Tomorrow night marks the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. Members of the press corps (including some Media Mob contributors who are already on their way—note low posting rate today!) will have a chance to clink glasses with the president and his cabinet and remind themselves that despite five years of war, an economy some are already calling a Depression, and a painful slog of an election season, it's all in good fun. L'chaim! To us!

This year's event will be emceed by CBS Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson, whom the W.H.C.A.'s president (and ABC News correspondent), Ann Compton, is really excited about: "Craig Ferguson is a fresh take on late night TV. As a new citizen, a first-time uncommitted voter and someone who has looked at American politics from the outside, I am looking forward to his unique take on our system."

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Late in the summer of 1976, President Gerald Ford and his inner circle huddled in Vail, Colorado, facing the grimmest general election outlook for a Republican since the L.B.J. landslide of ‘64.

An unelected president, Ford had barely secured the Republican nomination against a fierce challenge from Ronald Reagan, leaving the party’s conservative base dispirited and even more distrustful of Ford than they already had been. And the stench of Watergate—and Ford’s politically damaging pardon of Richard Nixon—stubbornly hung in the air. After eight years of Republican rule, an amorphous but potent yearning for change had taken hold.

At the Vail strategy session, the Ford team zeroed in on the chief vulnerabilities of their Democratic opponent, Jimmy Carter: His lack of experience, his lack of accomplishments and his lack of specificity on the issues. These had to be exploited mercilessly.  read more »

Eliot Spitzer just announced government offices are staying open, despite the recent death of former President Ford.

Gerald Ford never told NYC to drop dead.

George Pataki had a fast start but an undistinguished finish.

Alan Hevesi's former chief of staff is reportedly set to resign from the comptroller's office.

David Paterson is planning a special inauguration in Harlem next week.

And the president of the teachers union was momentarily stumped when quizzed by a radio host.

John Edwards is about to announce a run for president, using hard-hit New Orleans as a backdrop.

Eliot Spitzer denied that his appointment of Nassau County Republican Michael Balboni to be his top homeland security official is part of any "ulterior scheme" to help Democrats take back the state Senate.

Some supporters of Rudy Giuliani are reaching out to the families of 9/11 victims about 2008, Maggie reports.

Democratic pledges to restore civility to Congress "carry risks," according to the Times.

Republican state Senator John Bonacic sent out a letter calling for his colleagues to toss Majority Leader Joe Bruno.

Joe Biden is going to fight any proposed buildup of troop levels in Iraq.

The city Conflicts of Interest Board released a letter scolding a Council staffer for inappropriate use of a business card.

Developer Bruce Ratner has installed surveillance cameras outside the properties he owns at the future location of the Atlantic Yards project.

There will be no holiday clemencies from the departing governor.

It's easy to see why New Hampshire Democrats were in a frenzy over Obama. He is a winning presence in a room. He is stylish in his uniform of white shirt, no tie, and dark blazer. He carries himself with the weightless self-possession men's magazines achieve only by employing a team of stylists and wardrobe artists. Even his left-handed signature is elegant--a B and an O connected by confident slashes. If he really were a rock star, he'd have it etched into the side of his private plane.

Did you catch the key phrase in that paragraph? No, it wasn't "New Hampshire" or "frenzy" of "confident." It was left-handed.

Much has been written about whether Obama's status as a member of minority ethnic group could keep him from the presidency. But could it be that his status as another minority--a small but influential society of like-handed individuals, living almost unnoticed among you--could cancel out the disadvantage?

--Andrew Rice