Cheat Sheet - Sleaze and Scandal in the Sunshine State

Today: Obama to Bring 34K Troops Home , Meet Cody Keenan, Lead Speechwriter on Obama's 2013 State of the Union , Pope Had Secret Heart Surgery February 12, 2013 EXCESS 1. Sleaze in the Sunshine State The corruption trial of former state Republican Party chairman Jim Greer was going to have it all—big names, allegations of "golf carts full of hookers," and skimming off the top. Then he had to cut it short by pleading guilty. The Daily Beast's John Avlon reports. Read it at The Daily Beast SOTU PREVIEW 2. Obama to Bring 34K Troops Home According to a report by the Associated Press Tuesday, President Obama is set to reveal a big development in the nation's pullout of Afghanistan, vowing to have 34K troops home by a year from today. The news comes just one day after he awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor to former Army staff sgt. Clinton L. Romesha, who fought valiantly to save the lives of his fellow soldiers during a massive insurgent attack by al Qaeda in an Afghanistan outpost in 2009. Among other topics the president is likely to cover tonight are the economy, the middle class, and his own legacy. The speech will begin at 9 p.m. EST. Read it at Associated Press SOTU Frenzy 3. The Guy Behind Obama's Big Speech With former scribe Jon Favreau headed for Hollywood, Cody Keenan is stepping up as the president's new chief speechwriter—just in time for the State of the Union address. The Daily Beast's Eleanor Clift reports on the Chicago native. Read it at The Daily Beast RESIGNATION 4. Pope Had Secret Heart Surgery For those of you craving a scandal, you may be disappointed. Pope Benedict XVI, who announced his retirement yesterday, reportedly had secret heart surgery three months ago to replace his pacemaker. The Vatican released a statement saying that the pope has been in fact wearing a pacemaker for some time, but that his health is good. The newspaper II Sole 24 says that the 85-year-old has had a pacemaker for the past 10 years. The surgery went well and the pope maintained his schedule, but it reportedly made him think about whether he was fit to stay in power. Read it at Bloomberg Ooze Cruise 5. Filthy Conditions on Stranded Cruise Ship Being stuck at sea is the least of the problems for the 3,143 passengers stranded on the Carnival cruise ship drifting off the Gulf of Mexico. An engine fire Sunday left the Carnival Triumph without propulsion, leaving it adrift about 150 miles from the Yucatan coast. Currently there are reports of a shortage of running water, scarce electricity, and a depleting food supply. One passenger reported "sewage running down the walls and floors" and said travelers were being asked to defecate in bags and urinate in showers because toilets weren't functioning. Food lines exceeded three and a half hours long, and many passengers are sleeping outside to stay cool. Vacation of a lifetime. Read it at CNN ROBES OFF Buddhist Chief Accused of Abuse 105-year-old man reportedly sexually harassed devotees. REVENGE 'Anonymous' to Hack SOTU "There will be no State of the Union Address on the web tonight." YIKES Coca-Cola Linked to Woman's Death Drank up to 2.5 gallons a day. Shooting Maryland Student Kills Housemate Over dispute about basement fire. Metamorphosis Bedbugs Shut Down Library And you thought bookworms were bad. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET Culture Beast Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Worst in Show Monday marks the first night of the Westminster Dog Show, where the finest groomed, best-trained pups from around the globe compete for the prestigious title of 'Best in Show.' Here's a quick look at some clumsy canines who didn't make the cut. More Videos Pope Benedict: The Unexpected Democrat by George Weigel Join Our #SOTU Live Chat Comedy's Next Big Thing by Kevin Fallon

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