Smith for Norton

So Gale Norton has resigned as interior secretary. Of course it has nothing to to with Jack Abramoff spilling his guts in the not too distant future. And if you believe that I have a used war in Iraq to sell you.

Norton's resignation comes as a federal criminal task force continues to investigate former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff's dealings with her department. The task force is examining, among other issues, former deputy secretary J. Steven Griles's discussions with Abramoff at a time when the lobbyist was seeking departmental actions on behalf of his tribal clients. Abramoff has pleaded guilty to federal charges of political corruption.

Well this story may have a local twist, Blue Oregon reports that Oregon's Senator Gordon (I'm not a moderate but I play one on TV) Smith is being mentioned as a replacement.
I don't buy it. While Mr Smith would be a perfect White House ornament because he's relatively clean and like Norton thinks the environment is something God created for Republicans to rape and pillage it would mean an almost sure loss of a Republican Senate seat in 2006.