Idiot media has (however inadequately and infrequently) reported every time the "number of appointments at the White House by Jack Abramoff or his employees" has changed, invariably upwards. What they have never, that I've seen anyway, made note of is that Abramoff had his own plant right in the heart of the White House. His former "aide" Susan Ralston, who has been Karl Rove's right-hand woman for most if not the entire BushCo presidency reign of terror.

Today she "quit" sez Reuters:

An aide to top White House political adviser Karl Rove resigned on Friday in the fallout over a congressional report showing many White House contacts with ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the aide, Susan Ralston, submitted her resignation after recognizing that "a protracted discussion of these matters would be a distraction to the White House."

Ralston chose to step down and "we support her decision and consider the matter closed," Perino said.

BTW you don't have to click the Reuters link, that's the WHOLE STORY right there. And do you see any mention whatever of WTF connection there is between Susan Ralston and "the Jack Abramoff scandal"? No, you rather do not. If you didn't know the story already this would be absolutely baffling and inexplicable.

And catch that "we consider the matter to be closed." Um, now, why exactly should that be, Ms. Perino? We on the other hand consider this an excellent opportunity to at last let the story open. Fresh air and sunshine, meet bullshit. You know the routine.

Who wants to give me odds that any of the network newscasts will even mention this timely "resignation", much less explain its significance?

Infintely better analysis, with framing, from the superb Georgia10 over at dKos. Of which the key portions are:

"Consider the matter closed." Yep. Because the White House doesn't want to make the last few weeks of the election about the hundreds of contacts between the White House and Jack Abramoff.

The White House doesn't want the spend the last few weeks of the campaign talking about Iraq either. Or NIEs. Or Republican Congressmen preying on young pages. Or Republican Congressmen covering up the fact that a Republican Congressman preyed on young pages.

Yep. The White House would rather wait out this huge political storm in silence. No questions, no answers, just the stunned silence of an administration that keeps getting kicked in the gut by the consequences of its own malfeasance.

Methinks this means some new Abramoff blockbuster is coming up in the next few days. Caligula Karl wants to have the vomitorium all clean and shiny when (okay, if) the vestal virgins of the press cast an eye its way.