Daily Briefing: For the Children

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida leader, is killed in Iraq by a “precision airstrike”; Bush says it’s “a significant victory in the war on terror.” [AP]
George H.W. Bush “waged a secret campaign over several months” to replace Rumsfeld with a “retired four-star general,” but the president held firm. [Salon]
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) exposes how Cheney played hardball with the Judiciary Committee. [NYT]
Victory in California primary “settled Republicans nerves,” but the margin was slim and the campaign was expense. Ken Mehlman: “You see a lot of things that are bellwethers, and they indicate Republicans are in position to hold Congress.” Professor: “The fact that Busby got 15 points over Democratic registration, that should make Republicans nervous. It’s not that Bilbray won. This is a safe Republican seat. I was very surprised that $5 million doesn’t allow you to break 50 percent.” [WP, NYT, LAT, USAT]
Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage fails to get 60 votes needed to end debate; roll calls ends with 49 yeas, 48 nays. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.): “We’re not going to stop until marriage between a man and a woman is protected… for the future of our children in this society.” [WP, NYT, USAT]
FBI threatened to pick the lock of Rep. William Jefferson‘s office when a Capitol Police official hesitated. [WP]

Democrats criticize loss of personal data by the Veterans Affairs Department. [NYT]
House and Senate negotiators agree on $8B aid package for Louisiana. [NYT]
Bush wants immigrants to learn English. [NYT]
Senators push for overhaul of estate tax. [WSJ]
Stepdaughter of Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) received over $40,000 from his lobbyist-backed PAC. [WP]

8:16 am June 8, 2006