Saturday links and comments

While Rep. Hastert argues whether the FBI can execute a warrant to search a congressional office, the noose tightens around the subject of that investigation.

A former aide to U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, said Friday that it was the congressman's idea to solicit bribes to promote a telecommunications deal in West Africa that began as a legitimate business venture.

Here is an article that should improve Attorney General Gonzalez' reputation: Gonzales Said He Would Quit in Raid Dispute

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, the F.B.I. director, Robert S. Mueller III, and senior officials and career prosecutors at the Justice Department told associates this week that they were prepared to quit if the White House directed them to relinquish evidence seized in a bitterly disputed search of a House member's office.

No matter what your job, there should always be a line you would quit rather than cross.

Here is a headline sure to worry more than a few reporters: Reporter at Richmond Paper Fired for 'Fabrication'

A reporter for the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch was fired Friday for fabricating portions of a story about reaction to President Bush’s immigration speech earlier this month, as well as lifting part of a Washington Post story for the report.

William Kristol has an column titled A Recuperating Duck. He discusses how the assumed lame duck presidency of George Bush started bouncing back in May. An economy this strong can only be ignored so long.

Speaking of the economy . . . last week the Commerce Department revised first quarter growth up to 5.3 percent. Not too lame. Then we learned that new home sales had risen in April, suggesting a reasonably soft landing for the housing market. And gas prices even began to drift down. How much longer can people talk themselves into thinking the economy's in bad shape?

James Webb is a former Marine and former Secretary of the Navy under Reagan. He is currently running for U.S. Senate from Virginia. For Memorial Day weekend,he has a list of recommended reading on military history.