The New Neighbors Sure Like Black SUVs

AID does not "endorse" candidates, he noted, adding that "this was a private event," to which "the public wasn't invited." The public, of course, was paying the audience's salaries.

Also, "I wasn't there," Snider said, "so anything I told you would be hearsay." Now, hearsay, being generally inadmissible in a court of law, would hardly be appropriate for Loop Fans.

But a week later, Snider graciously offered an audiotape of the event. We apologize for the delay.

"Hearsay"?

Moving On

Speaking of leaving office, Lou Ann Linehan, longtime chief of staff and campaign guru for outgoing GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.), is leaving to take an unpaid "leave of absence" with no specific future job in mind, Hagel's office announced.

This naturally touched off speculation that she might be off to work on a Hagel vice presidential campaign should New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg throw his hat in the ring as an independent. Hagel has oft been mentioned as a likely partner for Bloomberg.

We were told there is "no chance" that that is going to happen. (If we had a buck for every time . . . ) Hagel communications director Mike Buttry moves up to take the chief-of-staff slot.