The Note: Looking Down at the Shoes of Life

— -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 26

In the grand tradition of Cathie Martin, The Note presents our weekly Friday Follies, in which we dump all the best stuff late, in order to get limited pick up in Saturday papers (and/but what a big news political weekend it is going to be -- with Bush war counseling, Hillary Clinton Hawkeye Stating, Rudy Giuliani Granite Stating, and anti-war protesters protesting):

Ring One -- Iraq: Facts on the ground are still not apparently good . . . everyone love David Petraeus (But what's love got to do with it? Russ Feingold asks)…Iran talk doesn't do anything to strengthen the White House politically (and the "leak to Sanger-Pincus-newsmags" strategy isn't looking so efficacious right now)….the Old Media will cover the weekend anti-war rallies with gusto. . .and the ultimate resolution of the Iraq situation remains in the hands of the Four Johns (Warner, Boehner, Edwards, and Murtha) against the One John (the less-and-less Happy Warrior, McCain).

Ring Two -- the rest of the legislative agenda: The Gang of 500 declares Bush's agenda on health care, energy, immigration, etc. dead on arrival, too much, too little, and impossible to forge a bipartisan consensus on in the midst of the crossfire of Ring One.

Ring Two A -- US v. Scooter: There are at least 7 Paul Krugman columns, 3 Jon Stewart monologues, 11 Eric Alterman rants, 101 Huffington posts, and 1 Frank Rich book in the comic-tragic intra-Bush Administration warfare storylines of the Scooter Libby trial (and the immunized Ari Fleischer hasn't even taken the stand yet!!!!).

Ring Three -- 2008: Where we have only money questions: How much has John Edwards raised online in January (off of the war)?... How much have Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama netted on the web this month (off of their announcements)?....Raise your hand if you think Chuck Hagel or Mike Huckabee can raise $15 million this year. . .

Sen. Clinton, who has not been to Iowa since 2003, makes her way to the Hawkeye State today to start courting the state's influential voters.

Insiders will be watching the tussle over tight pool rules; how much is blatantly ripped off from the 20000 Listening Tour; and the location (and outcome) of the Senator's secret meetings that are not on her public schedule. The next co-centric circle out will watch to see how she balances regal versus accessible (any special instructions, for instance, to the USSS?) and if anti-war protestors are allowed to question her (and, if so, how she answers).

On Saturday, the Woman Who Would Be 44 meets with the Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee at 12:30 pm ET at the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters in Des Moines, IA. She then conducts a town hall-style "Conversation with Iowans" at the Des Moines East High School Community Center at 1:30 pm ET. (This event will be carried live on C-SPAN).

Sen. Clinton holds a house party at 7:00 pm ET in Cedar Rapids, IA. At 9:30 am ET on Sunday, Sen. will be in Davenport, IA at the Hickory Garden Family Restaurant for a house party-style "Conversation with Iowans" and then she will hold a press availability at Central High School at 1:30 am ET.

(Saturday Clinton is expected to kiss the Beaumont and Glover rings, and perhaps others).

As part of a series of planned national protests -- and as part of the environment for Sen. Clinton's first trip, a coalition of antiwar groups under the umbrella of Unitedforpeace.org assemble on the National Mall at 11:00 am ET on Saturday. The Rev. Jessie Jackson, Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-PH), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Danny Glover are among the expected to speakers. On Monday, the groups turn to lobbying in DC and targeted states. The Los Angeles Times has the preview. LINK

Be sure to tune into "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" on Sunday. ABC News' George Stephanopoulos goes "on the trail" with Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) to talk about his just-announced presidential campaign. Back in studio, Sens. Joe Biden (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) talk about the war in Iraq.

Before heading to Iowa today, Sen. Clinton will be one of five Democratic '08ers to take questions at a closed press event from the board members of the Service Employees International Union (See below for a preview.). Three more hopefuls speak tomorrow.

President Bush makes remarks to the House Republican Conference at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay at 12:10 pm ET in Cambridge, Md.

Gov. George Pataki (R-NY) plans to fall in the Brownback/Hagel anti-surge camp as opposed to the McCain/Giuliani/Romney pro-surge camp when he delivers a major speech on the Iraq war at Georgetown University at 11:00 am ET. The Associated Press has the story. LINK

More from the AP: "While Pataki's comments appeared as a sharp departure from his past support of Bush on the Iraq war, the former governor began expressing reservations about the U.S.-Iraq policy after a November trip to the war zone."

The AP Notes that Pataki's eldest son is a Marine facing possible deployment to Iraq.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) delivers a "major address" on Iraq at 10:00 am ET at the Falk Auditorium in Washington, DC

As part of his continuing push to get America "Back On Track," Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) was scheduled to speak at the Families USA Health Action Conference at 9:00 am ET.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA), along with his son Tagg Romney, attend a luncheon with Iowa GOP Activists at Beck's Pub and Grill today at 12:30 pm ET in Waterloo, IA. At 3:00 pm ET, Romney tours Hawkeye Renewable, a renewable energy company in Fairbanks, IA. At 7:00 pm ET, the former governor moves on to the Best Western Midway Hotel in Dubuque, IA to meet with local voters.

The National Review Institute's conservative summit entitled "Claiming the Future" begins today at the JW Marriot Hotel in Washington, DC. The event, which will feature conservative thinkers, authors, and policymakers, kicks off with a cocktail reception honoring UN Ambassador John Bolton at 6:00 pm ET.

On Saturday, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's (R-GA) speaks at 8:00 am ET, former Gov. Jeb Bush's (R-FL) delivers remarks at 12:00 pm ET and Romney delivers the dinner address at 7:00 pm ET.

After appearing on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AK) speaks at 10:00 am ET to the National Review conference. White House press secretary Tony Snow also plans to speak Sunday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading a congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Iraq. The trip comes as the Senate prepares to confirm the Army general President Bush has chosen to lead a new effort to secure Baghdad.

First Lady Laura Bush Speaks at the launch of the Hugh Sidey Scholarship for Print Journalism at 2:30 pm ET in the East Room.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) makes his first trip to New Hampshire since forming his presidential exploratory committee. He attends a Chamber of Commerce event this evening in Bretton Woods, NH, and addresses the New Hampshire GOP convention on at 10:00 am ET in Manchester, NH.

Former Sen. John Edwards' (D-NC) One Corps proclaims Saturday its National Day of Action.

SEIU Gets a Crack at the Democratic '08ers:
Over the next two days, the roughly 60 people who sit on the international executive board of the Service Employees International Union will get to question the Democratic presidential hopefuls at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.

The presidential hopefuls participating today are Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). On Saturday, SEIU's board members will meet with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and will hear from Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) and former Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA) via satellite.

Today's one-on-one closed press meetings with Democratic '08ers start at 9:00 am ET and will run all day. Each candidate will appear for about 30 minutes with about 15 minutes devoted to prepared remarks and 15 minutes devoted to answering questions that SEIU board members pose.