She seems at ease, sitting on the top step of a large front
porch, her legs crossed and a long, slim cigarette between her
fingers. She wears a bit too much makeup, perhaps, but her face
is pleasant and gives no reason to believe that the ensuing
conversation won't be the same.  "So, can you tell me a little
about your ex-husband?" I ask, standing on the bottom step with
a notepad and pen in hand. Her words start flowing, in a tone
that could put a baby to sleep, and for a moment it seems that
they may never cease.  "Cheating son of a bitch." "Selfish
bastard." And worse. They are in sentences, of course, but all I
hear is those phrases. I try to display sympathy and concern,
but inside I'm smiling because I know, as I always have, that
ex-wives, ex-husbands, ex-girlfriends, ex-lovers, ex-anythings
make some of the best sources.  Brian Stauffer  My business
partner Alan and I had received the call a few days earlier. A
local politician was making noise about jumping into a
congressional race against a longtim