We'll have Vito Fossella to kick around, but only for a while. The Staten Island Bush-clone, Cheney-acolyte, war supporter will not seek another term. Mr. Fossella's letter is here .

Washington Post Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.) will not seek reelection in November after admitting to an extramarital affair with a former Air Force official, which came after a drunken-driving arrest in Alexandria three weeks ago, Republican Party sources said. Fossella is not resigning immediately, saving House Republicans from having to defend another seat in what would have been an expensive special election had he left Congress altogether. The party has lost three seats through such elections since March. The Staten Island Advocate, Fossella's hometown newspaper, reported last night that he is to release a letter to constituents today.

The Staten Island Advance broke the story late last night

"Mired in scandal after revelations about the secret daughter he fathered with Virginia divorcee Laura Fay became public, Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) tells constituents in a letter to be posted on his Web site tomorrow, and released exclusively to the Advance, that he will no longer serve them in Congress after his current term expires on Jan. 3, 2009." [Fossella statement]"After a great deal of consideration, I have made the decision not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives this November," .... "This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family."

Steve Harrison, a leading Democratic candidate, had this comment:

"I'm relieved Vito Fossella finally made a decision. I believe he made the obvious one. I hope he and his family find peace in the near future and I ask Mr. Fossella to represent us well during the remainder of his term. "I now turn my attention back to the issues facing the people of the district and America, like Iraq, healthcare, energy, the environment and, of course the economy. Many in the district have suffered foreclosures and lost jobs. I look forward to debating these issues with the Republican candidate, no matter who that may be. I have not been running against Vito Fossella. I have been running for Congress and will continue to do so"

The NY Times story is here ; the Daily News story is here with this twenty-day time-line of Fossella's fall ; Newsday's reproduction of the AP story is here. Politico's post here