Grand Old Police Blotter: Noe Pioneers! Edition

The Abramoff and Scanlon plea deals may be having an instructive effect -- inspiring other Republicans to finger their copartisans in exchange for less prison time. Bush Pioneer Tom Noe is willing to make a deal in order to see less time behind jail door No. 2:

Indicted coin dealer Thomas W. Noe wants to change his not-guilty pleas to federal campaign-finance charges to resolve the case, according to a court filing yesterday.

A Noe attorney and a federal prosecutor filed a joint request for a hearing "as soon as possible" to change Noe's plea to three charges that he illegally funneled $45,400 to President Bush's re-election campaign.

U.S. Attorney Greg White in Cleveland declined to comment, and Noe's attorneys could not be reached last night. But the filing suggests that Noe has agreed to accept responsibility and possibly cooperate in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Of course, Noe's guilt is so certain that prosecutors shouldn't consider a deal unless Noe starts giving up national and state Republicans who aren't even currently on their radar. If a deal is offered, sentencing should be deferred until the case against the last Republican is ironclad. You can't trust these remorseless bastards.