NEWS SUMMARY

Sen. John Kerry tackles the economy this morning before the Detroit Economic Club — in what his campaign is billing as the single most important speech about the economy he will give this fall, as he continues to struggle for ways to command the national stage — not to mention the news cycle — with just 48 days left.

While the campaign preview makes clear that address does not include a single new proposal, most Americans don't have the foggiest idea what John Kerry's plans on the economy are, and today is the first/last best chance to try to change that.

Meanwhile, Democrats are all hot and bothered by the first White House briefing in a long time — the absence owing to the long-standing White House tradition of not holding the "daily" event when the president is on the road. And this president has been on the road a lot lately.

The last briefing was Aug. 9 — the topic of the day was Ahmed Chalabi — and that just so happens to be the last day Kerry spoke to the press about something other than how long it's been since he spoke to the press.

In Detroit, Kerry will criticize President Bush's "Excuse Presidency," saying that Bush is not taking responsibility for his choices but is a victim of circumstance, offering, according to the campaign, "a treasure trove of excuses to avoid moving the economy in the right direction, refusing to admit that his failed record is the result of his failed policies."

Kerry will lay out his plan to create jobs, offer middle-class tax cuts, lower energy and health care costs, cut the deficit and restore economic confidence.

(Incidentally, the latest ABC News-Money magazine poll shows that Americans are rating their personal finances better than they have in more than two years.)

The Bush campaign will trot out campaign manager Ken Mehlman and policy director Tim Adams in a mid-morning conference call to respond.

Keeping in mind, however, the tenuous balance between economic issues and foreign policy, Kerry called in to Don Imus' show this morning and slammed the president on Iraq and his plan for security and democracy in the region. Kerry said the people who have to run elections in Iraq need greater time to establish security. "I think it is very difficult to see how you can distribute ballots in" places like Fallujah and Ramadi and Najaf "without having established security. I'm not sure the president is being honest with the American people about that situation either."

But the "keep it simple" advice doesn't seem to have sunk in either. As for his plan to improve the situation in Iraq, Kerry said "the plan gets more complicated every single day" because President Bush has not listened to the advice that he and others have given him about enlisting the help of the international community.

Kerry was on Imus a long time and the host asked his usual excellent questions, but nothing else approaching news was committed (although GOP oppo operatives will pick over the Sen.'s post-service Vietnam-era remarks quite quickly and thoroughly).

Kerry hasn't visited Michigan since early August and is clinging to a slight lead in the polls despite particularly bad jobs numbers in the state: an unemployment rate of 6.8 percent, down from 7.5 percent since last July but nonetheless 25 percent higher than the national average of 5.4 percent, and the loss of nearly 200,000 jobs (167,000 in manufacturing) since Bush took office.

When "Kerry speaks to the Detroit Economic Club this morning about his plan to bolster the American economy, it will be the first time in six weeks that he's been in Michigan," the Detroit Free Press reports. "Michigan and its 17 electoral votes are still in play, but there are subtle and concrete signs that the Bush and Kerry campaigns are putting more of their time and money elsewhere as Kerry seems to have an upper hand in the state." LINK

After his speech, Kerry rallies Madison, WI (2:00 pm ET) and speaks to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington at 8:15 pm ET.

President Bush has a mostly low key day and will also deliver a speech to a Hispanic audience when he hosts a Hispanic Heritage Month concert and reception at the White House at 3:05 pm ET. Before that, he speaks in a closed-door session to the Joint Candidate Committee appreciation luncheon at 12:05 pm ET and poses for a photo with the Director of the National Science Foundation nominee at 2:55 pm ET.

But the most Noteworthy event in Washington today (other than, of course, former DC mayor Marion Barry's election to the D.C. Council) is the first meeting of the 9/11 Working Group, which ABC News' Luis Martinez reports is responsible for examining options on how to improve the nation's intelligence gathering, including recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission.

Following its closed-door session, group leaders Sens. Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell will hold a press conference.

Sens. Lieberman and Collins unveil their own intelligence legislation at an 11:00 am ET press conference.

Elsewhere, Jenna and Barbara Bush hold their first open press campaign events, visiting three different Students for Bush phone banks at schools in De Pere, Oshkosh, and Milwaukee at 12:35, 3:05, and 5:20 pm ET, respectively.

And Sen. Edwards is in West Virginia and Ohio and his wife Elizabeth Edwards holds two health care events in Iowa.

