It’s the weekend. And even if the weather won’t be quite as nice as it was last weekend, there’s still much fun to be had. MORE »

* Reliable Source: Jessica Simpson is visiting Capitol Hill next week. [WP]
* Inside the Beltway: Clarence Thomas invoked no laughter during the last Supreme Court term. [WT]
* Page Six: Blind item: “Which gorgeous, auburn-haired network news reporter was caught in the act with a married assignment editor? Seems they ducked into the office of a reporter they thought was out of town, but the other reporter suddenly opened the door and found her colleague giving the boss oral sex. The official story is they were just ‘talking.’”. . . Tomorrow night’s Gridiron Club will bridge partisan divide with humor. [NYP]
* Cindy Adams: Barbara Bush’s former press secretary and close friend of Condoleezza Rice, Michael Ovitz, plans to write a book. . . Two endings were made for “Thank You For Smoking.” [NYP]

* 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]

In the Shameless Plug file: MORE »

* Reliable Source: RNC returns fire: “Senator Clinton would be better served if she spent less time flattering herself with perceived obsessions and more time focusing on her job.”. . . Arnold Schwarzenegger shows off “huge stogie” in the lobby of the Four Seasons. . . Anna Nicole Smith checked into a Georgetown hotel yesterday. [WP]
* Under the Dome: Lobbyists bask in the flattery of parody film “Thank You For Smoking”. . . Moby joins with Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) to protect animals. . . Staffer of Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) punches intoxicated bar patron after harassment. [The Hill]
* Rush & Molloy: Some pool correspondents believe Bush wears his bike uniform under his suit when he goes to church; there is a mysterious “bulkiness.” [NYDN]
* Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: “You Don’t Know Dick” action figure of a “snarling, shotgun-toting (but not anatomically correct)” Dick Cheney is selling for $29.95. [NYDN]