Rumble in the Capitol?

Doubt it will come to this, but Senate leadership is planning to post armed guards to keep Roland Burris out of the Senate, if necessary. (TPM) Rod Blagojevich is a mad, narcissistic genius for this pick.

2009 is going to rock. I can already feel it.

Does Christmas come in August now?

It has been quite a month. At least three times so far this August, Santa* has delivered to our door an extra-special morning newspaper.

Rove to Leave White House Post

Embattled Gonzales Resigns

G.O.P. Senator [Larry Craig] Pleaded Guilty After Restroom Arrest [for "lewd conduct"]**

All while most Washingtonians are off dreaming of sugarplums.

*Or, to be more accurate, Ben

**Does anyone else think it's kind of crazy that this took so long to break? This happened in June?

Bigots in glass houses....

Protesters from the American Family Association disrupted the Senate's opening prayer this morning because it was delivered by a Hindu. The clergyman, Rajan Zed, had been invited to deliver the first Hindu opening prayer in Senate history by Senate majority leader Harry Reid. (AP)

Here's what the American Family Association has to say about its campaign against the planned prayer:

WallBuilders president David Barton is questioning why the U.S. government is seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god...

Barton says given the fact that Hindus are a tiny constituency of the American public, he questions the motivation of Senate leaders. "This is not a religion that has produced great things in the world," he observes. "You look at India, you look at Nepal -- there's persecution going in both of those countries that is gendered by the religious belief that is present there, and Hindu dominates in both of those countries."

Hahahahahahahahaha

wait, I'm not done

hahahahah.

Sen. Vitter on "DC Madam's" call list

It's always that guy, isn't it? (WP)

• FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Vitter Statement on Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage. "This is a real outrage. The Hollywood left is redefining the most basic institution in human history, and our two U.S. Senators won't do anything about it. We need a U.S. Senator who will stand up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts's values. I am the only Senate Candidate to coauthor the Federal Marriage Amendment; the only one fighting for its passage. I am the only candidate proposing changes to the senate rules to stop liberal obstructionists from preventing an up or down vote on issues like this, judges, energy, and on and on." stated David Vitter. [Vitter '04 campaign website]

• "June 25, 2007 (Washington, D.C.)-- U.S. Sen. David Vitter last week authored a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee expressing support for reauthorization of the Title V Abstinence Education Program of the Social Security Act. Twelve senators joined Vitter in writing in support of the program." [Vitter homepage]

• Christian Coalition 2004 Congressional Scorecard: David Vitter, 100% [Christian Coalition]

• "The 2004 election means a smashing victory for conservative leadership in the Senate...Rep. David Vitter ran a smashing campaign to become the first Republican in Louisiana to win a Senate seat since the Civil War. Rep. Vitter is a proven pro-family fighter who has taken on the abortion and gambling industries." [Concerned Women for America]
  

Senators--they're just like us!

They follow celebrity gossip!

"Britney Spears," [Senate minority leader Harry] Reid said, shaking his head. "She loses a little weight, and now she's getting all cocky about things." He added, "Britney has gotten her mojo back." (NYT)

How much you wanna bet Britney Spears doesn't know who Harry Reid is....

Taking bets on women in power

Let's take a moment to crow over a victory won for the cause of women's leadership last night: Nancy Pelosi is likely to become the first female speaker of the House. There was also a net gain in women in the Senate, thanks to Claire McCaskill's win in Missouri (as of January there will be 15)*.

Next question. Which will now come first, a woman president or a woman Senate majority leader? My prediction is president will be first. But I put this out more as a challenge to current and aspiring female senators.

*CORRECTION: How could I forget Klobuchar? Sorry, Minnesota! That brings the Senate female total to 16 for the 110th Congress.