Daily Briefing: Unprecedented GOP Revolt
- White House acknowledges that Bush was informed of the Dubai port deal from the media, after it was approved; Bush sounds “conciliatory” in the eye of an “unprecedented Republican revolt.” Some Republicans “have been looking for ways to distance themselves from Bush without appearing to be soft on terrorism.” Scott McClellan: “This is one where we probably should have consulted with or briefed Congress on sooner.” [WP, NYT, USAT, WT, LAT]
- Administration had secret deal with Dubai Ports World that stated the company would “cooperate with future U.S. investigations”; White House insists safeguards are in place though some “routine restrictions” were relaxed. [AP, W$J]
- Bush “is on the defensive on national security for the first time in his presidency.” [WT, USAT]
- South Dakota Senate passes abortion ban designed to challenge Roe. NARAL president: “When you see them have a ban that does not include exceptions for rape or incest or the health of the mother, you understand that elections do matter.” [WP, NYT]
- Attorneys for Lewis Libby will argue that he had no intention to lie, he was just preoccupied. [WP]
- White House report on Katrina will call for more military involvement in responses to natural disasters. [WP, NYT]
- White House does not have a Senate liaison. [WT]
- Bush prepares for trip to South Asia by seeking alliance with India. [WP, W$J, NYT, WT]
READ MORE: Democrats, Republicans, White House, abortion, dubai, dubai ports world, george w. bush, homeland security, india, katrina, lewis libby, military, ports, roe, senate, south dakota
Harriet Futures Not Trading So Hot
Our compulsive cousin Oddjack has this just in on Harriet Miers’s chances for becoming associate justice. She might want to hedge on real estate, after all:
Seems like all the Tradsports investors are bailing on her nomination contract at a rapid pace according to the latest reports:“At approximately 8:30 EST this morning traders monitoring the Harriet Miers confirmation process began selling aggressively contracts betting against her confirmation - probability drops from 62 to 20 in heavy trading.”
That’s 42 points. This morning. What we can make out of all of this is that it appears most people who play the futures markets on Tradesports are stridently pro-choice. Which is not a surprise, really, given that they are actively also betting on the bird-flu and Hurricane Wilma as well. They’re tactful like that.
Well, it’s not like a fetus can ask for forty grand ‘til Wednesday for you.
Supreme Court Betting: Wipe Up The Falling Miers [Oddjack]
Harriet Miers Supreme Court Confirmation [Tradesport]
READ MORE: SCOTUS, abortion, confirmation odds, gambling, harriet miers, oddjack, roe, v., wade”