The Note

W A S H I N G T O N, March 25—
, 2004 -- TODAY SCHEDULE (all times ET)

FUTURES CALENDAR

NEWS SUMMARY

John Kerry is back on the trail -- in Washington.

Howard Dean is endorsing Kerry -- in Washington.

President Bush is out talking jobs, raising money, and blocking traffic -- in New Hampshire and Boston.

Paul Maslin is writing wild stuff about Dean -- in the Atlantic. LINK

The Googling monkeys are lined up, 1000 strong, outside the formal wear store, waiting to return their tiny little tuxes -- in Chevy Chase.

Democrats show off unity, fundraising, and a spanking new HQ at events from this afternoon until dawn -- in Washington.

Josh Wachs and Co. will watch amazing body language and eye contact as Clinton, Gore, Carter, Kerry, and many others mill around various receptions and holding rooms -- and much history will be left on the cutting room floor.

For us, the key moment of the political day will come when those members of the Gang of 500 who are at the DNC event make a silent, collective judgment: with all those DNC BSD bigshots in the room, does John Kerry ineffably take over as the leader of his party?

Ralph Nader is debating . . . . Alan Keyes!!!

Ken Mehlman rode the morning show circuit, sounding like a cross between James A. Baker 3d and, well, James A. Baker 3d.

The Washington Post's Dan Balz and Jim VandeHei have written one of the most important political stories of the spring -- about the Bush and Kerry budget schemes (You decide if we mean "schemes" in the British or American sense after reading the story.). LINK

The Boston Globe's Mike Kranish and Pat Healy layer in another Forrest Gump moment for John Kerry -- peeling back another layer of the Vietnam-era onion. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Ron Brownstein wraps his big brain around the potential political implications of Richard Clarke. LINK

Francophile Dick Morris wrote the perfect "Bush ads define Kerry; Kerry loses big" scenario LINK; Barabak and Gold supply supporting material. LINK

Sen. Kerry is back in Washington, D.C. with several events planned. He addresses newspaper publishers this morning and is expected to receive the endorsement of Howard Dean and AFSCME today and will attend the DNC Unity Dinner tonight.

President Bush visits Nashua, N.H. this afternoon to speak about home ownership before traveling to Boston to attend a Bush-Cheney fundraiser.

The Senate today considers the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, or the "Laci Peterson bill." A vote is expected about 5:00 pm ET. Will John Kerry vote and how?

The House debates the budget today.

Ralph Nader is in North Carolina today, speaking at NC State and debating Alan Keyes.

Today on "Good Morning America" ABC News' John McWethy had a sneak peek of his boffo look into the life and times of Don Rumsfeld which will air tonight at 8:00 pm ET on "Primtetime Thursday."

With all due respect to David Martin, John McWethy is an unmatched superstud.

The unparalleled McWethy will describe a man in motion who has a pace counter on his belt, is the oldest man to ever hold the job and is called "tough" by all of his peers. Watch it!

Democrats Unite!:

Kit Seelye of the New York Times Notes just how big tonight's DNC unity dinner truly is: LINK

"Mr. Carter, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore have rarely come together except on official occasions. The three last gathered in September 2001, attending the National Cathedral memorial service for victims of the terrorist attacks. They met nine months before that, at President Bush's inauguration. Before then, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore had not seen each other for months, and Mr. Clinton and Mr. Carter had not met since the funeral of former President Richard M. Nixon in 1994."

Be sure to read to the bottom for as complete a star-studded roster as we've seen in print.

Except . . . wherefore art thou, Leo?

We hear that the "special guest" at the dinner -- and if we're lucky enough, the after par-tay, is none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. We're guessing that in between chatting up big-name Dems, he might drop a hint or two about his portrayal of Howard Hughes in the Martin Scorsese-directed biopic "The Aviator," which we eagerly await this year.

And if for some reason young Leo doesn't show (fickle Hollywood schedules and all), our hearts will go on . . .

USA Today's Jim Drinkard and Jill Lawrence preview the Democrats' big day of reopening, unity, and Kerry love. LINK

The AP's Genaro Armas looks at the delegate situation and finds originally committed supporters for other candidates ready to line up behind Kerry. LINK

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

The Los Angeles Times' Brownstein turns in yet another must-read (two in a row!), this time looking at how the two days of testimony at the 9/11 commission may shake the public's "unwavering sense" of the President's leadership dealing with terrorism.

"The allegations from former advisor Richard Clarke -- that Bush slighted the war against terrorism to focus on Iraq - dovetail so closely with so many Democratic criticisms of the president that some party strategists believe this week's events could mark a turning point in public attitudes about the administration's national security record."

Brownstein Notes "But most Republicans remain cautiously optimistic that this week's events won't significantly erode public approval of Bush's handling of the terrorist threat." LINK

The New York Daily News' DeFrank also considers the "Clarke effect" on the President's re-election campaign. "Clarke's accusations go to the core of Bush's main reelection message: that he is the wartime commander-in-chief doing everything he can to keep America safe from terrorists."

"'This guy popped up at the wrong time for us,' one Bush counselor complained. 'We had [John] Kerry on the run, and now we have to deal with this distraction.'" LINK

While the BC04 campaign says that the two key issues this election year are winning the war on terror and continuing economic growth, "cultural issues are emerging as an important subplot in a campaign dominated by national security and the economy," writes the Washington Times' Sammon.

The culture wars in the presidential election are "much to the delight of Republicans," Notes Sammon.

One BC04 campaign official:

"The problem the left has had for, frankly, 30 years is their positions on these cultural issues have essentially said to the American people: A) we don't trust you because we think we know better, and B) we are obsessively worried about some fringe argument or some fringe element, at the expense of the people." LINK

The AP's Pete Yost previews the trip to New Hampshire and Boston. LINK

What happens when children get left behind because of campaign fundraisers?

Today in Boston the President is expected to take in up to $1 million for his re-election fund but the Boston Globe's Greenberger and Abraham report that "The president's visit unexpectedly canceled classes for 1,425 children at the Boston Renaissance Charter School, a K-8 institution on Stuart Street a block away from the hotel" where the fundraiser is to take place."

The Boston Public Schools system "could not guarantee timely pick-up of students at dismissal time," and there were concerns that "the 300 parents who pick up their children would not be able to reach the school."

"'It's a sad situation that you have to close off school because of a fund-raising event,' said Roger F. Harris, Renaissance headmaster."

The Globe duo sums up the trip quite nicely: "Bush can bank on a loss in Massachusetts in November, but he has been able to bank on impressive donations." LINK

The Boston Herald's Ellen Silberman reports that Mayor Menino has "slapped a gag on the Boston Fire Department Acappella Quartet, banning the group from singing during tonight's visit to Boston by President Bush." LINK

The local businessman chosen to meet the President in Nashua, N.H. today describes Bush's tax relief as "instrumental in allowing [his company] to grow and succeed." LINK

The Nashua Telegraph finds that one automotive student attending today's Bush event "doesn't know what she would like to hear Bush talk about, but is glad to be able to attend no matter what he discusses." LINK

In a potential blow to one of the top priority issues of the BC04 campaign, "Fourteen states asked the Bush administration on Wednesday for permission to use alternative methods for showing academic gains under the No Child Left Behind law," reports the New York Times' Schemo.

"The appeal comes as more and more states have passed resolutions criticizing No Child Left Behind, and the federal Education Department has moved to give states greater flexibility in carrying out the law," Schemo writes. LINK

The New York Times' Eric Schmitt reports that Vice President Cheney will take a week long trip next month to China, Japan and South Korea during which he will discuss North Korea's nuclear arms program, operations in Iraq and trade policy.

This will be Cheney's third trip overseas since taking office. "Traveling to Asia in mid-April would allow Mr. Cheney to demonstrate his foreign policy expertise at a time when he is also assuming an increasingly visible role in the nascent presidential campaign," writes Schmitt. LINK

Sen. Zell Miller launched the "Democrats for Bush" yesterday in Washington and expressed his support for President Bush's re-election.

Washington Times Curl Notes "While Mr. Miller has been a vocal supporter of the president throughout his term, voting for the war in Iraq and supporting across-the-board tax cuts, it is unusual for a Democrat to categorically denounce a presidential candidate from his own party." LINK

The AP's Jeffrey MacMurray writes up Sen. Miller's formal kickoff in support of the President. LINK

The AP's Siobhan McDonough reviews the President's comedy bit at the RTCA dinner. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Bush vs. Kerry:

In case you missed it (and if you did, stop and go read it right now), the New York Post featured a must-read article by none-other than Dick Morris yesterday asserting that the Bush team's ads are working. LINK

"Interestingly, the new surveys don't show Bush gaining so much as they show Kerry dropping. In the odd configurations of political strategy, that is good news for the Republicans.

"If Bush were simply gaining because of good news or a bump from the recent focus on terrorism, he could go down as easily as he went up. Let the news turn bad, and Bush would go back to the low ratings of a few weeks ago.

"But with the gap closing because of Kerry's drop, the impact is likely to last a lot longer."

Dan Balz and Jim VandeHei of the Washington Post write that in the battle of numbers, both Bush and Kerry have both misrepresented each other. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: Sen. John Kerry:

The Los Angeles Times' Mark Barabak and Matea Gold team up to mark the return of a rested Candidate Kerry by pointing out the challenges facing him from all sides. LINK

"But even as he sets his sights on the fall contest against President Bush, Kerry faces a challenge within his own party, rallying Democrats who seem more passionate at this point about beating the Republican incumbent than backing the party's apparent nominee-to-be."

The Boston Globe's Michael Kranish and Pat Healy write about Kerry's 'Nam-era trip to Paris for meetings/talks/whatever. LINK

The AP's Mike Glover previews Kerry's first day back from vacation. LINK

USA Today's William Welch looks at the relationship shared by the two Bay State senators. LINK

There's a great timeline for this one too: LINK

From ABC News' Kerry campaign reporter Ed O'Keefe:

TWIN FALLS, IDAHO, March 24 -- Sen. John Kerry left the quiet solitude of Idaho Wednesday, perhaps not returning to the Sun Valley's mountain slopes until he is either president-elect or a defeated contender.

An impressive athlete, the 60-year-old presumptive Democratic nominee rid thoughts of the trail with six full days of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and mountain climbing, and even managed to squeeze in David Kay Johnston's "Perfectly Legal."

Aboard a charter flight from Twin Falls, Idaho to Washington, D.C., Kerry said, "It doesn't take long to re-charge my batteries." A moment later, the often long-winded Senator promised, "No more long answers."

Kerry returns to his day job Thursday, charging back into presidential campaign mode with a series of unity meetings and events in Washington.

In their first joint public event since the former Vermont Governor left the race, Kerry and Howard Dean will hold an event at George Washington University, where Dean will formally embrace Kerry's White House bid and Kerry will implore his former rival to aid his campaign's outreach and fundraising efforts.

On Thursday evening, Kerry continues his party unification efforts, appearing with former Presidents Clinton and Carter at a Democratic Unity Dinner.

Kerry gets the first chance to uphold his "no more long answers" pledge this weekend, holding events in the battleground states of Michigan and Missouri. Soon after, the Senator begins his 20-city fundraising tour, beginning with California four stops in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

And finally, as the traveling press corps bids adieu to Idaho and in honor of "Papa," who spent his last days in Ketchum, the Note is pleased to translate Kerry's post-vacation life as one of Hemingway's best sentences:

"That something Kerry cannot yet deliver completely but the feeling comes when he speaks well and truly of something and knows impersonally he has said in that way and those who are paid to hear it and report on it do not like the subject so they say it is all a fake, yet Cutter spins its value absolutely; or when the Senator does something which people do not consider a serious occupation and yet Shrum knows truly, that it is as important and has always been as important as all the things that are in fashion, and when, on the trail, Kerry is alone with it and know that this, The Arena he is running in, knowing, learning about, and loving, has moved, as it moves, since before Gore, and that it has gone by the DNC and that conflicted, persuasive, powerful DLC since before Clinton sighted it and that the things you find out about it, and those that have always lived in it are individual yet of value because the Arena will exist, as it has existed, after the Liberals, after the Centrists, after the Conservatives, for all Americans and beyond all the troubling scandals, the hanging chads of Florida, the discontent, the martyrdom, the sacrifice and the venality and the cruelty are all gone as the high-piled scow of political slogans, bright-colored, red and white-flecked, ill-conceived, but now tilted to favor your side, spills off into the red and blue states, turning the electoral college an unknowable mix to the frustration of four or five networks as the tally spreads across the nation, the obvious states checked off and the conjecture of pundits, experts, professors, and the hired hand spinster, seasoned with sage-like wisdom or a knack for sound bites, the true believers there from the bad old days, a well-inflated ego, the occasional rat, the no-longer-distinguished gentlemen; all this well shepherded by the people of the United States who pick their presidents with one pull, as interested, as intelligent, and as accurate as historians; they have the viewpoint; the Candidate, sometimes with no visible flow, delivers tightly-packed versions of his pitch a day when things are going well in the Arena and for several rows in the crowd it is as clear and true and believing as it was ever before that this could be his year; and the Palm Beach of past victories, the weary ears of good Americans and the grand promises of our great politicians exist with no significance against one single, lasting thing -- the Arena."

Read more from the trail with Kerry on abcnews.com: LINK

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jo Mannies reports on Kerry's upcoming Saturday visit to the state, where he will talk about jobs and his economic proposals at a campaign rally to be held at the World's Fair Pavilion. Missouri has had a net loss of about 40,000 jobs since President Bush took office in 2000. LINK

Veepstakes:

Deb Orin of the New York Post makes Notes of a possible 9/11 Commission hearing side story: a Kerry-Kerrey Democratic ticket. LINK

"Veep talk was fueled when Kerrey eloquently rose above politics to speak for outraged citizens and blame both the Clinton and Bush administrations for 9/11 -- and then yesterday suddenly sounded like a very partisan Democrat."

Dean:

The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz gives a preview of former Dean pollster Paul Maslin's article on his former boss to be published in the May issue of the Atlantic Monthly. Maslin writes that although Dean is endorsing John Kerry today, during the campaign "he didn't like Kerry," and also Notes that "Dean was so adamant about keeping his Vermont gubernatorial records sealed that he told his staff in December: 'I'd rather end the campaign than have the world see everything.'" LINK

The AP reports that "Dean's Democracy for America organization drew about 70 activists to Nashua during the weekend to hear from the former candidate by conference call." LINK

Nader:

Reuters' John Whitesides on Nader's ballot access challenges and strategies. Nader said from the get-go that his goal is to be on the ballot in all 50 states and that he will do so with a largely volunteer workforce. Nader's strategy is to tackle the certain states first, namely Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Indiana and North Carolina. He's campaigning in North Carolina today. LINK

From the outside:

First up: Democrats are increasingly aggressive about responding to Bush visits.

Yesterday, reps from the SEIU, the Sierra Club and other Democratic-leaning interest groups held a press conference "welcoming" the President to the state. It was organized, in part, under the America Votes umbrella.

The state Democratic Party will ensure that plenty of Democrats with signs and loud voices make their way to the vicinity of the Bush visit.

For the message:

Before he takes part in a discussion at the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Nashua, Democrats will paper reporters pointing alleging that the President's 2005 budget would cut programs for vocational and adult education by as much as 35 percent.

Expect a document along the lines of what you see on this Web site: LINK

Next: the new round of ads in Pennsylvania by the Club for Growth, calling Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) a liberal. The 10-second spot (you read it right -- it's the key gimmick) went up on the air Tuesday in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with a $950,000 buy this week.

9/11 Commission:

ABC News' Kate Snow reports that according to a senior Administration official, the White House will request today that National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice be given another opportunity to sit down with the 9/11 Commission in private, to rebut some of the charges that emerged in the past two days of hearings. She will not agree to testify in public, for reasons she has already described.

Not surprisingly, the morning shows were all about the 9/11 Commission today.

Commission Members John Lehman and Jamie Gorelick continued their partisan tone during an interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's "Today Show." Lehman alleged that Richard Clarke is "severely undermined" by the fact that he "changed his mind" about 9/11 because he disagreed with the war in Iraq and "didn't like the President."

The best barometer for the public reaction of the hearings, though, may be the reactions by family members of 9/11 victims.

Kristen Breitweiser, who lost her husband, said on "The Today Show" that it was "refreshing" that Clarke apologized to the 9/11 families. "Frankly," she said, "he is the first person who has apologized to the families. Because clearly 9/11 is a colossal failure and it means something when people say to you: 'I failed you. But here is what I am going to do . . . '"

Patty Casazza, who also lost her husband, added on "Good Morning America" that she thought the commission broke down "along party lines" and called commissioners' "attacking" Richard Clarke "totally inappropriate." "This was supposed to be an independent commission investigating the deaths of 3,000 people," she added. "Not a partisan attack or a campaign ad."

On CNN's "American Morning," Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman charged that Dick Clarke has a "credibility problem" and suggested that he is motivated by a desire to "sell books."

In reference to Clarke's 2002 background briefing that the White House put on the record yesterday, Mehlman said: "In 2002, (Clarke) said the Administration took aggressive action from the beginning. The previous Administration had not given us a plan…. That's what (Clarke) was saying when he was giving his honest opinion. Now he is trying to sell books and he is saying something different."

The New York Times' David Johnston and Todd Purdum detail brilliantly the long hunt for Osama bin Laden, characterized by a series of missed chances to take him down and mistakes made by both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. LINK

"What happened over the nearly five years from that moment until the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon is the story of bureaucratic miscommunication, diplomatic dead ends, military hesitation, intelligence failures, political rivalries and policy miscalculations at the highest levels of two presidential administrations -- a trail of fumbles presented in sweeping new detail in two days of commission hearings and four staff reports made public this week."

Toward the end, the pair make one point that will be the biggest challenge for an incumbent presidential candidate running on his national security credentials to overcome:

"Instead of action and new initiatives, the Bush administration engaged in a lengthy policy debate. Mr. Bush's aides rejected most of the Clinton administration's ideas and plans as ineffectual or too narrow."

"But evidence compiled by the commission suggests that before Sept. 11, the Bush team failed to put into place a comprehensive game plan of its own against the bin Laden network.," despite what Purdum and Johnston write were a number of warnings by Clinton officials that bin Laden and terrorism were the biggest threat to the United States.

The Washington Post's Dan Eggen and Walter Pincus report that Richard Clarke "warned seven days before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks that hundreds of people could die in a strike by the al Qaeda network and that the administration was not doing enough to combat the threat, the commission investigating the attacks disclosed yesterday." LINK

The New York Times' Shenon and Stevenson write up yesterday's dramatic hearings, pointing out that the questioning of Clarke "prompted members of the commission to divide along sharply partisan lines." LINK

"As Republican members openly questioned Mr. Clarke's truthfulness and Democrats defended an official who helped direct the nation's counterterrorism strategy for nearly a decade, Mr. Clarke testified that the Bush administration had not treated counterterrorism as an 'urgent issue' before the Sept. 11 attacks."

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post analyzes Clarke's performance, Noting that "if the critique presented by Clarke, who left the Bush White House after two years, is to be accepted, a key rationale for Bush's reelection has been lost." LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Paltrow and Cloud report that in yesterday's hearings Clarke stood firm on his allegations against the Bush Administration -- culminating in a sharp partisan divide of the 9/11 Commission.

"The 10-member 9/11 Commission is divided equally between Republicans and Democrats. But the two days of hearings brought into sharp relief the strong partisan divisions among the commissioners. Republicans focused blame on the Clinton White House for not having moved during the 1990s to eradicate al Qaeda, while Democrats emphasized the Bush administration's failures to heed warnings early in 2001 of a possible attack."

The Washington Post's David Montgomery profiles Bob Kerrey, who on the 9/11 commission has adopted the role of channeling "the outrage, pain and astonishment that much of a smarting nation still feels about Sept. 11." LINK

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times opines, "If only Sandy Berger had told the incoming Bush officials that Al Qaeda was no big deal, they might have gotten alarmed about it. They were determined to disdain all things Clinton, including what they considered his overemphasis on terrorism." LINK

The Los Angeles Times highlights Clarke's testimony and the Bush team's response. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Reynolds reports on Condoleezza Rice's defense to the blistering attacks thrown at the Bush Administration this week. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Paul Richter points out what could be the most important outcome of this week, at least in terms of a certain re-election campaign. LINK

"For many Americans, hearings this week told for the first time of faulty intelligence, of miscues and of events beyond the government's control. They heard prominent people suggest that somebody had dropped the ball in the war on terrorism.

"And, for the first time in 2 1/2 years, it may have begun sinking in, experts said Wednesday."

Clarke v. Bush Administration:

Bob Kemper of the Chicago Tribune reports that Richard Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 Commission forced Bush to counter him all week, instead of pushing the positive agenda for reelection originally planned.

Check out these quotes from Brookings presidential scholar Thomas Mann:

"The unexpected softness and uncertainty in the economy have forced the president to make his standing as commander in chief of the war against terrorism the central plank in his re-election campaign."

"The 9/11 commission hearings reinforce questions raised about the wisdom of his leadership and the honesty of his public statements," Mann said. "Combined with the difficult transition in Iraq and the apparent health of the terrorist movement, these newest revelations suggest more vulnerability than strength for Bush in the general election campaign." LINK

Bill Gertz of the Washington Times reports on Richard Clarke's apology yesterday for government failures in the September 11 attacks, Noting that the former counterterrorism czar's credibility was challenged yesterday during a public hearing. Clarke testified to the 9/11 Commission that senior Bush administration officials ignored his warnings about the threat of al Qaeda in the months leading up to the attacks. LINK

The Boston Globe's Bryan Bender recounts Clarke's testimony. LINK

USA Today's Jill Lawrence writes, "The Bush administration didn't want an independent commission to investigate the Sept. 11 attacks in an election year. Richard Clarke's testimony Wednesday demonstrated why." LINK

Knight Ridder's Steven Thomma looks at the political impact of Clarke's testimony and the rest of the hearings. LINK

Big casino budget politics: Medicare:

The New York Times' Robert Pear reports that Medicare actuary Richard Foster testified before the House Ways and Means Committee that prescription drug legislation would cost up to 50 percent more than the Bush Administration's estimates. This information only made its way to Congress six months later. LINK

Foster disclosed yesterday that he "gave analyses last June to the White House and the president's budget office that were not shared with Congress, predicting that prescription drug benefits being drafted on Capitol Hill would cost about $150 billion more than President Bush said he wanted to spend," writes Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post. LINK

Tonight, Nightline plans to explore the politics of Medicare, with anchor Chris Bury. When the Medicare bill passed in December, it looked like a major political victory for the Republicans facing a key campaign year. But now, accusations of political manipulations and even possible scandal surround it. ABC News correspondent Jake Tapper reports, with interviews that include Sens. Frist, Daschle, Hagel, Kennedy and more.

House of Labor:

And yes, we over here at the Note hear that one Gerry McEntee will at long last be giving Sen. Kerry his presidential blessing. Look for Kerry to address AFSCME's board this morning. And expect Kerry to secure the union's endorsement before the day is out.

The AFL-CIO's road show makes a stop in Des Moines, Iowa today, where unemployed and underemployed workers will talk about the impact of unemployment during a roundtable discussion at 2:30 p.m. ET.

The economy:

Newt Gingrich writes in today's Washington Post that in order for the GOP to win the jobs debate they must "focus on 'insourcing' jobs by making America the best place in the world to create the next high-value-added, wealth-creating jobs and those who believe that an inevitable measure of economic decay can be slowed temporarily by preventing the export of jobs to China, India, Korea, Mexico and other countries." LINK

Today, Treasury Secretary John Snow will address the National Association for Business Economists at their 2004 Washington Economic Policy Conference, and is expected to talk about job growth, explain the differences between the two surveys on job creation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and discuss issues facing employers that could hamper growth. He'll also talk about the Bush Administration's support for free trade and why it's necessary for a healthy economy.

The politics of gas:

The New York Times' Matthew Wald and John Tierney write that the soaring gas prices have lead to "presidential candidates and members of Congress rushing to assign blame and propose ways to lower voters' costs at the gas pump." LINK

The AP's Calvin Woodward reports that gas prices are now 8 cents higher per gallon and rising than they were in the 2000 campaign, and Bush is the incumbent president being blamed by a feisty challenger. Turnabout for the easy rhetoric about a country held hostage? Woodward also points out that Kerry did not propose a 50 cent tax increase on gas, but did support the deficit-reduction proposal that included it proposed by another senator. LINK

The politics of same-sex marriage:

The Boston Globe's Raphael Lewis writes about the effort of some Massachusetts legislators to establish clearer language for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and establishing civil unions. LINK

The Des Moines Register's David Yepsen reviews the debate being had in Iowa. LINK

In Oregon, the ACLU filed a lawsuit yesterday that "could put the issue of gay marriage on the fast track to the state's Supreme Court." The group filed the suit on behalf of gay couples whose marriages have not been recognized by the state's Vital Statistics office. LINK

Under God:

The New York Times' Linda Greenhouse wraps the debate over whether the phrase "under God" should be kept in the pledge of allegiance and highlights the "spell-binding performance" by atheist Michael A. Newdow at the Supreme Court yesterday. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Robert Greenberger writes that in yesterday's intense oral arguments in front of the Supreme Court on the Pledge of Allegiance, "a number of the justices signaled that the phrase will stay."

The Los Angeles Times' Savage agrees and writes, "Despite his surprisingly strong performance before the high court, Newdow's chances of winning his argument remain slim. In their questions and comments, most of the justices sounded as though they would like the case to just go away." LINK

Julia Duin of the Washington Times reports on Michael Newdow's testimony yesterday to Supreme Court justices concerning whether the words "under God" should be removed from the Pledge, where the self-proclaimed atheist argued that patriotism should not be mixed with piety by the government. LINK

The Washington Times' Bill Sammon reports on the "culture wars" that are helping shape the presidential election -- much to the delight of Republicans -- as issues from homosexual marriage to the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance continue emerging as integral subplots in a campaign dominated by talks of national security and the economy. LINK

Note Kerry's failure to take a position!!!

The politics of immigration:

Julia Malone of Cox News Service Notes that House Republicans and Democrats gave a mostly chilly reception yesterday to Bush's proposed temporary visa program for immigrant workers as the controversial issue split even Republicans down the middle with some arguing against and others for the plan. LINK

Media:

Seen at the RTCA dinner . . .

A gaggle of shrieking, somewhat inebriated young women around Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz outside the CNN after party. They asked the smiling D/SECDEF for a picture, and he willingly obliged. A female member of the Secretary's security detail rolled her eyes.

A newly coiffed Joe Trippi telling friends with a straight face, "I'm really pissed. I need to find a desk to turn over," in reference to Paul Maslin's profile.

A relaxed-looking Rep. Dick Gephardt, wife Jane, and former campaign manager Steve Murphy sharing a laugh outside the magnetometers.

Elizabeth Edwards eventually cracking a smile during the President's monologue.

Comedian Mo Rocca stopping Andrea Mitchell and pleading for a picture. Mitchell politely stood and smiled. Later, Rocca was reunited with his thoroughly charming "Daily Show" colleague Rob Corddry, the guest of ABC News' own Karen Travers.

A certain table taking up a collection to buy more wine after running through their allotted share and failing to get a more teetotaling group to donate.

Gert and Wes Clark chatting and smiling at the NBC after-party.

John McCain holding court just outside the ballroom, graciously posing for pictures with fans.

That CNN party . . . and the whispers of many CNNers . . . wondering whether, if their company spent a quarter of that money on, say, keeping excellent correspondents, Mike Boettcher would still be breaking stories.

For our part, we missed out on the pillows and shot glasses that we stole . . . er, borrowed, last year. But an outstanding DJ.

Bless me with a song to make the whole world sing:

Jann Wenner, please pay attention.

The Note is not usually in the business of reprinting e-mails from our inbox, nor are we in the business of reviewing music, however, when a Note reader writes a song to the news summary of The Note, it must be shared with the masses.

From: Brent Benson Posted At: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 11:47 PM Posted To: Political Unit Subject: Song inspired by today's The Note news summary

The news summary in The Note today [LINK] seemed very poetic to me (as it often does). The headline section at the top inspired the enclosed song which I wrote and recorded this evening. You can also access it here for the time being: LINK

I hope you enjoy it.

Brent Benson

Dedicated reader of The Note

"Dan Channels Michiko Kakutani" -- originally titled "News Summary" -- is soon to top the Billboard charts. Just wait and see.

Singer/song-writer Benson, who also played all of the instruments, is the development manager at a software company in Massachusetts -- where he lives with his wife and 3 children. All fan mail can be sent to The Note, and we'll be sure to pass it on.

TODAY SCHEDULE (all times ET): —8:30 am: Sen. John Kerry meets with DNC members at the Marriott, Washington, D.C. —8:30 am: Labor Department releases the weekly report on initial jobless claims —8:30 am: Commerce Department releases the final report on the 4th quarter Gross Domestic Product —9:00 am: Sen. Kerry addresses the National Newspaper Publishers Association at the Marriott, Washington, D.C. —9:00 am: The House Policy Committee meets in executive session with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Sen. Jon Kyl, Washington, D.C.—9:00 am: Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks before the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Organization of Economic Development's Rural Policy Research Conference. Warrenton, Va.—9:30 am: The Senate convenes for morning business. —10:00 am: Sen. Kerry meets with Dean supporters at the Hyatt, Washington, D.C. —10:00 am: Secretary of State Colin Powell testifies on FY05 budget before Senate Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, Washington, D.C.—10:00 am: National Association of Realtors releases the February report on existing home sales —10:00 am: The House meets for legislative business —10:30 a.m. An amicus curiae brief in the Supreme Court case of Hamdi v. Rumsfeld is filed, Washington, D.C. —10:30 am: The Senate resumes consideration of the H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act —11:00 am: Rend Rahim, Ambassador-designee from Iraq, meets with House Majority Leader Rep. Roy Blunt. Washington, D.C.—11:15 am: Sen. Kerry attends a rally with Gov. Howard Dean at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. —12:00 pm: Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe speak at the DNC's Women United luncheon at the Marriott, Washington, D.C.—12:30 pm: Ralph Nader speaks at the Talley Student Center at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. —1:00 pm: Politics Live on ABC News Live and AOL —1:15 pm: Sen. Kerry attends the AFSCME board meeting at the federation's headquarters, Washington, D.C. —1:30 pm: President Bush participates in a conversation about home ownership in Nashua, N.H. —1:30 pm: Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announces the Medicare prescription drug card sponsors, Washington, D.C.—3:00 pm: The Democratic National Committee opens its newly renovated headquarters, Washington, D.C. —4:15 pm: Treasury Secretary John Snow speaks before the National Association for Business Economics, Washington, D.C. —5:00 pm: Sen. Kerry attends receptions sponsored by the Democratic National Committee, Washington, D.C. —5:00 pm: RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and "Reggie the Registration Rig" appear on MTV's "Total Request Live" from Times Square, New York, N.Y.—6:00 pm: Secretary Powell speaks at the Kennan Institute's 2004 Annual Benefit Dinner, Washington, D.C. —6:05 pm: President Bush attends a Bush-Cheney 2004 fundraiser reception at the Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, Mass. —7:00 pm: The DNC hosts a Democrats United Dinner featuring Sen. Kerry and former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton at the National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.—7:00 pm: The DNC hosts an after-party at Dream Nightclub featuring former Presidents Clinton and Carter and "special guests," Washington, D.C.—7:00 pm: Ralph Nader debates 2000 Republican Party presidential candidate Alan Keyes at Queens University, Charlotte, N.C.—7:00 pm: Secretary Powell addresses the Kennan Institute's 2004 Annual Benefit Dinner, Washington, D.C. —8:00 pm: ABC's John McWethy takes an exclusive, in-depth look into the life of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on "Primetime Thursday"—8:00 pm: Business Executives for National Security hold their Eisenhower Award Dinner honoring Ross Perot, Dallas, Texas—8:40 pm: President Bush returns to the White House —11:00 pm: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are guests on Charlie Rose—11:35 pm: Sens. Bill Frist, Tom Daschle, Chuck Hagel and Edward Kennedy scheduled to appear on ABC's "Nightline" to discuss the Medicare bill