Daily Briefing: 'Just Trying to Avoid Trouble'
• Bushdefends selection ofMiers: "I picked the best person I could find."Brownback, Grassleyremain skeptical;Hatch, Sessionsare supportive. [ WP , NYT , WT , LAT , USAT ]
•White House and RNC campaign to convince conservatives thatMiersis a wise pick; uncertainties aboutMiersmutes "rapid response" from advocacy groups. [ WP , WSJ , USAT ]
• Bushasks Congress to offset costs of hurricane relief with "substantial" cuts in entitlement programs; says there is need for new oil refineries. [ WSJ , NYT ]
• Bushimplies he will use executive privilege to withholdMiersdocuments. [ NYT ]
• Miersreportedly told a former boyfriend that "life begins at conception" and abortion is "taking a life"; turned to faith and conservative causes in her mid-30s. [ WP , NYT , WT ]
• Bork: "I think [Bush] is just trying to avoid trouble -- but the message comes through: Do not be controversial, do not express strong opinions that arouse opposition." [ LAT ]
•Texas prosecutor says new information sparked money laundering indictment againstDeLay; "quick justice" would most benefitDeLay. [ WP , NYT ]
•Katrina, Rita failures highlight consequences of weak executive branch oversight. [ WP ]
• Miers' workaholic nature fit into White House culture. [ LAT ]
• Miersseems moderately supportive of gay rights. [ WT ]
• Bushwilling to "effect a quarantine" by military means if flu pandemic hits the U.S. [ WP , NYT , WT ]
• Bushadmits "diminished appetite in the short term" for his Social Security plans. [ LAT ]
•Next Federal Reserve chairman likely to come from outside ofBush's inner circle. [ WSJ , NYT ]
• Clintonacts in command during visit to Louisiana. [ NYT ]