The Only Poll That Matters
— -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 12
The safest bet you can make over a little mooshu at the Peking Gourmet in Falls Church tonight is that Sunday show anchors galore will be, uhm, skeptical about the efficacy of the Bush Iraq plan -- a posture that will be shared by many of their guests.
And/but, as we do every Friday, here's your clip-and-use for Saturday's Georgetown cocktail parties about the week-that-was-and-the-week-that-will-be in the Three Rings that will continue to run our lives for quite awhile:
--------------------CLIP HERE--------------------
Ring 1, Iraq: The President, without majority public, commentator, or congressional support, plans to put more troops into Iraq. Democrats are moving inexorably towards precipitating a constitutional clash by trying to stop him. The ball is moving inexorably back to the President's court, at which point those betting on Mr. Bush to back down should check the clip file.
Ring 2, other legislative business: : Democrats in the House have started to move legislation that will, if successfully conferenced with the Senate, produce substantive AND political victories (if the President signs them into law); political victories (if the President successfully vetoes them); or mega substantive AND political victories (if presidential vetoes are overridden). On three of the biggest questions about the new majority, we have partial answers: a new reality of bipartisan comity with the White House? (nah); surprising PR, tactical, and strategic competance by the Democrats? (so far); plans to channel Dave Bossie and investigate the bejesus out of the Bush Administration? (tbd).
Ring 3, 2008: : McCain -- your surge and welcome to it; Romney -- you'll impress us with the next 6 million, but you already impressed us with the timely delivery of the best-available-answer on your past liberal views; Obama -- please don't ruin our Martin Luther King holiday (week) by making us rush into the office.
--------------------CLIP HERE--------------------
At this morning's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace, Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) announced that Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) would not be attending, because they are headed to Iraq and Afghanistan this weekend.
President Bush spends his morning in Washington and then departs via Marine One to Camp David with the First Lady at 2:00 pm ET. He is taping the third and final part of his "60 Minutes" interview that airs this Sunday, in which POTUS and Texan interview Pelley will do everything but snap the towels.
One day after meeting intense skepticism on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice departs Andrews Air Force Base for the Middle East and Europe at 7:00 pm ET.
As part of the new majority's 100 Hours Agenda, the House meets to consider legislation which would amend the Medicare drug benefit to allow the government to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Meanwhile, the Senate reconvenes at 9:30 am ET and resumes consideration of an ethics and lobbying overhaul bill. The chamber will proceed to a vote on an amendment offered by Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass, at 9:50 a.m.
Former Sen. George McGovern (D-SD) discusses his plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq at a National Press Club luncheon at 1:00 pm ET. Earlier in the day, he meets with the Progressive Caucus.
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) will visit IA this weekend to announce a WH '08 bid.LINK
(Look for Tancredo to blast away at Sen. McCain's immigration stance but to refrain from criticizing Romney for hiring a firm to do yard work for him that allegedly employed illegal immigrants).
Mayor Giuliani receives the "Pete DuPont Individual Freedom Award" at 8:00 pm ET from the Delaware Republican Party. According to an aide familiar with Giuliani's planned remarks, the former mayor is expected to talk about the Republican Party's commitment to "expanding individual freedom and giving people more control over their lives." Cutting taxes, finding market solutions, and education reforms like school vouchers will all be highlighted as examples.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) is in Florida today at the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference. The presidential hopeful will stay in Florida on Saturday. On Monday, he plans to attend an MLK service in Boston and will hold a short media availability.
Former Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA) was scheduled to attend the Inauguration of Governor Chester Culver (D-IA) and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge (D-IA) in Wells Fargo Arena at 9:00 am in Des Moines, IA. Vilsack later attends the Taste of Iowa at Hy-Vee Hall at 11:00 am ET in Des Moines, IA.
Be sure to tune into "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" on Sunday. George's guests include National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and war critic Rep. Jack Murth (D-PA) on the President's plan to add more American troops into and around Baghdad. Also, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R-CA) plan to provide universal health care coverage in California has caused quite a stir and he's sitting down with George for a Sunday exclusive on that and much more. You won't want to miss it. LINK
The full holiday weekend schedule can be found at the stirring conclusion of today's Note.
Speaking of which: in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, The Note will not publish this Monday. We'll be back next Tuesday.
Politics of Iraq: skepticism on the Hill:
In a sea of public/media polling data suggesting that the President's speech was not an instant game changer, the New York Times' Shanker and Cloud write the lede story on Secretary Rice's testimony. "The reception she received suggested that Mr. Bush's prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday had done little to build political support for sending additional troops to Baghdad," they write. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Richter and Barnes write of the "crumbling support" in Congress for the President's war effort. LINK
But it is the "other" Times lede that will/should more concern Casa Blanca:
Charles Hunt and Jon Ward of the Washington Times have their own look at the "crumbling" GOP support for President Bush's Iraq strategy. LINK
"An informal survey by The Washington Times yesterday, for instance, found nine Senate Republicans who have 'doubts' about Mr. Bush's proposal, and seven who reject it. Eleven other senators expressed conditional support."
"Twenty-one Republican senators offered unqualified support. Only Sen. Wayne Allard, Colorado Republican, did not respond to requests for comment."
"On a committee renowned for its bipartisanship and restraint, the questioning on Thursday, the day after a major presidential address on Iraq, amounted to a powerful blast. Though the mood was somber and the tone remained polite, members of the committee pressed Ms. Rice with extraordinary sharpness," writes Anne Kornblut of the New York Times, who also takes a look at how the five '08ers on the committee conducted themselves yesterday. LINK
Democrats and Republicans greeted the Bush Administration's Iraq plan "with a skepticism not seen from Congress over the past six years, write Michael Abramowitz and Jonathan Weisman of the Washington Post. LINK
The Washington Post story has an insert with reaction from the six leading '08ers.
Noting the obvious, the Washington Post's Dana Milbank writes that Secretary Rice's appearance on Capitol Hill showed that "the Bush administration had, after four divisive years, finally succeeded in uniting Congress on the war in Iraq,"LINK
Note the A1 placement (and healthy television coverage) of Sen. Hagel telling Secretary Rice: "I have to say, Madam Secretary, that I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the country since Vietnam."
On his "Political Punch" blog, ABC News' Jake Tapper writes Republicans had the most forceful and potent questions for Secretary Rice. LINK
Jane Norman of the Des Moines Register reports that Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) has placed himself alongside Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) trying to block President Bush's request for more troops. Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) supports the surge. LINK
Every single "Democratic Congressional insider" from this week's National Journal Congressional Insiders polls said they though a troop surge would not significantly improve the chance for long-term stability in Iraq. Seventy-four percent of Democratic Insiders think that Congress should use its "power of the purse" to challenge President Bush .
The Washington Post's David Ignatius looks at Rep. Rahm Emanuel's' (D-IL) ambitions for a long-term realignment of the country toward Democrats. LINK
"The secret for the Democrats, says Emanuel, is to remain the party of reform and change. The country is angry, and it will only get more so as the problems in Iraq deepen. Don't look to Emanuel's Democrats for solutions on Iraq. It's Bush's war, and as it splinters the structure of GOP power, the Democrats are waiting to pick up the pieces."
Politics of Iraq: Bush:
The New York Times' Rutenberg, Sanger, and Cloud tick tock how the President's decision to send more troops to Iraq came to be. LINK
President Bush received a restrained but polite response from the soldiers at Ft. Benning, GA yesterday, reports Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times. LINK
President Bush cried during yesterday's Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House. LINK
The President's tear scored him the New York Daily News wood. LINK
Bloomberg News' Brian Faler, filling the Brownstein vacuum, explores how President Bush has defied 150 years of history by failing to ask the American people as a whole to make personal sacrifices for the war, and by refusing to raise taxes to help the war effort.LINK
Boxer vs. Rice: Round II:
On Capitol Hill yesterday, Sen. Boxer told Secretary Rice: "Now, the issue is who pays the price. Who pays the price? I'm not going to pay a personal price. My kids are too old and my grandchild is too young. You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family. So who pays the price? The American military and their families."
Here's Geoff Earle of the New York Post played it:
"Condoleezza Rice came under a shocking Democratic attack yesterday - as a childless woman who can't understand the sacrifices made by families of U.S. troops in Iraq." LINK
The New York Post editorial board scolds Sen. Boxer for her comments. LINK
The San Francisco Chronicle quotes it but doesn't highlight it.LINK
But was Sen. Boxer really waging female psychological warfare?
Or was she just making the more humdrum Democratic argument about the Iraq war being devised by armchair strategists in the Bush Administration without any (or, at least, without much) skin in the game?
Politics of Iraq: the pulse of the people:
The New York Times' Urbina gets reaction to the President's Iraq plan from Clifton Heights, PA and includes this graph that will likely be music to John Weaver's ears: LINK
"'It's one thing to be steadfast and another to be stubborn,' said Rick Lacey, another Republican at the Legion hall who voted for a Democrat in the last election. 'A guy like McCain, I don't agree with him on this troop increase issue, but he is steadfast because he bases his decisions on experience. Our president, he bases it on ideology and being stubborn.'"
Democrats head West:
The New York Times' Johnson and Broder write up the DNC's selection of Denver as home for its 2008 convention and include this convention fun fact: "Colorado last went for a Democratic presidential nominee in 1992, choosing Bill Clinton, while Minnesota last went Republican in 1972, for Richard M. Nixon." LINK
"The move was widely seen as a boon to New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential ambitions," writes the New York Post's Maggie Haberman of the DNC's decision to go to Denver for its quadrennial party. LINK
Reporter George Merritt of the Denver Post covers the DNC coming to Denver and credits Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) for convincing DNC Chairman Howard Dean to host the convention in Denver, despite lingering concerns about fundraising and the possibility of labor unrest when Democrats arrive in August 2008. LINK
USA Today sees significance in the Democratic Party's choice to hold their 2008 convention in Denver, over the Big Apple. LINK
The Rocky Mountain News' Lou Kilzer and M. E. Sprengelmeyer on Denver prevailing despite union concerns. LINK
The Los Angeles Times: LINK
The Washington Post:LINK
Democratic agenda: Medicare:
Republicans leaders concede that the drug industry will likely benefit from enough Republican defections in today's Medicare prescription drug vote, reports The Wall Street Journal's Harwood.
"Pharmaceutical lobbyists hope for just 30 Republican renegades; Democrats predict fewer, but Republicans leaders warn the number could top 30"
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) seems to be trying to find a compromise between the House Democrats' position on the ability for the federal government to negotiate drug prices for Medicare prescription drug beneficiaries and the White House's announced intention to veto any such legislation. Robert Pear of the New York Times has the story. LINK
The Washington Post's Jeffrey Smith and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum on the drug lobby's sustaining its "tremendous power" even in a Democratic-controlled Congress. LINK
Bloomberg News on the Medicare push:LINK
Democratic agenda: taxes:
The Wall Street Journal's Wirey John Harwood reports that Democrats are seeking to isolate Republicans on the tax issue by narrowing the population targeted by tax increases.
"House Speaker Pelosi identifies $500,000 earners -- a more exclusive group than party leaders have previously targeted -- as source of revenue for cutting middle-class taxes. Imposing pre-Bush 39.6% rate on those with incomes over $500,000 would raise more than $85 billion over four years, Tax Policy Center estimates."
Democratic agenda: stem cell:
Yesterdays 253 to 174 vote on the stem cell vote fell short of what is needed to override a presidential veto (and the Senate, for its part, might remain one vote shy of two-thirds), reports the Washington Post's Rick Weiss. LINK
Democratic agenda: earmarks:
Senate Democrats might not be as willing as House Democrats to have the earmarking process become nearly fully transparent. But Senate Democrats were caught off guard when they were unable to kill Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-SC) amendment aiming to do just that. The New York Times' Kirkpatrick has the story. LINK
The Washington Times' S.A. Miller writes that "using procedural tactics similar to the ones they attacked Republicans for employing", Senate Democrats delayed vote of a measure that would require disclosure of earmarks. LINK
2008:
The Wall Street Journal's Wirey John Harwood reports that by opposing the surge, Sen. Brownback is "targeting the one-third of Republicans who disapprove of Bush's policy." Harwood also writes that as liberal groups prepare ads opposing "escalation," Sen. Dodd is pressuring Obama and Clinton by praising Kennedy's call to block Bush. "'She's worried about the left,' says one Democratic Senate colleague of Clinton."
Wyoming's Casper Star Tribune reporter H. Josef Hebert writes potential presidential rivals Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) will announce a joint bill today to cut global warming gases by 2 percent a year.LINK
The BBC's Richard Allen Greene takes a look at what moves the lesser-known presidential candidates to run despite the odds.LINK
2008: Republicans:
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich look at what Baghdad can learn from New York welfare reforms. Sounds like this could be the beginning of a beautiful ticket. . . .
Taking the pulse of New Hampshire GOP voters, Sarah Liebowitz of the Concord Monitor writes up the danger that Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani face as they stake out their support for President Bush's strategy in Iraq. LINK
2008: Republicans: McCain:
Alabama's Mongomery Advertiser reporter Ana Radelat writes that Sen.McCain will attend the inaugurations of Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King --both Republicans -- on Monday, helping shore up support in the state for his 2008 presidential bid. LINK
The Arizona Republic's Ofelia Madrid reports Sen. McCain's support for the president's troop escalation plan in Iraq may be costing him support in his home state of Arizona -- about 130 people gathered outside of Sen. McCain's Phoenix office Thursday to protest his support of the plan. LINK
2008: Republicans: Giuliani:
The New York Daily News' Katz writes up Rudy Giuliani's "Good Morning America" appearance where he batted down questions about the leaked campaign document and his vulnerabilities by saying "I sure have strengths and weaknesses. . . I think that sort of puts me in the same category as just about everybody else that's running. Are my strengths greater or my weaknesses worse? I don't know. You have to sort of examine that. That won't be the issue." LINK
More from the AP: LINK
2008: Republicans: Romney:
The AP reports conservative gadfly and longtime thorn in Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's side, Brian Camenker, has written a 28-page report -- making the rounds of conservative blogs and Web sites --that portrays Romney as sympathetic to gay rights and sexual behavior that clashes with his burnished image as a defender of traditional values.LINK
Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) has rescinded Gov. Romney's immigration tactics and is implementing new state training guidelines.LINK
Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald on Romney's staff hires. LINK
2008: Republicans: Huckabee:
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) successfully matched wits with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show," scoring several genuinely big laughs while touting his bipartisan bona fides.
YouTube has the video:LINK
2008: Republicans: Paul:
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) has filed papers to form a presidential "exploratory" committee.LINK
2008: Republicans: Hunter:
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) has decided to punish one of the few House Republicans who broke with the President on Iraq a few years ago.
According to this morning's CongressDailyAm, Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) was denied the ranking spot on the committee's readiness subcommittee, a position he was in line to get.
The article by Megan Scully says Rep. Jones was disappointed but not angry at hunter and the congressman added "we have to pay a price, from time to time."
2008: Democrats:
Dick Morris and Eileen McGann opine on what they call the Democrats' coming civil war, descibing the Democrats' left wing in terms of a new third party, and warn to "look for protest to overflow the bounds of partisan politics and go into the streets ."LINK
2008: Democrats: Clinton:
Just asking: What was the topic of conversation between Sen. Clinton and SEIU's Anna Burger when they were breakfasting at Bistro Bis together yesterday? And did the Hawkeye State's Sen. Harkin hear any of the details from his perch several tables away?
2008: Democrats: Edwards:
The New York Daily News' Ken Bazinet describes Sen. Edwards planned MLK holiday sermon at Riverside Church in New York City on Sunday as an "in-your-face-Hillary" visit. LINK
2008: Democrats: Dodd:
The Washington Post's Dan Balz writes that Sen. Dodd starts down the path to the Democratic nomination overshadowed by colleagues Clinton and Obama, who are expected to announce their plans this month (or next). Note too that Dodd was happy to discuss his media strategy out loud.LINK
David Lightman of the Hartford Courant reports that Sen. Lieberman has declined to support his Connecticut colleauge, the suddenly-very-busy Sen. Dodd in his bid for the presidency in 2008. LINK
Sen. Lieberman insisted that he is staying out of presidential politics for the time being, and said, "I wish Chris luck, but I'm going to concentrate on being a senator."
Dodd, of course, backed Lamont in the Senate race after Lieberman lost the Democratic primary.
Ray Hackett of Connecticut's Norwich Bulletin looks at Dodd's support in Connecticut. LINK
USA Today's Jill Lawrence on Sen. Chris "fresh face" Dodd. LINK
The New Hampshire AP headline "Dodd carries Northeast liberal tag into 2008 race."LINK
The New York Times' Jennifer Medina Notes Dodd's intentions to run, in large part, on his foreign policy experience and that he said he would vote in favor of withholding funds for the President's plan to put additional troops in Iraq. LINK
The Los Angeles Times: LINK
2008: Democrats: Kerry:
As John Kerry continues to weigh his options about making another run for the White House, recent FEC reports show that his leadership PAC, "Keeping America's Promise," gave more money to 2006 candidates and committees than any other individual PAC in the country. Contributing $4.3 million, Kerry gave more than double the amount of money than the second most generous PAC, Mark Warner's "Forward Together PAC" which contributed $2 million to 2006 candidates and committees.
Details Magazine has a must-read Q&A with Sen. Kerry on magic herbal concoctions, windsurfing, Gunga Din, Swiftboating, What It Takes, and running again. LINK
Emma Ratliff of the Boston Herald reports that Sen. Kerry is still thinking about his 2008 chances and his press person Noted, "Remember, you can't spell the words 'Missing from Massachusetts' without the letters M-I-T-T." LINK
2008: Democrats: Obama:
Bill Ferguson at the Macon Telegraph defends Sen. Obama's past drug use on the theory that he appears to been more up front about it than others. LINK
2008: Democrats: Vilsack:
As Gov. Vilsack prepares to leave office today, WHBF-TV reports that his family will live in Des Moines, Iowa to be close to the airport. Vilsack is quoted as saying, "I'm certainly going to campaign aggressively in Iowa. I've got a lot of work to do, as is the case in every race I've ever started behind. I'm the underdog, and obviously, I've never lost."LINK
The Democratic Majority:
The New York Post's Geoff Earle quotes a Democratic lawmaker describing tension between Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Speaker Pelosi. Earle reports that Rangel was apparently not all that pleased with Pelosi's comments about tax increases last weekend nor with her pushing the "100 Hours" agenda onto the House floor without going through the newly formed committees. LINK
The Hartford Courant's David Lightman reports that Sen. Lieberman's "smooth glide between the congressional aisles quietly annoys a lot of Democrats" though they "won't say so publicly" given that a party switch would tip Senate control to the Republicans.LINK
The Schwarzenegger Era:
In a piece suspiciously like one she wrote just a few months ago on the same topic, Jennifer Steinhauer of the New York Times explores Gov. Schwarzenegger's "post-partisan" ways -- and quotes Billy Cunningham again for old times sake. LINK
In his New York Times column, Paul Krugman supports Gov. Schwarzenegger's goal of universal health coverage, but seems to believe a single payer system, like the one Schwarzenegger rejected last year, would produce better results than the complex proposal he has put forth this week. LINK
Nevada:
Anna Burger of SEIU/Change to Win, Linda Chavez Thompson of AFL-CIO, and Gerald McEntee of AFSCME will join Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Nevada Democratic Party chairman Tom Collins, and other state officials tomorrow to announce the creation of the Nevada Caucus Commission. The commission is made up of Nevada state officials and national interest group leaders such as Raul Yzaguirre, formerly head of National Council of La Raza. They will also announce a schedule of candidate forums and debates for the coming year. Among the events they will announce is a candidate forum hosted by Sen. Reid with AFSCME and Nevada elected officials in Carson City, NV on February 21 and a candidate forum on health issues sponsored by the SEIU and the Center for American Progress which will be held on March 24 at UNLV.
Despite the recent split into two main factions, organized labor is attempting to present a united front in support of the new high-profile Democratic caucuses in Nevada, a big labor state.
Nevada Democratic Party chairman Tom Collins tells The Note that they haven't locked down candidate commitments yet for the forums, but he doesn't envision any problem getting them to Nevada. "We're bringing 'em all out here. Nevada is home to the entertainment capital of the world. We know to bring people out here," Collins said.
The Nevada Caucus Commission's plans to put "elected leaders and well known Nevadans across the state to energize, unite, and bring out the Democrats who elected them" in an effort to get the activists engaged in the caucus process.
Collins said that he gets emails all the time from the presidential candidates and specifically cited Sen. Edwards, Gov. Vilsack, and Gov. Richardson as recent visitors to his state.
Florida:
The AP reports Florida state lawmakers said Thursday they want Florida's primary pushed up to January 2008 to increase the state's political influence, but they may face retribution from the national Republican and Democratic parties.LINK
The AP reports the Florida Democratic Party replaced its executive director Thursday after Luis Navarro left the state party to run Sen. Joe Biden's (D-DE) presidential campaign. Navarro led Florida Democrats through their first semi-successful election in 16 years. LINK
Iowa:
A new Iowa GOP chairman will be elected this Saturday 1/13 at the state central committee meeting set to begin at 10:00 am ET in Des Moines, IA.
New Hampshire:
The AP on who is jockeying to challenge New Hampshire Democratic Senate John Sununu. LINK
The Boston Globe's James Pindell reports that "just days after Democrats announced that" Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) "would be among their top three targets in 2008, two Granite State Democrats said they are preparing to enter the race for his seat": Katrina Swett, a 2002 House candidate, and 33-year old Democratic Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand "said he also is making calls and interviewing potential staff members."LINK
The Union Leader's John DiStaso reports that Stonyfield CEO Gary Hirshberg, who has endorsed Gov. Vilsack for president, is also interested in the race. LINK
Media:
As the pre-2008 musical chairs continue on all fronts, it is clear that the Fat Lady isn't even done warming up. Another change to report, which just might cause Karl C. Rove to do a spit take. Any day now, Ed Chen, formerly of the Los Angeles Times, will become formerly of the Natural Resources Defense Council, where Ed has been hanging his hat in greenbean style.
Now Chen, one of the best political reporters in North America, will reach a vast, prosperous, worldwide audience through his work as senior White House correspondent for Bloomberg News, a perch from which he will also do a healthy amount of 2008 campaign coverage as well, of course.
We join President Bush in saying, "welcome back, Ed Chen."
Political potpourri:
In his National Journal column, Charlie Cook explores (via the wisdom of Glen Bolger, Tony Fabrizio, and Jan van Lohuizen) the tarnished GOP brand. LINK
Clay Robinson and R.G. Ratcliffe of the Houston Chronicle report that Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) is opposing efforts to repeal a law he signed six years ago that gives in-state tuition breaks to children of illegal immigrants, saying that the media has failed to explain the law accurately, and that the law "serves a good purpose." LINK
The Cleveland Plain Dealer's "Openers" weblog reports that former Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) is requesting placement in a prison program for alcohol abusers when he's sentenced on charges of conspiracy and making false statements on January 19.
Weekend politics:
On Sunday, C-SPAN airs an interview with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) who will discuss his new book "From Hope to High Ground: 12 Steps to Restoring America's Greatness" at 6:30 pm ET.
John Edwards delivers the Martin Luther King Day Sermon at the Riverside Church in New York on Sunday at 4:00 pm ET. He will be joined by Martin Luther King, III, Marion Wright Edelman, and others.
On Monday, Sen. McCain attends Gov. Bob Riley's (R-AL) inauguration.
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) attends the Columbia Urban League Annual MLK Day Breakfast in Greenville, South Carolina at 8:00 am ET. Dodd then attends South Carolina NAACP MLK Day march and rally at 10:30 am ET in Columbia, SC and at 3:00 pm ET, Dodd attends the USC School Law Annual MLK Day Program sponsored by the MLK Committee and the Black Law School Student Association at University of South Carolina School of Law at :00 pm ET in Columbia, SC.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) participates in the Distinguished Lecture Series of Vero Beach at Riverside Theatre at 4:00 pm ET.