed source says that Mulhall will begin to assemble a communications and press team, and a formal announcement may well await further hires in this key area.

Doug McCarron, head of the Carpenters and Joiners union, has resigned from Ullico's board--Ullico being the union-owned insurance company being probed by the government for fraud and malfeasance. LINK

The AP thumb sucks the political fundraising advantages of American Indian tribes. LINK

Congressional Hispanic Caucus, meet your conservative friends in the Congressional Hispanic Conference. LINK

A federal judge did not throw out eavesdropping charges against Virginia and South Carolina GOP official Ed Matricardi. <>

Sounds like a big deal to us, as reported in the Washington Post by our polling pals: "Tonight, the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute is having a shindig for former head Jeff Faux (the invites read 'FAUX: The Real Deal'). Among the speakers: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), AFL-CIO head John J. Sweeney and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees head Gerald W. McEntee." <> How about, by January 1, 2004, we look for this in the Washington Post 's annual list:

IN: Dana and Jeremy

OUT: Al and Judy

Regnery Press is turning out yet another Clinton book. LINK The tome was basically written FOR Matt Drudge; not so much Jim Kennedy, who says in his standard Kennedyesque way, "We haven't commented on the last 12 anti-Clinton books from this same right-wing publisher, so I don't think we'll start now."

Bush Administration strategy/personality:

On "Good Morning America," when he wasn't cracking wise about the '92 campaign, George H.W. Bush and his spouse chatted up Diane Sawyer, or, rather, vice versa about a bunch of stuff:

Diane's GMA exclusive with Mr. and Mrs. 41 elicited some vintage comments from the fiesty pair. The former president assured Diane that he himself does not serve as an adjunct White House adviser, but as parents they "support the president without reservation … what else can you do as a dad or a mother?" allowing his wife to jump in with the family "joke" that, when it comes to 41, 43, and the governor of Florida, she "feel[s] free to advise at all times," and that, therefore, "the world's being run by me."

FLOTUS 41 also claims credit for her son's encroaching gray hair: "Of course he's going to go white … it's in the genes, the maternal genes."

Mrs. Bush, with a polite apology to Diane, insists that she watches no television during this tense time: "90% of what I hear on television is supposition … why should we hear about body bags, and death, and how many, and what day it's going to happen … it's not relevant." In keeping with this distance from a presumably overwrought media, 41 reminds himself and his wife that they have resolved, apparently without total success, to avoid interviews, particularly about the subject of Iraq.

Both reitirate unconditional support of their hardworking son, profess their profound desire for world peace, and express a belief that Americans stand behind the president. "People know he's doing his best," asserts Mrs. Bush, adding that he surrounds himself with strong advisers: "he doesn't think he knows everything."

Diane then plays a good-natured game of "gotcha" over 41's plan to repeat his celebrated skydiving jump on his 80th birthday, rolling tape of his promise that the 75th birthday leap would be his "final, final jump." The missus, who seems suitably apprehensive about her husband's daring, nevertheless reminds Diane that the upcoming jump will raise $30 million for charity. About his last skydiving effort, 41 cracks, "haven't seen a free fall like that since the 92 election."

We liked the part where (shades of New Hampshire 2000) 41 slips and refers to 43 as a "boy," before correcting it to "man."

On board the Delta Shuttle, HHS Secy Tommy Thompson's aide apparently made the mistake of snagging a bagel and paper belonging to NPR'S hothead Bob Garfield, who didn't react too kindly to the error. Despite retrieving his paper and bagel (from the carb-eschewing secretary), Garfield's outburst prompted Thompson spokesman Tony Jewell to sniffily observe, "this is obviously another example of why some people are fed up with certain members of the media. " LINK