Friday News Dump of the Week

Welcome back to the news cycle, Jack Abramoff scandal!

A key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove resigned Friday in the wake of congressional report that listed hundreds of contacts between disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House.

Susan Ralston, special assistant to President Bush, submitted a resignation letter to him less than five weeks before the midterm elections [...]

Critics have pointed to Ralston as evidence that Rove — and thus Bush — are possibly closer to Abramoff than the White House has acknowledged. Ralston was Abramoff's administrative assistant at his lobbying firm and, after Bush took office, assumed the same post with Rove.

These were about the easiest dots to connect in the history of dot-connecting. Ralston was Abramoff's personal secretary; then she was Rove's. In fact, Abramoff recommended her to Rove. She was lobbied dozens of times by Abramoff's firm while working in the White House, according to the most recent House Governmental Reform Committee report.

The hilarious part of this story are the two quotes by White House lackey Dana Perino. I'll translate:

"She did not want to be a distraction to the White House at such an important time and so we have accepted her resignation," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

"She was going to bring us all down, so we showed her the door."

"We support her decision and consider the matter closed."

"Can you all shut up about this stuff now?"