The Note

ByABC News
September 26, 2003, 9:29 AM

W A S H I N G T O N September 25&#151;<br> -- Today's Schedule (all times Eastern):

9:15 am: Governor Howard Dean speaks to the AFL-CIO convention, Detroit9:30 am: Senate convenes for legislative business9:30 am: Senate Armed Services Committee hears testimony from Ambassador Paul Bremer and General John Abizaid, Capitol Hill9:45 am: Off-camera White House press gaggle with Scott McClellan10:00 am: House convenes for legislative business10:15 am: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Congressmen Ciro Rodriguez and Robert Menendez hold a news conference to discuss the Democrats' Hispanic agenda, Capitol Hill12:30 pm: Reverend Al Sharpton holds a media availability at Amy Ruth's soul food restaurant in Harlem, New York City12:45 pm: On-camera White House press briefing with Scott McClellan1:30 pm: House Armed Services Committee hears testimony from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Ambassador Paul Bremer and General John Abizaid, Capitol Hill2:00 pm: General Wesley Clark greets supporters at Bowling Green Park, New York City2:15 pm: Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante makes remarks on veterans' issues at Patriotic Hall, Los Angeles2:20 pm: President Bush meets with members of the congressional conference on Medicare modernization, White House3:00 pm: Arnold Schwarzenegger attends a town hall meeting, Los Angeles4:00 pm: Democratic National Committee presidential debate hosted by CNBC and the Wall Street Journal at Pace University, New York City4:00 pm: House International Relations Committee hears testimony from Ambassador Paul Bremer, Capitol Hill4:00 pm: Governor Gray Davis meets with the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association to talk about Meagan's Law, Monterey Park, Calif.4:00 pm: California Republican county chairs meet to discuss whether to endorse a candidate for governor, Sacramento7:00 pm: Democratic National Committee dinner honoring the presidential candidates at the Sheraton New York Hotel, New York City8:00 pm: Governor Davis participates in a town hall forum sponsored by Town Hall LA, Burbank, Calif.9:00 pm: Representative Dennis Kucinich meets with supporters at the Flat Hotel, New York City9:45 pm: Democratic National Committee reception for young professionals and the presidential candidates at the Sheraton New York Hotel, New York City11:35 pm: Secretary of State Colin Powell appears on The Late Show with David Letterman

NEWS SUMMARY

Q. What's the only thing worse than a barrelful of hung-over Googling monkeys?

A. A barrelful of Googling monkeys stuck in middle seats on the D.C.-New York Delta Shuttle to cover a debate with stringent usage rules.

-- ancient Note riddle

Last night's ABC News Culinary Clash in the Capital party featured the first historic meeting between Jill Alper and Ken Mehlman (The Note feels it might have been present at the creation at the birth of the next decade's Quinn and Gillespie); a monstrously competitive limbo competition (Congratulations, Ben Ginsberg!); and an eerily Floridian narrow Bush win by over-vote in the dessert competition.

The California debate proved two things: Stan Statham is more of a Ted Baxter or Admiral Stockdale type than a George Stephanopoulos type, and bad format married with a weak moderation is a recipe for causing some to paraphrase Ray Donovan and ask, "Where do I go to get my 90 minutes back, and who TiVoed 'West Wing' for us?"

So, with one debate out of the way, a brutal WSJ/NBC poll with still-strong-by-historic-standards-but-trending-badly numbers for 43, and the situation on the ground and on the Hill vis-a-vis Iraq not trending so swell either, we move to what we affectionately call "The Double Digit Debate."

After the closing bell rings on Wall Street today, downtown will be the site of the second Democratic National Committee sanctioned presidential debate.

The two-hour ruckus is hosted by CNBC and the Wall Street Journal .

While the stated focus of this debate will be economic issues, the real focus will be on The General as he takes part in his first debate and makes his debut appearance with the other nine candidates. NBC's Brian Williams will moderate the debate. CNBC's Ron Insana and Gloria Borger will join Williams and the Wall Street Journal 's Gerald Seib as the questioners.

After the debate, the DNC will host a dinner to honor the presidential candidates at the Sheraton New York Hotel. Al Franken will emcee the evening. All candidates are expected to attend except Dean. And there's an after-party with young professionals.

President Bush meets with members of the congressional conference on Medicare modernization today at the White House.

Governor Dean flies to Detroit this morning to speak to the AFL-CIO convention. He will not go to the DNC dinner tonight after the debate; he is heading home to Vermont before the night is over.

Senator Kerry will attend a Meetup.com debate watching party after the debate.

General Clark will meet with supporters in Bowling Green Park on his way to the debate.

Congressman Gephardt has private fundraising events in New York City before heading to the debate and the dinner.

Congressman Kucinich will meet with supporters at the Flat Hotel after the debate and the dinner.

Reverend Sharpton will hold a media availability at Amy Ruth's restaurant in Harlem before heading to the debate and the dinner.

Senator Edwards, Ambassador Moseley Braun, Senator Lieberman, and Senator Graham have no other public events scheduled besides the debate and the dinner.

In the recall:

Republican county chairs will meet at the chamber of commerce in Sacramento today to discuss whether to endorse a candidate for governor.

Governor Davis will meet with the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association to talk about Meagan's Law this afternoon in Monterey Park. He also will participate in a town hall forum sponsored by Town Hall LA in Burbank tonight.

Lieutenant Governor Bustamante makes remarks on veterans' issues at Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles today.

Arnold Schwarzenegger appears on the Sean Hannity radio show this afternoon, which will also air live on FNC. He also will attend a town hall meeting hosted by KABC radio, FOX News, and the Republican Jewish Coalition in Los Angeles today.