District political types and local journalists long waited for today — the day the D.C. City Council would finally vote on the contentious stadium lease, the day on which D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams was to prove once and for all if he could round up key votes at key moments. Alas, it was not to be. As we reported late yesterday afternoon, Williams asked Council-chair Linda Cropp to postpone the vote on the stadium lease to allow for “small technical changes,” political jargon many see as being evidence that Williams had not rounded up the necessary votes. The Post reports that MLB officials are not happy with the decision, and have threatened binding arbitration should the vote not come before December 31. Williams’ decision also came the day of a large pro-baseball rally at Freedom Plaza, where baseball boosters and union members cheered as council-members Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5) and others expressed confidence that the lease would easily pass.

Dirty Rotten Thieving Bastards Ruining Christmas: NBC 4 is warning District residents expecting packages that some of the city’s less principled criminals have been making off with Christmas booty left on area porches and stoops after delivery. And in related but unconfirmed news, District officials are looking for a fat, jolly, bearded man chasing after unsuspecting thieves with a pack of ravenous reindeer.

District Officials Respond to Contract Controversy: It was less than a month ago that the Williams administration was roiled by accusations published in the Post that it had overseen — or, at minimum, failed to stop — some $425 million in unauthorized payments and no-bid contracts. But in a hearing before the City Council yesterday, Anthony F. Pompa, head of accounting under District CFO Natwar Gandhi, denied that any illegal or inappropriate spending had occurred, writes the Post. Pompa was quoted as saying, “No way is there $450 million of illegal or inappropriate spending going on,” a strange statement on his part if placed alongside what he was originally quoted as saying late last month when the contracting problems were revealed: “We screwed up. We shouldn’t do those things. We’re going to clean it up.”

Manual Recount Ordered for Virginia Attorney General Race: A Virginia court has ordered that state election officials proceed with a manual recount of ballots in nine precincts, part of an on-going electoral dispute between two candidates for Attorney General. Republican candidate Bob McDonnell was declared victorious in the closely-contested race by a mere 323 votes, while Democratic challenger Creigh Deeds has asked that the votes be recounted. The manual recount will take place in nine precincts where problems with voting equipment were identified, far less that the 156 precincts Deeds had requested.

Briefly Noted: Wheaton man charged with growing marijuana in public park … D.C. school raises money for Gator Bowl trip … Geologists explain effects of rising seas on Chesapeake Bay shorelines … Woman on trial for pit bull death.

Picture snapped by PanettaMike.