The Note: Opportunity, Responsibility, Security

— -- WASHINGTON, July 25

NEWS SUMMARY
A political mind is a terrible thing to waste, even in the last week of July.

So apply yourself to the gurgling stories, and ask yourself (as President Bartlett would): What's next?

The day's two known marquee events are the Bayh-Clinton-Vilsack-Warner speeches at the Democratic Leadership Council confab in Columbus and the AFL-CIO slow, hot burn in Chicago.

There's also the continuing John Roberts and leak investigation sagas.

Do the kind of crude calculus for which The Note is famous, and you come up with two storylines that are good for the Republicans (and bad for the Democrats) -- that would be AFL and Roberts -- and one that is bad for the Republicans (and good for the Democrats) -- that would be the leak investigation.

That leaves the DLC meeting, where today, some of the nation's top political reporters will kick the tires on some possible presidential candidates and, just as important (really) look to see if the organization that has done more to give the Democratic Party both a chance to win presidential elections and have serious and popular policy ideas is in fighting form.

It's (very) good for the Democrats if the group is ready-set-go, and (very) bad if it ain't.

However much the four would-be/could-be presidential candidates scheduled to speak are still downplaying talk of a run, the Columbus air is thick with anticipation, and hallways and private meeting rooms are being worked. More on that below.

Meanwhile, as the AFL-CIO faces one of the most critical moments in its history, the Chattering Class is waking up to the reality that smart Republican and Democratic operatives have realized for quite some time -- this all could have huge implications for both American workers and American politics. More on that also below.

As we suggested, for a last week of July, we got us some busy happenings.

Today, Judge John Roberts is back up on the Hill this morning, continuing to make his way down the Judiciary Committee roster. There will be a 9:30 am ET photo-op with Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) and the nominee. Sen. Cornyn's (R-TX) photo with Judge Roberts will occur immediately following their 11:00 am ET meeting.

In Chicago, the AFL-CIO kicks off its annual convention amid turmoil. AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney, NAACP Executive Chairman Julian Bond, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Harry Reid (D-NV), and former Sen. John Edwards are all scheduled to attend, and all will be asked to speak about news of day.

The first dissident press conference will make the aforementioned slow, hot burn official this afternoon. See more below.

At this writing, it appears the elected officials are going to do their best to sidestep the controversy. Here's what one aide to Sen. Reid tells us to expect from the Minority Leader today:

"No matter what happens, these organizations remain committed to the same principles as the Democratic Party. Senator Reid is confident they will continue supporting individuals who fight to protect social security, pensions and workers rights. He will compliment the unions for what they've accomplished, offer any support that he can provide to help them to work out an arrangement that continues to benefit all union members, but feels that in the end this is up to the union workers to decide what is in their best interest."

In Columbus, OH, the Democratic Leadership Council concludes its "national conversation" today with appearances by Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Tom Carper (D-DE), Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA), and Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA). There is no applause meter in the room. Look for a lot of talk about "the heartland" and for some new DLC policy process plans.

On the GOP side, in perhaps an indication that the President and First Lady are starting to think about their official White House portraits, the First Couple tour the Gilbert Stuart exhibition at the National Gallery of Art today at 9:35 am ET. LINK

The President is also scheduled to meet with African-American leaders at the White House at 1:15 pm ET. Both presidential events are photo release only and the lighter schedule allows the President full flexibility in pushing his legislative agenda through Congress prior to the August recess. Rounding up CAFTA votes is key.

Vice President Cheney speaks at a luncheon for Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) at 12:30 pm ET in Pittsburgh, PA. Cheney also headlines a 6:30 pm ET fundraiser for Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY).

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) holds a news conference on the Valerie Plame leak at 2:30 pm ET.

White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card speaks to government interns on the value of government service at 6:00 pm ET in the atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building. We doubt any intern will raise their hand to ask Secretary Card what he told to whom after receiving then White House Counsel Gonzales' phone call.

Be sure to check out our expanded daybook section and a look at the week ahead below.

House of Labor:
The AFL-CIO was set to rupture on the eve of its 50th anniversary celebration, as two of its largest and most important unions, the Service Employees and the Teamsters, said they will formally withdraw from the labor federation and two others announced a boycott.

The SEIU and the Teamsters, representing more than 3.2 million workers between them, plan to promote a rival group, the Change to Win coalition, as an alternative to grow the ranks of organized workers.

The SEIU voted late last night to disaffiliate. The executive board of the Teamsters plans a disaffiliation vote later this morning, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.

The two unions plan a joint press conference to announce their withdrawal early this afternoon.

Their departure would plunge an already strapped AFL-CIO into a deep financial trouble as it begins its 51st year as the umbrella federation for organized labor in the U.S. The SEIU, Teamsters and a third union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, are already delinquent in their dues to the federation. The AFL-CIO has laid off more than 100 headquarters employees and plans to raise per-worker union dues by eight cents.

Word of the impending departure of these unions came as four founding members of the Change To Win group -- SEIU, Teamsters, the Food and Commercial Workers and UniteHere, decided to formally boycott the AFL-CIO convention, which will culminate Friday in the expected re-election of John Sweeney as president.

The SEIU's decision to leave is not a surprise. Its president, Andrew Stern, had threatened for more than a year to bolt unless Sweeney stepped down or agreed to dramatically reorient the labor federation's priorities. The Teamsters, led by James Hoffa, had formed the Change To Win coalition with Stern and several other unions, but Hoffa enjoys better relations with AFL-CIO leaders and was expected initially to take more time before deciding whether to leave the federation. He remains a widely respected figure in the labor movement and his departure is likely to be seen as more consequential than Stern's.

At this writing, two other founding members of Change To Win, UFCW and Unite Here unions had no plans as of Sunday to vote to leave today, according to officials from both groups. "We will make a decision in a short period of time," said Joe Hansen of UFCW. "Our union will keep its options open," said John Wilhelm of UniteHere.

Executive boards for both unions plan to meet again before the week is out, and labor officials expect the UFCW to announce its departure as early as today.

The Laborers International Union, another member of Change To Win, plans to stay in the labor federation.

Change To Win, which counts seven unions as members, will convene a meeting today of presidents and organizing directors to discuss how to cooperate on industry-wide organizing campaigns and political projects.

"The debate is over," said Anna Burger, Change To Win's chair and the SEIU Secretary-Treasurer. "Today will be the beginning of the rebirth of union strength."

Reaction to the expected disaffiliation and to the convention boycotts was swift and bitter in some quarters.

"It's a shame for working people that before the first vote has been cast, four unions have decided that if they can't win, they won't show up for the game," Sweeney said in a statement. "SEIU, UNITE / HERE, the Teamsters and UFCW should come argue for their ideas and listen to others. That's how democracies work."

Harold Schaitburger, the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said he was frustrated that the Change To Win coalition appeared to have settled on Sweeney's impending re-election as the sticking point.

"We've embraced enough of their principles. They can claim victory if they want. But they don't get to run the deal," he said.

The SEIU's Berger, speaking later at a press conference, said, "To their credit, the AFL-CIO has listened but they have not heard."

Leo Girard, the president of the Steelworkers, called it "tragic" and said the split would "weaken the House of Labor."

"Shame on them," he said to cheers at a rally for Sweeney.

Other leaders were more reflective.

Gerald McEntee, the AFSCME President, predicted that it would weaken labor's political program for down ballot races and it make more difficult to coordinate get-out-the-vote programs. But, he said, "No union has ever left the AFL-CIO and not rejoined."

The scene in Chicago this weekend had a labor-esque Hatfield and McCoy feel to it.

The AFL-CIO and the Change to Win unions have taken over separate hotels within a stone's throw of each other but divided by the Chicago River.

