We have EMAIL PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE that Rep. Jim McDermott’s executive assistant/office manager/scheduler/pet dragon Elizabeth “Liz” Becton, the Meanest Lady in DC, was not simply having a “bad day” when she went nuts on someone, over e-mail, who mistakenly saluted her as “Liz.” Below are two more of Liz Becton’s run-ins with e-mail, in which she type-screams at entire listservs about GETTING THE LUNCH LADY’S NAME RIGHT, and swears to destroy a Mole scheduler who once leaked stuff to your Wonkette. MORE »

Eleven years ago, Republican leaders got together on a conference call to discuss ethical allegations against Newt Gingrich, and were joined by some non-Republicans with a tape recorder. Eventually, Democratic Representative Jim McDermott leaked the (illegally recorded) tape to the press. Jim got sued by John “Orangey- Delicious” Boehner and lost, but really, really didn’t want to pay the fines, so the case dragged on for nine more forgettable years. Today, however, the Supreme Court declined to hear McDermott’s latest appeal, leaving him stuck with the legal judgment of $10,000 in statutory and $50,000 in punitive damages for the leak, plus Boehner’s legal costs for 9 years of appeals. Boehner presented McDermott with a bill for $880,000. Damn those D.C. lawyers are expensive. [CQ Politics]

• Josh Bolten “is expected to press President Bush to assemble new economic and Congressional relations teams and overhaul the management of the West Wing.” John Snow rumored to be on his way out. [NYT]
• Senate approves lobbying restrictions by vote of 90 to 8; activists are disappointed. [WP, NYT, W$J, USAT, LAT]
• Jack Abramoff is sentenced to 70 months in jail in Florida fraud case. [WP, NYT]
• Republicans could alienate Hispanic voting bloc with stance on immigration; topic is front and center as Bush meets with Vicente Fox. [NYT, NYT, WP]
• Administration will impose fuel standards on SUVs, minivans, and pickups, but environmentalists are unsatisfied. [W$J]
• Bush tells Iraqis, “It’s about time you get a unity government going.” [WP]

MORE »

• Reliable Source: Laura, Barbara, and Margaret Bush as well as Nancy Reagan and Annette de le Renta all had their hair done at Nuri Yurt. . . Stephen Colbert spotted at a Cosi. . . Michael Brown is selling his house. [WP]
• Under the Dome: Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) wrote and performed a song about Samuel Alito with Paul Shaffer: “The most beautiful sound I