• Senator Hillary Clinton outpigged her presidential rivals by scoring over a half billion dollars in earmarks for New York State. By comparison her opponents were pikers. She's on the Senate Armed Services Committee, so most of the money went to military or Veterans Administration projects. The prospect of a Clinton Presidency must have the military-industrial complex rejoicing.
   
• Five public-interest organizations (CREW, EFF, POGO, Public Citizen and the Sunlight Foundation) have banded together to create an online database of documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). They're looking for citizens willing to review the documents.
   
• Another House Republican plans to spend more time with his family. Jim Saxton of South New Jersey let his plans be known to a "knowledgeable GOP source."
   
• The U.S. is garnering Sunni tribal

  "I have a weakness for Cuban cigars, French cologne, and Spanish-made loafers"

  leaders' support the old-fashioned way—with a bribe. Since they're paid in dollars they'd better spend them fast.
  
  Sam Dagher reports that "paying tribes to keep the peace is nothing new. It was one of Mr. Hussein's tools in his selective patronage system designed to weaken and control all institutions outside his Baath party. The British also tried it when they ruled Iraq last century."
  
  We know how that turned out.

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