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The Situation: Thursday, March 9Editor's Note: The Situation Report is a running log of dispatches, quotes, links and behind-the-scenes notes filed by the correspondents and producers of CNN's Washington Bureau. Watch "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer on CNN 4 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET weekdays. The Morning Grind Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) On CNN TV
RelatedSEND YOUR COMMENTSYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSPosted: 10:05 a.m. ET Senate Democrats: "Six in '06"? Eight months before the midterms, Senate Democrats are close to agreeing on an election year agenda. The plan will highlight the party's commitment to national security, as Democrats seek to capitalize on the Dubai port controversy and growing disillusionment with the Iraq War. While the list is still being tweaked, it could include up to six distinctive issues, a number that would fit into one campaign rallying cry being considered -- "Six in '06" -- that ties in the six seats Democrats need to reclaim the majority in 2006, CNN's Ed Henry reports. Republicans currently control the Senate by a 55-44-1 margin. In addition to national security, the other issues being considered include economy/jobs, education/quality of schools, energy, healthcare for all and honest government. The election year agenda was discussed yesterday at a private meeting of Democratic Senators. Even as the final list is being deliberated, there appears to be no opposition to the idea that national security should top it. Democratic Senators received a memo yesterday written by pollster Mark Mellman that claims for the first time in several years that Democrats are in position to reclaim the mantle as the party of national security. "If we continue to make a clear case that Democrats stand for a national security policy that is both smart and tough, our substantial advantages on every other issue of import will lead to Democratic victories in November," Mellman wrote Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) in the memo that was obtained by the Grind. Mellman bases his conclusions on evaluating recent polls and comparing them to past surveys including those conducted in the lead up to the 1994 elections that resulted in Democrats being swept out of power. Senate and House Democrats view this election as the best opportunity yet for them to regain control of Congress (besides the year-plus that Democrats ran the Senate in the wake of Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont) defection from the Republican Party). Mellman argues that since 2001, "national security issues have been our Achilles Heel in recent elections." But he writes that the Iraq War and the Dubai port controversy have weakened the GOP's command of the national security issue. "As a result of these twin developments, Republicans have squandered their advantage on national security," Mellman writes. Rebecca Kirszner, a Reid spokeswoman, echoed Mellman's assertions. "From Katrina to the ports deal, administration incompetence has made America less safe," she said. "While Congressional Republicans only want to rubberstamp this White House's mistakes and miscues, Democrats offer tough and smart policies that will protect the people from the threats we face." But Amy Call, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee), scoffed at the Democratic attempt to try and gain the upper political hand on the national security issue. "They still have to overcome the hurdle of not supporting the war, being on record of killing the Patriot Act and questioning the terrorist surveillance program," she said. "So they have a big hurdle to overcome and I haven't seen them do anything but roll out message plans. "When you are only interested in playing politics with issues that are important, the American people are smart enough to figure it out," Call added. Meanwhile, Sen. John Warner (R-Virginia), the respected chairman of the Armed Services Committee, is working behind the scenes to salvage the Dubai port deal, a source tells CNN. The negotiations come as the House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 yesterday to attach an amendment to a must pass spending bill that would block a United Arab Emirates owned company from taking managerial control of terminals at six domestic ports. An effort by Senate Democrats to offer a similar amendment to the lobbying reform bill being debated on the Senate floor was blocked by Republicans. The Warner negotiations include a provision that would give the U.S. "an enhanced role in overseeing the company which they don't have under current law," said the source. Critics oppose the deal because two of the Sept. 11, 2001 hijackers came from the UAE and funding for the attacks was funneled through Dubai. But President Bush has vowed to veto any legislation that would block the deal, saying preventing it from going through sends the wrong message to Arab allies. Today, Bush