These days, the media loves covering the presidential aspirations of Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry (and not Ron Paul). So we're not sure why former New York governor George Pataki is thinking about running for president. As the Daily News puts it, "He's pro-choice, pro-union and pro-gay marriage, so... Pataki's plan to possibly join the red-meat pack vying for the GOP presidential nod drew puzzled looks Sunday." more ›

At first, the trial over Brooke Astor's estate was an exciting glimpse into society; months later, it's just boring. The NY Times reports that jury deliberations are forcing the defendants (including Astor's son Anthony Marshall) and lawyers to kill time: "Mr. Marshall, 85, has been alternating between reading French literature by the likes of Honoré de Balzac and dozing off on the bench. At one point last week, Mr. Marshall lay asleep on a wooden bench in the hallway outside the courtroom with a newspaper over his face." And a defense lawyer said, "Thank God for Wi-Fi." more ›

Today is expected to be the final day of confirmation hearings for federal judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's first nominee to the Supreme Court. Yesterday, Sotomayor was questioned about her views on abortion and the Second Amendment, and the Washington Post notes, "Like nominees of both parties before her, she declined to be forthcoming about a host of legal issues. Her demeanor was more relaxed, yet she took no chances, joking openly with Judiciary Committee members while increasingly avoiding their questions. By midafternoon yesterday, even two Democrats on the panel sounded frustrated by her long, legally detailed and often evasive replies." more ›