ABC News' The Note: First Source for Political News

W A S H I N G T O N, Aug. 18, 2004—
-- NOTED NOW

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12 days until the Republican convention76 days until election day

NEWS SUMMARY

Does anybody know why President Bush continues to refuse to condemn the CONTENT of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth commercial?

Does anyone know why the Kerry campaign had major surrogates challenge the president's National Guard service at an official campaign event on the very day that the candidate himself condemned the content of a MoveOn.org TV ad that similarly questions the president's military service — allowing Steve Schmidt to make his rote "Kerry says one thing, and does another" charge?

Does anyone dispute the fact that the two sides arrayed against each other in this battle are willing to say and do anything to win?

Does anyone watching the data flow, however, dispute the fact that if you created this formula: infidelity to accuracy + the personal nature of the charges + the closeness of the charger to the official campaign itself = the "winner" of the "going negative" battle — that the Republican Party, historically and currently, would claim the title?

Does anyone doubt that the forces who wish to see the president re-elected believe they have a much better chance if they can paint John and Teresa Kerry as elitist, exotic, hypocritical, soft, boozy, French, racist, and out of touch?

(Before our rightward readers go nuts on us, please listen: we agree that the Democrats are saying negative things about the president, and we acknowledge the existence of the many, many attack ads run against him, amplified by a sympathetic media and entertainment echo chamber. But again, if you focus on accuracy, shamelessness, frequency, and the sources making the charges, so far, what is a close race electorally is no contest on this score.)

Does anyone doubt that the Democratic Party right now is going through its quadrennial concern that it is acting like a bunch of, to put it politely, weenies?

Does anyone doubt that the Democratic Party right now is also going through its quadrennial concern that it is too slow to react to attacks?

Has George W. Bush acknowledged that he wanted to avoid fighting in Vietnam? Are the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth charges highly questionable in accuracy and relevance?

Does anybody understand why, as the New York Times reports this morning, John Kerry and John Edwards will both campaign during the Republican National Convention, breaking more precedent?

If you don't feel you can answer these questions on your own, go back to the Zen Master yet again, as one Charlie Cook is quoted in the New York Times today addressing that last point, but might as well be answering all our questions:

"That's why all the rules get chucked out the window," Mr. Cook said. "Nobody wants to be sitting in the chair the rest of his life thinking about the 500 things they could have done differently."

Presidential politics ain't beanbag, and we don't think the press' role is to police or inhibit speech of any sort, but the rough stuff and the factually questionable stuff needs to be called out for what it is.

So our last question of the day is: Are the political reporters at the remaining serious news organizations in America ready to do their jobs for a few more months in a way that does the nation proud, or are we going to cede this to Drudge?

After largely laying low (say that three times fast) following President Bush's proposals for U.S. troop redeployment unveiled Monday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Cincinnati, Senator John Kerry takes his turn today.

In front of the same audience, Kerry is expected to attack the plan, saying that withdrawing 70,000 troops from Asia and Europe could impair the nation's security, particularly in addressing North Korea's nuclear program and in fighting the war on terror, according to the campaign.

Expect Kerry to slam the Bush Administration's relationship with veterans — particularly with regard to health care.

According to prepared text: "The job will be done when 500,000 veterans are not excluded from the VA healthcare system. The job will be done when we're not closing VA hospitals. The job will be done when veterans are not asked for co-payments, enrollment fees and other charges to shift the burden of care to other veterans and drive more than a million veterans out of the system. The job will be done when 400,000 military retirees get concurrent receipt."

Kerry, we're told, will also talk again about the KE04 Military Bill of Rights, and talk up his own plan to revamp the military, which includes 40,000 more active duty troops, doubling the Army Special Forces, and using the National Guard for Homeland Security.

Kerry overnights at his home in Boston.

President Bush speaks at Kell Container in Chippewa Falls, WI at 12:20 pm ET, participates in an "Ask President Bush" event in St. Croix, WI at 4:20 pm ET, and speaks at a rally at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN at 7:00 pm ET. He overnights at his Crawford ranch, where he will be down through Sunday.

A cast of intelligence community figures testify to the Senate Intelligence Committee this morning at 9:00 am ET and, for the first, time, we will see a bill that calls for the creation of a powerful national intelligence director.

