NEWS SUMMARY

The best title for the following list would be:

A. What to Look for in Politics in 2004

B. Yin and Yang: A Study in Contrasts

C. Being Terry Holt

D. Everything Has Its Season

The List:

George Bush's high tech policies versus John Kerry's high-tech policies.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" versus "The World According to Bush."

Al Gore's critique of the world versus Ralph Nader's critique of the world.

Jodi versus David.

"Felons as canvassers" versus "getting a second chance."

David Sanger's Seoul versus David Sanger's soul.

Laura Bush versus Teresa Heinz (Kerry).

Patrick Fitzgerald versus Tom Kean.

Gephardt versus Edwards.

The new prescription drug benefit versus No Child Left Behind.

John Kerry's mid-June view of Ronald Reagan versus John Kerry's late-June view of Ronald Reagan.

Bush's view of an Iraq role for NATO versus Kerry's view of an Iraq role for NATO.

Optimism versus optimism.

"Inside Politics" versus trial pre-emptions.

Send your answers to Chad Clanton of the Kerry campaign or one of our felonious Googling monkeys.

President Bush meets with congressional lawmakers in a closed meeting at the White House this morning, and then participates in a demonstration of broadband and wireless technology at the Commerce Department.

Condoleezza Rice holds an on-camera briefing at the White House at 1:45 pm ET on the President's upcoming trip to Ireland and Turkey.

Sen. John Kerry is out in California again today speaking about investing in technology at San Jose State University. In the evening Kerry will speak at the AFSCME International convention in Anaheim and then attends two fundraisers one at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the other at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, both in Los Angeles.

The second event is a star-studded entertainment extravaganza that was rescheduled from the week of Reagan remembrance. In addition to Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson and Billy Crystal are expected to attend.

Former President Clinton's media tour continues today with an evening town hall meeting to be carried on Infinity Broadcasting radio stations. The former President will also sit down with Larry King on CNN to talk about his memoir and, of course, take your calls.

Former Vice President Al Gore delivers a midday speech on the Bush Administration's claims of ties of Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Sure, let's all focus on style AND substance on this one, please.

The Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy in Focus releases a study at noon on the cost of the Iraq war. The study tabulates lives, military budget demands and impact on domestic budget with the bill so far of $126.1 billion; total number of coalition military deaths between the start of war and June 16: 952 (853 U.S.); since President Bush declared war's end: 693; international media: 30; Iraqi civilians killed: 9,436 to 11,317.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hand down several decisions today, and those political potent ones are still out there.

And expect new CNN/USA Today/Gallup numbers this afternoon.

Fahrenheit 9/11:

Last night, Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" came to Washington, D.C. -- as close to a glam event that the nation's capital sees -- outside the White House Correspondents' dinner, an inauguration, or a party at Juleanna Glover Weiss' house. But with all due respect to the (liberal) political and media establishment of Washington, this isn't Leo's world.

But for an evening at the Uptown Theater, it was Michael Moore's. Moore and his wife, Kathleen Glynn, worked the red carpet, and the sidewalk was lined with onlookers jostling to catch a glimpse of . . . Harvey Weinstein. And Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe. And Sally Field -- besides Moore, the biggest-name Hollywood type in the joint.

Among the media and political glitterati in attendance: Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), looking for popcorn; Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.); Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.); 9/11 Commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste; Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.); Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa); Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.); Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C.; Alexandra Wentworth; the New York Times' Adam Nagourney; Time magazine's Matt Cooper; Bloomberg's Richard "Stretch" Keil; the Chicago Tribune's Jeff Zeleny; CNN's Judy Woodruff; the Wall Street Journal's Al Hunt; nearly half of the Washington Post's national staff, and a fantastic contingent of our very own ABC News colleagues.

In his remarks before the film, Moore talked about his critics and the notion that he's preaching to the choir with this film. "It's good to give the choir something to sing," he said. "The choir has been asleep." After the show, Moore called to the mic two special guests who were in the film: Marine Cpl. Henderson, who accompanied Moore on his trip to Capitol Hill to talk to lawmakers on the street, and Lila Lipscomb, whose story, including the death of her son in Iraq, puts a home-front face on Moore's view of the war.

And perhaps because of the number of journalists in the place, attempting to stoically retain an appropriate appearance, audience reaction -- though frequent -- came from pockets of the theater, as opposed to widespread laughs or applause. For as raucous as the New York premiere was reported to be, this affair was typical Washington -- understated and attentive, with contingents of the crowd trained to be skeptical of the explosive op-ed presented before them. It's unlikely that one mind was changed in that theater, and it may not change one made-up mind nationwide, but whether those who agree with Moore's agenda can keep his talking points alive in public debate to go after undecideds may be another story.

Instead of doing the red carpet bit, the Washington Post's Hanna Rosin and Mike Allen take a 5,000-foot view of the controversy created by "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- including cheap shots, indignation, and a private admission by some White House officials that the movie puts them in a bind over how to respond. LINK

"Fahrenheit 911" is more than just a movie, reports Matthew Rodriguez of the Seattle Times. The film is already proving to be a tour de force when it comes to galvanizing liberal groups and their supporters across Washington state, a key battleground in the November election. LINK

The FEC's general counsel cautions that Michael Moore's film may not be allowed to be advertised after July 30, reports The Hill's Bolton. LINK

"In a draft advisory opinion placed on the FEC's agenda for today's meeting, the agency's general counsel states that political documentary filmmakers may not air television or radio ads referring to federal candidates within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election."

Variety's Gabriel Snyder continues to be the reporter of record on the film, with reports that the opening box office in Gotham was boffo.

"My Life":

The New York Daily News has a look at Bill Clinton's "Good Morning America" appearance yesterday, with special attention paid to Hillary Clinton's possible presidential aspirations. LINK

This Washington Times article assails Clinton on being "less forthcoming about," or not mentioning, a whole slew of women who say they were either sexually involved with him, or that they had been sexually harassed or assaulted. It even goes as far as to give readers a convenient little list. LINK

The New York Post plays up Clinton's record-breaking book sales. LINK

The New York Post calculated Bill Clinton's writing fee comes out to about $22 per word, as opposed to his more concise wife, who got a smaller advance but made $47 per word. LINK

The Washington Post's Richard Cohen Notes that Clinton's book sales "may make him rich but will not rehabilitate him." LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:

The New York Times' Sanger and McNeil look at President Bush's speech on AIDS yesterday in Philadelphia and report that he urged abstinence but also praised Uganda's fight against the disease and "embraced the use of condoms to prevent its spread, a sensitive issue among conservatives. LINK

The Times duo Notes that President Bush "appeared to be offering something to both sides in the debate: his base of social conservatives as well as moderates in crucial election states like Pennsylvania, who have argued that Mr. Bush has been too slow to embrace effective methods of preventing AIDS."

Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post wraps the President's speech in Philadelphia. LINK

Carrie Budoff of the Philadelphia Inquirer describes the scene at the President's Victory 2004 fundraiser in Villanova yesterday that raised $1.4 million for the Republican Party. LINK

"Doctors and lawyers, real estate developers and stay-at-home mothers dropped between $2,000 and $25,000 to shake Bush's hand, pose for a picture or even sit down to a relatively exclusive lunch with the President. Eighty people paid the top price to enjoy that level of intimacy."

Says Robert Novak:

"The reappearance of a dysfunctional Clinton is one of many events breaking Bush's losing streak. The image of Sen. John McCain embracing the president, the first of several such appearances, exploded all notions of a dream Kerry-McCain Democratic ticket foolishly promoted in recent weeks. Most important, Kerry's favorability rating has declined as he was pounded by Republican negative advertising." LINK

Novak thinks that the story of the spring and early summer is that Kerry isn't far ahead.

Roll Call reports, "President Bush's re-election campaign Wednesday dismissed as 'completely inaccurate' a report that it has mounted an effort to steer soft-money contributions to state GOP parties in order to counter Democratic-leaning '527' groups."

The Wall Street Journal's Jackie Calmes looks at First Lady Laura Bush on the campaign trail, Noting that for now she is on her own, campaigning alone, as Mrs. Bush Notes that they can go to "twice as many places" that way.

Calmes also Notes the positive local coverage that the First Lady gets when she travels to key states with a message about the character of her husband. "While those local reports are below the radar of national political handicappers, they're prized at the Bush-Cheney '04 headquarters, as strategists predict another close election."

The New York Times' Charlie LeDuff and John Broder report "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California said in an interview that he expected a prominent role at the Republican National Convention," but "also made it clear that when prime time is over, he intends to keep some distance from Mr. Bush, who is not particularly popular in Democratic-leaning California." LINK

The Timesmen take you inside the Governor's smoking tent, with a you-are-there feel.

ABC News Vote 2004: Sen. John Kerry:

The AP's Pickler looks at Sen. Kerry's day yesterday and how his assertion that President Bush is "the greatest divider as a president in the modern history of this country," permeated his rap. LINK

The Washington Post's Dan Balz wraps Sen. Kerry's California campaign swing, writing that Kerry turned a few degrees yesterday from criticizing President Bush for not putting together an international coalition in Iraq to "putting NATO nations on notice that the time has come for them to contribute military forces to help secure the country as a new government takes power." The shift, Balz Notes, takes into account the increasingly subtle differences on Iraq policy between Bush and Kerry. LINK

The New York Times' Jodi Wilgoren Notes "Sen. Kerry vowed Wednesday to create a federal patients' bill of rights as he blasted the Bush administration's health care record." Wilgoren's fine tuned ear also heard Kerry take his first posthumous swipe at Ronald Reagan's budgeting which drew some puffed up chest rebuke from the Bush-Cheney camp. LINK

Do y'all realize how much money John Kerry has added to his campaign account during this one California swing? LINK

John Wildermuth of the San Francisco Chronicle sat down with Sen. Kerry on Wednesday, and Kerry said he's come back to Washington for a vote on the constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage. He also talked about his SEIU speech. LINK

Is Sen. Kerry a pessimist, as Team Bush asserts, or an optimist, as he asserts? Pat Healy tackles that question in today's Boston Globe. LINK

A woman described Teresa Heinz Kerry as "very simple" after her visit to an Orlando strip mall yesterday. And that's a compliment! LINK

The Wall Street Journal's editorial page predictably refuses to endorse raising the minimum wage, Kerry-style.

Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand are singing together for the first time in 24 years, and it's all to bring in cash for John Kerry's campaign. LINK

The New York Post's Hamptons Diary suggests Chris Heinz is thinking of holding a Hamptons youth fundraiser for his stepfather at the end of the summer. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush v. Kerry:

Susan Page of USA Today Notes how the outcome of this presidential election is impossible to predict -- all the sure-fire signs point to different things. LINK

I.e.:

-- The economy methodology: LINK

-- The approval rating methodology: LINK

-- The Commander in Chief/time of war methodology: LINK

-- The no-Republican-has-won-the-presidency-without-winning-Ohio methodology: LINK

-- The Democratic-presidents-are-from-the-South methodology: LINK

-- And finally, does it all just come down to stature? LINK

Let Freedom Ring Inc., a new independent-expenditure group seeking contributions to counter leftists attacks on Bush, will target what political analysts regard as President Bush's "electoral ace in the hole -- religious conservative voters." LINK

The land of 5+2=7:

We're watching the battleground states closely to see how loudly the AP's scoop that ACT has hired felons to canvass resonates. LINK

So far, lightly . . .

ACT says it will now run background checks on all its employees. Previously, they ran checks only on those who said on applications that they'd committed felonies. Those who've committed violent felonies will be fired.

"It is our policy to not to hire individuals who have committed a violent offense," said Sarah Leonard, an ACT spokesperson.

"We do not have an institutional problem. This is an isolated incident. These individuals slipped through the screening process," she said.

Senior ACT officials say that canvassing and voter registration work is transient, often labor intensive, and involves a lot of time outside in the sun. Recently released prisoners looking for a good wage would be remiss NOT to apply to a job-giver like ACT. These sources, who have decades of experience with campaign canvassing, say that hiring felons in not an uncommon -- and that both Democratic and Republican organizations have former felons on their payrolls.

Nonetheless, ACT officials say the group's human resource department sent e-mails specifically advising them not to hire felons with violent offenses on their records.

And they say ACT's field staffers have been inundated with a surplus of available labor -- including many retired or laid off union and industrial workers -- so there was no need to recruit from the pool of felons.

And that hiring felons is not the best PR move.

Anticipating the AP article yesterday, ACT sent an emergency directive to its state affiliates asking them to scrub the backgrounds of all their employees.

Republicans jumped on the story: "It is disturbing that the voter mobilization arm of the Democratic Party is proudly hiring felons convicted of sex offenses, assault and burglary to go house to house and handle sensitive personal information," said the RNC's Ed Gillespie in a statement. "Democrat voters should be leery of opening their doors to political operatives until the Democrats can assure them that a convicted felon won't be on the other side."

But ACT's rapid response team came up with this quote from George W. Bush this past Monday:

"Secondly, I know that many a good soul makes a mistake in their life and ends up in prison. And it seems to make sense to me to spend taxpayers' money to help these prisoners realize a better tomorrow when they get out of prison, give them a second chance."

And ACT does it for free!

"Obviously we're not surprised to see Gillespie playing the Willie Horton card," says Jim Jordan . . .

"Dems in a Felon Fumble" is the headline on Vince Morris and Deb Orin's New York Post write-up of ACT's hiring of felons. LINK

The Boston Herald looks at the allegations against ACT. LINK

Veepstakes:

Stu Rothenberg's Roll Call column expands upon that Sen. Enzi boomlet we've all heard about. (There . . . are you satisfied, Stu?)

Yesterday, Ralph Nader issued a release urging John Kerry to choose John Edwards as his running mate. LINK

Deb Orin of the New York Post keys off of Chris Heinz's recent comments to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and Tom Oliphant's recent Boston Globe column to come up with a bizarre column of her own on why or why not Edwards may or may not be picked as Kerry's running mate. LINK

Rush & Molloy provide their readers with a preview of Sen. Biden's upcoming Rolling Stone magazine appearance and suggest another Oval Office invitation is most likely not in his near future. LINK

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports "Gov. Tom Vilsack gave assurances yesterday that the Iowa Values Fund would cover new business growth, including a planned expansion at Integrated DNA Technologies, despite an Iowa Supreme Court ruling striking the fund down." LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: the battlegrounds:

Quinnipiac University's latest Keystone State (yeah, we heard about the nickname change -- we still prefer Keystone) poll indicates Pennsylvania is every bit the battleground as advertised. The horserace has Kerry (44 percent) and Bush (43 percent) in a statistical dead heat and both Quinnipiac and the Associated Press highlight the potential for Nader to be a spoiler here. LINK

The New York Times looks at President Bush's new rules regarding travel and spending restrictions placed on Cuban refugees seeking to visit family back in Cuba. LINK

"The measures are part of a broader plan that President Bush announced last month to be tougher on President Fidel Castro and speed a transition to democracy in Cuba. Democrats and even some Republicans say the election-year crackdown is a nakedly political move to bolster Mr. Bush's support among Cuban-Americans in southern Florida, a crucial segment of his base in this swing state."

"A debate is raging about whether Mr. Bush went too far and whether the crackdown could in fact hurt his re-election prospects."

When President Bush visited Cincinnati on Monday, he "put his arm on Tami Jordan's shoulder and called the convicted embezzler a 'good soul' and an 'inspirational person.'" Oops. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports today that "victims of Jordan's crime . . . say she isn't rehabilitated and hasn't paid the court-ordered restitution." LINK

You can expect to hear John Kerry to work this story into his Ohio stump speech tomorrow. The Lorain Morning Journal reports Ford Motor Company is shedding a total of 1,200 Ohio jobs from its payroll at two Ford plants. LINK

"The August 2005 closing date for the Lorain plant is four months earlier than what plant managers were previously told in a company memo . . . "

Where is Florida growing? In Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, according to the government. The state's population grew by 1.5 million since 2000. LINK

Ohio may have to savor its time in the political limelight this year. With yesterday's census figures showing Cincinnati is the fastest shrinking city in the nation and Cleveland in the top 10, Ohio may continue losing its Electoral College heft. LINK

The EPA reported Wednesday that Ohio has the worst air pollution in the nation, and it's getting worse, not better. LINK

Ohio Auditor and Governor-wannabe Betty Montgomery did her part yesterday rallying the troops, exhorting Toledo Republicans to "work their neighborhoods" on behalf of the President. LINK

Dems and Republicans in the Land of Enchantment try to understand why only 23 percent of eligible voters -- a total of 187,821 Democrats, Republicans and Greens -- voted in the June primary election, marking the lowest participation by New Mexicans in a presidential election year primary. LINK

With proposed cuts in state funding for New Mexico AIDS Services, officials will have to tell hundreds of HIV-positive people they won't have services and 14 staffers they won't have jobs after the end of the month. LINK

Voter turnout in May's West Virginia primary was down from 2000, the Secretary of State announced yesterday, but the lower figures do not necessarily mean interest in the November election is low. LINK

In response to "Republican blows to freedom," strip clubs throughout Ohio are registering their customers and dancers to vote. LINK

The unemployment rate increased in May in all but three of Wisconsin's 11 largest cities, reports the Associated Press. State labor officials still say the May economy was strong. LINK

Recent visitors to Iraq are not telling Wisconsin voters an upbeat story, saying there is no peace in the country and accusing U.S. soldiers of "doing terrible things." LINK

Congress is considering awarding a large "reverse engineering" military contract to Wisconsin, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. LINK

It's a familiar story: Maine's economy is expanding, "but not all sectors are benefiting," with jobs and incomes "doing poorly," says a new study by the Maine State Planning Office. LINK

Health care costs are on their way down -- no, that is not a typo -- in Washington state, The Olympian breathlessly reports. One union official called the news a "miracle." LINK

The Arizona Republic's Elvia Diaz reports, "A measure seeking a statewide paid holiday to honor the late farm worker leader Cesar Chavez won't be on the November ballot, organizers of the effort said Wednesday." LINK

"Meanwhile, it is still not clear whether Protect Arizona Now will be sent to voters in November. The initiative would deny non-federal social services to undocumented immigrants."

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Carl Prine reports, "Six Greenpeace protesters on Wednesday staged an act of civil disobedience 700 feet above the Hatfield's Ferry Power Station in Greene County to protest President Bush's energy policy." (Check out the picture.) LINK

An Iowa City Press-Citizen editorial says the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling last week that Gov. Tom Vilsack exceeded his authority through a veto is now an issue of the past and calls on lawmakers to restore the Iowa Values Fund. LINK

David Yepsen of the Des Moines Register calls on the Iowa legislature to "outlaw the ability of Des Moines and other cities to raise their sales taxes on utility bills," a sales tax a city puts on heat and light bills. LINK

The Rocky Mountain News' Clayton Woullard reports, "The Humane Society of the United States and the Dumb Friends League officially endorsed a campaign Wednesday to keep animal circuses out of Denver." LINK

"Denver residents will vote Aug. 10 on Initiative 100, which would ban from Denver circus companies that use wild animals in their acts."

ABC News Vote 2004: the Senate:

Can Jack Ryan and the NRSC really withstand pressure from almost the entire Illinois GOP apparatus? LINK

We presume Barack Obama won't mention Jack Ryan when he gives the Democrats' weekly radio address Saturday, but you never know. (We kid, Mr. Gibbs.) LINK

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Kevin McDermott and Joel Currier report, "The statewide governing body of the Illinois Republican Party is deeply split over whether the party's U.S. Senate nominee, Jack Ryan, should take his name off the ballot in the wake of sex-club allegations by his ex-wife." LINK

We love this AP headline: "Nation's Sex Scandals At A Glance:" LINK

The Denver Post's Mark Couch reports that Pete Coors got beat up on in last night's debate with Bob Schaffer for not knowing who Paul Martin is. LINK

The AP's Steven Paulson wraps the whole debate. LINK

The Rocky Mountain News' Jennifer Miller highlights Coors' advocacy during the debate for lowering the drinking age. LINK

Ralph Nader:

Yesterday two Arizona voters -- with the support of the Arizona Democratic Party -- filed a legal challenge to independent Ralph Nader's bid to get on a state's Nov. 2 presidential ballot. The suit states more than 70 percent of the 21,512 signatures Nader's campaign filed June 9 were defective. Nader needed 14,694 valid signatures to qualify him for the ballot. According to the suit only 6,045 are valid. Further, it alleges all the petitions should be thrown out because Nader named a "placeholder" as his vice presidential candidate and required paperwork was not filed with the nominating petitions. LINK and LINK

The Washington Post's Dan Balz and Hamil Harris point out that after largely ignoring Nader in 2000, Democrats have adopted a different strategy: taking him on. LINK

Andy Gordon, the attorney who headed up the pro-bono legal effort to file the Arizona suit, tells ABC News, when word of his project began to spread "calls came pouring in" to help. LINK

But Nader spokesguy Zeese says he and the campaign are not worried.

Besides, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll in battleground Pennsylvania, things are looking good. AP reports "in the three-way race, the latest survey showed Kerry attracting only 44 percent, with Bush at 43 percent, Nader with 7 percent, and 4 percent undecided." LINK

Nader tells Andrea Stone of USA Today why this time around he's seeking endorsements -- but not nominations -- from the third parties. ''It's a little complicated,'' Nader says. ''We're trying to get a whole covey of third parties because we want to be ecumenical.'' LINK

Robert Siegel's must-hear NPR story follows Nader on a recent campaign jaunt through the Midwest. Nader says he wants supporters to join his campaign but to feel free to vote Kerry -- especially in swing states. (Operative word is "free.") Also Note, Nader on why he still prefers a manual typewriter, "it forces you to get it right the first time." LINK

On Tuesday, members of the Congressional Black Caucus told Ralph Nader what they think of his presidential bid (they want him OUT!). And today, Nader tells the Washington Times what he thinks of them. "I think the caucus could be stronger on a range of issues affecting African Americans, like predatory lending and these rent-to-own scams that plague their community." LINK

The leading candidate for the Green Party's presidential nomination, David Cobb, talks to Salon's Jeff Horwitz about the Nader Factor and the Green Party. Cobb was an organizer for Nader in Texas in 2000. LINK

The Green Party will make its big decision this Saturday in Milwaukee, Wis. LINK

Collin Levey columnizes in the Seattle Times that Nader's could have a "flutter-effect" if Kerry doesn't set himself apart from Bush on the war in Iraq. "By Kerry's failing to voice an Iraq policy that sticks in people's minds, voters have tuned him out and gone back to their knitting." LINK

The politics of Iraq:

The Washington Post's Robin Wright reports that the Bush Administration has given U.S. troops and personnel immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts for killing Iraqis or destroying property after the handover of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government is complete. The order, which administrator Paul Bremer is expected to extend before he steps down and the handoff takes place, could extend until the first elections are held -- another six or seven months. Among those U.S. officials hope to cover with the immunity order: some foreign contractors. LINK

Wright puts in some historical perspective: "The issue of immunity for U.S. troops is among the most contentious in the Islamic world, where it has galvanized public opinion against the United States in the past. A similar grant of immunity to U.S. troops in Iran during the Johnson administration in the 1960s led to the rise of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who used the issue to charge that the shah had sold out the Iranian people."

The politics of national security:

The Washington Post's Helen Dewar reports that by a 97-0 vote, the Senate on Wednesday night passed the President's $447.2 billion military budget for next year. The vote, Dewar Notes, "followed a 50 to 48 vote to defeat a proposal by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) directing the administration to report to Congress on progress in Iraq, including estimates of the number of U.S. troops who will be there at the end of next year. The Senate approved a Republican alternative requiring a report on other aspects of attempts to stabilize Iraq, but not troop estimates." LINK

Dewar also Notes that a measure proposed by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to guarantee yearly increases in health benefits for veterans did not get the 60 votes necessary to pass.

The New York Times' David Sanger Notes "President Bush's concrete offer to cajole North Korea give up its nuclear weapons program is a turning point for an administration previously caught between two conflicting approaches to one of the world's most isolated, impoverished and dangerous nations." LINK

The Washington Post's Spencer Hsu writes up a study by the General Accounting Office that takes to task the Department of Homeland Security for failing to track the $340 million in federal money earmarked to secure the Washington, D.C. area against terrorism, for having no plan to assess the region's security, and for being unable to explain to Congress where the gaps are. LINK

Wesley Pruden of the Washington Times discusses the reports of the September 11 Commission and how they are being purposefully used by the media and presidential campaigns. LINK

Prison abuse scandal:

The Washington Post's Dana Priest and Bradley Graham write about new documents released showing the nearly three-year internal argument among U.S. officials including Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld over interrogation techniques to get information from detainees captured in Afghanistan and Iraq. What resulted, the duo writes, was an ad-hoc policy that was confusing and intermittently upheld. And what the documents show, they report, is that Rumsfeld "played a direct role in setting policies for detainee treatment in Afghanistan and Guantanamo," and "signed seven orders from January 2002 to January 2003 establishing the interrogation center, placing the Army in charge, allowing access by the Red Cross and foreign intelligence officials, and even deciding how detainee mail would be handled." LINK

"The Republican-controlled Senate last night derailed a Democratic demand for the release of more documents dealing with abuse of foreign prisoners as sharp debate erupted on Capitol Hill over the Bush administration's policies and practices on the use of torture" by a 50-46 vote, report the Washington Post's Helen Dewar and Dan Morgan. LINK

Read all the way to the end for a particularly interesting quote from the Senate Republican Policy Committee's talking points on the disclosure of interrogation practices. Or better yet, read it here.

