The Scanlon question

Michael Scanlon wasn't yet a convicted felon when Gov. Bob Riley hired him as press secretary in the late 1990s. He also wasn't yet a felon when, as a lobbyist, he sent $50,000 of money from an Indian gambling client to a national Republican committee with the intent to help Riley get elected governor in 2002. And no one can prove that any of the $50,000 was among the $360,000 that the committee sent to Riley's campaign four days later.

None of these things will help Riley's image. But barring further revelations, they probably won't cause lasting damage, either.