Mrs. Bush tours small businesses and delivers remarks on the economy at Design Net Engineering in Lakewood, CO at noon at speaks at a closed Victory '04 reception in Houston at 6:00 pm ET. She overnights in Crawford.

Senator John Edwards tours the Job 1 Career Center in New Orleans at 11:55 am ET then participates in a roundtable with New Orleans workers at the Job 1 Career Center at 12:10 pm ET. At 1:00 pm ET the Senator attends a Kerry/Edwards Victory Fund Reception at the Loews New Orleans Hotel. Following the event he heads to Washington, D.C., where he spends the next several days, with no scheduled events until Saturday.

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney v. Kerry-Edwards:

When dovish becomes hawkish! The Los Angeles Times' Brownstein turns in a must-ready of a news analysis on this (what we like to call) "VFW part deux day" and explores how Republicans (not too long ago) used to criticize Democrats for proposing to reduce troop strength in Europe. Brownstein ponders the change in times. LINK

"After the terrorism attacks of 2001, virtually all the leaders in both parties agreed that the U.S. had no choice but to accept a predominant role in the global effort to combat terrorism. The big question now is whether to pursue that goal by emphasizing U.S. freedom of action or by focusing on cooperation with allies."

"Bush's proposal to bring home as many as 70,000 troops from foreign bases highlights his commitment to the first strategy. The charges from Senator John F. Kerry's presidential campaign that the plan will fray alliances already strained by the Iraq war highlights the Democratic commitment to the second."

USA Today 's David Lieberman reports, "Although TV and radio stations still attract the bulk of election ad and marketing dollars, cable and satellite companies will pass newspapers for the third-largest slice of this year's gigantic campaign spending pie, according to a new study." LINK

Lieberman goes on to explain that the "123% increase in overall spending is due to several changes in the political landscape," including earlier advertising in battleground states, the targeting of ethnic media markets, tight down ballot races, and this interestingly worded factor: "Several new tax-exempt groups have been formed to support Democrats, such as MoveOn.org."

The Wall Street Journal 's John Harwood has won our early voting challenge, explaining how and why this developing electoral phenomenon will matter this year in a must-read.

"Most of the potential battleground states in the contest between Mr. Bush and Senator John Kerry will allow voters to cast ballots before Election Day — without requiring a reason. In Iowa, early voting begins just three weeks after the Republican convention ends, on Sept. 23. In Arizona, where ballots can be cast as of Sept. 30, the Bush campaign calculates up to half the vote will be cast before Election Day, up from 37% in 2000. In Florida, where voting starts Oct. 18, the total of early voters could hit 30%, doubling the 2000 level." LINK

And y'all remember what Iowa Democrats did in 2002 to help their ticket . . .

Walter Shapiro declares, "These two weeks leading up to the Republican coronation of George W. Bush are the last moments when the political calendar will permit a pause for reflection on the coming political pyrotechnics." LINK

Shapiro then hits on three issues: the possible lessons of South Dakota's 2002 Senate race, the current electoral college consideration in Colorado, and the pattern of presidential planning for second terms.

There's no doubt about President Bush's commitment to targeting Pennsylvania — yesterday's visit (his 32nd as President) proved that. But according to the poll released this morning by Quinnipiac University, the horse race in the Keystone State has remained largely unchanged from where it was a month ago, just prior to the Democratic convention: Kerry 47 percent; Bush 42 percent, and Nader 4 percent.

Kerry is performing similarly with military/veteran households as he is with the electorate overall. Quinnipiac pollsters also note that the Iraq war is far more unpopular among those military/veteran households than it is overall.

The AP's Lara Jakes Jordan writes up the results from the latest Q-poll on Pennsylvania. "John Kerry is maintaining a slight lead over President Bush in the battleground state of Pennsylvania with crucial support from veterans and military families."LINK

The Washington Post 's Mary Fitzgerald and Vanessa Williams wrap President Bush's visit to a Boeing plant in Pennsylvania yesterday, where he chided opponents of a missile defense system — to which he reiterated his commitment — saying that they are living in the past and don't understand 21st century defense needs. (Don't miss the photo of the president with a tool on the line.) The duo also wrap Senator John Edwards' trip to Arkansas, where he focused on the economy.LINK

Every Note fan will want to read the first six corrections in the New York Times today: LINK

The politics of the 9/11 Commission:

The Washington Post 's Josh White and Mike Allen detail Secretary Rumsfeld's appearance Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he warned against quickly implementing the suggestions outlined by the 9/11 commission for overhauling U.S. intelligence gathering. Another layer of bureaucracy, he said, could confuse the situation and keep information from being distributed appropriately — and he did not warmly embrace the idea of giving a new national intelligence director authority over budgets and personnel. LINK

The New York Times ' Philip Shenon reports "Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the acting director of central intelligence urged Congress on Tuesday to move cautiously in adopting recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission." LINK

The Los Angeles Times also wraps Rumsfeld's visit to the Hill. LINK

The proposal is "losing steam," the Wall Street Journal 's Cloud reports.

"Such opposition may be enough to kill the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, especially with the November elections looming and little time for enacting major legislation this year. The panel's plan could still become law, but probably only if Mr. Bush gets much more involved than he has been in pushing it through Congress. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, has given the plan his unqualified endorsement, while Mr. Bush has only endorsed its broad outlines."

ABC News Vote 2004: Kerry-Edwards '04:

The Boston Globe 's Michael Kranish delivers a long-overdue, point-by-point push-back from the Kerry campaign on the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth allegations against Senator Kerry's recollections of Christmas in Cambodia. LINK

There's still some ambiguity here, but we still can't see the relevance, except for those requiring another illustration that Kerry is a fudger.

The battle over Vietnam wages on with John Kerry's denunciation of the MoveOn ad aimed at debunking the anti-Kerry Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad. LINK

An academic claims to have some research suggesting the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have hit paydirt: Professor Borrick's ad study claiming to show the effectiveness of the spot probably isn't the only data out there showing similar trends … hence the belated but persistent pushback from KE04. LINK

The AP: "Senator John Kerry on Tuesday condemned a television ad criticizing President Bush's Vietnam-era service, even as prominent veterans linked to the Democratic presidential campaign echoed the commercial's accusations." LINK

The Washington Times begins the first of a three-part series looking into the dispute over Senator Kerry's swift boat experience and his service in Vietnam.LINK

Kerry's campaign denies hiding war records. LINK

It's really not a good sign when his own campaign staffers are confusing him and his credentials with Bob Kerrey. LINK

The Washington Post 's Jonathan Finer Notes as a speechmaker, Senator Kerry "is often portrayed as having trouble connecting with his audience, occasionally proved adept at repartee — an example, those who have watched his campaign say, of how he has improved as a candidate." LINK

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Laura Kellams wraps Edwards' visit to Fort Smith on Tuesday. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:

Awaiting President Bush's arrival in St. Paul today, the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bob Von Sternberg writes, "With Bush and Senator John Kerry — not to mention their wives, running mates and other surrogates — wearing a path through the state, the never-ending stumping could end up being too much of a good thing, even for political junkies." LINK

The President visited two battleground states where voters are particularly sensitive to a loss of manufacturing jobs — Pennsylvania and West Virginia — on Tuesday. The Boston Globe 's Rick Klein Notes that while many unions are supporting the Democrats, Bush strategists think they can make inroads in industries where he is seen as stronger — i.e., defense contracting, like Boeing. LINK

Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times explains why he heard about missile defense on the stump yesterday. LINK

"Bush has rarely raised the topic of the missile defense system — designed to target and destroy incoming nuclear missiles — since the Sept. 11, 2001 … "

"But the program is in many ways a vivid symbol of the contrast Republican strategists hope voters will see in the Bush-Kerry contest: a strong-willed commander in chief with a vision for modernizing the military versus a more equivocal challenger."

The AP's Schweid looks at Colin Powell's half attempt to stay out of the political spotlight while his boss campaigns to keep his job. "Probably rounding out his last months as a prominent public servant, Powell has declared he is obliged as secretary of state not to engage in 'parochial debate.'" LINK

"At the same time, he stoutly defends President Bush's policies, including the one on which his contest with Democrat John Kerry may turn — the war in Iraq."

Pete Yost of the AP previews President Bush's third bus trip through that good ole' battleground state of Wisconsin. "Bush stops first Wednesday in Chippewa Falls, an area he won by 700 votes four years ago. His second stop is in an area that includes Hudson, the fastest-growing city in the state and where voters narrowly endorsed him four years ago." LINK

Dick Wirthlin, in a New York Times, op-ed suggests during the Republican convention, President Bush "should convince Americans that the question is not so much whether we are better off than we were four years ago, but how, under his leadership, we will be even better off four years from now." LINK

Great rhetoric, but Wirthlin doesn't say what policy pitches will do the trick, and the devil, as David Sanger will tell you, is in the details.

