Wonkette

Pictured: Senator Barbara Boxer of California, announcing the Democratic Senate majority’s new “Forced Cult Marriages For All” initiative with brainwashed robot bride Katie Holmes.

Some bad news from the West Coast: MORE »

* Reliable Source: Author Christopher Buckley says the main character in “Thank You for Smoking” is a “very different kind of cat” from Jack Abramoff: “He’s not in it for the money. He has issues with authority — he doesn’t like being told what to do. That was the common theme among the lobbyists I interviewed while doing the book.” [WP]
* Inside the Beltway: Sens. Allen and Clinton lead ‘08 poll of insiders. . . “Republican heavy hitters” come out for Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele’s Senate bid. [WT]
* Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Maureen Dowd is “flattered” that she was the inspiration for Katie Holmes‘ character in “Thank You for Smoking.” [NYDN]
* The Scoop: 5,000 witches petition Bush for recognition of Wicca faith. [MSNBC]

* Reliable Source: Bush will divert Air Force One today to vote in the Texas primary. . . David Boies‘ wife chartered two planes to bring 50 of his best friends –including Tom Brokaw, Charlie Rose, Ted Olsen, Walter Isaacson, Tom Friedman, Ben Bradlee, Sally Quinn and Margaret Carlson– to Vegas for his surprise 65th birthday party. . . Alan Greenspan turned 80 yesterday; book advance could reach $8m. . . George Stephanopoulos gets manicures. . . Jenna Bush dined at the Capital Grille on Saturday. . . Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) attended the Oscars. . . Martin Sheen seen praying at St. Stephen’s Church. [WP]
* Under the Dome: Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) has cast 17,532 roll-call votes. [The Hill]
* Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Katie Holmes‘ character in “Thank You for Smoking” was inspired by Maureen Dowd. [NYDN]

* Reliable Source: Bill Clinton and Alan Greenspan lunched at the Four Seasons. . . Mike McCurry admits apathy on the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes drama. [WP]
* Under the Dome: Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) turns against his roommate, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), over stem cell legislation. . . Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) has heard every boner joke. . . Senators to star in “comedic whodunit” production for charity. [The Hill]
* Rush & Molloy: Cheney may have been trying to cover up the presence of Pamela Willeford, ambassador to Switzerland, at the hunt. [NYDN]