Political scandals (especially those involving a mistress and money) always seem to fall into two categories - the ones that are handled well and the ones that don't end well.

They also inevitably get a "gate" assigned to them (no, Gatemouth, not you). Perhaps we'll call this one "JudyGate."

Let's review the timeline:

I haven't posted much in the past year, but recent developments have gotten my attention.

I have long regarded public polling with more than a measure of disdain. My distaste is primarily with the flawed sampling and methodology utilized by the polling organizations – antiquated screens, RDD, self-identified partisanship and likelihood of voting with little or no voter file validation - and the trumpeting of facile analysis without fully releasing the underlying data.

Perhaps the worst part of public polling is the complete inability of the talking heads from the polling world to avoid hyperbole or to speak in metaphor-free English, compounding the weakness of their data and diluting the quality of the public discourse.

It seems that New York's circular firing squad has found its way to the Windy City (ok - its suburbs).

In one of the most watched races in the country, Iraqi war hero/double-amputee Major Tammy Duckworth, the darling of the national Democratic establishment narrowly defeated Christine Cegelis, the darling of the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party"

The Hill reported earlier this week that Cegelis, who initially pledged to unite behind the Democratic nominee, is now refusing to endorse Duckworth - a helicopter pilot who lost her lower legs in a crash in Iraq - because she questions her "liberal" bona fides on trade and healthcare.

Frank Luntz (yawn) has delivered some initial focus group findings, first reported at Hotline On Call, a blog I recomend to those who are obsessed with matters in the Beltway (which hopefully is a small number of Room8 readers and commenters).

Of note to Roomaters (room 8ers?) are the "findings" about our Junior Senator.  Among them "Support for Hillary Clinton "disappeared by the time the night was over, and she won virtually no new converts. Only Edwards faired worse."

In the Sunday Tennessean, Tipper Gore has an op-ed and accompanying photos about her recent trip to post-Katrina New Orleans.

While the Katrina debacle has faded somewhat in the minds of the American people, and the mainstream media is doing little to hold Congress or the Administration accountable, it is clear that there is still much work to be done, and there is a massive leadership gap on the issue.

For those obsessed with the potential of a Gore 2008 candidacy, this article may further those yearnings (or worryings), but putting politics aside, as Tipper wrote "We as Americans must not turn away from the ruins; we must move ahead and quickly. We have so much left to do."

Amen.

Rare is the reportage that effectively ties together the "malleability" of politicians and their obsession with mega-development projects (and the money associated with those projects).

Errol Louis has a must-read column in the Daily News about the latest Bronx Democratic shenanigans and the approval process for the Yankees mega-stadium boondoggle.

Louis reports that several executives of the "wealthiest sports franchise in America" have ponied up for Adolfo Carrion's political account and Jose Rivera and Stanley Schlein make their expected cameos.

Lead Dog was born in the harsh clime of Northern Manhattan, and spent its pup years chasing its tail.  After a long term as team dog and swing dog, Lead Dog has come to enjoy its alpha status, and can appreciate the truth in the old saying – that unless you are lead dog, the view never changes.  Of course, that means that other dogs are nipping at your rear, but that's why you gotta keep moving.  Thanks for reading, and please - Enjoy the View.