President Bush and the National Guard: the politics of the documents:

No one knows where the twin tracks of this story (documents real or not and, if not, who made 'em up?) are going.

A wrap of ABC News reporting: LINK

On "Good Morning America" today, ABC News' Brian Ross reported that CBS News did not disclose that anyone disputed the authenticity of the Bush National Guard document when, in fact, some had disputed the document's authenticity. Ross closed by saying that another expert says the documents are forgeries although they do reflect the opinion of the commanding officer. Ross described it as an effort to make a "good story better."

From Ross's piece last night on World News Tonight: "Two of the document experts hired by CBS News now say the network ignored concerns they raised prior to the broadcast of 60 Minutes II about the disputed National Guard records attributed to Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, who died in 1984."

"Emily Will, a veteran document examiner from North Carolina, told ABC News she saw problems right away with the one document CBS hired her to check the weekend before the broadcast."

"Will says she sent the CBS producer an e-mail message about her concerns and strongly urged the network the night before the broadcast not to use the documents."

"But the documents became a key part of the 60 Minutes II broadcast questioning President Bush's National Guard service in 1972. CBS made no mention that any expert disputed the authenticity. "

"CBS continued to strongly defend the authenticity of the memos, which it used as evidence that Bush received favorable treatment while he was in the Texas Air National Guard," writes the Washington Post 's Howie Kurtz. LINK

"CBS News Senior Vice President Betsy West said last night: 'As far as I know, Linda James raised no objections. She said she'd have to see more documents to render a judgment.'"

"As for Will's account, West said: 'I'm not aware of any substantive objection she raised. Emily Will did not urge us to hold the story. She was not adamant in any way. At one point she raised a concern about a superscript 'th,' which we then discussed with the other experts we hired to examine all four of the documents we aired. We were assured the 'th' was consistent with technology at the time, an assessment that has since been backed up by other experts.'"

Bob Schieffer says his network needs to offer more public proof that the docs are real. LINK

The Los Angeles Times editorial page says simply: "CBS News was had." LINK

The blog set up to chronicle this controversy, www.rathergate.com (LINK), is urging concerned activists to fax CBS affiliates across the country.

A bevy of New York Times reporters have this: "CBS has refused to say how it obtained the documents. But one person at CBS, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report in Newsweek that Bill Burkett, a retired National Guard officer who has charged that senior aides to then-Governor Bush had ordered Guard officials to remove damaging information from Mr. Bush's military personnel files, had been a source of the report. This person did not know the exact role he played." LINK

Pete Slover of the Dallas Morning News was among the first reporters to reach Lt. Col. Killian's former secretary and spoke with her at length. She thinks the documents themselves are forgeries but suggested they might have been based on real, handwritten memos that existed in 1972. LINK

USA Today 's Moniz and Drinkard Note Marian Carr Knox's claims and spoke to a colleague of Killian's, Richard Via, who agrees with them. LINK

Continues Jim Rainey of the Los Angeles Times:

"CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius greeted Knox's statements with mixed emotions. While suggesting that Knox was wrong about the authenticity of the memos, she was pleased that the one-time secretary corroborated their content." LINK

"'While we do not believe that she is a documents expert . . . it is exceptionally noteworthy that she supports the content of our story."

"White House officials could not be reached for comment, but earlier in the day the Bush administration made its strongest statements yet rebutting the memos. Aides said Bush had recently reviewed the documents and told them that the memos did not reflect the nature of his relationship with Killian."

Rainey also reports that Dan Rather called Ms. Knox's home yesterday.

Rowan Scarborough of the Washington Times writes that the memos "do not follow guidelines mandated in Air Force regulations, which the officer had followed in documents that are known to be authentic."

"Air Force manuals on proper memo-writing, which date back at least to 1965, say no period should be placed after an officer's abbreviated rank. Thus, in signing a memo, the "Lt" in the rank of lieutenant colonel is not supposed to have a period at the end." LINK

Famous forger Frank Abagnale (the only person to weigh in who's been portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio) declares the documents obtained by CBS to be fakes. LINK

Nick Kristof continues to opine on President Bush's National Guard duty, talking to an old professor who says Bush one called the civil rights movement "socialist/communist." LINK

"What troubles me is less Mr. Bush's advantage three decades ago and more his denial today. Mr. Bush's own route to avoid the draft underscores the disparities in America, yet his policies seem based on a kind of social Darwinism in which the successful make their own opportunities. His tax cuts and entire outlook seem rooted in ideas not of noblesse oblige, but of noblesse entitlement."

