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By Amanda Carpenter

Smart Girls

What Stacy Mott started as a simple blog has morphed into a thriving social networking site, complete with its own e-zine aimed at Republican women.

"I started as a blogger in June and in November I put out a help-wanted ad online for conservative women to start a small group," said SmartGirlPolitics.org founder and president Stacy Mott. "I thought I would get a couple hundred. I got 10,000."

The site is even popular with some men, too. Former Bush White House Senior Adviser Karl Rove frequently promotes it on his Twitter account.

The new project, called Smart Girl Nation, launched this week. The first lineup of stories ranged from discussions on politics, feminism and culture, such as the debate over Miss California's statements on gay marriage. One of the most popular initial articles is a piece of political satire in which a writer, who goes by Dr. Dave, imagines what would happen if Somali pirates snuck into the White House to steal President Obama's teleprompter.

It ended with a joke about a failed rescue for the teleprompter. "Using binoculars, this reporter could see what appeared to be the following message on its screen [in screaming all-capital letters]: 'Don't come for me. I orchestrated this escape. I can't take anymore abuse from these incompetents.' "

"It all ties back to politics in one shape or form," Mrs. Mott laughed.

Big budget book

Getting the inside scoop on the president's budget is going to cost you.

The Government Printing Office is selling the official fiscal 2010 budget, which runs 1,360 pages, for $73. The information is also available, for free, online for those who prefer their budgets in paperless form.