In Brief - December 7th, 2006

Here is today's quick news digest:

• Al Gore yesterday called the invasion of Iraq "the worst strategic mistake in the entire history of the United States" on the Today show on NBC (following his Tuesday appearance on Oprah). We couldn't agree more. You can watch a clip from Gore's appearance at Crooks and Liars.
• Some Republicans are grumbling that the House Democratic leadership plans to get rid of the three day workweek and the long, abundant recesses which have characterized the current 109th Congress. Incoming Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said to reporters: "I have bad news for you...Those trips you had planned in January, forget 'em. We will be working almost every day in January, starting with the fourth."
• The AP's analysis of the Iraq Study Group report, released yesterday, includes a good quote from Lawrence Korb at the Center for American Progress. The Center has done wonders in its three plus years of existence and its staff or fellows are starting to appear more regularly in the traditional media, especially on cable.
• Dan Bartlett, Bush's "counselor" and a frequent administration mouthpiece, told CNN's Anderson Cooper last night that he believes "we're winning" in Iraq. Anderson, who seemed surprised, was skeptical and pressed Bartlett, but to no avail. Apparently reality hasn't sunk in yet. Bush is trapped in the Iraq quagmire he created, and it doesn't appear that the 2006 midterms have had any meaningful impact on his position. Nor has the Iraq Study Group, whose recommendations Bush was careful to avoid endorsing when he spoke to reporters earlier today.

One last item of note. Ex-State Senator Luke Esser, who will no longer represent the 48th Legislative District in January, is mulling a run against Diane Tebelius for party chair. Tebelius is evidently running for reelection and confident of victory (just like she was confident the momentum was on the Republicans' side before the election).

Neil Modie, as usual, has a very thorough article in this morning's Post-Intelligencer which looks at the looming intraparty battle.

He notes that Tebelius and some of the state Republicans' high profile figures are not close. Tebelius' relationship with Dino Rossi has been rocky, and she was a rival to Dave Reichert in the 2004 primary for the 8th District race...although so was Esser. Esser, however, likely has a better relationship with AG Rob McKenna since they worked together in the past.