By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Thursday, February 7, 2008

Britney Spears was unexpectedly released from a psychiatric hospital yesterday, leading to another bizarre paparazzi chase of the troubled pop star through the streets of Los Angeles -- this one broadcast live on some stations -- and raising new questions about her illness and treatment.

The former chart-topper and mom of two had been expected to stay in the UCLA hospital for at least two weeks after going in last Thursday. On Monday, a judge determined Spears is unable to care for herself and named her father as her conservator.

How'd she get out so fast? TMZ.com cited sources who said that doctors found she no longer legally posed a danger to herself or others, so they couldn't keep her against her will.

What next? Now that she's out, doctors cannot force her into any other treatment, said Carolyn Reinach Wolf, a legal mental-health expert in New York. A judge could order her to get treatment as a condition of winning custody or visitation rights with her toddler sons. And the courts can also extend her father's control over her finances and estate. But the next step with treatment is up to her, Wolf said: "Hopefully, the doctors persuaded her to do something on an outpatient basis."

Super Tuesday, in the one room in Washington where no one wanted to talk politics -- a charity poker tournament for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. All eyes were fixed on the cards in the J.W. Marriott ballroom, and none on CNN's Magic Wall.

Lording over it all: NASCAR legend Richard Petty, the event's honorary co-chairman, in his trademark feathered cowboy hat, shades and a leather jacket with flames along the arms. Pick his candidate yet? "I'm strictly neutral for now," he said. "I gotta still figure it out."

Petty, a former GOP candidate for North Carolina secretary of state who places himself to the right of Jesse Helms, sounded ambivalent about John McCain. "I'm still a big fan of George Bush, because personally I think he's doing what personally he thinks is right. Everything that can happen has happened on his watch." Any concern his home state is trending blue? "We're getting liberals moving here from up North. Maybe they were headed to Florida and ran out of gas."

Sir, we don't want to look like we're staring at your crotch, so . . . can you tell us what your belt buckle says? He laughed and threw an arm around us: "King Richard."

The star of Super Tuesday coverage? Bill Richardson's fab new beard, which he grew after dropping out of the presidential race last month. "You look very Justin Timberlake," purred ABC's Diane Sawyer. Hmmm . . . we think he's the spitting image of Caps owner Ted Leonsis, who saw Richardson on the tube, turned to his wife and said: "Good career move."

The multimillionaire told us he immediately warmed up to New Mexico's newly hirsute governor: "He went from being a very dry politician to someone with a twinkle in his eye and a strong point of view." Richardson told reporters he stops shaving during periods of "decompression" -- but Leonsis has another theory. "It must be deeply psychological" for politicians, he said (remember Al Gore, circa 2001?). "It's like a public rebellion."

Jenna Bush lunching Tuesday at Blue Duck Tavern with a woman who turned out to be Caryl Stern, president of UNICEF's U.S. Fund. They sat in the back, asked that no one be seated at neighboring tables -- but were nonetheless overheard talking about how to get more media attention for UNICEF programs. (Here you go!) The first daughter wore black slacks, ordered the yellowfin tuna salad.