The White House will strongly object to the entire thing.

Yesterday, Republican National Committee Communications Director Jim Dyke offered up an . . . interesting response to the DNC's "Fortunate Son" video:

"The video the Democrats released today is as creative and accurate as the memos they gave CBS."

The RNC declined to elaborate or provide evidence for their charges, saying through a spokeswoman only that "The statement speaks for itself."

The DNC's Jano Cabrera told ABC News that the Democrats "categorically" deny having anything to do with the documents.

Said Cabrera: "Four independent investigations have all concluded that George W. Bush did not fulfill his duty. Jim Dyke should spent more time figuring out how he's going to answer why Bush walked away from his national guard duty and less time launching baseless accusations."

We are confused by Mr. Dyke's deviation from the normally strong example he sets regarding accountability in public life.

National Review's Jim Geraughty thinks Dyke went gone too far by asserting that the Democrats leaked the documents to 60 Minutes without evidence. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush v. Kerry:

John Harwood has a boffo look at how President Bush has proven "risk-taker" and Kerry the "cautious candidate" and provides this metaphor to help us understand: Choosing between Bush and Kerry is "akin to the choice between a football coach who favors the ground game and one who loves throwing long." LINK

The New York Times ' Tim Egan fronts an enthusiastic look at efforts to get younger voters to the polls. Skeptical GOPers, while publicly mouthing the right words, still don't expect a meaningful surge in kiddie turnout. LINK

Read Al Hunt's chock-full-of-juicy-bits Campaign Journal daily in the Wall Street Journal . LINK

Matt Dowd gets a little more mileage out of the lemons/lemonade cliché in Nick Anderson's Los Angeles Times look at the latest CMAG numbers and the shrinking battleground map. LINK

The independent analysts' takes:

"'Bush is continuing with the national battleground strategy, to extend his convention bounce,' said Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of TNSMI/Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks ads for The Times . 'Kerry is now cherry-picking. He's trying to extend his money and extend his buys. Either he's trying to husband his resources or he's saying the playing field is shrinking.'"

More analysis: "'It's getting close to where [Kerry] has got to get an inside straight,' said Kenneth M. Goldstein, director of the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project."

The latest Quinnipiac University poll, conducted Sept. 7-12, has Sen. Kerry leading President Bush in New York, 47 percent to 41 percent, with Ralph Nader taking 4 percent. Kerry's lead narrowed significantly in the Empire State after the GOP convention; an Aug. 13 Quinnipiac poll had Kerry leading by 18 points in the state, which Gore won by 25 percentage points in 2000. LINK

Dick Morris opines on Kerry's unfavorables and declares that his own voters don't care for him all that much which, Morris claims, gives the president a big opportunity at the debates.

"If the president gives an even moderately effective presentation and comes across as even somewhat likeable, he can cut deeply into Kerry's vote," writes Morris in his New York Post column. LINK

The Hill's Geoff Earle reports, "The nation's biggest police union has voted to endorse President Bush, after Sen. John Kerry failed to respond to its candidate questionnaire." LINK The first ever poll of Asian-American presidential preference shows John Kerry with a slight lead, but about half the advantage Al Gore had with that demographic in 2000. LINK

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

President Bush will spend his first full day in Washington since Aug. 2, the AP's hard-charging, campaign-weary, and battle-tested Jennifer Loven points out.

So where has the president been since then? Loven reports that in 44 days he visited 21 states, including: "six trips to Ohio, five to Pennsylvania, four each to Iowa, Florida, Michigan and West Virginia and twice to Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada and Wisconsin. He also has stayed at his Texas ranch three times and visited his parents' home in Kennebunkport, Maine." LINK

USA Today 's Bill Nichols writes that in his President Bush's speech to the National Guard, Bush "alternated between lauding Guard members' devotion to country and questioning whether John Kerry is tough and constant enough to be commander in chief." LINK

Peter Wallsten and Scott Gold Note that "Bush's appearance at the convention was significant not just for the ongoing controversy over his service, but as a demonstration that he continues to enjoy support among Guard soldiers and their families despite the changing nature of the force under his administration." LINK

