Wonkette

• Bush will nominate conservative appeals court Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court; his resume is similar to John Roberts‘ and he has upheld restrictions on abortion. [WP, AP, Reuters]
• Filibuster fight may loom. Harry Reid: “If he wants to divert attention from all of his many problems, he can send us somebody that is going to create a lot of problems.” Arlen Specter: “There could be a real tough battle here and a real tough fight, depending on whom the president puts up.” [WP, NYT, WSJ, LAT]
• 55% in Gallup Poll believe the Bush presidency is a failure; Bush starts a busy week of his comeback strategy with Supreme Court nomination. Nicolle Wallace: “We’ll be going around the [media] filter to communicate directly with the American people about the things they care about.” [USAT]
• Reid calls for Rove’s resignation and an apology from Bush; Rove, meanwhile, “remains in significant [legal] danger.” [WP, NYT, WT]
• Bush pays tribute to Rosa Parks at Capitol Hill ceremony. Condoleezza Rice in Montgomery: “I can honestly say that without Mrs. Parks, I probably would not be standing here today as secretary of state.” [NYT]
• Scooter Libby “has no sense of entitlement, no sense that he’s been victimized. Just an attitude of ‘circumstances have to be dealt with,’” says Mary Matalin; friends plan on establishing legal fund as his defense expands. [WP, NYT, WSJ]

• Tim Russert’s testimony helped indict Libby. Russert: “We hate being in the middle of what we’re reporting on, but it is what it is.” [NYT, USAT]
• Bush is losing influence overseas. [WSJ]
• Congressional showdown seen over fiscal restraint. [NYT]
• John Snow is ready and willing for far-reaching tax overhaul. [WSJ]
• Gerald Ford set precedent for Cheney to testify. [WSJ]
• Clinton administration alumni sympathize with current White House scandal victims. [NYT]
• Ted Koppel on the American death toll in Iraq passing 2,000: “The whole mood of the country has changed.” [NYT]
• Parties and candidates take in posthumous donations. [WP]
• The phrasing of another Washington scandal: “Government scandals allow ordinary people to use important-sounding language. They let us talk like insiders.” [WP]