UPDATE: Numerous sources inform us that the son who commented for the stories gave permission for the TV station to tape his dad to try to bring attention to the issue of romances among Alzheimer’s patients. The AP reporter followed up with Sandra Day O’Connor herself despite her “no comment.” I still feel badly for her and less pissed at the TV station, only now I wonder about the ethics of allowing your legally-unable-to-consent father to be videotaped in this manner

Sandra Day O’Connor has always seemed, to me, like a really cool chick. She’s brilliant, she can hold her own in a male-dominated world, and she did the whole working-mom thing (back in the day, even) and still managed to reach the pinnacle of her career. She married another lawyer (John Jay O’Connor, so he was obviously predestined to be a lawyer) who moved for her career and seemed for all the world like he was incredibly supportive despite the fact that it was detrimental to his own career. And, then, she stepped down from the Court to help care for him after his Alzheimer’s disease became a problem.

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No matter how badly they screw up, nobody leaves the administration without accolades and honors. MORE »

The worst assassination attempt in Washington history happened last year when some old nut in Connecticutt — not Lieberman — mailed home-baked Rat Poison Cookies to each justice. MORE »

* Heard on the Hill: Fitness instructor was “horrified” to find out that the Bush twins were in his spin class after he made jokes about the president and distributed a DVD of “Bushisms”. . . Tennessee House candidate Joe Ford Jr. uses MySpace instead of an official campaign site. [Roll Call]
* Reliable Source: Drew Lachey and Steve Case are also attending the Correspondents’ Association Dinner. . . Euan Blair has a late, antic-filled night. . . Birthday party for WRC anchor Wendy Rieger is nearly ruined by the Cheneys and the Rumsfelds. [WP]
* Under the Dome: Reps. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) are the only House members who did not sponsor a single bill during this session. . . Princeton students Lauren Bush, presidential niece, and Harrison Frist, son of the senator, helped to select Bill Clinton as commencement speaker. [The Hill]
* Inside the Beltway: Politicians announce their commencement speech plans. . . Sandra Day O’Connor: “I was disappointed to see the percentage of women on the court drop by 50 percent.” [WT]
* Rush & Molloy: Mick Jagger won’t give up his hotel suite in Vienna for Bush. . . Bill Clinton, in Las Vegas, “enjoying Grey Goose, sea bass and apple pie.” [NYDN]
* Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Laura Bush holds White House screening of “Akeelah and the Bee.” [NYDN]

Rumor has it that Justice John Paul Stevens, the senior member of the Supreme Court’s liberal wing, may call it quits when the current court term ends in June. Sources say he’s fed up with being in a powerless liberal minority — and recently expressed that frustration in some pretty colorful language for a Supreme Court justice: “I can’t put up with this shit anymore!” MORE »

The Supreme Court is frequently described as an aloof institution. The justices themselves are depicted as isolated individuals, toiling away in their white marble palace. But based on the Supreme sightings you’ve sent to us, the justices have been painting the town during their four-week recess. Justices just wanna have fun!

After the jump — i.e., click on that pointing finger next to the word “More” — read about the Supreme Court’s newest member, coming to a Chipotle near you (or not).

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After we shared with you a recent sighting of Sandra Day O’Connor at the gas pump, several of you wrote in to tell us more about the wheels of Justice O’Connor — and her vanity license plate! Here are some representative messages: MORE »

Thanks to all of you who responded to our request for D.C. celebrity sightings. You sent us some fantastic items, which we’ll be using shortly. Keep ‘em coming! MORE »

* House Republicans say corruption is a perceived-reality: “We must realize that the Majority we have all worked so hard for is in jeopardy.” Leadership race will likely become a “referendum on how seriously the party is taking” the scandal. [WP, NYT]
* Republican lawmakers call for White House to disclose records about Jack Abramoff; Abramoff met with Bush during at least six “social occasions.” Anonymous source: “The White House is making too much of a mystery out of this and needs to release the dates, times, details and photos of the visits. It’s not like [Abramoff and Mr. Bush] were plotting to overthrow Iraq.” [LAT, WT]
* Bush will use State of the Union to preview midterm campaign themes and paint optimistic portrait; speech avoids “ambitious” proposals. Senior administration official: “America ought to be leading the way, working to shape events. We’re always better when we’re out there shaping events, rather than being shaped by them.” [LAT, WT]
* Challenge of Bush’s State of the Union falls on William McGurn, the director of White House speechwriting. McGurn: “He seems in a good mood. Part of his good mood, we hope, is that we give him something good to read that reflects what he wants to do.” [NYT, USAT]
* Interior Department offered emergency services and personnel to FEMA in the “immediate aftermath” of Katrina but received a delayed response. [WP, NYT]
* Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.): “I think that the Democrats have to do a much better job in making their case on these issues. These last-minute efforts, using procedural maneuvers inside the Beltway, I think, has been the wrong way of going about it.” [WT]

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• “Virtually all” of the National Security Agency’s tips to the F.B.I. in the aftermath of 9/11 “led to dead ends or innocent Americans.” Former prosecutor: “The information was so thin, and the connections were so remote, that they never led to anything.” [NYT]
• Speaker Dennis Hastert is only now publicly addressing the recent scandals; he may be the next target of criticism and scrutiny. [WP]
• Senate Judiciary Committee postpones vote on Samuel Alito until next Tuesday. [WP, WT]
• New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin: “Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it’s destroyed and put stress on this country. . . Surely he doesn’t approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We’re not taking care of ourselves.” [WP]
• Al Gore attacks Bush for “breaking the law repeatedly and insistently.” [WP, WT, USAT]
• American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights plan suits over NSA eavesdropping. [NYT]
• Rep. Bob Ney is gaining recognition from the midst of the Jack Abramoff scandal. [NYT]
• Bush honors Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, asks Americans to “remember the remaining work.” [NYT, WT]
• Laura Bush defends Republican from corruption label, says some lobbying can be important. [WT]
• Sandra Day O’Connor’s unique voice and technique of questioning will be lost in the new court. [USAT]

• Hearings heat up as Samuel Alito says Roe may be reexamined; his wife leaves the room in tears. [WP, NYT, NYT, USAT, WT, LAT, LAT]
• Democrats press Alito on Concerned Alumni of Princeton; “whatever the charge’s merits, it drew blood.” Alito: “I would never be a member of an organization that took those positions.” [WP, WP, WT, LAT]
• Sen. Graham (R-S.C.) to Alito: