Medialink Worldwide has announced that it is parting ways with J. Graeme McWhirter, who co-founded the company nineteen years ago and, until December 31, 2005, was a director and executive vice-president. Medialink is the biggest producer of fake news products such as video news releases. Under the "separation agreement" with Medialink Worldwide, McWhirter will be paid $180,000 for consultancy services until July 1, 2006, and will receive a total severance payment of $1.5 million over the next five years.

"Representative Tom DeLay's campaign to get Republicans to dominate Washington lobbying may have worked too well for the Alexander Strategy Group," writes Bloomberg. The lobbying and political strategy firm "has links to no fewer than three of the scandals convulsing the U.S. capital." ASG partner Tony Rudy "is now a focus of the federal investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff." Founder Ed Buckham "set up a South Korea junket for his old boss," DeLay, "that violated ethics rules." Lobbyist Jim Ellis "faces money-laundering charges in Texas along with DeLay." Lastly, ASG represents Group W Advisors, Inc., a defense contractor owned by Brent Wilkes, who "is one of the four un-indicted co-conspirators in a Nov. 28 criminal complaint for allegedly bribing" Representative Cunningham, who pled guilty to graft and resigned from Congress.

President Bush at the U.S. Naval Academy on Nov. 30

"After the White House's aggressive response to [Iraq] war critics led to higher poll numbers for the president, congressional Republicans ... are looking to fight their own aggressive campaign," reports The Hill. After returning from recess, Republicans plan "to amplify the stories of individual soldiers who still believe in their mission." (A recent survey of active-duty troops by the Military Times found decreasing support for both President Bush and the Iraq war, though military approval ratings for both remain higher than the general U.S. population's.) Senate Republican Conference Chair Rick Santorum is heading the PR push. Santorum said "letters from U.S. soldiers and their families" prompted him to launch the campaign. One such letter, from Sgt. Michael Sarro of the Pennsylvania National Guard, offered help for "the senator and the fight against anti-war activists."