LinkFest

- In case you missed it, Interior Secretary Gale Norton resigned yesterday, effective at the end of March. As the NYTimes puts it today, Norton "was at the nexus of many controversies, including drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other sensitive areas, administration of the Endangered Species Act, handling of trust money for Indian tribes, and collection of royalties due the federal government for natural gas drilling on public lands." She had been one of four original Bush cabinet members still on the job (the others are Rumsfeld, Chao and Mineta).

I must admit, my favorite reaction to Norton's resignation was the two-word press statement released by Defenders of Wildlife: "Good riddance."

- The Times also reports today that efforts to pass a substantial overhaul in lobbying procedures seems to have faltered. Shocking, isn't it? Must be time for another indictment, that'll get things back on track.

- In what would be a stunning display of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, Kate Michaelman (former head of NARAL) says she will decide "very soon" whether she'll enter the race for the Democratic nomination against Rick Santorum in the PA Senate race.