The New York Times ' Diana Jean Schemo Notes "since President Bush signed No Child Left Behind in January 2002, the law has imposed deep, undeniable changes on America's public education." LINK

Hers is a balanced look, with something to please every presidential candidate.

The New York Times ' editorial board ain't so balanced. LINK

Neither is Rod Paige. LINK

Slummin' with the other guy, the New York Times ' David Halbfinger wraps President Bush's campaign stop in Pennsylvania where he "promoted his plans for a missile defense system on Tuesday and said that its opponents were putting the nation's security at risk." LINK

This is literally the stuff of Phil Singer's dreams: " The U.S. Army said it may begin withholding about $60 million a month in payments to Halliburton Co.'s Kellogg Brown & Root unit for work it performs for U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait, and has given the company until later this week to show the move would substantially affect its work there. Halliburton is fighting the move and said late Tuesday that the Army had asked for more information," reports the Wall Street Journal .

"Ten teachers of Christian ethics at leading seminaries and universities have written a letter to President Bush criticizing his campaign's outreach to churches, particularly its effort to gather church membership directories," reports the Washington Post 's Alan Cooperman. LINK

The politics of Hurricane Charley:

The Washington Post 's Ceci Connolly and David Snyder wrap the latest Bush Administration efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Charley, with visits from both Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge, and the beginnings of food and money: "The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened the first of an estimated 10,000 temporary homes in the coastal town of Venice and cut 1,070 checks totaling $2 million." The duo Note that Thompson brought with him $11 million in federal money in addition to the FEMA payouts, as well as medical personnel. But cleanup and recovery is likely to take months, and things may get worse before they get better. LINK

The Orlando Sentinel's Willoughby Mariano was at a stop where Gov. Jeb Bush visited with hurricane victims, who shared their frustrations. LINK

"The Republican governor denied his decision to visit heavily Hispanic Poinciana was based on political calculations, though winning support in the area could be doubly important in the November presidential election. His brother President Bush and Democratic candidate Senator John Kerry are wooing the crucial Hispanic vote, and Poinciana is part of the Interstate 4 corridor where both nominees are waging a fierce battle."

The Orlando Sentinel's Roger Roy and Jason Garcia detail the progress on restoring electricity, deploying National Guard troops ("In Central Florida, hundreds of Guard soldiers who returned from a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq earlier this year were on patrol, many directing traffic at intersections with signals that still weren't working."), and the request by Senator Bill Nelson for at least $2.5 billion in additional federal disaster relief. LINK

Pedro Ruz Gutierrez of the Orlando Sentinel reports that the National Guard troops returned from Iraq who are helping with disaster relief and keeping order in the wake of Charley are getting a warm welcome. LINK

Electricity is slowly coming back, the Orlando Sentinel reports. LINK

State and local agencies have gotten more than 1,200 complaints about price gauging and insurance and construction fraud, report the Miami Herald 's Phil Long, Mary Ellen Klas, and Lisa Arthur. LINK

The AP's Allen Breed reports on the loss of jobs in the aftermath of Charley. LINK

Mark Hollis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel looks at how Hurricane Charley has affected the U.S. Senate campaign, leaving the candidates and their staffs scrambling to reschedule events or suspending operations while the cleanup is ongoing. "Most of the candidates say they're not conceding any severe implications to their campaigns. One big goal, they say, is to avoid being attacked for taking political advantage in the midst of the hurricane recovery." LINK

McGreevey: what's next:

The main deciding factor as to whether Gov. James McGreevey leaves before Sept. 3 still seems to be Senator Jon Corzine.

Corzine was in New Jersey Tuesday, discussing the possibility of being the party's candidate in a special election with state Democratic leaders and gauging support from special interest groups, reports the AP. "There's obviously a decision to be made. There are people out there saying, 'Jon Corzine should be our candidate.' It is something he is considering," Corzine spokesman David Wald told the Newark Star Ledger. Corzine would not pressure McGreevey to leave before his Nov. 15 deadline, added Wald, "We still have a governor. Jon Corzine is not pushing McGreevey to get out." LINK

Expect several more meetings and phone calls to take place today in New Jersey. Neither McGreevey, Corzine, nor Senate President Richard Codey have public scheduled events planned today.

