Allegations that Roland Burris failed to disclose that he received the answers to ScuttleButton puzzles in advance may ultimately end his Senate career. It's the kind of lapse that lawmakers are not known to condone.

But until they trace the leaks to us, we continue with the contest. And here's how to play: Just take one word or one concept per button, add 'em up, and you arrive at a saying or a name. And, don't forget, you can't win unless you send in both your name and your city/state.

Also: The answer does not necessarily have to be political. For instance, a few puzzles back the answer was "Minnesota Twins" -- not political at all, unless you're thinking Mondale and Humphrey instead of Killebrew and Oliva.

Last week's puzzle was neither political nor especially difficult to solve.

Those buttons, in case you forgot:

Nash for Secretary of State -- from California.

Annul Joe Kennedy -- A lot of reader queries on this one. Joe Kennedy, son of the late New York Sen. Robert Kennedy, was a Democratic congressman from Massachusetts. In 1991, Joe divorced his wife. She later learned that he had gotten the marriage annulled by the Vatican so he could have a church marriage with his second wife (whom he married in a civil ceremony in '91). Sheila Rauch, his ex-wife, was outraged that the church could decide that the marriage never happened even after 12 years and two children, and in 1997 she wrote a memoir detailing her side of the story. The "annul" button came out shortly after. Kennedy, who was thought to have eyes on the governorship, decided to retire from electoral politics after 1998.

No Public Financing for Politicians -- This button came from the New York Conservative Party in 1974.

Radio and T.V./Keating -- Kenneth Keating was a one-term Republican senator from New York who was defeated for re-election in 1964 by Bobby Kennedy.

So, when you add Nash + Annul + Public + Radio, you get ...

National Public Radio, that left-wing/right-wing/anti-Republican/Bush apologist (according to my e-mails) news organization that has employed me, for better or worse, since 1991.

The winner, selected at random among the correct responders, is (drum roll) ... Kathryn Nulk of Eleva, Wis. She becomes the first ScuttleButton winner in history to come from Eleva, Wis.

Wanna be alerted the moment a new ScuttleButton puzzle goes up on the site? Sign up on our mailing list at politicaljunkie@npr.org.

(And as for our contest to give a genuine 1968 Nixon for President button to the first person who correctly names the next HHS secretary ... we are expecting to announce that winner next week.)

categories: ScuttleButton

11:35 - February 19, 2009

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