Random Thoughts on a Busy Day

Random thoughts after scanning the news, in no particular order:

1. Great line by Harry Reid. "“The idea of Republicans reforming themselves is like asking John Gotti to clean up organized crime. "
2. Everytime I read something or hear of his work, I like Al Gore even more. I wonder if the Bush vs. Gore decision in 2000 was one of those mind expanding moments for him, because I suspect he would be quite different in the presidency. Still, he's among my favorite speakers today. He throws his bombs so eloquently and with that subtle authority of someone who's been there.
3. I think Scott McClellan's lying and distortion knows no bounds.

Here's the key point:

McClellan said the Clinton-Gore administration had engagedin warrantless physical searches, and he cited an FBI' search of the home of CIA' turncoat Aldrich Ames without permission from a judge. He said Clinton's deputy attorney general, Jamie Gorelick, had testified before Congress that the president had the inherent authority to engage in physical searches without warrants.

"I think his hypocrisy knows no bounds," McClellan said of Gore.

But at the time that of the Ames search in 1993 and when Gorelick testified a year later, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act required warrants for electronic surveillance for intelligence purposes, but did not cover physical searches. The law was changed to cover physical searches in 1995 under legislation that Clinton supported and signed.

4. I think the whole Medicare Part D Prescription Drug debacle could be the sleeper issue in the mid-term elections. Even if the Republicans obfuscate the Abramoff issue with "they did it, too" claims and some how overcome the Iraq thing, the Medicare thing is one of the worst pieces of legislation to come down the pike since...I can't really remember much worst, and the problems are tangible. Scared, confused seniors not getting their presciptions or going broke paying deductibles to equally confused pharmacists.

5. Does anyone care about a Carolina - who the hell are they playing? - NFC Championship game?

More to come.