Delegates spouted separate slogans and wore competing tee shirts.

There were backchannel negotiations to come to a last minute rapprochement. They failed.

When change to Win leaders picked up rumors that AFL-CIO delegates would storm the stage during their late afternoon press conference Sunday, they stationed burly Teamsters at the door to keep out intruders.

A symbolic coda: yesterday was the hottest day of the year in the Windy City.

The New York Times' Steven Greenhouse Notes that the "The schism is the biggest rift in labor since the 1930's, when the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which was trying to unionize mass production workers in automobiles, steel and other industries, split off from the American Federation of Labor, which largely represented elite craft workers. This week's labor convention here was supposed to be a celebratory occasion marking the 50th anniversary of the merger." LINK

Ron Fournier writes of Change to Win, "Without directly saying so, coalition leaders seemed to be establishing the group as a newly minted rival of the AFL-CIO."

He also Notes, "The boycott means the unions will not pay $7 million in back dues to the AFL-CIO on Monday. If all four boycotting unions quit the federation, they would take about $35 million a year from the estimated $120 million annual budget of the AFL-CIO, which has already been forced to layoff a quarter of its 400-person staff." LINK

Reports Tom Edsall in the Washington Post, "The decision to boycott the convention angered leaders and ranking officials of the unions that plan to remain in the federation. Edward J. McElroy, president of the American Federation of Teachers, accused Stern and his allies of bargaining in bad faith. 'Their stance was that unless you agree with their position, they won't make an agreement,' he said. R. Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the Machinists, said Stern and other dissidents 'showed total disrespect for their colleagues who sat through the negotiations.'" LINK

DLC:
With such major names in attendance, the Democratic Leadership Council meeting in Columbus, Ohio today can't help but be a big deal.

And, of course, we don't mean names such "Clinton," "Warner," "Bayh," "Vilsack," "Carper," "Reed," "From," or, even, "D'Allesandro."

We are talking more about "Glover," "Leubsdorf," "Tumulty," "Balz," "Brownstein," "Gerstein," and "Beaumont."

Impressions will be made today: who can simultaneously present a compelling policy vision (that addresses the twin deficits on national security and moral values) and wow the assembled crowd of DLCers from around the nation and top political scribes?

Almost all of today's marquee speakers have worked harder on their speech texts than they normally do, suggesting they know the/a moment has arrived. Today might end up being a total dud, but it also might end up being an important moment in the history of the Democratic Party and the 2008 presidential race.

In interviews last night (when they weren't working the crowd as if they were at the Iowa Fairgrounds), Governors Vilsack and Warner struck remarkably similar themes, echoed by DLC officials as well:

-- The group needs to go back to generating ideas so the country knows what the party stands for. The Democratic Party doesn't necessarily need to be pulled to the center (a role the DLC has self-consciously played at times in the past), but it does need help coming up with new ideas.

-- The party's image on national security can be addressed through focus on force structure, the role of the Guard and Reserves, energy policy, and other related issues. Also: Democrats must stress that America will always maintain the strongest military in the world.

-- The economy, schools, political reform, and parenting issues are all still ripe for DLCing.

-- Karl Rove has done a bad thing; there's no reason to pre-judge John Roberts; and Hillary Clinton would be a formidable presidential candidate, but it's too early to know what will happen ultimately.

And/but while it might be early to coronate anyone, it apparently isn't too early to make new friends. With Sen. Clinton not arriving in town until today, the other three potential standard behaviors (and their aides) have been busy indeed.

Sen. Bayh, quite aggressive of late, met in Columbus with members of the New Hampshire and Iowa delegations of the DLC, as well as other state and local officials gathered.

Governors Vilsack and Warner had similar meetings, and their teams (including fundraising experts) could be seen scurrying about.