Washington Post 's Mike Allen gives high placement to Bush's comments on consistency and clarity: "'What's critical is that the president of the United States speak clearly and consistently at this time of great threat in our world, and not change positions because of expediency or pressure.'" LINK

Mark Silva in the Chicago Tribune: LINK

James Lakely of Washington Times Notes, in an article that calls Bush's response to his address before the National Guard Association yesterday "enthusiastic," NBC and CBS have demanded that the DNC remove network footage from their new video attacking Bush's Guard service. "NBC said it 'does not authorize its copyrighted footage to be used for partisan political purposes.' CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius told the Weekly Standard yesterday that 'we do not want them to use the video and we are taking it up with them.'" Jano Cabrera says the committee is "looking at" their requests. LINK

DNC sloppiness or a shameless, clever play for free media?

Karen Crummy of the Denver Post writes about President Bush's Tuesday speech in Colorado, a state that "has been teetering on the edge of being a battleground state."

"The last Democratic presidential candidate to win the state was Bill Clinton in 1992. However, much of his win was chalked up to Ross Perot, who fractured the GOP and garnered more than 20 percent of the vote." LINK

Manny Gonzales and Erin Cox of the Denver Post Note the 75 Bush protestors who turned out to oppose the president's re-election. "There was one lady who gave us half a peace sign," said Kerry supporter Leon Rodriguez . "But for the most part, it has been positive." LINK

USA Today 's Barbara Slavin wraps the administration's major shift in Iraq policy toward security spending and away from reconstruction. LINK

Wall Street Journal 's Calmes and Robbins churn out a must-read think piece on Bush's success at painting Iraq as part of the war on terror and report that France is about to drop objections to a NATO force inside Iraq. LINK

Wall Street Journal 's Shailagh Murray reports that a President Bush tax overhaul next term might not look that drastic: "simplifying the system and making it more taxpayer-friendly," perhaps by changing the alternative minimum tax. LINK

The convention was not President Bush's final trip to New York City this election season. The New York Post 's Fred Dicker got hold of a fundraising invitation for an event next Monday evening, where the president is expected to raise between $2 and $4 million for the RNC. LINK

The politics of cheese: the Washington Post 's Jim VandeHei revisits Kerry's "Lambert field" slip-up from last month and reports that "The Bush campaign is planning to rehash the comment until Election Day as way of portraying Kerry as detached from the beer-drinking, bratwurst-eating folks of Wisconsin." LINK

On Sept. 3, President Bush told Wisconsin voters: You know, it's traditional, when politicians come to your state, that they talk about the Packers. And I understand my opponent did it the other day, and he even mentioned the legendary stadium in Green Bay. Listen, I've got some advice for him: If someone offers you a cheesehead, don't say you want some wine. Just put it on your head and take a seat at Lambeau Field

And last Thursday in Green Bay, Vice President Cheney even got in on the joke, telling a crowd at a fundraise, "I thought after John Kerry's trek here, I wanted to see Lambert Field all to myself. I noticed he offended a lot of cheeseheads. That can happen to anybody . . . I've been confused myself … but then the next you know he'll be convinced Vince Lombardi is a foreign leader who supports his candidacy"

VandeHei also Notes that in the midst of the BC04 rich-pretty-boy-v.-man-of-the-people strategy, "Kerry's slip is rookie stuff compared with Bush's verbal blunders, including his famous creation of the word 'misunderestimated.'"

More football: USA Today 's Steven Paulson on the politics of John Elway, who appeared with Bush yesterday at a campaign rally. LINK

So, the third and final classy Today show segment with Matt Lauer and Kitty Kelley aired this morning, and, once again, the focus of the interview was on Kelley's credibility — rather than any of the tome's content. Matt Lauer seemed particularly concerned that the world know he doesn't golf with President Bush, about which he talked with Kelley voicing over video of the two men on a putting green, holding golf clubs and putting.

ABC News Vote 2004: Kerry-Edwards '04:

Previewing his big economic speech today, Sen. Kerry takes to the pages of the Wall Street Journal to call the election a "national shareholders meeting": "On the ballot will be the choice to continue with President Bush's policies or return to the fiscal sanity and pro-growth polices that proved so successful in the 1990s. You will choose."

While talking to Don Imus, Sen. John Kerry responded to criticism of his post-Vietnam War activities by saying:

KERRY: "I served. I came home. I saw what I saw. And I told the truth. And if people still have a problem with that, I'm sorry."

