Alan Hevesi is expected to step down Friday, reports The Albany Times-Union.

State Comptroller Alan Hevesi will agree this week to resign to avoid an indictment stemming from an ethics scandal in which he used public employees to chauffeur his wife, according to sources familiar with his decision.

Hevesi, one of the state's highest-ranking elected officials, will consent to stepping down from the post he has held since January 2003 by Friday morning at the latest as part of a plea deal with Albany County District Attorney David Soares.

The comptroller, a 66-year-old Queens Democrat, will also plead guilty to a criminal charge, which will not be higher than a Class E felony and will not require him to spend any time in jail, according to the sources.

The next steps in the process are unclear; the governor, George Pataki, could in theory name a replacement to serve out the remainder of Hevesi's current term, while governor-elect Eliot Spitzer and the legislature will no doubt wrangle over whom to appoint in Hevesi's stead for his next term, for which he was just elected.

Stay tuned.

In a bit of colonial effrontery, NASDAQ announces a $5.1 billion takeover bid for the London Stock Exchange.

The New York Times: Governor Pataki (remember him?) gives the special counsel investigating the Hevesi scandal subpoena powers.

Also in the Times, a closer look at the goals of Attorney General-elect Andrew Cuomo:

“We started this campaign talking about a reform agenda,” Mr. Cuomo said. “And we laid out specific legislative priorities. I think that’s the mandate from the people. They want reform in Albany. They say: Clean it up. Fix it. There is a lack of trust between the people and the government. It’s not a perception problem. It’s a reality.”

The Washington Post: Charlie Rangel calls for a draft, again; John McCain says U.S. troops are "fighting and dying for a failed policy." Way to go in helping the terrorists, attacking the troops, blaming America first, blah blah blah, Senator.

Rats leave the sinking ship.

The Albany Times-Union: The best-kept secret in New York, Lieutenant-Governor Mary Donohue, may be kicked upstairs for a nine-year term on the Court of Claims. Still desperately sucking at the taxpayer teat, republicans are; isn't it odd how they never seem to head to that private sector they always extol, unless there's a government-dependent lobbying job, that is?

Lastly, Ben Smith takes a closer look at the past of Malcolm Smith, Senate Democratic leader.

'Spitzer is likely to seek Hevesi's ouster', says The New York Times.

Also in the Times, a portrait of Steny Hoyer, the new House Majority Leader.

The Albany Times-Union describes 'a bid to lock up' that 911 report re: John Sweeney, wifebeater. Isn't that what's commonly referred to as a coverup?

Via AmericaBlog comes this from Bob Dornan: "I can't stand the thought of my party having as its three front-runners three open adulterers, Newt Gingrich, Giuliani, and McCain." Wifebeating and page groping too, Bob.

Charles Krauthammer in The Washington Post figures out what the problem in Iraq is: it's the Iraqis. They're just too distracted by that looting and killing stuff to see the upside thereof, it seems. Neocon self-delusions continue undisturbed by facts or any sense of, say, their responsibility.

George Bush finally makes it to Vietnam.

USA Today: Iraq is set to surpass the expense of World War Two; it has already taken more time, so that's fitting. It's already been more expensive than Korea and more expensive than Vietnam.

The question is, should Bill Thompson start looking for real estate up in Albany.

DEM, IND, WOR
Alan Hevesi
Incumbent, Campaign Website: http://www.alanhevesi.com

REP, CON
J. Christopher Callaghan (R, C),
Campaign Website: http://www.callaghanfornewyork.com

GRE
Julia Willebrand

LBT
John J. Cain

SWP
Willie Cotton

I spend a great deal of time reading about and publicizing the extremely disgusting levels of corruption in today's Republican Party. I consider Republican corruption to be one of the main issues in this election and have been pushing that for more than a year.

Republican corruption includes massive levels of cronyism, from a return to a spoils system in Kentucky to the appointment of a failed horse inspector to run FEMA, leading to the death by neglect of thousands of Americans after hurricane Katrina. It includes the top leadership taking outright bribes like Randy Cunningham of California (now in prison), to wallowing in the corruption of lobbyists like Tom DeLay (indicted), Bob Ney (in prison) and Dick Pombo (should be in prison), to massive misuse of public funds for campaign or personal purposes, like Vito "Lap Dog" Fossella (fined $60,000 and should be in prison). The corrupt coalition of lobbyists, politicians and corporations that is the Republican party now spans from coast to coast and, with each new revelation of corruption, the Republican party always reacts the same way: lie, cover up and whine about it. Even when faced with a Republican who was a clear sexual predator, the top Republican leadership, right up to Hastert and Reynolds, covered it up rather than reported it and demanded the removal of that sexual predator from Congress.

From the Daily News :

"If he wins, he is going to be alone, a pariah. It will be the beginning of the end," said one Democratic operative.

Democratic leaders are hoping Hevesi secures another term so they can name another party pol to complete his term.

If he is impeached or resigns, the Senate and Assembly would vote on a successor - who would almost certainly be a Democrat because the party makes up the majority of the Legislature.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said he was sticking by Hevesi, calling Republican hopeful Christopher Callaghan unfit for the job. "Callaghan is not the alternative," Silver said.

So Alan Hevesi is not going to the victory party organized by Eliot Spitzer. I guess it is understandable: Eliot withdrew his endorsement of Hevesi in the wake of the comptroller's Cargate scandal.

The question on my mind? Wouldn't New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson be a great replacement for him at the party? Hevesi should comp Bill with his tickets.

The New York Times reports on the newest message offensive from the right: vote for us, or Pelosi will force you into a gay marriage.

Tony Perkins is grateful to the New Jersey Court, says The Washington Post.

Also in the Times, some real world blowback from all the yammering about stolen elections. Surprise! Some blacks just aren't bothering. This is one reason why I always urge the voting machine people to show some sense of perspective, usually to no avail.

The Washington Post front-pages what you've probably known for a while: that this year's campaign is dirty, bordering on surreal.

Hevesi's support falls to 50% in a new poll, reports Capitol Confidential.

Quiet bombshell: The New York Times endorses Hevesi's opponent.

The four major upstate medical centers receive $750,000 in disaster/terrorism preparedness state grants, reports The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. That's rather convenient timing there.

It appears increasingly likely that (republican) governor Pataki and (republican) Senate Majority Leader Bruno will act to remove (Democratic) comptroller Alan Hevesi from office via a trial-like proceeding in the (republican) state Senate in the less than two weeks before the election.

This could be expected to help republican comptroller candidate, man-with-bow-tie, to win the comptroller race. And therein lies the rub.

The scenario seemingly approaching reeks of the partisan Clinton impeachment in 1998. Unless Senate Democrats side with their peers from the other side of the aisle, this will look and feel like a partisan witch-hunt intended to provide an electoral benefit for a party that otherwise is crashing and burning.

Democrats seem ready to throw Hevesi overboard; but that does not by any stretch of the imagination mean that they're willing to sacrifice the office that he holds.

Nor, if Pataki and Bruno give in to their partisan instincts, giddy perhaps with the sudden prospect of an unexpected victory snatched from the jaws of oblivion, will they have to. Democrats are not going to acquiesce in a partisan power grab. Nor will the voters, I'd guess, certainly not if republicans overplay their hand as they did in 1998. The resulting backlash might even help our quest to regain the state Senate.

Go ahead, republicans. I dare you.