Geraldo Alckmin, Lula's main rival, says the bungled attempt to smear him with the affair makes the presidential race more competitive.

NPR: Corruption Claims Cloud Brazil's Presidential Election

He is justifying his behaviour first to Customer Dave and then to Mike Krahulik on that one day, in a series of emails between the morning (threatening to block Dave from cancelling and reordering the controllers) and late evening (threatening Penny Arcade with a smear campaign).

FORBES: Conclusion

The issue of judicial nominations has taken on more overt partisan tones in recent years with Democrats and Republicans trading charges of delay tactics and smear campaigns.

CNN: Democrats: Bush pushing 'right-wing' judges

But it was a miserable place to stay, its attic full of manic squirrels, its floor a dull smear of ground-in soot and dirt, its walls impregnated with the oily emanations of ten thousand meals.

NEWYORKER: Idols

Apart from the silliness, there is a great deal of useful health advice here, with articles on everything from what to do if your PAP smear test comes back "abnormal" to the health benefits of fennel.

CNN: Site Seer: Get fit on the Net

Radicati fought back by responding on her own Web site, but the smear job hovers online, appearing when you Google her name or start with Brill's mostly diplomatic site and then work your way through its links.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories

Journalists who have dealt with Mr McBride and other Gordon Brown advisers, like former spin-doctor Charlie Whelan, say the aborted smear strategy bore the hallmarks of the way Mr Brown's team has dealt with his enemies in the past.

BBC: Key people in e-mail smear row

Shortly after registering with a GP, he received a letter inviting him to go to the surgery for a smear test.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Magazine | Leslie, Kerry, Kim, Vivian, Tracy write