Kerry said that he "never meant to impugn all soldiers in that category."

But that he was, rather, "referring to the general characterization of free fire zones in Vietnam."

To back up his claims, Kerry cited "A Bright Shining Lie" as well as the Phoenix assassination program.

"I told the truth about it and that truth has been confirmed," Kerry added.

Our favorite line from Jodi Wilgoren's news of day wrap: "Mr. Kerry's emphasis on 'truth,' a word he repeated often in both talks, is part of the effort of his new communications team to clarify his case." LINK

Walter Shapiro Notes that Kerry "has become a crisper candidate in recent weeks" in a very must-read column deconstructing what works and what doesn't work for Kerry lately. LINK

The Washington Post 's VandeHei and Snyder wrap Sens. Kerry and Edwards' Tuesday criticisms of President Bush, accusing the administration of trying to keep from citizens the details of how much the elderly will need to pay for Medicare. It's part of a larger point that the White House has mislead the public on all of its policies, but some (of course unnamed) Democrats wonder if it's come too late. LINK

It's the credibility, stupid. Michael Finnegan of the Los Angeles Times on the latest "one-two punch" from the Democratic ticket. LINK

USA Today 's Martin Kasindorf Notes that four aspects of Kerry's health care plan "have elements of federal involvement." LINK

"A newly surfaced document from John Kerry's Navy record says he shot a lone, wounded enemy who was running away in the incident that led to his Silver Star, his highest military decoration," writes Deborah Orin of the New York Post .

More: "The after-action report was obtained from the Navy archives by syndicated TV commentator Mark Hyman of "The Point." A Navy official confirmed its authenticity." LINK

The Kerry campaign's reaction: "It's crap."

The Washington Post 's Ann Gerhart writes that a group of women including five 9/11 widows and one woman who escaped the attack on the Pentagon endorsed Sen. Kerry yesterday, spurred, they said, by the Bush Administration's focus on the war in Iraq and its decision not to adopt and implement all of the recommendations of the 9/11 commission panel they pushed for. They said they will campaign for Kerry, and might appear in television ads, according to spokeswoman Debra DeShong. LINK

Buried in all good Pat Healy stories is a good little nugget — keeping him at something like a page-turner-author status. "Lockhart said internal campaign polls indicate that Kerry's latest attack strategy — an attempt to drive up Bush's negative poll ratings by questioning his honesty and character — is working." LINK

Matea Gold Notes in the Los Angeles Times that McCurry will not be getting paid for his campaign work. LINK

John Kerry hired a woman in Alabama who had been fired for displaying a bumper sticker in support of his campaign. LINK

The Washington Post 's Robert Samuelson thinks Kerry's talk of job "quality" is silly. LINK

The debate about debates:

The Commission on Presidential Debates is getting antsy and needs 10 days to produce the first event, the AP's Scott Lindlaw reports. LINK

"A top Kerry adviser said the two camps were at a critical moment in their talks."

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch chimes in on how the St. Louis debate still has a huge question mark hanging over it. LINK

In an interview with Washington University's Student Life newspaper, Chris Heinz said the Kerry-Edwards campaign hasn't given up hope that the debates will continue as planned despite rumors to the contrary and that if the St. Louis debate is nixed, Kerry might swoop in for an on campus appearance as it would be "smart."

"I would feel better if there wasn't this '96 precedent looming over everyone's heads," said Heinz, referring to the debate cancellation at Washington University in 1996.

"Certainly we're going to try to make it happen. The most important thing is to get them to do any debates." LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: The Big Four: Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin:

The Columbus Dispatch's headline reads: "Bush hid truth from Americans, Kerry says." LINK

The Toledo Blade's headline is: "Kerry offers health-care Rx; Democrat rips Bush's Medicare reform during Toledo visit." LINK

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's headline is: "Kerry vows to fight for health care." LINK

The Columbus Dispatch's Alan Johnson writes about Red western Ohio. LINK

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers some fodder for the next Vanessa Kerry or Cate Edwards trip to Keystone State college campuses. LINK

"Pennsylvania does better than most states in the number of students completing college but fares dismally in keeping its campuses affordable, says an independent study released today."

