The Note: Gone Fishin' (2006)

— -- WASHINGTON, August 11

After an eventful political week (something happened with Joe Lieberman, if we recall) and in the midst of the elevated terror threat blotting out everything for the foreseeable future, The Note is going dark after today, until right after Labor Day.

While we're gone: read a novel, hug a loved one, practice flying without lotion, and watch the first season of "Gilmore Girls" on DVD.

Or:

1. Make flash cards in order to memorize all 32-58 competitive House races. LINK

2. Read back issues of The Note and see if we have EVER published a real leaked memo. LINK

3. Pre-buy a copy (or two) of "The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008," the upcoming Random House book by John F. Harris of the Washington Post and Mark Halperin of ABC News. LINK (Read time.com's Mike Allen here for his take on the book -- and on The Note -- in his latest blog post: LINK)

4. Send Sen. Elizabeth Dole an "atta-girl!!" e-mail. LINK

5. Get in on the ground floor of HOTSOUP. LINK

6. Tell anyone at a Hampton's cocktail party who wants you to speculate about what happens if Senator McCain or Senator Clinton doesn't run for president, "Why don't we just wait and see?"

As for the latest in the Old New Normal (or, perhaps, the New New Normal, or, as the New York Times calls it, an "August surprise"), there may be very little or no impact on voters come November, but the all out effort from Bush, Cheney, Rove, Mehlman, to seize this moment speaks volumes about the Republican game plan - one that looks quite similar to the party's successful efforts in 2002 and 2004.

But as our ABC News/Washington Post polling indicates and as Democratic pollster Mark Mellman tells the Washington Post this morning, 2006 is a significantly different political climate than '02 and '04. (He also indicates terror-related breaking news causes him some political agita, but, then again, he is prone to that.)

Democrats continue to pound the idea that the unpopular war in Iraq (and America's 130,000 troops there) is a distraction from the most important task of being able to nimbly deal with every potential danger that threatens America's security.

Republicans are eager to debate the war on terrorism (even if their advantage on that issue has been diminished) and Iraq as a piece of that war rather than simply debating the continued troubling news out of Iraq.

Democrats chided the RNC yesterday for exploiting the terror news by blast emailing a fundraising appeal by Rudy Giuliani during yesterday's unfolding events. The RNC blamed the poor timing on a low-level staffer and acknowledged that the appeal (which had been in the pipeline for days) should not have been sent.

And hawkish Joe Lieberman quickly put the news of day to use yesterday to explain why his security policies are precisely what the country needs right now and why he continues to pursue his independent candidacy in Connecticut after losing Tuesday's Democratic primary.

One Democratic operative working on 2006 midterm election strategy offers this Frank-Rich-column-in-the-making timeline to The Note this morning.

A profile in politicizing terror:

Wednesday: Weeks after the White House learns that the London terror plot will be uncovered, Cheney says Lamont victory will encourage "al Qaeda types."

7:42 a.m., Thursday: The White House announces that the threat level has been raised to 'Red.'

10:54 a.m. (CDT): The President announces, on his way to a Wisconsin fundraiser for congressional candidate John Gard, that the arrests in London are "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation."

12:26 p.m.: The RNC sends out a fundraising email penned by Rudy Giuliani saying "In the middle of a war on terror, we need to remain focused on furthering Republican ideas more than ever before. Please make your commitment felt with a financial contribution for $500, $250,$100, $50, $35 or $25 to the Republican National Committee today."

2:53 p.m.: Bush official celebrates the terror plot. The AFP reports,"'Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big,' said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't 'look as appealing' under the circumstances."

4:22 p.m.: The RNC follows with a statement attempting to elevate the war on terror above those who would crassly use it for politics sake: "On a day when American authorities are working with our allies to stop a global terror plot, instead of focusing on political attacks, we should focus on the fact that we are at war and need every tool to win the War on Terror."

President Bush has returned to his Crawford ranch and is scheduled to attend a Republican National Committee closed-press reception in Crawford, TX at 1:15 pm ET. RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman is expected to introduce the President. The event is expected to bring in $750,000 from the anticipated 350 attendees who will be munching on BBQ for lunch.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) joins former U.S. Army Captain/Iraq veteran/Pennsylvania Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Murphy for a press conference call to discuss the war in Iraq and their criticisms of incumbent Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick for failing to offer a new strategy on the issue. The call is scheduled to take place at 10:30 am ET.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean joins prominent California Democrats -- California Democratic Party chairman Art Torres, Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Mayor Gavin Newsom, and others - at a rally for gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides in San Francisco, CA at 1:00 pm ET.

Gov. Mitt Romney makes his postponed-from-yesterday announcement about the Commonwealth's energy needs at 11:30 am ET in Boston, MA.

This week on C-SPAN's "Road to the White House," Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) delivers the keynote address at the Republican Party of Iowa Chairman's Dinner. The event was held in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, July 29. You can catch the always must-watch show at 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm ET/PT.

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) joins Democratic congressional candidate John Cranley for a 2:00 pm ET press conference in Cincinnati, OH on implementing all the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Prior to the press conference, Bayh will attend a Cranley fundraiser.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) holds his second online listening session today at 2:00 pm ET to answer any questions listeners might have about a range of issues. His first session in March of this year discussed NSA spying, Iraq, health care, and energy independence, and was very similar to the listening sessions he holds throughout his home state of Wisconsin each year.

In his efforts to call upon the black church to denounce the Christian Right as well as conservative black leaders, Rev. Al Sharpton delivers the keynote address at the Progressive Black Convention held in Cincinnati, OH. Sharpton plans to criticize these conservative black leaders for their "misuse" of the church to focus on particular issues while ignoring the real moral issues of today, including the war, healthcare, and education. Sharpton will deliver this address at the convention at 7:30 pm ET.

Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) addresses the topic of education at the Politics and Eggs: 2006 Issues Forum in Bedford, NH and later plays with his band, "The Capitol Offense," at a campaign kick-off rally for State Senate candidate Nancy Wall in Hollis, NH.

Today marks day one of a week full of Iowa stumps by presidential hopefuls as the Iowa State Fair is set to take place from August 10-20 in Des Moines. Likely excited to be able to campaign in his home state, Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA) continues to attend events at the Fair, with plans to attend the Governor's Life Saving Awards Ceremony and spend time at the Governor's and Democratic Party booths. Former Rep. Newt Gingrich also attends the Fair with plans to participate in a book signing. Gov. George Pataki (R-NY) plans to visit the Fair in the morning with plans later to campaign for state candidates.