"'Because of an out-of-control media and widespread hysteria, the White House and Pentagon have been forced to reveal secret interrogation techniques just to prove our men and women in uniform aren't torturers and murders,' said one of the suggested arguments. 'The forced disclosure will now complicate efforts to get information from terrorists who will train to withstand these techniques,' said another. 'It's high past time we remember who [our] enemies are,' said a third."

ABC News Vote 2004: the gubernatorial races:

The Kansas City Star's Kit Wagar reports, "More than 200 union supporters rallied Wednesday in Independence square as Gov. Bob Holden kicked off his re-election campaign with a pledge to improve the lot of working people." LINK

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports, "Former Lt. Gov. Harriett Woods, who supported Bob Holden in his 2000 gubernatorial campaign, is now backing State Auditor Claire McCaskill in her Democratic primary challenge of Holden." LINK

Gov. Rowland's resignation:

The Hartford Courant's Mark Pazniokas reports, "Since announcing Monday that he would resign July 1, Rowland has receded from view, yielding the political stage to Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell. His staff is unsure if Rowland will set foot in the Capitol again as governor." LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: casting and counting:

An Ohio county and its contract with Deibold for electronic voting machines is in hot water (again), this time in Lucas County because the contract was not put out for bid. But election officials still expect to have some form of electronic voting in place by November. LINK

The Arkansas News Bureau reports "Arkansas has received $21.6 million as part of a federal effort to help states upgrade election equipment and make other election-related improvements." LINK

The politics of same-sex marriage:

House leaders will likely have a test vote on gay marriage to get an idea of where House members stand before they push ahead with an actual constitutional amendment. LINK

The Hill picks up on the Washington Blade's report that some gay activists are planning on outing closeted gay people who work on the Hill and are in favor of the constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. LINK

Five groups promoting a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage in Arkansas that report spending more than $90,000 through May have said that they have already collected 129,796 signatures, more than the number needed to qualify the amendment for the Nov. 2 ballot. LINK

An Oregon couple unable to marry because of Benton County's across-the-board marriage ban is challenging the decision not to issue licenses to anybody -- gay or straight. LINK

The Federal Marriage Amendment is making waves in Maine, reports the Portland Press-Herald. LINK

The AP reports in New Mexico the state Supreme Court has requested written legal arguments from the attorney general's office in a dispute over a county clerk issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. LINK

Congress:

The Washington Post's Chuck Babington reports that House Speaker Dennis Hastert has dismissed the proposal by Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to create a "Bill of Rights" for the minority party in the House. We believe this is what's referred to as "payback." LINK

Al Hunt trashes the 108th and says Sen. Daschle is giving a comparable speech today.

The conventions:

In an interesting PR strategy, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino enlisted some local business owners to talk on television about how the Democratic National Convention would only be as much trouble as a huge snow storm, the Boston Globe's Heather Allen reports. They compared it to the Blizzard of '78 (which crippled the city) and the mayor's office even set up a hotline for locals needing information. LINK

The Boston Globe takes a look at the company in charge of the FleetCenter's security system for the convention. LINK

Teenagers will be gaveling the Democratic National Convention, the Boston Globe reports. There will be two winners of the "Gavel in the Future" essay contest. Two of the five finalists are from Boston, and the Globe profiles each of them. LINK

The quiet before the storm? The Boston Herald reports that the FleetCenter was "eerily" quiet yesterday, despite the fact that it is far from finished (and over budget). LINK

Protest groups and the City of Boston seem to be close to a deal for convention protest planning, the Boston Herald reports. LINK

The New York tabloids wonder if there will be any Republican on speaking terms with Michael Bloomberg when the party arrives in New York for the convention. LINK

The politics of representation:

The Washington Post's Spencer Hsu reports that former U.S. solicitor general Kenneth Starr told the House Government Reform Committee Wednesday that Congress can grant to the District of Columbia voting rights in the U.S. House of Representatives. LINK

D.C. officials from both parties testified yesterday before a congressional committee in support of four different bills that would grant the District a voting member of Congress, the Washington Times reports. LINK

Politics:

Ron P. Reagan, son of former President Reagan, doesn't hide any of his distaste for the Bush Administration in his New York Times Magazine "Questions For" appearance coming out this weekend. Here are two excerpts for you to tide you over until you can read it in the magazine in its entirety this weekend.

Q: "How do you account for all the glowing obituaries of him?"

RR: "I think it was a relief for Americans to look at pictures of something besides men on leashes. If you are going to call yourself a Christian -- and I don't -- then you have to ask yourself a fundamental question, and that is: Whom would Jesus torture? Whom would Jesus drag around on a dog's leash? How can Christians tolerate it? It is unconscionable. It has put our young men and women who are over there, fighting a war that they should not have been asked to fight -- it has put them in greater danger."

Q: "How did your mother feel about being ushered to her seat by President Bush?"

RR: "Well, he did a better job than Dick Cheney did when he came to the rotunda. I felt so bad. Cheney brought my mother up to the casket, so she could pay her respects. She is in her 80's, and she has glaucoma and has trouble seeing. There were steps, and he left her there. He just stood there, letting her flounder. I don't think he's a mindful human being. That's probably the nicest way I can put it."

TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
—8:15 am: President Bush holds a closed meeting with members of Congress at the White House
—8:30 am: Labor Department releases the weekly report on initial jobless claims
—9:00 am: House Majority Leader Thomas DeLay (R-Texas) delivers remarks on the GOP's agenda in the House for remainder of the session at a program hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
—9:30 am: The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation's Aviation Subcommittee holds a hearing on security screening options for airports
—9:30 am: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) holds a news conference to discuss recent advances in adult stem cell research, Washington, D.C.
—10:00 am: Off-camera gaggle by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan
—10:00 am: The Senate reconvenes and holds an Executive Session to consider the Nomination of John Danforth to be U.N. Ambassador
—10:00 am: The House meets for legislative business
—10:00 am: The Commerce Department releases the May report on new home sales
—10:00 am: The U.S. Supreme Court meets to hand down decisions
—10:00 am: The Senate Armed Services holds hearing on the nomination of General George Casey for the re-appointment to the grade of general and to serve as commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq
—10:00 am: The House Judiciary's Constitution Subcommittee holds an oversight hearing on the Defense of Marriage Act and the proposed amendment to the Constitution regarding same-sex marriages
—10:00 am: Samir Sumaida'ie, former Iraqi interior minister, speaks before the Center for Strategic and International Studies on "Iraq's Journey Toward Sovereignty," Washington, D.C.
—10:30 am: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) holds a news conference to discuss new evidence in the case of embattled energy company Enron Corp, Washington, D.C.
—10:30 am: Zoe Baird of the Markle Foundation and former CIA Director James Woolsey appear before the House Select Committee on Homeland Security holds hearing information sharing after 9/11
—10:30 am: Attorney General John Ashcroft and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Director Carl Truscott holds news conference on new criminal justice initiative against gun crime, Washington, D.C.
—10:45 am: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her regular news conference
—11:00 am: The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. releases weekly interest rates for 30- and 15-year mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages
—12:01 pm: The Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy in Focus release a study on the cost of the Iraq war tabulating lives, military budget demands and impact on domestic budget, Washington, D.C.
—12:15 pm: John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, delivers a keynote before the American Enterprise Institute's discussion on how the U.S. can respond to threats of terror without violating international law
—12:30 pm: Former Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech on the Bush Administration's claims of ties of Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein at the Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.
—1:30 pm: Sen. Kerry speaks about investing in technology at San Jose State University, San Jose, Calif.
—1:45 pm: On-camera briefing by Condoleezza Rice on the President's upcoming trip to Ireland and Turkey
—1:50 pm: President Bush participates in a demonstration of broadband wireless technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
—2:10 pm: President Bush speaks about innovation at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
—6:00 pm: Former President Clinton holds a town hall meeting on AOL and Infinity Broadcasting stations
—6:00 pm: Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie hosts a reception honoring Latino Republican elected and appointed officials at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington, D.C.
—6:15 pm: Sen. Kerry speaks at the AFSCME International convention at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif.
—7:00 p.m.: Joe Trippi, campaign consultant for former Gov. Howard ns Reimer, Washington director of Rock the Vote; Amy Issacs, national director of the Americans for Democratic Action; and Zack Exley of the Kerry campaign deliver remarks at the Americans for Democratic Action's annual conference and convention, Washington, D.C.
—8:00 pm: Lynne Cheney speaks at a "Women in Business National Conference Town Hall" at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, New Orleans, La.
—9:00 pm: Former President Clinton appears on CNN's "Larry King Live"
—9:45 pm: Sen. John and Teresa Heinz Kerry attend a DNC fundraiser dinner at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, Calif.
—11:30 pm: Sen. Kerry attends a fundraiser concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, Calif.