Corruption

Tennessee Democratic State Senator Ophelia Ford, a member of the Ford political dynasty that includes U.S. Representative and Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr., has been given a stay by a federal judge in her bid to keep from getting kicked out of office.

Al Franken steals money from needy New York City kids. OK, that's not the story exactly, but hold off calling us a lying big, fat idiot liar, or whatever, because there are financial shenanigans afoot at Mr. Franken's employer, the Air America radio network.

To kick off the 2006 campaign, Washington lawmakers this week are hoisting the "ethics reform" standard. If voters are wondering whether Congress can rally to save itself from temptation, developments in a Tennessee political-corruption scandal that resembles the Abramoff affair aren't encouraging.