The Note: Putting Politics Aside

— -- WASHINGTON, Sep. 8

After long suggesting that the President would not speak on Monday's terror attack anniversary, the White House this morning asked the networks for time for Mr. Bush to address the nation that evening at 9:00 pm ET from the Oval Office.

The talk will last 16-18 minutes and "will not be political in nature," according to the White House, which says it will be a "commemorative address on the 5th anniversary of 9/11."

Click here for rapid-response essays from Sid Blumenthal, Howard Dean, Harry Reid, and Al Franken on what they think of the Administration's announcement and the President's planned remarks: LINK

Sober with his vast power, President Bush hits the campaign trail today, but will remain mostly out of view. The President emphatically told ABC News' Charles Gibson yesterday that he is not a liability on the campaign trail and asserted his fundraising prowess as proof.

You can check out Charlie's interview with the President here: LINK

The Campaigner-in-Chief heads to Clarkston, MI for a closed press fundraiser for Mike Bouchard's Senate campaign at 1:30 pm ET. Mr. Bush then travels to Kansas City, MO for a 5:55 pm ET closed press fundraiser for Sen. Jim Talent's (R-MO) reelection effort.

Vice President Cheney makes (closed press) remarks at 4:30 pm ET at the Harvard Club in Boston, MA for "Massachusetts State Victory 2006." Gov. Romney plans to attend. LINK

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow briefs the press at 11:30 am ET. ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports, "More than two years after releasing Phase I, the Senate Intelligence Committee has voted to release two of the five chapters of its "Phase II" assessment of the intelligence leading up to the war in Iraq. The chapters will be released by noon ET at LINK

More Wolf: "The new report is expected to compare pre-war assessments of Iraq's WMD capabilities with post-war findings and assess how the intelligence community used information provided by the Iraqi National Congress. Look for Democrats to use these chapters as ammunition to resurrect their 'Americans were mislead into Iraq' line of attack. The unfinished chapters that won't be released tomorrow, however, could be even more divisive when they are finally completed. Those include a look at the role of Douglas Feith's Office of Special Plans at the Pentagon, the use of intelligence by political appointees in public statements, and a 'pre-war assessment on post-war Iraq.'

The Associated Press has more: LINK

Gov. Schwarzenegger (R-CA) holds a 1:00 pm ET media availability in Santa Monica, CA where he will likely be asked about his controversial remarks captured on audio tape and reported by the Los Angeles Times. LINK

Gov. Romney addresses a 11:30 am ET luncheon sponsored by the Midland County Republican Party in Midland, MI.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R-NYC) delivers a report on lower Manhattan and New York City's progress five years after 9/11 at 9:30 am ET in New York City.

Sen. Clinton (D-NY) joins Dr. Irwin Redlener of the Children's Heath Fund in presenting the results of a new survey regarding the American public's views on terrorism and preparedness at a 1:00 pm ET campaign event in Harlem. At 10:45 am ET, Sen. Clinton is scheduled to be in lower Manhattan to speak at "Progress Since 9/11: Protecting Public Health and Safety of the Responders and Residents", an oversight hearing of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations. Later today at 3:00 pm ET, Sen. Clinton joins Harlem youth as they undertake a service project for seniors.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean is the man about town today. At noon ET, Dr. Dean addresses the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters in Washington, DC. Tonight, Dean attends the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation reception hosted by Reps. Clyburn (D-SC) and Watt (D-NC), a dinner hosted by Reps. Cleaver (D-MO) and Clay (D-MO), and a dinner honoring Rep. Kilpatrick (D-MI).

And if you thought we weren't taking attendance this week of which Democratic '08ers made it a priority to show up at the week-long Congressional Black Caucus legislative conference, you'd be wrong. Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) participated in a town hall yesterday morning, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) participated in a couple of seminars on government contracting/advertising and on health care disparities, and Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA) plans on attending the gala dinner on Saturday evening.

Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) is in Chapel Hill, NC for a panel discussion on "the progress made and challenges ahead for the post-Katrina Gulf Coast" at noon ET.

Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) visits Nashua, NH today where he is expected to make similar critiques of President Bush's foreign policy as he made yesterday at the National Press Club.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) travels to Iowa today for his inaugural Hawkeye State trip of the cycle. Dodd plans to be in Iowa through the weekend.

Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) is in Iowa today and will be campaigning for state and local candidates throughout the weekend.

First Lady Laura Bush hosts a pair of fundraisers in Texas (Dallas and Houston) which are expected to raise more than $400,000 for the RNC. Approximately 40 attendees are expected at each one. RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman plans to attend the Dallas fundraiser. Tomorrow, Mrs. Bush will be in Galveston, TX for the commissioning ceremony of USS Texas.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Talkers Magazine hosts a 10:00 am ET forum discussing the effects of counterfeiting and piracy and what it means to the economy, American jobs, and consumers.

Today at noon ET, the Heritage Foundation presents "Presidential Faith and Foreign Policy: Are Times Changing?" with Dr. Elizabeth Spalding. This event includes commentary from Dr. Steven Hayward and discusses the current was on terror and how the larger moral context of this war indicates how President Bush's personal faith influences his foreign policy.

Don't miss "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" on Sunday when George will be joined by several members of the 9/11 Commission on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. LINK

Be sure to check out our look at the weekend in politics below.

ABC News poll:
"George W. Bush approaches the 9/11 anniversary with a job approval rating less than half what it was after the attacks five years ago, dragged down above all by the steadily unpopular war in Iraq," reports ABC News' Jon Cohen.

"Bush is in better shape now than he was this spring, as spiking gasoline prices added to his woes. Today 42 percent of Americans approve of his overall performance in office, up from a career low of 33 percent in May. While that's a significant rebound, still the intensity of sentiment remains strongly against him: Not only do 55 percent disapprove of his work, but 43 percent disapprove "strongly" --