By the way, Ventura’s Independence Party has been very nice to the DFL this year. They have cross endorsed in the 6th and 2nd Congressional Districts — the one that counts is the 6th, where Michelle Bachman (today’s second worst person in the world) is Rep. We have a candidate appropriate to the district this year, El Tinklenberg was Commissioner of Transportation in Ventura’s administration, before that he was a DFL’er, and after Ventura was out, he reconverted to DFL status. He is also a Lutheran Supply Preacher (fills in when the regular pastor is sick or away) and has been preaching over that district for many years. (East End is Swedish Lutheran). In 2006 the Independence Party Candidate got 8-9% of the vote, and that was also Michelle Bachman’s margin of victory, so there is hope getting rid of her. Ventura is raising money and speaking for Tinklenberg. I think it is one of those potential turnovers no one is really paying much attention to.

Wife says I am already a 160 slab o butter. Without the sweet part…

As to kilts — I think one of the Fair events is some sort of Celtic Games, things like log throwing or whatever they call it. The Fair is a wonder — a real throw back to Old Minnesota, yet always something new. No Queen, just princesses of milk and cheese and butter. The winner gets carved in a 200 lb chunck of sweet butter.

Did you see today that Cole, the RCCC Chair was advising new house candidates not to come to St. Paul? What happens if no one comes? What if not enough delegates show up to make a McCain Quorum? What are all those Republicans going to do about all the fancy parties that are planned? Who is going to pick up the tab if they go into debt? Hey Normie — call your friend Ted and suggest all the returned cash go to bail out the Twin Cities.

That all sounds pretty cool. Maybe me and mr. emptywheel and McCaffrey the MilleniaLab will have to stop by on our way home from Denver.

Anything Legislative is about counting — How many votes do you need to do X. If you have them, fine, move ahead. If you don’t have them and can’t get them you have to ask for what purpose do you propose to do something knowing you are doing gymnastics in place?

We have 51 Democratic Votes in the Senate. Some of them are not solid — Leiberman, Mark Pryor, Ben Nelson, Obama will be campaigning, Mary Landrau might not vote for contempt — that is not 50 or if necessary 60. So the Leader might be advised not to bring a motion that will not win to a vote and offer up a cleavage in the party ranks. Simple as that.

Hard as it is to understand, the question of responding to Subpoenas is not yet an issue that is ripe with the electorate. It doesn’t show up on any survey of how people plan to vote. This is not 1974 when the electorate was mad as hell at Nixon for sandbagging Cox or Jaworski. They are becoming aware, but gas prices, wars, jobs and foreclosures are much higher on their lists. Much better to figure out how to inform more people that this is an issue they should study, concern themselves with, so that if necessary they can come to a boil.

I would assume that if Leahy has not made any progress (or Conyers for that matter) they just might write the Judge another letter. An artful letter.

You mean another sternly worded letter? They will sure quake in their pants. At this point none of the Republicans gives a sh*t. If, and that is a bif IF, anyone ever shows up in front of Congress thay will just use the Gonzo technique – “I can’t recall.”