Mike Glover of the AP curtain raises, with a focus on (get used to it, fellas) Sen. Clinton. LINK

Tom Beaumont of the Des Moines Register curtain raises too, with a focus on Gov. Vilsack and Sen. Clinton.LINK

". . .the gathering comes at a time when Democrats find themselves with political opportunities, mostly because of President George W. Bush's difficulties on Social Security, the economy and Iraq rather than greater public acceptance of Democratic ideas," writes Bloomberg's Brendan Murray. LINK

Roberts: the battle ahead:
The New York Times' Felicity Barringer looks at the battle lines that were drawn on the Sunday show circuit over potential document requests from Roberts' days in the Solicitor General's office. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Richter on the not-forthcoming documents: LINK

On Saturday in the Los Angeles Times, Ron Brownstein wrote about how Democrats just might use an Al-Gore-like "the people versus the powerful" to go after Roberts on economic issues, rather than on abortion and other social issues. A must-read, 48 hours later. LINK

Dan Balz of the Washington Post also picks up the downplaying-abortion theme, with Senate Democrats attempting to justify their being caught flat-footed and pledging to use the hearings to highlight differences between the parties, even if they are (mostly) resigned to Roberts taking a seat on the High Court. LINK

Anyone (and you know who you are) who thinks that Hillary Clinton has decided to vote for Roberts to burnish her centrist credentials (or that she has the wiggle room to do so…) should re-read what she told Adam Nagourney for the May 25, 2000 New York Times, after she snagged a key abortion endorsement:

"Signaling a theme that she intends to use in the months ahead, Mrs. Clinton asserted that Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, may be in jeopardy in the coming years, depending on the makeup of the Supreme Court."

"'The estimates are that the next Senate is going to confirm three or four justices,' Mrs. Clinton said, adding, 'I will not vote to confirm judges who do not believe that Roe v. Wade should be upheld.'"

Bob Novak, still looking for intellectual consistency in Washington after all these years, says that Democratic Senators can't expect Roberts to answer the kinds of questions that Justice R.B. Ginsberg dodged. LINK

And, somehow, Bob feels justified in closing thusly: "Roberts looks like Schumer's worst nightmare. Following the quiet path to confirmation forged by Ginsburg, Roberts would significantly alter the course of the federal judiciary. Schumer's frustration is profound because Roberts' conservative legal colleagues consider him another Antonin Scalia, but without the fireworks."

Rick Klein of the Boston Globe covers the Democrats' sluggish bandwagon when it comes to the opposition of John Roberts. LINK

In Sunday's Week-in-Review, Timesman Adam Nagourney looked at the looming battle in the Senate through his omnipresent 2008 lens. LINK

The AP and the Des Moines Register's Tom Beaumont takes a look at 2008 ramifications too.LINK and LINK

In his Sunday New York Times op-ed, Chairman Specter reminded readers who holds the gavel and promised a thorough hearing process. LINK

Stephanie Cutter previewed one area of Democratic focus in Michael Kranish's Sunday Boston Globe look at Roberts. LINK

"'John Roberts has a very limited public record,' Kennedy spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said. 'Knowing who he has represented and on what issues -- both as paid counsel and particularly on a pro bono basis and how aggressively he sought such clients -- can shed important light on his priorities and his views on key constitutional and legal issues. John Adams had a well-known overall record, but John Roberts doesn't.'"

Jonathan Turley pens a Los Angeles Times op-ed exploring the ramifications of what he sees as the "first unscripted answer" by Roberts since being nominated, allegedly provided during a conversation with Sen. Durbin. LINK

"The exchange occurred during one of Roberts' informal discussions with senators last week. According to two people who attended the meeting, Roberts was asked by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) what he would do if the law required a ruling that his church considers immoral. Roberts is a devout Catholic and is married to an ardent pro-life activist. The Catholic Church considers abortion to be a sin, and various church leaders have stated that government officials supporting abortion should be denied religious rites such as communion. (Pope Benedict XVI is often cited as holding this strict view of the merging of a person's faith and public duties)."

