Afterthoughts

Let us hope that the new year will not be defined by its first week — namely, Burris, Franken, Richardson, Panetta and erstwhile law firms specializing in slapstick and pratfalls.

Looks like the formerly tainted Roland Burris will be ordained by the newly tainted Harry Reid as a senator, after all. Now Burris won't have to be smuggled into the Senate disguised as a potted plant.

In order to be confirmed as CIA director, Leon Panetta must testify under oath that he never tortured anybody when he was a California congressman.

Will Panetta make a good spy? He is already good at keeping secrets — namely, his qualifications to be CIA director.