the buzz log

In 2002, Kwame Kilpatrick, the young and promising mayor of Detroit, text messaged his chief of staff, Christine Beatty. "I'm madly in love with you," he gushed. She typed back: "In case you haven't noticed, I am madly in love with you, too!"

Ain't love sweet? It goes sour really fast. Before Kilpatrick and Beatty sent the amorous communiqués whizzing back and forth through cyberspace, they each swore in court there was nothing going on between them. Now, the mayor and his ex-aide face charges of perjury, misconduct, and conspiracy. The Democratic official could see up to 15 years in prison. 

News of the Michigan leader's predicament blazed a scorching path in Buzz. A Yahoo! News article on the ruckus flashed to the top of the Overall section, where it drew hundreds of votes. Demand for "kwame kilpatrick" rode high in the most popular searches all morning, and queries for "kwame kilpatrick text messages," "kwame kilpatrick charged," and "kwame kilpatrick scandal" continue to spike in Search.

General lookups for "detroit mayor," "detroit mayor scandal," and "detroit mayor text messages" are also posting high numbers. Searchers have sought out both Christine Beatty and the official who announced the charges, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. Investigators who want sources on the scene have boosted buzz for "detroit news" and "detroit free press."

Pat Benatar might be right. When it comes to elected politicians and matters of the heart, love is a battlefield.