"Renowned for his unflappable style in oral argument, Roberts appeared nonplused and, according to sources in the meeting, answered after a long pause that he would probably have to recuse himself."

"It was the first unscripted answer in the most carefully scripted nomination in history. It was also the wrong answer."

Roberts: bio:
The Los Angeles Times looks at how Roberts' life experiences have well prepared him for the opportunity before him. LINK

Peter Grier of the Christian Science Monitor covers similar ground. LINK

Chuck Lane of the Washington Post keeps up his near-obsession about whether Roberts is now or has ever been a member of the Federalist Society, after the Post spotted the jurist's name in a FedSoc directory from 1997. And for this, he gets on the front page.LINK

The Washington Post ed board gives Roberts' time on the court of appeals a nearly full clean bill of health. LINK

The Washington Post's Baker tick tocks the Roberts pick, with about 7 previously undisclosed nuggets, although none with obvious relevance to where we are now. LINK

Elisabeth Bumiller uses her New York Times' White House Letter to look at the President's interview style and (nearly) rounds out her list of the final five interviewed for that Associate Justice gig. LINK

The Plame leak investigation:
Attorney General Gonzales threw the ball into Chief of Staff Card's court on Sunday. The Los Angeles Times' Hoffecker has the story. LINK

Scott Shane of the New York Times gives prominent play to Sen. Roberts' Sunday chatter about upcoming Intelligence Committee hearings looking at issues surrounding CIA cover. LINK

In his Sunday New York Times op-ed, Frank Rich predicted the 12-hour gap will provide some fertile ground for Administration critics and declared the scandal, "metastasized." LINK

The Washington Post's Linzer follows on "Face the Nation" following up on Frank Rich's column regarding Al Gonzales' "what did he know and…" the 12-hour gap. LINK

Saturday's Los Angeles Times had a Frantz/Efron/Schmitt story playing catch up to Bloomberg's Friday opus and continuing the Rove/Libby focus, but with no real news. LINK

A word that did not appear in it: "Fleischer."

The Wall Street Journal has a triple bylined piece which is just, again, playing catch up to Bloomberg's reporting from last week -- and doesn't get all the way there, so the Journal leads with the Notion that this story could bedevil the President for a long time, particularly if the grand jury is extended.

The Washington Post's Saturday story, on the other hand, was chock-a-block full of news nuggets for the obsessed, which we re-print here, for those not so obsessed that they read the Washington Post on Saturday. The focus was on potential leaking and perjury (not obstruction of justice so much): LINK

"Lawyers involved in the case said there are now indications that Fitzgerald did not initially know or suspect that Rove was Cooper's primary source for the reporter's information about Plame. That raises questions about how much Rove disclosed when first questioned in the inquiry or how closely he was initially queried about his contacts with reporters. Rove has testified before a grand jury and been questioned by FBI agents on at least five occasions over the past two years."

"Two lawyers involved in the case say that although Fitzgerald used phone logs to determine some contacts between officials and reporters, they believe there is no phone record of Cooper's now-famous call to Rove in the days before Novak's column appeared. That is because Cooper called the White House switchboard and was reconnected to Rove's office, sources said."

"Also, when first questioned in the days after Plame's name appeared in the press, Rove left the impression with top White House aides that he had talked about her only with Novak, according to a source familiar with information provided to investigators."

"Initially, Fitzgerald appeared focused on the theory that Libby had leaked Plame's identity, according to lawyers involved in the case. He had interviewed three other reporters about their conversations with Libby, but all three indicated he either did not discuss Plame or did not reveal her identity."

"He also sought testimony from Cooper about his July 2003 story in Time. In 2004, Cooper obtained a waiver from Libby to discuss their conversation, as had the three other reporters."

"Cooper and his attorneys were surprised that Fitzgerald agreed to ask Cooper questions only about his conversations with Libby, sources familiar with the investigation said."

"The sources said Fitzgerald looked surprised in the August 2004 deposition when Cooper said it was he who brought up Wilson's wife with Libby, and that Libby responded, 'Yeah, I heard that, too.'"

"The prosecutor pressed Cooper to then explain how he knew about Wilson's wife in the first place, and Cooper said he would not answer the question because it did not involve Libby, the sources said…."

"Rove has at some point testified that he passed on information about Plame to Cooper, according to two lawyers involved in the case. Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, declined to say when Rove gave this testimony."

"But a source close to Rove said the senior adviser volunteered the information: 'It appeared they were not aware of the conversation.'"

"The prosecutors have appeared keen to see if they can fill in some gaps in Rove's memory about how he learned about Plame, and they have repeatedly asked witnesses if Rove told them how he knew about Plame. Rove testified early in the investigation that his information about Plame came from Novak, his attorney said. Rove testified he also may have heard about her from another reporter or administration official who had heard it from a reporter, but he could not recall the second source of his information, his attorney said."

No new news in Richard Stevenson's Saturday New York Times look at the leak investigation, but good "what did the President know and when did he know it" analysis. LINK

"But Mr. Bush's political opponents say the president is in a box. In their view, either Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby kept the president in the dark about their actions, making them appear evasive at a time when Mr. Bush was demanding that his staff cooperate fully with the investigation, or Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby had told the president and he was not forthcoming in his public statements about his knowledge of their roles. . ."

". . .There is a third option, that neither Mr. Rove nor Mr. Libby considered their conversations with the journalists to have amounted to leaking or confirming the information about Ms. Wilson. In that case, they may have felt no need to inform the president, or they did inform him and he shared their view that they had done nothing wrong."

Scott Shane's Sunday New York Times story provided a useful tick-tock of the White House's July 2003 efforts at rebutting Ambassador Wilson's claims. LINK

Bush agenda:
Zero (0, none, nada, zippo): that's how many Democratic Senators found time to attend Karen Hughes' confirmation hearing, per Mike Allen's Saturday Washington Post narrative. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Wallsten and Gaouette provided a Sunday front page look at the President's upcoming push for immigration reform in advance of the 2006 midterm elections. Be sure to Note Ed Gillespie's central role in this effort too. LINK

"The issue has presented a quandary for Bush, who backed off his earlier calls for immigration changes after conservatives rebelled. Now, the White House hopes to reinvigorate the drive for new immigration laws -- but this time it wants to work in advance to ensure that the president is backed by a broad alliance of business and advocacy groups."

"There are signs, however, that the administration effort is running into problems even as it begins: Several key business groups are hesitant to join the new coalition, questioning whether the administration can separate itself from the anti-immigration wing of the GOP that is promoting restrictive policies."

Energy bill:
"With strong encouragement from the White House, top House and Senate negotiators said Sunday that they were nearing a final agreement on a broad energy bill. . .," reports Carl Hulse of the New York Times. LINK

Sens. Sununu and Gregg were prepared to vote "no" as long as legal protections for MTBE producers remained in the bill, reports Bloomberg's Jay Newton-Small.

"'It is obviously important in that it is an issue that ended up effectively killing the bill,' Sununu said in an interview. 'The funding, the remediation for cleanup needs to be addressed,' and pending lawsuits should 'be able to proceed.'"

"Bush and lawmakers from both parties are eager to pass an energy bill to show their concern for high gasoline prices, even though the legislation would do little to provide immediate relief," writes Richard Simon of the Los Angeles Times. LINK

CAFTA:
In his Los Angeles Times column, Ron Brownstein looks at the return of the "economic nationalists" and the GOP legislative strategy to give anti-trade members a chance to bash China for its trade practices which the leadership hopes will provide enough cover for those same members to support CAFTA. LINK

"The economic nationalists also share a common agenda centered on increasing federal funding for scientific research and education, reducing the federal deficit and dependence on foreign oil, cutting healthcare costs for U.S. employers, reforming education and pressuring China, which agreed to modestly revalue its currency last week, to let the yuan appreciate further."

"The convergence of the disputes over CAFTA and CNOOC have provided the economic nationalists with their biggest megaphone in years to press these arguments."

The Wall Street Journals' Hitt looks at the latest whip count and whipping in advance of this week's expected vote.

The politics of national security:
The New York Times' Jehl, Sanger, and others take a long-ish look at the mixed signals coming out of North Korea. LINK

"The prospect of an imminent test became a crucial point in briefings by the Bush administration to its Asian allies and China, arguing that the North Korean threat was growing rapidly and that they needed to increase pressure to resume six-nation talks aimed at disarmament. After weeks of diplomatic maneuvering, North Korea agreed to resume the talks, which are to begin Tuesday."

"But behind that urgent view of North Korea's activities lies a much more complicated, and at times contradictory, picture. It shows some of the same strains over the use of intelligence that came to divide federal agencies and policy makers before the Iraq invasion."

Ching-Ching Ni of the Los Angeles Times writes in a news analysis, "Success, experts believe, will hinge on two main factors: whether the envoys at the talks can really negotiate, and whether the parties can agree on the order of disarmament steps and rewards for North Korea." LINK

2008: Republicans:
"Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn) raised nearly $2 million for his political action committee in the first half of the year, his largest six-month cash haul ever and twice the amount pulled in by any other Member's leadership PAC," reports Roll Call's Paul Kane.

Saturday's Boston Globe had an interview with Gov. Romney in which he said he would come home from New Hampshire next week to sign (or veto) a controversial emergency contraception bill, rather than let his pro-choice lieutenant governor sign it into law. LINK

Michael Levenson of the Boston Globe has the details on Gov. Romney opening up his Granite State home for a New Hampshire GOP fundraiser. LINK

The Boston Herald reports that "Matinee Mitt" is the new nickname given to Gov. Romney by Democrats after high priced receipts for his travel and advance team were revealed and included expensive hotels, luxury cars, and travels to the Super Bowl. LINK

The Boston Globe Notes that Gov. Romney can play non-partisan politics. The governor has filled 36 judicial openings in Massachusetts with 23 Democrats and or independent nominees. LINK

The New York Post's Cindy Adams mentions a Saturday night "very-very-very hush-hush…non-fundraiser fundraiser for McCain" at the home of Howard Gittis in the Hamptons, which she clarifies as "Getting your ducks in a row for when McCain sprints for the White House." LINK

2008: Democrats:
Outgoing DLC Chairman Bayh tells the Indianapolis Star (and its Gannett family) that he spends more than half his time on national security related issues these days. LINK

The Schwarzenegger Era:
Fulfilling its trendsetter role, California's state spending cap initiative to appear on November's ballot is what Grover Norquist expects to be the impetus for many such proposals to sweep the states. LINK

2006:
The New York Post's Frederic Dicker reports that Mayor Bloomberg might try for Governor Bloomberg, especially if Governor Pataki steps out of the race, and quotes an apparent eyewitness quoting Bloomberg: "I've only been interested in three public jobs: mayor, governor and president"; that Sheldon Silver thinks Governor Pataki is polling to see if running for re-election is indeed viable; and that Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro might aim for the New York attorney general spot rather than take on Senator Clinton. LINK

"While Governor Mitt Romney refuses to reveal his plans, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey has quietly lined up a team of Republican donors, opinion leaders, and Massachusetts GOP activists to run for the state's top job herself if he decides to forgo a reelection campaign to run for president," writes the Boston Globe's Ebbert. LINK

2005:
The Bloomberg campaign will begin challenging Tom Ognibene's petition signatures in an attempt to do away with a Republican primary challenge, despite the Mayor's past dislike for such tactics. LINK

