Wonkette

This morning the Supreme Court is hearing argument in Beard v. Banks, which presents the following question: “May a prison deny inmates newspapers and magazines as punishment for disciplinary violations?”

We might be wearing pajamas rather than black robes, but the answer to us seems obvious: it depends on the publication being withheld. Denying inmates access to the Washington TImes isn’t punishment, but an act of mercy.

We also expect the answer to vary from justice to justice. Preventing Justice Thomas from reading Hustler would constitute punishment; doing the same for Justice Souter would not. Maybe Souter could be cut off from accessing Details?

(Actually, we take that back. Although there are reasons to suspect that Justice Souter enjoys Details, he doesn’t seem stylish enough to fall within the magazine’s core demographic; maybe he could be denied Runner’s World? Chief Justice Roberts is probably the Details reader on the Court.)

Supreme Court Calendar [WP]

* Attention focuses on the future of Rove, Card; outside names are floated as possible additions to the White House senior staff. [NYT]
* Supreme Court clarifies police powers to enter private homes; both partners must agree to search unless warrant is presented. The case shows “the strains behind the surface placidity and collegiality of the young Roberts court.” [WP, NYT, USAT]
* Today makes Bush the “longest-sitting president since Thomas Jefferson not to exercise his veto.” [USAT, USAT]
* Iraq war veteran edges out victory in Cook County, Illinois congressional race; results delayed due to problems with electronic voting machines. [WP]
* DeLay’s attorneys ask judges to make quick decisions to avoid interference with the midterm election. [WP, USAT]
* Former Rep. Randy Cunningham’s bribed goods will be auctioned today. [WP]
* Democratic comeback strategies hit the bookshelves. [WSJ]

* Reliable Source: Former Clinton staffer tries to sell official White House program signed by Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin on eBay for $50,000. . . Robbery scare at the home of Ken Mehlman. [WP]
* Under the Dome: Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) reads blogs of all persuasions. [The Hill]
* Inside the Beltway: Chief Justice John Roberts’s speech at the Reagan Library was “absolutely captivating.” [WT]
* Inside Politics: Wall Street Journal editorial board on Sen. Feingold: “He’s had the courage to put on the table what Democrats are all but certain to do if they win either the House or Senate in November.” [WT]
* Rush & Molloy: Bono thinks Bush is “funny” and recalls Bob Geldof spraying Tony Blair with saliva. [NYDN]
* Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: George Clooney feels “abused” by the Huffington Post: “I stand by what I do, but I’m very cautious not to take giant steps onto soapboxes because I think they’re polarizing.”. . . Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer approached by staffers of “The Bachelor.” [NYDN]
* Cindy Adams: House Republicans schedule another vacation period from Friday to the 27th. [NYP]

(Actually, the afternoon after; but hey, she’s probably just waking up now…) MORE »

* Republicans are breaking with Bush over homeland security issues, once thought to be his chief selling point. Senior White House official: “We’ve got a period of time when the news that’s dominating the headlines is not good and some Republicans are going to feel free to distance themselves from the president, but at the end of the day, I don’t think the breach is deep or lasting because this is the president’s strong suit. I think it’s about this moment in time. I don’t think it’s fundamental.” [WP, NYT, WT]
* Gonzales implies that warrant-less eavesdropping is more widespread than Bush suggested. [WP]
* Supreme Court justices “seemed aware of stepping into an epic soap opera” starring Anna Nicole Smith; Chief Justice John Roberts mentions the “substantial amount of assets” involved. [WP, USAT]
* Administration officials “could find no shelter” from questions about Dubai port deal. [WP]
* Bush stands by port deal on principle. [WP, NYT]

MORE »

Today the Supreme Court is hearing oral argument in the case of Marshall v. Marshall, No. 04-1544. The case presents an important, difficult, and highly technical question about the intersection between federal and state jurisdiction in probate proceedings. MORE »

“Here, you’ve still got some of Schumer’s spittle on you…” MORE »

* Reliable Source: Sen. Barack Obama on winning his Grammy: “I’m going for an Emmy next year, best supporting actor in a drama starring John McCain.”. . . Richie Sambora was partying with Mike McCurry as news of his divorce from Heather Locklear was breaking. . . John Roberts has friendly run in with Carol Channing at GWU. . . Fictional black president in “24″ receives warm welcome in D.C. [WP]
* Rush & Molloy: Ann Compton and Mike Allen scuffle with one of the Pope’s nuns. [NYDN]
* Cindy Adams: Fictional, “nasty” love affair is written about Bush and Martha Stewart. [NYP]

Click to enlarge, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. MORE »

• Samuel Alito speaks publicly for the first time: “Good judges are always open to the possibility of changing their minds based on the next brief that they read, or the next argument that’s made by an attorney who’s appearing before them, or a comment that is made by a colleague during the conference on the case.” [WP, NYT, WSJ, USAT, WT, LAT]
• 58% of Americans believe there is “widespread corruption in Washington,” according to fresh WP-ABC News poll; strong majorities approve of sweeping reforms of the lobbying industry. 53% in USAT-CNN poll believe the Abramoff scandal is major. [WP, USAT]
• Reps. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and John Boehner (R-Ohio) are the last contenders standing in the race for House majority leader; race seen as “wide open.” [WP, NYT, WT, LAT]
• FISA judges have rare private meeting at the Justice Department to discuss the eavesdropping program. [NYT]
• Confirmation hearings illustrate “a clear disconnect between the zeal of activists and the detachment of the general public.” Pollster: “You’re going to have to really get some significant news out of these hearings to move the needle in a negative way.” [WP, NYT]
• Alito’s views on the legal footing of NSA eavesdropping will be key component of the hearings. [NYT]
• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Alito: “He was nervous. He was more human than Roberts.” [NYT, WP]

MORE »

• NSA eavesdropping may face legal challenges in Florida, Ohio, Oregon, and Virginia; White House insists that Bush has acted properly. Prosecutor: “If I’m a defense attorney, the first thing I’m going to say in court is, ‘This was an illegal wiretap.’” [NYT]
• Democrats divided over ‘08 primary schedule. [WP]
• Anti-war sentiment does not appear to be eroding support of Sen. Hillary Clinton. Director of MoveOn.org: “The genius of Bill Clinton is that he was always perceived as loyal to his base. But we didn’t have an issue during his presidency that was as divisive as Iraq.” [NYT]
• GOP strategist is criticized for taking on Mexico as a client. [NYT]
• Advocacy group called Move America Forward staunchly defends the war in Iraq with new ad campaign. Co-founder: “The White House has really done a poor job of getting the message out, which is why we’ve had to step into the breach.” [WSJ]
• Liberal Democrats may alienate moderates with recent stances on national security. DLC memo: “In shaping alternative policies — particularly on national security, terrorism and Iraq — Democrats have to be extremely careful to avoid reinforcing the negative stereotype that has cost us so much in the last two national elections.” [WT]
• Chief Justice John Roberts brings humor and social skills to the Supreme Court; “there are signs he will be a more dynamic chief than his predecessors.” [USAT]
• The first dog to walk on the Senate floor dies. [WP]