Happy Friday.

With the “holidays” now behind us, the media again can attempt to focus on scandal-ridden Washington D.C. and, in particular, the GOP. The litany of republicans caught up in the Abramoff web of deceit grows by the day: House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, Robert Ney of Ohio, Senator Conrad Burns of Montana and, of course, L’il Tommy DeLay.

Not surprisingly, while the top dogs keep denying their apparent culpability, their lackeys have not been so fortunate at keeping the inevitable at bay: Delay’s press aide Michael Scanlon, who later became Abramoff’s closest business associate, also has pled to federal charges and David Safavian, the Bush administration’s former top procurement official, was indicted last year on charges of lying to federal investigators about his dealings with Abramoff. Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and former Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed, both have close ties to Abramoff and have their backs to the wall.

Of course, the real hot-button issue centers on the republicans illegally spying on American citizens and lying about it. Fortunately, Dubbya has admitted to the illegality so there’s no way he can later deny and exonerate himself--only defend.

The holiday recess permitted a reprieve but the scandal is sure to mount as the victims of the crime are revealed. House Democrats have asked for copies of all legal opinions on the spying program; the numbers of Americans singled out; and the names of agencies getting the information the agency collected.

Also, the DNC is finally living up to its obligation to help expose the fraud that is the Bush presidency. In a charming, if frightening, video Bush’s lies and their historical predicate are revealed.

Finally, the republican treachery is exposed ... and people are paying attention.