The New York Post's Stefan Friedman offers the news that Mayor Bloomberg's Democratic challengers haven't raised much money, even compared to the 2001 Democratic mayoral contenders. LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Saul is helping vet contributions to the campaigns of mayoral hopefuls Anthony Weiner and Gifford Miller. LINK

David Seifman predicted a Michael Bloomberg/Bill Clinton photo op to take place less than three weeks before election day in his Sunday New York Post column. LINK

Politics:
Bob Novak's weekend column had Edith Clement as the SCOTUS runner up; some Manhattan liberals pining for Bill Richardson over Hillary Clinton in '08; and George Allen messing up by raising Granite State money. All: allegedly. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Neuman provides a fun read on Rep. George Miller (D-CA), congressional landlord. LINK

The Washington Post's little squib about America Coming Together scaling back its operation (following on Roll Call) only hints at what is really going on, in terms of fundraising, personality, and personnel. LINK

In Sunday's Los Angeles Times, Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten looked at the GOP dominance in the area of collecting key data about persuadable voters to help attract those voters. LINK

"Democrats will be especially vulnerable in the next two national election cycles: In 2006, they will have to defend more congressional and Senate seats than they did in 2004; and several states viewed as competitive in past presidential elections are increasingly viewed as GOP turf for 2008."

Amateur gardener and Speaker of the House Hastert will run again and hopes to serve as Speaker for (at least) the remainder of President Bush's second term, reported the Washington Post's Mike Allen in Sunday editions. LINK

The AP's Sunday Obama profile for your reading pleasure: LINK

Media:
Al Gore's perceived stiffness versus Current TV's looseness provides Jacques Steinberg's narrative frame for his Current curtain raiser in the New York Times. Note that Gore doesn't expect to run for public office again, but is not quite at "zero percent" chance just yet and how he "demurred" on providing a reaction to the Roberts nomination. LINK

Other Monday schedule items and the week ahead:
DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, and others are scheduled to attend the Tenth Annual Excellence in Government Conference today.

The Senate Judiciary Committee meets at noon ET for a confirmation hearing on Elliott Flanigan's nomination to be deputy attorney general.

Actor James Cromwell, musician Ani DeFranco, and Native American political advocates hold a press luncheon at 11:30 am ET to weigh in on the national energy policy debate.

The National Council on Disability celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act today. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and former Sen. Bob Dole speak on ADA at 1:30 pm ET. And at the Kennedy Center tonight, former President George H.W. Bush, Labor Secretary and Elaine Chao, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta are among those expected to attend.

Tomorrow, President Bush is expected to sign an extension for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Karl Rove headlines a Washington, DC fundraiser for Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who is expected to run for the US Senate next year.

The Senate Judiciary Committee meets at 9:30 am ET tomorrow for a hearing on immigration reform.

The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology conducts a 9:00 am ET hearing on the London terrorist attacks and the implications for U.S. mass transit.

At 4:00 pm ET tomorrow, the House Homeland Security Committee holds a hearing on the DHS's reorganization and policy direction with Secretary Chertoff.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean and RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman appear together tomorrow at the 29th Biennial Session of the Connectional Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Houston, TX.

On Wednesday, the President poses for two photo ops: one with representatives from the March of Dimes and another with a Boys Nation group. The President also travels to Virginia to address the Boy Scouts Jamboree.

Also on Wednesday, former national security advisers Samuel Berger and Brent Scowcroft attend a Wednesday meeting on "Improving U.S. Post-Conflict Capabilities," sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations.

On Thursday, the President addresses a convention of the Federal Aviation Administration.

AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney is expected to be reelected at the group's annual gathering in Chicago on Thursday.

On Friday, President Bush meets with Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and former Sen. John Edwards visit New Hampshire. If your name is Pindell or DiStaso you'll probably be staking out the D'Allesandro party to see if the running mates cross paths. On Saturday, Edwards will be the featured guest at the Merrimack County Democrats Pig Roast in Bow, NH.