Last week, a Fred Thompson aide sent an e-mail to the Senate Republican staffers on the fund-raising investigation committee announcing that the Senate gift shop would soon start selling a limited number of $ 7 coffee mugs emblazoned with the words "Fred Thompson, Chairman" and "Special Investigation Staff." The initial run of 40 quickly sold out, and now that orders have been placed for 100 and counting, the price has dropped to $ 5.45. THE SCRAPBOOK's sources insist that this is a volume discount and not an omen.