But all signs in New Jersey show that McGreevey is not going anywhere, at least now. He met yesterday with Codey, the man who would replace him if he were to resign as planned on Nov. 15. Codey told reporters after his meeting that the Governor "is very firm in his resolve to stay until Nov. 15. There was no equivocation." The two reportedly discussed transition plans. LINK

McGreevey also did some work for the state of New Jersey on Tuesday, meeting with national security advisers in Trenton. LINK

Codey also met with Senator Jon Corzine yesterday. Corzine spokesman David Wald told the New York Times , "Senator Corzine and Senator Codey met to discuss the current political situation in New Jersey, but there's no quote-unquote deal worked out between the two of them," said Wald. "It was a frank, comprehensive discussion. But no deal." LINK

The New York Times ' ed board sums up: "Mr. Corzine should stay in the job that he was elected to fill for six years. Mr. McGreevey should step down, and the two parties should nominate people to run in a real election this November. New Jersey voters have already had more than their share of appointed interim officials." LINK

Republicans hoping for a star candidate of their own to run if a special election were to arise, received bad news yesterday. Former Governors Tom Kean and Christie Whitman have both expressed their desires not run for the office. LINK

In other New Jersey scandal news, Charles Kushner, the developer and one-time McGreevey fundraiser, is expected "to plead guilty to criminal charges on Wednesday morning in a case in which he is accused of hiring a prostitute to blackmail a witness in a federal investigation in an attempt to silence him," reports the New York Times . LINK

Further details from the Star Ledger's Martin and Rudolph: LINK

Golan Cipel returned to Israel yesterday to be with his family. When he reached his parents' home, he made the following statement in Hebrew on camera: "I have had a very difficult time. I have come to Israel to be with my family at this time. I cannot expand on anything for legal reasons." LINK

The New York Times ' Joseph Berge takes a closer look at who Cipel is, speaking to some of his closest colleagues and friends. LINK

Cipel's lawyer, Allen Lowy took to the airwaves yesterday to defend his client. LINK

The Star Ledger has more details on the day the Governor told his wife of his affair. LINK

The economy:

"Buttressing the view that inflation is moderating, a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business found price increases at small firms have slowed. A net 20% of member firms raised prices in July, down from 29% in June. The net figure is the percentage raising prices minus the percentage cutting prices," the Wall Street Journal reports.

USA Today 's Peronet Despeignes writes, "President Bush was saying last month that the economy had 'turned the corner,' but the recovery he's counting on to help drive him to re-election Nov. 2 has hit some potholes lately." LINK

"In the past few weeks, job creation has stalled, oil prices have soared to record heights, and the overall economic recovery has slowed. Groups that track poverty and health insurance data say next week's annual Census Bureau figures are likely to show more Americans in poverty and without health insurance."

And then there's this at the end of the story: "Bush has made a subtle shift in the words he uses in campaign speeches to describe the economy. Instead of saying 'we've turned a corner,' which was part of his stump remarks before the Aug. 6 jobs report, Bush has reverted to the phrase he has used for much of the year: 'The economy is strong and getting stronger.'"

The politics of national security:

The Washington Post 's Rajiv Chandrasekaran accompanied a delegation of Iraqi political leaders who went to meet with cleric Moqtada Sadr on Tuesday in Najaf — a meeting that did not take place because Sadr refused to speak with them, "increasing chances of intensified U.S. and Iraqi military action to evict him and his followers." LINK

In the Washington Post , George Will takes a look at history and how military action can define — for better or worse — a presidency.LINK

"Untenable even before what may be coming before November: an Iraqi version of the North Vietnamese Tet offensive of 1968. To say that the coming offensive will be by 'Baathists' is, according to one administration official, akin to saying 'Nazis' when you mean 'the SS' — the most fearsome of the Nazis. Such an offensive could make Sadr's insurgency seem a minor irritant. And it could unmake a presidency, as Tet did."

