The Note: The Deck's Stacked

— -- WASHINGTON, Nov. 17

Another week of intense change in American politics comes to an end, with words of bipartisanship continuing to share shelf space with bipartisan intra-party dust-ups.

Incumbency may not have proved all that powerful on November 7 with voters in many competitive House districts, but when members of the House of Representatives are the voters it appears to still hold some serious sway. After Steny Hoyer held onto his spot in the Democratic leadership yesterday, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) holds onto his post as Republican Leader in the House. Boehner is set to become the House Minority Leader in the 110th Congress after defeating Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) in secret balloting this morning. No vote tally was provided to reporters staking out the Ways and Means Committee Room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building.

The new GOP Leadership team is scheduled to hold a press availability immediately following the elections.

The traveling President Bush meets with the President Roo Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea at 7:40 pm ET followed by a meeting with the Southeast Asian Leaders at 9:00 pm ET. President Bush then continues to visit a Joint POW/MIA accounting command at 10:15 pm ET and the US Embassy at 11:15 pm ET. Tomorrow, the President will meet with the President of China at 8:30 pm ET at the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel and attend a second APEC leaders retreat in the evening.

Vice President Cheney speaks to the Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention at 5:00 pm ET at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean rallies his base in Jackson Hole, WY today as the Association of State Democratic Chairs kicks off its fall meeting. Dean's been under attack this week from Clinton strategist James Carville for not putting more DNC dollars into House races in hopes of building a much larger new Democratic majority. The state chairs and vice chairs make up a significant chunk of the DNC members and were a crucial bloc in electing Dean national chair in early 2005. Dean will be addressing the biggest fans of his 50-state strategy (the folks who get the checks) at 3:30 pm ET. The state chairs are expected to pass a resolution expressing their strong support for Gov. Dean -- and that may not be the only birthday present he receives.

The freshmen class of the 110th Congress held their room lottery at 9:00 am ET. Selection and planning for the member-elects is at 1:00 pm ET.

Sen. John Warner (R-VA), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, was scheduled to meet with Defense Secretary nominee Robert Gates at noon ET. Gates is scheduled to meet with Sen. Frist at 10:45 am ET, Sen. Reid at 1:15 pm ET, and is also expected to sit down with Sen. McConnell and Sen. McCain today.

Gen. John Abizaid, Commander of the United States Central Command, delivers a public address at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, "The Long War," at 5:00 pm ET in Cambridge, MA.

Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) keynotes the Arkansas Red Cross Heroes Award Luncheon at the Wyndam Hotel in North Little Rock at 12:30 pm ET. Tomorrow, he receives the American Diabetes Association 2006 C. Everett Koop Medal for health promotion and awareness at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, TX at 1:30 pm ET.

Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) holds two book signings in Atlanta, GA. The first is at 2:00 pm ET at the Georgia Tech Bookstore and the second at 7:30 pm ET at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. He continues his book tour over the weekend in Greensboro and Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC. On Sunday at 7:00 pm ET, Former Sen. Edwards delivers the keynote address at the 2006 Heyward E. McDonald Lecture on Peace and Justice in the Rutledge Chapel at the University of South Carolina.

Former Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA) keynotes Virginia NARAL's fundraising lunch at the Alexandria Mark Hilton at 12:00 pm ET in Alexandria, VA.

The National Governors Association hosts a seminar today through Sunday for new governors at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Participants include NGA Chair Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ), Vice Chair Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), and Gov. Joe Manchin (D-WV).

The Free Congress Foundation Chairman and CEO Paul Weyrich host a forum to examine the implications of the recent elections. The event takes places at the Krieble Center in Washington, DC and the participants include Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN).