The Note
W A S H I N G T O N, June 16, 2004—<br> -- NOTED NOW
TODAY SCHEDULE (all times ET)
FUTURES CALENDAR
Morning Show Wrap
Evening Newscasts Wrap
NEWS SUMMARY
The incumbent has a lot on his plate -- hostages, prisoners, reports, families, budgets, polling data.
But flying in the face of the wrong-headed "it's all about the incumbent" mantra, there are some pretty interesting queries to pose these days about the challenger.
So: questions about the Kerry campaign:
1. Does Sen. Kerry have a new stump speech, and, if he does, was Tom Oliphant spot on when he reported on Charlie Rose last night that the Senator spent part of last week -- under cover of the mourning of Ronald Reagan -- honing it hours at a time?
2. How much is saying "I'm running for president because..." like saying "Message: I care"?
3. Which enterprise has the more meticulous and creative on-the-shelf rollout plan -- the introduction of Sen. Kerry's running mate or the release of Bill Clinton's book?
4. Will anyone with the means, motive, and opportunity to try to stop the John Edwards runaway freight train move against him -- before it is too late?
5. Which was more on Stephanie Cutter message (known among the cognescenti as "scuttering") -- Sen. McCain's answer to Matt Lauer this morning about his recent conversations with Sen. Kerry, or Carl Quintanilla's package right after that on how the middle class squeeze is trumping all the positive economic news?
6. How will the Senator stage-manage his vote on the gay marriage amendment next month?
7. Are those who say that John Kerry "gets" What It Takes to make a successful running mate choice telling us the honest truth?
8. How much planning is going into the requisite cloak-and-dagger advance work to allow John Kerry's June face-to-face meeting with veepstakes contenders without letting a single still or moving video (pool or unilateral) camera document the arrivals and/or the departures?
9. How much of the flip-flop image has been erased by paid media?
10. What would be more adorable than a Chris Heinz-Jack Edwards photo op?
As for today and that incumbent, at 10:30 am ET, President Bush speaks at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Following his speech, he is to be briefed by CENTCOM and SOCOM representatives and holds a private meeting with families of soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
At the same time Bush speaks, Kerry extols the virtues of the middle class in Columbus, Ohio. Earlier, at 9:05 am ET, Sen. Kerry was to speak at a campaign fundraiser in Columbus. Kerry returns to Washington.
Beginning at 9:00 am ET, the 9/11 Commission begins its final two days of hearings with a staff report on al Qaeda. A short hearing follows, and at 11:00 am ET the Commission reads its report outlining the 9/11 plot.
On the Hill, the Senate debates the defense budget bill; veep prospect Gov. Tom Vilsack and other governors release a study on the uninsured; and a group calls for Sen. Kerry to be denied communion.
Kerry has a few hours of closed-door Hill meetings this afternoon, and Gov. Vilsack has some gaps on his schedule, so watch the two men carefully.
Kerry RONS tonight at his Georgetown manse; we wonder when Gen. Clark, due in D.C. tomorrow for a fundraiser, arrives in the city.
(No meeting with Sen. Edwards today; he's in Buffalo in the morning and in New York City in the post meridian. And Kim Rubey is a peach.)
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush v. Kerry:
If The Note's highly scientific cookie-polling is any indication, Bush should just barely squeak by his challenger . . . "either one."
Family Circle's quadrennial cookie election, this year pitting Laura Bush's "Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies" against Teresa Heinz Kerry's "Pumpkin Spice Cookies," has correctly predicted the winner in the last three presidential elections.
Voters can log onto the magazine's Web site and cast their vote by Aug. 1. http://www.familycircle.com
Just over half our Googling Monkeys picked the incumbent cookie and the rest were just happy we let them eat. Look for the full results from Family Circle on Oct. 19.
The Washington Post's Paul Fahri managed to write an article explaining the obsession with gross ratings points without actually using that confusing phrase -- congrats! His thesis is tried, but true: it's harder and harder for ad mavens, direct mail consultants to cut through the clutter of information, competing direct mail, cell phone use, and other distractions. LINK
The article seems ripe for a favorable Mickey Kaus dissection. (Kaus, incidentally, has great -- and not so favorable -- dissection of David Brooks's column from yesterday: LINK)
The Los Angeles Times' Michael Finnegan and James Rainey compare President Bush and Sen. Kerry's talk of optimism about the economy. The President said he sees his policies working; Kerry said he thinks America can do better. And David Axelrod outlines the "classic challenge" for both: Kerry has to talk down the Bush economic policies without looking too negative, and Bush needs to talk up economic statistics without seeming out of touch. LINK
The Wall Street Journal writes up the latest Harris Interactive poll, which shows that gun control is not likely to play a big role in how voters choose their presidential candidate this fall.
From the outside: a new Club for Growth ad airing on national cable and in a few spot markets directly compares Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush to John Kerry.
To wit: The ad dredges up a sound bite from Kerry's 1971 testimony on Capitol Hill, where Kerry says 'We cannot fight communism all over the world . . . ' and then plays Ronald Reagan's 'Tear Down This Wall' sound bite from 1987.
The final sound bite: President Bush, on the pile at the World Trade Center site, telling firefighters, "I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked down these buildings will hear from us all of us soon." It ends with a recapitulation of what Kerry said in 1971 and displays in chyron: "John Kerry. Wrong then, Wrong now."
The AP reports that the Reagan family is not amused. LINK
Juan Williams Notes in the New York Times that, although President Bush is already winning about one third of the Hispanic vote, "in a close race, the key to re-election rests on the president's ability to increase his percentage of the black vote." LINK
The New York Times' William Safire has President Nixon's views on the race from beyond the grave. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:
Enjoy that meal at Café Milanos last night, Mr. Vice President?
Ted Byrd of the Tampa Tribune writes about the back-to-back visits to central Florida by President Bush and Vice President Cheney, focusing on national security and the war on terror. Byrd Notes that "Bush's visit today is billed as official business by the White House, not paid for by his campaign, and the public will not be invited," and that former Sen. Max Cleland and veterans for Kerry are criticizing the Bush Administration in advance. Byrd also quotes new Kerry Florida director Tom Shea saying that the national security focus helps shore up the events in Iraq in recent weeks, and reports that the visits coincide with a new phone bank and canvassing operation launched by BC04 in Florida this week. LINK
The Wall Street Journal reports that many of President Bush's election-year priorities are being left on the budget cutting-room floor as the House Appropriations Committee looks to hold the budget to Bush's spending targets. Among them: climate change research, food safety inspection, an emissions-free coal-fired power plant, and an arts initiative favored by First Lady Laura Bush.
The Washington Post's Dana Milbank wraps the press availability in the Rose Garden yesterday and Notes that President Bush "said he would not oppose the wishes of the Iraqi leadership, which has encouraged the man Bush branded a "thug" to form a political party and compete in next year's elections." LINK
The New York Times' Elisabeth Bumiller and Edward Wong report "President Bush said on Tuesday that the United States would hand over Saddam Hussein to the new Iraqi government only when it was clear that the Iraqis had the ability to securely keep him in custody." LINK
In remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention, President Bush said "Life is a creation of God, not a commodity to be exploited by man" and the New York Times' David Kirkpatrick looks at what this means for stem-cell research. LINK
"President Bush restated his commitment on Tuesday to sharply limit stem-cell research, bucking renewed pressure from Nancy Reagan and others to loosen the restrictions in the aftermath of the death of former President Ronald Reagan," Kirkpatrick writes.
The Dallas Morning News' Hillman reports that in response to question about why he is having trouble pulling ahead of Sen. Kerry, President Bush said that it's a "long time" until election day and that his "job is to continue to lead."LINK
The Washington Times' Curl gives credit to President Reagan and Notes the "optimism" of the Bush-Cheney campaign as Sen. Kerry "opened a two-week blitz to criticize the Bush administration's economic policy."LINK
Jennifer Harper of the Washington Times looks at the back and forth over the latest Los Angeles Times poll, with BC04 chief strategist Matt Dowd and Republican pollster David Winston saying the results were skewed to favor Democrats, as the paper defends its poll.LINK
The Associated Press confirms that Vice President Cheney's chief of staff was informed in 2002 that Halliburton would receive a contract to work on restoration of Iraq's oil facilities but "the information wasn't given to the vice president," Cheney's press secretary said. LINK
The New York Daily News' Tom DeFrank reports, "White House aides advancing President Bush's Normandy visit ordered the Pentagon to erect a $100,000 platform for his entry into a U.S. military cemetery, well-placed sources told the Daily News." LINK
Salon.com's Laura Miller writes up the new book by Justin Frank which psychoanalyzes the President. She calls it a "sloppily written and edited book, padded with repetitions and laced with dubious psychological theories." LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: Sen. John Kerry:
Insiders in the Kerry campaign were thrilled to learn of what seems to be their first newspaper endorsement in a vital battleground state: the Philadelphia Daily News. LINK
"John Kerry's long life in the national spotlight has been defined by steadfast support for the principled and intelligent use of American power in the world. His proposals -- not to mention the administration that he will create -- promise new hope for America."
Who's being portrayed as the optimist? The Philadelphia Inquirer's story on Sen. Kerry's return to the campaign trail leads saying he returned "with the message that the economy is much worse than recent headlines suggest." LINK
The New York Times' Robin Toner reports that Kerry "sharply criticized" the President "on two fronts" yesterday, asserting that "Mr. Bush had overestimated the health of the economy and underestimated the damage to the United States from the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal." LINK
See Ed O'Keefe's campaign report for a closer look at Sen. Kerry's developing stump speech.
The Washington Post's Lois Romano journalizes that "[t]he forcefulness of Kerry's delivery and the words he chose were clearly intended to address critics in his party who privately say Kerry -- who often comes off as aloof and elitist -- has failed to excite the Democratic base and to give dissatisfied Republicans and swing voters positive reasons why they should turn to him for leadership." LINK
What if Kerry resigns from the Senate in Massachusetts before Ed Markey figures out how to run against Marty Meehan? LINK
On the same day former Sen. Bob Dole was accusing him of failing to fulfill his duties in the Senate, Kerry issued some bi-partisan flattery by naming names of fair minded Republicans. Glen Johnson of the Boston Globe reports, "John F. Kerry said yesterday he would appoint a prominent, independent public figure," -- like John McCain or Dole -- to head a panel looking into prison abuses surrounding the war on terror. LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Susannah Rosenblatt looks at Teresa Heinz Kerry's remarks to CBS that she switched parties after watching the 2002 Senate race in Georgia. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: the battlegrounds:
Sen. Kerry's warm reception in Cincinnati yesterday highlights the "growing distrust and anger over President Bush's leadership -- even in a Republican bastion like Hamilton County." LINK
While newspapers report that Sen. Kerry received a warm welcome from more than a thousand supporters during his stop in Columbus last night, WCMH-TV takes Note of a house across the street from the rally that "blared the theme song from the television show 'Flipper' for several minutes," in reference to, well, you know. The music was eventually cut off after police told the home's residents that they were violating noise ordinances. LINK
In Nevada, the good economic news continues to get better, with reports today that nearly a third of Las Vegas area employers expect to add jobs during the third quarter and gas prices are on their way down. LINK and LINK
Invoking its best CSI, the Reno Gazette-Journal Notes in a lengthy story that previous presidential trips to Nevada have been the scene of "mystery, violence and political intrigue." LINK
If you want to see if there will be more than the usual excitement in Reno on Friday, there is good news on the horizon. While the Bush rally was reported as a sellout yesterday, today there are reports that additional tickets will be made available due to "overwhelming interest." LINK
Another highway to nowhere in West Virginia? The Herald-Dispatch says the state's congressional delegation is fighting for more federal highway funds for West Virginia roads. LINK
Question: is Enron basically taking Washington state prohibitively out of play for Republicans? LINK
Mark "Fournier" Silva of the Orlando Sentinel reports that Florida's 1.85 million veterans are the key to winning the state -- and this week, both the Bush and Kerry campaigns are focusing on them. President Bush visits MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa today, and Kerry surrogates are reaching out to vets as well. While public support for the war in Iraq has begun to decline, Silva Notes, pointing out the Gallup poll showing 57 percent disapprove of the way the President is handling Iraq, veterans are a stronger base for Bush. LINK
The next Florida in more ways than one: the Akron Beacon-Journal reports the Summit County Board of Elections found 30 unopened absentee ballots from Ohio's March 2 primary that were in a box slated to be shredded. LINK
Arkansas Democrats insist their state is up for grabs. LINK
Ed O'Keefe's Kerry campaign report:
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., June 15 -- Sen. John Kerry ended the week-long political cease fire in the wake of former President Ronald Reagan's death with an alternatively spirited and searing address to the New Jersey AFL-CIO annual conference.
At Bally's near the Boardwalk, the Senator cited Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America" no less than six times and implored, "It's not just an election. This is a fight for our lives. This is a fight for justice. This is a fight for rights."
The presumptive Democratic nominee also took several pointed shots at his general election rival, blasting, "America needs a president who fights for your job as hard as he fights for his own."
When talking taxes, Kerry shot across the bow again, arguing, "Enron has its own page (of the tax code). Exxon has its own page. It looks like Halliburton has its own chapter," then going on to describe cuts made by the administration and concluding, "If you think that's compassionate conservatism, then Dick Cheney is Mr. Rogers."
At every opportunity, Kerry built on the emotive casino speech -- the first sketch of a fresh stump since the "Real Deal" primary days -- by attempting to paint himself as an optimistic, can-do Reagan-esque candidate enthralled with the American spirit.
Countering BC04 claims that Kerry is in fact a pessimistic challenger, the Senator defended in a Kentucky tarmac press avail, "They're the pessimists because they believe that Americans are willing to accept less than what America is used to doing and achieving. I don't believe that…I want an America that once again is the America that we know can achieve whatever we want. And that's the optimism I'm bringing to this race."
Kerry spent another 21 minutes further tweaking this newly inspired "common man" message at a Cincinnati fundraiser which took in nearly $1 million for both the campaign and the DNC.
Kerry began earnestly, "You have made your stories the work of my life," sprinkling his prose with words such as "believe" and "truth."
Intertwining the "stronger America" slogan emblazoned on portions of the campaign plane, Kerry asserted, "I believe in the American worker; I believe in the American entrepreneur," then quoting Scripture to say, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be."
Kerry insisted his heart is with veterans, cops, firefighters, emergency medical professionals, and children. But still working through the nuance of an unfamiliar speech, the Senator repeated key portions of the text and at several points stepped on growing applause. Nevertheless, it appears Kerry has finally settled on the rough material from which a general election theme may emerge.
Kerry fundraises and holds an event in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday before traveling back to Washington with a Veepstakes-baiting schedule gap that puts the candidate near almost all the supposed short-listers for an entire traveling-press-corps-free afternoon.
Veepstakes:
Page Six has the scoop of all scoops -- the FBI is apparently the vetting agent for John Kerry. It reports this morning that the "FBI" is combing through the veepstakes records of Sam Nunn on behalf of Kerry's veepstakes process. ">LINK
Whatever.
Incidentally, a rep for Nunn denied to us yesterday that he's being vetted by the Kerry campaign to their knowledge.
Gen. Wes Clark (Ret.) was spotted last night at the world premiere of "The Hunting of the President," a film claiming to expose "the 10-year campaign to destroy Bill Clinton," the AP reports. LINK
The Congress:
The New York Times reports "House Republicans again passed a stalled energy proposal on Tuesday, hoping that record gasoline prices and the approach of the November elections could help spur action to turn the bill into law." LINK
If you're getting tired of all of this election nonsense and need something else to look forward to, then fear not! The Hill's Lauren Shepherd reports that we're certain to have a lame-duck session after the election! LINK
"A seven-year-old unofficial truce discouraging House members from filing ethics complaints against one another disintegrated Tuesday when a freshman Democrat accused one of the most powerful members of Congress, the House majority leader, Tom DeLay, of 'bribery, extortion, fraud, money laundering and the abuse of power'," writes the New York Times' Sheryl Gay Stolberg. LINK
Media:
The New York Times' James Dao reports, "In a direct challenge to federal limits on political advocacy, the National Rifle Association plans to begin broadcasting a daily radio program on Thursday to provide news and pro-gun commentary to 400,000 listeners." LINK
The NRA knows what's it doing here . . . and the law isn't as clear-cut as it might seem.
Nader:
Nader for president of Iraq? Newsweek satirizes Nader's run by placing his campaign in the two-party Sunnis and Shiites system. LINK
The conventions:
The New York Daily News' Maggie Haberman reports that New York City "is urging the homeless to clear the streets near Madison Square Garden, sources told the Daily News." LINK
"City officials insisted they will not physically remove the homeless, characterizing their plan as a voluntary 'outreach effort' aimed at providing shelter options in advance of the convention."
"But advocates and homeless services providers left a meeting with the Department of Homeless Services last month -- where the plan was discussed -- with the impression that the goal is to clear the homeless away. "
Sara Kugler details "Convention Protesting 101" as GOP convention protesters plan to educate themselves in prep for Aug. 30. On the syllabus: street tactics, legal issues, public relations and first aid. LINK
Meanwhile, the head of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign tells the New York Post's Stefan Friedman that "her organization would march to Madison Square Garden even if it is denied a permit from the NYPD." LINK
Klein and Estes of the Boston Globe reports costs for the Democratic National Convention will exceed its $64.5 million budget, due to staging, building, and prepping for television broadcast readiness. The cost are expected go $10 million over initial estimates. LINK
Massachusetts religious groups plan to turn of the pressure on both parties to do more poverty and hunger issues. A coalition of religious groups plans to lobby and stage other events surrounding the Democratic National Convention. LINK
Suburban Boston insists on measures to deal with possible gridlock due to the closing of I-93 during the Democratic National Convention next month. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: the Senate:
Lee Bandy thinks that Democrat Inez Tennenbaum was the victor of last night's "yawner" debate between Republican Senate candidates in South Carolina. LINK
The Orlando Sentinel's John Kennedy reports that former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez has picked up an endorsement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the U.S. Senate race in Florida. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: casting and counting:
The Wall Street Journal reports that the system for military balloting has not improved in any major way since the 2000 election. As a result of the many troops deployed this year, the system may have become more complicated.
Bob Mahlburg of the Orlando Sentinel reports that a panel of appeals court judges on Tuesday criticized the state of Florida for its efforts -- or lack thereof -- in helping former prisoners regain their legal (i.e., voting) rights. Mahlburg Notes that "Florida has more felons barred from voting than any state, more than 400,000 by some counts," and is one of six states that doesn't automatically reinstate civil rights to prisoners who have completed their sentences. LINK
Morning show wrap:
http://abcnews.com/sections/politics/TheNote/Morning_Show_Wrap.html
The economy:
The Los Angeles Times' Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar takes a look at a new study reporting that immigrants are filling nearly three out of every 10 new jobs in the rebounding economy. The study, by the Pew Hispanic Center, doesn't distinguish between documented and undocumented workers, showed that 28.5 percent of new jobs went to non-citizens in the first quarter of 2003; non-citizen workers make up less than 9 percent of the overall workforce. They're also non-voters. LINK
Alonso-Zaldivar also takes Note of the kinds of jobs immigrants are taking. "In recent months, as overall job growth has begun to improve, most of the new jobs appear to have come in categories that require relatively low skills and pay relatively low wages -- the kinds of jobs for which many immigrants are strong competitors."
"In the past, the early stages of economic recoveries have been marked by growth in industrial jobs that pay above-average wages."
The byline-free Wall Street Journal story today reports that consumer prices rose by 0.6 percent in May, indicating that inflation wasn't as severe as had been feared, despite fluctuating food and gas prices. The consumer price index increase was the biggest since January 2001, according to the Labor Department, based on energy prices that jumped 4.6 percent -- including an 8.1 percent hike in gas prices.
The Wall Street Journal's Bob Davis writes up Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's testimony yesterday, including a prediction of job growth, moderate inflation, and "measured" increases in interest rates. Greenspan said the Fed is not concerned that inflation will be serious in the coming months, but it is keeping an eye on the costs of labor.
The politics of faith:
"The House Ways and Means Committee has killed a proposal that was intended to give clergy members freedom to endorse candidates for political office without endangering the tax-exempt status of their congregations," reports the Washington Post's Alan Cooperman. LINK
Canned on the Potomac?:
Anne Kornblut suggests turning down the hype-o-meter when it comes to predicting the influence the Michael Moore's Palm D' Or winning ''Fahrenheit 9/11" will have on the outcome of this year's presidential election, "given that the pre-release publicity has given away most of its secrets -- and that it is likely to draw partisans, rather than undecided voters in the handful of swing states, to the theaters. At the same time, some of the most provocative parts, about Bush's relationship with Saudi Arabia and abuse of Iraqi prisoners, are either thinly supported or have already been made public. Even Moore conceded having doubts about his powers of persuasion, saying, ''It's just a movie.'" At a screening in New York Moore says the film should activate a base of progressive voters. ''The choir has been asleep. If this movie gets the choir singing again, that's a good thing." LINK
In this case, we aren't sure Anne is right. Keep watching.
Cannes on the Potomac: It's Movietime in the City:
The season of the politically based documentary is upon us.
There are just about three months between today and the release of director George Butler's untitled work on John Kerry's life as a young adult and soldier -- as it was told by the young writer and historian Douglas Brinkley in his book "Tour of Duty."
There are a mere nine days that separate a nation of American moviegoers, and "Bowling for Columbine" lovers and haters, from access to Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" on June 25.
And there are precious few hours ticking between now and the SILVERDOCS AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival's panel "On the Road: Documenting the Candidate" -- a film presentation and panel that might provide context to it all. Tomorrow night: Thursday, June 17 -- 7:00 pm ET.
The panel will preview a clip of Butler's new work, which combines cinema verite and re-enactments, as well as Butler's previous documentary "Pumping Iron" -- a film about a young bodybuilder and aspiring actor named Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Butler, in the flesh, will be joined by filmmakers Paul Stekler, Jesse Moss (LINK), and others, with moderator Mark Halperin of ABC News possibly getting a word in edgewise.
If you only go to Silver Spring, Md. once this year, The Note encourages you, to make it tomorrow night.
Tickets and all the information you need can be found right here at the SILVERDOCS Web site. LINK
TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET): —8:30 am: The Commerce Department releases housing starts for May—8:45 am: Rep. Earl Blumenauer speaks at the 15th annual Energy Efficiency Forum at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. —9:00 am: The 9/11 Commission reads a staff report "Overview of the Enemy" at its 12th public hearing at the NTSB Conference Center, Washington, D.C. —9:00 am: The House Democratic Caucus holds its weekly meeting at the Capitol, Washington, D.C. —9:00 am: The Senate convenes for morning business—9:05 am: Sen. Kerry attends a fundraiser breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Columbus, Ohio—9:15 am: The Federal Reserve releases industrial production for May—9:30 am: The 9/11 Commission holds a hearing on al Qaeda with FBI special agent Deborah Doran and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, Washington, D.C. —10:00 am: The House of Representatives meets for legislative business—10:00 am: The Senate debates the Defense Authorization bill—10:00 am: Secretary of State Colin Powell helps launch the World Refugee Day with actress and U.N. Refugees Agency Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie at the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. —10:15 am: Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Maine Gov. John Baldacci of Maine, Reps. Hilda Solis and John Lewis, and Families USA Director Ron Pollack release a new report on the uninsured at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. —10:15 am: Rep. Bart Stupak and others introduce the Accutane Safety and Risk Management Act at a press conference at the Capitol, Washington, D.C. —10:30 am: Steve Forbes speaks about the U.S. economy in the election year and its impact on the world economy at the Foreign Press Center, Washington, D.C. —10:30 am: Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford announce the donation of Ford Escape Hybrids to the National Park Foundation, Washington, D.C. —10:30 am: President Bush addresses military personnel at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Fla. —10:30 am: Sen. Kerry speaks about his plan to strengthen the middle class at the Marion Franklin Community Center, Columbus, Ohio—11:00 am: The 9/11 Commission reads a staff report "Outline of the 9/11 Plot," Washington, D.C. —11:00 am: Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Kit Bond introduce the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2004, which calls for doubling the funding for Alzheimer's research at the NIH, Washington, D.C. —11:00 am: Sen. Edward Kennedy and others release a letter from 300 law professors that calls for an investigation into alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners, Washington, D.C. —11:00 am: Sens. Byron Dorgan, Olympia Snowe, John McCain, and Debbie Stabenow speak about legislation that would allow for the re-importation of prescription drugs at the Capitol, Washington, D.C. —11:40 am: President Bush participates in a briefing by CENTCOM and SOCOM representatives, Tampa, Fla. —11:45 am: Sen. Joe Lieberman delivers the keynote address at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' conference on the future of Iraq at the Renaissance Mayflower, Washington, D.C. —12:00 pm: Bush-Cheney '04 campaign manager Ken Mehlman hosts press conference call—12:00 pm: Commerce Secretary Don Evans speaks at the Energy Efficiency Forum, Washington, D.C. —12:00 pm: Residents and the Society for Truth and Justice call on the Washington Roman Catholic Archdiocese to withhold communion from Sen. Kerry in front of St. Matthew's Cathedral, Washington, D.C. —12:00 pm: FCC Chairman Michael Powell and FCC members speak at a Campaign Legal Center briefing on political advertising at the Capitol, Washington, D.C. —12:00 pm: The President's commission on space releases its final report at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. —12:15 pm: President Bush meets with families of soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tampa, Fla. —1:00 pm: The 9/11 Commission holds a hearing on the Sept. 11 plot with FBI special agent Jacqueline Maguire and FBI supervisory special agents James Fitzgerald and Adam Drucker, and a CIA official, Washington, D.C. —2:00 pm: Sen. Richard Lugar meets with Angelina Jolie at the Capitol, Washington, D.C.—3:30 pm: Sen. Kerry arrives on Capitol Hill—7:00 pm: Sen. John Edwards receives the 2004 Drum Major for Justice Award at the Cherkasky-Davis Conference Center, New York, N.Y.
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