Hinchey's Hunch

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Hinchey's Hunch

New York Democratic Congressman Maurice Hinchey is accusing the White House, and speci fically adviser Karl Rove, of "setting up" CBS to air the now-discredited report on President Bush's National Guard service. At a weekend forum in Ithaca, New York — taped by a member of the audience — Hinchey said, "Why did [the White House] do it? They knew that Bush was a draft dodger. ... They knew that he had no defense for that period in his life. ... So] they produced papers ... and they distributed those out to elements of the media. ... [CBS] finally bought into it."

Hinchey, however, said he has no evidence to back up his claim.

Proof Is In The Picture?

New York State Republicans have sent out a photo of convicted defense lawyer Lynne Stewart, saying it proves she is, as the GOP has claimed, a Democrat. The picture purports to show Stewart — convicted two weeks ago of helping terrorists — in a protest march at the GOP convention in New York last summer, standing between Michael Moore and Jesse Jackson. But it turns out the person in the picture is not Lynne Stewart.

But that doesn't mean she's not a Democrat. The New York City Board of Elections, quoted by the New York Sun, says Stewart is a registered Democrat. And, according to a 2003 report in the Staten Island Advance, she was the guest of honor at a meeting of the Staten Island Democratic Association.

Who’s the Greatest President?

Despite being the father of the country, and the fact that Presidents' Day began in honor of his birthday... George Washington is considered the nation's greatest president by very few Americans — according to two new polls. In a nation-wide Washington College poll, only six percent say Washington was the greatest.

And, in a new Gallup poll, even fewer say that. Abe Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, by the way, top the Washington College Poll. And Reagan and Bill Clinton top the Gallup poll.

U.S. Trying To Assassinate Him?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez insists the U-S is planning to assassinate him, saying on Venezuelan TV, "If they kill me, the name of the person responsible is George Bush." But, he says, "If by the hand of the devil those perverse plans succeed ... forget about Venezuelan oil, Mr. Bush. If you try, you will regret it."

Last week, Cuban President Fidel Castro made similar accusations, saying, "If Chavez is assassinated, the blame will fall on Bush. I say that as someone who has survived hundreds of the empire's [assassination] plans."

— FOX News' Michael Levine contributed to this report