I just got a robocall from Fred Thompson, asking me to vote for Jeff Beatty for Senator over John Kerry. Best part: Thompson pronounced Beatty's name "bait-y", while Jeff himself pronounce it "beat-y" during his I-approved-this-nonsense bit at the end.

While I agree that Kerry looks ike a Scream mask with hair, he's the second-best Senator we've got from this state, and currently the only one ambulatory. I think I'll vote to keep him.

Thanks to Fred for letting me know who I'm not voting for. Even if he doesn't care enough to pronounce the guy's name right.

Srah Palin's husband Todd seems to have his fingerprints all over Troopergate and her administration in general. Calls to officials, sitting in on cabinet meetings, holding the Bible for Sarah when she was sworn, and just generally acting as co-governor.

Considering the uproar over Hillary Clinton's far less intrusive involvement in Bill's administration, why haven't we heard more concern over this? One Palin in high federal office is scary enough. Two is a nightmare.

This is an exceprt from Lally Weymouth's interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in today's Washington Post. It sure looks to me like Mottaki is saying that virulently anti-muslim Serbia should have been allowed to retain control of muslim Kosovo [at the end of the excerpt; emphasis added].

How do you feel about the recent events in Georgia and Russia's virtual annexation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

There is no doubt that developments inside the Caucasus will come to affect the whole region. A miscalculation and wrong information were behind the events.

You mean a miscalculation by President [Mikheil] Saakashvili was behind the events in August?

The miscalculation was made by all parties involved in the military action.

Including Russia?

Of course not. The miscalculation had everything to do with [Georgia] not expecting the Russians to deal with this in such a fashion. And the supporters [are also at fault].

Do you mean the United States or NATO?

Any party that was "pro" [military] actions.

Do you believe in the territorial integrity of Georgia?

This is a rule which must be respected in all places. One must not deal in double standards when it comes to the territorial integrity of a state. Certain parties -- in Europe for example -- insist on disintegrating a country and support the events that lead to that.

Are you referring to the independence of Kosovo?

The example you refer to is a correct one and a good one.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude (but not money) to BMW Direct. Any organization that dedicates itself to bilking right-wing idiots with loose checkbooks is performing a major patriotic service and should be lauded.
What they've done is not much different from what's done by other so-called conservative fundraisers, but they've accomplished it without adding to the campaign clamor.