has a full public schedule beginning with an 11:25 a.m. ET meeting followed by a 12 p.m. ET speech on "Faith-Based and Community Initiatives" at the Washington Hilton Hotel. At 2:40 p.m. ET he signs the USA Patriot Act extension into law and 40 minutes later leaves the White House to travel to Atlanta to attend the Georgia Republican Party's President's Day Dinner. Bush addresses the group at 6:20 p.m. ET. This morning, First Lady Laura Bush will appear on Capitol Hill at 9:50 a.m. ET to deliver remarks at a "Preserve America Event." And the Grind wonders, why speculate about potential 2008 Democratic presidential candidates, when we can discuss the 2009 New York City mayoral contest? A new Quinnipiac University poll released this morning shows that Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-New York) is the early favorite to win his party's nomination. Weiner received 23 percent of the vote, while New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly came in second with 13 percent, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum finished third with 12 percent, followed by City Comptroller William Thompson with 10 percent, and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion with 8 percent. Political Hot TopicsPosted: 10:05 a.m. ET PORTS VOTE "A VERY BIG POLITICAL PROBLEM," SAYS BOEHNER: Efforts by the White House to hold off legislation challenging a Dubai-owned company's acquisition of operations at six major U.S. ports collapsed yesterday when House Republican leaders agreed to allow a vote next week that could kill the deal. Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) will attach legislation to block the deal today to a must-pass emergency spending bill funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A House vote on the measure next week will set up a direct confrontation with President Bush, who sternly vowed to veto any bill delaying or stopping Dubai Ports World's purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steamship Co. "Listen, this is a very big political problem," said House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). Washington Post: House Agrees To Vote On Ports DUBAI MAY RETALIATE IF DEAL IS KILLED: Dubai is threatening retaliation against American strategic and commercial interests if Washington blocks its $6.8 billion takeover of operations at several U.S. ports. As the House Appropriations Committee yesterday marked up legislation to kill Dubai Ports World's acquisition of Britain's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation (P&O), the emirate let it be known that it is preparing to hit back hard if necessary. A source close to the deal said members of Dubai's royal family are furious at the hostility both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have shown toward the deal... Retaliation from the emirate could come against lucrative deals with aircraft maker Boeing and by curtailing the docking of hundreds of American ships, including U.S. Navy ships, each year at its port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the source added. The Hill: Dubai threat to hit back HALF OF AMERICANS HAVE NEGATIVE VIEW OF ISLAM: As the war in Iraq grinds into its fourth year, a growing proportion of Americans are expressing unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority now say that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. The poll found that nearly half of Americans -- 46 percent -- have a negative view of Islam, seven percentage points higher than in the tense months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, when Muslims were often targeted for violence. Washington Post: Negative Perception Of Islam Increasing CARTER SLAMS IRAQ WAR: Former President Jimmy Carter criticized the war in Iraq on Wednesday, urging a troop drawdown as the United States enters its fourth year of conflict in Iraq. "It was a completely unnecessary war. It was an unjust war," said Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner. "It was initiated on the basis of false pretenses. All of those are true, but we can't just pre-emptively withdraw." He urged the Bush administration to bring home as many troops as possible within the next 12 months. "The violence is increasing monthly," Carter said. "My prayer is we'll see some kind of democracy eventually evolve." His comments came at a news conference before a building dedication at the University of Washington. AP via Yahoo! News: Carter Urges Troop Withdrawal from Iraq WILL IT BE EASIER TO GET A TABLE AT CAP GRILLE? Facing accusations that lawmakers are not serious about breaking the tight bond between Capitol Hill and K Street, the Senate voted Wednesday to bar members of Congress and their aides from accepting gifts and meals from lobbyists. The meals and gifts ban, approved unanimously by voice vote, was the full Senate's first major decision on lobbying law changes in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. The ban is attached to an underlying bill that originally barred just gifts, but senators decided Wednesday to prohibit meals as well. New York Times: Senate Votes to Ban Gifts and Meals of Lobbyists JACK SINGS TO VANITY FAIR: Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff says President Bush knew him well enough to joke with him about weightlifting. "What are you benching, buff guy?" Abramoff said Bush asked him. The president has said he doesn't know Abramoff. Abramoff said he finds it hard to believe Bush doesn't remember the 10 or so photos he and members of his family had snapped with the president and first lady. "He (Bush) has one of the best memories of any politician I have ever met," Abramoff wrote in an e-mail, according to Vanity Fair's April issue being released this week. "Perhaps he has forgotten everything. Who knows?" AP via Yahoo! News: Vanity Fair: Bush Had Ties to Abramoff ANN RICHARDS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER OF THE ESOPHAGUS: Former Gov. Ann Richards said [Wednesday] she'll be treated for cancer of the esophagus at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Richards underwent testing at North Austin Medical Center in Austin Monday and learned her diagnosis Tuesday, said spokesman Bill Maddox. "I don't know if she had any trouble. She's been very good about going in regularly," he said. "The medical records have been sent to M.D. Anderson. They're going to review them, after which a decision will be made on when Gov. Richards will be admitted," he added. Richards, 72, was the 45th Texas governor, a Democrat serving from 1991 to 1995. She lost her reelection bid to George W. Bush in 1994. Houston Chronicle: Former Texas Gov. Richards diagnosed with cancer NAPOLITANO REMINDS US, "WE ARE NOT AT WAR WITH MEXICO": [AZ] Gov. Janet Napolitano on Wednesday ordered more National Guardsmen posted at the Mexican border to help stop illegal immigrants and curb related crimes. National Guard troops have worked at the border since 1988, but Napolitano signed an order authorizing commanders to station an unspecified number of additional soldiers there to help federal agents. Once the funding is approved, the troops will monitor crossing points, assist with cargo inspection and operate surveillance cameras, according to the order. "They are not there to militarize the border," the governor said. "We are not at war with Mexico." AP via Yahoo! News: Ariz. Governor Orders Troops to Border SANTORUM KEEPS MEETINGS WITH LOBBYISTS: After saying in January that he would end his regular meetings with lobbyists, Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), the third-ranking GOP leader in the Senate, has continued to meet with many of the same lobbyists at the same time and on the same day of the week. Santorum, whose ties to Washington lobbyists have been criticized by his Democratic challenger, suspended his biweekly encounters on Jan. 30. His decision came as Democrats named him as their top target in November's Senate races, and after the guilty plea of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff to charges of conspiring to corrupt public officials. But in the month since his announcement, Santorum has held two meetings attended by the same core group of lobbyists, and has used the sessions to appeal for campaign aid, according to participants. Washington Post: Senator Resumes Lobbyist Huddles TSA INVESTIGATING DRUNK MAN ON MIDWAY AIRFIELD: A neighborhood man who later told police he had been drinking breached security at Midway Airport, apparently walking off the street, through a checkpoint and onto the airfield, officials acknowledged Tuesday. A portion of the airfield was shut down during the incident Sunday, and a plane approaching for landing was ordered to go around after the intruder was spotted by a pilot on the ground, said Wendy Abrams, a spokeswoman for the city's Aviation Department. The man was on the field for about six minutes before being apprehended, Abrams said. Officials said he was tearing off his clothes. The federal government and the city spend millions of dollars a year on security at the Southwest Side field, and exactly how the man was able to escape detection is under investigation. Chicago Tribune: Midway runway no place for walk BASEBALL WILL "REVIEW" CHARGES IN NEW BONDS BOOK: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said he'll "review" material in a new book that describes in detail Barry Bonds' use of steroids beginning after the 1998 season. "I will review all the material that's relative in every way," Selig said Wednesday at Chase Field before Team USA lost 8-6 to Canada in the World Baseball Classic. "Obviously, we've only seen parts of things. The book itself doesn't come out until the end of the month, but we'll review everything that there is to look at."... The book, "Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports," written by The Chronicle's Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, will be released March 27. San Francisco Chronicle: Baseball to "Review" Bonds Allegations 
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