Those ABC News Pennsylvania poll numbers are coming …

ABC News Vote 2004: the battlegrounds:

The AP's Tom Raum wraps the state of the race in the battlegrounds, reporting that BC04 increased its ads in four Gore states — Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Michigan — and cut back on ads in states that "appear to be moving out of play: Arizona and Missouri, which are moving Bush's way, and Maine and Washington, which slightly favor Kerry." Raum also reports that Kerry "moved up plans" to advertise in Michigan, Oregon, Maine and Minnesota. LINK

Kansas City Star columnist Lewis Diuguid thinks the women's vote is being neglected this election cycle. LINK

The Detroit Free Press' Kathleen Gray looks at the apparent decline in the Great Lake State's importance, also Noting that Kerry still holds a modest lead over Bush. LINK

The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bob Von Sternberg reports on a new Minnesota poll showing slight gains for President Bush, but Kerry still leads 50% to 41% in their poll of likely voters. LINK

New Mexico sets up a new hotline to assist Latino voters in the state, the Albuquerque Journal's Michael Coleman reports. LINK

The Albuquerque Journal's Kate Nash reports on an attempt to ban carding voters in New Mexico on Election Day. LINK

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports on a hot topic in the Missouri gubernatorial race. "For the past two years, politicians have deadlocked over the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance for doctors that some claimed was driving physicians out of Missouri." LINK

"Blunt and McCaskill offer different solutions to the problem. The biggest difference is that Blunt would extend the court protections that health care providers would enjoy to all civil lawsuits. McCaskill would not."

"The candidates' positions have prompted special interest groups to pour money into their campaign war chests."

The debate in Arizona about Prop. 200 (ballot initiative on immigration rights) is getting personal among lawmakers now. LINK

Tuesday's primaries:

The Seattle Times reports on Christine Gregoire's defeat of Ron Sims to win the Democratic nod to face Dino Rossi in the gubernatorial race. LINK

In New Hampshire, John Lynch got the nod to face Gov. Craig Benson, reports the Manchester Union Leader. LINK

The Washington Post 's Lori Montgomery and Yolanda Woodlee wrap the results of the Washington, DC primary on Tuesday, in which voters voted out three incumbent DC Council members and gave the Ward 8 nod to Marion Barry. LINK

How many comebacks can one politician have? LINK

AP rounds up the other results, Noting that it was a good day for incumbents. LINK

The economy:

The latest ABC News-Money magazine poll shows that Americans are rating their personal finances better than they have in more than two years, edging consumer confidence over its 18-year average. Sixty-one percent gave positive marks to their personal finances — a 9-point gain since mid-June — including 79 percent of Republicans, 56 percent of independents and 51 percent of Democrats.

"The gradual advance — a nine-point gain in personal finance ratings since mid-June — could benefit George W. Bush, given the economy's political importance. However, these ratings are highest by far among Republicans, already a core Bush support group," reports ABC News' Dalia Sussman.

Separately, 26 percent of Americans say the economy is improving, while 38 percent, say it's getting worse.

The politics of Porter Goss:

The Washington Post 's Dana Priest wraps Rep. Porter Goss' first day of hearings on his nomination to succeed George Tenet as CIA director, during which he promised to put aside his partisan past. LINK

"Although the panel's questioning was sometimes pointed, congressional sources in both parties predicted Goss will be confirmed, partly because of his experience and partly because Democrats do not want to be viewed by voters as obstructing counterterrorism operations by delaying the appointment of an intelligence director."

"Alternately defensive and contrite on the first day of his confirmation hearing, Goss conceded in his opening statement that 'at times, perhaps, I engaged in debate with too much vigor or enthusiasm' during his eight terms as a conservative Republican in Congress," writes Bob Drogin of the Los Angeles Times. LINK

The politics of national security:

The AP's Jesse Holland reports that the Senate Intelligence Committee will propose a National Intelligence Director with full budgetary authority. LINK

The Senate nears passage of the Homeland Security Appropriations bill after voting against giving additional money to cities considered at high risk of terrorist attacks. LINK

The Washington Post 's Glenn Kessler and Robin Wright write that foreign policy experts think President Bush's going easy on Russian President Vladimir Putin after he ended regional elections is anathema to his pledge to promote democracy around the world. LINK

Given the huge focus on national security and foreign policy by both the campaigns and the voters, the Council on Foreign Relations has assembled its scorecard for tracking where Bush and Kerry stand on issues including homeland security, terrorism, defense, energy, global health, foreign aid, and others — updated daily. LINK

The politics of Iraq:

The Washington Post 's Rajiv Chandrasekaran reports that Iraqi policemen and prospective security recruits are the new targets of the insurgency trying to keep U.S.-backed efforts to secure the country from taking hold. LINK

"The Bush administration asked Congress on Tuesday for permission to transfer nearly $3.5 billion from Iraqi water, sewer and electricity projects to pressing security, economic and electoral programs, acknowledging that increasing violence has forced a sharp shift in its rebuilding effort," the Washington Post 's Jonathan Weisman reports. LINK

"U.S. officials said $1.8 billion would go to urgent efforts to train and equip 80,000 more Iraqi security personnel in hopes of averting attacks such as the car bombing that killed at least 59 Iraqis Tuesday in Baghdad," USA Today reports. LINK

The politics of the assault weapons ban:

Arnold Schwarzenegger gave critics more ammo for his RINO status yesterday, the California governor has signed a bill banning .50-caliber BMG rifles — the large-caliber, high-powered rifle is used by the military and police to shoot at long-range targets. LINK

The Washington Post ed board calls the bill by Rep. Mark Souder, which would lift the District of Columbia's ban on handguns, a cheap ploy to force House Democrats to vote on gun control in an election year. It's an incursion on DC home rule that does not take into consideration the difficulties that the DC police department already has in terms of stemming gun violence and keeping weapons off the streets, they argue. "A more contemptible display of cynicism would be hard to find." LINK

Hurricane politics:

"Gov. Jeb Bush opened the door Tuesday for out-of-state contractors to fix storm-damaged roofs in Florida, a move that could speed up repairs to thousands of homes hit by hurricanes Frances and Charley," reports the Orlando Sentinel's Sean Mussenden. LINK

On the Hill:

Congress is spending far more money than anticipated, stretched by natural disasters and the demands of pork in an election year, report Dan Morgan and Helen Dewar of the Washington Post . LINK

USA Today 's Andrea Stone reports, "Republican leaders plan to hold votes in the waning days of the 108th Congress on divisive issues that have little chance of becoming law but will put Democrats on the defensive." LINK

Congress gives itself another raise. LINK and LINK

Roll Call reports in a never-before-used "option of last resort," House Ethics Committee leaders have thrown allegations against Tom DeLay to a full panel, introducing the possibility of a deadlock in allegations against "the powerful Majority Leader." LINK

With Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's retirement at the end of the 109th Congress looming large, the good doctor has prompted two of his top deputies to begin "quietly soliciting support from colleagues in anticipation of a leadership race that is not scheduled to take place until 2006" according to Roll Call . Majority Whip Mitch McConnell and Rick Santorum are already ahead of the game. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: casting and counting:

Maryland voters who demand a receipt after their e-vote won't be able vote on a paper ballot. LINK

The New York Times ' Denise Grady follows yesterday's story in the Washington Post about dementia in the voting public, and reports that residents of long-term-care facilities with dementia should be tested before being allowed to vote, a panel of experts says. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: the Senate:

The Washington Post 's Lois Romano reports that Oklahoma Senate candidate Tom Coburn "has had to respond to published reports that he committed Medicaid fraud 14 years ago." LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Nader-Camejo '04:

A Florida State Court hearing to review Ralph Nader's ballot status will be held this morning at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

The Orlando Sentinel's John Kennedy looks at Nader's ballot fight in Florida, whose fate currently lies in the hands of three courts.

LINK

A Palm Beach Post editorial on Nader: "Mr. Nader's candidacy is a joke. Ms. Hood's appeal is laughable." LINK

In South Carolina, Nader will, after all, be on the presidential ballot as an Independence Party candidate, reports the AP. He had attempted to get on the ballot as and independent, but fell short of valid signatures. LINK

The Chicago Sun-Times writes Nader will push for legislation that would standardize a single set of requirements to earn ballot access in all 50 states. The consumer advocate is still in the process of challenging a court decision to keep him off the ballot in Illinois where a pro-Nader group called the Coalition for Free and Equal Elections is calling for the indictment of House Speaker Michael Madigan, claiming he unethically used state employees to block Nader off the Illinois ballot. LINK

The Detroit News' Gary Heinlein reports Ralph Nader urged reforms in his visit to Ann Arbor. LINK

The land of 5 + 2 = 7:

The Los Angeles Times' Lisa Getter reports a former Seinfeld writer is the lead contributor for Texans for Truth. We wonder if that means we can expect a RNC press release calling it a group about nothing. LINK

