Political circles in Washington are abuzz these days. No it is not Iraq, and it's not even President George Bush's falling approval ratings.

It is the raunchy confessions of a congressional aide, now sacked, who has posted 'reveal it all' lovemaking exploits with 'certain gentlemen' on her weblog.

Jessica Cutler, 24, is better known in Washington circles by her nom de plume, 'Washingtonienne'. She was dismissed last week from her job as an entry-level aide to Republican Senator Mike DeWine.

Her jauntily written Internet diary includes lurid descriptions of sexual encounters on Capitol Hill and other venues in official Washington -- some allegedly involving prominent, but unnamed, paramours.

The accounts, include descriptions of sexual favours for money, which she says she grants to supplement her paltry paycheck.

"Most of my living expenses are thankfully subsidized by a few generous older gentlemen," she writes in one entry on her blog.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who makes money on the side this way: How can anybody live on 25K (25,000 dollars) a year?" she writes

"I just took a long lunch with F, and made a quick 400 dollars," she reveals in another entry.

"When I returned to the office, I heard that the boss was asking about my whereabouts. Loser."

DeWine's office said in a press release that it had fired an unnamed entry-level employee for using Senate computers 'to post unsuitable and offensive material to an Internet Weblog'.