The Washington Post 's John Mintz and Kamran Khan report that "British authorities charged eight alleged al Qaeda operatives yesterday with conspiracy to commit murder and other counts in connection with a reported plot to attack the International Monetary Fund building in Washington and other sites in New York and Newark." LINK

The Republican National Convention:

The Los Angeles Times takes a look at the intra-party culture war on the proverbial eve of the convention. The usual (Schlafly, Weyrich) quotable conservatives grumble about a too moderate speakers roster. Note the Christian Coalition doesn't seem as bothered and is looking ahead to November 2. The wary Log Cabin Republicans get some play too. LINK

"Several Democratic lawmakers called on Tuesday for a Justice Department investigation into the Federal Bureau of Investigation's questioning of would-be demonstrators about possible violence at the political conventions, saying the questioning may have violated the First Amendment," writes the New York Times ' troublemaking Eric Lichtblau. LINK

"Breaking with tradition, Senator John Kerry plans to campaign for at least one day during the Republican National Convention, venturing to Nashville to speak at the American Legion's national convention," reports the New York Times ' Jodi Wilgoren. LINK

The New York Times ' amiable Jennifer Steinhauer smiles her way through this one: "In a transparently mercantile bid to keep protesters from disrupting the Republican National Convention later this month, the Bloomberg administration will offer "peaceful political activists" discounts at select hotels, museums, stores and restaurants around town during convention week." LINK

The Washington Post 's Michael Powell also looks at Bloomberg's ironic (or is it?) attempt to market the Big Apple to protesters. Our favorite Bloomberg quotes: "'It's no fun to protest on an empty stomach. So you might want to try a restaurant.' Hizzoner offers another example: 'Or you might want to go shopping, maybe for another pair of sneakers for the march.'" LINK

More from the New York Post . LINK

And the New York Daily News. LINK

The AP's Williams likes the proposal too. LINK

Even the bomb-sniffing dogs get a mini-profile as the convention approaches. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: The Big Four: Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin:

The Columbus Dispatch's Alan Johnson reports on the latest on Ohio's proposed same-sex marriage ban, Noting that "the five-member Ballot Board unanimously approved the wording voters could see at the polls in November." LINK

Here's the wording: LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: the battlegrounds:

The Detroit News provides a front-page article today for both sides to play with in Michigan. The Big Three have skyrocketing health care costs. Due to frivolous lawsuits or policies geared toward benefiting HMOs? Let the debate begin. LINK

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Erin Neff reports on the big rush to register in Nevada. LINK

The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Conrad Defiebre reports on former Senator Max Cleland's campaigning in Rochester, MN, on Tuesday. LINK

Examining last night's Cleland visit and today's presidential visit, the St. Paul Pioneer Press' Bill Salisbury explains the art of trying to suck up all of the local media oxygen. LINK

The Raleigh News & Observer 's Josh Shaffer and Michael Biesecker report that hardly anybody voted in yesterday's runoff election in North Carolina and Virginia Foxx beat out Vernon Robinson for the 5th congressional district's Republican nomination. LINK

Environmental politics:"Interior Department officials announced this week they will delay some new oil and gas projects on public lands until they can evaluate drilling's effects on wildlife," reports the Washington Post 's Juliet Eilperin. Proponents point to the move as a sign that the Bush Administration is responsive to the concerns of conservationists; skeptics call it cosmetic. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: the Senate:

Senate candidates Salazar and Coors are throwing down for ad buys to set their candidacies apart, reports Gwen Florio of the Rocky Mountain News. Recent polling has them tied in popularity. LINK

Arthur Kane of the Denver Post reveals Salazar and Coors are banking positive ads now — to brace for the negativity of weeks ahead. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Nader-Camejo '04:

Jonathan Riskind of the Columbus Dispatch reports Democrats in Ohio are biting their nails as Ralph Nader's campaign has double the required number of petitions, which will be submitted today. Nader will likely have competition from Libertarian Michael Badnarik and possibly Green candidate David Cobb. Whether the Ohio Democratic Party will challenge Nader is TBD but party spokesman Dan Trevas says the party is "interested in seeing where are those signatures from." In 2000, Nader received 2.5 percent of the vote in Ohio. LINK

The legend of the embattled Nader supporter grows. Yvonne Abraham looks at the trials and tribulations of the Naderite in today's Boston Globe . LINK

Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court has scheduled a pre-trial meeting Thursday in Philly to discuss the handful of separate hearings on the case, according to Nader's Pennsylvania attorney Sam Stretton. John Baer of the Philadelphia Daily News makes the case for Democrats to stop giving Nader such a hard time. LINK

J.L. Miller of the News Journal reports Delaware will field six independent candidates, including Nader. LINK

WTAP inquires if the 70-year-old Ralph Nader could "rock the vote" in West Virginia? Badnarik might do a little rockin' there too as it seems he's made the ballot as well. LINK

On Tuesday, 27,500 signatures were submitted in Nader's honor in New York where he needs 15 thou for ink in the ballot.

