August is a relaxing time of year in Washington. This year is no exception. That is, until the Attorney General resigns, a senior Republican Senator gets himself in trouble, President Bush is actually attending fundraisers for GOP candidates, and, oh by the way, at least 17 people are still running for President.

We're tired already.

Starting with the vacancy at the Justice Department, early word yesterday indicated that DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff had the nomination all but locked up. Today, though, many newspapers give ink to other candidates. Everyone agrees on one thing: No decision, Chertoff or not, has been made.

Among the names mentioned yesterday and today: DHS Secretary Chertoff, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox (A suggestion we couldn't believe when one Republican mentioned it to us yesterday), ex-Deputy AG George Terwilliger, Appeals Judge Laurence Silberman, ex-Deputy AG Larry Thompson, ex-Solicitor General Ted Olson, homeland security adviser Frances Fargo Townsend and ex-DEA head Asa Hutchinson.

Some candidates would bring a more difficult confirmation battle than others. Democratic senators yesterday seemed initially comfortable with Chertoff's name, though coming so soon after the second anniversary of the Katrina disaster, questions about his oversight of FEMA would almost certainly come up. Olson argued for the Republican nominee in the 2000 Bush v. Gore case in front of the Supreme Court.

On the other hand, a seasoned Washington veteran like Silberman, who co-chaired the WMD commission, or Terwilliger, who served in George H.W. Bush's Justice Department, would likely pass overwhelmingly with little tension. One commentator this morning likened Terwilliger to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, an example of the Bush Administration reaching back to an old hand trusted on both sides of the aisle for his competence.

Attorney General Gonzales' resignation hit the wires at 8:13 a.m. yesterday, and by 8:17, Dana Milbank reports, the winner of the first statement contest was decided: Senator Chuck Schumer pressed "send" first. The DCCC, too, is already out with an email to supporters, trying to make money off Gonzales before the body gets cold.

Former Senator John Edwards was the first White House contender to get a statement out, twenty minutes after the announcement. We're still waiting for comment from Republican White House hopefuls.

On to steamier subjects. After reports surfaced in Roll Call, which we link to below, that Idaho Senator Larry Craig had been arrested in a Minneapolis airport bathroom in June and subsequently pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge, the three-term conservative Republican issued a statement confirming the incident but denying wrong-doing.

In Craig's statement, and despite the guilty plea, he maintains his innocence. "I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct," the statement says. "I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty." The plea came a month and a half after the incident, and while Craig may have wanted to keep it quiet, pleading guilty while maintaining innocence doesn't make a lot of sense, said CNN's Jeffrey Toobin. "This is the single most ridiculous explanation for a legal proceeding I've ever heard," Toobin said this morning.

Roll Call, normally a subscription-only site, made the breaking news story open to everyone. Their site crashed so quickly, because of the huge volume, that this reporter has yet to see the actual article on their site. AP's Matthew Daly has the best rundown of the history of rumors swirling around Craig, dating back to 1982. For the original denial, from way back when, click here. And ask yourself: How was there so much cocaine on Capitol Hill?

Craig resigned yesterday as his state's chairman of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, because, as a Romney spokesman said, Craig didn't want to be a distraction. Craig's foibles continue the awful year campaign co-chairs have had, from South Carolina Giuliani chair Thomas Ravanel being rung up on cocaine distribution charges to Florida McCain chair Bob Allen accused of soliciting sex from an undercover police officer. Iowa Giuliani chair Jim Nussle is the one chairman to actually move up, nominated as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Still, even he isn't having all that much fun, as Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced he would place a hold on the nomination.

Back to Idaho. Craig has yet to announce his re-election plans for 2008, but it's probably safe to assume they've been made for him. Still, a spokesman won't say anything about re-election plans yet.

Former Congressman Larry LaRocco (D) has already announced his candidacy. LaRocco served two terms in Craig's old Congressional seat after Craig went to the Senate, losing in the 1994 Republican landslide to the late Helen Chenoweth. LaRocco ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2006, but lost to Jim Risch.

Should Craig do the expected and step down, Risch would make an interesting candidate. As the incumbent Lieutenant Governor in 2006, Risch ascended to the top post when Gov. Dirk Kempthorne became Secretary of the Interior. Kempthorne was not running for re-election because of term limits, and Risch had already said he would run for re-election instead of challenging Congressman Butch Otter for the gubernatorial nomination. So, as governor, Risch ran for Lieutenant Governor. An opportunity to move to the Senate, a race for which he would begin as the heavy favorite, might be too tempting for Risch to pass up.

More on President Bush raising money for Republicans and some campaign trail moves later today.