The American Bar Association announced this afternoon that we had all misunderstood their awarding “Lawyer of the Year” to former Attorney General Alberto “I’ll Decide If You Have Any Rights” Gonzalez. It’s just controversial because we all didn’t read the whole article about the award that totally said that it wasn’t because he was a good lawyer but because he made a lot of news, and we should all be really sorry that we were so mean to them. But, to prevent the rest of the world from getting confused about why they’re awarding the award to the most bullshit, unethical rights-violating lawyer of the decade, they’re changing the name of the award to “Newsmaker of the Year.” Satisfied? [American Bar Association]

• Rice makes surprise visit to Beirut. [WSJ]

• Before Rice left Washington, she and Bush met with Saudi diplomats, who encouraged them to push for a cease-fire. They continue to refuse. [NYT]
• “The American Bar Association said Sunday that President Bush was flouting the Constitution and undermining the rule of law by claiming the power to disregard selected provisions of bills that he signed.” [NYT]
• The Department of Homeland security will give itself a makeover, “sharply cutting emergency cash assistance for victims of major disasters, and more carefully controlling access to free hotel rooms.” [NYT]
• Mid-term elex: “If Democrats in the House gain 15 seats — a number that analysts in both parties say is within reach — Republicans will relinquish power there for the first time since 1994. In the Senate, Democrats need to gain six seats to take control — a more remote prospect, but by most estimates a plausible one.” [WP]

* The ABA likes its lawyers all white and WASPy. [The Volokh Conspiracy]
* Texas just might lasso the next hurricane camped in the Gulf. [Off the Kuff]
* Cross-multiply, carry the 1 . . . yeah, it’s more like 1.9 million children left behind. [Captain's Quarters]
* Gore in ‘08: Pink Lungs For All. [Crooks and Liars]
* What do we want?! Less skewed and sensational presentation of news events! When do we want it?! Eh, slot it after Nancy Grace. [Eschaton]