Finally, some backing from his homies. Darrell Issa, whose vanity project in 2003 resulted in the election of a man whose idea of "education reform" is to spend $80 million on a special election this November to lengthen teacher tenure at public schools, has come to the defense of the Duke. Pointing his finger at the true malefactors, Issa focuses the blame where it belongs: at the Cunningham friend (and long-time contributor) who provided the comps doubling the value of his home, as well as the businessman whose cash purchase at that inflated price enabled the Congressman to buy a three-acre, $2.55 million spread in Rancho Santa Fe.

FWIW, Rep. Cunningham is the chief House sponsor of the amendment to ban flag burning.