Daily Briefing: ‘Bracing for the Worst’

• White House officials anticipate indictments from the leak investigation; scandals “have converged to disrupt President Bush‘s agenda, distract aides and allies, and exacerbate political problems for an already weakened administration.” Senior administration official: “Everyone is going about the work at hand while bracing for the worst case.” [WP, NYT]
• McClellan dismisses suggestion that Harriet Miers withdraw; press secretary tells reporters to focus on “her record and her qualifications.” [NYT, WT]
• Bush told Blair in January 2003 that he “wanted to go beyond Iraq” to contain WMDs; he specified Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. [NYT]
• DeLay‘s phone records are subpoenaed. “The thing is no big deal,” says his attorney. [WP, NYT]
• In private practice, Miers showed “a practical approach to the law with a commitment that everyone has a right to legal representation”; at times her efforts hinted at liberalism. [WP, LAT]

• Bush a holds scripted video conference with ten troops in Iraq. Harry Reid: “The American people and our brave troops deserve better than a photo-op for the president and a pep rally about Iraq. They deserve a plan.” [WP, NYT, USAT]
• CIA heralds establishment of National Clandestine Service to coordinate spying worldwide; DoD and the FBI will maintain autonomy. [WP, NYT, WT]
• Frist says the Senate will deal with border security before immigration reform. [WT]
• Brownback “hopes that his combination of a humble, earnest style and broader focus on human rights, prison reform and other humanitarian issues will enable him to capitalize” on the issue of faith in 2008. [NYT]
• John Snow visits China to promote consumption and consumerism. [NYT, WSJ]
• Former FDA commissioner would not participate in GAO inquiry of the agency’s Plan B decision. [WP]
• Rice, in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, repeats call for “free and fair elections” across Central Asia. [NYT, USAT]
• Kerry campaigns against California’s Proposition 75.[LAT]