Caroline Kennedy Is Out

Breaking - The New York Times is reporting that Caroline Kennedy has decided to remove her name from consideration as Hillary Clinton's replacement in the Senate.

NY Post Claims It's Caroline

While the NY Post has so far wisely resisted giving Caroline Kennedy the full Dick Gephardt treatment and plastering her picture on its front page under the headline "Patterson Picks Kennedy," it is certainly heading in that direction. In an article by Fred Dicker in this morning's paper, the Post proclaims that Kennedy is Governor Patterson's "certain" pick to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

Not surprisingly, Caroline Kennedy's stock shot up 19 points at Intrade in early morning trading, reaching 85 for the first time in weeks. As Wiser Than The Crowd points out, however, consistency on this point hasn't exactly been the Post's strong suit. Last month, it relegated the Queen of Camelot to a longshot, claiming she had a "1 in 20 shot at best."

As usual, the NY Daily News is striking a more measured tone. While it says that President-elect Obama is backing Kennedy, it stops short of claiming a decision has already been made.

"My BlackBerry is emitting smoke from people e-mailing me the latest rumor," said one Democratic operative quoted in the article. "This whole thing has taken on a life of its own. There may be a method to this madness, but it's madness."

Libby Pardon Before Bush Scoots?

Politico puts the odds of a Scooter Libby Pardon at 1 to 2, slightly lower than the current asking price at Intrade.

With so many pardon prospects and so little time, Intrade could open a whole new slate of contracts on crooks likely to get their convictions cleared before Bush vacates his office. According to Politico, the most likely candidates include Michael Milken (2 to 1 odds), infamous former AG A.G. (1 to 1 odds) and military and CIA interrogators (4 to 1 odds). 

While Dick Durbin is supporting a pardon for George Ryan, the latest Illinois governor to be convicted on corruption chares, Politickr doesn't think even Bush would have the audacity to pardon Ryan given his successor's shenanigans. 

Still, in his last interview before leaving office, Bush was suspiciously silent:

LARRY KING:  We're back with our remaining moments with the president and first lady of the United States.  Pardons; are we going to have some? You are not going to be specific.  Will pardons come? 

G. BUSH:  I am not going to talk about them. 

KING:  Why? They're logical. 

G. BUSH:  Because I don't feel like talking about them and I'm not going to.  If there are any coming, you will find out about it in due course. 

KING:  Due course, meaning you have a week. 

L. BUSH:  Exactly.  You will find out soon. 

G. BUSH:  Actually less. 

KING:  So it will be less than a week. 

G. BUSH:  Yes. 

KING:  You don't have to?  It's not required? 

G. BUSH:  No. 

KING:  You don't have to do any pardons? 

G. BUSH:  I don't have to do any. I can do some. Nor do I have to talk about it.