The Washington Post 's Brian Faler reports that Texans for Truth are offering $50,000 for the person who can prove President Bush fulfilled his National Guard duties. LINK

Politics:

The Washington Times reports Catholic dioceses across the nation are wrestling with how to handle Hispanic church members who refuse to adhere to new background checks to protect members. LINK

Harold Meyerson writes in the Washington Post that House Speaker Denny Hastert should be censured for insinuating George Soros is pushing drugs. "Republicans who complain, rightly, about the shaky scholarship of Kitty Kelley should have to explain why the speaker's innuendo is any more acceptable." LINK

The New York Daily News reports Mayor Bloomberg's opponent of three years ago, Mark Green, is "formally testing the waters" for a 2006 bid for state attorney general. LINK

White House 2008:

George Pataki may have won the PR battle during convention week, but New Yorkers would much prefer to send Rudy Giuliani to the White House in 2008, according to a Quinnipiac University poll. LINK

TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):

—7:29 am: Sen. John Kerry calls into "Imus in the Morning"
—8:30 am: The Hill newspaper hosts a "Road to the White House" breakfast with David Hill and Mark Mellman, Washington, DC
—8:30 am: The Commerce Department releases the July report on business inventories
—9:00 am: Sens. Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell lead the first meeting of the 9/11 Working Group at the Capitol and hold a press conference afterward, Washington, DC
—9:00 am: The House Republican and Democratic caucuses meet in their regular closed-door meetings at the Capitol, Washington, DC
—9:00 am: Sen. John Kerry delivers a major economic speech at the Detroit Economic Club at Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI
—9:45 am: The Senate convenes to debate the Military Construction Appropriations bill
—9:45 am: Off-camera press gaggle by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan
—10:00 am: The Arab American Institute releases the results of its fourth tracking poll of Arab American voters in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania on a conference call
—10:00 am: The New Democrat Network releases its new polls at a press conference at the Washington Court Hotel, Washington, DC
—10:00 am: The House of Representatives convenes to debate the Transportation, Treasury and Independent agencies appropriations bills
—10:30 am: Secretary of State Colin Powell releases a State Department report on International Religious Freedom, Washington, DC
—10:30 am: Kerry campaign chairwoman former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and Bush campaign chairman former Gov. Marc Racicot participate in a dialogue hosted by the first National Campaign for Youth Advocacy Day at the Washington Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC
—10:30 am: Elizabeth Edwards holds a town hall meeting on health care for seniors at the Siouxland Senior Center, Sioux City, IA
—10:45 am: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi holds her regular briefing at the Capitol, Washington, DC
—11:00 am: Sens. Susan Collins and Joe Lieberman unveil legislation to reorganize the nation's intelligence community at the Capitol, Washington, DC
—11:00 am: A federal judge rules on a lawsuit that would force New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey to step down, Trenton, NJ
—11:00 am: Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Medicare administrator Mark McClellan announce enhancements to the Medicare drug discount program, Washington, DC
—12:05 pm: President Bush speaks at the 2004 Joint Candidate Committee appreciation luncheon at the Decatur House, Washington, DC
—12:20 pm: Sen. John Edwards holds a town hall meeting at West Virginia University, Parkersburg, WV
—12:35 pm: Jenna and Barbara Bush speak at a Students for Bush phone bank at St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI
—12:45 pm: On-camera press briefing by White House Press Secretary McClellan
—2:00 pm: Sen. Kerry holds a rally, Madison, WI
—2:15 pm: Elizabeth Edwards holds a town hall meeting on health care for seniors at Sam's Soda and Sandwiches, Carroll, IA
—2:55 pm: President Bush holds a photo-op with the Director of the National Science Foundation nominee in the Oval Office
—3:05 pm: President Bush speaks at the Hispanic Heritage Month concert and reception at the White House
—3:05 pm: Jenna and Barbara Bush speak at a Students for Bush phone bank at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, WI
—5:20 pm: Elizabeth Edwards holds a town hall meeting on health care for seniors at The Center, Council Bluffs, IA
—5:20 pm: Jenna and Barbara Bush speak at a Students for Bush phone bank at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
—5:30 pm: Lynne Cheney hosts an online chat at www.georgewbush.com/Chat
—7:30 pm: Sen. Edwards attends a rally at Ohio University, Athens, OH
—8:15 pm: Sen. Kerry speaks to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC