Daily Briefing: ‘Remember the Remaining Work’

• “Virtually all” of the National Security Agency’s tips to the F.B.I. in the aftermath of 9/11 “led to dead ends or innocent Americans.” Former prosecutor: “The information was so thin, and the connections were so remote, that they never led to anything.” [NYT]
• Speaker Dennis Hastert is only now publicly addressing the recent scandals; he may be the next target of criticism and scrutiny. [WP]
• Senate Judiciary Committee postpones vote on Samuel Alito until next Tuesday. [WP, WT]
• New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin: “Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it’s destroyed and put stress on this country. . . Surely he doesn’t approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We’re not taking care of ourselves.” [WP]
• Al Gore attacks Bush for “breaking the law repeatedly and insistently.” [WP, WT, USAT]
• American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights plan suits over NSA eavesdropping. [NYT]
• Rep. Bob Ney is gaining recognition from the midst of the Jack Abramoff scandal. [NYT]
• Bush honors Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, asks Americans to “remember the remaining work.” [NYT, WT]
• Laura Bush defends Republican from corruption label, says some lobbying can be important. [WT]
• Sandra Day O’Connor‘s unique voice and technique of questioning will be lost in the new court. [USAT]