Daily Briefing: Nuanced and Unresolved

• Sens. Kerry and Kennedy may attempt to filibuster Alito; Dems Ben Nelson (Neb.), Robert Byrd (W.Va.), and Tim Johnson (S.D.) announce support of Alito’s confirmation. [WP, NYT, LAT]
• Bush distances himself from Jack Abramoff during news conference; offers defense of NSA eavesdropping and stance on Katrina inquiry. [WP, NYT, LAT, USAT, WT]
• Admin has used “at least two separate rationales for why they did not ask for statutory authority” for NSA eavesdropping program. [WP]
• Public opinion of NSA eavesdropping is “nuanced and remains highly unresolved,” according to NYT-CBS poll; disapproval of Congress and the Republican Party are both high. 61% are concerned about losing civil liberties. [NYT]
• If tax cuts are allowed to expire in 2010, deficit will turn to surplus in 2012. [USAT]
• Lewis Libby’s lawyer asks Patrick Fitzgerald for documents “related to what journalists knew from any source” about Valerie Plame. [WP, NYT]

• Pork and earmarks increase, as does scrutiny; GOP Sens. McCain and Coburn threaten to hold vote on each item. [WP, WP, WT]
• Chief prosecutor in Abramoff investigation resigns to take federal judgeship. [NYT]
• Bush defends his intention to spread democracy. [NYT]
• Bush’s main point was “I am the state,” Dana Milbank writes. [WP]
• Democrats outline their agenda, “long on vision and short on specifics.” [NYT]
• Anti-war candidate may test support of Sen. Lieberman (D-Conn.) in a primary. [LAT]

READ MORE: SCOTUS, ben nelson, eavesdropping, george w. bush, jack abramoff, joe lieberman, john kerry, john mccain, katrina, lewis libby, nsa, patrick fitzgerald, robert byrd, samuel alito, ted kennedy, tim johnson, tom coburn, top, valerie plame