The Note: When The Dog Bites

— -- WASHINGTON, July 18

NEWS SUMMARY
The modern corollary to "don't believe everything you read" is "don't disbelieve everything you read."

We aren't sure about everything that is flying out there, but we are in the midst of a pretty dizzying period.

THINGS WE (THINK) WE KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH:

-- He will/might name a Supreme Court nominee this week (if the Monday Peter Baker is right LINK and the Sunday Peter Baker is wrong…).

-- He might pick a female for the job (unless he doesn't).

-- He is very loyal to those who are loyal to him.

-- He has at least one event today at which he will have an opportunity to reaffirm that he doesn't comment on on-going investigations (except when he does).

THINGS WE (THINK) WE KNOW ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY:

-- He is very loyal to those who are loyal to him.

-- Joe Wilson is not his kind of guy.

-- He is both a detail man and a big picture man.

THINGS WE (THINK) KNOW ABOUT KARL ROVE:

-- "Prosecutors ... have been told that ...Rove, (was) especially intent on undercutting Wilson's credibility….A source directly familiar with information provided to prosecutors said Rove's interest was so strong that it prompted questions in the White House. When asked at one point why he was pursuing the diplomat so aggressively, Rove reportedly responded: 'He's a Democrat.' Rove then cited Wilson's campaign donations, which leaned toward Democrats, the person familiar with the case said." (per the Los Angeles Times)

-- That there is some dispute about whether welfare reform was discussed during his famous phone call with Matt Cooper (with obvious implications).

-- That he allegedly ended the call with Cooper with the now (in)famous words "I've already said too much."

-- That a very busy "source familiar with Rove's account" says that no matter HOW Rove learned of Valerie Wilson's CIA employment, the germ of the start of the genesis of it was via a member of the Fourth Estate.

THINGS WE (THINK) WE KNOW ABOUT SCOOTER LIBBY:

-- He has a wonderful sense of humor.

-- The Los Angels Times says the prosecutors have heard testimony that he, too, was especially intent on undercutting Wilson's credibility…"

-- He should probably try to figure out what enemies he has made at State (current and former) and the Agency (current and former; and we don't mean the EPA either).

THINGS WE (THINK) WE KNOW ABOUT MATT COOPER:

-- He is a brilliant mimic.

-- He has more interesting e-mails and Notes about this matter that somewhere haven't found their way to Isikoff (yet).

THINGS WE (THINK) WE KNOW ABOUT KEN MEHLMAN:

-- He doesn't plan to hold his breath waiting for the apologies to Karl Rove he has demanded.

-- In his soul, he believes he has never attacked Joe Wilson.

-- He is not a big fan of "Vanity Fair."

-- He has not dictionary.commed "vindicate" lately. LINK

THINGS WE (THINK) WE KNOW ABOUT HOWARD FINEMAN:

-- He is seeing his life (or, at least, his career) flash before his bespeckled eyes.

-- He correlates Karl Rove's occasional antics with the traveling White House press corps with feeling "under pressure."

THINGS WE (THINK) WE KNOW ABOUT THE WASHINGTON POST AND OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE REPORTERS HAVE TESTIFIED (OR NOT):

-- They are starting to subtly sneak information they obtained in confidence into the paper in some instances.

(Note hint: read closely.)

President Bush visits with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House today, with a joint press availability following at 11:15 am ET. That'll be the first chance to question the President about the weekend's developments, if the press corps so chooses. (The President hosts a state dinner tonight in honor of the Prime Minister at 8:00 pm ET.)

Secretary of State Rice, who is featured in Howard Fineman's Newsweek cover story about the Plame leak, has a busy schedule of meetings with the Indian Prime Minister. At this writing, there are no chances to throw a question to her, though her 1:00 pm ET working lunch with Mr. Singh is open to the press.

Watch carefully for gaps in the President's schedule this week; he is expected to meet with a true short list of potential Supreme Court nominees. Strategists believe that if the President makes up his mind soonish, an announcement of the pick could come by the end of this week.

Why did Attorney General Gonzales cancel his planned visit to the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston this morning?

On Capitol Hill, both chambers continue debate on foreign operations spending. The House plans a debate on the Patriot Act reauthorization. House and Senate conferees meet to hash out an energy bill for the president to sign before the recess. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist may bring any one of a half dozen cell bills to the floor.

At 9:30 am ET, the Foreign Relations committee holds a hearing on the future of Iraq.

In Philadelphia today, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings address the National Council of La Raza. The program begins at 12:30 pm ET. (RNC chairman Ken Mehlman speaks there Tuesday.)

Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) is expected to be named the new chairman of the National Governors Association at the group's annual summer meeting today in Des Moines. Huckabee will likely highlight his "Healthy America" initiative focused on getting Americans to take better care of their bodies and his fight against the root causes of childhood obesity.

Bill Clinton joins a growing list of VIPs to visit Africa with a three-day visit to the continent that began yesterday. The former president will travel to Mozambique, Lesotho, and South Africa (for a visit with Nelson Mandela) as part of his foundation's HIV/AIDS Initiative. We hope you saw Robin Roberts' exclusive coverage of all this on Good Morning America -- there will be more on ABC News coming up.