Where's the Base?

"THE PRESIDENT: They will --

"Q A lot of people will be helped by the Medicare Part D program.

"THE PRESIDENT: Oh, thank you.

"Q But I think there's major deficiencies in it that I think we'd like to hear some comments from you on. The first major issue, I think the program is going to be a lot more expensive both to the user and to the taxpayer than it needs to be, because we don't allow Medicare to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies. This could wind up costing the taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years.

"Another thing, the insurance companies are allowed to change their formulary once a person is in the program; a person is not allowed to get out until the end of the year. This is a legalized bate-and-switch operation by the insurance companies. How many of them are doing it, I don't know, but it's a danger for our seniors.

"Third, I have a report here from Families USA indicating that the poorest people that are affected by this program are not being helped.

"THE PRESIDENT: Well, I just --

"Q Not helped -- either they're not signed up, they're not being helped compared to the benefits they were getting under a combination of Medicare and Medicaid.

"So, finally, I think there are several major changes that should be made in the program. Number one, let Medicare negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies. Number two, stop the formulary switch. If we do that, by reducing the costs, I think we can possibly reduce the size or even eliminate the doughnut hole that people are exposed to.

"THE PRESIDENT: Okay, thanks.

"Q And I think -- (laughter.) One last thing -- okay. If we don't bring our costs down this way, we're never going to control health care costs in the U.S. And we're subsidizing the pharmaceutical companies, and we're subsidizing health costs in every other country around the world because every other country negotiates directly with the pharmaceutical companies. (Applause.)"

And then at the end, Bush called on a gentleman who complained at some length that no one was paying any attention to his invention to control hurricanes.

This morning's event , during which Bush only called on pre-selected ringers who joined him on stage, was much more sedate.

Bushism Watch

From Bush's explanation of the options he is considering to make sure Iran doesn't get a nuclear bomb: "A President has got to be able to say to the American people, diplomacy didn't work."

No Kiss for You

Thomas M. DeFrank and Helen Kennedy write in the New York Daily News: "President Bush was in Florida yesterday trying one last time to cut the political legs out from under the woman who helped put him in the White House in 2000.

"Rep. Katherine Harris met the President when he landed at MacDill Air Force Base and they chatted briefly while she gripped his hand, but the body language said it all: Bush's face was grim and he didn't bestow the usual kiss."

Jim Rutenberg writes for the New York Times: "After saying hello to his brother and straightening his tie, the president shook hands with Ms. Harris and spoke with her for roughly 30 seconds, with Ms. Harris talking far more than the president, who did not kiss her or put his arm around her -- or do anything more than pat her on the back.

"An aide to the president said later that they were only speaking about 'the weather,' and a spokesman for Ms. Harris refused to divulge the details of the conversation."

Jeb for President?

Bush did a roundtable interview this morning with Florida newspapers including the Miami Herald, St. Petersburg Times, Palm Beach Post, Tampa Tribune and Orlando Sentinel.

Bill Adair writes on the St. Petersburg Times Web site: "President Bush would like to see his brother Jeb run for office again and says he would make 'a great president.'

"In an interview with Florida reporters, Bush said his brother had been an excellent governor and is well-suited for another office. 'I would like to see Jeb run at some point in time, but I have no idea if that's his intention or not.'

"Bush said he had 'pushed him fairly hard about what he intends to do,' but Jeb has not said."

Costly Words

Christine Perez reported in the Dallas Business Journal on Monday that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson recently told a Dallas group about a conversation he had with a prospective advertising contractor.

" 'He had made every effort to get a contract with HUD for 10 years,' Jackson said of the prospective contractor. 'He made a heck of a proposal and was on the (General Services Administration) list, so we selected him. He came to see me and thank me for selecting him. Then he said something . . . he said, 'I have a problem with your president.'

" 'I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "I don't like President Bush." I thought to myself, "Brother, you have a disconnect -- the president is elected, I was selected. You wouldn't be getting the contract unless I was sitting here. If you have a problem with the president, don't tell the secretary." '

" 'He didn't get the contract,' Jackson continued. 'Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the president, so they can use funds to try to campaign against the president? Logic says they don't get the contract. That's the way I believe.' "

Al Kamen writes in The Washington Post today: "Aside from violating the Constitution's prohibitions on government retaliation for speech, we're told Jackson's peculiar view may violate federal procurement law, which requires 'complete impartiality and . . . preferential treatment for none.' "

Stephen Ohlemacher writes for the Associated Press: "A spokeswoman acknowledged that Jackson told the story. But, she said, the story was untrue."

Kavanaugh Watch

Charles Babington writes in The Washington Post: "As White House staff secretary, Brett M. Kavanaugh has a desk near the Oval Office, and he sees most letters and documents that go in there before President Bush does. But Kavanaugh, nominated by Bush to an appellate court judgeship, testified yesterday that he knew nothing about the administration's warrantless surveillance program, a now-rescinded memo on torture and White House visits by former lobbyist Jack Abramoff until they were in the newspapers. . . .

"Throughout yesterday's hearing, Democrats complained that Kavanaugh's responses were so unenlightening that they could render no judgment on his fitness for the appellate court."

Dana Milbank writes in The Washington Post: "Kavanaugh, rubbing his hands together nervously and jiggling his leg, proved elusive even on such simple matters as why it took him so long to respond to the committee's questions after his first hearing two years ago."

Who's Right?

The Daily Show's Jon Stewart (shown here via Salon's Video Dog ) danced a jig after he showed these two video clips Monday night:

Bush introducing Michael Hayden as his nominee to replace CIA Director Porter Goss: "He's the right man to lead the CIA at this critical moment in our nation's history."

Bush introducing Goss 18 months earlier: "He's the right man to lead this important agency at this critical moment in our nation's history."

Preparing for Snow

In yesterday's column , I asked you readers to send me tough, important questions for Tony Snow's highly anticipated first full-fledged press briefing on Monday.

About 500 of you have responded already -- thanks! I'll continue to accept submissions until Thursday evening.