The Daily Background

Libby Trial
… Well? Will we get a verdict today?

The dismissal of one juror Monday signalled that deliberations would go faster than otherwise, for two reasons. Firstly, if the jury had replaced that juror with one of the alternates, the jury would have had to start deliberations all over again (something Fitzgerald would have wanted for obvious reasons: the more they go over the two sides arguments, the more the prosecution’s evidence outweighs the defense’s emotional appeal to the jury).

Secondly, with the jury one person short now, there’s one less person to convince either way, and so a verdict will come faster.

The last big trial at the courthouse I believe was the trial of David Safavian, the White House procurement officer who was eventually sentenced for his corrupt dealings with Jack Abramoff. That trial’s jury deliberations took five days, and this one will have taken longer if it lasts through today and into tomorrow.

House
I think there’s some minor legislation up for a vote relating to the stock market crash yesterday.

Senate
9/11 Commission recommendations implementations act will be up for debate in the Senate today, after passing the House with a wide margin. Expect a close vote in the Senate if it gets to a vote today.

2008
Hotline on how well America knows the candidates, according to their most recent Diageo poll:

41% believe McCain is 55-64. The senator is currently 71 years of age. Obama, 45, was also mistaken by 43% for being in the 35-44 range.

Only about 20% of all voters are aware of the top tier ‘08ers’ religion. 22% correctly labeled Giuliani as Catholic and 20% correctly labeled Romney as Mormon. However, 6% incorrectly think Obama is Muslim

Iraq
3,161. And Dick Cheney is fine and back home, thank you.

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog