Daily Briefing: “Signing Statements Should Not Be a Substitute for a Presidential Veto.”
Monday, July 24th, 2006
- 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]
- 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]
Photo: house.gov/jerrylewis 
Is a comprehensive makeover a job requirement for women working at the White House? We previously showed you 
We’ve been blogging about the White House homeland security adviser, Frances Fragos Townsend, quite a bit lately. Readers have offered impassioned arguments for and against her physical attractiveness — just the kind of robust debate about important issues that we are here to foster. (The latest reader rave about Townsend: “Fran a man? If so, then I am coming out! Lipless? Who are these evil doers? Fran has lips sweet enough to kiss. To nibble…to love.”)
We assumed that the Bush administration would see Harriet Miers’s much-needed makeover as just another ugly situation to put a happy face on (that electric blue suit screamed “last throes”), but looking at pictures from her tour of the Hill yesterday we were impressed: Harriet has a new look, and it doesn’t remind anyone of a Star Wars villan. Clearly, Katrina isn’t the only disaster that the White House will take responsibility for. 