In Washington, D.C., more than 5,000 signatures were submitted, 3,600 valids are needed.

Gavin Newsom's old nemesis, Matt Gonzalez, who is president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, will represent the Nader-Camejo campaign in a surrogate debate tomorrow night in Riverside California. He will go toe to toe with Mario Rodriguez on behalf of California's BC04 operation and Alex Gallardo-Rooker for KE04. The Nader campaign reports the whole thing will broadcast live, through the magic of television and Adelphia Cable.

Meanwhile, there is a movement underway to put Nader in the ring with Bush and Kerry in the flesh. LINK

The politics of movies:

"Fahrenheit 9/11" became the liberal's "Passion of the Christ" and grossed over $100 million and now it seems the emailed press releases touting a new Bush-bashing flick can't stay out of our hot not-so-little inboxes for more than a few minutes.

And if you're looking to attract blue blood, who better to pick for a subject than the uber shadow himself Karl Rove, right?

Well, "Bush's Brain," based on James Moore and Wayne Slater's book, has a somewhat obvious title, so we'll just tell you that it opens on Friday in art house theaters Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio and then expands to places like New York, LA, Seattle, Portland, and Milwaukee by the end of September. LINK

To give you a sense of the tone/rhetoric in this one, here's an excerpt from the press release: "From his masterful political skills, to the secret machinations he has carefully orchestrated, to his dramatic influence on foreign policy, the fingerprints of Karl Rove can be found throughout the political process. How will Karl Rove manage to retain George W. Bush's wartime stature through to the next election? Is he perhaps 'Co-President' of the United States?"

The Hollywood Reporter at least liked it, mostly: "Mealey and Shoob's film is a little too 'Inside Baseball' as it takes a deep dive into arcane Texas politics as discussed by a series of talking heads. Yet what they say — and much of it is hard to refute — is devastating stuff." LINK

Meanwhile, "Brothers in Arms," a movie lauding Kerry's time in Vietnam through the eyes of Kerry's swift boat 94 crewmates, will be released to DVD on Sept. 7. LINK

TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):

—9:00 am: Former CIA Director George Tenet, former FBI Director Louis Freeh, acting CIA Director John McLaughlin, and FBI Director Robert Mueller testify before the House Select Intelligence Committee on the 9/11 Commission recommendations at the Capitol, Washington, DC—10:30 am: Sen. John Kerry addresses the 105th Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention at the Cincinnati Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH —10:30 am: The WE DECIDE! Organization holds a luncheon to mark the 84th anniversary of women's voting and to release a study on the growth of women business owners at the National Press Club, Washington, DC—11:55 am: Sen. John Edwards tours the Job 1 Career Center, New Orleans, LA—12:00 pm: First Lady Laura Bush tours small businesses and delivers remarks on the economy at Design Net Engineering, Lakewood, CO—12:00 pm: Labor Department employees hold a demonstration and rally in front of the Labor Department against contracting out of department jobs, Washington, DC—12:10 pm: Sen. Edwards participates in a roundtable with New Orleans workers at the Job 1 Career Center, New Orleans, LA—12:20 pm: President Bush speaks at Kell Container, Chippewa Falls, WI—1:00 pm: Sen. Edwards attends a DNC fundraiser at the Loews New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, LA—2:15 pm: The Partnership for Public Service holds a news conference to release the results of a new national survey that measures voter attitude about government and government workers at the National Press Club, Washington, DC—2:30 pm: The Senate Select Intelligence Committee holds an open hearing on the 9/11 Commission recommendations, Washington, DC—4:20 pm: President Bush participates in an "Ask President Bush" event, St. Croix, WI—6:00 pm: Mrs. Bush delivers remarks at Victory '04 reception, Houston, TX—7:00 pm: President Bush speaks at a rally at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN