Political bits

(CQ) Arlen Specter WAS the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, so the Republicans now have to choose a replacement who will quickly have to turn to confirmation of a new Supreme Court Justice. (So, do they put in a fundamentalist or a pragmatist? New Republican or old Republican? The civil war boils on.)

(Star-Tribune) Minn. Gov. Pawlenty's numbers are going down, complicating his future plans. (I'm sure he'll write a thankyou note to Norm Coleman.)

And, (AP) The Feds are dropping the AIPAC case.