Daily Briefing: For the Children
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida leader, is killed in Iraq by a "precision airstrike";Bushsays it's "a significant victory in the war on terror." [ AP ]
George H.W. Bush"waged a secret campaign over several months" to replaceRumsfeldwith a "retired four-star general," but the president held firm. [ Salon ]
Sen.Arlen Specter(R-Pa.) exposes howCheneyplayed 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 ]
Bushwants 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 ]